US3767202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Railroad car switching game
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-07-26
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1991-07-26
Abstract
Abstract A railroad car switching game played on a board having a pair of incoming tracks and a pair of outgoing tracks formed thereon, these two pairs of tracks being separated at their inner ends by a bridge zone on which a pair of car receiving and conveying bridges are shiftably positioned. A plurality of classification track segments on opposite sides of the bridge zone serve to receive and store movable car members from the shiftable bridges in the process of shifting cars onto and off of the bridges to classify the two incoming trains and to make up a pair of outbound trains on the outgoing tracks. The objective of the game is to classify the two incoming trains and to make up a pair of outbound trains in a minimum number of moves of a bridge member.
Inventors
- 👤 W Sternad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:22
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/34; A63F9/06; A63F9/08; A63F9/0803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A railroad car switching game comprising: a playing board; an elongated bridge zone delineated on said board; at least two bridge members independently and separately shiftable on said board back and forth over said bridge zone, each of said bridge members spanning substantially the entire width of said recess, whereby one bridge member may not be moved past the other along the length of said recess; a plurality of incoming track means on said board terminating at their inner ends at one side of said bridge zone; a plurality of outgoing track means terminating at their inner ends at the opposite side of said bridge zone; a plurality of classification track means on opposite sides of said bridge zone terminating at their inner ends at opposite sides of said zone; and a plurality of railroad car members shiftably positionable on said incoming track means, said bridge members, and said outgoing track means, whereby said railroad car members may be sequentially moved from one of said incoming track means, to one of said bridge members, shiftably moved with one of said bridge members for movement onto one of said classification track means, and then carried by one of said bridge members to a position of alignment with one of said outgoing track means for outgoing movement thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
A railroad car switching game comprising: a playing board; an elongated bridge zone delineated on said board; at least two bridge members independently and separately shiftable on said board back and forth over said bridge zone, each of said bridge members spanning substantially the entire width of said recess, whereby one bridge member may not be moved past the other along the length of said recess; a plurality of incoming track means on said board terminating at their inner ends at one side of said bridge zone; a plurality of outgoing track means terminating at their inner ends at the opposite side of said bridge zone; a plurality of classification track means on opposite sides of said bridge zone terminating at their inner ends at opposite sides of said zone; and a plurality of railroad car members shiftably positionable on said incoming track means, said bridge members, and said outgoing track means, whereby said railroad car members may be sequentially moved from one of said incoming track means, to one of said bridge members, shiftably moved with one of said bridge members for movement onto one of said classification track means, and then carried by one of said bridge members to a position of alignment with one of said outgoing track means for outgoing movement thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A railroad car switching game as defined in claim 1, and further including: an identifying designation on each of said railroad car memBers, and corresponding designations on each of said classification track means, said designations on said classification track means being on removably adjustable members which can be selectively placed on particular ones of said classification track means as desired.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
233 words
A railroad car switching game comprising: a playing board; an elongated recess in said board; at least one bridge member slidably shiftable in said recess; a plurality of incoming track means on said board terminating at their inner ends at one side of said recess; a plurality of outgoing track means terminating at their inner ends at the opposite side of said recess; a plurality of classification track segments on opposite sides of said recess terminating at their inner ends at opposite sides of said recess; and a plurality of railroad car members shiftably positionable on said incoming track means, said bridge member, said classification track segments and said outgoing track means, whereby said railroad car members may be sequentially shifted from one of said incoming track means onto said bridge member aligned therewith, then shifted on said bridge member within said recess to a particular one of said classification track segments for storage thereon, and ultimately carried by said bridge member to a position of alignment with one of said outgoing track means for shifting movement from said bridge member onto said outgoing track means; identifying designations on each of said railroad car members, and the corresponding designations on each of said classification track segments, said designations on said classification track segments being on removably adjustable members which can be selectively placed on particular ones of said classification track segments as desired.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
233 words
A railroad car switching game comprising: a playing board; an elongated recess in said board; at least one bridge member slidably shiftable in said recess; a plurality of incoming track means on said board terminating at their inner ends at one side of said recess; a plurality of outgoing track means terminating at their inner ends at the opposite side of said recess; a plurality of classification track segments on opposite sides of said recess terminating at their inner ends at opposite sides of said recess; and a plurality of railroad car members shiftably positionable on said incoming track means, said bridge member, said classification track segments and said outgoing track means, whereby said railroad car members may be sequentially shifted from one of said incoming track means onto said bridge member aligned therewith, then shifted on said bridge member within said recess to a particular one of said classification track segments for storage thereon, and ultimately carried by said bridge member to a position of alignment with one of said outgoing track means for shifting movement from said bridge member onto said outgoing track means; identifying designations on each of said railroad car members, and the corresponding designations on each of said classification track segments, said designations on said classification track segments being on removably adjustable members which can be selectively placed on particular ones of said classification track segments as desired.
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) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |