US2874966A

US2874966A - Electrical contact board game

Info

Publication number: US2874966A
Application number: US373624A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph E Kerwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-08-11
Filing date: 1953-08-11
Publication date: 1959-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 1976-02-24

Description

Feb. 24, 1959 J- E. KERWIN ELECTRICAL CONTACT BOARD GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1953 36 SU LATION 48 INSULATION INSULA T/ON INSULA T/ON Feb. 24, 1959 J. E. KERWIN 2,874,966

ELECTRICAL CONTACT BOARD GAME Filed Afig. 11, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 24, .1959 J. E. ERWIN ,874,966

ELECTRICAL CONTACT BOARD GAME Filed Aug. 11, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 in miniature.

United States atenr ELECTRICAL CONTACT BOARD GAME Joseph E. Kerwin, Wcst Allis, Wis.

Application August 11, 1953, SerialNo. 373,624

7 Claims. (Cl.'273- -93) U the activities that were attempted to be incorporated in the miniature game. This incompleteness and these difiiculties have been inherent to some extentin scaling down the dimensions of the real sport but more usually these difiiculties result because artificial, mechanical functions are substituted for the real action of the human participants of the real sport.

An object of this invention is to reproduce in miniature the realism of human actions of a sport, such as football, whereby most of the activities of that sport are substantially fairly reproduced.

Another object of thisinvention is to reproduce. in .rniniature substantially all action of a real sport.

And another object of this invention is to provide it small size game embodying simulated activities of. team sports with immediately responsive signaling of certain incidents of that activity.

A further object is to provide an inexpensive, easily constructed miniature game in which team sport actions are accurately represented with. instant recording of the activities as they occur at any. position on the miniature 7 playing field of the game.

These and other objects and advantages of thisinvention will be evident to thoseskilled in the art from a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

.Fig. l is an exploded view partly diagrammatic of a ,miniature simulated football game constructed inaccordance with the teaching of thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial view of a modification of a separator that. may be embodied in the game. repre-. sented in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view ofa miniature, simulated baseball game made in accordancewith this invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partially removed of a modification of the miniature baseball game embodying this invention; and

Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, show plan views of the game of Fig. 4 with the separator thereof in four different positions.

:The basic miniature garneembodying this invention comprises two conductive sheets preferably at least having the configuration of the particular sport reproduced These conductive sheets have ,therebo tween a spacing and separating, meansnormally keeping them from making contact with each other. And aisignal meansis provided that is operative in response to pressureat certain isolated positions on the conductive .sheets iandjinoperative when pressurelis applied along certain paths over the. conductive sheets. The game mayfurother at any place.

2,874,966 Patented Feb. 24, 1959 ther embody meansfor one side to vary or movethose isolated positions and those paths unbeknown to the opposing side.

In the football game of Figs. 1 and2numerals12 and 14 indicate the conductive-sheets of thebasic game. These sheets are preferably of aluminum foil that :may

be paperthin. A foil having a thickness of .O0G4"has and the separator are rectangular as is a football field. However the separator is larger than either conductive sheet and those sheets are normally not touching each A'footballfield isprinted or suitably disposed over the top of the uppermost conductive sheet, this being represented in Fig. l as a separatelayer or leaf 36, preferably'large enough to cover more than the entire separator as well as the conductive sheets. Thus, the playing field constitutes an all over'unbroken cover of the upper conductive sheet.

The separator has a great nnm er of relatively small holes 15 therein. These are individual, isolated areas void of the insulating material of which the separator is made. Thesevoid areas constitute the isolated'positions referred to above. Each of these void areas is entirely surrounded by the insulating, spacing andseparating means that the conductive sheets normally donot contact each other through any void areap'But' when pressure is applied to'the'uppermost of the twoconductive sheets atone of these void areas, the'two sheets are causedto touc'neach other through thatvoid area. As soon as thepressure is released from that void area,

the spacing means closely surrounding the area of con where in theseparator' it is preferred that they beganeraily round and be disposed in'apattern as shown in Fig. 2. in anytime though thereshould'hea relatively great number of the void.- areas. in fact, about hall of the insulating material may be removed in eresting the void areas.

The pattern shown in "Fig. 2" has-alternately, both crosswise and lengthwise thereof, groups 16 of relatively closely bunched void areas and'groups 17 of relatively widely'spaced void areas. Also included in that modification is a' continuous straight path of-the insulating material dispose-d to extend past several of" the groups lengthwise of that'football field. This path is identified by numeral 18. That distance represents about twentyfive yards on the football field with which'the separator of Fig. 2 would be associated. Also it may be desirable, as shown, that there are at leastfour of theisolated void areas in the distance representing ten yards of the field, whereby in that ten yard stretch the conductive sheets may be caused to contact each other at leastfour times.

Asa means to vary :or" move the void -area-positions and paths positions, separator' 13 is constituted of but onepiece of material (Sta size so much greater "than the conductive sheetsthat it 'may be shifted relative to those "sheetsand still keep them elec-trically"separated from \each other. Tabs as" at 19 may be provided' to facilitate (movingthe separator. While the separator may be shifted in any "manner, preferably fit isxmo-vable sidewise andthereforeiswiderthanthe condnctivesheets;

The signal means isshown -as an elect 'rical circuit 3 having, in series relation, conductive sheet 12, lead 21, lamp 32, lead 26, bus 27, lead 28, battery 31, lead 22, and conductive sheet 14.

Sheets

12 and 14 are terminals of the circuit normally spaced apart by the separator.

In playing the game a suitable playing instrument (not shown) is pressed on the field 36 and moved along the field in any direction desired by the offensive side to simulate a running ball carrier. So long as the instrument is moved along one of the many paths constituted of the insulating material remaining after the void areas are punched, the two conductive sheets do not contact each other. And lamp 32 remains deenergized, thereby representing that the ball runner is not stopped or tackled.

When the instrument is moved to a position over one of the void areas, the two conductive sheets are caused to contact each other at that void area, energizing lamp 32, signaling the ball runner is stopped or tackled. As the battery voltage for the miniature game may be relatively low, as for example one and one-half volts, the

instrument should cause as great a contact area as feasible to insure current flow and consistent response of the signal means. When lamp 32 is energized play is stopped at the point on the field at which the instrument is then positioned. The runner is considered stopped or tackled at that point.

The void areas are relatively small compared to the distance representing ten yards on the field (on the larger game mentioned above one and one-half inches represents ten yards), and there may be four or more void areas in that distance in some parts of the separator. Thus, with relatively small void areas compared to ten yard distance on the field, a ten yard advance for a first down in the miniature game is approximately as difiicult to effect as in the real football sport. To further increase the difficulty of that yardage advance an arbitrary rule of the game may be that the runner must start a distance behind the line of scrimmage as is the case in the real sport. That distance may be two or three yards for running plays and about five yards for pass plays. This, too, imparts the risk of lost yardage which is a feature of the sport.

Just as a running play involves movement of the instrument on the field as a football player moves in the real sport, the miniature game also includes a pass play that duplicates the pass play of the real sport. The passer may be represented when the play starts by the offensive side pressing the instrument on the field two yards behind the line of scrimmage and then running another three yards back of the line of scrimmage before the pass is thrown. And to throw a vary long pass (from thirty to fifty yards) the passer may be required to go back as much as fifteen yards as an arbitrary rule, if desired. If, during this movement back of the line of scrimmage the signal means is energized, the passer is considered to be tackled before he is able to throw the ball. But if the signal means remains inoperative because the instrument is pressed along those paths of insulation, the passer is free to throw the ball or to reverse and run with the ball, as in the real sport.

For passing (and to kick the ball) a suitable means such as a dial spinner (not shown) may be provided to determine the distance that the ball is thrown (or kicked). When that determination has been made, the instrument is lifted from the field at the point where the ball was thrown and is transferred in air for that distance.

