How the Classic Operation Board Game Works
A 1967 patent for an electronic game where a player uses a conductive probe to navigate a path without touching the sides, triggering a signal if they fail.
Original patent title: “Game utilizing electric probe”
A 1967 patent for an electronic game where a player uses a conductive probe to navigate a path without touching the sides, triggering a signal if they fail. Granted to Glass Marvin and Associates in 1967 with 2 claims and 5 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a game board featuring two parallel, electrically conductive plates separated by a gap. A path for the player is created by a series of openings in the top plate. The player uses a specialized probe—an elongated member with a spring-loaded conductive rod—to navigate these openings. If the rod touches both the top and bottom plates simultaneously, it completes an electrical circuit, which triggers an indicating signal device, such as a light or buzzer.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover non-electrical games that rely purely on mechanical dexterity.
- Does not cover games that use wireless sensors or cameras to track movement.
- Does not cover games where the signal is triggered by something other than a direct electrical short between two plates.
- Does not cover games that do not use a spring-loaded probe mechanism.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The invention uses a simple spring-loaded probe to ensure that the circuit only closes when the player makes a mistake, turning a basic electrical short into a core game mechanic.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
The Operation board game
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is the technical foundation for the iconic Operation board game, first released in 1965. It established the 'electromechanical skill game' genre, where physical precision is rewarded or penalized by simple electronic feedback. It remains a classic example of how basic circuit design can create high-stakes, engaging play.
Filed
February 4, 1965
Granted
August 1, 1967
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Hasbro currently owns the rights to the Operation brand and continues to iterate on the original design. Various toy manufacturers have since built upon this concept of 'steady hand' electronic games, often incorporating more complex sensors and sound effects.
Market impact
This patent enabled the creation of a long-standing product category in the toy industry. By formalizing the use of simple conductive circuits in board games, it paved the way for decades of electronic tabletop games that rely on physical interaction to trigger immediate, satisfying feedback.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a game board featuring two parallel, electrically conductive plates separated by a gap. A path for the player is created by a series of openings in the top plate. The player uses a specialized probe—an elongated member with a spring-loaded conductive rod—to navigate these openings. If the rod touches both the top and bottom plates simultaneously, it completes an electrical circuit, which triggers an indicating signal device, such as a light or buzzer.
The clever bit
The invention uses a simple spring-loaded probe to ensure that the circuit only closes when the player makes a mistake, turning a basic electrical short into a core game mechanic.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover non-electrical games that rely purely on mechanical dexterity.
- Does not cover games that use wireless sensors or cameras to track movement.
- Does not cover games where the signal is triggered by something other than a direct electrical short between two plates.
- Does not cover games that do not use a spring-loaded probe mechanism.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$7K – $21K
Midpoint $13K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
1 independent claim · 0 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
2 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Gunars, L., Glass, M. I., & Spinello, J. O. (1967). How the Classic Operation Board Game Works (U.S. Patent No. 3,333,846). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3333846/operation-game-electric-probe
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Classic Operation Board Game Works cover?
A 1967 patent for an electronic game where a player uses a conductive probe to navigate a path without touching the sides, triggering a signal if they fail.
Who owns patent US 3333846?
Glass Marvin and Associates owns this patent, granted in 1967.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 3333846 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is the technical foundation for the iconic Operation board game, first released in 1965. It established the 'electromechanical skill game' genre, where physical precision is rewarded or penalized by simple electronic feedback. It remains a classic example of how basic circuit design can create high-stakes, engaging play.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover non-electrical games that rely purely on mechanical dexterity.
Patent monitoring