GB2028148A - Board game and projector device for use therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The game includes a three-dimensional game board, a plurality of game pieces 12 which traverse a predetermined path on the game board based on the outcome of a chance device such as dice, and a player operated projector 14 for capturing an opponent's game piece. The projector is in the shape of a whimsical animal with a portion of its body defining a bellows which when pressed projects a retractable piston driven shaft 29 simulating the animal's tongue. The tip of the simulated tongue is covered with Velcro (R.T.M.) as is a portion of the game pieces which are in the shape of insects, so that the simulated tongue can attach itself to a game piece to constitute a capture. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Board game with projector TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to board games, and more particularly, to a new and improved game which provides substantial recreation and enjoyment to participants.

More particularly, the present game provides a combined skill and amusement feature which has previously not been found in board games of this type.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART In the prior art there are many board games which share certain common features including a game board, a predetermined path on the game board, and a game piece which advances on the path in response to the outcome of some chance device such as dice or a spinner. While many board games of this type attempt new features or graphics to make the game more interesting, due to the large proliferation of games of this type, participants often lose interest or do not wish to participate in the game at all due to it being merely a variation of an old theme.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the general aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved board game which combines game pieces moving along a predetermined path on a game board in response to the outcome of a chance device, with a combined skill and amusement feature in the form of a projector located on a designated portion of the game board which is operated successively by the players. This projector when skillfully utilized in combination with the chance element, adds not only the skill and participation factors to this game, but in addition, due to the unique design and construction affords considerable amusement in, the course of the game.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel game projector which in and of itself constitutes a device having substantial amusement and play value.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved board game which simulates in a whimsical manner an aardvark or anteater type animal as the projector and whimsical ant figures as the game pieces with the anteater projector posing a threat to the game pieces as they traverse the board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above stated and other objects and advantages of the instant invention will readily appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary board game embodying the features of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of a game piece utilized in connection with the instant invention; and Figure 3 is a side sectional view taken generally along the lines 3-3 in Fig. 1 depicting the internal construction and operation of the projector of the instant invention.

While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative construction, the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawings will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivaients, and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVEN TION Referring now to Fig. 1, an exemplary board game, generally indicated at 10, is illustrated with a three dimensional game board 11, a plurality of game pieces 12, a projector 14, and a die 15.

As shown in detail in Figs. 1 and 3, the game board 11 is of a raised three dimensional configuration which can be readily manufactured in plastic from a molding or vacuum forming process. The surface of the game board is provided with a plurality of raised stepping stones 1 7 which define a predetermined path about the surface of the game board which the game pieces have to traverse as one of the objects of the game.

The surface of the game board additionally includes a plurality of simulated ant hills 1 8 having a flat portion at the top to support a plurality of game pieces as will hereinafter be explained in detail. The surface of the game board additionally is provided with a designated area 20 about which the projector 1 4 may be moved and manipulated by a player in an attempt to capture an opponent's game piece as one of the objects of the game.

In keeping with the objects of the present invention, provision is made for the instant game to have a projector simulating an animal of the aardvark or anteater type which can be operated by one of the players to capture an opponent's game piece. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the projector comprises a case or housing 21 which is in the configuration of a whimsical anteater or ardvark figure. In order to actuate the projector, a bellow 22 is mounted within the housing 21 and the portion that is depressed extends through the housing as shown in Fig. 3. As further shown in Fig. 3, the discharge portion of the bellows 22 is connected to the rearward end of an elongated cylinder 24 formed in the portion of the case 21 defining the ardvark's mouth and nose.Within cylinder 24 is a piston 25 which as shown is normally maintained at the rearward end of cylinder 24 by a light spring 27 connecting the piston to the bellows. As can be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art, the depression of the bellows 22 will discharge air into the cylinder, in turn, moving piston 25 rapidly along the cylinder until the discharge of air is terminated at which time spring 27 will return the piston to its aforestated retracted position.

In order to simulate the tongue of an an eater or ardvark, an elongated shaft 29 is attached to the piston 25 and extends the length of the cylinder. At the opposite end of shaft 29, a tip 28 is provided which in turn is covered with one-half of a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) fastener. As shown in Figs. 1 through 3, the game piece 1 2 in the shape of an ant, is provided with the corresponding half 31 of a Velcro fastener whereby when tip 28 contacts the fastener portion 31 on the game piece 12, the game piece will become attached to the tip 28 so as to constitute a capture of the game piece.

In playing the game shown in Fig. 1, the overall object is to be the first player to traverse the path made up of stepping stones 1 7. Each stepping stone 1 7 located on a corner of the board is provided with a color dot which corresponds to the game pieces utilized by a particular player. Each respective player would start the game piece of the correspoinding color at the appropriate dot and the amount of travel of the game piece would be controlled by the die 1 5. If the player is able to have his game piece traverse the entire path without being captured, he would then move the completed game piece to the top of one of the simulated anthills 1 8 which is color coded to correspond with the starting dot 32. During the course of the game, one of the players would be designated to operate the ardvark and would attempt to capture the opposing player as heretofore described. It can be readily appreciated that to consumate this capture, both skill and strategy is required. Once a game piece is captured, it has to begin its traversal of the path from the beginning.

It will be readily appreciated to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications of the instant game can take place without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention. Additionally, it can be readily appreciated that the projector 14 could be removed from the game and utilized independently as a toy for play value.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as follows:

Claims (11)

1. A projector adapted to simulate the appearance of an animal with an extendable tongue comprising: a housing sized and shaped to simulate an animal with an elongated nose and mouth; a compressible bellows within said housing; actuating means accessible outside said housing for actuating said bellows; an elongated cylindrical bore formed within that portion of the housing simulating the elongated nose and mouth, having a first end operably connected to said bellows and a second end open and defining the mouth of the simulated animal; a piston operably fitted in said cylindrical bore and slideable along the length thereof; an elongated shaft simulating a tongue attached to said piston and extending the length of said cylindrical bore and having its forward end protruding outwardly therefrom when said piston is in a position immediately adjacent said first end; and means for retracting said piston to said position after it is advanced towards said second opening in response to the actuation of said bellows by said actuating means.

2. The projector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said retracting means comprises an extendable elastic member attached between said piston and a fixed point on the interior of said housing.

3. The projector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the operative position of said actuating means defines a continuation of the surface of said housing.

4. The projector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said point on the interior of said housing is on said bellows.

5. The projector as claimed in Claim 1, in combination with a game board having a predetermined path defined thereon, and a plurality of game pieces adapted to rest on said predetermined path and advance a distance thereon in accordance with the outcome of a chance device, said projector adapted to be positioned on a defined portion of said game board.

6. The projector as claimed in Claim 5, wherein when said projector is positioned on its said designated portion of said game board, said shaft, upon actuation of said bellows will extend a distance sufficient to be able to contact game pieces resting on at least one portion of said predetermined path.

7. The projector as claimed in Claim 6, further comprising means whereby upon the contact of the forward end of said elongated shaft with one of said game pieces, the game piece will become removeably affixed to said forward end.

8. The projector as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said projector is shaped to simulate an anteater, and each said game piece is shaped to simulate an ant.

9. The projector as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said predetermined path on said game board has at least one portion whereby a game piece there resting will be out of the contact range of said elongated tongue simu lating shaft when it is fully extended by depressing said bellows.

10. The projector as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said game board is three-dimensional whereby said predetermined path for said game pieces is defined by a raised segment of said board.

11. A projector substantiaily as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.