WO1998026848A1

WO1998026848A1 - Game apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1998026848A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/003484
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norman Mackenzie
Original assignee: Norman Mackenzie
Priority date: 1996-12-18
Filing date: 1997-12-18
Publication date: 1998-06-25
Also published as: AU5329398A

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game comprising a backplane, formed integrally with a base, upon which is formed a box or bowl structure, open on an upwardly facing surface, into which in use the player tries, from a specified distance to flick a playing piece.

Description

GAME APPARATUS

The present invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

Companies are constantly seeking to produce game versions of popular sports. Furthermore, companies are constantly looking for new ways of promoting their products. There is a constant demand for inexpensive 'novelty' items which companies can give away as promotional gifts either with or without other products of theirs.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising: a backboard, formed integral with a base which projects outwards from the backboard at an edge, and which folds to form a box structure, the top surface of which lies parallel to the base, and which is attached to the backboard by means of a flat panel, glued to the surface of the backboard, above the fold-line between the backboard and the base. The top surface of the box, has an aperture cut into the surface. The entire box then, can fold upwards into the same plane as the backboard, that is, flat against it.

The apparatus therefore effectively provides a 'pop-up' game which is very easily deployed by a user. The apparatus can be decorated so as to resemble apparatus for a particular sport, such as basketball. The box may resemble a basket, and the backboard of the apparatus may resemble the backboard on which such a basket is conventionally mounted. The backboard may have a further incision within the circumference, going more than halfway round the circumference, allowing a narrow band to be detached from the backboard, and folded backwards, hinging on folds at either side, forming a loop which allows the apparatus to be looped around a bottle neck or cap.

A flap may be provided for covering the front of the apparatus, when the box is in the folded position.

The base may have a tab for engagement with a hole in a lid of a drinks container. The base may have an aperture for engagement with the ring-pull of a drinks can.

The apparatus may further comprise a playing piece comprising three discs joined in series and foldable about their respective join lines to form a three-dimensional playing piece, fittable in the circular aperture on the top of the box.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus prior to assembly;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus prior to assembly;

Figure 3 is a view of the partly assembled apparatus;

Figure 4 is the same view, showing a further stage of the assembly process;

Figure 5 shows the fully assembled apparatus in front view;

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a playing piece prior to assembly;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the assembled playing piece;

Figures 8A - 8D show the same assembly process in perspective;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing a 'bottle loop' deployed for attaching the game to a bottle.

Figures 10A - IOC are schematic views showing how a user deploys the apparatus;

Figure 10D shows how a user deploys the 'bottle loop'; Figure 10E shows the assembled apparatus, with box projecting straight out from the backboard;

Figure 10F shows how the complete apparatus may be dispensed in the base of standard drinks container used by the fast food industry;

Figures 11 A - 1 IF are perspective views showing the apparatus fixed to a variety of drinking vessels;

Figure 12 shows a hand in correct position prior to flicking;

Figure 13 shows the plastic flicker in plan;

Figure 14 shows the plastic flicker in elevation;

Figure 15 shows the flicker of Figure 14 with a playing piece in situ;

Figure 16 is perspective view of the plastic flicker;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a user depressing the plastic flicker with the paper playing piece in situ, prior to release;

Figure 18 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention laid flat;

Figure 19 illustrates how the structure is formed from the plan view in Figure 18; and

Figure 20 - 22 illustrate how the structure in Figure 19 is packed flat.

According to Figures 1 and 2 the apparatus 1 consists mainly of a single sheet of paper, card, plastics material, or some other suitable inexpensive material. The apparatus 1 has a circular backboard 3. Integral with the backboard 3 is a circular flap 2 of the same size as the backboard

3. The circular flap 2 and the backboard 3 are separated by a perforated line D-D. Along the opposite edge of the backboard 3 is an integral rectangular base 13 which projects from a fold G-G. Two further fold lines, H-H and J-J contain the front of the box 9, from which another member, a flat widening surface 10, runs backward to the backboard 3. The top surface 10 of the box has a circular aperture 11 cut into it. The top surface 10 meet the backboard at fold line K-K, where another member 12, a flat tab, is glued to the backboard 3, at a height which makes it parallel to the base 13.

The entire box comprising the base 13, the front 9 and the top surface 10, may be folded upwards to become flat against the backboard 3. A tab 6 is provided on the lower left of the backboard 3 which may be used to seal the apparatus 1 when the cover flap 2 is down.

Figures 4 and 8 A-D show how playing piece 23 folds into the apparatus 1.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a playing piece 23 consists of three discs 16 joined in series by fold lines A-A and B-B. At the opposite ends of the strip of discs 16 are provided locking ears 14.

The playing piece 23 is assembled by folding about the fold lines A-A, and B-B and interlocking the locking ears 14. The locking ears 14 have slots 15 which interengage as shown in Figure 7 to lock the playing piece 23 in the assembled configuration. The playing piece 23 is attached to the cover flap 2 by a narrow strip incorporating a perforated fold C-C.

