US4003580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Football game
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-09-17
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Granted: 1977-01-18
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Expires: 1995-09-17
Abstract
Abstract An entertainment apparatus is described for simulating the basic play options of the game of college football. The apparatus includes a gameboard to simulate a football field and includes thereon: space at each end for run or pass options to be indicated thereupon, a football-shaped ball position yardline marker, a first down indicator, an individual down indicator, and two play designation markers. Two decks of cards provide a plurality of play situations whereby two persons representing offensive and defensive quarterbacks can match wits to move a simulated football back and forth upon the gameboard. A multiplicity of down cards are controlled by the player starting on the offense while a multiplicity of kick cards are controlled by the defensive player. The offensive player, using a shield to hide his choice from view, chooses either a run or a pass and places a play designation marker on the appropriate space on the gameboard to so indicate. The defensive player, on a signal, then attempts to anticipate the offensive play. The outcome is determined by comparing the offensive call with the defensive guess. Correct defensive guesses are statistically more favorable for the defensive player while incorrect defensive guesses favor the offensive player.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Haffey, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00028; A63F3/00041; A63F9/00; A63F9/04; A63F9/0415; A63F2009/0417; A63F9/18; A63F2009/186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A simulated football game comprising: a. a simulated football playing field including yard line and play selection indicia, b. means for an offensive and a defensive player to indicate his choice of a play, c. means for achieving secrecy in play selection by said offensive player, d. means for representing the position of a ball on the simulated playing field, e. means for indicating the yard line on the simulated playing field which must be achieved in order to accomplish a first down, f. down indicating means, g. a multiplicity of offensive play designation down cards having a plurality of play situations disposed thereon, and h. a multiplicity of kick cards having a plurality of kicking situations disposed thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A simulated football game comprising: a. a simulated football playing field including yard line and play selection indicia, b. means for an offensive and a defensive player to indicate his choice of a play, c. means for achieving secrecy in play selection by said offensive player, d. means for representing the position of a ball on the simulated playing field, e. means for indicating the yard line on the simulated playing field which must be achieved in order to accomplish a first down, f. down indicating means, g. a multiplicity of offensive play designation down cards having a plurality of play situations disposed thereon, and h. a multiplicity of kick cards having a plurality of kicking situations disposed thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for an offensive and a defensive player to indicate his choice of a play consists of play selection markers superimposed upon said play selection indicia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for representing the position of a ball on the simulated playing field comprises the forward pointed portion of a movable marker having an ovate shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 3, wherein said movable marker for representing the position of a ball on the simulated playing field is slidably mounted within a longitudinal groove on one side of said simulated football playing field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for indicating the yard line on said simulated playing field which must be achieved in order to accomplish a first down comprises a movable marker having a length corresponding to a simulated ten-yard interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 5, wherein said movable marker for indicating the yard line on said simulated playing field which must be achieved in order to accomplish a first down is slidably mounted within a longitudinal groove on one side of said simulated football playing field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said down indicating means consists of a slidable down marker progressively movable to indicate each play in a series of downs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for achieving secrecy in play selection comprises an opaque shield behind which the offensive player may conceal his choice of a pass or run option from the defensive player.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
a simulated football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said offensive play designation down cards comprise a plurality of play situations wherein each of said down cards has a plurality of mutually perpendicular columns and rows, indicia representing offensive calls, defensive guesses and play results, said indicia being arranged columnarly and whereby rows of indicia representing said offensive calls intersect said defensive guesses in the horizontal plane to provide play results for each play.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
A simulated football game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multiplicity of kick cards comprise a plurality of kicking situations wherein each of said kick cards has a plurality of mutually perpendicular columns and rows, indicia representing the strategic and tactical kicks used to move the ball in the game of football, distances for said kicks, runbacks for said kicks, said indicia arranged columnarly and whereby rows of indicia representing said types of strategic and tactical kicks intersect said distance columns and said runback columns in the horizontal plane and including indicia to provide results for attempted field goals and indicia to provide results for scoring extra points.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for playing a simulated game of football wherein a player in the offensive position secretly chooses and indicates a play option for advancing a football toward an opponent's goal upon a simulated football playing field having play selection indicia disposed thereon, whereupon a second player in the defensive position attempts to predict and thereupon indicate said play option chosen by said player in the offensive position whereby said second player can achieve tactical and strategic advantage in the ultimate outcome of said simulated game of football and whereby the results of the offensive player's choice and the defensive player's prediction are determined by reference to one of a multiplicity of offensive play designation down cards having a plurality of play situations disposed thereon.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for playing a simulated game of football wherein a player in the offensive position secretly chooses and indicates a play option for advancing a football toward an opponent's goal upon a simulated football playing field having play selection indicia disposed thereon, whereupon a second player in the defensive position attempts to predict and thereupon indicate said play option chosen by said player in the offensive position whereby said second player can achieve tactical and strategic advantage in the ultimate outcome of said simulated game of football and whereby the results of the offensive player's choice and the defensive player's prediction are determined by reference to one of a multiplicity of offensive play designation down cards having a plurality of play situations disposed thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for playing a simulated game of football as set forth in claim 11 wherein said play options comprise a choice of passing or running said football toward said opponent's goal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method for playing a simulated game of football as set forth in claim 12 wherein said method by which said player in the offensive position secretly chooses a play option comprises the utilization of an opaque shield behind which said player in the offensive position may conceal his choice of said play option from said second player in the defensive position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for playing a simulated game of football as set forth in claim 11 wherein said player in the offensive position may choose to kick the football to attain a tactical and strategic advantage in the ultimate outcome of said simulated game of football.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for playing a simulated game of football as set forth in claim 14 wherein the results of said offensive player's choice to kick the football is determined by reference to at least one of a multiplicity of kick cards having a plurality of kicking situations disposed thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for playing a simulated game of football as set forth in claim 11 wherein the method by which said offensive player and said defensive player indicate said play options comprises the utilization of play selection markers superimposed upon said play selection indicia disposed on said simulated football playing field.
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) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-07-19 | 1981-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-18 | 1984-07-19 | 1985-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-18 | 1988-07-19 | 1989-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |