U.S. patent application number 10/271170 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-15 for method and apparatus for playing a game.
Invention is credited to Taylor, Ian C., Taylor, Rosemary A..
Application Number | 20040070147 10/271170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32069096 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040070147 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taylor, Ian C. ; et
al. |
April 15, 2004 |
Method and apparatus for playing a game
Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for playing a game with a
stock of substantially triangular playing pieces, each playing
piece having at least two playing edges of equal length and bearing
indicia associating each of the at least two edges with a group.
The indicia may associate each playing edge with a group defined by
a colour or tone, or with a group defined by a representation of an
animal or defined in another way. Where the group is a colour or
tone the indicia may take the form of bands of colour or tone
running along a playing edge. The playing pieces may have each
playing edge associated with a different group, or may have two or
more playing edges associated with the same group. The object of
the game is for teams to form polygons by laying playing pieces in
the playing area according to the rules of the game. The playing
pieces may be provided in the form of tiles or playing cards
Inventors: |
Taylor, Ian C.; (Surrey,
GB) ; Taylor, Rosemary A.; (Surrey, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY, SHARPE, FAGAN, MINNICH & McKEE, LLP
Suite 700
1100 Superior Ave.
Cleveland
OH
44114-2518
US
|
Family ID: |
32069096 |
Appl. No.: |
10/271170 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/294 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2003/00769
20130101; A63F 2003/00832 20130101; A63F 2003/00867 20130101; A63F
2003/00835 20130101; A63F 2009/0694 20130101; A63F 2003/00766
20130101; A63F 3/00697 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/294 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/20 |
Claims
1. A method for playing a game comprising the steps of: a)
providing a plurality of substantially triangular playing pieces,
each piece having at least two playing edges of equal length and
bearing indicia associating each of the at least two edges with a
group, b) dividing two or more players into two or more teams of at
least one player, c) each team drawing randomly a predetermined
number of playing pieces from a stock of playing pieces, d) teams
taking turns to lay pieces within a playing area, e) in turns
subsequent to the first turn, each team attempting to lay a piece
such that at least one playing edge lies adjacent to a playing edge
associated with the same group of another piece in the playing
area.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least two playing
edges of equal length is three playing edges of equal length.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the playing pieces are
provided in the form of tiles.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the playing pieces are
provided in the form of cards.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the playing pieces bear
secondary indicia associating each of the at least two playing
edges with a value.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the at least two playing
edges of equal length is three playing edges of equal length.
7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the playing pieces are
provided in the form of tiles.
8. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the playing pieces are
provided in the form of cards.
9. A method according to the preceding claims wherein the playing
pieces bear indicia associating each of the at least two edges with
a group defined by a colour.
10. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising awarding
teams a score based on the values associated with playing edges of
the playing pieces.
11. A method as claimed in claims 1, 5 and 10 wherein the game is
ended upon fulfilment of one of the conditions selected from the
following: a) there are no more playing tiles that may be drawn
from the stockpile, or b) one or both of the players or teams of
players has no more playing tiles or playable playing tiles.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for playing
a game. More particularly it relates to a method and apparatus for
playing a game with playing pieces bearing indicia.
[0002] A number of games have been proposed which comprise matching
elements or indicia of one playing piece with another, notably
dominoes. Similar games involve matching triangular playing tiles
with like playing tiles, such as Tri-Ominos. Other games that
involve matching like playing tiles with like playing tiles include
those as disclosed in European patent application no. 0 481 017,
Patent Cooperation Treaty patent application no. WO86/06974, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,225,139 and British patent application no. 2 346 090.
These games may demand strong numeracy of players and not be
suitable for playing in groups, such as families, including very
young children.
[0003] The present invention seeks to provide a game and method for
playing suitable for groups of players across a wide age range.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to a first embodiment of the invention the game is
played with a stock of substantially triangular playing pieces,
each playing piece having at least two playing edges of equal
length and bearing indicia associating each of the at least two
edges with a group. The playing pieces need not be planar however
and by substantially triangular it is meant generally triangular in
plan view. The indicia may associate each playing edge with a group
defined by a colour or tone, or with a group defined by a
representation of an animal or defined in another way. Where the
group is a colour or tone the indicia may take the form of bands of
colour or tone running along a playing edge. The playing pieces may
have each playing edge associated with a different group, or may
have two or more playing edges associated with the same group.
Typically the stock will contain a mixture of playing pieces of
each type.
[0005] The playing pieces may be provided in the form of tiles or
playing cards or in other suitable form, although tiles are
preferred as the pieces will generally be more durable.
Alternatively the playing pieces may be provided in the form of
triangular prisms. In this case segmented pots or holders, such as
those used in the game Trivial Pursuit.RTM., may be provided to
support the playing pieces during play.
[0006] The playing pieces may be provided with rounded or smoothed
off vertices to reduce the risk of injury to, particularly, young
players.
[0007] The game is played by two or more teams of at least one
player. Preferably the game is played by two to six such teams. A
number of variations of the game may be played.
[0008] In its simplest form each team draws a predetermined number
of playing pieces from the stock and pieces are played, by each
team in turn, by laying them in a playing area according to the
rules of the game. The object of the game is for teams to form
polygons by laying playing pieces in the playing area according to
the rules of the game. Throughout the specification, by polygons it
is meant substantially polygonal shapes, which in this case
additionally includes circles. The pieces are drawn randomly,
preferably blindly, from the stock. Where indicia is provided on
only one face of the playing pieces, this may be accomplished by
turning all the playing pieces to lie marked face down on a surface
and shuffling them. Where the playing pieces are cards, they may be
shuffled as a deck of regular playing cards. Alternatively means
such as a bag, sack, steep sided box or other suitable means is
provided to contain and obscure the pieces during drawing.
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the game are played with
substantially equilateral triangular playing pieces. Where the
playing pieces take this form, each playing piece may have three
playing edges and bear indicia associating all three edges with a
particular group. Again, each playing edge may be associated with a
different group or two edges may be associated with the same group
the other playing edge with a second group. The provision of three
playing edges provides additional scope for playing individual
pieces. Where the playing pieces are substantially equilateral
triangular playing pieces, the teams attempt to form complete
regular hexagons in laying their pieces. The substantially
triangular playing pieces need not be equilateral triangles
however, and by selecting the appropriate angle between two playing
edges teams may compete to complete other substantially regular
polygons such as squares, pentagons, heptagons, octagons or the
like.
[0010] The game commences with a first playing piece being placed
within a playing area, which may be any, generally flat or even,
surface large enough to accommodate the game. The first piece may
be placed as the first turn of one of the teams or it may be drawn
from the stock and placed prior to the first turn of any team. In
following turns each team attempts to lay a piece such that at
least one playing edge associated with a group lies adjacent to a
playing edge associated with the same group of another piece in the
playing area, and oriented such that respective vertices formed by
the playing edges of each piece also adjacent. In this way
substantially polygonal shapes are built up from the pieces.
[0011] If a team is unable to match the playing edge of any of its
pieces to another edge `in play` in the playing area the team
misses a turn. To complete a polygonal a team must lay a piece such
that a playing edge associated with a group lies adjacent to a
playing edge associated with the same group of the pieces on either
side. The team placing the final piece in a polygon may like to
exclaim at this point in the manner of players completing the
objects of the well known games of Snap! or Bingo.
[0012] The team that completes the polygonal may remove it from the
playing area. In some versions of the game a winner may be decided
by the number of polygons a team has completed when no further
turns can be taken, the team completing the greatest or the least
number of polygons during the game being declared winner.
[0013] In some versions of the game the predetermined number of
playing pieces drawn from the stock before the game is nil. In such
cases each team will draw a playing piece immediately before its
turn and attempt to play it. When a team draws a piece it cannot
play it retains the piece for a subsequent turn.
[0014] In an alternative embodiment of the game, multiple polygons
may be `in play` at once with teams allowed to begin a further
polygon instead of missing a turn when it is unable to match a
playing edge of any of its playing pieces to another playing edge
in the playing area. When play ends a winner may be determined by
the same method as above.
[0015] In a further alternative embodiment of the game, the playing
pieces may also bear secondary indicia associating each playing
edge with a group. The secondary indicia allow the game to be
scored in a way other than by merely recording the number of
polygons completed during a game. The secondary indicia may
associate each playing edge with a value defined by, most usefully,
a number or defined by a representation of an animal or defined in
another way. Where the group is defined by, for instance, a
representation of an animal the animal may be accorded a numeric
value for scoring purposes. During a game teams may score points
according to values associated with the secondary indicia. For
example, a team may be able to lay two pieces from its hand of
playing pieces against a playing edge in the playing area and can
choose to play the piece that will score the most points and/or
limit the amount of points scorable by the next team to take a
turn.
[0016] Playing pieces having indicia and secondary indicia on the
same face allow some teams, typically comprised of adults or older
children, to play a scoring version of the game simultaneously with
other teams, typically comprised of younger children, playing the
simplest version. In this manner an entire family may play
together, each member of the family playing a version in which they
are able to compete effectively and by which they are suitably
challenged. Playing pieces may also be provided with indicia and
secondary indicia on opposite faces. The indicia and secondary
indicia provided on the obverse and reverse faces of the playing
piece may differ such that playing edges may be associated with
different groups, depending on which way up they are played.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention will now be further described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of
which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical playing tile, and
[0019] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a hexagon as formed during
play.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to the figures of the drawings, the game comprises
providing a plurality of planar, equilateral triangle shaped
playing pieces 1. Each playing piece 1 has three playing edges 10
and bears indicia 2 in the form of three, coloured, isosceles
triangles 3. Thus each playing edge 10 is associated with a group
defined by a colour. Two or more playing edges of each playing
piece may be associated with the same group.
[0021] It has been found that a useful stock of playing pieces may
comprise seventy playing pieces bearing a mixture of six different
colours wherein each playing piece will bear either two or three of
those six colours.
[0022] The playing pieces 1 also bear secondary indicia 4 in the
form of spots or circles. One, two or three circles are provided
within each coloured isosceles triangle 3. Thus each playing edge
10 is additionally associated with a value, the value corresponding
to the number of circles. These values, as explained hereinafter,
may be used in some but not all versions of the game. The tiles
additionally have rounded comers 5 to make them safer for small
children playing the game.
[0023] The game is conducted in or on a suitable playing area. A
generally even surface is suitable for games with tiles or cards.
The object of the game is for players or teams of players to form
polygons, in this case hexagons 6, from the individual playing
pieces 1. Playing pieces 1 can only be placed in accordance with
the rules of the game, which include that a team or player may only
lay its tile adjacent to another playing tile already in play if
the adjacent playing edges are associated with the same group. That
is to say a playing piece bearing indicia designating, for
instance, a `red` playing edge, a `blue` playing edge or a `pink`
playing edge may only be placed next to a playing piece having a
free or unbounded playing edge designated as a `red` playing edge,
a `blue` playing edge or a `pink` playing edge. Often a team or
player will have a number of pieces from which to choose a legal
play and/or a number of free or unbounded playing edges in the
playing area against which a playing piece may be placed. In some
forms of the game the rules may further include that a piece can
only be legally played if laid adjacent to a piece already in play
so as to form a polygon. In such forms a player will generally have
a choice of two free playing edges against which he or she may play
a piece. Where the playing pieces are substantially equilateral
triangular playing pieces a player may, on some turns, have a
choice of three or four playing against which he or she may play a
piece. The rules may further stipulate that a player has to play a
piece so as to form a polygon, rather than begin a fresh polygon,
if he or she is able.
[0024] To begin a game two or more players are divided into teams
of at least one player. Teams take turns to draw randomly a
predetermined number of playing pieces from the stock, which may be
kept in a bag or sack, and attempt to lay their pieces in the
playing area, turnwise according to whichever rules govern that
variation of the game. Players who are not able to play a piece may
have to miss a turn, or draw a further piece, or both.
[0025] A set of rules outlining different versions of the game may
be included with sets of playing pieces. Typically, but not
exclusively, the rules may read:
[0026] The Rules
[0027] Game 1 (Easy)--Construct as many six-tiled hexagons as
possible, one at a time.
[0028] For this game each player takes six tiles from the bag and
arranges these so that the faces are hidden from the other
players.
[0029] Player 1 places one of his tiles face up in the middle of
the playing area. Subsequent players then place one of their tiles
alongside making sure it is positioned so that adjacent sides are
of the same colour. Play continues with each player placing one
tile in turn until six tiles have been placed forming a hexagon.
Note that the sixth and final tile to make up the hexagon has to
match the adjoining colours of both adjacent tiles.
[0030] If at any time a player is unable to place a tile (none of
the colours on his tile match) he misses a go and takes a new tile
out of the bag. If a player has used up all of his tiles and it is
his turn he takes a tile from the bag and plays it if possible or
if not holds on to it for a subsequent turn.
[0031] When a player is able to place a tile that completes a
hexagon, he shouts out "Polygon!" and claims that hexagon as his
own by removing it from the playing area. Play then continues with
the next player placing a tile in the middle of the playing area
and a new hexagon is constructed.
[0032] The winner is the player with the most hexagons when all the
tiles in the bag have been used up.
[0033] Game 2 (Intermediate)--Construct as many six-tiled hexagons
as possible, simultaneously.
[0034] Player 1 takes a tile from the bag and places it face-up in
the middle of the playing area. Player 2 takes a tile and if
possible places it alongside the first tile so that two adjacent
colours match. If none of the colours match then this tile is
placed elsewhere in the playing area and forms the starting point
of a new hexagon. There is no limit to the number of hexagons that
are in play at any one time.
[0035] When a player is able to place a tile that completes a
hexagon, he shouts out "Polygon!" and claims that hexagon as his
own by removing it from the playing area. Play then continues with
the next player.
[0036] The winner is the player with the most hexagons after all
the tiles in the bag have been used up.
[0037] Game 3 (Advanced)--Construct six-tiled hexagons,
accumulating points along the way.
[0038] For this game pen and paper are required to keep note of
people's scores and we recommend that one player is nominated the
scorer.
[0039] Player 1 takes two tiles from the bag and places them
face-up in the middle of the playing area with matching colours
touching and scores the value of the adjoining dots. If no two
colours match the tiles are still placed in the playing area but
kept apart and scores 0.
[0040] Subsequent players take one tile and if possible place it
alongside any tile in the playing area so that two colours match
and scores the value of the dots on the adjoining colours. Note
that when there is more than one option as to where a tile can be
placed then it should be placed in such a way as to score the most
points.
[0041] Play continues until a six-tiled hexagon has been formed.
For this to happen the sides of the final tile have to match the
colours of the adjoining sides of both adjacent tiles. The player
who places the final tile of the hexagon shouts out "Polygon!" and
scores all the points on both adjoining sides plus an additional
6-point bonus. The tiles making up this hexagon are then removed
from the playing area. Play then continues with the next player
taking a tile from the bag.
[0042] If at any time a player is unable to place his tile so as to
construct a hexagon he place it elsewhere in the playing area and
forms the starting point of a new hexagon. There is no limit to the
number of hexagons in play at any one time.
[0043] The winner is the player with the highest score after all
the tiles in the bag have been used up.
[0044] The above rules refer to `players` and `tiles` but, as
mentioned heretofore, the game can also be played, for instance, by
teams and with cards.
[0045] While the invention has been described with particular
reference to the illustrated embodiment, numerous modifications
thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *