Board game

Abstract

The Board Game “Think Twice” is a three-dimensional game played by two to four persons. Based on the ancient two-dimensional board game known as (among other names) “Nine Mens Morris”, it uncloses a multitude of possibilities to form own rows of three and enhances stereoscopic vision, special sense as well as tangibility and orientation within space.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The ornamental design of the Board Game “Think Twice” is protected by various patents in different countries:

USPTO United States Patent and Trademark Office, Va.-Alexandria, USA

• • Ser. No. 29/214.560 Filing Date Oct. 6, 2004 for USA
  • WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization, Geneva, CH
  • DM/065 769 Date of Issue Jul. 2, 2004 for BE, NL, LU, DE, ES, FR, IT, LI
  • IGE Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, Berne, CH
  • 130 596 Date of Issue May 21, 2004 for CH

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is considered a Board Game and can be classified into USPTO Class-Subclass D21-345000 or Locarno Class-Subclass 21-01, respectively.

The Board Game “Think Twice” has its roots in the ancient two-dimensional board game known as (among other names) “Nine Mens Morris”, “Nine Men's Morris”, “Morelles”, “Merrills”, “Merels”, “Merrels”, “Morris” or “Mill”. Development and history of “Nine Mens Morris” point back to 1400 BC (approximately). It can be considered the world's oldest board game.

However, a somewhat restricting characteristic of “Nine Mens Morris” is its bounded game area extending only into two directions (dimensions), consequently limiting the theoretically possible number of playable locations, as well as the number of only two persons.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Board Game “Think Twice” combines a well known, ancient, basic game principle with the extending advantage to play by up to four persons, as well as to experience to freely move within a three-dimensional game area. Thus allowing a huge number of possibilities to form a combination three Tokens in a row compelling the opponent(s) to loose Tokens of their own.

The claimed Board Game is used as a table top game with a three-dimensional game area, composed by a Base (made of one single piece or from individual components), twenty four Sticks being placed into corresponding receptacles of the Base and four sets of Tokens (in four different colors, totaling to 80 pieces).

Assembled, the Board Game provides the possibility to arrange Tokens in horizontal (left/right) and vertical (up/down) direction. Each direction extends horizontally over three positions, vertically over three stories (levels) respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Board Game, showing the Board Game, being fully assembled;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the Base of the Board Game;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an individual Token;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an individual Stick;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an individual segment of the Base, showing the typically designed interconnections in-between the individual segments, and,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the Board Game, being fully assembled, with a possible configuration of Tokens as the would appear when being played by four persons.

The file of this patent contains at least one drawing in color. Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General

The Board Game “Think Twice” composes of three individual components; Base, Sticks and Tokens. In order to allow free movability within the three-dimensional game area Sticks and Tokens possess particular characteristics:

The Stick possesses three receptacles located in each of the three “stories”. During the game, the receptacles hold the positioned Tokens at their particular location, preventing them to drop and—consequently, avert the game to be aborted due to dislocated or lost Tokens.

The Tokens possess a recess on both, upper and lower side, and a slot parallel to its axis. The recesses match with the Sticks' receptacles to provide and guarantee their particular set location. The slot enables to play the Token from any side of the game area; from around the board as well as from above the game area.

Brief Description

Think Twice is a table top game and can be played by 2 to 4 persons.

It can be played in different varieties—as amusing entertainment or as rather challenging strategy game.

Each player possesses tokens of one particular color, which he attempts to place in rows of three—this is possible in horizontal and vertical, but not in diagonal direction. The aim is to remove the tokens from the other players by means of closing own rows of three. The player with only 2 tokens left has to quit.

Components

The claimed Board Game comprises of a three-dimensional game area (consisting of one Base (made of one individual piece or composed of more than one piece), twenty four Sticks and 80 Tokens (in 4 different colors; preferably 25 blue, 25 yellow, 15 red, 15 green).

Assembly of Game Area and Preparations to Play the Game

The Base is set on a leveled surface—most suitable are a table or the floor.

The 24 Sticks are inserted into the receptacles of the Base.

Players take their positions (2 players facing each other, 3 or 4 players arrange around the game area).

Tokens are distributed. Required quantity depend on desired game variety:

A) Entertainment Played by 2, 3 or 4 persons, each receiving 15 Tokens.

B) Strategy Played by 2 persons, each receiving 25 Tokens.

Game Rules

In turn, each player brings one of his tokens into the game and places it at any position within the game area.

Once all tokens are in the game, one token at a time is moved by one position—either in horizontal or vertical direction. Moving in diagonal direction is not permitted.

Once a player completes an own horizontal or vertical row of three, he may remove one token from each other player. Excluded are thereby tokens, which are arranged within an opponent's row of three.

If a player has just 5 tokens left he may jump with his token to any position in the game area.

The aim is build-up own rows of three and, at the same time, to prevent the completion of an opponent's row of three. With 3 to 4 players, “for tactical reasons” this also can be left to a following player—but, if overseen, this can lead to the loss of an own token, if one of the other players ignores the potential hazard!

The player with only 2 Tokens left must leave the game. He thereby removes his 2 remaining Tokens from the game area.

Winner is who takes as many Tokens from the other players, that they will no longer be able build-up any own rows of three.

Claims

1. The utility for the Board Game as shown and described below.

1) The possibility to play the Board Game with up to four persons.

2) The possibility to play the game in two varieties, either by two persons using 25 Tokens each, or by four persons using 15 Tokens each.

3) The three-dimensional principle of building-up a game area extending by three positions in either direction.

4) The possibility to play the game either in a physically arranged method, or as in an electronically or otherwise visualized manner.

5) The method to separate the game area's base into four sectional fragments, when physically arranged.