The present invention is directed to a game board apparatus exhibiting a playing field and a movable object rolling along the field between a launch end and a target area with one or more obstacles positioned there between to prevent linear travel of the object and to encourage travel along a direction influenced by any one or more of the obstacles.
Nowadays, video games are one of the most popular forms of gaming device amongst teens and young adults. While the games are entertaining for a solo player, there is a lack when it comes to face-to-face human interactions. The classic board games which promote competition and camaraderie with friends and family are not lost. Friends and families alike still enjoy the Saturday game night or great Thursday bowling league. Humans thrive with personal interactions, and search for new ways to keep the fun alive.
In the search for personal interactions and overall fun, people like to be challenged and seek games of skill for this purpose. Many board games leave the outcome to chance, requiring merely the roll of the dice or the roll of a ball that deflects off a peg in an advantageous manner. These games, although they can be fun, do not require the technical skill and technique that most people enjoy.
Games like bowling or shuffle board provide the aspects of fun and technical skill to entertain numerous players. These games allow the player to send a ball or disk across a playing surface to strategically either knock down pins or land at a desired location. While these particular games are fun, another element of skill could be added to increase the enjoyment. Thus there is a need to a game which not only sends a ball or a disk across a playing field but also includes a more challenging aspect to stimulate fun and excitement.
The present invention discloses a game board apparatus which is configured to increase the technical skill and technique required by players. A playing field is provided and exhibits a launch area at one end for launching a movable object, such as a ball. A target area is configured at a generally opposite end of the playing field for receiving the moveable object introduced from the launch area.
One or more obstacles are positioned between the launch area and target area, each of which being configured to eliminate any linear path of the movable object from the launch area to the target area, such that the movable object must move along a direction influenced by the obstacle(s) in order to reach the target area. The obstacle(s) each include at least one curved surface over which the movable object must travel to reach the target area. The target area may include a plurality of pockets to receive the movable object after it moves from the launch area and past the obstacle(s).
Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
With reference now to the drawings, similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout several views. Referring to
The game board 100 may be constructed to sit upon a table or it may be constructed to have supporting legs that are already attached. The game board 100 may exhibit any desired size or dimension and, in one non-limiting variant, may be of the standard size exhibiting 3ā² by 6ā², such as depending on a particular construction for the players' needs or desires. Also, the game board 100 may be constructed from any desired material not limited to any of wood, vacuum formed plastic, molded fiberglass, or any composite material which would be understood may someone skilled in the art to withstand normal game play. The playing field 101 may be covered adhesively with a felt like material.
A starting or launch area or section 104 is located at a generally first end of the playing field 101, at which point a user (not shown) introduces any type of movable object, identified herein as a traveler 106 and such as which is generally understood to include any type of rollable or traversable object exhibiting any curved/arcuate/rounded consistency such as further a suitably dimensioned ball in order to encourage traverse across the playing field 101. Without limitation, the movable object may also be configured as any of a puck, disc or other shape which may allow it to glide or displace in some desired fashion along the playing field 101.
A line 105 is referenced in
In other words, when the ball 106 starts moving at the launch area 104 and subsequently along the playing field 101, it must pass through the obstacle 107 in order to reach the target area 107. The dotted line on
In use, and while playing the game, associated game rules prohibit the player from contact with the traveler 106 after it passes the line 105, thus leaving the launching area 104. The skill involved comes in how the player pushes the traveler 106 so that it rolls strategically along the playing field 101. The angle, speed and spin that the player may add to the traveler 106, all effect how the traveler 106 will move across the obstacle 107 and if the traveler 106 will reach the target area 108.
Referring to the cutaway of
In use, and if the player does not exert an adequate degree of force to roll the traveler 106, then the traveler 106 may remain within the concave of obstacle 107a. The traveler 106 may also roll into the target area 108 after rolling through the concave obstacle 107a. A leg 108 may be constructed under the board game 100 to either place the game board 100 upon a table or allow the game board 100 to stand on its own.
Referring to
Referring now to
Adjacent to the shortened wall (such as located at an introduction or launch area) may be a trough or tray 205. Adjacent to the trough 205 may be located a suitably configured launch area 206 specific to this variant. The launch area 206 is again where a traveler 207 (similar in respects to that previously depicted in
In a generally central or mid portion of the playing field are illustrated one or more obstacles 209a, 209b and 210. The obstacles 209a, 209b, and 210 (without limitation) may be shaped as concaved depressions or mounds which may allow the traveler 207 to travel across them easily. The obstacles 209a, 209b, and 210 may be situated directly adjacent to each other (as generally illustrated), may be reconfigured so as to exhibit a partially overlapping pattern such as to enhance a difficulty level of the playing field 201 or may be spaced apart.
A target area may be located on an opposite side of the obstacles 209a, 209b and 210 relative the launch area 206. As shown, the target area may contain a plurality of pockets 211a, 211b, 212a, 212b, 213a, 213b and 214 such as which are depicted without limitation in a generally āUā shaped or winding perimeter around and behind a largest rear obstacle 210. Each pocket in the plurality of pockets 211a, 211b, 212a, 212b, 213a, 213b and 214 may be shallow enough for the traveler 107 to rest, yet easy enough for a second traveler (not shown) to knock it out of the pocket. According to a desired game play rule, each pocket 211a, 211b, 212a, 212b, 213a, 213b and 214 may represent a different numeric value, such that the player may earn points represented by the assigned numeric value when the traveler 207 is caused to rest within the corresponding pocket. Multiple travelers may be used to correspond with the number of players or with the number of rolls or turns that each player may have. When a traveler 207 is not in use, it may be stored in the trough 205.
Referring to
The proximately located trough 205 is also depicted as lower than the playing field 201 such as in to hold or store one or more traveler 207. The obstacle 210 is shown as a concave shape in side cutaway, but is again understood as capable of being reconfigured so to exhibit any desired convex mound or bulge shaping. The selected pocket 214 illustrated depicts how each of the pockets 211a, 211b, 212a, 212b, 213a, 213b and 214 may be dimensioned so as to be deep enough for the traveler 207 to come to rest, the pockets further being configured according to the desired rules of play to be shallow enough for another traveler to knock an initially positioned traveler out of place, as well as bump such a traveler into another pocket or move it back into one of the obstacles 209a, 209b or 210. Table legs 215a and 215b may be utilized as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Also depicted are three obstacles 305a, 305b and 307 which may each be constructed as a concave or smoothed depression or a convex mound or bulge. The obstacles 305a, 305b and 307 may also contain centrally located holes as respectively shown at 306a, 306b and 308. The holes 306a, 306b and 308 may be dimensioned wide enough to allow the traveler to fit through easily after rolling into a selected and associated obstacle 305a, 305b or 307.
The target area may be located on the opposite side of the obstacles 305a and 305b from the launch area 304, and may or may not include the obstacle 307. The target area may further include a plurality of pockets shown at 309a, 309b, 310a, 310b, 311a, 311b and 312. Numerical values may be assigned to specific pockets 309a, 309b, 310a, 310b, 311a, 311b or 312, with the numerical values corresponding to point values while playing the game. A tray 313 may collect or store the travelers, and may be constructed adjacent to the start or launch area 304.
Referring finally to
The hole 308 may be suitably dimensioned to allow the traveler to fall through the playing field 301 and land into a chute 315. As shown, the chute 315 may guide the traveler to roll under the playing field 301 and into the tray 313, which may again collect or store multiple travelers.
According to one non-limiting variant of game play, a player may roll the traveler down the ramp 314, through one or more of the obstacles 305a, 305b and 307 and into a hole 306a, 306b or 308 or into one of the pockets 309a, 309b, 310a, 310b, 311a, 311b or 312 in the target area. The skill of the player in deciding the angle, speed and spin of the traveler may help them to maneuver the traveler along the playing field 301.
Multiple travelers may be used, and various colors may be assigned to the travelers for various players. The numerical values assigned to the pockets 309a, 309b, 310a, 310b, 311a, 311b and 312 may represent point values which may be added as a score for the player(s). Once the traveler of one player rolls into a pocket 309a, 309b, 310a, 310b, 311a, 311b or 312, another traveler may knock out or remove the first traveler from the pocket 309a, 309b, 310a, 310b, 311a, 311b or 312. The removed traveler may then either roll into another pocket 309a, 309b, 310a, 310b, 311a, 311b or 312 or into an obstacle 305a, 305b or 307. If the traveler rolls into the obstacle 305a, 305b or 307, it may be returned to the tray 313 by means of the chute 315. After the traveler returns to the tray 313, it may be rolled during the present game or held until a new game is started.
Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/216,865 filed on May 26, 2009.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61216865 | May 2009 | US |