US5018743A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Board game
Assignee: Brainy Toys Inc
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Filing: 1990-04-11
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Granted: 1991-05-28
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Expires: 2010-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A foldable baseboard is provided with sixteen fixed tablets, arranged in regular rows. Thirty-three movable tablets are placed in the spaces between the fixed tablets, to make a 7×7 square. The tablets are marked out with roads to define paths along which counters may be moved, towards a target tablet. One extra movable tablet is provided, by means of which a player can push a row of the movable tablets, thus improving the road layout, and enabling him to move his counter towards the target. The game apparatus includes target cards, and game money.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven E. Maier
- 👤 Helmut W. Maier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:23
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00003; A63F3/00097; A63F3/00173; A63F3/0023; A63F2003/00233; A63F3/00261; A63F2003/00324; A63F2003/00331; A63F2003/00337; A63F3/00574; A63F3/00634
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for a board game, wherein: the apparatus includes a baseboard, respective movable game counters for each of at least two players, and a series of tablets which are laid out, on the baseboard, adjacent to one another; the tablets are provided with means defining a pathway pattern, the means being so arranged on the tablets that in respect of some pairs of adjacent tablets a continuous path for the said game counters is defined therebetween, and in respect of other pairs of adjacent tablets, no pathway for the game counters exists therebetween; some of the tablets are movable, a movable tablet being a tablet that is movable relative to an adjacent tablet and to the baseboard; some of the tablets are provided with markings designating those tablets as target tablets; the pathway pattern is such that a player may move his game counter from tablet to tablet along the pattern of pathways towards a selected one of the target tablets; the apparatus includes a means, operable by a player, for moving the movable tablets; the arrangement of the apparatus is such that the said movement of the movable tablets gives rise to a fresh pathway pattern; the apparatus includes fixed tablets, which are fixed to the baseboard; the fixed tablets are spaced apart in regular rows, with such spacing that corridors are created between the rows of fixed tablets, along which the movable tablets may be moved; and all the tablets are square.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
Apparatus for a board game, wherein: the apparatus includes a baseboard, respective movable game counters for each of at least two players, and a series of tablets which are laid out, on the baseboard, adjacent to one another; the tablets are provided with means defining a pathway pattern, the means being so arranged on the tablets that in respect of some pairs of adjacent tablets a continuous path for the said game counters is defined therebetween, and in respect of other pairs of adjacent tablets, no pathway for the game counters exists therebetween; some of the tablets are movable, a movable tablet being a tablet that is movable relative to an adjacent tablet and to the baseboard; some of the tablets are provided with markings designating those tablets as target tablets; the pathway pattern is such that a player may move his game counter from tablet to tablet along the pattern of pathways towards a selected one of the target tablets; the apparatus includes a means, operable by a player, for moving the movable tablets; the arrangement of the apparatus is such that the said movement of the movable tablets gives rise to a fresh pathway pattern; the apparatus includes fixed tablets, which are fixed to the baseboard; the fixed tablets are spaced apart in regular rows, with such spacing that corridors are created between the rows of fixed tablets, along which the movable tablets may be moved; and all the tablets are square.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tablets have well-rounded corners.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nominal side dimension of the each tablet is 5 cm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed tablets are slightly smaller than the movable tablets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes sixteen fixed tablets and thirty-four movable tablets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a series of cards, receivable by the players, each carrying a means for identifying one of the targets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes game money, for keeping cumulative score of the targets reached by the players.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the baseboard is of thick carboard, having tablet-shaped indentations pressed into the surface thereof, and the fixed tablets are fitted into the indentations, and are secured therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means defining a pathway pattern comprises markings which resemble roads marked upon the tablets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus of claim 9, wherein a substantial proportion of the tablets comprise T-junction tablets, a T-junction tablet being a tablet upon which the road-like markings comprise three roads arranged in a T-junction, the three roads opening onto three of the four side-edges of the square tablet, and the remaining side-edge being closed to the roads marked on that tablet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed tablets are so arranged that some of the corridors all lie parallel to a first direction, and the remainder of the corridors all lie parallel to a direction at right angles to the said first direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for a board game, wherein: the apparatus includes a baseboard, respective movable game counters for each of at least two players, and a series of tablets which are laid out, on the baseboard, adjacent to one another; the tablets are provided with means defining a pathway pattern, the means being so arranged on the tablets that in respect of some pairs of adjacent tablets a continuous path for the said game counters is defined therebetween, and in respect of other pairs of adjacent tablets, no pathway for the game counters exists therebetween; some of the tablets are provided with markings designating those tablets as target tablets; the pathway pattern is such that a player may move his game counter from tablet to tablet along the pattern of pathways towards a selected one of the target tablets; the apparatus includes a means, operable by a player, for moving the movable tablets; and the arrangement of the apparatus is such that the said movement of the movable tablets gives rise to a fresh pathway pattern; the apparatus includes fixed tablets, which are fixed to the baseboard; the fixed tablets are spaced apart in regular rows, with such spacing that corridors are created between the rows of fixed tablets, along which the movable tablets may be moved; and the movable tablets are co-planar with the fixed tablets, and said movable tablets are slidable on said baseboard and slide along said corridors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
239 words
Apparatus for a board game, wherein: the apparatus includes a baseboard, respective movable game counters for each of at least two players, and a series of tablets which are laid out, on the baseboard, adjacent to one another; the tablets are provided with means defining a pathway pattern, the means being so arranged on the tablets that in respect of some pairs of adjacent tablets a continuous path for the said game counters is defined therebetween, and in respect of other pairs of adjacent tablets, no pathway for the game counters exists therebetween; some of the tablets are provided with markings designating those tablets as target tablets; the pathway pattern is such that a player may move his game counter from tablet to tablet along the pattern of pathways towards a selected one of the target tablets; the apparatus includes a means, operable by a player, for moving the movable tablets; and the arrangement of the apparatus is such that the said movement of the movable tablets gives rise to a fresh pathway pattern; the apparatus includes fixed tablets, which are fixed to the baseboard; the fixed tablets are spaced apart in regular rows, with such spacing that corridors are created between the rows of fixed tablets, along which the movable tablets may be moved; and the movable tablets are co-planar with the fixed tablets, and said movable tablets are slidable on said baseboard and slide along said corridors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus of claim 12, wherein all the tablets are square.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2162876A
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US4032151A
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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) | 1994-05-27 | 1994-11-26 | 1995-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-27 | 1998-11-26 | 1999-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-27 | 2002-11-26 | 2003-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |