WO2009022331A2

WO2009022331A2 - Game and method of playing it

Info

Publication number: WO2009022331A2
Application number: PCT/IL2008/001109
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zvi Shalem; Gali Shimoni
Original assignee: Prokids Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-08-13
Filing date: 2008-08-12
Publication date: 2009-02-19
Also published as: WO2009022331A3

Abstract

A game comprising a board with repeating geometric shapes, some of which have a mark appearing therein; and one or more game pieces, each piece comprising one or more blocks corresponding to the shape of the geometric shapes. The pieces are to be arranged on the shapes of the board in relation to the marks. The mark can be a number stipulating how many blocks are to border the geometric shape; and/or the mark can be two or more different symbols which are to be covered by blocks without being covered by the same piece.

Description

GAME AND METHOD OF PLAYING IT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game, in particular a thinking board-like game, and a method of playing it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The popularity of solitaire and soduko attest to the popularity of games that can be played alone and require a level of thought to achieve a successful solution. Mind engaging board games are also known. An example of such a board game, albeit intended for competitive play and involving an element of chance, is disclosed in GB2220579 (Jeavons), which describes a game apparatus comprising a board providing a square grid of playing spaces each bearing a number from 1 to 6. Playing pieces of various shapes are formed to be able to cover a group of playing spaces. One or more dice are selected by a player in turn and are rolled to show the numbers which must be covered on the board by an appropriately placed and shaped playing piece in order for a player to score. The score is the number of playing spaces which can be covered by one of the shapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a game wherein game pieces are to be arranged on a board comprising squares or other geometric shapes, in relation to marks (e.g. numbers, indications or symbols) appearing in one or more of the squares/geometric shapes of the board. The game pieces comprise blocks in the same shape of the geometric shapes.

In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention provides a game comprising: a board comprising repeating geometric shapes, some of the geometric shapes comprising a mark appearing therein; and one or more geometric pieces, each piece comprising one or more blocks, the blocks having a shape corresponding to that of the geometric shapes, wherein the rules of the game stipulate arranging the pieces on the shapes of the board in relation to the marks appearing in the shapes, for a successful solution to the game. According to some embodiments, the marks are numbers and the rules stipulate that a geometric shape with a number appearing (written) therein is to be bordered by the same number of blocks as the number.

According to some embodiments, the mark is a symbol, there are two or more different symbols appearing in geometric shapes of the board and the different symbols are to be covered by blocks without being covered by the same piece.

According to some embodiments, the board comprises marks that are numbers and marks that are symbols, in which there are two or more different symbols appearing in geometric shapes of the board, and the rules stipulate that a geometric shape with a number appearing (written) therein is to be bordered by the same number of blocks as the number and the different symbols are to be covered by blocks without being covered by the same piece.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of playing the game comprising arranging the game pieces on the board in relation to marks appearing in geometric shapes of the board. The marks can be any one or combination of a number, an indication and a symbol, wherein the aforementioned rules apply.

In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of playing a game, comprising: providing a board with a pattern of repeating geometric shapes, some of said repeating geometric shapes comprising a number appearing therein; and providing at least one game piece comprising one or more blocks corresponding to the geometric shapes of the board; the method of playing comprising: arranging each of the game pieces in a manner corresponding to the repeating geometric shapes of the board and so that the number of blocks that border a geometric shape with a number appearing therein is the same as the number appearing therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are elevated views of components used according to an embodiment of a game of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an elevated view of a successful solution to the game of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is the view of the game solution of Fig. 3 further illustrating the rules of the game of Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 5A-5C illustrate additional exemplary successful solutions to embodiments of the game of the present invention;

Figs. 6, 7A-7C, 8A-8E, 9, lOA-lOF, 11-13, 14A-14B, 15A-15B and 16 illustrate further embodiments of the game of the present invention; and Figs. 17-20 illustrate exemplary media by which the game can be provided and played.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an embodiment of a game of the present invention comprising a board 10 (Fig. 1) with grid lines 11 forming columns and rows of squares 12. The board 10 also comprises at least one, and typically a plurality of, singular numbers 14 (i.e. one number) appearing in some of the squares 12.

The game also comprises at least one, and typically a plurality of geometric pieces 16 (e.g. five pieces as seen in Fig. 2) which are composed of blocks 18 corresponding in shape and size to the squares 12. In the present embodiment, each of the pieces 16 is composed of four blocks 18, the pieces being of different shapes. In this embodiment, there is a straight-shaped piece 16a, a square-shaped piece 16b, a T-shaped piece 16c, an L-shaped piece 16d, and a skewed-shaped piece 16e. The pieces 16 may be flat, i.e. essentially 2-dimensional, or 3 -dimensional. It has been found that a grid pattern forming 8x8 squares 12, as shown in Fig. 1, provides for an interesting yet not unduly difficult or time consuming game. However, it should be understood that the game is not limited to such a size and the board 10 may contain fewer or more squares 12.

The game may comprise fewer or more pieces 16, and/or pieces of different shapes, which may include shapes that are uniquely shaped one to the other, such as pieces 16a-16e, or they may repeat. In other words, there may be only straight-shaped pieces 16a, only T-shaped pieces 16b, etc, or any combination thereof.

