CA1280452C - Three dimensional game and gameboard - Google Patents
Three dimensional game and gameboardInfo
- Publication number
- CA1280452C CA1280452C CA000503860A CA503860A CA1280452C CA 1280452 C CA1280452 C CA 1280452C CA 000503860 A CA000503860 A CA 000503860A CA 503860 A CA503860 A CA 503860A CA 1280452 C CA1280452 C CA 1280452C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- game
- pieces
- spaces
- opponent
- piece
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000009191 jumping Effects 0.000 abstract description 6
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- CXENHBSYCFFKJS-OXYODPPFSA-N (Z,E)-alpha-farnesene Chemical compound CC(C)=CCC\C(C)=C\C\C=C(\C)C=C CXENHBSYCFFKJS-OXYODPPFSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Toys (AREA)
Abstract
THREE-DIMENSIONAL GAME AND GAMEBOARD
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A three dimensional game played by two players each having five identical playing pieces. The game is played on three similar boards or grids lying in three vertically spaced parallel planes. Each board contains thirteen spaces, nine of which form a central square with one of the four re-maining spaces lying adjacent to the center of each of the four sides of the central square. To begin the game, the first player places one of his five pieces in the four outer-most spaces and in the central space of the uppermost game-board called the Alpha grid while the opposing player places his five pieces in the corresponding spaces of the lowermost gameboard called the Omega grid. The middle board is called the neutral grid. The central space of the Alpha and the Omega grids is that player's base and the object of the game is to capture the opponent's base by landing a piece on it or by first capturing all of the opponent's pieces. An opponent's piece is captured by jumping over an opponent's piece lying an adjoining space and landing in a vacant space on the opposite side of the opponent's piece. Except for jumping, each piece may move only one space at a time horizontally or vertically but diagonal vertical moves are not permitted.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A three dimensional game played by two players each having five identical playing pieces. The game is played on three similar boards or grids lying in three vertically spaced parallel planes. Each board contains thirteen spaces, nine of which form a central square with one of the four re-maining spaces lying adjacent to the center of each of the four sides of the central square. To begin the game, the first player places one of his five pieces in the four outer-most spaces and in the central space of the uppermost game-board called the Alpha grid while the opposing player places his five pieces in the corresponding spaces of the lowermost gameboard called the Omega grid. The middle board is called the neutral grid. The central space of the Alpha and the Omega grids is that player's base and the object of the game is to capture the opponent's base by landing a piece on it or by first capturing all of the opponent's pieces. An opponent's piece is captured by jumping over an opponent's piece lying an adjoining space and landing in a vacant space on the opposite side of the opponent's piece. Except for jumping, each piece may move only one space at a time horizontally or vertically but diagonal vertical moves are not permitted.
Description
.
~ACK&ROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
~ or centuries mankind has engaged in games of skill ~n which two opponents take turns moving pieces according to predetermined rules over the s~lr~ace of a gameboard. At least three such games -- chess, checkers and the Japanese game o~ go -- CODtinUe to enjoy worldwide popularity.
In recent years a number of three-dimensio~al games, that is games using at least two vertically spaced gameboards, have been sug~ested as is evident from U.S. Patents 2,313,473;
~ACK&ROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
~ or centuries mankind has engaged in games of skill ~n which two opponents take turns moving pieces according to predetermined rules over the s~lr~ace of a gameboard. At least three such games -- chess, checkers and the Japanese game o~ go -- CODtinUe to enjoy worldwide popularity.
In recent years a number of three-dimensio~al games, that is games using at least two vertically spaced gameboards, have been sug~ested as is evident from U.S. Patents 2,313,473;
2,~019107; 3,399,895; 3,606,333; 3,747,931; 3,806,124;
4,082,283; 4,184,685; 4,204,685 and 4,333,654. However, so far as I am aware, none oi the three-dimensional board games thus far suggested have met with wide use or popularity.
Accordingly, I have invented a novel three-dimensional board game called the Alpha-Omega Encounter which because of its unique features can be played to a ~inal conclusion in most cases in from 10 to 30 minutes. Its rules and playing techniques are quickly and easily grasped by children and adults alike, and yet winning the game is almost entirely a matter of skill rather than luck~
The Alpha-Omega Encounter is played on a unique gameboard comprising three similar boards or grids lying in three verti-cally spaced planes. Each of the three boards is divided into thirteen similar spaces or squares. Nine of the spaces form a square, three spaces on each side of the square surrounding a central space. The remaining four spaces lie outside the square -2- ~
C~ 2 (-with one space lying next to the center space of each of the four sides of the square.
Each player is given five similarly colored pieces pref-erably in the form of spheres. The fir~t player places his iiYe sphereæ in the ~our outermost spaces and the central space o~
the upper board callsd the ~lpha grid, while the second player places his spheres in the similar ~paces of the lower board called the Omega grid. The middle board is called the neutral Krid .
The object of the game is to place a ~phere on the Gentral space of the opponent's grid, called the base, or to capture and remove from the gameboard all of the opponent's spheres. A piece is captured by jumping over that piece from an adjoining space and landing in a vacant space on the opposite side of the captured piece and then moving to an adjoining vacant space. As in the game of checkers, if the opponent's pieces are appropriately positioned, sequential Jumps may be taken during the s~me turn.
Except when jumping over an opponent's piece, a piece may move only to any adjoining empty space. However, a move to an upper or lower grid must be to the ~pace directly above or below -- a diagonal vertical move is not permitted.
Play starts by random determination (flip of a coin or roll of a die) of which player goes ~irst. The first player moves one of his pieces one horizontal or vertical space. The second player follows and the game continues until one player z lands one of his pieces on the opponent's base or his opponent loses all ~ive oi his pieces~
~8~i2 ( B~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of my invention will be ~ully understood from the following description a~d the accompaning drawing in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my novel gameboard showing the playing pieces at the start of a game.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view o~ $he gameboard shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a diagramatic plan view of the uppermost board of the gameboard shown in Figure 1 with the playing pieces in their starting position.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second form of my novel gameboard.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the gameboard shown in Figure 4 taken along lines 5-5 showing three of the indentations serving as receptacles for the play-ing pieces.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates o~e form of my unique three-dimensional gameboard and shows the location o~ the spherical playing pieces at the begiDning o~ an Alph~-Omega Encounter game.
Gameboard 10 includes three identical wire mesh grids 7 12 and 13 which are held in vertically spaced relation-ship by ~our similar tubular posts 14, 15 t 16 and ~7.
Each of grids 11~ 12 and 13 are constructed of galva-nized wire mesh or cast from a suitable plastic material such as nylon. Each grid contains a total of thirteen playing spaces or squares. The inner relationship of these playing squares is best shown in Figure 3 which is a diagramatic illus-tration of the playing pieces on grid 11 at the start of an Alpha-Omega Encounter game. Nine of the squares are arranged into a central matrix in the ~orm of a larger square with three of the playing s~uares on each of the four sides of the central matrix surrounding a central square. The four remaining play-ing squares are located outside the central matrix with one of the remaining squares lying adjacent to the center square of each side o~ the central matrix.
Upper grid 11 is called the Alpha grid. Lower grid 13 is called the Omega grid. The center grid 12 is called the neutral grid. At the start o~ a game, the player assigned to the Alpha grid is given ~ive identically colored playing pieces or spheres 18 and he places four o~ his spheres in the ii2 ~ (, ., four outermost playing squares of the Alpha grid and his remairing sphere is in the center square as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
The opposing player assigned to the Omega grid is like-wi~e provided with five spheres all having a color dif~erent from those used by tbe first player and ~e places his five spheres in the ~ive similar playing ~quares oi Omega grid 13~
The rules of play of the Alpha-Omega Encounter game are quite simple. The person to play first is chosen by random selection such as by the flip of a coin or the roll of a die.
During his turn, eæch player can move one of his spheres to any adjoining vacant square. However, if the move is vertical (up or down to a different grid) it must be to the square directly above or below the square occupied by the sphere --diagonal vertical moves are not permitted.
Rather than moving to an adjoining space a player may capture any opposing player's sphere lying vertically or horizontally adjacent to the sphere to be played. Capture is e~fected by jumping over the opposing playerls sphere into a vacant square on the opposite side of the opposing player's sphere and then moving to an adjoining vacant square to complete the capture or jumping move.
The object of the game is either to land one of the player's spheres onto the central square or base of the opposing player or to capture and remove from the gameboard all of the opposing player's spheres, whichever occurs first.
~ ! "
The foregoing rules are quite quickly grasped both by children and adults 9 but winning the game is largely a matter of skill rather than luck. Hence I believe my game will attract the înterest of a great many persons 9 especially since the game can usually be played to a final conclusion in ~rom 10 to 30 minutes~ thus avoiding the long drawn out period o~
play in games such as chess and the Japanese game of go. More-over, the ~ac$ that the game requlres very little in the way of expensive paraphernalia enhances its popularity.
It would seem apparent to those skilled in the art that the game can be played with playing pieces in the form of pegs, disks or magnetized pieces in a wide variety of shapes. Like-wise, the gameboard itself may take various shapes other than that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and still provide the same inter-est and playing technique as described.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of my unique gameboard. Gameboard 20 as shown in Figure 4 is made of a cast plastic material and includes an Alpha grid 21, a neutral grid 22 and an Omega grid and base 230 Grids 219 22 and 23 are held in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other by a tubular post 24. The playing spaces of each o~
grids 21, 22 and 23 consist o~ thirteen spaced apart partial hemispherical receptacles 21a, 22a and 23a respectively which are arranged with respect to each other in a pattern similar to that shown in Figure 3`except, of course~ the spaces are in-dentations which are circular in plan view rather than squares as shown in Figure 3. Indentations or receptacles 21a, 22a and i2 C
23a are-designed to hold or receive playing spheres similar to spheres 1~ and 19 shown in Figure 1.
Figure S is a partially broken away cross-sectional side view taken along line 5~5 o~ Figure 4 showing three of the hemi-spherical indentations or receptacles 22a in the upper playin~
surface o~ neu~ral grid 22 wi*h vertical cylindrical post 24 suppor~ing grid 22 in a horizontal positioD.
While two preferred embodiments o~ my unique gameboard h~ve been illustrated and described, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that ~umerous modi~ications may be made in the structure of the gameboard and the playing pieces which are the subject of my invention without departing ~rom the spirit of the invention. It is there~ore my intention that the scope and spirit of my invention be limited only by the appended claim.
_9_
4,082,283; 4,184,685; 4,204,685 and 4,333,654. However, so far as I am aware, none oi the three-dimensional board games thus far suggested have met with wide use or popularity.
Accordingly, I have invented a novel three-dimensional board game called the Alpha-Omega Encounter which because of its unique features can be played to a ~inal conclusion in most cases in from 10 to 30 minutes. Its rules and playing techniques are quickly and easily grasped by children and adults alike, and yet winning the game is almost entirely a matter of skill rather than luck~
The Alpha-Omega Encounter is played on a unique gameboard comprising three similar boards or grids lying in three verti-cally spaced planes. Each of the three boards is divided into thirteen similar spaces or squares. Nine of the spaces form a square, three spaces on each side of the square surrounding a central space. The remaining four spaces lie outside the square -2- ~
C~ 2 (-with one space lying next to the center space of each of the four sides of the square.
Each player is given five similarly colored pieces pref-erably in the form of spheres. The fir~t player places his iiYe sphereæ in the ~our outermost spaces and the central space o~
the upper board callsd the ~lpha grid, while the second player places his spheres in the similar ~paces of the lower board called the Omega grid. The middle board is called the neutral Krid .
The object of the game is to place a ~phere on the Gentral space of the opponent's grid, called the base, or to capture and remove from the gameboard all of the opponent's spheres. A piece is captured by jumping over that piece from an adjoining space and landing in a vacant space on the opposite side of the captured piece and then moving to an adjoining vacant space. As in the game of checkers, if the opponent's pieces are appropriately positioned, sequential Jumps may be taken during the s~me turn.
Except when jumping over an opponent's piece, a piece may move only to any adjoining empty space. However, a move to an upper or lower grid must be to the ~pace directly above or below -- a diagonal vertical move is not permitted.
Play starts by random determination (flip of a coin or roll of a die) of which player goes ~irst. The first player moves one of his pieces one horizontal or vertical space. The second player follows and the game continues until one player z lands one of his pieces on the opponent's base or his opponent loses all ~ive oi his pieces~
~8~i2 ( B~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features of my invention will be ~ully understood from the following description a~d the accompaning drawing in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my novel gameboard showing the playing pieces at the start of a game.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view o~ $he gameboard shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a diagramatic plan view of the uppermost board of the gameboard shown in Figure 1 with the playing pieces in their starting position.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second form of my novel gameboard.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the gameboard shown in Figure 4 taken along lines 5-5 showing three of the indentations serving as receptacles for the play-ing pieces.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates o~e form of my unique three-dimensional gameboard and shows the location o~ the spherical playing pieces at the begiDning o~ an Alph~-Omega Encounter game.
Gameboard 10 includes three identical wire mesh grids 7 12 and 13 which are held in vertically spaced relation-ship by ~our similar tubular posts 14, 15 t 16 and ~7.
Each of grids 11~ 12 and 13 are constructed of galva-nized wire mesh or cast from a suitable plastic material such as nylon. Each grid contains a total of thirteen playing spaces or squares. The inner relationship of these playing squares is best shown in Figure 3 which is a diagramatic illus-tration of the playing pieces on grid 11 at the start of an Alpha-Omega Encounter game. Nine of the squares are arranged into a central matrix in the ~orm of a larger square with three of the playing s~uares on each of the four sides of the central matrix surrounding a central square. The four remaining play-ing squares are located outside the central matrix with one of the remaining squares lying adjacent to the center square of each side o~ the central matrix.
Upper grid 11 is called the Alpha grid. Lower grid 13 is called the Omega grid. The center grid 12 is called the neutral grid. At the start o~ a game, the player assigned to the Alpha grid is given ~ive identically colored playing pieces or spheres 18 and he places four o~ his spheres in the ii2 ~ (, ., four outermost playing squares of the Alpha grid and his remairing sphere is in the center square as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
The opposing player assigned to the Omega grid is like-wi~e provided with five spheres all having a color dif~erent from those used by tbe first player and ~e places his five spheres in the ~ive similar playing ~quares oi Omega grid 13~
The rules of play of the Alpha-Omega Encounter game are quite simple. The person to play first is chosen by random selection such as by the flip of a coin or the roll of a die.
During his turn, eæch player can move one of his spheres to any adjoining vacant square. However, if the move is vertical (up or down to a different grid) it must be to the square directly above or below the square occupied by the sphere --diagonal vertical moves are not permitted.
Rather than moving to an adjoining space a player may capture any opposing player's sphere lying vertically or horizontally adjacent to the sphere to be played. Capture is e~fected by jumping over the opposing playerls sphere into a vacant square on the opposite side of the opposing player's sphere and then moving to an adjoining vacant square to complete the capture or jumping move.
The object of the game is either to land one of the player's spheres onto the central square or base of the opposing player or to capture and remove from the gameboard all of the opposing player's spheres, whichever occurs first.
~ ! "
The foregoing rules are quite quickly grasped both by children and adults 9 but winning the game is largely a matter of skill rather than luck. Hence I believe my game will attract the înterest of a great many persons 9 especially since the game can usually be played to a final conclusion in ~rom 10 to 30 minutes~ thus avoiding the long drawn out period o~
play in games such as chess and the Japanese game of go. More-over, the ~ac$ that the game requlres very little in the way of expensive paraphernalia enhances its popularity.
It would seem apparent to those skilled in the art that the game can be played with playing pieces in the form of pegs, disks or magnetized pieces in a wide variety of shapes. Like-wise, the gameboard itself may take various shapes other than that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and still provide the same inter-est and playing technique as described.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of my unique gameboard. Gameboard 20 as shown in Figure 4 is made of a cast plastic material and includes an Alpha grid 21, a neutral grid 22 and an Omega grid and base 230 Grids 219 22 and 23 are held in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other by a tubular post 24. The playing spaces of each o~
grids 21, 22 and 23 consist o~ thirteen spaced apart partial hemispherical receptacles 21a, 22a and 23a respectively which are arranged with respect to each other in a pattern similar to that shown in Figure 3`except, of course~ the spaces are in-dentations which are circular in plan view rather than squares as shown in Figure 3. Indentations or receptacles 21a, 22a and i2 C
23a are-designed to hold or receive playing spheres similar to spheres 1~ and 19 shown in Figure 1.
Figure S is a partially broken away cross-sectional side view taken along line 5~5 o~ Figure 4 showing three of the hemi-spherical indentations or receptacles 22a in the upper playin~
surface o~ neu~ral grid 22 wi*h vertical cylindrical post 24 suppor~ing grid 22 in a horizontal positioD.
While two preferred embodiments o~ my unique gameboard h~ve been illustrated and described, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that ~umerous modi~ications may be made in the structure of the gameboard and the playing pieces which are the subject of my invention without departing ~rom the spirit of the invention. It is there~ore my intention that the scope and spirit of my invention be limited only by the appended claim.
_9_
Claims (2)
1. Apparatus for playing a three-dimensional game consisting essentially of ten identical playing pieces, five of said pieces being of one color and the other five being of a different color, and a gameboard of three similar boards lying in three spaced-apart parallel planes, each board similarly containing a total of only 13 spaces, nine of which are arranged into three equally spaced lines of three spaces each to form a central matrix in the shape of a square with each one of the four remaining spaces being located outside the central matrix square and adjacent to the center of one of the four sides of the central matrix square, and support means affixed to each of the three boards for maintaining the three boards in fixed spaced-apart relation to each other.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the ten playing pieces are in the form of spheres.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000503860A CA1280452C (en) | 1986-03-12 | 1986-03-12 | Three dimensional game and gameboard |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000503860A CA1280452C (en) | 1986-03-12 | 1986-03-12 | Three dimensional game and gameboard |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1280452C true CA1280452C (en) | 1991-02-19 |
Family
ID=4132656
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000503860A Expired - Lifetime CA1280452C (en) | 1986-03-12 | 1986-03-12 | Three dimensional game and gameboard |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1280452C (en) |
-
1986
- 1986-03-12 CA CA000503860A patent/CA1280452C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |