Board Game Construction

The present invention refers to a board game construction for a game to be played between two people or two teams, who or which compete to move a mover from one part of the game board to the other and is particularly indicated to allow people to socialize and gather, since nowadays people tend to be increasingly isolated due to frequent use of mobile phones and electronic devices. BACKGROUND ART

As is known, different board games exist which utilize a disc or a coin as central element of the gameplay.

Some of the most famous games of this kind are, for example, crokinole in which players play on a round wooden board with a hole in the centre and some obstacles (pins) around it. The players have to slide their own wooden discs over the board, attempting to get as close to the centre as possible while also attempting to eliminate the opponents' discs.

A further game is carrom, which is similar to billiards, but is played on a square wooden board and without cues. Flat discs and a larger mover are used. The players use a larger disc to hit and push their pieces into the holes in the corners of the board.

A further game is air hockey. This game is played on a small table with side panels and a puck that slides over a smooth surface. Two players attempt to push the puck into the opponent's goal using a pusher.

A still further game is pitchcar, which is a track made up of wooden pieces forming curved and straight sections. The players use small pucks as racing cars. It is played by flicking the disc along the track with a finger in order to be the first player to cross the finish line.

A further but not final game is klask, which features a board with two holes that serve as goals and two magnetically controlled movers. The players move their own mover with a magnet located underneath the board, attempting to score in the opponent's goal.

All the games described above are made on a board and the players compete against each other, using ability and dexterity, to enter an opponent's goal or to hit a goal.

Nowadays, we find that many people have problems socializing and have difficulty engaging with others in different play activities due, among other things, to the by now consolidated habit of playing with electronic devices. Play, of whatever kind, now takes place remotely and through an electronic device, be that a telephone, a computer, or a tablet. With these methods of play, the small, simple manual abilities of play have been lost, as has the focus on engaging with an opponent in person and not solely in virtual gameplay. In these conditions, many people have become unaccustomed to engaging and competing with others and when these activities occur, they sometime become violent because they have lost cognition of reality as they are more accustomed to virtual reality. One need which is felt very strongly by consumers is the need for games that are simple and can be utilized at home and in small settings, that allow people to gather in groups and stimulate manual abilities that require precision and attention in addition to a certain capacity for reasoning in order to obtain results during a match or game.

The object of the present invention is essentially to resolve the problems of the commonly known technique by overcoming the drawbacks described above by means of a board game construction that allows players to engage in a healthy recreational activity and to foster fair competition between the players, who are present in person and not virtually, so as to be able to engage with each other in a sporting, competitive manner.

A second object of the present invention is to provide board game construction that allows players to improve their physical technique so that they can beat the opponent, practice their physical technique and hone their focus and attention to detail, which are fundamental to obtain positive results without electronic shortcuts or digital help.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a board game construction capable of having an aesthetic appearance that can be customized with various color combinations and diverse materials so as to render the said board game construction particularly eye-catching and attractive.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a board game construction capable of being practical and functional while offering a good capacity for precision-training and focus on game strategy in order to beat the opponent.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a board game construction which offers the possibility of developing of skills when handling small objects, when directing and controlling the latter, and sensitivity when handling the said objects to prevent them falling.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a board game construction that can allow players to hone their manual and relational abilities also for people with motor and/or cognitive difficulties, to help them socialize, practice, and enjoy themselves at the same time.

A further but not final object of the present invention is to produce a board game construction which is easy to manufacture and works well. These aims and others besides, which will better emerge over the course of the present description, are essentially achieved by means of a board game construction, as outlined in the claims below.

1 1 FIGS., With reference to the aforesaid figures, and in particulardenotes a board game construction according to the present invention.

1 2 21 20 21 22 23 22 20 a a b b. The board game constructionin question essentially consists of a game boardthat features a rectangular hourglass configuration with a central part tapering towards the longitudinal centre line. In more detail, the long sides each feature a first straight sectionrunning parallel to the centre lineand a first curvilinear section, which narrows upon approaching the transverse centre lineand then widens symmetrically into a second curvilinear section, ending with a second straight section

24 25 21 25 24 a a b b 2 FIG. The short sides feature a configuration composed of a first oblique sectionfollowed by a straight portion, which runs up to the centre line, and then the configuration continues symmetrically up to the other end, with a second rectilinear portionand a second oblique section, as shown in.

21 23 10 FIG. The board consists of a single piece or may be divided into two halves or four parts which are reciprocally symmetrical along the centre lineor the transverse centre line, as shown in.

In greater detail, the board, when composed of multiple parts, features interlocking and joining elements to allow the different elements to be reciprocally joined and engaged so as to make up the board stably.

21 25 25 a b. In particular, the length of the board corresponds to the length of the longitudinal centre line, while the width of the board, at the short sides, is half the length, and the width at the transverse centre line corresponds to the sum of the straight sectionsand

2 26 3 FIG. According to the present embodiment, the boardfeatures an upwards curve/humpin the central area as shown in, whose function will be explained later on.

In addition, the board is made of wood or plastic so as to be more lightweight and handleable.

8 4 4 4 FIGS.A,B andC 5 FIG. In particular, the board can be placed on a table and, in this case, features at least one clampfor fastening to the table, as shown in the, and when mounted, it has the appearance shown in. The clamps can be multiple and are positioned as follows: one on each of the short sides of the rectangle, one per side, or more than one on the long sides so as to have greater stability.

27 The board comprises supporting legsso as not to require a table on which to be placed and fastened and in this way the said board becomes more handleable and practical because it does not have to be removed from the table when the table needs to be used.

3 6 10 FIGS.and The game construction in question comprises a pair of goals, each one of which is located in the centre of each short side of the board, as shown in.

3 30 8 32 33 32 32 32 32 30 33 33 33 33 30 32 33 a b c a b c c c 9 FIG. Each goalcomprises a central uprightwhose lower end features a clamp for fastening to the board which is identical to the clamp, while, at the upper end thereof, there is a first frameand a second frame, both located laterally to the upright. The first framefeatures an upwardly curved portion, followed by a downwardly oblique portionand a vertical portionwhich is parallel to the upright, as shown in. Likewise on the other side, the second framefeatures an upwardly curved portion, followed by a downwardly oblique portionand a vertical portionwhich is parallel to the upright. In greater detail, the distance between the vertical portionand the upright is less than the distance between the upright and the vertical portion. In practice, each goal is equipped with two openings with a mutually similar conformation, but one is smaller and narrower that the other. Each mouth is closed by a net.

32 33 32 33 5 a a b b In particular, the goal conformation just outlined, which features the upwardly curved portionorfollowed by a downwardly oblique portionor, is envisaged to make it harder for a moverto enter the goal.

7 FIG. One variant envisages a rectangular goal mouth which is larger than the other, as shown in.

5 50 8 FIG. The game according to the present invention comprises a mover, shown in, composed of a multifaceted polygon with a quadrangular holein the centre. In the present embodiment, the mover features eleven faces so that the impact a player's nail takes place on a flat surface so as to impart the desired direction and have greater control to direct the mover. Furthermore, when throwing the mover into the goal, the multifaceted conformation of the mover makes it impossible to foresee where it will touch the table and makes scoring a goal more challenging and difficult.

2 26 25 25 4 20 20 a b a b. In addition to the explanations so far, the boardfeatures the particular hourglass form with the central humpto make the course of the mover more challenging since the latter has to move from one side to the opposite side starting from a central area which is marked on the board and located in proximity to the central sectionandto reach the opposite side within a maximum of four flicks or pushes of the mover by the player. In greater detail, the starting position of the mover is a compulsory position which is shown by a marking on the board. According to the present embodiment, the board features a cavitypositioned in proximity to each sectionand

4 4 40 40 41 4 10 FIG. Each cavityfeatures a perimeter edge with the same shape as the half of the board along the transverse axis. Furthermore, each cavityis closed by a lidwhose lateral edge is envisaged to fit into the cavity. The lidis endowed with a slotfacing towards the incoming movers and designed to allow the mover to enter the slot and fall into the cavity, as shown in. The player that moves the mover must make the mover enter the slot so as to fall into the cavity and, with the other hand, retrieve the fallen mover without touching the lower surface of the board.

The gameplay consists of the fact that the player who is first to reach a set score, for example, nine or fourteen points, wins.

As described earlier, the goal has two openings, one which is larger and one which is narrower. The player has the possibility to choose whether to obtain one or more points from their throw according to whether they choose to throw the mover into the wider opening, which requires less precision, or the smaller opening, which offers three points but requires a great deal of precision.

4 4 The game envisages that a player starts on a short side of the board with the mover located on the marking on the board and, within a a maximum of four moves of the mover, gets the mover inside an opponent's cavitypresent on either the right- or the left-hand side of each short side. The player whose hand is free (because not moving the mover) then has to retrieve the said mover after falling through the slot into the cavity.

At this point, the player returns to the starting position on the short side, picks up the mover with their hands clasped together and using only their thumbs, and then flicks the mover, aiming to get the mover into either the small or the large opening in the opponent's goal but making sure the mover bounces on the board before entering the goal. If the mover enters the larger opening of the goal, the player scores one point, which is added to the score obtained so far while, if the mover enters the smaller opening of the goal, the player scores three points, which are added to the score obtained so far.

If the player's mover reaches the slot and falls into the cavity within two moves, the player scores three points, which are added to the points obtained with the goal scored.

26 To make the course of the mover even more challenging, there is a humpenvisaged, which must be crossed in order to reach the slot and the opponent's cavity, and tapered long sides.

Otherwise, if the player does not get their mover into the cavity within a maximum of four moves, their turn ends and the opponent can play.

In addition to the explanations so far, after positioning the mover in the starting position on the board, the player makes their first move with the mover. This move consists of a rapid movement of their index or middle finger against their thumb to hit and move the mover away (often referred to as a ‘flick’). The second, third, and fourth moves are made using solely the nail of any finger of the hand, with the thumb supporting the tip of the said finger (any one of the four).

If the mover stops on the edge of the long side of the board, after the first, the second, and the third move, both methods of moving the mover can be used, i.e. either the first move (the flick) or the second or third moves (pushes) with the nail of any of the four fingers, i.e. not the thumb, to move the mover towards the slot and the cavity in the board on the opponent's side: it is the only case in which either technique can be used to move the mover, and the player can choose either one or the other.

In greater detail, a “move” means one of the rapid movements of the mover made as explained above. Indeed, any movement in which the player pushes the mover by maintaining contact between the mover and the nail for a few seconds is considered a foul.

The player has to execute this sequence of gestures and moves in order to be allowed to aim for the opponent's goal. If, when retrieving the mover after it has fallen into the cavity, their hand touches the lower surface of the board, the said player is not allowed to try to get the mover into the opponent's goal and their turn ends and the opponent can play.

Getting the mover into the opponent's goal is valid and scores points solely and exclusively if the mover bounces off the board before going into the net. Indeed, no points are scored if the mover goes straight into the goal or if the mover stays on the board (for example in the event that the mover is moved too slowly/stops short or the mover hits the structure of the goal and does not go into the net). In this situation, the mover goes to the opponent. The mover must be moved from behind the player's own board edge line.

As explained earlier, the goal is composed of two spaces, a larger one and a narrower one, so as to be able to score the points described earlier. The maximum score a player can reach during the moves stage is six, i.e. three points for reaching the cavity with just two moves and three points for getting the mover in the narrower opening in the goal.

If the mover is moved so fast or so much to the side that it goes off the board, the current player's turn ends and the mover goes to the opponent. There is no time limit for each game as it is the number of points that have to be reached to win (for example fourteen) that determines the duration of the game.

During the game, each player has three time-outs, each with a duration of one minute, which can be requested, either from a referee or the opponent, solely and exclusively before their own turn, by lifting up the mover and saying “time-out”.

If the player forgets to request a time-out and places the mover on the board to make their move, whether it is the first, the second, the third, or the fourth, they have 10 seconds to move the mover, and following that, when the mover enters the slot, the player has 10 seconds to retrieve, position, and then get the mover into the opponent's goal.

After this predominantly structural description, the operation of the invention in question is described as follows.

When one decides to play a round of the game, the players have to form two teams each with the same number of players and a minimum of one player per team.

At this point, the team that will start the game is chosen and the designated player positions the mover in the starting position on the board and moves it in the ways explained earlier. If the mover reaches the slot correctly and falls into the cavity, the player can retrieve the move using the hand they did not use to move the mover. At this point, the player can aim for the goal, choosing either the larger or the narrower opening according to their own capacities and the level of risk that they wish to run to earn more points since the mover has to bounce off the board before entering the goal. The player that reaches the set score first wins the game.

The present invention thus achieves the objects set.

The construction for the board game in question offers a pleasant form of recreation, creates healthy competition between the players, who are present in person, not virtually, so that they can engage with each other in a sporting and competitive manner.

Advantageously, the construction for the board game allows players to improve their technique so as to overcome the opponent, to train to increase the precision of their game technique and their athletic ability and to hone their focus and attention to details, which are fundamental to obtain positive results without electronic shortcuts or digital help, in addition to encouraging engagement with others and enabling them to tackle real-life challenges.

Furthermore, the construction for the board game can have an aesthetically pleasing appearance which can be customized with various colour combinations and different materials so as to render the said construction particularly eye-catching and attractive, and can be dismantleable so as to take up less space and be more practical to handle and store away.

A further advantage offered by the board game through the construction of the board is that the same game is practical and functional, while offering players good means for training to increase precision and focus on a game strategy so as to be able to beat their opponent and also, at the same, for interpersonal socialization, for getting to know people better, and for making friends.

In addition to the explanations so far, the construction of the board and the said board game offer players the possibility to hone their skills handling small objects like the mover, directing and controlling the mover's movements, increasing their sensitivity when handling the mover without dropping it and improving certain aiming skills.

A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a construction and a board game that allow players to hone their manual and relational skills, including people with motor difficulties and those with cognitive difficulties, helping such people to socialize, train, and have fun at the same time.

A further but not final advantage of the present invention is that the board game construction is easy to manufacture and works well.

Naturally, further modifications or variants may be applied to the present invention while remaining within the scope of the invention that characterizes it.