Board blocks with pieces moved by interconnected end blocks
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to game board assemblies and games played thereupon and more particularly to an improved game board having a plurality of pieces moved thereacross from a &#34;home&#34; position to a &#34;game over&#34; position, the game providing enhanced intellectual stimulation and enjoyment for the players. 
     The prior art does disclose a variety of games wherein game pieces of one variety or another are moved from a first or &#34;home&#34; position to a &#34;game over&#34; position, somewhere else on the board, usually in an opponent&#39;s home position. Chinese Checkers is a classic example of the general concept. U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,934 issued to P. L. Shoptaugh on May 8, 1973, discloses a game board apparatus including laterally slidable members with barriers thereon, the idea of the game being to move spheres or marbles from one side of the board to the other to complete the game. The idea of the game, of course, is to complete the transfer of the pieces before the opponent transfers his pieces across the board. A generally cross shaped playing surface having no movable parts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,928 issued to H. P. Wilde, Sr. Another somewhat related game involving spheres movable to a trapped position and played in a single plane is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,457 issued to N. Gonzales, et al, on Dec. 19, 1972. 
     However, the prior art does not disclose a game board having a base with raised corner platforms to define a cross shaped playing surface therebetween, and a predetermined number of game pieces thereon, a variable number of which may be marked, the game being playable by from two to four players and wherein selected marked pieces start in a home position and then are movable forwardly and laterally across the game board to an opponent&#39;s home position, whereupon the first player wins the game, or has moved his pieces to a &#34;game over&#34; position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a game board having a cross shaped surface defined thereon which is filled by a predetermined number of linearly and laterally movable game pieces, certain of the pieces being marked and transferable from a &#34;home&#34; position to a &#34;game over&#34; position, the game being playable by 2, 3, or 4 persons with a variable, predetermined number of marked pieces. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a game board apparatus having a cross shaped playing surface thereon filled by a number of playing pieces, linear rows of such pieces being embraced by end members connected to one another beneath the game pieces, linear rows of such pieces being arrayed with other linear rows at 90 degrees thereto but in the same plane, the rows being shiftable linearly and laterally to thus move a game piece or pieces across the playing surface, linearly and laterally. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a game board apparatus having a cross shaped playing surface thereon, filled by a predetermined number of substantially identical, linearly and laterally movable game pieces, the total number of game pieces being determined by the formula x 2  +4x, thus providing a substantial number of games of varying complexity, all of which may be based upon the broad principle as just stated. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a game board apparatus upon which a board game may be played having an intriquing variety of ways in which a particular game may be played, thus to enhance intellectual stimulation and enjoyment for the players. 
     Generally speaking, the game board apparatus invention herein disclosed and claimed includes a base with four raised corner platforms which thereby define a cross shaped surface therebetween, upon the base, and four player positions on each of the four sides of the game, the game being playable by two, three or four players, the playing surface just defined including a first, central, generally square shaped playing surface and four playing surface extensions located on the four sides of the first surface, between adjacent pairs of the four corner platforms, a plurality of substantially square, identical, movable game pieces, the total number of the playing pieces being determined by the formula x 2  +4x, the quantity x being the number 2 or a greater whole number and the x 2  quantity of pieces being located, initially, in the first surface with the 4x quantity of pieces located in the playing surface extensions, a predetermined quantity of the game pieces being marked, and linear adjacent rows of the playing pieces being embraced by end blocks, pairs of end blocks across from one another embracing pieces therebetween, the end blocks being interconnected beneath the game pieces, rows of such pieces in one direction being interfitted with rows of such pieces at right angles thereto whereby game pieces may be moved laterally and linearly across the playing surface to thereby play a game. 
     Further novel features and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred structural embodiments of this invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the invention and also showing a cover therefor for use when the game is stored away; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrating a starting mode for playing the game, the game being arranged for play by two players; 
     FIG. 3 is a side or end elevation view of the invention as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top, plan view of the invention as shown in FIG. 2 but showing pieces arranged during playing of a game; 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic plan views of optional game boards according to this invention, x being the whole number 3 in FIG. 5A and 5 in FIG. 5B; 
     FIG. 6 is a section view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two pairs of end blocks of the game at right angles to each other, game pieces therebetween being removed for purposes of clarity; 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, bottom plan view of one end block of the invention; and 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation section view of an end block in place on the game board. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings by reference character, the game board apparatus of the invention is shown including a game board base 10 having raised or elevated corner platforms 12 on the four sides thereof. Quite obviously, the four sides of the game define playing positions for as many as four players. However, this game may be played by two, three or four players as predetermined in the manner explained hereinbelow. A storage cover 14 may be provided which may be in the form of an inverted, generally square tray. The cover 14 may be made of a suitable clear, or opaque plastic, as may be the base 10 and all of the other components of the invention. 
     The raised corner platforms 12 define a generally cross shaped playing surface 16 therebetween which includes a first, central, generally square shaped playing surface area 18 and four, adjacent playing surface extensions 20 which are located between adjacent pairs of the four corner platforms 12. The playing surface area 16 is substantially filled by a plurality of generally square and identical, game pieces 22. The total number of playing pieces is determined by the formula x 2  +4x, wherein x is the number 2 or a greater whole number, and the x 2  quantity of pieces are located, initially, in the first surface area 18. As can be seen from the drawings, the four x quantity of pieces are located in the playing surface extensions 20, adjacent the area 18, an x quantity being located in each of the four surface extensions 20. To simplify the explanation, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the number x is four. Thus, there are sixteen pieces located in areas 18 with four pieces located adjacent thereto in each of the extensions 20. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, a predetermined number of the game pieces may be marked, as indicated by reference numeral 24. In this embodiment, it has been predetermined that there will be two players playing with four marked pieces 24 each in their &#34;home&#34; positions. However, there could be three or even four players, each of whom might have one, two, three or four marked pieces 24. Thus, it is seen that the game has a high degree of versatility. In any event, the object of the game is to move the marked pieces 24 from the &#34;home&#34; position shown in FIG. 2 to a &#34;game over&#34; position wherein a player&#39;s four pieces are moved to the opponent&#39;s &#34;home&#34; position before the opponent accomplishes the same result with respect to the one player. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate, schematically, game designs according to this invention wherein the quantity x is 3, in FIG. 5A, and 5, in FIG. 5B. Thus, the total number of pieces is 21, in FIG. 5A, with 9 pieces in the central area, and 45, in FIG. 5B, with 25 pieces in the central area. 
     The game pieces 22 including the marked pieces 24 are arranged in linear rows which are embraced by pairs of movable end blocks 26 interconnected beneath the game pieces by a strip 28 two of which at 90° to each other are illustrated in FIG. 7. Thus, these linear arrangements of pieces, generally indicated by reference numeral 30, include end blocks 26 embracing the quantity x+2 game pieces. In the embodiment shown, the quantity is 6. Also, the total number of pairs of end blocks is the quantity 2x. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, there are 8 such pairings. 
     It is clear from FIGS. 2 and 4 that these linear rows 30 are movable laterally and linearly with respect to each other, thus to move any particular game piece 22 or, more importantly, 24, laterally and linearly. In order to assure an easy sliding action of any one game piece passed its neighbors, each corner thereof may be radiused or chamfered, as indicated at 32. In this manner, a bit of &#34;slop&#34; is provided in the array of game pieces and movement of the linear rows 30 is facilitated while simultaneously retaining the array of pieces in a reasonable order. 
     The marked pieces 24 may be color coded by dots on the surface thereof, as shown, or may otherwise be marked in any suitable manner. For example, a playing or neutral piece 22 might be provided with a removable color marker, or the entire marked piece 24 may be of a solid color. 
     One or more of the corner platforms 12 might be provided with a holding or storage tray 34 for retaining such marked or unmarked pieces which are not in play in the game selected. For example, given the embodiment of FIG. 2, it might be desired to play with only two marked pieces per player. Two of the marked pieces 24 would be removed and stored at 34 while two unmarked pieces 22 previously in tray 34 will be placed on the game board in place of the removed, marked pieces 24. 
     The strips 28 beneath adjacent linear rows 30 are arranged to be beneath the strips 28 of linear rows 30 arrayed at 90 degrees to the first mentioned set of rows as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, rows 30 at right angles to one another are relatively laterally movable and the pieces 22, 24 may thus be moved laterally and linearly across the playing surface 16. To this end, a plurality of channels 36 are defined within playing surface 16, beneath a plane defined by the top surface of the playing surface 16. As shown, each end block 26 is rectangular in shape, having a length dimension twice that of the diameter of a game piece 22, 24 and a width dimension equal that of a game piece 22 or 24. Three positions for each linear row 30 are defined, the distance between any two positions being the diameter of a game piece 22 or 24. Two end positions are defined by end 38 (FIGS. 6 and 9) of a channel 36 against which the ends of a strip 28 may abut. Thus the length of the channel 36 will be eight times the diameter of a game piece 22 or 24. The intermediate position may be defined by simply aligning the outer ends of a connected pair of blocks 26 with the sides of game board base 10. Alternatively, the middle position of a row 30 might be defined by a dimple and mating recess arrangement 40 fomed in the bottom of each end block 26 and in the appropriate top surface of the surface extension 20 therebeneath (FIGS. 8 and 9) so that a player might sense through his fingers the moment at which the dimple enters its recess thus to determine this intermediate position. In the other two positions and as a row 30 is moved to the other positions, the dimple simply rides along an adjacent surface, the dimple and recess structure being dimensioned to be shallow enough so that no interference in moving the row 30 is encountered. 
     It has been found that a very interesting and most challenging game may be played with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2. Equally of interest is the fact that the game may be learned in a matter of a few seconds. The rules of this embodiment of the game are completely uncomplicated. The object of the game, of course, is to move ones marked pieces 24 from his &#34;home&#34; position to the opponent&#39;s &#34;home&#34; position before the opponent does the same with respect to the one player&#39;s &#34;home&#34; position. This embodiment of the game has only two other rules. First, one player may simply not reverse his opponent&#39;s immediately previous move. Otherwise, an obvious stalemate would occur. Second, if one player is moving one or more of his opponent&#39;s marked pieces 24, he must also, simultaneously, move one of his marked pieces. In this way, a most exciting and challenging game may be played. 
     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.