WO2009083792A1

WO2009083792A1 - Board game

Info

Publication number: WO2009083792A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/003663
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valerio Aprile
Original assignee: Produzioni Editoriali Aprile S.P.A.
Priority date: 2007-12-28
Filing date: 2008-12-23
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: ITTO20070953A1

Abstract

Board game comprising at least one generally plate- shaped body (3) made of plastic material resembling a player (1) and connected to a support base (4) at the lower part and having at least one limb (6) elastically deformable by the user, and a rolling body (2) adapted in use to receive a thrust by said limb (6) following an elastic deformation thereof.

Description

"Board game" * * *

Field of the invention

The present invention is related to a board game particularly, though not exclusively, intended to be associated to a confectionary product or the like. Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is that of providing such a game made adapted to simulate, in a unique and amusing manner, performing team sports activities such as for example football (soccer) , handball and the like, in a particularly inexpensive efficient and amusing manner.

The game according to the invention is essentially characterised in that it comprises at least one generally plate-shaped body resembling a player and connected at the lower part to a support base and having at least one limb elastically deformable by the user, and a rolling body adapted in use to receive a thrust by said limb following an elastic deformation thereon.

By using a plurality of plate-shaped bodies thus made, it is possible to form two teams available for an equivalent number of players for simulating for example football matches (in case the elastically deformable limb of each player is a leg) or handball matches or the like (in case the deformable limb is an arm) , manoeuvring, using only one hand, the player close to whom the rolling body - also typically made of circular plate-shaped elements interlocked to each other to simulate a ball - is positioned from time to time.

According to a preferred embodiment' of the invention, the plate-shaped body resembling a player is made in a single piece with the relative base starting from a flat plate made of plastic material made provided with half-grooving and bending lines. The plate-shaped elements intended to make up the rolling body which simulates the ball are also conveniently made of the same flat plate, at respective half- grooving lines.

Brief description of the drawings

Now, the invention shall be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, strictly provided for exemplifying and non-limiting purposes, wherein:

- figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing two components (player and ball) of the board game according to the invention,

- figure 2 shows a first variant of the second component (ball) of the game,

- figure 3 shows a second variant of the second element (ball) of the game,

- figure 4 is an elevation view representing the plate starting from which the two components (player and ball) of figure 1 are made,

- figure 5 is a view analogous to figure 1 showing a variant of the first component (player) , and

- figure 6 shows the first component (player) of figure 5 dismounted. Detailed description of the invention

Initially referring to figure 1, reference numbers 1 and 2 indicate two components of the board game according to the invention, respectively corresponding to a football player and a ball. Right from now, it should be observed that the game in its entirety shall typically include a plurality of players 1, whose shape shall generally correspond to that represented in figure 1 resembling two different teams to be used by two respective users to simulate, using the ball 2, a football match. The player 1 comprises a plate-shaped body 3 whose contour represents an stylized player, for example having a height in the range of 7 - 9 cm, made in a single piece with the support base 4 orthogonal to the body 3. Such body 3 is permanently joined to the base 4 at the lower end of a leg 5, while the other leg 6 is free with respect to the base 4 and it is elastically deformable. Such leg 6 has a back manoeuvre appendage 7 projecting approximately at the median part thereof, or slightly above the latter.

The base 4 is made, in proximity to the leg 5 of the body 1, with a wing 8 bent perpendicularly with respect to such base 4 and to the body 3 and serving as a possible aid for holding the player 1 by the user. As illustrated in figure 4, the player 1 is conveniently made in a single piece starting from a flat plate 9, typically made of plastic material, half- grooved along the contours of the body 3 and of the extension of the base 4 and of the manoeuvre appendage 7, and made with bending lines 10, 11 respectively between the foot 5 and the base 4 and between the wing 8 and the base 4. Further bending lines 12a, 12b , 12c and 12d are provided for making the manoeuvre appendage 7. The entire player 1 may thus be separated from the flat plate 9 through the half-grooving made along the contour thereof, and may thus be configured in the position of use by simply bending the base 4 relatively to the leg 5 around the bending line 10, the wing 8 relatively to the base 4 around the bending line 11, and the manoeuvre appendage 7 around the bending lines 12a-12d.

