US3759521A

US3759521A - Board game apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3759521A
Application number: US00230584A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Breslow; M Glass; J Burck
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1972-03-01
Filing date: 1972-03-01
Publication date: 1973-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-18
Also published as: CA967610A; GB1385447A; FR2174603A5; IT977571B; DE2310271A1

Abstract

A game which includes a game board having a plurality of individual tracks each defining a plurality of stations from an individual starting point to an individual finishing goal for movement thereover of playing pieces in accordance with numbers selected by individual random number selection devices disposed adjacent each track. A spinner-type random selection device is disposed on the playing board generally centrally thereof, with the tracks disposed thereabout. The spinner determines along which of the tracks a player is to move his respective playing piece in an attempt to achieve a given result for each of the tracks. The game is centered around a theme involving distinguishing qualities or traits of a player and ''''good trait'''' and ''''bad trait'''' cards are acquired and/or lost by players of the game as the game progresses, the card indicia being related to indicia at the respective tracks.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Breslow et al.

[ 1 Sept. 18, 1973 BOARD GAME APPARATUS 499,288 6/1930 Germany 273/134 E [75] Inventors: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Highland Park; 4

M i Gl Joseph M k, Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe both f Chicago, n f Attamey.lames F. Coffee at al.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, v

111. a part interest [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1972 A game which includes a game board having a plurality of individual tracks each defining a plurality of stations l] Appl N 230584 from an individual starting point to an individual finishing goal for movement thereover of playing pieces in [52] US. Cl. 273/134 B, 273/120 R, 273/134 C, accordance with numbers selected by individual ran- 273/134 E, 273/134 G, 273/138 R, 273/145 dom number selection devices disposed adjacent each C, 273/148 A track. A spinner-type random selection device is dis- [51] Int. Cl. A63! 3/00 posed on the playing board generally centrally thereof, [58] Field of Search 273/134 with the tracks disposed thereabout. The spinner determines along which of the tracks a player is to move his I [56] Reierenees Cited respective playing piece in an attempt to achieve a UNITED STATES PATENTS given result for each of the tracks. The game is cen- 1 310 m 7/1919 Clad, 273,134 AD feted a und thsms' s vins d in uishi qualities 1:5l8:306 12/1924 CIeggIIIIII: :1: 273/134 AD or traits 0f a Player and and 2,442,194 5/1948 Briscoe 273/134 AD cards are acquired and/or by Players of the s 3,652,092 3/1972 Boyer et al 273/134 0 as the g p g t card indicia ing e ted FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS to indicia at the respective tracks.

1,005,000 12/1951 France 273/134 AD 15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures a; C 4 a 44 4 we 1ee 166. 11b 164 1624 no Hoe PATENTED8EP18I973 I 3.759.521

SHEET 2 BF 2 HEALTH LOVE FAITH rmauosmv KNOWLEDGE MONEY a 9 BOa 901 90b 906 E29 12 v wwo cARD/ GENEROUS GREEDY CANCEL TWO :LE BADTRNT CABQQ'E 4 1 BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY INVENTION This invention relates to a game and, more particularly, to a game which may be played by one or more participants each provided with a. marker or playing piece which is moved step-by-step from a starting point to a finishing goal.

Various forms of games in which playing pieces are moved from station to station along a path. toward a goal are well known in the art. Such games often are in the form of a flat game board having various forms of pathsmarked thereon, with the paths most often having stations for receiving a playing piece which is moved from station to station as determined by a chance device. Aside from aiding in teaching a child to count and possibly producing a choice of paths for the markers in attempting to be first to a goal, these games provide little in the way of action or stimulation for retaining the interest of the participants. This invention is directed to providing a new and improved, novel game of the character described for maintaining a high interest level of the participants during the playing of the game.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new and improved, novel game apparatus. I

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a playing board is provided with a plurality of individual tracks each defining a plurality of stations from an individual starting point to an individual finishing goal. A spinner-type random selection means is disposed on the playing board generally centrally thereof with the tracks disposed thereabout. The tracks define substantially closed paths from the starting points to the finishing goals, with the starting points of the tracks disposed adjacent to and angularly about the spinner-type random selection means. The spinner determines along which of the tracks a player is to move his respective playing piece in an attempt to achieve a given result for each of the'tracks; The spinner portion of the random selection means has a plurality of positions about its periphery for receiving and holding the playing pieces while the spinner is spun. When the spinner stops, the angular disposition of the receiving positions and received playing pieces determines the particular tracks down which the respective playing pieces must be moved by the players of the game. An individual, differently constructed random number selection device is disposed on the playing board within each of the closed paths defined by the tracks for determining the movement of playing pieces from station to station along the respective tracks.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, indicia are provided on the playing board within each of the closed paths defined by the tracks. Each of the .indicia represents a distinguishing quality or trait of a player track as determined by the particular page number. Other such devices are described in greater detail hereinafter. Good trait cards and bad trait" cards are provided and are acquired and/or lost by the players of the game as the game progresses, in accordance with predetermined rules. Money cards also are provided for buying new spins of the random selection means. One object of the game may be for a player to become the first player to progress from start to finish along all of the individual tracks as well as eliminating all of the players bad trait cards. Other schemes of playing the game will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter.

Other objects, features and advantages'of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan. view of the game apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holder for cards, or the-like, utilized with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a marking device, one provided for each player of the game for purposes described hereinafter;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through the random number selection device at the Friendship track of FIGS. 1 and 2;

and atleast some of thestations alongthe tracks are related to the trait'represented by the respective tracks. I

The shape or nature of the random numberselection devices for track preferably also is related to the trait represented by that particular track. For instance, the

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the booklike random number selection device for the Knowledge track of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through the random number selection device at the Love track of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical section, on an enlarged scale, through the random number selection device at the Health track of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale,

through the spinner-type random selection means at the center of the playing board of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a pair of money cards;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of cards representing each of the six tracks (or areas of happiness) about the playing board of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a good trait card, a bad trait card and a wild card, viewed from left to right in the drawing.

DETAILED DES CRIPI ION OF THE INVENTION Referring tothe drawings in greater detail, the invention is shown herein as embodied in a game apparatus which includes a generally flat game board, generally designated 14, which has a plurality of individual tracks, generally designated 16a-16f. Each track l6a-l6f definesa plurality of stations (to be enumerated hereinafterlfrom an individual starting point 18 to an individual finishing goal 20. The tracks l6a-16fl as best seen in FIGS. .1 and 2, define substantially closed individual paths disposed about the playing board 14, with the starting points 18 thereof disposed generally centrally of the playing board and angularly about a random selection means, generally designated The random selection means 22 is provided for determining along which of the tracks 16a-16f a player is to move his respective playing piece in an attempt to be the first player to achieve a given result for-each of the tracks. More particularly, as best seen in F IGSfI, 2 and 9, the random selection means 22 includes a spinner portion 24 having a recess 26 on the underside thereof for receiving a pivot pin 28 formed integrally with a base structure 30. A handle or knob portion 32 is provided for grasping by players of the game to rotate the spinner. A resilient governor leaf 34 is fixed to an upstanding boss 36 for engaging outwardly protruding tabs 38 for controlling the speed or wind-down of the spinner. A plurality of cylindrical-shaped receivers 40 are provided angularly about the periphery of the spinner portion 24 and generally mutually equidistant from each other. The cylindrical receivers 40 define positions for receiving and holding playing pieces 42 as the spinner is rotated. Thus, selection of the particular tracks 16a-16f down which players of the game are to move their respective playing pieces 42 is determined by rotating the spinner portion 24. When the spinner stops, the tab portions 38 of each of the cylindrical playing piece receivers 40 will point toward one of the starting points 18 of the tracks 16a-16f.

Once a player has moved his playing piece 42 onto one of the starting points 18 of a track 16a-16f his movements along the stations of the respective track from its starting point 18 to its finishing point or goal 20 are determined in accordance with numbers selected by random number selection devices, generally designated 44a-44f, disposed within the closed paths defined by the tracks 16a-16f, respectively.

Before going into details of the structures comprising the random number selection devices 44a-44f, it should be pointed out that the random number selection devices, as well as certain of the stations along the respective tracks, are centered around a particular subject mattenindicated by indicia on the playing board 14 within each-of the tracks. In the peferred embodiment of the invention, the subject matter indicia are correlated to distinguishing qualities or traits of a player whereby the tracks define separate areas of happiness. More; particularly, track 16a and random number selection device 44a are centered around the trait of Faith as represented by the indicia 46a. Track 16b and random number selection device 44b are related to the trait Knowledge as indicated by the indicia 46b. Track 16c and random number selection device 44c are related to the trait Health as indicated by the indicia 46c. Track 16d and random number selection device 44d are related to the trait Love as indicated by the indicia 46d. Track 16c and random number selection device 44c are related to Money as indicated by the indicia 46c. Track 16f and random number selection device 44f are related to the trait Friendship as indicated by the indicia 46F.

The random number selection device 44a for track 160 is shown bestin FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a spinner 48 in the form of a simulated hand mounted for rotation on an upstanding boss 50 whereby rotation of the spinner 48 will cause it to come to rest pointing at one of the numerals indicated at 52 in FIG. 2. The number determines the number of stations that a particular player is to move along track 16a during his turn.

Random number selection device 44b for track 16b is shown best in FIG. 6 and comprises a booklike mem- 7 stations along track 16b that he is to move his playing piece.

Random number selection device 440 for track l6c isbest shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 and comprises a housing 54 which conceals a stepped cam member, generally designated 56 in FIG. 8, which is rotatably mounted within the housing 54. A knob portion 58, secured to the stepped cam 56, protrudes through an aperture 60 in the top of the housing 54 for grasping by a player of the game for rotating the cam. A transparent simulated thermometer, generally designated 62, has a plunger portion 62a reciprocatably mounted on the inside thereof, with number calibrations 62b on the outside thereof. To operate the device, the thermometer and its reciprocating plunger 62a are removed from the housing 54 and the stepped cam member 56 is rotated so that one of the steps thereof is disposed beneath an aperture 64 in the top of the housing. The simulated thermometer 62 then is positioned on top of the housing 54 with the plunger portion 62a thereof extending downwardly through the aperture 64, the bottom of the plunger 62a resting on top of one of the steps of the cam member 56 and the top of the plunger 620 being aligned with one of the numbers on the calibration 62b to indicate the number of moves for a playing piece along the track 16c. The top of the housing 54 may be in the form of a face, with the knob 58 representing a nose and the thermometer being placed into a mouth defined by aperture 64.

The random number selection device 44d for track 16d is shown best in FIGS. 2 and 7 and includes a generally hollow heart shaped housing portion 66 having at least the top 66a thereof transparent to permit observation of a die 68 on the inside of the housing. The housing is elevated on top of a coil spring 70 to permit the housing 66 to be shook to agitate the die and thereby indicate the number of moves for a players playing piece along the track 16d. The lower end of the spring 70 is positioned over an upstanding boss 72 formed integrally with a base 74.

Random number selection device 44e for track 16e, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a holder 76 for a plurality of cards 77 representing money, the cards having numbers thereon also for indicating movements of the players playing piece 42 along the path l6e.

Random number selection device 44f for track 16f is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 and comprises a framework simulating a human hand having chute portions 78 defining the fingers of the hand. The finger-chutes 78 are numbered, as seen in Figure 2, and the bottom wall 80 (FIG. 5) is pivoted by means of a bracket 82 on a shaft 84 mounted on a base portion 86. A marble 88 or the like may be positioned within the simulated hand and caused to roll down the bottom wall 80 by pivoting the finger portion of the hand downwardly in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 5) to cause the marble to roll into one of the finger defining chutes 78 to determine the number of moves of a particular player's playing piece along the track 16f.

The random number selection devices 44a-44f may be individual structures which simply are positioned within their respective tracks l6a-16f, respectively, to provide for easy storage of the game apparatus, or the devices may be attached to the playing board 14 by adhesive or other means.

Once a player has proceeded with his playing piece along a complete path defined by one of the tracks l6a-l6f from the starting point 18 to the finishing goal 20 thereof, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention he will be considered to have traveled through one of the six areas of happiness as indicated by the indicia 4611-461. On successfully moving completely around a given track, a player will acquire one of a set of cards 90a-90f shown in FIG. 11. The cards 90a-90f have indicia thereon corresponding to the indicia 46a-46f, respectively. A holder, generally designated 92 in FIG. 2, may be provided for positioning on the playing board 14 for holding a plurality of each of the cards 90a-90f. FIG. 3 shows an individual card holder, generally designated 94, for each player of the game. The card holder has a base portion 94a on which is mounted an upright portion 94b having slots or notches 94c therein for receiving the cards 90a-99f, one of which is shown in phantom in FIG. 3. A crown portion 94d, simulating a sunset, is mounted on top of the upright portion 9412.

For purposes to be described in greater detail hereinafter, a plurality of good trait cards 96 and a plurality of bad trait cards 98 are provided, two of which are shown in FIG. 12. The cards may be stacked on the playing board 14, as seen in FIG. 2. Interspersed with the good trait and/or

bad trait cards

96, 98 may be one or more wild cards 100 (FIG. 12). In addition, a plurality of money cards 102 (FIG. l0)are provided.

The following is a description of one scheme or set of rules for playing the game of the present invention. At the outset, it should be pointed out that the object of this scheme of playing the game is for a player to be the first player to progress through each of the six areas of happiness as defined by the tracks l6a-l6f (thereby obtaining each of the cards 90a-90j), as well as ridding himself of or neutralizing all of his acquired bad trait cards 98. According to this scheme, play is begun by dealing each player a given number of good trait and

bad trait cards

96, 98. Dice or other means, such as devices 44a-44f, may be used to determine by lot which player is to have the first turn to start the game. That player then would put his playing piece 42 into one of the receivers 40 on the spinner 24, rotate the spinner, and proceed down one of the tracks l6a-16f depending upon toward which track the tab portion 38 on his receiver 40 points. That player then utilizes the random number selection device (44a-44j) for that track to determine the number of stations he moves his playing piece along the track for his turn. Alternatively, all of the players of the game could place their playing pieces 42 into the receivers 40, and the spinner 24 would be rotated to determine the tracks 16a-16f for each of the players on a single spin of the spinner 24. The first player then, again, would proceed down his designated track by actuating his respective random number selection device.

Referring to FIG. 2, certain stations 104 along each of the tracks l6a-l6f are designated good trait stations which entitle a player to acquire one of the good trait cards 96 from the stack thereof when his playing piece lands on that particular station. Certain stations 106 are designated bad trait stations and require a player to take a bad trait card 98 from the stack thereof should his playing piece land on one of the bad trait stations. The good trait cards 96 are utilized to rid a player of or neutralize the bad trait cards 98 as the game progresses, in an attempt to win the game. Certain stations 108 along the tracks l6a-16f have indicia thereon which, when a player's playing piece lands on that station, permits the player to rid himself of a particular one of the bad trait cards, should he be holding such a card. For instance, referring to the right-hand bottom comer of FIG. 2 along the Love track 16d, there is a station entitled You are no longer thoughtless". Should a player have a thoughtless" bad trait card 98 he would be entitled to rid himself of that card should he land on the aforementioned station 108 of the Love track 16d. Similarly, should a player be holding the bad trait card 98 shown in FIG. 12 entilted entitled he may rid himself of that card either by landing on the corresponding station 108 of the money track l6e entitled You are no longer greedy, or by neutralizing the bad trait card by acquiring a counteracting good trait card 96. Certain cards 100, entitled wild card, may

be acquired by players of the game to cancel or neutralize more than one bad trait card, shown by the righthand card in FIG. 12.

Certain stations 110 along the tracks 16a-l6f require a player traveling along the tracks to return his playing piece back to the spinner. 24. It should be pointed out that when a player has his playing piece. 42 positioned in one of the receivers 40 on the spinner 24, and the spinner is rotated during a particular players turn, he has the option of either proceeding down the track to which his receiver 40 points or to remain on the spinner for the next turn (e.g., when that player already has proceeded completely around the particular track to which his receiver 40 points and has acquired the respective happiness card a-90f).

Still other stations 112 along the tracks 16a-16f, as well as the finishing goals 20, entitle a player tocollect a given amount of money as represented by the money cards 102. The purpose of the moneycards is to permit a player to buy an additional turn of the spinner 24, particularly during the latter stages of the game when a player might already have acquired several of the happiness cards 90a-90f.

The game progresses with each player takinghis turn by either rotating the spinner 24 or utilizing one of the random number selection devices -44a44f, depending on the position of the players playing piece 42. As a player successfully travels through one of the six areas of happiness, as defined by the tracks Ilia-16f, that player will obtain one of the cards 90a-90f whereupon he positions the card into a slot 940 in his card holder 94. The player who wins the game is the first player who travels through all of the six areas of happiness, as defined by the tracks l6a-16f, as will as ridding himself of 94d, or neutralizing all of his bad trait cards 98.

. Another feature of the game is shown in FIG. 4 and includes a disc-shaped member, generally designated 114 having six segments 114a corresponding to the six areas of happiness. A pointer l14b is rotatably mounted on the disc 114 for pointing in the direction of one of the segments 114a. Each player is given one of the discs 114 and he must set the pointer 1 14b to one of the happiness segments 1140 before he starts his turn. Preferably, he must leave the pointer directed toward that designated segment until his next turn. With this device, and assuming player X has the pointer 1 14b pointing to the segment Love on his disc 114, should a player Y land on a bad trait station 106 on the Love track 16b, player X may challenge player Y by stating that his pointer is directed to Love on his disc 114. Player Y then has the alternative of ignoring the challenge and taking a bad trait card 98 from the stack thereof on the playing board in normal fashion, or accepting the challenge. If player Y accepts the challenge, and player X actually has his pointer directed to the Love segment 114, player X, not player Y, must take a bad trait card 98 from the stack thereof. However, should player X be bluffing and actually have his pointer ll4b oriented in a direction other than toward the Love segment 114a, player Y loses the challenge and must take two bad trait cards 98 from the stack thereof.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A game comprising: a game board having a plurality of individual tracks each defining a plurality of stations from a starting point to a finishing goal; at least one playing piece for each player of the game for moving along said tracks from station to station; and a random selection means including a spinner portion disposed on said playing board generally centrally thereof with said tracks disposed thereabout for determining along which of said tracks a player is to move his respective playing piece in an attempt to reach the finishing goal for the respective track, said spinner portion having means defining a plurality of positions around the periphery thereof for receiving the playing pieces, said positions being disposed for registry with the starting points of the different tracks, whereby the relative position of a given playing piece received on the spinner portion after spinning thereof with respect to the starting points of the different tracks determines along which track a particular playing piece must be moved.

2. The game of claim 1 including an individual random number selection device for each of said tracks for determining the number of stations a playing piece is to advance on a given track.

3. The game of claim 2 wherein said random number selection devices are disposed on the playing board adjacent their respective tracks.

4. The game of claim 3 wherein said tracks are formed in substantially closed paths surrounding a board area large enough to receive one of the random number selection devices.

5. The game of claim 1 including a plurality of cards, or the like, having indicia thereon related to indicia at trait cards which are acquired and lost by players of the game as the game progresses.

8. The game of claim 7 including a plurality of bad trait cards which are acquired and lost by players of the game as the game progresses.

9. A game comprising: a game board having a plurality of individual tracks each defining a plurality of stations from a starting point to a finishing goal; at least one playing piece for each player of the game for moving along said tracks from station to station; a plurality of random number selection devices one disposed adjacent each track for determining the number of stations a playing piece is to advance on a given track; and a random selection means including a spinner portion disposed on said playing board generally centrally thereof with said tracks disposed thereabout for deter mining along which of said tracks a player is to move his respective playing piece in an attempt to reach the finishing goal for the respective track, said spinner portion having means defining a plurality of positions around the periphery thereof for receiving the playing pieces, said positions being disposed for registry with the starting points of the different tracks, whereby the relative position of a given playing piece received on the spinner portion after spinning thereof with respect to the starting points of the different tracks determines along which track a particular playing piece must be moved.

10. The game of claim 9 including indicia on said playing board at each of said tracks, said indicia for each track representing a different human quality or trait.

11. The game of claim 10 wherein the indicia at one of said tracks is representative of knowledge and the random number selection device for that track comprises a book-like member having its pages randomly numbered for number selection purposes.

12. The game of claim 10 wherein the indicia at one of said tracks is representative of friendship and the random number selection device for that track comprises a framework simulating a human hand having chute portions defining the fingers thereof, the fingers being numbered, and inclined surface means adjacent the chute portions and down which a marble or the like may-be rolled toward the chute portions for number selection purposes.

13. The game of claim 10 wherein the indicia at one of said tracks is representative of health and the random number selection device at that track comprises a housing having a variably stepped cam means hidden on the interior thereof and aperture means in the houssaid tracks, for acquisition and/or loss by players of the game as the game progresses.

* t i t

Claims

5. The game of claim 1 including a plurality of cards, or the like, having indicia thereon related to indicia at said tracks, for acquisition and/or loss by players of the game as the game progresses.

6. The game of claim 1 including indicia on said playing board at each of said tracks, said indicia for each track representing a different human quality or trait.

7. The game of claim 6 including a plurality of good trait cards which are acquired and lost by players of the game as the game progresses.

9. A game comprising: a game board having a plurality of individual tracks each defining a plurality of stations from a starting point to a finishing goal; at least one playing piece for each player of the game for moving along said tracks from station to station; a plurality of random number selection devices one disposed adjacent each track for determining the number of stations a playing piece is to advance on a given track; and a random selection means including a spinner portion disposed on said playing board generally centrally thereof with said tracks disposed thereabout for determining along which of said tracks a player is to move his respective playing piece in an attempt to reach the finishing goal for the respective track, said spinner portion having means defining a plurality of positions around the periphery thereof for receiving the playing pieces, said positions being disposed for registry with the starting points of the different tracks, whereby the relative position of a given playing piece received on the spinner portion after spinning thereof with respect to the starting points of the different tracks determines along which track a particular playing piece must be moved.

12. The game of claim 10 wherein the indicia at one of said tracks is representative of friendship and the random number selection device for that track comprises a framework simulating a human hand having chute portions defining the fingers thereof, the fingers being numbered, and inclined surface means adjacent the chute portions and down which a marble or the like may be rolled toward the chute portions for number selection purposes.

13. The game of claim 10 wherein the indicia at one of said tracks is representative of health and the random number selection device at that track comprises a housing having a variably stepped cam means hidden on the interior thereof and aperture means in the housing through which a thermometer-like member having number calibrations thereon may be inserted against the steps of the cam means.

14. The game of claim 9 including a plurality of good trait cards which are acquired and lost by players of the game as the game progresses.

15. The game of claim 14 including a plurality of bad trait cards which are acquired and lost by players of the game as the game progresses.