GB2271290A

GB2271290A - Apparatus for playing a game

Info

Publication number: GB2271290A
Application number: GB9221034A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Stanley Griffiths
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-07
Filing date: 1992-10-07
Publication date: 1994-04-13
Also published as: GB9221034D0

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game comprises a playing area (2) defining a plurality of first playing positions (4b) and at least one second playing position (4a), a plurality of playing pieces, and random chance selector means for determining in which playing position a player can place a playing piece. The aim of the game is for each player to dispose of a predetermined number of playing pieces by positioning them, in accordance with the indication of the random chance selector means, in the playing positions. Only a single playing piece can be placed in each of the first playing positions (4b), but more than one playing piece can be placed in the or each second playing position (4a). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A GAME This invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

The present invention provides apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising a playing area defining a plurality of first playing positions and at least one second playing position, a plurality of playing pieces, and random chance selector means for determining in which playing position a player can place a playing piece, the aim of the game being for each player to dispose of a predetermined number of playing pieces by positioning them, in accordance with the indication of the random chance selector means, in the playing positions, wherein only a single playing piece can be placed in each of the first playing positions, but more than one playing piece can be placed in the or each second playing position.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the playing positions is defined by an aperture in a member defining the playing area, the apertures constituting the first playing positions being blind apertures, and the or each aperture defining a second playing position being a through aperture. Advantageously, the playing pieces are pegs, each of which is sized and shaped to be a loose sliding fit in each of the apertures. Thus, a peg placed in one of the first playing positions remains in the aperture constituting that playing position, whereas a peg placed in the or each second playing position can pass right through the aperture defining that playing position, thereby permitting another peg to be placed in that playing position. Preferably, said member constitutes the lid of a box, the base of the box being -hollow and hinged to the lid.Thus, in use, any peg placed in an aperture defining a second playing position will fall through into the hollow base of the box, whereby a further peg can subsequently be positioned in that aperture.

A die may constitute the random chance selector means. Preferably, the six faces of the die bear the numerals '1' to '6', in which case there are five first playing positions labelled '1' to '5' respectively, and a single second playing position labelled '6'.

Preferably, the random chance selector means further comprises a second die, the six faces of the second die each bearing a different identifiable characteristic. In this case, there are a plurality of sets of playing pieces, the playing pieces of each set each having a respective one of the different identifiable characteristics, and the playing pieces pf different sets having different ones of the identifiable characteristics. Advantageously, different colours constitute the different identifiable characteristics.

Alternatively, a pack of playing cards constitutes the random chance selector means, and there are twelve first playing positions labelled '2' to '10', 'J', 'Q' and 'K' respectively, and a single second playing position labelled 'A', the labelling of the thirteen playing positions corresponding to the denominations of the thirteen playing cards of each suit of the pack. In this case, there maybe two sets of playing pieces, the playing pieces of one set being coloured red to correspond with the red playing cards., and the playing pieces of the other set being coloured black to correspond to the black playing cards.

The invention also provides apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising a playing area defining a plurality of first playing positions and at least one second playing position, a plurality of playing pieces, and random chance selector means for determining in which playing position a player can place a playing piece, all being employed substantially in the manner described hereinafter in the specification as to the manner in which the game is to be played.

Two forms of game playing apparatus, each of which is constructed in accordance with the invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the main part of the first form of apparatus; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section of the main part of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective of the main part of the second form of apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a box 1 having a hollow base 2 and a generally solid lid 3 hinged thereto. The lid 3 defines a playing area which is provided with a cylindrical through hole 4a and with five cylindrical blind holes 4b. As shown in Fig. 2, the hole 4a opens out into the hollow interior of the base 2, whereas the holes 4b terminate within the solid portion of the lid 3. The holes 4b are labelled '1!, '2', '3', '4' and '5', and the hole 4a is labelled '6' as shown in Fig. 1.

The apparatus is completed by two dice (not shown) and six sets of pegs (not shown). The pegs of each set have the same colour, and there are the same number (say 40) pegs in each set. The colours of the sets are red, blue, green, yellow, orange and purple. One of the dice is a conventional die, having its faces numbered '1' to '6', the other die having its six faces coloured red, blue, green, yellow, orange and purple. When the apparatus is not in use, the dice and the pegs can be stored inside the hollow base 2 of the box 1. The pegs are each sized to be a loose sliding fit within each of the holes 4a and 4b.

The game is played as follows. Firstly, each of the players takes a given number of pegs of different colours, each player having the same number of pegs of each of the colours. The number of pegs taken will depend upon the number of players and the time available for playing the game. For example, if there are 40 pegs of each colour and four players, each player could take up to ten pegs of each colour. Similarly, if there are ten players, each player could take up to four pegs of each colour. In each case, the number of pegs chosen will help determine the duration of the game, the more pegs per player tending to result in a longer game. The aim of the game is to dispose of one's pegs, and the first player to do so is the winner.

Each of the players then takes it in turn to throw the numbered die, the first player to throw a '6' winning the right to have the first throw proper of the game. The first player then starts the game by throwing both dice. If the numbered die falls with one of the numbers '1' to '5' uppermost, the player places a peg of the same colour as that showing on the uppermost face of the other die in the correspondingly labelled blind hole 4b. Similarly, if the numbered die is a '6', the player places a peg of the appropriate colour into the through hole 4a. This peg will, of course, fall through the hole 4a into the hollow base 2 of the box 1. If the player does throw a '6', he has another turn.

The next player then throws both dice, and proceeds to place pegs in a similar manner. However, should that player find that the blind hole 4b corresponding to the number thrown is occupied by a peg, that player must remove that peg and add it to his/her stock of pegs. Play then passes to the next player who throws both dice and proceeds in the same manner, placing a coloured peg in one of the holes 4a or 4b, or removing a peg from an occupied hole 4b.

Whenever a player throws a '6' he/she has another turn. The players continue throwing in turn until one player disposes of all his/her pegs, thereby winning the game.

It should be noted that, if a player does not have a peg of the colour indicated by the other die, he/she cannot dispose of a peg of any other colour. Also, each player may pass at his/her turn by missing a throw. A player may not, however, pass on two consecutive turns.

In a simplified version of the game described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the coloured die is not used, and any coloured peg can be placed in a hole 4a or 4b when a player throws the appropriate number and the associated hole is not already occupied. This simplified version is suitable for young children.

Fig. 3 shows the main part of the second form of game playing apparatus. As shown, a box 11 has a hollow base 12 and a generally solid lid 13 hinged thereto. The lid 13 defines a playing area which is provided with a cylindrical through hole 14a and twelve cylindrical blind holes 14b. Although not shown, the hole 14a opens out into the hollow interior of the base 12, whereas the holes 14b terminate within the solid portion of the lid 13. The holes 14b are labelled '2', '3', '4', '5', '6', '7', '8', '9', '10', 'J' 'Q' and 'K', and the hole 14a is labelled 'A'.

The apparatus is completed by a normal pack of playing cards (not shown) and two sets of pegs (not shown), the pegs of one set being coloured red and the pegs of the other set being black. There are the same number (say 60) of pegs in each set. When the apparatus is not in use, the cards and pegs can be stored inside the hollow base 12. The pegs are each sized to be a loose sliding fit within each of the holes 14a and 14b.

The game is played in a similar manner to that described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, except that the drawing of a card from the pack determines how and whether a player can dispose of a peg rather than the throw of dice. Thus, after cutting the pack to decide who goes first, each player in turn draws the top card from the pack, and places a peg (red if the card is a diamond or a heart, and black if the card is a club or a spade) in a hole 14a or 14b depending upon the denomination of the card, a peg being placed in the hole 14b labelled 2 if the card is a deuce and so on (the labels 'J', 'Q' and 'K' designating, of course, the holes for a Jack, Queen and King respectively). When a player draws an Ace, the appropriately coloured peg does, of course, fall through the hole 14a and into the base 12 of the box 11, thereby taking no further part in the game.A player drawing an Ace also has another turn. As with the game of Figs. 1 and 2, should a hole 14b be already occupied by a peg, the player concerned must remove that peg and add it to his/her stock of pegs. Should all twelve holes 14b be occupied, the player concerned must take any three pegs from their holes 14b and add these to his/her stock of pegs. If a Joker is drawn, the player concerned may place a peg in any hole 14b but not in the hole 14a. Once a player's turn is complete, the card or cards drawn during that turn are placed on a discard stack. As with the first-game, a player may pass at his/her turn by not drawing a card. A player may not, however, pass on two consecutive turns. Should the game not be won by the time all the cards have been drawn from the pack and discarded, the cards are shuffled and re-used.

In a simplified version of the Fig. 3 game, the suit of a card is ignored, and a peg of either colour can be used on any turn.

It will be apparent that the types of apparatus described above could be modified. For example, the boxes 1 and 11 could have any suitable shape, and each form of apparatus could be sized as a travelling game apparatus.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising a playing area defining a plurality of first playing positions and at least one second playing position, a plurality of playing pieces, and random chance selector means for determining in which playing position a player can place a playing piece, the aim of the game being for each player to dispose of a predetermined number of playing pieces by positioning them, in accordance with the indication of the random chance selector means, in the playing positions, wherein only a single playing piece can be placed in each of the first playing positions, but more than one playing piece can be placed in the or each second playing position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the playing positions is defined by an aperture in a member defining the playing area, the apertures constituting the first playing positions being blind apertures, and the or each aperture defining a second playing position being a through aperture.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the playing pieces are pegs, each of which is sized and shaped to be a loose sliding fit in each of the apertures, whereby a peg placed in one of the first playing positions remains in the aperture constituting that playing position, whereas a peg placed in the or each second playing position can pass right through the aperture defining that playing position, thereby permitting another peg to be placed in that playing position.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said member constitutes the lid of a box, the base of the box being hollow and hinged to the lid, whereby, in use, any peg placed in an aperture defining a second playing position will fall through into the hollow base of the box, so that a further peg can subsequently be positioned in that aperture.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a die constitutes the random chance selector means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the six faces of the die bear the numerals '1' to '6', and wherein there are five first playing positions labelled '1' to '5' respectively, and a single second playing position labelled '6'.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the random chance selector means further comprises a second die, the six faces of the second die each bearing a different identifiable characteristic.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein there are a plurality of sets of playing pieces, the playing pieces of each set each having a respective one of the different identifiable characteristics, and the playing pieces of different sets having different ones of the identifiable characteristics.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein different colours constitute the different identifiable characteristics.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a pack of playing cards constitutes the random chance selector means, and there are twelve first playing positions labelled '2' to '10', 'J', 'Q' and 'K' respectively, and a single second playing position labelled 'A', the labelling of the thirteen playing positions corresponding to the denominations of the thirteen playing cards of each suit of the pack.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein there are two sets of playing pieces, the playing pieces of one set being coloured red to correspond with the red playing cards, and the playing pieces of the other set being coloured black to correspond to the black playing cards.

12. Apparatus for playing a game, the apparatus comprising a playing area defining a plurality of first playing positions and at least one second playing position, a plurality of playing pieces, and random chance selector means for determining in which playing position a player can place a playing piece, all being employed substantially in the manner described hereinafter in the specification as to the manner in which the game is to be played.