GB2420508A - Marble game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A marble game playing apparatus comprises a board 3 with indentations arranged in rows so that the indentations in each row lie opposite a space in the adjacent rows. Marbles are flicked onto the playing surface, and come to rest in the indentations. A perimeter barrier 4 is provided to retain the marbles on the board, and collection trays 5 are provided to store the marbles.

Description

1 2420508

Marble Game Specification

This invention relates to a playing surface for a marble game.

When playing marble games the spherical nature of marbles means that if the are rolled or flicked they do not come to rest within a short distance and therefore traditional games often involve playing with marbles in a tray of sand and therefore are not practical for playing a board game which can be readily stored or played indoors or outdoors without substantial preparation.

The playing surface is made of a suitable material and contains circular indentations in a repeating flower petal pattern (Figure 1).

The depth of the indentation is proportional to the size of the marble as shown in figure 2. The indentation does not snugly fit around the surface of the marble and is eliptical and not spherical. The depth of the indentation is such that a marble rolling along the playing surface will come to a complete stop in an indentation but the course of the marble will be randomly altered as it rolls along the edges of the indentations until it runs out of momentum and comes to rest in an indentation.

The flower pattern is repeated to form a rectangular playing area (Figure 3) The playing area is surrounded by a raised rectangular barrier to prevent marbles falling off the playing surface during play.

The playing surface will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the pattern of indentations on the playing surface Figure 2 demonstrates how a marble (1) comes to rest in an indentation (2). Note that the marble does not fit snugly into the indentation. This is to allow the marble to be flicked from one indentation to another during game play. A snug fit would prevent this.

Figure 3 shows the playing surface of adjacent indentations as arranged in the pattern detailed in figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the entire game board. The Jayng surface (3) is surrounded by a raised perimeter barrier (4) to prevent flicked marbles from exiting the playing surface during play. On the game board, outwith the playing surface and perimeter barrier are two marble collection trays (5) at opposite end of the board to store captured marbles during play.

Figure 5 shows front elevation of the entire game board, clearly showing the raised perimter barrier (4)

Description

The patent application relates to a marble game consisting of a playing board and a suitable number of marbles per person participating in the game play.

The playing board has the unique feature of indents as set out in the attached Patent Specification whereby the game can be played with by flicking the marble playing piece, which, due to the inimitable physical contact between the board's indents on the marble surface will give an element of unpredictable direction being given to the progressing marble. The object of the game is to gain victory over your opponent by capturing the challenger's playing pieces.

Claims (3)

1. Claims 1. A marble game playing surface comprising of indentations

   arranged in a flower petal design which allow flicked marbles to come to rest in an unpredictable position on the playing surface.
2. 2. A marble game playing surface according to claim 1, in which the indentations are arranged in a rectangular design with a raised surrounding barrier to prevent marbles from falling of the playing surface.
3. 3. A marble game playing surface according to claim I which is contained within a circular border to produce a circular board