Amusement devices: games – Physical skill or ability – Balance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2001-11-20
Chiu, Raleigh W. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Physical skill or ability
Balance
C273S449000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318726
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to games of skill and memory, and more particularly, to a pivoting board game apparatus and a method of play developed therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Balancing games, of the general type wherein the players thereof each seek to ensure that an equilibrium configuration of a collection of items becomes unstable at the hand of players adverse in interest, have long been known.
An example of a game of this general type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,655 (Kurita), which relates to a BALANCING GAME. In the game described in the Kurita patent, an elastic support is provided. The elastic support has an upper horizontal support plate. A plurality of weight pieces are also provided, which are equally distributed amongst players at the start of a game. During a typical play scenario, the weight pieces are placed upon the upper support one-by-one in rotating turns by the players. The support tends to be more easily unbalanced and spill pieces with the increasing weight of the pieces. A player whose last-played piece causes a spill must take possession of the spilled pieces. The first player who exhausts his or her supply of pieces is the victor.
The readily perceptible tilting action of the balancing game described in the Kurita patent provides for great interest in play. However, this game has limited appeal to parents who would prefer that the competitive instincts of their children be manifest in individual self-achievement, rather than, as is the objective of this game, in the promotion of the failure of others. Further, this game suffers in that it does not reward the memory of players, and as such, has limited appeal to parents who would prefer that their children play games which exercise their memory skills. Further, this game suffers, in that it is easily mastered such that, as between experienced players, victory is usually a matter of chance. Accordingly, the game has limited appeal to persons other than children. Given that a significant proportion of game purchases relate to purchases made by adults for their own use, or by parents, for their children, all of the foregoing significantly detracts from the public acceptance of this game, despite the aforementioned great interest in play resultant from the tilting action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome, inter alia, the shortcomings of the prior art described above by providing a balancing game wherein tilting action is readily perceptible; which rewards players for self-achievement; which rewards the memory of players; and which is not easily mastered.
These and other objects are addressed by the present invention, a game apparatus and method of play therefor.
The game apparatus comprises a body member, having a first axis and a non-planar playing surface, and a support means. The support means supports the body member in a starting position thereof, whereat the first axis is substantially horizontal and the non-planar playing surface presents substantially upwardly. The support means additionally enables the body member to rotate freely about the first axis, the body member being weighted, shaped and dimensioned such that, when said body member is at the starting position thereof, a center of gravity of said body member is positioned substantially below said first axis.
According to one aspect of the invention, the non-planar playing surface preferably has defined thereon a first plurality of demarcated playing positions.
According to another aspect of the invention, the game apparatus preferably further comprises a second plurality of playing pieces.
According to another aspect of the invention, the support means preferably enables said body member to rotate freely about said first axis through a first selected range of rotation.
According to another aspect of the invention, a retention means is preferably provided for retaining selected ones of the second plurality of playing pieces in fixed position relative to the non-planar playing surface upon selective distribution of said selected ones of the second plurality of playing pieces at respective ones of the first plurality of demarcated playing positions.
According to another aspect of the invention, the body member is preferably adapted for variable pivotal displacement about said first axis relative to said starting position by effect of gravity responsive to said selective distribution of said selected ones of said second plurality of playing pieces at said respective ones of said first plurality of demarcated playing positions.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the game apparatus preferably further comprises a measurement means for measuring said variable pivotal displacement of the body member.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described hereinbelow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3567221 (1971-03-01), Stults
patent: 3675920 (1972-07-01), Gorman
patent: 3744792 (1973-07-01), McClary et al.
patent: 4579346 (1986-04-01), Giuntoli
patent: 4589664 (1986-05-01), Slimp, Jr.
patent: 5240260 (1993-08-01), Strongin
patent: 1122375 (1956-09-01), None
patent: 1046315 (1966-10-01), None
Chiu Raleigh W.
Hofbauer Patrick J.
LandOfFree
Pivoting board game does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pivoting board game, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pivoting board game will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2607877