Game board for a domino game

• US 7,080,837 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fundex Games, Ltd. (Poof Fundex LLC)
• Original Assignee: Fundex Games, Ltd. (Poof Fundex LLC)
• Inventors: Voigt, Carl E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US10/347,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/11, 463 36- 38, 463/46, 273236-237, 273/287, 273/293, 273/309, 273/148.R, D21/392, D21/396, D21/342, D21/350
• US Class Current: 273/237
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0069 using a spring
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2473 Devices for imitating a running engine
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00643 Electric board games; Electric features of board games electric word or number games A63F3/0421; computer chess G06F; electric raffle games A63F3/081
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/20 Dominoes or like games; Mah-Jongg games
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 19/00 Model railways propulsion by special interaction between vehicle and track A63H18/00

Abstract

A Mexican Train Dominoes game includes a game board that defines a central recess corresponding to the train station hub of the game. The recess includes a platform on which an “engine” domino tile is placed to commence the game. The platform can be depressed to activate a sound generation component that is operable to produce simulated train sounds. The game board can include a circuit board that carries a resiliently depressible switch that is operably coupled to the platform. The switch can support the platform in its normal position and can restore the platform to that normal position after the “engine” domino and platform have been depressed during game play.

Claims

1. A game board for a domino game comprising:

a housing defining a central recess sized to receive a domino tile therein and further defining a plurality of player locations around the perimeter of the housing;

a sound generation component operable to generate sounds simulating a train;

a switch connected to said sound generation component and operable when actuated to activate said sound generation component; and

a platform mounted within said central recess and having a surface for supporting the domino tile thereon, said platform further having a component for actuating said switch when a player depresses the domino tile supported on said platform.

2. The game board of claim 1, further comprising an indicator light connected to said sound generation component or said switch and operable to illuminate when said switch is actuated.

3. The game board of claim 1, wherein said switch is a resilient depressible switch.

4. The game board of claim 1, wherein:

said platform includes an actuation component projecting therefrom; and

said central recess includes a mounting plate disposed between said platform and said switch, said platform defining an actuation opening sized to receive said actuation component therethrough,

whereby said actuation component is configured to actuate said switch when a player depresses the domino tile supported on said platform.

5. The game board of claim 4, wherein said switch is a resiliently depressible switch.

6. The game board of claim 5, wherein said actuation component is configured to maintain contact with said resiliently depressible switch so that said switch supports said platform above said mounting plate.

7. The game board of claim 4, wherein:

said mounting plate defines a number of retainer openings separate from said actuation opening; and

said platform includes a number of retaining elements, each extending through a corresponding one of said retainer openings, said retaining elements configured to capture said platform on said mounting plate.

8. The game board of claim 4, wherein:

said mounting plate defines a number of guide openings; and

said platform includes a number of guide posts projecting therefrom, each sized to slidably extend through a corresponding one of said guide openings.

9. The game board of claim 1, further comprising means for biasing said platform away from said switch.

10. The game board of claim 9, wherein said means for biasing includes said switch being resiliently depressible.

11. The game board of claim 1, further comprising a speaker associated with the housing and electrically connected to said sound generation component.

12. The game board of claim 11, wherein said speaker is mounted to the interior of said housing and said housing defines a number of speaker openings through said housing adjacent said speaker.

13. A game board for a dominoes game comprising:

a housing defining a domino slot structure configured to receive a domino tile therein, said housing further having defined therein a plurality of notches located at a perimeter of said housing, each of said plurality of notches being configured to receive an end portion of another domino tile therein;

a sound generator operable to generate audible sounds; and

a platform movably mounted within said domino slot structure,

wherein movement of said platform from a first position to a second position causes said sound generator to generate audible sounds.

14. The game board of claim 13, further comprising a switch connected to said sound generator and operable when actuated to activate said sound generator,

wherein movement of said platform from said first position to said second position causes activation of said switch.

15. The game board of claim 13, further comprising at least one spring configured to bias said platform into said first position.

16. The game board of claim 13, further comprising an indicator light operable to illuminate, wherein movement of said platform from said first position to said second position further causes said indicator light to illuminate.

17. The game board of claim 13, wherein:

said domino slot structure defines a rectangular-shaped recess, and

said platform includes a rectangular-shaped support member movably mounted within said rectangular-shaped recess.

18. The game board of claim 15, wherein said rectangular-shaped support member is movable between a raised position and a lowered position.

19. The game board of claim 15, wherein said rectangular-shaped support member is spring biased toward said raised position.

20. A domino game assembly comprising:

a housing having defined therein a plurality of notches located at a perimeter of said housing, each of said plurality of notches being configured to receive an end of a respective domino tile therein;

a sound generator positioned within said housing and operable to generate audible sounds simulating a train; and

a domino tile support movable between a raised position and a lowered position,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said raised position to said lowered position causes said sound generator to generate said audible sounds.

21. The domino game assembly of claim 20, wherein said housing further having at least one train track segment structure supported thereon.

22. The domino game assembly of claim 20, wherein said sound generator includes a speaker positioned within said housing.

23. The domino game assembly of claim 20, further comprising a switch connected to said sound generator and operable when actuated to activate said sound generator,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said raised position to said lowered position causes activation of said switch.

24. The domino game assembly of claim 20, further comprising at least one spring configured to bias said domino tile support towards said raised position.

25. The domino game assembly of claim 20, further comprising an indicator light operable to illuminate, wherein movement of said domino tile support from said raised position to said lowered position further causes said indicator light to illuminate.

26. The domino game assembly of claim 20, wherein said domino tile support includes a rectangular-shaped support.

27. The domino game assembly of claim 26, wherein:

said housing defines a domino slot structure configured to receive a domino tile therein, and

said rectangular-shaped support is movably mounted within said domino slot structure.

28. The domino game assembly of claim 27, wherein said rectangular-shaped support member is spring biased toward said raised position.

29. The domino game assembly of claim 20, wherein:

said housing defines a domino slot structure configured to receive a domino tile therein, and

said domino tile support is movably mounted within said domino slot structure.

37. The domino game assembly of claim 27, wherein said rectangular-shaped support member is spring biased toward said raised position.

30. A domino game assembly comprising:

a housing defining a chamber and having at least one train track segment structure supported thereon;

a sound generator positioned within said chamber and operable to generate audible sounds simulating a train; and

a domino tile support movable between a raised position and a lowered position,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said raised position to said lowered position causes said sound generator to generate said audible sounds.

31. The domino game assembly of claim 30, wherein said sound generator includes a speaker positioned within said chamber.

32. The domino game assembly of claim 30, further comprising a switch connected to said sound generator and operable when actuated to activate said sound generator,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said raised position to said lowered position causes activation of said switch.

33. The domino game assembly of claim 30, further comprising at least one spring configured to bias said domino tile support towards said raised position.

34. The domino game assembly of claim 30, further comprising an indicator light operable to illuminate, wherein movement of said domino tile support from said raised position to said lowered position further causes said indicator light to illuminate.

35. The domino game assembly of claim 30, wherein said domino tile support includes a rectangular-shaped support.

36. The domino game assembly of claim 35, wherein:

said housing further defines a domino slot structure configured to receive a domino tile therein, and

said rectangular-shaped support is movably mounted within said domino slot structure.

38. The domino game assembly of claim 30, wherein:

said housing further defines a domino slot structure configured to receive a domino tile therein, and

said domino tile support is movably mounted within said domino slot structure.

39. A domino game assembly comprising:

a housing defining (i) a chamber, and (ii) a domino slot structure configured to receive a domino tile therein;

a sound generator positioned within said chamber and operable to generate audible sounds; and

a domino tile support movable within said domino slot structure between a first position and a second position,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said first position to said second position causes said sound generator to generate said audible sounds.

40. The domino game assembly of claim 39, wherein said sound generator includes a speaker positioned within said chamber.

41. The domino game assembly of claim 39, further comprising a switch connected to said sound generator and operable when actuated to activate said sound generator,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said first position to said second position causes activation of said switch.

42. The domino game assembly of claim 39, further comprising at least one spring configured to bias said domino tile support towards said first position.

43. The domino game assembly of claim 39, further comprising an indicator light operable to illuminate, wherein movement of said domino tile support from said first position to said second position further causes said indicator light to illuminate.

44. The domino game assembly of claim 39, wherein said domino tile support includes a rectangular-shaped support.

45. The domino game assembly of claim 44, wherein said rectangular-shaped support is movably mounted within said domino slot structure.

46. A domino game assembly comprising:

a housing having at least one train track segment structure supported thereon, said housing defining (i) a chamber, (ii) a plurality of notches configured to receive an end of a respective domino tile therein, and (iii) a domino slot structure configured to receive a domino tile therein;

a sound generator positioned within said chamber and operable to generate audible sounds simulating a train; and

a domino tile support movable within said domino slot structure between a first position and a second position,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said first position to said second position causes said sound generator to generate said audible sounds.

47. The domino game assembly of claim 46, further comprising at least one spring configured to bias said domino tile support towards said first position.

48. The domino game assembly of claim 46, wherein said sound generator includes a speaker positioned within said chamber.

49. The domino game assembly of claim 46, further comprising a switch connected to said sound generator and operable when actuated to activate said sound generator,

wherein movement of said domino tile support from said first position to said second position causes activation of said switch.