Patent Search

We performed a patent search to see how others have tried to tackle the problem we're looking at. This would also help us decide if our design is patentable. In the search, we came across 4 patents that were similar to our game ideas.

1. Play device for a rebound sport (US10668354B2)

This patent details a play surface which senses the contact location of balls and has a projected display.

Some merits of this patent that can be applied to our game design are as follows. There are no moving parts other than the ball, this reduces mechanical complexity and helps prevent wear. Rebounding a ball off a play area is an intuitive way to interact with a game. Using a “projector to project a target field” allows for many games to be programmed.

A few demerits of this system. The interface only provides X and Y locations of the ball as input. Also, it is a familiar input of a projected touchscreen which is something familiar to much of the public. While this makes it easy for the player to interact with the game, the familiarity makes the experience less exciting.

2. Laser-arrayed immersive amusement attraction (US11534679B2)

This patent introduces a game with the objective of traversing across a room while avoiding laser obstacles.

This patent boasts several commendable merits. Firstly, it eliminates moving parts, simplifying mechanical maintenance and enhancing system reliability. Its scalable difficulty level ensures versatility, catering to users across various skill levels. The visually impressive setup adds to the immersive nature of the experience. Additionally, the minimal height and strength requirements widen accessibility, accommodating a diverse user base.

However, a few challenges accompany this innovative system. Precision in aligning emitters and detectors becomes crucial, potentially demanding meticulous setup procedures. Moreover, the system's reliance on a large number of sensors and emitters might increase both complexity and cost, warranting careful consideration during implementation and maintenance phases.

3. Activate Grid Patent (US11511171B2)

This patent describes room with an array of interactive floor panels that independently light up and respond to pressure sensor activation.

This patent offers a variety of benefits. Firstly, it can sense pressure on multiple tiles at once, allowing for many players to interact with it at once. Additionally, the concept is very scalable, because one can add or remove tiles as needed, allowing it to be installed in a range of locations. Finally, the concept is visually attractive, because each grid has addressable LEDs that can prompt the user to perform various tasks.

There are also some downsides to this idea. Pressure sensing technology can be very expensive to use. Additionally, there is likely a large need for maintenance with this concept, as the tiles are being jumped on and run on.

4. Dodgeball Game and Method of Play (US20030025267A1)

This patent involves a game mat to aid with the play of dodgeball. The game mat helps identify when players go out of bounds, as well as providing feedback through visuals and sounds.

This design has a few merits. It provides a fun theme and visual stimulus to make it engaging for younger audiences. It also helps tackle the challenge of monitoring dodgeball dodgers to keep the game fair.

Unfortunately, it has many demerits as well. It limits the number of players to 8, however most games of dodgeball involve more than 8 players. Additionally, it restricts the motion of the player, by forcing them to hold onto the handle while trying to run and dodge the balls. Finally, the theme may not appeal to older audiences, given the child-like visuals involved.

Is our design patentable?

All the patents that we looked at encourage activity in a unique way, similar to the goal of our ideas. Another indicator of our game room's patentability is that Activate holds a number of patents for their existing rooms. Given this information, we believe our design is patentable.