US3601405A

US3601405A - Game board apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3601405A
Application number: US737600A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Hedden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-06-17
Filing date: 1968-06-17
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24

Abstract

This invention is a game board apparatus including a large game board member; a plurality of stacks of information card means; a plurality of stacks of profit card means; play or simulated money means; a plurality of player token members; and a die member usable to indicate and achieve movement of the player token members on the game board member. More particularly, this invention is a game board apparatus having a game board member with indicia thereon indicating a plurality of colored hashmarked paths to be taken to various cities in the United States whereby the information card means sets forth various alternative actions to be taken by the individual players in movement of the player token members along the respective paths and such movement is permitted on throwing of the die member. The game board has a plurality of concentric zones thereon into which the colored hash-marked paths extend, the zones determining the relative value of deals, related to the profit card means.

Description

United States Patent Richard C. lledden 1101 N. Roosevelt, Wichita, Knits. 67208 737,600

June 17, 1968 Aug. 24, 1971 [72] Inventor [21] AppLNo.

122] Filed [45] Patented [54] GAME BOARD APPARATUS 3,362,715 1/1968 l-lartpence r. 273/134 Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney-John H. Widdowson ABSTRACT: This invention is a game board apparatus including a large game board member; a plurality of stacks of information card means; a plurality of stacks of profit card means; play or simulated money means; a plurality of player token members; and a die member usable to indicate and achieve movement of the player token members on the game board member. More particularly, this invention is a game board apparatus having a game board member with indicia thereon indicating a plurality of colored hash-marked paths to be taken to various cities in the United States whereby the information card means sets forth various alternative actions to be taken by the individual players in movement of the player token members along the respective paths and such movement is permitted on throwing of the die member The game board has a plurality of concentric zones thereon into which the colored hash-marked paths extend, the zones determining the relative value of deals, related to the profit card means PATENTEI] M62419?! 3.601.405

SHiET 2 0F 3 PROFIT I $7, 00 I x 52 52 PROFIT PROFIT a $53, OO 54 58 PROFIT (62 CASPER FLIGHT CARD ATLA TA PM w AsHINOTO- FLIGHT CARD 66 jw cI-IITA INVENTOR.

RICHARD C. HEDUEN L4%mm AT TORI! PATENTEU AUGZMBY; 3,601,405

SHEET 3 0F 3 CONTRACT 6. LOUIS\{I LE ,6.

CONTRACT DETR})|T a. F/ G 4 CASH LOSS L0E $52,000 69 TI 63 P Ammo: to nzscrrv EXCEPT 'rnose comnncrso av ,auoruzn PLAYER s5 ADVANC TO I ANY CITY 22 INVENTOR. 76 W 6 RICHARD c. usooen 9 BY 3 73 F 7 \H 15 7 ATTORNEY GAME BOARD APPARATUS Numerous types of game board apparatus are known to the prior art operable to permit movement of game pieces in certain directions on a game board. One of these prior art game apparatus is a popular one entitled "Monopoly" disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,026,082, issued Dec. 31, I935, but this game apparatus and other such similar devices do not have the many bidding and profit making features of the game board apparatus of this invention.

An object of this invention is to provide a game board apparatus having rules and method of play that is stimulating, requires considerable planning and intelligence to achieve the required monetary value of simulated money to become the winner, and includes various alternative means of play so that intelligence and competition are involved.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game board apparatus having a game board member having an outline indicia of the United States, a plurality of city indicating indicia thereon, and paths interconnecting the various cities called city-line indicia so as to provide means of learning locations of the various cities in the United States, the apparatus therefore being an educational device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a game board apparatus having stacks of information card means and profit card means using a procedure of player token member movement on a game board member and operable through competitive bidding with numerous alternative movements so as to make the game board apparatus educational and interesting to play, whereby skill is required to become the ultimate winner.

One further object of this invention is to provide a game board apparatus that is interesting to use, economical to manufacture, and provided with alternate methods of play depending upon the time allotted for completion of play.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the in vention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the game board apparatus of this invention illustrating the same in the open or play condition and having the various play elements spaced thereon;

FIGS. 2-6, inclusive, are top plan views illustrating numerous card means used in the game board apparatus of this invention and showing both sides thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a die member and a player token member of the game board apparatus of this invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments ofthe new game board apparatus of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structures. It is to be understood that such discussion and description are not to unduly limit the scope ofthc invention,

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. I. a game board apparatus of this invention, indicated generally at 12, includes a large rectangular game board member 14; information card means 16; a profit card means 18; stacks of play or simulated money means 20; a plurality of player token members 22; and a cubical die member 24.

The game board member 14 is of a large rectangular shape preferably constructed with a main body section 26 having opposite parallel side or end sections 28 integrally connected as through hinges. The end sections 28 are movable from closed positions adjacent and over the main body section 26 outwardly into a common plane therewith as shown in FIG. I when the same is in the play condition. The foldable end sections 28 preferably are provided for compact storage of the entire game board apparatus 12 in a container box (not shown) when in the nonusage condition. The play side of the game board member 14 is provided with an outline indicia 32 indicative of the United States of America and having a plurality of city indicia 34 placed in the proper respective locations on the outline of the United States. A plurality of cityline indicia 36 are provided to interconnect various ones of the adjacent city indicia 34. The city-line indicia 36 are also used as movement paths for player travel therealong with the player token members 22 as will be explained. In this instance the city indicia 34 ofKansas City" is designated as the starting point" and having a plurality of the interconnected cityline indicia 36 projecting therefrom for movement toward various selected areas on the game board member. Additionally, the city indicia 34 Kansas City is the central point for the describing of circle indicia 37 of various radii in order to divide the area enclosed by the outline indicia 32 of the United States into various Zones" as indicated by the numerical indicia 39 indicating the zones from a central circular Zone I" including Kansas City outwardly through annular bands to provide various areas which are important in the method and rules of this game apparatus 12 as will be explained. It is also noted that information indicia 41 is provided in the upper left hand portion of the game board member 14 having a column headed by the word Area" indicative of the

various zones

1, 2, 3, and 4 of play. Additionally, a column entitled "Value" indicates the various values of contracts within the respective Zones" and such will be explained in detail. Respectively they indicate $1,000$l0,000; $1 l,000$30,000; $3 I DOD-$60,000; and LOGO-$100,000. The paths or interconnected city-line indicia 36 are each provided with a plurality of transversely extended indicia indicative of various positions or steps of movements therealong. For example, there is provided green hash mark indicia 42; black hash mark indicia 44; question mark indicia 46; red hash mark indicia 47; and blue hash mark indicia 48, each indicating steps or movements along the paths as will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the profit card means 18 includes four separate stacks of card members known as zone I, 2, 3, and 4

profit cards

52, 53, 54, and 56, respectively. The zone 1 profit cards 52 are provided with indicia on one side thereof to indicate the title and the opposite side is provided with a numerical cash indicia 58 having a value of one to ten thousand dollars for reasons to be explained. The zone 2 profit cards 53 are similarly provided with the cash indicia 58 having values ranging from eleven thousand to thirty thousand dollars. The zone 3 profit cards 54 have the cash indicia 58 thereon from thirtyone thousand dollars to sixty thousand dollars. Finally, the zone 4 profit cards 56 are provided with the cash indicia 58 ranging from sixty-one thousand dollars to one hundred thousand dollars. Each of the stacks of the profit cards 52, S3, 54, and 56 are normally placed with the cash indicia 58 in the downward condition and each card is placed in its respective stack and such card is turned over and drawn as provided by the rules of play of this game board apparatus 12 as will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 36, inclusive, the information card means 16 includes individual stacks of green contract card members 61, blue flight card members 62, red cash loss card members 63, and question mark card members 65. As shown in FIG. 3, the flight card members 62 are ofa generally rectangular shape having the indicia FLIGHT CARD" on one side with the other side having city selection indicia 66 setting forth a listing of two cities to be found on the game board member 14. The flight card members 62 are all placed in a common stack and are removed therefrom according to the rules of play to be described with the movement of the player token members 22 to the cities indicated thereon as will be explained. The contract card members M are provided with title indicia thereon indicating CONTRACT and opposite respective sides thereof having a bid city indicia 68 of a city to be found on the game board member 14. Operation of the contract card members 61 is very important and will be explained in detail.

The CASH LOSS" card members 63 are provided with title indicia on one side and the opposite side has loss indicia 69 being LOSE" with a numerical indicia 71 indicative of monetary value and, as in the other card members, these are played according to the rules of the game to be explained. The.

question mark card members 65, as shown in FIG. 6, are placed in a common stack and are provided with a symbolic indicia of a question mark" on one side with the other side provided with instruction indicia 73 to indicate various steps and method of play. There are various instructions printed upon the instruction side of the question card members 65 examples being such as:

1. Advance to any city except those contracted by another player. 2. Advance to any city. 3. Pay $5,000 to Bank and take a Contract Card. 4. Advance six spaces anytime. 5. Move to any city beginning with the letter D. 6. Go to New York City. 7. Move to any city in the number 4 zone area. 8. Advance to the next city on your path. 9. Take a Flight Card. l0. Water Route.

Certain of the question mark card members 65 contain instructions to be followed immediately such as the aforementioned examples 3 and 9. Other such card members 65 shall be followed or used in place of a roll of the die member 24 such as examples I, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and l0.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of the player token members 22 is provided so that each player in the game has a separate player token member 22 which is similarly constructed but of a different color so as to maintain separate identity. Each player token member 22 is provided with a plate or base section 75 having a centrally positioned, integral, upright tubular body section 76. The body section 76 extends laterally from the base section 75 so as to be easily grasped for movement on the game board member 14 as will be explained.

The die member 24 is operable in a substantially conventional manner by tossing the same upon the game board member 14 and reading the value from the upper plane as indicated by the dot indicia 78.

In one embodiment of this invention, the game board apparatus I2 is operable to play a game preferably known as Millionaire Contractor" which can be played with two to six players and the object of the game is to be the first player to achieve one million dollars in simulated money means in his possession. The play of Millionaire Contractor" initially starts by each of the players placing their individual respective token members 22 about the starting point as shown by the city indicia 34 of Kansas City. The plurality of stacks of cards, being the information card means 16 and the profit card means 18, are all individually shuffled and placed with the instruction indicia face down as clearly shown in FIG. 1. Each player is given a pencil 81 and a paper pad 83 so as to make confidential notations thereon as will be explained. Each player is then given three hundred thousand dollars to start the initial play preferably in the denomination to each of three fifty thousand dollar money members 84, four twenty thousand dollar money members 85, four ten thousand dollar money members 86, five five thousand dollar money members 87, and five one thousand dollar money members 88. The remaining simulated money means 20 including one hundred thousand dollar money members 89 goes into what is called a Bank and one of the players is appointed the Banker" and maintains account of the money paid to and from the bank. The "Bander" also joins in the game as a regular player.

To initially start the game, one of the contract card members 6! is drawn and turned face up to indicate a given one of the city indicia 34 on the game board member 14. Each player then secretly transcribes on his paper pad 83 the amount of money he is willing to pay in order to obtain the contract being indicated as a city on the contract card member 61. It is noted that each city indicia 34 will be located in one of the

area zones

1, 2, 3, or 4 and each of these area zones have a certain contract value as indicated by the information indicia 4] in the upper left-hand corner of the game board member 14. This provides a guide line for each player bidding for this respective initial contract card member 61. The respective bids are then revealed and the player with the highest bid receives this initial contract card member 61 whereupon he pays the "Bank" the cash equivalent amount of his bid and then draws a profit card member, either 52, 53, S4 or 56 from the stack of profit card means 18 which corresponds to the zone area in which the contract city indicia 34 is located. This initial starting player then rolls the die member 24 and moves his player token member 22 accordingly in a desired direction. The remaining players thereupon roll the die member 24, in turn, in a clockwise direction.

If, on the bid for the initial contract card member 61, there are two or more players that have tied for the top bid, these players continue to bid until one has a higher bid value than the other player so that finally a top bidder is achieved in order to start the game.

After the initial starting of the Millionaire Contractor game, the players proceed as mentioned on throwing of the die member 24 and further methods and rules of play are as follows:

I. There is provided a Bonus" for each numbered zone area as follows:

Zone Area Bonus 2 I 30,000 3 $40,000 4 S60 ,(lOO

This Bonus is paid only when (a) a player is the first one to reach a city and (b) the same player holds the contract card member 61 to that particular city. 2. If a player holds the contract card member 6] to a particular city and reaches the same, the Bank then pays to this player a monetary value of the simulated money means 20 as indicated on the respective card of profit card means l8 which was drawn at the same time the player received the contract card member 61. If this player is also the first one to reach that city, he would also receive the above-mentioned Bonus" for that particular zone area. 3. If a player reaches a city in which the respective contract card member 61 for that city is held by another player, no Bonus" is paid and the amount indicated on the profit card means 18 for that particular city is split between this player and the one holding the contract card member 61. If the numerical indicia 58 on the respective card of the profit card means 18 is an odd number, such as $49,000, the extra amount after splitting the same would go to the first player to reach the respective contracted city. For example, if the smallest denomination of money is $1,000, $48,000 of the money would be split equally, resulting in an even amount, with the extra $1,000 going to the player who first reached the city. 4. The contract card member 61 and the one of the profit card means 18 are returned to the bottom of their respective stacks directly after the contracted city is reached by any of the players. 5. On each throw of the die member 24, the respective player moves his player token member 22in any direction according to the indicia on the die member 24 and then takes the action required depending upon the position in which placed due to this movement. 6. A player may move his player token member 22 in any direction along an interconnecting city-line indicia 36 or path, except along water paths as eitplained hereinafter, but must move the total number of spaces in the same direction. 7. There is no limit to the number of contract card members 61 which may be in the possession of the players at any given time. However, there must always be at least one contract card member 61 in play at one time. If there is no contract card member 61 in possession of any player during the game, a contract card member 61 is drawn and each player bids for the same as in initially starting the game play. 8. The black hash mark indicia 44 indicates a safe or neutral position and when a player lands upon this position, no action is taken and no card members are drawn. 9. When a player lands on a question mark indicia 46, a question mark card member 65 is drawn and the instructions on the card are then followed by this player. If the question mark card member 65 indicates a "water route," the player may retain this card member until he needs to travel the path between either (a) Providence and Charleston or (b) Miami and New Orleans as this path cannot be taken without first having a water route" card memberv 10. The blue hash mark indicia 48 indicates, when landed upon, that the player must immediately draw a flight card member 62 and immediately move his token to one of the cities named on the card member 62 and return the card to the bottom of the stack. The flight card members 62 are beneficial if the player needs to travel long distances in order to land upon a contracted city or the like. 1. If a player lands on a red hash mark indicia 47, he must then draw a cash loss card member 63 and immediately pay the Bank the monetary amount stated and return the card to the bottom of the respective stack. l2. In order to capture a contracted city, a player must land directly on the location of the city indicia 34 with a given roll of the die member 24 re membering that the player token member 22 cannot move and retrace a path on a single roll of the die member 24. I3, At any time during the game, each player has the right to know the monetary value of the simulated money means that any other player possesses. l4. lfa question mark card member 65 indicates that a player is to draw a contract card member 61, the player additionally draws one of the profit card means 18 corresponding to the respective zone area and no bidding is made thereon, The player receiving this particular card setting forth purchase ofa contract card member 61 also rolls the die member 24 again and moves his respective token member 22. [5. The player who first achieves the combination of simulated money means 20 having a monetary value of one million dollars is declared the winner. l6. The green hashmark indicia 42 is a contract card drawing position and a contract card member 61 is drawn when a player lands on same.

The various interconnecting city-line indicia 36 used on the game board member 14 have been calculated to provide an interesting and desirable game with movement of the player token members 22 thereon requiring skill and consideration in order to reach the respective contracted cities plus the Bonus" for first achieving same. The relationship of the various green hash mark indicia 42, black hash mark indicia 44, question mark indicia 46, red hash mark indicia 47, and blue hash mark indicia 48 has been calculated in order to provide numerous opportunities for chance movement and/or con tract bidding throughout the game to provide a thrilling and interesting means of entertainment.

Another embodiment of the game board apparatus 12 is provided known as Elimination" and is substantially similar to the Millionaire Contractor except that the same can be played in a smaller amount of time. The object of Elimination" is to be the only player remaining that has enough cash to buy contract card members 61. in setting up the game for "Elimination". the initial procedure is the same as aforementioned l'or Millionaire Contractor.

In order to start Elimination, each player draws a contract card member 61 and checks the same to see in which Zone area the city indicated on the contract card member is located and then each player pays the Bank for his contract card member 61 according to the following table.

Zone Area Amount The rules of play ofElimination are the same as for Millionaire Contractor" except as follows:

1. After each player draws a contract card member 61, he also draws one of the profit card means 18 corresponding to the zone area of his contracted city as there is no bidding on contracts,

2. Any player who reaches his contracted city as indicated on the contract card member 61, receives from the Bank the amount stated on the corresponding one of the profit card means 18 and draws another contract card member 6] but there is no bonus paid by the Bank.

3. To determine which player starts the game, each player rolls the die member 24 and the highest number thereon is entitled to first roll of the game with the turn for the die member 24 being movable in a clockwise direction.

4. If another player be the first one to land on a contracted city that he does not own, the player holding the contract card member 61 would not receive any money but would return this contract card member 61 and the respective one of the profit card means 18 to the bottom of the respective stacks and draw another contract card member 61.

5. Each player must always have at least one contract card member 61 in his possession at all times.

6. A player may possess more than one contract card member 61 at one time through drawing a question mark card member 65 which states to pay to the "Bank a certain amount of money and draw a contract card member 6] and a respective one of the profit card means 18. A player is not required to draw another contract card member 61 until such time that he has none in his possession.

7. The green hash mark indicia 42 is considered a safe or neutral position like the black hash mark indicia 44 and no contract card member 61 is drawn when landing on same.

8. A player is eliminated if he is unable to pay for a given contract card member 61 and play continues until only one player has not been so eliminated and he is declared the winner.

It is seen that the use of the game board apparatus in the game ofElimination removes some phases of Millionaire Contractor" and is therefore playable in a shorter period of time. All of the rules of"Elimination except those aforementioned which are in conflict therewith are the same as those set forth in Millionaire Contractor".

It is seen that the game board apparatus of this invention provides a means of having an economical and competitive means of contract bidding setting forth the profits and losses therefrom; requiring considerable skill and movement of the player token members in the proper direction; and taking advantage of certain contract and bonus conditions. The game board apparatus invention is interesting to play, economical to manufacture, and can be played by a plurality of player members in a most enjoyable manner.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A game board apparatus adapted to be used by a plurality of player members, comprising:

a. a game board member having a plurality of line indicia interconnecting numerous point locations, such setting forth a plurality of paths to follow, and circle indicia dividing said game board member into a plurality of zone areas having different numerals applied thereto,

b. information card means having instruction indicia on one side thereof pertaining to dealing and title indicia on the other side thereof, said title indicia relating to such dealing.

. simulated money means having stacks of various money members with different value indicia thereon,

d. profit card means having a plurality of stacks of profit card members having numerals applied thereto indicating a sum of money, each numeral being identical with a numeral applied to one of said zone areas,

e. player token members, one for each player member, and

a die member having numeral indicia indicating distance to move said player token members on said line indicia between said point locations.

. A game board apparatus as described in claim I, wherein: said line indicia having a plurality of transversely extended indicia means thereon indicating individual positions of movement therealong,

said game board member having said point locations of city indicia on an outline indicia of the United States, and

. said city indicia including "Kansas City" being the starting point of said game board apparatus and central pivot point ofsaid circle indicia,

. A game board apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein: said indicia means including question mark indicia, blue hash mark indicia, and red hash mark indicia, corresponding to respective ones of said information card means.

4. A game board apparatus as described in claim 1. wherein:

a, said information card means being a plurality of stacks of card members including question mark card members, green contract card members, blue flight card members. and red cash loss card members, and

b. said line indicia having transversely extended. spaced, question mark indicia, red hash mark indicia, blue hash mark indicia, and green hash mark indicia, corresponding to respective ones of said question mark card members, red cash loss card members, blue flight card members and green contract card members.

5. A game board apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:

at said game board member has information indicia thereon indicative of values of respective ones of said zone areas,

Claims

1. A game board apparatus adapted to be used by a plurality of player members, comprising: a. a game board member having a plurality of line indicia interconnecting numerous point locations, such setting forth a plurality of paths to follow, and circle indicia dividing said game board member into a plurality of zone areas having different numerals applied thereto, b. information card means having instruction indicia on one side thereof pertaining to dealing and title indicia on the other side thereof, said title indicia relating to such dealing. c. simulated money means having stacks of various money members with different value indicia thereon, d. profit card means having a plurality of stacks of profit card members having numerals applied thereto indicating a sum of money, each numeral being identical with a numeral applied to one of said zone areas, e. player token members, one for each player member, and f. a die member having numeral indicia indicating distance to move said player token members on said line indicia between said point locations.

2. A game board apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said line indicia having a plurality of transversely extended indicia means thereon indicating individual positions of movement therealong, b. said game board member having said point locations of city indicia on an outline indicia of the United States, and c. said city indicia including ''''Kansas City'''' being the starting point of said game board apparatus and central pivot point of said circle indicia.

3. A game board apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein: a. said indicia means including question mark indicia, blue hash mark indicia, and red hash mark indicia, corresponding to respective ones of said information card means.

4. A game board apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said information card means being a plurality of stacks of card members including question mark card members, green contract card members, blue flight card members, and red cash loss card members, and b. said line indicia having transversely extended, spaced, question mark indicia, red hAsh mark indicia, blue hash mark indicia, and green hash mark indicia, corresponding to respective ones of said question mark card members, red cash loss card members, blue flight card members and green contract card members.

5. A game board apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein: a. said game board member has information indicia thereon indicative of values of respective ones of said zone areas.