Game board apparatus and method of playing same

• US 6,361,048 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James Games Incorporated
• Original Assignee: James Lynn
• Inventors: Lynn, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDIRATTA, VISHU K
• Application Number:
  US09/752,164
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 273/280, 273/243, 273/283, 273/287, 273/250-254, 273/284
• US Class Current: 273/280
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00012 with movable means for switching to another track
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0819 with rotatable non-concentric discs, e.g. gear games

Abstract

A game board requiring strategy and providing the element of chance includes a playing surface having a fixed path section and a path altering section providing a route from at least one area to at least one finishing area and including a plurality of game piece positions along route determining placement of a number of game pieces. The playing surface overlies a king section having at least one actuator for moving the path altering section to a determined position based upon the outcome of a random number generator. A method for playing a game using the game board is also described herein.

Claims

1. A game board apparatus comprising:

a game board having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a playing surface covering said upper portion with a display defining a route between a plurality of starting areas and a plurality of ending areas, said route including a fixed path section and a path altering section, each of said areas and said sections including a plurality of discrete game piece positions;

a random number generator including a plurality of predetermined number designations;

a working section in said lower portion including an actuator for actuating at least one said path altering section to move said path altering section to a predetermined position based on upon a result provided by said random number generator;

a plurality of game pieces constructed to be positioned individually in one of said discrete game piece positions; and

whereby players may initially position their respective said game pieces in said discrete positions in their respective said starting areas by taking turns move selected said game pieces along said fixed and path altering sections from their respective said starting area to their respective said finishing area while altering the disposition of said path altering sections by actuating said actuator to a predetermined position dependent upon an outcome of said random number generator.

2. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said actuator is at least one rotatable gear having number designations matching said predetermined number designations of said random number generator.

3. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said random number generator is a six sided die.

4. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said path altering section includes at least one rotating disc.

5. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said working section includes at least one gear intermeshed with said actuator and underlying said rotating disc and constructed to turn said disc upon movement of said actuator.

6. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a gear trench system recessed into said working section and having a plurality of interconnected gears in said trench system with a least one gear intermeshed with said actuator, at least one gear being connected to a rotating disc overlaid with a path altering section.

7. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said number of starting areas and finishing areas is an even number.

8. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

said even number is eight.

9. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

each player has seven game pieces to move across said game board.

10. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said path altering section includes four rotating discs.

11. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

each of said rotating discs turns clockwise upon rotation of said actuator.

12. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

each of said rotating discs turns counterclockwise upon rotation of said actuator.

13. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein:

at least one of said discs turns clockwise and at least one of said other discs turns counterclockwise upon rotation of said actuator.

14. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said starting areas and said finishing areas are connected by more than one route.

15. The game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said starting and finishing areas are positioned marginally around said fixed and path altering sections.

16. Game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said playing surface includes a plurality of holding positions for entering said path altering section.

17. Game board apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said playing surface includes blocking positions between said fixed path sections and said path altering sections.

18. A game board apparatus comprising:

a game board including a playing surface having a number of starting areas and an equal number of finishing areas, said playing surface further including a game piece positioning network connecting said starting and finishing areas and having a fixed path section and a path altering section formed of interconnected rotating discs having an initial orientation;

a random number generator having a predetermined number of indicia;

a working section underlying said playing surface and including at least one actuator connected to at least one of said rotating discs for altering said orientation of said discs based upon one of said indicia provided by said random number generator; and

a plurality of game pieces for each player constructed to be positioned in said game piece positioning network and moved along said fixed and path altering sections from a starting position to a finishing position.

19. A method for playing a game of strategy and chance comprising the steps of:

providing a game board including a playing surface having a plurality of starting and finishing areas connected by a game piece positioning network including a fixed path section and a path altering section having discrete game piece positions, said path altering section constructed to be placed in alternate orientations, said game board further including a working section underlying said playing surface and including an actuator having a number of predetermined positions and connected to said path altering section for altering said orientation of said path altering section;

providing a random number generator having a number of indicia corresponding to said actuator predetermined positions;

providing at least two sets of game pieces;

positioning each set of game pieces in a starting area;

determining the order of play;

initiating said random number generator to determine a particular indicia;

actuating said actuator to a predetermined position corresponding to said indicia to alter said orientation of said path altering section;

moving a game piece from one game piece position to another; and

repeating said initiating, actuating, and moving steps between players as necessary for one player to move all respective said game pieces to a respective said finishing area.

20. The method for playing a game as set forth in claim 19 wherein:

said moving step may include jumping one game piece over an adjacent game piece to an open game piece position.