US3858883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game having tiltable playing board
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-02-05
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1994-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A game including a board and a plurality of playing pieces, which may be marbles. The board bears a path, between a starting point and a goal, comprising a series of positions which may be defined by depressions in the board. The board is supported in such a way that with one or more playing pieces on the path, it tilts downwardly in one direction or in an opposite direction, depending on the number and locations of playing pieces on each side of the tilt axis. Slides, which may be depressed channels in the board, extend between positions which are not in succession along the path; a playing piece in one such position when the board tilts moves to the other position, thereby causing it to advance or retreat along the path. The number of positions through which a player moves his playing piece during each turn is determined by chance, such as by rolling a die.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman Fabricant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:25
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/0076; A63F7/04; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A game comprising a board and a plurality of playing pieces, said board having a playing surface bearing a path along which said playing pieces are to be moved from a starting point to a goal, said path being defined by a series of discrete positions, through which said playing pieces are to be moved through in succession, support means defining an axis about which said playing surface can tilt between two alternative non-horizontal orientations, said playing surface tilting downwardly in one direction in one of said orientations and tilting downwardly in the opposite direction in the other of said orientations, and at least one slide extending between two of said positions which are not in succession along said path, said slide serving to guide the movement of a playing piece from one of said two positions to the other when said playing surface is tilted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A game comprising a board and a plurality of playing pieces, said board having a playing surface bearing a path along which said playing pieces are to be moved from a starting point to a goal, said path being defined by a series of discrete positions, through which said playing pieces are to be moved through in succession, support means defining an axis about which said playing surface can tilt between two alternative non-horizontal orientations, said playing surface tilting downwardly in one direction in one of said orientations and tilting downwardly in the opposite direction in the other of said orientations, and at least one slide extending between two of said positions which are not in succession along said path, said slide serving to guide the movement of a playing piece from one of said two positions to the other when said playing surface is tilted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said slide iS not parallel to said tilt axis, whereby when a playing piece moves from one of said two positions to the other it moves closer to or farther from said tilt axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein portions of said path are arranged in side-by-side segments, each segment comprising a series of discrete positions, and said slide extends from a position in one segement to a position in another segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A game as defined in claim 3 wherein said path follows a generally spiral arrangement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing surface bears two generally spiral interleaved paths, and a plurality of slides, each slide extending from a position in one path to a position in the other path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A game as defined in claim 1 including a slide from at least one of said positions to said goal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A game as defined in claim 1 including a base comprising a plurality of positions for playing pieces not arranged on said path, said base positions being spaced from said tilt axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A game as defined in claim 1 including at least one ''''tilt'''' slide extending between one of said positions and a ''''tilt''''position located off said path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said tilt axis is parallel to the centerline of said board, and said path is symmetrically arranged with respect to said center line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means extends downwardly from said playing surface, the lowermost extremity of said support means defining said pivot axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said board is rectangular, and said support means comprises two rails extending downwardly from two opposite sides of said board, respectively, each rail having a lower profile defining two edges converging downwardly to a point.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said slides are depressed channels formed in said playing surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A game as defined in claim 12 wherein each of said positions is defined by a depression formed in said playing surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A game as defined in claim 13 wherein said playing pieces are spherical.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A game as defined in claim 1 including player-operable means for determining by chance the number of positions a player is to move his playing piece.
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) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |