Stackable Or Nestable Feature Patents (Class 273/290)
  • Patent number: 5662325
    Abstract: Discs bearing markings or other indicators that differentiate them from each other are used to randomly select one of a number of possible outcomes. The discs may thus be used to introduce an element of chance in games. Each disc has two sides, one of which is marked with a number. The discs may be grouped into sets. The number marked on each disc in a set is the same as that of all other discs in that set, but is different from that of all discs in other sets. To use the discs to randomly select an outcome, a person stacks all the discs on top of one another. The person then topples the stack by tossing a heavier or larger disc at the stack. The outcome may be used to play a board game. Each disc may have several distinct types of indicators. Each indicator type may correspond to a different game, and each indicator type may be used in a different way to determine the outcome of that game. Alternatively, an indicator type may be used to determine a number of spaces to move a playing piece on the game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Rudi Weyand
  • Patent number: 5624121
    Abstract: A game comprising a plurality of substantially rigid playing discs each having an upper and lower surface bound by a circumferential ridge which is up-raised with respect to the upper and lower surfaces so as to provide a recess in the upper surface for accommodating therein a corresponding protrusion in the lower surface of an adjacent playing disc placed thereon, the upper surface having a visual image thereon. In use, the playing discs are stacked one top of another and each player is provided with a turn for striking a topmost one of the playing discs towards a periphery thereof so as thereby to upturn a number of the playing discs in the stack, the player claiming for himself those discs whose upper surface is downmost. An object of the game is to maximize the number of upturned playing discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: N. B. Hoppies Marketing (1994) Ltd.
    Inventor: Israel Stern
  • Patent number: 5601289
    Abstract: A chess piece for a three-dimensional vertical stacking chess game includes a body having a plurality of faces for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another chess piece. Indicia appears on each of the plurality of faces representing a single chess piece. Indicia further appears on each of the plurality of faces representing a vertical level of game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Inventor: Lloyd E. Hollister
  • Patent number: 5566944
    Abstract: A game apparatus comprising a board having a pattern of regularly shaped areas marked thereon. The areas are denoted by coding such that there is one set of areas distinguishable from at least another set of areas. The game apparatus further includes sets of playing pieces there being a set of playing pieces for each set of areas. The playing pieces are multi-faceted and are of various shapes with the faces of the playing pieces being each of a shape which is commensurate with the shape of an area. Accordingly when a playing piece is located on the board it covers two or more of the areas with the playing pieces being able to stack upon each other on the board with at least some of the playing pieces in each set having a multi-faceted projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Richard M. K. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5560611
    Abstract: A mathematical game is comprised of a game board with holes arranged in a regular array and playing pieces bearing integer numbers. Players compete to combine the playing pieces and mathematical operations to form a mathematical expression which equals a given answer. Playing pieces used in these mathematical expressions are placed on the game board on the holes. After all holes are filled with playing pieces, playing pieces are stacked on top of the previous layer of pieces by putting the playing pieces into gaps created by the playing pieces of the lower level. More levels of playing pieces are assembled as the game progresses, creating a three-dimensional pyramid shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Inventor: Yoobong Kim
  • Patent number: 5556099
    Abstract: A three dimensional chess game is provided, having multiple tiers with role-static pieces and role-altering pieces, the latter pieces being able to assume more than one role during the present game. For example, the role-altering pieces can change roles when they move between the upper and lower tiers, or when they participate in captures, that is, capturing or being captured. Also, the roles of the role-altering pieces may include roles that are similar to and/or different from those of the role-static pieces. To emphasize the change in roles or capacities, the role-altering pieces can be physically altered to reflect or signify their different roles. For example, the Helicopters may have removable upper blade portions positionable on lower portions which resemble the Pawns. Also, for example, the Planes may have removable upper wing portions positionable on lower portions which resemble the Bishops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Roubik Mardirosian
  • Patent number: 5472208
    Abstract: A game board, similar to a checkerboard, includes 10 squares on edge, and two sets of playing pieces, including 10 in each set moved by opposing players on opposite sides of the board. The players move the pieces toward each other, and perform capturing steps. The playing pieces are rings and pegs, and in the capturing steps, the rings and pegs are interfitted to form a stack. The pieces are so shaped that they can be stacked to indeterminate heights, including as many as 20 in a single stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: William J. Berry
  • Patent number: 5465975
    Abstract: A card game played with a dead hand comprising, a deck of cards, the deck being divided into four suits, indicia on the back side of each card representative of the fifteen cards in each suit, such back side indicia including stars, moons, rockets and comets, indicia on the front side of each card having one of the four suits, plus the numbers 2 through 14 plus two trump cards marked with a T, the cards being formed of a somewhat relatively flexible material. The indicia is preferably formed of florescent material. Tokens are also provided, preferably fabricated with florescent material. Also provided is a box for exposing the cards and tokens to irradiating light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventors: Naomi S. Shull, Mary L. Shoun
  • Patent number: 5462282
    Abstract: A creative game is provided which consists of a plurality of gaming chips and identifiable indicia printed on one side of each gaming chip. When identifiable indicia is marked by a highlight color marker to indicated different value combinations, the gaming chips will become similar to playing cards to be utilized in playing games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Pame A. M. L. C. Romano
  • Patent number: 5443270
    Abstract: A disc which is used as a game piece for playing a game known as "Milk Caps"or "POGS". At least one side of the disc is decorated. The disc makes a metallic sound when it is dropped, thrown or slammed against a solid playing surface. The disc is preferably made of a strong plastic such as polyphenlene sulfide which prevents the disc from shattering. The disc may have an annular lip along its edge which facilitates manufacturing. The edge of the disc may be sloped or angled wherein the bottom portion of the disc has a slightly larger diameter than the top portion of the disc. This also facilitates manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Steven R. Loritz
  • Patent number: 5417604
    Abstract: A modular constructional toy kit for use in forming signs is made up of modular elements, each of which comprises a body portion having a planar forwardly facing surface with a bounding periphery having a regular geometric shape, and coupling elements for coupling the modular elements together with the planar surfaces generally residing in a plane and the body portions in side by side relationship. A set of e.g. alphabetic characters is provided, each character being arranged on a discrete portion of planar sheet material bounded by a margin complementary to the periphery of the body portion. Preferably the characters are die cut on the discrete portions of sheet material so as to form the character and at the same time a reverse character, either of which may be applied to the planar surface of the modular elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Noma Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Rafelman, Sheldon B. Kerzner
  • Patent number: 5409234
    Abstract: A four dimensional game and a three dimensional apparatus (10) used for playing the game are disclosed. The game consists of a playing field divided into playing zones (420) of equal receptivity to all playing tokens, there being at least two mutually distinguishable groups of playing tokens. In a preferred embodiment, the game is played on a three dimensional playing field. Players place three or more distinct kinds of playing tokens one-per-turn onto the initially empty playing field according to a continuous and sequential order, such that the kind of token added to the playing field is governed entirely by the given turn in a manner known and predictable to all players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: Frank Bechter
  • Patent number: 5405148
    Abstract: An exhilarating childrens' amusement game allowing participants to compete in the hatching and collecting of dinosaur like figurines. Utilizing a spinner device control-member, participant take turns, choosing from the hatchery game board, trying to match the dinosaur which has been spun and landed on, competing to be the first to hatch and collect the different needed dinosaur game pieces to be declared the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: Richard C. Cianci
  • Patent number: 5340113
    Abstract: A board game is provided which consists of a game board having a generally spiraled type path of travel in a clockwise direction divided into consecutive playing position spacesa plurality of playing pieces one for each player, and a chance device for determining the movement of the playing pieces. The chance device is similar to the Hawaiian game called Pogs which uses a plurality of milk caps or disks each having an identifiable indicia on a first face, and a hitter disk. The disks are stacked with the first faces turned down. Each player takes turns throwing the hitter disk toward the stack knocking the stack over and toppling the disks. The respective playing piece moves the number of playing position spaces equal to the number of disks turned over with their first face up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventor: Fred E. Respicio
  • Patent number: 5333877
    Abstract: An improved board game apparatus is provided which consists of a game board having a continuous path around its perimeter divided into consecutive playing spaces of alternate colors with each of the two diagonal corner spaces being a start/home space and every corner having three additional inner playing spaces located thereby. A plurality of playing pieces are for each of the game players, with the playing pieces being of a size to fit within each of the playing spaces and are stackable one upon the other. A die operable by the game players is for determining the possible number of spaces the playing pieces shall move counterclockwise along the continuous path of the game board from the start/home space back to the start/home space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventors: Jay G. Pridgeon, Patricia Green, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5332229
    Abstract: A board game is arranged to include a game board having a plurality of sets of spaces, with the game board of a rectilinear configuration associating spaces with cards of a conventional solitaire type playing card of a plurality of decks of such cards, wherein indication of obtaining a playing card is indicated upon the game board and upon a sequence of a row of spaces, a "run" is obtained, wherein a player to obtain a greatest number of "runs" after a predetermined time interval is declared a winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventors: Phillip D. Fielder, Shelley L. Fielder
  • Patent number: 5328188
    Abstract: A game having a magnetically permeable game board areas, each of the areas having a magnet associated therewith and a plurality of magnetic game pieces to be propelled by a player by a repeller toward the game board in an effort to position the magnetic game piece over an area having the highest scoring value associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 5318305
    Abstract: A two person board game incorporating playing pieces that are movable about the board in a forward, backward or sideways direction as desired. These playing pieces may be stacked or unstacked as desired to achieve the intended purpose which is primarily to cause certain marked playing pieces to land upon certain marked safety zones and secondarily to capture the playing pieces of the opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Inventor: Cecile A. LoCoco
  • Patent number: 5314189
    Abstract: A chess set is provided which has a plurality of playable pieces and a dimensional chess board. These pieces consist of, chess men and the pawns each having a structure comprising of channel like lines at the base and a geometric band inscribed on the front of each piece. The geometric bands identify the pieces into groups with matching bands. The channel like lines that extend around all sides of the playable pieces indicate the point value of each chess piece and pawn. The structure of the chess pieces also includes a cavity at the base with an opening that a particular pawn fits exactly inside of identifying a visual relationship between them with the chess piece becoming the parent piece of the pawn. A pawn that reaches the eighth rank becomes a replication of its parent piece with the exception of the king's pawn which can become any piece except another king. The chess pieces have geometrically shaped tops that indicate the movement potential of each piece when it is engaged in play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: David W. Kerivan
  • Patent number: 5312110
    Abstract: A board game apparatus is arranged to include a game board having an equal predetermined number of rows and columns of squares, wherein opposing groups relative to simulated assemblies of tokens are positioned on opposed end portions of the game board to simulate soldiers, knights, a giant, and a captured king, wherein by elimination of opposing player tokens, a captured king is reclaimed by a moving player from an opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Mark D. Youwanes
  • Patent number: 5312112
    Abstract: A board game for two players or teams includes elements of the games of scrabble and chess as well as other novel features, and includes a game board having a pattern of lettered playing spaces and a plurality of differently configured playing pieces or markers for each player or team. The differently configured playing pieces or markers are assigned patterns for their moves on the board depending upon their configuration. The pieces/markers are alternatingly moved to various lettered spaces on the board to claim letters for use in forming words. Points are awarded for each letter used in the formation of a word. A further aspect of the game is that no markers or pieces are ever captured or removed from play, even though the rules allow two opposing pieces to occupy the same space under certain circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Gene D. Cohen
  • Patent number: 5306015
    Abstract: A tigers trap board game is provided and consists of a game board having a playing surface with horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines forming playing position intersections. There are a pair of first playing pieces representing tigers for a first player and a plurality of second playing pieces representing trappers for a second player. When the first playing pieces are trapped during the play of the game by the second playing pieces, cages can be placed onto them to indicate this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventors: Danny S. Daud, George Spector
  • Patent number: 5269529
    Abstract: A game apparatus arranged to simulate the crowning of kings, wherein a player to dispose his tokens in a king form in an opposing player's home spaces adjacent an outer periphery of the game board is arranged, wherein the pegs are arranged for a nesting configuration relative to one another to effect a king designation. A dice member is directed to move the pegs about predetermined bores within the game board directing the pegs to a primary central space within each board segment for crowning of a king.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventor: Jose R. Clemente
  • Patent number: 5211403
    Abstract: A game playing piece is provided which consists of a housing having two playing surfaces and a mechanism for indicating a value on the first playing surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Edgar A. Ostrander
  • Patent number: 5209486
    Abstract: A game having a magnetically permeable game board areas, each of the areas having a magnet positioned thereunder below the game board and a plurality of magnetic game pieces to be propelled by a player by a repeller toward the game board in an effort to position the magnetic game piece on an area having the highest scoring value associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Inventor: Gregory R. Brotz
  • Patent number: 5207431
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a game board arranged with a plurality of columns of insurance categories, with each category including a plurality of spaces corresponding to first through fifth faces of a second die member, with the second die member including a sixth lettering to indicate loss of turn. A first die member indicates type of category. Each player is afforded a predetermined number of markers with modified marker structure indicating addition or loss of premium relative to the spaces of each category. A player accumulating a least total relative to the insurance categories is declared the winner of the game procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Inventor: Neamor L. Joseph
  • 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: 5090706
    Abstract: Game apparatus including a game board having a central manually rotatable disk with color selection indicia thereon and a circular track surrounding the disk and having a plurality of division spaces thereon to define the playing path for each of the players. A set of dice are used, each die being uniformily colored with a different color such that each die corresponds to a color of the selection disk. The pre-selected numbering of each die are such that a non-transitive relationship exists between the dice. To define this relationship, a competive throwing of die is played where one player picks a die, then an opposing player picks a die from the remaining set of dice which both dice are thrown with the winner being the player who's die displays the higher number. Regardless of which die the first player picked, the opposing player can always pick a die having approximately a two-thirds probability of winning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Inventor: Harlen C. Hokanson
  • Patent number: 5066016
    Abstract: This invention describes a board game where individual players are questioned in an attempt to correctly identify a movie from which a quotation comes, in accordance with the position on the Board where the player lands. The player is additionally required to impersonate actors and/or actresses for the other players to identify, in accordance with landings on other positions on the Board. The object of the game is to traverse the Board while attaining a plurality of achievement awards showing competency in such movie disciplines as "Comedy", "Action & Adventure", "Drama & Musicals", "Mystery & Horror" and "Science Fiction & Fantasy", and to then ascend a "winner's podium".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventor: Mark D. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5066015
    Abstract: A board game based on a railroad theme is provided wherein the players each assemble the necessary components of a complete railroad train, under rules simulating conditions normally existing in the marshalling yard of a conventional railroad system. The gameboard has a playing surface depicting the trackage, switches and other elements of a marshalling yard. A plurality of playing pieces represent the players and have a changeable status or rank. Other pieces are included which represent messages sent from the yard dispatcher to the players during play of the game and train components. The tokens are moved about the trackage according to values established by casting dice, by the use of a spinner, or other chance device for establishing values at random. The goal of each player is to acquire a locomotive, and thereafter to collect all of the other rolling stock needed to make up a complete train, before any of the other players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Inventor: Terry Sumrall
  • Patent number: 5062645
    Abstract: A fitness and nutrition education game apparatus and method of play. The game apparatus includes a playing board having a playing path defined by a plurality of contiguous spaces; a set of playing pieces that are separate representations of an obese body image, a chubby body image and a slim body image; a die; a first plurality of playing cards each having printed thereon a first question of moderate difficulty about nutrution, diet, exercise and fitness and the corresponding answer; and a second plurality of playing cards each having printed thereon a second question of advanced difficulty about nutrition, diet, exercise and fitness and the corresponding answer.Play is conducted by advancing the playing piece along the playing path for the number of spaces determined by a throw of the die. Player directives marked on the contiguous spaces further determine the number of spaces and direction that a playing piece advances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventors: Meri Goodman, Phyllis Schondorf
  • Patent number: 5048840
    Abstract: A gameboard apparatus made up of a gameboard adapted to have assembled thereon stacking pieces and top pieces that are frictionally interlockable onto the gameboard and with each other. The gameboard comprises a plurality of adjacent gameboard or playing-position squares arranged in an equilateral matrix and is preferably divided into equal sections. The squares each comprise within their bounds vertical walls adapted to frictionally interlock with complementing vertical walls of stacking pieces and top pieces. The stacking pieces are hermaphroditic in nature having on one end interlocking male wall and on the other interlocking female walls whereby stacking pieces are adapted to frictionally interlock with complementing vertical walls of the gameboard, top pieces and each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Inventor: Albert L. Johnson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5046743
    Abstract: A strategy-type soccer board game has a plurality of movable playing pieces and a separate soccer ball, all of which may be moved independently of each other or in concert as determined by rolls of the dice. The game is played by two players, each of whom is given nine playing pieces. Each of the playing pieces has a post at its base onto which a ball having a matching slot may be placed when a particular playing piece is carrying or passing the ball. The game board consists of a rectangular playing field with a grid of squares, each square representing one possible move. Surrounding the field are the out-of-bounds areas. At opposing ends of the field are goal lines, a goal net which must be entered to score a goal and a goalie box. In the center of the field is a kick-off circle and a kick-off square from which the team kicking off initiates play. A table of numbers is located on each player's side of the board, indicating the direction of movement possible depending on the numbers rolled on the dice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: John Salerno
  • Patent number: 5026069
    Abstract: The battle strategy game includes the positioning of a series of 113 figurative combatants on either side of a medial positioned river of a game board. The pieces are allowed to advance and retreat or attack in response to indication by a six-sided dice member. The various combatants are positioned upon category markers to include cavalry, infrantry, artillery, and an officer in charge of each group of combatants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: Harald J. Leask
  • Patent number: 5026070
    Abstract: A strategic naval warfare board game includes a game board having a playing surface with compass headings and position indicia. The playing surface has a plurality of squares of alternating colors arranged contiguously in a checkerboard fashion and naval bases at the corners. A plurality of primary playing pieces, representing five different types of naval vessels, include a base member and a post of different heights mounted on the base member in an upright position. A plurality of secondary playing pieces in the form of cylindrical rings are adapted to be loosely mounted on the posts of the primary playing pieces in a stacked arrangement and removable therefrom. The ring-shaped secondary playing pieces represent either a unit or power or a unit of damage. A stacked arrangement of secondary playing pieces which represent units of power on a primary playing piece is indicative of the relative strength of the primary playing piece for movement, fire power and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: James S. Watt
  • Patent number: 5007651
    Abstract: A game kit is provided with movable playing pieces, movable barriers, and a game board having a circumferential track. The track includes pluralities of sequential spaces to receive the movable pieces, as a player moves them around said track, and barrier spaces running across the width of the tracks to receive the movable barriers. The barrier spaces on the tracks are between pairs of the sequential spaces. The board also has two diametrical tracks, transverse to one another, interconnecting opposite sides of the circumferential track. The movable barriers are designed to interfit with one another such that the barriers may be stacked or interfitted end to end, to provide either extra height or extra length. As a result, one or more of the movable barriers can be positioned in the barrier spaces to provide variable height and length deterrents to moving the movable playing pieces in the circumferential track while playing the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventors: Stanley I. Mason, Jr., Elizabeth L. Fuller, Roy E. Doty
  • Patent number: 4998736
    Abstract: The game contains a board with multiple spaces on which a concert platform playing piece moves for each player from a start box to a final stage. Each space contains instructions which may include selecting a rescue or challenge card. The rescue cards provide a means for escaping precarious predicaments and the challenge cards may ask questions which if answered correctly provides a bonus and if answered incorrectly a monetary penalty. A pair of dice determines the number of spaces moved during each player's turn. Each player can obtain band members to be inserted on their playing piece. Such band members are worth $50,000 each at the conclusion of the game when each player arrives at the final stage. The player who accumulates the most money is declared the winner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: R. Brent Elrod
  • Patent number: 4984808
    Abstract: A color-crayons and board games combination set, which comprises a case formed of two pivoted parts for receiving different chessboards and pieces. The two pivoted parts have each a track on its back side around its periphery so that different chessboards can be drawn out and then pushed back into place. The case defines therein a trough covered with a sliding cover board for receiving a variety of writing materials, and a plurality of raised grooves for receiving different pieces which are simultaneously used as color-crayons and chessmen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Inventor: Jean Young
  • Patent number: 4968040
    Abstract: A domino type game is provided having game interlocking pieces formed with matching shapes rather than number dot patterns. In accordance with a preferred aspect of this invention, a playing piece is provided that has a stepped configuration with two generally flat engaging portions lying in two spaced apart planes and joined by a web. An upstanding post having a regular shape is mounted on one surface of one engaging portion, and a socket extends through the other engaging portion to the opposite surface. In at least some of the pieces, the shape of the post and the shape of the socket are different, so that a chain of shaped dominoes may be formed as a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Craig J. McElhaney
  • Patent number: 4961708
    Abstract: An educational puzzle includes a base panel and a set of puzzle pieces. The base panel has a number of holes through it, while the puzzle pieces have mating pegs extending through them, to both sides. The arrangement is such that the puzzle pieces can be arranged in on the front face of the base panel and with the pegs registering with the holes in the base panel, and arranged in another array on the bottom of the base panel, with the puzzle pieces inverted. The base panel and the puzzle pieces are marked with corresponding or related indicia on their front faces. They may carry similar markings on their back faces, where the puzzle pieces may be arranged with sequential markings designating the sequence in which the puzzle pieces are to be assembled. The puzzle may be used from either side of the base panel as two puzzle features to teach very different yet related concepts: number sequencing or number counting; alphabetical sequencing or word recognition; and other skills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Inventor: William Van Niekerk
  • Patent number: 4955617
    Abstract: A game kit is provided with movable playing pieces, movable barriers, and a game board having a circumferential track. The track includes pluralities of sequential spaces to receive the movable pieces, as a player moves them around said track, and barrier spaces running across the width of the tracks to receive the movable barriers. The barrier spaces on the tracks are between pairs of the sequential spaces. The board also has two diamentrical tracks, transverse to one another, interconnecting opposite sides of the circumferential track. The movable barriers are designed to interfit with one another such that the barriers may be stacked or interfitted end to end, to provide either extra height or extra length. As a result, one or more of the movable barriers can be positioned in the barrier spaces to provide variable height and length deterrents to moving the movable playing pieces in the circumferential track while playing the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventors: Stanley I. Mason, Jr., Elizabeth L. Fuller, Roy E. Doty
  • Patent number: 4955615
    Abstract: A set of hexagonal playing pieces, of a shape which when played side to side in beehive pattern create a base, for successive interlocking levels of play. Each player attempts to place his tiles in the most strategically advantageous position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Brian Daniel Eck
    Inventor: Brian D. Eck
  • Patent number: 4950912
    Abstract: A method of playing a board game, where the game comprises a play surface and multi-segmented playing pieces representing characters adapted to stand upright on the surface. Each character is comprised of a stack of segments. By progressively removing segments from the bottom of the stack upwardly, the character appears to be sinding deeper and deeper below the surface, as for example, quicksand or a body of water. As segments are added back to the bottom of the stack in the reverse order, the character appears to emerge upwardly again. Portions of adjacent segments interconnect to maintain the segments in the desired stacked condition and relative orientation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Adolph E. Goldfarb
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Randall Klimpert
  • Patent number: 4946168
    Abstract: The invention herewith is a board game consisting of a Mount Olympus Game Board with a 3-dimensional mountain protruding about one foot high in the center of the aforesaid board, a War Game Board consisting of 64 squares, and game pieces, all having a mythological theme. The object of the game is to move around the Mount Olympus Game Board until reaching the top of the mountain; however, in the process, if a player lands on a War Space, that player must go to war on a separate War Game Board with another player. If a player lands on a space with a mythological character portrayed on it, that player must pick a god/goddess Card, which will either request something good or bad for the player to do. When a player lands on the Trinket Space, the player must play the Creature Game, which requires guessing which creature holds the Trinket in captivity and, thereby, has the Trinket within its hollowed out portion. If the player guesses correctly, he/she wins that Trinket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventor: Sean P. Fauls
  • Patent number: 4938481
    Abstract: The illustrated action toy apparatus comprises an incrementally advancing catcher unit that may be in the form of an animated character such as a shark. The unit moves along a succession of areas of a path. Objects which may represent fish or the like are disposed on the areas. A fish on one area is caught or "eaten" by the shark when the shark reaches that area. As the shark advances to an area, its forward end rises to an elevated position to permit that end to pass over and then come back down upon a fish on that area. The forward and up and down movement of the illustrated shark unit is provided by a motor-driven cam. To maximize continuous playtime, the shark unit is tethered to the center of a gameboard so that it travels around a circular path on the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Adolph E. Goldfarb
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Martin I. Goldfarb
  • Patent number: 4934710
    Abstract: An educational game is set forth wherein the object of the game is to press the teaching of harmonious interaction between the players as opposed to planned conflict. The game presents opposed spaced villages of representative tokens to traverse the game board acquiring the necessary items to enter the opposite home spacing vacated by an opposing player. Various hazards and benefits are positioned throughout the board by way of pieces that are in a normally face-down presentation relative to the board such that the character of the pieces is unknown until contact is made by the representative village tokens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventor: Harry R. Hebard
  • Patent number: 4907808
    Abstract: A board game is based on trivia associated with STAR TREK. The game provides a plurality of knockdown models representing the Enterprise. Each model has a game piece which doubles as a base of the model. Players start by moving their game pieces along a selected playing path towards a selected destination area according to the roll of dice. Upon landing on a destination space, a player must pick a trivia card and answer a question corresponding to the destination space landed on. If the answer is correct, the player is awarded a model portion and checks off the appropriate category represented on the destination area on a category card checklist. Players continue collecting the model portions and assembling them on their game piece while moving from destination to destination. The first person to obtain all model portions of the ENTERPRISE and returns to earth wins the game. Various penalties and detours are included in the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventors: Glenn Turner, Danny Walters
  • Patent number: 4893820
    Abstract: A game apparatus comprising a playing board having a grid of interconnected segments depicting a plurality of selectable movement paths. Certain areas of the grid are differently colored. Each player has a position marker for movement along the paths towards the colored areas. The position markers are adapted to hold a set of progress markers. These progress markers are also differently colored to correspond with the colored areas. Upon arriving at a colored area, a player receives a correspondingly colored progress marker and places it on his/her position marker. A first chance device having movement direction indicia controls the direction of movement of the position marker. A second change device controls the magnitude of the movement. The game apparatus further comprises a third chance device bearing colors corresponding to the colors of the progress markers. According to the rules, players may capture opponent's progress markers by utilizing the third chance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Inventor: Andrew Silverman
  • Patent number: 4889345
    Abstract: A board type game utilizes a square game board having an outer perimeter track and an adjacent inner track, each formed by a series of adjacent squares. A square central portion of the game board is designated by five consecutively numbered circles. The four corner squares on the outer track are designated as starting squares and the remaining squares of the outer track are designated by repeated series of numbers one through five. Some of the squares in the outer track are designated as penalty squares. The squares of the inner track are designated similarly as the outer track, with the exception that the corner squares are designated as penalty squares. The game utilizes question and answer cards which are divided into five different categories. Each card is printed with the last name of a famous individual and a clue as to the individual's identity. The answer, which is the individual's first name, is also printed on the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventor: Randy A. Wawryk
  • Patent number: 4852886
    Abstract: A game in which a number of players each attempt to move a plurality of assigned stackable playing tokens to the center of a board along one of four concentric spiral paths. Once a player has all of the assigned tokens on the path, a stack of tokens may be moved as a single token. Movement of the tokens is determined by the roll of two dice with players being able to move each of two single tokens the number of spaces along the path that are indicated on a respective die or move one single token the total of both dice. Also included is a windup spring motor random moving disrupter device constructed so as to increase the probability of knocking over a higher stack of tokens. When indicated by a die, the random moving disrupter is wound and released in an attempt to knock over tokens of the opposing players. Knocked over tokens are removed from the board and must be restarted on the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: John V. Zaruba, Donald A. Rosenwinkel, Jeffrey D. Breslow