Patented August 23, 1949

The present invention relates to a game of skill, and more especially a game of skill played by several players at a time, the winner in a group resulting from a process of elimination, an object of the invention being to provide game means for a laugh-provoking contest between two players. It is particularly proposed to provide as part of the game apparatus a game element which can be held through the exercise of sufficient skill and control between the bottom of the nose and the puckered-up upper lip of each contestant. It is further proposed to provide ring means supportable on said game element only when said element is maintained in a substantially horizontal position by the player or players.

A further object is to provide suitable rules of play between the group of contestants by which the skill of each player in the use of said game means may be properly rewarded or penalized to provide the greatest possible fun.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the obtaining stick which comprises one of the two essential game means.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the ring element which comprises the other essential game means.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows the game means as used by one player.

Fig. 6 shows the game means as used by two players.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

This game of skill, which may have some such name as Z-O-O-L-U is played with game apparatus comprising two co-ordinating game elements or means, namely, a ring 10, preferably circular in cross section, and having a relatively large opening 11, and an "obtaining" stick 12, which is strap-shaped or flattened except at each end, which is rounded up and thickened on its upper surface, substantially as shown at 12-12 as an aid in holding it and the ring in the position of play. This position of play is just beneath the nose of the player. The stick 12 being held in that position by simply and firmly puckering-up the upper lip to squeeze the end part 13 of the stick between lip and the under nose surface as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The ring 10 may be of any suitable size and weight and material, and so may be the "obtaining" stick 12 co-ordinatingly used therewith, these characteristics being regulated by what the average player can support in manner as here noted, yet not too firmly to defeat the object of the play. This applies as well to the shape, size and surface texture of the bulbous stick ends 13.

This game is preferably played according to the following rules:

The game is started by the #1 player, drawn for instance by lot, who places the ring 10 on the stick 12, and then holds the stick between the puckered-up upper lip and the nose as shown in Fig. 5. The #2 player now steps in front of the #1 player who has the stick and ring in playing position, and who allows the #2 player to grasp the stick at its outer end between his puckered-up upper-lip and nose, as shown in Fig. 6. The opposed plyers should preferably stand apart for instance, so that their toes are about six inches apart. The contesting players now strive to take the ring and stick from each other without touching either ring or stick with their hands, or dropping same.

Only the player who touches the ring or the stick with his or her hands while in play, commits a foul. The one who fouls drops out and play goes to the next player. Both players foul if ring or stick is dropped for any reason. Then they drop out, and the next player in turn restarts the game. Only the player who starts the game or those who restart the game are permitted to touch the ring or stick with their hands. The game lends itself to the promulgation of laugh-provoking rules, names for the players and play-stimulating phrases or slogans. The following is an example:

Any player who is defeated not more than twice is called a Zoolu Warrior. Three defeats make him a Long Pig and he's dead. The Zoolu Slave is last defeated warrior who is penalized by the King. The Zoolu Chief is any player who defeats two or more enemies in succession. And the Zoolu King (man) or Zoolu Queen (woman) is the Zoolu Chief who defeats the greatest number of enemies.

The winner of the first bout contests with the next player in a similar manner, until in turn defeated. The play continues thus until the last player is reached. He (or she) now contests with the first defeated Warrior. All Big Chiefs no longer contest. The play goes to the next defeated Warrior in numerical order until the last player is again reached. The third time around all Long Pigs, as well as Big Chiefs, are out of the contest.

The play continues in this manner until the remaining players become Big Chiefs or Long Pigs, except the last player who becomes the Zoolu Slave.

If two Zoolu Chiefs tie for rank of Zoolu King or Zoolu Queen, they must assume playing position and contest for the honor. The winner is acclaimed the Zoolu King or Zoolu Queen and the defeated on now becomes the Zoolu Slave and the former Slave is exalted to the rank of Big Chief.

The Zoolu Slave to become a Big Chief must perform a penalty imposed upon him by the Zoolu King or Queen.

The host may award a prize to the one becoming Zoolu King or Queen, and a consolation prize to the poor Zoolu Slave.

As a word of warning and advice to players who wish to succeed in this difficult game, they are admonished to " keep a straight face and a stiff upper lip"; to remember that "there's many a slip twixt the nose and the lip"; to realize that while the game is hilarious to watch, you had keep solemn while playing it; that "the fewer grins, the more wins"; that "to laugh and the world laughs with you, but you lose the contest"; that "a wink may mean a win"; and that ‘if you can't quit laughing you'll be a slave." Finally, play Zoolu and stay young!!!" As an adjunct to the game, there may be provided identification means for the players to be removably attached to each player. For instance, such identifying means may each consist of an ear ring 14, formed of card-board or the like, and provided with a string loop 15, by means of which the ring may be hung upon the ear of the player. These rings contain identifying indicia as for instance, "Warrior," "King," "Queen," "Slave," "Dead Pig," "Judge," and the like. In playing the game, one person is selected as the "Judge" and is identified by the ear ring marked "Judge." The other players are provided with ear rings marked "Warrior," and as the playing progresses, these ear rings may be substituted by other suitably identified ear rings, as for instance, "Chief," "King," etc., depending upon the proficiency and standing of the players. For instance, the player who first falls may be identified as a "Slave," and given the duty of replacing the ear rings of the other players, and the player who defeats all the other players may be finally designated as "King."

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of this invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting stick, for use as part of a game apparatus wherein an apertured member is adapted to be disengageably hung upon a substantially horizontally held supporting stick, comprising an intermediate portion having a straight longitudinal upper surface and gripping enlargements at each of its ends projecting upwardly form said straight upper surface and so spaced from the end surfaces that, when one or the other of said enlargements is gripped in the corner formed by the lower end the nose of a game player and the puckered upper lip, the convex lower end portion of the nose extending forwardly from said corner engages the shoulder formation of such enlargement to support the stick in a substantially horizontal position and to resist outward pull thereon.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said intermediate portion had a straight longitudinal lower surface, and said enlargements are each in the form of a substantially cylindrical knob tangential to said lower surface and joined by a concavely curved surface to said straight upper surface.

Leonard E. Nash