Claims
- 1. A games-playing structure comprising
- a central portion comprising a base defining a lower plane and a first surface with
- a configuration of spaces, and
- an upper stage connected with the base and defining
- an upper plane substantially parallel with the lower plane, and
- a second surface with a configuration of spaces;
- a first side portion
- including a first side stage defining a third surface with a configuration of spaces and support means operative between the first side stage and the lower plane, and joined with the central portion intermediate the lower and upper planes;
- a second side portion
- including a second side stage defining a fourth surface with a configuration of spaces and support means operative between the second side stage and the lower plane, and
- joined with the central portion intermediate the lower and upper planes, and generally opposed to the first side portion;
- wherein the configurations are substantially congruent.
- 2. Apparatus for playing games between first and second players comprising the structure of claim 1, a plurality of first-player playing-pieces and a plurality of second-player playing-pieces, whereof each playing-piece is adapted to be placed on a said space.
- 3. A unified games-playing structure according to claim 1 wherein the central portion includes at least one first column joined with, held erectly by, and extending upwardly from the base, and at least one second column joined with, held erectly by, and extending upwardly from the base; the upper stage is carried at least on one first column and one second column; the first side stage is carried on at least one first column and the second side stage is carried on at least one second column; at least one third column is joined with the first side stage and extends between the first side stage and the lower plane; at least one fourth column is joined with the second side stage and extends between the second side stage and the lower plane; and, the configurations on the base and on the upper stage are in vertical alignment.
- 4. Apparatus for games between first and second players comprising the structure of claim 3 wherein each stage is substantially transparent; each configuration is a square grid of sixteen spaces; four spatially-corresponding spaces on, respectively, each said configuration comprise a set of spaces; the spaces of at least one set of spaces carry indicia of advantage; thirty-two first-player playing-pieces; and, thirty-two second-player playing-pieces.
- 5. A games-playing structure of assemblable components comprising
- an elongate base defining a configuration of spaces, first and second ends, at least one first base-hole near the first end, at least one other first base-hole near the second end, at least one second base-hole adjacent the first base-hole near the first end, and at least one other second base-hole adjacent the first base-hole near the second end;
- at least two first columns, each slidably received in a first base-hole, erectly held by the base and having lower spacer means;
- at least two second columns each slidably received in a second base-hole, erectly held by the base, and having lower spacer means and upper spacer means;
- first, second and third stages, each defining a planar surface, a configuration of spaces and three stage-holes;
- whereof adjacent base-holes locate adjacent columns; the configurations are congruent; the first stage is carried on the lower spacer means of a least two adjacent columns; the second stage is carrried on the lower spacer means of at least two other adjacent columns; at least one upper spacer means rests on the first stage; at least one upper spacer means rests on the second stage; and the third stage is carried on the second columns and atop the upper spacer means.
- 6. An assemblable games structure of components comprising
- a base defining a configuration of spaces, first and second ends, one first base-hole near the first end, two other first base-holes near the second end, two second base-holes adjacent the said one first base-hole, and one other second base-hole adjacent the said two other first base-holes;
- first, second and third stages, each defining a planar surface, a configuration of spaces and three stage-holes;
- three assemblable first columns, each including, as assembled,
- a first rod adapted to be removably received in a first base-hole and, as received, held erectly by the base, and
- a lower spacer adapted to be removably fitted with the first rod and, as fitted, rest on the base;
- three assemblable second columns, each including, as assembled,
- a second rod adapted to be removably received in a second base/-hole and, as received, held erectly by the base,
- a lower spacer adapted to be removably fitted with the second rod and, as fitted, to rest on the base, and
- an upper spacer adapted to be removably fitted with the second rod and, as fitted, to rest on a stage;
- whereof the configurations are congruent; adjacent base-holes, locate adjacent columns according to the received rods of said columns; three adjacent columns are to carry the first stage on their lower spacers and with a different one rod in each stage-hole of the first stage; three other adjacent columns are to carry the second stage on their lower spacers and with another different one rod in each stage-hole of the second stage; and, the second columns are to carry the third stage on their upper spacers and with a different second rod in each stage-hole of the third stage.
- 7. A product, for games to be played between first and second players, comprising
- an assemblable games structure of components according to claim 6 wherein each rod is adapted to be slidably received in a base-hole; each spacer is cylindric and defines opposed end surfaces and an axial channel, and is adapted to be slidably fitted, via the channel, on a rod; the first rods are interchangeable; the second rods are interchangeable; the spacers are interchangeable; and the stages and interchangeable and substantially transparent; each configuration is a grid of sixteen playing-spaces; four corresponding playing-spaces of, respectively, each configuration comprise a set of spaces; a first set of spaces has indicia of advantage relative to other playing-spaces; and, a second set of spaces has indicia of advantage relative to other playing-spaces except the first set; whereof at least some of said components are disassembled; and,
- thirty-two first-player pieces and thirty-two second-player pieces, each said piece defining an area less than the area of one playing-space; and,
- a container for said components and pieces.
- 8. A games structure comprising
- a central portion including
- a first stage and
- a second stage connected with and at a first height relative to the first stage;
- a first side portion
- extending from the central portion and
- including a third stage connected with the central portion at a height, relative to the first stage, of less than said first height;
- a second side portion
- extending from the central portion and generally opposed to the first side portion, and
- including a fourth stage connected with the central portion at a height, relative to the first stage, of less than said first height;
- wherein the stages are generally horizontal and substantially parallel with each other, each stage is of uniform size and shape, each stage provides a playing-surface and a configuration of playing-spaces, and the configurations are substantially congruent.
- 9. A game product comprising the structure of claim 8, thirty-two first-player playing-pieces, and thirty-two second-player playing-pieces.
- 10. An assemblable games structure of components comprising
- a plurality of columns
- whereof each column has a first clip-portion including a foot in a uniform first orientation as to the column, a second clip-portion including a head at uniform first distance from the foot and in said first orientation, and a third clip-portion including a support arm at a uniform second distance from the foot and in a uniform second orientation as to the column, and
- wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and the second orientation is angularly displaced from the first orientation;
- a plurality of stages
- whereof each stage has a peripheral margin, provides a playing-surface and a configuration of playing-spaces, and in adapted to be peripherally received in a clip-portion, and
- wherein the configurations are congruent;
- so that in the structure, as assembled, the columns stand in erect disposition on their respective feet, and receive, grip and cooperate to carry a first stage in their first clip-portions and a second stage in their second clip-portions; a first column and a second column receive, grip and cooperate to carry a third stage in respective third clip-portions of said first and second columns, with the third stage disposed in cantilever fashion on the support arms thereof; and, a third column and a fourth column receive, grip and cooperate to carry a fourth stage in respective third clip-portions of said third and fourth columns, with the fourth stage disposed in cantilever fashion on the support arms thereof.
- 11. The structure of claim 10 wherein each column includes a web intermediate said column's foot and head; and wherein, as to each column, the web defines inward and outward sides; the foot and the head extend from the inward side; the support arm extends in cantilever fashion from the outward side; the first clip-portion includes a first clip proximate the foot; the second clip-portion includes a second clip proximate the head; the third clip-portion includes a third clip proximate the support arm; said clips are flexile; and, each clip-portion defines a gap which, when the flexile clip thereof is unflexed, has a minimum width of slightly less than the thickness of the peripheral margin of a stage adapted to be received in and gripped by said clip-portion.
- 12. A games product for games between first and second players comprising the structure of claim 10 wherein each column is a unitary member and of material characterized by memory; each configuration is a square grid of sixteen spaces; for spatially-corresponding spaces on, respectively, each said grid, each said configuration comprises a set of spaces; the spaces of at least one set carry indicia of advantage; thirty-two first-player playing-peices; thirty-two second-player playing-pieces; and, a container for components of the structure and the playing-pieces.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/720,020, filed on Jun. 24, 1991, and now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/556,950, filed on Jul. 23, 1990, and now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2319914 |
Sep 1974 |
DEX |
2183492 |
Jun 1987 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
720020 |
Jun 1991 |
|
Parent |
556950 |
Jul 1990 |
|