US20060237904A1 - Board game and method of play - Google Patents
Board game and method of play Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060237904A1 US20060237904A1 US11/408,468 US40846806A US2006237904A1 US 20060237904 A1 US20060237904 A1 US 20060237904A1 US 40846806 A US40846806 A US 40846806A US 2006237904 A1 US2006237904 A1 US 2006237904A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- playing
- board game
- elements
- row
- rows
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
Abstract
The board game includes a playing surface with distinctly defined rows. Twelve playing elements divided between the rows, wherein three playing elements are positioned within a first row, four playing elements are positioned within a second row and five playing elements are positioned within a third row, etc. The game is played by two players, each alternating to remove any number of playing elements positioned in any one row. The player who removes the last playing element is either declared a winner or a looser.
Description
- This application is related to and claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/673,439 filed Apr. 21, 2005. This application is closely related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled “Computer Game”, filed concurrently herewith. The disclosure of this co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
- The present invention relates, in general, to a board game and, more particularly, this invention relates to a board game and method utilizing a strategic removal or placement of playing elements for scoring.
- Games involving strategic moving or positioning playing elements on a playing board are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,293 to Chodorov et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,120 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,261 both to Daitzman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,584 to Propsom and U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,124 to Van Hessen disclose various types of board games. However, as it is generally known, board game enthusiasts are continuously looking for new challenges as they excel in presently available board games.
- According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a board game that includes a playing surface and a predetermined plurality of playing elements positioned on the playing surface in a plurality of rows. The predetermined plurality of playing elements are divided between the plurality of rows, wherein a difference between a number of playing elements positioned in any two adjacent rows is equal to one playing element.
- According to another embodiment of the instant invention, there is provided a method of playing a board game by two players. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of playing elements on a surface in a plurality of rows. Dividing such predetermined plurality of playing elements between the plurality of rows according to a preselected pattern. Then a first player, selected to start the board game, removes any number of playing elements positioned in any one row. Next, a second player removes any number of playing elements positioned in any one row. Then, first and second players alternate to remove playing elements until only one playing element is left on the surface. The player who removes the last playing element is declared one of a winner and a looser.
- According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the method of playing the game is reversed, wherein the playing elements are placed onto the playing surface and the player who places the last playing element is declared one of a winner and a looser.
- It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a board game.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a board game utilizing one of a strategic removal and placement of playing elements.
- Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a board game which is adaptable to various skill levels.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide a board game which is economical to manufacture.
- Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a board game which is portable.
- An additional object of the present invention is to provide a board game which can be played by a plurality of players.
- In addition to the several objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of specificity above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.
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FIG. 1 is a plan view of a board game according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the board game taken along the lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1 illustrating retaining the playing elements in position according to one embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the board game taken along the lines 3-3 ofFIG. 1 illustrating retaining the playing elements in position according to another embodiment of the invention; and -
FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a board game according to another embodiment of the present invention. - Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
- According to a first embodiment of the invention, best shown in
FIGS. 1-3 , there is provided a board game, generally designated 10, which includes aplaying surface 12 and a predetermined plurality of playing elements, generally designated 30.Such playing elements 30 are positioned on theplaying surface 12 in order to define a plurality ofrows 20. Furthermore, the predetermined plurality ofplaying elements 30 are divided between the plurality ofrows 20 according to a preselected pattern. Preferably, in such preselected pattern, a difference between a number ofplaying elements 30 positioned in any twoadjacent rows 20 is equal to oneplaying element 30, when the plurality ofrows 20 are arranged by one of ascending and descending number ofplaying elements 30 positioned within each row. The shape of eachplaying element 30 may be one of a disk, a sphere and a parallelepiped. Furthermore, anindicia 13 containing instructions and rules for playing theboard game 10 may be disposed on a portion of theplaying surface 12. - In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the
board game 10 includes threerows 20, referenced for the sake of clarity withnumerals playing elements 30, referenced for the sake of clarity withnumerals playing elements 32 are positioned within afirst row 22, the next fourplaying elements 34 are positioned within asecond row 24 and the remaining fiveplaying elements 36 are positioned within athird row 26. - Each
row surface 12, preferably by a distinct color. Accordingly, each set ofplaying elements 30 positioned in eachrow row - Alternatively,
such rows lines 28, as shown inFIG. 1 . A plurality of verticallyspaced lines 29 may be further provided to form a visual grid. In another alternative embodiment, each set ofplaying elements 30 may be formed from a distinct shape. By way of example, each of the threeplaying elements 32 which are positioned withinfirst row 22 may have a disk like shape, each of the next fourplaying elements 34 which are positioned within thesecond row 24 may have a sphere like shape and each of the fiveplaying elements 30 which are positioned within thethird row 26 may have a parallelepiped like shape. It will be appreciated that shapes of theplaying elements 30 may be interchangeable betweenvarious rows 20 and other shapes may be employed in theboard game 10 of the present invention. - In reference to
FIGS. 2-3 , theboard game 10 further includes a retaining means, generally designated 40, for removably retaining eachplaying element 30 on theplaying surface 12. - According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining means 40 includes a plurality of apertures or
cavities 42 disposed in theplaying surface 12 and divided between the plurality ofrows playing element 30 includes ashaft member 44 engageable with a respective one of the plurality ofapertures 42. - According to another embodiment of the invention, the retaining means 40 includes each playing
element 30 having at least a portion 46 thereof formed from a magnetic material and the playingsurface 12 being formed from a material capable of adhering to the magnetic portion 46 of eachplaying element 30. - According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the
retaining means 40 includes a plurality ofmagnetic elements 48 divided between the plurality ofrows 20 and disposed within theplaying surface 12 and each of the plurality ofplaying elements 30 has at least a portion 46 formed from a material capable of adhering to any one of the plurality ofmagnetic elements 48. - According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
retaining means 40 includes the playingsurface 12 being formed from a magnetic material and each of the plurality ofplaying elements 30 has at least a portion 46 formed from a material capable of adhering to suchmagnetic playing surface 12. - Now in reference to
FIG. 4 , theplaying surface 12 is formed as a pair ofsurface sections 14 and theboard game 10 further includes at least onehinge 16 attached to eachsurface section 14 for storing theboard game 10 by way of folding the pair ofsurface sections 14 together. - Furthermore, the
board game 10 may be provided with ahollow housing 18 attached to theplaying surface 12 and with means 19, which is engageable with thehollow housing 18 for removably storing the plurality ofplaying elements 30 within thehollow housing 18. Such storage means 19 may be one of adrawer 19 a and an access door 19 b enabling access to the interior portion of thehollow housing 18. - Each of the playing
surface 12, the plurality of playingelements 30 and thehollow housing 18 may be made from wood, metal, plastic and various combinations thereof. - The
board game 10 may further include acase 60 for carrying the playingsurface 12 and the plurality of playingelements 30. - The
board game 10 is played by a plurality of players and a presently preferred number of players is two. According to a second embodiment, the present invention provides a method of playing theboard game 10 which includes first positioning a plurality of playingelements 30 onsurface 12 by way of dividing such predetermined plurality of playingelements 30 in sets to form plurality ofrows 20, wherein a difference between a number of playingelements 30 positioned in any twoadjacent rows 20 is equal to one playingelement 30. Then selecting a first player to start theboard game 10 and having such first player remove any number of playingelements 30 positioned in any onerow 20. Then having a second player remove any number of playingelements 30 positioned in any onerow 20. Neither player can remove playingelements 30 from more than onerow 20. Next, alternating removal of playingelements 30 by such first and second player until only one playingelement 30 is left on thesurface 12. The game is ended by declaring one of a winner and a looser between such first and second player who either removes any number of the playingelements 30 prior to the oneplaying element 30 being left on thesurface 12 or who removes suchlast playing element 30. - The method further include a step of providing a playing
surface 12 having the plurality ofrows 20 distinctly defined thereon. - Additionally, the method may include a step of forming a match between such at least two players by way of repeatedly continuing the combination of steps described supra for a preselected odd number of plays, in order to determine a champion based on one player winning a greater number of plays.
- Although the present invention has been shown in terms of a
predetermined playing surface 12, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be applied to any surface capable of supporting such plurality of playingelements 30 being placed in a plurality ofrows 20. For example, such surface may be a conventional tabletop surface or a generally flat ground surface. - Furthermore, any type or shape of playing element may be sufficient to play such board game. For example, checkers or chess elements may be employed to play such board game. Children, in particular, may use crayons to draw row defining lines on a piece of ordinary paper and then use such crayons as playing elements.
- Additionally, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the method of playing the board game of the present invention may be reversed, wherein the playing elements are being placed onto the surface rather than being removed from it and the player placing the last playing element being declared as one of a winner and a looser.
- It will be understood that the number of rows and the number of playing elements which are greater than the presently preferred combination of three rows and twelve playing elements increase the complexity and difficulty of playing the board game of the present invention. Thus, the board game may be played at a predetermined number of defined skill levels. For example, the players start playing the game at a first level with the presently preferred combination of three rows and twelve playing elements and than switch to a second level by adding a fourth row and six playing elements after a predetermined number of games played at the first level or when one player wins a predetermined number of games at such first level. Similarly, the game can continue by adding another row and more playing elements. Or additional playing elements may be added to each row. A combination of only two rows and number of playing elements which is less than twelve may be advantageous for use by younger children.
- Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims (20)
1. A board game comprising:
(a) a playing surface; and
(b) a predetermined plurality of playing elements positioned on said playing surface in a plurality of rows, said predetermined plurality of playing elements being divided among said plurality of rows, wherein a difference between a number of playing elements positioned in any two adjacent rows is equal to one playing element, when said plurality of rows are arranged by one of ascending and descending number of said playing elements positioned within each row.
2. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein each row is distinctly defined on said playing surface.
3. The board game, according to claim 2 , wherein said each row includes a distinct color.
4. The board game, according to claim 3 , wherein a set of playing elements positioned within said each row includes a color which is identical to said distinct color of said each row.
5. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein said board game includes twelve playing elements divided among three rows.
6. The board game, according to claim 5 , wherein each row is defined by a distinct color and a set of said playing elements positioned in said each row includes a color which is substantially identical to said distinct color of said each row.
7. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein said board game further includes a retaining means for removably retaining each playing element on said playing surface.
8. The board game, according to claim 7 , wherein said retaining means includes a plurality of apertures disposed in said playing surface and divided between said plurality of rows and wherein each playing element includes a shaft member engageable with a respective one of said plurality of apertures.
9. The board game, according to claim 7 , wherein said retaining means includes each playing element having at least a portion thereof formed from a magnetic material and said playing surface being formed from a material capable of adhering to said magnetic portion of each playing element.
10. The board game, according to claim 7 , wherein said retaining means includes a plurality of magnetic elements divided between said plurality of rows and disposed within said playing surface and each of said plurality of playing elements has at least a portion thereof formed from a material capable of adhering to any one of said plurality of magnetic elements.
11. The board game, according to claim 7 , wherein said retaining means includes said playing surface being formed from a magnetic material and each of said plurality of playing elements has at least a portion formed from a material capable of adhering to said playing surface.
12. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein a shape of each playing element is one of a disk, a sphere and a parallelepiped.
13. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein a number of said playing elements positioned within each row has a distinct shape.
14. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein said playing surface is formed in a pair of sections and said board game further includes at least one hinge attached to each of said pair of sections for storing said board game by way of folding said pair of sections together.
15. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein said board game further includes a hollow housing attached to said playing surface and means engageable with said hollow housing for removably placing said plurality of playing pieces into said hollow housing.
16. The board game, according to claim 1 , wherein said board game further includes a case for carrying said playing surface and said plurality of playing elements.
17. A method of playing a board game by at least two players, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) positioning a predetermined plurality of playing elements onto a surface in a plurality of rows, wherein said predetermined plurality of playing elements are divided among said plurality of rows according to a preselected pattern;
(b) selecting a first player to start such board game;
(c) having such first player selected in step (b) remove any number of playing elements positioned in any one single row;
(d) having a second player remove any number of playing elements positioned in any one single row;
(e) alternating removal of playing elements by such first and second player until only one playing element is left on said surface; and
(f) declaring one of a winner and a looser between such first and second player who removes said one playing element left on said surface in step (e).
18. The method, according to claim 17 , wherein said method further includes a step of providing a playing surface having said plurality of rows distinctly defined thereon.
19. The method, according to claim 18 , wherein said method further includes a step of forming a match between such at least two players, by way of repeatedly continuing steps (a) through (f) for a preselected odd number of plays, in order to determine a champion based on one player winning a greater number of games.
20. A method of playing a board game by at least two players, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a predetermined plurality of playing elements;
(b) selecting a plurality of rows to be formed by said predetermined plurality of playing elements for playing said board game;
(c) determining, based on said predetermined plurality of playing elements provided in step (a), a maximum number of playing elements to be placed within each row;
(d) selecting a first player to start said board game;
(e) having such first player selected in step (d) to place any number of said playing elements in any one of said plurality of rows selected in step (b), wherein said number of placed playing elements is one of less and equal to said maximum number of said playing elements allowed in said each row;
(f) having a second player place any number of playing elements in any one row, wherein said number of placed playing elements is one of less and equal to said maximum number of said playing elements allowed in said each row;
(g) alternating placement of said playing elements by such first and second player until only one playing element is left to be placed; and
(h) declaring one of a winner and a looser between such first and second player who places said one playing element left to be placed in step (g).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/408,468 US20060237904A1 (en) | 2005-04-21 | 2006-04-21 | Board game and method of play |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US67343905P | 2005-04-21 | 2005-04-21 | |
US11/408,468 US20060237904A1 (en) | 2005-04-21 | 2006-04-21 | Board game and method of play |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20060237904A1 true US20060237904A1 (en) | 2006-10-26 |
Family
ID=37186039
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/408,468 Abandoned US20060237904A1 (en) | 2005-04-21 | 2006-04-21 | Board game and method of play |
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US (1) | US20060237904A1 (en) |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3708171A (en) * | 1971-01-11 | 1973-01-02 | I Kunik | Board game apparatus |
US4126315A (en) * | 1977-05-18 | 1978-11-21 | Tung Chuen K | Mathematical based board game apparatus |
US5855483A (en) * | 1994-11-21 | 1999-01-05 | Compaq Computer Corp. | Interactive play with a computer |
US6102397A (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 2000-08-15 | Lee; Dennis H | Computer interface apparatus for an amusement device |
US6155566A (en) * | 1997-12-17 | 2000-12-05 | Benatti; Victor Martin | Board game and method of play therefor |
US6196545B1 (en) * | 1999-10-22 | 2001-03-06 | Robert R. Peeples | Simple chess-type board game for two, three, and four players |
US6231441B1 (en) * | 1996-11-01 | 2001-05-15 | Adar Golad | Computer game device |
US6286396B1 (en) * | 1998-06-01 | 2001-09-11 | Mark P. Johnson | Socket ratchet and extension handle |
US6460852B1 (en) * | 2000-08-07 | 2002-10-08 | Marion E. Tallian | Electronic or board game involving the capture of fictional characters and a method for playing same |
US6460851B1 (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 2002-10-08 | Dennis H. Lee | Computer interface apparatus for linking games to personal computers |
US6702288B1 (en) * | 2002-11-14 | 2004-03-09 | Frances M. Ohman | Color game |
-
2006
- 2006-04-21 US US11/408,468 patent/US20060237904A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3708171A (en) * | 1971-01-11 | 1973-01-02 | I Kunik | Board game apparatus |
US4126315A (en) * | 1977-05-18 | 1978-11-21 | Tung Chuen K | Mathematical based board game apparatus |
US5855483A (en) * | 1994-11-21 | 1999-01-05 | Compaq Computer Corp. | Interactive play with a computer |
US6102397A (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 2000-08-15 | Lee; Dennis H | Computer interface apparatus for an amusement device |
US6460851B1 (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 2002-10-08 | Dennis H. Lee | Computer interface apparatus for linking games to personal computers |
US6231441B1 (en) * | 1996-11-01 | 2001-05-15 | Adar Golad | Computer game device |
US6155566A (en) * | 1997-12-17 | 2000-12-05 | Benatti; Victor Martin | Board game and method of play therefor |
US6286396B1 (en) * | 1998-06-01 | 2001-09-11 | Mark P. Johnson | Socket ratchet and extension handle |
US6196545B1 (en) * | 1999-10-22 | 2001-03-06 | Robert R. Peeples | Simple chess-type board game for two, three, and four players |
US6460852B1 (en) * | 2000-08-07 | 2002-10-08 | Marion E. Tallian | Electronic or board game involving the capture of fictional characters and a method for playing same |
US6702288B1 (en) * | 2002-11-14 | 2004-03-09 | Frances M. Ohman | Color game |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |