GB2234445A

GB2234445A - A peg game

Info

Publication number: GB2234445A
Application number: GB8917663A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-02
Filing date: 1989-08-02
Publication date: 1991-02-06
Also published as: GB8917663D0

Abstract

An apparatus for playing a game comprises an upright frame 1 with apertures 3 through which pegs 4 can be moved. Each peg has an indicator block 5 on each end which is preferably capable of being rotated relative to that peg when the peg is moved through the apertures. The indicator blocks 5 may be made to rotate by means of arms (16) attached to each of the indicator blocks 5 which engage one or more spurs 7 in the apertures 3. The indicator blocks 5 may be numbers as shown or letters to form words or colours to form lines. The indicator blocks may be used to provide further indicators as well as hiding the indicators. Vertical as well as horizontal apertures may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

A PEG GAME The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing a game, more specifically to a game to be played with an upright frame and pegs.

Apparatus for games involving the use of an upright frame are known. They involve the use of pieces which interact with the frame according to a set of rules. The rules determining which pieces are moved, where and by whom.

One such game apparatus involves the use of coin shaped pieces. Each piece being coloured the same on each side but with different colours for each player. The objective is to obtain a line of pieces of one colour in any direction within the frame. The pieces are inserted downwards through slots. Both players can see the positions of the other's pieces and can attempt to block the opposing player's line with their pieces.

The game apparatus is somewhat limited by the range of games that can be played.

An apparatus for playing a game according to the present invention comprises a frame adapted and arranged to stand upright, the frame having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of pegs having an indicator at opposing ends; the apertures and pegs being such that the pegs can be moved through the apertures.

The apparatus enables a game to be played by two players, the pegs being common to each player so that pegs can be moved from either side of the board so that one player does not see the indicator on the opposite end of any said peg. An object of the game is for each player to align groups of the pegs without the other player seeing the alignment of the opposing player.

Preferably means are provided to hide the indicator on each opposed end of the pegs for example in 6ne embodiment the indicators are on indicator means which are pivotal from an observable position to a hidden position.

One such indicator means comprises a block with means to rotate the block between the observable and hidden position.

The means to rotate the block preferably comprises a spur in each aperture and cooperating arms on each indicator means, the arms being so provided as to rotate the indicator means on the one end of the peg as the peg is moved in the aperture in a direction away or toward the player. This hides the indicator at the player's end.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows in Figure 1, a perspective view of an upright frame with pegs inserted according to a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2, a front elevation of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1, Figure 3, a cross-section of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 taken along the line X-X of Figure 2, Figure 4, a front elevation of one of the pegs shown in Figure 3 according to the first embodiment of the invention, Figure 5, a vertical cross-section of the peg of Figure 4 taken at Y-Y of Figure 4, Figure 6, a perspective cut away view of one end of one of the pegs shown in Figures 4 and 5, Figure 7, a front elevation of a frame of a second embodiment of the invention without the necessary pegs, Figure 8, a vertical cross-section of the second embodiment taken at Z-Z of Figure 7, Figure 9, a horizontal cross-section of the second embodiment taken at W-W of Figure 8, Figure 10, a front elevation of a peg for the second embodiment, Referring to Figures 1 to 6, the first embodiment is adapted and arranged to be stood upright on a surface by means of a stand 2. Frame 1 has twenty apertures 3 through which a peg 4 can be moved horizontally.

As shown the apertures 3 have a square cross-section and are smooth sided to facilitate easy movement of the similarly shaped elongate pegs 4 through the apertures.

The pegs 4 have an indicator 5 at each end of the peg, the indicators 5 at each end are sometimes the same and sometimes different as will be discussed below. An off centre groove 6 in each peg extends the length of the peg, whilst a spur 7 in each aperture extends from an upper or lower surface of the aperture.

As better seen in Figures 4 to 6 the indicators 5 are provided on a surface of a block 10 forming an indicator means pivotally mounted in the peg 4 by means of pins 12 and 14. An opening 8 at each end of the peg enables the indicators to be seen by a player when the block 10 is suitably aligned. The mounting of each block is suitably close to the peg's ends. The indicators can be separately applied to the blocks by printing on separate bits of paper or plastics material stuck to the block.

The indicators may be integrally formed on the block.

Depending on the game to be played the indicators may be figures, letters, colours or parts of bodies.

Four arms 16 are fixed to each four sided block 10 through the upper pin 14 and these arms extend from the axis of the pins into the groove 6 through a slot 15 in one wall of the groove. As each peg is moved through each aperture one of the arms 16 engages with the spur 7 to rotate the block through 90" so that the indicator is hidden from the players view. Further movement of the pin past the spur reveals the indicator 5.

Referring to Figures 7 to 10 a second embodiment is shown in which two grooves 18 and 20 are provided along the length of each peg 24 which cooperate with a first spur 27 and two other spurs 28 and 29. Each block 32 has four arms 34, 35, 36 and 37 fixed to it through a pin 38 similarly to the first embodiment. A further pin 39 provides a lower pivot. In this embodiment indicators 45 are on each side of block 32 so that partial rotation of the block reveals a new indicator as it passes a spur.

The arrangement of the spurs relative each other can be varied to cause different alignments of the block relative the ends of the pegs.

Whilst pegs with a square cross-section are shown in the drawings a simple game apparatus according to the invention may have pegs with a circular cross-section and furthermore in a further simplification the partially rotatable blocks for hiding the indicators may be omitted. In this embodiment the indicators are merely applied or formed on the peg ends. This embodiment relies on the players not looking at the opposite end of the peg.

Different embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention have different numbers of apertures so that in one embodiment there are four vertical and five horizontal rows of apertures with nineteen pegs (one aperture omitting a peg). In this embodiment eleven pegs have identical indicators of say blue at each end, four pegs have say blue at one end and red with a number one to four superimposed at the other end, whilst four pegs have blue at one end with yellow and a number one to four superimposed at the other end. When this embodiment has rotatable indicator means all the other faces without particular indicators show blue faces.

To play this game the objective is to arrange the numbered indicators in sequence in the outer apertures in the frame. To set up the game, each player arranges the plugs with numbered indicators dispersed randomly in the frame all red indicators on one side and all yellow indicators on the other side of the frame. The empty aperture must be in the central vertical row.

Each player takes turns to move one peg from its original place to a vacant hole adjacent the original place in any vertical or horizontal direction, once a peg has been moved it cannot be moved again until at least one other peg has been moved by either player. This continues until one or other players achieves the objective.

In a further embodiment the frame has five vertical and six horizontal rows of apertures with thirty six pegs, one for each aperture and six additional pegs, though in playing the game one aperture is left unfilled. In this further embodiment, each end of each peg will have different indicators on each side of a block which will rotate through 90C each time it passes through the aperture. The indicators are letters with a numeric score value.

To play this game the objective is to arrange the lettered indicators either vertically or horizontally to form words of four or more letters. As each letter has a numeric score value, the scores obtained for each word can be totalled to give a word score.

To set up the game, each player arranges the pegs with the lettered indicators dispersed randomly in the frame.

A single aperture is left empty in the central vertical row.

Each player will take turns to move one peg from its original place to a vacant aperture adjacent the original place in any vertical or horizontal direction. Once a peg has been moved it cannot be moved again until at least one other peg has been moved by either player.

This continues until a word has been completed. The completed word is shown to the opposing player and the word score totalled.

Once a word has been completed that word can no longer be used in that game. The opposing player, then but not in place of the next move, can choose to substitute up to two pegs forming the completed word for up to two new pegs not already in the frame.

Double point scores can be obtained for words contained wholly in the outer edge apertures.

It will be appreciated from the above that many games can be played with the apparatus of the invention by varying indicators and the numbers of apertures in the board.

Furthermorer the rotatable indicator blocks can be used to provide further indicators as well as hiding the indicators. The invention therefore may provide a very flexible set of games which can be graded for complexity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for playing a game comprising a frame adapted and arranged to stand upright, the frame having a plurality of apertures, a plurality of pegs having an indicator at opposing ends, the apertures and pegs being such that the pegs can be moved through the apertures.

2. An apparatus for playing a game as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicators are each mounted on an indicator means capable of being at least partially rotated relative to the pegs.

3. An apparatus for playing a game as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pivotally mounted indicator means comprises a block with means to partially rotate the block.

4. An apparatus for playing a game as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means to partially rotate the block comprises a spur in each aperture and arms on each indicator means1 one of said arms extending through a slot in one wall of a groove in each peg to engage the spur passing along the groove.

5. An apparatus for playing a game as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means to partially rotate the block comprises a plurality of spurs in each aperture and arms on each indicator means, one of said arms extending through a slot in one wall of at least one groove in each peg to engage the spurs passing along the groove.

6. An apparatus for playing a game as claimed in claims 4 and 5 wherein the at least one off-centrally located spur on the upper surface of each aperture passes along the at least one off-centrally located groove on each peg.

7. An apparatus for playing a game as claimed in any of the above claims as hereinbefore described with reference to the above specification.

8. An apparatus for playing a game as claimed in any of the above claims as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.