Game and Method of Play

Abstract

A game includes a gameboard having a top surface, a plurality of nodes extending below the top surface and being accessible from the top surface and defining a plurality of channels extending below the top surface and connecting the nodes. A plurality of tokens each of which includes a configuration that is positionable in each respective node and movable along each respective channels. Each node includes one of a magnet and a metal element. Each token includes the other of a magnet and metal element such that a token may be magnetically held in place over a selected node. The gameboard may be foldable between deployed and storage configurations. A token may be moved along the channels between nodes, the tokens being configured for movement in the channels but not for removal. Once positioned at a node, the token may be held magnetically until moved or removed therefrom.

1 . A game, comprising:
 a gameboard having a top surface, a plurality of nodes extending below said top surface and being accessible from said top surface, and a plurality of channels extending below said top surface and connecting said nodes; and   a plurality of tokens, each respective token having a configuration that is positionable in each respective node from adjacent said top surface and that is movable along each respective channel.   
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each said channel has an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being between said lower portion and said gameboard top surface;   each said channel upper portion has a diameter;   each said channel lower portion has a diameter; and   said channel upper portion diameter is less than said channel lower portion diameter.   
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each said channel upper portion has a depth;   each said channel upper portion depth is generally equal to each other said channel upper portion depth;   each said channel lower portion has a depth;   each said channel lower portion depth is generally equal to each other said channel lower portion depth;   each said channel upper portion diameter is generally equal to each other said channel upper portion diameter; and   each said channel lower portion diameter is generally equal to each other said channel lower portion diameter.   
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each said node has a diameter; and   each said node diameter is generally equal to each other said node diameter.   
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein each said node diameter is generally equal to each said channel lower portion diameter. 
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each said token has adjacent first and second portions;   each said token first portion has a height that is less than said channel lower portion depth;   each said token first portion has a diameter that is greater than said channel upper portion diameter and that is less than said channel lower portion diameter; and   each said token second portion has a height, said token second portion height and said token first portion height collectively being greater than the channel lower portion depth combined with the channel upper portion depth.   
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 6 , wherein each said token has a third portion adjacent said second portion and extending away from said first portion, each said third portion having a diameter that is greater than said channel upper portion diameter. 
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 6 , wherein each said token has an indicia portion operatively coupled to said second portion and extending away from said first portion. 
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 6 , wherein:
 each said node has a diameter;   each said node diameter is generally equal to each other said node diameter; and   each said node diameter is generally equal to each said channel lower portion diameter so each respective token first and second portions are receivable in a respective node and slidable along a respective channel to another said node.   
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each said node includes one of a magnet and a metal element; and   each said token includes another of said magnet and said metal element, whereby said magnets and said metal elements selectively couple said tokens to said nodes.   
   
   
       11 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each said channel is flared beneath said gameboard top surface;   each said token includes a lower end; and   each said token lower end is flared so that said tokens are slidable along said channels and only removable from said channels at said nodes.   
   
   
       12 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said gameboard is foldable between deployed and storage configurations; and   said gameboard includes a holding area for selectively storing said plurality of tokens.   
   
   
       13 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said channels define and connect concentric rectangles. 
   
   
       14 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said channels define three concentric rectangles;   eight said nodes are spaced apart along each said rectangle so that each side of a respective rectangle has three said nodes; and   said channels connect said nodes to form twenty linear segments each having three said nodes.   
   
   
       15 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein a first lot of said tokens include first indicia and a second lot of said tokens include second indicia, said second indicia being different from said first indicia. 
   
   
       16 . A method of playing a game, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a gameboard having a top surface, a plurality of nodes extending below said top surface and being accessible from said top surface, and a plurality of channels extending below said top surface and connecting said nodes; each said channel being flared beneath said gameboard top surface; said channels defining three concentric rectangles; eight said nodes being spaced along each said rectangle so that each side of a respective rectangle has three said nodes;   said channels connecting said nodes to form twenty linear segments each having three said nodes;   providing a plurality of tokens, each respective token having a configuration that is positionable in each respective node from adjacent said top surface and that is movable along each respective channel, each said token having a flared lower end that is slidable along said channels and only removable from said channels at said nodes, a first lot of said tokens including first indicia and a second lot of said tokens including second indicia;   alternatingly, having a first player place a respective said token having first indicia inside a respective said node and having a second player place a respective said token having second indicia inside another said node until all of said tokens are inside said nodes;   alternatingly, having said first player move a respective said token having first indicia from one said node to another said node by sliding said token along said channel and having said second player move a respective said token having second indicia from one said node to another said node by sliding said token along said channel, said first player trying to position three said tokens having first indicia in all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments, said second player trying to position three said tokens having second indicia in all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments;   having said first player remove a respective said token having second indicia from said gameboard when said first player positions three said tokens having first indicia in all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments;   having said second player remove a respective said token having first indicia from said gameboard when said second player positions three said tokens having second indicia in all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments; and   determining said player that removes a predetermined amount of said tokens from said gameboard to be the winner.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of unfolding said gameboard from a storage configuration to a deployed configuration before any said token is placed inside any said node. 
   
   
       18 . A method of playing a game, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a gameboard having:
 twenty linear segments defining and connecting three concentric rectangles; and 
 eight nodes spaced along each said rectangle so that each side of a respective rectangle has three said nodes and so that each of said twenty linear segments has three said nodes; 
   providing a plurality of tokens for selectively associating with said nodes, a first lot of said tokens including first indicia and a second lot of said tokens including second indicia;   alternatingly, having a first player associate a respective said token having first indicia with a respective said node and having a second player associate a respective said token having second indicia with another said node until all of said tokens are associated with said nodes;   alternatingly, having said first player move a respective said token having first indicia from one said node to another said node and having said second player move a respective said token having second indicia from one said node to another said node, said first player trying to position three said tokens having first indicia in all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments, said second player trying to position three said tokens having second indicia in all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments;   having said first player remove a respective said token having second indicia from said gameboard when said first player associates three said tokens having first indicia with all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments;   having said second player remove a respective said token having first indicia from said gameboard when said second player associates three said tokens having second indicia with all three said nodes of any of said twenty linear segments; and   determining said player that removes a predetermined amount of said tokens from said gameboard to have won.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein all said steps are performed electronically. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 said gameboard has a top surface;   each said node extends below said top surface and is accessible from said top surface;   each said linear segment is a channel extending below said top surface;   each said channel is flared beneath said gameboard top surface;   each respective token has a configuration that is positionable in each respective node from adjacent said top surface and that is movable along each respective channel; and   each said token has a flared lower end that is slidable along said channels and only removable from said channels at said nodes.