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US4709928A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circular game board foldable into small volume

Assignee: Main Street Toy Co Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-19
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Granted: 1987-12-01
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Expires: 2006-06-19
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Abstract

Abstract A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of the playing surface. An elongate spring-like member is disposed in the tubular member, and an appropriate device is used for securing the ends of the spring-like member together so as to create an endless ring. This spring-like member is preferably in the form of a length of thin metal or plastic, whose ends have been joined together after insertion into the tubular member to form the endless ring serving to keep the playing surface taut. Quite advantageously, the game board is readily foldable into a smaller configuration for storage.

Inventors

  • 👤 W. Preston Willingham

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 04:54
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00173; A63F3/0023; A63F9/00; A63F9/04; A63F9/0402; A63F2003/00258; A63F3/00261; A63F2003/00492; A63F2003/00504; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/16; A63F2250/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, a spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, means for securing the ends of said spring-like member together so as to create an endless ring, said game board being readily foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin metal, whose ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form the endless ring serving to keep said playing surface taut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 116 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, a spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, means for securing the ends of said spring-like member together so as to create an endless ring, said game board being readily foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin metal, whose ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form the endless ring serving to keep said playing surface taut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 1 in which the ends of said spring-like member are joined together by welding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 1 wherein the ends of said spring-like member are secured together by clamping means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 1 wherein said playing surface is made of leather.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 1 wherein said playing surface is made of soft plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 18 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 1 wherein said playing surface is made of soft fabric.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 116 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, a spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, means for securing the ends of said spring-like member together so as to create an endless ring, said game board being readily foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin plastic, which ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form an endless ring serving to keep the playing surface taut.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 116 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, a spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, means for securing the ends of said spring-like member together so as to create an endless ring, said game board being readily foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin plastic, which ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form an endless ring serving to keep the playing surface taut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 7 in which the ends of said spring-like member are secured together by cementing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 7 in which the ends of said spring-like member are secured together by clamping means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 160 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, an endless spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, said game board being foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, by grasping opposite sides of said game board, and applying a form of twisting motion as to cause said game board to form three loops, each loop being of a diameter substantially less than the original diameter of said playing board, with continued twisting motion causing the nesting of said three loops into a small, flat, generally circular configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin metal, whose ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form the endless ring serving to keep said playing surface taut.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 160 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, an endless spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, said game board being foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, by grasping opposite sides of said game board, and applying a form of twisting motion as to cause said game board to form three loops, each loop being of a diameter substantially less than the original diameter of said playing board, with continued twisting motion causing the nesting of said three loops into a small, flat, generally circular configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin metal, whose ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form the endless ring serving to keep said playing surface taut.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 10 in which the ends of said spring-like member are joined together by welding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 22 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 10 wherein the ends of said spring-like member are secured together by clamping means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 18 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 10 wherein the playing surface is made of soft leather.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 10 wherein the playing surface is made of soft plastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 10 wherein the playing surface is made of soft fabric.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 160 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, an endless spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, said game board being foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, by grasping opposite sides of said game board, and applying a form of twisting motion as to cause said game board to form three loops, each loop being of a diameter substantially less than the original diameter of said playing board, with continued twisting motion causing the nesting of said three loops into a small, flat, generally circular configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin plastic, which ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form an endless ring serving to keep the playing surface taut.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 160 words
A circular game board foldable into thirds for storage, comprising a circular playing surface bounded by a generally tubular member affixed around the periphery of said playing surface, an endless spring-like member disposed in said tubular member, which spring-like member normally serves to keep said playing surface in a taut condition, said game board being foldable into a smaller configuration for storage, by grasping opposite sides of said game board, and applying a form of twisting motion as to cause said game board to form three loops, each loop being of a diameter substantially less than the original diameter of said playing board, with continued twisting motion causing the nesting of said three loops into a small, flat, generally circular configuration for storage, said spring-like member being in the form of a length of thin plastic, which ends have been joined together after insertion into said tubular member to form an endless ring serving to keep the playing surface taut.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 16 wherein the ends of said spring-like member are secured together by cementing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 23 words
The circular game board as recited in claim 16 in which the ends of said spring-like member are secured together by clamping means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US964740A Cited
US2667353A Cited
US3623728A Cited
US4151994A Cited
US4223473A Cited
US4241533A Cited
US4290226A Cited
GB2076671A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-11-30 1991-06-01 1991-12-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-11-30 1995-06-01 1995-12-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-11-30 1999-06-01 1999-12-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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