U.S. patent number 3,623,729 [Application Number 05/014,604] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-30 for three-dimensional board game apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mattel, Inc.. Invention is credited to Joseph J. Wetherell.
United States Patent |
3,623,729 |
Wetherell |
November 30, 1971 |
THREE-DIMENSIONAL BOARD GAME APPARATUS
Abstract
A game apparatus for playing a three-dimensional game with a
plurality of game pieces. The game pieces are divided into a
plurality of groups of similar number, each of the groups being a
different color. Each game piece comprises a flat disc having a
stem which extends transversely to one of the flat surfaces of the
disc at the center thereof. The apparatus also includes a support
member which is a rectangular, hollow, transparent member having
five rectangular playing surfaces, four of which are disposed
vertically and depend from the four edges of the periphery of the
fifth of the surfaces which is horizontally disposed. Each of the
surfaces includes a plurality of squares which are disposed in
aligned rows and columns. The rows of each of the four vertically
disposed surfaces are aligned with the rows of the other vertical
surfaces. The columns of each of the four vertical surfaces are
aligned with the rows and columns of the horizontal surface. Each
of the squares has an opening at the center thereof so that any one
of the discs may be removably secured to the square by insertion of
the stem of the disc in the opening. The support member has a bore
formed in its sixth surface, said bore rotatably receiving a
projection carried by a base member.
Inventors: |
Wetherell; Joseph J. (New York,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Mattel, Inc. (Hawthorne,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
21766467 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/014,604 |
Filed: |
February 26, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/241;
273/DIG.14; 273/271; 273/280; 273/282.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
3/00214 (20130101); Y10S 273/14 (20130101); A63F
2009/0615 (20130101); A63F 2003/00583 (20130101); A63F
2009/0491 (20130101); A63F 2009/0616 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
3/02 (20060101); A63F 9/06 (20060101); A63F
9/04 (20060101); A63f 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/130,131,136,137 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
269,231 |
|
Jan 1914 |
|
DD |
|
524,035 |
|
Apr 1955 |
|
IT |
|
Primary Examiner: Lowe; Delbert B.
Claims
What is claimed as the invention is:
1. A game apparatus for playing a three-dimensional game, said
apparatus comprising a plurality of game pieces, said game pieces
comprising a plurality of discs, said discs being divided into a
plurality of groups of similar number, each group of said discs
being a different color, each of said discs including a stem which
extends transversely to one of the flat surfaces of the disc at the
center thereof, said apparatus including a three-dimensional
support member comprised of a rectangular member having five
rectangular playing surfaces, four of said playing surfaces being
vertically disposed and depending from the four edges of the
periphery of the fifth of said surfaces, said fifth surface being
horizontally disposed, each of said surfaces having a plurality of
squares which are disposed in aligned rows and columns, the rows of
each of said four vertically disposed surfaces being aligned with
the rows of the other vertical surfaces, the columns of each of
said four vertical surfaces being aligned with the rows and columns
of said horizontal surface, each of said squares having an opening
at the center thereof, so that any one of said discs may be
removably secured to said square by insertion of said stem of said
disc in said opening, said apparatus including a base having a
projection, said rectangular member including a sixth surface
having a bore for rotatably receiving said base projection thereby
allowing players to rotate said rectangular member with respect to
said base for a view of all of the playing surfaces.
2. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said stems
comprises a tubular projection having a plurality of longitudinally
extending slits, said stem being tapered at the end thereof to
permit easy entry of said stem in one of said openings, said slits
enabling the stem to be resiliently compressed for a tight friction
securement of said stem in said opening; and said rectangular
member comprises a hollow transparent member.
Description
This invention relates generally to games and more particularly to
a three-dimensional game apparatus.
Various three-dimensional games are available wherein two or four
players may compete against each other. Normally, the games have as
their object one side or the other winning. For example, in the
three-dimensional games of the tic-tac-toe type, the game may be
played either by two players or by two teams of two players. While
these tic-tac-toe games are an intriguing test of skill between
sides, they are not adapted to be played by three players.
Similarly, when the tic-tac-toe type of game is played by four
players, the players must be paired and teamed, thereby preventing
an individual test of skill between all of the players.
It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome the
aforementioned disadvantages.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved
three-dimensional game apparatus which may be played by two, three
or four players which are individually competing against each
other.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved
three-dimensional game, the object of which is to complete a
straight row of five discs of five different colors.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved three-dimensional game apparatus, the object of which
is to be the last player to stay in a game wherein each player is
eliminated when he has completed a straight row of five different
colors of discs.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved
game apparatus which includes a three-dimensional support member
which is hollow and transparent.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved
game apparatus which includes a rectangular support member which is
pivotably mounted to a base so that the support member may be
rotated to enable a visual inspection of the entire playing surface
by each player.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing
a game apparatus for playing a three-dimensional game with a
plurality of games pieces. The game pieces comprise a plurality of
discs which are divided into a plurality of groups of similar
number. Each group of discs is a different color. Each of the discs
includes a stem which extends transversely to one of the flat
surfaces of the disc at the center thereof. The apparatus includes
a three-dimensional support member comprised of a rectangular
member having five rectangular playing surfaces. Four of the
playing surfaces are vertically disposed and depend from the four
edges of the periphery of the fifth of the surfaces. The fifth
surface is horizontally disposed. Each of the surfaces has a
plurality of squares which are disposed in aligned rows and
columns. The rows of each of the four vertically disposed surfaces
are aligned with the rows of the other vertical surfaces. The
columns of each of the four vertical surfaces are aligned with the
rows and columns of the horizontal surface. Each of the squares has
an opening at the center thereof so that any one of the discs may
be removably secured to the square by insertion of the stem of the
disc in the opening.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this
invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view directed at the bottom of one of the
discs utilized as a playing piece; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the
line 4--4 in FIG. 3.
Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the
drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar
parts, a game apparatus embodying the invention is shown generally
at 20 in FIG. 1.
The game apparatus 20 basically comprises a support member 22 and a
plurality of playing pieces 24. The support member 22 basically
comprises a hollow, transparent rectangular member 26 and a
cylindrical base 28. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rectangular
member 26 includes five playing surfaces which include a
horizontally disposed top surface 30, a pair of vertically disposed
side surfaces 32 and a pair of vertically disposed end surfaces 34.
The four vertical surfaces 32 and 34 depend from the four edges of
the periphery of the horizontally disposed top surface 30.
Each of the playing surfaces 30, 32 and 34 include a plurality of
score lines 36 which are etched into the outer surface of the
playing surfaces. These score lines 36 are provided parallel to the
edges of the rectangular playing surfaces and divide each of the
surfaces into a plurality of squares which are aligned in rows and
columns. As best seen in FIG. 1, each of the rows of squares of
each of the vertically disposed playing surfaces is aligned with
the rows of squares of the other vertically disposed surfaces.
Similarly, each of the columns of squares in the vertically
disposed surfaces are aligned with the rows and columns of the
squares in the horizontally disposed surface 30.
As best seen in FIG. 1, the squares of the top surface 30 are
disposed in two columns and three rows. The end surfaces 34 have
the squares disposed in two columns and three rows also. Each of
the side surfaces 32 have the squares thereon disposed in three
columns and three rows.
Each of the squares on each of the playing surfaces 30, 32 and 34
include an opening 38 at the center thereof. The bottom wall 40 of
the rectangular member 26 includes a cylindrical integral upwardly
extending cup 42 at the center thereof. The base member 28 of
support member 22 is cylindrical and includes a cylindrical
projection 44 which is disposed centrally of the base member 28 and
extends upwardly therefrom. The projection 44 fits into the inner
bore of the cup-shaped projection in bottom wall 40 and is
journaled therein so that the rectangular member 26 may pivot
around the vertically extending axis through cylindrical projection
44. The pivotal mounting between the rectangular member 26 and the
base 28 enables each player to rotate the rectangular member so
that a complete view of all of the playing surfaces may be
obtained.
As best seen in FIG. 3, each of the discs 24 includes a circular
planar member 46 and a stem 48. As best seen in FIG. 4, stem 48
extends perpendicular to the disc at the center thereof and
comprises a tubular member having a plurality of longitudinally
extending slits 50 which separate the solid portions of the tubular
stem 48. The stem 48 is tapered at 52 so that it can be easily
inserted into the openings 38 for securement of the disc 24 to a
square.
The slits 50 enable the stem to be resiliently compressed as the
disc 24 is pressed against the square, thereby causing a tight
frictional engagement between the stem and the edge of the opening
38.
Since there are 36 squares provided on the five playing surfaces,
36 discs 24 are provided. The 36 discs are comprised of six groups
of six different colors.
The six different colors are preferably red, purple, orange,
yellow, blue and green. However, it should be understood that any
combination of six colors will suffice. The hollow rectangular
member 26 preferably comprises a transparent plastic such as methyl
methacrylate or polystyrene, or phenolic resins or Lucite. The base
member 28 and playing pieces 24 are also preferably comprised of
one of the aforementioned plastics. The plastic in the base and
discs is pigmented, in accordance with the colors desired for each.
The transparency of the hollow rectangular member 26 enables a
player to determine at a quick glance whether playing pieces have
been placed in the squares of a surface which would not be visible
if member 26 were opaque.
The object of the game when two players compete is to be the first
player to place five discs of five different colors in a straight
line in five consecutive spaces on the playing surface of the
supporting member 22.
The rules of the game are as follows: Each player takes an
alternate turn. On each turn a player places one dot of any color
anywhere on the playing surface of the supporting member 22. There
is an exception that no disc may be placed adjacent to a disc of
the same color. This does not extend to diagonal rows but only to
rows and columns. For example, if a disc 24 is placed in square 54
of vertical surface 32 as shown in FIG. 1, a disc of the same color
may not be placed in any of squares 56, 58, 60 or 62. However, a
disc of the same color as the disc in square 54 may be placed in
one of squares 64, 66, 68 and 70 which are diagonally located with
respect to square 54.
If a player finishes a row by mistakenly putting a disc next to
another disc of the same color, the opponent wins automatically.
Once a dot is placed on the playing surface, it may not be moved
again for the rest of the game. Each player may add a disc to
another's row of discs. A row of five different-colored discs can
win in either a straight up and down direction or in a straight
across direction. That is, a row of discs that can win can be
placed in squares 68, 60, 70 of surface 32 and extend into the
squares 72 and 74 of the top surface 30. Similarly, a row of five
may also be made by placing five different-colored discs in squares
56, 54, 60 of surface 32 and squares 76 and 78 of surface 34.
Diagonal rows of discs do not count. Thus, a row of five
different-colored discs in squares 66, 54 and 70 of surface 32 and
squares 72 and 74 of surface 30 would not count. It should be noted
that a full row of five discs will bend around at least one corner
of adjacent surfaces. It should also be noted that a row of five
discs also counts even if it turns around two corners.
When played by three or four players, the object of the game is to
be the last player to stay in the game. In order to be the last
player to stay in the game, the object is to avoid completing a
straight row of five discs of five different colors. The rules for
three or four players are otherwise similar to the rules for two
players. As soon as the next to last player makes a row of five
discs of five different colors, the last player to stay in the game
wins.
It can therefore be seen that a new and improved three-dimensional
game apparatus has been provided. The game is specifically adapted
to enable either two, three or four players to play individually
against each other and provides great variation in combinations
which must skillfully be taken into consideration in order to win
the game.
Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate
my invention that others may, by applying current or future
knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions
of service.
* * * * *