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US4545577A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Maze game device

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-12-02
•
Granted: 1985-10-08
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Expires: 2003-12-02
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Abstract

Abstract A maze game device for moving one or more game objects from a starting position to a finish position which includes a housing enclosing a plurality of tunnels which are movable in location within the housing in response to the depressment of buttons which extend outwardly from various locations on the housing and the concurrent tilting and orienting of the housing. The game object or objects are maneuverable from the starting location to the finish location by orientating the housing and depressing the buttons either singly or in combination to align the tunnels to provide a path for moving the game object from the starting location to the finish location.

Inventors

  • 👤 Randy J. Randleman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 00:48
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/04; A63F7/042

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 182 words
A maze gam device comprising: a housing having top and bottom walls, four sidewalls, and a hollow interior; transparent covers positioned over said top and bottom walls to contain at least one game object; at least one aperture in each said top and bottom wall of such size to allow a said object to pass into said housing; elongated button members extending perpendicular to and through each said sidewall into said housing; each said button member extending across the interior of said housing to the opposite side and having cut-out tunnel portions along its length through which a said game object is passable; each said button member being slidably depressible to change the position of said tunnel portions; said button members of all side walls being interlaid with one another to occupy the entire space of said housing; and so that by depressing one or more of said button members and tilting and orientating said housing, said game object may be maneuvered from outside of said top wall to outside of said bottom wall and back to outside of said top wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 182 words
A maze gam device comprising: a housing having top and bottom walls, four sidewalls, and a hollow interior; transparent covers positioned over said top and bottom walls to contain at least one game object; at least one aperture in each said top and bottom wall of such size to allow a said object to pass into said housing; elongated button members extending perpendicular to and through each said sidewall into said housing; each said button member extending across the interior of said housing to the opposite side and having cut-out tunnel portions along its length through which a said game object is passable; each said button member being slidably depressible to change the position of said tunnel portions; said button members of all side walls being interlaid with one another to occupy the entire space of said housing; and so that by depressing one or more of said button members and tilting and orientating said housing, said game object may be maneuvered from outside of said top wall to outside of said bottom wall and back to outside of said top wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein there are button members on each sidewall only.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 2 wherein each said button member is one-fourth the width of said sidewall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 3 wherein each button is spaced from every other button an equal distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said button members are resiliently biased so that upon releasing said button after depressment said button will return to its original position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said resilient biasing comprises a spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
The device of claim 1 wherein peepholes are placed at the outermost ends of said buttons to allow the user to see and feel if said game object is within a certain button member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 1 wherein each sidewall of said housing is a different color from the other sidewalls to allow referencing of sides by said user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
The device of claim 8 wherein there is a plurality of game objects being divided into sets of game objects, each set being of a different color corresponding to a color a said side wall of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of game objects.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said plurality of game objects are divided up into set of game objects, each set being of a different color.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 204 words
A maze game device comprising: a housing having top and bottom walls, four sidewalls, and a hollow interior; transparent covers positioned over said top and bottom walls to contain at least one game object; at least one aperture in each said top and bottom wall of such size to allow a said game object to pass into said housing; elongated button members extending perpendicular to and through each said sidewall into said housing; each said button member extending across the interior of said housing to the opposite side and having cut-out tunnel portions along its length through which a said game object is passable; each said button member being slidably depressible to change the position of said tunnel portions; said button members comprise single action button members and double action button members, said single action button members having only one said tunnel, whereas said double action button members have two said tunnels through which a said game object can pass; and so that by depressing one or more of said button members and tilting and orientating said housing, said game object may be maneuvered from outside of said top wall to outside of said bottom wall and back to outside of said top wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 204 words
A maze game device comprising: a housing having top and bottom walls, four sidewalls, and a hollow interior; transparent covers positioned over said top and bottom walls to contain at least one game object; at least one aperture in each said top and bottom wall of such size to allow a said game object to pass into said housing; elongated button members extending perpendicular to and through each said sidewall into said housing; each said button member extending across the interior of said housing to the opposite side and having cut-out tunnel portions along its length through which a said game object is passable; each said button member being slidably depressible to change the position of said tunnel portions; said button members comprise single action button members and double action button members, said single action button members having only one said tunnel, whereas said double action button members have two said tunnels through which a said game object can pass; and so that by depressing one or more of said button members and tilting and orientating said housing, said game object may be maneuvered from outside of said top wall to outside of said bottom wall and back to outside of said top wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 12 wherein there are button members on each sidewall only.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 13 wherein each said button member is one-fourth the width of said sidewall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 14 wherein each button is spaced from every other button an equal distance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said button members are resiliently biased so that upon releasing said button after depressment said button will return to its original position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 12 words
The device of claim 16 wherein said resilient biasing comprises a spring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 34 words
The device of claim 12 wherein peepholes are placed at the outermost ends of said buttons to allow the user to see and feel if said game object is within a certain button member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
The device of claim 12 wherein each sidewall of said housing is a different color from the other sidewalls to allow referencing of sides by said user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 39 words
The device of claim 19 wherein there is a plurality of game objects being divided into sets of game objects, each set being of a different color corresponding to a color of a said side wall of said housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of game objects.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 21 wherein said plurality of game objects are divided up into sets of game objects, each set being of a different color.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2899206A Cited
US3488052A Cited
US3610628A Cited
US3787054A Cited
US3747937A Cited
US3785651A Cited
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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) 1988-10-07 1989-04-08 1989-10-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-10-07 1993-04-08 1993-10-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-10-07 1997-04-08 1997-10-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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