Magnetic Patents (Class 273/239)
  • Patent number: 4462596
    Abstract: A plurality of magnetized game pieces are inserted one by one in a piece holder frame of nonmagnetic material along a piece guide formed therein. In the row of game pieces, two adjacent pieces are held in contact with or spaced apart from each other under magnetic attraction or repulsion acting therebetween and the row length is variable and unpredictable. The piece holder frame may be formed with any desired number of piece guides in the form of a blind piece-insertion hole or an upstanding post. The game pieces may be permanent bar magnets themselves or take a composite form including a body portion of nonmagnetic material and one or more magnet pieces embedded in the body portion at each and thereof. To make the game further changeful, the game pieces may each be divided into two axial half sections which are joined together for relative rotation to enable reversion of its polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Inventor: Shuzo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4444393
    Abstract: A box for party games which permits many different games to be played thereon. A rectangular frame supports a flat surface a small distance down from its top. Replaceable sheets, each bearing indicia of a different game, can be positioned on the flat surface. Tubes which are rotatable and longitudinally movable extend into the box from opposite sides in an alternating array. Each tube carries two or more equi-spaced permanent magnets arranged in parallel with respect to a plane passing through the axis of the tube. The same magnetic poles of the magnets on a particular tube point in the same direction. Two embodiments of supporting structure for the tubes are disclosed. Rotation and reciprocation of the tubes enables the control and movement of a megnetic playing piece about the surface of a replaceable sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Inventor: Miodrag Brankovic
  • Patent number: 4398893
    Abstract: To permit easy changes in a diagram made over an overlay on a vertically-mountable panel, the panel includes a ferromagnetic backing material and a transparent nonmagnetic front panel spaced a predetermined distance from the back panel to receive movable magnetic symbol pieces with a fixed diagram between them. The size of the magnetic pieces and the spacing between the ferromagnetic back panel and the nonmagnetic front panel is such that the pieces may be lifted a slight distance from the back panel by moving a magnet that slides along the front panel and moved from place to place and yet, when the moving magnet is pulled free, the magnetic attraction to the ferromagnetic backing and the distances are such that the symbol is pulled back against the ferromagnetic back panel and is held in place against gravity. The transparent nonmagnetic front surface is flat, relatively firm and impermeable to moisture so that it may be marked upon and erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Motion Marker Systems, Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul J. Johns
  • Patent number: 4395043
    Abstract: A chip for a game such as bingo includes a transparent or translucent circular disk surrounded by a ring. The ring has discrete flanges overlying and contacting the outer periphery of the opposite side faces of the disk. The ring is made from a smooth magnetizable sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Keystone Bingo Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Gargione
  • Patent number: 4381112
    Abstract: A game apparatus is disclosed as including a vertical game board A having two playing faces 10 and 12 which includes a plurality of windows 12 and 14. A pair of color coded game playing pieces 30 and 32 is held completely captive in individual compartments B between the playing faces which are movable by manipulation of a hand device in and out of the window position to produce a game winning color pattern on the faces. Playing piece 30 includes magnetic material and device C includes a magnet by which pieces 30 and 32 are moved into the window position. All pieces may be simultaneously returned to a start position by tilting the game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Inventor: Stanley T. Dupuy
  • Patent number: 4371169
    Abstract: A multi-level ticktacktoe game consists of a plurality of individual ticktacktoe game boards 30, 32, 34, associated in a planar array. The players take turns in making or selecting an individual square or location on any board; the winner is the first player to claim and prove that one of said player's selected locations on every board when the individual boards are stacked in a multi-level array (FIG. 1B). The number of associated boards may vary to provide variable levels of difficulty. The boards may have a permanent or integral attachment or association means 38 or may be associated by removable fasteners (FIGS. 2B-2D), hook and eyelet strip fasteners 44-50, magnetic means 52-54, or by a flexible web or hinge 56. The boards may be associated in a linear, circular (enclosing), or cruciform formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Inventor: A. Berkeley Compton
  • Patent number: 4371168
    Abstract: A pocket-size chess set is disclosed, comprising a pair of identical panels pivotally secured at their inner edges to a narrow third intermediate panel, whereby the first two panels may be folded together to form a case with the third panel acting as a spine. Two slidable para-magnetic checkerboard halves are provided, on the top surface of each of the first two panels. Thirty-two chessmen are also provided. Each of the latter is provided with a magnetic element on its back and bottom surfaces. Thus, each chessman may be placed either horizontally or vertically on the checkerboard halves. The squares of the latter have a recessed portion and their margins are also recessed for the placing of captured chessmen thereon. The case is kept in closed position by the magnetic attraction of the chessmen for one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Inventor: Robert C. Dupuis
  • Patent number: 4341389
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a game to be used by two players and which involves the guessing by one player of a word selected by the opposite player. Each player has at his disposal a plurality of each of the letters of the alphabet, and if desired, a plurality of question marks and also a plurality of blank marks. There are two columns of consecutively aligned numerals opposite which can be disposed letters forming a word. A set of one column and one channel to place the letters, is intended for the word selected by one player while another set will be used by the same player for the word which he is trying to guess. By questions and answers, the player will try to locate the position occupied by the word to be guessed, opposite a particular column, after which he will try to identify each letter of the word to be guessed. In his turn, the opposite player will also try to arrive at guessing the word selected by the first player. This game is an excellent tool to develop the vocabulary of a person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Inventor: Bernard Dumont
  • Patent number: 4341386
    Abstract: Disclosed is a game apparatus comprising a game board having a playing surface containing playing piece movement areas. At least some of the playing piece movement areas are in areas defined by channels into which are fit respective game pieces, each containing an upwardly directed face having an indicium thereon. The indicium for each of the game pieces can be letters of the alphabet, arithmetic numerals or other information, which can be formed into a plurality of indicia patterns, such as words, mathematical problems or an information sequence which can be assigned a player for him to traverse by movement of his playing piece among the playing piece movement areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Inventor: Jacob J. Kleva
  • Patent number: 4331333
    Abstract: The game comprises a tray containing a plurality of removable tiles which may be arbitrarily placed in the tray. Two players are each provided with individual pieces which can be placed on tiles after the tiles have been arbitrarily placed in the tray. Each player takes a turn in moving one of his pieces from one tile to a next adjacent tile. The first move of each player is arbitrary as to which adjacent tile is chosen to move his piece. The second move of each player and every alternate move thereafter is a "forced" move determined by a direction resulting when the piece is placed on the tile. In other words, each tile has an assigned direction which is hidden from the player but which becomes indicated when the player places his piece on the tile. The players alternate turns and attempt to reach a center tile which constitutes a winning point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Inventor: Martin E. G. Willcocks
  • Patent number: 4328970
    Abstract: This game consists primarily of a plurality of stands having vertically extending pegs, for receiving plastic coated discs, which are magnetic. Each player selects the color desired, in pegs, stands and discs, and the object of the game is for one player to win all of the opponents' discs. The discs, when dropped upon another player's peg may be attracted to each other, or repelled from each other, depending upon their magnetic polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Inventor: Scott E. Manno, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4326720
    Abstract: Chess pieces each with a detachable marker at the base of the piece to permit playing variations without the necessity of starting from move one of a diagramless game. The marker is removably attached to the piece, preferably by magnetic means, and the board is magnetically attenuated, such as a standard board ferric-metalized at the preferably non-playing surface, to retain the detached marker in the original square yet not interfere with piece movement or reunion of piece and its marker, and make detachment easy despite firm magnetic attachment of piece and marker. The marker includes a portion extending beyond the peripheral edge of the base of the piece so that the marker is visible, but not distractingly so, when attached to the piece to indicate the original position of the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Inventor: David Erlich
  • Patent number: 4307886
    Abstract: A game includes a plurality of cubical blocks, six distinct but interrelated designs, each of which is divided into the same number of square pieces as the number of blocks in the game. A piece from the same comparable location in each design is affixed to a separate side of a common cubical block. The designs are made and arranged in such a manner that the pieces from comparable locations of the different designs can be interchanged with each other in a variety of combinations to produce amalgamated designs comprised of pieces of several of the individual composite designs. The amalgamable designs are made by starting with one complete design, separating and isolating major elements of the design, selecting a number less than all of the major elements, superimposing them on one another for the base of a new design, and completing the new design by filling in new elements and details not appearing in the first design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Kemper
  • Patent number: 4299389
    Abstract: Each square of a chessboard is centrally provided with a magnet, and each chess and/or draughts piece is provided with a permanent magnet. Because of the presence of the magnets, each piece is automatically centered in the square, toward which it is moved, without requiring any operation of "settling" and of possible taking back of the piece. Furthermore, each piece is secured against shocks or sudden movements of the chessboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Inventor: Lino Miolo
  • Patent number: 4290607
    Abstract: A travel game device is disclosed comprising a game board and a plurality of card sets, each card set having individual cards therein with instructions thereon for the advance of game play. The game also has game pieces for movement over a simulated map route and chance means such as one die or more for the advancement of the game piece and the selection of cards from the card sets for the advancement of game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Inventor: Gerald F. McDonald
  • Patent number: 4275887
    Abstract: A multiple game assembly that can be carried in a player's pocket is provided. A plurality of game boards are contained within the housing assembly and an exterior indicator can select any specific game. When the housing assembly is open the preselected game board is automatically positioned in an operative mode. Each game sheet includes a magnetizable substrate that is capable of retaining magnetic game pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Takara Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanobu Tateyama
  • Patent number: 4211411
    Abstract: A device and method using an electromagnetic generator for generating magnetic fields to repel or attract permanent magnets which are placed in a specially configured mold comprised of a slotted non magnetic material attached to a base plate of non magnetic material. The permanent magnets are flat round disc shaped and are marked to identify polarity. The electromagnetic generator is placed beneath the mold and is energized through a momentary contact switch and a reversing selector switch for selecting the desired polarity. The electromagnetic generator is typically a coil powered by a suitable source of electric energy, typically rectified A.C. or D.C.. The reversing selector switch is employed to establish a fixed polarity while energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Inventors: Charles E. McDaniel, Yvonne McDaniel
  • Patent number: 4172597
    Abstract: An improved magnetic pick-up device and marker for use in games includes a rectangular ferromagnetic member having a length substantially greater than width. The ferromagnetic member is fixedly received in a rectangular socket affixed to an elongated handle. The handle with the ferromagnetic member affixed thereto may then be used to retrieve a circular marker formed of translucent material and having ferromagnetic properties after the marker has been utilized as an indicator in a game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1979
    Assignee: Regale Enterprises
    Inventors: David A. Smith, John M. Grace
  • Patent number: 4165077
    Abstract: A word game comprising a plurality of tiles and a tile support means having an intersecting pattern of at least one row and at least one column of tile receiving spaces is disclosed. The object of the game is to determine the word combinations chosen by the other players to fill their tile supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1979
    Inventor: Ronald D. Falcione
  • Patent number: 4155556
    Abstract: A number game comprising a plurality of tiles and a tile support means having an intersecting pattern of one row and one column of tile receiving spaces is disclosed. The object of the game is to determine the mathematical number combinations chosen by the other players to fill their tile support means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Inventor: Ronald D. Falcione
  • Patent number: 4118036
    Abstract: A presidential election game in which the fifty states and the District of Columbia are divided into color coordinated zones with a magnetized score device for each player to record the changing number of popular and/or electoral college votes that each player has accumulated until a winner is elected and becomes the President of The United States of America.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Inventor: Salvador Marse
  • Patent number: 4101131
    Abstract: A board game comprising a multiple layer game board the top two layers of which are separable but maintained in registration and several sets of playing pieces, each set distinguishable from the other. The top layer is transparent and has an array of playing positions marked on it. The second layer carries indicia which can be seen through the top layer and which influence the placing of playing pieces on the game board in accordance with the rules. The third layer and the playing pieces are magnetically attracted to one another thus securing the pieces placed on the game board against moving out of place. The playing pieces are stackable and a stacked piece is mechanically or magnetically secured to the piece upon which it rests. The game played in accordance with the rules described is a remarkable simulation of auto racing and closely duplicates the physical laws of motion and the natural effects of speed, acceleration and momentum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Inventor: Donald W. Barnby
  • Patent number: 4092028
    Abstract: A presidential election game in which the fifty states including the District of Columbia are divided into color coordinated zones with magnetized score means for each player to record the changing number of popular and/or electoral college votes he or she has accumulated until a winner is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Inventor: Salvadore Marse
  • Patent number: 4083564
    Abstract: A board game combining both skill and chance including a plurality of playing pieces provided with rotatably mounted carriages having surfaces thereof provided with multiple indicia indicating the number of moves that the playing pieces are permitted to make and magnets, a playing surface divided into a plurality of contiguous areas on which the playing pieces are positioned and along which the playing pieces move, and a plurality of magnets positioned below the playing surface and arranged in a pre-determined pattern to attract the magnets of the playing pieces to rotate the carriages and the indicia different degrees as the playing pieces are moved from one area to another so as to continuously change the number of moves that the same playing pieces may make depending on their positions on the playing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: Epoch Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4079945
    Abstract: A children's game is provided in which plastic animals, such as turtles, are used as playing pieces and race along the track of a game board, advancing a given number of spaces on the basis of the spinning of a dial. The game board, however, is round and rotatable and has a base with randomly positioned magnets under the spaces on the board. The playing pieces also include magnets which are affected when they are on spaces over the random magnets. In particular, the playing piece is designed so that the animal's head drops when over a magnet, so it "falls asleep." The animal can then be "awakened" by rotating the board the equivalent of one space and so removing it from the magnet. In doing so, however, another player's piece may be moved over a magnet and similarly "fall asleep".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1978
    Inventor: Robert L. Brass