US6182967B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Board game having dynamic game pieces
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-12-10
•
Granted: 2001-02-06
•
Expires: 2018-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A board game has two teams of a plurality of game pieces whereby, on successive turns, a player may add a game piece, move a game piece, or enhance the movement direction capabilities of a game piece. The object of the game is to occupy designated opponent's territories on the game board or to capture all of the opponent's game pieces so that none remain on the game board.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald P. Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:11
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00643; A63F3/00697; A63F2003/00716; A63F2003/00719; A63F2003/00725; A63F2003/00845; A63F2003/00858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A board game comprising: a game board having an array of multi-sided shapes; a plurality of primary game pieces; and at least one direction indicating means adapted to be selectively removably coupled to said primary game pieces during play of said game such that each of said direction indicating means extends along and activates one of a plurality of permissible movement-capable directions of an associated primary game piece, the primary game pieces during each turn of play either being capable of movement in activated movement-capable directions or being activated by a direction indicating means for movement in a new movement-capable direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A board game comprising: a game board having an array of multi-sided shapes; a plurality of primary game pieces; and at least one direction indicating means adapted to be selectively removably coupled to said primary game pieces during play of said game such that each of said direction indicating means extends along and activates one of a plurality of permissible movement-capable directions of an associated primary game piece, the primary game pieces during each turn of play either being capable of movement in activated movement-capable directions or being activated by a direction indicating means for movement in a new movement-capable direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A board game according to claim 1 , wherein said primary game pieces each have orientation indicia for establishing orientation of each primary game piece with respect to said board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A board game according to claim 2 , wherein said orientation indicia include visually perceptible markings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A board game according to claim 2 , wherein said orientation indicia include physical locking means for locking said primary game pieces in a predetermined orientation with respect to a multi-sided shape on said board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A board game according to claim 1 , wherein said direction indicating means includes a plurality of secondary game pieces, each secondary game piece being adapted to be selectively removably attached to one of said primary game pieces to extend along and to activate one of a plurality of permissible movement-capable directions of an associated primary game piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A board game according to claim 1 , wherein said multi-sided shapes are squares.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A board game according to claim 1 , wherein each primary game piece includes a generally flat, multi-sided body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A board game according to claim 7 , wherein said direction indicating means are adapted to be selectively attached to said primary game pieces in a generally evenly spaced configuration around each said primary game piece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A board game according to claim 8 , wherein said direction indicating means are spaced from each other at approximately 45 degree intervals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A board game according to claim 1 , wherein said direction indicating means include rod-shaped objects each adapted to be removably attached to said primary game pieces to extend along and to activate one of a plurality of permissible movement-capable directions of an associated primary game piece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A board game according to claim 10 , wherein said primary game pieces define a plurality of generally evenly-spaced holes adapted to receive said direction indicating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A board game according to claim 1 , further comprising: at least one starting multi-sided shape in which said primary game pieces are positioned initially when introduced during play of said game prior to moving to any other multi-sided shape.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A game piece for a board game comprising: a body of a game piece; at least one direction indicating means to be removably received by the body of the game piece so as to be aimed in a direction of movement enablement from among a plurality of possible directions for the body of the game piece, the body during each turn of play either being capable of movement in movement enabled directions or being activated by a direction indicating means for movement in a new movement enabled direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
A game piece for a board game comprising: a body of a game piece; at least one direction indicating means to be removably received by the body of the game piece so as to be aimed in a direction of movement enablement from among a plurality of possible directions for the body of the game piece, the body during each turn of play either being capable of movement in movement enabled directions or being activated by a direction indicating means for movement in a new movement enabled direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A game piece according to claim 13 , wherein said direction indicating means include a plurality of secondary game pieces, each secondary game piece being adapted to be selectively removably attached to said body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A game piece according to claim 13 , wherein said body has orientation indicia for establishing orientation of said body with respect to a game board.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A game piece according to claim 15 , wherein said orientation indicia include visually perceptible markings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A game piece according to claim 13 , wherein said body is a generally flat, multi-sided body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A game piece according to claim 13 , wherein said direction indicating means are adapted to be selectively attached to said body in a generally evenly spaced configuration around said body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A game piece according to claim 18 , wherein said direction indicating means are spaced from each other at approximately 45 degree intervals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A game piece according to claim 13 , wherein said direction indicating means include rod-shaped objects each adapted to be removably attached to said body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A game piece according to claim 20 , wherein said body defines a plurality of generally evenly-spaced holes adapted to receive said direction indicating means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of playing a board game on a game board having an array of multi-sided shapes thereon and in which opposing players take successive turns, said method comprising: a first player introducing a first game piece on a selected introduction location comprising one of said multi-sided shapes; a second player introducing a second game piece on another selected introduction location comprising one of said multi-sided shapes; said first player designating a direction along which the first game piece may move from among a plurality of possible directions by activating visually perceptible direction indicating means pointing toward the direction along which the first game piece may move; said second player designating a direction along which the second game piece may move from among a plurality of possible directions by activating visually perceptible direction indicating means pointing toward the direction along which the second game piece may move; and each player taking successive turns advancing said game pieces on said game board or designating further direction along which the game pieces may move.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of playing a board game on a game board having an array of multi-sided shapes thereon and in which opposing players take successive turns, said method comprising: a first player introducing a first game piece on a selected introduction location comprising one of said multi-sided shapes; a second player introducing a second game piece on another selected introduction location comprising one of said multi-sided shapes; said first player designating a direction along which the first game piece may move from among a plurality of possible directions by activating visually perceptible direction indicating means pointing toward the direction along which the first game piece may move; said second player designating a direction along which the second game piece may move from among a plurality of possible directions by activating visually perceptible direction indicating means pointing toward the direction along which the second game piece may move; and each player taking successive turns advancing said game pieces on said game board or designating further direction along which the game pieces may move.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein each said game piece may have up to eight directions along which the game piece may move.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein each said game piece may be introduced into said game on one of a variety of selected introduction locations, each introduction location comprising one of said multi-sided shapes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein said visually perceptible direction indicating means include rods that are adapted to be selectively attached to said game pieces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer game system for playing a game having two teams of primary game pieces movable on a game board, comprising: a computer having data input means for inputting data indicative of a player's intention to cause movement of or addition of a primary game piece on a game board, the data including at least one direction indicating means to be selectively removably associated with the primary game pieces during play of the game such that the direction indicating means extends along and activates one of a plurality of permissible movement-capable directions of an associated primary game piece, a primary game piece during each turn of play either being capable of movement in activated movement-capable directions or being activated by a direction indicating means for movement in a new movement-capable direction; a processor associated with the first computer for processing the input data in accordance with preprogrammed parameters to determine the status of one or more of the primary game pieces on the game board; and output display means for displaying the primary game pieces on the game board.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
179 words
A computer game system for playing a game having two teams of primary game pieces movable on a game board, comprising: a computer having data input means for inputting data indicative of a player's intention to cause movement of or addition of a primary game piece on a game board, the data including at least one direction indicating means to be selectively removably associated with the primary game pieces during play of the game such that the direction indicating means extends along and activates one of a plurality of permissible movement-capable directions of an associated primary game piece, a primary game piece during each turn of play either being capable of movement in activated movement-capable directions or being activated by a direction indicating means for movement in a new movement-capable direction; a processor associated with the first computer for processing the input data in accordance with preprogrammed parameters to determine the status of one or more of the primary game pieces on the game board; and output display means for displaying the primary game pieces on the game board.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 26 , wherein said game board displayed on the display means includes an array of multi-sided shapes for movement of the primary game pieces thereon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 26 , wherein said direction indicating means comprise a plurality of secondary game pieces, each secondary game piece being adapted to be selectively depicted on said display means as extending along and activating one of a plurality of permissible movement-capable directions of an associated primary game piece.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 26 , wherein one of said teams of primary game pieces is controlled by a first player and the other team of primary game pieces is controlled by a computer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 26 , wherein one of said teams of primary game pieces is controlled by a first player and the other team of primary game pieces is controlled by a second player.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 26 , further comprising: remotely located computer interfaced with said first computer, wherein said processor is located in said remotely located computer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system according to claim 31 , further comprising: a second computer interfaced with said remotely located computer and having data input means for inputting data indicative of a player's intention to cause movement of or addition of one or more of said plurality of primary game pieces, whereby said first computer and said second computer control one of said teams of primary game pieces.
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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) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |