U.S. patent number 3,738,659 [Application Number 05/135,173] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-12 for auto racing board game apparatus.
Invention is credited to Mildred F. Partridge.
United States Patent |
3,738,659 |
Partridge |
June 12, 1973 |
AUTO RACING BOARD GAME APPARATUS
Abstract
Game apparatus providing racing cars assembleable from plural
elements, a game box containing the elements in a concealed manner,
a game board over which the assembled cars move, and play
determining elements including randomly distributable monetary
units and play directing cards. The game box has sets of part
storage bins with opaque covers, each cover being provided with
identification indicia. Play of the game proceeds by assembling the
car playing elements by purchase with a random distribution of
monetary units and thereafter moving the assembled elements about
the playing board under certain pre-determined conditions in
response to further random play of monetary units.
Inventors: |
Partridge; Mildred F.
(Montesano, WA) |
Family
ID: |
22466879 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/135,173 |
Filed: |
April 19, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/246; 273/276;
273/249; 273/288; 446/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
3/00082 (20130101); A63F 3/00006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
3/00 (20060101); A63f 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/134,135,131 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,289,489 |
|
Feb 1962 |
|
FR |
|
281,577 |
|
Jan 1915 |
|
DD |
|
659,651 |
|
Oct 1951 |
|
GB |
|
1,114,346 |
|
May 1968 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Lowe; Delbert B.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. An auto racing game for entertainment and education comprising,
in combination:
a playing board having defined thereon a racing course divided into
plural similar course units;
plural pit-pads, associated with spaced units of the playing
course, each having thereon a different identification indicium,
and providing areas on the playing board for parts assemblage,
storage and disposition;
a shaker-box for containment of a plurality of disk-like monetary
standards having means for disbursal of individual disks therefrom
in random fashion;
a plurality of disk-like monetary standards, all of similar
physical configuration, grouped in plural sets of similar value,
each set having a different identifying indicium;
compound racer simulating playing pieces comprised of releasably
assembleable parts, each group of parts for a single playing piece
being uniquely identifiable by one of said pit-pad identifying
indicia and each playing piece being formed from parts similar to
those of each of the other playing pieces; and
a game box providing containment for playing piece parts and having
plural bins arranged in sets of the same number of bins as the
number of playing pieces, each set formed in a fashion to contain
and conceal racer playing piece parts of the same type.
2. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:
a plurality of cards all with similar obverse sides to prevent
individual identification and various game directing instructions
on the faces thereof, the cards to be acquired and used to direct
game play in response to some predetermined condition of game
play.
3. The game of claim 1 wherein the releasably assembleable parts of
each compound racer simulating playing piece comprise:
a body configured as a racing car having forward slots releasably
containing forward wheel-axle combinations, rearward slots
releasably containing rearward wheel-axle combinations, an upper
medial chamber releasably containing a simulated motor, a forward
orifice releasably containing a lap-flag and a cockpit releasably
containing a simulated driver having a releasably positionable
helmet.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a simulated auto racing game
for amusement providing playing pieces movable in response to
chance determined events about a board defined course, and
particularly to such a game providing compound playing pieces
assembleable by chance related events before institution of chance
related board motion.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Games of the "red mule" type have been known and quite popular as
amusement devices since time immemorial. These games provide a
board defining a course of successive elements about which a marker
of one sort or another may be moved in response to some chance
determined or related event. The instant invention provides an
improvement over the existing games of this general class.
My invention differs from known members of the class by providing a
compound playing piece in the form of an automobile that is
assembled from plural unique parts before play commences on the
playing board. These parts are acquired by purchase from a random
set of similar parts that contain the desired elements or from
other players who have the desired elements. The purchase is
accomplished by use of monetary units acquired by the players in
the first instance by chance and to some degree thereafter by
agreement.
After the playing piece is appropriately assembled, play proceeds
about the board defined course pursuant to chance distribution of
the monetary playing pieces in a fashion simulating an auto race.
Auxiliary incidents of play are provided by required incidentals of
playing piece motion and by chance related events determined by
other players and board position. To complete the course it is
required that the last motion of the playing piece must end exactly
at the finish notation.
Prior art devices have disclosed games with similar individual
elements but not with all of the incident elements associated in
combination in the same form as the instant invention for use in
the same mode.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
My invention provides a family type auto racing game with compound
cars that are assembled and moved about a racing course defined on
a playing board by events determined by both chance and
predetermined player action.
I provide a simulated auto playing piece assembleable from plural
parts acquired by random purchase from a central supply or specific
purchase from other players by monetary standards acquired in
ordered fashion by chance determination. Race incidents such as
fuel, lap flags, mystery cards, and the like are similarly acquired
by specific purchase.
After the auto playing piece is appropriately assembled, it is
placed upon a unitized sequential playing course for motion
thereabout in response to play of monetary elements. The course of
motion of the auto playing pieces is further determined by course
position and incidental deliberate acts of other players.
The object of the game is to assemble the playing piece and move it
about the race course, according to the rules of play, the required
laps to finish the course ahead of other players.
In providing such a game it is:
A principal object of my invention to create a game with markers
movable about a unitized sequential course according to particular
rules of play.
A further object of my invention to provide a compound car
simulating playing piece for such a game that is assembleable from
plural parts pursuant to game rules.
A still further object of my invention to provide such a game that
combines both chance happenings and individual player
determinations for its completion.
A still further object of my invention to provide an auto racing
game that will simulate an actual racing situation to stimulate the
interest of players and provide some incidental educational
benefits.
A still further object of my invention to provide such a game that
is of new and novel design, of simple and durable nature, of
economic manufacture and one that is otherwise well adapted to the
uses and purposes for which it is intended.
Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the
following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part
thereof. In carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it
is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible of
change in design and structural arrangement with only one preferred
and practical embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying
drawings as is required.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this
specification and wherein like numbers of reference refer to
similar parts throughout:
FIG. 1 is a top or plan view of the face of the playing board of my
invention.
FIG. 2 is a view of the details of a pit-pad of my invention.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the front wheel structure of a
racer.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the rear wheel structure of a
racer.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the body of a racer.
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a motor of a racer.
FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a principal race driver.
FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a drivers helmet.
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a sub-driver.
FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a lap-flag.
FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a gas-tank.
FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the mystery cards of my
invention.
FIG. 13 is an isometric view of one of the game pieces (hereinafter
called "jet-drops") of my game.
FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a plurality of monetary units used
with my invention.
FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the parts storage box for my
game.
FIG. 16 is an isometric view of the shaker-box of my invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
My invention generally provides playing board 20 defining a racing
course for motion of compound racer playing pieces 21, assembleable
by purchase of parts with randomly distributed monetary standards
22 and thereafter movable about the racing course in response to
change determination, player action, and play of motion contingency
elements 23.
Playing board 20 provides flat rectilinear supportive element 24
defining in its medial part unitized, sequential, closed racing
course 25, in the instance illustrated in FIG. 1 providing 34
separate units. The number of course units may be increased or
decreased without changing the essence of the game. Located about
the playing course, at spaced distances, are plural pit-pads 26,
again in the embodiment illustrated comprising 6 elements. The
number of pit-pads is not essential to my invention and may be
increased or decreased to accommodate a particular number of
players, one pad being required for each player. Though numbers may
vary, the combination illustrated is fairly ideal with a race track
having 34 units and 6 pit-pads substantially equally spaced. The
detail of the face of a pit-pad is shown in FIG. 2, where it is
seen to include several defined storage areas, including the "for
sale" area 27, and driver and sub-driver motel areas 28, 29,
respectively.
