US3866920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Playpiece and base member selectively interengageable to actuate effect means
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-02-19
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1994-02-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for an exciting and surprising children''s game comprising a playpiece and one or more shiftable bases on which the playpiece is positionable in a plurality of different relative orientations. In a particular embodiment, the playpiece and base may have mating pins and receptacles, some of which are operative electrical switch elements and some of which are dummy switch elements that simulate the appearance of the operative elements. Operative switch elements on the base and playpiece engage each other for at least one of the relative orientations to complete a circuit and produce a signal or effect. In one form, the playpiece is a translucent ghost figure containing a light bulb which is lit when the circuit is completed, to thereby illuminate the figure. Operative switch elements engage only dummy switch elements for at least another of the relative orientations, and thus do not complete the circuit. The provision of dummy switch elements and the shiftability of the base precludes anticipation by the players of the operative orientations. The game may be played in semi-darkness to enhance suspense and provide added surprise and excitement when the figure becomes illuminated. In play of the game, the player whose turn it is, attempts to place the playpiece upon the base (which another player has randomly shifted) in a relative orientation designed to acheive a game objective of illuminating or not illuminating the figure.
Inventors
- 👤 Adolph E Goldfarb
- 👤 Erwin Benkoe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:22
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00697; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/12; A63F3/00643; A63F2003/00646; A63F2003/00678; A63F2003/0069; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
Game apparatus comprising: a. a base member selectively movable between a plurality of different orientations; b. a playpiece member positionable on the base member in at least two different positions relative thereto; c. effect means for being actuated incident to the relative positioning of the playpiece member on the base member to produce an effect related to play of the game; d. first actuating means on said base member and second actuating means on said playpiece member for interacting, said first and second actuating means being positioned in interacting relationship to one another whereby they will actuate the effect means when the playpiece member is in at least one of said relative positions, said first and second actuating means being positioned in non-interacting relationship to one another whereby they will not actuate the effect means when the playpiece member is in at least a different one of said relative positions; and e. nonactuating means on at least one of said members simulating in appearance the actuating means on said at least one member, said nonactuating means being configured and arranged not to cause the effect means to be actuated when said nonactuating means is positioned in said interacting relationship with the actuating means on the other member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
Game apparatus comprising: a. a base member selectively movable between a plurality of different orientations; b. a playpiece member positionable on the base member in at least two different positions relative thereto; c. effect means for being actuated incident to the relative positioning of the playpiece member on the base member to produce an effect related to play of the game; d. first actuating means on said base member and second actuating means on said playpiece member for interacting, said first and second actuating means being positioned in interacting relationship to one another whereby they will actuate the effect means when the playpiece member is in at least one of said relative positions, said first and second actuating means being positioned in non-interacting relationship to one another whereby they will not actuate the effect means when the playpiece member is in at least a different one of said relative positions; and e. nonactuating means on at least one of said members simulating in appearance the actuating means on said at least one member, said nonactuating means being configured and arranged not to cause the effect means to be actuated when said nonactuating means is positioned in said interacting relationship with the actuating means on the other member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said members is made of a phosphorescent material for absorbing light and glowing in the darkness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as forth in claim 1 wherein said playpiece member comprises a translucent housing and wherein said effect means comprise light means mounted within said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including electrical circuit means coupling said first actuating means to said effect means, said circuit means being closable to operate said effect means, said first actuating means including a movable element that is movable to cause said circuit means to be closed, said movable element being so moved when the first actuating means is in an interacting relationship to said second actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first actuating means comprises male actuating connector means and said second actuating means comprises female actuating connector means, said means simulating the appearance of said female actuating connector means comprising receptacle means of different dimensions from said female actuating connector means so that when the playpiece is positioned upon the base member, the one of said male actuating connector means which is received in said simulating receptacle will not be moved to cause the effect means to be actuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein said female actuating connector means has means for blocking motion of one of said male actuating connector means received therein so as to cause said male actuating connector means to move to cause the effect means to be actuated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said playpiece member is openable to afford access to said circuit means and effect means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
234 words
A game apparatus comprising: at least one base member; at least one playpiece member detachably mountable on the base member in a plurality of different positions, including at least one actuating position and at least one non-actuating position; marker means on the playpiece member, for being actuated incident to said playpiece member''s being mounted in an actuatiNg position; actuating means on said base member and on said playpiece member; said actuating means comprising a plurality of projection means on one of said members and a plurality of mating receptacle means on the other of said members for receiving the projection means, said receptacle means and projection means being arranged so that the projection means will be received in the receptacle means for each of said different positions of the playpiece member on the base member, at least one of said projection means comprising actuating projection means and being movable with respect to the marker means and at least one of said receptacle means comprising actuating receptacle means and having means for moving a projection means received therein with respect to said marker means, said actuating means also including means operable between said marker means and said movable projection means for actuating said marker means incident to movement of said movable projection means, whereby the players attempt to position the playpiece member on the base member to either actuate or not actuate the marker means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
234 words
A game apparatus comprising: at least one base member; at least one playpiece member detachably mountable on the base member in a plurality of different positions, including at least one actuating position and at least one non-actuating position; marker means on the playpiece member, for being actuated incident to said playpiece member''s being mounted in an actuatiNg position; actuating means on said base member and on said playpiece member; said actuating means comprising a plurality of projection means on one of said members and a plurality of mating receptacle means on the other of said members for receiving the projection means, said receptacle means and projection means being arranged so that the projection means will be received in the receptacle means for each of said different positions of the playpiece member on the base member, at least one of said projection means comprising actuating projection means and being movable with respect to the marker means and at least one of said receptacle means comprising actuating receptacle means and having means for moving a projection means received therein with respect to said marker means, said actuating means also including means operable between said marker means and said movable projection means for actuating said marker means incident to movement of said movable projection means, whereby the players attempt to position the playpiece member on the base member to either actuate or not actuate the marker means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said projection means include at least one non-actuating projection means, said non-actuating projection means having an appearance simulating that of said actuating projection means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said receptacle means include at least one non-actuating receptacle means, the non-actuating receptacle means not containing means for moving a projection means received therein with respect to the marker means and having an appearance simulating that of said actuating receptacle means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said non-actuating receptacle means are configured to receive said actuating projection means therein without moving said actuating projection means relative to the marker means to actuate said marker means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said playpiece member has a lower end configured to be mountable upon said base member by fitting thereover and being displaced relatively thereto in mounting motion, and further including means defining a path for said mounting motion and defining means on said base to terminate said mounting motion at the end of said mounting motion path, wherein said actuating projection means are flexible, and wherein said actuating receptacle means have a dimension shorter than said mounting path to displace said actuating projection means to move with respect to said marker means to actuate said latter means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |