US3888488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Board game apparatus
Assignee: California R&D Center
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Filing: 1974-09-03
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1994-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and game apparatus for one or more players is provided. A game board having a coordinate array of sockets is adapted to accommodate a plurality of game pieces having appropriate indicia. Each game piece will comprise a lower base portion adapted to be attached to the game board and an upper head portion connected to the base portion by a resilient shaft. The resilient shaft can be bent or moved relative to the base portion to permit the upper head portion to be aimed at another game piece. At least some of the upper head portions of the game pieces are capable of indicating an impact of one upper head portion by another upper head portion. For example, a section of the upper head portion can be hinged or secured by a flexible cord whereby upon impact the upper head portion will separate. The opponent''s game pieces are captured by striking and separating the upper head portions either directly or through a progression of intermediate impacts on other game pieces.
Inventors
- 👤 Anson Sims
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00173; A63F3/00574; A63B; A63B67/00; A63B67/10; A63F9/00; A63F9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A game apparatus to be played by one or more players comprising in combination: a game board having a coordinate array of indexed positions; a plurality of movable game pieces adapted to be positioned on the indexed positions of the game board, at least some of the movable pieces having a base portion for contacting the game board, an upper head portion and a resilient member connecting the base portion and upper head portion to permit the upper head portion to move relative to the base portion; and means on at least some of the upper head portions for indicating the impact of the upper head portion of one movable piece by the upper head of another movable piece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A game apparatus to be played by one or more players comprising in combination: a game board having a coordinate array of indexed positions; a plurality of movable game pieces adapted to be positioned on the indexed positions of the game board, at least some of the movable pieces having a base portion for contacting the game board, an upper head portion and a resilient member connecting the base portion and upper head portion to permit the upper head portion to move relative to the base portion; and means on at least some of the upper head portions for indicating the impact of the upper head portion of one movable piece by the upper head of another movable piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for indicating the impact of the upper head portion includes a section of the upper head portion that separates from the base of the upper head portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is an elongated shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the base portion further has means for locking it to the indexed position on the game board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is a flexible elongated shaft adapted to be bent by a player during the aiming of the upper head portion of one piece at another and the means for indicating the impact of the upper head portion includes a section of the upper head portion that separates from the remainder of the upper head portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the separable upper head portion is hinged to the base of the upper head portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the separable upper head portion is attached to the base of the upper head portion by a flexible cord.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of separating a portion of an upper head section of one game piece from the remainder of the head section, said portion being connected to the head section as to be released therefrom by impact force applied to the head section, the game piece upper head section being one of a number of game pieces on a game board, each game piece having a base portion and a resilient elongated shaft connecting the base portion to its upper head section comprising the steps of: moving the game pieces on the game board to align at least one striker game piece adjacent the target game piece to be separated; securing the striker game piece to the game board; bending the resilient shaft of the striker game piece by displacing its upper head section relative to its base portion in a direction which will permit the transfer of energy to the target game piece; and releasing the striker game piece whereby its energy is transferred to the target game piece to separate said upper head portion of the target piece.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of separating a portion of an upper head section of one game piece from the remainder of the head section, said portion being connected to the head section as to be released therefrom by impact force applied to the head section, the game piece upper head section being one of a number of game pieces on a game board, each game piece having a base portion and a resilient elongated shaft connecting the base portion to its upper head section comprising the steps of: moving the game pieces on the game board to align at least one striker game piece adjacent the target game piece to be separated; securing the striker game piece to the game board; bending the resilient shaft of the striker game piece by displacing its upper head section relative to its base portion in a direction which will permit the transfer of energy to the target game piece; and releasing the striker game piece whereby its energy is transferred to the target game piece to separate said upper head portion of the target piece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein at least some of the upper head portions have a spherical configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A game apparatus comprising in combination: a game board having a coordinate array of indexed positions; a plurality of movable game pieces adapted to be positioned on the indexed positions of the game board, at least some of the movable pieces having a base portion for contacting the game board, an upper head portion and a member connecting the base portion and the upper head portion to permit the upper head portion to move relative to the base portion; and means on at least some of the upper head portions for indicating the impact of the upper head portion of one movable piece by the upper head of another movable piece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A game apparatus comprising in combination: a game board having a coordinate array of indexed positions; a plurality of movable game pieces adapted to be positioned on the indexed positions of the game board, at least some of the movable pieces having a base portion for contacting the game board, an upper head portion and a member connecting the base portion and the upper head portion to permit the upper head portion to move relative to the base portion; and means on at least some of the upper head portions for indicating the impact of the upper head portion of one movable piece by the upper head of another movable piece.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein the means for indicating the impact of the upper head portion includes a section of the upper head portion that separates from the base of the upper head portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein the base portion further has means for locking it to an indexed position on the game board.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 7 further including the step of positioning at least a second game piece between the striker game piece and the target game piece whereby the striker game piece transfers its energy to the second game piece which in turn transfers the energy to the target game piece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US124915A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |