GB2159422A

GB2159422A - Board game apparatus with flip-over pieces

Info

Publication number: GB2159422A
Application number: GB08418703A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Stubbman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-30
Filing date: 1984-07-23
Publication date: 1985-12-04
Also published as: GB8418703D0

Abstract

The apparatus includes a board 11 having an array of recesses 14 each of which converges in the downward direction away from a top surface 15 of the board 11. Each of the recesses is bounded by a supporting surface 17, on which a peripheral surface 18 of a game piece 12 introduced into the respective recess rests in either one of two flipped-over positions. The pieces are held in place on the board, easily turned, and are removable from the recesses. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Board game with flip-over game pieces The present invention relates to board games in general, and more particularly to board games including game pieces which can be positioned in various positions with respect to the game board and present different appearances in each of such positions.

There are already known various constructions of the type mentioned above which, generally speaking, fall into three categories. One of these categories, which includes, for instance, U.S.

Patents Nos. 2,967,714 and 3,743,293, Swiss Patent No.452,420 and Swedish Patent No.212,175, employs the principle of confining spherical elements provided with different markings, such as differently coloured regions, in substantially conformingly configurated recesses, over most of their peripheries, so that the spherical elements can be rotated in their respective recesses to display the desired markings, but cannot be removed from such recesses without complicated manipulation which could disturb the other elements, or without disassembly of the game board which is provided with such recesses. The impossibility of removing the spherical elements or game pieces from the recesses may preclude use of the board game for playing certain games. Moreover, the board game is, of necessity, quite bulky and heavy because of the use of the spherical elements.Thus, the games of this category leave much to be desired in terms of appeal to prospective purchasers and, as a matter of fact, such board games have not gained wide acceptance.

Another of these categories, which is represented by U.S. Patents Nos. 3,116,928; 3,588,112; and 3,753,562, employs spherical or lenticulate game pieces which are received in conformingly configurated recesses of a game board in such a manner that their bottom surfaces are in area contact with the surfaces bounding the respective recesses. Here, the game pieces can be gripped partially from below, so that they can be removed from their recesses.However, even these board games are relatively bulky and, since the game elements are not embraced by the surfaces bounding the respective recesses as to be positively retained in the latter, it is possible that, when the game board is subjected to jolts, as it may be, for instance, when the game is being played when travelling in the car, on the train, or in any other transportation craft, the game pieces may leave their respective recesses which, at the very least, will disturb the game pattern and, even worse, could result in the loss of the displaced game pieces which leave the game board. Hence, even this category of board games has not gained much popularity.

U.S. Patents Nos. 1,087,797; 2,452,341; 3,128,098; and 3,697,077 disclose board games of the third category, in which the above-discussed problem of possible loss of the game pieces is avoided in that the game pieces, which may be configurated as cubes, plates or discs, are mounted on the game board by means of respective axles or shafts for turning or pivoting about such shafts. However, the board games of this category have a different disadvantage, in addition to being also relatively bulky, namely, that the game pieces can be turned or pivoted only along one plane extending transversely to the axle, which may be quite inconvenient. Of course, this category has the same disadvantage as the first category, that is, that the game pieces cannot be easily removed, replaced, or rearranged on the board.

Of course, there are also known various games in which disc-shaped elements are caused to jump on a playing surface with the ultimate goal of landing in respective receptacles. Games of this type are disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 1,864,500 and 2,343,506, for instance. Here again, once the discshaped elements land in the respective receptacles, they are usually supported over the entire bottom surface thereof, so that they cannot be flipped-over while being received in the receptacle. Of course, such flipping overwould not make any sense in the game of this character, where it is immaterial which of the two major surfaces of the disc-shaped element faces upwardly.

To complete the description of known prior art, it is to be mentioned that there are known, for instance, from U.S. Patents Nos. D-162,742 and 4,045,013, game boards which are made of sheet material, and in which there are provided respective recesses which are bounded by portions of the game board which are displaced out of the plane of the top surface of the game board.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a board game which does not possess the disadvantages of the above-discussed board games.

Still another object of the present invention is so to construct the board game of the type here under consideration as to be able to pivot the game pieces on the game board but also, if so desired, to remove, replace, rearrange or introduce such game pieces with respect to recesses provided in the game board.

It is yet another object of the present invention so to design the board game of the above type as to assure retention of the respective game pieces in the respective recesses in any of their flipped-over positions, despite the relatively easy removability of such game pieces from their recesses.

A concomitant object of the present invention is to develop a board game apparatus which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, and reliable in operation nevertheless.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a board game which comprises a plurality of discshaped game pieces each having two oppositely facing major surfaces and a substantially circular peripheral surface extending between the major surfaces; and a game board having a top surface which faces upwardly while a game is being played on the game board, and a multitude of supporting surfaces each bounding a recess which opens onto the top surface and is dimensioned to receive one of the game pieces in either one of two flipped-over positions in each of which a different one of the major surfaces of the game piece faces upwardly, each of the supporting surfaces converging away from the top surface in such a manner as to support the respective game piece only at the peripheral surface thereof in each of the flipped-over positions and as to permit the respective game piece to be flipped-over between the flipped-over positions thereof by pivoting about an axis extending between two diametrically opposite regions of the peripheral surface with a predominant portion of the game piece remaining in the respective recess during such pivoting.

A particular advantage of the device as described so far is that the respective game piece is securely seated in the associated recess in either one of its flipped-over positions, and yet the flipping over can be accomplished very easily by applying downward pressure against any region of the game piece which is offset from the centre of the game piece, with attendant pivoting of the game piece about an axis extending substantially normal to the radial direction in which the location of the applied force is displaced from the centre of the game piece. Of course, the flipping over need not be completed; rather, it can be discontinued when the game piece is upright, permitting an easy removal of the game piece from the associated recess.

According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, each of the supporting surfaces has the configuration of a spherical or conical segment. In this respect, it is advisable for the spherical segment to have a centre situated upwardly of the top surface of the game board. It is contemplated by the present invention so to construct the game board that the spherical segment is complete downwardly of the top surface.

However, it is currently preferred for the spherical segment to be truncated downwardly from the top surface at a plane extending substantially parallel to that of the top surface. In any event, it is advantageous when the spherical segment has a radius exceeding that of the peripheral surface of the respective game piece, since then the game piece is always situated below the top surface when in one of the flipped-over positions thereof, and thus is safely retained in the recess.

It is further advantageous, in connection with a further advantageous aspect of the present invention, when the major surface of the game pieces are visually distinguished from one another to indicate whether the respective game piece is in one or the other of the two flipped-over positions thereof. The major surfaces of the respective game piece may be distinguished from one another by being of different colours.

It is particularly advantageous when the multitude of the supporting surfaces bounds the same number of the recesses as there are game pieces in the plurality, since a single game piece will then be associated with each of the recesses, but not necessarily with the same recess in each instance.

Advantageously, the recesses are arranged in respective rows and columns that are transverse to each other. This renders it possible to easily overview the game board and determine the patterns constituted by the game pieces thereon.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the peripheral surface of each of the game pieces as a cross section which narrows outwardly from the major surfaces to provide an outer edge region which contacts the respective one of the supporting surfaces in each of the flippedover positions and provides respective fulcrums for the aforementioned pivoting. Advantageously, this cross section is substantially round.

The game board is advantageously of sheet material of a substantially constant thickness and has portions which are deflected downwardly out of the plane of the top surfaces and carry the supporting surfaces.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure lisa top plan view, on a reduced scale, of a board game according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale; Figure 3 is a top plan view, to a scale substantially corresponding to reality, of a modified construction of the board game of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 41 4 of Figure 3, to a scale substantially corresponding to that of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 of another modified construction.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and firstly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the reference numeral 10 has been used to identify a board game according to the present invention in its entirety.

The board game 10 includes a game board 11, and a plurality of game pieces 12. The game board 11 is formed with two storage recesses 13 in which the game pieces 12 are stored, for instance, during transportation or during the beginning stages of the game. In this context, it is to be mentioned that it is immateriai for the purposes of the present invention what the rules of the game to be played on the game board 11 are; what is important, though, is that the game pieces 12 are to be removed from the storage recesses 13 either at the beginning of the game or during the progress thereof, and are to be distributed in predetermined patterns on the game board 11. For the purpose of distribution of the game pieces 12 in a predetermined array or in patterns on the game board 11, the latter is provided with an array of recesses 14 which extend downwardly from a top surface 15 of the game board 11 as considered in the position assumed by the game board 11 during the playing of the game.

As shown particularly in Figure 2, the respective recess 14 is bounded by a portion 16 of the game board 11 which is displaced downwardly with respect to the plane of the top surface 15 of the game board 11.The portion 16 is provided with an internal supporting surface 17 on which, as shown in the right-hand half of Figure 2, the game piece 12 can rest, being supported thereon by its peripheral surface 18 in a position in which its one major surface 19 faces upwardly. However, by the same token, the game piece 12 could as well be supported on the supporting surface 17 with its other major surface 20 facing upwardly. The two major surfaces 19 and 20 are visually distinguished from one another, for instance, as shown in the drawing, by being of different colours one of which is indicated by stippling.In this manner, it can be recognised by mere observation which one of the major surfaces 19 and 20 faces upwardly, that is, which one of the two flipped-over positions the respective game piece 12 assumes in the respective recess 14.

As also shown in Figure 2, the peripheral surface 18 of the game piece is rounded so that, as evident from the right-hand half of this illustration, the game piece peripheral surface 18 contacts the supporting surface 17 along a peripheral line thereof which is situated slightly below the central plane of the game piece 12. This means that when the game piece 12 is to be flipped-over, as shown in the left-hand half of Figure 2, the pivoting does not take piace about a single axis, but rather about a travelling axis which orbits about the true pivoting axis. This, in turn, means that the game piece 12 is safely retained in its two flipped-over positions by this action alone, until and unless an external force, such as that indicated by the pressure of a finger, is applied thereto at the desired location.Moreover, during the pivoting movement, friction has to be overcome between the peripheral surface 18 of the game piece 12 and the supporting surface 17. This further contributes to the stability of the game piece 12 in each of its flipped-over positions.

The portion 16 which bounds the respective recess 14 converges downwardly from the top surface 15 and has a diameter at the top surface 15 which exceeds that of the game piece 12. This means that the game piece 12 is always fully received in the respective recess 14 and downwardly spaced from the top surface 15 in each of the flipped-over positions thereon, so that the position of the game piece 12 is not disturbed when a player accidentally brushes along the top surface 15.

The portion 16 is so configurated in the construction according to Figure 2 that the supporting surfaces 17 thereof extend along a substantially truncated spherical course. In this case, the spherical course is that of a spherical segment with a centre situated upwardly of the top surface 15 and which is truncated just below the region of the supporting surface 11 on which the game piece 12 rests in each of its flipped-over positions, along a plane which is substantially parallel to that of the top surface 15. When the disc shaped game piece 12 and the supporting surface 17 are both circular in outline, as shown in the drawing, then the pivoting between the two flipped over positions can take place about any axis of the game piece 12.The respective axis about which the game piece 12 will pivotwill be determined bythe location at which the pressure of the finger is applied, in that this axis will generally extend normal to the radial line connecting the point of application of such a force with the centre of the game piece 12.

Figures 3 and 4 show a modification of the approach discussed above, which is different from the construction of Figures 1 and 2, in that the portion 16 carrying the supporting surface 17 is not truncated. This means that the peripheral surface 18 of the game piece 12 is in steady contact with the supporting surface 17 over about a half of its periphery during the entire flipping over operation.

This means that friction will have to be overcome during the entire pivoting movement of the game piece 12.

The drawing also shows that the game board 11 can be made of a sheet material, especially synthetic plastics material, of substantially uniform thickness throughout, from which the portions are displaced either by deformation, such as drawing or bending, or during moulding of the game board 11.

Figure 5 shows a further modification in that the portion 16 has a generally conically-shaped section 16' and a generally cylindrical section 22, the latter being adapted to rest on a support surface. The peripheral surface 18 of the game piece 12 contacts the generally circular supporting surface 17 within the conically-shaped section 16'. The cylindrical section or extension 22 serves as a stable support to prevent buckling of the top surface 15, particularly during the flipping over aspect of the game.

After the game piece 12 has been positioned in an upright or over centre position by the application of finger pressure thereto, the finger pressure may be discontinued, and the game piece, assisted by gravity, will seat itself in a generally planar state in either the truncated spherical recess of Figure 2, or the generally hemispherical recess of Figure 4, or the truncated conical recess of Figure 5. In the generally planarfipped-over state, the planar game piece lies in a plane offset from and generally parallel to that of the top surface 15. It has been found that the truncated recess of Figure 2 or Figure 5 permits the flipped-over game piece to more readily re-seat itself in the flipped-over flat state, as compared to the hemispherical recess of Figure 4.

This is believed to be due to the fact that there is less of the supporting surface 17 to frictionally engage the peripheral surface 18 of the game piece during the flipping over of the latter, and thereby interfere with the proper flat seating of the game piece. The board game of this invention is particularly well suited for a currently popular board game known as "Othello" (R.T.M.) wherein a set of planar discs, each having its opposite surfaces coloured black and white, respectively, are frequently flipped-over during play.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a board game with the opposite major surfaces of the game pieces being differentiated by colours, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. So, for instance, the major surfaces could carry appropriate markings or other differentiating indicia.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

Claims

1. A board game comprising a plurality of discshaped game pieces each having two oppositely facing major surfaces and a substantially circular peripheral surface extending between said major surfaces; and a game board having a top surface which faces upwardly while a game is being played on the game board, and a multitude of supporting surfaces each bounding a recess which opens onto said top surface and is dimensioned to receive one of said game pieces in either one of two flipped-over positions in each of which a different one of said major surfaces of said game piece faces upwardly, each of said supporting surfaces converging away from said top surface in such a manner as to support the respective game piece only at said peripheral surface thereof in each of said flipped-over positions and as to permit the respective game piece to be flipped-over between said flipped-over positions thereof by pivoting about an axis extending between two diametrically opposite regions of said peripheral surface with a predominant portion of said game piece remaining in the respective recess during such pivoting.

2. A board game according to Claim 1, wherein each of said supporting surfaces has the configuration of a spherical segment.

3. A board game according to Claim 2, wherein said spherical segment has a centre situated upwardly of said top surface.

4. A board game according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said spherical segment has a radius exceeding that of said peripheral surface of the respective game piece.

5. A board game according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein said spherical segment is complete downwardly of said top surface.

6. A board game according to Claim 5, wherein said spherical segment is truncated downwardly from said top surface at a plane extending substantially parallel to that of said top surface.

7. A board game according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said major surfaces of each of said game pieces are visually distinguished from one another to indicate whether the respective game piece is in one or the other of said two flipped-over positions thereof.

8. A board game according to Claim 7, wherein said major surfaces are distinguished from each other by being of different colours.

9. A board game according to any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said multitude of said supporting surfaces bounds the same number of said recesses as there are game pieces in said plurality.

10. A board game according to any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein said recesses are arranged in respective rows and columns that are transverse to each other.

11. A board game according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said peripheral surface of each of said game pieces has a cross section which narrows outwardly from said major surfaces to provide an outer edge region which contacts the respective one of said supporting surfaces in each of said flipped-over positions and provides respective fulcrums for said pivoting.

12. A board game according to Claim 11, wherein said cross section is'substantially round.

13. A board game according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein said game board is of a sheet material of a substantially constant thickness and has portions which are deflected downwardly out of the plane of said top surface and carry said supporting surfaces.

14. A board game according to Claim 13, wherein each of said supporting surfaces has the configuration of a truncated cone.

15. A board game according to Claim 14, wherein said truncated cone has a generally cylindrical extension for stably supporting the game board on a support surface.

16. A board game comprising a plurality of planar disc-shaped manually-flippable game pieces each having two oppositely facing major surfaces and a substantially circular peripheral surface extending between said major surfaces; and a game board having a generally planar top surface which faces upwardly while a game is being played on the game board, and a multitude of supporting surfaces each bounding a recess which opens onto said top surface and is dimensioned to seatably receive one of said game pieces in either one of two flipped-over generally planar positions in each of which a different one of said major surfaces of said game piece faces upwardly, each of said supporting surfaces converging away from said top surface in such a manner as to seatably and re-seatably support the respective game piece only at said peripheral surface thereof in each of said flippedover generally planar positions and as to permit the respective game piece to be manually flipped-over between said flipped-over positions thereof by pivoting about an axis extending between two diametrically opposite regions of said peripheral surface with a predominant portion of said game piece remaining in the respective recess during such pivoting.

17. A board game substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figures 3 and 4, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing.