US4201389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Word game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-05-24
•
Granted: 1980-05-06
•
Expires: 1999-05-24
Abstract
Abstract A word game comprising a playing surface having a plurality of sections, each section being adapted to present a different letter viewable to the player, the various sections being capable of being maintained in a fixed position whereby aligned letters may be used to form a word, the remaining sections being capable of being varied to present a plurality of different letters viewable to the player or players. Optionally, the letters are dispersed on the playing surface in a manner correlated to their frequency of appearance in the English language with certain related letters being placed in juxtaposed relationship.
Inventors
- 👤 David H. Vowell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:27
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/04; A63F3/0423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A game board comprising: a plurality of sections; letter means associated with each of said sections containing thereon a plurality of individual letters, said letter means being adapted to present only a single pre-selected letter viewable to a player, said letter means including a plurality of rotatable elements, each of said elements having a plurality of faces thereon, each of said faces having only a single letter displayed thereon, said letter means also including a block in each of said sections; letter changing means on said game board for varying said letter means for changing the letter viewable to a player to another differing letter on said letter means viewable to said player, said letter changing means including said elements being rotatably mounted in said blocks to thereby present differing faces thereof viewable to a player; and letter locking means on said game board for locking in a pre-selected letter viewable to said player thereby permitting a plurality of aligned juxtaposed letters to be locked into fixed position while the remaining letters are varied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A game board comprising: a plurality of sections; letter means associated with each of said sections containing thereon a plurality of individual letters, said letter means being adapted to present only a single pre-selected letter viewable to a player, said letter means including a plurality of rotatable elements, each of said elements having a plurality of faces thereon, each of said faces having only a single letter displayed thereon, said letter means also including a block in each of said sections; letter changing means on said game board for varying said letter means for changing the letter viewable to a player to another differing letter on said letter means viewable to said player, said letter changing means including said elements being rotatably mounted in said blocks to thereby present differing faces thereof viewable to a player; and letter locking means on said game board for locking in a pre-selected letter viewable to said player thereby permitting a plurality of aligned juxtaposed letters to be locked into fixed position while the remaining letters are varied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
In the game board of claim 1 wherein said sections includes a plurality of vertical and horizontal rows on said game board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
In the game board of claim 1 wherein said letter locking means includes means associated with both said element and said block wherein, in a first position, said element is freely rotatable in said block, and, in a second position, said element is lockable in a fixed position in said block.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
In the game board of claim 3 wherein said last-mentioned means includes at least one locking pin on said block adapted to enter at least one locking slot in said element, both said locking pin and said locking slot being irregularly configured.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
In the game board of claim 3 wherein said block includes a pair of spaced apertured bosses therein, said element including an axially extending pin entering said bosses, sufficient play being provided between said bosses and said last-mentioned pin so that said last-mentioned pin is axially movable in said bosses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
In the game board of claim 1 wherein said letters on said letter means are dispersed according to the frequency of their appearance in the English language, the total number of letters on all of said letter means thereby containing percentages of each letter in the English language correlated to its frequency of appearance therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the game board of claim 6 wherein letter combinations frequently appearing together in the English language are disposed in juxtaposed relationship on said game board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the game board of claim 1 wherein letter combinations frequently appearing together in the English language are disposed in juxtaposed relationship on said game board.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US52758A
Cited
FR647975A
Cited
US2698181A
Cited
US2842368A
Cited
FR1191186A
Cited
US3129004A
Cited
US3463487A
Cited
US3902725A
Cited
US3735982A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-05-06 | 1983-11-05 | 1984-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-05-06 | 1987-11-05 | 1988-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-05-06 | 1991-11-05 | 1992-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |