US3873093A - Word game and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A crossword type game comprising a unit for use by each player at his chosen location, the game including a pair of spaced vertically extending bins with alphabetically labeled compartments, letter playing pieces in the appropriate compartments and a playing board having spaced rows of horizontal and vertical positions in which to place a playing piece chosen from the bins. The playing board is retained between the bins selectively in a playing position in which the playing board extends generally horizontally with its playing surface downwardly inclined and in a storage position in which the playing board is generally vertical and in alignment with the bins, the rules of the game being such that each player may call a letter in succession and each player must choose the letter called and place the pieces on his board in an effort to form as many words as possible, the scoring depending solely on the number and length of the words formed.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Beskrone 1 Mar. 25, 1975 WORD GAME AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor [76] lnvemm' 32? a jfgxg igp gg Attorney, Agent, or-Firm-Max R. Millman, Esq.

{22] Filed. June 24, 1974 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 482,365

, A crossword type game comprising a unit for use by Related Application Data each player at his chosen location, the game including .[63] ContinuationJn-part of Scr. No, 294,555, Oct. 3, a pair of spaced vertically extending bins with alpha- 1972. betically labeled compartments, letter playing pieces in the appropriate compartments and a playing board [52] US Cl 73/1 5/73, 273/136 K, having spaced rows of horizontal and vertical positions 273/136 W, 312/234.5, 312/293 in which to place a playing piece chosen from the [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/00, A471) 81/00 bins. The playing board is retained between the bins 1 Field of Search 2 3/130 E, 131 G, 134 AB, selectively in a playing position in which the playing 273/135 D, 136 R, 136 D, 136 E, 136 K, 136 board extends generally horizontally with its playing W; 35/73, 60; 312/128, 107, 234.5, 293 surface downwardly inclined and in a storage position a in which the playing board is generally vertical and in [56] References Cited alignment with the bins, the rules of the game being UNITED STATES PATENTS such that each player may call a letter in succession 672,933 4/1901 Conner 273/136 D and each Player choose, the letter canfid 1,685,723 9/1928 Robins 273/136 K Place the Places On 1118 [ward an effort to Mm as 3,165,318 1/1965 Lissandrello 273/136 K y Words as Possible, the Scoring depending solely 3,507,056 4/1970 Finkel ..l..-.....'35/60 0n the number and length of the words formed. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 741,240 1932 France 35/73 PATENTED I 1873,0913

saw 2 DE 2 1 WORD GAME AND APPARATUS THEREFOR This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 294,555, filed Oct. 3, 1972 and relates to a word building game combining novel structural members and a unique set of rules.

As indicated in my prior application, in the more popular types of word games today such as Scrabble. Anagrams, and the like, chance plays a very big role, for each player chooses the letters at random even though skills are used in developing a defensive or offensive game and ones perception in seeing the formation of the words which are originally in the players memory bank.

The primary object of the present game is to develop the aforementioned skills while substantially equalizing the choice of letters and thereby minimizing the luck of the pick."

Another object of the invention is to provide a word game which has a unique but simple set of rules of the g game so that old and young alike may play the game with pleasure immediately rather than having to resort to reading and interpreting complicated rules before one starts or during the play.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game in which each player, except for one choice, has the same letters to play with, yet each player has repeated, sucessive opportunities of designating the letter he wishes all to use, the score depending upon the number and length of the words formed rather than on an arbitrary value assigned to each letter.

Another object of the invention is to provide separate units, comprised essentially of letter storage bins, letter playing pieces and playing boards for each player so that the players can sit separately where they choose with the playing board 'of each player concealed from the others during play.

Another object of the invention is to provide a word game of the character described in which each unit is so constructed that the playing board can be moved from a playing to a storage position with ease, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, yet rigid, and'compact to store and carry.

The foregoing objects are attained in a particular embodiment which comprises a number of units, each having a pairof spaced bins made up of compartments alphabetically lettered, a plurality of playing pieces or tiles in each compartment with the same letter on each tile as that which identifies the compartment, a crossword type board with an inclined playing surface having horizontal and vertical rows of positions upon which the tiles can be placed and retained in the particular position chosen and means to retain the playing board between the bins selectively in a playing position out of the sight of the other players and in a storage position. Slide doors are employed to cover the bin compartments and prevent the playing pieces from falling out of the compartments during storage and transportation.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view looking at the front of a word game unit made in accordance with the invention and shown in its non-playing or storage position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the game unit shown in its playing position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of HO. 2;

H0. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged front view ofa modified form of cover for the bin compartments.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings in which similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Essentially the game comprises units each including spaced bins with alphabetically lettered compartments, lettered playing pieces inthe compartments, playing boards positionable between the bins and rules of the game. Although many different materials may be used to fabricate the units, high impact polystyrene is especially useful since it comes in a variety of opaque colors and can be vacuum thermo-formed into thin but rigid sections. Transparent bins and covers may be suitably fabricated of the vinylresins and the playing pieces of the acrylics. I

Referring first to FIGS. l-4 it will be seen that the unit 10 includes a vertically extending member 12 having a horizontally extending top wall 14 of predetera mined length, a horizontally extending bottom wall 16 I which is adapted to rest on a table top or other flat support and which is wider than the top wall so that its front edge 18 is forward of the front edge 20 of the top wall 14. A rear wall 22 joins the top and bottom walls at their rear edges, and outer end walls 24 and 26 join the top, bottom and rear walls. Since the width of the top wall 14 is less than that of the bottom wall 16, the

' front edges 28 and 30 respectively of the outer end walls 24 and 26 are downwardly and forwardly inclined.

At predetermined locations, the top wall 14, bottom wall 16 and rear wall 22 are further joined by inner walls 32 and 34 of the same shape as the outer end walls 24 and 26 and, hence, include front edges 36 and 38 of'the same inclination as the front edges 28and 30 of the outer end walls. The inner walls 32 and 34 form a space 40 between them of predetermined length and of a depth equal to the overall depth of the unit.

The space between the outer end' wall 24 and the inner wall 32 forms one bin and the space between the inner wall 34 and the outer end wall 26 forms a second bin spaced from the first bin. In each bin a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal ledges 42 are formed joined by horizontally spaced vertical members 44 7 thereby forming a plurality of compartments 46.

The horizontal ledges 42 have front faces 48 flush with the edges of 28, 36 and 30, 38 and each front face 48 has a letter of the alphabet 50 thereon over a particular compartment 46, there being extra compartments 52 at the lower end of the bins for extra playing pieces. Similarly, the front edges 54 of the vertical members 44 are flush with the front faces of the horizontal ledges 48 and, hence, incline in the same plane as the front edges 28, 30, 36 and 38 of the end and inner walls. It will be understood that, since any suitable plastic molding technique or similar method will be used to make the entire vertical unit, the members 42 and 44 forming the compartments will, of course, be joined at their edges to or be integral with the top and bottom walls 14 and 16, the rear wall 22, and the corresponding inner and outer end walls 28, 36 and 30, 38.

Each playing piece is preferably a tile 56 made of plastic or similar material and is preferably 94 inch square by A; inch thick for ease of handling, viewing and storage, and contains imprinted thereon or therein a letter 58 of the alphabet, each lettered compartment 46 containing at the start of the game a given number of such playing pieces equivalent. of course, to the letter identifying the compartment.

The playing board is shown generally at 60 and will also be molded by conventional techniques from suitable plastics as a unitary member. its width approximates the length of the space'40 between the inner walls 32 and 34.

It is a box-like member which is generally horizontal in the playing position shown in FIG. 2 and includes an upper downwardly and forwardly inclined playing surface comprised of intersecting spaced horizontal and vertical portions 62 and 64- raised above a surface 65 forming five horizontal and five vertical rows of squares 66 in which the playing pieces are received. The top surface 65 is connected to a rear wall 68 and to a front wall 70 which is of lesser height than the rear wall 68, the height of the front wall 70 approximating the width of the top wall 14 and the height of the rear wall 68 approximating the width of the bottom wall 16 of the vertical member 12, for a purpose soon to appear. These walls of the playing board and the top, bottom and inner walls 32 and 34 of the member 12, the degree of inclination of the playing surface of the board corresponds to that of the front of the vertical compartmented member 12.

To rigidify the playing board, a bottom wall may be provided having a forward portion 78 and a rear portion 80 raised thereabove to form an indented, notched out portion or recess 82 across the width of the board from one side wall or gusset 72 to the other 74, the indented portion 82 being of a depth approximating the thickness of the bottom wall 16 of the bin unit. If desired, the bottomwall may be excluded for sake of economy, in which case the lower edges of the side walls or gussets 72 and 74 will be notched out to form the recess 82 extending to the rear wall 68.

In the playing position the playing board is positioned between the inner walls 32 and 34 of'the bins with'the notched out portion or recess 82 receiving that portion of the bottom wall 16 of the bin unit which extends between the inner walls 32 and 34 thereof. In this position the playing surface is downwardly and forwardly inclined, but the bins and board are out of sight of the other players.

When play is completed and the game is ready to be put away or stored, the playing pieces 56 are replaced in the compartments and the playing board 60 is raised, turned 180 and placed in the space 40 in which case the front wall 70 of the playing board lies just under the top wall 14 of the vertical unit l2,'and the rear wall 68 of the playing board lies against that portion of the bottom wall 16 of the member 12 in the space 40 with which it is substantially coextensive so that the entire front face of the game unit in its storage position is sub- 4 stantially in the same upwardly and rearwardly inclined plane.

To ensure that the playing pieces replaced in the bins for storage will not fall out of the compartments, slide doors are provided therefor. As seen in FIGS. l-4, adjacent the front edges of the outer and inner end walls of each bin, i.e. the walls 28, 36 and 30, 38, said walls are provided with vertical side opening grooves 84 and 86 coextensive with the front edges of said walls. The front edge of the top wall 14 at each bin location is cut back as at 87 so that the grooves, in effect, open through the top wall of the bin unit. A door 88 is provided which slides in the grooves and opens through the top of the bin. An indented portion 90 is provided as a handle and above it the door has a detent 92 which presses into a recess 94 in the front edge 96 of the top wall 14 to releasably hold the doors in closed positions, the flexibility of the door, which may also be made of plastic, allowing for locking and releasing action.

In FIG. 5, the same construction is provided except that the door opens sidewise, in which case front edges of the top and bottom walls 14 and 16 are provided with inwardly opening grooves 98 and 100 which terminate at the inner walls 32 or 34 but are open at the other end as at 102. A door 104 slides in the grooves 98 and 100 through the open ends 102 thereof to open or close the compartments, the door including a pull groove 106.

The rules of the game are as follows. The object itto complete as many five, four and three letter words across and down the playing board in order to achieve the highest point score. Two to four or more players can participate.

The players set up the playing boards 60 in front of each other as shown. in FIG. 2 so that the playing face thereof is out of view of the others. The player elected to start the game thinks of a word to himself and then calls out one letter. He then reaches into the compartment of the corresponding letter of his bin'unit and removes a playing piece, which he places on his board in any square he desires. Every other player removes the same letter from the compartment of his bin and places it on his board in any position he desires. Once a letter has been placed in a square of the board, it cannot be moved for the remainder of the game. 7

ln a clockwise direction, each subsequent player re peats the letter calling, selectionand placement on the board until twenty-four squares are filled. The remaining or twenty-fifth square is a free one and each player can pick any letter at that time to fill out the square in order to help him complete a word.

After the play is completed, the boards are exposed to all the players and each counts up his score, five letter words are worth ten points, four letter words five points and three letter words three points. The points are counted vertically and horizontally. The same word can be used across and down but no proper names are allowed and no plurals. If a plural is used to make up a five letter word, the point value is given for the four letter word only. The player with the highest score wins. I

All words must appear in an approved American or foreign language dictionary. Any player can challenge the validity ofa word of any other player and the dictionary may be consulted for that purpose. If the challenger is correct, he receives the point value of the word in question and the person challenged receives no credit for the word and, in addition, is penalized five points. The challenged player can retreat before the dictionary is consulted, in which case he simply loses the value of the word with no points accruing to the challenger. If the challenger is wrong, ten points are deducted from his score and added to the score of the challenged player. Only one word per row is permitted even if the larger word includes a smaller one.

If desired, the players can agree on a time limit to make a call. If a player is unable to call out a letter within the time limit allotted, he loses his turn.

Thus, an intriguing word game is provided which can be played by the young, the middle aged, the elderly and by hospital patients capable of sitting up and using their hands. Contests can be arranged in schools, community centers, homes, religious institutions, old age centers, etc. The game may be translated into other languages.

When the game is completed, the playing pieces are returned to their respective bin compartments, the playing board is then placed in its upright position in the space 40 as previously described and the doors slid to their closed position as shown in FIG. 1.

While preferred embodiments have here been shown and described, a skilled artisan may make minor variations without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the playing boards may be made of metallic plates with the squares imprinted, etched or otherwise provided on their front faces and the playing pieces may be magnetic.

What is claimed is:

l l. A word game unit comprising a vertically extending longitudinal cabinet member of unchanging transverse section having a front face and including bins spaced a predetermined distance from each other, means forming compartments in the bins opening through the front face thereof with a letter of the alphabet on the front face identifying each compartment, lettered playing pieces in corresponding compartments, a playing board insertable in and able to occupy substantially the entire space between said bins, said playing board including an upper playing surface divided into vertical and horizontal rows of areas shaped correspondingly to said playing pieces and adapted to receive and retain them, said playing board being selectively positionablewidthwise between the bins in a playing position in which the playing surface extends outwardly from the front face of said vertically extending cabinet member, and in a storage position in which the playing surface extends vertically and substantially along the front face of said bins, each player placing the word game unit at his chosen location with the playing surface out of view of the others, the rules of the game being such that each player may call a letter in succession and all players must choose the playing piece from their bins with the letter called thereon and place the pieces on their boards in selected areas thereof to form as many vertical and horizontal words as possible, the scoring depending solely on the number and length of words formed.

2. The word game unit of claim 1 wherein the front of said vertically extending cabinet member inclines downwardly and outwardly and said playing surface of said playing board is correspondingly inclined when said board is in said selected storage position, said playing surface also therefor extending downwardly and forwardly of said vertically extending unit when said playing board is in said selected playing position.

3. The word game unit of claim 2 and doors slidably mounted on said vertically extending cabinet member to cover and uncover said bin compartments.

4. The word game unit of claim 2wherein said means forming said compartments include intersecting vertical and horizontal partitions whose outer surfaces form the downwardly and outwardly inclined front face of said vertically extending member.

5. A word game unit comprised of a longitudinal vertically extending member including interconnected horizontal top and bottom walls, a rear vertical wall, outer end vertical walls, and inner vertical walls spaced from said outer vertical walls and from each other, the areas at the ends of said vertically extending member between each end wall and its closest inner wall form ing bins, intersecting vertical and horizontal partitions in each bin dividing the same into compartments with a letter associated with each compartment, the top wall being of lesser width than the bottom wall so that the front of said vertical member is substantially in a downwardly and outwardly inclined plane, the front faces of said partitions being correspondingly inclined, lettered playing pieces in corresponding compartments, a playing board formed of interconnected rear, front, side and upper walls, said rear wall being higher than said front wall so that said upper wall and the upper edges of said side walls incline downwardly from said rear to said front wall, the degree of inclination thereof being substantially the same as that of the front of said verti cally extending compartmented member and the width of said playing board approximating the space between said inner vertical walls of said vertically extending compartmented member, said upper wall of said playing board being the playing surface and being divided into vertical and horizontal rows of areas shaped correspondingly to said playing pieces and adapted to receive and retain them, the widths of said front and rear walls of said playing board approximating those of the top and bottom walls of said vertically extending compartmented member so that when said playing board is positioned widthwise in the space between said inner vertical walls with said rear wall of said playing board adjacent said rear wall of said vertically extending compartmented member, the board is in its playing position with the playing surface downwardly and forwardly inclined and, when said playing board is placed so that its front wall is under said top wall of said vertically extending compartmented member and said rear wall of said playing board overlies the bottom wall of said vertically extending compartmented member, said playing board extends vertically and occupies the space between said bins bins in the storage position with its upper wall in substantially the same inclined plane as the front of said vertically extending compartmented member.

6. The word game unit of claim 5 and means to stabilize said playing board in its playing position, said means including notches in the lower edges of said side walls of said playing board, said notches being substantially coextensive with the width of said bottom wall of said vertically extending compartmented member and receiving the portion of said bottom wall between said bins.

7. The word game unit of claim 5 and means to stabilize said playing board in its playing position. said means including a base wall interconnecting the rear, front and side walls of said playing board, said base wall including a notched portion extending to said rear wall and being substantially coextensive with the width of said bottom wall of said vertically extending compartmented member and receiving the portion of said bottom wall between said bins.

8. The word game unit of claim and doors mounted for vertically sliding movement on said vertically extending member at said bins to cover and uncover said compartments.

9. The word game unit of claim 5 and doors mounted for horizontal sliding movement on said vertically extending member at said bins to cover and uncover said compartments.

10. The word game unit of claim 5 wherein said .upper wall of said playing board includes intersecting horizontal and vertical portions extending upwardly from said upper wall forming said areas adapted to receive and retain playing pieces placed therein.

11. A word game unit comprised of a longitudinal vertically extending cabinet member including interconnected horizontal top and bottom walls, a rear vertical wall, outer end vertical walls, and an inner vertical wall intermediate said outer end vertical walls, intersecting vertical and horizontal partitions in the area between one end wall and the intermediate wall dividing the same into compartments with a letter associated with each compartment, lettered playing pieces in corresponding compartments, a playing board insertable in and able to occupy substantially the entire space formed between the top and'bottom walls, the intermediate wall and the other end wall, said playing board including an upper playing surface divided into vertical and horizontal rows of areas shaped correspondingly to said playing pieces and adapted to retain and receive them, said playing board being selectively positionable widthwise between said intermediate wall and said other end wall in a playing position in which the playing surface extends outwardly from the front of said cabinet member, and in a storage position in which the playing surface extends vertically and substantially along the front of said cabinet member.

12. The word game unit of claim 11 wherein the front of said vertically extending cabinet member inclines downwardly and outwardly and said playing surface of said playing board is correspondingly inclined when said board is in said selected storage position, said playing surface also therefor extending downwardly and forwardly of said vertically extending unit when said playing board is in said selected playing position.

13. The word game unit of claim 11 and a door slidably mounted on said vertically extending cabinet member to cover and uncover said compartments.

Claims (13)

1. A word game unit comprising a vertically extending longitudinal cabinet member of unchanging transverse section having a front face and including bins spaced a predetermined distance from each other, means forming compartments in the bins opening through the front face thereof with a letter of the alphabet on the front face identifying each compartment, lettered playing pieces in corresponding compartments, a playing board insertable in and able to occupy substantially the entire space between said bins, said playing board including an upper playing surface divided into vertical and horizontal rows of areas shaped correspondingly to said playing pieces and adapted to receive and retain them, said playing board being selectively positionable widthwise between the bins in a playing position in which the playing surface extends outwardly from the front face of said vertically extending cabinet member, and in a storage position in which the playing surface extends vertically and substantially along the front face of said bins, each player placing the word game unit at his chosen location with the playing surface out of view of the others, the rules of the game being such that each player may call a letter in succession and all players must choose the playing piece from their bins with the letter called thereon and place the pieces on their boards in selected areas thereof to form as many vertical and horizontal words as possible, the scoring depending solely on the number and length of words formed.

2. The word game unit of claim 1 wherein the front of said vertically extending cabinet member inclines downwardly and outwardly and said playing surface of said playing board is correspondingly inclined when said board is in said selected storage position, said playing surface also therefor extending downwardly and forwardly of said vertically extending unit when said playing board is in said selected playing position.

3. The word game unit of claim 2 and doors slidably mounted on said vertically extending cabinet member to cover and uncover said bin compartments.

4. The word game unit of claim 2 wherein said means forming said compartments include intersecting vertical and horizontal partitions whose outer surfaces form the downwardly and outwardly inclined front face of said vertically extending member.

5. A word game unit comprised of a longitudinal vertically extending member including interconnected horizontal top and bottom walls, a rear vertical wall, outer end vertical walls, and inner vertical walls spaced from said outer vertical walls and from each other, the areas at the ends of said vertically extending member between each end wall and its closest inner wall forming bins, intersecting vertical and horizontal partitions in each bin dividing the same into compartments with a letter associated with each compartment, the top wall being of lesser width than the bottom wall so that the front of said vertical member is substantially in a downwardly and outwardly inclined plane, the front faces of said partitions being correspondingly inclined, lettered playing pieces in corresponding compartments, a playing boarD formed of interconnected rear, front, side and upper walls, said rear wall being higher than said front wall so that said upper wall and the upper edges of said side walls incline downwardly from said rear to said front wall, the degree of inclination thereof being substantially the same as that of the front of said vertically extending compartmented member and the width of said playing board approximating the space between said inner vertical walls of said vertically extending compartmented member, said upper wall of said playing board being the playing surface and being divided into vertical and horizontal rows of areas shaped correspondingly to said playing pieces and adapted to receive and retain them, the widths of said front and rear walls of said playing board approximating those of the top and bottom walls of said vertically extending compartmented member so that when said playing board is positioned widthwise in the space between said inner vertical walls with said rear wall of said playing board adjacent said rear wall of said vertically extending compartmented member, the board is in its playing position with the playing surface downwardly and forwardly inclined and, when said playing board is placed so that its front wall is under said top wall of said vertically extending compartmented member and said rear wall of said playing board overlies the bottom wall of said vertically extending compartmented member, said playing board extends vertically and occupies the space between said bins bins in the storage position with its upper wall in substantially the same inclined plane as the front of said vertically extending compartmented member.

6. The word game unit of claim 5 and means to stabilize said playing board in its playing position, said means including notches in the lower edges of said side walls of said playing board, said notches being substantially coextensive with the width of said bottom wall of said vertically extending compartmented member and receiving the portion of said bottom wall between said bins.

7. The word game unit of claim 5 and means to stabilize said playing board in its playing position, said means including a base wall interconnecting the rear, front and side walls of said playing board, said base wall including a notched portion extending to said rear wall and being substantially coextensive with the width of said bottom wall of said vertically extending compartmented member and receiving the portion of said bottom wall between said bins.

8. The word game unit of claim 5 and doors mounted for vertically sliding movement on said vertically extending member at said bins to cover and uncover said compartments.

9. The word game unit of claim 5 and doors mounted for horizontal sliding movement on said vertically extending member at said bins to cover and uncover said compartments.

10. The word game unit of claim 5 wherein said upper wall of said playing board includes intersecting horizontal and vertical portions extending upwardly from said upper wall forming said areas adapted to receive and retain playing pieces placed therein.

11. A word game unit comprised of a longitudinal vertically extending cabinet member including interconnected horizontal top and bottom walls, a rear vertical wall, outer end vertical walls, and an inner vertical wall intermediate said outer end vertical walls, intersecting vertical and horizontal partitions in the area between one end wall and the intermediate wall dividing the same into compartments with a letter associated with each compartment, lettered playing pieces in corresponding compartments, a playing board insertable in and able to occupy substantially the entire space formed between the top and bottom walls, the intermediate wall and the other end wall, said playing board including an upper playing surface divided into vertical and horizontal rows of areas shaped correspondingly to said playing pieces and adapted to retain and receive them, said playing board being selectively positIonable widthwise between said intermediate wall and said other end wall in a playing position in which the playing surface extends outwardly from the front of said cabinet member, and in a storage position in which the playing surface extends vertically and substantially along the front of said cabinet member.

12. The word game unit of claim 11 wherein the front of said vertically extending cabinet member inclines downwardly and outwardly and said playing surface of said playing board is correspondingly inclined when said board is in said selected storage position, said playing surface also therefor extending downwardly and forwardly of said vertically extending unit when said playing board is in said selected playing position.

13. The word game unit of claim 11 and a door slidably mounted on said vertically extending cabinet member to cover and uncover said compartments.

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