Patent US4448423A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4448423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Board game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-09-20
•
Granted: 1984-05-15
•
Expires: 2002-09-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for playing a competitive scoring game including a flat playing surface divided into upper and lower sections, a plurality of playing pieces, and randomized selector holders for holding sets of playing pieces during play. The playing pieces include reference indicia on the top surface to indicate alphabetic consonants, vowels, and blanks which may represent consonants or vowels. The playing pieces are provided with further indicia of color to distinguish each players set of playing pieces and further indicia on the bottom surface to distinguish playinig pieces having consonants from those having vowels or blanks. The object of the game is to form colorwords by juxtaposing colored letter carrying playing pieces in the upper section. The colorwords may be extended to form other words. The word is won, when no further letters can be added, by the player whose colored letters outnumber those of any other players. The lower section is used to discard playing pieces in juxtaposition to form words. Playing pieces may be substituted in the lower section to obtain particular letters and/or colored letters for play in the upper section so long as the substitution forms a word.
Inventors
- 👤 George V. Augusta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:17
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/04; A63F3/0423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A board game apparatus comprising a playing board having a flat surface, to receive, thereon, playing pieces having a definite configuration, and adapted to be used by at least two players comprising: means on said flat surface dividing said surface into first and second sections, the surfaces of said first and second sections adapted to receive playing pieces placed in juxtaposition on said surfaces to form words, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, means disposed on each said set of playing pieces distinguishing each said set from other sets, means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing alphabetical characters selected from the group consisting of consonants and vowels, other means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing the absence of said alphabetical characters, other means disposed on certain playing pieces of each said set whereby the playing pieces of each said set are divided into two subgroups comprising a first group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical consonants on the top surface and a second group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical vowel characters or the absence of alphabetical characters on the top surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A board game apparatus comprising a playing board having a flat surface, to receive, thereon, playing pieces having a definite configuration, and adapted to be used by at least two players comprising: means on said flat surface dividing said surface into first and second sections, the surfaces of said first and second sections adapted to receive playing pieces placed in juxtaposition on said surfaces to form words, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, means disposed on each said set of playing pieces distinguishing each said set from other sets, means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing alphabetical characters selected from the group consisting of consonants and vowels, other means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing the absence of said alphabetical characters, other means disposed on certain playing pieces of each said set whereby the playing pieces of each said set are divided into two subgroups comprising a first group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical consonants on the top surface and a second group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical vowel characters or the absence of alphabetical characters on the top surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A board game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for holding each said set of playing pieces during the playing of the game comprising a first holding means for releasably holding playing pieces having said means on the top surface representing alphabetical consonants, and second holding means for releasably holding playing pieces having said means on the top surface representing vowel characters and the absence of alphabetical characters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The board game apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a playing piece holder for holding each said set of playing pieces during the playing of the game comprising, means for holding a portion of the playing pieces in a top surface up position ready for view and play by the player, and other means for holding the remaining playing pieces in a top surface down position ready for selection by the player.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The playing piece holder of claim 3 wherein the holder comprises a container having a slot means for holding a portion of the playing pieces in a top surface up position ready for view and play by the player and a plurality of bin means for holding the remaining pieces in top surface down position ready for selection by the player.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The board game apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means disposed on each set of playing pieces distinguishing each said set from other sets comprises a distinguishable color.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
248 words
A board game apparatus comprising a playing board having a flat surface, to receive, thereon, playing pieces having a definite configuration and adapted to be used by 2 to 4 players comprising: means on said flat surface dividing said surface into first and second sections, the surfaces of said first and second sections adapted to receive playing pieces placed in juxtaposition on said surfaces to form words, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, means disposed on each said set of playing pieces distinguishing each said set from other sets, means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing alphabetical characters selected from the group consisting of consonants and vowels, other means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing the absence of said alphabetical characters, other means disposed on certain playing pieces of each said set whereby the playing pieces of each said set are divided into two subgroups comprising a first group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical consonants on the top surface and a second group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical vowel characters or the absence of alphabetical characters on the top surface, and means for holding each said set of playing pieces during the playing of the game comprising means for holding a portion of playing pieces in top surface up position for view by the player and other means for holding the remaining playing pieces in top surface down position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
248 words
A board game apparatus comprising a playing board having a flat surface, to receive, thereon, playing pieces having a definite configuration and adapted to be used by 2 to 4 players comprising: means on said flat surface dividing said surface into first and second sections, the surfaces of said first and second sections adapted to receive playing pieces placed in juxtaposition on said surfaces to form words, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, means disposed on each said set of playing pieces distinguishing each said set from other sets, means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing alphabetical characters selected from the group consisting of consonants and vowels, other means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing the absence of said alphabetical characters, other means disposed on certain playing pieces of each said set whereby the playing pieces of each said set are divided into two subgroups comprising a first group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical consonants on the top surface and a second group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical vowel characters or the absence of alphabetical characters on the top surface, and means for holding each said set of playing pieces during the playing of the game comprising means for holding a portion of playing pieces in top surface up position for view by the player and other means for holding the remaining playing pieces in top surface down position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The board game apparatus of claim 6 wherein each said sets of playing pieces comprises thirty playing pieces consisting of twenty nine pieces having alphabetical characters disposed thereon and one playing piece having no alphabetical character thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
250 words
A board game apparatus comprising a playing board having a flat surface, to receive, thereon, playing pieces having a definite configuration and adapted to be used by at least 2 players comprising: means on said flat surface dividing said surface into first and second sections, means on said first section dividing the playing surface into a plurality of areas conforming substantially to the configuration of said playing pieces and adapted to receive playing pieces in juxtaposition to form words, means on said second section dividing the playing surface into a plurality of areas conforming substantially to the configuration of said playing pieces and adapted to receive playing pieces in juxtaposition to form words, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, means disposed on each said set of playing pieces distinguishing each said set from other sets, means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing alphabetical characters selected from the group consisting of consonants and vowels, other means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing the absence of alphabetical characters, and means disposed at least on the bottom surface of certain playing pieces of each said set whereby the playing pieces of each said set is divided into two groups comprising a first group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical consonants on the top surface and a second group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical vowel characters or the absence of alphabetical characters on the top surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
250 words
A board game apparatus comprising a playing board having a flat surface, to receive, thereon, playing pieces having a definite configuration and adapted to be used by at least 2 players comprising: means on said flat surface dividing said surface into first and second sections, means on said first section dividing the playing surface into a plurality of areas conforming substantially to the configuration of said playing pieces and adapted to receive playing pieces in juxtaposition to form words, means on said second section dividing the playing surface into a plurality of areas conforming substantially to the configuration of said playing pieces and adapted to receive playing pieces in juxtaposition to form words, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, means disposed on each said set of playing pieces distinguishing each said set from other sets, means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing alphabetical characters selected from the group consisting of consonants and vowels, other means disposed on the top surface of certain playing pieces of each said set representing the absence of alphabetical characters, and means disposed at least on the bottom surface of certain playing pieces of each said set whereby the playing pieces of each said set is divided into two groups comprising a first group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical consonants on the top surface and a second group consisting of playing pieces having alphabetical vowel characters or the absence of alphabetical characters on the top surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The board game apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a playing piece holder for holding each said set of playing pieces during the playing of the game comprising means for holding a portion of the playing pieces in a top surface up position ready for view and play by the player and other means for holding the remaining playing pieces in a top surface down position ready for selection by the player.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The board game apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: walls means disposed upon the flat surface about the periphery of said upper and lower sections, hinge means dividing said playing board into portions whereby the walls means of each portion may be folded into abutting relationship to form a chamber therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The board game apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: means for rotably supporting said flat surface about its vertical axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US850489A
Cited
US1553835A
Cited
US2774598A
Cited
US2757934A
Cited
US2766987A
Cited
US3077677A
Cited
US3413004A
Cited
US3565439A
Cited
US4420157A
Cited
US4384722A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-15 | 1987-11-14 | 1988-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-15 | 1991-11-14 | 1992-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-15 | 1995-11-14 | 1996-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |