US3792865A

US3792865A - Simulated mountain climbing board game apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3792865A
Application number: US00244044A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Credico; D Credico
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-14
Filing date: 1972-04-14
Publication date: 1974-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-19

Abstract

A game including a simulated mountain preferably formed of sectional parts to enable it to be easily packaged and shipped. The simulated mountain has a plurality of stations, some of which may be arranged on one side and others on the opposite side of the simulated mountain. The game also includes a plurality of discs pushable over pathways leading upwardly from the bottom of the simulated mountain and from station to station by a finger or thumb of the player as signified by chance means including two decks of cards which form part of the game. The first chance means includes a deck of five starting cards, each displaying a certain finger or a thumb for pushing a disc up to the first station. The second chance means is designated a Change of Finger Deck, each card of which displays two fingers or a finger or a thumb and the player must substitute a finger or thumb on the change of finger card that has not been used in approaching the first station. At each station, he must substitute a finger of thumb not used in the approach to that station until the top of the simulated mountain is reached.

Description

United States' Patent Credico, Jr. et al.

[ 1 Feb. 19, 1974 SIMULATED MOUNTAIN CLIMBING BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventors: John Credico, Jr.; Delphine Credico,

both of 1556 Knuth Ave., Euclid, Ohio 44132 Filed: Apr. 14 1972 [21] Appl. No; 244,044

[52] US. Cl 273/131 B, 46/l7, 273/136 GB [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 [58] Field of Search 273/131, 134, 136

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 907,421 12/1908 Steinhardt et al. 273/134 GM 2,729,451 1/1956 Larson 273/134 AE 3,083,020 3/1963 Terschak 273/134 AG Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe [57] ABSTRACT A game including a simulated mountain preferably formed of sectional parts to enable it to be easily packaged and shipped. The simulated mountain has a plurality of stations, some of which may be arranged on one side and others on the opposite side of the simulated mountain. The game also includes a plurality of discs pushable over pathways leading upwardly from the bottom of the simulated mountain and from station to station by a fingeror thumb of the player as signified by chance means including two decks of cards which form part of the game. The first chance means includes a deck of five starting cards, each displaying a certain finger or a thumb for pushing a disc up to the first station. The second chance means is designated a Change of Finger Deck, each card of which displays two fingers or a finger or thumb and the player must substitute a finger or thumb-on the n e offin cn rslthat ha not een sedin a2- proaching the first station.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIE FEB I SISM SHEET 1 [If 2 FIG. 4

2 FINGER THUMB I FINGER 4 FINGER 3 FINGER Y STARTING CARDS PATENI FEB 1 9 I974 SHEEI 2 OF 2 FIG. 6

IST OR 2ND FINGER IST OR 3RD FINGER IST OR 4TH FINGER IST FINGER OR THUMB OR 4TH GER FIN E THU 3RD OR 4TH FINGER 3RD FINGER OR THUMB w CHANGE OF FINGER CARDS g 1 SIMULATED MOUNTAIN CLIMBING BOARD GAME APPARATUS Our invention relates to games and more particularly to a game of Climbing a Simulated Mountain in which tain may be molded into an irregular or rugged shape from a plastic material, such as vinyl chloride, an acrylic resin, or a phenolic condensation product, or it may be formed of an easily manipulated metal, such as tin, and while the mountain may be of any desirable height, we provide a simulated mountain having a height of approximately 4 to feet, from about four to four and /2 feet being-preferable. The simulated mountain contains a plurality of stations and a pathway leading from a point or circle at the base of the simulated mountain to a first station and then from each of a plurality of succeeding stations to a station at the top of the mountain.

In climbing the mountain, each of the'players is provided with a series of discs, such as three, which are of different sizes. For instance, the largest disc may be an inch in diameter, the middle-sized disc may be approximately /1 of an inch in diameter, and the smallest disc may be approximately /2 of an inch in diameter. The series of discs assigned to each of the players is preferably of a color different than that assigned to each of the other players. There is also provided a deck of five cards specifying the respective finger or thumb that is to be used in pushing a disc from a point or circle at the bottom of the simulated mountain to the first station. The cards in this deck are designated Starting Cards. A second deck of cards is provided which designate by chance the particular finger or thumb that is to be used by the player to push a disc up each additional path way on the simulated mountain. In accordance with our invention the largest disc of each series is theeasiest to push up the simulated mountain, the medium size disc being more difficult to'move up the simulated mountain than the largest disc, andthe smallest disc being the hardest of all to be pushed over the pathways leading to the peak or summit of the mountain without misp Our invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a simulated mountain having a pathway extending from a point or circle at the base of the mountain to its top or summit including a plurality of stations along the'way;

FIG. 2 is a series of discs assigned to each of the players with each of the discs in each series being of a size different than the other discs in the same series, and the series of discs assigned to each player being preferably of a color different than that of the series of discs assigned to each of the other players;

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view of the simulated mountain as seen from a plane passing through the upper and lower lines 33 of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a plan view of starting cards which have written or printed thereon instructions as to which finger or thumb is to be used in pushing a disc from a point or circle at the base of the simulated mountain to the first station;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the simulated mountain .on the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of each of the Change of Finger cards.

The game may be played by any number of players, each of which is provided with a series of different size discs, and each of which series of discs is preferably of a color different from each of the other series. Each series of discs may be of any suitable color, such as white, red, black, green or yellow. Because the game is essentially the same whether played by two or more players, for simplicity, it will be described as being played by two players, and-variations will be pointed out when the number of players are more than two. For instance, assuming that there are two players, the one who starts first may be decided by the flip of a coin. If there are more than two players, the player starting the game may be determined by drawing cards from a standard playing deck, the one drawing the highest card being the first to start and the one drawing the second highest card being the next to start, and so on.

The player selected to start the game first draws or there is dealt to him a card from the starting deck which has been shuffled by one of his opponents, such as the player drawing the second highest card from a standard deck. Assuming that the card the player obtains from the starting deck is designated first finger, he then places his first or index finger on his largest disc and pushes it up over pathway 1 to station la. At that time, his opponent or, if there are three or more players, the one who has drawn the next highest playing card from a standard deck, shuffles the deck of Finger Change cards and deals to the player a card designating which finger or thumb he is to use for pushing his largest disc from station la over pathway 2 to station.2a. There are ten cards in this deck upon which are printed or written the following data: First or second finger First or third finger First or fourth finger First finger or thumb Second or third finger. Second or Fourth finger Second finger or thumb Third or fourth finger Third finger or thumb IO. Fourth finger or thumb Assuming that the first player has reached the first station designated by the circle la without mishap, there is dealt to him a card from the Change of Finger deck which has been shuffled by his opponent or, if there are three or more players, by a player who may be the one who drew the second highest card from a standard deck. Assume, for instance, that'card No. 1 from the Change of Finger deck is dealt to him, which -card specifies that he use his first or second finger in pushing his largest disc up to the second station. Because the player used his first finger in pushing his largest disc from the point designated by the circle' B at the base of the simulated mountain to the first station, he must therefore use his second finger for pushing his largest disc over the pathway 2 from station In to station 2a at which time the Change of Finger card which was dealt to him is returned to the Change of Finger card deck, the Change of Finger card deck is again shufi'led by one of his opponents, who may be the opponent who drew the second highest card from a standard deck, and assuming that he is dealt card No. 2 from the Change of Finger deck, he may use his first or third finger for pushing his largest disc up pathway 3 from station 2a to station 3a. It is possible of course that he will be dealt the same card he used in pushing the largest disc from station la to station 2a, but in all probability, it will be a different card. if it is the same card, the first player must change his first finger to his second finger. If he has been dealt another card he may of course choose beween the fingers, or a finger and a thumb, provided one of the fingers or the thumb was not used in pushing his largest disc up the previous pathway. In other words, it is always necessary for the player to change his finger, or to change his finger to a thumb,

or a thumb to a finger at each station prior to pushing his largest disc up to the next station.

Because the rules of the game are quite strict and it requires considerable practice to change fingers at the stations and to push the discs over the pathways between the stations without mishap, any spectacular success in climbing the simulated mountain is unlikely. The rules of the game as presently established are substantially as follows:

1. lfa player moves any one of his discs out of the circle at any station while changing fingers or a finger to a thumb or a thumb to a finger, it is necessary for him to go back to the circle B with that disc. He also loses his turn and his opponent or, if there are three or more players, the one who drew the second highest card from a standard card deck gets his turn with all other opponents taking their respective turns in accordance with the card each drew from the standard deck.

2. If the player loses control of his disc at any time while he is pushing it over a pathway and it falls from the pathway, he not only loses his turn but he must start all over again with that disc.

3. If the player uses a wrong finger or his thumb when such finger or thumb is not designated by the Change of Finger card dealt to him, he loses his turn and it is necessary for him to start all over again with the disc with which he is playing. The player cannotuse any other finger or thumb .than that designated on the Change of Finger card that is dealt to him at each station in proceeding to the next station although he may choose between two fingers or a finger and thumb if he has not used either the finger or thumb designated on the Change of Finger card dealt to him in pushing his disc on the pathway leading to the station.

If the player, however, is able to push his largest disc, step by step, up the simulated mountain and always uses the correct finger or thumb without any mishap to the disc as it is being pushed over the pathways, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, l and 11 to the

respective stations

1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, 10a, and the station at the top of the simulated mountain, he then confines his activity to pushing the middle-sized disc up the simulated mountain in the same manner, and if he finally pushes the middle-sized disc from the base of the mountain to its top station without mishap and following the same rules, he thereafter confines his activities to pushing the smallest disc up the simulated mountain until he attains his object of pushing all three discs up the simulated mountain. if he does this before any of the other players, he is recognized as being the champion mountain climber of all and may be presented with a ribbon designating'him as such and if desired a legend may be printed on the ribbon, such as Hail to the Chief.

What is claimed is:

1. A game including a deformable material in the shape of a simulated mountain having thereon a plurality of stations spaced upwardly from the bottom of the simulated mountain and from each other on apathway leading from the base of the mountain to the first station and from the first stationover successive pathways leading upward to and from the other spaced stations until a station at the top of the simulated mountain is reached, a disc having oppositely disposed flat faces, one of which engages the pathway and is pushable upwardly over the pathway leading from the bottom of the simulated mountain by a finger or the thumb of a player which engages the opposite side of the disc, first chance means for determining which finger or whether the thumb of the player is to be used in pushing the disc from the bottom of the simulated mountain to the first station, and second chance means for determining the particular finger or thumb that must be used in pushing the disc upwardly on each succeeding pathway of the simulated mountain until the station at the top of the simulated mountain is reached.

2. A game as defined in claim 1 in which the simulated mountain is formed of interfitting sections so that the game may be packaged and shipped in a comparatively small container. I

3. A game as defined in claim 1 in which the first chance means includes a deck of five cards, upon four of which is displayed the name of a finger different from each of the other fingers and on the other card appears the word thumb so that when a card is drawn or dealt to a player from the first chance means deck, he must use the finger or thumb designated thereon for pushing the disc upwardly over the pathway to the first station.

4. A game as defined in claim 1 in which the second chance means consists of a deck of cards on the face of each of which cards appear the names of two different fingers or one finger and a thumb, the combination of which is different on each card from the names appearing on each of the other cards, one of which named fingers or thumb is to be used in pushing the flat disc upwardly over a succeeding pathway of the simulated mountain providing the player has not used such finger or thumb in approaching that station, in which case the other finger or thumb on the face of the card must be used for that purpose.

5. A game as defined in claim 1 in which the disc that is pushable up the pathways of the simulated mountain is approximately 1 inch in diameter.

6. A game as defined in claim 5, further comprisinga medium-sized disc having oppositely disposed flat faces and a diameter of approximately 3/4 of an inch.

7. A game as defined in'claim 6, further comprising a disc smaller than said medium sized disc having oppositely disposed fiat faces thereon, one of which faces ger or thumb of the player.

Claims

1. A game including a deformable material in the shape of a simulated mountain having thereon a plurality of stations spaced upwardly from the bottom of the simulated mountain and from each other on a pathway leading from the base of the mountain to the first station and from the first station over successive pathways leading upward to and from the other spaced stations until a station at the top of the simulated mountain is reached, a disc having oppositely disposed flat faces, one of which engages the pathway and is pushable upwardly over the pathway leading from the bottom of the simulated mountain by a finger or the thumb of a player which engages the opposite side of the disc, first chance means for determining which finger or whether the thumb of the player is to be used in pushing the disc from the bottom of the simulated mountain to the first station, and second chance means for determining the particular finger or thumb that must be used in pushing the disc upwardly on each succeeding pathway of the simulated mountain until the station at the top of the simulated mountain is reached.

2. A game as defined in claim 1 in which the simulated mountain is formed of interfitting sections so that the game may be packaged and shipped in a comparatively small container.

3. A game as defined in claim 1 in which the first chance means includes a deck of five cards, upon four of which is displayed the name of a finger different from each of the other fingers and on the other card appears the word ''''thumb'''' so that when a card is drawn or dealt to a player from the first chance means deck, he must use the finger or thumb designated thereon for pushing the disc upwardly over the pathway to the first station.

6. A game as defined in claim 5, further comprising a medium-sized disc having oppositely disposed flat faces and a diameter of approximately 3/4 of an inch.

7. A game as defined in claim 6, further comprising a disc smaller than said medium sized disc having oppositely disposed flat faces thereon, one of which faces engages the pathway leading upwardly to the first station and the other face of which is engaged by the finger or thumb of the player.