U.S. patent application number 12/887443 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-07 for token movement game with rotating gameboard.
This patent application is currently assigned to RUDELL DESIGN LLC. Invention is credited to George Foster, Ian Osborne, Julio Sandoval.
Application Number | 20110079957 12/887443 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43822597 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110079957 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sandoval; Julio ; et
al. |
April 7, 2011 |
TOKEN MOVEMENT GAME WITH ROTATING GAMEBOARD
Abstract
A token game set that includes a game board with a stationary
portion and a rotating portion. The stationary and rotating
portions each having a plurality of token spaces. The game set also
includes a plurality of tokens that are located on the token
spaces. The game set can be played by initially placing a plurality
of first tokens onto token spaces in a first area of the stationary
portion, and a plurality of second tokens onto token spaces in a
second area of the stationary portion. The first and second tokens
may be moved into the rotating portion. The rotating portion is
then rotated to move the positions of the first and second tokens.
The game board can be arranged so that the tokens can be moved in
accordance with the rules of "Chinese Checkers".
Inventors: |
Sandoval; Julio; (Long
Beach, CA) ; Foster; George; (Placerville, CA)
; Osborne; Ian; (Gardena, CA) |
Assignee: |
RUDELL DESIGN LLC
Torrance
CA
|
Family ID: |
43822597 |
Appl. No.: |
12/887443 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61247815 |
Oct 1, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/287 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/02 20130101; A63F
2003/00268 20130101; A63F 2003/00274 20130101; A63F 3/00533
20130101; A63F 2003/00548 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/287 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. A token game set, comprising: a game board that includes a
stationary portion and a single rotating portion, said stationary
and rotating portions each having a plurality of token spaces; and,
a plurality of tokens that are located on said token spaces.
2. The token game set of claim 1, wherein said token spaces include
holes.
3. The token game set of claim 1, wherein said token spaces are
arranged into a plurality of triangular patterns in said stationary
portion and in a circular pattern in said single rotating
portion.
4. The token game set of claim 1, wherein said single rotating
portion is shaped as a disk with an outer periphery and a center
opening, said stationary portion includes a disk area within said
center opening of said rotating disk and another area adjacent to
said outer periphery of said rotating disk.
5. The token game set of claim 1, further comprising an input
element that is coupled to said single rotating portion and can be
manually manipulated to rotate said single rotating portion.
6. The token game set of claim 1, further comprising a motor that
is coupled to said single rotating portion and can be energized to
rotate said single rotating portion.
7. The token game set of claim 1, further comprising a timer that
indicates when said single rotating portion should be rotated.
8. The token game set of claim 6, further comprising a timer that
establishes a time interval within which said single rotating
portion is rotated by said motor.
9. The token game set of claim 1, further comprising a position
index element that is coupled to said single rotating portion and
maintains a position of said single rotating portion.
10. The token game set of claim 1, wherein said instruction element
includes a plurality of cards that have indicia that provide
instruction on whether to rotate said single rotating portion.
11. A method for playing a token game, comprising: providing a game
board that includes a stationary portion and a single rotating
portion, said stationary and rotating portions each having a
plurality of token spaces; placing a plurality of first tokens onto
token spaces in a first area of the stationary portion, and a
plurality of second tokens onto token spaces in a second area of
the stationary portion; moving one of the first tokens into the
single rotating portion; moving one of the second tokens into the
single rotating portion; and, rotating the single rotating portion
to move the first and second tokens.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tokens are moved into holes
of said token spaces.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the steps of moving the first
and second tokens and rotating the single rotating portion are
repeated until all of the first tokens are moved to a designated
area.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the single rotating portion is
manually rotated.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the single rotating portion is
rotated by a motor.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first area is a triangular
pattern of token spaces, the second area is a triangular pattern of
token spaces, and the single rotating portion has a circular
pattern of token spaces.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising moving the first
token into a third area of the stationary portion that has a
circular pattern of token spaces.
18. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting an
indicator that provides instructions to rotate the single rotating
portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Application No.
61/247,815, filed on Oct. 1, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a game with movable tokens
and a movable gameboard element.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] The art includes numerous games with movable tokens. For
example, the game of "Chinese Checkers" includes moving tokens
across a game board that has a plurality of holes. The game begins
by placing tokens of like color into a triangular area of game
board holes. Each player takes turns moving their tokens across the
game board. A player can move a token to an adjacent hole, or "hop"
over a token into an immediately adjacent hole. The goal of the
game is for a player to move all of their tokens into an opposite
end of the board. Conventional Chinese Checkers game boards are
stationary. It would be desirable to increase the complexity of
playing a token game like Chinese Checkers.
[0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,804,418 and 5,732,947 disclose checker
boards wherein the token spaces are located on movable strips. In
these references all of the token spaces are movable. Although
having moveable token spaces increases the complexity of game play
it would be desirable to provide safe haven areas to alter game
play strategy.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A token game set that includes a game board with a
stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary and
rotating portions each having a plurality of token spaces. The game
set also includes a plurality of tokens that are located on the
token spaces. The game set can be played by initially placing a
plurality of first tokens onto token spaces in a first area of the
stationary portion, and a plurality of second tokens onto token
spaces in a second area of the stationary portion. The first and
second tokens may be moved into the rotating portion. The rotating
portion is then rotated to move the positions of the first and
second tokens.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a token game set that
includes a game board, a plurality of tokens, and playing
cards;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an illustration showing an underside of a rotating
portion of the game board;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a plurality of position
index elements inside the game board;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of the
token game with a motorized game board; and,
[0012] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an alternate embodiment of the
token game with a manually movable game board.
[0013] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an instruction guide for
playing the token game set.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Disclosed is a token game set that includes a game board
with a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary
and rotating portions each having a plurality of token spaces. The
game set also includes a plurality of tokens that are located on
the token spaces. The game set can be played by initially placing a
plurality of first tokens onto token spaces in a first area of the
stationary portion, and a plurality of second tokens onto token
spaces in a second area of the stationary portion. The first and
second tokens may be moved into the rotating portion. The rotating
portion is then rotated to move the positions of the first and
second tokens. The game board can be arranged so that the tokens
can be moved in accordance with the rules of "Chinese Checkers".
Moving the rotating portion changes the positions of the tokens
that have already been positioned onto the rotating portion and
adds to the complexity of the game. The rotating portion may be
rotated when a player turns over a card that provides an
instruction to rotate. Some cards will not provide an instruction
to rotate. Rotating in response to the selection of a card further
adds to the complexity and randomness of game play. Alternatively,
a timer device could be provided that, when activated, designates
that a player should rotate the rotating section. In a motorized
game, the timer could be electronic and could automatically
activate a motor to turn the rotating section.
[0015] Referring to the drawings by reference numbers, FIG. 1 shows
a token game set 10. The game set 10 includes a game board 12 that
has a plurality of token spaces 14. The token spaces 14 can be
defined as holes in the game board 12. Although holes are shown and
described, it is to be understood that the spaces may be defined
without holes, such as by indicia on the board, or raised bosses
onto which tokens fit. A plurality of tokens 16 are located on the
token spaces 14. Each token 16 may have a top handle portion 18
that can be grasped by a player and a bottom peg portion 20 that
can be inserted into a token space hole.
[0016] The game board 12 may have a stationary portion 22 and a
rotating portion 24 that each include token spaces 14. The
stationary portion 22 may include multiple areas 26 that each have
a triangular pattern of token spaces 14. The stationary portion 22
may also include an area 28 that has a circular pattern of token
spaces 14. As shown in the illustration, the rotating portion 24
may have a circular pattern of token spaces. Multiple rotating
sections may be provided on a gameboard, and such multiple rotating
sections may be coordinated to counter-rotate one to another when
rotation is activated.
[0017] The game set 10 may include a plurality of cards 30 that
each have indicia 32. The indicia 32 provides instructions to move
or not move the rotating portion 24 of the game board. For example,
a card 30 may include the indicia "SPIN" which provides an
instruction to move the rotating portion 24. Another card 30 may
include the indicia "DON'T SPIN" which provides instruction to not
move the rotating portion 24. Although cards are shown and
described, it is to be understood that other indicators such as a
timer can be used to instruct when the rotating portion is to be
rotated.
[0018] The game board 12 may include one or more input spin wheels
34 that can be manually operated to move the rotating portion 24.
As shown in FIG. 2 the game board 12 may include a plurality of
spin wheels 34 that each have gear teeth 36 that cooperate with
gear teeth 38 of the rotating portion 24. The gear teeth 36 and 38
cooperate in a manner so that rotation of a spin wheel 34 will
cause rotation of the rotating portion 24.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 3 the game board 10 may include position
index elements 40 that maintain a position of the rotating portion
24. The position index elements 40 may include spring biased detent
balls 42 that can move into and out of corresponding apertures 44
of the rotating portion 24, as the portion 24 is rotated. The balls
42 provide a spring force into the apertures 44 that establishes
and maintains the position of the rotating portion 24.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows another alternate embodiment of the game board
10'. This embodiment includes a motor 50 that is coupled to the
rotating portion 24 by a gear 52. The motor 50 is also coupled to a
circuit board 54 and batteries 56. The circuit board assembly 54 is
connected to a switch 58. The circuit board assembly 54 may include
electrical circuits to perform various functions. Depressing the
switch 58 causes the motor 50 to be energized and rotates the
rotating portion 24. The circuit board 54 may include circuitry
that limits rotation of the rotating portion 24 for a certain time
interval. The time interval may be the same, or vary, for each
rotation. The circuit assembly may include a timer circuit which
activates the rotation of the rotating section, a button may be
substituted for switch 58. Pressing button 58 activates the timer
circuit to then cause rotation of the rotating section at either a
predetermined, or a random, time interval. A sound can be emitted
from a speaker (not shown) associated with the circuit board
assembly 54 to alert players that the rotating section is about to
rotate.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows another alternate embodiment of the game 12''
wherein the game board includes a stationary portion 22' and a
rotating portion 24' that are constructed from laminated cardboard.
In this embodiment the token spaces 14 are marked indicia on the
stationary and rotating portions, there are no holes in this
embodiment. Alternatively, holes can be drilled into the cardboard
to provide more positive positioning of the tokens. The rotating
portion 24 is manually rotated within a circular groove 60 of the
game board 12''. The rotating portion 24 can be moved until a
marker 62 of the portion is aligned with a marker 64 of the
stationary portion 22.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, to play the game each player places
their tokens 16 into one triangular pattern of token spaces 14. If
there are two players, two triangular patterns are filled with
tokens 14. If there are three players then three triangular
patterns are filled tokens and so forth and so on. The cards 30 may
also be shuffled.
[0023] A first player moves one of their tokens to an adjacent
hole. A second player turns over a playing card 30. If the card 30
provides an instruction to move the board, then the rotating
portion 24 is rotated. The second player then moves one of their
tokens. Each player takes a turn selecting a card, possibly moving
the rotating portion, and moving a token. A token can be moved to
an adjacent token space, or can "hop" over another token, into a
token space adjacent to the hopped token. A player can hop over
multiple tokens in a single play. A player can hop over their token
or over the token of another player. Play continues until one of
the players has moved all of their tokens into a triangular pattern
of token spaces opposite from the player's starting triangular
pattern of token spaces. FIG. 6 shows an instruction guide 70 with
a complete set of game rules for playing the token game set.
[0024] Incorporating a rotating portion increases the complexity of
the game. Rotating an entire portion of the game introduces a play
element that can switch token positions for more than one player.
Thus rotation can effect all of the players. One player may benefit
from rotation while another player is left in a less desirable
position. Having a stationary portion in the center of the game
board can also influence strategy such that players may seek this
portion to avoid rotation of their tokens. The result is a game
play that is significantly different from a conventional game of
Chinese Checkers.
[0025] While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and
shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on
the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the
specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since
various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled
in the art.
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