US3601401A - Compact game with chance device - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a simulated game comprising; a cover convertible into a playing board having self-contained playing pieces; a chance control device including a spinner mounted on a base and a plurality of play determining members hinged to the base and movable into and out of play determining position overlying the spinner. Each of the play determining members has a pair of concentric rings of openings, in staggered relationship, with outcome indicia pertinent to the particular game adjacent each opening. The game is played by spinning the spinner and then moving the appropriate play determining member into overlying relationship therewith, the outcome of the play being that indicated by the indicia adjacent the opening through which the spinner can be seen.

Description

0 n r i, m f u i iln ite tts atet [72] inventor Douglas J.

East Longmeadow, Mass. 21 Appl. No. 843,372 [22] Filed July 22, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73] Assignee Milton Bradley Company Springfield, Mass.

[54] COMPACT GAME WITH CHANCE DEVICE 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] 1.1.8. Cl 273/93 R, 273/94 R, 273/134 ES, 273/141 R [51] int. Cl A631 7/06 [50] Field of Search 273/88, 93, 94, 141

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,026,048 12/1935 Kroff 273/93 (R) 2,026,580 1/1936 Kroff... 273/93 (R) 2,530,187 11/1950 Wolfe 273/93 (R) 2,585,259 2/1952 Marchke 273/93 (R) Primary Examiner- Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner- Paul E. Shapiro Altomeys- Kenwood Ross and Chester E. Flavin ABSTRACT: Apparatus for playing a simulated game comprising; a cover convertible into a playing board having selfcontained playing pieces; a chance control device including a spinner mounted on a base and a plurality of play determining members hinged to the base and movable into and out of play determining position overlying the spinner. Each of the play determining members has a pair of concentric rings of openings, in staggered relationship, with outcome indicia pertinent to the particular game adjacent each opening. The game is played by spinning the spinner and then moving the appropriate play determining member into overlying relationship therewith, the outcome of the play being that indicated by the indicia adjacent the opening through which the spinner can be seen.

PATENTEUAuswsn Y 3.601.401

' sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR. DOUGLAS J. BECK ar ronusvs.

PATENTED M82419?! SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR. DOUGLAS J. BECK ATTORNEYS.

COMPACT GAME WITH CIIANCE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION lpField of the Invention Game apparatus for the simulated playing of ball games.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art games have been complicated in their use, expensive in their manufacture and, for the most part, so large and bulky as not to lend themselves to being carried on the person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive, compact and easily portable game which lends itself to being manufactured in conventional board game size or miniature form suitable for carrying upon the person or in an automobile glove compartment, or for inclusion in merchandising packages as prizes or premiums.

Herein, the cover, which contains the various game components, is quickly convertible into a playing board having self-contained playing pieces.

In addition, the chance control device and play determining members are hingedly connected so as to be collapsible to form a compact stack readily insertable into the combination cover and playing board when the game is not in use.

The game is simple to play making it highly entertaining for players of all ages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a game embodying the invention, the game being shown in its nonuse condition wherein the chance control device and play determiningmembers are contained within the combination cover and playing board;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the combination cover and playing board spread flat and ready for play;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the chance control device and play determining members spread flat and ready for play;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the opposite planar face of one ofthe play determining members of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the chance control device and play determining members similar to FIG. 3, but with one of the play determining members moved to play selecting position relative to the chance control device; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken through the chance control device and play determining members, the latter all being in folded position ready to store in the combination cover and playing board.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Herefollowing, specific reference will be had to the game as used for playing a simulated baseball game. It. must be understood that same is used for illustrative purposes only, since the game can be used for the simulated play of football, soccer or other type games.

The game comprises three major components, namely: a combination cover and playing board, a chance control device, and a plurality of play determining members.

The game is so constructed that the play determining members may be folded in seriatim upon the chance control device and upon themselves and inserted into the combination cover and playing board to form a compact package which may be easily carried in a coat pocket, purse or automobile glove compartment.

The combination cover and playing board is generally indicated by 10. When the game is being played, it is spread flat in the manner ofa carton blank as shown in FIG. 2 to form a playing board; when the game is not being played, it is erected to form a cover or container for the game as shown in FIG. 1.

Cover and playing board 10 includes a base 12, having side flaps l4 and 16 and end flaps l8 and 20 hingedly connected thereto by hinge areas 22 defined by crease or score lines 24 at each of the side and end edge of the base.

The hinge areas form container sidewalls and the side and end flaps'form container top walls when erected, with a tongue 26 on side flap 14 being receivable in a provided slot 28 in side flap 16 to releasably lock the flaps together.

Base 12 is provided with appropriate designs 30 depicting a simulated playing field, such, for example, as the baseball diamond shown in FIG. 2.

Playing pieces, in the form of three tabs 32 to indicate first, second and third base, and an Outs tab 34 to indicate the number of outs, are provided by cut scoring flap 14 as at 36 so that the tabs can be readily torn or punched away from the flap.

. Following removal from the flap, tab 34 is slidably receivable in slots 38 provided in the flap and tabs 32 are slidably receivable in the respective of slots 40 provided in base 12.

Tab 34 bears suitable indicia 42 indicating the number of outs and tabs 32 bear suitable indicia 44 to indicate first,

, second or third base and indicia 46 to indicate when a man is on that base.

When a base is occupied, the tab is pulled up to expose indicia 46. When the base is unoccupied, the tab is pushed down to expose indicia 44. In FIG. 2, the positions of tabs 32 indicate that first base is occupied and second base is unoccupied.

Movement of the tabs relative to the slots is dictated by intelligencedelivered by manipulation of the chance control device and play determining members, now to be described.

The chance control device, generally indicated by 48, and play determining members, generally indicated by 50, are mounted on a common base 52 preferably, but not necessarily, of hexagonal design to provide six sides, with a play determining member being hingedly connected to each of the six sides and being movable into and out of overlying relationship to the chance control device.

Of course, the base could be square or rectangular or of other shape, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The chance control device may taken any form. Herein it comprises a spinner 54 pivoted by a pivot pin 56 to the base, having the representation of an arrow 58 imprinted on its upper face and being provided with a notch 60 on its periphery to facilitate finger manipulation.

The play determining members 50 surround the chance control device 48, there being a play determining member for each side of the base.

Since the base shown herein is six-sided, there are six play determining members. Should the. base be square, there will be four play determining members and so on.

Each play determining member is hingedly connected to the base by a hinge area 62 defined by score lines 64 disposed between the base and the play determining member, wherefore the play determining members may be moved from a position beside the base, as shown in FIG. 3, to a position overlying the base and the chance control device, as shown in FIG. 5.

Each play determining member is provided with an inner ring of small openings 66 and an outer concentric ring of larger openings 68 therethrough with the openings of one ring being staggered relative to those of the other ring.

On one of its planar faces, a play determining member carries indicia 70 pertaining to a particular play situation in a baseball game as, for example, Man On First," Man On Second," or the like.

On its opposite planar face, a play determining member carries indicia 72 corresponding to indicia 70 and additionally carrying indicia 74 indicating a virtually endless variety of batter and/or base runner game situations such, for example, as Fly Out Runners Hold," Single," Home Run, or the like, indicia 74 being disposed adjacent or aligned with the large openings 68.

Other indicia in the form of radial bars 76 and 78 aligned with the small openings 66 indicate balls and strikes respectively.

To play the game, all of the play determining members are spread flat in the manner of FIG. 3 and one ofthe players spins the chance control device. Since it is the first play of the game,

' he will move the play determining member carrying the designation Batter into overlying position on the chance control device.

A portion of arrow 58 will now be visible through one of the openings 66 or 68 depending upon the position of the arrow.

If the arrow is aligned with one of the small openings 66 carrying indicia 76, this indicates that the pitch was a ball. If the arrow had been aligned with a small opening carrying indicia 78, this would indicate that the pitch was a strike.

If the arrow is aligned with one of the large openings 68, then the indicia 74 pertinent to that opening will apply.

Each player is allowed to spin the chance control device and move the appropriate play determining members until he has three outs, at which time his opponent has his turn,just as in a baseball game.

The play determining member entitled Batter will be used to begin each inning and whenever there are no men on base. When there are men on base, the play determining member appropriate to the situation will be used.

The rules of play applicable to baseball concerning the numbers of innings, balls, strikes, etc., will also be applicable here.

The tabs 32 and 34 are manipulated relative to playing board as play proceeds. The record of play by innings may be kept on a separate sheet of paper. Alternatively, a score board could be printed on one or more of the flaps l6, 18 or 20.

When the game is not in use, all of the play determining members are folded one upon the other upon the base in the manner shown in FIG. 6 to provide a compact stack which may be inserted into cover 10.

lclaim':

1. Apparatus for playing a simulated ball game comprising: a playing board having self-contained playing pieces, a chance control device including a spinner, a plurality of play determining members movable into and out of play determining position relative to the chance control device, the chance control device and play determining members being mounted upon a common base with the play determining members being mounted for swinging movement relative to the base and the chance control device being mounted for rotative movement relative to the base, openings in the play determining members, indicia adjacent each opening pertinent to the ball game being played, the game being played by manipulating the chance control device and moving one of the play determining members into an overlying position relative to the chance control device with the spinner being visible through one of the openings and moving the playing pieces relative to the playing board according to the intelligence provided by the indicia adjacent the opening, said playing board being convertible into a container and the chance control device and play determining members being collapsible for insertion thereinto.

2. Apparatus for playing a simulated ball game according to claim 1, the play determining members having a pair of concentric rings of openings therein, the openings of one ring being staggered relative to those of the other.

Claims (2)

1. Apparatus for playing a simulated ball game comprising: a playing board having self-contained playing pieces, a chance control device including a spinner, a plurality of play determining members movable into and out of play determining position relative to the chance control device, the chance control device and play determining members being mounted upon a common base with the play determining members being mounted for swinging movement relative to the base and the chance control device being mounted for rotative movement relative to the base, openings in the play determining members, indicia adjacent each opening pertinent to the ball game being played, the game being played by manipulating the chance control device and moving one of the play determining members into an overlying position relative to the chance control device with the spinner being visible through one of the openings and moving the playing pieces relative to the playing board according to the intelligence provided by the indicia adjacent the opening, said playing board being convertible into a container and the chance conTrol device and play determining members being collapsible for insertion thereinto.

2. Apparatus for playing a simulated ball game according to claim 1, the play determining members having a pair of concentric rings of openings therein, the openings of one ring being staggered relative to those of the other.

Images