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(11) | EP 1 813 323 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Game apparatus |
| (57) An apparatus for playing a game comprising a plurality of playing pieces (10) each
having display means controllable to display one of or a sub-set from a set of different
identifiers, and a playing board (1) having a plurality of playing locations (3) for
receiving the playing pieces and control means (6a,6b) associated with the plurality
of locations. Each of the locations has orientation means (4) which constrains a playing
piece placed thereon to a set of orientations. The control means controls which identifier(s)
is/are displayed by the playing pieces when located on the playing board in the playing
locations, and which identifier(s) is/are displayed by each playing piece depends
on both of the playing locations in which the playing piece is located and also orientation
of the playing piece in the playing location.
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[0001] The present invention relates to a game apparatus. In particular it relates to a game apparatus useable by two or more players.
[0002] A conventional apparatus is known for playing a game referred to as "four-in-a-row". This game apparatus allows players to line up four playing pieces of the same colour to win. Such a game may have a vertical board, into which playing pieces are dropped and so fall to the lowest available space. A player endeavours to make a line of four pieces of the same colour vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Such apparatus has the disadvantage that the game play is relatively straight forward and predictable, and games can end in draws.
[0005] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the figures, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of part of the present apparatus;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a front elevation of part of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of part of the apparatus of the present invention in a first state; and
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the present invention in a second state.
[0006] Figure 1 shows a game apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a housing 2 supporting a playing surface 8. The playing surface 8 is supported in a horizontal plane by the housing 2. The playing surface 8 defines 16 playing locations 3, the playing locations 3 arranged in a 4x4 square grid.
[0007] Each playing location 3 is a recess in the playing surface 8. The recess is circular in plan view, and has an arcuate profile. Each playing location 3 comprises four notches 4 arranged symmetrically around the bottom of the playing location 3. The orientation of the notches 4 relative to the playing surface 8 is the same for all the playing locations 3.
[0008] The housing 2 comprises four permanent magnets 6. The magnets 6 are located underneath the playing surface 8, and so are not visible during use. The magnets 6 generate a magnetic field at each of the playing locations. The magnets 6 are arranged such that at each playing location the magnetic field is substantially due to only one magnet. This is because the magnets 6 are positioned so that one magnet is closest to any one playing location, i.e. there are no playing locations in which two magnets are equidistant.
[0009] The magnets 6 are arranged in a square. Preferably, diagonally opposite pairs of magnets 6 have the same orientation of their poles. This orientation is opposite to the other pair of diagonally opposite magnets 6.
[0010] Figure 2 shows playing pieces 10 of the apparatus 1. The playing pieces 10 are shown in use on the playing surface 8. The apparatus 1 comprises nine playing pieces 10.
[0011] With reference to Figure 3, each playing piece 10 comprises a casing 12. The casing 12 is circular in plan view, and has an upper surface 24 and a lower surface 26. The upper surface 24 and lower surface 26 form an ellipse in profile. The lower surface 26 is dimensioned to complement the recess of a playing location 3.
[0012] Four protrusions 22 extend from the lower surface 26. The protrusions 22 are equally spaced around the casing 12, and are engageable in the notches 4 of the playing locations 3.
[0013] A window 14 is provided in the upper surface 24 of the casing 12. The window 14 is in the form of a cut-out quadrant. A rotatable element is located within the casing 12. The rotatable element is in the form of a circular disk 16. An upper surface of the disk 16 is coloured with four colour segments 18. Each colour segment 18 is a different colour, preferably the four colours are red, green, blue and yellow. Each colour segment 18 covers a 90° slice of the disk 16. The colour segments 18 are visible through the window 14 in the casing 12.
[0014] The disk 16 is provided with a magnet (not shown) located adjacent a periphery of the disk 16. The magnet may be located on a lower surface of the disk 16 so that the colour segments 18 are not obscured. The magnet is either attracted to or repelled by the magnets 6 in the housing 2.
[0015] The magnet on the disk is located such that when the protrusions 22 are engaged in the notches 4 only one colour segment 18 is visible through the window 14. The magnet may not be located at adjacent the same colour segment 18 for each playing piece 10, so that different playing pieces 10 may show different colours even if placed in the same playing location at the same orientation.
[0016] With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the housing 2 comprises two drawers 5. Figure 4 shows the apparatus 1 in a first state in which the drawers 5 are closed. Figure 5 shows the apparatus 1 in a second state in which the drawers 5 are open. The drawers 5 can be used for storage of the playing pieces when not in use. The drawers 5 extend from opposite side of the housing 2, and are connected together by connection means such that movement of one drawer 5 results in an equivalent and opposite movement in the other drawer 5.
[0017] In use, the apparatus 1 provides a game which can be played by two or more players. The object of the game is to create three playing pieces in a row all showing the same colour. The following example of a game is given for two players.
[0018] A first player chooses a playing location 3 on which to place a playing piece 10. The player must choose the orientation of the playing piece before it is placed. The playing piece is then placed in the playing location 3 by the player. The protrusions 22 engage with the notches 4 so that the playing piece 10 is exactly aligned at the chosen orientation. The magnet on the disk 16 interacts with the closest magnet 6 in the housing 2 such that the disk 16 may be forced to rotate. The disk 16 will rotate to a position in which only one colour segment 18 is visible through the window 14. The playing piece 10 is considered to be the colour shown by the visible colour segment 18.
[0019] A second player then places a playing piece 10 in a playing location 3, again choosing the approximate orientation before engaging the protrusions 22 in the notches 4. If a player were allowed to rotate the playing piece 10 whilst inside a playing location 3, the player would be able to choose without skill the desired colour of the playing piece 10. The first player then places a further playing piece 10, and the second player and first player then alternate until all nine of the playing pieces 10 are in playing locations 3.
[0020] If a player has not yet lined up three colours in a row, the players take turns to either move a playing piece from one playing location to another playing location, or rotate a playing piece such that it has a different orientation. The winner is the first player to line up three playing pieces 10, showing the same colour (which may be any colour) either in a row, column or diagonally.
[0021] The players may learn that rotation of a playing piece 10 by 90° results in a sequence of the four colours being displayed. This is because the disk 16 is static, whilst the window 14 in the casing is rotated around to show each colour in turn.
[0022] Additionally, movement of a playing piece along a four playing location row or column results in a sequence of all four colours. This is illustrated by considering a movement along the bottom row of the playing surface shown in Figure 1, from left to right. The position of the magnet on the disk 16 is marked by a filled circle 20. The playing piece is closest to one magnet 6, labelled as magnet 6a, for the first and second playing locations, and closest to another magnet 6, labelled magnet 6b, for the third and fourth playing locations. It will be assumed that the magnet on the disk is attracted to the first magnet 6a. In moving from the first location to the second location, the magnet 6a moves from being above and right of the playing piece, to being above and left of the playing piece. The magnet on the disk exerts a force on the disk towards the magnet 6b, and thus rotates the disk 90 degrees anti-clockwise. This causes a change in colour visible through the window.
[0023] At the third position, the closest magnet to the playing piece is the second magnet 6b. The magnet on the disk 16 is repelled by the second magnet, since along a row the two closest magnets are at opposite orientations. This causes the disk to rotate until the magnet on the disk is as far away as possible from the magnet 6b. Thus, the disk 16 undergoes a further 90 degree anti-clockwise rotation. On moving to the fourth position, the magnet on the disk 16 is repelled by the magnet 6b to move to the opposite side of the playing piece from the magnet 6b, and so causes the disk 16 to rotate 90 degrees anti-clockwise. Each rotation of 90 degrees along the row renders a different colour of the disk visible.
[0024] Since the magnet on the disk may not be at the same position with respect to the colours for each disk, the colour sequence seen will be dependent on which playing piece 10 is used.
[0025] The game therefore provides a test of skill and memory, in being able to determine the correct position and orientation of a playing piece to produce three pieces in a row of the same colour.
[0026] The rotatable element has been described above has having four colour segments 18. Alternatively, the rotatable element could have two, three, five, six or more different colours. The number of discreet orientations at which the playing pieces fit on the playing locations is preferably equal to the number of colours on the rotatable element. Alternatively, there may be fewer or greater number of orientations than colours on which the playing pieces 10 may fit.
[0027] The playing pieces have been described as having four protrusions engageable with four notches. Alternatively, the playing piece 10 may have one or more protrusions engageable with a plurality of notches extending from a playing location. Alternatively, the playing location may comprise one or more protrusions, which are engageable with a plurality of notches in a playing piece.
[0028] The colour displayed by each playing piece 10 is described as due to interactions between the closest magnets and the colour visible through a window on each playing piece. Alternatively, sensor means may be provided which electronically detects the location and orientation of a playing piece. This could be achieved, for example, by an electronic circuit detecting the position of one of the protrusions on the playing piece. A processing means may then calculate the colour to be displayed, which can be displayed on the playing piece. The colour may be displayed by light emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays or other means.
1. Apparatus for playing a game comprising:
a plurality of playing pieces each having display means controllable to display one of or a sub-set from a set of different identifiers; and
a playing board having a plurality of playing locations for receiving the playing pieces and control means associated with the plurality of locations; wherein
each of the locations has orientation means which constrains a playing piece placed thereon to a set of orientations;
the control means controls which identifier(s) is/are displayed by the playing pieces when located on the playing board in the playing locations; and
which identifier(s) is/are displayed by each playing piece depends on both of the playing locations in which the playing piece is located and also orientation of the playing piece in the playing location.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each playing piece comprises a casing having
a window, and an element displaying the plurality of identifiers moveable within the
casing, such that in use one identifier is visible through the window.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the element is rotatable within the casing.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the element is rotatable about a vertical
axis.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control means comprises one or more magnets
located on or adjacent the playing surface; and
each playing piece has magnetic means, which interacts with the paying surface magnets to determine the identifier displayed by the playing piece.
each playing piece has magnetic means, which interacts with the paying surface magnets to determine the identifier displayed by the playing piece.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the magnetic means is a magnet attached to
a moveable element.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the playing piece comprises a casing having
a window and a rotatable element displaying the set of identifiers, when only one
of or the subject of the identifiers being visible through the window, and the magnet
is located adjacent a periphery of the rotatable element.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the playing surface comprises
four magnets arranged such that a magnetic field effective at each playing location
is primarily generated by only one of the magnets.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein at least one of the magnets
on or adjacent the playing surface has a first orientation, and at least one of the
magnets on or adjacent the playing surface has a second orientation opposite to the
first orientation.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein orientation means
comprise inter-engaging formations on the playing locations and playing pieces.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein one of the playing location or playing piece
is provided with a plurality of notches and the other of the playing location or playing
piece is provided with at least one protrusion, the protrusion engageable with one
of the notches such that the orientation of the playing can be one of a plurality
of discrete orientations.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the playing pieces comprise a plurality of
protrusions and the playing locations comprise a plurality of notches.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the playing surface
is supported by a housing, the housing having storage means for storing playing pieces.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the storage means comprises two drawers extendable
from opposite sides of the housing and connection means connecting the two drawers,
wherein movement of one drawer causes the connection means to actuate an equal and opposite movement in the other drawer.
wherein movement of one drawer causes the connection means to actuate an equal and opposite movement in the other drawer.