Interactive three dimensional gaming device

Abstract

A polyhedron gaming device having planar faces. Each face includes at least one opening. Response units are secured separately about each opening such that a top edge defined by the response unit is positioned in the openings and substantially flushed with a surface of the tiles adjacent the opening thereby maintaining a substantially planer face. A pair of side faces are able to twist in relation to a center dial. A processor with gaming content is stored on a memory and is in communication with lights, sounds, and switches. When activated, the processor activates or deactivates light sources and sounds prompting a user to respond by maneuvering the polyhedron housing such that the line of sight of a light source changes wherein the user is able to respond to the pre-programmed gaming content by pressing one or more switches or twisting the ends.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a housing defining a central dial portion and a pair of opposed end faces;   a plurality of chambers distributed about the housing, each chamber having a base and being configured to receive a portion of a user’s finger;   a switch disposed at the base of each recessed chamber;   a processor in electrical communication with the switches and configured to execute pre-programmed gaming content stored in a memory to receive signals from the switches; and   a twist mechanism coupling the end faces to the central dial portion and constructed to permit the end faces to rotate relative to the central dial portion through a partial twist and to return to an aligned position under a spring bias,   wherein the processor is further configured to prompt a user to respond to the gaming content by manipulating the housing to press one or more switches or by twisting at least one of the end faces relative to the central dial portion.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source disposed in each chamber and in electrical communication with the processor, the processor being configured to selectively activate or deactivate the light sources. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is generally spherical and includes a middle housing section and opposed end sections, the end sections being rotatable in opposite directions relative to the middle housing section through a partial twist and returnable to an aligned position under a spring bias. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the twist mechanism comprises at least one spring positioned between each end face and the central dial portion, the spring biasing the end faces toward an aligned orientation after a partial twist. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to generate audio prompts through a speaker mounted within the housing to instruct a user when to twist at least one of the end faces. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein the chambers are arranged so that each switch and light source is positioned substantially flush with surrounding surfaces of the housing to maintain a substantially planar outer surface. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a housing defining a central dial portion and a pair of opposed end faces;   a plurality of chambers distributed about the housing, each chamber having a base and being sized to receive a portion of a user’s finger;   a switch and a light source disposed at the base of each chamber;   a processor in electrical communication with the switches and light sources and configured to execute pre-programmed gaming content stored in a memory to selectively activate or deactivate the light sources and to receive signals from the switches; and   a twist mechanism coupling the end faces to the central dial portion and constructed to permit the end faces to rotate relative to the central dial portion through a partial twist and to return to an aligned position under a spring bias,   wherein the processor is further configured to prompt a user to respond to the gaming content by manipulating the housing to press one or more switches or by twisting at least one of the end faces relative to the central dial portion.   
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the housing is generally spherical and includes a middle housing section and opposed end sections, the end sections being rotatable in opposite directions relative to the middle housing section through a partial twist and returnable to an aligned position under a spring bias. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the twist mechanism comprises at least one spring positioned between each end face and the central dial portion, the spring biasing the end faces toward an aligned orientation after a partial twist. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is programmed to generate audio prompts through a speaker mounted within the housing to instruct a user when to twist at least one of the end faces. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the recessed chambers are arranged so that each switch and light source is positioned substantially flush with surrounding external tiles of the housing to maintain a substantially planar outer surface. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to vary an illumination level of at least one light source and to end a game when the corresponding switch is not triggered before the illumination level decreases to a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein each recessed chamber includes a lens covering the light source, the lens being colored to correspond to a color of the housing surface adjacent the recessed chamber. 
     
     
         14 . A handheld electronic gaming article comprising: 
 a body having a central section and a pair of opposed end portions;   multiple finger-receivable buttons distributed about the body, each button including a user-actuable switch;   a controller with memory storing executable game instructions, the controller electrically coupled to the switches to register user inputs; and   a rotation assembly mounting the end portions to the central section to enable each end portion to rotate through a limited angular range relative to the central section and to automatically return to an aligned position under spring bias,   wherein the controller is configured to prompt a player to interact by pressing at least one switch or rotating at least one of the end portions according to the game instructions.   
     
     
         15 . The gaming article of  claim 14 , wherein the body is substantially spherical and includes a middle housing segment and opposite end segments that counter-rotate relative to the middle housing segment. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming article of  claim 15 , wherein the rotation assembly comprises at least one resilient spring member that urges each end portion back toward an aligned orientation after rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming article of  claim 16 , wherein each button further includes a light source positioned to emit light toward a surface of the article and the controller being electrically coupled to the light sources to illuminate selected light sources and register user inputs. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming article of  claim 17  further comprising an audio transducer coupled to the controller, the controller being programmed to output audible cues instructing a user when to twist one of the end portions.