Abstract:
A two-player game combining an assembly of ring-form components modifiable by the rotation and sliding of two handles. The game has first and second handles separated by a series of rotatable game rings. Each game ring bears a pattern of selected indicia about its circumference. Game ring engagement members associated with the handles are constructed for engagement with and rotation of selected of the game rings to align selected of the indicia thereon with indicia on adjacent game rings, by pushing, pulling and rotating movement of the handles about a central common axis, each game rings being free to rotate about the central common axis and held by a series of stationary spacer rings. In one preferred embodiment, an electronic indicator circuit detects occurrence of a predetermined desired alignment of indicia and emits a signal thereupon.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/124,639 filed Mar. 16, 1999. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to games for two players. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rotating ring games are known from my prior patents, Bean U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,776 and Bean U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,540, over which the present invention represents an improvement. The complete disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference and provide the basis for the instant application. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to a competitive rotating ring game device which permits two competitors, by rotating and sliding handles at opposite ends of a series of individually rotatable rings, to compete against each other for the purpose of aligning indicia, such as pre-chosen colors, spaced about the peripheries of the rings. 
     A rotating ring game of one embodiment of the invention consists of a series of side-by-side game rings mounted for rotation about a central axis. The exposed cylindrical surface of each ring is covered by series of areas of different colors, shapes and/or design, e.g., printed, molded or similarly affixed. Each ring is unique as to the type of game involved, e.g., educational game (letters, numerals, etc.), competitive game and/or puzzle (swords, tanks, etc.) or simply selected colors. The game rings are controlled by two handles, one for each player, extending from opposite ends of the aligned series of rings. An extension of each handle, comprising a ring-actuating member having a ring-actuating tab on its distal end, extends axially within the series of rings from each handle and may be rotated and/or moved lengthwise in either direction by the handle. When the handle and extension are rotated, the tab engages and rotates, by one step, the game ring within which it is located at the moment. Correspondingly, when the handle is moved lengthwise, in either direction, the tab will be positioned to control a different game ring. Each player may, through his handle, control any one or two rings at any moment, except for a ring then being controlled by his opponent. Thus, the player gains control of desired specific ring(s) by pushing or pulling his handle until the actuating tab has registered with the desired ring(s) whereupon he may rotate that ring by rotating the handle. Once the ring(s) is rotated, which may be step-by-step, he is ready to push or pull his handle to shift his actuating tab to another ring(s) in order to make another move. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a two player game combining an assembly of ring-form components modifiable by the rotation and sliding of two handles comprises first and second handles separated by a series of rotatable game rings, each rotatable game ring in the series of rotatable game rings bearing a pattern of selected indicia about its circumference, first and second game ring engagement members associated with the first and second handles, respectively, and constructed for engagement with and rotation of selected of the rotatable game rings to align selected of the indicia thereon with indicia on adjacent rotatable game rings, by pushing, pulling and rotating movement of the first and second handles about a central common axis, each of the rotatable game rings being free to rotate about the central common axis and held by a series of stationary spacer rings, and an electronic indicator circuit adapted to detect occurrence of a predetermined desired alignment of the indicia and to emit a signal thereupon. 
     Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the additional features. Each of the rotatable game rings defines a set of apertures arranged in an aperture pattern corresponding to the pattern of selected indicia about its circumference, and the electronic indicator circuit is adapted to emit the signal when apertures of the series of rotatable game rings are arranged in a predetermined aperture pattern indicating occurrence of the predetermined desired alignment of the indicia. The electronic indicator circuit comprises a beam emitter and a beam detector, the beam emitter and the beam detector being mounted to the game with the series of rotatable game rings disposed therebetween, and the predetermined aperture pattern indicating occurrence of the predetermined desired alignment of the indicia being positioning of the apertures in a line between the beam emitter and the beam detector. Preferably, the line between the beam emitter and the beam detector is disposed generally parallel to the central common axis of the series of rotatable game rings. The beam emitter comprises an LED emitter and the beam detector comprises an LED detector, the LED detector being positioned to detect an emission from the LED emitter, thereby closing the electronic indicator circuit, when the apertures of the series of rotatable game rings are arranged in the predetermined aperture pattern indicating occurrence of the predetermined desired alignment of the indicia. The electrical indicator is a piezo buzzer for emitting a sound to indicate the predetermined desired alignment. The game further comprises a hilt defining a first surface for gripping by a first player to steady and position the two player game during play and defining a second surface for gripping by a second player to steady and position the two player game during play. The first and second game ring engagement members are extensions of the associated first and second handles, respectively, each comprising an elastically flexible cantilevered member having a distal actuator portion adapted for engagement with the selected of the rotatable game rings, the distal actuator portion and the rotatable game rings define cooperative interengagement structure, and the elastically flexible cantilevered member is adapted, upon encounter with a predetermined resistance force to rotation of an engaged rotatable game ring, to deflect radially inward, relative to the common central axis, with disengagement of the cooperative engagement structure of the distal actuator portion and the rotatable game rings and to elastically recover radially outward to re-engage the cooperative engagement structure of the distal actuator portion and the rotatable game rings. Preferably, the predetermined resistance force is created by opposition between the first engagement member associated with the first handle and the second engagement member associated with the second handle. 
     The first and second game ring engagement members are constructed for selective, simultaneous engagement with and rotation of multiple of the rotatable game rings. The game further comprises first and second externally visible indicator bars coupled to the first and second handles, respectively, and movable therewith in correspondence to the first and second game ring engagement members, each of the first and second externally visible indicator bars comprising a distal indicator portion visually indicating the position of a corresponding distal actuator portion. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a two player game combining an assembly of ring-form components modifiable by the rotation and sliding of two handles comprises first and second handles separated by a series of rotatable game rings, each rotatable game ring in the series of rotatable game rings bearing a pattern of selected indicia about its circumference, and first and second game ring engagement members associated with the first and second handles, respectively, and constructed for engagement with and rotation of selected of the rotatable game rings to align selected of the indicia thereon with indicia on adjacent rotatable game rings, by pushing, pulling and rotating movement of the first and second handles about a central common axis, the first and second game ring engagement members being extensions of the associated first and second handles, respectively, each comprising an elastically flexible cantilevered member having a distal actuator portion adapted for engagement with the selected of the rotatable game rings, the distal actuator portion and the rotatable game rings defining cooperative interengagement structure, and the elastically flexible cantilevered member being adapted, upon encounter with a predetermined resistance force to rotation of an engaged rotatable game ring, to deflect radially inward, relative to the common central axis, with disengagement of the cooperative engagement structure of the distal actuator portion and the rotatable game rings and to elastically recover radially outward to re-engage the cooperative engagement structure of the distal actuator portion and the rotatable game rings each of the rotatable game rings being free to rotate about the central common axis and held by a series of stationary spacer rings. 
     Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the additional features. The predetermined resistance force is created by opposition between the first engagement member associated with the first handle and the second engagement member associated with the second handle. 
     According to still another aspect of the invention, a two player game combining an assembly of ring-form components modifiable by the rotation and sliding of two handles comprises first and second handles separated by a series of rotatable game rings, each rotatable game ring in the series of rotatable game rings bearing a pattern of selected indicia about its circumference, first and second game ring engagement members associated with the first and second handles, respectively, and constructed for engagement with and rotation of selected of the rotatable game rings to align selected of the indicia thereon with indicia on adjacent rotatable game rings, by pushing, pulling and rotating movement of the first and second handles about a central common axis, the first and second game ring engagement members being extensions of the associated first and second handles, respectively, each comprising an elastically flexible cantilevered member having a distal actuator portion adapted for engagement with the selected of the rotatable game rings, and first and second externally visible indicator bars coupled to the first and second handles, respectively, and movable therewith in correspondence to the first and second game ring engagement members, each of the first and second externally visible indicator bars comprising a distal indicator portion visually indicating the position of a corresponding distal actuator portion. 
     The object of the game is to align a chosen color(s), shape(s) or design(s) in an axial direction over the playing surface before an opponent does likewise. It should be noted that the object of the game can be unique to each specific version of the game. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A,  1 B and  1 C display, respectively, edge, elevational and cross-sectional views of one of the rotating game rings employed in a presently preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C display, respectively, elevational, cross-sectional and edge views of one of the spacer rings that separate the game rings from each other; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a game ring with internal parts shown in assembled condition; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B display, respectively, plan and end views of the main center shaft of the device about which the rings are assembled; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded side view of one handle assembly showing the various parts thereof; 
     FIG. 5A is an end view of the handle extension as shown at the left side of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 6 is an elevational view of one of the two handle guards; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of one of the two resilient rubber boots that permit the reciprocal and twisting motion of each handle while concealing the working parts; 
     FIGS. 8A,  8 B and  8 C display, respectively, plan, side and profile views of one of the spring clips employed in assembling the device to assist in the control of the stepwise rotary motion of the rings; and 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view, with portions cut away, showing the parts assembled together in a complete unit. 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the rotating ring game of the invention, with external visual indicators; 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a circuit board assembly for the rotating ring game of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is an end view of a rotating ring of the rotating ring game of FIG. 10 showing a hole pattern; 
     FIGS. 13A and 13B are front and rear views, respectively, of a circuit board for the rotating ring game of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the hilt and circuit board cover assembly for the rotating ring game of FIG. 10; and 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the handle assembly engaged with a single rotating ring for the rotating ring game of FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The description following refers directly to, and shows, in FIGS. 1-9, a prior version of my rotating ring game, as described in Bean U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,540. Features of an improved version of my rotating ring game are also described, in particular with reference to FIGS. 10 et seq. 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1-9, and more particularly to FIGS. 1A,  1 B and  1 C, the configuration of one of the rotatable game rings  10  is apparent. Any number of these rings, within reason, may be assembled side-by-side, as will later be explained, on the center shaft  30  (FIGS.  4 A and  4 B), depending on the version of the game. The game ring  10  can be made by an injection molding process. It is provided with a circular array of radially inwardly directed molded teeth  12 , in this case ten, but any number of teeth may be used depending on the version of the game, i.e. how many different spaces  66  (FIG. 9) are to appear on the peripheral surface of each ring to be aligned by the players. The number of teeth determines the arc through which the rings can be turned to the left or right at each play. The teeth  12  are rounded so as to accept the spring clips  14  (as seen in FIG.  3 ). The teeth  12  of each game ring  10  are recessed axially inwardly as indicated at  19 . The circular array is recessed slightly less than one-half the thickness of the stationary ring so as to allow a slight gap between the game ring array when the rings and spacers  18  are assembled to prevent their binding against each other. Ridge  20  on the game ring  10  is added to strengthen the part. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C, it will be seen that each spacer ring  18  may be made in one piece by injection molding. As already mentioned, these interfitting stationary spacer rings separate the rotating rings  10  from each other and are so dimensioned in an axial direction as, when assembled, to allow the rings  10  to rotate freely and independently. These spacer rings connect together, when assembled, into one continuous chain by inserting studs  24  into corresponding holes  26  of the next spacer ring. Two studs  24  are formed on portion  17 A of each ring and one stud  24  on portion  17 B. 
     A radially inwardly extending extension  28  within each spacer  18  fits longitudinal groove  42  of central shaft  30  (FIGS. 4A and 4B) whereby all the spacer rings can be aligned for sliding onto and rigidly attaching the spacers to the shaft once the rotating rings and spring clips are in place (FIGS. 3,  4 A and  4 B). 
     Structural members  32 ,  34  strengthen the spacers and allow for efficient molding. Structural members  34  serve an additional function that of providing a stop, limiting movement of the spring clips  14  in the axial direction. Center ring  52  of each spacer is present not only to provide a stronger part, but, more importantly, to define an axially spaced aligned series of internal radially outwardly facing ridges (FIG. 9) for receiving and accurately positioning the radially inwardly facing ridges  36  formed opposite the actuating tab  39  at the inner end of handle extension  38  (FIG.  5 ). This simplified and greatly improved construction replaces the ball and guide positioning assembly of my U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,776. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, a spacer ring  18 , game ring  10  and spring clips  14  are shown assembled. The spring clip  14  essentially free floats, engaging between the spacer  18  and the teeth  12  of the rotating ring  10 . The engagement of tab  39  of each handle extension  38  with the teeth  12  is as shown. 
     The center shaft itself  30  is illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. It can be molded in one piece in an extrusion process. The longitudinal groove  42  covers an arcuate distance twice that which separates the teeth  12  of ring  10 . For example, teeth  12  are arcuately spaced every 36°. Hence, in this case, the center shaft groove would cover a 72° arc. This relationship is important to the functioning of the game for it permits the proper left and right rotation of the two handles. Also, the rotating ring assembly is assembled with radially inward extensions  28  of spacers  18  in alignment to be slid into this groove. Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown an exploded side view of one of the two identical handle assemblies. Each is comprised of five components. The first of these is integrally molded handle guard  44 . It is the piece on which the rest of the assembly is assembled. To receive the shaft  30  it has an opening  46  that is slightly larger than the diameter of the center shaft  30 . The opening  46  is also provided with an internal keyway  48  covering the same arcuate distance as that which separates teeth  12 . This allows the handle and, accordingly the rings  10 , to rotate one interval at a time to the left or right, the spring clips  14  snapping into place and holding the teeth  12  until another move is made. A bore  50  in handle guard  44  is set 90° to the keyway  48  to receive handle extension  38 . 
     Each handle extension  38  is molded of a suitable resilient plastic in an injection mold. While relatively rigid, this part is sufficiently flexible to bend when the two players have engaged the same rotating ring  10  but to spring back to its original position when the ring has been disengaged. The selection of suitable plastic is within the skill of the art. 
     Handle extension  38  carries tab  39  (FIG.  5 A), which engages the teeth  12 . Opposite tab  39 , as mentioned above, three ridges  36  are formed on extension  38 , so spaced and sized as to cooperate with rings  52  of the spacers  18  to locate the linear positions of the tab extension within the ring assembly properly with respect to whichever rotating ring or rings  10  the player wishes to engage. As the extension is reciprocated, these ridges ride over and snap into place over the rings  52  as seen in the cutaway view of FIG. 9 for properly positioning the handle assembly in use. 
     The system just described replaces the ball and guide assembly of my U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,776. The ridges  36  and ring  52  are shown having 30° bevels, but several other configurations could be used, such as rounds, within the discretion of the designer. 
     The handle  40  (FIG. 5) is also made in an extrusion process. It is a simple tube of such a diameter as to be press-fitted and glued onto handle guard  44 . A foam rubber grip  56  is slid onto the handle. It may be of the bicycle grip variety for comfort and appearance. The assembled handle guard  44 , handle extension  38  and handle  40  can be slid onto the center shaft  30  before the handle stop  54  is pressed and glued onto the end of center shaft  30 . The handle assembly itself is then free to slide back over the handle plug  58  until the end of the handle guard  44  hits the end of handle stop  54 . This prevents the handle assembly from coming off the shaft  30  and also stops the assembly in the proper position for tab  39  to engage the end-most rotating ring  10 . Handle plug  58  is then glued into the end of handle  40 . A bore  60  in the end of the plug  58  permits attachment of a strap to encircle the player&#39;s wrist while playing the game. 
     Turning to FIG. 6, an end view of the handle guard  44  is shown. The relationship of keyway  48  to core hole  50  can be seen. One end of the rubber boot  64  shown in FIG. 7 is attached to flat  62  on guard  44 . The other end of the rubber boot is attached to an outermost spacer  18  by gluing or by means of another small retaining ring on the inside (not shown). The boot  64  may thus yield flexibly in torsion and compress and expand axially with rotational and reciprocating movements of the handle guard  44 . 
     Three views of the spring clip  14  are shown in FIGS. 8A,  8 B and  8 C, respectively. The clip  14  is used to retain the rotating rings  10  in their proper adjusted positions as shown in FIG.  3 . The clips  14  may be metal, stamped out in a metal stamping process, or possibly resilient plastic formed by injection molding. Tabs  15  hold the spring clips  14  onto structural members  34  of the spacing rings  18 . The convex side of the clips rest on portions  17 A and  17 B of the spacer rings (FIG.  3 ). As a rotating game ring  10  is rotated one step to the left, the tabs on the right side of the spring clip hold the clip in place while the rest of the clip is flexed to the left and downwardly (as seen in the upper portion of FIG. 3) to clear the tooth  12  of the rotating ring. Once the tooth is past the spring clip, the latter snaps and forces itself back into its normal position thereby holding the just rotated ring in its new position. 
     An assembled cutaway view of the game device is shown in FIG. 9, disclosing the relationship of the assembled components. The surfaces of the rotating game rings may be divided into any number of spaces  66  and any number of icons may be displayed. Also any number or size of rings may be used depending on the version of the game. The basic functioning and assembly of the game would remain the same. 
     Referring to FIGS. 10-15, another embodiment of a rotating ring game  100  of my invention will now be described. Improvements found in this embodiment include the addition of electronic circuitry to the game for enhanced game play. 
     The basic configuration of the improved embodiment of the game consists of two circuit boards  102 ,  104  (FIGS. 13B and 13A, respectively) placed at the opposite ends of the rotating ring assembly  133 . These boards are housed in circuit board covers  106 ,  108  (FIG.  14  and FIG. 11, respectively). Circuit board  102  has two inwardly facing infrared emitters  110 ,  112  (FIG.  11 ). Circuit board  104  has two inwardly facing infrared detectors  114 ,  116  (FIG. 11) in line with infrared emitters  110 ,  112 , respectively. Light emitting diodes (LEDs)  118 ,  120  are soldered to the circuit boards  102 ,  104 , as shown in FIG.  13 B and FIG. 13A, respectively. During assembly, the LEDs are bent 90° and pushed through apertures provided in the sidewalls of the circuit board covers  106 ,  108 . Additional components mounted to the circuit board  104  include a controller chip  122  (e.g., a Motorola programmable IC), a battery spring terminal  124 , assorted driver components (i.e. resistors and capacitors), and a 90°-facing switch  126  mounted on the outer edge of the board. This switch  126  also protrudes through the side of circuit board cover  108 . 
     An important feature of the circuit board assembly is the location and function of the infrared emitter and detector pairs  110 / 114 ,  112 / 116 . Infrared emitter  110  and corresponding infrared detector  114  are placed on the circuit board  102 ,  104 , respectively, at a predetermined, unique radial dimension, DIM 1 , as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. Due to space and other limitations, the first pair  110 / 114  is placed as far out board as possible. The second pair (infrared emitter  112  and corresponding infrared detector  116 ) are then placed at a different location, rotated about the center, at an angular dimension equal to the angular dimension on the rotating ring/pattern design, e.g., 36°. In addition, this emitter/detector pair  112 / 116  is located at a unique radial dimension, DIM 2 , different from DIM 1 , e.g. typically 0.100 inch less than DIM 1 . 
     The path between emitter/detector pairs  110 / 114 ,  112 / 116  is blocked by the rotating ring  132  of rotating ring assembly  133 , spaced between the circuit boards  102 ,  104 . In conjunction with this arrangement, there are unique patterns of holes  128 /slot  130  molded into the rotating rings  132 , as shown in FIG.  12 . Different labels and colors or the like are placed on the outside of the rings  132  so that when a row of like or corresponding icons are lined up, a complete row of corresponding holes  128  in the rotating rings  132  line up between the emitter/detector pairs  110 / 114 ,  112 / 116 , thus allowing a complete circuit to be made, which in turn signals a win for the player achieving the desired line up. To provide this result, the different emitter/detector pairs  110 / 114  and  112 / 116  are offset in unique radial dimensions DIM 1 , DIM 2 , i.e., so the holes  128  that signal a win for “RED” (Player 1) will not signal a win for “BLUE” (Player 2) as they pass the emitter/detector pair for Player 2. The exact location and position of the holes  128 /slot  130  patterns in the rotating rings  132  is a function of the number of labels and their position on the game, as determined, e.g., by marketing and desired game play considerations. 
     The rest of the driver circuits, power supply (i.e., battery  134 ) and circuitry are standard state of the art technology. This circuit board configuration allows for the following game play: Player 1 starts the game by depressing switch  126 . This starts the game by flashing the LED&#39;s  118 ,  120 , playing a musical tone or voice recording, and energizing the emitter/detector pairs  110 / 114 ,  112 / 116 . Game play continues until one of the two players lines up his corresponding “color”, completing the emitter/detector circuit, and achieving indication of the win, e.g., with a preprogrammed sequence of flashing LED&#39;s and audible tones, e.g. from piezo buzzer  136 . At this point, the game shuts itself off until the next game is started (by pressing switch  126 ). The game may also be programmed for a finite amount of time for play (e.g., approximately 2 minutes) after which an indication of a draw sequence is initiated. 
     Referring again to FIG. 10, and also to FIG. 14, a handle or hilt  140  is another enhancement to the playability of this embodiment of the rotating ring game  100  of the invention. The hilt  140  provides a rigid structure for the players to grasp while playing the game. This feature allows the players to move the respective operating handles  142 ,  144 , and the rotating rings  132 , independently of actions by the other player. The hilt also permits much more precise and controlled engagement of the rotating rings  132 . 
     The hilt may be formed by gas assist injection molding as one piece. Two snap retention features  146 ,  148  are integrally molded at the top of the hilt  140 , as shown in FIG.  13 . These snap features are molded with a slight pre-load so to snap fit securely in place to the snap retention channels  147  of circuit board covers  106 ,  108  (only cover  106  is shown), with assembly  133  of rotating rings  132  therebetween. Guards  150 ,  152  are safety features that prevent the players&#39; fingers from being caught or pinched between the ring assembly and handle guard. The rest of the hilt  140  is designed for ergonomics, styling and durability. The hilt may also be molded as a two-piece component, e.g., with a cavity to provide a housing for additional electronics and/or power supply. 
     Snap retention slots  154  are also defined for precise location and retention of the hilt  140  to the circuit board covers  106 ,  108  and assembly  133  of rotating rings  132 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, an external visual indicator  156  (only one of two is shown) is attached to each of the handle guards  158 ,  160  to allow the players to accurately position their respective handles  142 ,  144  (and the associated extension tab component  162 , described below) during play by visually lining up the tip of the external visual indicators  156  with the specific ring or rings  132  they choose to control. The indicators  156  have a base element  157  for snap fit to the outside surfaces of the handle guards  158 ,  160  and they are interchangeable with different styles and designs. The indicators  156  are preferably positioned near the top of the handle assembly  170  so the players can see them clearly during game play. 
     Referring to FIG. 15, each cantilevered extension tab component  162 , which preferably is formed by molding with its respective handle guard  158  or  160  and handle  140  or  142  as an integral handle assembly  170 , engages the rotating rings  132  (only one is shown). The extension tab component  162  is designed to engage the rotating ring teeth  172 , e.g. similar to the earlier embodiment of the game, as described above. However, the extension component  162  is injection molded using a material having durable spring properties, thus to allow the extension component  162  to flex up and down (arrow, T). The extension component  162  is molded with a pre-load, so it applies with continuous pressure into the teeth  172  of the rotating rings  132 . As the extension component  162  is slid forward or backward (arrow, U), i.e., via the handle assembly  170 , it acts as a spring, flexing down under the teeth  172  of the rotating rings  132  and snapping back up into the teeth  172  of the next rotating ring  132  (not shown). In conjunction with this operation, the extension component  162  is designed to nest into the rotating ring teeth  172 . This design allows each player to engage one or two rings  132  simultaneously with equal force and control. The extension component  162  also disengages and slides under the rotating ring  132  when another player is engaging the same ring  132 , thus allowing a player that gets to a specific ring  132  first to make the move. This feature provides for smooth game play by reducing or eliminating the blocking or jamming affect sometimes experienced with the earlier version of the game. 
     While there has herein been disclosed and described presently preferred embodiments of the novel game, it will nevertheless be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change by those skilled in the art and, therefore, it is not intended the scope of the invention be limited. 
     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the concept of the game of the invention may be embodied in an electronic game, e.g., without rotating rings, or in a computer game. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.