US3690656A

US3690656A - Table game

Info

Publication number: US3690656A
Application number: US862A
Authority: US
Inventors: David A Hughes; Alan T Hughes
Original assignee: Dalan Co
Current assignee: Dalan Co
Priority date: 1970-01-06
Filing date: 1970-01-06
Publication date: 1972-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-12

Abstract

A table game for play by at least two facing players has two set-ups on a table top, each set-up including a base plate having a plurality of vertical bores arranged a distance apart about equal to the transverse dimension of a human forearm and disposed out of a straight line. Upstanding vertical rods are releasably held in the bores. Washers frictionally engage the rods in desired locations. Bars of various lengths are rested on the washers on selected sides of the rods by each player. Also, rodlike hangers are provided with washers and suspended from the bars. The players in turn reach through the adjacent set-up successively to position bars, rods and hangers on the remote set-up. Play continues until a player knocks down an excessive number of bars, hangers or rods in any assortment or his opponent has blocked all spaces in the adjacent set-up through which he can pass his forearm for further play.

Description

United States Patent Hughes et a].

[ TABLE GAME [72] Inventors: David A. Hughes; Alan T. Hughes,

both of El Cerrito, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Dalan Company [22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 862

[52] US. Cl ..273/1 R, 46/27, 273/135 F [51] Int. Cl. ..A63i 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..273;1 R;135 Fl; 46/27, 28, 46/29 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,765,580 10/1956 Herrschaft ..46/29 X 1,707,691 4/ 1929 Sweet ..46/29 2,936,530 5/1960 Bowen ..46/29 X Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-Lothrop & West l l l 1 51 Sept. 12, 1972 [5 7] ABSTRACT A table game for play by at least two facing players has two set-ups on a table top, each set-up including a base plate having a plurality of vertical bores arranged a distance apart about equal to the transverse dimension of a human forearm and disposed out of a straight line. Upstanding vertical rods are releasably held in the bores. Washers frictionally engage the rods in desired locations. Bars of various lengths are rested on the washers on selected sides of the rods by each player. Also, rod-like hangers are provided with washers and suspended from the bars. The players in turn reach through the adjacent set-up successively to position bars, rods and hangers on the remote set-up. Play continues until a player knocks down an excessive number of bars, hangers or rods in any assortment or his opponent has blocked all spaces in the adjacent set-up through which he can pass his forearm for 1 further play.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 12 I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 El! E u bwi/vra/as a, Z 3 W M 47 r w- 4 Z Z w TABLE GAME The invention relates to a game which can be partially played by an individual for his own amusement but primarily is to be played on a table between two opposing players or teams of opposing players according to predetermined rules. An individual can use only part of the equipment, but two or more opponents use duplicate set-ups starting in a rudimentary form and involving the addition of playing pieces as the game progresses. Each of the opposing sides erects a more and more restrictive screen in front of its opposer by reaching through the adjacent screen, utilizing judgment and manual dexterity in positioning the playing pieces many of which are quite easily dislodged. The game is completed when either an excessive number of positioned pieces are dislodged or access through the adjacent screen isdenied to a player by close arrangement of the playing pieces by the opponent. a w

An object of the invention is to providea table game which will afford amusement and an engaging occupation for opposing players and will involve the use of some'me'ntal exercise as well as manualdexterity. r

Another object'of the invention is to provide a table game which requires the use of only very simple and relatively inexpensive parts yet which will engage the skills of the opposing players for a protracted time period.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table game which can be played by at least two players and will accommodate two teams of several players.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table game that can readily be played repeatedly without damage to the playing apparatus.

Another object of the invention isin general to provide asatisfactory and improved table game.

Other objects of the invention together with the foregoing are attained in the form of table game described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG..l is an isometric perspective view showing the two set-ups of the table game in position on a table top and being played by a player.

FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1 to a substantially enlarged scale; the portion being indicated by the broken arrow.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and indicating by the broken arrow an enlarged portion of the structure of F IG. 1. g

FIG. 4 is a composite view of the various physical parts making up the game apparatus.

The table game can be embodied in various different fashions but in one way which has proved satisfactory is embodied as illustrated and described herein. The game is designed for play by opposing players disposed in opposite sides of a standard table 6 having a planar top 7. Disposed for play on the table top are two set-ups 8 and 9 each of which is exactly like the other in essence so that a description of one applies to the other. For convenience, the set-up 8 is referred to as the opponents or remote set-up whereas the set-up 9 is referred to as the adjacent or players set-up.

For use in playing the game there is provided in each set-up a base plate 11. This is conveniently a relatively stable member of wood or plastic bounded by a straight side 12, a pair of

ends

13 and 14 substantially at right angles to the side 12 and a pair of far sides 16 and 17 which although rectilinear are centrally converging. The result is a five-sided, elongated base plate.

At certain locations in the base plate there is provided a plurality of circular

cylindrical bores l8

19, 20, 21 and 22. The bores can be of other cross-sectional shapes, such as square or elliptical. While various numbers of bores may be utilized, five bores have been found to be advantageous. The bores are all substantially the same in diameter and are arranged with their bore axes parallel or vertical. They may all be aligned but preferably are not all arranged in the same straight line. Rather, as particularly shown in FIG. 4, they are arranged so that any three adjacent bores are out of alignment. The

bores

18 and 22 are relatively close to a player, the central bore 20 is relatively far from a player and the

intermediate bores

19 and 21 are at intermediate distances from the player.

Designed to fit any one of the bores, such as 18, is any one of a plurality of rods 26. The rods have a shape like the boresand can conveniently be made of wood or plastic. The rods have alength comparable to the length of the base plate although not necessarily exactly the same. The rods are arranged to fit stably but releasably into the bores so that they can readily be positioned and dismounted but when engaged will remain upstanding in a fixed position. An appropriate number of rods can be furnished for each set-up, there being at least two and the showing in FIG. 4 indicating the provision of at least four rods for each set-up but this is merely illustrative as the number is variable.

Designed frictionally to engage the rods are washers 27. These conveniently are made of somewhat flexible material such as anelastomer. They are annular in configuration to provide a central opening 28 frictionally slideable along the rods 26, for example, without undue force yet when left undisturbed having sufficient frictional engagement with a rod to remain in position despite some loading. The diameter of the opening is about the same as that of a rod. The number of washers supplied can vary and the sixteen shown in F IG. 4 are intended merely to represent a variable number of identical washers.

Also supplied for each set-up is a plurality of bars 29. These bars can conveniently be made of wood or plastic, preferably have a square or rectangular transverse cross-section and are straight. The bars 29 have a length roughly equivalent to the length of the base plate and additional short bars 31 are furnished. These are like the bars 29 but are only about one-half as long. The

bars

29 and 21 in width are approximately equal to the annular dimension of the washer 27 so that a bar when disposed approximately horizontally has adequate support on the horizontal upper surface of a washer or bears up beneath the horizontal lower surface of a washer with adequate area for abutment. Hangers 32 are also furnished. These are substantially identical with the rods 26 but are distinguished in that they may be and usually are much shorter and are not engaged in the bores to serve as compression members but are suspended and act in tension.

in utilizing the apparatus, the base plates are arranged as shown in FIG. 1 with the base plates substantially parallel to and in "alignment with each other and at a distance apart approximately equal to the length of one of the plurality of short bars 31 or one of the plurality of hangers 32. For a preliminary set-up two of the long rods 26 are provided with a selected number of washers 27 arranged according to the players choice at various locations along the two rods. Thereafter, each set-up is provided with a transverse bar 29 resting on the top washers of the end rods to provide a rectangular frame. The base plate 11 forms the bottom, the two end rods 26 form the side and the top bar 29 forms the top of the frame.

Thereafter, each player, in turn reaching through his adjacent frame carries a rod or a bar or a hanger and builds on the set-up or frame immediately in front of his opponent. In doing so, he may utilize pieces with washers already positioned on them and can hang or dispose those pieces as he pleases in any of the bores and can also position or hang the pieces from any of the previously placed members either in parallel or in angular relationship. The object of each player is to erect a screen or barrier in front of his opponent in which finally, the spaces between the various rods, hangers and bars will be too small for the opponent to reach through in order to play on the players adjacent set-up or screen.

Rules are variously provided to take care of situations in which rods, hangers or bars are dropped or knocked down. Since some preliminary planning is permissible with respect to the pattern to be erected and with respect to the position and number of washers utilized, and with respect to the length and position of the rods, hangers and bars used, there is a certain amount of mental ingenuity involved and since it is necessary for each player to reach through this adjacent set-up or screen in order to build on the screen in front of his opponent, a certain amount of manual dexterity is likewise involved.

The annular washers 27 are convenient grippers and abutments but any means movable on the elongated members and serving to hold the adjacent pieces will also serve. For example, spring clips of comparable dimensions are effective although sometimes more ex pensive to supply.

In practice, the game has been found to be amusing and entertaining by players of various ages and of various skills. At the conclusion of play, the parts can readily be demounted, detached from each other and stowed compactly for future use.

What is claimed is:

1. A table game comprising at least one base plate having therein a plurality of bores arranged with their axes vertical, the axes of any successive three of said bores being disposed in different planes, the transverse distance between said bores being only slightly more than the transverse dimension of the human forearm, a plurality of rods adapted to be received by and held vertically in said bores, a plurality of gripping washers adapted to be frictionally engaged with said rods at various positions along the length thereof and to present a horizontal upper surface when so engaged, and a plurality of bars each having a flat face adapted to rest upon and to be slidable horizontally on said horizontal upper surface of said gripping washers when said gripping washers are engaged with said rods held in said bores.