FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning strategy games.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are various devices known in the prior art for strategy games. There are a series of strategy games known in the art as the “Blue Sky Series” of games. These games related to air plane military combat throughout history. The basic rules regarding the “Blue Sky Series” of games were copyrighted and published at least as early as 1996. Various rule modifications have also been published.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for use in playing a game comprising a deck having a first attachment device and a deck top surface, a base having a first opening, and an altitude pole having a first end and an opposing second end. The altitude pole and the base are configured so that the first end of the altitude pole is adapted to be inserted into the first opening of the base, and the altitude pole is thereby temporarily fixed to the base so that the altitude pole is substantially at a right angle with respect to the base. The first attachment device of the deck is configured to temporarily fix the deck on the altitude pole between the first end and the second end of the altitude pole, so that a deck top surface is substantially at a right angle with respect to the altitude pole and substantially parallel to the base.
The apparatus may further include a first dial, wherein the base includes a first indentation into which the first dial is adapted to fit snugly. The apparatus may further include a second dial, wherein the base includes a second indentation into which the second dial is adapted to fit snugly. The first dial and the second dial may have a plurality of alphanumeric designations on it. The altitude pole may include means for temporarily fixing the deck at a plurality of different heights with respect to the base. The means for temporarily fixing the deck at a plurality of different heights with respect to the base may include a plurality of grooves, wherein the first attachment device fits into one of the plurality of grooves in order to fix a height of the deck with respect to the base.
The apparatus may further include a model airplane which is adapted so that it can sit on the deck, after the deck has been temporarily fixed on the altitude pole. A cutout may also be provided, having an opening which allows the cutout to be attached to the altitude pole, wherein the cutout has an image of an airplane on it.
The deck and the base may have substantially the same hexagonal shape. A playing surface and/or playing board may be provided comprised of a plurality of hexagonal shaped spaces each of which is approximately the same size or slightly larger than the hexagonal shapes of the base and the deck.
At least one or more embodiments of the present invention may provide a method of playing a game involving military airplane combat. The game may use the apparatus previously mentioned.
An apparatus, which may be called a flight stand device, and which may include the base, the deck, and the altitude pole, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may depict three-dimensional positioning and movement of a game-piece aircraft when used in a specific game.
The apparatus or flight stand device may be used in the known “Blue Sky Series” (of games.
At least one embodiment of the present invention also provides a plurality of new rules or rule modifications for playing a “Blue Sky Series” related game. The new rules, rule modifications or modified game may be called “Black Cross/Blue Sky”. The “Black Cross/Blue Sky” modified game relates to the Battle of Britain in 1940. The “Black Cross/Blue Sky” modified game can be played with both cardboard cutouts with airplane images or metal diecast airplane models. The prior “Blue Sky Series” games were a set of rules for use with diecast models only. The flight stand device or apparatus of at least one embodiment of the present invention is additional gaming aim that now allows players to use both cardboard cutouts for airplanes (for example) and metal model aircraft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A shows a top perspective view of a deck in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1B shows a bottom perspective view of the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1C shows a top view of the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1D shows a bottom view of the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1E shows a front view of the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1F shows a back view of the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1G shows a left side view of the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1H shows a right side view of the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2A shows a top perspective view of a base in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2B shows a bottom perspective view of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2C shows a top view of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2D shows a bottom view of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2E shows a front view of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2F shows a back view of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2G shows a right side view of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2H shows a left side view of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3A shows a top perspective view of a first dial or dial A in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3B shows a bottom perspective view of the first dial of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3C shows a top view of the first dial of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3D shows a bottom view of the first dial of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3E shows a right side view of the first dial of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3F shows a left side view of the first dial of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3G shows a front view of the deck of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3H shows a rear view of the deck of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 4A shows a front top perspective view of an altitude pole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4B shows a rear top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 4C shows a front view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 4D shows a rear view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 4E shows a top view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 4F shows a bottom view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A shows a top perspective view of a first collar A in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5B shows a bottom perspective view of the first collar of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5C shows a top view of the first collar of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5D shows a bottom view of the first collar of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5E shows a left side view of the first collar of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5F shows a right side view of the first collar of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5G shows a front view of the first collar of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5H shows a back view of the first collar of FIG. 5A;
FIG. 6A shows a top perspective view of a pin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6B shows a right side view of the pin of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 6C shows a left side view of the pin of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 6D shows a top view of the pin of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 6E shows a bottom view of the pin of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 6F shows a front view of the pin of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 6G shows a rear view of the pin of FIG. 6A;
FIG. 7 shows a game board in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8A shows a top view of cutout which shows an image of an airplane on it;
FIG. 8B shows a top view of another dial;
FIG. 8C shows a top view of two dials placed on the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 8D shows a top view of the cutout of FIG. 8A and the two dials placed on the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 9A shows a top view of a model airplane;
FIG. 9B shows a top view of the model airplane of FIG. 9A on the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 10A shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 10B shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A and the deck of FIG. 1A attached to the altitude pole of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 10C shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A and the deck of FIG. 1A attached to the altitude pole of FIG. 4A, and two dials placed on the base of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 10D shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A, the deck of FIG. 1A attached to the altitude pole of FIG. 4A, two dials placed on the base of FIG. 2A, the model airplane of FIG. 9A placed on the deck of FIG. 1A, and the base of FIG. 2A placed on a hexagon space of the game board of FIG. 7;
FIG. 11A shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A, the deck of FIG. 1A attached to the altitude pole of FIG. 4A, two dials placed on the base of FIG. 2A, and the pin of FIG. 6A inserted into the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 11B shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A, the deck of FIG. 1A attached to the altitude pole of FIG. 4A, two dials placed on the base of FIG. 2A, the pin of FIG. 6A inserted into the deck of FIG. 1A, and the model airplane of FIG. 9A placed on the pin of FIG. 6A as well as the deck of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 11C shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A, and the collar of FIG. 5A attached to the altitude pole of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 11D shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole of FIG. 4A inserted into an opening of the base of FIG. 2A, the collar of FIG. 5A attached to the altitude pole of FIG. 4A, and the cutout of FIG. 8A placed on the collar of FIG. 5A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, and 1H show top perspective, bottom perspective, top, bottom, front, back, left, and right side views, respectively of a deck 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The deck 100 includes sections 102, 104, and 106. The section 102 is substantially circular. There is an opening or bore 102a shown in FIG. 1A in or through the section 102. The section 106 may be a flat protrusion which is fixed to the section 102. The section 104 may be flat and may have a top surface 100a on which a grid pattern 110 including a plurality of rows and columns of grid lines is shown. The section 104 may have a plurality of holes 105 which may be in a straight line, and which includes hole 105a shown in FIG. 1A. The holes 105 are used for the variable placement of pin 610. The section 104 includes a flat portion 104g which is bordered and/or surrounded by walls 104a, 104b, 104c, 104d, 104e, and 104f. The section 104 may have a width W1, shown in FIG. 1A, from wall 104c to wall 104f of one and one eighth inches. The section 104 may have a length L1, shown in FIG. 1C, from the farthest end of circular section 102 to the intersection of walls 104a and 104b of one and one half inches. The base 100 includes protrusions 108a, 108b, and 108c which are fixed to and which extend out perpendicularly from circular section 102 as shown in FIG. 1B. The protrusions 108a-c have ridges 109a-c, respectively, as shown by FIGS. 1E-1H. The ridges 109a-c are used to snap the deck 100 into place on a pole 400 of FIG. 4A. The deck 100 has an overall hexagonal appearance or shape. The deck 100 may be made of plastic.
The base 200 is designed to fit a game board printed surface of a map of various geographic locations of aerial battles with a superimposed hexagonal grid comprised of thirty-four mm (millimeter) hexagonal spaces. The section 208 of the base 200 can be used as a pointer to denote direction of a game piece aircraft which includes base 200. Dials, such as dial 300 can be attached to the base 200 by inserting section 304 into either section 202A or 204A to rotate to desired quantity of desired function, i.e. specific altitude level and/or sagittal direction of the aircraft game piece
FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, and 2H show top perspective, bottom perspective, top, bottom, front, back, right, and left side views, respectively of a deck 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The base 200 includes section 201 and circular section 206. The section 201 has indentations 202 and 204, each of which is shaped as a circular arc of approximately two hundred and seventy degrees. The indentations 202 and 204 have holes 202a and 204a at the center of the circular arc shape. The section 201 has side walls 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d, 201e, and 201f. The side walls 201b, and 201f have slots 203b and 203f, respectively. The purpose of these slots is to denote the value of the dial 300. The section 201 has an upper surface 201g. The circular section 206 has a protruding tab 206a fixed to it. The circular section 206 has a circular opening or bore 206b.
The base 200 is generally used for placement of the game piece on a hexagonal grid game board, such as a game board 700 shown in FIG. 7. The base 200 may be made of plastic.
FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H show top perspective, bottom perspective, top, bottom, right, left, front, and rear side views, respectively of a first dial 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The first dial 300 includes a section 302 which is circular or substantially circular and which has a plurality of ridges 303, such as ridge 303a, on its perimeter or periphery. The ridges 303 form a plurality of slots or indentations 305, such as slot 305a. There is an opening 306 in the section 302. An extension 304 is fixed to a bottom surface 302b of the first dial 300. The extension 304 includes a pole or member 304a and a flange or triangular shaped protrusion 304b. A top surface 302a of the first dial 300 has printed thereon, characters which stand for the following: SC=Steep Climb, C=Climb, L=Level, D=Dive, SD=Steep Dive.
A second dial 850 is typically the same as 300 only with different characters which are the numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The first dial 300 and the second dial 850 can both be made of plastic.
FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F show front top perspective, rear top perspective, front, rear, top, and bottom views, respectively of an altitude pole 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The altitude pole 400 includes a section 401 comprised of sections 402, 404, 406, 408, and 410. There are indentations or slots 402a, 404a, 406a, and 408a between the sections 402 and 404, 404 and 406, 406 and 408, and 408 and 410, respectively. The altitude pole 400 also includes a section 414. Section 414 includes extensions 414a and 414b, and protrusions 415a and 415b. A gap or slot 416 lies between extensions 414a and 414b and between protrusions 415a and 415b. There is an elongated slot 412 which runs the length of section 401, as shown in FIG. 4B. The altitude pole 400 is typically made of plastic.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, and 5H show front top perspective, front bottom perspective, top, bottom, left side, right side, rear, and front views, respectively of a first collar 500 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The second collar is section 102 which is incorporated into section 104.
The first collar 500 includes sections 502, 506, and 508. Section 502 may be circular or substantially circular. Section 508 may be a rim which is substantially circular and which is fixed to an end of section 502. Section 506 may be a flat protrusion which is fixed to section 502 and section 508, and which extends out perpendicularly from sections 502 and 508. The first collar 500 includes extensions or protrusions 504a, 504b, and 504c, shown in FIG. 5B, which extend out perpendicularly to the circular shape of section 502. There are gaps 505a, 505b, and 505c between protrusions 504a and 504b, between 504b and 504c, and between protrusions 504c and 504a, respectively. There is an opening or hole 510 through the first collar 500. The first collar 500 may be made of plastic.
Collar 500 is used for the attachment of a 1/300th scale metal aircraft model playing piece onto the altitude pole 400.
FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, and 6G show front top perspective, left side, right side, top, bottom, rear, and front views, respectively of a pin 600 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The pin 600 includes sections 602, 604, and 606, as wells as protruding cylinders 608 and 610. The sections 604 and 606 may be triangular. Pin 600 is used to attach a 1/300th scale metal diecast aircraft playing piece onto deck 100.
A game piece 800 is shown in FIG. 11D which is attached to the vertical pole 400 via the first collar 500, is a cardboard cutout overhead view picture of one of a variety of aircraft that is used in the game. This die cut printed cardboard or game piece 800 is the 2D (two dimensional) representation of the desired aircraft that is held to altitude by collar 500 Should the player be able to afford diecast metal replicas of the period wartime aircraft a deck, such as deck 100 can be employed. The pin, such as pin 600, is employed to reposition on the deck 100, to accommodate balancing of the diecast metal aircrafts female pin hole which the player drills underneath a 1/300th scale diecast metal aircraft model playing piece shown in FIG. 11B.
Once the player decides which representation of aircraft he has, he then has the capability of raising and lowering the collar, such as 500, or the deck 100, on the pole 400, to denote four flight altitude bands during the course of a game. Dials, such as dial 300 and pole 400 come affixed to base 200 and collars such as 500, or deck 100 are then applied by a player during the course of the game or historical “Dog Fight”.
FIG. 7 shows a game board 700 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The game board 700 includes a plurality of hexagon or hexagonal spaces 702 including hexagon or hexagonal space 702a. Each of the hexagon spaces 702 may be about the same as or slightly larger than the hexagon shape of the deck 100 and base 200. The deck 100 or the base 200 can be placed on one of the hexagon spaces 702, such as hexagon space 702a. The game board 700 may be made of cardboard, and the hexagonal spaces 702 may be a printed pattern on the game board 700.
FIG. 8A shows a top view of cutout 800 which shows an image 802 of an airplane on it. The cutout or game piece 800 also has an alpha numerical identifier, in this case “3”, which stands for that particular cardboard game piece's position in its formation as discussed in detail in a rules book. The cutout 800 has an opening 806 into which the pole 400 can be inserted to attach or place the cutout 800 on the apparatus shown in FIG. 11D.
FIG. 8B shows a top view of a dial 850 which may be identical to the dial 300 shown in FIGS. 3A-3H, with the exception that the dial 850 has alphanumeric designations 852, which in this example are “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, and “6” which are used for designation of altitude levels within an altitude band as determined by which slot (402a, 404a, 406a and 408a) the collar 500 or deck 100 is affixed to. These differ from the alphanumeric designations shown in FIGS. 3A-3H.
FIG. 8C shows a top view of dials 300 and 850 placed on the base 200 of FIG. 2A. Dials 300 and 850 and recesses 202 and 204 of the base 200 are configured so that either of dials 300 and 850 fit snugly into either of indentations 202 and 204, and dials 300 and 850 can be spun after being placed in either of indentations 202 and 204 to designate an altitude level via dial 850 and sagittal aircraft position via dial 300.
FIG. 8D shows a top view of the cutout 800 of FIG. 8A and the two dials 300 and 850 placed on the base 200 of FIG. 2A. The pole 400 has been inserted through the opening 806 of cutout 800.
FIG. 9A shows a top view of a model airplane 900. FIG. 9B shows a top view of the model airplane 900 on the deck 100.
FIG. 10A shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole 400 of FIG. 4A inserted into the opening or bore 206b of the base 200 of FIG. 2A. In the FIG. 10A configuration, the extensions 414a-b and the protrusions 415a-b, shown in FIG. 4A, but not shown in FIG. 10A, have been inserted into the bore 206b shown in FIG. 2A, but also not shown in FIG. 10A. The protrusions 415a-b snap the pole 400 in place into the bore 206b into the configuration of FIG. 10A. In addition, the tab 206a of the base 200 fits into the elongated slot 412 of the pole 400 to align the pole 400 in the correct orientation with respect to the base 200.
FIG. 10B shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole 400 of FIG. 4A inserted into the opening or bore 206b (shown in FIG. 2A) of the base 200, and the deck 100 attached to the altitude pole 400. In FIG. 10B the altitude pole 400 has been inserted into the opening 102a of the deck 100. The flat section 106 slides in the elongated slot 412. The deck 100 is snapped into a position by snapping ridges 109a-c of protrusions 108a-c, respectively into one of the slots or indentations 402a, 404a, 406a and 408a of the pole 400. In the example of FIG. 10B the ridges 109a-c, shown in FIG. 1E-1H, but not shown in FIG. 10B, have been snapped into slot or indentation 406a of the pole 400, which temporarily fixes the deck 100 at the height shown in FIG. 10B. The protrusions 108a-c may be made of plastic and may be flexible so that the deck 100 can be removed from the pole 400 and from the position shown in FIG. 10B.
FIG. 10C shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole 400 of FIG. 4A inserted into the opening 206b opening of the base 200 and the deck 100 of FIG. 1A attached to the altitude pole 400 at the position of indentation or slot 406a as in FIG. 10B, and two dials 300 and 850 placed on the base 200, such as in indentations 202 and 204 respectively.
FIG. 10D shows a top perspective view as in FIG. 10C except that the model airplane 900 has been placed on the deck 100 and the entire apparatus has been placed on the hexagonal space 702a of the plurality of hexagonal spaces 702 of the board 700 previously shown in FIG. 7. The assembled combination of components 100, 200, 300, 400, 850, and 900 as shown in FIG. 10D may be considered to be a game piece. There may be a plurality of game pieces similar to or identical to that shown in FIG. 10D which may be placed on any of the plurality of hexagonal spaces 702 of the game board 700 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11A shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole 400 inserted an snapped into the opening 206b of the base 200, the deck 100 of FIG. 1A attached to the altitude pole 400 of FIG. 4A, two dials, 300 and 850, placed on the base 200 of FIG. 2A, and the protruding cylinder 610 the pin 600 of FIG. 6A inserted into a hole 105 of the plurality of holes 105 of the deck 100, thereby attaching the pin 600 to the deck 100.
FIG. 11B shows a top perspective view as in FIG. 11A except that the model airplane 900 has been placed on the deck 100 and has a front portion resting on the pin 600. The model airplane 900 may have an opening, not shown, which may connect to the protruding cylinder 608 shown in FIG. 6A of the pin 600 to connect the airplane 900 to the pin 600.
FIG. 11C shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole 400 of FIG. 4A inserted into the opening 206b (shown in FIG. 2A) of the base 200, and the collar 500 attached to the altitude pole 400. The collar 500 may be attached to the pole 400 in a manner similar or identical to the deck 100. The collar 500 includes protrusions 504a-c having ridges 505a-c, respectively as shown by FIGS. 5E-H. The ridges 505a-c snap into one of the indentations 402a-408a of the pole 400 to temporarily fix the collar 500 at a certain height with respect to the base 200. In the configuration of FIG. 11C, the ridges 505a-c (not shown in FIG. 11C, but shown in FIGS. 5E-H) are inserted and snapped into the indentation or slot 406a to temporarily fix the collar 500 at the height shown in FIG. 11C.
FIG. 11D shows a top perspective view of the altitude pole 400 inserted into an opening 206b (shown in FIG. 2A) of the base 200 of FIG. 2A, the collar 500 (not shown in FIG. 11D, but is underneath the cutout 800) attached to the altitude pole 400, and the cutout 800 placed on the collar 500. The collar 500 supports the cutout 800 at a certain height as shown in FIG. 11D.
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.
Patent Grant
8282103
