US3884475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Railroad board game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-10
•
Granted: 1975-05-20
•
Expires: 1993-01-10
Abstract
Abstract A railroad board game suitable to be played by four players and incorporating a game board which is generally subdivided into four playing areas, each playing area including lengths of simulated railroad tracks. Each simulated railroad track area comprises a direct route which includes the greatest number of hazards, a left outside track and a right outside track. The direct route and both outside tracks interconnect between the respective player headquarters and a centrally positioned roundhouse and shop area. A player may choose to traverse the distance between his own headquarters and the central shop area to gain access to an opponent''s track area by traveling down the direct route, which contains various hazards to movement along the tracks, or alternately he may elect to traverse a longer, neutral track which has fewer hazards. Additionally, each outside track and the neutral track are provided with a spur track which may be utilized to avoid collisions. The shop area is elevated relative to the board and is in stationary relationship thereto. The roundhouse rotates about the shop area and is provided about three-quarters of its periphery with recesses which align with the plurality of direct tracks and right and left outside tracks to permit a player to move his playing piece from one track to another.
Inventors
- 👤 James M Munro
- 👤 Donald Gill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:02
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00088; A63F3/00006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
In a game, including movable playing pieces, the combination of A. a flat playing board having a top surface, 1. said board being marked with indicia to generally divide the top surface into distinct, similar playing areas, 2. each playing area being marked with indicia to define a headquarters area and a plurality of segmented tracks; B. a shop area carried upon the top surface and having a peripheral boundary, 1. said shop area being medially positioned relative to the playing areas, 2. said shop area being in stationary relationship to the playing board, 3. said shop area being of cylindrical configuration, a. said shop area being positioned on the top surface and rising upwardly therefrom, 4. said shop area being provided with at least one track extension; C. a roundhouse positioned upon the top surface, 1. said roundhouse surrounding at least a portion of the peripheral boundary of the shop area, 2. said roundhouse being rotatable about the shop area, 3. some of said segmented tracks defining paths to the roundhouse, 4. said roundhouse including means to move playing pieces from one track to another, and 5. said roundhouse including means to permit the passage of playing pieces into the shop area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a game, including movable playing pieces, the combination of A. a flat playing board having a top surface, 1. said board being marked with indicia to generally divide the top surface into distinct, similar playing areas, 2. each playing area being marked with indicia to define a headquarters area and a plurality of segmented tracks; B. a shop area carried upon the top surface and having a peripheral boundary, 1. said shop area being medially positioned relative to the playing areas, 2. said shop area being in stationary relationship to the playing board, 3. said shop area being of cylindrical configuration, a. said shop area being positioned on the top surface and rising upwardly therefrom, 4. said shop area being provided with at least one track extension; C. a roundhouse positioned upon the top surface, 1. said roundhouse surrounding at least a portion of the peripheral boundary of the shop area, 2. said roundhouse being rotatable about the shop area, 3. some of said segmented tracks defining paths to the roundhouse, 4. said roundhouse including means to move playing pieces from one track to another, and 5. said roundhouse including means to permit the passage of playing pieces into the shop area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
said shop area being in stationary relationship to the playing board,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
said shop area being in stationary relationship to the playing board,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
each playing area being marked with indicia to define a headquarters area and a plurality of segmented tracks; B. a shop area carried upon the top surface and having a peripheral boundary,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
each playing area being marked with indicia to define a headquarters area and a plurality of segmented tracks; B. a shop area carried upon the top surface and having a peripheral boundary,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the roundhouse comprises an annular segment, said segment surrounding approximately three-quarters of the peripheral boundary of the shop area, said segment comprising a contiguous solid portion which terminates in two ends, the said ends defining an opening therebetween, the said means to move playing pieces being formed in the contiguous solid portion and the said opening providing the means to permit passage of the playing pieces into the shop area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
8 words
said roundhouse being rotatable about the shop area,
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
8 words
said roundhouse being rotatable about the shop area,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
some of said segmented tracks defining paths to the roundhouse,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
some of said segmented tracks defining paths to the roundhouse,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
said shop area being of cylindrical configuration, a. said shop area being positioned on the top surface and rising upwardly therefrom,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
said shop area being of cylindrical configuration, a. said shop area being positioned on the top surface and rising upwardly therefrom,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of tracks terminates inwardly at the roundhouse, the inward track termini being arranged in side by side juxtaposition in a manner to completely peripherally surround the roundhouse, some of said tracks terminating at the contiguous solid portion and fewer of said tracks terminating at the said opening defined between the ends.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
said roundhouse including means to move playing pieces from one track to another, and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
said roundhouse including means to move playing pieces from one track to another, and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
said shop area being provided with at least one track extension; C. a roundhouse positioned upon the top surface,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
said shop area being provided with at least one track extension; C. a roundhouse positioned upon the top surface,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the solid portion of the roundhouse is provided with a plurality of recessed areas, said recessed areas each aligning with a track when the roundhouse is moved to any rotative position, said playing pieces being movable along a track into an aligned recesses area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein one recessed area is provided for each track termini which is contiguous with the solid portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
said roundhouse including means to permit the passage of playing pieces into the shop area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
said roundhouse including means to permit the passage of playing pieces into the shop area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein approximately one quarter of the track termini terminate in alignment with the opening in the roundhouse.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein the shop area is provided with indicia to deliniate a plurality of shop tracks each said shop track respectively longitudinally aligning with one of the said segmented tracks.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein a plurality of said shop tracks terminate at the periphery of the shop area in alignment with one of the said recessed areas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each headquarters area iS provided with a plurality of holes, the said holes being spaced apart, the said holes optionally receiving and supporting some of said playing pieces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein some of said playing pieces are playing blocks which represent the assets required to play the game, said playing blocks being positioned in a headquarters area to indicate the progress of the game.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein each playing block is equipped with a peg, the pegs being fabricated to size to snugly fit within one said hole to position the playing blocks upon the board, the said holes being formed in the playing board and arranged in the order of asset storage tracks.
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 |