Patent US3973775A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3973775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game board apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-10-02
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Granted: 1976-08-10
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Expires: 1994-10-02
Abstract
Abstract A game apparatus is disclosed which includes an inner game board with a plurality of territorial representations thereon and a grid system dividing the surface into a plurality of grid segments, and an outer game board having a plurality of playing positions around the periphery of the game board. The apparatus also includes a plurality of player markers for movement around the periphery of the outer game board in accordance with preselected game rules. A plurality of player tokens are provided for movement within the grid segments of the inner game board in accordance with a preselected set of game rules. A plurality of instruction cards are provided to instruct players to take certain actions in accordance with the preselected game rules. Movement of the player markers and the player tokens is primarily controlled by the roll of a die. A random signal generating device is provided whereby random signal designations can be generated in response to the action of two different players and the random signal can be decoded to provide instructions to the players to take certain actions within the grid segments of the inner board. Players seek to occupy and capture the territories represented on the inner board to use them as bases for a strategic war-like portion of the game in which the players seek to destroy the opponents' territories and the player tokens thereon. The game is ended when only one player still possesses player tokens within the grid segments of the inner board.
Inventors
- 👤 William Bernard Bolan
- 👤 Steve Wayne Hodges
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:08
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00075; A63F3/00006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
A game apparatus comprising: an outer game board having a plurality of means dividing the periphery thereof into a plurality of playing positions to accommodate player marker means; indicia within each of said playing positions to convey instructions to players to take actions in accordance with preselected game rules; an inner game board having at least three territorial indicia spaced apart and disposed on the surface of said inner game board and means dividing the surface of said inner game board into a grid comprised of a plurality of grid segments to accommodate player token means, said inner game board being adapted to be disposed within said outer game board with said plurality of playing positions of said outer game board extending around the outer edges of said inner game board; at least two player marker means for movement around the periphery of said outer game board in accordance with preselected game rules, each of said player marker means being identifiable from the other of said player marker means; a plurality of player token means for placement and movement within said grid segments of said inner game board in accordance with preselected game rules; a plurality of instruction cards having indicia on one side thereof to instruct players to take certain actions in accordance with preselected game rules; a chance means having a plurality of indicia thereon to determine movement of said player market means and said player token means; a signal generator means to generate a random signal responsive to action by two separate players; at least one instruction means having indicia thereon to instruct players to make movement and placement of said token means responsive to said random signal generated by said signal generator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
A game apparatus comprising: an outer game board having a plurality of means dividing the periphery thereof into a plurality of playing positions to accommodate player marker means; indicia within each of said playing positions to convey instructions to players to take actions in accordance with preselected game rules; an inner game board having at least three territorial indicia spaced apart and disposed on the surface of said inner game board and means dividing the surface of said inner game board into a grid comprised of a plurality of grid segments to accommodate player token means, said inner game board being adapted to be disposed within said outer game board with said plurality of playing positions of said outer game board extending around the outer edges of said inner game board; at least two player marker means for movement around the periphery of said outer game board in accordance with preselected game rules, each of said player marker means being identifiable from the other of said player marker means; a plurality of player token means for placement and movement within said grid segments of said inner game board in accordance with preselected game rules; a plurality of instruction cards having indicia on one side thereof to instruct players to take certain actions in accordance with preselected game rules; a chance means having a plurality of indicia thereon to determine movement of said player market means and said player token means; a signal generator means to generate a random signal responsive to action by two separate players; at least one instruction means having indicia thereon to instruct players to make movement and placement of said token means responsive to said random signal generated by said signal generator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chance means comprises at least one die having said indicia imprinted on the faces thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said signal generator means comprises a grid system having coordinate strips along both axes thereof and moveable coordinate selectors whereby each player selects one coordinate by moving one of said coordinate selectors, and means to generate a signal at the intersection of said coordinates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said territorial indicia are in the form of representations of the sun and various planets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said instruction means comprises indicia representing the random signals with corresponding key designators with indicia setting forth a tabulation of said key designators and the appropriate instructions to be followed by players corresponding to said key designators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said outer game board is rectangular in shape and said inner game board is rectangular in shape and is disposed within the periphery of said outer game board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said inner game board is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to and above the plane of said outer game board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said outer game board is circular in shape and said inner game board is circular in shape and is disposed in concentric relationship to said outer game board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said inner game board is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to and above the plane of said outer game board.
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) | 1979-08-10 | 1980-02-09 | 1980-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-10 | 1984-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-10 | 1988-02-09 | 1988-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |