Patent Abstract:
A game in which game pieces in the form of acrobats are launched toward a target. The game pieces include magnets at the distal end of the extremities of the stylized acrobat game pieces.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/773,790, filed Feb. 14, 2006, and which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a game, and in particular to a game in which playing pieces formed in the shape of stylized acrobats.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention includes a game wherein a number of the stylized acrobats launched toward a target. Each acrobat has extended extremities, and on each extremity is mounted a magnet. The magnets are mounted on the extremities of each acrobat so all north poles or all south poles of magnets mounted on a particular playing piece face outward. Each game includes at least one of each “north” and “south” magnetic pole acrobats. Each game also includes a launcher. The launcher includes a base on which a lever is mounted. The lever has a first end, a fulcrum and a second end. The second end preferably includes an angled surface so that when an acrobat playing piece is placed on the second end the acrobat is tilted slightly away from the fulcrum and toward the target. A metallic strip is mounted on the base beneath the second lever end, and serves to stabilize the playing piece on the second end prior to the playing piece being launched. The game also includes a target that is placed a distance away from the launcher, and is preferably marked with different scoring areas.  
         [0004]     The game is played by successively launching acrobat playing pieces toward the target. “North” pole and “south” pole acrobats are launched in alternating order. The goal of the game is to score the greatest number of points by landing an acrobat playing piece on the highest scoring area of the target, and by then landing successive acrobat playing pieces atop the earlier-launched acrobat playing pieces. Different scoring multiples are assigned for acrobat playing pieces that are landed atop and “stick” to earlier launched acrobats. These and other features of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an acrobat playing piece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of an acrobat playing piece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a top view of an acrobat playing piece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, including a launcher, an acrobat playing piece shown in position for launch, after launch (in phantom), and the target toward which the acrobat playing pieces are launched.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and showing three acrobat playing pieces on the target, and a fourth in place for launch.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , each acrobat playing piece  10  includes a body, four extended extremities  11 - 14 , and a head  15 . Head  15  is preferably resilient member lodged between extremities  11  and  12 , and having portions  16  and  17  extending beyond the front and rear surfaces of the acrobat playing piece body (see  FIG. 2 ). The operation of head  15  will be explained in greater detail below. A magnet  18  is mounted on each extremity.  
         [0012]     In the preferred embodiments, playing pieces  10  are constructed in two different configurations. In a first configuration, each magnet  18  is oriented with its north magnetic pole facing outwardly from the body center  19 . In a second configuration each magnet  18  is oriented with its south magnetic pole facing outwardly from the body center  19 . The operation of the playing pieces will be explained in greater detail below.  
         [0013]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , a launcher is shown at  20 , and includes a base  22  and a lever  24  mounted on a pivoting fulcrum  26 . Lever  24  includes an angled end portion  28 . A magnetically susceptible metallic strip  30  is mounted under the angled end  28  of lever  24 . At the opposite end of base  20  a support  21  can be optionally provide to limit the travel of lever  24 , thereby ensuring that playing piece  10  is launched outwardly as well as upwardly. A target  30  is positioned near the launcher  20 . Target  30  includes a magnetically susceptible metallic upper surface  32 . In certain embodiments (not shown) the target  30  can define different areas that score different point values.  
         [0014]     The playing of the game will now be described. The game is played by players taking turns launching the acrobat playing pieces toward the target, first a “north” piece, then a “south” piece in alternating order until all the pieces have been launched, ending that player&#39;s turn. One object of the game is to land successive playing pieces atop earlier launched pieces, thereby stacking the playing pieces. The player&#39;s score is totaled, and the next player then takes their turn in the same manner.  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the acrobat playing pieces launched by each player are scored according to where they land on the target and/or whether they land and stay on top of an earlier launched playing piece. It is for this reason that the playing pieces are launched in alternating “north” and “south” order, so that the opposite magnetic poles presented by each playing piece are presented to the previously launched playing piece, causing the pieces to stick together if the successive piece is accurately launched. One possible arrangement of playing pieces is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  for illustrative purposes.  
         [0016]     In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the player has launched three playing pieces, and the fourth is in position to be launched. Playing piece  10   a  was successfully landed on the target, and is scored an assigned point value. Playing piece  10   b  was successfully landed atop playing piece  10   a,  and according to a preferred embodiment, is awarded twice the points awarded to playing piece  10   a.  Playing piece  10   c  was successfully landed atop playing piece  10   b,  and being the “third” level of stacking, is awarded three times the point value of playing piece  10   a.  If playing piece  10  is then launched and successfully landed atop playing piece  10   c,  it would be awarded 4 times the point value assigned to playing piece  10   a.  Referring to  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that playing pieces  10   b  and  10   a  are stacked with only one extremity connected. It would also be possible for the pieces to be stacked with two extremities connected. In the preferred embodiment each would score as described above. However, in the illustrated configuration, it would be possible for playing piece  10  to be launched and to land and stack on any of playing pieces  10   a,    10   b,  or  10   c,  by engaging one exposed extremity of either playing piece, both extremities of playing piece  10   c,  or to land on the target  30 . Playing piece  10  would be scored according to which “level” it landed whether on target  30  or any of the three stacked playing pieces. The invention is not limited to any specific scoring system, and in fact can be played without a cumulative scoring system at all.  
         [0017]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3 , mention was made of head  15  and portions  16  and  17  that extend beyond the front and rear of the playing piece body. Head  15  is preferably a resilient polymeric material, and is provided to ensure that if a playing piece lands on its side, the resilient head “bounces” and urges the playing piece into an upright position.  
         [0018]     In other aspects of the invention, the playing pieces can be formed of any suitable material, including but not limited to wood or polymeric materials.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0