US3884474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-tiered game board for three-dimensional tic-tac-toe games
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-22
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1994-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A multi-tiered game board for three-dimensional games of tictac-toe and its derivatives is provided with an odd number of playing surfaces in parallel, vertically spaced relationship. Each surface is subdivided into playing squares in mutually orthogonal ranks and files with the surfaces above and below the central one having one rank and file less than the immediately adjacent surface in the direction of the central one. The several playing surfaces are centered on a common vertical axis and the vertices of any surface are parallel to the vertices of all other surfaces. Markers of two, or more, colors or patterns are used with the multi-tiered game board, each player being supplied with a quantity of markers of a given color. The game is played by placing markers on unoccupied squares of the playing surfaces to produce linear rows of the same color. A winning combination requires the alignment of as many markers in a row as there are files and rows in the central surface.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Harper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:00
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A multi-tiered game board structure for three-dimensional tic-tac-toe games, comprising: an odd number of playing surfaces mounted one over the other, with the surfaces located at vertically spaced levels, and including a central surface at the center level and equal numbers of upper and lower surfaces at levels above and below said central surface; each surface having a playing area defining playing squares arranged in mutually perpendicular rank and file rows containing equal numbers of squares; said central surface having at least three rank and at least three file rows, and each upper and lower surface having one less rank and file row than the surface immediately adjacent in the direction of the central surface; and said surface being disposed on a common, substantially vertical, axis passing through the centers of the several playing surfaces and with the rank and file rows of each playing surface in parallel alignment with the rank and file rows of all other playing surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A multi-tiered game board structure for three-dimensional tic-tac-toe games, comprising: an odd number of playing surfaces mounted one over the other, with the surfaces located at vertically spaced levels, and including a central surface at the center level and equal numbers of upper and lower surfaces at levels above and below said central surface; each surface having a playing area defining playing squares arranged in mutually perpendicular rank and file rows containing equal numbers of squares; said central surface having at least three rank and at least three file rows, and each upper and lower surface having one less rank and file row than the surface immediately adjacent in the direction of the central surface; and said surface being disposed on a common, substantially vertical, axis passing through the centers of the several playing surfaces and with the rank and file rows of each playing surface in parallel alignment with the rank and file rows of all other playing surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The game board defined in claim 1, wherein there are at least two upper playing surfaces and two lower playing surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The game board defined in claim 1, wherein there are three upper playing surfaces and three lower playing surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The game board defined in claim 1, wherein said playing surfaces are transparent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The game board defined in claim 2, wherein said central playing surface has four file rows and four rank rows.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The game board defined in claim 2, wherein said central playing surface has five file rows and five rank rows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The game board defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two sets of game markers, each set including a plurality of markers equal in number to one-half of the total number of playing squares in said game board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The game board defined in claim 7, wherein said sets of markers are of contrasting color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The game board defined in claim 7, wherein said sets of markers are of differing shapes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The game board defined in claim 7, wherein each of said playing squares is pierced by a circular orifice and said markers are of spherical shape.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |