US4171814A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of playing a board game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-05-04
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Granted: 1979-10-23
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Expires: 1998-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A board game comprises two playing surfaces, each including a grid defining a plurality of spaces, the number of spaces in each grid being the same, first and second sets of playing pieces including means for distinguishing one set of pieces from the other, each piece being dimensioned for placement in a single space, and chance means manipulatable by the players for determining the number of movements allotted to the players, the object being for each player to place his selected set of pieces on his opponent's grid to surround one or more of the opponent's pieces placed on that grid at the commencement of play. A method of playing the game is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshio Tamano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:27
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00006; A63F9/00; A63F9/04; A63F9/0413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
424 words
A method for playing a game for two players which comprises the steps of: (A) providing first and second sets of playing pieces including means for distinguishing one set of pieces from the other set; (B) providing first and second grids each defining a plurality of spaces, the number of spaces in each grid being the same; (C) providing chance means manipulatable by said players for determining the number of movements allotted to said players for placing and moving said pieces on said grids in said spaces; (D) each of said players selecting a different one of said first and second sets of pieces; (E) each of said players selecting a different one of said first and second grids and placing at least one of his selected set of pieces in a space thereon; (F) selecting one of said two players as the one to commence play; (G) manipulating said chance means to determine the number of movements allotted to said one player; (H) said one player performing a movement by (i) moving his said at least one piece from the space occupied by said piece on his selected grid to another space on his selected grid contiguous with said occupied space or (ii) placing one of the remaining pieces from his selected set of pieces in an unoccupied space on the grid selected by the other player, the total number of movements performed by said one player equalling the number of movements allotted to him as determined by said chance means; (I) manipulating said chance means to determine the number of movements allotted to said other player; (J) said other player performing a movement by (i) moving his said at least one piece from the space occupied by said piece on his selected grid to another space on his selected grid contiguous with said occupied space or (ii) placing one of the remaining pieces from his selected set of pieces in an unoccupied space on the grid selected by said one player, the total number of movements performed by said other player equalling the total number of movements allotted to him as determined by said chance means; and (K) repeating steps (G) through (J) until (i) said at least one piece of at least either said one player or said other player is surrounded by his opponent's said remaining pieces or (ii) at least either said one player or said other player has placed all of his said remaining pieces from his selected set of pieces on the grid selected by his opponent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
424 words
A method for playing a game for two players which comprises the steps of: (A) providing first and second sets of playing pieces including means for distinguishing one set of pieces from the other set; (B) providing first and second grids each defining a plurality of spaces, the number of spaces in each grid being the same; (C) providing chance means manipulatable by said players for determining the number of movements allotted to said players for placing and moving said pieces on said grids in said spaces; (D) each of said players selecting a different one of said first and second sets of pieces; (E) each of said players selecting a different one of said first and second grids and placing at least one of his selected set of pieces in a space thereon; (F) selecting one of said two players as the one to commence play; (G) manipulating said chance means to determine the number of movements allotted to said one player; (H) said one player performing a movement by (i) moving his said at least one piece from the space occupied by said piece on his selected grid to another space on his selected grid contiguous with said occupied space or (ii) placing one of the remaining pieces from his selected set of pieces in an unoccupied space on the grid selected by the other player, the total number of movements performed by said one player equalling the number of movements allotted to him as determined by said chance means; (I) manipulating said chance means to determine the number of movements allotted to said other player; (J) said other player performing a movement by (i) moving his said at least one piece from the space occupied by said piece on his selected grid to another space on his selected grid contiguous with said occupied space or (ii) placing one of the remaining pieces from his selected set of pieces in an unoccupied space on the grid selected by said one player, the total number of movements performed by said other player equalling the total number of movements allotted to him as determined by said chance means; and (K) repeating steps (G) through (J) until (i) said at least one piece of at least either said one player or said other player is surrounded by his opponent's said remaining pieces or (ii) at least either said one player or said other player has placed all of his said remaining pieces from his selected set of pieces on the grid selected by his opponent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of playing a game according to claim 1, wherein step (E) comprises each player placing two of his selected set of pieces on his selected grid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of playing a game according to claim 2, wherein said two pieces are placed in a common space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of playing a game according to claim 2, wherein step (K) (i) is repeated until said two pieces of at least either said one player or said other player are surrounded in a single territory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
The method of playing a game according to claim 3, wherein said step (K) (i) comprises repeating steps (G) through (J) until said two pieces are surrounded in a single territory with only one path of movement between said two pieces remaining, the player who has surrounded said two pieces then being permitted to move one of said two pieces one space along said path and placing one of his said remaining pieces in the space vacated by said moved piece for each movement allotted to him by said chance means, until one of said two pieces is forced to move into the space occupied by the other of said two pieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of playing a game according to claim 1, wherein said step (B) comprises providing rectangular grids and wherein said movement performing step (H) (i) comprises moving said at least one piece to either a horizontally, vertically, or diagonally contiguous space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of playing a game according to claim 1, wherein said step (K) (ii) comprises repeating steps (G) through (J) until both players have placed all their said remaining pieces on their opponent's grids.
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) | 1982-10-22 | 1983-04-23 | 1983-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-10-22 | 1987-04-23 | 1987-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-10-22 | 1991-04-23 | 1991-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |