Action figure game piece and method of playing action figure game

• US 7,104,543 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hasbro Inc.
• Inventors: Wilk, Brian M., Kunitz, David, McCarthy, Thomas C., Winters, Henry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDIRATTA, VISHU K
• Application Number:
  US10/643,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 446/236, 446/230, 446/231, 446/232, 446/102, 446/103, 446/83, 446/84, 446/268, 446/269, 446/397, 446/54, 446/265, 446/272, 446/297, 273/288
• US Class Current: 273/288
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00271 underneath the playing surface and viewable through holes or windows
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0265 using resilient elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2011/0072 Indicating values other than scores, e.g. handicap, initial settings, coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/1036 for distances A63F2250/1015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00075 War games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00697 Playing pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 13/10 shooting arrows or other missiles

Abstract

An action figure game piece is disclosed. The game piece comprises a game figure character adapted for movement a distance over a surface and a mechanism for indicating the distance of movement over the surface. A method of playing an action figure game on the surface is also disclosed. The method comprises providing for each player a plurality of the game pieces, each game piece having an indicium indicating a point value, a mechanism for indicating a distance the game piece has moved over the surface, and a mechanism for attacking an opponent player'"'"'s game pieces. The method also comprises selecting for each player a group of the game pieces having point values summing to a predetermined value and selecting a number of actions each player can take per player'"'"'s turn. An action comprises either a move, comprising moving a game piece a distance up to the particular game piece'"'"'s point value, or an attack, comprising actuation of the particular game piece'"'"'s attacking mechanism. Players alternate taking turns, selectively making a move or an attack, until the game is determined to have ended.

Claims

1. An action figure game piece comprising:

a game figure character having a base and a mechanically functional combat component that is moveable with respect to the base of the game figure character and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, the character adapted for movement a distance over a surface; and

a distance measuring device disposed in the base for contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device being actuated by movement of the game figure character over the surface and providing an indication of the distance of movement of the character over the surface, wherein the distance measuring device provides a visual and an audible indication of the distance, wherein the distance measuring device includes a visual indication component moving in response to the actuation of the distance measuring device to provide a visually perceptible indication of the movement of the game figure character in increments of distance over the surface, and wherein the distance measuring device includes an audible indication component generating an audibly perceptible output in response to the actuation of the distance measuring device to indicate the movement of the game figure character in increments of distance over the surface.

2. An action figure game piece comprising:

a game figure character having a base and a mechanically functional combat component that is moveable with respect to the base of the game figure character and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, the character adapted for movement a distance over a surface, wherein the game figure character has a first portion connected to the base, and wherein the mechanically functional combat component comprises;

a second portion of the game figure character moveably connected to the first portion of the game figure character such that the second portion of the game figure character may move between a first position and a second position; and

a spring engaging the first portion and the second portion of the game figure character and biasing the second portion toward the first position, wherein the second portion is configured to engage an adjacent game piece when the second portion moves from the second position to the first position under the biasing force of the spring; and

a distance measuring device disposed in the base for contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device providing an indication of the distance of movement of the character over the surface.

3. An action figure game piece comprising:

a game figure character having a base and a mechanically functional combat component that is moveable with respect to the base of the game figure character and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, the character adapted for movement a distance over a surface; and

a distance measuring device disposed in the base for contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device providing a visual indication of the distance of movement of the character over the surface, wherein the distance indicating device comprises;

an axle;

a wheel fixedly secured to the axle and adapted for rotary engagement with the surface, to rotate the axle upon movement of the game piece over the surface

a device coupled to the axle indicating progressive rotation of the axle;

a pinion gear fixedly secured to the axle and including a plurality of teeth;

a circular rack engaging the pinion gear, wherein the circular rack includes a surface having circumferentially spaced indicia; and

a faceplate adjacent the rack surface, the faceplate having a visual aperture aligned with the indicia to sequentially display the indicia as the rack rotates.

4. An action figure game piece comprising:

a game figure character and a base portion, the base portion adapted for movement a distance over a surface;

a distance measuring device disposed within the base portion and contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device providing an audible indication of the distance of movement over the surface, wherein the distance measuring device comprises;

an axle,

a wheel fixedly secured to the axle and adapted for rotary engagement with the surface to rotate the axle upon movement of the game piece over the surface,

a pinion gear fixedly secured to the axle and including a plurality of teeth, and

a clicker having a first end secured to the base portion and a second end engaging the pinion gear, such that rotation of the wheel as the game piece is moved over the surface rotates the pinion gear teeth against the clicker second end, providing an audible clicking sound; and

a weapon for attacking another game piece moveable with respect to the base portion and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, wherein the weapon is actuated by direct engagement of the weapon by the user of the action figure game piece, and is not actuated by movement of the game piece over the surface or by the distance measuring device; and

a visual display device providing a visual indication of the distance of movement over the surface.

5. The game piece of claim 4 wherein the visual display device comprises:

a circular rack engaging the pinion gear, wherein the circular rack includes a first surface having circumferentially spaced first indicia; and

a first faceplate on the base portion adjacent the first surface, the first faceplate having a first visual aperture radially aligned with the first indicia to sequentially display movement of the first indicia as the rack rotates.

6. The game piece of claim 5 including a display device alternately displaying and shielding an indicium indicative of the presence or absence of a special characteristic of the game piece.

7. The game piece of claim 6 wherein the display device comprises:

a second indicium disposed on a second surface of the rack; and

a second faceplate on the base portion adjacent the second surface, the second faceplate having a visual aperture radially aligned with the second indicium to alternatively display the presence or absence of the second indicium.