Manipulation game
A manipulation game is provided, including a base having a substantially vertical support and a substantially horizontal support rotatably coupled to the vertical support. In some embodiments, the horizontal support includes receiving members. A plurality of objects may be adapted to be coupled to the receiving members. The game may further include cards having manipulation indicia configured to indicate movement of the objects relative to the receiving members.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/687,377 entitled “MANIPULATION GAME,” filed Jun. 3, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDObject manipulation games can provide entertainment for players while improving coordination and teaching cause-and-effect relationships. Examples of manipulation games are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 455,431, 1,571,202, 1,551,685, 1,595,801, 2,107,672, 2,408,141, 2,509,785, 2,557,789, 2,598,487, 2,720,724, 2,747,872, 2,756,054, 3,214,863, 3,402,929, 3,550,316, 3,559,989, 3,589,723, 3,589,724, 3,614,106, 3,649,024, 3,685,825, 3,864,872, 4,032,144, 4,043,554, 4,055,341, 4,272,075, 4,358,110, 4,432,544, 4,603,860, 4,744,563, 4,932,655, 5,050,876, 5,181,727, 5,335,911, 5,609,340, 5,609,341, 5,678,823, 6,332,615, 6,773,016, 6,789,798; U.S. Patent Application Publications 2001/0048194, 2002/0164918, 2005/0059317; and UK Patent Application No. 2,048,084, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure relates generally to a game in which players manipulate an object. More specifically, it relates to games in which players manipulate a first object or device to move a second object from one position to another.
The game of the present disclosure will be understood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present disclosure provides rules and apparatus for playing various manipulation games in which players manipulate a first object to move a second object from one position to another. The manipulation game, indicated generally at 10 in
Game 10 may require players to manipulate a set of objects 100. Objects 100 may be included as components of game 10. For example, objects 100 may be provided with and relate to the theme of the game. In the exemplary nautical themed game of
As illustrated in
Manipulation structure 12 may include a base 18 and a substantially vertical support 20. The vertical support may be configured to support a variety of game assemblies. For example, a variety of interchangeable manipulation structures may be provided to assist a user with learning a variety of skills, such as hand-eye coordination, color and shape identification, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.
As shown in
In the example shown in
Horizontal support 24 may include fasteners 28 that may couple other game components to the horizontal support. For example, in the game shown in
To accomplish various game objectives, objects 100 may be placed in bucket 36, coupled directly to hooks 34 or magnets 30, or coupled to scale assembly 30 using other suitable fasteners 28 depending on the particular configuration of the fasteners and objects. For example, fasteners 28 may include tapes, glues, snaps, hook-and-loop closure material, and the like.
One version of the manipulation game requires players to manipulate various sets of weights. In such a game, objects 100 may include a variety of different weights, the amount of which may or may not be communicated to a player to vary the complexity of the game. Players may apply objects 100 to the scale assembly as instructed by indicia 16 on cards 14 to complete a particular task. For example, players may earn points by applying weights to place another object in balance or to move an object to a particular location with respect to vertical. The game provides participants with an opportunity to learn cause-and-effect relationships and practice foresighted thinking as they attempt to manipulate the scale assembly to their advantage.
Objects 100 may include primary weights 102, against which players apply other weights. Primary weights 102 may be suspended from hooks 34 on one end of horizontal support 24, as shown by the sharks in
Secondary weights 104 may be used to balance primary weights 102 so that horizontal support 24 maintains a substantially horizontal orientation. Secondary weights may be used to move the primary weights, or bucket 36 to a specified location. In the exemplary configuration of
As previously noted, fasteners 28 may include magnets 30 that couple the fastener to the horizontal support. The magnets may be included to provide additional fun for players during assembly of the game. In some configurations, the magnets may be incorporated into game play. For example, a player may apply secondary weights 104 to bucket 36 until the weight of the bucket exceeds the attraction of magnets 30, uncouples form the horizontal support, and the bucket falls onto support surface 200.
An additional object 100 may be provided to counteract the weight of the primary or secondary weights. In the example shown in
As shown in
A timer 40 may be included in game 10. For example a movable or talking timer representing a seagull may be mounted on the mast to keep track of time remaining for the game, a round of game play, or for a player to perform a particular action. In the example shown in
As previously noted with respect to
In the exemplary configuration shown in
A winner of the exemplary game may be determined from the quantity of primary or secondary weights used in achieving a particular task or from point values associated with the weights or task. For example, a player may be determined the winner based on which player is the first to maintain the balance of a predetermined number of primary weights, or the player with the highest point value for the values assigned to each primary weight successfully manipulated.
In the example shown in
Aspects of the weight game and the movement game may be combined to vary the complexity of game 10. In the exemplary configuration shown in
The games of the present disclosure may be based wholly or in part on characters, events, locations portrayed in a particular popular culture phenomenon, i.e. in a book, comic book, movie, TV show, or the like. The game may take a variety of other themes, including, but not limited to, aquatic, jungle, fairytale, and the like.
Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. The subject matter of the present invention includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through presentation of claims in a subsequent application.
Claims
1. A manipulation game comprising:
- a base having a substantially vertical support;
- a substantially horizontal support rotatably coupled to the vertical support, wherein the horizontal support includes receiving members;
- a plurality of objects adapted to be coupled to the receiving members; and
- multiple cards having manipulation indicia configured to indicate movement of the objects relative to the receiving members.
2. The game of claim 1, wherein the receiving members are disposed on the horizontal support on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling.
3. The game of claim 1, wherein the plurality of objects include a counter weight couplable to the horizontal support at multiple points along the horizontal support.
4. The game of claim 2, wherein the horizontal support includes a series of apertures adapted to receive a post extending from the counter weight.
5. The game of claim 1, wherein the multiple objects include primary weights and secondary weights, the primary weights being heavier than two or more of the secondary weights in combination.
6. The game of claim 1, wherein the receiving members are removably coupled to the horizontal support by magnetic interaction.
7. The game of claim 1, wherein the receiving members are integrally formed with the horizontal support.
8. The game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the receiving members takes the form of a bucket.
9. The game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the receiving members takes the form of a hook.
10. The game of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the manipulation game reflects a nautical theme.
11. A manipulation game comprising:
- a base having a substantially vertical support adapted to receive game assemblies;
- a first game assembly having a substantially horizontal support adapted to removably and pivotally couple to the vertical support, wherein the first game assembly includes receiving members; and
- a second game assembly adapted to removably couple to the vertical support, wherein the second game assembly includes a manipulation device.
12. The game of claim 11, wherein the manipulation device is adapted to move a plurality of objects.
13. The game of claim 12, wherein the manipulation device includes control cables.
14. The game of claim 11, further comprising a set of cards having manipulation indicia configured to provide instructions regarding the game assemblies.
15. The game of claim 11, wherein the first and second game assemblies are configured to be interchangeably coupled to the vertical support.
16. The game of claim 11, wherein the first and second game assemblies are configured to simultaneously couple to the vertical support.
17. A method of playing a game comprising:
- providing a scale assembly having receiving members, multiple cards having manipulation indicia, and a plurality of objects adapted to couple with the receiving members;
- drawing one of the multiple cards; and
- manipulating at least one of the plurality of objects relative to the receiving members as indicated by the manipulation indicia.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of objects include at least one counter weight, the method further comprising
- moving the counter weight relative to the scale assembly.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of objects include primary weights and secondary weights, the method further comprising
- applying the secondary weights to the scale assembly to balance one or more primary weights.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising
- declaring a winner based on the relative positions of the receiving members.
Type: Application
Filed: May 3, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 28, 2006
Inventors: Benjamin Blagg (Los Angeles, CA), Kimberly Matilla (Venice, CA)
Application Number: 11/418,492
International Classification: A63F 9/00 (20060101);