EP1744819B1

EP1744819B1 - Board game

Info

Publication number: EP1744819B1
Application number: EP04769319A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Valerio Aprile
Original assignee: Pea & Promoplast Srl
Current assignee: Pea & Promoplast Srl
Priority date: 2004-05-03
Filing date: 2004-09-02
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-02
Also published as: ITTO20040057U1; EP1744819A1; WO2005105234A1; ATE553823T1

Abstract

A board game comprising a game board (1), one or more pieces (4, 5) movable manually on the game board (1) , and a body simulating a ball or puck (6). Each piece (4, 5) and the body simulating the ball or puck (6) include respective permanent magnets (9, 11) whose poles (N-S) are aligned perpendicularly to the game board (1) and positioned at the same side. When the body simulating the ball or puck (6) is approached by or approaches one or the other piece (4, 5), it is subjected to a magnetic repulsion motion along the game board (1).

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a board game intended particularly, but not exclusively, to complement for promotional purposes packages of food products and the like, or also collections of cards of sports teams and the like, possibly collecting its components supplied separately.

State of the prior art

From FR-2416031A a board game is known, comprising a non magnetic game board, a pair of goals, at least two pieces movable on the game board, and a body simulating a ball. The ball and the at least two pieces include respective permanent magnets whose poles are so positioned to generate repulsion motion when approaching to each other. Document GB-1334133 discloses a baord game comprising all the technical features set out in the preamble of claims 1 and 6.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a board game of the above referenced type that is particularly simple and at the same time extremely amusing and liked in particular by children.
The game according to the invention, such as set forth in claim 1, is comprising a non magnetic game board, a pair of goals positioned at the opposite ends of the game board, at least two pieces movable manually on the game board by two players, each defending a respective goal, and a body simulating a ball or puck, in which each piece and the body simulating the ball or puck include respective magnets whose poles are in use aligned substantially perpendicularly to the game board, and in which the polarities of said magnets are positioned at the same side so that, when said body simulating the ball or puck is approached by or approaches the other piece, it is subjected to a magnetic repulsion motion along the game board, and is characterized in that each piece includes a base having a surface with slightly convex configuration to bear on said game board.
In one version of the game, in which there are only two manually movable pieces, each piece will alternatively serve as striker and defender: the body simulating the ball or puck pushed by the striker towards the opponent's goal will in turn be repulsed by appropriately moving the defender.
A second embodiment, currently considered the preferred one because it is more complete and hence presumably more attractive to the public, comprises a plurality of first pieces and a plurality of second pieces simulating two opposing teams, to be deployed on the game board. In this case, the pieces will appropriately be shaped as the players of a football, or hockey, rugby, handball, American football team, etc.
In any case both each piece, and the body simulating the ball or puck appropriately include a base having a surface that bears on the game board, with planar or slightly convex configuration. In the second case, the sliding friction of the pieces and of the body simulating the ball or the puck on the game board will be reduced considerably, whilst generating amusing effects of rotation of the pieces around a vertical axis by effect of their magnetic repulsion interaction.
In a simplified variant, set forth in claim 6 and simulating bowling or billiards, a single piece may be provided, to be operated by a single player to repel magnetically the body simulating the ball or puck towards a group of non magnetised elements shaped as pins or balls.
The three versions (with one, two or more pieces) may also coexist in a manner that is selectively configurable by the player or players.

Brief description of the drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of a board game according to the invention, and
Figures 2 and 3 show in enlarged scale two components of the game.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring initially to Figure 1, the game according to the invention essentially comprises a game board 1 made of non magnetic material with low friction coefficient, e.g. a flexible plate of plastic material, simulating a football field (or a hockey, rugby, American football field, etc.) with two goals 2 positioned at its opposite ends.
In the case of the illustrated example, the game includes two teams, each formed by a plurality of pieces 4, 5 set down on the game board 1 and able to be positioned or moved manually thereon by two opposing players.
The game further comprises a body 6 simulating a ball or puck, movable on the game board 1 by effect of the interaction with the pieces 4 and 5, in the manner clarified below.
As shown in detail in Figure 3, each piece 4, 5 comprises an action figure 7 depicting a player and fastened on a base 8 for instance having cylindrical shape. In the base 8 is incorporated a permanent magnet 9, typically shaped as a circular disk, whose North/South poles N-S are mutually aligned along the axis of the base 8 or, when the piece is set down on the game board 1, perpendicularly thereto. The North/South poles N - S of the magnets 9 of all pieces 4 and 5 are positioned at the same side: i.e., in the case of the illustrated example, with the North pole up and the South pole down.
Similarly, the body 6 simulating the ball or puck has a base 10 in which is incorporated a permanent magnet 11 also positioned and oriented like the magnets 9 of the pieces 4 and 5, i.e. with the respective North/South poles positioned at the same side. If the body 6 simulates a ball, it may have hemispheric shape, in the manner shown in the drawings.
The lower surfaces of the bases 8 of the pieces 4, 5 and of the base 10 of the body 6 simulating the ball or puck, i.e. the surfaces in contact with the game board 1, can be planar or, more advantageously, slightly convex, in order to reduce their sliding friction.
With the arrangement described above, the interaction between the pieces 4, 5 and the body simulating the ball or puck 6 is such that when it is approached by or approaches one or the other piece 4, 5, it is subjected to a magnetic repulsion motion along the game board. It will thereby be possible to simulate a football (or hockey, rugby, etc.) match, appropriately moving the pieces 4 and 5 with the objective of pushing the ball or puck body 6 into the opponent's goal.
In a simplified version of the game, not shown in the drawings, instead of two teams of pieces 4 and 5 a single piece 4 and a single piece 5 may be provided, which may be shaped differently from what is shown herein, and also with greater dimensions with respect to the game board 1. The two pieces 4, 5, appropriately manipulated by two players, will alternatively act as strikers and defenders, respectively to push the body 6 towards the opponent's goal 2 and to prevent the body 6 from entering their own goal 2.
In a further simplified variant, not shown in the drawings and simulating bowling or billiards, a single piece may be provided (corresponding to one of the pieces 5, 6, though it may have different shape), to be operated by a single player to repel magnetically the body simulating the ball or puck 6 towards a group of non magnetised elements shaped as pins or balls, appropriately positioned on the game board 1. The surface in contact with the game board 1 of the base 10 of the body 6 simulating the ball or puck will advantageously be convex in this case as well, and the game board 1 may lack the goals 2 and be provided with sideboards.
The three versions (simplified with one piece, intermediate with two pieces and complete with two plurality of pieces) may also coexist in a manner that is selectively configurable by the player or players.
Naturally, the construction details and the embodiments may vary widely from what is described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Board game, comprising a non magnetic game board (1), a pair of goals (2) positioned at the opposite ends of the game board (1), at least two pieces (4, 5) movable manually on the game board (1) by two players, each defending a respective goal (2), and a body simulating a ball or puck (6), in which each piece (4, 5) and the body simulating the ball or puck (6) include respective permanent magnets (9, 11) whose poles (N-S) are in use aligned substantially perpendicularly to the game board and in which the polarities of said magnets are positioned at the same side so that, when said body simulating the ball or puck (6) is approached by or approaches one or the other of said pieces (4, 5), it is subjected to a magnetic repulsion motion along the game board, characterised in that each piece (4, 5) includes a base (8) having a surface with slightly convex configuration to bear on said game board.
Game as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it includes a plurality of first pieces (4) and a plurality of second pieces (5) simulating two opposite teams.
Game as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said body simulating the ball or puck (6) includes a base (10) having a surface that bears on the game board (1), with planar or slightly convex configuration.
Game as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said body simulating the ball or diskette (6) has substantially hemispheric shape.
Game as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that each piece (4, 5) includes an action figure.
Board game, comprising a non magnetic game board (1), a piece (4, 5) movable manually on the game board (1) by a player, a body simulating a ball or puck (6), a formation of elements which can be positioned on the game board (1) to be intercepted by said body simulating the ball or puck (6), in which said piece (4) and the body simulating the ball or puck (6) include respective permanent magnets (9, 11) whose poles (N-S) are in use aligned substantially perpendicularly to the game board and in which the polarities of said magnets are positioned at the same side so that, when said body simulating the ball or puck (6) is approached by or approaches said piece (4), it is subjected to a magnetic repulsion motion along the game board (1) to intercept said formation of elements positioned on said game board (1), characterised said piece (4, 5) includes a base (8) having a surface with slightly convex configuration to bear on said game board.
Game as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said body simulating the ball or puck (6) includes a base (10) having a surface that bears on the game board (1), with planar or slightly convex configuration.