US3961793A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Educational and recreational game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-30
•
Granted: 1976-06-08
•
Expires: 1994-01-30
Abstract
Abstract An educational and recreational game having a case-like rectangular basic structure including an outer support structure and an interior frame with interchangeable principal transparent playing elements and insertable underlying complementary transparent elements which upon insertion change the style of recreational play and introduce various mathematical relationships represented by lines on the elements into the game. The complementary elements or inserts singularly and collectively form a series of mathematical figures which are used in basic and advanced mathematics and are used in the game for instructional purposes. There are several circular openings in the principal playing surfaces with associated arch-shaped, cylindrical targets and stops located atop the principal playing surfaces. Structure is provided for retrieving the balls which roll upon the principal playing surface. In use, balls are manually propelled across the principal playing surface, and, ideally, after striking a peripheral, multi-purpose frame or structural support, roll into one of the circular openings if the ball was propelled along the lines on the complementary elements. Points, line segments, various types of angles, triangles, hexagons, parallelograms, and other polygons are some of the mathematical representations utilized in the game.
Inventors
- 👤 Willie M. Zanders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:17
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/0005; A63F3/00; A63F3/04; A63F3/0457; A63F2003/046; A63F7/22; A63F7/30; A63F2007/303; A63F7/36; A63F2007/3674; A63F2007/3677; A63F2007/3681; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An educational and recreational game comprising: a basic support frame; at least one principal playing surface element of transparent material mounted on said support frame having targets mounted thereon and on which balls are rolled at said targets; a multiple number of interchangeable complementary playing elements, each having different sets of path lines disposed thereon associated with said principal playing surface element; each set of path lines on said complementary elements being keyed to said targets and used to show the path which the ball should travel on said principal playing surface element to hit said targets and designed to illustrate certain geometrical relationships and/or figures; said complementary playing elements being made of transparent material, at least two of them being usable in said game at the same time, the complementary playing elements being located when in use beneath said principal playing surface element, said path lines of each of said complementary playing elements when in use being visible through said transparent material of said principal playing surface element and any of said complementary playing surface elements positioned thereabove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An educational and recreational game comprising: a basic support frame; at least one principal playing surface element of transparent material mounted on said support frame having targets mounted thereon and on which balls are rolled at said targets; a multiple number of interchangeable complementary playing elements, each having different sets of path lines disposed thereon associated with said principal playing surface element; each set of path lines on said complementary elements being keyed to said targets and used to show the path which the ball should travel on said principal playing surface element to hit said targets and designed to illustrate certain geometrical relationships and/or figures; said complementary playing elements being made of transparent material, at least two of them being usable in said game at the same time, the complementary playing elements being located when in use beneath said principal playing surface element, said path lines of each of said complementary playing elements when in use being visible through said transparent material of said principal playing surface element and any of said complementary playing surface elements positioned thereabove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The game of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said targets comprises a hole in said principal playing surface, the ball when hitting said target dropping through said hole down into said upper one of said complementary surfaces, at least the upper one of said complementary surfaces having an aperture therein through which the ball can further drop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The game of claim 1 wherein there is included a multiple number of interchangeable principal playing surfaces, each having different sets of targets mounted thereon, each set designed to illustrate in conjunction with one or more of said complementary playing elements certain geometrical relationships and/or figures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The game of claim 1 wherein said support frame is basically rectangular in shape and wherein there is further included peripheral sides extending up along three edges of said principal playing surface element forming side and back-stops against which the balls are rolled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The game of claim 4 wherein said support frame has at least one set of ledges along at least two of its opposing inner sides upon which said complementary playing elements are supported, the fourth side of said frame being removable to expose at least the fourth edge of said complementary elements for easy removal and changing thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The game of claim 5 wherein the removable fourth side comprises a removable wall which also serves as a ball receiving and holding tray.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The game of claim 1 wherein there is further included an accessory item comprising a back-stop strip which can be placed on said principal playing surface element blocking at least a portion of said peripheral sides changing the paths which a ball will take when rolled across said principal playing surface element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
The game of claim 7 where said strip is curved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The game of claim 7 wherein said strip is straight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1979-06-08 | 1979-12-08 | 1980-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-08 | 1983-12-08 | 1984-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-08 | 1987-12-08 | 1988-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |