GB2218001A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Game apparatus comprises a playing surface 10 marked to designate paths 14 divided into spaces 15 along which a token may be moved, a plurality of player tokens, a plurality of sets of puzzle pieces 13, each set preferably being capable of assembly to form a completed puzzle on a board 18, a plurality of question cards 16 to be answered by players and means for confirming the correct answers to the questions, and means for indicating when a player should take one of the said puzzle pieces during the course of the game. One or more pieces may be common between two or more puzzles so that not all of the puzzles can be completed simultaneously. The apparatus may also include a pair of dice to replace the use of the answering of questions to determine the moves along the paths. <IMAGE>

Description

GAME APPARATUS The present invention relates to game apparatus of the kind in which a playing surface is marked to designate a path or paths divided into spaces along which a player token may be moved and in which sets of puzzle pieces are incuded which are acquired by players during the game and which can be assembled to form a number of completed puzzles.

An example of a game of this kind is described in Specification 2049441. In that game, puzzle pieces are acquired by players simply through moving player tokens around a path in a manner determined by the throw of dice. Little allowance is made for the demonstration of skill by the players.

The present invention provides game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to designate a path or paths divided into spaces along which a token may be moved, a plurality of player tokens, a plurality of sets of puzzle pieces, each set preferably being capable of assembly to form a completed puzzle, and a plurality of questions to be answered by players and means for confirming the correct answers to the questions, and means for indicating when a player should take one of the said puzzle pieces during the course of the game.

One or more pieces may be common between two or more puzzles so that not all of the puzzles can be completed simultaneously.

The playing surface may be provided on a game board. There may be a single path divided into spaces along which the player tokens for all of the players move. Alternatively, separate paths may be provided, e.g. one for each player. These may for instance be arranged as lanes in a race track.

The player tokens may simply be counters or may take any other desired form.

The sets of puzzle pieces are preferably sets of jig-saw puzzle pieces which can be assembled to form a plurality of jig-saw puzzles, preferably one for each player. A team of two or more players may however co-operate to solve a puzzle between them.

Preferably, for each set of jig-saw puzzle pieces, there is provided a puzzle board on which the jig-saw puzzle may be assembled. Preferably, the puzzle board shows a picture corresponding to one produced by correct assembly of the puzzle pieces.

The questions are preferably provided one on each of a set of cards. The corresponding answer may be provided on the card with question or elsewhere.

Indicia may be provided on the board to indicate that a player who lands on a particular space should take one or more of the puzzle pieces during that current turn.

Alternatively, indicia may be provided in association with some or all of the questions indicating that one or more of the puzzle pieces should be taken by a player correctly answering the question.

Indicia may be provided in association with some or all of the questions to indicate how far along the path a player should move his token during a current turn.

Alternatively, indicia indicating instructions for the movement of player tokens may be provided in association with the answers.

Preferably a set of puzzle pieces, a player token and a said path on the playing surface are provided for each of a number of players.

Preferably, chance number indicator means is provided for indicating the number of spaces to be moved by a playing token in a turn. This may be used instead of the questions and answers ina simplified version of the game.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated in perspective view an example of a game according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows game apparatus comprising a playing surface 10 provided in a box 11. In the playing surface 10 there are a pair of wells 12 containing jig-saw puzzle pieces 13. The playing surface 10 bears four oval paths 14 divided into spaces 15 by transverse lines.

A substantial number of cards 16 bearing questions and answers are provided in a further well 17 in the playing surface. The apparatus further comprises two puzzle boards 18 (one of which is shown) each of which bears a characteristic picture in the area marked 19.

Each picture corresponds to one formed by assembly of one set of the jig-saw pieces 13.

Each card 16 bears a question and a corresponding answer and indicates how many places a player should move a playing token upon correctly answering the question.

Some or all of the spaces within each path on the board, preferably approximately 1 in 3 such places, contain instructions to be followed by a player whose token lands on the space. Some of these instructions will be advantageous to the player and some disadvantageous. In particular, some of the instructions will be to take puzzle pieces from the well 12 to add to their puzzle. Other instructions relating to puzzle pieces may be to take a puzzle piece belonging to their opponent, to swop a puzzle piece with their opponent, to return a puzzle piece to the well 12, and/or to carry out similar actions with more than one puzzle piece at a time. Other instructions may be to proceed further around the board in either direction, to have an extra turn, to miss a turn, to have more than one extra turn, to miss more than one turn, or to return to the start.

Messages of this kind may be provided also on some of the question cards.

The winner may be designated simply as the first to complete their puzzle. Alternatively, the winner may be designated to be the first person to complete their puzzle and to reach a finish line on the board, e.g. to make a complete circuit or some number of complete circuits of the board.

The answers need not be provided on the cards with the questions but may be provided as a separate set of answers numbered, or otherwise marked, to correspond to the questions. Where the questions are provided on the cards, they may be concealed from a player looking at the card, e.g. by being positioned beneath a.liftable flap.

For greater flexibility of use, the illustrated apparatus includes also a pair of dice (not shown) and a dice cup. The throwing of dice may replace the answering of questions as a means of determining how far playing pieces should be moved on the board so that the game can be played by children not able to answer the questions provided.

Whilst an apparatus containing two sets of puzzle pieces and two puzzle boards has been illustrated, it will be appreciated that any number of sets of puzzle pieces and playing boards may be provided.

Many modifications and variations of the apparatus described above are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. The present invention provides game apparatus comprising a playing surface marked to designate a path or paths divided into spaces along which a token may be moved, a plurality of player tokens, a plurality of sets of puzzle pieces, a plurality of questions to be answered by players and means for confirming the correct answers to the questions, and means for indicating when a player should take one of the said puzzle pieces during the course of the game.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each set of puzzle pieces is capable of being assembled to form a complete puzzle.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one or more pieces are common between two or more puzzles so that not all of the puzzles can be completed simultaneously.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the playing surface is provided with separate paths for each player arranged as lanes on a race track.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sets of puzzle pieces are sets of jig-saw puzzle pieces which can be assembled to form a plurality of jig-saw puzzles.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein for each set of jig-saw puzzle pieces, there is provided a puzzle board on which the jig-saw puzzle may be assembled.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein each puzzle board shows a picture corresponding to one produced by correct assembly of the puzzle pieces of the respective puzzle.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the questions are provided one on each of a set of cards.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein indicia are provided on the board to indicate that a player who lands on a particular space should take one or more of the puzzle pieces during that current turn.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein indicia are provided in association with some or all of the questions indicating that one or more of the puzzle pieces should be taken by a player correctly answering the question.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein indicia are provided in association with some or all of the questions or answers to indicate how far along the path a player should move his token during a current turn.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising chance number indicator means.

13. Game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.