WO1986000540A1

WO1986000540A1 - Soft board type game

Info

Publication number: WO1986000540A1
Application number: PCT/US1985/001263
Authority: WO
Inventors: Constance F. Basom
Original assignee: Basom Constance F
Priority date: 1984-07-06
Filing date: 1985-07-02
Publication date: 1986-01-30
Also published as: EP0190201A1; AU4607785A

Abstract

A game primarily for children comprises a soft fabric mat (10) defining a playing surface (12) marked with designated areas (20-28) to which playing tokens (14) are to be moved in the course of playing the game. The tokens (14) are also made of soft fabric and cooperable "Velcro" fastener elements (44) are provided on each token (14) and on the respective designated areas (20-28) of the playing surface (12) for securely retaining the tokens (14) on the surface (12) while playing the game. The game may include a color-coded playing die (16) also of soft fabric, and the designated areas (20-28) may include a color-coded track (22) along which the tokens (14) are to be moved in accordance with colors thrown on the die (16).

Description

SOFT BOARD TYPE GAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to board-type games of the kind in which distinguishable playing pieces or tokens, usually associated with different players, are moved between designated areas on a playing surface in accordance with specified rules- Games of this kind may, for example, be played with or without a movement determining- device (or devices) such as a playing die (or dice). Examples of games played with a die or dice are^* games^* where the playing pieces are moved along a track or the like by a number of steps determined by throws of the die or dice. Examples of games played without a die or dice are chess and checkers.

Included among the objects of the present invention are one or more of the following, namely, the provision of a board-type game particularly for use by small children, which is extremely durable,, washable, and readily transportable; which is not easily harmed by spilling food and drink thereon; which does not involve playing apparatus which might be harmful or dangerous to small children; which is self-contained; which is attractive, decorative and readily understood and assimilated by small children, with little or no reading skill being required.

With the above objects in view, the invention broadly stated, embodies the concept of a board-type game of the type referred to wherein both the playing surface and the playing pieces or tokens are made of soft fabric. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION At least in one of its aspects, as alluded to above, the invention provides apparatus for use in playing a board-type game wherein both a playing surface as well as game-playing pieces or tokens for movement over the surface in accordance with specified rules, are made of soft fabric. Further, designated distinguishable areas of the surface onto which the pieces are to be moved in the course of a game are provided with pile fabric-type friction fastener elements (such as "Velcro" tabs) wltti complementary elements being provided on the back of each playing piece or token, the elements aiding in placement and retention of the pieces on the specified surface areas.

The playing surface may be formed, for example, on a cloth sheet or mat with the designated areas being printed, sewn or otherwise formed on the surface, and the rear of the mat may be formed with a pocket for storage of the playing pieces. Apparatus in accordance with the invention lends itself to use for playing both games in which a die or dice are needed, or games which do not utilize such items. In the former case, the die or dice in accordance with the invention may also be formed of a soft fabric, with each face formed. for example, in a different color (absent of indicia), A die of this nature may, for example, be used for a game in which a track along which the playing pieces are to progress in playing the game is divided into colored steps corresponding to the colors on the faces of the die. In this form of the invention, when a player throws the die, the player's token may be moved to the next step on the track corresponding in color to the color showing on the uppermost face of the die when it lands. Also, in this form of the invention, each track step may be provided with a "Velcro" tab as aforesaid.

Game-playing apparatus in accordance with invention may be- made in colorful and attractive designs appealing to young children, in durable and washable fabrics, with the pocket in back of the cloth defining the playing surface for retaining the playing pieces providing a self-contained facility. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front view of a cloth mat defining a playing surface forming one element of a game-playing apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view to a reduced scale of the mat shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3—3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of a playing piece forming another element of the game-playing apparatus. Figure 5 is a front perspective view to a reduced scale of the playing piece.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a playing die forming still another element of the game-playing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Game-playing apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a cloth sheet or mat 10 (Figures 1-3) defining a playing surface 12 on the front of the mat, a plurality of cloth game-playing pieces or tokens 14, one of which is shown in Figures 4 and 5, and a 6-sided playing die 16 (Figure 6) .

The mat 10 may be made of any convenient cloth, preferably washable, and may have an edging or border 18 in any particular pattern. The playing surface 12 is divided by suitable markings into a central waiting area 20, and a peripheral track 22 segmented into distinguishable squares 24, conveniently in a repetitive sequence of a plurality of colors, e.g. four colors. The track may have four starting squares 26, each in a different one of the four colors, and a home square 28. Each square is provided with a "Velcro" tab 30. The waiting area 20 is provided with a number (conveniently 4) of "Velcro" tabs 32, each in one of the distinguishable colors matching the track squares, and area 20 may also have child- appealing decorations such as a house 34 adjacent home square 28, trees 35 simulating a forest, and ani als and birds 37. The various decorations, patterns, track squares and the like on surface 12 may be formed by any suitable marking means, or. by sewn-on pieces of cloth in the relevant colors. On the rear of mat 12 there is formed a pocket 36 for holding tokens 14 and die 16, the pocket having a pocket flap 38 and "Velcro" fastening tabs 40.

The number of playing pieces 14 conveniently conforms with the number of different colors on track 22 and the number of tabs 32 on the waiting area. Each playing piece may be formed of a washable fabric and may be shaped to simulate an animal, such as a bear, and the front of each animal's clothing.42 (Figure 5) is formed in one- of the colors used for the respective tabs 32 and track squares. On its rear surface, each playing piece has a "Velcro" tab 44 complementery to the tabs on the playing surface.

The placing die 16 may also be made of soft material suitably stuffed, and four of its six sides are colored respectively to match the respective colors of the playing pieces and track squares. The other two sides are colored in other colors. In playing the game, each player selects a different playing piece and positions it on the matching tab 32 in waiting area 20. The object is then, dependent on rolls of the die, for the players to move their pieces from the waiting area onto one of the track starting squares 26, and progressively around the track to home square 28, with the first player to reach the home square winning the game. With each move, the respective playing piece is dabbed onto the "Velcro" tab on the respective square to which the piece is moved, so that the pieces are securely retained on the playing surface between moves and cannot be knocked over or off the relevant position.

Rules of the game may, for example, include the following. To move from the waiting area to the relevant starting square, a player may have to roll the color on the die matching the color of the player's token 14. If a player does not roll the correct color in a specified number of rolls, there may be a rule enabling the player then to move to the start square. Once on track 22, the tokens 14 may be moved to the next square corresponding to a color rolled on the die. The two sides of the die with colors different from those on the track and playing pieces may be used for penalty and/or bonus-type rules, such as extra or forfeited turns and the like. Rules, such as forfeiture of turn, may also be included to cover situations where players roll a color which would place their tokens on already occupied squares. It will be appreciated, however, that the inventive apparatus may be employed for playing games having game rules of widely varying scope. Further, the invention may also be used for games in which tokens are moved from area to area without the use of a playing die. It is particularly convenient for the apparatus to be made of washable fabric or fabrics to enable cleaning in the event the apparatus becomes soiled by play, or if a child should upset food or drink thereon. During washing or storage in general, pocket 36 may be used to accommodate the tokens and die. The "Velcro" tab attachment of the playing pieces to the mat allows the mat to be used in a horizontal position or a vertical position (e.g. hung on a wall) during play. When not in use, mat 10 with the tokens and die in pocket 36 can be folded or rolled up for storage,- or the mat can be- used as a decorative item.

Claims

1. Game-playing apparatus comprising a fabric sheet defining a playing surface marked with designated areas, distinguishable fabric playing tokens to be moved from area to area on the playing surface in playing a game thereon, and cooperable friction fastener elements on the back of each token and on the respective designated areas of the playing surface for releasably securing the tokens thereon during play.

2. The invention of claim 1 including a playing die for use in determining positions on. the playing surface to be occupied by the respective tokens.

^'3. The invention of claim 2 wherein designated areas of the playing surface include a track along which the tokens are to be moved for playing a game dependent on rolls of the die, the track being divided into steps each provided with a friction fastener element.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the steps of the track are color-coded and the sides of the die are color-coded with like colors to the steps, to enable the tokens to be moved along the track in accordance with colors thrown on the die.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the tokens have respective colors conforming with the colors of the die and the respective track steps.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the die has at least one side colored differently from the colors of the playing tokens and track steps.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein the track includes a plurality of starting steps colored respectively to match the colors of the die and the respective playing tokens.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the designated areas of the playing surface include a waiting area with a plurality of friction fastener elements conforming respectively in color to the respective colors of the playing tokens.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the playing surface is formed on the front of the sheet and the apparatus includes a pocket on the back of the sheet for storing the playing tokens.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein the sheet and tokens are made of washable fabric. -lO-

11. Game-playing apparatus comprising means defining a playing surface with designated areas for playing tokens to move between in the course of playing a game, and a multi-sided playing die for determining which areas a playing token is to be moved dependent on throws of the die, wherein the respective playing areas and respective sides of the die are color-coded with conforming colors for determining the areas to which a token is to be moved.

12. The invention of claim 11 including a plurality of playing tokens respectively color coded to conform with the colors of the die and the areas of the playing surface.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the die has at least one side colored differently from the colors of the tokens and the respective areas of the surface.

14. The invention of claim 12 wherein the means defining the playing surface comprises a soft fabric sheet and the tokens comprise soft fabric pieces with cooperable friction fastener elements on each piece and on the respective areas of the playing surface for releasably retaining the pieces on the playing surface.

15. The invention of claim 12 wherein the die is formed of fabric sides stuffed with soft filler material.