US20050023749A1

US20050023749A1 - Game played with cards and holder carrying spinner

Info

Publication number: US20050023749A1
Application number: US10/874,949
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Annis; Hiram Johnson; Donald Rosenwinkel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-18
Filing date: 2004-06-23
Publication date: 2005-02-03

Abstract

Cards and a holder carrying a spinner provide for determining results in the play of a variety of games. A plurality of cards represent participants on one side of a game or contest, and a plurality of cards represent participants on an opposing side of the game or contest. At least some of the cards for each side have a face carrying a number of sectors, with at least some of the sectors having indicia for determining an outcome in the play of the game. At least one holder removably receives a card of either side's cards. The holder has an upper surface and an opposed bottom wall. The bottom wall has an upper and an access opening or pocket between the upper surface and the bottom wall. A rotatable disk is substantially contained within the holder. The disk has an upper side, an opposed underside, and an outer periphery extending at least partially between the upper side and the underside. A segment of at least the periphery is exposed for access to facilitate spinning or rotation of the disk by a user's thumb or finger. The disk has an indicator for identifying the entirety of only a single one of the number of sectors. On the underside of the disk is a face ratchet. An upwardly biased pawl disposed beneath the underside of the disk cooperates with the face ratchet to provide for identifying the entirety of only a single one of the number of sectors upon the disk coming to rest after it is finished spinning.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This Application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/740,308 filed Dec. 18, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/434,339 filed on Dec. 18, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to games played with cards and a chance device, such as a spinner, and more particularly to a game with cards and a holder carrying a spinner that can be used for determining results in the play of the game.
2. Background Art
Spinners and cards have long been used in the play of various games.
Trump, U.S. Pat. No. 88,756 issued Apr. 6, 1869 discloses a parlor game involving the use of an upright figure on the center of a cylindrical base with a rotatable card or plate received on the base, around the bottom of the figure. A lever extending out the side of a disk is moved to engage a gear within the base, causing rotation of the card or plate. Atop the card or plate are a number of sectors having indicia of various outcomes. The figure mounted atop the base holds a pointer. Ideally, when the rotating card comes to a stop, the figure points to one of the outcome sectors. However, all of the sectors on the rotatable card of the Trump parlor game are always exposed to view, and there is nothing to avoid “liners”.
Gewirtzman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,435,885 issued May 26, 1944 discloses a bombing war game which includes ratchet wheel 30 having outer peripheral ratchet wheel teeth 33, and a combination pawl and ratchet lever 40, which is used to cause rotation of ratchet wheel 30, but does not itself effect stoppage of ratchet wheel 30 in any particular position.
Wells et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,772 issued Dec. 21, 1965 discloses a baseball game having a number of figures representing the batter, pitcher, catcher and fielders, each of which is attached to a disk. On the upper surface of each disk are a number of radial sectors containing indicia for determining outcome in the game. In addition to some of the other mechanical aspects, manual rotation of a pointer relative to the sectors on a particular player's disk is used to determine outcome.
Kraus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,933 issued Feb. 21, 1995 discloses a baseball game including collectible cards on which various game results are displayed in sectors in a ring around a two dimensional representation of a baseball player. A card is inserted into a sleeve 14 with a transparent or translucent front panel 37 on which a rotatable spinner 44 is mounted, which is then manually spun to determine an outcome in the play of a baseball game. In addition to cards representing particular players and containing a single ring, the accurate segments of which are each proportional to the player's actual statistics, and bear a code number. The accurate segments of the pitcher cards have either “strikeout”, “walk”, or “chance for batter”. The pitcher spins first, and if the result is a “strikeout” or a “walk”, the player at bat respectively strikes out or walks to first base. If the pitcher result is a “chance for batter,” then the batter spins, and obtains a result which can range from a strikeout to a homerun. There are also special stolen base and pick-off cards.
Payne, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,758, issued Dec. 8, 1970, discloses, in the context of football, inserting a defensive card overlaying an offensive card into a holder carrying a rotatable spinner to indicate an outcome. An earlier Payne, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,893 issued Sept. 3, 1968, discloses a football game in which a rotatable dial or arrow is inserted for rotation into a football defense card.
Weisman Published patent application Nos. U.S. 2003/0071414, published Apr. 17, 2003, and U.S. 2004/0051244, published Mar. 18, 2004, disclose a holder into which a card may be inserted beneath relatively rotatable selector and base discs for recording and displaying variable information about the changed character of a game piece during play. Selector disk and base disk are in contact around their entire peripheries and there is no structure providing for the rapid rotation of one to the other such that they could function as a spinner chance determinator.
There remains a need for a game device facilitating the use of cards in combination with a spinner, which avoids indeterminate positions, or “liners,” and may obscure at least some of the selections available prior to operation of the spinner, for determining outcome of the play of various games based on a combination of strategy and chance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with providing cards and a holder carrying a spinner that can be used for determining results in the play of a variety of games. A plurality of cards representing participants on one side of a game or contest and a plurality of cards representing participants on an opposed side of the game or contest are provided. At least some of the cards in each of the plurality of cards have a face carrying a number of sectors, with at least some of the sectors having indicia for determining an outcome in the play of the game. At least one holder removably receives a card of either plurality of cards. The holder has an upper surface and an opposed bottom wall. There is an access opening or pocket between the bottom wall and and upper surface of the holder. A rotatable disk is substantially contained within the holder. The disk has an upper side, as the disk is disposed in the holder, and an opposed under side, and an outer periphery extending at least partially between the upper side and the underside. A segment of at least the periphery is exposed for access to facilitate spinning or rotation of the disk by a user's thumb or finger. The disk has an indicator for identifying the entirety of only a single one of the number of sectors. On the underside of the disk is a face ratchet. An upwardly biased pawl disposed beneath the underside of the disk cooperates with the face ratchet to provide for identifying the entirety of only a single one of the number of sectors upon the disk coming to rest after it is finished spinning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of an exemplary card that may be seated in the holder shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2A is an enlarged, fragmentary top view of a portion of the card shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of an alternative exemplary card according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the holder shown in FIG. 1, with a card, such as that shown in FIG. 2, inserted;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper face of the bottom portion of the holder shown in view of the disk or spinner shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to the field of games, including games which simulate an activity, sport, game or contest in which actual persons participate, or one in which distinguishable characters with identifiable skills and/or powers participate. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, a holder 10 having a spinner 12 may be used with a plurality of cards, of which card 14 in FIG. 2 and card 16 in FIG. 3 are exemplars. The combination of holder 10 with its spinner 12 and the cards provide a random chance determination of a strategically preselected series of possible outcomes.
Each card such as 14 is generally rectangular in configuration and has a pair of opposed faces. In FIG. 2 only one face 18 is shown. The opposed face, which is not shown, may include a picture or other representation of either the particular person or character represented by the card or a general type of game participant, such as a baseball pitcher. Face 18 includes an upper portion 20, which is to the right as illustrated in FIG. 3 and a lower portion 22, which is to the left as illustrated in FIG. 3. In lower portion 22 there is an annular ring 24, which is divided into a predetermined number of sectors 26. Within each sector 26 there is a pair of radially spaced apart indicators 28, which may comprise either numerical indicator or a alphabetical indicator. Each pair of indicators includes an outer indicator 30 and an inner indicator 32. In addition, each of the indicators may be distinguishable by a particular assigned color. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 2, indicator 30 may comprise a black numeral “3”, while its inward counter part may comprise a green numeral “4”. Upper portion 20 of card 18 includes a name, illustration, or other identifying indicia of a particular person or character represented by the card.
Card 16, like card 14, is generally rectangular and has opposed faces, only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 3. Face 38 of card 16 also has an upper portion 40 and a lower portion 42, as well as an annular ring 44 in lower portion 42. As with annular ring 24 on card 14, annual ring 44 is divided into a predetermined number of segments 46. However, card 16 differs from card 14 in that the indicators of each of sectors 46 are colors rather than numerals or alphabet letters. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of sectors 46 is one of four colors. Each of the four colors is then keyed to a particular outcome indicated in the upper portion 40 of card 16 by generally rectangular colored legends 48, 50, 52 or 54. Within each of such colored rectangular portions may be printed an outcome or step of the game.
Holder 10, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 7, has a bottom piece 60, an intermediate piece 62, and a top piece 64. Along the upper edge 66 of bottom piece 60 is a generally circular cut-out portion 68. Bottom piece 60 is generally planer, however, it does have a generally U-shaped raised rim 70 extending from approximately mid-way along each side down and across its lowermost edge.
Intermediate piece 62 is generally of the same configuration along its sides and lower edge as the lower sides and lowermost edge of bottom piece 60. When secured, atop rim 70 of bottom piece 60, intermediate piece 62 and bottom piece 60 form a bottom wall of holder 10. Upper, inside surface 72 of bottom piece 60 and underside 74 of intermediate piece 62 form an access opening or pocket 75 for removeably receiving a generally rectangular card, such as card 14 or card 16. Generally centrally disposed from side to side of intermediate piece 62, on its upper surface 76, is a upwardly projecting hub 78 from which further upwardly projects a pin 80.
Adjacent to hub 78 and pin 80 is a cut-out portion 82, which as illustrated in the drawings is positioned above hub 78 and pin 80, towards upper edge 66 of bottom piece 60. A generally squared U-shaped wall 84 extends upwardly from upper surface 76 of intermediate piece 62 at approximately the same height as that of hub 78. Extending outwardly from the bottom of squared U-shaped wall 84 is a pawl 86 which includes a generally inverted rounded U-shaped member 88, the ends of which connect adjacent the bottom of the generally squared U-shaped wall 84. Projecting outwardly from member 88 is a generally rectangular, radially extending, rib or leaf 89, on top of which is an inverted, V-shaped wedge 90. Pawl 86 is relatively thin and is upwardly canted. The top of wedge 90 extends slightly above the top of hub 78. As intermediate piece 62, including pawl 86, is made of plastic there is an inherent resiliency in pawl 86. Pawl 86 may be integrally formed as part of intermediate piece 62, or it can be a separate component attached to intermediate piece 62.
Spinner 12 is a generally opaque, rotatable disk, or dial 92 which is positioned for spinning atop intermediate piece 62. Disk 92 has an upper side 94 and an underside 96. Centrally disposed in underside 96 is a socket 98, which receives pin 80. Thus, disk 92 is readily rotatable about pin 80 and hub 78. Disk 92 has a radially elongated indicator, viewing opening or viewing window 100 through which a single one of the sectors, such as sectors 26 of card 14 or sectors 46 of card 16 may appear. Underside 96 of spinner 12 has a predetermined number of circumferential grooves 104 forming a face ratchet 106 around socket 98. As an alternative, ridges or ribs rather than grooves 104 may be used to comprise face ratchet 106. In the illustrated embodiment, there are twenty grooves 104, which correspond to the twenty sectors 26 and 46 on each of cards 14 and 16, respectively. Spinner 12 has an outer serrated or knurled periphery 108 extending between upper side 94 and underside 96. The tactile or textured surface 108, such as a surface having a plurality of grooves, serrations, or knurling, is exposed and facilitates a player's finger or thumb more easily gripping the outer periphery of disk 92 for spinning. Pawl 86, more particularly wedge 90, cooperates with face ratchet 106, more particularly one of the grooves 104 of the face ratchet, to provide a positive stop of spinner 12 in one of a pre-selected number of radial positions in order to show the entirety of only one of the sectors on a card that has been inserted into pocket 75.
Upper piece 64 also conforms along its lower edge to the lower edges of intermediate piece 62 and bottom piece 60, as well as along the lower sides, and is secured to intermediate piece 62. The upper edge of upper piece 64 has a side to side, generally centrally disposed, semi-circular cut-out portion 110 with an upper, inwardly extending lip 112, which serves to capture spinner 12.
Holder 10 may be used with a series of collectible cards to play a game, the theme of which may be illustrated by the cards. During play, individual cards, such as card 14, are slid into pocket 75 of holder 10, and spinner 12 is spun rapidly by a player engaging the exposed outer serrated or knurled periphery 108. As explained above, because of the cooperation of pawl 86 with face ratchet 106 on the underside of spinner 12, it will automatically come to rest so that the entirety of one of the sectors in the annular ring on the bottom portion of the inserted card will be viewable through window 100.
Solely as an example, the present invention has been illustrated in the context of a baseball game, although it can be readily used to play games of football, basketball, hockey, golf, or virtually any other sport or contest, as well as a wide variety of fantasy games. Referring now to the example of card 14, which represents a baseball batter, the outer ring of indicators 30 represent the hitting ability of the particular player illustrated and/or named on the card. The inner ring of numbers, which are conveniently smaller than the indicators of the outer ring, represent possible defensive or fielding actions of the opposing team. During play of an exemplary baseball game, a pitcher card would also be provided for the opposing side. Again, the outer ring of indicators would represent the abilities or statistics of the particular pitcher, named and/or illustrated on the card. The inner ring of conveniently smaller numbers represents the fielding actions of the pitcher's team mates.
Generally, the outer ring of indicators comprise the numerals “1” through “5” and the particular distribution of numerical indicators on a card is determined to a large extent by the abilities or statistics of the particular batter or pitcher represented. A spin resulting in the appearance of the numeral “1” in the outer ring of indicators in window 100 results in that player having performed at the player's lowest level of ability, while a spin resulting in a numeral “5” appearing in the window would represent performance at the player's highest level. Each player may be provided with a holder 10, in the play of the game each player strategically selects a card to be inserted in the player's own holder 10. Particular rules for the play of the game may permit the player representing the defense to select a different pitcher for each batter, after the identity of the batter is announced, or could alternatively require that, once selected, a pitcher card must remain in the holder for at least a pre-determined number of batters.
The opposing players may simultaneously spin, or the pitcher may spin first; the outcome is determined by a comparison of the indicators appearing in the respective windows. Generally, if the pitcher's outer number is higher than that of the batter, the batter is out. If the batter has the higher number, the pitcher's number is subtracted to determine the number of bases that the batter gets. Thus, if the batter's number is three higher than that of the pitcher, the batter gets a triple. As another example, if a pitcher spins a “1”, and the batter spins a “5”, it results in a home run. In addition to the numerical values, the batter ring also include an “F” indicator for a foul ball, the result of which is that both players spin again.
The net result of both of the opposing players having the same numerical value appear in their respective windows could be further determined by particular rules, which particular rules do not form part of this invention. However, the present invention does provide for an outcome determination in the event of a tie between the pitcher and the batter, namely the inner ring of fielding action indicators.
In addition to the particular player or character cards, strategy cards such as card 16 may be provided. In such strategy cards, the annular ring sectors are colors, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The colors used may be green, red, yellow and white. Generally, the green results are favorable for the player using the strategy card, while the red are negative and the white are of no effect. Thus, solely as an example, the Hit By Pitch strategy card illustrated in FIG. 3, could be substituted for the batter's card after the pitcher has spun. The results of a green sector appearing in window 100 would be that the batter was hit and all players advance. A red sector appearing in the window could result in the ball being hit into fair territory, and the lead runner being thrown out. As a further example, a yellow sector could mean the pitch went wild and all base runners advance one base. The result of a white sector appearing could be that the wild pitch was fouled off by the batter, and both players spin again.
Thus no additional chart or table is required to determine results. Even more possibilities and variations may result from color coding the numerical and/or alphabetical indices. Thus, solely as an example, a batter's number of a particular color, may require the hit to be fielded by a particular player, such as, for example, the centerfielder.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, with some further suggested alternatives, further variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A game with cards and a holder carrying a spinner that can be used for determining results in the play of the game comprising:

a plurality of cards representing participants on one side of a contest;

another plurality of cards representing participants on an opposed side of the contest;

at least some of the cards in each of the plurality of cards having a face carrying a number of sectors;

at least some of the sectors having indicia for determining an outcome in the play of the game;

a holder for removably receiving one card of either plurality of cards;

the holder having an upper surface and an opposed bottom wall;

an access opening between the upper surface and the bottom wall;

a rotatable disk substantially contained within the holder;

the disk having an upper side, as the disk is disposed in the holder, an opposed underside, and an outer periphery extending at least partially between the upper side and the underside;

a segment of at least the peripheral wall being exposed for access to facilitate spinning or rotation of the disk by a user's thumb or finger;

the disk having an indicator for identifying the entirety of only a single one of the number of sectors;

the underside of the disk having a face ratchet;

an upwardly biased pawl disposed beneath the underside of the disk; and

the upwardly biased pawl cooperating with the face ratchet to provide for identifying the entirety of only a single one of the number of sectors.

2. The game of claim 1 in which at least some of the cards represent an actual identifiable person.

3. The game of claim 1 in which al least some of the sectors on at least some of the cards each have a pair of spaced apart indicia.

4. The game of claim 3 in which the spaced apart indicia are radially spaced apart.

5. The game of claim 4 in which the outer of the radially spaced apart indicia are larger in size that the inner of the radially spaced apart indicia.

6. The game of claim 1 in which al least some of the sectors on at least some of the cards each have color coded indicia.

7. The game of claim 1 in which the bottom wall of the holder has an upper surface.

8. The game of claim 7 in which the upwardly biased pawl is on the upper surface of the bottom wall of the holder.

9. The game of claim 1 in which the bottom wall of the holder comprises a bottom piece and an intermediate piece secured atop the bottom piece.

10. The game of claim 9 including an upper piece, which covers a portion of the disk, is secured atop the intermediate piece.

11. The game of claim 9 in which the intermediate piece has an upper surface.

12. The game of claim 11 in which the upwardly biased pawl is on the upper surface of the intermediate piece.

13. The game of claim 1 including an upper piece, which covers a portion of the disk, is secured atop the bottom wall.

14. The game of claim 1 in which the indicator is a viewing opening in the upper side of the disk.

15. The game of claim 1 in which the outer periphery is textured.

16. The game of claim 1 in which the face ratchet is formed of a series of radial grooves.

17. The game of claim 1 in which:

the number of sectors on the face of the at least one card are predetermined; and

the series of grooves is of the same predetermined number as the predetermined number of grooves.

18. The game of claim 1 in which the face ratchet is formed of a series of radial ridges.

19. The game of claim 1 in which the pawl is an integral part of the bottom wall.

20. The game of claim 1 in which the pawl includes:

a thin, upwardly canted, radial leaf having a free end; and

a wedge on the free end of the leaf.