US4055343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface projectile game apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-05-21
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1996-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A game having a vertical game board with an adherent surface supported from a horizontal game surface upon which a game piece transporter can be accelerated. The game piece transporter has weight and center of gravity located to prevent tipping and has a height adjustable, changable, adherent element capable of holding onto one side of a game piece, having mating adherent material, during acceleration and transit to or from the game board. The opposite side of the game piece has an adhering material compatible for mating with the adherent surface of the game board, depending upon the relative adherent strengths of the respective mating adherent surfaces, when the game piece transporter is accelerated to the game board. An elastic band is located across the base and in front of the vertical game board in the vicinity of the intersection of the game board and the horizontal game surface. The elastic band permits the game piece transporter to approach the game board close enough to permit removal or deposit of the game piece and rebound and return of the game piece transporter with or without, respectively, the game piece, to the player as the rules of the selected game routine dictate.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin G. Stuart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:47
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B67/00; A63B67/14; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/02; A63F9/0204; A63F9/0208; A63F2009/0239; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
A game apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal game playing surface, a game board having an adherent surface, support means at one end of said game playing surface supporting said game board in a substantially vertical plane such that said adherent surface is facing in the direction of the other end of said game playing surface, a rebound means; said rebound means being affixed between at least two points at said one end of said game playing surface immediately in front of, near, and across the base of said game board, a game piece transporter; said game piece transporter having a substantially flat bottom surface and a shaft extending substantially vertically upward therefrom, said shaft having a vertically adjustable adherent means mounted thereon, a game piece having opposite sides; said game piece having adherent means on one of its sides permitting releasable affixation to said adherent surface on said game board and adherent means on the side opposite said one side permitting releasable affixation to said adherent means mounted on said shaft; the adherence between said adherent means on said game board and said one side of said game piece being greater than the adherence between the adherent means on said shaft and said adherent means on said side opposite said one side of said game piece such that when said game piece is attached to said adherent means on said shaft and said game piece transporter is propelled from said other end of said game playing surface and into said rebound means said game piece will be deposited upon said game board adherent surface as said game transporter is rebounded towards said other end of game playing surface of said rebound means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
A game apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal game playing surface, a game board having an adherent surface, support means at one end of said game playing surface supporting said game board in a substantially vertical plane such that said adherent surface is facing in the direction of the other end of said game playing surface, a rebound means; said rebound means being affixed between at least two points at said one end of said game playing surface immediately in front of, near, and across the base of said game board, a game piece transporter; said game piece transporter having a substantially flat bottom surface and a shaft extending substantially vertically upward therefrom, said shaft having a vertically adjustable adherent means mounted thereon, a game piece having opposite sides; said game piece having adherent means on one of its sides permitting releasable affixation to said adherent surface on said game board and adherent means on the side opposite said one side permitting releasable affixation to said adherent means mounted on said shaft; the adherence between said adherent means on said game board and said one side of said game piece being greater than the adherence between the adherent means on said shaft and said adherent means on said side opposite said one side of said game piece such that when said game piece is attached to said adherent means on said shaft and said game piece transporter is propelled from said other end of said game playing surface and into said rebound means said game piece will be deposited upon said game board adherent surface as said game transporter is rebounded towards said other end of game playing surface of said rebound means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The game of claim 1 wherein said horizontal game surface is smooth to permit sliding of said game piece transporter upon said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The game of claim 1 wherein the shaft of said game piece transporter comprises a series of telescoping sections which permit upward and downward positioning of said adherent means upon said shaft to allow depositing of a game piece at a location at a selected elevation on said game board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The game of claim 1 wherein said support means contains a receptacle permitting game board insertion for retention in a vertical orientation relative to said horizontal game surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The game of claim 1 wherein said rebound means comprises a rubber band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
151 words
The game of claim 1 wherein the adherent surface of said game board is a piece of Velcro-like material and said adherent means on the side of the game piece intended to contact and hold to said Velcro-like material on said gameboard is the mating side of the Velcro-like material while the adhering means on the opposite side of said game piece is metallic and the adherent means mounted upon the shaft of said game piece transporter is magnetic so that said game piece may be held by said adherent means at an elevation on the shaft of said game piece transporter coinciding with a desired contact point on said game board selected by a player pursuant to a particular game scheme during acceleration of said game piece transporter into said rebound means to an extent permitting contact and meshing of the mating Velcro-like material, and retention upon said game board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
271 words
A game apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal game playing surface, a game board having an adherent surface, support means at one end of said game playing surface supporting said game board in a substantially vertical plane such that said adherent surface is facing in the direction of the other end of said game playing surface, a rebound means; said rebound means being affixed between at least two points at said one end of said game playing surface immediately in front of, near and across the base of said game board, a game piece transporter; said game piece transporter having a substantially flat bottom surface and a shaft extending substantially vertically upwardly therefrom, said shaft having a vertically adjustable adherent means mounted thereon, a game piece having opposite sides; said game piece having adherent means on said opposite sides, the adherence between said adherent means on said game board and the adherent means on one side of said game piece being less than the adherence between the adherent means on said shaft and said adherent means on the side of said game piece opposite said one side such that when said game piece is attached to said adherent means on said game board and said game piece transporter is propelled from said other end of said game playing surface and into said rebound means said game piece will be removed from said game board upon contact between said adherent means on said shaft and said game piece adherent means as the said game piece transporter is rebounded toward said other end of said game playing surface of said rebound means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
271 words
A game apparatus comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal game playing surface, a game board having an adherent surface, support means at one end of said game playing surface supporting said game board in a substantially vertical plane such that said adherent surface is facing in the direction of the other end of said game playing surface, a rebound means; said rebound means being affixed between at least two points at said one end of said game playing surface immediately in front of, near and across the base of said game board, a game piece transporter; said game piece transporter having a substantially flat bottom surface and a shaft extending substantially vertically upwardly therefrom, said shaft having a vertically adjustable adherent means mounted thereon, a game piece having opposite sides; said game piece having adherent means on said opposite sides, the adherence between said adherent means on said game board and the adherent means on one side of said game piece being less than the adherence between the adherent means on said shaft and said adherent means on the side of said game piece opposite said one side such that when said game piece is attached to said adherent means on said game board and said game piece transporter is propelled from said other end of said game playing surface and into said rebound means said game piece will be removed from said game board upon contact between said adherent means on said shaft and said game piece adherent means as the said game piece transporter is rebounded toward said other end of said game playing surface of said rebound means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft of said transporter comprises a series of telescoping sections which permit upward and downward positioning of said adherent means mounted thereon, said positioning of said shaft allows removal of said game piece from various locations on said game board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
141 words
The game apparatus of claim 8 wherein the adherent surface on said game is metallic and the adherent means on said one side of said game piece for contacting said metallic surface on said game board is a magnet, and said adherent means on said game piece opposite said one side is a piece of Velcro-like material and said adherent means mounted on said shaft is a piece of Velcro-like material for mating with said material on said side opposite said one side of said game piece, said game piece being manually placed at a particular location on said game board and removed by the said adherent means mounted on said shaft after proper vertical adjustment of said adherent means on said shaft and propelling said game piece transporter over said game playing surface towards said game board and rebound means.
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) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |