U.S. patent number 3,608,905 [Application Number 04/784,664] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-28 for five dodecahedron card indicia dice.
Invention is credited to Robert W. Edison.
United States Patent |
3,608,905 |
Edison |
September 28, 1971 |
FIVE DODECAHEDRON CARD INDICIA DICE
Abstract
A set of dice utilizing five die each having the shape of a
dodecahedron with twelve flat surfaces. Symbols representing the
face and number cards of a standard 52 card deck of playing cards
are distributed over the surface of the dice and displayed thereon.
Each die displays at least 10 and at most 11 of the symbols, and
the latter are distributed so that the symbols of a particular suit
on one die vary in their value by at least five increments while
the four remaining dice have a similar distribution except for one
combination. Additionally, the dice may have the symbols
distributed so that no die has two symbols of the same value but
different suits. Surfaces of the dice not having card symbols
display markings which can be "wild cards" and/or may further serve
promotional purposes such as the advertising of goods or services.
This distribution of the card symbols over the dice enables the
playing of many card games, particularly poker.
Inventors: |
Edison; Robert W. (Berkeley,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
25133149 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/784,664 |
Filed: |
December 18, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
1/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
1/16 (20060101); A63F 1/00 (20060101); A63f
009/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/146 ;34/5
(10.4)/ |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Claims
I claim:
1. A set of five dice each formed as a dodecahedron with 12
identically formed flat surfaces, 52 of said surfaces of said dice
having symbols representing all denominations of each of four suits
of a standard deck of 52 playing cards positioned thereon, said
denominations in each suit on each die increasing in increments
from a lowest to a highest value, the improvement comprising:
an arrangement of said symbols representing said denominations
relative to said surfaces of said dice wherein each die has at
least 10 and at most 11 symbols positioned on the 12 surfaces
thereof, and wherein said symbols are further positioned on one die
with the denomination represented by said symbols within each of
said four suits separated by a value difference of at least five
increments, and the symbols further positioned on each of the four
remaining dice with the denomination represented by said symbols
within each of said four suits being separated in every combination
of symbols but one combination by a value difference within each of
said suits of at least five increments, whereby every straight
flush but one per suit may be obtained upon a roll of the dice.
2. A set of dice as defined in claim 1 wherein,
said symbols are further arranged on said surfaces of said dice
with no more than one symbol positioned on each die representing
any given denomination of said four suits.
3. A set of five dice each formed as a dodecahedron with 12
identically formed flat surfaces, 52 of said surfaces of said dice
having symbols representing all denominations of each of four suits
of a standard deck of 52 playing cards positioned thereon, said
denominations in each suit on each die increasing in increments
from a lowest to a highest value, the improvement comprising:
each die being in physical balance thereby preventing the favoring
or disfavoring of any one surface of each die from turning up, and
having an arrangement of said symbols representing said
denominations relative to said surfaces of said dice wherein each
die has at least 10 and at most 11 symbols positioned on the 12
surfaces thereof, and wherein said symbols are further positioned
on each die to provide a mathematical balancing having one die with
the denomination represented by said symbols within each of said
four suits separated by a value difference of at least five
increments, and the symbols further positioned on each of the four
remaining dice with the denomination represented by said symbols
within each of said four suits being separated in every combination
of symbols but one combination by a value difference within each of
said suits of at least five increments, whereby every straight
flush but one per suit may be obtained by a roll of the dice.
4. A set of dice as defined in claim 3 wherein, said symbols are
further arranged on said surfaces of said dice with no more than
one symbol positioned on each die representing any given
denomination of said four suits.
5. A set of five dice each formed as a dodecahedron with 12
identically formed flat surfaces, 52 of said surfaces of said dice
having symbols representing all denominations of each of four suits
of a standard deck of 52 playing cards positioned thereon, said
denominations in each suit on each die increasing in increments
from a lowest to a highest value, the improvement comprising:
all permutations of each of said suits on one die being separated
by a denominational value difference of at least five increments,
and wherein all permutations of three of said suits on each of the
four remaining dice are separated by a denominational value
difference of at least five increments and all but one of the
permutations of the remaining suit on each of said four remaining
dice are separated by a denominational value difference of at least
five increments, whereby every straight flush but one per suit may
be obtained upon a roll of the dice.
6. A set of dice as defined in claim 5 wherein,
said symbols are further arranged on said surfaces of said dice
with no more than one symbol positioned on each die representing
any given denomination of said four suits.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to game dice and more particularly to game
dice capable of simulating the game of poker.
Several types of game dice have previously been employed to
simulate various card games and particularly poker. One approach
has been to use standard six-sided dice cubes, each side numbered
from one to six. The dice are rolled simultaneously, and the best
poker hand is selected. As will be readily understood, however,
only a very limited number of poker hands can occur when dice of
this type are used. For example, only two types of straights, a six
high and a five high, can be rolled. Flushes are not usually
possible since no suits are represented, and even when so
represented only a limited number of flushes are possible.
Moreover, the pairs, three of a kind, etc. are limited to
denominations under six.
Another prior form of dice, often called poker dice, is a set of
cubes, as above described, but numbered nine, 10, jack, queen, king
and ace. These dice do not materially enhance the players ability
to simulate the game of poker, except that suits are usually
represented which allows flushes to be rolled. Essentially the same
limitations on the number of possibilities for dice numbered from
one to six exist.
Still another type of game dice which have been previously employed
and which afford a greater ability than six-sided cubes to simulate
the game of poker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 654,112. Five dice
having the shape of a dodecahedron with 12 sides are used. The
denominations of the cards in a standard four-suit, 52 -card deck
of playing cards have been applied to the dice. Since there are
only 52 cards, these dice are formed to prevent the occurrence of
sides of the dice which do not display a symbol representing the
denomination of a card in the deck of cards. Two opposing surfaces
on four of the dice have been rounded so that such surfaces cannot
come to rest on a flat supporting surface such as a playing table.
The possible number of different surfaces that can be rolled is
thereby limited to 52. As an alternative to the rounding of such
surfaces, outwardly protruding pins have been provided in opposed
surfaces. Such a construction of the dice, however, is relatively
expensive, as compared to giving the dice the shape of a true
dodecahedron, and furthermore gives the set of dice an unsightly
appearance. Moreover the slightest imbalance in the weight or shape
of the rounded surfaces or the pins can favor the occurrence of one
or the other of the surfaces. This would, of course, effect the
playing of a game in which each surface displacing a symbol should
have an equal probability of occurring.
In addition and importantly, these game dice are formed with the
cards of each suit of the deck distributed equally over the five
dice. The result of such a distribution, however, is that the dice
still only afford a poor approximation of the conditions for
playing poker. For example, these dice will only yield a limited
number of straights or straight flushes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a set of dice adapted for playing
poker as well as other card games. The dice are comprised of a set
of five dodecahedrons, each defining 12 flat surfaces displaying 52
symbols selected from four suits, or colors. Each suit has 13
different denominations of 13 different values which differ in
increments from a lowest to highest value. For the purposes of this
disclosure, the term "denominations" shall mean the values of the
face and number cards in each suit of cards of the deck of cards.
The values of the denominations in each suit is identical, and each
dodecahedron displays at least 10 and at most 11 symbols. The
symbols on each dodecahdron represent denominations which vary from
other denominations of the same suit by at least five value
increments. Each dodecahedron furthermore displays no more than one
symbol representing a denomination of a given value. Surfaces of
the dodecahedron not displaying symbols display markings not
selected from the denominations of the suits which may be used as
so-called "wild cards." In addition, these markings may communicate
a commercial or other promotional message to the player.
All dice have the form of a true dodecahedron to enable their
relatively inexpensive mass production and enhance their appearance
as compared to the above-described prior art devices. In addition,
there is no danger of favoring certain of the surfaces of the dice
by a possible imbalanced application of pins, for example, so that
each surface, and with it each symbol representing a card in the
deck, has an equal probability of occurrence when the dice are
rolled.
In addition, the distribution of the symbols over the surfaces of
the dice so that any two denominations of a particular suit of the
deck occurring on a given dice are separated by at least five value
increments is of particular importance when playing card games in
which each player plays with five cards, the most well known among
which is poker. Furthermore, since many card games, particularly
poker, assign particular significance to hands of cards of like
values, but being from different suits of the deck of cards, the
cards are arranged so that each value of a card in the deck,
regardless of its suit, appears only once on each die.
With this distribution of denominations over the surfaces of the
set of five dice, it is possible to obtain virtually any
combination of card denominations that is of significance. Thus,
players can roll a "straight," a "flush," a "straight flush," or
"four or five of a kind" (the latter being possible only if wild
cards are used in the game). The quoted terms in the preceding
sentence have well established meaning in the art of playing cards
and are therefore, not further expounded herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one die constructed in accordance with
the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the die shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawing, die 10 has 12 identically shaped, flat
surfaces 12 to define a fully symmetric polygonal dodecahedron.
When rolled, one of the surfaces of the die rests on a support such
as a table top (not shown) while the opposing surface of the
dodecahedron faces away from the support surface and is the surface
which is read or displays the card symbol which constitutes part of
the hand. The dice may be constructed of any desirable material,
such as wood, metals, glass, bone, etc. In the presently preferred
embodiment, however, the dice are injection molded of a plastic to
keep their cost low while enchancing their esthetic appearance.
Applied to each set of five dice are symbols, such as spades 18,
diamonds 20, hearts 22 or clubs 24 representing the four suits of a
standard deck of playing cards. Each symbol furthermore includes a
designation, such as numerals 26 or letters 28, representing number
and face cards, respectively, of the deck of cards. The numbers
represent the number cards 2 through 10 while the letters J, Q, K
and A, respectively, denote the face cards jack, queen, king and
the ace of each suit. The shape of the symbol, i.e. whether it is a
heart, a spade, etc., and the number or letter with which it is
combined determine the denomination and suit of the playing card
represented by the symbol. Alternatively, and to provide the dice
with a more artistic appearance, the symbols representing face
cards of the deck of cards may be elaborated on and may depict the
picture of a jack, a queen, or a king.
If the dice are rolled, all sides of each die have an equal
probability of occurring, that is of being disposed oppositely from
the dice surface resting on the table top. To enable the greatest
possible combination of hands, the arrangement of the symbols
representing the various denominations of the cards in a deck of
playing cards must be carefully arranged as set forth below.
In card games requiring five cards per player, which include many
of the popular poker games, the symbols are arranged so that the
card denominations represented by them enable the occurrence of
all, or as many as possible, combinations of symbols to which
significance is attached in the particular game that is being
played. If the game is poker, the symbols must be placed on the
dice so that the distribution of the card denominations allow the
following combinations: two, three or four denominations of the
same value with each being of a different suit (pairs, three of a
kind, four of a kind and a full house); five symbols representing
denominations separated by single value increments without regard
to the suit to which the denominations belong (straight); symbols
representing denominations of the same suit irrespective of their
value (flush); and five symbols representing denominations of the
same suit and separated by single value increments (straight
flush).
To enable the occurrence of these hands the symbols on each die
representing denominations of the same suit must be separated by at
least five value increments. For example, the die in FIGS. 1 and 2
includes the three of clubs. The next club denomination that may
occur on that same die is the eight of clubs, which is separated
from the three by five value increments. That same die may further
include a third symbol representing a club denomination, but which
must be separated from the eight of clubs by at least five value
increments. Only the king and the ace of clubs satisfy this
requirement since the former is separated from the eight by five
and the latter by six value increments. The illustrated die
includes the king of clubs. The same arrangement must be maintained
for the club denominations on all other dice of the set of five
dice as well as for the denominations of the remaining suits.
To further illustrate the distribution of the denominations by card
value and suit, table I shows a presently preferred distribution of
the denominations over five dice identified as A through E. The
left-hand column under each letter identifying a die represents the
value of the denomination displayed on one of the surfaces of the
die, and the right-hand side of each column identifies the suit to
which the value indicator on the left-hand side belongs. Thus, C
stands for clubs, D for diamonds, H for hearts, and S for spades.
The significance of the surfaces indicating "joker," or identified
by an asterisk is set forth after the tables. The die illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 2 is die C.
It will be noted that any combination of card denominations having
significance in the game of poker can be obtained with the five
dice when the card denominations are distributed thereover as shown
in table I. The singular exception are certain of the possible
"same suit card combinations" or flushes, and some of the possible
three of a kind and two of a kind combinations, or full houses.
Notwithstanding these exceptions, however, the present dice are
capable of much more closely approximating the game of poker by
reason of the fact that many more combinations of hands are
possible than with previous game dice.
Moreover and importantly, the symbol distribution pattern of the
present invention results in three dice having three of the same
suit and those same dice also including an ace, king or queen.
Since the highest card or cards in a flush determine the strength
of the hand, it is possible on the second roll ("draw") to attempt
to roll for a higher flush by picking up a die having three of one
suit. Rerolling one of those dice to attempt to obtain a higher
flush means that the player will have a 1 in 4 chance of obtaining
a flush again and a 1 in 12 chance of obtaining either a queen,
king or ace high flush. The odds are even further enhanced if wild
cards are used. Thus, the distribution system of the present
invention in part overcomes the deficiency in obtaining certain
flush combinations by its ability to obtain high flushes.
Similarly, while some full houses are not possible, the hand with
the highest three of a kind will win. Since any three of a kind is
possible, the player may on a second roll often select a die or
dice which will give him a chance to roll a higher three of a kind.
Thus, the distribution of the card denominations disclosed in table
I permits the playing of poker with almost the same effect, as far
as the probability of obtaining a winning hand is concerned, as if
it were played with a regular 52 deck of playing cards. Table II is
similar to table I but shows a slight variation in the distribution
of the card denominations over the surfaces of the five dice.
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TABLE I
A B C D E
__________________________________________________________________________
A H A S A D A C K H K S K D K C Q H Q S Q D Q C J H J S J D J C 10
H 10 S 10 D 10 C 9 H 9 S 9 D 9 C 8 H 8 S 8 D 8 C 7 H 7 S 7 D 7 C 6
H 6 S 6 D 6 C 5 H 5 S 5 D 5 C 4 H 4 S 4 D 4 C 3 H 3 S 3 D 3 C 2 H 2
S 2 D 2 C Joker Joker Joker * * * * *
__________________________________________________________________________
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TABLE II
A B C D E
__________________________________________________________________________
A H A D A S A C K H K D K S K C Q H Q D Q S Q C J H J D J S J C 10
H 10 D 10 S 10 C 9 H 9 D 9 S 9 C 8 H 8 D 8 S 8 C 7 H 7 D 7 S 7 C 6
H 6 D 6 S 6 C 5 H 5 D 5 S 5 C 4 H 4 D 4 S 4 C 3 H 3 D 3 S 3 C 2 H 2
D 2 S 2 C Joker Joker Joker * * * * *
__________________________________________________________________________
As can be seen from an inspection of the tables, at least 10 and at
most 11 of the surfaces of each die display a symbol representing a
card of the deck. Consequently, each die has at least one and three
die have two surfaces which do not display such a symbol and which
are utilized as follows: Each die receives a marking 30 (identified
by an asterisk in tables I and II) which may communicate any
desired information and which, in a preferred form of this
invention, represents a trademark a trade name, or an advertising
slogan, which is used for promotional purposes. Thus, this mark has
no relationship to the symbols representing playing cards and may
be ignored during a game of rolling the dice of the present
invention (in which case the player rolling the mark may be allowed
to roll that die a second time, for example). Alternatively, the
marks may be treated as so-called "wild cards" for which the player
rolling the mark may assign thereto any desired card denomination
which maximizes the value of the dice rolled by him. On the three
dice having two surfaces not displaying a symbol representing a
card denomination the second surfaces may either be provided with a
second trademark 30 or they may be identified as "joker" cards 32,
i.e., wild cards.
It is noted in table I that for four of the five dice there is not
a separation of at least five increments for each value combination
as, for example, in column A the combination involving the A H and
4 H; in column B between the A S and 4 S; in column C between the A
D and 4 D; and in column D between the A C and 4 C. The separation
in column E between the K H and 3 H is not significant for, as is
well known, there is no straight flush in poker involved therein. A
similar anomaly occurs in all the permutations for four of the five
dice constructed in the manner taught herein as may be verified,
for example, by inspection of table II. However, only one straight
flush per suit is precluded from being rolled for five dodecahedron
dice marked as taught herein.
To play the game, each player rolls a set of five dice 10 on a flat
table top, for example. The same set of dice may be rolled in turn,
or each player may have his own set of dice. Surfaces of the dice
facing away from the table top determine the value of the hand
rolled by that player. The highest hand wins. Players rolling one
or more marks 30 or 32 can assign that value to the marks which
maximizes the value of the hand rolled by them.
Although the above-disclosed dice game is particularly well adapted
for the game of poker, other games can, of course, be played with
it. It is further possible to change the shape and configuration of
the symbols representing the card denominations, or to employ
numbers only, etc. without departing from the scope of this
invention. Moreover, the flat faces can be formed as circular
surfaces inscribed within the pentagonal surfaces illustrated in
the drawing with each die being rounded between such surfaces.
* * * * *