Abstract:
A strategy game with the flavor of Tic Tac Toe embodied in both two dimensional(planar) and three dimensional (cubic) configurations. Each consists of a lattice type matrix forming a plurality of interconnected adjacent open cubes. The playing members are spherical and player differentiated by color. These player balls are inserted into the matrix alternately by the players and scoring is achieved by ball patterns; e.g., three in a row or nine in a single plane. The uniqueness in this game is the ability of the player balls to move from one cube to another in the matrix by the players forcing one ball against another. This capability dramatically increases scoring and blocking opportunities.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There have in the past been provided a plurality of games that might be considered Tic Tac Toe type games in which scoring is achieved by positioning a certain number of player members in a straight line. For example, the game THROW IN A ROW™ manufactured by Tonka Corporation consists of three vertical tubes each with a funnel at the top into which the players toss balls to achieve scoring patterns. The CONNECT FOUR manufactured by Hasbro, Inc. has been an extremely successful game and includes a plurality of vertical slots formed in a single plane into which the players alternately drop checker-like player members in an effort to achieve four player members in a row either diagonally, horizontally or vertically. A game called IN THE DARK™ manufactured by Parker Brothers is similar to the CONNECT FOUR game. 
     In each of the THROW IN THE ROW™, CONNECT FOUR, and IN THE DARK™ games, the strategy component is relatively low because once the player members achieve a certain position in the slots they are not movable from that position at any time later in the game. 
     The SHIFT TAC TOE™ planar game manufactured by Pressman, Inc. does include nominal shifting of elements. In this game a plurality of vertical slots are formed in a single plane device and the player members, like the CONNECT FOUR game are dropped in from the top. Horizontal shifting is accomplished by levers along the side edges. 
     A MAKE 7™ also manufactured by Pressman, Inc. is similar to the CONNECT FOUR and THROW IN A ROW™. 
     Less commercially successful games have been the subject of many United States and foreign patent applications. For example, the Housley, U.S. Pat. No. 2,773,690, the Tuan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,931, and the Unique, U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,878 all disclose three dimensional Tic Tac Toe type games where the player-members, once positioned in the matrix cannot thereafter be moved without removing the members from the matrix itself. 
     The Swiss, CH Patentschrift 562,487 issued Jun. 7, 1974 and the Canadian Patent 602,970 issued Aug. 9, 1960 both show lattice-type matrix games in which resilient balls are held in position by the lattice framework itself. This design requires that the balls have a larger diameter than the cube in which it is held and be made from a cushion material and because of this it is not possible to shift the balls from one cube to another within the matrix. 
     The United Kingdom patent application GB 2,198,359 published Jun. 15, 1988 shows a block-like game that falls in the category of the immovable three dimensional games discussed above. 
     The Replogle, U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,487 shows a three dimensional Tic Tac Toe game in which it is possible to move the spherical player members through the matrix. However, this requires the use of an elongated tool 24 to move the members through the matrix and because the ball locations within the matrix are separated by a distance equal to approximately three times the diameter of the ball itself, it is not possible to utilize the tool 24 to force more than one ball at a time from one location to another. That is, if the tool is utilized to force one ball against another, only the ball engaging the ball will be appropriately positioned and the ball forced by that ball will be in a no-man&#39;s land location between ball position. 
     The Breslow, U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,727, the Hyland, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,395 and the Palladino, U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,709 show similar game configurations that should be viewed by the reader to complete the appropriate background prior art but are not believed more relevant than any of the patents specifically commented on above. 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a unique Tic Tac Toe game that ameliorates the problems and limitations of presently marketed or previously patented games of this type. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a unique strategy game is provided with the flavor of Tic Tac Toe embodied in both two dimensional(planar) and three dimensional (cubic) configurations. Each consists of a lattice-type matrix forming a plurality of interconnected adjacent open cubes. The player members are rigid and spherical and player differentiated by color. The player balls are inserted into the matrix alternately by the players and scoring is achieved by ball patterns of three in a row or nine in a single plane. The uniqueness of this game is the ability of the player balls to move from one cube to another in the matrix by the players forcing one ball against another. This capability dramatically increases scoring and blocking opportunities over the games described above in the Background of Invention. 
     The capability of the player balls, which are rigid and similar to ping pong balls, to move freely through the matrix from one individual cube to one of the adjacent cubes by forcing one ball against another, is achieved by the relationship between the diameter of the player balls and the size of the cube and the plurality of holding elements in each cube that hold the balls centrally in the cube and yet permit the ball when engaged by another ball to be shifted from that cube and snapped into the holding elements in the adjacent cube. Firstly, the rigid player balls have a diameter slightly less than the length of the cube size, and of course, all of the cubes have identical geometric configurations. 
     Each cube, by definition, has eight corners and in each of these is a tine boss that has a flat outer surface with a hole therein having an axis that intersects the geometric center of the cube. A flexible plastic tine with a small hard and smooth spherical end is staked in each of these eight holes, and thus they all project toward the geometric center of the cube. The length of the tine is selected so that it extends a substantial distance toward the geometric center of the cube beyond the outer surface of the ball when positioned centrally within the cube. This relationship results in the tines bending around the ball and engaging the outer surface of the ball over a substantial length of the sides of the tines themselves. The tines are constructed of an elastomeric material having a substantial &#34;memory&#34; so that when the balls leave the cubes, the tines return to their linear configuration pointing toward the geometric axis of the cube. 
     In the two dimensional configuration of this game, the cubes may be arranged within the lattice either three on a side(9 cubes) or five on a side(25 cubes), all in a single plane. 
     In the three dimensional version, which is depicted in the drawings, the cubes are preferably arranged three on a side thereby totaling 27 in an overall cubic arrangement, thereby totaling 27 individual cubes. 
     An important aspect of the present invention is that it is designed to be manufactured and assembled in four layers utilizing only two tools(cavities). The outer two layers utilize the identical part rotated 180 degrees about a vertical axis and the two inner layers are identical to one another and assembled without rotation. Thus, only two tools are required to manufacture the entire matrix. This is achieved by a unique arrangement of male and female connectors about the individual layers that permit the four layers when appropriately positioned to be snapped together during assembly. Of course, prior to snapping the layers together the tines are staked within the apertured bosses formed integrally with each plastic molded layer. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the three dimensional configuration of the present game illustrating two balls within the matrix and one entering; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the three dimensional matrix illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section of one cube taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of one of the corner cubes taken generally at line 4 in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section of a common corner of four adjacent cubes; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the fragmentary section illustrated in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective of one corner cube illustrating the ball in position with the eight tines engaging and centering the player ball; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagonal section through one cube taken generally along line 8--8 of FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 are exploded enlarged fragmentary sections in prospective of an exemplary pair of male and female connectors in the matrix; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the male connector illustrated in FIG. 9, and; 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective illustrating the four layers comprising the matrix illustrated in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present strategy game 10 is illustrated consisting of a three dimensional lattice-like matrix 12, 14 first player balls(R) 13, and 14 second player balls(W) 14. The three dimensional embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 12 is the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the lattice network 12 includes 27 adjacent cube areas, three on each leg of the matrix 12. 
     However, the present invention can be embodied in a simpler form with all of the cubic areas in a single plane, for example, one of the three planes illustrated in FIG. 1 with three cubical areas along the top and the side forming a total of nine cubical areas. There could, in this planar embodiment, also be twenty-five cubical areas formed five on the side, all in a single plane. While the two dimensional planar version of the present invention is considerably simpler both to manufacturer and in its skill level, it nevertheless has some of the benefits of the present invention, namely the ability to move the player balls through the plane from one cubic area to another. 
     Returning to the preferred embodiment and particularly the matrix 12 illustrated in FIG. 1, it is constructed of four layers of injection molded plastic parts snapped together as seen in FIG. 1 utilizing a first molding for both end panels and a second molding for both middle panels as will be described further in connection with FIG. 12. In any event, the lattice matrix 12 includes a first vertical layer 16, a second vertical layer 17, a third vertical layer 18 identical to vertical layer 17, and a fourth vertical layer 20 identical to first vertical layer 16. (The term &#34;vertical&#34; is solely for description since matrix 12 can be positioned with any side as its bottom). 
     The layers 16, 17, 18 and 20 form a matrix of twenty-seven cubic areas such as indicated at 21, 22 and 23 in FIG. 1 along the lower front row of the matrix illustrated in FIG. 1. It should also be understood that the internal lattice network has been removed from the interior of the matrix 12 in FIG. 1 solely for the purpose of clarity and to avoid confusing the reader with a great many overlapping parts. All of these internal cross members however are illustrated in FIG. 12 so that the internal geometry and construction of all twenty-seven cubes within the matrix are identical to one another and the following description of a single cubic area will be appreciated to apply to all twenty-seven in the matrix. 
     The lattice matrix 12 includes sixteen narrow vertical stringers 25, 26, 27, 28(four in each of four spaced parallel planes) interconnected by sixteen horizontal stringers 30, 31, 32 and 33(four in each of four spaced parallel planes), and sixteen orthogonally related horizontal stringer members 36, 37, 38 and 39 also arranged in each of four spaced parallel planes. 
     Turning now to the internal construction of each of the cubic areas 21, 22 and 23 and viewing FIGS. 2 to 8 and initially FIGS. 7 and 8, each geographic area has four equal sides, each having a length A illustrated in FIG. 8. In one exemplary embodiment, the distance A is 1.75 inches which of course is the medial distance between the parallel stringers illustrated in FIG. 1. That is, that distance A is taken from the mid-point of the stringer as opposed to its outer edges. In this exemplary embodiment the dimension A is 1.75 inches and the diameter of the player spheres or balls, such as sphere 13 indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is 1.50 inches. While the specific dimensions of the cubic areas is not critical to the present invention, the relationship between the leg dimension A and the diameter of the spherical player member 13 is very important to the present invention. Utilizing the dimensions just given, the ratio of the diameter of the player spheres D B  to the length of side A(L A ) is 0.857 inches. In the present invention, this will work satisfactorily within a range of plus or minus 20% of that ratio by the appropriate selection of the length, diameter, durometer and certain other characteristics of the plastic tines. 
     Viewing FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the eight corners of cubic area 21 has a tine mounting boss, including upper mounting bosses 55, 56, 57 and 58 and lower mounting bosses 59, 60, 61 and 62. Reference should be made now to FIG. 8 for an explanation of the geometry of the mounting bosses as well as the geometry of the tines themselves, and in this regard it should be kept in mind that FIG. 8 is taken on a vertical diagonal plane through FIG. 7. In this regard note that in FIG. 8, because it is a diagonal section through the cubic area, the horizontal diagonal dimension of the cubic area is greater than the vertical dimension (A=1.75 inches). Each of the tine bosses has an aperture 65 therein having an axis that is co-linear with a line passing therethrough, through the geometric center of the cubic area designated G.C. in FIG. 8, and also through the same bore 65 in the diagonally opposite boss. For example, the boss 58 has a bore 65 therein that has an axis passing through the geometric center(G.C.) of the geometric area and also passing through the axis of the bore 65(a) in diagonal boss 60. Each of the bosses has a planar forward surface 67 that is perpendicular to the axes of the tine bore 65. 
     Each of the tine bores 65 has a flexible elastomeric tine 68 therein staked with a separate short length of plastic rod(not shown) approximately the same diameter as the tines themselves. Each of the tines has a rigid smooth tip 69 dip-molded on the distal ends thereof constructed of a significantly more rigid material than the tines themselves. The tines 68 are cut from a continuous wound drum of plastic elastomeric &#34;wire&#34; having a substantial &#34;memory&#34; characteristic. These materials, as well as the staking technique, are known in the present day hairbrush art, and while the application of these tines to the present lattice structures is believed unique, the details of staking the tines into the apertures 65 and the chemical composition of the tines themselves can be derived from the hairbrush art. 
     In addition to the important ratio of the diameter of the player balls 13 to the length of the cubic area side dimension A(1.75 inches), the ratio of the length of the tine 68, including the tips 69, to the diameter of the player balls 13 is also important. In this regard, and again viewing FIG. 8, the length of the tine 68 is selected so that in the diagonal plane of FIG. 8, each of the tines extends a substantial distance X toward the geometric center of the cubic area beyond the periphery or outer surface of the player balls 13. While distance X in FIG. 8 appears small, it is actually much greater because the tines in FIG. 8 are bent against the outer surface of the ball. From the dimensions illustrated in FIG. 8, dimension X is in the range of 0.125 to 0.30 inches depending upon the thickness and durometer of the tines. 
     This relationship between tine length and the diameter of the player ball assures that the tine will bend over a substantial distance as shown in FIG. 7 so that when a ball is positioned in the cubic area, portions of the sides of each tine in addition to the semi-spherical tip 69 actually engage the outer surface of the player ball 13. This relationship assures that the player ball 13 when pushed into the cubic area will snap into a position centrally in the cubic area. Furthermore, this relationship also assures that the player balls can be displaced from one cubic area into another cubic area with approximately the same force as it takes to enter any cubic area.