U.S. patent number 3,599,977 [Application Number 04/807,526] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-17 for rotary block tic-tac-toe board and projectiles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Marvin Glass and Associates. Invention is credited to Marvin I. Glass, Burton C. Meyer.
United States Patent |
3,599,977 |
Glass , et al. |
August 17, 1971 |
ROTARY BLOCK TIC-TAC-TOE BOARD AND PROJECTILES
Abstract
Game apparatus for playing a variant of tic-tac-toe including a
frame member supporting a plurality of triangularly shaped blocks
having scoring indicia on at least one face thereof. The blocks are
pivotally supported in the frame in a manner such that in a rest
position, only one face of each block is exposed to view.
Projectile means are provided for throwing at any one of the blocks
for turning the block and exposing a different block face to
view.
Inventors: |
Glass; Marvin I. (Chicago,
IL), Meyer; Burton C. (Chicago, IL) |
Assignee: |
Marvin Glass and Associates
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25196581 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/807,526 |
Filed: |
March 17, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/388; 273/281;
273/392 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/0204 (20130101); A63F 3/00094 (20130101); A63F
9/001 (20130101); A63F 2250/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/02 (20060101); A63F 9/00 (20060101); A63F
3/00 (20060101); A63b 063/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/102,12AP,100,130,13B,13C |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Siskind; Marvin
Claims
We claim:
1. Game apparatus comprising a frame structure, a plurality of
blocks arranged in a number of parallel rows and each block having
a plurality of substantially flat faces with at least one of said
faces bearing scoring indicia thereon, means pivotally mounting
said blocks in said frame for movement relative thereto such that
in a position of rest only one face of each block is exposed to
view, each of said blocks having three faces joined at their edges
to form equilateral triangles and provided with end walls, and each
block includes a pin extending outwardly from one of said end
walls, projectile means suitable for being directed at any one of
said blocks to cause pivotal movement thereof and render a
different block face exposed to view, and said pin being engageable
with a portion of said frame structure to thereby prevent
additional movement of a block in a given direction subsequent to
rotation of the block in response to being struck by said
projectile means.
2. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blocks are
arranged in a network of three rows of three blocks each, each
block has a first face bearing a cipher indicia and a second face
bearing a cross indicia, and wherein said projectiles comprise a
flexible bag filled with discrete particles.
3. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pin extends
from said end wall of each block at a position adjacent the
intersection of the face bearing the cipher indicia and the face
bearing the cross indicia.
Description
This invention relates in general to games. In particular, this
invention is directed to game apparatus for use in playing a
variant of the game of tic-tac-toe. In using the game apparatus of
the invention, the well known game of tic-tac-toe becomes a game of
athletic skill as well as game strategy.
Various apparatus for the play of the game of tic-tac-toe is known
in the prior art. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 2,628,838, issued
Feb. 17, 1953, to D. F. Smalley and now assigned to the assignee of
the subject application, teaches tic-tac-toe game apparatus
comprising a number of triangularly shaped blocks which are
rotatably mounted in a frame.
This invention provides apparatus for use in playing a variant of
the game tic-tac-toe wherein throwing skill in addition to game
strategy is required. The game apparatus includes a frame pivotally
supporting a number of triangularly shaped blocks which are capable
of being turned upon being struck by a thrown projectile. Each of
the blocks comprise three faces, two of which respectively bear an
"X" and an "O". The game projectiles may comprise fabric bags
containing pelletlike material, simulating bean bags.
Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide
game apparatus for use in a variant of the game of tic-tac-toe.
Another object of this invention is to provide game apparatus for
use in playing the game of tic-tac-toe, wherein throwing skill as
well as game strategy are required to complete a proper indicia
sequence.
It is also an object of this invention to provide game apparatus
for use in playing a variant of the game of tic-tac-toe which is
particularly adapted for use outdoors as a form of lawn or patio
recreation.
A further object of this invention is to provide game apparatus for
use in playing a variant of the game of tic-tac-toe, wherein
opposing game players may play in an offensive as well as a
defensive manner. In playing defensively, a game player may cancel
an opponent's previously placed scoring indicia and possibly even
replace it with a scoring indicia favorable to himself.
Additional objects of this invention will become apparent to those
versed in the game art upon an understanding of the following
detailed description of the game apparatus taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of
the apparatus is shown, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an perspective view of the game apparatus of the
invention, including a frame 10 pivotally carrying a number of
blocks 12, and a plurality of projectiles 14 for use in turning the
blocks;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the
frame and two blocks, taken generally along section line 2-2 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the frame and
blocks taken along offset section line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a block
12.
Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the game apparatus generally
comprises a frame 10 pivotally supporting a number of blocks 12
having scoring indicia on various faces thereof suitable for use in
playing the game of tic-tac-toe. The game apparatus also includes a
plurality of projectiles 14 which may be thrown or otherwise
launched at particular blocks for turning the blocks and exposing a
face bearing a desired scoring indicia.
Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, frame 10 comprises four side walls
16 which are joined to form a square shape. Support legs 11 are
provided at the corner intersections of the walls to support the
apparatus on a flat surface 29 such as a floor, lawn or patio. The
frame forms a cavity 20 and includes a plurality of shallow
partitions 22 which are carried by the walls and arranged in a
crisscross manner. The partitions have an exposed upper surface 24
which establishes a grid forming a number of square openings 26. In
the described embodiment, for use in playing the game of
tic-tac-toe, the grid defines nine openings 26 which are arranged
in three rows with each row comprising three columns. While the
described embodiment employs nine openings for receipt of nine
blocks, other embodiments employing varying numbers of openings for
use with games incorporating picture puzzles or the like, may be
used without departing from the concept of the invention.
Construction of the entire frame, as well as the blocks and their
pivotal supports described in detail below, is sufficiently sturdy
to withstand the shock of numerous projectiles 14 being thrown
thereat during the game play. Also, the frame and blocks are
desirably of substantial size, so that a player positioned a
substantial distance away from the frame may throw a projectile at
a particular location on a block for pivoting that block in a
desired direction. Due to the size and construction of the game
apparatus, it may be used in a large room, or outdoors on the lawn
or patio.
As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 each block 12 is triangularly
shaped and has three flat faces 30, 32 and 34. Face 30 bears a
cipher or "O" scoring indicia 31, face 32 bears a cross or "X"
scoring indicia 33, and face 34 is blank except for a small dot 36
and a cross 38 which are disposed at opposite edges in a manner so
as to denote in which direction the block must be turned to reveal
the "O" and "X" scoring indicia, respectively. The faces of each
block are joined to form an equilateral triangle in cross section
and the edges 40 thereof are generally parallel.
Each block includes two end walls 42 disposed slightly inwardly of
edges 40. Aligned, triangularly shaped bearings 44 are formed
generally centrally of each end wall and extend outwardly beyond
each of the wall edges 40. Each bearing 44 defines a triangularly
shaped opening 46, the apices 50 of which are directed toward the
center of the block faces 30, 32 and 34 respectively.
A number of parallel shafts 52 are provided interiorly of the frame
and are supported by sidewalls 16 and partitions 22. The shafts are
disposed below the upper surface 24 of the grid and pivotally
support the blocks so that, in a position of rest, only one face
surface of each block is exposed and oriented in a horizontal
position so as to be parallel with the top surface of the frame.
More particularly, when carried on shaft 52, each block attains a
rest position such that the shaft occupies the uppermost apex due
to the location of the center of gravity of the block below this
upper apex. Thus, the blocks are always suspended in a rest
position such that a face is substantially horizontal and parallel
to the top surface 24 of the grid.
Each of the blocks 12 include a stop member in the form of a pin 54
which extends laterally outwardly from one of the sidewalls, pin 54
cooperates with the underside of the grid to prevent movement of
the block through an arc greater than 240.degree.. The pin is
located inwardly adjacent the intersection of the two faces which
bear the scoring indicia "X" and "O", namely faces 30 and 32, so as
to allow each of said faces to attain a parallel position relative
to the grid surface. With the pin located between the two indicia
bearing faces, as seen in FIG. 3, it is oriented at its lower most
position when the generally blank face 34 of the block is
exposed.
From an initial position, with the face 34 exposed, pin 54 prevents
rotation of the block in either direction greater than 120.degree..
It should also be noted that rotation of the block 120.degree. in
each direction from its initial position will expose one or the
other of the "X" and "O" indicia bearing faces.
Cross 38 and dot 36 disposed on face 34 of the block indicate that
pivotal movement of the block due to application of a force along
the edge adjacent these indicia will cause a similar scoring
indicia to appear in an opening 26. For instance, as seen in FIG.
4, a force applied to face 34 adjacent the edge of dot 36 will
effect counterclockwise movement of the block, as viewed from the
left, through an arc of 120.degree. and will cause "O" indicia 31
to become exposed on the upper block face. On the other hand, by
applying a force to face 34 adjacent the edge of cross or "X" 38,
the block will be pivoted clockwise, causing face 34 bearing the
"X" indicia to appear.
Finally, in the described embodiment, the game apparatus includes
projectiles 14, which may comprise a plurality of cloth bags 60
which are stitched or otherwise closed and contain a pelletlike
material such as metal shot, or beans. The bags are sized to
contain an adequate quantity of material so that when skillfully
thrown at the blocks, each bag is sufficiently heavy to exert
enough force to turn a block.
In the play of the game, each of two game players, or teams of game
players, are positioned equally distant from frame 10 either on the
same side or on opposite sides thereof, preferably perpendicular to
the orientation of shafts 52. The blocks are initially turned
manually so that neutral faces 34 are exposed and the players
alternately toss or cast projectiles 14 toward the apparatus and
attempt to turn the blocks 120.degree. in the proper direction so
that their previously chosen indicia is turned face up. As is well
known in the play of the game, the first player to successfully
obtain an indicia line of three "X"s or three "O"s, either in a
column, a row, or on a diagonal is deemed the winner.
The game is a variant of the game of tic-tac-toe since a game
player may cancel or neutralize a previously exposed indicia of an
opponent, by correctly striking the particular block to return it
to its neutral position. With sufficient skill a player may even
turn a block 240.degree. so that where an opponent's indicia
previously occupied an opening 26, the player's indicia now
occupies that opening. Furthermore, a player's inaccuracy may cause
cancellation of an opponent's indicia. For example, if a player who
desires the "O" cipher indicia aims at block 64 (FIG. 1) and misses
by overshooting his mark, he may turn an opponent's "X" indicia on
block 66 so as to cancel the opponent's indicia.
It is obvious that upon study by those skilled in the art, the
disclosed invention may be altered or modified without departing
from its inventive concept.
* * * * *