US3578320A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game structure and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-02-19
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1988-02-19
Abstract
Abstract A game comprising a hollow upright transparent conduit having a plurality of apertures in an intermediate section to releasably receive and support a plurality of rods which form a variable interdependent network barrier across the conduit. The rods support a plurality of discrete objects such as marbles, and the players of the game remove the rods one at a time, with each endeavoring to remove a rod in accordance with a game objective such as not permitting any marbles to fall through the barrier. The objects are of such a size with respect to the conduit that at least two rods are necessary to prevent passage of the objects. A method of playing a game comprising positioning a plurality of rods to form a network barrier across a flow path; positioning a plurality of objects upstream of the flow path above the barrier; and selectively removing the rods successively to control the passage of objects past the barrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Adolph E Goldfarb
- 👤 Rene Soriano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:05
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/32; A63F7/00; A63F7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A game structure for building a removable network barrier of rods to support a plurality of discrete objects and then selectively and successively removing the rods from the support barrier to control the release through the barrier of the objects, said structure comprising the combination of: a. a plurality of elongated support rods; and b. a hollow, upright structure having a sidewall which includes a support section with a plurality of apertures smaller than the discrete objects for releasably receiving and supporting said support rods extending across the support section to form an interdependent, collective variable network barrier for supporting a plurality of discrete objects, said structure also including means defining an entrance into the structure at least as large as one of the discrete objects for introducing discrete objects above the barrier, none of said support rods being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects; c. a plurality of discrete objects adapted to be releasably supported on the network barrier formed by the support rods, said objects being of substantially smaller dimension than the transverse cross section of said support section, whereby incident to the play of the game, the players take turns in strategically removing the rods so as to achieve a game objective such as limiting the passage of objects through the barrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A game structure for building a removable network barrier of rods to support a plurality of discrete objects and then selectively and successively removing the rods from the support barrier to control the release through the barrier of the objects, said structure comprising the combination of: a. a plurality of elongated support rods; and b. a hollow, upright structure having a sidewall which includes a support section with a plurality of apertures smaller than the discrete objects for releasably receiving and supporting said support rods extending across the support section to form an interdependent, collective variable network barrier for supporting a plurality of discrete objects, said structure also including means defining an entrance into the structure at least as large as one of the discrete objects for introducing discrete objects above the barrier, none of said support rods being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects; c. a plurality of discrete objects adapted to be releasably supported on the network barrier formed by the support rods, said objects being of substantially smaller dimension than the transverse cross section of said support section, whereby incident to the play of the game, the players take turns in strategically removing the rods so as to achieve a game objective such as limiting the passage of objects through the barrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A game structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said discrete objects are generally spherical in shape and have a density at least as great as glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A game structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures are so arranged and the rods and objects are so proportioned that at least about 6 to about 10 rods are required to form a barrier having no openings therethrough large enough for passage of an object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A game structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures are arranged at relatively close intervals and in generally opposing pairs, with there being substantially more pairs of apertures than there are rods to afford a variety of possible support positions for the rods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A game structure as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said upright wall is transparent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A game structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said upright structure has a bottom wall and said entrance is located above the support section, an exit section which is located below the support section having at least one exit opening adjacent said bottom wall, said bottom wall being inclined toward said exit opening, at least a portion of said sidewall at said support section being transparent, said game structure also inclining a base structure for supporting the upright structure and having wall means that define at least two separated player areas for receiving the discrete objects from the exit opening, the upright and base structures being movable relative to one another to selectively align the exit opening with any one of said player areas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
201 words
A game comprising, in combination: a. a structure defining a flow path therethrough, which includes a control section, said flow path being adapted to receive for movement therealong a plurality of discrete objects of substantially smaller size than the cross section of said control section, and b. a plurality of control elements, said control section including means for releasably supporting a plurality of said control elements in the flow path at the control section so as to form a variable barrier across the flow path to control movement along the path of the discrete objects, none of said control elements being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects, said structure also including means defining an entrance into the structure at least as large as one of the discrete objects into the flow path upstream of the barrier, c. a plurality of discrete objects of subsTantially smaller size than the cross section of said control section, whereby, incident to play of the game, the players selectively remove individual control elements from said control section to vary the barrier and thereby control the movement of the objects past the barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
201 words
A game comprising, in combination: a. a structure defining a flow path therethrough, which includes a control section, said flow path being adapted to receive for movement therealong a plurality of discrete objects of substantially smaller size than the cross section of said control section, and b. a plurality of control elements, said control section including means for releasably supporting a plurality of said control elements in the flow path at the control section so as to form a variable barrier across the flow path to control movement along the path of the discrete objects, none of said control elements being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects, said structure also including means defining an entrance into the structure at least as large as one of the discrete objects into the flow path upstream of the barrier, c. a plurality of discrete objects of subsTantially smaller size than the cross section of said control section, whereby, incident to play of the game, the players selectively remove individual control elements from said control section to vary the barrier and thereby control the movement of the objects past the barrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A game as defined in claim 7, wherein said discrete objects are in the form of balls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A toy comprising a structure defining a generally vertical flow path which includes: a control section, a plurality of discrete objects of substantially smaller size than the cross section of said control section, said objects being adapted to move along said flow path, and a plurality of removable control elements releasably supported across the flow path at the control section so as to form a variable collective and interdependent barrier across the flow path adapted to control movement along the flow path of discrete objects, none of said control elements being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A toy comprising a structure defining a generally vertical flow path which includes: a control section, a plurality of discrete objects of substantially smaller size than the cross section of said control section, said objects being adapted to move along said flow path, and a plurality of removable control elements releasably supported across the flow path at the control section so as to form a variable collective and interdependent barrier across the flow path adapted to control movement along the flow path of discrete objects, none of said control elements being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for playing a game comprising: a. selectively and successively, releasably positioning control elements in given region of a flow path for discrete objects to collectively form a variable network barrier across the flow path, the objects being of substantially smaller size than the cross section of the flow path at said given region, none of said control elements being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects, b. positioning a plurality of discrete objects immediately upstream of the positioned control elements so that the network barrier prevents the objects from continuing downstream, and c. selectively and successively removing control elements from their said positions in the flow path to control the passage of the discrete objects past the given control region of the flow path.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for playing a game comprising: a. selectively and successively, releasably positioning control elements in given region of a flow path for discrete objects to collectively form a variable network barrier across the flow path, the objects being of substantially smaller size than the cross section of the flow path at said given region, none of said control elements being capable of individually restricting all openings through the barrier to less than the size of one of said discrete objects, b. positioning a plurality of discrete objects immediately upstream of the positioned control elements so that the network barrier prevents the objects from continuing downstream, and c. selectively and successively removing control elements from their said positions in the flow path to control the passage of the discrete objects past the given control region of the flow path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE592338C
Cited
US3114548A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |