US3603589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A pocketed marble game simulating space travel
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-20
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A marble game simulating space travel. Indentations in a playing surface represent 10 solar system bodies. Travel between the heavenly bodies is accomplished by shooting a marble from one indentation to another. Subgrooves represent such things as ''''Safe Landings,'''' ''''Crash Landings '''' and ''''Lost in Space.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoge E Sonntag
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:55
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An educational game using conventional marbles or the like, said game comprising a surface plate, said plate being formed to provide a plurality of separated primary indentations, said primary indentations being arranged to represent planets surrounding a sun, with a central one of said primary indentations representing the sun, each of said indentations including a secondary indentation, and a closed groove being integral with and connecting a sloping lower side wall of each said primary indentation to the top portion of said respective secondary indentation associated, therewith whereby a marble coming into the primary indentation in a manner tangential to the rim of the wall will spiral down said wall and land in the groove which is considered a safe landing and the marbles that land within the secondary indentation being considered to have crash landed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An educational game using conventional marbles or the like, said game comprising a surface plate, said plate being formed to provide a plurality of separated primary indentations, said primary indentations being arranged to represent planets surrounding a sun, with a central one of said primary indentations representing the sun, each of said indentations including a secondary indentation, and a closed groove being integral with and connecting a sloping lower side wall of each said primary indentation to the top portion of said respective secondary indentation associated, therewith whereby a marble coming into the primary indentation in a manner tangential to the rim of the wall will spiral down said wall and land in the groove which is considered a safe landing and the marbles that land within the secondary indentation being considered to have crash landed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The game of claim 1 wherein vertical standards are provided to support said plate, and wherein said plate is conically shaped with said central primary indentation at the vertex of the cone whereby the plate slants toward said central primary indentation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The game of claim 2 wherein a notched groove is provided surrounding the entire outer periphery of said plate, whereby the marbles are prevented from leaving the plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The game of each of claim 1 wherein the sidewalls of said primary indentations are angularly shaped in proportion to their gravity field with respect to the gravity field of the planet represented by the primary indentation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The game of claim 4 wherein movable support means are provided in which a player may rest his hand while he is ejecting the marbles, and said movable means being shaped to fit into any of said grooves surrounding said secondary indentations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |