Board game

A board game having a housing provided with a window and two openings on opposite sides thereof, a slide mechanism mounted for movement within the housing and provided on the top thereof with a predetermined color-coded pattern for viewing through the window, two bars operatively mounted to move with the slide mechanism and with respect to each other, two wheels mounted to rotate in response to movement of the bars and provided with upstanding posts offset from the centers of rotation of the wheels, an operating handle for moving the slide mechanism and the bars, a plurality of playing pieces for each player, each such playing piece being provided with a flange extending inwardly to prevent the post of the wheel from rotating and indicia, the positions of the flanges of the playing pieces corresponding to the indicia and the color-coded pattern on the slide mechanism in a predetermined manner.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the general category of games wherein 
playing pieces of different rank or significance are selectively bidded by 
the players. More particularly, in the board game of the present invention 
each player is provided with a plurality of playing pieces having flanges 
arranged in different patterns and indicia of different rank corresponding 
to the positions of the flanges. A slide mechanism is mounted for movement 
below the playing surface and is provided on the top thereof with a 
predetermined color-coded pattern which relates to the positions of the 
flanges of the playing pieces and the indicia thereon. The slide mechanism 
is provided with two bars which are operatively mounted to move with the 
slide movement and in opposite directions with respect to each other. Two 
wheels, mounted to move in response to movement of the bars, are provided 
with upstanding posts which are offset from the centers of rotation. An 
operating handle is used to move the slide mechanism and the bars. Each 
player positions a playing piece of selected rank within an opening 
provided in the playing surface through which the posts of the wheels 
extend. Thereafter, the operating handle is actuated causing the slide 
mechanism and the bars to move in unison until the flange of one of the 
playing pieces engages the post of its corresponding wheel preventing the 
wheel from moving, afterwhich the slide mechanism and the other bar 
continue their movement until the flange of the other playing piece 
engages the post of the other wheel preventing the wheel from moving thus 
halting movement of the slide mechanism, at which time a portion of the 
color-coded pattern corresponding to the color of the winning playing 
piece is displayed through an opening provided in the playing surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The amusement device of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, 
includes a housing 10 provided with a playing surface 12 having openings 
14 and 16 therein into which a plurality of playing pieces 18 described 
hereinafter may be inserted, a window 20, and a slot 22 in the side 
thereof through which operating handle 24 protrudes. 
Mounted below the playing surface 12 of the housing 10 is a chassis 26 
which, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is provided with rails 28 along which a 
slide mechanism generally designated by the reference numeral 30 is 
mounted for movement. The slide mechanism 30, as illustrated in detail in 
FIG. 5, consists of a base 32 and a cover 34 fixedly secured thereto with 
fasteners 36. The base 32 is provided with a post 38 extending upwardly 
therefrom around which a gear wheel 40 is mounted for rotation. A rack of 
teeth 42 is provided along one side of the base 32. 
Mounted for sliding movement within the cavity defined by the walls of the 
base 32 and the cover 34 are two bars generally designated by the 
reference numerals 44 and 44'. It will be apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5 that 
each of the bars 44 and 44' is provided with legs 46 and 46' extending 
downwardly therefrom which rest against corresponding legs 48 and 48' 
extending upwardly from the base 32 thus permitting the bars 44 and 44' to 
slide along axes parallel to the axis along which the slide mechanism 30 
moves. The bars 44 and 44' are provided with racks of teeth 50 and 50' 
along the inside surfaces thereof which mesh with the teeth of the gear 
wheel 40, such that the bars 44 and 44' move in unison and in opposite 
directions. The bars 44 and 44' are also provided with racks of teeth 52 
and 52' on the opposite sides from the racks 50 and 50'. 
The chassis 26 is provided with a shaft 54 extending upwardly therefrom 
which passes through an opening provided in a gear wheel 56 which is 
provided with two sets of teeth 58 and 60 along the periphery of the 
sections thereof. The teeth 58 of the wheel 56 mesh with the rack of teeth 
42 of the slide mechanism 30. Also mounted for rotation about the shaft 54 
is the gear wheel 62 which is provided with teeth 64 along the periphery 
thereof and an upstanding post 66. From FIG. 5, it will be apparent that 
the teeth 64 of the wheel 62 mesh with the teeth 52' of the bar 44'. In 
similar manner, the chassis 26 is provided with a shaft 68 extending 
upwardly therefrom which fits within an opening provided in a gear wheel 
70 which is provided with teeth 72 along the periphery thereof and an 
upstanding post 74 offset from the center of rotation of the gear 70. The 
teeth 72 of the wheel 70 mesh with the teeth 52 of the bar 44. It will 
also be apparent that bars 44 and 44' are provided with outstanding tabs 
76 and 76' which fit within the slot 78 of the wheel 70 and the slot 80 of 
the wheel 62. In similar manner, the base 32 of the slide mechanism 30 is 
provided with a tab 82 extending outwardly therefrom which fits within a 
slot 84 provided in the wheel 56. 
The operating handle 24 is formed as an integral part of a plate 86 which 
is provided with an arm 88 having an opening through which the fastener 90 
passes into the chassis 26. In this manner, the plate 86 rotates about an 
axis corresponding to the fastener 90. The fastener 90 also passes through 
an opening in a second plate 92 which is provided with a curvalinear arm 
94 having a continuous rack of teeth 96 along the surface thereof. The 
plates 86 and 92 are normally biased together with a spring 98 having one 
end thereof secured to an abutment 100 extending upwardly from the plate 
86 and the other end thereof secured to an abutment 102 extending upwardly 
from the plate 92. A second spring 104 has one end attached to an abutment 
106 extending upwardly from the plate 86 and the other end thereof secured 
to an abutment 108 extending upwardly from the chassis 26. The spring 104 
serves to normally rotate both the plates 86 and 92 in a counterclockwise 
direction about the fastener 90, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the result of 
which is to move the operating handle 24 to one side of the slot 22. 
Each of the players is provided with a plurality of playing pieces 18, 18' 
which, as illustrated in FIG. 2, terminate downwardly in a base defined by 
the four walls 110. The bases of the playing pieces 18, 18' are designed 
to be inserted within the openings 14 and 16 provided in the playing 
surfaces 12 of the housing 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Note that below 
the openings 14 and 16 there are provided walls 112 against which the 
edges of walls 110 of the bases of the playing pieces 18, 18' rest. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6-11, the playing pieces 18, 18' of each 
player include flanges 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 and 126 which extend 
inwardly from the walls 110 at different positions. Since the flanges 114, 
116, etc. extend into the openings between the walls 110 of the playing 
pieces 18, 18' distances sufficient to engage the posts 66 and 74, it will 
be apparent that after a particular playing piece 18, 18' is positioned 
within the openings 14 and 16, the position of the flange 114, 116, etc. 
determines how far the posts 66 and 74 will rotate after the handle 24 is 
rotated. 
For purposes of describing the mode of play, the playing pieces of one of 
the players are designated by the reference numeral 18 whereas the playing 
pieces of the other player are designated by the reference numeral 18'. 
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the playing pieces 18 are 
inserted within the opening 14 within the playing surface 12 for purposes 
of determining the degree of rotation of the post 66 of the wheel 62. In 
like manner, the playing pieces 18' are inserted within the opening 16 for 
purposes of determining the degree of rotation of the post 74 of the wheel 
70. The playing pieces 18, 18' are color-coded, and for purposes of 
illustrating play the pieces 18 are red and the pieces 18' are blue. 
The cover 34 of the slide mechanism 30 is also color-coded, and as 
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 the reference numeral 128 designates the 
color blue, the reference numeral 130 designates the color red, and the 
reference numeral 132 designates the color yellow. See also FIG. 13 
wherein the relative dimensional relationship of the widths of the 
color-coded stripes is illustrated on a scale of 0-13. 
As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the playing pieces are each provided with 
a rear wall 134 bearing indicia 136 corresponding to the position of the 
flanges 114, 116, etc. For purposes of illustrating one of an infinite 
number of relationships between the indicia 136 appearing on the rear 
walls 134 of the playing pieces 18, 18' and the position of the flanges 
114, 116, etc., reference is made on the following chart: 
______________________________________ 
Indicia on Playing Piece 
Flange Number 
______________________________________ 
"SPY" 114 (FIG. 7) 
"SAP" 116 (FIG. 2) 
"P.2-C" 118 (FIG. 6) 
"SERG" 120 (FIG. 8) 
"TANK" 122 (FIG. 9) 
"GEN'L" 124 (FIG. 10) 
"Off'R" 126 (FIG. 11) 
______________________________________ 
The game is played by each of the players positioning a chosen one of his 
playing pieces 18, 18' within his opening 14, 16. The indicia 136 being on 
the back wall 134 of the playing pieces 18, 18', it will be apparent that 
the players cannot see the rank or quality of the playing piece chosen by 
his opponent. The operating handle 24 is then moved causing the plates 86 
and 92 to rotate about the fastener 90 in turn propelling the slide 
mechanism 30 to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The degree to which 
the slide mechanism 30 moves depends upon the degree to which the posts 66 
and 74 are permitted to rotate. Eventually, the slide mechanism 30 stops, 
at which time the color of the indicia 128 (blue), 130 (red), and 132 
(yellow) of the cover 34 is visible through the opening 20 provided in the 
playing surface 12. Note from FIG. 3 that the reference numeral 138 
designates a plate which is appropriately mounted with fasteners 140 to 
the chassis 26 and which includes in the midportion thereof a transparent 
magnifying element 142 which protrudes upwardly through the opening 20 so 
as to magnify the color being displayed by the cover 34 of the slide 
mechanism 30. 
In the starting position, the stripe having both blue 128 and red 130 
colors is displayed through the magnifying element 20, as illustrated in 
FIG. 3. For purposes of illustration in FIG. 3 it is assumed that the red 
playing piece 18 that has been selected and positioned within the opening 
14 includes the flange 124 corresponding to "GEN'L" and that the blue 
playing piece 18' that has been selected and positioned within the opening 
16 includes the flange 120 corresponding to "SERG". The flange 120 will 
permit the post 74 to rotate approximately 180.degree., whereas the flange 
124 will permit the post 66 to rotate approximately 90.degree.. This means 
that the slide mechanism 30 and the bars 44 and 44' will move to the right 
uniformly until the post 66 strikes the flange 124, after which the post 
66 and the wheel 62 are prevented from rotating. Thereafter, the slide 
mechanism 30 and the bar 44 will continue to move to the right while the 
post 74 continues to rotate until the post 74 strikes the flange 120, at 
which time the slide mechanism 30 abruptly halts its movement to the 
right. In this position, the blue color 128 is displayed through the 
opening 20 designating that the blue playing piece 18' has won the bout. 
The relationship of the red playing pieces 18 and the blue playing pieces 
18' to the relative dimensional relationship of the widths of the 
color-coded stripes, as represented by the scale 0-13, is set forth in the 
chart of FIG. 12, wherein it will be apparent that with respect to the 
above example the segment number 5 of blue color will be displayed. The 
chart of FIG. 12 and the scale of FIG. 13 make it unnecessary to discuss 
in detail the various combinations that are possible. It will be apparent 
from FIGS. 12-13, however, that the yellow stripe 132, corresponding to 
position 7 on the scale, and designating a "tie" score, will be displayed 
each time opposing players of equal rank are selected. It should be 
understood that the foregoing examples of rank and relation are 
illustrative only as virtually an endless variety of indicia and ranking 
may be used with the present invention.