Educational game

Application filed. June 25, 1920. Serial No. 391,588.

To all whom it mcty concern:

Be it known, that I, Dr. Charles Pahl Reed, a citizen of the,United States,, residing at Indiana, State of Pennsylvania, 5 (whose post-office address is 225 South Seventh street, Indiana, Pennsylvania.) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Educational Games; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full 10 clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to games of the 15 game board type with particular reference to an instructive or educational game to be played by children for the purpose of bringing to their attention, as well as their parents, by way of amusement, some of the car20 dinal principles pertaining to their development and hygiene.

Children as a rule do not take advice in a serious way regarding health and hygiene and although they are taught these doc25 trines in the schools to-day, they do not realize the importance and seriousness of this question and regard health talks as a part of their school discipline.

The average child is always ready for ³⁰ Pl^ay. and will quickly dispose of any task if the same can be submitted to him by way of amusement, which fact has been recognized by teachers to a great extent in the schools for primary grades.

. It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a game outlining, during the course of the playing thereof, some of the simple and cardinal principles relating to the various . and common complaints 40 arising during the development of the child.

Another object of the invention is to present these facts to children in an interesting manner during their play time in the form of a game which will not only be by way of 45 amusement but at the same time deeply impress upon them in an educational and instructive. manner these various important points aforementioned.

In the accompanying drawing is illus50 trated a game board particularly designed for accomplishing this result.

Referring to the drawing in detail the game board 1 which is of substantially square formation has arranged around the 55 outer edge thereof a circuit 2, divided into a number of spaces 3 extending from squares 4, arranged in the four corners of said circuit. . In addition to the spaces 3 in the main circuit 2 are a number of other spaces 5 containing hazards or legends pertaining to 60 various problems relating to the health and hygiene of children.

Branching off from the main circuit 2, extending inwardly and arranged intermediate the corner squares 4, are a series of 65 spaces or sub-circuits 6, the inner ends of which having indicated thereon certain information in the form of penalties, to which the players are directed from a hazard or legend, arranged in the main circuit, said 70 information indicating the necessary answers for, or relief from, the various, complaints indicated in the legends, In addition to the branching off spaces or sub-circuits.6, there are also arranged in the main 75 circuit, intermediate the branches 6 and the corner squares 4, another series of inwardly projecting sub-circuits or branches 7, which form other penalties in addition to those indicated on the branches 6. 80

Beading off from four of the branches 7, adjacent the corner squares 4, moving to the right around the main circuit, are passage-ways 8,· containing spaces 9, leading to . a home sector 10, centrally located on the 85 game board.

In playing the game, which can be done with two, three or four players, each player has two men or checkers of the same color and must start his men or checkers from one 90 of the four large squares 4 occupying the four corners of the game board. It is, of course, to be understood that each player’s men are of the same color but the men of the various players are to be of different colors. 95 Any player can begin the game but the order of the play passes from right to left, each space 3 and 5, including the large squares 4 at the corners, represents one move for each man or checker. For playing the 100 game and determining the number of spaces to move, ordinary dice can be used or a common spinning indicator dial, each player taking his turn in advancing his men or checkers, the men or checkers being moved 105 from space to space from right to left, according to the spinning of the indicator or throwing of the dice, continuing in this direction until his men or checkers reach the space marked for his corresponding number 110 to leave the base line for home, which it will be noted will carry the men of each player substantially around the entire circuit.

The object of the game, of course, is to

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GO which the players are directed, and around 65 which they are conducted from, and returned to, the main circuit, said branches indicating the necessary answers for, or relief from said problems, and a home sector furnishing the final objective adapted to be ; connected to certain selected sub-circuits or branching off sections.

2. In an instructive or educational game, the combination with a game board comprising a continuous main circuit of substantially square formation, divided into spaces extending from squares arranged in the four corners of said circuit, some of said spaces containing hazards or legends involving certain problems, of a series of sub-circuits or branching off retarding spaces.arranged in said main circuit intermediate the corner squares, a series of additional sub-circuits, or branching off retarding spaces also in said circuit and intermediate the first mentioned branching off spaces and said corner squares, and around which- the players are conducted from, and returned to, the main circuit, all of which contain penalties to which the players are directed from said hazards or legends, said branches indicating the necessary anwers for, or relief from said problems and a home sector centrally located on said game board, furnshinsz the final objective adapted to be connected to certain sub-circuits or branches arranged adj acent the corner squares.

3. In an instructive or educational game, the combination with a game board, comprising a continuous main circuit of substantially, square formation, divided into spaces extending from squares arranged in the four corners of said circuit, some of said spaces containing hazards or legends involving certain problems, pertaining to.th^ development and hygiene of children, of a series of sub-circuits, or branching off or retarding stations arranged in said main circuit, intermediate the corner squares, a series of smaller, sub-circuits or branching off stations also in. said circuit and-.intermediate the first mentioned branching off stations and said corner squares, and around which the players are conducted from, and returned to, the main circuit, all ; of which extend inwardly from the main . circuit and contain penalties, to which the ' players are directed from said hazards or legends, said branches indicating the necessary answers for, or relief from said problems and a home sector centrally located, on said game board furnishing the final, objective adapted to be connected to certain subcircuits or branches arranged adjacent the corner squares.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaC. PAUL REED.

avoid the penalties as much as possible, since by doing so the route home is shorter, but each player must move one of his men or checkers the number of spaces, indicated by :

the throwing of the dice or spinning of the indicator in his proper turn of play. If, during the course around the circuit, any one of the players’ men or checkers should land on a hazard 5 containing a legend, said player must follow up the penalty according to the direction indicated by the arrow, which will carry him off the main circuit to one of the various sub-circuits or branches 6 and 7, around which he must proceed and return to the main circuit during his regular turn of play and thereby retarding him to that extent'. If, however, this branch. or penalty is just prior to the player’s going home space he does not return to the main circuit but continues his course homeward.

No player is allowed to stop his men or checkers on any one of the large corner squares 4. These squares, however, represent one move, the same as the spaces 3 and 5. but a player must pass over these corner squares without stopping on them.

If in moving, one opponent’s man or checker should happen to stop on a space occupied by another man or checker, said player making such a move shall have to return his man or checker back to the first space containing a hazard or legend, where this player will have to fulfil the penalty and follow out the course prescribed by the legend.

During the course of play any player can have both of his men or checkers on any space except the four large squares on the corners of the game board.

In making the final run home each player will' have to turn the exact number corresponding to the number of spaces from his present position to the square marked “Home”, the winner of the ‘game being the player who first gets both of his men or checkers in the home sector.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the-game herein described, if properly and persistently played will not only afi ford a source of amusement to the player but will bring to his attention and firmly impress upon his mind the various points and problems incident to the care and health of the player, the game primarily i being, as herebefore stated, particularly for the use and amusement of children.