US4004810A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-17
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Granted: 1977-01-25
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Expires: 1995-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A game including a board with a polygonal playing area divided into a plurality of wedge-shaped segments, each for use by a different player. A pathway is included in each segment, each pathway being divided into a plurality of playing spaces over which a playing piece is moved. Each pathway has a finishing position which is common with the other pathways, and also a starting position. At various points along each pathway, the pathway branches into first and second paths which thereafter rejoin. The first path of each branching portion of a pathway contains a greater number of playing spaces than does the second path of the branching portion. Also included are a plurality of gate elements, each disposed adjacent a different one of the second paths for movement between a first position in which the gate element "blocks" the passage of a playing piece, and a second position in which the gate element does not block the passage of a playing piece. A plurality of cards are provided with the cards having various instructions inscribed thereon regarding movement of playing pieces or movement of the gate elements between the two positions. A die is provided the players and is used to determine the actions taken by the players.
Inventors
- 👤 Darwin E. Henrie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:37
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A game for at least two players comprising a game board having a generally planar surface playing area divided into at least two segments, each for use by a different player, each segment including a pathway inscribed thereon having a starting position and a finishing position, each pathway being divided into a plurality of playing spaces over which a playing piece is moved and each having a plurality of loops which branch from the pathway at various locations therealong and rejoin the pathway or another loop at locations closer to the finishing position, each of said loops providing an alternate path around a corresponding primary portion of the pathway over which a playing piece may be moved. a plurality of gate elements disposed on the game board playing area in each segment at a plurality of positions along each pathway, each gate element being adapted for movement between a close position, for blocking movement of a playing piece along the corresponding pathway past the element, and an open position, for allowing movement of a playing piece along the pathway past the element, and a device usable by the players for randomly presenting any one of a plurality of numerical values which are preassigned to indicate actions which the players may take.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A game for at least two players comprising a game board having a generally planar surface playing area divided into at least two segments, each for use by a different player, each segment including a pathway inscribed thereon having a starting position and a finishing position, each pathway being divided into a plurality of playing spaces over which a playing piece is moved and each having a plurality of loops which branch from the pathway at various locations therealong and rejoin the pathway or another loop at locations closer to the finishing position, each of said loops providing an alternate path around a corresponding primary portion of the pathway over which a playing piece may be moved. a plurality of gate elements disposed on the game board playing area in each segment at a plurality of positions along each pathway, each gate element being adapted for movement between a close position, for blocking movement of a playing piece along the corresponding pathway past the element, and an open position, for allowing movement of a playing piece along the pathway past the element, and a device usable by the players for randomly presenting any one of a plurality of numerical values which are preassigned to indicate actions which the players may take.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A game as in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cards having various instructions thereon regarding movement of playing pieces or movement of the gate elements between the close and open positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A game as in claim 2 wherein the gate elements are positioned along said primary portions of the pathways.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A game as in claim 3 wherein the number of playing spaces in each of said loops is greater than the number of playing spaces in the corresponding primary portion of a pathway.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A game as in claim 4 wherein each of said segments is wedge-shaped, and said segments are arranged so that the apexes of the segments are generally contiguous, and each side of a segment is contiguous with a side of another segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A game as in claim 5 wherein the starting position of each pathway is near the base of the segment in which the pathway is located, and the finishing position is near the apex of the segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A game as in claim 1 wherein each playing space of a pathway has a hole therein, said game further comprising at least two playing pieces, each being adapted so that a portion thereof may be inserted into said holes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
A game as in claim 1 wherein the game board has a plurality of holes therein each located at a different one of said positions along the pathways, and wherein each of said gate elements include an L-shaped member, one leg of which is inserted into one of the holes in the game board so that the other leg may be rotated over the surface of the board to either the close position over the corresponding pathway or the open position off the pathway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
A game as in claim 1 wherein the game board has a plurality of elongated slots therein, each located at a different one of said positions along the pathways and extending generally perpendicularly through a corresponding pathway and laterally a certain distance from one side of the pathway, and wherein each of said gate elements includes an elongated tab member formed to fit within the slots so that a portion of the tab extends above the surface of the game board, said tabs being slidable longitudinally in the slots between the close position when the tab member is in that portion of the slot which extends through a pathway, and the open position when the tab member is in the portion of the slot which extends laterally from one side of the pathway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
A game for at least two players comprising a game board having a playing area divided into at least two sections, each for use by a different player, each section including a pathway upon the face thereof divided into a plurality of spaces, each pathway successively branching, at various points therealong, into first and second paths which thereafter rejoin, the first path of each such branch having a greater number of spaces than the second path thereof, a plurality of gate elements disposed on the game board playing area in each section at a plurality of positions along each pathway, each gate element being positioned generally adjacent a different one of said second paths for manual adjustment to either a first position or a second position, and a device usable by the players for randomly presenting any one of a plurality of numerical values which are preassigned to indicate actions which the players may take.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
A game for at least two players comprising a game board having a playing area divided into at least two sections, each for use by a different player, each section including a pathway upon the face thereof divided into a plurality of spaces, each pathway successively branching, at various points therealong, into first and second paths which thereafter rejoin, the first path of each such branch having a greater number of spaces than the second path thereof, a plurality of gate elements disposed on the game board playing area in each section at a plurality of positions along each pathway, each gate element being positioned generally adjacent a different one of said second paths for manual adjustment to either a first position or a second position, and a device usable by the players for randomly presenting any one of a plurality of numerical values which are preassigned to indicate actions which the players may take.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A game as in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of cards having various instructions thereon regarding movement of playing pieces or adjustment of the gate elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A game as in claim 11 wherein the sections are arranged on the game board to have a common center.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A game as in claim 12 wherein each of said sections is wedge-shaped, said sections being arranged so that the apexes of the sections are generally contiguous to define the common center and each side of a section is contiguous with the side of another section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A game as in claim 13 wherein each pathway includes a starting position located near the base of the corresponding section, and a finishing position located at the common center.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A game as in claim 10 wherein each of said gate elements is adapted for movement between a position in which the element extends across a corresponding pathway and a position in which the element does not extend across the pathway.
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) | 1980-01-25 | 1980-07-26 | 1981-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-25 | 1984-07-26 | 1985-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-25 | 1988-07-26 | 1989-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |