Word, Sentence, Or Equation Forming (e.g., Scrabble, Hangman) Patents (Class 273/272)
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Patent number: 5149103Abstract: A word game wherein known words are extracted from the left to right letter order of randomly selected known words. The random words are supplied from a word supply, and players are awarded points on the basis of the number of correctly extracted words. The game is won by a player accumulating a preselected point total.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1990Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Inventor: Alice A. Ross
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Patent number: 5149102Abstract: A math game having a game board with a plurality of defined spaces comprising goals. Some of the goals have goal playing math indicia associated with such goals. The math game includes playing pieces and each playing piece has a playing math indicia associated therewith. The players move the playing pieces to define goals and a score is determined by combining the goal playing math indicia on the game board with the playing math indicia on the playing piece.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1991Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: Bernard W. McGowanInventors: Bernard W. McGowan, Stephen P. Scully
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Patent number: 5149097Abstract: A word puzzle device in which an unknown word is solved by substituting, for each of the unknown letters, the letters of the alphabet, and combining these letters with the letters known to exist in the unknown word to determine the identity of the word. The word puzzle device includes a plurality of elongated strips each having two sets of equally spaced letters. One set of letters is oriented vertically and another of said sets is oriented horizontally. A housing retains said plurality of strips in parallel and for longitudinal movement and has a first opening for viewing said vertically oriented letters and a second opening for viewing said horizontally oriented letters on each of said plurality of strips. The strips are moved to display different letter combinations through said openings. By combining letters of the alphabet, for any known letter, with letters known to form part of the unknown word, the unknown word can be discovered.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1991Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Inventors: John H. Tonello, Michael J. Tonello
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Patent number: 5145183Abstract: A word-forming game comprising of a game board, game rules, pegged game pieces, word cards, playing pads, a timer, pencils, and a numbered die. Players form words from the letters of the word cards using the pencil and pad provided. Players are awarded points by forming words other players have not formed. Each round consists of drawing of a new word card. The winner is the player who has collected enough points to move his or her game piece to the finish.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 1991Date of Patent: September 8, 1992Inventor: John Gates
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Patent number: 5139271Abstract: An educational tool in the form of a word game is disclosed. Each player starts on his own colored starting point at the bottom of the game area. Each player is represented by a colored alphabet set of blocks that are selected before the start of the game. During successive turns, the players must travel up and across the board by forming words while using one letter from the previous word, and must return the remaining letters to a return section of a tray with the letters facing down. All the letters used by a player from his selector holder to form a word must be substituted by the letters from a surplus section of a supply tray. To accomplish their goal and win the game, the players must enter their respective color goal or finish point on the top of the game area. If in a turn more than one player reaches his goal, the winner will be the one having the most letters in his color goal.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1991Date of Patent: August 18, 1992Assignee: Jacques R. BezInventor: Jacques R. Bez
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Patent number: 5137281Abstract: A word game playing piece having at least one gravity-stable playing position, at least one gravity-unstable playing position, and a holder that supports the playing piece in its gravity-unstable position. The playing piece is provided with word game indicia, concealed when the playing piece is in its gravity-stable playing position, and revealed when the playing piece is supported in its gravity-unstable playing position by the holder. The player piece is automatically self-righting from gravity-unstable to gravity-stable position to minimize the exposure of its indicia to view.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1991Date of Patent: August 11, 1992Inventors: Roger W. Lehmann, Michael I. Satten
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Patent number: 5133560Abstract: Apparatus and method for playing a spelling game, wherein a player enters a telephone number to obtain access to a specially programmed audiotex voice communication device which enables the user to interact with the device by attempting to spell, under supervision, a sequence of words which are automatically pronounced or defined for the player. Spelling is accomplished, in one form, by sequentially pressing common telephone pad keys, the keys being selected by the alphabetic letter associated therewith.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1990Date of Patent: July 28, 1992Inventor: Maynard E. Small
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Patent number: 5116062Abstract: A board game for two players includes a game board consisting of ten rows of eight squares each arranged like in an alternating pattern of playing and non-playing squares. Each player is provided with two sets of game pieces with each set consisting of twelve game pieces individually and consecutively numbered 1 through 12. On one set of game pieces the sides are marked with the mathematical symbols for addition and subtraction. On the other set of game pieces the mathematical functions of multiplication and division are represented. The game pieces of the opponent are similarly configured in two sets with the same numbering and the same mathematical functions. The only difference between the two sets of game places of each player are their color so as to distinguish the pieces of one player from those of the other. The game is played in a conventional manner much like the traditional game of Checkers with the players moving forward, jumping, removing the jumped piece and becoming a king.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1990Date of Patent: May 26, 1992Inventor: Palmer M. Johnson
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Patent number: 5102339Abstract: A game organization including a single game path defined by coextensive circuitous individual paths, with each individual path comprised of a series of spaces, with the spaces defined by a plurality of repetitive symbology. The repetitive symbology spaces each correspond to an associated category of cards, wherein the category of cards are each provided with a mathematical problem. Solving of the problems permits movement along each of the paths by associated tokens. A calculator member is provided to provide checking of calculations with a chance die member provided to effect movement of the tokens about the paths. Various obstacle spaces and mathematical solving cards associated with such obstacles are provided throughout the paths of the game.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1990Date of Patent: April 7, 1992Inventor: Larry L. Parriera
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Patent number: 5100150Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 4, 1991Date of Patent: March 31, 1992Inventor: Darryl S. Larman
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Patent number: 5087052Abstract: A game played on a game board having an operative configuration of normal squares and special squares, includes a frame and a see-through grid disposed in the frame for releasably receiving game pieces placed thereon and restraining the game pieces against unintended horizontal or vertical displacement. At least one upper planar slide is disposed in a plane below the grid and has normal squares, special squares and see-through squares. At least one lower planar slide is oriented transverse to the upper slide and disposed in a plane below the upper slide, the lower slide having normal squares and special squares (adapted to be viewed through the see-through squares of the upper slide). Optionally, the lower slide also has see-through squares to enable viewing of portions of a conventional game board therebelow (itself having normal and special squares) which can be viewed through the see-through squares of the upper and lower slides when such see-through squares are aligned.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1990Date of Patent: February 11, 1992Inventor: Richard M. Simon
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Patent number: 5083793Abstract: A mathematical game apparatus includes a game board having a plurality of concentric circles providing paths or playing paths divided into a plurality of sections, each section being provided with indicia (numerals) therein for the purpose of having the players learn and/or improve their ability to count from 1 to 125 by multiple units in addition to increasing their acuity in utilizing prime numbers and factors; perfect squares and cubes; and exponential powers of 10.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1990Date of Patent: January 28, 1992Inventor: Bruce R. Sanford
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Patent number: 5067720Abstract: A board game including a printed board with a perimeter path defining a single discontinuous path, including a start and finish space. A central space of the board includes three spaces, and each space including a deck, each deck including questions to direct each player choosing a card to respond to a question regarding a synonym, an antonym, or a homonym. The path includes directional spaces to direct a player in sequence to choose a card from one of the three decks. Dice members are utilized to direct movement about the path. Each token is further provided with indicator structure to further indicate correct or incorrect responses to questions of the cards in the deck to reinforce a player's ability or inability to correctly respond to questions presented by the cards of each deck.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1991Date of Patent: November 26, 1991Inventor: Wanda F. Bundy
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Patent number: 5058896Abstract: An educational tool in the form of a word game is disclosed. Each player starts on his own colored starting point at the bottom of the game area. Each player is represented by a colored alphabet set of blocks that are selected before the start of the game. During successive turns, the players must travel up and across the board by forming words while using one letter from the previous word, and must return the remaining letters to a return section of a tray with the letters facing down. All the letters used by a player from his selector holder to form a word must be substituted by the letters from a surplus section of a supply tray. To accomplish their goal and win the game, the players must enter their respective color goal or finish point on the top of the game area. If in a turn more than one player reaches his goal, the winner will be the one having the most letters in his color goal.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 1990Date of Patent: October 22, 1991Inventor: Jacques R. Bez
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Patent number: 5055049Abstract: A word listing system adapted to be complied into an electronic or print dictionary or compendium wherein the words are arranged in columns. There is a vertical guide column which indexes words arranged horizontally in said columns by corresponding letters alphabetically arranged therein. Said words may extend horizontally on either side of said column, end or begin with the letter in said guide columns. Each word in said list is reproduced at least twice in said compendium.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1990Date of Patent: October 8, 1991Inventor: Peter B. Kasravi
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Patent number: 5054788Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved board game played on a board with a multiplicity of circular spaces printed thereon. Some of the spaces have indicia such as the face of a character forming the basis of the game. Other spaces have other information thereon such as information concerning scoring and the choosing of cards or chips. The object of the game is to build words out of letter chips and thereby to score the most points.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1989Date of Patent: October 8, 1991Inventor: Agnes L. Kirby
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Patent number: 5026071Abstract: A board game has an adherent playing surface for players to competitively develop words from individual alphabetical letters formed by placing removable strips on ordered matrix patterns incorporated onto the surface of the board. A die having opposite surfaces embossed with duplicate numbers of dots producing random totals of 1, 2, and 3 when thrown generate numerical information effecting player-agreed use options for disposition of the strips relative to the matrix patterns and for advancing the game to a win conclusion. The word game according to the invention is primarily a board game, but would be suitable as a computer game programmed on a disc or cartridge useful with computer graphics.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1990Date of Patent: June 25, 1991Inventor: Humbert G. Miraglia, Jr.
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Patent number: 5018728Abstract: A game apparatus 10 for forming initial couplets for use in a game wherein players associate names of individuals with such initial couplets. Apparatus 10 provides for set selection disks 23 in connection with indicator 24 to distinguish sets of individuals from the larger set or pool of all individuals whose names satisfy the criteria of the initial couplets. The initial couplet strips 20 are slideably inserted into channels 21 formed in game board 11. Disks 23 are concentrically mounted with one another and are rotatably mounted on game board 11. Game board 11 further includes a hinged prop 12 and score card holder channel 31. Additionally, slots 17 are provided to hold strips 20 not currently in use, with scalloped edges 17 providing for easy insertion and removal of strips 20 into slots 21 and 17.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1989Date of Patent: May 28, 1991Inventor: Jonathan H. Liss
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Patent number: 5018975Abstract: A game card includes a playing matrix with squares arranged in rows and columns. Starter words or starter letters may be pre-printed in the playing matrix. The player examines advertisements to derive words which are to be inserted in the playing matrix. Aligned with the rows of the playing matrix are spaces for the player to identify the sources of the advertisements or for the sources to be identified to the player. A word completion matrix aligned with the rows of the playing matrix is provided to receive the terminal portions of any words that are too long for the playing matrix. After the player has completed the playing matrix he examines it in an attempt to find the maximum number of row words in the rows of the playing matrix and the maximum number of column words in the columns of the playing matrix.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1990Date of Patent: May 28, 1991Inventor: Alan B. Todd
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Patent number: 5004244Abstract: A memory development game apparatus including a game board, a playing token, a die, scoring sheets, a timer, a spinner, and initial selection and pairing means comprising a deck of cards and a gaming piece. During a given time interval, players competitively record the names of known persons or personalities, each of which has a first and last name with initials which matches one pair of a plurality of pairs of initials established for a round of play. The point value allowed for each named person or personality is determined by a people category which characterizes that particular person or personality. The value for each category is established by moving the token along the board as indicated by a roll of the die and observing the indicia recorded on the space occupied by the token. The value for each category differs for each round of play. The player having the highest cumulative score is declared winner.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1990Date of Patent: April 2, 1991Inventor: Gary K. Johnson
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Patent number: 4989878Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 1989Date of Patent: February 5, 1991Inventor: Robert R. Davies
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Patent number: 4973058Abstract: The word game of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,513 is improved by providing individual point scores for each word in meaningfully paired words. The point score for each word is inversely related to the frequency of occurrence of its letters in all words of the game, and is directly related to the number of letters in the word.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 1989Date of Patent: November 27, 1990Assignee: One-On-One Learing Systems PartnershipInventor: Richard J. Breen
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Patent number: 4957298Abstract: A game is described involving operations on a permutation group (X,*) where X is a set of symbols, illustratively the alphabet, and * is a two argument operation on the symbols of said set, said group having closure, associativity, an identity element and an inverse for each element of the set. A series of plaintext symbols of the set X is encoded by replacing each plaintext symbol with a symbol pair comprising two of the three symbols x, y, z in the relation x*y=z and where x, y, and z are each elements of the set X and one of x, y and z is the plaintext symbol to be encoded. The encoded symbol pairs are then decoded to recover the series of plaintext symbols.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1989Date of Patent: September 18, 1990Inventor: Jack Silverman
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Patent number: 4955614Abstract: A word-guessing game is described. This game comprises stacks of cards, each of these cards having predetermined words thereon, and each of these stacks having different point values according to the difficulty of the words therein. Players work from pads containing sheets having the letters of the alphabet and scoring areas thereon. After deciding on the point value desired, cards are selected from the appropriate stack and each player attempts to determine the word by eliminating letters to achieve a scrambled version of the word. The scrambed version must then be unscrambled by the appropriate player in order to achieve their point value.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1989Date of Patent: September 11, 1990Inventor: Pualette Buda
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Patent number: 4948144Abstract: Apparatus for playing a children's game comprises a game board, game cards and a die. The game board includes respective start and finish points linked by a path formed of a chain of discrete spaces. The path includes representations of creatures and their names, portions of each representation and associated name being located in separate spaces. The game cards each carry a portion of a representation of a creature and a portion of its name corresponding to a space of the path. Players use the die to move along the path, attempting to form new or existing creatures or names with the cards in conjunction with the representations and names on the board in the spaces adjacent the space the players land upon.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1989Date of Patent: August 14, 1990Inventor: Raymond Armstrong
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Patent number: 4944519Abstract: A board game that wherein a number of messages have been divided in half in several cards and the players are urged to match them when they receive the cards either originally when they were dealt or subsequently as the game progresses and they take the cards from other players. Game tokens are used to represent each one of the players as they travel around the periphery of the board. Centrally and peripheraly located spaces are provided to correspond with the alphabet and with the pairs of cards of the game. Whenever a player matches two cards with one message he or she can claim one of the centrally disposed spaces. When a player lands on a particular peripheral space, he or she can take the pair previously claimed by another player.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1989Date of Patent: July 31, 1990Inventor: Heriberto Canela
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Patent number: 4941668Abstract: A word puzzle card game employs template mask devices and puzzle cards. Individual puzzle cards, having puzzle-words or phrases imprinted thereon, are movably inserted into individual template mask devices, and are displaced therein to successively reveal, through a plurality of mask windows, individual location indicia and associated characters of puzzle-words or phrases to permit solving of the puzzle. Particular scoring values are indicated by the displacement position of puzzle cards. Tracking of characters in their locations according to associated location indicia is facilitated by puzzle tracking sheets. Tracking and display of players' successes in puzzle solving can be provided by movement of game pieces upon fields of a game board in accordance with game rules which can further introduce elements of luck and skill into the game.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1989Date of Patent: July 17, 1990Inventor: Matthew M. Mobrem
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Patent number: 4940240Abstract: A game apparatus and related methods of play, comprising a playing board marked with a grid pattern, checker-like pieces to be moved upon the surface of the playing board and using varied markings upon the faces of the pieces and a deck of numbered cards. The methods of play are directed toward the encouragement of the use of arithmetic skills. To begin play, players possess numbers by randomly selecting the number cards, the players then choose an arithmetic function of addition, substraction, multiplication or division which are applied to the randomly selected numbers to determine the direction and quantity of movement of pieces on the playing board and to modify the score of each player.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1989Date of Patent: July 10, 1990Inventor: Joseph M. Braley
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Patent number: 4934709Abstract: Educational game apparatus which includes a game board embodying player game paths in combination with a numbered die and test cards having information depicting diagramatically pictorial memorizing aides. These paths are in the form of concentric rings each having different lengths. The inner ring path being shorter and having a fewer number of spaces than the outer ring paths to provide means for handicapping the players. During a player's turn, the die is rolled to determine a basic number. Then a test card is drawn and the information on the card is conveyed as a question to the player to determine a bonus points number. Each question is divided into accumulative bonus segments. The number of spaces the player can move is determined by the basic number plus the total bonus points number, which is the number of correctly answered segments of the question.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1989Date of Patent: June 19, 1990Inventor: Kevin P. Peterson
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Patent number: 4934711Abstract: The present invention is a word game having a plurality of letter tiles and category cards. The game may also include a letter bag, a plurality of letter racks, and/or a playing board. By taking turns, individual letter tiles are drawn at random by players. If a drawing player chooses to use that drawn letter tile in the composition of a word relating to a randomly selected category identified on a current category card, that player may place that letter tile on that player's letter rack. If the player discards the letter tile, the letter tile is placed face-upward within a designated playing area, such as upon the game board. During each player's turn, such player may exchange individual letter tiles between his or her letter rack and the game board in an effort to spell a word belonging to the designated category. When a person correctly composes a complete word which belongs to the chosen category, the round is ended and points are allocated.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1989Date of Patent: June 19, 1990Inventor: Neil W. Runstein
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Patent number: 4928976Abstract: The present invention is a word association game for two or more players. The game is played with game score sheet, a timer, a spinner, a category card deck and a play word deck. The players spin the spinner and the one with the highest score is the starter. That person selects a play word from a list which is provided with the game. The word is then revealed to all players who write it across the top of their game score sheet. Each player then spins the spinner to determine which category they are to select a card from and that category is listed in various squares along the side of the score sheet. The players then fill in words associated with that category and beginning with each letter of the playword in the square over the top of the score sheet. The timer is set for some predetermined period during which the players must try to fill in all the squares under the letters. When the timer signals that time has expired, the players are scored for their responses, and the one with the highest score wins.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1989Date of Patent: May 29, 1990Inventors: Barbara Vano, Bruno Vano
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Patent number: 4923199Abstract: A word game utilizes a deck of sixty cards having letters that appear in numbers corresponding to their frequency of use in the English language. Six E's are provided, for example, while one each are provided of J, K, Q, V, X and Z. Fifteen cards are dealt to each player who must then make as many words as possible from the fifteen letters, using the letters again from word to word. The words are scored based on length with one point being given for each word having three letters and a larger number of points being given for words having a greater number of letters, up to the maximum of fifteen letters, for any one word.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1989Date of Patent: May 8, 1990Inventor: Eugene W. Hahn
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Patent number: 4911452Abstract: A method of playing a category game is set forth where a predetermined time is provided for each of a maximum of five players to associate a random category with a random pre-selected secret word wherein each category and secret word is chosen from a stack of various categories and secret words. A pre-selected category is inserted on an erasable board for a maximum of five categories and thereafter a single secret word comprising no more than five letters is written with a single letter written in each space of a five spaced line providing twenty-five spaces to be filled in by the players.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1988Date of Patent: March 27, 1990Inventor: Alfred J. Marchese, Jr.
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Patent number: 4907807Abstract: A board game having a generally square game board with contiguous squares in a continuous band around its periphery, playing pieces, throwing dice and play cards providing opportunities for playing a crossword puzzle positioned on the game board. The player entering the largest number of letters, as determined by a letter count of all the words the player enters, wins the game. Individual play involves rolling two dice to determine the number of squares through which the playing piece is moved and whether the word to be played on the crossword puzzle shall be across or down. Once on a square, the player must guess a word from clues on a play card, and correctly guessing the word allows the player an attempt to add a word on the crossword puzzle thereby providing an opportunity for scoring.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1989Date of Patent: March 13, 1990Inventors: Donald V. Lee, Julius C. Ermis
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Patent number: 4902019Abstract: Gaming layout arrangements having jackpot areas and methods therefor are provided in accordance with the present invention. One or more geometric forms are established on a traditional gaming layout where markers such as dice are employed in normally playing the game. When a marker employed in playing the game happens to land within a geometric form associated with a jackpot, a jackpot condition is defined. The size, shape, number and value of each geometric form may be varied to define the value and probability of achieving a jackpot condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1988Date of Patent: February 20, 1990Assignees: John A. DePasquale, George Bradbury, Robert BermanInventor: Robert Berman
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Patent number: 4900031Abstract: The invention is a method for playing a board game wherein players attempt to control positions on a segmented path, demarcated on a game board, by properly naming the first and last names of a famous person whose first and last initials correspond to the letters revealed on cards from two appropriate decks. Players may challenge an opposing player's choice of famous names, potentially preventing that player from obtaining control of a position, and may also compete for control of a position already under the control of another player. The method of play proceeds for a specified length of time after which the player with the most points resulting from control of board positions is declared the winner.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1989Date of Patent: February 13, 1990Inventor: Kenneth A. Wohl
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Patent number: 4896889Abstract: A board game includes a playing board with a playing surface formed as a rectangular grid of multiple rows and columns of recesses. A multiplicity of playing pieces are dimensioned to seat within the recesses and have a body portion about the periphery of which are repetitions of an indicium, such as a letter of the alphabet, and each repetition is in a distinct color. In game play a first player may place a multiplicity of playing pieces in aligned recesses to construct a cognizable linear array of indicia such as a word, and each playing piece displays its indicium in a preselected color associated with that player. The second player may place at least one playing piece in an empty recess adjacent one of the recesses utilized by the linear array of the first player and thus create a new cognizable linear array incorporating the added indicium which is rotated to display the repetition of the indicium in a color associated with the second player.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1989Date of Patent: January 30, 1990Inventors: James O. Kuhn, Michael W. Thompson
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Patent number: 4892319Abstract: An apparatus for a word game is disclosed. A game board surface is divided into a number of squares into which playing pieces containing the letters of the alphabet are placed to complete a word. The various words are contained in groups which, when of a certain size, are considered to be an ISLAND which creates the right to start a new word independent from all the other which is an ATOLL. Except for ATOLLS and the beginning of the game, any new letters added must form a word with those letters already on the playing field. New words which link one ISLAND to another ISLAND or ATOLL are ISTHMUSES and capture the ISLAND or ATOLL to which they are linked as part of the territory for the player creating such an ISTHMUS. Two iscosahedron dice having their faces numbered from 1 to 20 are used to randomly select numbers from 2 to 40. These numbers are related to the letters of the alphabet by a decoder with the frequency of number approximating the frequency of the use of the letters in making words.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1988Date of Patent: January 9, 1990Inventor: Theodore D. Johnson, II
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Patent number: 4889344Abstract: A dictionary game including a game board having a track with a plurality of playing spaces which show letters of the alphabet intermittently alternating with spaces showig bonus stars. The game board also includes card spaces for a plurality of decks of question cards which are coordinated with the letters and symbols on the playing spaces. The game is used with a dictionary. A plurality of decks of question cards, wherein alphabetical characters are printed on the top surface and indicia for selecting a dictionary page number is imprinted on the bottom surface is also included as is a deck of bonus cards whereon questions are imprinted on at least one surface together with page numbers corresponding to the page in the dictionary whereon the answer to the question is contained. Apparatus for determining the progress of the players along the track on the game board is included as are playing pieces.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1988Date of Patent: December 26, 1989Inventor: Kenneth P. Zimba
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Patent number: 4884815Abstract: An educational two-part game is set forth for use by three or more players. A "driver" or "monitor" controls the game between two or more "passengers" or participants. The "driver" initially picks a first card comprising an automotive "license tag" including at least a trio of letters followed by a three digit number wherein each "passenger" decodes the numbers and combines them with the letters already part of the "license plate" that yields seven to nine letters that each "passenger" must rearrange to develop a variety of words, wherein the "passenger" with the greatest number of words may proceed to part two to answer a trivia question and if correct, receives a predetermined number of points. The first "passenger" to develop one hundred pounts is declared the winner whereupon the participants may switch roles and maintain at least one "driver" and at least two "passengers".Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1988Date of Patent: December 5, 1989Inventor: Willie L. Glenn
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Patent number: 4884816Abstract: An educational device employing a game to teach words and their meanings. This educational device is comprised of four groups of game cards and a playing board. The front face of each game card is divided into six word designations and on the back of the card are the meanings of that word designation. The playing board is divided into four stations of play, each equipped with an erasable answer slate for writing each player's answers and score board. The game board has two scoring disc holders and a spin dial and pointer used to randomly select a game card from a particular group of cards and to randomly select a word on the game card. The spin dial is divided into twenty-four sectors, each of which is color coded to correspond to one of the four color coded groups of cards. Each color coded sector has an indicia corresponding to one of the six word designations on one of the four playing card groups. For quick reference the twenty-four sectors and the corresponding playing cards are color coordinated.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1988Date of Patent: December 5, 1989Inventors: Kenneth R. Ford, Ellen L. Ford, Edward Nygren, Joyce Nygren
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Patent number: 4852885Abstract: A fast action game includes a wheel imprinted with the letters of the alphabet and numbers. The wheel is rapidly rotated by a motor in response to player actuation of a switch. When the switch is released, the wheel will coast to a stop with an indicator pointing to one of the letters or numbers on the wheel. Players then complete a scoresheet printed with various categories of items with a word beginning with the letter indicated by the wheel. If the wheel indicates a number preselected by one player, the player receives a bonus score. Play continues until all categories are completed by one player. A scoring system enables the determination of the finish rank of the other players.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1987Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Inventors: Shahin Baratpour, Salina Ventresca
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Patent number: 4850595Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a competetive crossword puzzle game including a crossword puzzle having individual word portions having associated definitions constituting clues for the solving of the individual word portions of the puzzle. Additional numerical indicia associated with each individual word portion representing the length of each word forming a word portion. Marking apparatus for filling in the individual word portions of the crossword puzzle in distinguishable characters. A die including numerical indicia on different ones of the sides of the die and with each indicia constituting the number of letters representing the length of the word to be used for filling in the individual word portions of the crossword puzzle. The players taking turns filing in the individual word portions of the crossword puzzle using the marking apparatus. Each turn for each player including rolling the die to determine the length of the word to be filled in by the player.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1987Date of Patent: July 25, 1989Assignee: Mabco, Inc.Inventors: Barry C. Sherman, Mitchell M. Geffen
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Patent number: 4842281Abstract: A board game utilizes a rectangular game board having a peripheral path of movement formed by a series of squares. Intersecting horizontal and vertical movement paths positioned on the interior of the game board connect with the peripheral movement path. Various squares of the movement paths are printed with individual letters of the key phrase "LIFE'S LITTLE PLEASURES" and also with the letters of the word "ZONK". Various squares of the movement paths are designated with monetary rewards or penalties. Certain squares are random chance squares, with the consequence of landing on these squares determined by reference to a random consequence chart. Players move game markers around the game board according to the throw of dice, and attempt to spell the key phrase, before spelling "ZONK" or going bankrupt.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1988Date of Patent: June 27, 1989Inventor: Gerald Turner
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Patent number: 4819945Abstract: A novel word game is disclosed having a generally planar game board with an intersecting grid pattern formed therein. Playing pieces for the game are formed as individual tile members with a letter of the alphabet on the upper surface thereof and projections on the bottom surface thereof for engaging the grid pattern and facilitating movement of the tile members in a horizontal or transverse direction along the grid pattern for forming words or word portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1988Date of Patent: April 11, 1989Inventor: Edmond J. Porcheddu
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Patent number: 4789162Abstract: A word completion game utilizes a game board with spaces for filling in missing letters. Through the use of word clues, the missing letters are utilized to complete messages in two directions.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1987Date of Patent: December 6, 1988Inventor: Amos L. Harris
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Patent number: 4776597Abstract: There is disclosed a game board with playing pieces in which the game board is provided with a plurality of square bosses arranged in a waffle pattern. The playing pieces are each provided with a peripheral skirt about their lower edge and an offset shoulder about their upper edge. The bosses and playing pieces are square and are of the same shape so that the playing pieces can be stacked on a respective boss of the board and on each other.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1986Date of Patent: October 11, 1988Inventor: Elliot A. Rudell
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Patent number: 4773651Abstract: A hand of cards bearing letters of the alphabet and a combined scoring and word card are dealt to each player, the players drawing a card from the deck and discarding in turn until one player's letter cards spell the word of his word card, the player then placing the word card in a space adapted to receive it on a score board having graduated spaces for each of the players, and continuing the game until one player has filled the spaces provided for him on the score board.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1987Date of Patent: September 27, 1988Inventor: George Papapavlou
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Patent number: 4741538Abstract: The present invention is of a game which includes the board, cards, playing pieces and the rules for playing the game. The basic principle of the game deals mainly with the purchasing of alphabet letters from an alphabet bank for a predetermined price displayed on the surface of the gameboard. Each player trys to obtain enough alphabet letters to spell out a word while avoiding his opponent's scheme to get his alphabet letters and eliminate his ability to spell out a complete word. Players purchase alphabet letters with play money, and in turn collect a pay-off price for each word. The player that accumulates ten thousand dollars first or eliminates all other players out of the game is the sole winner.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1986Date of Patent: May 3, 1988Inventor: Milton Lewis
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Patent number: 4640513Abstract: A super memory educational game of skill and chance is provided and consists of a board game for ages eight years old thru adult ages and is played in seven basic ways. Players take turns trying to spell, pronounce and define words correctly, remember number sequences, answer question cards, play game chips on the square board and play the bonus chance game. All seven functions are played simultaneously as the game progresses. Various methods of game rules are included in which a method can be elected by the players. Participant activities are timed according to a preselected time length using a timing device. The play money is used to reward or penalize players for incorrect moves. The first player to reach the winner's circle by completing movement around the board and fulfilling the required activities is the winner. The pot of money accrued during the game is then awarded to the winner. The game can be geared toward different age levels and educational backgrounds from elementary to college.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1985Date of Patent: February 3, 1987Inventor: Robert Montijo