It is desirable that the game include means for determining whether the pass is complete, incomplete, or

intercepted. The signal means is utilized for this purpose. For example, the offensive side presses the playing instrument on the field at one spot downfield the distance the ball was thrown. If the signal means remains inoperative, the ball is considered to be thrown where there is a receiver. But it the signal means is 4' caused to be operative, the ball is considered to be thrown where there is no receiver. Having established the fact that the ball is thrown near a receiver or not near a receiver, the offensive side then lifts the instrument from the field.

Next, the defensive side is given the chance to knock the pass down or to intercept it. He presses the instrument on the field at one spot that same distance from where the pass was thrown. Of course, the defensive side may not be permitted to press the instrument at the spot where the offensive side pressed.

If the offensive side establishes that the ball is thrown near a receiver and the signal means is inoperative also when the defensive side presses the instrument on. the field, the ball is considered as not being knocked down, and the pass is completed. Whereas, if the defensive side causes the signal means to be energized, the ball is considered to be knocked down and the pass is incomplete.

However, if the offensive side establishes that the ball is thrown where there is no receiver, the pass is incomplete, and the ball even may be intercepted. The ball is considered to be intercepted if the defensive side causes the signal means to be energized; otherwise, the pass is merely incomplete.

In summary, if the signal means is inoperative when the sides alternately press the instrument on the field, the pass is complete. If the signal means is operative only once, the pass is incomplete. If the signal means is operative twice, the pass is intercepted.

When a pass is either completed or intercepted, the side then having the ball presses the instrument on the field near where the pass was thrown and then moves the instrument along the field in any direction desired to represent the receiver or intercepter running with the ball. Play stops when the signal means is caused to be operative.

Providing a loose insulating spacer means between the conductive sheets is important not only that its position may be altered but that looseness of the separator aids in effecting the separation of those sheets immediately when pressure is moved from directly over one of the void areas and thereby facilitates keeping these sheets normally apart.

There are other actions in football that may be reproduced in the miniature game. These include penalties and fumbles. These features are included in the miniature game preferably by providing additional leaves or layers of perforated insulating sheets, conductive sheets and signal means. Fig. 1 illustrates such additions.

Alternate layers. 41, 42, 12, 14, and 43 are conductive sheets, and they may all be of the same weight metal foil.

Intermediate layers

46, 47, 13, and 48 are of insulating material. Each intermediate layer constitutes a separator in the sense described above. In the game shown, two of the additional separators each have a plurality of void areas, but the number of void areas in these separators is fewer than the number in separator 13. Separator 46 is shown as having as few as eleven void areas, quite widely dispersed. Separator'48 should have about twice as many void areas as are in separator 46, twenty void areas are shown. In either of those separators, however, the number of void areasin a separator is arbitrarily determined, and no pattern need be utilized in dispersing the void areas in the additional separators.

Lamps

33 and 34 are added to the game, too. The circuits for these lamps may be arranged in various ways that each lamp may be operative when an instrument is pressed on the field at certain positions corresponding to void areas in certain of the separators. Preferably, the lamps are independent of each other that any lamp may beenergized at a time.

The circuit for lamp 33 in the illustrated instance includes, in series, conductive sheet 41, lead 23, lamp 33,

lead 29, bus 27, lead 28, battery 31, lead 22, lead 24, and

.favor of the. side seases pletely independent-of the other lamps, an 'unperforated leaf 47 of electrical insulating material, as p'ap en'is disposed between

conductive sheets

42 and 12. Lamp 33 is energized only when'the instrument is pressed over one of the void areas inseparator 46, whereby conductive sheets 41 and 42, the normally spaced terminals of the signal circuit, are made to contact each other completing the lamp circuit. Anadvantage of including leaf 47 is that with it included as shown a void area in separator 13 need not be exactly over a void area in sep arator 46to energize lamp 33 when the instrtunent is pressed at that spot on the field. i

The circuit including lamp 33 is a signal means .of a fifteen yard penalty imposed at the point where the in? strument is then located on the field. The penaltyis in first to declare thathe noticed the signal. i

The circuit for lamp 34 includes, in series, conductive sheet 43, lead 25, lamp 34-, bus 2'1, lead 28, battery 31,

lead22, and conductive sheet 14. This lampis energized in amanner similar to that of other lamps mentioned above, whenever the instrument is pressed over a void area completing the lamp circuit. That signals a five yard penalty favoring the side first to. declare that he noticed the signal.

As the additional separators preferably arenot movable, sufiicient void areas are provided to make it difficult to memorize the'positions at which the various signal means associated therewith are operative.

Other features maybe includedby separator 13 being disposed when shifted that one of its void areas aligns with a void area of one or both of the other separators. Thereby various combinations of the lamps simultaneously energized may-represent selected features.

A fumble feature is included in the miniature game i1 lustrated. One or more void area in separator 48 is .superposed over one or more void area in separator 46. When the instrument is pressed over the superposed void areas, both lamps133 and 34 are simultaneously energized. This double signal isconsidered' to represent a fumble, and the first side to declare that he noticed the double signalis considered tohave recovered the ball. Of course, not very many fumbles occur in the real sport, and fumbles in the miniature game will not be frequent but will substantially correspond to the frequency of fumbles in the real sport.

A miniature baseball game is illustrated in Figs. 3-8. It includes the basic game comprising two' conductive sheets, spacing and separating means. therebetween providing. a plurality of interconnecting paths along which alplaying instrument may be'pressed without the conductivesheets contacting each other and a plurality of isolated void areas at any one of which the conductive sheets may be caused to contact each other when the instrument is pressed thereover, and signal means inoperative in response to pressure on those paths and "operative in response to pressure at any of those void areas.

"More specifically the baseball game ofFig. 3 base base 51 of insulating material such as cardboard on which the essential elements of the game are disposed. First,

there issheet 52 of conductive material having the shape of a quadrant the approximate size of the desired minii'ectly to the uppermostconductive sheet, it preferablyis a separate leaf 55 as shown. Points designated by

numerals

50, 60, 70, and 80 correspond to home plate on superposed

leaves

52, 53, 54, and 55, respectively.

The separator isshaped as a quadrant asarethe'conductive sheets. The anglededges of the conductive sheets preferably are slightly "outside the baselines frorn' home.

plate to firsthase and to third base. Thus, the base run.

tiers may run a little off the straighrline between bases asis the case in the real sport. Therefore the quadrant defining the baseball field is disposed within therquadrant of theconductive sheets.

The separator 53 is one piece of insulating. material and perforated to constitute the plurality of isolated void ar easdispersed about the quadrant. The remaining ma terial of the separator is solid insulation constituting a massot paths extending'outwardly, from the part ofthe separator around point 60 just short of the apex of the quadrant, toward the periphery 57 thereof for varying distances. Each radial line from that point is' in fact such a path, and the longer the path the more it is restrictedin width by void areas therealong.

The separator in the baseball gameismovable with respect to the conductive sheets in order for the defensive side to shift the position of the paths and void areas. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the separator is pivotably attached at 60, and tab fid extending from the edge of the separator is bent down to extend through slot in base '51. This tab may be utilized to effectmovement of the separator by the defensive side without the offensive side detecting the new position. For that reason the separator is appreciably larger than the conductive sheets and may be rotated from a first position to an alternate position and in either position still covers the bottom conductive sheet.

In moving the separator not only is the disposition of the insulating paths and void areas varied by one side unknown to the other side, but there are means operativein oneposition and inoperative in the other position to signal unsuccessful attempts to steal bases. Forthis purposeyo-id areas are disposed within certain .of the alternate baseline positions of the separator.

On field 5'5, first, second, and third bases are designated .by numerals 81, .82, and 83, respectively. In the first position of the separator, points 71, 72, and 73 correspond to first, second and third bases, respectively, on the field. In the alternate position points 71, 72', and 73' correspond to first, second and third bases, respectively.