In the condition of use, the leg 6 is elastically deformable upon flexure for hitting the ball 2, by operating on the manoeuvre appendage 7. This action may be performed by the user using only one hand, keeping the base 4 pressed against the board game using a finger (for example the index or middle finger) by actuating the manoeuvre appendage 7 with another finger (for example the thumb) . The manoeuvre appendage 7 may then be pushed upwards, and in this case the leg 6 is flexed backwards hence, by releasing the manoeuvre appendage 7, its elastic return to the undeformed position shall apply a forward thrust to the ball 2. Alternatively, the manoeuvre appendage 7 may be pushed downwards, and in such case the thrust against the ball 2 shall be applied due to the forward flexure effect of the leg 6.

The ball 2 is also made of generally circular- shaped plate-shaped elements, arranged radially and connected to each other in a coupling manner. In the embodiment represented in figure 1 provided for are three (or four) circular discs 13a, 13b and 13c (and possibly 13d) interlocked to each other in the represented manner. Also such discs 13a-13d are made with the same flat plate 9 made of plastic material with which the player 1 is made, and they are separable from such plate at the respective contour half- groovings . The ball 2 may alternatively be made according to multiple variants, two of which are represented in figures 2 and 3. In the case of figure 2, provided for are two circular disc elements 13e, 13f coupled perpendicularly to each other and further connected by an external circular ring 12h.

In the case of figure 3 the four circular discs 12a-12d are connected to each other in orthogonal pairs, instead of being connected radially like in the case of figure 1. Figures 5 and 6, wherein parts identical or similar to the ones described above are indicated using the same reference numbers, represent a variant of the game according to the invention wherein the player 1, instead of being made in a single piece, comprises three (or more) elements different from and assemblable to each other: the body 2, the base 4 and the manoeuvre appendage 7. In this case, such components may have a greater consistency with respect to the plate-shaped one of the preceding embodiment and they may also be made using material different from plastic material, such as for example wood or metal.

The base 4 has a short support beam 14 with a coupling projection 15 and recess 16 for respectively engaging a slot 17 and a lower appendage 18 of the leg 5, in the manner represented in figure 5.

Furthermore, in this case, the elastically deformable part of the player 1 cooperating with the ball 2 may be made up of, additionally or alternatively to the leg 6, one of the upper limbs and more in particular by the arm 19, which extends up to the proximity of the base 4 and applied to which is the manoeuvre appendage 7. In this case, the player 1 may be used, with analogous players adapted to form different teams, to simulate handball or basketball, together with the ball 2 described above or with analogous small balls.

Obviously, the construction details and the embodiments may widely vary with respect to the description and illustration provided above, without for this reason departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Board game characterised in that it comprises at least one generally plate-shaped body (3) made of plastic material, resembling a player (1) and connected to a support base (4) at the lower part and having at least one limb (6; 19) deformable elastically by the user, and a rolling body (2) adapted in use to receive a thrust by said limb (6; 19) following an elastic deformation thereof.

2. Game according to claim 1, characterised in that said elastically deformable limb (6; 19) is provided with a manoeuvre appendage (7) .

3. Game according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said deformable limb is a leg (6) . '

4. Game according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said deformable limb is an arm (19) .

5. Game according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said rolling body simulates a ball (2) . '

6. Game according to the preceding claims, characterised in that said plate-shaped body (3) is made in a single piece with said base (4) and with said manoeuvre appendage (7) of said deformable limb (6) starting from a flat plate made of plastic material (9) made with half-grooving and bending (10, 11, 12) lines.

7. Game according to claim 5, characterised in that said rolling body (2) is made up of circular-shaped plate-shaped elements (13) fittingly coupled to each other.

8. Game according to claim 6 and 7, characterised in that said circular-shaped plate-shaped elements (13) are also made starting from the abovementioned flat plate made of plastic material (9) .

9. Game according to any one of claims 1 - 4, characterised in that said plate-shaped body (3) and said base (4) are made up of separate elements fittingly coupled to each other.