Quatro-A multiple board and chip game

Abstract

The game consists of several boards, containing a large square divided into 16 smaller squares, in a 4×4 pattern. The result being: 4 columns, 4 rows and 4 quadrants of 4 squares. Included are several 4 different colored chips. Each board has some squares precolored. The remaining blank squares only have one possible way to satisfy the playing requirements of all 4 colors in each row, column and quadrant. The chips define the color of each of the remaining blank squares. The game can be played by any number of players who compete to complete their board first and thus score a point. If any other player believes the board is not correct he may challenge. If the challenger was correct he gets a point. Some boards are easier to complete then others. As a player's score goes up he must choose more difficult boards.

1 . individual game boards having printed surfaces containing a large square divided into 16 smaller squares, in a 4×4 pattern. Using wider line widths these squares are subdivided into 4 quadrants of 4 squares each in a 2×2 pattern in each of the 4 corners of the large square. The result being: 4 columns of 4 squares, 4 rows of 4 squares and 4 quadrants of 4 squares. Some of the squares will be predesignated for color by being fully colored in red, green, blue or yellow. The remaining squares will remain blank (with no color) for the player to add chips which will then designate the color of that square with the object of the game being to color all squares so that all 4 colors are used in each row, column and quadrant. 
     
     
         2 . The predesignated colored squares, in  claim 1 , will be such that only one possible pattern of colors can be used to complete the board correctly using the colored chips. The placement of predesignated colored squares and the quantity of predesignated colored squares will vary with each board so as to make some boards easier to complete than other boards and these boards will be grouped into 3 categories designated as Level 1, 2 and 3 with the difficulty of completion increasing with the level number. 
     
     
         3 . The predesignated colored squares as in  claim 2 , whereas the pattern of colors has more than one possible solution. 
     
     
         4 . The predesignated colored squares as in  claim 1 , whereas the 4 colors are any 4 colors 
     
     
         5 . The predignated squares as in  claim 2 , whereas the squares are identified by something other than colors; such as pictures of animals, cars, people or any symbols that distinguish 4 different items. 
     
     
         6 . A plurality of red circular chips, a plurality of green circular chips, a plurality of blue circular chips and a plurality of yellow circular chips for positioning on the blank squares of the individual board, provided in  claim 1 , by the game player. The object of the game being to place chips of different colors in the blank squares so that each row, column and quadrant has all 4 colors with no duplicate colors. 
     
     
         7 . A plurality of chips as provided in  claim 5 , whereas the colors are any 4 colors. 
     
     
         8 . A plurality of chips as provided in  claim 5 , whereas the chips are any shape. 
     
     
         9 . A plurality of any 4 objects other than chips as provided in  claim 5 , to be used with and being compatible with the boards provided in  claim 4 , such as statuettes of animals, cars and etc. 
     
     
         10 . Sheets such as pads of paper having the patterns provided in  claim 1  printed on them to be used as expendable items and once marked by pen, pencil or other marking mechanism may be discarded. 
     
     
         11 . The predesignated squares provided in  claim 2  where the number of levels of difficulty is other than 3 and the means of identifying the levels is other than numeric. 
     
     
         12 . The name of QUATRO as the game specified by any one or all of the claims above. 
     
     
         13 . A game provided by software to be used on a computer with substantially the same effect as playing on printed boards as covered by one or more of the above claims. 
     
     
         14 . A game where an individual plays alone but to establish a time to complete the game as claimed in all of the above claims. The object being to establish a better (shorter) time then any other individual player. This could be on boards or on a software program for computers. 
     
     
         15 . A game played as described in the above claims where as when any players score reaches a certain amount he must then choose more difficult boards to complete while other players with less score will use easier boards to complete.