US 4,817,957 A · Variable maze board game

Abstract

A game played on a playing board having a plurality of intersecting lateral and longitudinal grooves defining a grid of squares. A plurality of laterally and longitudinally oriented movable bars on the grid define a maze therewith. The movable bars are operatively connected to the grooves and respectively move laterally and longitudinally along the grooves. The movement of the bars changes the maze paths. Each bar has a width of one square and a length of three squares of the grid. The game apparatus also includes a plurality of playing pieces, objects for indicating random numbers of permissible movements of the playing pieces and the bars, and a surrounding frame to definitize the playing area and to retain the bars. Normally, an even number of players, such as two, attempt to move their playing pieces from opposite ends across the grid, end to end, the randomizing objects indicating the permissible number of squares across which the playing pieces can be moved and which laterally and/or longitudinally oriented bars can be shifted on the grid. The bars preferably include mechanical interfaces with the grooves of the grid which assure a stable position exactly covering a line of three adjacent squares.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A game apparatus including:

a body having:
a surface having a center,
a first end,
a second opposite end,
first and second sides,
a first plurality of generally parallel lines oriented in a first direction from said first end to said second end, and
a second plurality of generally parallel lines oriented in a second direction generally at a right angle to said first direction and extending from said first side to said second side, said first and second pluralities of generally parallel lines forming a grid and defining areas on said grid,
a first plurality of obstructions positioned on said surface and operatively connected to said body for movement along said first plurality of generally parallel lines, said first plurality of obstructions including first indicia thereon,
a second plurality of obstructions positioned on said surface and operatively connected to said body for movement along said second plurality of generally parallel lines, said second plurality of obstructions including second indicia thereon, and
a third obstruction positioned on said surface and operatively connected to said body for movement along two of said second plurality of generally parallel lines over said center of said surface, said third obstruction having:
third indicia thereon.

8 more elements

A game apparatus including:

a body having:
a surface,
a first plurality of generally parallel lines oriented in a first direction along said surface, and
a second plurality of generally parallel lines oriented in a second direction generally at a right angle to said first direction along said surface, said first and second pluralities of generally parallel lines forming a grid and defining areas on said grid,
a first plurality of obstructions positioned on said surface and operatively connected to said body for movement along said first plurality of generally parallel lines,
a second plurality of obstructions positioned on said surface and operatively connected to said body for movement along said second plurality of generally parallel lines,
said first and second obstructions each having:
a bar body portion having:
top and bottom surfaces including means for engagement with said lines positioned to establish stable positioning of said obstructions over three defined areas,
first and second bar sides,
first and second bar ends, and
a length from said first bar end to said second bar end about three times its width from said first bar side to said second bar side,
a first leg connected to said bottom surface extending from said first bar side adapted for engagement in one of said lines, and
a second leg connected to said bottom surface extending from said second bar side adapted for engagement in one of said lines.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable maze board game

Life of this patent

Variable maze board game

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14