US2977713A - Game - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1961 s. ALELYUNAS GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug 14, 1958 v arm/my F|G.6 SOLOMON INVENTOR.

ALELYUNAS AT TORNVEY April 1961 s. ALELYUNAS 2,977,713

8 I ATTORNEY United States Patent GAME Solomon Alelyunas, Delaware Valley Mfg. Co. Inc., 1703 Burnt Mill Road, Haddonfield, NJ.

Filed Aug. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 754,947

Claims. (Cl. 46- 1) 'vide a board-game apparatus having the advantageous Patented Apr. 4, 1961 number or spot appearing on the dice as rolled, according to speed permitted on the track;

Main line": Full speed track, designated green;

Standard speed: Two-thirds throttle, for open country and curves, designated blue;

Reduced speed: One-third throttle, for spurs, switch yards and sidings, designated'colors other than green and blue;

Switches: The block in which a switch or cross-over occurs;

Dispatch Oflice: Three locations along the Main lines, marked on the board, where Special Orders are received;

19 Order: The Train Orders of Figure 10 which are picked up on a hoop when passing any Dispatch Office, not requiring a signature, and carrying top priority over all other orders;

characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and

which includes novel structural features in both the board itself and the playing pieces of the game.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and Special Orders: The Train Orders shown in Figure 9 issued at Dispatch Ofiices; and

Train Position: The block line to which the engine has moved when the train is going forward, and the block line to which caboose or last car has moved when backing.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figure 1 thereof, the game-board is there generally designated 20, and may be fabricated of three plies or layers, see Figure 2, a lower layer 21, an interreferring tothe accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a game-board or playing field constructed according to the teachings of the instant invention;

Figure 2'is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing assembled playing pieces of the present invention apart from the game board;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3; V

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 4, and showing in dot-and-dash outline a fragment of the playing board associated with a playing piece;

Figure 6 is an exploded bottom perspective view showing a pair of playing pieces of the present invention and illustrating the detachable coupling construction thereof;

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating dice to be used in the play of the instant game;

Figure 8 represents a plurality of cards which constitute Train Orders for use in conjunction with the instant invention;

Figure 9 represents a plurality of cards for use as Special Orders in the instant game apparatus;

Figure '10 represents a plurality of cards for use as Nineteen Orders in conjunction with the instant game apparatus.

Before describing the apparatus in detail, certain railroading terminology and definitions as employed in the instant game are set forth below.

Run: The large white cards of Figure 8 designated Train Orders;

Block: The distance traveled by a train for each mediate layer 22, and an upper or face layer 23.

The board may be of any desired configuration. such as the square or rectangular configuration illustrated, and is provided on its upper surface or face with means defining a system of simulated railroad track-age, including a switching yard or terminal area 25, and a plurality of destinations or stations at which loads are picked up or discharged. The destinations are labelled on the board 20, as seen in Figure 1, as the track at such destinations is provided with at least one simulated spur track for picking up and delivering vehicles or cars.

Specifically, the terminal area or yard 25 includes four tracks 26 which terminate adjacent to one corner of the board in dead ends 27. The tracks 26 extend from their terminii 27 in substantial parallelism generally toward the central board region and may be provided with interconnecting switches, as at 28 extending between and intersecting with pairs of the tracks 26. The terminal area tracks 26 are connected to and merge with a Main line track 29, which has a siding or side track 30. A parallel Main line track 31 is connected at opposite ends to the Main line track 29 by loop track sections 32 and 33. In addition, the Main line track 31 is provided with a siding or side track 34 having spur or spur tracks 35 and 36 adjacent to the destination oil wells. Of course, the intersection or connection of tracks, as at 37 and 38 the connections of siding 30 with track 29 represents switches.

An additional Main line track 40 extends across the Main line tracks 29, 30 and 31 and is connected to a standard speed track 41 which is provided with spurs 42 at the destination oil refinery.

In accordance with actual railroad practice, the allowable rate of travel is determined in accordance with the conditions of the particular trackage. This is determined in the instant device by the spacing between adjacent lines 75, which spacing, on the average, is proportional to the allowed rate of speed.

While the foregoing description does not include all of the trackage illustrated on the board 20, the precise configuration of trackage is obvious from the drawings and is not essential to practice of the instant invention. However, it will be observed that the terminal area or yard 25 is connected by trackage to all of the destinations, and all of the destinations are connected by trackage to each other, so that a round trip along the tracks may be accomplished from the yard area 25 to any destination or destinations, in any particular sequence thereof, and return to the yard area.

As best seen in Figure 2, the tracks or simulated tracks of the board 20 are defined by upwardly facing grooves, as at 41 and 42 in Figure 2. More specifically the track defining grooves are formed by through slots in the intermediate board layer 22, as at 45 and 46 corresponding to the tracks 41 and 42, respectively. The through slots 45 and 46 of the intermediate layer 22 have their bottom sides closed by the bottom layer 21. The top layer 22 is formed with through slots 47 and 48 each of width less than and respectively conformably overlying the slots 45 and 46. That is, the top layer is provided with slots of a configuration substantially congruent to the configuration of slots in the intermediate layer, and the top'layeris superposed on the intermediate layer with the slots of the top layer conformably overlying and located laterally medially of the intermediate layers slots. By this construction, the slots of the intermediate layer 22, and the respectively overlying slots of the top layer 23 combine to define upwardly opening or facing grooves having the configuration seen in Figure 1 and simulating railroad track.

Further, as the slots of the top layer 23 are narrower than the slots of the intermediate layer 22, the resultant slots are of an inverted T-shape and may be considered as having their side walls undercut beneath the playing surface or top layer. As the section line 2-2 passes through the terminii or dead ends 50 of spurs 42, wherein the track defining grooves are of enlarged or increased width, it may be seen in Figure 2 that such increased width is achieved by lateral enlargement of the top layer slot 48 in the region overlying the spur end portion 50, as at 51. Similarly, the dead ends of all spur tracks are preferably enlarged, for purposes appearing presently.

The playing pieces of Figures 3-6 represent or simulate the vehicles or cars of a railroad train, namely an engine 55, freight cars 56, and a caboose 57. The vehicles 55, 56 and 57 may advantageously be fabricated of plastic having at least slight resiliency, but may be manufactured otherwise, if desired. The freight cars 56 are representative, and may each consist of a generally rectangular body 58, which may be molded to present the appearance of a particular type of car, and is preferably formed with a generally fiat bottom surface 59. Depending from the fiat undersurface 59 is a projection 60 having an enlargement or head 61 on its lower end. The head or enlargement 61 may be generally flat, substantially parallel to and spaced below the undersurface 59, and of an elongate configuration longitudinally of the body 58, having its opposite ends preferably pointed.

Extending from one end 65 of the body 58, nominally the front end thereof, is a longitudinally forwardly projecting extension 66 having on its forward or distal end an enlarged knub or head 67. The head 67 may be of generally cylindrical, vertically disposed configuration, as illustrated.

A socket 70 is formed in the rearward region of the car body 58 and opens rearward through the rear end wall 71 of the car body. The socket 70 may be defined by a generally vertically disposed cylindrical hole opening through one side portion rearward, between rearwardly diverging surfaces 72, through the rear end surface 71 of the car body. That is, the surfaces 72 converge in the forward direction to provide a converging entrance passageway into the socket.

As best seen in Figure 6, the end enlargement 67 of one car 56 is engageable into the socket '70 of the next adjacent car through the lower end opening of the socket upon relative vertical movement of the cars. In this manner, the cars are coupled together, the extension 66 and socket 70 defining an articulated detachable coupling. Further, the cars are connectable and disconnectable by insertion of the head 67 into the socket 70 be tween the walls 72, the latter being resiliently defiectable away from each other by wedging action of the head against the walls. In the last mentioned manner of coupling and uncoupling, the cars may be moved longitudinally relative to each other in the same horizontal plane. While the above description related to the intermediate or freight cars 56, the engine 55 and caboose 57 may be of the same general structure except that a coupling element is omitted from the front end of the former, and from the rear end of the latter. Of course, the engine and caboose are also preferably externally configured to present the appearance of an actual engine and caboose.

In the play of the game employing the above described game apparatus, actual railroad rules are followed as far as applicable. For example, the following Rules of the Road may be enforced, corresponding to similar railroad rules:

1) For the purpose of safety, one full block must remain open between any two trains. A block is defined as the distance between an adjacent pair of cross lines extending transversely across a track, as the line 75 crossing the track 41.

(2) Trains must always more forward except when backing into a spur or switch yard to pick up a car or drop a car.

(3) Backing is prohibited on the Main lines.

(4) The first train to enter a switch or cross-over has the right of way and holds the right of way until the entire train is completely clear of the switch or cross-over.

(5) When two trains are approaching one another on a single track, the first train to clear or to enter the last switch at which it can change its route has the right of way. The other train must then use the next switch to change its route, or, if it is impossible for the other train to change its route before contact, the other train may wait outside the switch until it is cleared.

Switches into the train yards or terminal area do not count under this rule, unless a train is returning after having carried out orders.

(6) To pick up or drop a car, a train must move to a position that will leave the caboose and other cars outside the switch. The train will then move forward until it clears the switch, back into the spur, and then pick up or drop a car. The train will then move forward, once again clearing the switch, back up to the remaining cars, if any, and caboose, couple up and then proceed ahead. The act of coupling or uncoupling does not count as a move.

(7) Special Orders and Dispatches are issued when the engine moves to a Dispatch Office block.

(8) 19 Orders must be picked up by the first train going past a Dispatch Office on the Main line. The engine does not have to stop at the Dispatch Otfice block.

(9) All orders must be carried out before returning to the starting position (terminal area).

(10) If there are no freight cars left at the raw material spurs named in a Special Order or a 19 Order, the order is cancelled. The train is cleared to go ahead without taking another Special Order at this stop.

Under the above Rules of the Road, the game may be played as follows:

The game is set up by placing two freight cars on the track at each raw material spur, namely, iron ore mines, coal mines, oil fields, saw mill and cattle country. As noted at the end regions 50 of spurs 42, the upper layer slot 48 is enlarged, as at 51, whereby the enlargement 61 of a depending freight car projection 60 is freely insertable into the groove 45 of the intermediate ply or layer 22, below the upper layer 23. Of course, as the thus inserted freight car is moved along the track beyond the enlarged end portion thereof, the retaining head 61 engages beneath the upper layer 23 and is retained by the latter slidably within the track.

The Train Orders 76 of Figure 8, all preferably containing instructions, are shufiled or mixed and placed face downward for the blind selection of one by each player. This determines the run of a players train.

The Special Orders 77 of Figure 9, and the 19 Orders 78 of Figure are shufiled or mixed together and placed in a pile, face down for use as needed.

The order of playing turns is determined by throwing the dice for high number.

Two to twelve blocks can be covered on each move, depending upon the throw of the dice. All moves must be used unless the Rules of the Road prohibit the move. Moves forward or backward, or both, can be made on a single throw of the dice.

Each player selects his own route to the Raw Material Spurs and factory.

After the order of turn is determined, each player selects a run or runs at random. A run determined by a Train Order 76, as seen in Figure 8, consists of directions to proceed to a certain Raw Material Spur, there picking up a car, and to deliver the car to a certain factory or plant. After carrying out the Orders, the train is to be returned to its starting point, the terminal area.

Dispatch Officers, located on the Main lines only will issue Special Orders when the engine of a train stops at a Dispatch Otfice block. When 19 Orders are on top of the pile, the first train passing a Dispatch Office must take the Special or 19 Order and carry it out before all other orders. Except for the top priority 19 Orders, the player determines the route his train takes, and which order he carries out first.

In order to finish the game, it is necessary to throw the exact number of moves required on the dice, and the last move must be two blocks or more, so that the pair of dice can be used. The first player finishing the game wins.

According to the length of game desired, the players may select one or more Train Orders 76, and may be limited to one or more Special Orders or 19 Orders. If desired, play may continue until all Special or 19 Orders have been issued and all freight cars have been moved from the Raw Material Spurs.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a railroad board-game apparatus which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A board-game apparatus comprising a board, one

, face of a lid board being formed with a plurality of fixed opposite internal side walls undercut beneath said one board face, a plurality of elongate simulated vehicles arranged longitudinally of and over said grooves, a projection depending from .the underside of each vehicle loosely into the nether groove, and an enlarged head on the lower end of each depending projection loosely slidably received in the adjacent groove extending longitudinally of the respective vehicle and tapering toward its opposite ends to permit free limited turning of the vehicle, whereby 'said vehicles are freely movable along the several configurations of said grooves.

2. A board-game apparatus according to claim 1, in combination with coupling means for detachably conmeeting a plurality of said vehicles in end-to-end rela-.

tion for movement together along said grooves in the manner of an assembled train, said coupling means each comprising a flexible longitudinal extension on one end of one vehicle, an enlargement on the distal end of said extension of a generally circular horizontal cross section, and a socket on the adjacent end of the adjacent vehicle having an opening facing longitudinally out-' ward of said last-mentioned vehicle toward said enlargement, said socket being of an internal size to freely rotatably receive said enlargement and said longitudinally outwardly facing opening being of a lateral dimension less than that of said enlargement and substantially greater than that of said extension to permit rotation of said enlargement and extension about a generally vertical axis when said enlargement is received in said socket, for articulation of connected vehicles.

3. A board-game apparatus according to claim 2, said socket having a downwardly facing opening in its underside communicating with said longitudinally outwardly facing opening to alford resilient lateral distention to the sides of the latter opening for deliberate snap engagement and withdrawal of said enlargement with respect to said socket.

4. A board-game apparatus according to claim 3, said downwardly facing socket opening being of sufiicient size to pass said enlargement and the adjacent portion of said extension upon relative vertical movement of adjacent vehicles for connection and disconnection thereof when said vehicles are removed from said board, said heads in said grooves limiting relative vertical vehicle movement to prevent passage of said enlargement and ex tension through said downwardly facing socket open- 5. A board-game apparatus according to claim 3, said enlargement being of generally cylindrical vertically disposed external configuration, and said socket being of generally cylindrical vertically disposed internal configuration for rotatably receiving said enlargement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,560,921 Von Bultzingslowen Nov. 10, 1925 1,673,705 Pesnel June 12, 1928 2,711,857 Vanetzian et al. June 28, 1955 2,866,418 Petrick Dec. 30, 1958

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