To assemble the apparatus 1, a user lifts the sealing tab 6 which allows the cover flap 2 to be raised. Attached to the top of the cover flap 2, is a playing piece 23, which the user removes by tearing along perforation C-C, as shown in Figure 10 A. Next, the user removes the cover flap 2 from the top of the backboard by tearing off along perforation D-D, as shown in Figure 10B.

The apparatus is deployed into the playing configuration, by pulling down on the top of the front member 9 of the box assembly comprising 13, 9, 10, until the base 13, and the top surface 10 are at 90 degrees to the backboard 3.

The base 13 may have an elliptical hole symmetrically formed around the fold line G-G. The hole 7 can be of a shape and size such that the ring-pull 20 of a conventional drinks can 19 can be received in the elliptical hole 7, as shown in Figure 11 A, whether the drinks can 19 has already been opened or not.

As shown in Figures 11C and 11D, the narrow loop 5 formed on the circumference of the backboard 3, is deployed by first releasing the loops by tearing the perforation 17, which fixes it to the backboard 3. The loop 5 is then pushed backwards as shown in Figure 10D and folding along fold lines E and F until it is perpendicular to the rear of the backboard 3. In this position, the loop 5 can be located over a bottle top 22 on any drinks bottle 21, providing a convenient mounting for the assembled apparatus 1.

The apparatus 1 can also be mounted on the lid 18 of a paper drinks cup 17 used by fast food establishments. Such lids 18 conventionally have cross-shaped holes 24 for receiving a straw centrally into the lid 18. The base 13 of the apparatus 1 can be formed with a tab 8 formed by cutting an appropriate shape in the base 13, which can be pushed downward to engage with the hole 24 in the drinks container lid 18 as shown in Figure 1 IE.

The game is played by attempting to flick the assembled playing piece 23 into the aperture 11 located on the top surface 10 of the box structure comprising the base 13, the front member 9 and the top surface 10, when the apparatus 1 is in the playing configuration as shown in Figure 1 IB, 1 ID and 1 IF, with finger and thumb as shown in Figure 12.

There may be provided with the apparatus 1, a plastic flicking device 25, which consists of a single strip of springy or 'indestructible' plastic or another material having these properties. The base 26 is a circle from which extends a stem 27, rising upwards at a shallow angle and terrninating in a smaller circle 28, which has cast into it a raised dias 30 made of a size to hold the playing piece 23 in a central position on top of it. At the opposite side of the smaller circle 28 from the stem 27, is a spur 29, which the user depresses and releases when the playing piece 23 is placed thereon. Figure 13 shows the playing piece 25 in plan, and Figure 14 shows it from the side.

Figure 15 shows a side view of the playing piece 25 with the playing piece 23 in situ, prior to the user depressing and releasing the playing piece 23.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the playing piece 25.

The plastic flicking device 25 is used thus: the user presses the larger of the two circular sections

26, hard against the playing surface with one finger, and with playing piece 23 located on the top circular section 28 depresses the spur 29 and releases it. This propels the playing piece 23 in an upward arc towards the aperture 11 on the apparatus 1.

Figure 17 shows in perspective view a user depressing the spur 29 which is holding the bottom circle 26 hard against the playing surface, prior to release.

As can be seen from the drawings, the apparatus 1 can be enhanced by appropriate decoration. In particular, the member 9 may have a basket pattern as shown in the member 9, on the front surface. The backboard 3 may have printed on it's front face a pattern 4 representing the backboard of a full scale basketball board.

Figure 18 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the unfolded blank of the apparatus consists of four circles 31 of generally equal size and three circles 32 of smaller size formed in a row. The three circles of smaller size are detachable from the blank so as to form a playing piece as illustrated providing one of the larger circles has an aperture 33 in its centre. In use, four circles are folded together in such a way as to form a 3 dimensional triangular structure with the aperture formed through one of its faces through which the playing piece may be flicked as is illustrated in Figure 19. The structure can also be folded flat as can be seen in Figures 20 to 22.

An embodiment of the present invention has been described with particular reference to the example illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the example described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for playing a game comprising a backplane, formed integrally with a base, upon which is formed a box or bowl structure, open on an upwardly facing surface, into which in use the player tries, from a specified distance to flick a playing piece.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the backplane, base and box or bowl structure are made of paper.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the backplane, base, box or bowl structure are formed from a plastics material.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the backplane, base and bowl structure resemble a sports goal such as the backboard, floor and basketball net of a basketball court.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the dimensions of the apparatus are such that it can be mounted on a drinks container.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the backplane, base and box or bowl structure can be folded together to form a single two faced structure.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the backplane, base and box or bowl structure are arranged to be foldable onto one another to form a generally flat article dimensioned for placing in the base of a drinks can or the like.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the playing piece is integral with the backplane, the base or the box or bowl structure and wherein preferably the apparatus is formed with a line of weakness dividing the playing piece from the remainder of the apparatus which allows detachment of the playing piece.

9. Apparatus constructed and arranged as described and shown in Figures 1 to 17 or 18 to 22 of the drawings.