US3167313A - Game board with altitude standards and simulated aircraft mounted thereon with means for varying altitude and attitude - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 K. J. DAVENPORT ETAL 3,167,313

GAME BOARD WITH ALTITUDE NDARDS AND SIMULATED Jan. 26, 1965 K. J. DAVENPORT ETAL 3,157,313

GAME BOARD WITH ALTITUDE STANDARDS AND SIMULATED AIRCRAFT MOUNTED THEREON WITH MEANS FOR VARYING ALTITUDE AND ATTITUDE Filed June 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /45 FOKER DR-l SOPWITH CAMEL F-I MOVE cums 3 A MOVE I cums 2 TURN z owe 2 TURN 2 DIVE 3 46 DICE I SHOOTING RANGE u mcs sHoo ms R NGE \ROLL l' 2" a" 4" ROLL 2 a 4 2 AT ea AT ea AT Eo AT so 2 AT E0 AT so AT GJ AT (SJ 3 MISS mss ms's EDIS a wuss mss MISS GTH 4 PW mss EDIS GTH 4 PW EDIS GTH mss 5 EDIS EDIS GTH mss 5 EDIS GTH MISS mss e GTH GTH wuss mss e GTH MISS MISS mss 1 mss MISS MISS mss 1 mss MISS mss MISS 8 PW PW PW mss 8 PW PW PW MISS 9 PK PK mss PW 9 PK PK mss PW l0 E DIS mss EDIS EDIS IO EDIS mss EDIS EDIS mss mss PK PK ll mss mss PK PK I2 AT ea AT ea AT so AT E0 I2 AT ea AT ea ATEQ ATEO FIG. 4 FIG. 5

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INVENTORS KENT J. DAVENPORT JOHN S. McEWAN T EIR ATTORNEY Unite tes 3,167,313 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 Free GAME BGARD Wi'lii ALTETUBE STANDARDS AND SHMULATED AIRCRAFT MQUNTED THEREON WHTH MEANS FUR VARYENG ALTETUDE AND ATTITUDE Kent .i. Davenport, 24% South 6th East, Salt Lake City, Utah, and John S. McEwan, 191 South 4th West, Provo, Utah Filed lune 21, 1963, Ser. No. 289,591 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-134) The present invention relates to games and, more particularly, to a new and improved game which realistically simulates the struggle of two opposing squadrons for reconnaissance and/ or control of the air space over specific military objectives on the ground.

In the past many types of childrens and adults games have been devised to portray warfare skirmishes. None to the inventors knowledge presents a system of threedimensional aerial combat for control of particular air space and/or accomplishment of desired reconnaissance or bombing objectives as does the present game, and'particularly to take into account the flying characteristics of aircraft simulated in the game.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved game for adults and children which simulates actual aerial warfare.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel game board and moving pieces associated therewith wherein the airplane models used may be adjusted as to altitude andattitude so as to simulate a number of maneuvers and movements of actual aircraft.

A further object of the invention is to -provide universal coupling means between an airplane model and its standard so that the model may be manually adjusted in any one of a number of different ways so as to accomplish aircraft reorientation, simulating movement of the actual aircraft, as is desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a threc dimensionally played, aircraft combat game wherein the players may move aircraft models upon a game board so as to-maneuver for position, for maximum strilzingpower against opposing aircraft and wherein, by use of dice or other chance indicators, one of a number of chance pos sibilities following aircraft firing occurs.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aircraft combat game, including game board and standard "sun orted ad'ustable aircraft, wherein theactual fi in L 7 l c organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a game board, aircraft models and-respective standards which are used in the game of the present invention; for convenience of illustration but two aircraft, observer and fighter, are

shown on each side poised for combat.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to a portion of that shown in FIGURE 1, wherein illustration is made that the standards are movable from position toposition on the game board to effect, in part, desired maneuvering of the airplane models by the players. FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of a representative aircraft and universal coupling means therefor which is used to slideably mount the aircraft to the vertical standard, to facilitate adjustability of altitude and attitude of aircraft position.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are plan views of two-representative cards of two respective aircraft of the opposite sides, the cards indicating flying capabilities according to the game rules and chance occurrences which take place when a player holding his planes probability card comes under fire from an opponent.

In FIGURE 1 game board is shown to be provided with upper surface indicia 11 taking the form of a gridwork of squares 12. The game board preferably has included thereon enemy territory areas 13 and 14, the centers of which are delineated by insignia 15 and 16 over which reconnaissance by the opposing aircraft is to be made. Each side is provided with at least one end preferably plural, movable, altitude standards 17 having support bases 18 and upstanding shafts 19 upwardly extending therefrom. Each of the shafts 1% includes indicia 20 providing altitude markings, these altitude markings being preferably equidistantly spaced along the respective shafts. Each of the airplane models 21, 22, 23, and 24 is provided with a respective universal coupling means 25 for slideably securing the respective airplanes to the respective standards 17. These coupling means are identified by the numeral 25.

The universal coupling means 25 is best seen in the exploded respective view thereof shown in FIGURE 3. The coupling means as seen in shown to include a slidetype clip 26 which is springingly retained upon and rotatable about shaft 1). Clip Ed is alfixed by any conventional means to block 27 which includes bore 28 receiving pitch shaft 29, the latter being securely mounted at aperture 30 to block 31. Block 31 includes a journaling aperture 32 receiving one extremity of bank shaft 33, the latter having an extremity 34 securely affixed to block 35. Block 35 includes a journaling bore 36 which receives yaw shaft 37, the latter being affixed to airplane 38 at approximately its midpoint and defining a vertical, yaw axis Y therefor. Shaft 37 may in fact comprise simply a pin, having a thumb and finger, ball grip 39. Conventional marker pins having colored plastic ball heads will serve well for the yaw shaft 37.

Merely by way of example, the universal coupling means has been set forth such that, by the respective shafts being rotatable in the respective block bores, the aircraft may be turned around its yaw axis Y by the rotation of yaw shaft 37 about its axis. Rotation about the aircrafts bank axis B is simulated by rotationally displacing the yaw shaft 37 about the axis of bank shaft 33. While, admittedly, the bank shaft axis 33 does not coincide with the bank axis B, yet for all practical purposes accurate attitude variations as to bank may be given, which may include slight displacements of clip 26. The object which the structure facilitates, in anyevent, is that the airplane may be moved from any one discrete point in space, as for example, six altitude markings above intersection X to another discrete point in space above intersection Y, to achieve a new disposition.

Continuing on, displacement of yaw shaft 37 such that there is a rotation present about pitch shaft 29 and pitch axis P simulates pitch variations in airplane 38. Correspondingly, turns about the axis or shaft20 may be effected through the pivotal displacement'of the entire universal coupling about the engagement point of clip 26 with shaft 20. It is thus seen that the airplane may be adjusted up and down its respective altitude standard 17 to a desired height and, by virtue of theuniversal coupling mechanism, the airplane may roll, dive, or otherwise be changed as to its altitude as the game progresses. It is to be noted that the altitude standard preferably stems'upwardly from a grid intersection in the board, further, that the lengths of the various shafts in the universal coupling mechanism are such that, whatever the disposition of the universal coupling mechanism, the

airplane may be disposed directly over an intersection, X

or Y, or other grid line intersection in the grid structure of the board. Thus, if the grids are'oneinch-squares, then the length of shafts 29 and 33 will be approximately disposed over a desired intersection. The players; must imagine in their minds'eye that the space above the playing board is a three-dimensional system of points regularly spaced above and in line with the intersections of the grid of the playing board andaltitude markings 20.

As to structure, the structure shown in FIGURE 3 has served ideally well in models of the game thus far constructed. Other types of coupling may be used, for cer-' tain changesmay be made from the present structure as by the inclusion of shaft shouldersand retainers or other suitable structure. However, the structure illustrated in FIGURE 3 is inexpensive to produce and,.in most instances, will constitute a highly preferred form of the 7 universal coupling mechanism.

' The airplanes used will includefighters and may permissibly' include observer aircraft also. The fighter planes are'indicated at 21 and 22, and the observer aircraft at 23 and 24. The observer aircraft will of course have forwardly facing guns, not shown.

Each side will have one, two or more aircraft. Preferably but two aircraft'on each side of the game board at any one time. Each aircraft will have its own standard versal coupling means 25). The attitude simulator consists of five parts, the stand, the altitude clip, the bank axis, the pitch axis, and the yaw axis. By moving one or all of these parts any possible aircraft attitude may be one inch each so that the center of the aircraft maybe duplicated.

All distances and movements are measured from the point Within the three dimensional grid system. That point is the aircrafts actual position. Aircraft move from one point in the playing space to another. The stand may be moved to any position on the board which allows the aircraft to occupy its actual, intended position.

(.0) Movement of pieces It is'sugg'ested that players set up the game with aircraft mounted on the attitude simulators, simulators on the stand, and stands on the board; and move the aircraft through the various maneuvers as theyare discussed in the following sections.

rearwardly facing guns 40 and 41,- and all aircraft have I (1) The basic move.Aircraft generally move one space diagonally or straight on each turn. Exceptions to this general rule are discussed in the sections on dive and stall. Any aircraft may from a level flight attitude move diagonally up or down one space, left or right one space,

' they dive. All fighter aircraft must ac'cele'rate their dives 17. Also,- each aircraft will have its own respective card.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate representative cards,:for

two of the respective planes shown in FIGURE 1. The cards 42 and 43 in FIGURES 4 and-'5 include suitable indicia at 44 and 45 which correspond to flying capabilities of the particular aircraft. The dice roll columns 46 and 47 of each of the cards indicate chance numbers which can be obtained by rolling a set'of dice 50 and, opposite the respective numbers for dice roll, letter abbreviations indicating, for the various shooting ranges 1 inch through up to' their dive limits in this manner; onev space down on the firstturn, two down on the second turn, three down on the third turn, etc. Thedive rate of the Dr-l Triplane is two spaces and the Camels limit is three.v These aircraft may dive vertically orjthey may move one space 4 inches, the chance possibilities'which will' occur upon i the roll of a particular number with; the dice. Thus, if for particular shooting range a particular number. is rolled and the letters corresponding to the above asordinate and abscissa are PW, then this-signifies that the pilot of the enemy aircraft has been wounded. The significance of the other letters shall be described hereinafter.

FIGURE -2 simplyrepresents that the standard of a The following extract istakenv from-a portion of the inventors, ruleb'ook for playing-thegame; this extract illustrates 'indetail the manner'in which the airplanes and their standards are employed to accomplish objectives of reconnaissance and air superiorityin playing the game (IV), MEC HANICS OF PLAY 7 Three diniensional grid system I The playing space consists of the space above the, board up to, the level of the" cloud 'bank. This space must be visualized as a system of points within a three move. of these points to anotherr v i (B) Description of mechanism .One important difference between DOGFIGHT (the' name chosen for the present, game) and other games is that the aircraft in DOGFIGHT move in three dimensions through the ,playing'space rather than in only two dimen- 50 particular aircraft'has been moved such that the plane advances one square in space.

' radius turn. 5

sions ona board. This'movement is accomplishedby use of ourthree-dimensional attitude simulator 1(uniforward on'each turn during which they are in a dive.

' The 8.13; 5- A and the D VII have dive rates of four spaces which mustbe accelerated as described. On the third turn in afull' dive these aircraft have the option ofdiving three spaces vertically, three down and one forward, or three down and two forward. They may onthe fourth turn increase their dive speed to four down, vertically, or with'one or two, spaces forward. Aircraft do not have to dive at their full 'div'e limit. They may dive at any rate upto the limit and may hold a diveat any rate within that limit as long as they wish." Aircraft in a vertical dive require two turns to come to a level attitude. Others may'come from their full dive to level attitude in one turn; 1 (3)' Climb.Aircraft in. a level attitude may climb one space (from .one altitude mark (ma stand to the next higher mark) with no previous climb attitude. Once in a climbing attitude, all aircraft may assume their full climb rate in the next turn. v

I 4)- 'Turn.The, Camel and the Triplanerequiretwo turns to complete a fullreversal of direction. TheD VII and the SE. S-A require three turns to reverse their direction. and the observation-planes require five turns.

(See FIGURE 5.) These turn rates; are the minimum or tightest turns possible.

The aircraft. must. be in the proper bank (attitude before starting into a. minimum Atjthe end of each move'aircraft in- ,a minimum radius turn must be pointed in the direction of'movement of the next move- (5) R0ll.Fighter aircraftjmay complete one-half of aroll during one turn and may fly straight ahead even thoughin a full bank. From a full'bank,.they.may' fly straight ahead orturn at any rate up to theirminimum turn rate. Observation planes may-complete one-quarter of a roll during one turn, cann ot'fly inverted, and may hold a full bank' on only one'move. After one move in a. full bank attitude they must either begin to return to level flig'ht or turn ifi the direction of the bank." 7,

(6) Loops.-Fighter aircraft loop in their minimum turn radius. Observation planes cannot loop. I (7) Stall.-Observation planes are incapable of stalls. To begin a stall in a fighter aircraft from a level position the first move is one up and one forward. On the second move the aircraft goes straight up, its full climb rate. On the third turn the aircraft falls downward two spaces and may move one space laterally in any direction, determined only by the direction and manner in which the aircraft recovered from the stall. Foker aircraft may, if they wish, hold the vertical stall attitude Without moving, for one turn only, thus enabling them to fire at aircraft directly above them. After their optional turn they recover from the stall as was outlined for another aircraft.

(V) SCORING (A) Direction of fire All fighter aircraft fire directly ahead and must be pointed'directly at the aircraft being fired upon at the moment of firing. The forward firing gun of observation planes is treated as a fighters gun. All aircraft may fire either before taking their move or after they have moved but may only fire once on each turn. An aircraft cannot fire at two enemy planes on one turn but must concentrate his fire on one or the other. Observation planes may fire at one aircraft with the forward firing gun and at another with the gun used by the observer during one move. The observer cannot fire through his own wings, fuselage, or tail structure; therefore there are blind spots which he cannot fire upon. It is possible, however, to bring any area under fire by turning and maneuvering the aircraft into various attitudes.

(B) Range of fire (C) Aircraft cards Each player has a card representing each of the aircraft in his squadron. On this card are marked the maximum climb, dive and the minimum turn rate and the scoring table. When a players aircraft is being fired upon the first step in determining the effect of this fire is to determine the range of fire as described in part B. The scoring tables are set up under the assumption that the probability of hitting a target decreases as the range to that target increases. Some aircraft were more easily damaged by fire than others; this factor is built into the scoring tables to accurately reflect the strength of the individual aircraft. Once the range of fire is determined, the player whose aircraft is being fired upon rolls the dice. He then reads down the column of dice roll numbers to the number he rolled and then across to the proper range column. The result read from the aircraft card will be one of the following.

(1) Miss; No result, continue with the next move.

(2) AT GI; Attackers Guns Jam: Attacker cannot fire during the following three moves.

(3) AT EQ; Attackers Engine Quits: Attacker loses at least one space of altitude, and fighter aircraft may elect to lose up to two. Dive speeds of more than two ,spaces are power dives and cannot be attained with a dead engine.

receives an engine disabling hit cannot climb. It may maintain or lose altitude and may remain in combat. If it receives another engine disabled hit, the engine quits permanently and the aircraft goes down out of action.

(5) P W; Pilot Wounded: The pilot may remain in combat with full combat capabilities. If he is wounded again, he is killed and the aircraft goes down out of control and crashes.

6) P K; Pilot Killed: Aircraft goes down out of control and crashes.

(7) G T H; Gas Tank Hit: When an aircraft receives a gas tank hit, the player must roll the dice again. If he rolls a 9 or higher, nothing happens and play continues. If he rolls any number less than nine the aircraft explodes and is destroyed.

(8) O K; Observed Killed: When the observed is killed the rear machine gun is out of action. The pilot and observer canont change cockpits, thus when the pilot is killed, a live observer cannot fiy the aircraft.

(D) Aircraft destruction Any aircraft which goes down out of control, as with a dead pilot, or goes down without power as with a dead engine, is assumed to crash upon landing and is out of the game. This rule also applies when an attackers engine quits and he fails to restart before coming down. An aircraft which explodes from a Gas Tank Hit is destroyed where it is and does not come down. An aircraft may be destroyed by being forced off the enemys end of the board.

(B) How to play To begin the game the opposing squadron commanders select the aircraft cards of two aircraft which will enter the playing space on the first turn. The cards thus selected are then placed face down on the board. These aircraft once selected may not be exchanged for other aircraft until after the first encounter with the enemy. An encounter is defined as a situation where one aircraft fires at another. When both squadron commanders have made their selections the cards are turned over to reveal their selections. Each squadron commander then rolls the dice to determine the altitude of entry. The aircraft are then mounted upon the attitude simulator at the proper altitude. Both squadron commanders roll the dice again and the player with the highest number begins the play by moving his aircraft one move forward. No matter how many persons are playing, all the aircraft of a squadron move during the same turn.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A game for simulating aerial combat, said game including a game board marked off in squares on its upper surface and simulating terrain over which aerial combat is to take place; movable, altitude standards movably disposed and resting upon said game board; plural aircraft models; and plural, universal coupling means mounting respective ones of said aircraft models to respeotive ones of said altitude standards for enabling the altitudes of respective ones of said aircraft above said game board to be manually varied and, further, for permitting selected, manual variation of attitude and orientation of respective ones of said aircraft.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein each of said movable altitude standards includes an upstanding shaft upon which said universal coupling means is adjustably universal coupling means includes clip means slideably and revolvably, frictionally engaging a respective one of said altitude standards and means interconnecting said'," clip means with its respective aircraft for permitting the" adjustable variation of attitude of said aircraft;

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said game includes cards bearing information indicia describing simulated flying capabilities of said aircraft modelgsaid indicia also including information indicia as to chance possibilities which occur during simulated firing intervals.

upon the occurrence of a chance selection, and means for producing one of a selectable number of chance selections therefor. o I

5. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said squares are marked off upon said game board to delineatea multi- 1 plicity of line intersection points on said game board,

wherein said upstanding shafts of respective ones of said standards during a succession of moves','origi nate at their base from selected ones of said intersection points, and, said universalcoupling means being so constructed and arranged such that said aircraft models are spaced from their respective, upstanding shafts along horizontal planes parallel to said game board in correspondence to the width of said squares of said game board and can be moved to another point position in a three-dimensional, imaginary .grid system of points rectilinearly related with -each other andwith said game board intersection points. 1 6. A game vfor simulating aerial combat, said game including a game board marked off in squares on its upper surface and simulating terrain over which aerial combat is to take place; said game board including'mutually spaced enemy area indicia over which aerial activity is intended as enemy objectives; movable, altitude standards movably dis'posed'and resting upon said ame board; plural aircraft modelsyand'jplural; .universatcoupling meansjmountingj respective ones. of said aircraft models to respectiveones of-lsaid altitude standards for enabling the altitudes of respective ones of said aircraft above said game board to be manuallyvaried and, further, for permitting selected, manual variation of attitude and orientation of respective ones of said aircraft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 2,093,427 Eckstein et al. 'Sept'. 21, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 620,546 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1949

Claims (1)

1. A GAME FOR SIMULATING AERIAL COMBAT, SAID GAME INCLUDING A GAME BOARD MARKED OFF IN SQUARES ON ITS UPPER SURFACE AND SIMULATING TERRAIN OVER WHICH AERIAL COMBAT IS TO TAKE PLACE; MOVABLE ALTITUDE STANDARDS MOVABLY DISPOSED AND RESTING UPON SAID GAME BOARD; PLURAL AIRCRAFT MODELS; AND PLURAL, UNIVERSAL COUPLING MEANS MOUNTING RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID AIRCRAFT MODELS TO RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID ALTITUDE STANDARDS FOR ENABLING THE ALTITUDES OF RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID AIRCRAFT ABOVE SAID GAME BOARD TO BE MANUALLY VARIED AND, FURTHER, FOR PERMITTING SELECTED, MANUAL VARIATION OF ATTITUDE AND ORIENTATION OF RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID AIRCRAFT.

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