Illusion machine

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an ensemble comprising four distinct modules and focuses on the illusionist market. It is an illusion machine that creates the illusion of randomness, when it is actually a deterministic event. The first module includes an element that is in fact a set of elements (spheres or the like) and comprises elements printed in 3D, or by another form of production. The second module consists of an element very similar to the first one, with the difference that it comprises a magnetic core (or any material allowing a similar effect). The ensemble also comprises a third module, a ball globe that should not be completely made of ferromagnetic metal. The fourth module is the trap for the elements. In the proposed device, a trap is used, which is also printed as an integer object, without the need for joint welds, with a built-in magnet.

Claims

1. An illusion ensemble for allowing an operator to create an illusion of randomness while providing a deterministic event that is non-powered, non-electric, and portable, comprising: a plurality of spherical elements, a first portion of the spherical elements being non-magnetic elements not comprising any magnetic material, and a second portion of the spherical elements being at least one magnetically attracted element having a weight, appearance, and size similar to the non-magnetic elements, wherein a number of the spherical elements is greater than fifty; a cage configured to spin the plurality of spherical elements therein, the cage being formed of a non-ferromagnetic material; a portable base configured to support the cage, and a rolling axis about which the cage rotates; and a trap sized and dimensioned similar to the spherical elements and comprising a hidden magnet configured to attract and trap only the at least one magnetically attracted element of the spherical elements when a spinning of the cage is stopped, wherein a subsequent spinning of the cage after the trap has attracted and trapped only the at least one magnetically attracted element maintains the at least one magnetically attracted element in the trap; wherein a strong illusion of randomness is created for all of the spherical elements inside the cage of the illusion ensemble, in which only one of the at least one magnetically attracted element of the spherical elements is trapped by the trap, thereby creating the deterministic event with zero probability that any of the non-magnetic elements are trapped.

2. The illusion ensemble of claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetically attracted element is one of a plurality of magnetically attracted elements.

3. The illusion ensemble of claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of non-magnetic elements and the at least one magnetically attracted element comprise an internal or external marking for identification of a corresponding one of the spherical elements.

4. The illusion ensemble of claim 1, wherein the cage is formed by three-dimensional printing and is a plastic material.

5. The illusion ensemble of claim 4, wherein the cage is configured to have a ferromagnetic material appearance.

6. The illusion ensemble of claim 1, wherein each of the spherical elements comprises an outer layer of polylactide (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or aluminum.

7. The illusion ensemble of claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetically attracted element comprises a magnet in the form of a sphere, a polylactide (PLA) sphere containing a magnet, a sponge ball containing a magnet, or a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) cube painted with a ferromagnetic paint.

8. A method for enabling an operator to create an illusion of randomness while providing a deterministic event, comprising: providing an illusion ensemble that is portable, non-electric, and non-powered, comprising: a plurality of spherical elements, a first portion of the spherical elements being non-magnetic elements not comprising any magnetic material, and a second portion of the spherical elements being at least one magnetically attracted element having a weight, appearance, and size similar to the non-magnetic elements, wherein a number of the spherical elements is greater than fifty; a cage configured to spin the plurality of spherical elements therein, the cage being formed of a non-ferromagnetic material; a portable base configured to support the cage, and a rolling axis about which the cage rotates; and a trap sized and dimensioned similar to the spherical elements and comprising a hidden magnet configured to attract and trap only the at least one magnetically attracted element of the spherical elements; and spinning the cage having the plurality of non-magnetic spherical elements and the magnetically attracted spherical element therein until the magnetically attracted spherical element is positioned in the trap; and performing a subsequent spinning of the cage after the trap has attracted and trapped only the at least one magnetically attracted spherical element while maintaining the at least one magnetically attracted spherical element in the trap; and stopping the spinning of the cage such that a strong illusion of randomness is created for all of the elements inside the cage of the illusion ensemble, in which only the magnetic spherical element is actually trapped when the spinning of the cage is stopped, thereby creating the deterministic event with zero probability that any of the plurality of non-magnetic spherical elements are trapped.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the magnetically attracted element is one of a plurality of magnetically attracted elements.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of non-magnetic elements and the magnetically attracted element comprise an internal or external marking for identification of the elements.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the cage is formed by three-dimensional printing and is a plastic material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cage is painted to have a ferromagnetic material appearance.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the spherical elements comprises an outer layer of polylactide (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or aluminum.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one magnetically attracted element comprises a magnet in the form of a sphere, a polylactide (PLA) sphere containing a magnet, a sponge ball containing a magnet, or a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) cube painted with a ferromagnetic paint.

15. An illusion device for creating an illusion of randomness while providing a deterministic event that is non-powered, non-electric, and portable, comprising: a plurality of elements, a first portion of the elements being non-magnetic elements not comprising any magnetic material, and a second portion of the elements being at least one magnetically attracted element having an appearance and size similar to the non-magnetic elements; a cage configured to spin the plurality of elements therein, the cage being formed of a non-ferromagnetic material; a trap sized and dimensioned similar to the elements and comprising a hidden magnet configured to attract and trap only the at least one magnetically attracted element of the elements when a spinning of the cage is stopped, wherein a strong illusion of randomness is created for all of the elements inside the cage of the illusion ensemble, in which only one of the at least one magnetically attracted element of the elements is trapped by the trap, thereby creating the deterministic event with zero probability that any of the non-magnetic elements are trapped.

16. The illusion device of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of elements is spherical.

17. The illusion device of claim 15, further comprising a portable base configured to support the cage, and a rolling axis about which the cage rotates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a bingo set according to the present application.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the same embodiment of a bingo set according to the present application.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the same embodiment: (A) base, (B) rolling axis about which a cage rotates, (C) cage, (D) trap, (E) sphere.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the cage (C).

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the trap (D).

(7) FIG. 6 is a representation of the internal hollow for a sphere (E).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The present invention refers to a device that is an ensemble comprising four distinct elements. It can be considered as an illusion machine, for it creates the illusion of randomness wherein actually referring to a deterministic event.

(9) The first element (spheres or the like) is a set of, for example, 59 spheres that are 3D printed (or objects otherwise produced) made as a single piece, shallow and/or hollow. Thus, externally they are parts like any other lottery elements, printed in place as a single body. In this example, the outer markings of the spheres read 1 to 59 to allow the identification of the spheres.

(10) The second element is made in similar fashion to the first, externally marked with the number 60 to allow its identification and containing an element that is magnetically attracted.

(11) The third module is the body of the ensemble. In the embodiment where the first and second elements contain magnets or the like. It can be 3D printed or made by any other production suitable process. In the case of plastics, it is to be painted in black (the traditional color of such bingo ball cage) or in metallic colors that create the illusion of ferromagnetic metal, since laymen may not know that not all metals react strongly to magnetism.

(12) The fourth module is the trap, which may include a recess sized and dimensioned similar to the spheres. In a traditional lottery like device, elements are randomly entrapped into the trap, without allowing control by the illusionist. The device according to the present application comprises a trap wherein the body can also be printed in a single piece, without the need for welding joints, with an embedded magnet or the like. It can also be printed in several pieces. While the prior art trap is created for randomness, the one according to the present application is created to attract specific spheres and do not allow the said target spheres to leave.

(13) If the second element has a magnet core, or are multiple ones with an iron core, once they get close enough to the magnetic field generated by the trap, they are no longer able to escape. After that, it becomes up to the illusionist to choose who will decide to stop the spinning, to ask a volunteer when to stop or to spin the device a few more times. Once he gets a visual confirmation that there is already an element that will not come off, the illusionist may, for example, ask a volunteer to say “stop” at any moment. Since the illusionist has already created the illusion of randomness and waited for the target element to be trapped, he is sure that it is still in the trap.

(14) To have visual confirmation, one may look at the moment when the trap is upside down, the furthest away from the floor as possible. At that instant no element should be trapped therein based on the force of gravity, unless it is attracted by the magnet inside.

(15) The following detailed description shows specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be used, and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(16) Choice of Elements

(17) A number of different methods can be used to produce the choice elements, including but not limited to additive manufacturing. A number of different materials can be used for the outer layers, including but not limited to PLA, ABS or Aluminum.

(18) The elements can be created in one piece or assembled from several pieces.

(19) The elements can be solid, hollow, with one or multiple cavities or filled with any kind of material to provide the desired weight. The desired weight can be chosen to allow spectators to compare multiple elements.

(20) The elements to be forced can contain or be made of magnets or any material that is magnetically attracted. Examples of such embodiments are a magnet in the form of a sphere, a PLA sphere containing a magnet, a sponge ball containing a magnet and a PETG cube painted with ferromagnetic paint.

(21) Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, or at least one of Z to each be present.

(22) It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.