US2393726A - Game - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1946. 'P, P. YEIIJOFF I 2,393,726 I GAME Filed May 21, 1943 INVENTOR fau/ f? Yejoff M flTTOR/VEYS Patented Jan. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Pllll P. Yeiflt fattle, W181i. Aliplicatlznctalzl, xii- 27:15:30. 487,853

This invention relates to the art of games.

More particularly my invention relates to a game simulating fishing.

Of all outdoor sport activities, fishing probably has as wide an'appeal as any, appealing as it does, to fundamental instincts. In real life, fishing embraces surprise, chance, skill in muscular control and study effort in determining how best to manipulate equipment. These features, it has been my purpose, to provide in simulation in a game as set forth herein.

An object of this invention is -to provide a game which will be conducive to relaxation of the players and at the same time will be highly amusing and entertaining and will afford an opportunity for the development and use of a high degree of skill in playing.

Another object is to provide game apparatus that is simple in construction and not expensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide not only an entertaining and relaxing game which simulates fishing and which is largely a game of skill but also requires a reasonable amount of mental effort and involves an element of chance which adds to the fascination of the game.

A further object is to provide game apparatus comprising a normally horizontal board or playing surface provided with curved or tortuous slots which guide and help to support plane flat figures or playing Pieces that are adapted to be hooked and moved along and out of the slots by hook line and pole means manipulated by the players, the said tortuous slots and the said fi ures and the said hooks being-shaped and arranged so that it requires a high degree of skill to draw a figure along and out of a slot without losing the figure off of the hook.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the following drawing, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts: 7

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the playing board of game apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken substantially on broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation of this game apparatus showing a playing piece or figurein a starting position in a tortuous slot of the board;

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly inelevation similar to Fig, 3 except that the playing piece is shown ina playing position into which it might be moved after being engaged by a hook on a line;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view takensubstantially on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and showing a playing piece engaged by a hook on the end of a line that is secured to a pole; and

v Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modification of the invention partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a playing piece or figure in 1 full line in a starting position and in dotted line when moved oil balance in a tortuous slot of the board.

The game apparatus herein disclosed comprises a board It disposed preferably in horizon tal position when being used in playing and having a plurality of curved or tortuous slots l I therein simulating water lanes. Each slot II has an enlarged portion l2 of greater width than the slot at one end thereof.

A plane flat supporting member 13 is disposed parallel to the board l0 and in spaced relation therefrom. Preferably the board I!) is formed by the top portion of a box and the supporting fioor or member l3 by the bottom of the box.

When thus formed the sides H of the box support the two members Ill and I3 in spaced apart arallel relation and complete a box-like enclosure in which the smaller parts of this game apparatus may be kept. This box may be opened and closed in the usual manner.

v The plane flat figures or playing piece or pieces,

termed fish herein, with which the game is played are preferably each made to simulate a fish. Each figure or fish preferably comprises a body portion IS, a head portion l6, and a tail portion H which is curved sidewise in the plane of .the figure and forms a rocker surface I8 adapted to rest on the floor or bottom I3 01' the box. A tail fin 20 on the tail portion ll of the figure has a tip portion I9 adapted to rest on the support formed by the bottom l3 to support the figure in the starting balanced position as shown in Fig. 3. As disclosed in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 the playing pieces, figures, or fish, rest on the supporting floor or member l3 as respects their base or tail portions while the upper portions are supported by the side walls of the slot H. Not being physically joined to the supporting means or to .the walls of the slot l I, the figure may be said to be detachably" supported. The mechanical connection or relation between the tortuous slot H and the playing pieces or figures I5 is simply that of a slot the walls of which serve as asidewise support and permit a free sliding contact with the sides of the playing pieces I5 while they are being moved along said tortuous slots by the pole and line supported hook element 23 engaged in the hole 2 I As appears-from the drawing the sides of the "fish are only contacted by the sides of slot I I in board III so that thefish is free for sliding engagement with the walls of the slot II. Thus the fish is supported, when hand set or placed at the commencement of-the game in an upright osition, by the base formed by the rocker portion or the body-and tail tip and by the sides of the slot II.

A hole 2I is provided in the head portion I6 of each figure or fish" I5 for the reception of a tortuous channelforming slot II and the "fish" or figure is simply a sliding contact and the moment the "fish" becomesfree of the hook it drops freely down the slot and lies prone on the sup porting member I3 so that it is lost to the player. The rules require for the fish in order to count in scoring that it must be dragged or played after being hooked along the tortuous slot,- without showing the mark ,21, to the enlarged opening I2, the head of the .stream,"

where the fish may be lifted free of the slot II.-

i. e.. the board, or legally basketed. The fish is I v mechanically free to be lifted out of the slot II at hook which preferably comprises a shank 22 and a substantially straight hook element 23 extending at substantially right angles from said shank 22. The shank 22 is secured to a line 24 that is made fast to a pole 25. The pole 25 is long enough to be conveniently handled by the player and the line 24 is long enough so that it requires skill and a steady hand on the part of the player to engage the dangling hook element 25 in the hole 2I in the head portion of a figure.

Preferably a relatively heavy transverse line 21, which may be of any desired color, is provided on the body of each figure far enough below the nose portion of the figure so that it will be hidden beneath the board l0 when a figure is in a slot I I and rests on the bottom I3. The player is pref erably required to keep this line below the surface of the board II] when he is moving a figure along a slot I I. I

Preferably each figure or fish" is provided on mark a value on the figure for the purpose of scoring and also in this additional way :provide for the element of chance, since the numbers differ on the various fish their value differs.

When the figures or values as 2 are on one side only of the fish", they are turned down, so that in placing the fish of each set in starting the game their value is unknown to the players. One figure is provided for use'in' each tortuous slot II. This makes a total of twelve figures or fish in a complete set. Preferably I divide these twelve figures or fish into two sets of six figures each and number the fish of each set 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. When the fish are in the slots, as shown in Fig. 3 the numbers thereon will be concealed.

Each figure I5, I6, I1 is shaped so that when it is placed ina slot II with the rocker portion I8 and tail fin tip I9 resting on the support I3 the body portion I5 of the figure or fish will be inclined relative to the vertical as shown in Fig. 3 and a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the figure or fish will fall between the respective points where the rocker portion I8 and the tip I9 contact the support I3. This will give the figure stability and prevent it from tilting in either direction in the plane of the figure or fish.

As soon as a player hooks a figure and starts to move it along a slot II the figure will assume a position as shown in Fig. 4 and the vertical line which passes through its center of gravity will be shifted to the other side of the point of contact of the rocker portion I8 with the support l3. In this position the figure will be unstable or off balance and will fall if released by the hook.

mechanical connection or. relation between the any point, but if it is lifted even so much as to show the line 21, according to the rules, it is "lost" or is an "escaped fish and does not count,

at least positively, in scoring. The friction of the sides of the slot I I and the winding character of the slot add to the difliculty in moving, that is, playing the fish from the point of hooking to the withdrawal opening I2. The top-heavy feature or the above center of the center of mass of the figure or fish renders it difficult for the player to cause the figure to resume the upright position in the slot after hooking and starting to play the fish along the slot II. Such feature also facilitates the figure dropping'in a prone position to the bottom or supporting means I3 when the player inadvertently permits the fish to make too much contact with .the .walls of the slot, The book 22, 23 is made so that it will easily slip out of the hole 2| and this increases the hazard of losing the figure or fish after it has been hooked. If said hook releases-when the figure is in a position as shown in Fig. 4 the figure will fall down in the box and will be lost for the remainder of the game. Due. to the curvature of the slots 'H and the shape Of the hook 22, 23 it" requires considerable skill on the part of the player to move a figure from one end to the other of a slot II and then withdraw the figure from the slot without releasing the figure.

The enlarged end portions I2 of the slots II facilitate withdrawal of the figures from the slots but it requires considerable skill to first hook at figure with the dangling hook, then draw that figure from one end to the other of its tortuous slot, then withdraw said figure from the slot. The curved tail portion of a figure is important in that it helps to support the figure in the position shown in Fig. 3 but lets the figure assume an unstable incline while the player is maneuvering portion helps to retard or make difiicult the withdrawal of the figure-from the slot.

Preferably the board III is marked off to provide four fields of play which I prefer to term pools." These are located at the four sides of the board and each field of play has three of the tortuous slots II therein. The slots II in the four fields of play may vary in shape, as shown, but are similar in a general way. Any suitable coloring or marking may be used to divide the board into the four fields of play or pools. In Fig. 1 I have illustrated diagonal markings 28 and 29 dividing the board into the four fields of play. Preferably the board is marked with N," S, E and "W to designate north, south, east and west. Also preferably each tortuous slot II is marked with a number to give it a value for scoringpurposes. Preferably I place the numbers 1, 3 and 6 adjacent to the slots II on two fields of play such as the fields marked N and "E" to thus mark these slots for scoring purposes and place the numbers 2, 4 and 5 adjacent to the slots asea'me i i on the other two fields, marked S and "W" to provide these slots with different values for scoring purposes.

Preferably each slot II has a starting mark 26 near one end thereof to indicate the starting location of a figure in the slot, the saidstarting location being at the opposite end of the slot from the enlarged or widened portion l2 of the slot.

In Fig. 6 a modification is shown, wherein the game is made .to simulate a war game by having the pieces 30 of mines, which are to be swep from the seas.

To play this game the twelve figures are taken at random and without observing the number thereon and are placed, 'one in each of the twelve slots I l. Each figure is positioned at the location of the starter mark 26 of its slot with the tail portion of the figure extending toward the adjacent or starting end of the slot and the head portion thereof projecting far enough above the board ID to expose the hole 2i so that the hook element 23 may be engaged therein.

Each player, in his turn, takes a rod 25, hooks the dangling hook element 23 that is connected therewith into the hole 2| in any selected figure and endeavors, in one, continuous move to first draw the figure so hooked from one end or the sinuous slot II to the other and then to withdraw the figure from the slot.

It the hook releases the figure said figure may fall down in the box or may remain standing in the slot. In either event the right of play passes to the next player and the game so continues until all of the figures are either landed or have been lost by dropping down into the box. While moving a figure along a slot II and before the enlarged end portion I 2 of the slot is reached the player is required to keep the line 21 on the figure below the level of the board Ill. The figure is forfeited and regarded as lost as in the case of an unlanded fish if the mark 2! appears above the level of the board. Any figure which has been released from a hook but left standing in a slot may be landed by any player who, later, is able to do so.

Each player landing a figure preferably adds to his score an amount equal to the number on the water lane or slot multiplied by the number on the figure. If a player'loses a figure he deducts from his score the amount marked on the water lane or slot II in which the figure is lost. The player having the largest total score after the last figure has been landed or lost preferably wins the game.

If desired each player maybe restricted as to the fishing pools or sections of the board from which he may fish or the players may be allowed to choose the pools from which they will fish. Also the players may play as partners, for instance N and S may'play against "E and WI Many other variations may be made in the game played with this apparatus.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions, and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment. Maniiestly, more or less playing pieces, figures or fish, and correspondingly moreor less pools and tortuous slots than shown herein may be provided.

I claim: 1. In a game means comprising a box having a normally horizontal top portion; a plurality of tortuous channel-forming slots in said top portion simulating water lanes; a bottom portion spaced from the top portion and providing figure supporting means; and a plurality of substantially fiat figures of a thickness less than the width of the slot shaped to simulate a fish and freely slidable in and removable from said slots with the nose portion extending above said board and the lower end portion comprising a bend in the body and a tail tip, both of which contact the supporting means at spaced apart points in the plane of the figure to provide incooperation with the walls of the slots for upright positioningotthefigure.

2. In a game means a board; a supporting means below said board disposed in spaced parallel relation to said board; tortuous channel-forming slots in said board; a manually operated hook; and a pluralit of substantially oblongfiat figures shaped to simulate a fish, and of a thickness less than said slot whereby movement and travel in said slot is freely permitted, having a tail body portion with a tail fin curved in the plane of the figure providing in conjunction with the lower part of the tail fin a base on which the figure. may detachably stand upright on the said supporting means, said base cooperating with the walls of the slots for upright positioning of a fish, a hook engageable means carried by the upper portion of said figure and located above said board when said figure is disposed in a standing position on said supporting means, said hook engageable means being disposed to one side of the location from which the figure may be suspended with its base parallel to said supporting means .so that when said figure is suspended from said hook engageable means its base will be angularly disposed to said supporting means.

3. In a game means a normally horizontal board; a plurality of tortuous channel-forming 40 slots in said board; supporting means spaced below said board in substantially parallel relation" thereto; a plurality of substantially oblong, fiat figures and of a thickness less than said slot having a base on which the figure may detachably stand on said supporting means, said base cooperating with the walls of the slots for upright positioning of a fish, and a hook engageable means carried by the upper end portion of said figure and located above said board; and a rodline supported hook engageable with said hook means having a shank and a hook element disposed substantially at right angles to the shank.

4. Game means comprising a normally horizontal board provided with a plurality of tortuous slots simulating water lanes; supporting means spaced below said board in substantially parallel relation thereto; a plurality of oblong substantially fiat figures, each simulating a fish and adapted to be stood in an upright position at the commencement of the game in said tortuous slots with its upper end portion extending above said board and its lower end portion resting on said supporting means, the lower end portion of each figure being bent to provide a base on which the figure until hooked may detachably stand on said supporting means, said base cooperating with the walls of the slots for upright positioning 01' a 5. In a game means, a, normally horizontal board provided with a plurality of tortuous channel-forming slots therein; supporting means spaced below said board in substantially parallel relation thereto; and a plurality of figures, each figure having 2 a thickness less than the width of one of said slots, a'base on which it may rest when disposed in a said slot supporting the figure against turning movement lengthwise of the slot, a height greater than the distance between the supporting means and the said board, and a width of a plurality of timesless than the length of said tortuous slot and less than its height, whereby the figure: may be supported in an upright position by its base and by cooperation with said slot, may project above said board when resting on its base, and is slidably supported for traveling movement in said tortuous slot, and a hook engageable means carried by the upper end portion of each figure and located above said board.

6. In a game means, a normally horizontal board; a plurality of tortuous channel-forming slots simulating water lanes; supporting means spaced below said board in substantially parallel relation thereto; and a plurality of substantially obong flat figures, each shaped to. simulate a fish, of a thickness less than said slot, and having a. tail body portion with a tail fin curved in the plane of the figure with the lower part of the body portion and the tail fin providing in conjunction a base on which the figure may detachably stand upright on the said supporting means, said base cooperating with the walls of the slots for upright positioning of a fish and hook engaging means carried by the upper end portion of said figure and located above said board.

7. Game means comprising a normally horizontal board provided with a plurality of tortuous aaeapae piec once engaged by-the hook means will tend to overturn by reason of its top heaviness upon release from said hook means.

8. In a. game means a normally horizontal board provided with a plurality of tortuous channel-forming slots; supporting means spaced below said board in substantially parallel relation thereto; and a plurality of figures, each figure having a thickness less than the width of one of said slots, a base on which it may rest when disposed in a said slot supporting the figure against turning movement lengthwise of the slot, and of a height greater than the distance between the supporting means and the said board, whereby the figure may be supported in an upright position by its base and by cooperation with said slot, may project above said board when resting on its base, and is slidably supported in said slot, and a hook engageable means carried by the upper end portion of said figure and located above said board, said hook engageable means being disposed to one side of the location from which the figure may be suspended with its base parallel to said supporting means so that when said figure is suspended from said hook engageable means its base will be angularly disposed to said supporting means. 7

PAUL P. YEJOFF.

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