Rotatably Mounted Board Patents (Class 273/280)
  • Publication number: 20150021855
    Abstract: A competitive table game includes a rapidly spinning game wheel, an annular collection area, a base, and a plurality of rollable playing pieces. The game wheel is rotatably connected onto the base while the annular collection area is concentrically positioned around the game wheel. During each game, the players roll the plurality of rollable playing pieces on a smooth top surface of the game wheel as the plurality of rollable playing pieces is tangentially positioned on the smooth top surface and released attempting to match the linear velocity at the respective position on the game wheel. Then the plurality of rollable playing pieces moves across the smooth top surface and drops into the annular collection area, where the winner of each game is determined according to the game rules of each different game and the positioning of the plurality of rollable playing pieces. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Craig Joseph Bierly
  • Patent number: 8851477
    Abstract: An educational device comprising a game board demarcated with a plurality of positions, each position having associated with it and actuator, actuation of which causes the communication device to provide instruction to the player as to what the player is supposed to do. A player can activate a random number generator to determine how many positions to move. Once instruction has been received, the player utilizes game pieces on the game board to execute the instruction. By going through this process, any player can learn a particular skill or gain particular knowledge that can be applied in life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce Ward
  • Publication number: 20140077456
    Abstract: A toy is provided, the toy having: a plurality of playing pieces; an object configured to be slid along a surface; and a structure having a first end and a second end, the structure further comprises: a bridge that defines a path from the first end of the structure to the second end of the structure, wherein the path is elevated from the surface and is defined by an upper surface of a plurality of members, wherein each of the plurality of members are pivotally mounted to the structure for movement between a first position and a second position, a portion of the plurality of members having a lower portion extending from the upper surface, the lower portion terminating at a distal end that is supported above the surface, wherein the upper surface of each of the plurality of members is configured to support at least one of the plurality of playing pieces thereon without contacting an adjacent one of the plurality of members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Bazarko
  • Patent number: 8430402
    Abstract: A networked light bulb is disclosed comprising means for controlling a state of the networked light bulb, means for connecting to a network, means for allowing a user to select a color from a plurality of colors, the plurality of colors having at least one locking color and one or more non-locking colors, and means for generating a selected color code corresponding to the color selected by the user, each color of the plurality of colors having a corresponding color code. If the user selects the locking color, the networked light bulb disconnects from the network and turns the light bulb on. If the user selects a non-locking color, the networked light bulb submits the selected color code over the network for use by the network controller in configuring the device and changes the state of the networked light bulb in response to a command from the network. In some embodiments the networked light bulb also responds to requests for status information from the network independent of the color selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Greenwave Reality PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: William Diehl, Karl Jonsson, Sonny Windstrup
  • Patent number: 8366112
    Abstract: An automated blackjack table features a rotating ring with numbered stations (up to 21) matching the numbers at which the players are positioned. By pressing a foot pedal, the dealer can rotate the ring and rapidly deal a card to each passing numbered station allowing the density of players (and, hence the revenue stream) at each table to be tripled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Tigran Nasibyan
  • Patent number: 7946587
    Abstract: A base has upper and lower surfaces. Cylindrical recesses are arranged in rows and columns. A plurality of rods is received by the cylindrical recesses and held in a vertical orientation. A plurality of balls is adapted to be stacked upon the rods. The balls have an exterior surface with various optical characteristics. The number of different optical characteristics of the balls corresponds to the number of players of the game. The optical characteristics are chosen from the class of optical characteristics including colors and designs. The game is won when a player aligns a predetermined number of balls of a common optical characteristic in a line in response to players alternately placing balls on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Michael S. Renfro
  • Publication number: 20110042894
    Abstract: A rotatable illuminated game board system to adapt to contemporary board games or for use with newly-conceived games, the system including stained glass elements adhered to a translucent plate beneath a modified printed sheet of game instructions and rules, all atop a quadrilateral housing attached to a stationary platform by means of a Lazy Susan type bearing allowing rotatability, said housing containing a switchable electric light source that permeates the stained glass elements and accentuates such areas on the playing surface that are important to the game's strategy or esthetic quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: Nicholas M. Rylander
  • Patent number: 7736228
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus having a housing defining a display area on which immoveable display characters and moveable symbol displays are used to present a game outcome, is disclosed. Typically, the immoveable display characters provide background for the moveable symbol displays. A controller is used to cause movement of the moveable symbol displays so that at least one symbol corresponding to the game outcome is displayed. A method of playing a game using the aforementioned gaming apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig, Lawrence M. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 7540806
    Abstract: A releasable mounting system that includes a mounting assembly and a release assembly attached to a display assembly. The mounting assembly includes a hub assembly having spokes that connect a wheel to the hub, which is mounted to a trunnion. At the intersections of the spokes and wheel are protrusions adapted to mate with corresponding detents arranged radially about the trunnion and formed in a plate against which the hub assembly is positioned. The release assembly includes a release attached to a release plate, the release being movable relative to the plate. A channel formed in the release receives the hub assembly and a hook portion on the release holds the hub assembly in the release until movement of the release causes it to release the hub assembly. The display is pivotable about the trunnion in fixed stops defined by the detents and is also releasable by operating the release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Tastad
  • Publication number: 20080099994
    Abstract: A golf ball designed for practicing indoors. The golf ball comprises a soft-shelled flexible hollow spherical cage, a stitched hollow spherical cover enclosing the hollow spherical cage and granules enclosed in the hollow spherical cage. The spherical cage comprises a plurality of holes on its surface. The spherical cover is made by stitching a thread into a hollow spherical shape. Before closing the spherical cover, the spherical cage is inserted into it. The granules are then inserted in the spherical cage through the holes in its surface. Following which, the spherical cover is completely sealed by further stitching the thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventor: Adam Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20080012220
    Abstract: A configurable board game where playing pieces are played on a game board's playing surface and a circumstantial change is played on peripheral ledges. A position of one or more playing pieces on the peripheral ledges determines game play within the game board. Game boards can be attached together in a variety of ways to form updated playing surfaces of different shapes and sizes, thereby allowing for a variance in the play of the game. The playing pieces on the playing surface can move across multiple game boards. Thus, the rules of the game board in which the game piece moves dictates how the game piece thereon is played. Alternatively, each game piece retains its original functionality regardless of which game board it is currently positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: John Edward O'Neill
  • Patent number: 7273212
    Abstract: An article support apparatus facilitates article interaction such as game play upon an oblong game table. The article or game support apparatus comprises a support plate, an anchor plate, and an article-positioning assembly extending therebetween. The article-positioning assembly may comprise a plate-extending assembly and a plate-rotating assembly. The plate-extending assembly functions to extend the game support plate away from the anchor plate. The anchor plate is of sufficient mass to interface the game support apparatus with a support surface and prevent the extended game support apparatus from tipping. The support plate functions to support an interactive article such as a gaming device or a common board game. The selected gaming device is supportable atop the game support plate and is thus extendable to separated player stations about the game support surface. The article or game support apparatus functions to enable game play in a spaced player setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Scott L. Kolbaba
  • Patent number: 7093832
    Abstract: A plate or other utilitarian object for generating conversations is provided comprising a substantially flat central portion for holding on object and a raised side surface positioned coaxially with the substantially flat central portion. A circular perforation is formed coaxially with the substantially flat central portion and the raised side surface and is positioned at a border between the substantially flat central portion and the raised side surface. A plurality of axial perforations are formed in the raised side surface extending along an entire width thereof from the circular perforation to an outer edge of the raised side surface. Each adjacent pair of the plurality of axial perforations and a corresponding portion of the circular perforation defines a selectively removable tab, the selectively removable tab including text material thereon. The text material preferably comprises an open-ended opinion-evoking statement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Subject Matters, LLC
    Inventor: Mary Louise Parker
  • Patent number: 6869073
    Abstract: A game and an apparatus for playing the game are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of bodies stacked vertically one above another. Each body is rotatable about a common axis of rotation, vertically oriented. Each body has a plurality of faces, each face has a slot forming a display window. The slots receive tokens. There are two types of tokens. Turning the bodies relative to one another aligns the slots and effects a transfer of tokens from a higher to a lower body. The game is played by two players in a sequence of alternating turns. The object of the game is to get a predetermined number of one type of token adjacent to one another, either on the same body, on adjacent bodies or in a helical pattern around the axis of rotation. Each player in their turn may either insert a token into a slot or spin a body about the axis of rotation to transfer a token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Horrocks
  • Publication number: 20040155403
    Abstract: A game board system including a bottom portion with a cup centered on its surface, a rotatable member provided on the bottom portion and including game piece apertures, an outer top portion provided on the bottom portion, and an inner stationary top portion superposed on the rotatable frame and including second game piece apertures. Portions of the game board system may be exchanged to form a new game board system. Additionally, the game board system may be played according to several versions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: Cactus Marketing Services, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nevin P. Carr, David P. Maurer
  • Patent number: 6719289
    Abstract: A two-player board game of chance and strategy, that uses sixteen direction-oriented game pieces, and fifty Additional Movement playing cards on a chess-like playing board. Each player is dealt seven or eleven cards, all concealed from view with only one card revealed during play. The game piece movements are used to capture or position the game pieces (1), for capture splays. The six different types of direction-oriented game pieces and their attributes change direction each time they reach the limits of the board on either opposing side. When a card is played, both the standard game piece movement and the matching card's movement (2) are taken together and represent one extended move (3,4). The game is won-by capturing the opponent's Lion type game piece. Additional variations include a four-player version and Level-Four Play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen W. Brown, Louise Marie Brown, Mary Lou Brown
  • Patent number: 6581933
    Abstract: The invention is a three-dimensional, pyramid-shaped, word forming game having a plurality of levels independently rotatable around a vertical support column secured to a base. The game is played with cards of four different colors, which correspond to the same colors of the pyramids' sides. Players take turns inserting playing cards into card holding slots located on the outer edges of the levels in an attempt to spell words. The levels freely rotate in either direction. Each letter-bearing card has a point value associated with it and players earn points for words spelled on the pyramid shaped game. The game is won by the player with the most points for words spelled out on the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: George Zivan
  • Patent number: 6540229
    Abstract: A card game apparatus for playing cards. The card game apparatus being played with a deck of cards having a letter, symbol and numerical indicia marked thereon. The card game apparatus also utilizes game chips in conjunction with a game board that has an upper surface with a plurality of jackpot areas. A plurality of windows is formed in the upper surface and is associated with one of the jackpot areas. A plurality of game board indicia is marked on an upper surface of the game board and is associated with one of the jackpot areas. A rotatably mounted wheel member is positioned below the upper surface of the game board such that portions of wheel indicia positioned on the wheel member are viewable through the windows when the wheel member is rotated between different positions, thereby defining a variety of setups for game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: Linda E. Smith, Michael C. Smith
  • Patent number: 6536766
    Abstract: A novel game board comprises a base board (100) with rotating tiers (105, 405, 410, and 415) which rotate on a shaft (430) and bearings (402, 404, and 407) or a lazy susan (115), a pointer 120 or a rotating pointer knob (425) which points at numbers (305) and game fields (310) on a tier (300). Progress through the game is indicated by individual players' tokens (135). Game cards and play money (140, 320, 325, 330, and 335) are also provided. Multiple results can arise from the same players' moves. Hidden game fields (700) under the edges of square or rectangular tiers (405, 410, and 415) provide added excitement. Instructions in the game fields (300, 406, etc.) can apply to a single player or to all players simultaneously, resulting in advantages or disadvantages for one or all. No dice are used to play, only a rotating pointer knob (425) or a rotating tier 105 with a stationary pointer (120) are required to urge progress through the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Donald T. Deitch, Betty Lee Deitch
  • Patent number: 6428003
    Abstract: Strategy game using at least two lots of game pieces with each lot being allocated to a player. The game includes a game grid forming rows and columns, and having a juxtaposition of parallel chutes. The parallel chutes include a first end and a second end. At least one of the first and second ends is adapted to receive the game pieces. At least one of the first and second ends is adapted to be blocked so as to prevent the game pieces from falling out. The game grid is movable between at least a position wherein a first end is substantially disposed above the second end and at least a position wherein a second end is substantially disposed above the first end. The game pieces are visible when disposed within the game grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventors: Gilles Fondin, Cyrille Guillot
  • Patent number: 6406300
    Abstract: A board game teaching letter locations on a keyboard including a first game board and a second game board. The upper surface of the first game board has a spinning wheel, a computer keyboard, and a pair of hand placement markers disposed thereon. The lower surface has a rotatable base secured thereto. The second game board has a path of travel defined by a starting location, a finishing location, and a plurality of spaces. The plurality of spaces are represented by letters of the alphabet in order. The second game board has a question card marker thereon. The spelling cards each have a category including related words to be spelled. A plurality of tokens are provided which represent players for movement along the path of travel of the second game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Rhoda Cohen
  • Patent number: 6398222
    Abstract: A board game including at least one playing surface. The surface is provided with at least one feature adapted in a manner that a participant may cast a suitably sized and shaped projectile around and/or into the feature and wherein the board is adapted to move. The board game is particularly, but not exclusively adapted for use by individuals with limited motor ability for recreation and/or as an educational tool and/or as a therapeutic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Elaine Everett
  • Patent number: 6382627
    Abstract: A multi-level game board apparatus has a plurality of transparent, planar game boards each having a plurality of marker seats arranged in a pattern for receiving game markers, and a plurality of support shaft assemblies extending at spaced intervals through the peripheral edges of the game boards to secure the game boards together and hold them apart at a predetermined vertical spacing during game play. The apparatus is movable between an upright, deployed position in which each support shaft assembly is in a vertically extended position holding the game boards apart, and a collapsed, storage position in which each support shaft assembly is collapsed downwardly between each adjacent pair of boards to allow the boards to move closer together into a more compact, storage configuration. A locking device releasably secures the boards together in the collapsed, storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: James R. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 6361048
    Abstract: A game board requiring strategy and providing the element of chance includes a playing surface having a fixed path section and a path altering section providing a route from at least one area to at least one finishing area and including a plurality of game piece positions along route determining placement of a number of game pieces. The playing surface overlies a king section having at least one actuator for moving the path altering section to a determined position based upon the outcome of a random number generator. A method for playing a game using the game board is also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: James Lynn
  • Patent number: 6336634
    Abstract: A board game for providing entertainment and teaching strategy. The board game includes a game board having plurality of discrete paths thereon and defining a quadrant. Each of the game paths is divided into a plurality of game spaces and each game path ends at an inner circle position in a central portion of the game board. Each of the game spaces is colored a color selected from the group consisting of green, orange, blue, red, yellow, brown and white. Each of a plurality of overlays is positionable on one of the game paths. Each of the overlays generally has the shape of one of the game paths such that each of the overlays may be positioned over one of the quadrants. Each of the overlays is substantially transparent. Each of the overlays has a plurality of symbols thereon. A first die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides has a different indicia thereon indicating a number 1 through 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Brian Stott
  • Patent number: 6273422
    Abstract: A strategy game system and method that requires a player to align three markers wherein each marker is positioned at one of three levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Terrence J. McGahan
  • Patent number: 6247696
    Abstract: A novel board game utilizing a two-dimensional game board having a plurality of bi-directional rotatable wheels with spaces for player movement arranged on the circumference of the wheel surface. Numbered cards determine the orientation and resulting magnitude of rotation of the wheels. Two dice randomly determine player movement. Each player is assigned a plurality of playing tokens and a wheel of origin. A path of play begins in a “START” circle on the periphery of a player's wheel and proceeds in a defined path around said wheel back to the “HOME” circle. A detour in the path of movement from a player's wheel to an opponent's wheel is through unidirectional alleyways. A path change occurs when the wheels are rotated, moving a player's token to a new position on the board. The object of the game is to be the first player to get all of his or her tokens to the “HOME” space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Inventor: Dennis Lackender
  • Patent number: 6182967
    Abstract: A board game has two teams of a plurality of game pieces whereby, on successive turns, a player may add a game piece, move a game piece, or enhance the movement direction capabilities of a game piece. The object of the game is to occupy designated opponent's territories on the game board or to capture all of the opponent's game pieces so that none remain on the game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: Donald P. Green
  • Patent number: 6065750
    Abstract: A maze board game for providing an enjoying game for a number of players. The board game includes a base member and a generally transparent top member spaced above the base member. A middle board is interposed between the base member and the top member. The middle board is rotatably mounted to the base member. The middle board has a plurality of generally rectangular playing spaces arranged in a grid has a number of columns and a number of rows extending generally perpendicular to the columns. The playing spaces include a plurality of starting spaces, a plurality of barrier spaces, a plurality of exchange spaces, and a plurality of loss of turn spaces. The middle board also has a generally rectangular ending space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventors: Terry L. Mattoon, Tod J. Ruthven
  • Patent number: 5887872
    Abstract: A base supports a rotatable turntable having a plurality of capsule bases each having capsule recesses formed therein. A plurality of capsule lids are pivotally supported upon the turntable and overlie their respective capsule bases providing closure of the recesses. A plurality of stationary cams are supported beneath the turntable and communicate with a corresponding plurality of cam following flanges which operate the capsule lids. A motor drive rotates the turntable upon the base such that the cam following flanges of the lids are intermittently pivoted to open positions as they pass some of the cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: James Keifer, Alan Cusolito
  • Patent number: 5857674
    Abstract: An interactive game is contemplated having an outer container and a tray engaged within the outer container. The tray including a plurality of compartments adapted to receive and retain articles within. Openings are formed in the outer container aligned with at least a portion of each compartment. A cover is provided for selectively covering the openings and concealing the interior of the compartments. Channels are formed in the tray which extend between the sidewalls of the tray and the interior of the compartments. A book may be provided for the purposes of providing instruction or to further support the overall theme of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventor: Christian Legrand
  • Patent number: 5820127
    Abstract: A collectable sports card sorter comprising various elements that when assembled form a rotating stadium with a novel game board upon which up to four innovative simulated sports games can be played, including but not limited to, baseball, basketball, football and soccer. Each of the sports games can be played at a level 1 or II, utilize 6-sided, 12-sided and 20-sided dice on which letter designations dictate plays or moves, and the rules for one sports are similarly applicable to the other sports as well. Players may play to win or lose sports trading cards, but the cards themselves are not required game pieces. The sorter can accomodate sports trading cards by individual team players, specific sports teams, divisions, or a combination of sports trading cards for a variety of sports. An add-on accessory feature of the sorter allows the unit to be utilized as a play house for young children, or hobby kit for sports fans of any age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Irma L. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 5785320
    Abstract: A 3-dimensional, token alignment game which can be played by 2 or 3 people and consists of a 6 sided game box inset with 96 small, rotatable, cube shaped game pieces and a detachable, rotatable base. The 96 game pieces are all identical, each having 4 different colored sides and a shaft through the center which is parallel to the colored sides of the game piece. The shafts are inset into the sides of the game box and they allow each game piece to be turned so that only one of the colored sides of the game piece is visible from the outside of the game box. At the start of a game all 96 game pieces are positioned so that only the same, single neutral color is visible on each game piece. Each player then chooses one of the remaining colors as their own. In succession each player turns one neutral colored game piece so that that game piece shows only their color. This procedure is repeated until a player manages to get 5 of their color game pieces in a consecutive horizontal, vertical or diagonal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Christopher Borg
  • Patent number: 5782351
    Abstract: A container is disclosed as including a top part releasably engageable with a bottom part having an upper surface, wherein the top part is engageable with the bottom part in a first position to form a substantially enclosed container, and the top part is engageable with the bottom part in a second position whereby at least one exposed storage area is formed between both the top part and bottom part. A container for a game is also disclosed as including a cover, and a base having a playing surface on which a plurality of playing pieces are movable, and the cover is releasably engageable with the base in a first position to form a substantially enclosed container, and the cover is engageable with the base in a second position whereby at least one exposed storage area is formed between both the cover and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Philip LeRoy Shoptaugh
  • Patent number: 5738354
    Abstract: An entertainment and educational board game is disclosed which requires players to answer questions arranged in a hierarchy ranging from most difficult questions to questions of intermediate difficulty, and then to questions of least difficulty, and includes a playing board, a star-shaped playing course on the playing board and formed from a plurality of joined playing spaces, a plurality of sets of question cards with each set representing a particular question category, a plurality of question card boxes for the sets of question cards, and a rotatable question card box holder having compartments for holding the question card boxes and question cards. The players take turns in their attempts to correctly answer the questions printed on the question cards starting with the most difficult question level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Aaron G. Easley
  • Patent number: 5653443
    Abstract: A rotatable cribbage game board allows players to make their successive turns without getting up from their seats and without having to physically move the entire game board. The novel game board has a top wooden member rotatable relative to a stationary base wooden member. Optionally the board can be formed from molded plastic. The base member has a first storage compartment for playing cards and a second storage compartment for scoring inserts such as pegs, toothpicks, and matchsticks. The top member has an upper cribbage board surface with an inner concentric row having one hundred twenty-two holes, a middle concentric row having one hundred twenty-three holes, and an outer concentric row having one hundred twenty-two holes. Optionally these concentric holes can be arranged in a spiral pattern. Furthermore, the top member can include circular indentations for holding beverages. The bottom of the top member has a centrally located downward protruding post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: David B. Ervin
  • Patent number: 5494292
    Abstract: A game device consisting of a plurality of vertically stacked, alternately rotatable disks (13, 25, 33, 41 and 49) and stationary tiers (10, 19, 29, 37, 45 and 53) each containing passageways through which a spherical game piece may pass. The disks are rotated by players in an effort to cause their respective game pieces to be the first to travel down through the device and drop into the tray (58) at the bottom. Windows (23) ape provided in the tiers so that players may track their progress through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: Mark Mileti
  • Patent number: 5415411
    Abstract: Board games of global conquest include lighted and unlighted circular game boards having geopolitical maps of the globe thereon. Playing pieces of different types are provided for each player, with each type of playing piece having a different move pattern and limitations of moves on the board. At least one type of piece is never placed upon the board, but its position is known only to the player holding that piece. The object of the game is to form patterns of squares about various areas or nations of the board with the playing pieces, with a player successfully forming such a square being considered the conqueror of that nation or region. The conquering player must be able to identify the nation or region, and may receive simulated currency for correctly identifying the capitol and correctly answering other questions about the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventor: LaVerne R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5380013
    Abstract: An apparatus useful in a board game which requires one or more players to reach a conclusion, such as a treasure, based on collected clues, which includes two boards which are movable relative to each other. The upper board includes a number of openings and also includes markings to facilitate movement of each player across the upper board. The lower board which may be attached to the upper board, and which is movable, e.g., rotatable, relative to the upper board, features markings. When the boards are moved relative to each other prior to the start of a game, a specific set of clue markings is aligned with the openings in the upper board. At least some of the clue markings are, or are related to, the clues needed to arrive at the conclusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Inventor: David Nacht
  • Patent number: 5318299
    Abstract: A rotatable betting device is provided for a card game which consists of a turntable assembly to sit upon a flat surface. A plurality of cups are radially positioned about the turntable assembly, so that each card player can conveniently place bets by inserting chips into their respective cup during the card game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Inventors: Warren L. Beaster, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5314191
    Abstract: A reflective word game is provided in which letter tiles placed into a game plate by a player will simultaneously form both a real word and a reciprocal image word that is reflected in either one or two adjacent mirrors. A challenger player must make up a matching word by placing letter tiles into the game plate which will also be reflected in either one or two adjacent mirrors. The scoring values of the letters making up the words are added up and are cumulative, whereby the player with the highest score at the end of the game is the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Marcel B. Mayas
  • Patent number: 5201524
    Abstract: A marble game including a stationary top board having a plurality of spaced apart game holes to define a game path. A rotatable bottom board includes a plurality of randomly spaced apart sink holes for aligning with the game holes. A marble positioned in a game hole aligned with a sink hole falls through and on to a ramp surface which guides the marble angularly downward to a retrieval location. A slot opening in the top board registers with a shift aperture in the bottom board. Applying an external force inside a registered shift aperture in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction rotates the bottom board until another shift aperture registers with the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Inventors: Dezso Csanady, Christopher A. Csanady
  • Patent number: 5184821
    Abstract: Disclosed is a game apparatus for playing poker and similar card games, including a playing table having a plurality of images which may be selectively lit to indicate winning bets, an indicator board to indicate identified cards, and a switchboard for controlling the playing table. Also disclosed are a plurality of rotatable wheels driven by an electric motor and a plurality of different size sprockets connected to the electric motor by a series of chains, whereby the plurality of rotatable wheels may be simultaneously driven at different speeds of rotation. The rotatable wheels include a large wheel having randomly selected images of a complete deck of cards plus a Joker, the suits being arranged to alternate a red and a black card, and four smaller wheels mounted on the large wheel and having randomly selected images of thirteen cards from a second deck, the suits being arranged in a manner similar to the large wheel. Spring markers cooperate with pins on said wheel to identify selected cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Inventor: Raymond E. Korenek
  • Patent number: 5145181
    Abstract: Game apparatus defines an effectively spherical playing surface which is divided into ranks and files of blocks. The playing surface has at least two poles, and the files extend radially from respective poles, while the ranks are arranged concentrically about the poles. In one embodiment, the apparatus defines a spherical playing surface. In other embodiments, two or more discs represent hemi-spherical playing surfaces. The discs can be rotated synchronously to facilitate the movement of pieces from disc to another, simulating a true spherical playing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventors: David M. Welman, Antonie C. F. Welman, Peter H. G. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5116061
    Abstract: A strategy game which has as structural base (20) upon which a concentric pedestal (26) is rotatably mounted permitting players to revolve for viewing. A number of equal spacial pins (32) project upwardly around the periphery of the pedestal and each of the two players alternately place their own marked hollow beads (36) over the pins. The pedestal is preferably round to allow a game to be played that has a playing field that is free from limiting boundaries, sidelines or barriers. The game is won when a player aligns four beads in a row either horizontal, diagonal or vertical. A storage bag (40) with a drawstring (42) encloses the pedestal beads and base for protection when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventor: John R. Zentner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5100150
    Abstract: A word game assembly for play by two or more players includes for each player a play grid of horizontal and vertical rows of adjacent areas and a supply of alphabetical letter designating play pieces receivable on the grid areas in a competitive attempt to form words. A player operated random selector and indicator device, such as a spinnable top having side facets marked with different symbols, is used to determine the nature and procedure of play for effecting a series of plays. For instance, each player may select play pieces and place them on an associated play grid to form words in dependence upon the indicated random selection resulting from a spin of the top. In one embodiment of the word game assembly, a portion of the play grid is rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Darryl S. Larman
  • Patent number: 5011159
    Abstract: A method of playing a board game combining chess, dice and money is disclosed. The game includes a chess board, marker pieces that have a specific value as a chessman and move on the chess board, and dice having a number corresponding to the value of the marker piece so that only the chessmen can move after the dice is thrown that correspond to the numbers on the thrown dice. Money is also included. Each chessman is assigned a monetary amount. When a player captures an opposing chessman, that player is rewarded the corresponding monetary amount. Monetary amounts are also rewarded to the players who are able to check an opposing king piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Inventors: Michael Fortunato, Michael A. Fortunato
  • Patent number: 4989878
    Abstract: A wheel word game is provided and consists of a puzzle board on a first easel, for displaying the puzzle as it is worked out, an alphabet board for displaying letters called by the contestants, but not used in the puzzle, a plurality of puzzle cards, a plurality of free spin tokens for the contestants who win free spins, a dry erase pen, a wiping cloth, a plurality of contestant selection cards for selecting the contestants and their order of playing and a spinning wheel rotatably carried on a second easel to determine how each contestant plays the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventor: Robert R. Davies
  • Patent number: 4961581
    Abstract: A board game having a rectangular support for carrying arrays of images. Each image has a set of six manually variable rotatable drum indicators, each set, one for each player, being located are at each of the peripheral sides of the support. Each drum bears a number of peripheral images. Only one of which is visible at any one time. The number selected by throwing dice direct players to rotate the corresponding drums. An objective of the game is to display common numbers through a player's set of arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Rotation Limited
    Inventors: David Barnes, Alick M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 4854594
    Abstract: A game board for two to four players which eliminates virtually all aspects of luck and requires both knowledge and skill as to the strategy of play includes a generally square game board consisting of a plurality of squares which are arranged in a matrix fashion and include a plurality of game question cards. A Pocket is formed on each square and a question card is placed faced down in each square. To start play a question on a challenge list card is read to all the players. The question has several correct answers. The players list as many correct responses as they can. The player with the most correct responses has the right to move first along the spaces. The number of spaces to be moved directly corresponds to the number of correct responses. In order for a player to move and remain on the advanced square, the question corresponding to the game question card on that square must be answered correctly then that player's turn is over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Inventor: Ronald E. Eaton