Patent Grant
7651094
This invention relates generally to board games, and more particularly to a multi-level board game.
Board games provide entertainment and challenge for people of all ages. Many players have sought to develop multi-level board games in an attempt to expand the gaming experience and the player's analysis of gaming moves into multi-planar geometries. While efforts to develop such multi-level gaming have proceeded, the resulting products are often embodied in games having highly complex rules, multiple game pieces, and complicated structures which so complicate the game process that any added entertainment value is outweighed by the added difficulty in attempting to carry out a gaming session. Thus, the prior art has been unable to address the need for a multi-player, multi-level game that appropriately balances the need for increased intellectual stimulation and the ability to develop a player's skills of multi-level spatial analysis, against the need to maintain the enjoyment and leisure intended in playing a recreational game.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a multi-level board game. In one embodiment, a multi-level board game comprises a base assembly, a plurality of vertical support assemblies disposed on a top surface of the base assembly, at least one elevated planar surface disposed substantially within a perimeter boundary formed by the configuration of the plurality of vertical support assemblies and positioned above the base assembly, a plurality of tab assemblies and a plurality of posts coupled to a top surface of said base assembly and projecting substantially upward from the base assembly. Each tab assembly is suitable for insertion into a slot formed within the at least one elevated planar surface.
Objects, features, and advantages of the multi-level board game will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the various embodiments when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to
Accordingly, the various embodiments of the multi-level board game 100 comprise a base assembly 106 and a plurality of vertical support assemblies 102. Referring specifically to
Vertical support assemblies 102 may be v-shaped or L-shaped supports. Vertical support assemblies 102 may be positioned substantially in the corners of the base assembly 106. To this end, as described, base assembly container 124 may comprise a plurality of slots or apertures 144 disposed substantially about the perimeter of the base assembly platform 140 suitable for receiving the vertical support assemblies 102. Vertical support assemblies 102 may each be provided with a plurality of protrusions or ledges 104 coupled horizontally to at least one interior surface of a vertical support assembly 102. Each ledge 104 may be configured to fit substantially within an interior region of the vertical support assemblies 102 at any position along the length of the vertical support assembly 102. In this manner, horizontal planar surface height relative to the base assembly 106 and top horizontal planar surface 108 may be adjustable.
Horizontal planar surfaces 108 may be disposed within the vertical support assemblies 102 and may be secured to at least one vertical support assembly 102 by use of any fastening means, including, but not limited to screws, posts, nut and bolt assemblies, nails, hook and loop material, or adhesives, or may be held in place through frictional resistance. Each of the horizontal planar surfaces 108 may be formed from wood, metal, plastic or any durable material suitable for forming substantially flat horizontal surfaces comprising a plurality of apertures 122 and durability of construction.
In a preferred embodiment, multi-level board game 100 may comprise 4 vertical support assemblies 102, each coupled to a base assembly 106 in a corner or outer perimeter region of the base assembly 106. In this embodiment, multi-level board game horizontal planar surfaces 108 may be substantially rectangular or square. In additional embodiments, multi-level board game 100 may be triangular, circular, oblong, trapezoidal, or any other shape, and may comprise corresponding horizontal planar surfaces 108. Likewise, vertical support assemblies 102 may conform as needed to the shape of the base assembly 106 or any other component of the multi-level board game 100.
As mentioned, multi-level board game 100100 also comprises at least one horizontal planar surface 108. A horizontal planar surface 108 may be further defined as a first horizontal planar surface and a second horizontal planar surface. The first horizontal planar surface is positioned above and parallel to the second horizontal planar surface, which is positioned substantially between the first horizontal planar surface and the base assembly 106. Each horizontal planar surface 108 is configured to be a board game level, and may also be configured in generally the same shape as the base assembly 106. A region of each horizontal planar surface 108 may rest on a ledge 104 of a vertical support assembly 102 or be otherwise coupled to the vertical support assembly 102. In the fully assembled configuration shown in
Each of the plurality of horizontal planar surfaces 108 may comprise at least one lateral edge having thickness of at least ½ cm. Referring specifically to
Referring to
Multi-level board game 100 may also comprise a plurality of game pieces 116. Game pieces 116 may be a plurality of colors, shapes, or sizes. For instance, game pieces 116 may be dividable into sets comprising one color, shape or size. It is contemplated that a player may utilize one set of game pieces 116 comprising all one color, shape or size. Game pieces may be collected in a game piece container 128 to facilitate separation of game pieces 116 into game pieces of a single color, shape or size. Game pieces 116 may further comprise a substantially centrally located game piece aperture 126. Game piece aperture 126 may be large enough to allow a post 110 of the multi-level board game 100 to be inserted therethrough. Game piece aperture 126 may allow a game piece 116 to slide along post 110 until stopped by a first or second tab assembly 112, 114, or a top surface of the base assembly 106.
Base assembly 106 comprises a plurality of apertures 118 each suitable for receiving a vertical elongated member 110 such as a post, dowel, pole or like elongated members. Vertical elongated members 110 are suitable for insertion into the plurality of apertures 118 formed on the top surface of the base assembly 106. Vertical elongated members 110 may extend substantially upward through the plurality of apertures 122 formed in the horizontal planar surfaces 108.
As shown, each of the plurality of horizontal planar surfaces 108 comprises a plurality of apertures 122 suitable for insertion therethrough of a post 110. Apertures 122 are also large enough to allow a game piece 116 to therethrough, and therefore are of a larger circumference or perimeter than the posts.
To lift or hold one or more game pieces 116 in place during play, a lifting assembly 134 is provided. A player may utilize the lifting assembly 134 for supporting one or more game pieces 116 to execute movement of a first tab assembly 112 or second tab assembly 114, allowing only a desired number of game pieces 116 to fall to a lower level. The lifting assembly 134 may comprise two tines coupled to an elongated member, at least a portion of which may be suitable for insertion underneath a game piece 116. The portion of the lifting assembly 134 where the two tines are joined may provide a stop, thereby preventing the lifting assembly 134 from sliding beyond the post. Lifting assembly 134 may be formed of wood, metal, plastic, or any other synthetic or natural material.
Referring to
While the preferred embodiment of the multi-level board game 100, as shown in
As stated, multi-level board game 100 is suitable for multiple skill levels. For instance, beginner players may utilize only a top horizontal planar assembly 108 and base assembly 106. First and second tab assemblies 112, 114 and lifting assemblies 134 may or may not be utilized. A first player slides a game piece 116 down a selected post 110 by positioning the game piece 116 over the post 110 such that the post 110 is inserted through the centrally located aperture 126 of the game piece 116. Play alternates in this same manner, until a player places four game pieces 116 of the same color in a row either up and down, across, or diagonally.
The object of the game of the instant invention is for a player to align a specific number of same colored, shaped or otherwise designated game pieces 116 in a row before every other player. In the preferred embodiment, a player may be required to align 4 game pieces 116. Play typically begins on the top horizontal planar surface 108, however, a win may occur on any level. As play continues, a first player may drop one, two, three, four or more game pieces 116 to the middle horizontal planar surface 108. A player may utilize the lifting assembly 134 to hold in place any game pieces 116 desired to remain on an upper or lower horizontal planar surface 108. With the lifting assembly 134 in place, a first player may slide the first tab assembly 112 out until the game pieces 116 drop to a lower horizontal planar surface 108. The first tab assembly 112 may be slid back into a position, such as an original position, preventing any additional game pieces 116 from dropping to a lower horizontal planar surface 108, and the lifting assembly 134 may be utilized to set game piece or pieces 116 down.
In additional embodiments, a player must declare “one move,” indicating that the player is one move away from a win. “One move” may be declared after the player has dropped a game piece 116. A second player may then attempt to block the first player from winning by placing a game piece 116 in the path of the first player.
A more advanced level of play may comprise the same rules as described above, except players may be playing at least three levels including a base assembly 106 level and at least two horizontal planar surface 108 levels. If a player chooses to drop a game piece 116 from the top horizontal planar surface, he may choose to drop the game pieces 116 down to the middle horizontal planar surface or to the lower horizontal planar surface on the same turn. In order to drop the game pieces 116 to the lower level from the top level, there must be no game pieces 116 in that section of the middle horizontal planar surface. The player would then align both tab assemblies 112 or 114 of both upper and middle planar surfaces 108 respectively to allow the game pieces 116 to drop to a lower planar surface 108 or base assembly 106.
If more than two players are playing and “one move” is declared by a first player, a second player may choose to block the first player, or leave the block for a third player or a fourth player. “One move” must be declared any time a player is just one move away from a potential win, regardless of how many “one move's” have been declared previously in that turn. If a first player fails to declare “one move” when “one move” exists, a next player may declare “one move” on his next move, provided “one move” still exists. If a first player does not declare “one move” and then achieves a “four-in-a-row” on the first player's next turn (this is not a win), the next player (on the next player's turn) may catch the “four-in-a-row” and have a second turn. If the “four-in-a-row” remains in place when play returns to the first player, the first player may call “one move” at that time. If the “four-in-a-row” remains until play gets back to the first player, the first player would be declared the winner.
As stated, for even more advanced play, additional horizontal planar surfaces, vertical elongated members, vertical support assemblies, and tab assemblies may be utilized to construct additional board game 100 levels.
It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the foregoing disclosed methods are examples of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method may be rearranged while remaining within the scope of the present invention. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in size, materials, shape, form, function, manner of operation, assembly and use of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. Further, it is contemplated that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the method can be rearranged while remaining within the scope and spirit of the present invention. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2773690 | Housley | Dec 1956 | A |
| 3604705 | Hawthorne | Sep 1971 | A |
| 3709497 | Barlow | Jan 1973 | A |
| 6349939 | Tsai | Feb 2002 | B1 |
| 20040041344 | Thomson | Mar 2004 | A1 |
