Title:
BOARD-TYPE GAME APPARATUS EMPLOYING PLAYING PIECES WITH SETS OF INDICIA THEREON
United States Patent 3817524
Abstract:
A football game having two sets of game pieces positionable on a game board, a chance spinner for determining play outcome and a player selector for indicating which game pieces are involved on a particular play. The spinner carries segmented areas of indicia of different colors. The circumferential lengths of such areas are statistically weighted so that certain areas are selected more often than others. Each of certain game pieces carries a set of indicia which is a sub-group of the indicia on the spinner. Different game pieces have different sub-groups depending on the type of player represented. Each game piece carries a player indicium and the player selector carries the same indicia. The contestants each selected a play formation and line their pieces up opposite each other on the game board. The offensive contensant uses the player selector to designate the ball carrier on a running play and to designate where the ball carrier will run. The spinner is spun to determine the outcome of play between opposing game pieces. If the color selected appears on an offensive piece, he is successful in blocking a defender. If the color does not appear on the offensive piece he is considered to have been overcome by the defender. The statistical weighting of the spinner is such that the play results are realistic.
US Patent References:
Parlor football game
Clark - December 1924 - 1520010
Baseball game
O'Connor - March 1925 - 1532066
Game
Gregg - August 1926 - 1596175
Chance controlled game board apparatus with cards and dice
Post - April 1951 - 2549708
Parlor football game
Clark - December 1924 - 1520010
Baseball game
O'Connor - March 1925 - 1532066
Game
Gregg - August 1926 - 1596175
Chance controlled game board apparatus with cards and dice
Post - April 1951 - 2549708
Application Number:
05/221473
Publication Date:
06/18/1974
Filing Date:
01/27/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
273/244.100
International Classes:
A63F3/00; A63F3/00
Field of Search:
273/85R,88,93,94R,131K,134AD,134BF,135AC
Primary Examiner:
Pinkham, Richard C.
Assistant Examiner:
Shapiro, Paul E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Shapiro & Shapiro
Parent Case Data:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 872,682, filed Oct. 30, 1969 and now abandoned.
Claims:
The invention claimed is
1. Simulated football game apparatus comprising, in combination, a gameboard having a miniature football field displayed thereon with spaces delineated thereon for movement of playing pieces thereon, a first group of playing pieces constituting the members of one football team and bearing a common distinguishing characteristic for identifying the pieces of that group with one contestant, a second group of playing pieces, constituting the members of another football team and bearing a common distinguishing characteristic different from the distinguishing characteristic of the first group for identifying the pieces of the second group with another contestant, chance-controlled means for determining the outcome of interactions between playing pieces from said first and second groups, said chance-controlled means bearing a set of indicia defining a plurality of distinctive characteristics and having means for selecting different indicia by chance, said indicia being statistically weighted so that certain indicia will be selected more frequently by chance than other indicia, each of at least some of the playing pieces in one of the groups of playing pieces bearing a plurality of different indicia, the indicia of such pieces constituting different plural-indicia sub-sets of the indicia of said chance-controlled means and having distinctive characteristics identical to characteristics of the indicia of said set on said chance-controlled means, whereby play results involving an indicia-bearing playing piece are determined in accordance with whether the sub-set of that playing piece has a characteristic identical to that of an indicium selected by said chance-controlled means, and selector means for enabling a contestant to designate particular playing pieces for execution of football play functions, said selector means bearing a plurality of selectable playing-piece-designating symbols, at least some of said indicia-bearing playing pieces also bearing symbols having distinctive characteristics identical to characteristics of symbols of said selector means but being clearly distinguished from the playing piece indicia.
2. Simulated football game apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicia characteristics comprise a plurality of colors.
3. Simulated football game apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said chance-controlled means is a spinner and said indicia characteristics comprise a plurality of colors, the colors of the indicia of said spinner occupying areas of said spinner of different circumferential length.
1. Simulated football game apparatus comprising, in combination, a gameboard having a miniature football field displayed thereon with spaces delineated thereon for movement of playing pieces thereon, a first group of playing pieces constituting the members of one football team and bearing a common distinguishing characteristic for identifying the pieces of that group with one contestant, a second group of playing pieces, constituting the members of another football team and bearing a common distinguishing characteristic different from the distinguishing characteristic of the first group for identifying the pieces of the second group with another contestant, chance-controlled means for determining the outcome of interactions between playing pieces from said first and second groups, said chance-controlled means bearing a set of indicia defining a plurality of distinctive characteristics and having means for selecting different indicia by chance, said indicia being statistically weighted so that certain indicia will be selected more frequently by chance than other indicia, each of at least some of the playing pieces in one of the groups of playing pieces bearing a plurality of different indicia, the indicia of such pieces constituting different plural-indicia sub-sets of the indicia of said chance-controlled means and having distinctive characteristics identical to characteristics of the indicia of said set on said chance-controlled means, whereby play results involving an indicia-bearing playing piece are determined in accordance with whether the sub-set of that playing piece has a characteristic identical to that of an indicium selected by said chance-controlled means, and selector means for enabling a contestant to designate particular playing pieces for execution of football play functions, said selector means bearing a plurality of selectable playing-piece-designating symbols, at least some of said indicia-bearing playing pieces also bearing symbols having distinctive characteristics identical to characteristics of symbols of said selector means but being clearly distinguished from the playing piece indicia.
2. Simulated football game apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicia characteristics comprise a plurality of colors.
3. Simulated football game apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said chance-controlled means is a spinner and said indicia characteristics comprise a plurality of colors, the colors of the indicia of said spinner occupying areas of said spinner of different circumferential length.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to games employing a game board and associated playing pieces movable with respect to spaces delineated on the game board.
In game apparatus known heretofore it is common to employ a plurality of playing pieces in association with a game board, the playing pieces being movable from space to space upon the board as dictated by a change-controlled device. Simulated baseball and football games employing this principle are well known. Although such games permit utilization of playing pieces to represent the existence and movement of players on an actual field, it has not heretofore been possible to provide the type of realism which characterizes the actual game, because of the limited inter-relationships of the game pieces and the limited play results available from chance-controlled devices. A game employing pieces which merely move from space to space, in the manner of checkers, as determined by the throw of dice or the spinning of a spinner, for example, has limited appeal to a fan of the real game. In actual games played upon fields by human players a wide variety of factors enters into the play results. Usually, for a given stratagem selected by one team a wide variety of play results may be possible, influenced by the stratagem of the opposing team and by individual inter-relationships of players, in addition to chance. Games in which each piece is identified by a number or color to permit selection by a chance-controlled device are known, but such games fail to provide any degree of play variation for individual pieces and fail to permit simulation of statistically realistic play results.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide improved game apparatus which overcomes the limitations of prior game apparatus employing game boards in association with playing pieces to simulate actual games.
Briefly stated, the present invention employs playing pieces in association with a game board which may simulate an actual playing field, at least some of the pieces having sets of indicia thereon related to indicia of other playing pieces and/or indicia of a chance-controlled device. Play results may therefore be influenced by the selection of particular playing pieces having particular sets of indicia, by the choice of opposing playing pieces, and by chance-controlled devices having indicia correlated with the indicia of the playing pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game board employed in a simulated game of baseball in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the game board of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of spinners employed in conjunction with the game board of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5-9 are plan views of representative playing pieces employed with the game board of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a game board (with associated pieces) simulating a football field in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an enlarged fragment of the board of FIG. 10 illustrating the relationship of certain playing pieces;
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a spinner employed in conjunction with the game board of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a selection device employed in conjunction with the game board of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a game board 10 is employed which simulates a baseball playing field. The board is provided with a grid of polar coordinate lines, including a plurality of straight lines radiating from the origin at home plate 12 intersecting with a series of expanding arcs centered upon home plate. The spaces between successive arcs are designated by letters at the ends of the arcuate spaces, and the spaces between successive radial lines are identified by numbers at the end of such spaces remote from home plate. Thus, by specifying a letter coordinate and a number coordinate, it is possible to locate any one of the plurality of generally rectangular spaces delineated on the board by the polar coordinate grid network. The coordinates are utilized in locating the rectangular space 14 upon the playing field in which a "hit" ball lands.
Superimposed upon the polar coordinate grid network and covering substantially the entire network is a mesh of hexagonal spaces 16. These spaces are utilized in conjunction with hexagonal playing pieces (which will be described hereinafter) and serve to guide the movement of the playing pieces. It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the board is provided with base representations 18, 20 and 22 and with a pitcher's mound representation 24.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate spinners 26 and 28 which are employed to determine play results. Each spinner comprises a card 30 and a rotatable needle 32 for selecting, by chance, indicia located in a pair of concentric rings divided by radial lines into sectors. The rings have different background colors, which, as will be set forth more fully hereinafter, are correlated with the colors of indicia of playing pieces. Thus the outer ring of FIG. 3 may be red and the inner ring blue. Similarly, the outer ring of FIG. 4 may be yellow and the inner ring green.
FIGS. 5-9 illustrate typical playing pieces 34-42 employed in the baseball game. Each is a hexagonal block having indicia on at least one side thereof. The playing piece 34 of FIG. 5 represents a pitcher, and the piece is so designated by a legend. Associated with each of the six edges is an indicium designating the type of pitch which may be selected. F stands for fast ball; C stands for curve; S stands for slider; O stands for outside; G stands for grooved; and PO stands for pitch out. Each of the indicia F,C,S, and O has associated therewith a corresponding numeral 1,2,3 or 4. It will be noted that each of the remaining playing pieces illustrated has a legen designating the type of batter and has indicia along a plurality of edges thereof constituting a set of indicia for the particular playing piece. Also associated with the indicia-bearing edges are the letters F (fast ball), C (curve), S (slider), T (take) and H.A. (hit away). In the examples shown certain of the indicia are colored blocks, while others are direct play-determining symbols per se, namely, balls and strikes (B and S). The numerals 1-4 of the pitcher piece of FIG. 5 designate corresponding indicia associated with each of the indicia-bearing edges of the batter pieces as measured from left to right along the edge when viewing the alphabetical indicia with proper orientation. Thus, for example, the number "1" in FIG. 5 designates the first indicium at the left along any edge of a batter piece. In the piece shown in FIG. 6, this would designate the indicium B associated with the upper-most edge. It would also designate the green indicium block of the edge designated by C, the yellow block of the edge designated by F, etc. Similarly, the number "2" in FIG. 5 designates the red indicium block of the upper-most edge of the piece in FIG. 6 and designates the second indicium of each of the other edges as measured from the left end of the edge.
The colored block indicia of the batter pieces of FIGS. 6-9 correspond to the rings of the spinners having the same colors. Thus the red indicia blocks of the batter pieces refer to the red outer ring of spinner 26, the yellow indicia blocks to the yellow outer ring of spinner 28, and the green and blue indicia blocks to the corresponding inner rings of the spinners.
The sets of indicia displayed by the various batter pieces are statistically weighted so that certain types of batters, as represented by the pieces, have greater batting ability than others and so that depending upon what type of pitch is "thrown" and what type of pitch is expected (or hitting stratagem selected) by the batter, the results will be indicative of the types of results which statistically prevail in an actual baseball game. In the case of the colored block indicia, the particular colors present on a given batter piece and the number of times that such colors appear reflect the statistical weighting of the data, because the spinners produce play-determining symbols which vary in accordance with the color. Moreover, the types of "hits" produced as the result of spinning each spinner differ because of the different circumferential extents of the regions of the spinner rings for the different kinds of hits. This may be seen, for example, by comparing the "high fly" region of the outer ring of spinner 26 with the identically designated region of the outer ring of the spinner ring 28. It will be observed that in one case the high fly region occupies four sectoral units, while in the other case it occupies five sectoral units. There is clearly a greater chance of obtaining a high fly hit when the circumferential extent is greater. The numbers and capital letters which appear upon the various sectors of the spinners designate the polar coordinates of the rectangular spaces previously referred to on the game board. The lower case letters indicate whether the ball is hit to the left or to the right of a particular coordinate space, certain coordinate spaces in the outfield being separated into left and right regions by dash lines as shown in FIG. 1. Since the mesh of hexagonal spaces is not exactly congruent with the polar coordinate grid, certain hexagonal spaces are provided with "hash marks" as shown in FIG. 2, one such marked space being provided for each of the polar coordinate spaces (two where left and right divisions are used). It is upon the hash marked hexagonal spaces that the ball "lands."
In the playing of the game of baseball in accordance with the invention each of two human contestants representing team managers, for example, selects or is provided with nine playing pieces representing a team. Each team will have at least one pitcher (the opposite side of the pitcher playing piece may be provided with batter indicia like that of the other batter playing pieces). The batting characteristics of the batters (in terms of the indicia on the playing pieces) may be selected to simulate particular players and thus to permit the assembly of a team simulating an actual baseball team. The batter playing pieces may also serve as fielders, and the reverse side of the batter playing pieces may be provided with fielding ability indicia, as will be described more fully hereinafter.
The outfielder playing pieces (batter pieces may be used upside down) are positioned (as determined by the defensive team manager) upon appropriate hexagonal spaces of the outfield, and the infielder pieces are similarly positioned upon infield spaces. The space upon which a "ball" lands is determined by the spinners. If a defensive player occupies that space the ball is considered to be caught on the fly.
The pitch to be "thrown" is determined by one team manager by aligning an edge of the piece (points of the playing piece may also be used) with the edge of the pitcher's mound 24 remote from home plate. The pitch to be expected or batting tactic is determined by the other team manager by aligning a selected edge of a batter piece with the right or left side of home plate. The managers keep their respective choices hidden from each other until such time as they are simultaneously exposed. The relative orientation of the pitcher piece and the batter piece then influence the play result, the pitcher having effectively chosen an index number and the batter having effectively chosen a set of edge indicia, the result being an immediate play determination (ball or strike) or a reference to a designated spinner (by color), which may be spun by the batter, for example, to produce the final play determination.
The statistical data produces more favorable play results if the batter guesses which pitch is coming, that is, there is a greater likelihood of a hit. Moreover, good hitters will have more consistent favorable results than poor hitters. The likelihood of a hit may vary from 15 percent to 50 percent depending upon the particular spinner ring designated by the correlation of pitcher piece orientation and batter piece orientation.
If desired, pitcher characteristics may be simulated by providing the pitcher piece with a notation indicating that, under certain circumstances, a more favorable or less favorable spinner circle should be used instead of that designated by the batter piece indicia, or indicating that the length of the hit should be increased or reduced by a given number of spaces.
When the ball is "hit" as the result of a spinner determination, a hitting turn begins. The spinner tells where the ball is hit (where it will land) in terms of polar coordinates and states how it was hit (liner, fly, grounder). A marker representing the ball is moved to the designated space. The batter piece is moved toward first base, traveling upon the hexagonal spaces. The batter piece may move a prescribed number of spaces (such as two) or the number of spaces can be determined in accordance with the batter's running ability (which may be designated upon the piece). Fielders (which have previously been positioned by their manager) may move a certain number of hexagonal spaces (such as two spaces) to field the ball or the number of spaces to be covered for a particular fielder may be designated on the playing piece by an indicium. If a fielder piece reaches the spot where the ball lands in this turn, the ball has been caught on the fly and the batter is "out." If not, the ball must be fielded on the "roll" (as it moves away from home plate) during subsequent "regular" turns. During the "hitting" turn batter pieces already on base move ahead a prescribed number of spaces (e.g., two) in the usual manner. The number of hexagonal spaces traveled by a "thrown" ball, once a fielder reaches it, may be designated (for example five spaces) or may vary with the throwing ability of each fielder as specified by an indicium on the corresponding playing pieces.
After the hitting turn, subsequent "regular" turns are taken during which fielders, the rolling hit ball, the thrown ball, and runners all may travel a number of hexagonal spaces per turn as specified by the rules of the game and their individual characteristics. For example, the hit ball may travel three polar coordinate spaces per turn on the roll for the first regular turn, two polar coordinate spaces on the next regular turn and one on the next regular turn. The fielders may move two hexagonal spaces per turn, the runners two hexagonal spaces per turn. A thrown ball may travel six hexagonal spaces per turn. When a fielder intercepts the ball, he can throw it toward other players covering the bases. The runner or runners travel from base to base, moving the prescribed number of hexagonal spaces per turn. Put outs, force outs, etc., ensue as in actual baseball, depending on where the players and the ball are. In general play follows the conventional rules of baseball.
FIG. 10 illustrates a game board and playing pieces employed in a simulated game of football in accordance with the invention. The game board 44 is provided with a rectangular grid of spaces for the movement of pieces 46 representing the players of opposing football teams. The offensive and defensive formations are selected by the team managers (game contestants).
Typical playing pieces, illustrated in FIG. 11, comprise discs with letters designating the type of player and have sets of indicia displayed thereon. "L" stands for lineman, "C" stands for center, "QB" stands for quarterback, "HB" stand for halfback, and "FB" stands for fullback. The remaining pieces of each team (not shown in detail) are similarly designated by legends and provided with sets of indicia. The offensive pieces may be distinguished from the defensive pieces by their background color. For example, offensive pieces may be white, while defensive pieces may be blue. The sets of indicia comprise colored blocks along the circumference of the playing pieces and are utilized in play determinations. Playing pieces having many different combinations of indicia may be provided so as to permit assembly of realistic teams with different performance characteristics. The arrow markings on the pieces indicate the direction of movement of the piece, which may be selected by the manager. Performance rating indicia are also shown by the additional colored blocks adjacent to the player-designating legends of certain pieces, such as the fullback (FB) and the halfback (HB).
FIG. 12 illustrates a chance-controlled device, namely a spinner 48, which may be employed in the football game of the invention. The spinner includes the usual card 50 and rotatable arrow 52. A circular band displayed upon the card is divided into sectoral regions of different colors corresponding to the indicia colors displayed upon playing pieces. Only some of the colored indicia of the spinner appear on any given playing piece, however, and the color combinations vary from piece to piece.
FIG. 13 illustrates a selector 52 which may be employed in the game. The selector includes a card 54 having a plurality of pointed sliders 56,58, 60 and 62 slidable in associated slots 64,66, and 68. Slider 56 is used to select symbols designating the offensive lineman past which a running play is executed (end, tackle, guard or center). Slider 58 selects symbols designating the ball carrier (end, halfback, quarterback, fullback, flanker or end). Slider 60 selects symbols designating the pass pattern (down and out, button hook, straight and out, down and in). Slider 62 serves two functions. The upper (pointed) portion is used to select symbols which designate the primary pass receiver on a pass play. The lower portion (provided with an arrow head marking) is used to select symbols which designate pulling linemen on running plays.
In the playing of the game the playing pieces representing the offensive and defensive teams are lined up by their managers on the field in the desired kick-off formation. A marker representing the ball is then "kicked" by spinning the spinner 48, the length of the kick being determined (in accordance with the rules of the game) by the colored indicia of the kicker, as indicated by the spinner. While the ball is "in the air" the offensive pieces may move six spaces, for example, while the defensive pieces may move four spaces, for example. The team managers may move as many or as few of the pieces as desired. The ball is "caught" by a player reaching the space where the ball lands. Then the managers take turns moving their pieces (two spaces per piece) until the ball is "down." This occurs when the ball-carrier is reached by a piece of the other side and a successful tackle is made, as will be set forth later.
On the first down, the offensive team manager selects a play on selector 52, keeping it hidden. Then the defensive team manager establishes the defensive lineup of pieces on the board. Then the offensive team manager establishes the offensive formation. The defensive team manager may then shift certain players (two squares maximum each). The offensive team manager then makes blocking assignments by turning certain playing pieces to point their arrows toward certain opposing playing pieces. The ball is then "centered"to the selected playing piece. The offensive team manager then spins the spinner to determine the results of line of scrimmage blocking. The results of all such blocking assignments are determined by one spin, avoiding cumbersome individual blocking determinations at the scrimmage line. If the offensive playing piece in question has displayed thereon the color selected by the spinner, the block is successful. Successful blocks may be represented by moving the successful piece on top of the blocked piece. Unsuccessful blocks may be designated by removing the unsuccessful piece. The provision of statistically weighted sets of indicia on linemen ensures the simulation of real blocking patterns. Although each lineman may have a unique set of colored indicia, for a group of linemen certain colors will appear more frequently than others. Thus four out of seven linemen may have a red indicium, for example, and blocks involving such linemen may be successful 40 percent of the time, as determined by the extent of the red sector of the spinner. Different percentages will emerge for other colors.
When a pass play is announced, the quarterback can only move one space after announcement. The offensive team manager spins the spinner to see whether the pass is accurate. The defensive team manager then spins the spinner to see if the nearest defensive player is successful in knocking down the ball. Blocks which are not executed at the line of scrimmage are tested for success by individual spins of the spinner. Alternate offensive and defensive play action (which may include the movement of each playing piece two spaces, except a blocked player) continues until the ball is "down." This is determined, when the space occupied by the ball carrier is reached by an opposing player, by the spinning of the spinner. A successful tackle occurs if the spinner indicates a color displayed by the tackler. At completion of a play the selector 52 is exposed to confirm the play selected.
The sets of indicia on the playing pieces (which may be termed "partial sets," because there are fewer indicia than in the total set shown on the spinner) govern player interactions such as blocking, tackling, pass catching, interceptions, etc. Thus each piece can have an individual performance rating (manifested by the colored blocks) with regard to blocking, tackling, pass catching, etc. Since different colored regions of the spinner circle have different circumferential lengths, the probability of a particular region being selected varies accordingly. Thus, by the provision of the indicia comprising the partial sets on the playing pieces, player performance, in terms of the probability that a particular indicium will be selected by the spinner, is established for each of the pieces. It is thus possible to assemble interesting teams and to produce play results which closely simulate the play results for actual teams. Indicia partial sets displayed at different places upon the playing pieces may be employed for different types of performance ratings.
While the foregoing description teaches the use of the invention in simulated baseball and football games, it is apparent that the same principles can be applied to other games, such as a basketball, hockey, soccer, etc., in which it is desired to provide performance characteristics for the pieces and to relate such characteristics to the characteristics of other playing pieces or to chance-controlled devices. Therefore, the foregoing embodiments are merely illustrative, and modifications can be made in the invention as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to games employing a game board and associated playing pieces movable with respect to spaces delineated on the game board.
In game apparatus known heretofore it is common to employ a plurality of playing pieces in association with a game board, the playing pieces being movable from space to space upon the board as dictated by a change-controlled device. Simulated baseball and football games employing this principle are well known. Although such games permit utilization of playing pieces to represent the existence and movement of players on an actual field, it has not heretofore been possible to provide the type of realism which characterizes the actual game, because of the limited inter-relationships of the game pieces and the limited play results available from chance-controlled devices. A game employing pieces which merely move from space to space, in the manner of checkers, as determined by the throw of dice or the spinning of a spinner, for example, has limited appeal to a fan of the real game. In actual games played upon fields by human players a wide variety of factors enters into the play results. Usually, for a given stratagem selected by one team a wide variety of play results may be possible, influenced by the stratagem of the opposing team and by individual inter-relationships of players, in addition to chance. Games in which each piece is identified by a number or color to permit selection by a chance-controlled device are known, but such games fail to provide any degree of play variation for individual pieces and fail to permit simulation of statistically realistic play results.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide improved game apparatus which overcomes the limitations of prior game apparatus employing game boards in association with playing pieces to simulate actual games.
Briefly stated, the present invention employs playing pieces in association with a game board which may simulate an actual playing field, at least some of the pieces having sets of indicia thereon related to indicia of other playing pieces and/or indicia of a chance-controlled device. Play results may therefore be influenced by the selection of particular playing pieces having particular sets of indicia, by the choice of opposing playing pieces, and by chance-controlled devices having indicia correlated with the indicia of the playing pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments of the invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game board employed in a simulated game of baseball in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the game board of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of spinners employed in conjunction with the game board of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5-9 are plan views of representative playing pieces employed with the game board of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a plan view of a game board (with associated pieces) simulating a football field in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an enlarged fragment of the board of FIG. 10 illustrating the relationship of certain playing pieces;
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a spinner employed in conjunction with the game board of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a selection device employed in conjunction with the game board of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a game board 10 is employed which simulates a baseball playing field. The board is provided with a grid of polar coordinate lines, including a plurality of straight lines radiating from the origin at home plate 12 intersecting with a series of expanding arcs centered upon home plate. The spaces between successive arcs are designated by letters at the ends of the arcuate spaces, and the spaces between successive radial lines are identified by numbers at the end of such spaces remote from home plate. Thus, by specifying a letter coordinate and a number coordinate, it is possible to locate any one of the plurality of generally rectangular spaces delineated on the board by the polar coordinate grid network. The coordinates are utilized in locating the rectangular space 14 upon the playing field in which a "hit" ball lands.
Superimposed upon the polar coordinate grid network and covering substantially the entire network is a mesh of hexagonal spaces 16. These spaces are utilized in conjunction with hexagonal playing pieces (which will be described hereinafter) and serve to guide the movement of the playing pieces. It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the board is provided with base representations 18, 20 and 22 and with a pitcher's mound representation 24.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate spinners 26 and 28 which are employed to determine play results. Each spinner comprises a card 30 and a rotatable needle 32 for selecting, by chance, indicia located in a pair of concentric rings divided by radial lines into sectors. The rings have different background colors, which, as will be set forth more fully hereinafter, are correlated with the colors of indicia of playing pieces. Thus the outer ring of FIG. 3 may be red and the inner ring blue. Similarly, the outer ring of FIG. 4 may be yellow and the inner ring green.
FIGS. 5-9 illustrate typical playing pieces 34-42 employed in the baseball game. Each is a hexagonal block having indicia on at least one side thereof. The playing piece 34 of FIG. 5 represents a pitcher, and the piece is so designated by a legend. Associated with each of the six edges is an indicium designating the type of pitch which may be selected. F stands for fast ball; C stands for curve; S stands for slider; O stands for outside; G stands for grooved; and PO stands for pitch out. Each of the indicia F,C,S, and O has associated therewith a corresponding numeral 1,2,3 or 4. It will be noted that each of the remaining playing pieces illustrated has a legen designating the type of batter and has indicia along a plurality of edges thereof constituting a set of indicia for the particular playing piece. Also associated with the indicia-bearing edges are the letters F (fast ball), C (curve), S (slider), T (take) and H.A. (hit away). In the examples shown certain of the indicia are colored blocks, while others are direct play-determining symbols per se, namely, balls and strikes (B and S). The numerals 1-4 of the pitcher piece of FIG. 5 designate corresponding indicia associated with each of the indicia-bearing edges of the batter pieces as measured from left to right along the edge when viewing the alphabetical indicia with proper orientation. Thus, for example, the number "1" in FIG. 5 designates the first indicium at the left along any edge of a batter piece. In the piece shown in FIG. 6, this would designate the indicium B associated with the upper-most edge. It would also designate the green indicium block of the edge designated by C, the yellow block of the edge designated by F, etc. Similarly, the number "2" in FIG. 5 designates the red indicium block of the upper-most edge of the piece in FIG. 6 and designates the second indicium of each of the other edges as measured from the left end of the edge.
The colored block indicia of the batter pieces of FIGS. 6-9 correspond to the rings of the spinners having the same colors. Thus the red indicia blocks of the batter pieces refer to the red outer ring of spinner 26, the yellow indicia blocks to the yellow outer ring of spinner 28, and the green and blue indicia blocks to the corresponding inner rings of the spinners.
The sets of indicia displayed by the various batter pieces are statistically weighted so that certain types of batters, as represented by the pieces, have greater batting ability than others and so that depending upon what type of pitch is "thrown" and what type of pitch is expected (or hitting stratagem selected) by the batter, the results will be indicative of the types of results which statistically prevail in an actual baseball game. In the case of the colored block indicia, the particular colors present on a given batter piece and the number of times that such colors appear reflect the statistical weighting of the data, because the spinners produce play-determining symbols which vary in accordance with the color. Moreover, the types of "hits" produced as the result of spinning each spinner differ because of the different circumferential extents of the regions of the spinner rings for the different kinds of hits. This may be seen, for example, by comparing the "high fly" region of the outer ring of spinner 26 with the identically designated region of the outer ring of the spinner ring 28. It will be observed that in one case the high fly region occupies four sectoral units, while in the other case it occupies five sectoral units. There is clearly a greater chance of obtaining a high fly hit when the circumferential extent is greater. The numbers and capital letters which appear upon the various sectors of the spinners designate the polar coordinates of the rectangular spaces previously referred to on the game board. The lower case letters indicate whether the ball is hit to the left or to the right of a particular coordinate space, certain coordinate spaces in the outfield being separated into left and right regions by dash lines as shown in FIG. 1. Since the mesh of hexagonal spaces is not exactly congruent with the polar coordinate grid, certain hexagonal spaces are provided with "hash marks" as shown in FIG. 2, one such marked space being provided for each of the polar coordinate spaces (two where left and right divisions are used). It is upon the hash marked hexagonal spaces that the ball "lands."