A first group 76 of void areas is disposed on the baseline between points 71 and 72, anda second group 77 is disposed on the baseline between

points

73 and 60. Whereas, continuous wide insulating paths comprise the baselines between points 60 and 71 and between

points

72 and 73. A group of void areas is disposed between points 60 and 71. This group is shown as group 76 as his possible for the bases to bearranged that one group serves a double purpose. A second alternate group 78 is disposed between points 72' and 73 and continuous, wide insulating paths comprise the baselines between points 71 and 72' and between 73 and 6t]. Thus with the separator in. the first position, void areas 76 and 77 are on a first two of the baselines with wide continuous paths along the othertwo baselines. The contrary is true in the alternate position of the separator.

Relatively few void areas are disposed in the infield area bounded by the baselines. These void areas are scattered at random as indicated at 86. In the outfield, void areas are disposed on a plurality of arcs radially spacedfrom home plate. Three of these arcs are shown,

being designated 91', 92', and 93'. On each of these arcs there is a plurality of void areas. The void areas are great enough in number that there are relatively few lines radiating out from point 60 to comprise long straight paths. .Eachvoid area defines the terminus of the shorter paths that do not extend to the peripherial edge of the separator, These shorter paths as at 9.5 are disposed intermediate longer paths. The shortest thereof terminate at void areas in the. infield and the longer paths terminate at void areas on arcs 91, .92 ',and 9 3. 'Thevoid areas on these arcs are'91, 92 and;

= The electrical circuit for this'game includes, in series,

, tinuous paths of insulating material;

7 conductive sheet 52, lead 58, a source of electrical energy 59, lead 61, lamp 62', lead 63, and conductive sheet 54. Lamp 62 of this signal'means is normally deenergized because the conductive sheets, which are terminals of the circuit, are normally spaced or separated from each other by separator 53.

At home plate on the field, pointer 96 is disposed. It may be spun to determine whether a hit is made and the direction thereof. For coaction with the pointer the field is marked with a plurality of lines radiating outwardly from home plate. Nine of these are shown extending radially across the field. These lines are identified by numeral 97, and these nine lines with the baseline 98 and baseline 99 define a plurality of pie shaped zones, ten are shown in the 90 degree fair ball field area. The remaining 270 degrees of the circle about home plate is marked by other radial lines. These lines, three are shown, 101, 102, and 103, are arbitrarily spaced and marked to create additional pie shaped zones, four are shown. The fourteen zones .provide limitations in the direction that a ball is hit in playing the game. For example, the sector or zone between baseline 98 and line 101 represents a foul hit, between

lines

101 and 102 represents a walk, between lines 102 and 103repr'esents an out, and between line 103 and third base line 99rrepresents a strike.

Figs. 48 illustrate a modification of the baseball game embodying this invention including a means for pitching 'strikes and balls to simulate additional baseball activity. The conductive sheets extend around home plate and what is known as the batters box. While additional separator means independent of the main separator may be provided to cover the conductive sheets at the batters box, this is done in this embodiment by suitably extending a single separator. The separator in this embodiment is to be shifted instead of being pivoted.

Slots

121 and 122 are cut in the separator, and rivets 113 and 114, respectively, held in base 110 extend through those slots. Four positions for the separator are shown in Figs. -8. In the first main position (Fig. 5) the separator is moved to the right as viewed in the drawing with both rivets at the left end of the two slots, whereby void area 130 is disposed beneath line 131. In the first alternate position, the separator is cocked slightly with rivet 113 at the left end of slot 121 and rivet 114 at the right end of slot 122. Void area 130 is thereby moved to the right away from beneath

lines

131 or 132. The first alternate position is shown in Fig. 6. 1

In the second main position (Fig. 7) the separator is moved so that both rivets are at the right end of the two slots, whereby void area 139 is beneath line132. And in the second alternate position the separator is cocked with rivet 113 at the right end of slot 121 and rivet 114 at the left end of slot 122. In this position -(Fig. 8) void area 136 is moved away from

lines

131 and 132.

