Connect 4 is a well known vertical game played with "checkers" (it is more akin to Tic Tac Toe or Go Moku).
The board is placed in the stand to hold it vertically and the players drop checkers into one of the 7 slots, each of which holds 6 of the "checker's" men, until one player succeeds in getting 4 in a row--horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
The game is actually non-proprietary and nicer adult versions can be found under the name The Captain's Mistress.