Patent US5690332A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5690332A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Board game and playing method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1996-05-14
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2016-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A board game including in a preferred embodiment, a standard checker board and game pieces, each characterized by a negative or concave image of a dragon footprint on one face of the game piece and a positive or convex dragon footprint image on the opposite face of the game piece. The game is played by two teams or players, and one player lines his or her game pieces up on his or her base line of the game board, with the positive or convex image facing upwardly and the opposite player lines his or her game pieces up on the opposite base line of the game board, with the negative or concave side of the game piece facing upwardly. Each player moves a game piece forward on the board, until a negative game piece and a positive game piece face each other, at which point either a block occurs or a negative game piece may jump over a positive game piece or vice-versa, in the forward diagonal direction. When this occurs, both game pieces reverse "polarity", with the negative game piece inverted to a positive game piece and the positive game piece inverted to a negative game piece. Neither game piece involved in a jumping action may be moved by either player for one full turn and a "stalemate" or neutralization occurs in the game when the player or team whose turn it is, may not make a legal move. The first player or team to reach such a stalemate loses the game.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn M. Rechs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:10
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/02; A63F3/00697; A63F2003/00716; A63F2003/00719; A63F2003/00731; A63F2003/00845; A63F2003/00854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A game board comprising a grid having a selected number of rows and a selected number of columns defining a selected number of squares to identify a field of play; two sets of playing pieces disposed for movement on said grid, said playing pieces characterized by a substantially flat first surface and first indicia elevated from said first surface and a substantially flat second surface opposite said first surface and second indicia recessed in said second surface, wherein said playing pieces are placed on said grid with at least one said first surface and at least one said second surface facing said grid and said playing pieces are caused to traverse said squares on said grid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A game board comprising a grid having a selected number of rows and a selected number of columns defining a selected number of squares to identify a field of play; two sets of playing pieces disposed for movement on said grid, said playing pieces characterized by a substantially flat first surface and first indicia elevated from said first surface and a substantially flat second surface opposite said first surface and second indicia recessed in said second surface, wherein said playing pieces are placed on said grid with at least one said first surface and at least one said second surface facing said grid and said playing pieces are caused to traverse said squares on said grid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The game board of claim 1 wherein said selected number of rows comprises eight rows, said selected number of columns comprises eight columns and said selected number of squares comprises sixty-four squares.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The game board of claim 1 comprising bar tag means for selectively covering selected sets of said playing pieces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The game board of claim 1 comprising bar tag means for selectively covering selected sets of said playing pieces and wherein said selected number of rows comprises eight rows, said selected number of columns comprises eight columns and said selected number of squares comprises sixty-four squares.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The game board of claim 1 comprising board dividing indicia substantially horizontally bisecting said columns on said grid for dividing said field of play for said playing pieces on said grid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The game board of claim 5 wherein said selected number of rows comprises eight rows, said selected number of columns comprises eight columns and said selected number of squares comprises sixty-four squares.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The game board of claim 5 comprising bar tag means for selectively covering selected sets of said playing pieces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The game board of claim 5 comprising bar tag means for selectively covering selected sets of said playing pieces and wherein said selected number of rows comprises eight rows, said selected number of columns comprises eight columns and said selected number of squares comprises sixty-four squares.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A game board comprising a grid having eight rows and eight columns defining 64 squares identifying a playing area; two sets of playing pieces disposed for movement on said grid, said playing pieces each characterized by a substantially flat first surface and first indicia elevated from said first surface and a substantially flat second surface opposite said first surface and second indicia recessed in said second surface, wherein said playing pieces are caused to traverse said squares on said grid with an equal number of said first surface and said second surface facing said grid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
A game board comprising a grid having eight rows and eight columns defining 64 squares identifying a playing area; two sets of playing pieces disposed for movement on said grid, said playing pieces each characterized by a substantially flat first surface and first indicia elevated from said first surface and a substantially flat second surface opposite said first surface and second indicia recessed in said second surface, wherein said playing pieces are caused to traverse said squares on said grid with an equal number of said first surface and said second surface facing said grid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The game board of claim 9 wherein said first indicia comprises a simulated dragon foot elevated from said first surface and said second indicia comprises a simulated dragon foot recessed in said second surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The game board of claim 9 comprising bar tag means for selectively covering selected sets of said playing pieces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The game board of claim 9 comprising bar tag means for selectively covering selected sets of said playing pieces and wherein said first indicia comprises a simulated dragon foot elevated from said first surface and said second indicia comprises a simulated dragon foot recessed in said second surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The game board of claim 9 comprising board dividing indicia substantially horizontally bisecting said columns on said grid for dividing said field of play for said playing pieces on said grid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The game board of claim 13 wherein said first indicia comprises a simulated dragon foot elevated from said first surface and said second indicia comprises a simulated dragon foot recessed in said second surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The game board of claim 13 comprising bar tag means for selectively covering selected sets of said playing pieces.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of playing a game comprising the steps of, providing a flat, two-dimensional game surface means having peripheral boundaries defined in the marginal edges thereof; providing a plurality of game pieces divided into at least two different groups, said game pieces provided with indicia such that said groups of said game pieces are readily visually distinguishable; deploying said groups of said game pieces on said surface means at opposite ones of said peripheral boundaries; moving selected ones of said game pieces in said groups on said surface means from said peripheral boundaries, respectively, in a straight line, in alternating relationship from said groups, respectively; jumping an opponent's game piece diagonally when two of said game pieces from said groups, respectively, oppose each other adjacently, on said straight line and at least one of said game pieces lies adjacent to another one of said game pieces diagonally on said surface means; and inverting said one of said game pieces which jumped said another one of said game pieces and inverting said another one of said game pieces jumped by said one of said game pieces, whereby the ownership of said one of said game pieces and said another of said game pieces is changed.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of playing a game comprising the steps of, providing a flat, two-dimensional game surface means having peripheral boundaries defined in the marginal edges thereof; providing a plurality of game pieces divided into at least two different groups, said game pieces provided with indicia such that said groups of said game pieces are readily visually distinguishable; deploying said groups of said game pieces on said surface means at opposite ones of said peripheral boundaries; moving selected ones of said game pieces in said groups on said surface means from said peripheral boundaries, respectively, in a straight line, in alternating relationship from said groups, respectively; jumping an opponent's game piece diagonally when two of said game pieces from said groups, respectively, oppose each other adjacently, on said straight line and at least one of said game pieces lies adjacent to another one of said game pieces diagonally on said surface means; and inverting said one of said game pieces which jumped said another one of said game pieces and inverting said another one of said game pieces jumped by said one of said game pieces, whereby the ownership of said one of said game pieces and said another of said game pieces is changed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 16 comprising the step of placing a bar tag means on said one of said game pieces and said another of said game pieces for marking said jumping of said opponent's game piece.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method according to claim 16 comprising the step of marking said game pieces, wherein said game pieces include a first flat surface and first indicia elevated from said first flat surface and a second flat surface and second indicia depressed in said second flat surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method according to claim 16 comprising: (a) the step of placing a bar tag means on said one of said game pieces and said another of said game pieces for marking said jumping of said opponent's game piece; and (b) the step of marking said game pieces wherein said game pieces include a first flat surface and first indicia elevated from said first flat surface and a second flat surface and second indicia depressed in said second flat surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein said first indicia and said second indicia are a simulated dragon foot.
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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) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |