GB2274598A

GB2274598A - Apparatus for playing a board game

Info

Publication number: GB2274598A
Application number: GB9301652A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Jonathan Paige; Sarah Ruth Dance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-28
Filing date: 1993-01-28
Publication date: 1994-08-03
Also published as: GB9301652D0

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a board game comprises a playing surface (12) having a plurality of channels (19, 20) formed in rows and columns orthogonally across the playing surface (12). The playing surface (12) is tiltable to allow a rolling element to displace by gravity, and the direction in which the playing surface (12) is tilted can determine the direction along the channels (19, 20) the rolling element travels. Removable barriers (24) may be introduced into openings (22), and each intersection is formed with a recess (a, b, c) to encourage a rolling element to remain at an intersection when it becomes stationery. The placing of the barriers and the tilting of the playing surface are governed by the movement of playing pieces along an endless track. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A BOARD GAME The present invention relates to apparatus for playing a board game, and particularly to a board game involving a number of dynamic features not previously associated with board games of the general type to which the invention relates.

Board games or parlour games generally comprise a playing surface marked with a route or selection of routes over which one or plurality of players' pieces are moved during the progress of the game, commonly under the control of random number generating means such as dice, and often associated with means for generating random commands such as a stack of cards with instructions on each.

The object of such games is often to progress the players' piece from a starting point to a destination using the players skill and judgement as far as this is possible under the influence of the overriding control from the random number generating means.

The present invention provides, according to one aspect, apparatus for playing a board game in which one or a plurality of rolling elements are guided in channels formed in a playing surface and there are provided means for selectively displacing the playing surface between horizontal and inclined orientations whereby to allow the or each rolling element to move under the influence of gravity along the or each channel in which it or they is or are located.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention at least some of the said channels intersect and the said selective displacement means allows the playing surface to be inclined selectively about respective axes parallel to at least some of the channels.

In this game the objective may, for example, be the displacement of a rolling element to a target destination, and in a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided at least one exit constituting a target destination for the said rolling elements in playing the game. The said target destination may be an exit in the form of an opening in the playing surface itself, and typically such exit may be located centrally of the playing surface.

Alternatively, however, the destination may be an exit formed as an opening in a side wall surrounding the playing surface or a guide channel from the playing surface for the rolling element to pass onto an adjacent surface.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the playing surface is formed with two sets of substantially parallel rectilinear channels extending orthogonally of one another. In such embodiment the playing surface may be supported so as to be inclined about one of two orthogonal tilt axes.

Control of the displacement of the rolling elements along the channels may also be modified by including a plurality of removable barrier members positionable in selected channels for limiting the progress of a rolling element in the thus-selected channel. Rules of the game may determine at what point a player may erect a barrier member and/or whether one or more barrier members may be moved or removed during the player's turn.

In order to ensure that rolling elements are able to displace along either of two intersecting channels there are provided means to encourage the rolling elements to come to rest at an intersection rather than between intersections. For this purpose the playing surface is preferably formed with respective recesses at each channel intersection. In this way the rolling elements are encouraged to come to rest at an intersection after the surface has been returned to the horizontal orientation from an inclined orientation. The recesses are, however, not of such magnitude as seriously to affect the rolling movement of the rolling elements along each channel when the playing surface is in its inclined orientation.

The playing surface may be supported so as to be selectively displaceable manually about the said respective axes or may be so supported as to be selectively displaceable by mechanical, electrical or electromechanical means about the said respective axes.

The said channelled playing surface may be at least partly surrounded by a secondary playing surface defining a track for a plurality of players' pieces.

There may further be provided random number generating means for determining the progress along the said track of the said players' pieces, the said track being marked with a plurality of incremental displacement units of area each bearing a distinctive instruction to be followed by a player when his piece arrives at the said area unit. The said instructions may include a plurality of instructions set out in an associated stack of instruction cards.

In another aspect the present invention provides means for simulating the elements and components defined hereinabove on a display, for example by means of a computer and programme.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of an area of the playing surface illustrating the relative configuration of the surface in more detail; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1, showing the playing surface tilted to an inclined orientation thereof; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of an alternative mounting arrangement for the playing surface of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the apparatus shown comprises a generally rectangular housing generally indicated 11 defining a central channelled playing surface generally indicated 12 surrounding which is a track generally indicated 13 divided into areas 14 defining incremental movements to be made by players' pieces such as the pieces 15, 16 shown in Figure 1. The game may be played by 2, 3 or 4 players, or more players if they are grouped into teams.

As will be seen from Figure 1, each area 14 of the track 13 is marked with an appropriate instruction such as "start", "tilt", "take card" etc. Movement of a player's piece along the track 13 is controlled by the throw of dice 17. The instructions on the areas 14 may be direct instructions such as "miss turn" or indirect instructions such as "take card" in which case further instructions are set out on cards 18 shown schematically in a stack in Figure 1.

As can be seen from Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 the channelled playing surface 12 has two sets of orthogonal channels 19, 20 formed in its upper surface in rows and columns orthogonally across the playing surface 12. Three such channels of each set are illustrated by way of example in Figure 2, and identified with the reference numerals 19a, 19b and 19c and 20a, 20b and 20c. In the following description the intersection points between channels in Figure 2 will be identified by the two subscript letters alone for example the intersection between channel 19a and channel 20a will be identified aa, as marked on Figure 2. In a corresponding manner the intersection between channel 19a and channel 20b will be identified ab and the intersection between channel 19b and channel 20a will be identified ba.

At each intersection between two intersecting channels there is formed a small dimple or recess 21, and in Figure 2 each specific dimple or recess will be identified by the pair of reference letters identifying the intersection. Thus, for example, the recess at the intersection between channel l9a and channel 20b will be identified as recess 2lab. The three recesses which can be seen in Figure 3 are, therefore, recesses 21ba, 21bb, and 21bc at the intersections of channel 19b and channels 20a, 20b and 20c respectively.

Between adjacent intersections in each channel there are formed peg holes 22 for receiving a peg or spigot 23 of a respective barrier 24. The apparatus for playing the game of the present invention is provided with a plurality of such barriers and the rules of the game provide that barriers may be positioned at any selected point on the playing surface 12 when a player's pis falls on an appropriate area 14 of the track 13.

In playing the game it will clearly be appropriate for each player to select the positions of the barriers which he erects on the basis the positions of the rolling elements belonging to the other players, with a view to making it more difficult for the opponent or opponents to reach a destination which, in the embodiment illustrated, is the central opening 25. In this embodiment each rolling element is a sphere and the starting point for each sphere is a respective corner of the tilting table 12.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the limitation of the tilt axes to lie parallel to the two orthogonal sets of the channels 19, 20 is achieved by means of a central support 26 having two sets of parallel V-grooves 27, 28, only one pair of which, namely the pair 27 is visible in Figure 4.

The underside of the tilt table 12 is formed with four downwardly depending laminar pivot supports 29 and 30.

The two pivots 29 engage in the V-grooves 27 whilst the supports 30 engage in the V-grooves (not visible) extending orthogonally thereto. As can be seen in Figure 4 by manually depressing one edge of the tilt table 12 it is caused to turn about an associated pivot axis defined by the V-groove 27 and pivot support 29. The playing surface 12 has a surrounding upstanding guard wall 32 preventing rolling elements reaching the edge of the playing surface 12 from proceeding any further.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative mounting arrangement for the tilt table 12 by means of which electro mechanical tilting may be achieved. This embodiment, shown schematically in Figure 5, comprises four resilient springs 34, 35, 36 and 36a, one positioned just inwardly of each corner of the tilt table 12. Four solenoids 37, 38, 39 and 40 are positioned respectively at the mid point of each edge of the tilt table 12. Electrical supply to the four solenoids is provided via leads 41 and selective application of current to the appropriate solenoid is achieved via a switch panel 42 having four push buttons 43, 44, 45 and 46 corresponding to energisation of the solenoid 37, 38, 39 and 40 respectively.

Each solenoid is connected to the tilt table by a pivotal connection (not shown) and the arm of each solenoid is free to move axially with respect to the associated coil.

When energised, however, the solenoid arm is drawn sharply into the coil thereby compressing the two springs on the adjacent corners on either side of the energised solenoid. The two springs on the other two corners of the tilt table 12 are unaffected by the retraction of the energised solenoid, and the other solenoids are able to displace freely without restricting the movement. In this way energisation of a selected solenoid causes tilting of the table about an axis parallel to the length of the side of the tilt table 12 to which the solenoid is attached. Other mounting arrangements permitting purely mechanical tilting may be devised within the ambit of the present invention.

Claims

CLAINS

1. Apparatus for playing a board game in which one or a plurality of rolling elements are guided in channels formed in a playing surface and there are provided means for selectively displacing the playing surface between horizontal and inclined orientations whereby to allow the or each rolling element to move under the influence of gravity along the or each channel in which it or they is or are located.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which at least some of the said channels intersect and the said selective displacement means allows the playing surface to be inclined selectively about respective axes parallel to at least some of the channels.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which there is provided at least one exit constituting a target destination for the said rolling elements in playing the game.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the said target exit is an opening in the playing surface itself.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, in which the target exit is a central opening in the playing surface itself.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the target exit is an opening in a side wall surrounding the playing surface.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the playing surface is formed with two sets of substantially parallel rectilinear channels extending orthogonally of one another.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further including a plurality of removable barrier members positionable in selected channels for limiting the progress of a rolling element in the thus-selected channel.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 8, in which the playing surface is formed with respective recesses at each channel intersection whereby to encourage the rolling elements to come to rest at an intersection after the surface has been returned to the horizontal orientation from an inclined orientation.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 9, in which the playing surface is supported so as to be selectively displaceable manually about the said respective axes.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 9, in which the playing surface is supported so as to be selectively displaceable by mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical means about the said respective axes.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said channelled playing surface is at least partly surrounded by a secondary playing surface defining a track for a plurality of player's pieces.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, in which there are further provided random number generating means for determining the progress along the said track of the said players' pieces, the said track being marked with a plurality of incremental displacement units each bearing a distinctive instruction for a player whose piece arrives at the said unit.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, in which the said instructions include a plurality of instructions set out in an associated stack of instruction cards.

15. Apparatus for playing a board game, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.