US2998973A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

p 1961 w. H. SCHAPER 2,998,973

GAME APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1959 F/ci. 7\ 3.

United States Patent 2,998,973 GAME APPARATUS William H. Schaper, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Schaper Manufacturing Co., Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed July 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,252 9 Claims. (Cl. 273- 1) This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly it relates to apparatus for use in a game of skill in maneuvering a playing member along a concealed surface in a manner to avoid predetermined obstacles or barriers placed therealong.

It is contemplated as a general object of my invention to provide a novel game of skill which will be highly enjoyed by players of all ages.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel game apparatus through the use of which players may compete in skill, finesse and judgment.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel game apparatus in the use of which players can compete in ability to maneuver a playing member along passages of a concealed surface in a manner to avoid obstacles placed along certain of the passages.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from be following description, made in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan viev. of my novel game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the decks of my novel game apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, it will be seen that my novel game apparatus includes a plurality of flat decks juxtaposed in angular side-byside relation to thereby define a pyramid 11. Pyramid 11 is supported on a truncated pyramidal-shaped suport 12 which may be formed of substantially rigid cardboard material and which includes a plurality of sides 13. The particular shape of each of the sides 13 is that of an isosceles trapezoid and each side 13, of course, supports one of the decks 11 in spaced relationship thereon. A horizontal platform 14 interconnects the upper edges of sides 13 and provides a support for a receptacle which will be described later. Support 12, as shown in FIG. -2, is also positioned in a receptacle container 15 having a bottom wall 16 and upstanding low peripheral walls 17. It will be noted that sides 13 of support 12 terminate downwardly in narrow horizontally extending flanges 18 which abut peripheral walls 17 to thereby define a narrow channel 19. Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that each deck 11 also has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid and includes parallel top and bottom edges 20 and 21 respectively and inclined side edges 22. Deck 11, as seen in FIG. 2, is substantially flat in cross sectional shape and is formed of a somewhat rigid opaque material having non-magnetic properties or material which is not capable of being magnetized such as plastic or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that each deck 11 when positioned upon a side 13 of support 12 has an upper or a player-exposed surface 23 and a lower or player-concealed surface 24. Each deck 11 is also. provided with a pair of integrally formed flanges which extend laterally from player-concealed surface 24 and spaced inwardly and substantially parallel to side edges 22. Flanges 25 function as support means and serve to support deck 11 in spaced relationship upon its corresponding side 13 of support 12.

Each of the decks 11, as seen in FIG. 3, are provided with a plurality of barrier-retaining elements 26 extending laterally from player concealed surface 24. Barrierretaining elements 26 are spaced in a predetermined relation to thereby define a plurality of vertical passages extending between bottom edge 20 and top edge 21 and a plurality of transverse passages extending between inclined sides 22. A plurality of elongated barrier elements 27 have their ends notched as at 28 for detachably engaging selected adjacent barrier-retaining elements 26 to thereby block certain of the passages. Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that player-exposed surface 23 is provided with a plurality of raised cross elements or indicia 29 and each of which registers with one of the barrierretaining elements 26 to thereby define passages thereon corresponding to the passages defined by the barrierretaining element 26 on player-concealed surface 24.

A playing member 30, as seen in FIG. 2, is in the form of a steel ball and is held against player-concealed surface 24 by a playing control member 3-1 which ineludes an elongated hollow tube 32 formed of plastic material. A magnetized element 33 is positioned within and disposed at one end of tube 32 and the other end of tube 32 has a laterally extending offset portion 34 having an opening formed therein for securing one end of a flexible cord 35 thereto. Flexible cord 35 is also attached to one of the peripheral walls 17 to thereby prevent accidental misplacement of the playing control member 31. It will also be noted that a playing control member 31 is provided for each of the decks 10 of pyramid 11 and that each playing control member 31 is used in the manner of a stylus or the like whereby the end of tube 32 having magnetic element 33 therein is held against the player-exposed surface 23 and is moved therealong to thereby cause corresponding movement of playing member 30 along player-concealed surface 24.

My novel game apparatus is also provided with a re-; ceptacle 36 which includes a pyramidal-shaped cover37,

upstanding side walls 38 and a bottom wall 39. Cover 37 is comprised of a plurality of triangular-shaped sides 40 and each of the side walls 38 has an opening 41 formed therein. Receptacle 36 is supported on platform 14' of support 12 so that the upper and lower surfaces of the cover sides 4!) are co-extensive with the respective playerexposed surface 23 and the player-concealed surface 24 of one of the decks 11. Thus receptacle 36 is common to all of the decks 10 and serves to receive playing member 30 therein when the same is moved beyond the playerconcealed surface 24 over which it is traversing.

Deck 10 is also constructed in a manner to facilitate positioning of playing member 30 and playing. control member 31 in engaging relation with player-exposed surface 23 and player-concealed surface 24 respectively. Each deck 10 has a notch 42 formed medially of bottom edge 21 and which designates a starting point'when using my game apparatus. Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that an arcuate area 43 adjacent notch 42 is tapered outwardly to thereby define a thin knife-like edge for facilitating positioning of playing member 30 and playing control member 31 in playing position. Playing member 30 is held against playing control member 31 because of the magnetic element 33 and the elements may be moved into engagement with player-exposed surface 23 and player-concealed surface 24 respectively without either of said members becoming disengaged therefrom because of the tapered knife-like arcuate area 43.

Since the pyramid 11 of my novel game apparatus is V comprised of four decks, the game, of course, oanbe played by two, three, or four players. The object of the game is to find the concealedpassage along the playerconcealed surface extending from the starting point or notch 42 to the receptacle 36. It will be understood, of

Patented Sept. 5, 1961 course, that there is a separate playing member or steel ball 33 for each of the playing control members 31. To start the game each player takes a deck 13 and secures a plurality of the barrier elements 27 between adjacent barrier-retaining elements 26 in a manner to thereby block all but one of the passages thereon. This is done out of the vision of the other players so that the particular player who is to traverse this particular deck has no knowledge of the arrangement of the barrier elements 27 thereon. There must be, of course, at least one uninterrupted passage from notch 42 along player-concealed surface 24 to receptacle 36. This uninterrupted passage may be a substantially straight passage or it may be sinuous and is dependent upon the player arranging the barrier elements of that particular deck 10. After each player has arranged the barrier elements upon the player-concealed surface 24 of his particular deck, the decks are then positioned upon support 12 and receptacle 36 is positioned upon platform 14.

Pyramid 11 is then rotated one quarter or one half turn to switch the pyramid decks it among the players. The first player starts his playing member or ball 30 at notch 42 and which is held against player-concealed surface 24 by playing control member 31. Sliding the playing control member 31 along the passages defined by the indicia 29 on player-exposed surface 23 with the magnetic element 33 positioned against the deck 19 causes corresponding movement of the playing member 30 along the player-concealed surface 24 until the playing member or ball 30 hits a barrier element 27 and becomes disengaged from the player-concealed surface 24 and rolls back to the channel 19. It is then the next players turn.

Each player follows the same procedure and attempts to remember where he hit the barrier element so that he might avoid it on his subsequent trial. The first player to reach the receptacle 36 with his playing member or ball 30 is the winner. The remaining players get one last attempt or turn to tie him.

It will be seen from the preceding paragraphs that I have provided a game apparatus which is not only novel but one which may be enjoyed by both children and adults. It will also be noted from the foregoing description that in the use of my novel game apparatus players may compete in skill, finesse and judgment to thereby add enjoyment to their moments of leisure.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Game apparatus comprising a substantially flat deck formed of non-magnetic material and having a playerexposed surface and a player-concealed surface, said player-concealed surface having at least one barrier-retaining element extending therefrom and defining a plurality of passages thereon, a barrier element removably secured to said barrier-retaining element and extending transversely of and completely traversing one of said passages, a pair of mutually attracted magnetic members one of which is magnetized, one of said members movably engaging said player-exposed surface and the other of said members movably engaging said player-concealed surface whereby movement of said one member along the player-exposed surface will cause corresponding movement of said other member along the passages of the player-concealed surface and whereby said other member will be disengaged from said player-concealed surface when moved against said barrier element.

2. Game apparatus comprising a substantially flat deck formed of non-magnetic material and having a player-exposed surface and a player-concealed surface, a playing member movably engaging said player-concealed surface and a playing control member movably engaging said player-exposed surface, said members being formed of magnetic material and one of which is magnetized, a plurality of barrier-retaining elements secured to and extending from said player-concealed surface in predetermined spaced relation to thereby define a plurality of passages for movement of said playing member therealong, and a plurality of barrier elements removably connected with certain of said barrier-retaining elements and each of which extends across selected passages whereby movement of said playing control member along the player-exposed surface will cause corresponding movement of said playing member along the passages of said player-concealed surface and whereby said playing member will be disengaged from said player-concealed surface when moved against one of said barrier elements.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said player-exposed surface is provided with a plurality of path defining indicia each of which registers with one of said barrier-retaining elements to thereby define a plurality of passages thereon corresponding to the passages on said player-concealed surface.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said deck is formed of opaque material.

5. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said playing member comprises a ball and said playing control member is elongated and is adapted to be held in upstanding relation by a player with one end thereof engaging said player-exposed surface.

6. The structure as defined in claim 2 and a receptacle positioned closely adjacent an edge of said deck for re ceiving said playing member therein when the same is caused to be moved beyond said edge.

7. Game apparatus comprising a plurality of substantially trapezoidal-shaped decks juxtaposed in angular side by side relation to thereby define a pyramid, each of said decks being formed of non-magnetic material and having a substantially flat player-exposed surface and a substantially flat player-concealed surface, a playing member movably engaging a player-concealed surface and a playing control member engaging a corresponding player-exposed surface of one of said decks, said members being formed of magnetic material and one of which is magnetized, a plurality of barrier-retaining elements secured to and extending from the player-concealed surface of each of said decks in predetermined spaced relation to thereby define a plurality of passages for movement of said playing member therealong, and each of said decks having a plurality of barrier elements removably connected with certain adjacent of said barrier-retaining elements each of which extends across selected passages whereby movement of said playing control memher along the player-exposed surface will cause corresponding movement of said playing member along passages of the player-concealed surface of one of said decks and whereby said playing member will be disengaged from the player-concealed surface of said one deck when moved against one of said barrier elements.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 and a truncated pyramidal-shaped support having each side thereof positioned below and supporting one of said decks in spaced relationship thereto.

9. The structure as defined in claim 7 and a receptacle positioned adjacent the apex of said pyramid and common to each of said decks for receiving said playing member therein when the same is caused to be moved beyond said playenconcealed surface.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,864 Palmer May 13, 1913 2,053,598 Blau Sept. 8, 1936 2,081,020 Sass May 18, 1937 2,454,939 Oakes Nov. 30, 1948 2,747,872 Harvey May 29, 1956 2,873,975 Haws Feb. 17, '1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 186,512 Great Britain Oct. 5, 1922

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