Board game with 3D dynamic gameplay

• US 8,079,594 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas H. Greenawalt
• Original Assignee: Thomas H. Greenawalt
• Inventors: Greenawalt, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDIRATTA, VISHU K
• Application Number:
  US12/849,307
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 273/241, 273/280, 273/283, 273/284, 273/287, 273/281, 273/282
• US Class Current: 273/241
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00012 with movable means for switching to another track
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00268 about a vertical axis, e.g. a disc
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00397 Changeable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00403 Stepped
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00848 Barriers, obstacles or obstructions A63F2003/00971 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00006 Board games played along a linear track, e.g. game of goose, snakes and ladders, along an endless track A63F3/00028 - A63F3/00157, A63F3/04 take precedence

Abstract

A board game incorporating multiple paths of travel which traverse a plurality of elevations with moveable obstacles that change the paths of travel. The moveable obstacles may be transferrable game face members containing moveable structures; such as stairs; bridges and moveable-walls which cut-off some available paths while opening others. Additional obstacles include tunnels, spinning indicators determining the path of travel, vertical obstacles, rotating vehicles, rotating hidden compartments, and linearly sliding vehicles. Through strategic use of the obstacles; players can facilitate their own movement through the game while impeding that of their opponents.

Claims

1. A board game comprising:

a game board with a game board face, having at least one start location disposed on the game board face;

a plurality of elevated surfaces disposed on the face of the game board;

plurality of segmented paths disposed on the game board face and plurality of elevated surfaces, where the segmented paths begin at the at least one start location;

wherein the game board face and the plurality of elevated surfaces form a playing surface of the game board;

at least one moveable obstacle disposed on the game board, where the at least one moveable obstacle is selected from the group consisting of

a transferrable obstacle further comprising;

a gameboard cooperative element adapted to engage a pocket in the gameboard;

an obstacle disposed on the face of the cooperative element;

a spinning floor element, further comprising;

a window disposed on the playing surface;

a rotating element pivotally connected to the playing surface;

a knob in communication with the rotating element;

markings disposed on the face of the rotating element showing obstacles or paths of travel;

a tunnel further comprising;

a plurality of elevations rotatably mounted to the playing surface, wherein the peripheral elevations are higher than the central elevations;

at least one segmented path of travel disposed on the elevations;

wherein the peripheral elevations connect a path of travel on the playing surface when the tunnel is in a first position;

a hidden compartment further comprising;

a compartment housing having an upper face disposed subjacent to the playing surface;

at least one designated compartment formed into the upper face of the compartment housing and adapted to accept at least one play element;

where the compartment housing is rotatably connected to the game board, such that the designated compartment aligns with at least one window in the playing surface;

a knob in communication with the upper face of the compartment housing;

a vertical obstacle element further comprising;

a vertical member disposed on the face of the playing surface, wherein the vertical member has a window disposed adjacent to the playing surface;

a wheel rotatably connected to the vertical member;

wherein the wheel has at least one cut-out in the wheel, such that the cut-out aligns with the window in the vertical member;

a reciprocating arm further comprising;

a rotating element pivotally connected to the playing surface forming an axis of rotation;

an arm pivotally connected to the rotating element;

wherein the arm is not connected at the axis of rotation, where the arm extends onto the playing surface and has indicia of travel disposed on the face of the arm;

a rotating vehicles element further comprising;

a disc or arm pivotally connected to the playing surface;

at least one playable space disposed on the face of the disc or arm; and

a sliding vehicle further comprising;

a track disposed on the playing surface;

a vehicle adapted to slidably engage the track, with at least one playable space disposed on the vehicle.

2. The game board of claim 1, wherein the transferable obstacle comprises a segmented path of travel on the face of the cooperative element.

3. The game board of claim 1, wherein the obstacle on the transferable obstacle is selected from the group consisting of:

a moveable-wall structure rotatably disposed on the face of the cooperative element, wherein the moveable-wall structure further comprises

a three-dimensional vertical member rotatably disposed on the cooperative member; and

a path of travel obstacle further comprising;

a window disposed on the face of the cooperative element;

a disc rotatable disposed under the face of the cooperative element;

a knob in communication with the disc;

at least one peripheral path of travel delineated on the upper face of the disc;

where the at least one peripheral path of travel delineated on the upper face of the disc is visible through the window in the cooperative element.

4. The game board of claim 3, wherein the moveable wall further comprises a segmented path of travel disposed on the top face of the wall.

5. The game board of claim 2, wherein the obstacle on the transferable obstacle is selected from the group consisting of:

a pivoting wall structure, further comprising

a horizontal member having a first end and a second end, where the first end is pivotally connected to the cooperative element;

where the horizontal member rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

a three-dimensional vertical member disposed on the second end of the horizontal member, such that the vertical member is disposed on one of the segmented paths of travel when the horizontal member is disposed in the second position;

a sliding wall structure, further comprising

a horizontal member having a first end and a second end, where the first end and second end are slideably connected to the cooperative element;

where the horizontal member slides between at least a first position and a second position;

a three-dimensional vertical member disposed between the first end and the second end of the horizontal member, such that the vertical member is disposed on one of the segmented paths of travel when the horizontal member is disposed in the second position;

a pivoting bridge, further comprising

an elevated pivot surface having the size of about one segment of the segmented path disposed on the cooperative element;

a segmented horizontal member having a first end and a second end;

where the segmented horizontal member is pivotally connected to the elevated pivot surface at the medial section of the segmented horizontal member and rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path and the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when disposed in the first position;

a sliding bridge, further comprising

a segmented horizontal member having a first end and a second end;

where the first end slideably engages a first elevated surface of the cooperative element and the second end slideably engages a second elevated surface of the cooperative element;

where the segmented horizontal member slides between at least a first position and a second position;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path and the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when disposed in the first position;

a pivoting segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevation,

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path;

wherein the first end is pivotally connected to the cooperative element and rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position;

a pivoting segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevation,

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position;

wherein the second end is pivotally connected to the cooperative element and rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

a pivoting segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevation;

a pivot point disposed in the about center of the pivoting segmented staircase, pivotally connected to the cooperative element such that the pivoting segmented staircase rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position;

a sliding segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevated surface,

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path;

wherein the first end is slideably connected to the cooperative element and the second end is slideably connected to a second elevated surface on the cooperative element and slides between at least a first position and a second position;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position; and

a floor, further comprising

a horizontal disc member segmented into a plurality of elements;

where the disc member is rotatably connected to the cooperative element, where the plurality of elements are disposed on at least one segmented path;

a knob disposed on the pivot of the disc member.

6. The game board of claim 1, wherein the tunnel further comprises a cover disposed on the upper face of the tunnel.

7. The game board of claim 1, wherein the tunnel further comprises a segmented path of travel extending from one of the plurality of elevations.

8. The game board of claim 1, wherein the hidden compartment further comprises a cover adapted to fit on the at least one window.

9. The board game of claim 1 wherein the at least one moveable obstacle is between at least one path of travel on a first elevation of the playing surface and at least one path of travel on a second elevation of the playing surface when the moveable structure is in the first position.

10. The board game of claim 1 wherein the at least one moveable obstacle is between at least one path of travel on a first elevation of the playing surface and at least one path of travel on the same elevation of the playing surface when the moveable structure is in the first position.

11. The board game of claim 1 wherein the at least one moveable obstacle is at least one-segment of a path of travel.

12. A board game comprising:

a playing surface having a game board face;

at least one start position disposed on the playing surface;

a plurality of elevated surfaces disposed on the game board face;

a first predetermined segmented path of travel, where the first predetermined segmented path begins at the at least one start location;

a second segmented path of travel disposed on the playing surface;

a third segmented path of travel moveable between a first position and a second position;

wherein the third path of travel connects the first and second paths of travel in the first position; and

at least one moveable obstacle disposed on the game board, where the at least one moveable obstacle is selected from the group consisting of

a transferrable obstacle, further comprising;

a gameboard cooperative element adapted to engage a pocket in the gameboard and an obstacle disposed on the face of the cooperative element;

a spinning floor element, further comprising;

a window disposed on the playing surface;

a rotating element pivotally connected to the playing surface;

a knob in communication with the rotating element;

markings disposed on the face of the rotating element showing obstacles or paths of travel;

a tunnel further comprising;

a plurality of elevations rotatably mounted to the playing surface;

wherein the peripheral elevations are higher than the central elevations;

at least one segmented path of travel disposed on the elevations;

wherein the peripheral elevations connect a path of travel on the playing surface when the tunnel is in a first position;

a hidden compartment element further comprising;

a compartment housing having an upper face disposed subjacent to the playing surface;

at least one designated compartments formed into the upper face of the compartment housing and adapted to accept at least one play element;

where the compartment housing is rotatably connected to the game board, such that the designated compartment aligns with at least one window in the playing surface;

a knob in communication with the upper face of the compartment housing;

a vertical obstacle element further comprising;

a vertical member disposed on the face of the playing surface, wherein the vertical member has a window disposed adjacent to the playing surface;

a wheel rotatably connected to the vertical member;

wherein the wheel has at least one cut-out in the wheel, such that the cut-out aligns with the window in the vertical member;

a reciprocating arm further comprising;

a rotating element pivotally connected to the playing surface forming an axis of rotation;

an arm pivotally connected to the rotating element;

wherein the arm is not connected at the axis of rotation;

where the arm extends onto the playing surface and has indicia of travel disposed on the face of the arm;

a rotating vehicles further comprising;

a disc or arm pivotally connected to the playing surface;

at least one playable space disposed on the face of the disc or arm; and

a sliding vehicle further comprising;

a track disposed on the playing surface;

a vehicle adapted to slidably engage the track;

at least one playable space disposed on the vehicle.

13. The board game of claim 12, further comprising a fourth path of travel;

wherein the fourth path of travel is between the first and third paths of travel when the third path of travel is in the second position.

14. The board game of claim 12, wherein the third path of travel is not between two paths of travel in the second position.

15. The game board of claim 12, wherein the transferable obstacle comprises a segmented path of travel on its face of the cooperative element.

16. The game board of claim 12, wherein the obstacle on the transferable obstacle is selected from the group consisting of:

a moveable-wall structure rotatably disposed on the face of the cooperative element, wherein the moveable-wall structure further comprises

a three-dimensional vertical member rotatably disposed on the cooperative member; and

a path of travel obstacle further comprising;

a window disposed on the face of the cooperative element;

a disc rotatably disposed under the face of the cooperative element;

a knob in communication with the disc;

at least one peripheral path of travel delineated on the upper face of the disc;

where the at least one peripheral path of travel delineated on the upper face of the disc is visible through the window in the cooperative element.

17. The game board of claim 16, wherein the obstacle on the transferable obstacle is selected from the group consisting of:

a pivoting wall structure, further comprising

a horizontal member having a first end and a second end;

where the first end is pivotally connected to the cooperative element;

where the horizontal member rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

a three-dimensional vertical member disposed on the second end of the horizontal member, such that the vertical member is disposed on one of the segmented paths of travel when the horizontal member is disposed in the second position;

a sliding wall structure, further comprising

a horizontal member having a first end and a second end;

where the first end and second end are slideably connected to the cooperative element;

where the horizontal member slides between at least a first position and a second position;

a three-dimensional vertical member disposed between the first end and the second end of the horizontal member, such that the vertical member is disposed on one of the segmented paths of travel when the horizontal member is disposed in the second position;

a pivoting bridge, further comprising

an elevated pivot surface having the size of about one segment of the segmented path disposed on the cooperative element;

a segmented horizontal member having a first end and a second end, where the segmented horizontal member is pivotally connected to the elevated pivot surface at the medial section of the segmented horizontal member and rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path and the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when disposed in the first position;

a sliding bridge, further comprising

a segmented horizontal member having a first end and a second end;

where the first end slideably engages a first elevated surface of the cooperative element and the second end slideably engages a second elevated surface of the cooperative element;

where the segmented horizontal member slides between at least a first position and a second position;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path and the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when disposed in the first position;

a pivoting segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevation,

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path;

wherein the first end is pivotally connected to the cooperative element and rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position;

a pivoting segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevation;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position;

wherein the second end is pivotally connected to the cooperative element and rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

a pivoting segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevation;

a pivot point disposed in the about center of the pivoting segmented staircase, pivotally connected to the cooperative element such that the pivoting segmented staircase rotates between at least a first position and a second position;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position;

a sliding segmented staircase, further comprising

a first end at a first elevation and a second end at a higher, second elevated surface;

where the first end is disposed adjacent to a first segmented path and wherein the first end is slideably connected to the cooperative element and the second end is slideably connected to a second elevated surface on the cooperative element;

wherein the first end and second end slide between at least a first position and a second position;

where the second end is disposed adjacent to a second segmented path when the staircase is disposed in the second position; and

a floor, further comprising

a horizontal disc member segmented into a plurality of elements, where the plurality of elements are disposed on at least one segmented path;

where the disc member is rotatably connected to the cooperative element,

a knob disposed on the pivot of the disc member.

18. The game board of claim 16, wherein the moveable wall further comprises a segmented path of travel disposed on the top face of the wall.

19. The game board of claim 12, wherein the tunnel further comprises a cover disposed on the tunnel.

20. The game board of claim 12, wherein the tunnel further comprises a segmented path of travel extending from one of the plurality of elevations.

21. The game board of claim 12, wherein the hidden compartment further comprises a cover adapted to fit on the at least one window.