Patent Publication Number: US-6666452-B1

Title: Spinner game and method of playing the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to spinning games and more particularly pertains to a new spinner game and the method of playing the same for providing a fun-filled game which gives an advantage to a player having a high degree of coordination. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of spinning games is known in the prior art. More specifically, spinning games heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,947; U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,657; U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,659; U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,554; U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,385; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 272,836. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new spinner game and the method of playing the same. The prior art includes inventions having pendulum games with magnets and other games. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which has many of the advantages of the spinning games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art spinning games, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention includes a tree-like structure having a base member, an elongate trunk member being attached to the base member and extending upwardly therefrom, and branch members extending outwardly from the elongate trunk member; and also includes an assembly of playing the spinner game including a plurality of spinner members being spinably and detachably attached to the branch members, and also including die members. None of the prior art includes spinner members which are magnetically-attached to branch members and which are spun therefrom to score points. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the spinner game and the method of playing the same in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which has many of the advantages of the spinning games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new spinner game and the method of playing the same which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art spinning games, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same for providing a fun-filled game which gives an advantage to a player having a high degree of coordination. 
     Still yet another object off the present invention is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same that is easy and convenient to set up. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new spinner game and the method of playing the same that signals out those players having a high degree of quickness and coordination to effectively play the game well. 
    
    
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new spinner game and the method of playing the same according to the present invention and shown in use. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spinner support member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spinner members of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the die of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the score sheet of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new spinner game and the method of playing the same embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the spinner game and the method of playing the same  10  generally comprises a tree-like structure  11  having a base member  12 , an elongate trunk member  17  being conventionally attached to the base member  12  and extending upwardly therefrom, and branch members  24  extending outwardly from the elongate trunk member  17 . The base member  12  includes top and bottom sides  13 ,  14 , and also includes a boss  15  being centrally and integrally disposed upon the top side  13  thereof, and further includes a bore  16  being disposed through the boss  15  and into the base member  12 . The tree-like structure  11  further includes a non-slip pad member  38  being securely and conventionally attached to the bottom side  14  of the base member  12  to prevent the base member  12  from slipping upon a surface. The base member  12  is generally disc-shaped. The elongate trunk member  17  includes a dowel-like extension  18  being conventionally disposed at a bottom end thereof and being securely disposed in the bore  16  in the base member  12  to substantially stabilize the elongate trunk member  17  upon the base member  12 . The elongate trunk member  17  also has a threaded slot  19  being disposed in a top end thereof. The tree-like structure  11  also includes a branch support member  20  being fastened with a threaded fastener  23  to the top end of the elongate trunk member  17 , and also being generally disc-shaped, and having a bore  21  extending axially therethrough from a top to a bottom thereof, and further having radial slots  22  extending in a circumference thereof and being circumferentially-spaced with the threaded fastener  23  being threaded into the threaded slot  19  of the elongate trunk member  17 . The branch members  24  are securely and conventionally disposed in the radial slots  22  of the branch support member  20  with each of the branch members  24  having a dowel-like member  25  extending from a first end thereof and being securely and conventionally disposed and engaged in a respective one of the radial slots  22 . Each of the branch members  24  also has a slot  26  being disposed in a second end thereof. The tree-like structure  11  also includes a plurality of spinner support members  27  being securely and conventionally disposed in and extended outwardly of the slots  26  of the branch members  24  with each of the spinner support members  27  being generally dowel-shaped. 
     A means of playing the spinner game including a plurality of spinner members  28  being spinably and magnetically attached to the branch members  24 , and also including die members  32 , 33 . Each of the spinner members  28  includes a uniquely-shaped body  29  and also includes a pin member  31  being conventionally attached to the uniquely-shaped body  29  and being spinably and magnetically-attached to and depended from a respective one of the spinner support members  27 . Each of the uniquely-shaped bodies  29  has a bore  30  extending therein through a top thereof with the pin members  31  being securely disposed in and extended outwardly from the bores  30  of the uniquely-shaped bodies  29 . Each of the pin members  31  is metallic. The die members  32 , 33  includes a first die member  33  having dots being disposed upon sides thereof, and also includes a second die member  32  having sides which are uniquely colored. The means of playing the spinner game also includes one or more score sheets  34  having rules of the spinner game  37  being conventionally displayed thereon and also having lines arranged to form columns  35  and rows  36  which are further divided into sections upon which points scored in the spinner game are recorded. 
     In use, the players roll the uniquely-colored die member  32  with the side of the die member  32  facing upwardly upon the surface determining which of the spinner members  28  should be spun as it depends from a respective branch member  24 , and the players then spin the designated spinner member  28  having the same color as that of the upwardly facing side of the die member  32  and also spin as many of the other the spinner members  28  as desired without any of them falling off the spinner support member  27 . The players score one point for each of the spinner members  28  which remains spinning upon the spinner support member  27  for at least 10 seconds. The players continue to take turns and roll the die member  32  and spin one or more of the spinner members  28  until one of the players wins by having the highest total score. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the spinner game and the method of playing the same. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.