US3494619A - Board game apparatus with string supported and guided playing pieces and markers - Google Patents

Description

3,494,519. BOARD GAME APPARATUS WITH STRING SUPPORTED AND GUIDED- Feb. 10, 1970 A.V. BIEGONIS PLAYING PIECES -AND MARKERS v I 2 Shgets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1967 Nuam Qm DIZ Z Y E HOUSES 1 J ET Al LIN 3.55am m 3 /N 1/5 N TOE. ADAM KB/EGON/S BY FOWL 52, 10/0555 MAE TENS ATTOENE'YS.

Feb. 10, 1970 A. v. BIEGONIS 9 ,5 9

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United States Patent O 3,494,619 BOARD GAME APPARATUS WITH STRING SUP- PORTED AND GUIDED PLAYING PIECES AND MARKERS Adam V. Biegonis, 370 N. Sacramento, Orange, Calif. 92667 Filed May 29, 1967, Ser. No. 642,027 Int. Cl. A63f 3/02 US. Cl. 273-134 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The apparatus includes a board having a series of spaces extending around its periphery to define a playing path. Player pieces are secured to the board by being slidable in a continuous slot extending around the board periphery, and markers slidably mounted on strings attached to the board adjacent the spaces indicate the status of the game together with adjustable money counters attached to the board. A spinner mounted on the board determines the players moves. In a second embodiment, the player pieces are elements pivotally mounted on a string attached to the board and movable about said string to either a vertical position or a horizontal position, and counters attached to the board are used to indicate the status of the game together with markers slidable on a. string.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a game and in particular to the construction of a game board wherein all of the movable elements utilized in the game are secured to the board.

Most board games employ movable pieces which rep resent the players of the game and other small movable elements such as dice, chips, cards, paper money, etc., which relate to the play of the game. These elements are usually completely detached from the board and hence the game must be played on a reasonably stationary and preferably level surface to prevent the player pieces and other elements from being inadvertently moved to disturb the play of the game. Even when the board is supported on a relatively stable surface such as a table, the pieces are often dislodged when the board or table is accidentally moved. This is particularly a problem when children are playing the game. Detachable pieces are also easily lost.

Accordingly, it is believed that a need exists for a board game wherein all movable elements are attached to the board in a manner so that they will not be moved if the board is bumped or jarred or is not completely level. Such a game board is especially suited for use while traveling in a car or in similar situations where the playing surface is not stable. Such game is also advantageous it played in outdoor areas whenever there is any significant breeze, such as at the beach, in that there are no loose, lightweight pieces to be blown about or lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a game apparatus for a plurality of players comprising a game board which acts as a. playing field having a series of spaces extending around its upper surface, with each of the spaces having indicia marked thereon relating to the play of the game. A plurality of movable player pieces on the board located adjacent to the spaces represent the individual players. These player pieces are positively retained by the board while being moved and while in a manually selected position. Hence, even if the board is tilted or bumped, the player pieces will not move. There is also included chance means, such as a spinner, attached to the board and operable by the players to direct the 3,494,619 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 movement of the player pieces with respect to the spaces on the board.

In a preferred form of the invention these player pieces are small elongated elements pivotally mounted on a string attached to the board and extending along the spaces around the boards periphery. These player pieces may be pivoted between horizontal and vertical positions to indicate the presence or absence of a particular player on a particular space. The tension on the string retains the player piece in the position selected.

In another form of this invention, this board is provided with a continuous slot around its periphery adjacent to the marked spaces, with side slots extending from the continuous slot towards each of the marked spaces. The player pieces are formed to slide within the slots and they are enlarged on their lower ends to be retained by the board.

As part of the game, some of the marked spaces on the hoard represent pieces of property. Ownership of these pieces of property is indicated by a plurality of markers slideably mounted on a string attached to the board. A marker points to a players number on the board spaces.

To increase rental income collectible from players landing on his property, a player may develop his property by investing money or by acquiring more property of a certain type. The amount of this rental value is in dicated by slideable markers on a. string attached to the board pointing to indicia on the board, or it may be incated by suitable pointers or spinners rotatably attached to the board and pointing to indicia on the board. A players cash may be shown by counters attached directly to the board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For a more complete understanding of the board game apparatus of this invention, refer to the following detailed description and drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the board game apparatus of the invention; I

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one corner of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of one corner of a board forming a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary perspective view of the portion of the board shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, plan, fragmentary view of the spinner portion of the board of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The game of the invention is in the form of a squareshaped board generally indicated by the numeral 40 in FIG. 1. The upper panel 41 of the board is marked with suitable indicia and graphic illustrations relating to the play of the game. To provide a playing field for the players, a playing path or main course 42 extends around the outer edge of the board. This path is divided into a series of spaces 136 representing pieces of property or giving directions the players are to follow.

The corner space 1 is the starting point from which the players move clockwise around the playing path 42. As a person passes the space 1, he receives an arbitrary amount of money. The other corner spaces 10, 19 and 28 give instructions to the player landing thereon such a to pay a fine or lose a turn or something of that nature.

Spaces 2, 3 and 4 represent property pieces which for example sell for a relative low price of say, each. Together these three spaces represent a section of property for rental investment purposes, as will be subsequently described. The spaces of a section are preferably given related appropriate names and are identically colored. Spaces 6, 7 and 8 similarly represent pieces of property forming a section, with these being slightly more valuable, having a price of, say, $200 apiece. A similar pattern is followed for the remaining three sides 42b, 42c, and 42d of the patch 42 with spaces 11-13, 15-17, -22, 24-26, 29-31, and 3335 representing property sections increasing in value in increments of, for example, approximately $50. Hence, in the example shown, spaces 33-35 represent the most valuable property, being approximately $500 apiece.

Spaces 9, 18, 27, and 36 are related property pieces also treated as a section. Each of these is given an arbitrary value of, for example, $300 and, as indicated in FIG. 2 by space 36, each is to represent a piece of air line property.

Spaces 5, 14, 23 and 32 are each marked with the word,

Risk (not shown in the drawings). When a player lands on any of these four spaces, he is to take a risk on a chance device as will be later explained. In the play of the game, each player is represented by a player piece and the players position on the board changes as the game progresses. In accordance with the invention, these player pieces are, attached to the board so that they will not be dislodged if the boa-rd is bumped or tilted. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, these player pieces are in the form of generally cylindrical buttons 44. This particular board is designed for a maximum of eight players and hence eight buttons are provided as illustrated in FIG. 2. These buttons may be colored or numbered to identify the players.

These buttons 44 are adapted to slide within a continuous slot 46 formed in a channel-shaped member 48 which extends around the periphery of the board, as lllLlS"? trated in FIG. 3. More specifically, the channel 48 has a vertically extending leg 48a which engages an inner sidewall 50 and has an upper leg 48b spaced from the board upper panel 41, and a short depending leg 480 which engages the upper panel 41.

Branching from main slot 46 are a plurality of side slots 47, with a side slot being formed for each of the spaces forming the path 42. Also, adjacent to the start space 1, the channel member 48 has an inwardly extending portion 48d formed with two storage slots 47a and 47b for storing the buttons 44 not being used.

Each of the buttons has a neck 44a sized to slide within therslot 46, as shown for button 440 in FIG. 3. However, the lower portion 44b of each button is enlarged to a width or diameter greater than the slot width so that the button cannot be withdrawn upwardly. To retain the button in the position selected within the slot, there is provided an elongated strip 54 of resilient foam-like material extending between the base of the buttons and the board upper panel 41, as shown in FIG. 3. The strip 54 alsoretains the buttons in the side slots selected, as indicated by button 44d shown positioned in a side slot 47d.

The buttons are to be moved around the board in a clockwise direction as determined by chance means such as a spinner 56 rotatably mounted on a stake 57 fixed to the center of the board. Surrounding the spinner or pointer 56 are a pair of concentric annular bands 58 and 60. As indicated in FIG. 6, the inner band 58 is separated into a series of spaces or sectors 58a which have dice 62 marked thereon to indicate the number of spaces which a player is to move his button, when the spinner is spun. Naturally, other numbering arrangements may be utilized. Also other chance means fixed to the board may be em.- ployed.

The outer band 60 is also separated into a series of sectors 61. Each of the sectors 61 has instructions written the sector 61 to which the spinner points, Thus, as seen in FIG. 6, the pointer 56 points toward sector 61a.

As previously mentioned, the property spaces in the main path 42 can be owned by the individual players. To identify this ownership, there is provided a novel string and marker arrangement fixed to the board upper panel 41. As seen in FIGS. 1-3, a string 64extends along the inner boundary of the main path 42, stretched between grommets 66 fixed to the upper panel 41 at the corner intersections of the string side sections. The string should be secured under tension in some suitable fashion.

A second string 68 is stretched around the outer edge of the main path 42 between grommets 70 secured to the panel 41. The string 68 should also be secured under tension in some suitable fashion. In an examplary arrangement, illustrated in FIG. 3, the strings 64 and 68 are strung as a continuous element. String 64 passes through grommet 66 to the underside of the panel 41 and then passes through grommet 70 to the topside of the panel where it continues as a section of string 68. This alternating procedure may be used at the other corners so that a continuous string can be utilized. Naturally, the string mounting may be accomplished in various ways.

A plurality of thin elongated markers 72 are slidably mounted on the string 64. Seven markers 72 are mounted on each of the four side sections of the string 64 so that there is a marker available for each of the seven property spaces on each side of the board.

Each of the property spaces along the main path 42 are marked with smaller spaces 74 numbered from 1 through 8 which represent the players. If a particular player lands on a certain property space and elects to buy that piece of property, his ownership may be indicated by sliding one of the markers 72 to the particular piece of property and pointing the marker at the numbered space 74 corresponding to the players number. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, a marker 72a pointing to the number 7 on property space 35 indicates that player number 7 owns that piece of property. Similarly, property space 36 is owned by player number 5. When not in use, the markers 72 may be conveniently stored or positioned adjacent to the risk spaces 5, 14, 23 and 32, inasmuch as these spaces cannot be owned.

While the resiliency of the string 64 permits the markers 72 to be easily slid to the position desired, this resiliency also maintains the marker in the position selected so that the marker does not inadvertently slide about in the event the board is tilted or bumped.

When an opposing player lands on a property space owned by another player, it may be necessary for the nonowner to pay a certain amount of rent money to the owner. The amount to be paid is dependent upon the rental value or investment status of the property. In the case of the airline spaces, 9, 18, 27 and 36, the amount of the rent or payment is dependent upon the number of airline property pieces owned. Thus, each of'these airline property spaces has marked thereon a series of small blocks 76, numbered from 1 through 4, as shown for example for space 36. A small marker 78a slideably mounted on string 68 points to the block 76 having the numeral 3. Space 36 is owned by player number 5 as indicated by the marker 72b on string 64. The marker 78a pointing to the block 76 numbered 3 on space 36 indicates that player number 5 owns three of the airline spaces including space 36 and two of the other three spaces 9, 18 and 27.

Amounts beneath the numbered block 76 tell the rent which must be paid to playernumber 5 by an opposing player landing on his property space 36. Thus, in the example illustrated, an opposing player landing on space 36 would have to pay player number 5 $200 rent.

Adjacent to number 4 of the numbered blocks 76 on space 36 is a small space 80 having the letter M marked thereon; and beneath the space 80 and the numeral M is the numeral 150. This tells the mortgage value of space 36; that is, player number 5 can mortgage space 36 for $150. If this has occurred, the marker 78a would be slid to that point on its string 68 to show that the property space is mortgaged. No rent is charged when the property is mortgaged.

The other two slideable markers 78 on each side of the string 68 are for use in conjunction with the two sections of property spaces included on each side of the board. That is, spaces 33, 34 and 35 represent one section on the lower side of the board illustrated in FIG. 2 and spaces 29, 30 and 31 represent another section. If a player owns all three pieces of property forming a particular section, he may invest more money in his section by building houses and thus obtain greater rent from the opposing players who land on his property. The markers 78 are slideable along string 68 to indicate the investment status or rental value for that section of property.

Thus, in FIG. 2, marker 78b points to the space 82 indicating that one house has been built on property section 33, 34 and 35. If an opposing player lands on this section of property, he must pay the owner, player number 7 as identified by marker 7211, the rental amount of $300 as marked on the space beneath the block 82. In a preferred form of the invention, four houses may be built on each section. The maximum investment is one hotel, equal to five houses. These property sections may also be mortgaged as indicated by block 83 for property space number 2 in FIG. 2. As a convenient arrangement, the mortgage value may be approximately one-half the purchase price of a particular piece of property. The cost of building one house may be set at the mortgage value of the piece of property, and the cost of a hotel equal to five times the mortgage value. The rental value is marked on the board beneath the marker 78b.

In view of the various financial dealings involved with the game, it is naturally necessary for each player to keep a continuous total of his money. For this purpose, there are provided a series of counters 84 including dials 85-88 which are marked on the board and numbered from 1 to 9 to represent dollars in multiples of 10. A series of pointers 89-92 are attached to the board with each dial being provided with a pointer centrally positioned therein. These pointers are rotatably mounted in frictional engagement with the top panel 41 of the board so that the pointer remains in the position selected. A set of such counters 84 is provided for each player. Thus, in the arrangement illustrated, eight such sets are provided, spaced around the board immediately within the main path 42.

Normally, the player utilizing a particular set of counters 84 would sit adjacent to that area of the board. Thus, the player sitting adjacent to the section of the board illustrated in FIG. 2, has $80 as indicated by pointer 89 pointing to the numeral 8, since dial 85 is marked to represent increments of $10.

The foregoing completes the physical description of one embodiment of the invention and includes considerable description of the play of the game as well. In accordance With the teachings of the invention it can be seen that all movable elements employed in the game are mounted directly to the board and each of these elements will remain in the position selected.

The other rules of the game may be formulated as desired. As a preferred example, each player should start with a predetermined amount of money, say, approximately $3300, by setting his counters 84 accordingly. Each player should spin the spinner 56 with the person spinning the highest number starting the game. The players take turns to rotate the spinner 56 and move their buttons 44 clockwise around the board accordingly. Players may exchange or sell property at any price agreeable to the parties concerned.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 4 AND 5 In FIGS. 4 and 5 there is illustrated another structural embodiment of the game board apparatus of the invention with the play of the game being essentially the same as that described above. The board 140 in FIG. 4 is marked with a main path 142 around its periphery separated into a series of marked spaces which have the same names and the same functions as the corresponding spaces on the board 40 illustrated in FIG. 1. The corner of the board 140 shown corresponds to the corner opposite from the start corner. Thus, spaces -121 illustrated in FIG. 4 are comparable to spaces 15-21 in FIG. 1, and spaces not shown are similar to the corresponding spaces in FIG. 1, as modified by the arrangement now to be described for FIG. 4.

A string 168 is attached at intervals by members 169 to the upper panel 141 of the board 140, or may be simply attached to the board at the corners as in FIG. 1. The important aspect is that the string be held under slight tension close to the surface of the board. 0n the string 168 there is mounted a plurality of small elongated player pieces 175 equaling eight numbered player pieces for each of the spaces in the playing path 142. Eight is the maximum number that can play the game with a board designed in this fashion. The total width of the player pieces is about equal to the width of each space in the playing path 142, except for the corner spaces. As illustrated for corner space 119, four player pieces 175 are positioned along a line parallel to one outer side of the space and four are positioned along a line parallel to the other outer side of the space.

The player pieces 175 have a flat end 175a which enables them to stand in a vertical position and they are attached to the string 168 near the flat end so that they may be easily pivoted from a horizontal position to the vertical position, as can be seen by piece number 1 in FIGS. 5 and 5a. The other end 175b of each player piece 175 is tapered to a point spaced from the board to enable a person to place his finger or an instrument beneath the edge of the point to flip the player piece to a vertical position.

The pieces are used to indicate the presence or absence of a player on a particular space. When a player piece is horizontally positioned, such player is not on that particular space. When a player piece is in the vertical position, such player is on that particular space. Thus, as the spinner 56 in FIG. 6 is utilized to determine the move of a player around the player path 142, it is only necessary for the player to flip his player piece to a horizontal position on the space he is leaving and to flip his numbered player piece to a vertical position on the space where he has been sent. Thus, as indicated in FIG. 4, for example, player number 1 is on space 120, player number 3 is on space 119, player number 5 is on space 117, and player number 4 is on space 116.

A second string 164 is stretched around the board inwardly from and parallel to the string 168. The string 164 is secured to the board at the corners by suitable members 169 so that a plurality of small pointed markers 172 slideably mounted on string 164 at one side of the board may be moved along that side of the board. Seven markers are provided on each side of the board to represent property ownership of the property pieces. A particular marker is simply slid to the proper space and aligned with or pointed to the player piece 175 representing the player owning the property.

For example, on space 118 marker 172a points to player piece number 5 which indicates that player number 5 owns property space 118. So that ownership is clearly apparent even when a particular player piece 175 is moved to its vertical position, the space on the board beneath each player piece 175 is numbered corresponding to the number on the player piece over it. Thus, as seen for property space '117, wherein player piece number 5 is in its vertical position, the numeral 5 is visible on the board.

For indicating the rental value of each property space in the player path 142, there is provided a dial near the outer edge of each property space which cooperates with a pointer mounted on the board for frictional rotation. Thus, a dial 180 for airline property space 118 has sectors marked from 1 through 4 and a sector marked M. Comparable to those previously described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the numerals indicate the number of airline pieces of property that are owned by player number 5 who owns space 118; and the letter M indicates whether the property is mortgaged. Thus, a pointer 182 pointing to the number 1 indicates that player number 5 owns one piece of airline property. The numbered blocks 190 on the space 118 tell that with one 1 piece of property owned the rent is $150.

Dial 192 for space 117 is marked with the .letter R, numerals 1-4, the letterH, and the letter M. R indicates that the player (number 5) owning space 117 has not built on that piece of property and is entitled to rent on the land only. The numerals 1 through 4 correspond to the number of houses that player number 5 has built on the property, and H stands for a hotel. M indicates that the property is mortgaged. Spaces 115 and 116 are provided with similar dials 192 and pointers 194 to indicate the investment status of the property. The spaces 115-117, 120 and 121 are also provided with markings comparable to those shown at 82 and 83 of FIG. 2 to shOW the rental value and mortgage value of the property; however, to simplify the drawings these markings are not shown in FIG. 4. By having each of the property pieces within the particular section provided with its own dial, it is possible to play a game wherein only a single piece of property within a section, such as 115-117, may have houses built thereon while the other pieces in that section do not.

Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are provided a series of counters 184 for keeping a running total of the amount of money that each player has. Thus, in FIG. 4 it is indicated that the player utilizing those four dials to record his wealth has $3300.

What is claimed is:

1. A game apparatus for a plurality of players comprising:

a game board acting as a playing field and having a series of spaces extending around the upper surface of the board, each of said spaces having indicia marked thereon relating to the play of the game;

string means mounted on the surface of said board extending along said spaces;

a plurality of movable player pieces mounted on said string means, each of said spaces having the same number of player pieces supported adjacent thereto, each of said player pieces being so formed and so mounted on said string means as to be movable about said string means from a first position indicating the absence of a certain player from the associated space to a second 'visually distinguishable position indicating the presence of that player on that particular space;

a plurality of markers mounted for movement along said series of spaces for indicating a relationship of the players to said spaces the mounting means being constructed so that a marker is retained in the position selected until manually moved to a different position; and

chance means attached to said board operable by the players to direct the movement of said player pieces with respect to said spaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said player pieces are small elongated elements pivotally mounted on said string means, said first and second positions being horizontal and vertical, respectively.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said string means is slightly resilient such that its resiliency maintains said player pieces in the position selected.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said spaces is marked with a different number of each player piece,

said numbers being arranged on said spaces so that each of said player pieces in said first position covers a respective one of said numbers, each piece being marked with the same number, each of said player pieces being movable to uncover its number when moved to said second position.

5. A game apparatus for a plurality of players comprising:

a game board acting as a playing field having a series of marked spaces extending around the outer periphery of the board, some of said spaces bearing indicia which designated them as property which may be possessed by the players;

a plurality of player pieces pivotally mounted on a first string secured to said board and extending adjacent to each of said marked spaces, said pieces being so formed and so mounted on said string as to be pivotable thereon from a horizontal position to a vertical position to indicate the absence or presence of a player on a particular space, said string having sufiicient tension to retain said pieces on said board in the particular manually selected position even when said board is tilted or bumped;

a plurality of markers mounted on a second string attached to said board and extending along a series of said marked spaces, said markers being manually slidable on said string to be aligned with selected player pieces for indicating ownership of said property spaces, the number of markers on said second string corresponding to the number of property spaces along which said second string extends;

chance means mounted on the board within a first ring of marked sectors which direct the movement of each player on said series of marked spaces as represented by said player pieces and a second ring of sectors surrounding said first ring bearing instructions for the players of the game which are to be followed when the players land on certain of the spaces as determined by operation of said chance means;

adjustable pointers mounted on said board adjacent to each of said property spaces for pointing to suitable indicia marked on the board indicating the rental value of that particular piece of property; and

counter means for each player of the game mounted on said board adjacent said marked spaces for maintaining a running total of the amount of money possessed by each of said players.

6. A game apparatus for a plurality of players comprising:

a game board acting as a playing field and having a series of spaces extending around the upper surface of the board, each of said spaces having indicia marked thereon relating to the game;

a plurality of movable player pieces on said board adjacent to said spaces to represent the players;

means for positively retaining said pieces on said board while being moved and while in a manually selected position including means defining a continuous slot extending around the periphery of said board adjacent to said marked spaces, said player pieces being slidable within said continuous slot;

some of said marked spaces bearing indicia designating them as being pieces of property and having indicia thereon indicating the rental value of said property and indicia for identifying each player of the game;

a pair of spaced parallel strings stretched along the upper surface of the board adjacent to said marked spaces;

a first group of markers being slidably mounted on one of said strings and each positionable pointing to said indicia for identifying each player associated with one of said spaces designated as a piece of property to indicate ownership of said property space;

a second group of markers movably mounted on the other of said strings each positionable pointing to 9 10 said indicia indicating the rental value of one Of 2,042,645 6/1936 Webb 273-134 said property spaces; and 2,268,433 12/ 1941 Smith 273134 chance means attached to said board operable by the 2,693,961 11/1954 Ri l 273 134 players to direct the movement of said player pieces 2,97 044 3 19 corpening 273 134 with respect to said spaces.

5 References Cited DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Cl. X.R.

866,447 9/1907 Falkenberg 273134 273136, 137, 141 1,209,373 12/1916 Zarker 273-134 10

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