In the playing of the game of baseball in accordance with the invention each of two human contestants representing team managers, for example, selects or is provided with nine playing pieces representing a team. Each team will have at least one pitcher (the opposite side of the pitcher playing piece may be provided with batter indicia like that of the other batter playing pieces). The batting characteristics of the batters (in terms of the indicia on the playing pieces) may be selected to simulate particular players and thus to permit the assembly of a team simulating an actual baseball team. The batter playing pieces may also serve as fielders, and the reverse side of the batter playing pieces may be provided with fielding ability indicia, as will be described more fully hereinafter.
The outfielder playing pieces (batter pieces may be used upside down) are positioned (as determined by the defensive team manager) upon appropriate hexagonal spaces of the outfield, and the infielder pieces are similarly positioned upon infield spaces. The space upon which a "ball" lands is determined by the spinners. If a defensive player occupies that space the ball is considered to be caught on the fly.
The pitch to be "thrown" is determined by one team manager by aligning an edge of the piece (points of the playing piece may also be used) with the edge of the pitcher's mound 24 remote from home plate. The pitch to be expected or batting tactic is determined by the other team manager by aligning a selected edge of a batter piece with the right or left side of home plate. The managers keep their respective choices hidden from each other until such time as they are simultaneously exposed. The relative orientation of the pitcher piece and the batter piece then influence the play result, the pitcher having effectively chosen an index number and the batter having effectively chosen a set of edge indicia, the result being an immediate play determination (ball or strike) or a reference to a designated spinner (by color), which may be spun by the batter, for example, to produce the final play determination.
The statistical data produces more favorable play results if the batter guesses which pitch is coming, that is, there is a greater likelihood of a hit. Moreover, good hitters will have more consistent favorable results than poor hitters. The likelihood of a hit may vary from 15 percent to 50 percent depending upon the particular spinner ring designated by the correlation of pitcher piece orientation and batter piece orientation.
If desired, pitcher characteristics may be simulated by providing the pitcher piece with a notation indicating that, under certain circumstances, a more favorable or less favorable spinner circle should be used instead of that designated by the batter piece indicia, or indicating that the length of the hit should be increased or reduced by a given number of spaces.
When the ball is "hit" as the result of a spinner determination, a hitting turn begins. The spinner tells where the ball is hit (where it will land) in terms of polar coordinates and states how it was hit (liner, fly, grounder). A marker representing the ball is moved to the designated space. The batter piece is moved toward first base, traveling upon the hexagonal spaces. The batter piece may move a prescribed number of spaces (such as two) or the number of spaces can be determined in accordance with the batter's running ability (which may be designated upon the piece). Fielders (which have previously been positioned by their manager) may move a certain number of hexagonal spaces (such as two spaces) to field the ball or the number of spaces to be covered for a particular fielder may be designated on the playing piece by an indicium. If a fielder piece reaches the spot where the ball lands in this turn, the ball has been caught on the fly and the batter is "out." If not, the ball must be fielded on the "roll" (as it moves away from home plate) during subsequent "regular" turns. During the "hitting" turn batter pieces already on base move ahead a prescribed number of spaces (e.g., two) in the usual manner. The number of hexagonal spaces traveled by a "thrown" ball, once a fielder reaches it, may be designated (for example five spaces) or may vary with the throwing ability of each fielder as specified by an indicium on the corresponding playing pieces.
After the hitting turn, subsequent "regular" turns are taken during which fielders, the rolling hit ball, the thrown ball, and runners all may travel a number of hexagonal spaces per turn as specified by the rules of the game and their individual characteristics. For example, the hit ball may travel three polar coordinate spaces per turn on the roll for the first regular turn, two polar coordinate spaces on the next regular turn and one on the next regular turn. The fielders may move two hexagonal spaces per turn, the runners two hexagonal spaces per turn. A thrown ball may travel six hexagonal spaces per turn. When a fielder intercepts the ball, he can throw it toward other players covering the bases. The runner or runners travel from base to base, moving the prescribed number of hexagonal spaces per turn. Put outs, force outs, etc., ensue as in actual baseball, depending on where the players and the ball are. In general play follows the conventional rules of baseball.
FIG. 10 illustrates a game board and playing pieces employed in a simulated game of football in accordance with the invention. The game board 44 is provided with a rectangular grid of spaces for the movement of pieces 46 representing the players of opposing football teams. The offensive and defensive formations are selected by the team managers (game contestants).
Typical playing pieces, illustrated in FIG. 11, comprise discs with letters designating the type of player and have sets of indicia displayed thereon. "L" stands for lineman, "C" stands for center, "QB" stands for quarterback, "HB" stand for halfback, and "FB" stands for fullback. The remaining pieces of each team (not shown in detail) are similarly designated by legends and provided with sets of indicia. The offensive pieces may be distinguished from the defensive pieces by their background color. For example, offensive pieces may be white, while defensive pieces may be blue. The sets of indicia comprise colored blocks along the circumference of the playing pieces and are utilized in play determinations. Playing pieces having many different combinations of indicia may be provided so as to permit assembly of realistic teams with different performance characteristics. The arrow markings on the pieces indicate the direction of movement of the piece, which may be selected by the manager. Performance rating indicia are also shown by the additional colored blocks adjacent to the player-designating legends of certain pieces, such as the fullback (FB) and the halfback (HB).
FIG. 12 illustrates a chance-controlled device, namely a spinner 48, which may be employed in the football game of the invention. The spinner includes the usual card 50 and rotatable arrow 52. A circular band displayed upon the card is divided into sectoral regions of different colors corresponding to the indicia colors displayed upon playing pieces. Only some of the colored indicia of the spinner appear on any given playing piece, however, and the color combinations vary from piece to piece.
FIG. 13 illustrates a selector 52 which may be employed in the game. The selector includes a card 54 having a plurality of pointed sliders 56,58, 60 and 62 slidable in associated slots 64,66, and 68. Slider 56 is used to select symbols designating the offensive lineman past which a running play is executed (end, tackle, guard or center). Slider 58 selects symbols designating the ball carrier (end, halfback, quarterback, fullback, flanker or end). Slider 60 selects symbols designating the pass pattern (down and out, button hook, straight and out, down and in). Slider 62 serves two functions. The upper (pointed) portion is used to select symbols which designate the primary pass receiver on a pass play. The lower portion (provided with an arrow head marking) is used to select symbols which designate pulling linemen on running plays.
In the playing of the game the playing pieces representing the offensive and defensive teams are lined up by their managers on the field in the desired kick-off formation. A marker representing the ball is then "kicked" by spinning the spinner 48, the length of the kick being determined (in accordance with the rules of the game) by the colored indicia of the kicker, as indicated by the spinner. While the ball is "in the air" the offensive pieces may move six spaces, for example, while the defensive pieces may move four spaces, for example. The team managers may move as many or as few of the pieces as desired. The ball is "caught" by a player reaching the space where the ball lands. Then the managers take turns moving their pieces (two spaces per piece) until the ball is "down." This occurs when the ball-carrier is reached by a piece of the other side and a successful tackle is made, as will be set forth later.
On the first down, the offensive team manager selects a play on selector 52, keeping it hidden. Then the defensive team manager establishes the defensive lineup of pieces on the board. Then the offensive team manager establishes the offensive formation. The defensive team manager may then shift certain players (two squares maximum each). The offensive team manager then makes blocking assignments by turning certain playing pieces to point their arrows toward certain opposing playing pieces. The ball is then "centered"to the selected playing piece. The offensive team manager then spins the spinner to determine the results of line of scrimmage blocking. The results of all such blocking assignments are determined by one spin, avoiding cumbersome individual blocking determinations at the scrimmage line. If the offensive playing piece in question has displayed thereon the color selected by the spinner, the block is successful. Successful blocks may be represented by moving the successful piece on top of the blocked piece. Unsuccessful blocks may be designated by removing the unsuccessful piece. The provision of statistically weighted sets of indicia on linemen ensures the simulation of real blocking patterns. Although each lineman may have a unique set of colored indicia, for a group of linemen certain colors will appear more frequently than others. Thus four out of seven linemen may have a red indicium, for example, and blocks involving such linemen may be successful 40 percent of the time, as determined by the extent of the red sector of the spinner. Different percentages will emerge for other colors.
When a pass play is announced, the quarterback can only move one space after announcement. The offensive team manager spins the spinner to see whether the pass is accurate. The defensive team manager then spins the spinner to see if the nearest defensive player is successful in knocking down the ball. Blocks which are not executed at the line of scrimmage are tested for success by individual spins of the spinner. Alternate offensive and defensive play action (which may include the movement of each playing piece two spaces, except a blocked player) continues until the ball is "down." This is determined, when the space occupied by the ball carrier is reached by an opposing player, by the spinning of the spinner. A successful tackle occurs if the spinner indicates a color displayed by the tackler. At completion of a play the selector 52 is exposed to confirm the play selected.
The sets of indicia on the playing pieces (which may be termed "partial sets," because there are fewer indicia than in the total set shown on the spinner) govern player interactions such as blocking, tackling, pass catching, interceptions, etc. Thus each piece can have an individual performance rating (manifested by the colored blocks) with regard to blocking, tackling, pass catching, etc. Since different colored regions of the spinner circle have different circumferential lengths, the probability of a particular region being selected varies accordingly. Thus, by the provision of the indicia comprising the partial sets on the playing pieces, player performance, in terms of the probability that a particular indicium will be selected by the spinner, is established for each of the pieces. It is thus possible to assemble interesting teams and to produce play results which closely simulate the play results for actual teams. Indicia partial sets displayed at different places upon the playing pieces may be employed for different types of performance ratings.
While the foregoing description teaches the use of the invention in simulated baseball and football games, it is apparent that the same principles can be applied to other games, such as a basketball, hockey, soccer, etc., in which it is desired to provide performance characteristics for the pieces and to relate such characteristics to the characteristics of other playing pieces or to chance-controlled devices. Therefore, the foregoing embodiments are merely illustrative, and modifications can be made in the invention as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.