US3814426A

US3814426A - Football game

Info

Publication number: US3814426A
Application number: US00342842A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Moe
Original assignee: Aurora Products Corp
Current assignee: Aurora Products Canada Ltd; Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd; Aurora Products Corp
Priority date: 1973-03-19
Filing date: 1973-03-19
Publication date: 1974-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-04

Abstract

A competitive game of skill and chance which simulates the wellknown game of football. The game board simulates a miniature football stadium having a football playing field which includes an XY grid having various indicia assigned to each set of X and Y coordinates or square of the grid. On each play of the game an indicator is movable by the players below the XY grid to illuminate a particular grid square and its corresponding indicia to show the results of the play. A selection device is provided and operated by the players to move the indicator, with one player independently controlling the X position of the indicator under the XY grid and the other player independently controlling the Y position of the indicator under the XY grid. The final position of the indicator is a function of the independent actions of the players, and the indicator is activated to illuminate the selected grid square to show the results of the ''''play.

Description

June 4, 1974 United States Patent [191 Moe I FOOTBALL GAME Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [75] Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello l ntor: Walter Moe Huntin t ,L.l., N.Y.

nve g on Atlorne Agent, or FlrmAmster & Rothstem Aurora Products Corp., West Hemstead, NY.

[73] Assignee:

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PATENTEDJUN 4 I914 SHEET 4 0F 4 1 FOOTBALL GAME In the past, there have been numerous attempts to construct an indoor game which is simple to operate and yet accurately simulates the game of football. More specifically, theseindoor games have attempted to reproduce the play situations and outcomes of an actual football game including the play strategy employed by the opposing offensive and defensive teams. Typically, the indoor game is played by two players, with one player representing the offensive team and the other player representing the defensive team. Each player utilizes his skill to select a play from various offensive and defensive plays which the player thinks is the best strategy in the existing situation on the playing field. Although these games have substantial play value and are interesting to both children and adults, they have not been completely successful in constructing a game which allows the offensive and defensive players to conveniently and simply select offensive and defensive plays which may be quickly coordinated so that the outcome of the game play may be visually indicated to the players in a quick, simple and reliable manner.

Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide a game which is simple to operate, yet accurately simulates the actual game 'of football and, more particularly, to provide such a game with easily operable offensive and defensive play selectors which control the position of a simple and reliable device for visually indicating to the players the result of their selected offensive and defensive plays.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an indicating device which is movable with said offensive and defensive play selectors to any position on the game's playing field, yet the indicating device may be simply and quickly actuated at any such playing field position to indicate the outcome of the game play.

Briefly. in accordance with the principles of the invention. there is provided a unique indicating device which visually indicates to the players the outcome of a game play and means for activating said indicating device at any position on the games playing field.

More particularly, the game board simulates a miniature football stadium having a football playing field on the upper surface of the game board. On the underside of the game board there is provided an XY grid which includes a plurality of indicating holes or grid squares having various indicia assigned to each of the grid squares. On each play of the game, the indicating device is movable by the players below the XY grid to illuminate a particular grid square and its corresponding indicia to show the results of a game play. The indicating device is carriedby offensive and defensive play selectors with one player employing the offensive play selector to independently control the X position of the indicating device under the XY grid and the other player employing the defensive play selector to independently control the Y position of the indicating device under the XY grid. Accordingly, the final position of the indicating device under the XY grid is a function of the independent actions of the players. In addition, a unique switch, which is carried by the offensive play selector, is operable to activate the indicating device at any position under the XY grid to indicate the results of the game play.

Further object, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the football game of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one side thereof;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the other side thereof;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of one end thereof; FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the other end thereof;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan'view of the game of the present invention illustrating the offensive and defensive play selectors and partially illustrating the XY grid;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of the XY grid and the corresponding indicia;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the play selectors and the indicator carried thereby;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line l0-l0'in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the playing field and the play selectors;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top'plan view, with parts broken away and shown in section, taken substantially along the line 11-11 in FIG. 10 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the play selectors and the indicator carried thereby.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, there is shown an illustrative game embodying features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference number 10, which includes a rectangular-shaped frame 12 simulating a football stadium and including a playing field 14. Frame 12 also includes a scoreboard 16 which simulates the actual scoreboard at a football stadium. More particularly, scoreboard 16 includes scoring dials 16a and 16b for indicating the score of the home and visiting teams, respectively, a time clock 16c, a dial 16d for indicating game quarters'and a dial 16c for indicating downs. As may be seen in FIG. 4, each of the dials of the scoreboard 16 are mounted for rotation on a shaft 18 supported on frame 12 and each of the dials 16a through 16:: include suitable indicia thereon in order to accurately simulate an actual stadium scoreboard.

The playing field 14 also includes suitable indicia means, such as a sheet of translucent paper 20, printed on both sides. In this illustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed for the play of football, translucent paper 20 is printed on its upper side 20a with various markings to simulate an actual football playing field. As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 8, the underside 20b of translucent paper 20 is also provided with various markings printed thereon for a purpose which will be described below. In addition, playing field 14 is provided with longitudinal rails 22, 24located along each side of playing field 14. In this illustrative form of the invention, a scrimmage marker 26 and a first down marker 28 are slidably mounted on

rails

22, 24, respectively. In this manner, at the end of each game play, scrimmage marker 26 may be moved along rail 22 to correspond to the number of yards gained or lost as a result of a particular play of the game. Further, the pointers of first down marker 28 extend over yards, from the scrimmage line indicated by scrimmage marker 26 to the first down line, to indicate how many yards must be gained by the offensive team in order to get another first down.

The game of the present invention is played by two players, one player representing the offensive team and the other player representing the defensive team. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, frame 12 is provided with a slot 12a for the receipt of offense playing cards 30 inserted therein by the player on offense. In addition, as may be seen most clearly in FIG. 5, frame 12 is also provided with a slot 12b for the receipt of defense playing cards 32 inserted therein by the player on defense. In this illustrative form of the invention, there are three sets of offensive and

defensive playing cards

30, 32. In set No. l, offense playing card 30 is marked Balanced Offense" and contains a variety of plays which may be selected by the player representing the offensive team, and defense playing card 32 is marked Balanced Defense and also contains a variety of plays which may beselected by the player representing the defensive team. Inset No. 2, offense playing card 30 is marked Strong Run-Weak Pass and defense playing card 32 is similarly marked. ln set No. 3, of-

fense playing card 30 is marked"Strong Pass-.Weak Run and-defense playing card 32 is similarly marked. Thus, by using a variety of combinations of offense playing cards 30 and defense playing cards 32, and by selectingfrom the various plays on each playing card, many different kinds of football games may be played. Moreover, it will be appreciated that changing of

playing cards

30, 32 during the play of the game simulates the substitution of players in an actual game of football. In this manner, the game of the present invention allows the players to vary their offenses or defenses in order to find the right combination of plays that works best against the opposing team.

Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown a bottom plan view of the game of the present invention. This bottom plan view clearly illustrates the underside of playing field l4-which is provided with an XY grid network 1411 which includes aplurality of grid squares or indicating holes 14b formed in playing field 14 at its X and Y coordinates. As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 8, each of the indicating holes 14b corresponds to an indicia marking 200 formed on the underside 20b of translu-' cen't paper 20, for a purpose which will be described below.

As also shown in FIG. 7, the game of the present invention is provided with a selection device 40 which includes an offensive play selector 42 and a defensive play selector 44 arranged at right angles to each other and movable below the XY grid network 14a. As shown in FIG. 10, offensive play selector 42 is movable relative to the Xaxis of playing field 14 in

ways

12c, 12d formed-in the sides of frame 12. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, defensive play selector 44 is movable relative to the Y axis of playing field 14 in ways 12e, 12f. Of course, it will be apparent that such movements may be reversed so that offensive play selector 42 is movable relative to the Y axis and defensive play selector 44 is movable relative to the X axis. As may be seen in FIG. 2, offensive play selector 42 is provided with a 4 pointer 42a and defensive play selector 44 is also provided with a pointer 44a, so that the offensive and defensive players may point to and select plays marked on offense playing cards 30 and defense playing cards 32, respectively. More particularly, the player on offense slides offensive play selector 42 and pointer42a along the X axis to select one of the offensive plays on one of the offense playing cards 30 which he has placed in offensive playing card receiving slot 12a. At the same time, the player on defense slides defensive play selector 44 and pointer 44a along the Y axis to select one of the defensive plays on one of the defense playing cards 32.which he has placed in defensive playing card receiving slot 12b. This independent movement of offensive play selector 42 and defensive play selector 44 will cause them tointersect at a position unknown to each of the players. This position is indicated by dotted circle 46 (see FIG. 7) and has X and Y coordinates which correspond to the X and Y coordinates of one of the grid squares or indicating holes 14b and the indicia 20c assigned to that indicating hole 14b which indicates the results or outcome of the play."

The manner-of indicating to the offensive and the defensive players the results of the -play determined by the movement of offensive play selector 42 and defen-' sive play selector 44, will nowbe explained. As may be seen in FIG. 9, an indicator 50 includes a case 50a which is slidably mounted on guides 42b formed on offensive play selector 42. In addition, indicator 50 not only moves relative to offensive play selector 42 but moves with play selector 42 when itis actuated by the player on offense. Also, as may be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, indicator 50 is provided with extensions-50b which extend downwardly between guides 44b formed on defensive play selector 44 so that when the player on defense slides defensiveplay selector 44, extensions 50b will cause indicator 50 to slide relative to offensive play selector 42 on guides 42b. V

The indicator 50 of the present invention may include any suitable meansfor indicating to the players which grid-square or indicating hole 14b and corresponding indicia 200 has been selected as aresult of the independent movements of offensive play selector 42 and defensiveplay selector 44. In this illustrative form of the invention, indicator 50 includes a light bulb 52 which illuminates'the selected grid square 14b and a portion of translucent paper 20. In this manner, the players may read from above playing field 14 the indicia marking 200 provided on the underside 20b of translucent paper 20 which indicates the result of the play of the game. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, plus and minus signs with various numerals indicate that the play of the game has resulted in a gain or loss of the amount of yardage indicated. In addition, other indicia 20c are also provided to indicate other types of results in the play of the game, such as, interceptions, fumbles, incomplete passes, blocks, penalties, touchdowns, etc. as is well known in the actual game of football.

In order to energize light bulb 52, indicator 50 includes a circuit which is mounted in case 50a and includes a suitable supply of power, such as a battery 54, and a spring contact 56 connecting battery 54 and light bulb 52. As shown in FIG. ll,,spring contact 56 includes a contact head 56a which is normally biased out of contact with light bulb 52 so that the energizing circuit is normally open during the play of the game and movement of offensive and

defensive play selectors

42, 44. In order to make contact between contact head 56a and light bulb 52 and complete the circuit, a switch 58 is provided and is suitably mounted for rotational movement on offensive play selector 42 (see FIG. 9). Switch 58 is in the form of an elongated cam having a cam face 58a formed thereon so that when switch S8 is rotated, cam face 58a engages and biases contact head 56a into contact with light bulb 52 to complete the circuit and energize light bulb 52. In this manner, light bulb 52 will illuminate the selected grid square or indicating hole 14b formed in XY grid 14a and thereby illuminate translucent paper so that indicia marking 20c is visible-and may be read by the players to reveal the outcome of the play. Further, switch 58 is provided with switch extension 58b which extends through a suitable opening'formed in offensive play selector 42. Attached to the end of switch extension 58b is a switch knob 58c so that the player on offense may easily rotate switch extension 58b and switch 58. In this manner, switch 58 is operable to actuate spring contact 56 and to energize light bulb 52 at any position to which indicator 50 may be moved by selection device 40.

