Strategic pattern building game

Abstract

A strategic pattern building game that includes a marker matrix configured to receive playing markers along an insertion edge of the marker matrix and guide each of the playing markers into one of a plurality of predefined positions. The marker matrix is further configured to define a plurality of parallel channels that segregate the plurality of predefined positions into one of horizontal rows and vertical columns. Each of the plurality of parallel channels is configured to receive a playing marker into an insertion position adjacent the insertion edge of the marker matrix. A previously inserted playing marker present in a channel and located at a prior position is urged into an adjacent position characterized as being adjacent to the prior position and displaced one predefined position further away from the insertion position when a subsequent playing marker is inserted into the insertion position of the channel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A strategic pattern building game comprising:
 a marker matrix configured to receive playing markers along an insertion edge of the marker matrix and guide each of the playing markers into one of a plurality of predefined positions, wherein the marker matrix is further configured to define a plurality of parallel channels that segregate the plurality of predefined positions into one of horizontal rows and vertical columns, wherein each of the plurality of parallel channels is configured to receive a playing marker into an insertion position adjacent the insertion edge of the marker matrix, wherein a previously inserted playing marker present in a channel and located at a prior position is urged into an adjacent position characterized as being adjacent to the prior position and displaced one predefined position further away from the insertion position when a subsequent playing marker is inserted into the insertion position of the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The game in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the game further comprises a plurality of playing markers, said playing markers configured to be distinguishable into two categories to distinguish playing markers of a first player from playing markers of a second player. 
     
     
         3 . The game in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the marker matrix defines a plurality of openings configured so at least a portion of a playing marker can be directly viewed by a player the when the playing marker is located at one of the predefined positions. 
     
     
         4 . The game in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each of the parallel channels includes position features configured to urge a playing marker into one of the predefined positions. 
     
     
         5 . The game in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of parallel channels are oriented to segregate the predefined positions into horizontal rows, and the insertion edge is characterized as a right edge of the marker matrix such that previously inserted playing markers are displaced horizontally left into an adjacent position characterized one position away from the insertion position when a playing marker is inserted the insertion position of the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The game in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein each of the parallel channels is equipped with a solid bump configured to cooperate with gravity to urge a playing marker into a predefined position proximate to the solid bump. 
     
     
         7 . The game in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein each of the parallel channels is equipped with a spring configured to urge a playing marker into a predefined position proximate to the spring, and deflect when a playing marker is forced through the channel past the spring. 
     
     
         8 . The game in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein each of the parallel channels is equipped with a one-way gate configured to urge a playing marker into a predefined position proximate to the one-way gate, and deflect when a playing marker is forced through the channel past the one-way gate. 
     
     
         9 . The game in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parallel channels are oriented to segregate the predefined positions into vertical columns and the insertion edge is characterized as a bottom edge of the marker matrix, wherein the marker matrix further comprises a plurality of retainer devices arranged along the insertion edge of the marker matrix, said plurality of retainer devices configured to allow a playing marker to be forced in a upward direction through a retainer device into the insertion position of a channel, and prevent the playing marker from falling through the retainer device in a downward direction. 
     
     
         10 . The game in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the marker matrix comprises a first wall configured to define a front face of the marker matrix, and a second wall configured to define a back face of the marker matrix, wherein the second wall includes channel features configured to cooperate with the first wall to define the plurality of channels when the first wall and the second wall are assembled to form the marker matrix. 
     
     
         11 . The game in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the game further comprises a tool configured to assist with removing playing markers from the marker matrix.