US2722424A - Game board and game pieces - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1955 B. w. HUM 2,722,424

GAME BOARD AND GAME PIECES Filed April 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

22 I wyq Bing W. Hum

INVENTOR.

NOV. 1, 1955 5, w, HUM 2,722,424

GAME BOARD AND GAME PIECES Filed April 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bing W. Hum

INVENTOR.

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GAME'JBOARD AND GAME PIECES Bihg w. Hum, Washington, D. c. Application April 14; lss'asenal-Nea 232,10 3 Claims. (Ci. 273-131 Thisinvention relates in general to'amusement devices, more particularly to game apparatus including a game board on'which game pieces are moved in playing a game.

The primary object of this invention is' to provide" an improved arid novel game apparatus in" which gamepieces are employed and may be captured whereby players will exercise their" ingenuity in moving. game pieces in order to capture game pieces of an opponent.

Another object of this invention is" to provide an improved game board which has the general outline of the flag-of Korea, said game board being adapted to be utilized in combination with game pieces which may be captured, the playing of a game calling attention to the present world situation and developing a competitive spirit among the'players.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide an improved game board which is divided into sectors with each sector being associated with indicia printed" upon the game board for indicating'the initial arrangement of the game pieces to be disposed thereon; said indicia also indicating the exact arrangement of gamepiec'es required for the capturing of an opponentsgame piece.

A' further object of this invention is to provide an improved set of game pieces, said game pieces being of different configurations with theconfigurations on opposite faces ofindividual game pieces being identical, but having a' reversal of color.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction,- combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended-claims,- and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved game board which is thesubject of this invention, and shows the configuration thereof;

Figure 2 isa" perspective view of onetype of game piece tentatively used with the game board-of Figure 1*;

Figure'3 is a perspective view of another type of game piece intended tobe utilized with" the game board'of Figure l,said game piece also'being' adaptedto'beutilized in combination with game pieces of the type illustrated in Figure 2';

Figures4, 6 and Sare'fragmenta'ry diagrammatic views on areduced scale of portions of the game board of Figure 1 and having gamepieces disposed thereonj the view showing the various types of moves whereby'the game piecesmay be moved into capturing positions, the game board being slightly rotated in order tomore clearly illustrate-the arrangement of-the game piecespand Figures 5, 7 and 9- are fragmentary diagrammatic views-similar to the views of Figures 4, 6 and 8,-respectively, and differing therefrom only in that thecaptured game pieces have been turned over" arid become game pieces of the capturing player.- U H Similar characters of reference designate similarcr Ice 2,722,424

2, identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views ofthe' drawings.

Referri'rig' n'ow'to' the drawingsin detail, itwill be seen that there is illustrated in Figure 1 a game board 10, which is a major element of the game apparatus ofthis invention, the game board being in the form of a flat sheet of material. Outlined on the game board'10'is a playing surface 12 which has generally a regular octagonal outline". The playing surface 12 includes a centralspace 14 which is of the same outline as theplaying surface 12 and concentric therewith. Extending outwardly and radially from the central space" 14- are a plurality of sectors 16,'- there being one sector for each side of theplayingv surface 12. It will be noted that the playing surface 12 has the general outline of a portion of the flag of Korea and in order to call particular attention to the world situation and further interest in the game to be played on the game board, the playing surface 12 is divided in half by a diametrically extending line 18 which extends between diametrically opposite corners of the playing surface 12, the line 18 being designated by indicia 20 to indicate the sanie as being the 38th parallel.

In order that the playing surface 1 2 may be utilized iii the playing of a" game, each sector 16 is divided into a plurality of playing spaces 22 which extend in rows both axially from the central space 14 and circumferentially concentric with the central space 14; The central space 14 is provided with a plurality of intersecting radially'ex'tending indicating marks 24 for indicatingthe movement of gamepieces from adjacent playing spaces 22 intothecentralspace 1-4; The game board 10 is also provided with indicia 26 representing certain arrangement of game pieces and indicating the manner in which they are tobeinitially placed upon the playing surface 12. It will be understood that the indicia 26 for each sector 16 is different from that of the other sectors" 16 and that the'indicia may be utilized to indicate the arrangement of game pieces'necessary' for thecapture of an opponents game piece.

Referring nowtoFigure 2 inparticular, it will be seen that there is illustrated one type of game'piece, the piece being referred" to in" general by the' reference numeral 28. The game piece 28'is flatand rectangular in outline so as'to'provide opposite faces-30 and 32. The'face 30 is provided with a narrow transversely extending light strip 34onadarkfield'which forms a major portion of the face 30-. The face 32 isof the sameconfiguration with the exception that the central narrow strip 36- ex tending transversely thereof and in vertical alignment with the narrow strip 34 is dark and is on a light field whichforms a major portion ofthe face 32. It will'be seeh'that by'merelyturniri'g the game piece 28 over, the game piecemay' be'transferred from one opponentto the other.

Referri'ngno'w to Figure 3 inparticular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a game piece 38 which has the samegeneral' ou'tlineas'the gamepiece 28and includes upper andlower faces 40and42, respectively. The faces 40 a n'd42 are-of a solid configuration with the upper face 40*b'eingdark a'ndthe lowerface' 42 being-light; It will be seen that the ga'me piece'38can be'transferred from orieopponenmb another'by turning it over inthe manner indicated above with respect'to' the game piece 28;

While the game board of Figure 1 has not been illustratedwiththegame piece'2S and 38 placed thereon, it willbe understood that initially each 'oftwo opponents are provided with'six of each type of game piece. The game pieces arepositionedon" the game board 10 on the outer threeplaying space's'22 of the sector 16'in' the order indicated b'ythe' indicia 26 disposed adjacenfthe respective Fate'fited Nov. 1', 1955- pieces 28 and 38 are initially positioned upon the playing surface 12, one opponent will place his game pieces with the light side up and the opponent will place his game pieces with the dark side up.

The object of a game played with the game apparatus of this invention is to capture all of an opponents game pieces. Inasmuch as each of the game pieces 28 and 38 have the same value and capturing power, it will be obvious that an opponent will hesitate to sacrifice a single game piece. When a game piece is captured, it is merely turned over so that its other face is up and it becomes a game piece of the capturing player.

Although the rules of a game played with the game apparatus of this invention may be varied, it has been found that the most interesting manner of utilizing the game apparatus is to require that three game pieces be aligned, either radially or circumferentially in order to capture an opponents game piece. Furthermore, the game is made more interesting by permitting the capture of an opponents game piece only when the three aligned game pieces are in the order indicated by the indicia 26 of the capturing players sectors.

Referring now to Figures 4, 6 and 8, it will be seen that there are indicated various arrangements of game pieces and of the various manners in which the game pieces may be captured as clearly illustrated. For example, in Figure 4 the opponent having the dark game pieces has moved a game piece 28 into radial alignment with a game piece 38 of his own and a game piece 38 of his opponent. It will be noted that the movement of the game piece 28 is indicated by a dotted line in order to clearly illustrate the move made. The arrangement of the three game pieces is identical with that indicated by indicia 26 on the particular players starting half of the game board 10 and is therefore a permissible arrangement of game pieces for a capture by the player having the dark game pieces. If the player having the light game pieces had moved his game pieces into the same arrangement, a capture would not be allowed inasmuch as he does not have that particular arrangement indicated on his half of the game board 10.

After the capture of the light game piece 38 has been realized, the capture is completed by turning the game piece over. As is best illustrated in Figure 5, the turning over of the light game piece 38 results in it becoming a dark game piece 38 and becoming one of the players having dark game pieces.

Referring now to Figure 6, it will be seen that an opponents game piece may also be captured by aligning three game pieces circumferentially. The figure also illustrates that the position of the captured game piece with respect to the capturing game pieces is immaterial with the exception that there must be only three game pieces in alignment in the line of capture. It will be noted that the player with the dark pieces has a dark game piece 38 positioned adjacent a light game piece 38 and that the player having the light game pieces has moved a second light game piece 38 into a playing space 22 adjacent the dark game piece 38 with the result that three game pieces are in circumferential alignment.

Inasmuch as the arrangement of game pieces in circumferential alignment is similar to that of one of the indicia 26 on the half of the game board 10 initially occupied by the player having light game pieces, the capture of the dark game piece 38 is permissible. As best illustrated in Figure 7, when the capture of the dark game piece 38 is realized, it is turned over and becomes a light game piece 38.

While the game pieces may be moved only one playing space 22 at a time, there is a possibility of capturing two of the opponents game pieces at the same time. It will be understood that a game piece disposed within the central space 14 may be combined with the game pieces on pposite sides thereof to have three game pieces in axial alignment. It will be noted that the player having the dark game pieces has a dark game piece 38 in diametrically opposed relation to a light game piece 38 on opposite sectors 16. When the game sides of the central space 14. The same player also has a dark game piece 28 diametrically opposite a light game piece 28 with the central space 14 therebetween. Initially positioned in a playing space 22 was a dark game piece 28. As indicated by the dotted line, the dark game piece 28 was moved into the central space 14 with the result that the player with the dark game pieces now has two of his game pieces in axial alignment with one of the opponents game pieces along two diametrically extending lines. It will be noted that the dark game pieces 38 and 28 are aligned with the light game pieces, and, this being one of the capturing arrangements for the player with the dark game pieces, the light game piece 38 is captured. Also, inasmuch as the arrangement of the three game pieces 28 is a capturing arrangement for the player having the dark game pieces, the light game piece 28 is also captured.

Referring now to Figure 9, it is seen that once the capture of the game pieces 28 and 38 have been realized, they are turned over and become dark game pieces. Inasmuch as there are eight sectors 16 there is a possibility of one player capturing simultaneously four of his opponents game pieces.

Referring once again to Figure 8, it will be seen that the player having the light game pieces has two of his game pieces circumferentially aligned as one of the dark game pieces and ordinarily would be able to cancel the game piece 38. However the arrangement illustrated is not one of the capturing combinations of the player having white game pieces and therefore he is not permitted to capture the dark game piece 38.

While the manner of utilizing the game apparatus of this invention outlined above is the preferred method of playing the game, it will be understood that a more simple game may be played by disregarding the indicia 26 and permitting the capture of an opponents game piece, regardless of the aligned combination, by merely aligning three game pieces, two of your game pieces and one of the opponents. However, it is understood that capture is only permissible when the number of the game pieces aligned are limited to three.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoing description of the details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and the drawings. Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from the embodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a game apparatus, a game board having a geometrical figure represented on the face of the board, said geometrical figure including a central space having the same outline as the geometrical figure, a plurality of sectors extending radially from the central space, each of said sectors being transversely divided to form a plurality of parallel playing spaces of progressively increasing width, said geometrical figure having the outline of a regular octagon, there being one sector for each side of said octagon, indicia on the face of the board adjacent each sector for indicating the initial positions of game pieces on said game board, game pieces having surface ornamentations of patterns identical with the patterns of the indicia on the game board.

2. In a game apparatus, a game board having a geometrical figure represented on the face of the board, said geometrical figure including a central space having the same outline as the geometrical figure, a plurality of sectors extending radially from the central space, each of said sectors being transversely divided to form a plurality of parallel playing spaces of progressively increasing width, said geometrical figure having the outline of a regular octagon, there being one sector for each side of said octagon, indicia on the face of the board adjacent each sector for indicating the initial positions of game pieces on said game board, game pieces having surface ornamentations of patterns identical with the patterns of the indicia on the game board, said surface ornamentation being colored, said game pieces being flat and rectangular in outline with each having opposite faces with identical surface ornamentations but with reversal colors whereby said game pieces may be easily transferred between players when captured.

3. In a game apparatus, a game board having a geometrical figure represented on the face of the board, said geometrical figure including a central space having the same outline as the geometrical figure, a plurality of sectors extending radially from the central space, each of said sectors being transversely divided to form a plurality of parallel playing spaces of progressively increasing width, said geometrical figure having the outline of a regular octagon, there being one sector for each side of said octagon, indicia on the face of the board adjacent each sector for indicating the initial positions of game pieces on said game board, game pieces having surface ornamentations of patterns identical with the patterns of the indicia on the game board, the indicia for each sector References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 132,124 Dunlap Apr. 21, 1942 D. 140,555 Ruffln Mar. 13, 1945 635,116 Woodhead Oct. 17, 1899 1,030,970 Brunello July 2, 1912 1,051,718 Elvers Jan. 28, 1913 1,529,132 Jimson Mar. 10, 1925 2,194,854 Howard Mar. 26, 1940 2,610,060 Powell Sept. 9, 1952

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