Game box 30 is a rectilinear box-like structure formed with an
openable, catchable lid giving access to and defining internal
component storage compartments 31 and plural arrayed parts storage
bins 32 having opaque covers 33 to conceal from players the
particular part each bin contains. The bins are arrayed in sets of
the same number as the number of players and the cover 33 of each
is provided with some indicia of identification so that players may
orally identify the sets and members of each set to other players.
The various bins are of appropriate size to contain the several
parts of the racer playing pieces of my invention.
Monetary standards 22 are a plurality of small rigid disks 34, all
of similar size and shape, indicating various numerical amounts
preferably by appropriate surface numbers 35 and distinctive
surface colors (not shown). The disks collectively comprise a
plurality of one dollar, two dollar, three dollar, four dollar,
five dollar, ten dollar, twenty-five dollar, and fifty dollar
amounts, the number of each not being essential but preferably
inversely proportional to indicated face value. The total number of
monetary standards is not critical, but it should range into three
figures to provide an appropriate supply for convenient play. A
replenishable supply of disks 34 is contained within shaker-box 36,
from whence upon an appropriate shaking type of manual manipulation
one may exit individually through slot 37 in the box. The
shaker-box is opaque so that the production of monetary disks 34
therefrom will be random and not controllable by a player in an
individual instance.
Racer playing pieces 21 comprise the various components illustrated
in FIGS. 3 through 9. Racer body 38 forms the principal marker
element. It is configured as the body of a racing auto with forward
wheel slots 39 and rearward wheel slots 40, each adapted to
releasably receive wheel elements 44, 47, forward motor orifice 41
adapted to releasably receive the motor element 49 and cockpit
orifice 42 adapted to releasably receive a driver 50 or sub-driver
51. Flag hole 43 is provided in the forward portion of the body to
releasably receive various lap-flags. Forward wheel structure 44
provides medial axle 45 with smaller forward wheels 46 at each end
and rearward wheel structure 47 provides similar medial axle 45
with definitive larger racing type rear tires 48 at the ends
thereof; each axle is adapted to be releasably received by the
corresponding wheel slot of the body. Motor element 49 has a
rectilinear base adapted to releasably fit and be held in motor
orifice 41 of the body and an upper configuration to simulate the
external appearance of a racing motor. Principal driver element 50
and sub-driver element 51 have an external configuration simulating
their living counterparts with a lower base part adapted to
releasably fit within cockpit orifice 42 of the body. Plural
helmets 52 are provided to fit in normal position and releasable
fashion upon either driver or sub-driver.
Motion contingency elements 23 include gas-tanks 53 as illustrated
in FIG. 11, jet-drops 54 as illustrated in FIG. 13, sets of
lap-flags 55 as illustrated in FIG. 10, and plural mystery cards 56
as illustrated in FIG. 12. Plural lap-flags 55 constitute a group
comprising plural sets of flags, each set having the same number as
the number of playing pieces in use; normally the group will
comprise five sets to indicate a game five laps in length, each set
being designated with some distinguishing indicia, generally a
different colored flag element 57. Standard 58 of the lap-flags is
such as to allow the element to be releasably positioned in
flag-hole 43 of auto body 38.
Mystery cards 56 comprise a plurality of both beneficial and
detrimental instructions that would apply to the various stages of
game play while the playing pieces are coursing about racing track
25. Normally the beneficial conditions are distinguished from the
detrimental ones by difference in coloration, or some similar face
indicia. The obverse faces of all mystery cards are identical so
that the instruction contained on the face may not be determined
from inspection of the exposed obverse side. With six players,
mystery cards should number in the higher two figure range. They
contain various instructions, penalties, and relief from penalties
such as "driver ill," "driver recovered," "out of gas, pull off
track," "tire blow-out, pull off track," "spare-tire blow-out,
repair," and the like.
With this description of apparatus, the play of the game may now be
understood. Play will be described with the specific embodiment
illustrated, one for six players. Firstly, the apparatus is
assembled, comprising:
1 playing pad
6 pit-pads (distinguished by color)
1 parts bin
1 shaker-box
1 assortment of chips comprising $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $4.00, $5.00,
$10.00, $25.00 and $50.00 elements distinguished by face indicia
and color.
6 racer bodies, distinguished by color to match pit-pads.
6 front wheel assemblies, distinguished by color to match
bodies.
6 rear wheel assemblies, distinguished by color to match
bodies.
6 drivers, distinguished by color to match racer bodies.
6 sub-drivers, distinguished by color to match racer bodies.
6 motors, distinguished by color to match racer bodies.
1 set of helmets for principal drivers
1 set of helmets for sub-drivers
1 set of mystery cards
1 set of gas-tanks
1 set of jet-drops
1 group of lap-flags comprising five sets of six elements each,
distinguished by color to identify lap sets.
The object of the game is to acquire a complete racer playing piece
and thereafter enter upon the track course and complete five laps
thereabout. The first player to finish is the winner. The game with
six players will require approximately two and one-half hours of
playing time divided essentially into two portions, the first for
the assembly of racer playing pieces and the second for the motion
of the assembled pieces about the track.
The racing board is positioned upon some convenient supporting
surface and the several players positioned about the periphery
thereof. Each player is provided with a pit-pad distinguished by a
particular color, this color to be used throughout the game by the
player to distinguish the various elements of his particular racer
playing piece. One player will be designated as the track official
and parts man to maintain and disburse game elements and supervise
the course of play.
At the inception of play, the shaker-box is supplied with a random
assortment of chips and the racer bodies, wheel assemblies, motors,
drivers, sub-drivers, and driver helmets are contained in randomly
oriented sets of similar elements in storage bins 32 of game box
30. The playing piece elements of one particular type are all
within one set, but their arrangement in any particular bin within
that set is unknown to the players and undeterminable by inspection
of the storage bin. The mystery cards are shuffled to a random
orientation and placed face down inside tee track course.
With apparatus in this condition, play begins. The track official
manually manipulates the shaker-box containing the chips to
randomly admix them and passes it to the player on his left. That
player manually manipulates the box in a shaking type motion until
a chip passes through the slot in the box; he keeps the chip and
passes the box on to the next player to his left and play continues
in this fashion with the shaker-box moving in a clockwise fashion
to allow the players to randomly accumulate monetary standards to
enter upon the racing business. The required racing playing piece
elements for each player, and the purchase price from the track
official, are:
1 car body -- $100.00
2 wheel assemblies (front and rear) -- $25.00 each
1 motor -- $40.00
1 principal driver -- $50.00
1 driver hat -- $10.00
1 sub-driver -- $40.00
1 sub-driver hat -- $10.00
1 tank of gas -- $50.00
5 lap-flags -- $10.00 each
Mystery cards may be purchased in pile order for $10.00 each and
jet-drops for $5.00 each. Neither is a required element to enter
upon the race track, though both may be beneficial to enter play.
Normally some limit must be placed on individual player purchase of
these elements to promote orderly game progress. Preferably no
player may purchase more than three mystery cards or four jet-drops
at any one time of play.
The various racer elements and moving contingency elements are
acquired initially by purchase from the track official. During any
players's turn he may purchase one item of a playing piece from any
group from the track official. The particular elements are
contained in bins and the player may designate which bin he
desires, but it is to be remembered that he will have no knowledge
of the color of the particular part contained in that bin. If the
acquired item be a part of the color of the player's particular
playing piece he may keep it and continue to acquire parts for his
car, but if it be a part of some other color than his playing
piece, it is of no use in assembling that particular player's
playing piece.
The players may similarly purchase, sell and barter playing piece
elements between themselves during any player's turn of play. If a
player has a part that he does not desire to keep, he may place it
in the "for sale" section 27 of his pit-pad to make an offer of
disposition. If he wishes to sell the element for the purchase
price from the track official, he may merely place it in the area;
if he wishes to sell it for a price higher than that for which it
was purchased from the track official, he must place with the
element a monetary chip of the same amount as the excess price.
This chip so placed then is removed from play so long as the
element remains in the "for sale" area and the chip may not be
otherwise used. When the part is sold or traded, however, the
excess price chip goes back to the owning player and may be treated
as any other. The play continues then in this fashion until at
least one player has completely assembled all of the necessary
items for his racing playing piece.
If, in the acquisition of player piece elements, any player
acquires his principal driver or sub-driver before the racer
playing piece is ready to enter upon the track, he must house it in
the proper motel 28 or 29 on his pit-pad. This housing requires a
deposit of $20.00 in monetary chips in each occupied motel area for
the driver's expense until he starts of the track course. At such
time as the car does enter the track course, the driver will occupy
the racer and the sub-driver may be placed in the pit area to free
the deposit money for the motels.
When the racing car is assembled and ready to enter the track
course, the particular player must symbolically put gas in the car
by returning a gas can to the track official. With satisfaction of
this precedent condition he places his playing piece in starting
position on the track, all during one turn of play.
With the entry of one car upon the track, the rules of play change
somewhat. The play proceeds in the same clockwise direction, with
monetary chips disbursed in the same fashion. Movement upon the
track is made in response to the play of monetary chips by paying
them to the track official during the player's turn. Only the low
value chips -- $1.00 to $5.00 -- are used for playing piece motion
on the track course.
After entry upon the track and during a player's term of play, he
may play a mystery card to either add a penalty to opposing playing
pieces or a benefit to his own. No playing piece, however, may have
more than two penalty cards against it at any one time to allow
orderly development of the game.
During track motion each racer playing piece must carry an
appropriate lap-flag. If any racer is found to have an improper
flag at any time, the particular offending player must move
backwards three track course units and the player discovering the
error may move forward three track units.
During track motion, if a player has his racing car in his own pit
area, opponents may not play penalty cards against him so long as
it remains in the pit area. The players may buy, sell or trade
mystery cards among themselves according to the same rules as for
buying, selling or trading car parts. All spent mystery cards are
returned to the racing official who places them in random order in
the unused stack. To complete the race course, a player must play a
monetary chip of appropriate value to take him only to the finish
unit; he cannot go past it and he cannot win unless he comes to the
finish unit. An appropriate lap-flag must be on a vehicle on the
track at all times; when the lap is completed the flag is returned
to the track official.
During the course of play there may come to be disputes between the
players, particularly regarding the nature and effect of mystery
cards. The track official must settle all such disputes and his
decision is final in so doing.
During the course of play with one or more cars on the track
course, a player's turn starts when he receives the shaker-box and
ends when he has taken the chip from it. In the intervening period
he may move his racer, buy or sell racing elements, incidents of
play or mystery cards as desired. During this period, however, it
is to be remembered that only low valued chips ($1.00 to $5.00) may
be used for moving and any change making of chips must be
accomplished between individual players who may refuse to do so if
they choose.
During play, if one player stops on any position occupied by
another player, the second player must use a jet-drop. To do so he
gives the jet-drop to the track official and moves his car ahead
four additional spaces. A jet-drop, to be used, must come from a
reserve supply; one may not be purchased during the course of the
move in which it is used.
From the foregoing description of the play of my game it can be
seen that it is dependent both upon the individual judgment of a
player and chance happenings, neither of which will per se
determine the game. This play makes the game simple enough for the
youngest players, yet one challenging enough for adults so that it
is of a rather universally acceptable nature.
The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a
detailed nature so that a specific embodiment of it might be set
forth as required, but it is to be understood that various
modifications of detail and rearrangement and multiplication of
parts may be resorted to without departing from its spirit,
essence, or scope.
Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by
Letters Patent, and
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