# US 4,395,044 A · Space board game apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,395,044 A - Document ID: US4395044A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/278,341 - Filed: 1981-07-02 - Granted: 1983-07-26 - Earliest claimed: 1981-07-02 - Inventors: Carl J. Hula - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395044A ## CPC - A63F 3/00091: {concerning space ship navigation} - A63F 3/00006: {Board games played along a linear track, e.g. game of goose, snakes and ladders, along an endless track (A63F3/00028 - A63F3/00157, A63F3/04 take precedence)} - A63F 9/0093: {Punchboards} - A63F 2003/00223: {shaped as a container into which playing pieces may enter} - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A board game apparatus is provided in which a playing board has marked spaces defining a playing path. The spaces have assigned values. Penalties and rewards are provided to the players according to their position on the playing path. A first chance member is operable by the players for determining the number of spaces to be traversed by a playing token. A second chance member is associated with one of the spaces. The second chance member comprises an upstanding member defining a plurality of generally vertical apertures. One or more of the apertures are adapted to be plugged and closed, and an insert is receivable in the apertures. A player whose token is moved to the second chance member is required to place one of the inserts into one of the apertures, with at least one of the apertures being closed by one of the plugs. If the insert falls completely through an unplugged aperture, the player is permitted to continue in the game. If the insert remains in a plugged aperture, the player is penalized, as by being eliminated from the game. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A board game apparatus comprising a playing board having marked spaced defining a path, means associated with said spaces for identifying a value associated therewith, first chance means operable by the players for determining the number of spaced to be traversed, a plurality of pieces representing money, a plurality of said money pieces being allocated to each player before the game commences, means for providing penalties to a player and rewards to a player according to his position on said playing path, and second chance means selectively operable by the players of the game, said second chance means comprising an upstanding member defining a plurality of generally elongated vertical apertures, and means receivable within said apertures for selectively plugging and closing the bottom of at least one of said apertures and insert means receivable in said apertures and being adapted to pass through unplugged ones of said apertures, whereby during play a player is required to place one of said insert means into one of said apertures after at least one of said apertures has been closed by another player with said plug means, said player continuing in said game if said insert means falls completely through an unplugged one of said apertures, and said player being penalized if said insert means remains in a plugged one of the apertures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said marked spaces are positioned in a plurality of generally concentric and continuous path segments, said apparatus further including means for moving said playing token from one path segment to another path segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A game apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said second change means is generally centrally positioned on said playing board and comprises the innermost of said path segments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing board defines an opening and said second chance means is received in said opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A game apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein support means is positioned beneath said playing board to position said playing board spaced above an underlying surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A game apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein catch means is positioned below said opening for catching said insert means when it falls completely through an unplugged aperture. ### Claim 7 A game apparatus comprising a playing board having marked spaces defining a playing path, including means associated with at least some of said spaces for identifying a value associated therewith, first chance means operable by the players for determining the number of said spaces to be traversed, and second chances means operable by the players for determining the further play of a player, said second chance means comprising an upstanding member defining a plurality of generally elongated vertical apertures, and including means receivable within said apertures operable by another player for selectively closing the bottom of at least one of said apertures in a manner not readily discernible from the top of said upstanding member, insert means receivable in said apertures and being adapted to pass through unclosed ones of said apertures, said apertures being adapted to receive said insert means therein by said one player after at least one of said apertures has been closed by another player, with the further play of said one player determined by whether the one of the apertures into which said insert means are inserted is one of said apertures which is closed by said closing means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A game apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said playing board defines an opening adapted to releasably receive said upstanding member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A game apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said playing board is adapted to support said second chance means in spaced relation above audible means positionable therebeneath, said audible means being adapted to audibly indicate that said insert means inserted into said second chances means have passed through an unclosed one of said apertures.