U.S. patent number 3,807,738 [Application Number 05/226,894] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-30 for disc game apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Marvin Glass & Associates. Invention is credited to Jeffrey Dale Breslow.
United States Patent |
3,807,738 |
Breslow |
April 30, 1974 |
DISC GAME APPARATUS
Abstract
A game apparatus which includes a playing surface having a
generally centrally disposed horizontal flat portion and a
plurality of ramp portions extending radially outwardly and
inclined upwardly from the horizontal central portion. A plurality
of circular shaped recesses are formed in the central horizontal
playing surface portion for receiving in a flat condition circular
disc shaped chips which are rolled on edge down the ramps toward
the recesses. The recesses are sufficiently deep to receive a
plurality of chips stacked on top of each other within the
recesses, the depth of the recesses relative to the thickness of
the chips being such that the top surface of a top chip received in
a recess when the recess is full of chips is flush with the playing
surface surrounding the recess. Slotted chutes are disposed at the
upper, outer ends of the ramps for receiving chips on edge in
condition for rolling down the ramps toward the recesses when
released from the chute.
Inventors: |
Breslow; Jeffrey Dale (Highland
Park, IL) |
Assignee: |
Marvin Glass & Associates
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
22850865 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/226,894 |
Filed: |
February 16, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/126R;
273/120R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/02 (20130101); A63F 2007/282 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/02 (20060101); A63f 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/119,12R,12A,123R,123A,126R,126A,124RA,125,118,121,122,128 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Brown; Theatrice
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Coffee and Sweeney
Claims
I claim:
1. A target game apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sets of generally circular disc-shaped chips, one
set for each player of the game, said chips having indicia thereon
distinguishing one set thereof from another set;
means defining a central, generally flat, horizontal playing
surface;
a plurality of ramps angularly spaced about and projecting radially
outwardly from the playing surface, each ramp having an inclined
surface extending upwardly from said playing surface for rollably
supporting a chip and defining a chip path of travel toward said
playing surface, said inclined surface having a starting position
located at the upper end thereof whereat a chip may be positioned
preparatory to rolling down the ramp toward the playing
surface;
means defining a chute at the starting position of each ramp for
receiving at least one of the chips on the edge in condition for
rolling down said inclined surface when released from said chute,
said chute being manually movable whereby a chip may be aimed
toward different areas on the playing surface; and
a plurality of generally tubular shaped recesses formed in said
playing surface, each recess being of a sufficient depth to receive
a plurality of chips stacked on top of each other in a flat
condition, said recesses being in a predetermined pattern of a
plurality of rows and columns of equally spaced recesses, the
number of recesses in each row and column being the same wherein
the object of the game is to launch a plurality of chips down said
ramps into said recesses by the players of the game in an attempt
to have the chips of his respective set, when they are the top
chips in said recesses, form a particular relative orientation
across said pattern of rows.
2. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chutes are pivotally
mounted to provide means for varying the direction which a chip
rolls down said inclined surface.
3. The game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the depth of said recesses
relative to the thickness of said chips is such that the top
surface of the uppermost chip received in a recess when the recess
is full of chips is generally flush with the playing surface
surrounding the respective recess.
4. A target game apparatus comprising:
a plurality of sets of generally circular disc-shaped chips, one
set for each player of the game, said chips having indicia thereon
distinguishing one set thereof from another set;
means defining a central, generally flat, horizontal playing
surface;
a plurality of ramps angularly spaced about and projecting radially
outwardly from the playing surface, each ramp having an inclined
surface extending upwardly from said playing surface for rollably
supporting a chip and defining a chip path of travel toward said
playing surface, said inclined surface having a starting position
located at the upper end thereof whereat a chip may be positioned
preparatory to rolling down the ramp toward the playing surface;
and
a plurality of generally tubular shaped recesses formed in said
playing surface, each recess being of a sufficient depth to receive
a plurality of chips stacked on top of each other in a flat
condition, said recesses being in a predetermined pattern of a
plurality of rows and columns of equally spaced recesses, the
number of recesses in each row and column being the same, wherein
the object of the game is to launch a plurality of chips down said
ramps into said recesses by the players of the game in an attempt
to have the chips of his respective set, when they are the top
chips in said recesses, form a particular relative orientation
across said pattern of rows.
5. The game apparatus of claim 4 wherein the depth of said recesses
relative to the thickness of said chips is such that the top
surface of the uppermost chip received in a recess when the recess
is full of chips is generally flush with the playing surface
surrounding the respective recess.
6. The game apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pattern of rows of
recesses are arranged in three rows of three recesses uniformly
spaced for utilizing the game apparatus for playing the game of
tic-tac-toe.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to game devices, and more particularly to a
new and improved target type game which utilizes disc shaped
chips.
There are numerous target type games in the art. Typically these
include games having a bulls-eye type target area and an object
which is to be thrown thereat. Other games have a face with
apertures therein through which a ball or other missile is to be
thrown. Some such target games utilize the concept of a ball or the
like which is to be rolled along a generally horizontal surface in
a bowling type fashion. In bowling type games, the ball or missile
is usually intended to strike and displace other elements such as
pins or the like, but the occupation of a finite area by the rolled
ball is not part of the concept of the game.
Games which utilize a thrown or rolled ball are generally popular
in the art in that the play of the games is easy to execute and
easily understood by participants. Thus, there is a desire
generally present in the art to provide a new form of a game which
utilizes the concept of a thrown or rolled ball or other missile.
Improvements of these types of games are also generally well
received in the art. Thus, it is an object of this invention to
meet the continuing desire in the art for improvements in such
games, embodying the well known and well received principles of
target games and rolled or thrown missiles, particularly for
occupying defined target areas or positions.
This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an
improved target type game, or the like, wherein generally flat disc
shaped circular chips are rolled on edge toward a target or
receiving means wherein the chips are intended to occupy a finite
area, or the like, in a flat condition to provide for scoring
and/or winning of the game.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the chips are rolled
on edge down a plurality of inclined ramp like spokes extending
radially outwardly from a central target area or playing surface
portion, with one ramp for each player of the game. The central
target area or playing surface portion is generally flat and
horizontal and is provided with a plurality or cluster of recesses
in the form of wells which are designed for receiving a plurality
of chips stacked one on top of the other within the wells. One
manner of playing the game would be to provide "bingo" or
"tic-tac-toe" type rules whereby a player would win the game when a
particular player's chips (e.g., color-coded) occupy a given number
of recesses in a row or other pattern. The depth of the recesses or
wells relative to the thickness of the chips is such that the top
surface of the top chip received in any one well, when the well is
full of chips stacked on top of each other, is flush with the
playing surface around the well. Thus, a top chip in a well
completely full of chips will indicate which player of the game
captured or occupies that particular well during that game round,
and other chips simply can roll over the upper surface of the top
chip in the filled well.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying the
concepts of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a broken away vertical section, on an enlarged scale,
taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the
chutes which define the starting positions for the chips at the
outer ends of the ramp like spokes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the game apparatus of
the present invention includes a three-dimensional supporting base
having a raised playing surface. The playing surface includes a
generally flat, horizontal central portion 12 and a plurality of
ramp portions 14 extending radially outwardly and inclined upwardly
from the central horizontal surface portion 12. The ramp surface
portions 14 of the playing surface are defined by the top of a
plurality of spoke-like portions, generally designated 16, of the
supporting base, one spoke or ramp for each player of the game.
A plurality of generally circular shaped recesses 18 are formed in
the central playing surface portion 12 for receiving circular disc
shaped chips 20, or the like, in a flat condition within the
recesses. As best seen in FIG. 2, the circular recesses 18 actually
are formed by the tops of a plurality of wells 22 disposed beneath
the central playing surface portion 12. The wells 22 are
sufficiently deep to receive a plurality of chips 20 stacked on top
of each other as seen in FIG. 2. The diameter of the recesses 18
(i.e., wells 22) and the chips 20 are such that the chips are
received freely within the wells so that they come to rest on top
of each other in the flat condition shown in FIG. 2.
A chute member, generally designated 24 and best shown in FIG. 3,
is mounted at the upper outer end of each of the ramp surfaces 14
by means of bolts, screws, brads, or the like, as at 26. The chutes
24 have vertical slots 25 for receiving chips 20 on edge, as seen
in FIG. 2, in condition for rolling down the ramp surfaces 14
toward the recesses 18 when released from the chutes. The chutes
may be pivoted about the brad 26 to aim the chips at particular
ones of the recesses 18. The chutes thereby define starting
positions from which the chips may be rolled by players of the game
on edge down the playing surface ramp portions 14 toward the
recesses 18 defined in the horizontal playing surface portion
12.
With a plurality of the recesses 18 (wells 22) defined in the
playing surface portion 12, various schemes for playing the game
can be devised. For instance, a "bingo" or "tic-tac-toe" scheme may
be used whereby a player attempts to be the first to have his chips
occupy or capture a plurality of the wells 22 in a given row and
number, such as a lateral, diagonal or like rows or recesses or
wells. For this purpose, the chips 20 may be coded with colors or
other indicia in sets thereof, one set for each player of the
game.
As mentioned above, and as seen in FIG. 2, the wells 22 which
define the recesses 18 are sufficiently deep to receive a plurality
of chips 20 stacked on top of each other within the wells. The
depth of the wells 22 relative to the thickness of the chips should
be such that the top surface of a top chip received in a well when
the well is full of chips is flush with the horizontal playing
surface portion 12 surrounding the recess 18. In this manner, when
one or more of the wells 22 are full of chips, while other wells
are not, players still may roll chips down the ramp portions 14 of
the playing surface, the chips simply rolling over the filled wells
toward other unfilled wells. Obviously, once a player's chip is
disposed on the top of a stack thereof within a filled well, that
player has captured that well or target area for the duration of
that particular round of the game. When the wells are unfilled, the
occupation of that well may be changed by one player rolling one of
his respective chips into the unfilled well on top of another
player's chips.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of
understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
* * * * *