# Patent

## Title
Action figure game piece and method of playing action figure game

## Abstract

An action figure game piece is disclosed. The game piece comprises a game figure character adapted for movement a distance over a surface and a mechanism for indicating the distance of movement over the surface. A method of playing an action figure game on the surface is also disclosed. The method comprises providing for each player a plurality of the game pieces, each game piece having an indicium indicating a point value, a mechanism for indicating a distance the game piece has moved over the surface, and a mechanism for attacking an opponent player's game pieces. The method also comprises selecting for each player a group of the game pieces having point values summing to a predetermined value and selecting a number of actions each player can take per player's turn. An action comprises either a move, comprising moving a game piece a distance up to the particular game piece's point value, or an attack, comprising actuation of the particular game piece's attacking mechanism. Players alternate taking turns, selectively making a move or an attack, until the game is determined to have ended.

## Background
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/643,526, filed on Aug. 19, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,543, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Action figure games typically require game boards for play. This can make the portability of the game more difficult.
The present invention is provided to solve this and other problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an action figure game piece.
In accordance with the invention, the game piece comprises a game figure character adapted for movement a distance over a surface and means for indicating the distance of movement over the surface.
It is contemplated that the distance indicating means provides an audible and/or visual indication of the distance. In particular, the distance indicating means may comprise an axle, a wheel fixedly secured to the axle and adapted for rotary engagement with the surface, to rotate the axle upon movement of the game piece over the surface, and means for indicating progressive rotation of the axle.
It is further contemplated that the game piece includes means for attacking another game piece. The attacking means may comprise a means for launching a projectile. Alternatively, the attacking means may comprise a spring, a striking portion, and means for permitting rotation of the striking portion of the game piece in a first direction relative to the spring to bias the striking portion, such that the striking portion will rotate in a second opposite direction upon release.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of playing an action figure game on a surface.
In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the method comprises providing for each player a plurality of game pieces, each game piece having an indicium indicating a point value, a means for indicating a distance the game piece has moved over the surface, and a means for attacking an opponent player's game pieces. The method further comprises selecting for each player a group of the game pieces having point values summing to a predetermined value, and selecting a number of actions each player can take per player's turn. An action comprises either a move, comprising moving a game piece a distance up to the particular game piece's point value, or an attack, comprising actuation of the particular game piece's attacking means. The players alternate taking turns, selectively making a move or an attack, until the game is determined to have ended.
It is contemplated that a game piece is removed from the game if the game piece is determined to have been killed by an attack.
It is further contemplated that at least one of each game piece in each of the plurality of game pieces includes means for randomly providing the player with a reward if that particular game piece is killed.
It is still further contemplated that the plurality of game pieces includes at least one game piece having a close-acting attacking means and at least one game piece having a distance-acting attacking means.
Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective of one embodiment of an action figure in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the action figure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a base portion of the action figure of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3
FIG. 5 is a view of one side of the base portion of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a view of another side of the base portion of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a perspective of a second embodiment of an action figure in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the action figure of FIG. 8.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A first embodiment of an action figure game piece 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. The game piece 10 comprises a game figure character 12 and a base portion 14. The base portion 14 is adapted for movement a distance over a surface, such as a table top, not shown. The game piece 10 includes a mechanism, described below, disposed within the base portion 14 for audibly and visually (such as for the hearing impaired) indicating the distance of movement of the game piece 10 over the surface. The game piece 10 further includes a mechanism, also described below, for attacking another game piece.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the mechanism for audibly indicating the distance of movement comprises an axle 18, a wheel 20 fixedly secured to the axle 18 and adapted for rotary engagement with the surface to rotate the axle 18 upon movement of the game piece 10 over the surface. The mechanism further includes a pinion gear 24 fixedly secured to the axle 18 and including a plurality of teeth 26. One of the teeth 26 has a tooth extension 26a. A clicker 28 has a first end 28a secured to the base portion 14 and a second end 28b engaging the pinion gear 24. Rotation of the wheel 20 as the game piece 10 is moved over the surface rotates the tooth extension 26a against the clicker second end 28b, providing an audible clicking sound once per revolution of the axle 18.
The mechanism for visually indicating the distance of movement comprises a circular rack 30 engaging the pinion gear 24. The circular rack 30 includes an upper surface 30a and a lower surface 30b. The upper surface 30a has circumferentially spaced first red marks 34. An uppers black faceplate 36 is disposed on the base portion 14 adjacent the rack surface 30a. The upper faceplate 36 has a first visual aperture 38 radially aligned with the first red marks 34 to sequentially display movement of the first red marks as the rack 30 rotates. The number of first red marks passing by the aperture 38 indicates the distance traveled.
The game piece 10 has a mechanism for attacking another game piece. This attack mechanism is a distance-acting attack mechanism, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The distance acting attack mechanism is conventional and launches a projectile 42 from a barrel 44. The barrel 44 has an internal spring (not shown). The projectile 42 has a tab 46. When a portion of the projectile 42 including the tab 46 is inserted into the barrel 44, the projectile 42 compresses the spring, and the tab 46 engages a catch (not shown) within the barrel 44, retaining the projectile 42 in the barrel 44 against the bias of the compressed spring. When actuated, a trigger 48, coupled to the catch, releases the catch from the tab 46, permitting the compressed spring to launch the projectile 42 a distance from the barrel 44.
A second embodiment of a game piece 10′ is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. Similar components have the same reference numbers as the first embodiment 10, the only difference being the attack mechanism. The second embodiment of the game piece 10′ has a close-acting attack mechanism. The close-acting attack mechanism permits a portion of the game piece 10 to strike another game piece 10. The game figure 12 utilizing this attack mechanism has an upper portion 12a, having a striking portion 48, which is rotatably mounted to a lower portion 12b. A spring 49 is disposed between the upper portion 12a and the lower portion 12b, holding the upper portion 12a at an equilibrium position relative to the lower portion 12b. When the upper portion 12a is rotated in a first direction relative to the lower portion 12b, the spring 49 is compressed. When released, the upper portion 12a rapidly rotates in a second opposite direction relative to the lower portion 12b to the equilibrium position, causing the striking portion 48 to strike anything in its path, such as an adjacent game piece opponent.
The game piece 10 also includes a mechanism for alternatively displaying and shielding a series of second red marks 52 (in phantom), indicative of the presence or absence of a special characteristic of the game piece. The series of second red marks 52 are circumferentially spaced on the lower surface 30b. A second faceplate 56 is disposed on the base portion 14 adjacent the lower surface 30b. The second faceplate 56 has a visual aperture 58 radially aligned with the series of second red marks to alternatively display the presence or absence of the second series of red marks 52.
The method of playing an action figure game on the surface is as follows. Each player is initially provided with a plurality of the game pieces 10, 10′ forming a pool of the game pieces 10, 10′. Each of the game pieces 10, 10′ has a number indicating a particular point value. Different ones of the game pieces 10, 10′ have different point values. Each of the game pieces 10, 10′ has the distance indicating mechanism, and one of the attack mechanisms, described above. Each player initially selects a group of the game pieces 10, 10′ from the player's respective pool, having point values summing to a predetermined value. This group will be the player's team. Any number of players may play.
During play, each player sequentially takes a turn. For each turn, each player can take a predetermined number of actions, for example, three. An action is either: (1) a move, comprising moving one of the player's game pieces 10, 10′ a distance up to the particular game piece's point value; or (2) an attack, comprising actuation of the particular game piece's attack mechanism against one of an opponent's game pieces 10, 10′. During a turn, there may be limitations of how many total moves or attacks can be taken. For example if three actions are permitted, players may be limited to no more than two moves (and one attack) or two attacks (and one move) per turn.
A game piece 10, 10′ is removed from the game if the game piece 10, 10′ is determined to have been killed by an attack, such as being knocked over in response to an opponent's attack. The players sequentially take turns, selectively making a move or an attack, until the game is determined to have ended, such as when all of a player's game figures have been killed, or upon completion of a particular time period. The winner is determined by summing the point values of each players remaining game pieces.
According to the method, if a player's game piece 10, 10′ is killed when one of its second red marks is present, the player is awarded in accordance with a message on the underside of the base portion 14. For example, the game piece 10, 10′ may be permitted to re-enter the game. Or the player may add a different game piece 1-, 10′ to the game.
Modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. This description is to be construed as illustrative only, and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and method may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.

