US3863927A

US3863927A - Board game apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3863927A
Application number: US432406A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward M Moritz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-01-10
Filing date: 1974-01-10
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04

Abstract

A game device designed to be participated in by two players wherein the game apparatus consists of a patterned playing board and two respective sets of different colored consecutively numbered game pieces, the goal of the game being for each player, in accordance with rules of the game, to move the highest cumulative values of his respective game pieces through channel passages leading to a scoring zone extending across the center of the playing board, the scoring zone for each player being on the side opposite his start point. Playing moves are laterally and longitudinally, for each respective game piece, onto the numbered scoring square at the center of the playing board which matches the corresponding number on the game piece. The game terminates when all scoring squares are filled, and the winner of the game is that player which has the highest cumulative numerical total based upon the sum of the respective values of his numbered game pieces in the scoring squares.

Description

United States Patent 1 Moritz BOARD GAME APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Edward M. Moritz, 2710 Hartford Rd., York, Pa. 17402 Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. Hercus Just; Samuel M. Learned, Jr.

[ Feb. 4, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A game device designed to be participated in by two players wherein the game apparatus consists of a patterned playing board and two respective sets of different colored consecutively numbered game pieces, the goal of the game being for each player, in accordance with rules of the game, to move the highest cumulative values of his respective game pieces through channel passages leading to a scoring zone extending across the center of the playing board, the scoring zone for each player being on the side opposite his start point. Playing moves are laterally and longitudinally, for each respective game piece, onto the numbered scoring square at the center of the playing board which matches the corresponding number on the game piece. The game terminates when all scoring squares are filled, and the winner of the game is that player which has the highest cumulative numerical total based upon the sum of the respective values of his numbered game pieces in the scoring squares.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Game devices comprising game pieces and a patterned board with specified passages at the center thereof through which said pieces may be moved in accordance with the rules of said game, exemplified, for example, by those such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,265,085 to Ishida, dated May 8, 1918, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,539,426 to Rammelmeyer, dated May 26, 1925, have long been known. The heretofore cited game inventions were designed to amuse and teach, having, however, a specific goal to be achieved or lesson to be taught, as well as rules of play peculiar to the respective games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is for a substantially different type of game from those of the prior art and essentially comprises a game designed to be participated in by two players only, wherein the game apparatus consists of two equal sets of differently colored consecutively numbered game pieces, and a rectangular playing board having adjacent identical grid-like pattern printed thereon, which patterns consist of a row of consecutively numbered start square positions corresponding in number and value to the individual members of the respective sets of consecutively numbered game pieces, and a pattern of squares extending from the respective start square positions toward the center of said playing board. A scoring zone extends transversely across the center of said playing board and consists of a series of consecutively numbered scoring squares and channel passages extend between certain groups of squares to permit movement of said game pieces into scoring position.

The goal of the game of the instant invention is for each player to position the greatest number of his game pieces of highest numerical value in scoring position by moving said pieces through said channel passages at the center of said playing board into the scoring zone at the side opposite his start point, and then laterally and reversely moving each game piece into that numbered scoring square which corresponds in numerical value to the number on said game piece. The game terminates when all scoring positions are filled, the winner being that player obtaining the highest cumulative value as determined from a summation of the respective values of his numbered game pieces which have become positioned in the numerically corresponding scoring squares.

Although the game comprising the present invention may be somewhat similar in appearance to those as taught in lnshida and Rammelmeyer, it has a structure, rules of play, and amusement and teaching characteristics which distinguish it from those game disclosures which may be similar, but individually different.

Therefore, it is the principle objective of the present invention to provide a new game having two sets of game pieces with identifying indicia which initially are arranged on rows of starting squares at opposite ends of the board and selectively must be moved through passages in rows of scoring squares extending transversely across the center of the board and onto scoring squares, which are marked with indicia corresponding to the game pieces, at the opposite side of said scoring row from the starting row of squares, and various other obstacle means are included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top view of the playing board device of the game comprising the invention showing the pattern layout thereof with the respective sets of different colored consecutively numbered game pieces set off said board opposite their respective consecutively numbered starting position locations.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the playing board device with various game pieces of the respective players shown in possible positions during the conduct of said game with the paths of movement of those game pieces in play indicated by a plurality of trace lines showing the series of game piece moves executed by each respective player.

FIG. 3 is an end view elevation of the playing board with said game pieces shown placed thereon in the start position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is shown in detail and comprises a playing board 20 and two different colored sets of consecutively numbered

game pieces

22 and 22a shown set off said board 20 opposite their respective consecutively numbered starting position squares 24 and 24a in rows at opposite ends on said board 20. The playing board 20 pattern comprises, in addition to said rows of consecutively numbered starting position locations 24 and 24a, a plurality of playing positions squares 26 and 26a adjacent said starting position locations 24 and 24a on opposite portions of said board 20, said playing position squares 26 and 26a being separated by a row of consecutively numbered scoring squares 28 positioned midway of and transversely across the board and provided with a series of channel passages 30 between groups of said scoring squares 28 at the center of said board 20. The numbering arrangement on the scoring row squares 28 preferably is the reverse of that of the rows of starting squares 24 and 24a. Additionally included as elements of said playing board 20 pattern are

movement restriction squares

32 and 32a wherein a

game piece

22 or 22a may be moved forward or backward through said

restriction squares

32 and 32a but not laterally across the

heavy lines

34 and 34a defining said

movement restriction squares

32 and 32a, as well as restricted

zones

36 and 36a, wherein movement of said

game pieces

22 and 22a is not permitted.

Rules of play of the present invention require that the respective players initially position their

game pieces

22 and 22a respectively in said starting position locations 24 and 24a so that the numerical values of said

game pieces

22 and 22a correspond to the numerical values of said starting position locations 24 and 24a in which said

game pieces

22 and 22a are placed. A player is then designated to initiate the game, which is accomplished by moving a selected game piece 22 or 220 forward to a playing position square 26 or 26a. The opposing player then executes a similar single move forward with one of his playing pieces to an adjacent square 26 or 26a. Player moves are thereafter continued on an alternate player schedule, each for an increment of 2 single square 26 or 26a by each player, either forward, backward, or laterally to the right or left, where permitted. Diagonal moves, however, are not permitted. A

player may only move in turn. Certain obstacles also are provided in the form of

heavy lines

34 or 34a which may not be crossed with a

game piece

22 or 22a, nor may a player move a game piece into the various corner restricted

zones

36 or 36a which are employed to limit the length of starting square rows 24 and 24a to and positions limit the

channels

32 and 32a to 10 squares to be formed.

A player also may employ one of his

own game pieces

22 or 22a to block movement of an

opponents game piece

22 or 22a at any time and jumping such blocking pieces is not permitted. However, if a player blocks more than two channel passages 30 into his opponents scoring zone opposite said opponentss starting position location 24 or 24a, said opponent has the following options. If three channel passages 30 are blocked, said opponent may jump over any one of the three blockers in channel passages 30. If all four channel passages 30 are blocked, said opponent may remove from play any one of the four blockers he chooses. A player In ay also block, without restriction, any of his opponents scoring squares 28 which he selects.

The scoring object of this game, in accordance with pre-established rules, is for a player to position the greatest number of his

own game pieces

22 or 22a of highest numerical value in scoring position by moving said

game pieces

22 or 22a through said channel passages 30 at the center of said playing board into the scoring zone side opposite his starting position location 24 or 24a, and then laterally and reversely move each

game piece

22 or 22a adjacent the scoring zone until the piece can be moved into that numbered scoring square which corresponds in numerical value to the number on said

game piece

22 or 22a.

When a scoring square 28 is occupied with a

matching game piece

22 or 22a, the opponent players like numbered

game piece

22 or 22a is eliminated and removed from the playing board.

The game terminates when all scoring squares 28 are filled, the winning player being the one obtaining the highest cumulative numerical value as determined by a summation of the respective values of his numbered

game pieces

22 or 22a which occupy the numerically corresponding scoring squares 28.

Games may be played on an individual basis,or a series of games may be played with the winner of said series being that player which accumulates the most points at the end of said series.

In FIG. 2 a typical game plan is shown schematically in progress with paths of movement of

exemplary game pieces

22 and 22a being indicated by a plurality of trace lines respectively showing the moves of two series of

game piece

22 and 22a executed by each player. It will be noted that game piece 22a (6) is positioned in a channel passage 30 to block the movement of game piece 22 10) into the scoring zone on the side opposite the scoring square 28. Game piece 22 (8) is shown in scoring square 28 (8) and game piece 22a (8) is shown in phantom outline in starting position location 24a (8) from whence it was removed in accordance with rules of said game when the opposing player occupied scoring square 28 (8) with his game piece 22 (8).

Game piece 22 (7) is shown in a location to either block the channel passage 30 to which it is nearest located or to move through said channel passage 30 into the scoring zone. Game piece 22a (4) is shown in scoring square 28 (4) and game piece 22 (4) is shown in phantom outline indicating the playing position in which said game piece 22 (4) was located when game piece 22a (4) scored. Game piece 22a (2) is shown in scoring zone position, having been moved through the indicated channel passage 30. Game piece 22a (1) is shown in position to either block channel passage 30 or be moved therethrough into said scoring zone. All

other game pieces

22 and 22a are shown in starting position locations 24 and 24a.

in FIG. 3 an end view elevation of said playing board 20 is shown with said

game pieces

22 or 22a placed thereon in starting position locations 24 or 24a.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in its preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A game comprising in combination, a rectangular playing board having an overall grid pattern of playing position squares with the opposite ends of said board having rows of starting position squares consecutively numbered transversely, sets of game pieces for each of two players, said sets of game pieces being visually distinguishable from each other but similarly and consecutively numbered to correspond to the numbering of said starting position squares, a row of scoring squares parallel to and midway between said rows of starting position squares, said row of scoring squares being arranged in a plurality of separated groups of squares to provide channel passages for said game pieces to be moved between said groups, transverse sets of rows of consecutive numbers along said scoring squares for the respective players being farthest from the rows of starting squares of said players, whereby it is necessary for the players to move their game pieces through said channel passages and onto the scoring square corresponding to the number on the game piece being moved.

2. A game according to claim 1, wherein said numbers of said rows are in respective reverse order to the sequence of the numbers on the rows of said playing position squares.

3. A game according to claim 1, wherein said playing board pattern contains a series of L-shaped indicia, the respective lateral and longitudinal extensions thereof having dimensionally equivalent measurements to said playing position squares of the overall grid pattern of said rectangular playing board.