US3515385A - Modular hopscotch court - Google Patents

Description

J1me 7 A. J. G-UND'ERSON 1 MODULAR HOPSCOTCH COURT Filed Aug. 29, 1966 21 ,d/ z 7710 urz arson United States Patent US. Cl. 2731 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arrangement of modular elements, for example, of rectangular outline, each having a narrow border defining an open space, adapted to .be assembled in co-planar, ad- ]Oll'llIlg relation to provide a variety of playing fields for games in the nature of hopscotch. The elements are maintained in the selected array by clips engaged in or over adjacent sides of the elements. The borders of the element have openings spaced in such a way that the elements may be offset from each other and still be connected by clips. The relationship between openings is such that the first opening is set from the edge of the element a distance equal to one half the distance between a pair of openings.

This invention relates to a game apparatus adapted to be laid out on a horizontal surface, such as an outdoor playing area or on the floor of a home and is capable of providing amusement for children and adults.

A principal object is to provide a facility for playing conventional hopscotch or a variation thereof in which a disc or similar object is thrown into one of the spaces to indicate the starting point or other crucial factor of the game to be played. For convenience the assembled apparatus will be referred to as the playing field and the object aforesaid will be referred to as a lagger.

Another object is to provide a plurality of modular. parts and means for associating the same in semi-permanent relation to constitute a playing field for various games which are variants of hopscotch. The several parts, when disassembled, occupy a small volume in order that commercial packaging as well as storage in the home may be effected most economically.

A further object is to provide game apparatus as aforesaid comprising parts which may be readily set up by a child of tender years, and as readily disassembled and stored.

Another object is to provide game apparatus as aforesaid which lends itself ideally to inexpensive fabrication from a plastic composition and comprising parts of a form requiring simple molds of comparatively low cost.

An additional object is to provide a playing field of the kind mentioned in which the separate units comprising the same are reversible, whereby to add to its versatility.

A further object is to provide such game apparatus adapted for both indoor and outdoor use, and which avoids the objectionable chalk drawings on the sidewalk or the floor of a patio or recreation room.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which, taken with the accompanying drawing, discloses certain preferred modes of carrying the invention into practice.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one of the modular elements comprising the playing field;

FIG. 2 is a plan view to illustrate one pattern in which the elements of FIG. 1 may be assembled;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of an alternative pattern; FIG. 4 is a cross section on the line 44 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the clips of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of clip;

3,515,385 Patented June 2, 1970 ice FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another modified form of clip; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one form of lagger.

Broadly regarded, the invention comprises not only a basic frame-like element, a plurality of which may be assembled in adjoining relation by means of simple clips to comprise various arrangements of playing fields, but the playing field per se. Each element is thin and flat and the clips are detachably secured to adjoining elements for semi-permanently retaining the same in a selected arrangement for the playing of any of a number of different games. The clips may be provided with pins to engage holes in the elements or with lugs to engage over the inner periphery of the elements. In one aspect the frames are simple rectangles and in another the frames may have a corner panel to receive indicia of various kinds to coordinate with several kinds of games. In still another aspect there may be optionally included a panel to be joined to the elements aforesaid upon which descriptive matter may appear. The lagger may be any suitable object, such as a disc on the order of a quoit, capable of being tossed with reasonable accuracy to land in the space defined within an element.

Adverting to the drawing there is shown (FIG. 1) one of theelements 10, a plurality of which are adapted to be assembled to constitute a playing field for various games which, for purposes of the present specification, may be described as resembling the well-known game of hopscotch.

Theelement 10 may be compared to a conventional picture frame, sometimes referred to herein as frame-like and may comprise a simple rectangle or a rectangle having one corner provided with a gusset-like part 11 upon one or both faces of which various inscriptions may appear. Although the dimensions of the element may vary as desired, desirable measurements are 15" x 18" on the outside with the frame A" wide and A3" thick. It will be obvious that, in any case, the available space will be sufiiciently commodious to receive the players feet without interference. The element is preferably molded of some plastic composition having high impact strength, e.g. styrene, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, Cycolac,

available from Marbon Chemical Division of Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill. By reason of the flat, modular form a number of the elements, e.g. eight, may be contained compactly in a small, inexpensive carton.

Each side of theelement 10 is provided with a plurality ofholes 13, say two in number, so spaced as to allow the elements to be assembled in various arrays. For example, assuming along side 14 of 18", the spacing between the pair of holes will be 9" and the distance from a hole to the nearest edge will be 4 /2". Thus, if the array is according to FIG. 2,elements 4 and 5 may be abutted on the shorter side and an element 6 may be centered thereon. In this case the adjacent pairs ofholes 13 will be aligned.

To secure the elements to constitute a selected playing field there is provided a sufficient plurality of clips 21 (FIGS. 4 and 5) comprising a strap 22 having acylindrical projection 24 at each end, the latter being received with a reasonably snug fit in a pair ofadjacent holes 13. If desired the center portion of the strap 22 may be relieved at its edges so that the fingernails may have access to dislodge the clip for disassembly. Alternatively the clip may be of the form shown in FIG. 6 wherein theprojections 24a simply engage over the inside edges of the frame, or as in FIG. 7 wherein the clip hasrectangular projections 24b which may engage either over the adjoining frames or received innotches 26 therein to insure against inadvertent lateral shifting.

The obverse and reverse faces of thegusset 11 may bear any suitable indicia printed or otherwise applied thereon. In FIG. 2 thenumerals 1 to 8 appear, and in FIG. 3 various key words, e.g. those shown. Moreover atitle member 31, e.g. of essentially semi-circular form, may be added at the far end, i.e. the end remote from the starting point, upon which the title of the game being played appears. This element, too, is reversible and, on its bridging portion, has holes matching theholes 13 heretofore described. In order to minimize the hazard of breakage and to enable packaging along with theelements 10, themember 31 is desirably comprised of two sections meeting at aradial line 32. It will be noted, for clarity in the drawing, that the clips, e.g. theclips 21 are omitted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

One form oflagger 29, viz a flat cylinder of wood, plastic, hard rubber or other material, is shown in FIG. 8, and is of such mass and dimensions so that, when tossed, it will find a target in the space defined by the frame selected by the participant in accordance with the rules of the game.

In one variation of the game, termed hopscotch (FIG. 2), each player in turn pitches a colored plastic marker orlagger 29, into the first section, i.e. the space defined inframe 1. The player then hops on one foot oversection 1 intosection 2, then intosection 3. Now the player hops intosections 4 and 5 simultaneously, with both feet, hops into section 6 on one foot, then hops intosections 7 and 8, again with both feet. Now the player hops on both feet into the Hopscotch section, makes a hop aboutface and then retraces his steps back tosection 2. At this point he stops, balanced on one foot, and picks u his lagger insection 1. He now hops intosection 1 and out to complete his play. He now pitches his lagger intosection 2, following the same procedure as in the previous play. If another players lagger is in one of the sections he cannot hop into that section, but will hop over it to the next section not occupied by another players lagger. This creates added interest and challenge to the game, as the player must hop over the occupied spaces without stepping on any part of the layout. A player can lose his turn in these ways:

( l) Stepping on any game element.

(2) If his lagger touches any game element.

(3) If his lagger is pitched into a wrong section.

(4) If he puts both feet in any section, except the Hopscotch section, where it is permitted.

When the first player completes his turn, other players follow suit and the first player to travel up to the Hopscotch section and back is declared the winner.

In a variation (FIG. 3) termed Lag R Stagger each player identifies aloud an item or name appearing on each element of the game layout. The game begins with the first player pitching his lagger into the section Boys. He now hops on one foot into the first section and says aloud Boys Names as he stoops, still balanced on one foot, to pick up his lagger. He then says aloud one boys name, e.g. Tom, Joe, George. Now the player hops to the second section, saying aloud a second boys name, to the third section, saying a third boys name, and so on through all the remaining sections of the game. The player can continue his turn lagging into the second section Girls,

4 repeating the procedure used in. the first section. He continues his turn in this manner until:

(1) He loses his balance and touches his other foot down.

(2) He tosses his lagger out of the section intended.

(3) If his lagger is pitched into a Wrong section.

(4) He is unable to complete his chosen names in each section.

After the player completes all eight sections of the game, he then starts from the last section, Birds and works his way back to the beginning. The first player to complete his game forward and back is the winner.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A playing field for hopscotch and variants thereof comprising a plurality of thin, fiat elements molded of a high impact strength plastic composition adapted to be assembled in adjoining, co-planar relation, said elements 'being of polygonal outline, each comprising a continuous, narrow border defining a space to receive the players feet, the border of each element having a plurality of apertures arranged to align with the apertures of adjoining elements, the aperture nearest to a corner being spaced therefrom a distance equal to one-half the distance between adjacent apertures, and a plurality of clips adapted for detachable securement to the elements to maintain a selected assembly thereof, said clips comprising a strap bridging the joint between elements and a member at each end of the strap to be frictionally received in a pair of aligned apertures.

2. The combination in accordance withclaim 1 where in the elements are rectangular.

3. The combination in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the apertures are bores and the members are cylinders mating with said bores.

4. The combination in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the apertures are notches in the interior edge of the border and the members are lugs received in the notches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,474 11/ 1963 ORear 273-1 2,891,793 6/ 1959 Mudry 273-1 3,014,723 12/1961 Butler. 3,115,340 12/1963 Stasiuk 273-1 3,228,607 1/ 1966 Robinette et a1. 46-202 X FOREIGN PATENTS 421 2/ 1869 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 46-31

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