Spinner game and method of playing the same

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6666452
  • Patent Number
    6,666,452
  • Date Filed
    Monday, April 15, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 23, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A spinner game and the method of playing the same for providing a fun-filled game which gives an advantage to a player having a high degree of coordination. The spinner game and the method of playing the same includes a tree-like structure having a base member, an elongate trunk member being attached to the base member and extending upwardly therefrom, and branch members extending outwardly from the elongate trunk member; and also includes an assembly of playing the spinner game including a plurality of spinner members being spinably and detachably attached to the branch members, and also including die members.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to spinning games and more particularly pertains to a new spinner game and the method of playing the same for providing a fun-filled game which gives an advantage to a player having a high degree of coordination.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of spinning games is known in the prior art. More specifically, spinning games heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.




Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,947; U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,657; U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,659; U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,554; U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,385; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 272,836.




While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new spinner game and the method of playing the same. The prior art includes inventions having pendulum games with magnets and other games.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which has many of the advantages of the spinning games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art spinning games, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a tree-like structure having a base member, an elongate trunk member being attached to the base member and extending upwardly therefrom, and branch members extending outwardly from the elongate trunk member; and also includes an assembly of playing the spinner game including a plurality of spinner members being spinably and detachably attached to the branch members, and also including die members. None of the prior art includes spinner members which are magnetically-attached to branch members and which are spun therefrom to score points.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the spinner game and the method of playing the same in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.




It is an object of the present invention to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which has many of the advantages of the spinning games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art spinning games, either alone or in any combination thereof.




Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same for providing a fun-filled game which gives an advantage to a player having a high degree of coordination.




Still yet another object off the present invention is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same that is easy and convenient to set up.




Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same that signals out those players having a high degree of quickness and coordination to effectively play the game well.











These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a new spinner game and the method of playing the same according to the present invention and shown in use.





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view of the spinner support member of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view of the spinner members of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the die of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of the score sheet of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to

FIGS. 1 through 5

thereof, a new spinner game and the method of playing the same embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 5

, the spinner game and the method of playing the same


10


generally comprises a tree-like structure


11


having a base member


12


, an elongate trunk member


17


being conventionally attached to the base member


12


and extending upwardly therefrom, and branch members


24


extending outwardly from the elongate trunk member


17


. The base member


12


includes top and bottom sides


13


,


14


, and also includes a boss


15


being centrally and integrally disposed upon the top side


13


thereof, and further includes a bore


16


being disposed through the boss


15


and into the base member


12


. The tree-like structure


11


further includes a non-slip pad member


38


being securely and conventionally attached to the bottom side


14


of the base member


12


to prevent the base member


12


from slipping upon a surface. The base member


12


is generally disc-shaped. The elongate trunk member


17


includes a dowel-like extension


18


being conventionally disposed at a bottom end thereof and being securely disposed in the bore


16


in the base member


12


to substantially stabilize the elongate trunk member


17


upon the base member


12


. The elongate trunk member


17


also has a threaded slot


19


being disposed in a top end thereof. The tree-like structure


11


also includes a branch support member


20


being fastened with a threaded fastener


23


to the top end of the elongate trunk member


17


, and also being generally disc-shaped, and having a bore


21


extending axially therethrough from a top to a bottom thereof, and further having radial slots


22


extending in a circumference thereof and being circumferentially-spaced with the threaded fastener


23


being threaded into the threaded slot


19


of the elongate trunk member


17


. The branch members


24


are securely and conventionally disposed in the radial slots


22


of the branch support member


20


with each of the branch members


24


having a dowel-like member


25


extending from a first end thereof and being securely and conventionally disposed and engaged in a respective one of the radial slots


22


. Each of the branch members


24


also has a slot


26


being disposed in a second end thereof. The tree-like structure


11


also includes a plurality of spinner support members


27


being securely and conventionally disposed in and extended outwardly of the slots


26


of the branch members


24


with each of the spinner support members


27


being generally dowel-shaped.




A means of playing the spinner game including a plurality of spinner members


28


being spinably and magnetically attached to the branch members


24


, and also including die members


32


,


33


. Each of the spinner members


28


includes a uniquely-shaped body


29


and also includes a pin member


31


being conventionally attached to the uniquely-shaped body


29


and being spinably and magnetically-attached to and depended from a respective one of the spinner support members


27


. Each of the uniquely-shaped bodies


29


has a bore


30


extending therein through a top thereof with the pin members


31


being securely disposed in and extended outwardly from the bores


30


of the uniquely-shaped bodies


29


. Each of the pin members


31


is metallic. The die members


32


,


33


includes a first die member


33


having dots being disposed upon sides thereof, and also includes a second die member


32


having sides which are uniquely colored. The means of playing the spinner game also includes one or more score sheets


34


having rules of the spinner game


37


being conventionally displayed thereon and also having lines arranged to form columns


35


and rows


36


which are further divided into sections upon which points scored in the spinner game are recorded.




In use, the players roll the uniquely-colored die member


32


with the side of the die member


32


facing upwardly upon the surface determining which of the spinner members


28


should be spun as it depends from a respective branch member


24


, and the players then spin the designated spinner member


28


having the same color as that of the upwardly facing side of the die member


32


and also spin as many of the other the spinner members


28


as desired without any of them falling off the spinner support member


27


. The players score one point for each of the spinner members


28


which remains spinning upon the spinner support member


27


for at least 10 seconds. The players continue to take turns and roll the die member


32


and spin one or more of the spinner members


28


until one of the players wins by having the highest total score.




As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the spinner game and the method of playing the same. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A method of playing a spinner game includes the steps of:providing a tree-like structure having branch members and spinner support members extending from ends of the branch members, and also having spinner members which are magnetically-attachable to said spinner support members and which are uniquely colored, and further having die members and score sheets with one of said die members having sides which are uniquely colored; rolling one of said die members to determine which of said spinner members should be spun as it depends from a respective said branch member; spinning the designated said spinner member and as many of the other said spinner members as desired without any of them falling off the spinner support member; scoring points for said spinner members which remain spinning upon said spinner support members for at least 10 seconds; and repeating said steps of rolling one of said die members, and spinning the designated said spinner member and as many of the other spinner member, and scoring points for said spinner members for all players until one of the players wins.
  • 2. A method of playing the spinner game as described in claim 1, wherein the step of rolling one of said die members includes the step of rolling said uniquely colored die member with the uniquely colored side facing upwardly determining which of said spinner members should be spun.
  • 3. A method of playing the spinner game as described in claim 2, wherein the step of spinning the designated spinner member includes the step of spinning the spinner member having the same color as that of the upwardly facing side of said uniquely colored die member.
  • 4. A method of playing the spinner game as described in claim 3, wherein the step of scoring points includes the step of awarding one point for each of said spinner members which spins from a respective said spinner support member for at least 10 seconds.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
2684850 Williams Jul 1954 A
4022474 Breslow et al. May 1977 A
4043554 Wolf Aug 1977 A
4358110 Youkstetter Nov 1982 A
4630822 Massaglia Dec 1986 A
5078386 Hou et al. Jan 1992 A
6454261 Ohira Sep 2002 B2