GB2392109A

GB2392109A - Electronic device for drinking game

Info

Publication number: GB2392109A
Application number: GB0325633A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graeme John Taylor; Kenneth Ian Mcandrew
Original assignee: ALCHEMY LICENSING Ltd
Current assignee: ALCHEMY LICENSING Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-23
Filing date: 2003-11-04
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Also published as: WO2004064579A1; GB0325633D0

Abstract

An electronic device for measuring the time taken for a player to consume a quantity of liquid involves at least a main timer and a display. In one embodiment, a magnet (22, Figs 1, 3, 4, not shown) is incorporated in the base of a drinking vessel (20) and co-operates with switch 13 in support mat 40 controlling the main timer; when the player is ready, switch 11 is activated to commence a countdown sequence shown on LEDs 14; the main timer either staffs on activation of the countdown or from the moment that the drinking vessel is lifted and the time taken before drinking vessel is replaced on the mat is shown on display 15. False staffs can be detected by the CPU connected to the switches. The drinking vessel can alternatively be employed with a magnetic holder, Fig 5 (not shown) or all the electronic components can be within the base of the drinking vessel, Fig 6 (not shown), in which case it is possible to include a gravity sensor allowing the main timer to be de-activated on upturning of the vessel on completion of a drinking action.

Description

1 2392109

1 Electronic Game Device 3 The present invention relates to an electronic device, 4 and particularly to an electronic game device that is 5 suitable for playing a drinking game.

7 A number of drinking game devices are widely known to 8 those skilled in the art. For example, United States 9 Patent No. 4,239,223 discloses a game comprising a 10 drinking glass device for containing beverages as well as 11 a means for entertaining, amusing and interesting the 12 user. The glass itself has a transparent partition 13 positioned upwardly from the bottom end of the glass to 14 form a recess. Game means are placed into the recess so 15 as to be visible to a user through the transparent 16 partition The game means are restrainable positioned by 17 the recess closure which is sealed in such a way as to 18 form a liquid-tight seal.

20 German Patent Application No. 19,847,827 discloses a 21 drinks-mat which has punched-out impressions from which 22 playing pieces or ornaments can be pressed out or into 23 which they can be re-inserted. The drinks mat may also

1 contain a game-board printed on to it to be used in 2 conjunction with the playing pieces. The game area is 3 situated in the middle of the mat and the playing pieces 4 are situated around this area. However, it is noted that 5 none of the described prior art devices teach of a timing

6 element that is incorporated within the device.

8 It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to 9 provide an electronic game device suitable for playing a 10 drinking game that can measure the time taken to perform 11 a task.

13 It is a further object of an aspect of the present 14 invention to provide an electronic game device whereby a 15 player can compete with another player on a time format.

17 It is yet a further object of an aspect of the present 18 invention to provide an electronic game device suitable 19 for playing a drinking game that informs a player when to 20 commence the game.

22 According to a first aspect of the present invention 23 there is provided an electronic game device for allowing 24 a player to compete on the basis of time taken for 25 drinking a liquid filled in a vessel, comprising a main 26 timer for measuring the time taken, and a display unit 27 for displaying the time measured.

29 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises 30 activation means for starting the main timer.

31 1

1 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises a 2 countdown timer for performing a countdown before the 3 main timer starts.

5 Preferably the countdown timer runs for a predetermined 6 period of time. Alternatively the countdown timer runs 7 for a random period of time.

9 The main timer may start at the same time as a completion 10 of the countdown.

12 The activation means may start the countdown timer.

13: 14 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises a 15 first light being turned on or off synchronously with the 16 countdown.

18 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises 19 deactivation means for stopping the main timer.

20 Preferably the deactivation means is common with the 21 activation means.

23 The activation means and/or the deactivation means may 24 comprise a magnetic switch, in which a magnet for 25 operating the magnetic switch is provided within the 26 vessel.

28 The activation means and/or the deactivation means may 29 comprise a magnetic switch, a contact or pressure switch, 30 a shock switch or sensor, a gravity switch or sensor, or 31 a combination of these.

1 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises a 2 second light, which may be turned on or off at the same 3 time as the main timer starting and/or stopping.

5 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises a 6 false start detecting means which detects a false start 7 when the activation means is operated before the 8 countdown is completed.

