Electronic outdoor game apparatus

Abstract

In one aspect, an outdoor game system is provided, comprising a plurality of upright towers that are operatively connected and suitable for installation outdoors, each tower including a plurality of contact assemblies, each contact assembly including an interface capable of responding to or detecting contact, a light source that emits light proximate the interface, and a sound source that emits sounds proximate the interface, wherein the contact assemblies operate in random or predetermined sequences that constitute game functions. In another aspect, an outdoor game system is provided, comprising four towers, each tower including four interfaces, each interface detecting or responding to contact, at least one light source, and at least one sound source, wherein the interfaces define a four-by-four grid, and the four-by-four grid is entirely visible from a single location within a field of play.

1 . An outdoor game system, comprising:
 a plurality of upright towers that are operatively connected and suitable for installation outdoors, each tower including a plurality of contact assemblies, each contact assembly including:
 an interface capable of responding to or detecting contact; 
 a light source that emits light proximate the interface; and 
 a sound source that emits sounds proximate the interface; 
   wherein the contact assemblies operate in random or predetermined sequences that constitute game functions.   
   
   
       2 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of upright towers are disposed in a fixed spatial relationship to each other. 
   
   
       3 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein the random or predetermined sequences are across the plurality of upright towers. 
   
   
       4 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to receive an indication of contact from the interface and send signals to the light source and the sound source. 
   
   
       5 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller including programmed game sequences for activation of the light sources and the sound sources. 
   
   
       6 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein each light source emits light in response to contact at the interface. 
   
   
       7 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein each light source emits light to indicate a target contact location. 
   
   
       8 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein each sound source emits sound in response to contact at the interface. 
   
   
       9 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein each sound source emits sound to indicate a target contact location. 
   
   
       10 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein each interface is vibrationally isolated or spaced apart from the light source in the contact assembly. 
   
   
       11 . The outdoor game system of  claim 1 , wherein each interface is a pushbutton. 
   
   
       12 . An outdoor game system, comprising:
 four towers, each tower including:
 four interfaces, each interface detecting or responding to contact; 
 at least one light source; and 
 at least one sound source; 
   wherein the interfaces define a four-by-four grid, and the four-by-four grid is entirely visible from a single location within a field of play.   
   
   
       13 . The outdoor game system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the four towers are disposed in a fixed spatial relationship to each other. 
   
   
       14 . The outdoor game system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the four towers is located along a continuous arc. 
   
   
       15 . The outdoor game system of  claim 12 , wherein the light sources and sound sources operate sequentially across the towers. 
   
   
       16 . The outdoor game system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one contact assembly, each contact assembly including an interface, a light source, and a sound source. 
   
   
       17 . The outdoor game system of  claim 16 , wherein a grill for sound emission is located around the perimeter of each contact assembly. 
   
   
       18 . An outdoor game system, comprising:
 a plurality of upright towers;   a plurality of interfaces disposed on each tower, the interfaces being capable of detecting or responding to an actuation;   a plurality of light sources disposed on each tower, the light sources being capable of emitting light; and   a plurality of sound sources disposed proximate each of the plurality of interfaces, the sound sources being capable of emitting sound;   wherein the sound sources operate sequentially across the plurality of towers.   
   
   
       19 . The outdoor game system of  claim 18 , wherein the actuation comprises contact. 
   
   
       20 . The outdoor game system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of upright towers are disposed in a fixed spatial relationship to each other. 
   
   
       21 . The outdoor game system of  claim 18 , wherein the light sources operate sequentially across the plurality of towers. 
   
   
       22 . The outdoor game system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of sound sources are further disposed proximate the plurality of light sources. 
   
   
       23 . The outdoor game system of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one contact assembly, each contact assembly including one of the interfaces, one of the light sources, and one of the sound sources. 
   
   
       24 . The outdoor game system of  claim 23 , wherein a grill for sound emission is located around the perimeter of each contact assembly. 
   
   
       25 . The outdoor game system of  claim 23 , wherein each interface is substantially circular and located substantially in the center of a contact assembly.