US20130300064A1

US20130300064A1 - Stacking Game

Info

Publication number: US20130300064A1
Application number: US13/466,189
Authority: US
Inventors: John D. Shoemaker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-08
Filing date: 2012-05-08
Publication date: 2013-11-14

Abstract

A stacking game utilizes a rock shaped bowl base with an internal, asymmetrical cavity. A plurality of variously shaped and sized asymmetrical game members, optimally configured as misshapened stones, are placed, in turn by each player, within the cavity. The cavity is eventually filled with the game members and then additional game members are placed on each other to form a “rock pile.” Players whose placement of a game member causes one or more of the game members to fall off the pile are eliminated. The only player who does not cause a game member to fall is the winner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game piece stacking game and more particularly to a new and improved stacking game which can be played by two or more people, and also by a single player.
There are a wide variety of stacking games which employ many different kinds of stacking game members, i.e. block, balls, cards, cups, etc. These are designed to be placed in various stacking configurations and in combination with other components. For example, the game members used in U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,013 are non-uniformly shaped stone-shaped pieces. However, the game pieces in this game, like many others, are designed to be utilized with a number of other game components. This makes the game itself more complicated to play, especially for young children. Such games are cumbersome to put away and store and difficult to transport. The increased number of game components obviously increases the costs of manufacturing and packaging the game, such that it is not an economically viable option.
As a result, there is a need for a unique stacking game which is not only fun for both young and older players, but also addresses the problem of simplicity of play, ease of storage and transport, and economy of manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a game and gaming method comprising a rock shaped bowl base with an internal, asymmetrical cavity. A plurality of variously shaped and sized asymmetrical game members, optimally configured as misshapened stones, are placed, in turn by each player, within the cavity. The cavity is eventually filled with the game members and then additional game members are placed on each other to form a “rock pile.” Players whose placement of a game member causes one or more of the game members to fall off the pile are eliminated. The only player who does not cause a game member to fall is the winner.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the components of the game of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the rock shaped bowl base of the game of the present invention with its cavity being filled.

FIG. 3 shows the rock shaped bowl base of the game of the present invention with its cavity filled and a rock pile formed by the placement of game members.

FIG. 4 shows a game member of the game of the present invention falling from the rock pile, thus eliminating one of the game's players.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF Tim INVENTION

The game of the present invention comprises rock shaped bowl base 2 having internal cavity 4 which extends partially into the base. Cavity 4 has bottom surface 6 within base 2 and open top 8. Front wall surface 10, rear wall surface 12, and lateral wall surfaces 14 and 16 extend downward from open top 8 at different angles in. relation to the bottom surface, such that cavity 4 has an asymmetrical configuration.
Game members 20-32 are asymmetrical components having various shapes and sizes. These game members, as shown, take the shape of small to large stones, none of which are larger than cavity 4. However, it is contemplated that the game members can also be configured as different misshapened components, e.g. arrowheads, imitation gold nuggets, diamonds, or gems, etc. And any number of game members can be used in the game.
The game is best played by two or more players, with the player having the first turn placing one of the game members of any size or shape into cavity 4. The next player having a turn places any other game member into cavity 4. Each player in turn then places a game member into cavity 4. After every player has placed his or her game member into cavity 4, the first player places another game member into cavity 4 and each player in turn then continues the process until the cavity is filled with game members. See FIG. 2. Players, in turn, then continue placing game members on those game members which fill cavity 4, thus forming a “rock pile” 40 over the cavity. See FIG. 3. The first player whose placement of a game member causes one or more game members to fall off rock pile 40 is eliminated from the game. See FIG. 4. The next player whose placement of a game member causes one or more game member to fall off rock pile 40 is eliminated. This process of player elimination continues until only one player remains. That player is the winner.
The game of the present invention is one which can be enjoyed by children as well as adults. While the game is designed to be played by multiple participants, one person can play it by himself or herself; i.e. a single player can try to build the highest rock pile, before a game member falls.
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A game comprising:

a rock shaped bowl base having an internal cavity extending into the base, said cavity having a bottom surface within the base, an open top, and front, rear, and lateral wall surfaces extending downward from the open top to the bottom surface, each wall surface extending downward at a different angle in relation to the bottom surface, whereby the cavity is asymmetrical in configuration; and

a plurality of variously shaped and sized asymmetrical game members, no game member being larger than the cavity, whereby a plurality of game members are configured to fill the cavity and be positioned in a pile above the cavity.

2. The game as in claim 1 wherein the game members are shaped as asymmetrical stones of various shapes and sizes.

3. The method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

providing a rock shaped bowl base having an internal cavity extending into the base, said cavity having a bottom surface within the base, an open top, and front, rear, and lateral side wall surfaces extending downward from the open top to the bottom surface, each sidewall surface extending downwardly at a different angle;

providing a plurality of variously shaped and sized asymmetrical game members, no members being larger than the cavity;

placing one of the game members within the cavity;

placing a second of the game members within the cavity;

continuing the placement of game members individually within the cavity until the cavity is filled members;

placing a game member on the game members filling the cavity;

continuing the placement of individual game members on the game members filling the cavity to form a pile of game members; and

continuing the placement of individual game members on the pile until one or more of the game members falls off of the pile.

4. The game as in claim 3 wherein the game is played by two or more players and comprises the further steps of:

alternating the placement of game members by the players, whereby each player takes a turn in placing the game members in the cavity and then on the rock pile;

eliminating from the game any players whose placement of a game member on the rock pile results in one or more placed game members falling from the pile; and

declaring as the winner of the game, the player whose placement of a game member on the pile does not cause any other placed game member from failing from the pile.