EP1362624A1

EP1362624A1 - Apparatus for creating an illusion

Info

Publication number: EP1362624A1
Application number: EP03252800A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Chaim Kishon
Original assignee: Character Games Ltd
Current assignee: All in 1 Products Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-03
Filing date: 2003-05-02
Publication date: 2003-11-19
Also published as: GB2388051A; GB0210235D0; GB2388051B

Abstract

The present invention relates (with reference to Figure 1) to illusion apparatus (10,20) for use in the performing of illusions for audiences, the apparatus comprises a receiver unit (10) having a power source (17), indicator means (13, 16), a signal receiver (14) and a control unit (15) which operates the indicator means (13,16) in response to signals received by the signal receiver (14). The apparatus also comprises a transmitter unit (20) comprising a power source (21), a signal emitter (22) and manually operable control means (23, 24, 25) for controlling operation of the signal emitter (22). The transmitter unit (20) can be used to remotely control operation of the indicator means (13, 16) of the receiver unit (10). Preferably the receiver unit is a wand.

Description

The present invention relates to illusion apparatus for use in the performing of illusions for audiences.
The present invention provides illusion apparatus for use in the performing of illusions for audiences comprising: a receiver unit having a power source, indicator means, a signal receiver and a control unit which operates the indicator means in response to signals received by the signal receiver; a transmitter unit comprising a power source, a signal emitter and manually operable control means for controlling operation of the signal emitter; wherein the transmitter unit can be used to remotely control operation of the indicator means of the receiver unit.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows schematically a wand of illusion apparatus according to the present invention; and
Figure 2 shows schematically a transmitter unit of illusion apparatus according to the present invention.
In figure 1 there can be seen a wand 10 in the form of a cylindrical rod which has a translucent end portion 11 and an opaque body portion 12. In the apparatus the wand functions as a receiving unit. In the translucent end portion 11 there is located illuminator means in the form of an LED 13. In the opaque body portion 12 there are located: a signal receiver in the form of a radio receiver 14; an electronic controller 15; vibration means 16 (e.g. in the form of an electric motor connected to an eccentric mass to rotate the mass); and an electric battery 17 to power the device. The opaque body portion has a removable cover to allow access to the battery 17 for removal and replacement of the battery 17.
In figure 2 there can be seen a transmitter unit 20 which comprises: a battery 21; an emitter in the form of a radio transmitter 22 ;and a plurality of manually operable controls 23,24,25.
The control 23 is an on/off switch.
The control 24 is used by a user to instruct the emitter 22 to emit a signal which when received by the receiver 14 and relayed thereby to the controller 15 is recognised by the controller 15 as an instruction to activate the LED 12 which then emits light visible through the translucent part of the casing of the wand. The apparatus can operate so that the LED 12 emits light continually while the control 22 is manually operated or so that the LED 12 emits light for a pre-specified time period following the initial operation of the control 22.
The control 25 is used by a user for instructing the transmitter 22 to emit a signal which when received by the receiver 14 and relayed thereby to the controller 15 is recognised by the controller 15 as an instruction to activate the vibration means 16. The vibration means 16 could vibrate as long as the control 25 is operated or for a pre-specified time period following initial operation of the control 25.
The apparatus described above would be used by a pair of people with a first person holding the receiver unit/wand 10 and the second person holding and operating the transmitter unit 20. The transmitter unit 20 will be used surreptitiously, e.g. by operating the device while concealed in a pocket. The apparatus could be used in two different ways:
1. An unwitting participant in an illusion would hold the wand 10 and be asked to point at a series of objects, e.g. a series of face down playing cards. The user of the transmitter unit 20 would use the unit to activate the LED 13 when the wand is pointed to a particular card. For instance the rear faces of the face down cards could be discretely marked and the unwitting participant asked to choose a card. The user of the transmitter unit 20 would then activate the LED 13 as the wand 10 is passed over the selected card by the unwitting participant.
2. an illusionist and a witting accomplice could use the wand 10 and the transmitter unit 20 as a means of communication. The illusionist would hold the wand 10 and the accomplice would use the transmitter unit 20 to operate the vibration means in the wand 10 in order to communicate with the accomplice. For instance , the illusionist may look away while an audience member choses a playing card in the sight of the accomplice. The accomplice would then communicate the identity of the selected card to the illusionist using the concealed transmitter unit 20. Initially the suit of the card would be communicated by one to four pulsed vibrations. Then there would be a pause and the number of the card would next be communicated by a chosen number of vibrations.
Whilst above the transmitter 20 and the wand 10 are in radio communication with each other, they could communicate in other ways, e.g. by infra red communication.

Claims

Illusion apparatus for use in the performing of illusions for audiences comprising:

a receiver unit (10) having a power source (17), indicator means (13,16), a signal receiver (14)and a control unit (15) which operates the indicator means (13, 16) in response to signals received by the signal receiver (14);

a transmitter unit (20) comprising a power source (21), a signal emitter (22) and manually operable control means (23, 24, 25) for controlling operation of the signal emitter (22); wherein

the transmitter unit (20) can be used to remotely control operation of the indicator means (13, 16) of the receiver unit (10).
Illusion apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receiver unit (10) has a housing (11,12) configured as a wand.
Illusion apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the indicator means comprises a light source (13).
Illusion apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the indicator means comprises a light source (13) and the wand has an external casing with a translucent portion (11) through which light emitted by the light source can pass and an opaque portion (12) in which the signal receiver (14), the control unit (15) and the power source (17) are located.
Illusion apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the indicator means comprises vibration means (16)
Illusion apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the indicator means comprises vibration means (16).
Illusion apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the manually operable control means (23, 24, 25) allows the user to select between operation of the light source (13) and operation of the vibration means (16).
A method of using the illusion apparatus claimed in any one of the preceding claims to create an illusion, the method comprising: a first person holding the receiver unit (10); and a second person using the transmitter unit (20) to control operation of the indicator means (13, 16) of the receiver unit (10).
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second person operates the indicator means (13, 16) of the receiver unit (10) without the first person realising that the indicator means is controlled by the second person.
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second person communicates with the first person by controlling operation of the indicator means (13, 16).
Use of the illusion apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7 in the creation of two illusions:

a first illusion in which a first person of a first pair of people uses the transmitter unit (20) to operate the indicator means (13, 16) of the receiver unit (10) when the receiver unit (10) is held by a second person of the first pair, with the second person unaware that the indicator means is operated by the first person; and

a second illusion in which a first person of a second pair of people uses the transmitter unit (20) to operate the indicator means (13,16) of the receiver unit (10) when the receiver unit (10) is held by a second person of the second pair and thereby transmits a message to the second person.