10 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises a 11 speaker sounding synchronously with the count down, start 12 of the main timer, and/or stop of the main timer.

14 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises a 15 memory for memorising one or more times measured by the 16 main timer, and/or data to be entered.

18 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises a 19 mat on which the liquid containing vessel is located.

21 Preferably the mat contains the activation means and/or 22 the deactivation means.

24 Preferably the activation means and the deactivation 25 means are positioned at the centre of the mat so as to 26 define a position for the liquid containing vessel to be 27 located.

29 Alternatively the electronic game device comprises 30 attachment means to be attached with a common vessel, the 31 attachment means having a magnet at its bottom to operate 32 the magnetic switch.

l Alternatively the electronic game device comprises a 2 second attachment means suitable for attaching the 3 electronic game device to a common vessel.

5 The electronic game device may comprises a vessel having 6 electronic components including at least the main timer 7 and the display unit.

9 According to a second aspect of the present invention 10 there is provided an operating method of an electronic 11 game device for allowing a player to compete on the basis 12 of time taken for drinking up a drink filled in a vessel, 13 the electronic game device comprising a main timer for 14 measuring the time taken, a display unit for displaying 15 the time measured, activation means for starting the main 16 timer, deactivation means for stopping the main timer, 17 and a countdown timer, wherein the operating method 18 comprising the steps of; starting the countdown timer for 19 performing the countdown; starting the main timer at the 20 same time with operation of the activation means; 21 stopping the main timer at the same time with operation 22 of the deactivation means; and displaying the time 23 measured by the main timer on the display unit.

25 Preferably the electronic game device further comprises 26 false start detecting means and a light and/or speaker, 27 and the operating method further comprises the steps of; 28 detecting a false start by the false start detecting 29 means when the activation means is operated before the 30 completion of the countdown; interrupting the main timer 31 starting; and turning on the light and/or speaker to show 32 the false start being performed.

1 Embodiments of the present invention will now be 2 described by way of example only, with reference to the 3 following drawings of which: 5 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electronic game 6 device according to an embodiment of the present 7 invention; 9 Figure 2 is a plan view of a mat according to an 10 embodiment of the present invention, the mat contains 11 various electronic components; 13 Figure 3 is a crosssectional view through a drinking 14 vessel according to an embodiment of the present 15 invention; 17 Figure 4 is a plan view of the drinking vessel of Figure 18 3; 20 Figure 5 is a perspective view of attachment means 21 according to a further embodiment of the present 22 invention; and 24 Figure 6 is a perspective view of an electronic game 25 device according to a further embodiment of the present 26 invention.

28 Reference is initially made to Figure 1 of the drawings 29 which illustrates an electronic game device suitable for 30 playing a drinking game and particularly a novelty 31 drinking game, generally indicated by reference number 32 10, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 33 present invention. The device 10 generally comprises a

1 drinking vessel 20 suitable for being filled with a 2 liquid, and a support for the drinking vessel such as a 3 mat 40 on which the drinking vessel 20 is located.

5 In this embodiment the mat 40 is a flat rectangular 6 shaped plastic housing which contains various electronic 7 components described hereinafter and is transparent to 8 show its inner construction. The mat 40 has a smoothly 9 flat top surface on which the vessel 20 is located. In 10 modification the support may be in the form of tray.

12 As shown in Figure 2, the mat 40 comprises a main switch 13 11, a central processing unit tCPU) 12, a magnetically 14 activated switch 13, a first light source 14, a display 15 unit 15, a second light source 16, a speaker 17 and a 16 power source 18. All of these components are 17 electronically connected to each other. The CPU 12 18 includes a first timer and a second timer (not shown).

19 The first timer is a main timer used for measuring the 20 time taken for drinking the liquid contained in the 21 vessel 20 during the game while the second timer is a 22 countdown timer used for performing a countdown before 23 the start of the game, as described hereinafter.

25 The main switch 11 consists of a push switch. The 26 magnetically activated switch 13 commonly serves as an 27 activation and deactivation means of the present 28 invention. The switch 13 is positioned at a centre of, 29 and underneath to an upper panel, of the mat 40 to define 30 a first position 19 on which the vessel 20 should be 31 placed. The first position 19 is both a starting 32 position and a completion position of the game.

1 The first light source 14 consists of a series of five 2 lights 14a-e that comprise light emitting diodes (LED's).

3 The display unit 15 may comprise either a light emitting 4 display or a liquid crystal type display. The second 5 light source 16 consists of a group of LED's 16a-h that 6 are arranged in an annular configuration about the switch 7 13. In this embodiment the power source 18 consists of 8 four batteries. Alternatively, the power source 9 comprises a mains power supply (not shown).

11 As is shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drinking vessel 20 12 incorporates an operating magnet 22 embedded into a base 13 portion thereof. The magnet 22 consists of a permanent 14 magnet, and is applied to activate (turn on) and IS deactivate (turn off) the magnetically activated switch 16 13 of the mat 40. The drinking vessel 20 may be a form 17 of a spirit glass, pint glass, bottle, drinks can or 18 other such similar drinking vessel. Additionally, the 19 drinking vessel 20 may be comprised of glass or a plastic 20 material.

22 In use, the drinking vessel is filled with a liquid such 23 as an alcoholic beverage and placed on the first position 24 19 of the mat 40. The main switch 11 is then pressed by 25 the player to turn on the device 10, thereby the 26 countdown timer is started automatically and the magnetic 27 switch 13 is turned on due to the presence of the 28 magnetic 22 above the magnetic switch 13.

30 In the countdown procedure, initially all five LED's 14a-

31 e are lit, and then the individual LED's 14a, 14b,... are 32 extinguished at one second intervals. The second group 33 of LED's 16a-h are synchronized to blink red at the same

1 time with the extinguishing of the countdown LED's 14a-e.

2 The speaker 17 emits a sound, such as a beep, at the time 3 of LED's 14a-e lighting and extinguishing. The countdown 4 timer lasts for a predetermined period of time e.g. 5 5 seconds.

7 The last LED 14e is extinguished at the time of the 8 countdown timer stopping, this indicates to the player an 9 end of the countdown. Thereafter, the drinking vessel 20 10 is permitted to be removed from the first position 19 by 11 the player. This removal results in deactivation 12 (turning off) of the magnetic switch 13 to start the main 13 timer of the CPU 12 so that the main timer measures a 14 time taken for drinking up the liquid filled in the 15 vessel 20.

17 The second group of LED's 16a-h are continue to flash 18 green until the next activation (turning on) of the 19 switch 13.

21 Once the liquid contained in the vessel 20 has been drunk 22 by the player, the vessel 20 is returned to the first 23 position 19. The presence of the magnet 22 at the bottom 24 of the vessel 20 results in activation (turning on) of 25 the electronic magnetic switch 13 to stop the main timer 26 of the CPU 12. The speaker 17 emits a beep at the same 27 time with this stop. Thus, the time taken for drinking 28 the liquid is measured by the main timer.

30 The elapsed time measured by the main timer is shown on 31 the display unit 15. In the preferred embodiment the 32 elapsed time is shown down to one hundredth of a second.

33 The first set of LED's 14a-e then flash a green colour to

1 show that the game has been completed in a correct 2 manner.

4 In the above embodiment the countdown procedure is only 5 for telling the player when to start drinking.

6 Alternatively, the countdown timer can be used as 7 activation means, in which the main timer starts at the 8 same time of completion of the countdown. Furthermore 9 the countdown timer may be integral with the main timer.

11 In a further embodiment, the device may comprise a false 12 start detecting means, which consist of a combination of 13 the countdown timer, the switch 13 and the CPU 12. In 14 this embodiment the CPU 12 is programmed so as to allow 15 the player to remove the vessel 20 from the first 16 position 19 to start drinking only on or after the end of 17 countdown. That is, in the start of the game, 18 deactivation (turning off) of the switch 13 is permitted 19 only on or after the countdown timer has stopped.

21 If the switch 13 is deactivated before the countdown 22 timer completes the countdown sequence then a false start 23 is detected by the CPU 12. This is immediately followed 24 by the prevention of the main timer starting, indicated 25 by the first and second group of LED's 14a-e and 16a-h 26 flashing a red colour and the display unit 15 showing no 27 elapsed time. The speaker 17 may emits a sound such as a 28 beep.

30 As a rule of the game, the player who fails to complete 31 the game successfully may receive a penalty such as a 32 forfeit e.g. a monetary forfeit or alternatively the 33 necessity to repeat the game as previously described with

1 a fresh drink after drinking any liquid still contained 2 in the drinking vessel 20.

4 Reference is now made to Figure 5 of the drawings that 5 illustrates an attachment means, as generally indicated 6 by reference numeral 30. The attachment means 30 has a 7 magnet 32 employed as the activation and deactivation 8 means, and is attached to a common type of drinking 9 vessel 34 not having a magnet to allow the common vessel 10 to be used in the device 10. The drinking vessel 34 11 comprises a spirit glass, a pint glass, a bottle, a 12 drinks can or other such similar drinking vessel.

14 The attachment means 30 is comprised of a base 31 15 incorporating the magnet 32, and a number of arms 36, 16 preferably three. The base 31 and the arms 36 are formed 17 from a single piece construction and are made of a 18 plastic material. The magnet may be interchangeably 19 attached. The arms 36 are slightly movable by their own 20 resilient deformation and are held in place against the 21 drinking vessel by means of an adjustable strap 38. The 22 adjustable strap 38 comprises a strip of cloth like 23 material the ends of which are attached together by means 24 of a Velcro strip. The drinking vessel 34 is inserted 25 into the attachment means 30 so that the attachment means 26 30 securely holds a lower part of the vessel 34.

28 In use the vessel 34 is placed on into the base 31 and 29 the arms 36 are then held tightly against the drinking 30 vessel 34 by the adjustable strap encircling the arms 36 31 and drinking vessel 34.

1 In an alternative embodiment the adjustable strap 38 2 comprises an elasticated circular band or series of 3 elasticated circular bands of different sizes suitable 4 for different sizes of drinking vessels.

6 Alternatively, the arms 36 comprise a resiliently 7 deformable material such as a plastic material or a 8 rubber material, and the diameter between the arms 36 is 9 such that drinking vessels 34 of a specific size fit 10 between the arms 36 and are held in place by pressure 11 exerted by the arms 36 towards the drinking vessel 34.

12 This would therefore make the use of the adjustable strap 13 38 unnecessary.

15 In a further alternative the attachment means comprises a 16 cylindrical device which has a similar diameter to the 17 drinking vessel 34 in use such that the device could be 18 merely pushed onto the base of the drinking vessel 34.

20 Figure 6 shows a further embodiment in which the drinking 21 vessel 50 has all of the electronic components required 22 located within a bottom part. The mat as described above 23 is no longer required for this particular embodiment. The 24 electronic components comprises the main switch 51, the 25 CPU 52 including the main timer and the countdown timer, 26 the first light source 54, the display unit 55, the 27 second light source 56, the speaker 57 and the power 28 source 58.

30 Activation means and deactivation means associated with 31 the main timer is also included in the vessel 40. While 32 these means may consist of a common magnetic switch as 33 above-described, any other type of switch or sensor can

1 be employed such as a contact or pressure switch, a shock 2 switch or sensor, a gravity switch or sensor, or a 3 combination of these. In the case of the magnet switch, 4 any existing objects made of magnetic material e.g. iron 5 tables, handrails or even car bodies can be utilised for 6 operation of the switch.

8 In the case of shock switch, shock or impact given to the 9 vessel 40 causes operation of the switch to activate or 10 deactivate the main timer. Accordingly, for example, the 11 main timer starts when the player bangs the vessel 40 on 12 the table, thereafter the main timer stops when the 13 player again bangs the vessel 40 on the table or other 14 objects.

16 In case of the gravity sensor, for example, the main 17 timer stops when the player put the vessel 40 upside down 18 on his head after finishing drinking, as is common in 19 "boat race'' drinking games.

21 Thus, this embodiment allows the player to define a 22 variety of game rules, for further example, a start or 23 removal position of the vessel may be different from a 24 finish or replace position of the vessel. It is also 25 appreciated that the game can be played even outside the 26 pub, or in a place where no tables are provided.

28 In a further alternative (not shown) the electronic game 29 device comprises a second attachment means fixed at one 30 end to the mat, the opposite end being suitable for 31 receiving a drinking vessel as described above. In this 32 embodiment electronic drinking device forms a single 33 piece, portable unit that can be attached to a variety of

1 vessels. The device then operates in a similar manner to 2 the embodiment as presented in Figure 6 and described 3 above.

5 Further alternatives or modifications of the present 6 invention are described hereinafter. For example, the 7 electrical components described above may be separated 8 into two or more housings, one of which can be the mat or 9 the drinking vessel as above-described.

11 With regard to the start of the countdown, the activation 12 means and/or the deactivation means may be commonly used 13 as the means for starting the countdown timer. For 14 example, in the embodiment of Figures 1-4, the countdown 15 timer starts when the magnetic switch 13 is turned on by 16 the player putting the vessel 20 on the mat 40.

17 Alternatively, the countdown timer starts when the magnet 18 switch 13 is turned off by the player removing the vessel l9 20 from the mat 40.

21 In the case that the activation means is a shock sensor, 22 the countdown timer starts when the shock sensor detects 23 a shock caused by the player placing the vessel on the 24 mat or another surface, or banging the vessel on a 25 surface.

27 The countdown timer may have a random function so as to 28 stop randomly. That is, the countdown timer may run for 29 a random period of time. A sequential countdown in a 30 random period of time may be performed, with synchronous 31 operation of the countdown lights and/or the speaker to 32 let the player know when he should start drinking.

33 Alternatively, no sequential countdown in a random period

1 of time without any displaying or sounding may be 2 performed, whereby the game may become more enjoyable 3 because the player does not know when he should start 4 drinking.

6 The countdown may not be performed. For example, in the 7 embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the main timer is 8 started at the same time when the main switch 11 is 9 turned on. The player should start drinking immediately 10 after pushing the main switch 11.

12 The device may be constructed such that the main timer 13 stops when the drinking vessel is returned to another 14 position than a position where the vessel is originally 15 removed from. That is, the deactivation means may be 16 positioned at another place than that of the activation 17 means. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, 18 further switches, employed as the deactivation means, may 19 be disposed at a second position outside the mat 40. It 20 would be appreciated that the embodiment shown in Figure 21 6 allows a remove and a return position for the vessel 40 22 to be changed.

24 Further modifications to the device could include the 25 electronic game device further comprising a memory for 26 memorising the time measured by the main timer, and/or 27 data to be entered. The CPU 12 is programmable so that 28 the names of individual players may be entered into the 29 device and the name of the individual with a fastest time 30 for completing the game is shown on the display unit 31 together with their time. The electronic device may 32 further retain the overall time and name of the player 33 with the overall fastest time for playing the game, the

1 time being displayed as a comparative marker against an 2 individual with a individual fastest time of a group of 3 players playing the game.

5 The device may be attached to or incorporated into structures such as trays, tables or bars of the type 7 typically used in drinking establishments.

9 Yet further modifications to the device may be made such 10 that a number of separate electronic game devices are 11 interconnected with each other and connected to a single 12 CPU to be controlled centrally. This allows races to be 13 held among a number of players each employing a separate 14 electronic game device. In this case the CPU may record 15 the identities of the players and subsequently record the 16 individual times taken by the players to complete the 17 game. The identity and time of the fastest user(s) are 18 then displayed on the individual display unit or on a 19 separate larger display unit. Preferably all the devices 20 start their countdowns simultaneously.

22 The device may have means for determining tasks, forfeits 23 or consequences resulting from a player's time, score, or 24 failure to obtain a required time. Alternatively or 25 additionally to the sound from the speaker, a small 26 electric shock, a loud noise, an alarm or the like may be 27 emitted from the device in the time with countdown, timer 28 starting and/or timer stopping.

30 Additionally the device may be incorporated with any 31 means for allowing to play a board game or other playing 32 addition.

1 Thus, an advantage of the present invention is that it 2 provides an electronic game device can measure the time 3 taken to perform a task.

5 A further advantage of the present invention is that it 6 provides an electronic game device whereby a player can 7 compete with another player on a time format.

9 A yet further advantage of the present invention is that 10 it provides an electronic game device that can tell the 11 player when to commence the game.

13 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 14 various modifications may be made to the invention 15 disclosed herein without departing from the scope 16 thereof.

Claims

1 Claims

3 1) An electronic game device for allowing a player to 4 compete on the basis of time taken for drinking a 5 liquid filled in a vessel, comprising a main timer 6 for measuring the time taken, and a display unit for 7 displaying the time measured.

9 2) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 1 10 wherein the electronic game device further comprises 11 activation means for starting the main timer.

13 3) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 1 or 14 Claim 2 that further comprises a countdown timer for 15 performing a countdown before the main timer starts.

17 4) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 3 18 wherein the countdown timer runs for a predetermined 19 period of time.

21 5) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 3 22 wherein the countdown timer runs for a random period 23 of time.

25 6) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 3 to 26 Claim 5 wherein the main timer starts at the same 27 time as a completion of the countdown timer.

29 7) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 3 to 30 Claim 6 wherein the activation means starts the 31 countdown.

1 8) An electronic game device as claimed Claim 3 to Claim 2 8 that further comprises a first light being turned 3 on or off synchronously with the countdown.

5 9) An electronic game device as claimed in any of the 6 preceding Claims wherein the electronic game device 7 further comprises a deactivation means for stopping 8 the main timer.

10 10) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 9 11 wherein the deactivation means is common with the 12 activation means.

14 11) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 2 to 15 Claim 10 wherein the activation means comprise one or 16 more switches selected from a group comprising a 17 magnetic switch, a contact or pressure switch, a 18 shock switch or sensor and a gravity switch or 19 sensor. 21 12) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 9 to 22 Claim 11 wherein the deactivation means comprise one 23 or more switches selected from a group comprising a 24 magnetic switch, a contact or pressure switch, a 25 shock switch or sensor and a gravity switch or 26 sensor. 28 13) An electronic game device as claimed in any of the 29 preceding Claims wherein the electronic game device 30 further comprises a second light, which is turned on 31 or off at the same time as the main timer starting 32 and/or stopping.

1 14) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 3 to 2 Claim 13 wherein the electronic game device further 3 comprises a false start detecting means which detects 4 a false start when the activation means is operated 5 before the countdown timer is completed.

7 15) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 3 to 8 Claim 14 wherein the electronic game device further 9 comprises a speaker that sounds synchronously with 10 the countdown timer, and/or the start of the main 11 timer, and/or stop of the main timer.

13 16) An electronic game device as claimed in any of the 14 preceding Claims wherein the electronic game device IS further comprises a memory for memorising one or more 16 times measured by the main timer, and/or data to be 17 entered. 19 17) An electronic game device as claimed in any of the 20 preceding claims wherein the electronic game device 21 further comprises a mat on which the liquid 22 containing vessel is located.

24 18) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 17 25 wherein the mat contains the activation means and/or 26 the deactivation means.

28 19) An electronic game device as claimed in Claim 18 29 wherein the activation means and/or the deactivation 30 means are positioned at the centre of the mat so as 31 to define a position for the liquid containing vessel 32 to be located.

1 20) An electronic game device as claimed in Claims 1 to 2 Claim 19 wherein the electronic game device comprises 3 an attachment means suitable for attaching to a 4 common vessel, the attachment means comprising a 5 magnet suitable for operating the magnetic switch.

7 21) An electronic game device as claimed in Claims 1 to 8 Claim 16 wherein the electronic game device comprises 9 a second attachment means suitable for attaching the 10 electronic game device to a common vessel.

12 22) An electronic game device as claimed in Claims 1 to 13 Claim 16 wherein the electronic game device further 14 comprises a vessel within which are housed the main 15 timer for measuring the time taken and the display 16 unit for displaying the time measured.

18 23) An operating method of an electronic game device for 19 allowing a player to compete on the basis of time 20 taken for drinking up a liquid filled in a vessel, 21 the electronic game device comprising a main timer 22 for measuring the time taken, a display unit for 23 displaying the time measured, activation means for 24 starting the main timer, deactivation means for 25 stopping the main timer, and a countdown timer, 26 wherein the operating method comprising the steps of: 27 1) Starting the countdown timer for performing the 28 countdown; 29 2) Starting the main timer at the same time with 30 operation of the activation means; 31 3) Stopping the main timer at the same time with 32 operation of the deactivation means; and

1 4) Displaying the time measured by the main timer on 2 the display unit.

4 23) An operating method as claimed in claim 21 wherein 5 the electronic game device further comprises false 6 start detecting means and a light and/or speaker, and 7 the operating method further comprises the steps of: 8 1) Detecting a false start by the false start 9 detecting means when the activation means is 10 operated before the completion of the countdown; 11 2) Interrupting the main timer starting; and 12 3) Turning on the light and/or speaker to show the 13 false start being performed.