## Claims

1. An action figure game piece comprising:
a game figure character having a base and a mechanically functional combat component that is moveable with respect to the base of the game figure character and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, the character adapted for movement a distance over a surface; and
a distance measuring device disposed in the base for contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device providing an indication of the distance of movement of the character over the surface, wherein the mechanically functional combat component comprises a projectile launcher, wherein the projectile launcher is spring-loaded, and wherein the mechanically functional combat component is actuated by direct engagement of the combat component by the user of the action figure game piece, and is not actuated by movement of the game piece over the surface or by the distance measuring device.

2. The game piece of claim 1 wherein the distance measuring device comprises:
an axle;
a wheel fixedly secured to the axle and adapted for rotary engagement with the surface, to rotate the axle upon movement of the game piece over the surface; and
a device coupled to the axle indicating progressive rotation of the axle.

3. The game piece of claim 2 wherein the distance measuring device provides an audible indication of the distance.

4. The game piece of claim 3, wherein the distance measuring device comprises:
a gear fixedly secured to the axle and including a plurality of teeth; and
a clicker having a first end secured to the base portion and a second end engaging the gear, such that rotation of the wheel as the game piece is moved over the surface rotates the gear teeth against the clicker second end, providing an audible clicking sound.

5. The game piece of claim 4, wherein the gear and the clicker are disposed in a chamber.

6. The game piece of claim 2 wherein the distance measuring device provides a visual indication.

7. An action figure game piece comprising:
a game figure character having a base and a mechanically functional combat component that is moveable with respect to the base of the game figure character and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, the character adapted for movement a distance over a surface;
a distance measuring device disposed in the base for contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device providing an indication of the distance of movement of the character over the surface; and
a display device alternately displaying and shielding an indicium indicative of a special characteristic of the game piece.

8. The game piece of claim 7 wherein the display device comprises:
a faceplate having a visual aperture.

9. The game piece of claim 8 including:
an axle;
a wheel fixedly secured to the axle and adapted for rotary engagement with the surface to rotate the axle upon movement of the game piece over the surface;
a pinion gear fixedly secured to the axle and including a plurality of teeth; and
a circular rack engaging the pinion gear, wherein the circular rack includes a surface carrying the indicium and disposed adjacent the faceplate.

10. An action figure game piece comprising:
a game figure character and a base portion, the base portion adapted for movement a distance over a surface;
a distance measuring device disposed within the base portion and contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device providing an audible indication of the distance of movement over the surface; and
a weapon for attacking another game piece moveable with respect to the base portion and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, wherein the weapon comprises a projectile launcher, wherein the projectile launcher is spring-loaded, and wherein the weapon is actuated by direct engagement of the weapon by the user of the action figure game piece, and is not actuated by movement of the game piece over the surface or by the distance measuring device.

11. An action figure game piece comprising:
a game figure character and a base portion, the base portion adapted for movement a distance over a surface, and wherein the game figure character has a first portion connected to the base portion;
a distance measuring device disposed within the base portion and contacting the surface when the game figure character is disposed at the surface, the distance measuring device providing an audible indication of the distance of movement over the surface; and
a weapon for attacking another game piece moveable with respect to the base portion and configured to physically engage other action figure game pieces in simulated battles, and wherein the weapon comprises:
a second portion of the game figure character moveably connected to the first portion of the game figure character such that the second portion of the game figure character may move between a first position and a second position; and
a spring engaging the first portion and the second portion of the game figure character and biasing the second portion toward the first position, wherein the second portion is configured to engage an adjacent game piece when the second portion moves from the second position to the first position under the biasing force of the spring.