Accordingly, in the play of the game, the player on offense selects one of the offense playing cards 30, inserts it into card-receiving slot 12a and positions himself adjacent that side of the game. Simultaneously, the player on defense selects one of the defense playing cards 32, inserts it into card-receiving slot 12b and positions himself adjacent that side of the game. The player on offense then studies the offense playing card 30 which he has selected, decides on a particular offensive play and moves offensive play selector 42 to line up pointer 42a with the selected offensive play. Simultaneously, the player on defense studies the defense playing card 32 which he has selected, decides on a particular defensive play and moves defensive play selector 44 so that pointer 44a is lined up with the selected defensive play.

it will be apparent that movement of offensive play selector 42 moves indicator 50 along the X axis of XY grid 14a. More particularly, the ends of offensive play selector 42 will move along

ways

12c, 12d and carry indicator 50 therewith with extensions 50b moving in guides 44b of defensive play selector 44. It will also be apparent that movement of defensive play selector 44 moves indicator 50 along the Y axis of XY grid 14a.

More particularly, the ends of defensive play selector 44 move along ways 12e, 12f and move indicator therewith by guides 44b engaging extensions 50b formed on indicator 50.

To indicate which indicating hole 14b has been selected by the independent movements of offensive play selector 42 and defensive play selector 44, the player on offense rotates switch knob 580 so that cam face 580 biases contact head 56a into engagement with and energizes light bulb 52. Light bulb 52 will illuminate the selected indicating hole 14b so that the corresponding indicia marking 200 on translucent paper 20 will be visible to the players and thereby show the result of the play. Scrimmage marker 26 is then moved according to the number of yards indicated as gained or lost as a result of the play. The players then make the appropriate changes to score board 16 and first down marker 28 as a result of the play.

It should also be pointed out that

playing cards

30, 32 and indicia markings 200 have been arranged and computed so that a good offensive and bad defensive play will result in a gain of yardage, and vice versa. More particularly, the game of the present invention takes into account the probability of successfully executing the offensive play selected by the player on offense, and the effectiveness of the defensive play selected by the player on defense in stopping the selected offensive play. The more the defense is fooled by the offense, the greater will be the yardage gained by the offensive team. However, if the player on defense comes close to predicting the offensive play which the player on offense has selected and selects an appropriate defensive play, the outcome of the play will result in a yardage loss for the offensive team, or an interception, fumble, etc.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that the play of the game depends on the skill of the players as well as on chance. More particularly, each player utilizes his skill in selecting a particular offensive or defensive play to best combat what he thinks his opponents strategy is. Moreover, if a player finds that a particular strategy is not working, the player may further utilize his skill to change his tactics and select an offensive or defensive playing card which would improve his game strategy against his opponent. The element of chance is also provided for in the play of the game as the offensive or defensive play selected by each of the players remains undisclosed to his opponent until the latter has also selected an offensive or defensive play. More particularly, the player on offense independently moves offensive play selector 42 to control the X position of indicator 50 and the player on defense independently moves defensive play selector 44 to control the Y position of indicator 50. Accordingly, the final position of indicator 50 is a function of the independent actions of the offensive and defensive players. In this manner, as each player does not know which play his opponent has selected and its coordinate with respect to the playing field, there is also provided an element of chance in the play of the game.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that there has been provided in accordance with the game of the present invention, a simple device for selecting offensive and defensive plays which is independently operable by each of the players to quickly and easily move the play indicator with respect to the playing field. Further, the indicator includes a unique lamp 'and switch assembly with the switch being operable to activate the indicator lampat any position on the playing field to indicate the results of a game play.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, any of a wide variety of games may be played with the selection device 40 and indicator 50 of the present invention to determine the play of the game. ln addition, the invention may be used in other specific forms or games without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive,

the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims fensive plays.

movable relative to said playing field for indicating the results of a game play, means for independently selecting an offensive play and operatively connected to said indicating means for simultaneously moving said indicating means to an X coordinate on the X axis of said playing field, means for independently selecting a defensive play and also operatively connected to said indicating means for simultaneously moving said indicating means to a Y coordinate on the Y axis of said playing field and means for activating said indicating means at said X and Y coordinates in order to indicate the results of said independently selected offensive and de- 2. A game according to claim 1 wherein said indicating means is supported on said offensive play selecting means and is movable therewith and wherein said defensive play selecting means is operable to move said indicating means relative to said offensive play selecting means.

3. A game according to claim 2 wherein said playing field includes indicia at a plurality of said X and Y co- I ordinates.

' means being movable relative to said switch.

7. A game according to claim 6 wherein said illuminating means includes a lamp andmeans for making electrical contact with said lamp, said contact means being normally out of engagement with said lamp and said switch being operable to bias said contact means into engagement with said lamp.

8. A game of chance and skill comprising means defining a playing field, indicia means below said playing field and arranged to form an XY grid having X and Y coordinates, an indicator being movable with respect to said XY grid to select one of said indicia means, means for controlling the X coordinate of said indicator with respect to said XY grid, means for controlling the Y coordinate of said indicator with respect to said XY grid, and means for actuating said indicator at said X and Y coordinates of said XY grid to disclose the selected one of said indicia means. I

9. A game according to claim 8 wherein said actuating means includes a switch mounted on said X coordinate controlling means and is movable therewith and is operable to actuate said indicator at said X and Y coordinates of said XY grid.

10. A game according to claim 9 wherein said indicator includes a lamp and a spring contact and said switch is operable to bias said spring contact into engagement with said lamp.

11. A game for competitive playing between an offensive player and a defensive player comprising means defining a playingfield having X and Y axes, said playing field-including a translucent sheethaving a plurality of indicia arranged at respective X and Y coordinates on said X and Y axes, means movable below said playing field for illuminating said translucent sheet and one of said indicia, means for independently selecting an selected offensive and defensive plays.

Claims

1. A game for competitive playing between an offensive player and a defensive player comprising means defining a playing field having X and Y axes, means movable relative to said playing field for indicating the results of a game play, means for independently selecting an offensive play and operatively connected to said indicating means for simultaneously moving said indicating means to an X coordinate on the X axis of said playing field, means for independently selecting a defensive play and also operatively connected to said indicating means for simultaneously moving said indicating means to a Y coordinate on the Y axis of said playing field and means for activating said indicating means at said X and Y coordinates in order to indicate the results of said independently selected offensive and defensive plays.

2. A game acCording to claim 1 wherein said indicating means is supported on said offensive play selecting means and is movable therewith and wherein said defensive play selecting means is operable to move said indicating means relative to said offensive play selecting means.

3. A game according to claim 2 wherein said playing field includes indicia at a plurality of said X and Y coordinates.

4. A game according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means includes means for illuminating the indicia on said playing field.

5. A game according to claim 4 wherein said activating means is supported on said offensive play selecting means and is movable therewith and is operable to activate said illuminating means at said X and Y coordinates of said playing field.

6. A game according to claim 5 wherein said activating means includes a switch rotatably mounted on said offensive play selecting means and said indicating means being movable relative to said switch.

7. A game according to claim 6 wherein said illuminating means includes a lamp and means for making electrical contact with said lamp, said contact means being normally out of engagement with said lamp and said switch being operable to bias said contact means into engagement with said lamp.

8. A game of chance and skill comprising means defining a playing field, indicia means below said playing field and arranged to form an XY grid having X and Y coordinates, an indicator being movable with respect to said XY grid to select one of said indicia means, means for controlling the X coordinate of said indicator with respect to said XY grid, means for controlling the Y coordinate of said indicator with respect to said XY grid, and means for actuating said indicator at said X and Y coordinates of said XY grid to disclose the selected one of said indicia means.

11. A game for competitive playing between an offensive player and a defensive player comprising means defining a playing field having X and Y axes, said playing field including a translucent sheet having a plurality of indicia arranged at respective X and Y coordinates on said X and Y axes, means movable below said playing field for illuminating said translucent sheet and one of said indicia, means for independently selecting an offensive play and simultaneously carrying said illuminating means to an X coordinate on the X axis of said playing field, means for independently selecting a defensive play and simultaneously moving said illuminating means to a Y coordinate on the Y axis of said playing field, and a switch for activating said illuminating means at said X and Y coordinates to illuminate one of said indicia to indicate the result of said independently selected offensive and defensive plays.