Patent US3994492A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3994492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game apparatus
Assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
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Filing: 1975-10-20
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Granted: 1976-11-30
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Expires: 1995-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A game apparatus is provided which includes a generally hollow housing formed in the shape of a miniature shark having a pivotally mounted lower jaw portion. The pivotal lower jaw is mounted upon a horizontal axis and biased toward a closed position by a pair of resilient rubberbands. A plurality of game objects of different shapes and weights are provided to be placed on the lower jaw portion so that the cumulative weight of all of the game objects maintains the lower jaw in an open position. A set of cards determine which one of the playing pieces a player of the game is to retrieve from the lower jaw, and an elongated implement having a hook portion is provided to retrieve the game objects from the lower jaw portion. As the game objects are removed and the weight on the jaw lessened, at one point the lower jaw portion will snap shut under the force of the resilient rubberbands to terminate a round of play.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Breslow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:33
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/30; A63G; A63G33/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A game apparatus, comprising: a housing; a plurality of manually manipulatable game objects, each of said game objects having a predetermined weight and at least some of said objects being a different weight than some of the other of said objects; a weight actuatable game object receiving receptacle pivotally mounted on the housing, said receptacle being movable between a first open position where the weight of a plurality of game objects placed thereon maintain the receptacle in said first position so that said objects are retrievable by the players of the game and a second closed position where the weight of a lesser number of game objects is not sufficient to maintain the receptacle in said first position so that the remaining game objects are not accessible to the players of the game; and biasing means associated with said receptacle for moving the receptacle from the first position to the second position after the cumulative weight of the game objects has been reduced by selective removal of at least some of said game objects by the players of the game.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A game apparatus, comprising: a housing; a plurality of manually manipulatable game objects, each of said game objects having a predetermined weight and at least some of said objects being a different weight than some of the other of said objects; a weight actuatable game object receiving receptacle pivotally mounted on the housing, said receptacle being movable between a first open position where the weight of a plurality of game objects placed thereon maintain the receptacle in said first position so that said objects are retrievable by the players of the game and a second closed position where the weight of a lesser number of game objects is not sufficient to maintain the receptacle in said first position so that the remaining game objects are not accessible to the players of the game; and biasing means associated with said receptacle for moving the receptacle from the first position to the second position after the cumulative weight of the game objects has been reduced by selective removal of at least some of said game objects by the players of the game.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The game apparatus of claim 1 including a set of playing cards carrying indicating means associating each card with one of the game objects to be selectively chosen by the players of the game to determine which one of said game objects the player shall attempt to retrieve from said receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises resilient means connected between the housing and the receptacle to bias the receptacle toward said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The game apparatus of claim 3 wherein said housing is in the shape of a simulated shark and said object receptacle comprises a lower, movable jaw portion of said shark.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The game apparatus of claim 1 including a manually manipulatable implement for use by players of the game in an attempt to retrieve a game object from the receptacle, said implement including on one end thereof means for grasping one of said game objects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The game apparatus of claim 5 wherein said implement comprises an elongated manually manipulatable hook device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
A game apparatus, comprising: a housing in the shape of a simulated shark having a weight actuatable lower jaw portion of the mouth thereof defining a game object receiving receptacle on the housing, said jaw portion being movable between a first open position and a second closed position; a plurality of manually manipulatable game objects of predetermined weight positionable on the lower jaw portion so that the cumulative weight of a plurality of said game objects maintains the jaw portion in said first position so as to be selectively retrievable therefrom by players of the game when the jaw portion is in said first open position; and biasing means associated with said jaw portion for moving said jaw portion from said first open position to said second closed position after at least some of said plurality of game objects have been selectively retrieved therefrom by the players of the game.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
A game apparatus, comprising: a housing in the shape of a simulated shark having a weight actuatable lower jaw portion of the mouth thereof defining a game object receiving receptacle on the housing, said jaw portion being movable between a first open position and a second closed position; a plurality of manually manipulatable game objects of predetermined weight positionable on the lower jaw portion so that the cumulative weight of a plurality of said game objects maintains the jaw portion in said first position so as to be selectively retrievable therefrom by players of the game when the jaw portion is in said first open position; and biasing means associated with said jaw portion for moving said jaw portion from said first open position to said second closed position after at least some of said plurality of game objects have been selectively retrieved therefrom by the players of the game.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
The game apparatus of claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprising resilient means connected between the shark housing and the lower jaw portion bias the lower jaw portion toward said second position, and said lower jaw portion is pivotally mounted to said housing so that a predetermined cumulative weight of the game objects can provide sufficient weight to maintain the lower jaw portion in its open position against the force of the resilient means and a lesser cumulative weight will permit the resilient means to move said lower jaw to said closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The game apparatus of claim 7 including a set of playing cards carrying indicating means associating each card with one of the game objects to be selectively chosen by the players of the game to determine which one of said game objects the player shall attempt to retrieve from said receptacle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The game apparatus of claim 7 including a manually manipulatable implement for use by players of the game in an attempt to retrieve a game object from the receptacle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
142 words
A game apparatus, comprising: a housing in the shape of a simulated shark having a lower jaw portion of the mouth thereof defining a game object receiving receptacle on the housing, said jaw portion being movable between a first open position and a second closed position; a plurality of manually manipulatable game objects positionable on the lower jaw portion and retrievable therefrom by the players of the game when the jaw portion is in said first position; biasing means associated with said jaw portion for moving the same from said first open position to said second closed position after at least some of said game objects have been selectively retrieved therefrom by the players of the game; and a manually manipulatable hook device for use by the players of the game in an attempt to retrieve the game objects from the receptacle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
142 words
A game apparatus, comprising: a housing in the shape of a simulated shark having a lower jaw portion of the mouth thereof defining a game object receiving receptacle on the housing, said jaw portion being movable between a first open position and a second closed position; a plurality of manually manipulatable game objects positionable on the lower jaw portion and retrievable therefrom by the players of the game when the jaw portion is in said first position; biasing means associated with said jaw portion for moving the same from said first open position to said second closed position after at least some of said game objects have been selectively retrieved therefrom by the players of the game; and a manually manipulatable hook device for use by the players of the game in an attempt to retrieve the game objects from the receptacle.
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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) | 1979-11-30 | 1980-05-31 | 1980-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-30 | 1984-05-31 | 1984-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-30 | 1988-05-31 | 1988-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |