Entertainment apparatus

Abstract

An entertainment apparatus ( 1 ) comprising two upright walls ( 3 a, 3 b ), each having an inner surface. A plurality of game pieces ( 9 ) are located in the space ( 5 ) between the walls ( 3 a, 3 b ), each of the game pieces ( 9 ) being in contact with the inner surface of at least one of the walls ( 3 a, 3 b ).Each of the game pieces ( 9 ) comprises a drive assembly for moving the game piece over that inner surface, the drive assembly comprising a traction element ( 11 ), such as a wheel, for generating traction against the inner surface and an actuator for moving the traction element relative to the surface. At least one, and preferably both, of the walls ( 3 a, 3 b ) are transparent, for example they are glass, such that a user can observe the game pieces ( 9 ) within the space ( 5 ), from outside the apparatus ( 1 ).

1 . An entertainment apparatus comprising:
 two upright walls, each having an inner surface, the inner surfaces facing each other and being spaced apart to define a space there-between, and   a plurality of game pieces located in the space between the inner surfaces of the walls, each of the game pieces being in contact with the inner surface of at least one of the walls, and each of the game pieces comprising a drive assembly for moving the game piece over that inner surface, the drive assembly comprising a traction element for generating traction against the inner surface and an actuator for moving the traction element relative to the surface such that the game piece moves,   and wherein   at least one of the walls is transparent such that a user can observe the game pieces within the space, from outside the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . An entertainment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein both the walls are transparent such that the game pieces can be observed from either side of the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . An entertainment apparatus according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the movement of the game pieces is unconstrained, such that they are freely moveable, in any direction, over the inner surface. 
     
     
         4 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless communication system arranged to wirelessly communicate a user input to at least one of the game pieces, such that said game piece is wirelessly controllable via the user input. 
     
     
         5 . An entertainment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus comprises a control system for controlling the plurality of game pieces with control signals, and the communication system is arranged to wirelessly communicate the control signals to the game pieces. 
     
     
         6 . An entertainment apparatus according to  claim 4  or  claim 5 , wherein the user input is an instruction to move the game piece(s), and the drive assembly of said game piece(s) is arranged to move its respective game piece in response to the user input. 
     
     
         7 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each game piece is simultaneously in contact with the inner surfaces of both walls. 
     
     
         8 . An entertainment apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein each game piece comprises biasing means, the biasing means being arranged to press outwardly against the inner surfaces of the walls such that the weight of the game piece is at least partially supported. 
     
     
         9 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each game piece is capable of maintaining its vertical position in the space. 
     
     
         10 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a power source for powering the drive means of the game pieces. 
     
     
         11 . An entertainment apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the power source comprises a plurality of power storage elements, each power storage element being part of a respective game piece. 
     
     
         12 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, the apparatus being arranged to track the location of each game piece in the space. 
     
     
         13 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises an opening for enabling ingress or egress of the game pieces from the space. 
     
     
         14 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises an opaque boarder adjacent to at least part of the transparent wall, the game pieces being moveable behind the opaque border such that they can be re-located around the perimeter of the space without being seen by the user. 
     
     
         15 . An entertainment apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the game pieces are decorated differently so as to represent different characters or objects. 
     
     
         16 . An entertainment apparatus as herein described with reference to the drawings.