Void areas

126 and 128 are disposed that either in the first main position or first alternate position they are on two of the baselines. In those same two positions no void areas are on the other two baselines. Instead, those other two baselines have therebeneathcontinuous paths of insulating material; When pressure is applied over one of the

void areas

126 or 128 disposed on baselines, the signal means is energized resulting in the indication of an unsuccessful attempt to steal a base or stretch a hit an extra base. Movement on the other baselines does not energize the signal means. An attempt to steal a base or stretch a base hit by moving on those other baselines is successful.

In the second main position and second alternate positions, void areas 127 are disposed that they are on the baseline between second base and third base and no void areas are on the other baselines, where there are con- Therefore, if an,

attempt is made to steal from second base to third base, the signal means is energized in response to pressure over void areas 127. Whereas, the signal means is inoperative if an attempt is made to steal to second base or to home as there are continuous insulating paths on those baselines preventing energization of the signal means.

By shifting the separator to any one of its four positions the location of void areas 141 are changed. These void areas, only a few of which are shown, represent the termini of base hits as for the game of Fig. 3. The void areas 86 in the infield define very short paths, and when a hit terminates at one of those void areas, the batter. has hit into a double play.

The operation of the second embodiment of the baseball game varies little from that of Fig. 3. The side at field moves the separator to any of its four positions, disposing void areas in four possible locations. The first and second main positions (Figs. 5 and 7) may be designated as pitches that are strikes, in the strike area at either

line

132 or 131. Whereas, in the first alternate position and second alternate position, void area 130 is disposed remote from either line 131 or line 132, whereby the pitch is designateda ball.

The selection of either of the main or alternate positions may at times be entirely without bearing on the status of the game, but at other times the choice of position'may be influenced by the status of the game at that instance. Particularly, the choice is not arbitrary when a runner is on base. If a runner is on first base, for example, the side at field may wish to prevent the runner from stealing to second base. This-is done by the selection of the location of the separator in the first main or first alternate positions.

Thus at the same time that the side at field is preventing the runner from stealing to second base, either a strike or a ball may be thrown to the batter. Since the batter does not know the separator location, the side at bat must choose to swing at the ball or let it go by hoping that a ball was thrown. Similarly, at the same time a runner cannot steal home from third base because of void areas 128 being disposed on the third baseline. In moving the instrument on the field along that baseline to represent stealing a base, the signal means is energized indicating that the runner is out. However, the baseline between second base and third .base has therebeneath between the conductive sheets a continuous insulating path, and a runner can run from second base to third base without being tagged out.

Similarly, in the second main and second alternate positions, which represent the pitch of a strike and a ball, respectively, the baseline between second base and third base is blocked by void areas 127. But the other baselines do not have disposed thereon means to cause energization of the signal means in response to pressure therealong. Instead those baselines havethe continuous insulating paths of the separator, whereby the conductive sheets are spaced apart. I

Also, the choice of position forthe separator is a factor in the length of the base hits aside from the shifting of void areas 141. For example, if'a one, two, I or three base hit is indicated by the point at which the instrument is on the field when the signal means is energized, the side at bat may attempt to stretch the hit an extra base. The batter is entitled to advance to the base indicated corresponding to the distance the instrument is moved before the signal is energized.

strike outs, etc. The side at bat may choose to let the pitch pass without swinging. And if void area 130 is not beneath line 131 or line 132 a ball is called. A swing constitutes moving the instrument along either line 131 or line 132. A swing that does not result in the signal means being energized is a strike, the ball is not hit. If the swing caused the signal to be energized, the batter is considered to have hit the ball. The side at bat then spins a pointer to determine the direction in which the ball is hit. The pointer may have two pointed ends as shown in Fig. 3. And either end thereof may be utilized to indicate the direction the ball is hit. If only one end of the pointer is utilized, the full circle around home plate is marked.

to represent activity and only one-fourth of the circle represents a hit into the fair ball field. On the other hand if both ends of the pointer are utilized, only 180 degrees of the circle represents activity and one-half of that represents a hit into the fair ball field.

For the embodiment of Fig. 3, the pointer is spun for each pitch since the separator does not include a ball and strike pitch indicating means.

For either embodiment of the baseball game, the pointer indicates the zone into which the ball is hit. And when that is determined, the instrument is pressed on the field and moved radially from near home base in the direction indicated by the pointer until the signal means is energized. The distance of movement corresponds to the base hit made by the batter. This can be seen particularly in connection with Fig. 3 in which the three arcs 91', 92', and 93' represent distances for one base, two base and three base hits. A home run for that embodiment is represented by a hit extending all the way to the peripherial edge of the field. The batter is moved directly to the base indicated.

Although but three embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure as Letters Patent:

1. A game comprising the combination of a. pair of sheets of paper thin conductive foil with one of said sheets superposed over the other, a playing field disposed over said sheets and constituting an unbroken cover over said sheets, separator means in the form of a leaf of electrical insulating material loosely disposed between said sheets to be slidable with respect to said sheets to difierent positions, said leaf being formed by a plurality of paths of said insulating material that criss cross with relatively small isolated areas void of said insulating material each bounded by said paths, and circuit means including an electrical source, an indicator connected to said source with one terminal of said circuit means compris ing a first of said sheets and the other terminal of said circuit means comprising the second of said sheets.

2. The game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said void areas are disposed in a pattern of alternating groups of relatively many void areas and groups of relatively few void areas.

3. The game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said playing field is marked with transverse parallel lines to represent the ten yard stripes of a football field, said void areas are relatively small and said paths are relatively narrow compared to the distance representing ten yards on said field so that when pressure is applied on said field over one of said portions for a distance corresponding to ten yards said sheets are alternately caused to contact each other through successive said void areas energizing said indicator and to separate from each other because of said paths deenergizing said indicator.

4. The game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said field is marked with lines radiating outwardly from a common point, and a pointer is positioned on said field to cooperate with said lines on said field.

5. The game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said field is marked to represent first, second, third, and home bases as in baseball, said leaf is of size sufi'icient that. it covers one of said sheets in any of several different positions relative to said sheets, and certain of said paths and void areas disposed in said leaf that when said leaf is in a first position one of said paths is along a first baseline of said field and one of said void areas is on a second baseline and when said leaf is in a second position one of said paths is along said second baseline and one of said void areas is on said first baseline.

6. The game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said field is marked to represent first, second, third, and home bases as in baseball, and certain of said paths and void areas are disposed in said leaf that when said leaf is in a first position one of said paths is along a first baseline of said field and one of said void areas is on a second baseline and when said leaf is in a second position one of said paths is along said second baseline and one of said void areas is on said first baseline.

7. A game having alternate layers each comprised of a sheet of conductive material, electrical insulating material comprising the intermediate layer keeping the adjacent said sheets of the alternate layers on opposite sides thereof normally electrically isolated from each other with rela tively small isolated areas void of said insulating material dispersed in said intermediate layer, a cover defining piaying field on top of the uppermost of said sheets, a source of electrical energy, a circuit including said source, an electrically responsive device and having said sheets as terminals normally spaced apart by said intermediate layer, wherein said field is marked to represent a sports game with said insulating material of said intermediate layer forming a plurality of paths extending varying distances to be terminated by said void areas and define varying sports scoring features on said cover defining field, the arrangement of said sheets and cover defining field being such that as pressure is applied on said cover defining field along a said path said sheets are maintained separated by said insulating layer preventing energization of said device, when pressure is applied on said cover defining field over any of said void areas said sheets are caused to contact each other through the void area and energize said device, and when pressure is released from over said void area said insulating layer closely surrounding the void area immediately eilects separation of said two sheets deenergizing said device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,603 Hadesbeek Aug. 27, 1946