Abstract:
An improved game for teaching manual dexterity and improving eye-hand coordination using tools appropriate for very small children to hold and operate is disclosed. Moreover, an improved simplified marble game for teaching rule-following for very young children to provide a transition to more difficult and more complicated games as they age is disclosed herein.

Description:
[0001]    This non-provisional patent application is filed in reference to its predecessor provisional application filed on Feb. 25, 2013 and assigned Ser. No. 61/650,925. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to games of physical skill, and more specifically to a game played by children of a relatively tender age using playing pieces within a circumscribed area, such as, in its simplest form, a circle. The present invention further involves the manipulation of the playing pieces, specifically marbles, with each player using a special tool, developed for use with the game. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the past, the relatively simple children&#39;s game of marbles was played within a circle or a generally circular area scribed on the ground. The winner was the player who collected the most marbles from the circle. Typically, when the game was played on a well-worn playground during school recesses, the circle was drawn on the ground and the players effectively formed a larger circle around the drawn playing area and enjoyed their play. Now, even most schoolyards are covered with grass and are well manicured. Certainly, this is also the case of most home yards, and areas safe for children to play where a circle can be drawn in the dirt are harder to find. In particular, marble games that can be played inside are desirable as well. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, the need arises for a game apparatus for teaching manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, and related skills to young children that have the convenience of making the game playable indoors and outside by providing the area for play without regard to the character of the supporting surface, except that it is relatively flat. It is also desirable to provide for the indirect handling of the game pieces to add further challenge to the game and improve eye-hand coordination. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0005]    The prior art of games, generally, includes many games for play by children and adults that use marbles or other game pieces but still does not achieve the goals and benefits of the instantly claimed invention, particularly as regards ease of play by children of a tender age. These prior art disclosures include: 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,342 issued to Leonel G. Hernandez on Oct. 17, 1995, discloses a game for teaching manual dexterity for a plurality of players, comprising a plurality of groups of individual playing pieces, with each of said playing pieces having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface of different configuration and with each of said groups having means providing for differentiation from other said groups, a common playing arena, providing for placement of said groups of individual playing pieces therein, a plurality of receptacles providing for the containment of said individual playing pieces when said individual playing pieces are removed from said common playing area, with each of said receptacles corresponding to one of said groups of individual playing pieces and including means providing for identification with said corresponding one of said groups and for differentiation, from other said receptacles, a plurality of tongs providing for the grasping of said individual playing pieces, with each of said tongs corresponding to one of said groups of individual playing pieces and including means providing for identification with said corresponding one of said groups and for differentiation from other said tongs, and timer means providing for the determination of an interval of time for a turn of play, whereby each of said groups of playing pieces, said receptacles, and said tongs are assigned to different players, said playing pieces are randomly placed inverted within said common playing arena with said bottom surface of each of said playing pieces facing upward, and each of the players simultaneously first attempts to turn upright said playing pieces assigned to that player by means of said tongs assigned to that player and then attempts to remove said playing pieces assigned to that player to said receptacle assigned to that player by means of said tongs assigned to that player, with play being limited by said timer means; 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,260 issued to Ned Strong in on Aug. 31, 1993, discloses a Toy Game Apparatus comprising a generally vertically disposed set of playing piece receptacles on a rotatable curved frame. The frame includes means to cause the rotation thereof when triggered by a sound, thus causing the receptacles to move and making it more difficult for a player to place any playing pieces in the receptacles. No timer means is disclosed. The object is to place playing pieces on specific points of the intermittently moving apparatus by using a pair of tongs, rather than to remove playing pieces from a playing surface or arena. The relatively complex electronic apparatus providing for movement of the vertical array of playing piece receptacles, is unlike the relatively simple configuration of the present game apparatus with its flat playing area; 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,789 issued to Jimmy R. House on Aug. 20, 1991, discloses a Game Apparatus And Method For Playing A Game comprising a bladed game piece and a slotted receptacle therefor. The object of the game is to use a pair of sticks to pick up the playing piece and deposit it on the slotted receptacle, with the receptacle slots engaging the blades. A timer is used to time the duration of each move. No common playing surface or arena is provided, and only a single playing piece is disclosed; 
         [0009]    British Patent No. 1,533,473 to Marvin Glass And Associates and published on Nov. 22, 1978, discloses a Playing Object Retrieval Game in which a plurality of playing pieces resembling pickles are placed in a jar. The object is to remove the playing pieces using a tool resembling a fork with bent tines; 
         [0010]    British Patent No. 1,517,498 to Agatsuma Ltd. and published on Jul. 12, 1978, discloses an Apparatus For Playing A Game comprising a game board having a plurality of remotely actuated grasping slides thereon. The slides are manipulated in an attempt to grasp balls in the center of the board and move them to individual player storage areas; 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,262 issued to Leonard J. Weber on May 4, 1976, discloses a Game Device wherein playing pieces are removed from a central area and placed in specific playing positions around the periphery of a circular board as rapidly as possible. The duration of time allowed is dependent upon the spinning of a top. When the top falls, the bottom of the central area is opened electronically to allow any remaining playing pieces to fall through, whereby access to them is precluded. Another conventional clock is also used to time each turn; 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,440 issued to Howard M. Burns on Mar. 20, 1973, discloses a Manual Dexterity Game in which a pickup device is slidingly secured on a string suspended between two remotely operated arms. Each of the arms is manipulated by one hand of the player. The object is to remotely move a game piece from one point to another on the playing surface; and 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,341 issued to Colecta E. Blanton, Jr. on Feb. 20, 1973, discloses a Board Game Apparatus in which a pair of chopsticks is used to handle a plurality of rounded, smooth counters in moving the counters from one point to another on the game board. The present game board or arena includes an upturned periphery for containment of the playing pieces and is devoid of specific points within the arena. 
         [0014]    None of the above noted patents, taken individually or in combination, are seen either to disclose or make obvious the specific arrangement of concepts disclosed by the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    By the present invention, an improved game for teaching manual dexterity using tools appropriate for very small children to hold and operate is disclosed. Moreover, an improved simplified game for teaching rule-following for very young children to provide a transition to more difficult and more complicated games as they age is disclosed herein. 
         [0016]    Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved game for teaching manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination that includes game apparatus comprising a common playing area or arena for the individual playing pieces, and a plurality of individual playing pieces. 
         [0017]    Another of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved game for teaching manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination that includes means for the indirect handling of playing pieces, comprising tools for each player with handles easily held by very small hands. The tool basically comprises a tube of indeterminate length and of a diameter large enough to admit the game marbles assigned each individual player and a neutral marble, distinguishable from all players&#39; marbles within the tube. One end of the tube is designed to “pick up” said marbles when the player places that end of the tube over the marble. The opposite end of the tube is attached to a rounded, globular handle designed for ease of grasp and control by small hands. The shape of the handle is not critical to the invention, as long as it is “designed for ease of grasp and control by small hands.” The distance between the end of the tube for capturing the marbles and the handle for manipulation of the tube is designed such that the indirect nature of manipulation between the point of capture and the player&#39;s hands is to require skill in its operation and to develop eye-hand coordination in the young player. 
         [0018]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved game for teaching manual dexterity which game is particularly suited to play by small children, and which game components are devoid of sharp edges and other hazards to small children. 
         [0019]    A final object of the present invention is to provide an improved game for teaching manual dexterity for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purpose. 
         [0020]    With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed as comprising of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed with reference being made to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a common arena  10 , defined by an inside wall  11  of one example of a construction for playing the present game, showing a view from the top looking into the circle for retaining the marbles for which each of the players compete, with the area  12  outside the circle but within the outer square forming the continuous wall  10   a  of the circle. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exterior side wall  10   a  of the outer square and inside wall  11  showing the three dimensional character of the circle formed thereby. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another side  10   a  portion of the outer square and its corresponding inside wall  11  showing the three dimensional character of the circle formed thereby. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the grabbing tool  4  in an upright position used for the manipulation of the individual playing pieces of the game. The grabbing tool is divided generally into a tubular bottom portion  4   a  for capture and receipt of a marble game piece and a rounded globular top portion  4   b , which acts as a handle for the tool and which is attached to the bottom tubular portion  4   a  in a manner for ease of removal for collecting the marbles from tube  4   a  for re-use. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the tool of  FIG. 4  turned 90 degrees to the right. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the tool of  FIGS. 4 and 5  taken at the center (widest) point along the top portion thereof. The larger, outside circle represents the circumference  6   a  of the globular portion  4   b  of the Grabber tool  4 . The broken circle  6   b  within the larger circle  6   a  represents the bottom opening of the tube portion of the tool; the smaller broken circle  6   c  within circle  6   b  shows the opening in the bottom of the tube formed to be somewhat smaller than the diameter of the marbles used in the invention game; and the broken straight lines  6   d  within the larger broken circle show the creation of divisions  6   e  of the bottom of the tube which act to first surround a marble, then each division  6   e  moves past the center portion (i.e., widest circumference) of the marble to a position underneath the marble, which marble is then taken into the tool. This capture means is facilitated by using a flexible material circumscribed by dotted lines  6   b  and  6   c.    
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a two dimensional depiction of a player&#39;s marble  7 , sometimes designated as a “Grab” marble, a predetermined number of which the player must collect before being eligible to grab the single “neutral” marble  8  to become the game winner. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a two dimensional depiction of the single neutral  8  marble, sometimes designated as a “Grab It” marble, used in the game. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a top  13  covering the area  10 . In this depiction, the top  13  is shown recessed within the space between inside wall  11  and outside wall  10   a.    
           [0030]      FIG. 10  shows top  13  as a top or cover for the open area  10  and resting between inside wall  11  and outside wall  10   a  by having a diameter size between the diameter sizes of walls  11  and  10   a . Options for ease of removal of top  13  include a finger hole within the diameter of top  13  or a handle of some shape or form placed on the upper side of top  13  within said diameter. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of a possible separate container  14  and lid  15  therefor for storing the playing marbles for an individual player. In such a preferred embodiment, there is provided a container  14  for each set of like-colored marbles. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of a larger container  16  for holding the total of containers  14 , including multiple neutral colored marbles used for determining the game winner, and the grabber tools. Lid (or top)  17  is also shown for enclosing the content within container  16 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  shows closed (“lidded”) container  16  from a perspective looking down from above the top of said container and lid  17 . 
       
    
    
       [0034]    The described  FIGS. 1-13  show similar reference characters to denote corresponding features consistently throughout the several figures of the attached drawings and in the following Detailed Description. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    The present invention relates to a game for teaching manual dexterity, and game apparatus therefor.  FIG. 1  of the drawings discloses an arena  10  which is used in playing the game. A single arena  10  is provided, with its use common to all players of the game. The arena  10  is defined by a generally circular periphery wall  11  within which each player&#39;s marbles  7  (often designated as “Grab” marbles) and a single neutral marble  8  (often designated as the “Grab It” marble) are placed before the game begins. The concept of the arena is merely a defined space within which each player&#39;s Grab marbles and the single Grab It marble are to be confined during the process of their collection by the players as the game progresses. This could be as simple as drawing a rough circle in the sand or dirt. A generally circular shape is preferred only to provide each player the same opportunity for success in the game. If there are four players, the arena shape could just as easily be drawn as a square with each player occupying a separate side. The most preferred embodiment is three dimensional and circular as depicted as shown in  FIG. 1  as an open area, or arena,  10 . The walls  11  of the arena provided by its third dimension assist in keeping the Grab marbles  7  and the Grab It marble  8  within the arena during the melee of the players simultaneously using their tools  4  to collect the marbles  7  and  8  (often designated as “Grabber tools”) required to win the game under way. The wall  11  may vary in thickness, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or it may be of a uniformly continuous width producing inner and outer concentric circles (or other geometric shapes). The Grabber tool  4  as shown in  FIGS. 4-6  is essentially a collection tube  4   a  with a marble entry port  6   c  at one end of the tube and a rounded, globular handle  4   b  at its other end. The handle shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  represent a preferred embodiment. Such handle function could easily be of a different configuration and remain within the conception of the instant invention. For example, it could take the shape of a simple “T” permitting easy grasp and control by small hands. Also, other handle designs (such as a flattened oval permitting the fingers of a small hand to be inserted for grasping the Grabber tool  4 ) could be used without diverting from the game conceptualized and herein disclosed for use in the instant invention. The disclosed invention anticipates any equivalent handle shape that permits grasping and controlling the tool for capturing the designated playing pieces. The particular preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  have the attributes both of ease of control and no sharp edges. 
         [0036]    As a single game does not require much passage of time, there is generally prior agreement among the players as to the number of games to be played to determine an overall winner. The arena  10  is of sufficient size to provide for the initial placement and containment of an equal number of Grab marbles  7  for each of a plurality of players therein and a single Grab It marble  8 . The object of the game is for each player to remove his/her (and only his/her) Grab marbles  7  from the common arena  10  as rapidly as possible. Accomplishment of this task permits a player then to capture a single neutral marble  8  (different from the other marbles) to declare himself/herself as winner of the game. 
         [0037]    One means for permitting the Grab marbles  7  and Grab It marble  8  to enter into the tube  4   a  when it is placed over said marble is to provide placement at the end of tube  4   a  a washer-like semi-closure made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a plastic material of suitable plasticity or a rubber material of suitable flexibility. Such plastic or rubber material may lie in a plane perpendicular to a plane along the length of the tube  4   a  and partially cover one end of the tube  4   b  around said end&#39;s circumference  6   b  and leaving an opening  6   c  in the center, which opening has a diameter some degree smaller than the diameter of the marble to be captured. 
         [0038]    Due to vigorous actions taken be a player to rapidly capture the game marbles ahead of other players in order to win the game, the tube  4  itself should be made of a material of some rigidity and durability. While this can be a plastic material, if the material used for the marble pick-up means shown in  FIG. 6  partially covering the end of the tube  4   a  must be flexible enough to move to a degree to permit marble pick-up. This could be accomplished by dividing (by cutting or other means) into multiple sections  6   e  whereby a marble may be “grabbed” by placing the partially covered end of the Grabber tool  4  over the marble and, by pushing the tube down the multiple sections of plastic material will bend to slide by the circumference of the marble and the energy being stored in the elastic material will produce a spring action of each of said multiple sections upon completely passing the marble and will push the marble up into the body of the tube. Also, various alternative means for permitting capture of the marble game pieces are envisioned and may be employed. One such alternative means includes attaching to the end of the Grabber tool tube for marble capture a rubber (or “rubberized”) washer, the outside diameter of which is generally the diameter of the capture tube of the Grabber tool  4  and the inside diameter of the washer is just smaller than the diameter of the marble game pieces to be captured; whereas the flexible nature of the washer material permits expansion of the inside washer diameter to accommodate passage there through of the marble but return to its normal diameter after said passage prevents the marble game piece from exiting the capture tube via the same route. 
         [0039]    At the other end of the tube portion of the Grabber tool  4  is located a rounded, globular handle  4   b . The tube  4   a  should be of sufficient length to hold the number of Grab marbles  7  and the single Grab It marble  8  used in the game, as such storage capacity within said tube  4   b  will determine the maximum number of Grab marbles  7  (plus a single Grab It marble) that can be collected. Clearly, there is a relationship between the tube  4   a  size (length and diameter) and marble size, which relationship allows manipulation to determine the optimal number of marbles in a game. Also, entering into this relationship is the age/size of the potential players. The size of the grabber tools must be appropriate to an age range, which also permits manipulation of the number of marbles that may be employed, with the greater the number, the greater the challenge and range of skill development. So, the game itself may be produced for various aged players from toddlers to adults. 
         [0040]    Ideally, this handle  4   b  is designed to be easily removed from the tube  4   a  for recovering the marbles to play the next game. Such tube-handle assembly may be accomplished in any prudent fashion. Optional connection/release means may include, but no be limited to, (1) a push-on/pull-off operation, relying on adequate pressure and friction to maintain the connection between pushing on and pulling off, or (2) the handle end of tube  4   a  and a portion within the handle  4   b  may be threaded in male-female fashion to permit screwing/unscrewing the tube  4   a  and handle  4   b  between capturing and retrieving the Grab marbles  7  and/or Grab It marble  8 . Certainly, other means of attachment may be employed and are considered within the scope of disclosure herein. The location of the handle  4   b  somewhat distant from the capture end of tool  4   a  allows easy grasp and manipulation by a player with small hands. It also serves to allow the player to develop both manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination at a very young age, or improvement of such coordination at any age. 
         [0041]    The Grab marbles  7  are provided in multiples of different groups, each group being differently configured in some way in order to distinguish between each group. In a preferred embodiment, each group is of a different color (e.g., green, yellow, orange, purple, etc.; other colors may be used as desired) to enable small children to recognize playing pieces (marbles) belonging to a given group. Alternatively, marble identifiers could be marbles with a different letter surrounding their surface. This would reinforce learning letters by very young players. Or, the marbles may be stripped versus checkered versus covered with squares versus covered with triangles versus covered with hexagons, etc. The point is that the particular chosen marble group identifier is not determinative on the scope of the instant invention, as the fact of distinguishing between/among them is an element of the invention&#39;s conception and reduction to practice, and any equivalent means of accomplishing differentiation between or among the groups of Grab marbles  7  is anticipated within the scope of the invention. The same concept applies to the Grabber tools  4 . For example, when the different multiple groups&#39; distinguishing identifier is color, each Grabber tool  4  is of the same color as each multiple of different colored groups of Grab marbles  7 . The use of different colors for each group is particularly advantageous for smaller children who have not yet developed fine perception skills to distinguish more subtle differences, and who can easily associate the color of their Grabber tool  4  with the color of their assigned multiples of Grab marbles  7 . The advantage of other distinguishing identifiers as listed above herein permits and or reinforces learning the alphabet, or geometric shapes or whatever category of which the distinguishing identifier may qualify. Only a single neutral (dissimilar to the Grab marbles  7 ) Grab It  8  marble is required to play the game, although it may be prudent to have one or more extra Grab It  8  marbles available to replace one that may become lost. The larger number of same color Grab marbles  7  each player will have to capture to be eligible to capture the single neutral Grab It  8  marble, the greater the manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, and recognition skills that will be required to win the game. This permits adjustment of the number of Grab marbles  7  to be required to capture before grabbing the Grab It marble  8 . So, the game can be played with an appropriate number of Grab marbles  7  for the age or skill level of the players. Also, the game may be adjusted for the younger player who either ages and/or increases skill and abilities in regularly playing the game. In this way the game doesn&#39;t become boring, and the game can grow along with the child player. An appropriate number of marbles for players of a tender age, e.g., approximately three years and just older, may be three or four Grab marbles  7  to limit frustration while developing their skills at manipulating the Grabber tools  4  to collect the Grab marbles and the Grab It marble. 
         [0042]    The game is played is by placing an equal number of the individual playing pieces, such as Grab marbles  7 , for each player within the arena  10 , along with a single Grab It marble  8 . All of the players simultaneously attempt to be first to capture all their like-identified Grab marbles  7 , using their like-colored Grabber tool  4 , and then to capture the lone, differently identified Grab It marble  8 , also using their Grabber tool  4 , which corresponds to the identifier for their respective Grab marbles  7 . The object is to be the first player to complete the two above steps. The first player to accomplish both tasks must also yell “Grab It!” after grabbing the Grab It marble  8  to be the winner. In the possible instance where one player may capture another player&#39;s Grab marble  7 , the game is immediately stopped by any player; the erroneously captured marble is credited as captured by the player whose marble it is; and the player who erroneously captured the marble is removed from completion of that specific game, which game then continues to its completion by the remaining players. Likewise, if the Grab It marble  8  is erroneously captured by a player who has not yet captured all of his designated Grab marbles  7 , the game is stopped while said player returns the Grab It marble  8  to the arena playing field and said player is not permitted to continue the game in play, which game then continues to its completion by the remaining players. 
         [0043]    The above described game and apparatus providing for the play thereof, is particularly valuable in teaching eye-hand coordination for younger, smaller children and others needing such development. The different colors provided for the different groups of Grab marbles  7  and their associated Grabber tools  4 , are easily recognized by younger children. No specific number of playing marbles is required, as the game may be played with a relatively few for smaller children, and more added for more advanced play. The use of safe plastic materials with smoothly rounded borders devoid of sharp edges provides a safe game apparatus and other game parts. It must be noted, however, any particular material used in making any element of the disclosed game invention does not represent a limitation to the scope of such disclosure. The arena could be made of wood or metal or cardboard, or any other relatively rigid material, as well as plastic. The same is true of the marbles used and disclosed herein. Also, the Grabber tool  4  could be made with wood or metal or a combination thereof. Any preference for plastic is for practical reasons as to expense and ease (and speed) of manufacture, in addition to permitting “smoothly rounded borders devoid of sharp edges.” 
         [0044]      FIGS. 9-13  address containment, for portability and storage, of the invention game and its components. While the Brief Description of the Drawings, above, describe one means and design(s) for use in such containment, other means and designs are included in the scope of the invention and the figures specific to this purpose are not intended in any way to be limiting on the scope of the claimed invention. For example, one alternative (to  FIG. 11 ) means for storing or containing the individual players (similar colored) marbles is to package them within each respectively colored (or otherwise similarly designated) Grabber tool. In this instance the Grabber tools could be contained, in a fixed or unfixed manner, within the larger container for (or, operating as) the playing arena. It is to be understood that the invention lies in the scheme of the game and its uniquely designed elements to achieve the goal of pleasure and enjoyment in playing the game while achieving the purpose of enhancing children&#39;s manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination at the same time. 
         [0045]    Therefore, the present invention is not limited to any particular embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.