US2727745A - Peg and hole game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1955 H. H. JENKINS PEG AND HOLE GAME APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1954 IN VEN TOR:

55 1 2. BY HHJENKINS,

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent i PEG- AND; HOLE APPARATUS Homer Jenkins,-La res centa,. Calif.

j Application June 1, issqtsenarno. 433,375 g i 8 Claims. ((31. 2735-134 This invention relates to games played on a board with playing elements movable on the board according to rules laid down in such games.

It is the general object of thepresent invention to provide a game in which movements. of the playing elements are restricted by the peculiar design of the board. More particularly it is the object to provide a board marked with lines in a certain novel, irregular fashion and having in a number of places at line intersections sockets for receiving the playing elements when the latter are moved along the lines in accordance with the rules of the game.

These and other objects of the invention as well as the many novel and highly entertaining features thereof will be readily appreciated upon perusal of the following description and by referring to the accompanying drawing in which a preferred form of the invention is illustrated. i i

Fig. l is a plan view of a board disclosing. the peculiar markings and socket arrangements of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a similar board with the playing elements in such positions thereon as they would occupy in the course of playing the game in accordance with the rules thereof; and

Fig. 3 is. a side elevational view of one of the playing elements. i

The board. 1 may be of any desired shape and of suflicient size to provide space thereon" for the configuration of the elements combining with the board to form the device of the invention. I

At first glance, this configuration appears. rectangular and arranged Within a circular border 2 intersecting the corners of the rectangular design. Lines or grooves 3', 4 are longitudinally placed on the board to bridge the spaces between the upper and" lower corners of the design and uniformly spaced indentations 5, 6 are made in these lines to provide sockets for receiving therein the playing elements 7 of the game.

The lines transversely spanningthe distance between the left and right corners are provided with similar equidistantly spaced indentations 8, 9, but it is important to note that a portion ot'v each, of these lines and one of the indentations therein are broken away leaving a blank space in each line; also that the blank space 10 is between the second and third indentations whereas the space 11 of the other line is between the third and fourth indentation, reading from the left of the drawing.

Similar lines, or grooves '15 16 bridge the spaces lengthwise betweenthe second and' fourth indentations and similar sockets 19, 20 areindented in these lines in transverse alinement with the sockets of lines 3, 4, leaving wide gaps between the lines 15, 16. This is an important feature of the invention.

Between the lower left and upper right corners extends a diagonal line or groove 22- and similar lines 23, 24 extend diagonally across the design from the upper and lower sockets 25, 26 in parallelrelation to the central diagonal line 22. It is important to note that there is 2 7 no diagonal line between the other two corners-of the configuration but that similar lines or grooves 29, 30 extend diagonally from the sockets 32,. 33 to the upper left. sockets 34;, 35. This irregular arrangement of diagonal' lines also forms an important feature of' the invention leading to startling, unexpected results in the playing. of the game as will be further discussed present y.

For the purpose of adding to the entertainment of the game, it. is also found advantageous to sink a line between the sockets 38, 39- and a similar line 40 between the sockets 41, 42. Similar lines 45,, 46 are placed between the sockets 47, 48 and 49,- 50, respectively.

Two persons play the game, each of whom is given five playing elements 7. These elements, which for the sake of simplicity may be termed pegs, are differently colored to distinguish. the pegs of one person from: those of theother person. They are at the beginning of the gameplaced'ji'n. sockets at the top and bottom of the board", as indicated in phantom outline in Fig, 1, inf-ront of the two players.

It is the object of" the game to move the pegs from socket to socket to seat four pegs in four successively straightly alined' sockets,. starting the game from their initial positions at the top and bottom of the, board; As. in checker, each player has one move at a time and he may move hisipeg along any line extendingfrom the socket holding hispe'g to the next following, socketin any direction forward, backward and diagonally, or even along the circular line 2, until one of the players succeeds in? p'l'acihg" four of his pegs in four adjacent straightl'yalined sockets. That wins the game. It is now seen, or' by actual participation in the game it is quickly discerned that the peculiar, irregular ariangements of lines and sockets. afiords fiexibility'of movements at so many pivotal points that it enables either player toforestall hisopponents next move and so't'o' prevent him from accomplishing his objective in the earlier stages" of the game. And it. will furthermore be foundthat such stalling, moves gradually throw the g'ame' into such a state of complexity that neither piayer" Willhave the oppormnit'y' for carefully planned moves, as in checkers or chess. So many avenues of retreat or attack will develop as the game a'dyances'that the" fl'nal' issue will depend upon quick thinking and superior tactical skill of one of the players.

Another advantage of the invent-ion is that the game cannot end in a'dr'aw or'stal'emate and that neither player can: force awin: byvirtueof having moved "first. This is due: to. the fact that: the board is so designed that the winning" move; namely four pegs in. four. successive,

straightly alined-socketncan' oniy'be obtained on vertical or diagonal lines, there being no continuous transverse lines. Also that, because, of the interruptions of the transverse lines many pivotal points of great strategic importance are createdin the middle. portionof the board. Thecircular line 2 is also of importance since it enables a player to move his peg from one corner to thenext in either direction and so in many cases entirely to upset and to change the course of the-game. I

It isseen fromthe foregoing description that I have provided a very simple and inexpensive device with which so many new unforeseen and startling opportunities for entertainment are madepossible that it marks a distinct, important; forward step in the art. But while I have hereindescribedv and illustrated a preferred form of the inventionnit is to beunde'rstood: that modifications, within t-hescope of therclaims hereto appended, may be embodied thereiniwithoutdeparting fromthe spirit of the invention. It, may; for example where a more complicated game is desired, be found advantageous to extend the board arrangement vertically or transversely to add additional lines and sockets similarly uniformly spaced apart within a larger circle. Or, it may be found advantageous to provide additional sockets, such as shown at 55, in Fig. 2, at any point, or points along the circular line 2.

I claim:

1. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration, the parts thereof including lines lengthwise thereof in parallel relation to each other, parallel transverse lines at the top and bottom of the configuration, the transverse lines being cut to provide blank spaces intermediate the ends thereof, the lengthwise and transverse lines intersecting each other at many points, diagonal lines extending across the rectangular configuration and passing through intersections of said lengthwise and transverse lines, the diagonal lines extending in one direction differing in number and location from those extending in the opposite direction, all the intersections being recessed to form sockets in the board, and pegs seatable in said sockets.

2. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration, the parts thereof including lines lengthwise thereof in parallel relation to each other, parallel transverse lines being cut to provide blank spaces intermediate the ends thereof, the lengthwise and transverse lines intersecting each other at many points, diagonal lines extending across the rectangular configuration and passing through intersections of said lengthwise and transverse lines, the diagonal lines extending in one direction differing in number and location from those extending in the opposite direction, a circular line intersecting the four corners of the configuration, all the intersections being recessed to form sockets in the board, and pegs seatable in said sockets.

3. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration, the parts thereof including a pair of uniformly spaced lines lengthwise thereof at the sides of the rectangular configuration in parallel relation to each other, parallel transverse lines at the top and bottom of the configuration, the transverse lines being cut to provide blank spaces intermediate the ends thereof, the lengthwise and transverse lines intersecting each other at many points, diagonal lines extending across the rectangular configuration and passing through intersections of said lengthwise and transverse lines, the diagonal lines extending in one direction differing in number and location from those extending in the opposite direction, a circular line intersecting the four corners of the configuration, all the intersections being recessed to form sockets in the board, and pegs seatable in said sockets.

4. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration, the parts thereof including lines lengthwise thereof in parallel relation to each other, parallel transverse lines at the top and bottom of the configuration, the transverse lines being cut to provide blank spaces intermediate the ends thereof, the lengthwise and transverse lines intersecting each other at many points, diagonal lines extending across the rectangular configuration and passing through intersections of said lengthwise and transverse lines, the diagonal lines extending in one direction differing in number and location from those extending in the opposite direction, each of these lines being divided in portions of uniform length, all intersections occurring between the portions of the lines, all the lines being recessed between the portions thereof to form sockets in the board, and pegs seatable in said sockets.

5. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration, the parts thereof including lines lengthwise thereof in parallel relation to each other, parallel transverse lines at the top and bottom of the configuration, the transverse lines being cut to provide blank spaces intermediate the ends thereof, the lengthwise and transverse lines intersecting each other at many points, diagonal lines extending across the rectangular configuration and passing through intersections of said lengthwise and transverse lines, the diagonal lines extending in one direction differing in number and location from those extending in the opposite direction, each of these lengthwise parallel lines being divided in five portions of uniform lengths, all intersections occurring between the portions of the lines, all the lines being recessed between the portions thereof to form sockets in the board, there being in the upper transverse line two sockets at the left and three at the right of the blank space thereof, there being in the lower transverse line three sockets at the left and two sockets at the right of the blank space thereof, and pegs seatable in said sockets.

6. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration, the parts thereof including lines lengthwise thereof in parallel relation to each other, parallel transverse lines at the top and bottom of the configuration, the transverse lines being cut to provide blank spaces intermediate the ends thereof, the lengthwise and transverse lines intersecting each other at many points, diagonal lines extending across the rectangular configuration and passing through intersections of said lengthwise and transverse lines, the diagonal lines extending in one direction differing in number and location from those extending in the opposite direction, a circular line intersecting the four corners of the configuration, any of the lines extending to the circular line, all the intersections being recessed to form sockets in the board, and pegs seatable in said sockets.

7. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration, the parts thereof including lines lengthwise thereof in parallel relation to each other, parallel transverse lines at the top and bottom of the configuration, the transverse lines being cut to provide blank spaces intermediate the ends thereof, the lengthwise and transverse lines intersecting each other at many points, diagonal lines extending across the rectangular configuration and passing through intersections of said lengthwise and transverse lines, the diagonal lines extending in one direction differing in number and location from those extending in the opposite direction, two centrally located vertically directed lines connecting the intersections of said diagonal lines, all the intersections being recessed to form sockets in the board, and pegs seatable in said sockets.

8. A game comprising a board having thereon a rectangular configuration contained Within and intersecting a circular line at the four corners ofsaid configuration, the parts thereof including six uniformly spaced lines lengthwise thereof, four of which span the two ends, and two shorter and centrally located lines being intermediate the two ends but being differently located in relation to the five ends, diagonal lines of various lengths extending through the configuration and two diagonal lines of equal lengths in the opposite direction, six uniformly spaced laterals extending from each side, none of which connects with its opposite, all of the lines in said rectangular configuration crossing or meeting each other thereby forming geometrical figures or shapes of different size and location, all being recessed to form sockets at their corners, and all being in balanced relation with respect to the opposite ends of the configuration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 462,170 Smith Oct. 27, 1891 484,882 Rickert Oct. 25, 1892 818,582 Thomas Apr. 24, 1906 2,569,637 Loe Oct. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,015 Great Britain 1903 52,576 Switzerland Jan. 6, 1911

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