The numbers 14 appearing/written within some of the squares 12 indicate how the game pieces 16 are to be arranged on the board for a successful solution to the game, as will become apparent with reference to Fig. 3 as well as Figs. 4 A and 4B.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a successful solution to the game having the numbers 14 arranged on the board 10 shown in Fig. 1. In accordance with this embodiment, the successful solution is one in which the pieces 16 are arranged on the board 10 such that the squares 12 comprising a number 14 are bordered by a number of blocks 18 in accordance with the number in those squares.

Fig. 4 illustrates the aforementioned rule. For illustrative purposes only, there is a square perimeter S appearing in the lower central portion of the board 10. It is seen that the squares 12 with the number "3" inside the square perimeter S is bordered at a side or a corner by three blocks 18 (two of piece 16a and one of piece 16b).

Likewise, again for illustrative purposes only, there is a rectangular perimeter R appearing in the upper portion of the board 10 where it is seen that the number "4" therein is bordered by four blocks 18. As should be understood, in this embodiment, the blocks 18 bordering the squares 12 with numbers 14 may be those of the same piece 16 or of different pieces. By inspection, it is seen that the same situation is present for each number 14; i.e. the squares 12 with those numbers are bordered by a number of blocks 18 corresponding to each number.

Figs. 5A-5C illustrate successful solutions to the game according to the present embodiment with a variety of numbers 14 arranged in various locations on the board 10. It can be observed that one or more of the numbers 14 can be zeros, indicating that a block 18 is not allowed to border those squares 12.

In a particular embodiment, the game pieces 16 can be composed of one, two, three, four, etc., blocks 18, and further the pieces in each game may be composed of different numbers of blocks. For example, in Fig. 6 there is shown a successful solution to an exemplary embodiment of the game wherein it comprises seven pieces; a one-block piece 16f, two two-block pieces 16g, a three-block piece 16h, a five-block piece 16i and a six-block piece 16j.

It is envisioned that a preferred characteristic of the game is that there is only one successful solution. However, in accordance with particular embodiments, there may be more than one solution to a given game, as seen in Figs. 7A-7C which all have the same number pattern but are solved using different placement of the pieces 16.

It may be inferred by inspection of Figs. 5A-5E that the rules of the game stipulate that the pieces 16 are not allowed to touch each other. However, the rules can alternatively allow the pieces 16 to be arranged so that one or more of the blocks 18 of one piece 16 border one or more blocks of another piece, either at the sides of one or more blocks, or at their corners, or both. Various such solution situations are illustrated in Figs. 8A-8E, wherein Fig. 8A shows the pieces 16b and 16c bordering at sides of one of their blocks 18; Fig. 8B shows the piece 16a bordering at corners thereof with pieces 16b and 16e; Fig. 8C shows the pieces 16b and 16d bordering at sides of one of their blocks 18 and pieces 16a and 16e bordering at corners of one of their blocks 18; Fig. 8D shows three pieces 16a, 16b and 16c bordering at sides of one of their blocks 18; and

Fig. 8E shows pieces 16a and 16e bordering at sides of two of their blocks 18 as well as pieces 16b and 16d bordering at sides of one of their blocks 18.

In a variation on the afore-mentioned embodiment, the rules may require that one or more blocks 18 of the pieces 16 border each other (whether at a corner, a side, or either, or both); and further can stipulate how many sides and/or corners will border other sides/corners. In accordance with a further embodiment, the rules may stipulate that the blocks

18 that border squares 12 comprising a number 14 must all be of the same piece 16 - i.e. only one piece can border each numbered square (as exemplified in Fig. 9).

In accordance with other embodiments, the board 10 can be in other shapes. For example, the game may comprise one or any combination of a rectangular shaped board 10a, and L-shaped board 10b, T-shaped board 10c, a C-shaped, 1Od, an S-shaped board

1Oe, an animal or human shaped board 1Of, and so on (as respectively illustrated in Figs. lOA-lOF).

According to still further embodiments, the rules may allow one or more blocks

18 of the pieces 16 to overlap each other (as shown in Fig. 11). In this example, pieces 16a and 16e overlap; and pieces 16b and 16d overlap. In a variation on this embodiment, the rules may require that one or more blocks 18 of the pieces 16 overlap; and further can stipulate how many blocks overlap and/or how many pieces overlap.

In accordance with other embodiments, the pieces 16 can be composed of

"blocks" of other geometric shapes, with appropriated designed boards, for example, triangular as seen in Fig. 12, which illustrates a board 1Ot constituted by triangles 12a and having: a piece 16k composed of one triangle; two pieces 16m composed of three triangles; and a piece 16n composed of four triangles.

Another such example is shown in Fig. 13, where the pieces are hexagonal, for example, a single hex-piece 16p; a double hex-piece 16q; a straight triple hex-piece 16r; a curved triple hex-piece 16s; and a triangularly shaped triple hex-piece 16t. The pieces are placed on a suitable board 1Oh composed of hexagons 12b. It should be understood that any suitable shape of "block" and appropriately designed board is within the scope of the invention. As such, the term "block" should be understood to include all suitable shapes, including, for example, rectangular (not shown) and not merely squares. Figs 14A and 14B illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, wherein some of the squares 12 comprise an indication, e.g. a grey indication 114 filling those squares. In such case, the rules of the game stipulate that the indications 114 must be covered by one of the blocks 18 of pieces 16 for a successful solution, as illustrated in Fig. 14B. According to some embodiments, the pieces 16 are transparent or translucent so that the underlying grey indications 114 are visible through the pieces.

Figs. 15 A and 15B illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the board 10 comprises various symbols in some of the squares 12, e.g. a grey indication filling those squares with an "X" symbol therein 214a and such a grey indication with an "O" symbol therein 214a. In such case, the rules of the game stipulate that the indications 214a and 214b must be covered by one of the blocks 18 of pieces 16 and further that the different symbols are to be covered by blocks without being covered by the same piece. In other words, one piece 16 shall not cover both "X" symbol 214a and "O" symbol 214b. A successful solution is illustrated in Fig. 15B. Fig. 16 illustrates a game comprising a combination of some of the aforementioned embodiments wherein board 10 comprises numbers 14 appearing in some of the squares 12; indications 114 in some of the squares; and symbols 214a and 214b in some of the squares. As can be seen by the illustrated successful solution, squares 12 with numbers 14 are bordered by the same number of blocks 18 as the number appearing; indications 114 are covered by blocks/pieces; and symbols 214a and 214b are also covered - and a single piece does not cover different symbols.

While understood from the examples shown in the figures that the rules may stipulate that all of the pieces 16 must be used in a successful solution, according to other embodiments, the rules may allow fewer than all of the pieces 16 to be used. Also, the rules may allow (or require) that one or more pieces 16 be placed on the board without being adjacent/bordering a square 12 comprising a number 14.

The game may be provided in the form of pad of stacked pages (sheets of paper or otherwise), each page comprising one or more boards along with game pieces 16. The pages may comprise a difficulty ranking related to the difficulty level of providing a successful solution. The game may be constituted by a number of such pads, and various pads may be of particular difficulty levels. In accordance with one embodiment, the rear side of each page (or another pad or location) comprises the successful solution or solutions to each board 10. Such game boards may be arranged as a board game for sale in a store, for example; and/or appear in other media such as newspapers, magazines, books and the like, such as crossword puzzles, find-a-word type games, and so on.

As illustrated in Fig. 17, the game may also be provided via a computer 20 with a screen 22 and typically either a keyboard 24 and/or a mouse 26 and/or a joy stick (not shown) and the like. The game may thus be provided via a game media such as a disk 28 or the like; or via an Internet Web site. To place the pieces 16 on the board 10, for example, the mouse 26 can by used to drag and drop the pieces to their desired positions as well as orient them properly.

Similarly, the game may be provided via a number of other types of electronic equipment (e.g. a cell phone or game station, or the like, as illustrated in Fig. 18, and designated by reference numeral 30). Movement and orientation of the pieces 16 may be achieved as described above, as well as by function keys 31. A player, or players (not shown) may enter a Web site and play the game, with any or all of the options noted in the particular embodiments as detailed above. In accordance with another embodiment, the game can comprise a grid board that comprises squares on a write-able board such as a blackboard or whiteboard (not shown). A number of playing options are available with such a board; for example, a player(s) can write in numbers in accordance with number arrangements provided with the game, and then can draw in the pieces 16 and their positions. Alternatively, player(s) can write in the numbers 14 in the squares 12 as they please and then attempt to produce a successful solution. The rules may stipulate limitations for what numbers (number range), how many numbers and how they can be arranged (e.g. not bordering another number, etc). One player can write in a number arrangement in compliance with such limitations that his opponent needs to solve. Similarly, the opponent may arrange (draw in) numbers on a board and the two players can compete to see who produces a solution first. Such an alternative is likely more realistic for playing using a board with fewer squares, for example a 5x5 grid board (not shown).

Alternatively, the game may be provided by way of a board game, an exploded view of which is shown in Fig. 19. In this embodiment, there is a board holder 34 with a pair of slits 36 allowing boards 10 to be slid therein. The board holder 34 may also comprise a network 38 with through-holes 40 disposed above the board 10 when slid in, so that the board is conveniently visible to the player(s). The pieces 16 may comprise protrusions 42 corresponding to the network's through-holes 40 to reduce the chance or prevent the pieces 16 from moving from their intended position.

In accordance with another embodiment, shown in Fig. 20 in an exploded view, the game can be constituted by a magnetic version, for example, a small game suited for traveling. For example, the game may comprise a foldable housing 44 designed to secure the board 10 during play. The board may comprise a strip 46 for being inserted into a fold 48 in the housing 44. In this example, the housing 44 has a magnetic inner bottom side 50 and top side 52 to which magnetic pieces 16u are attached. The board 10 should be of a thickness that allows the pieces 16u to be reasonably securely drawn to the inner bottom side 50.

The invention also provides a method of playing the game, comprising: (a) providing a board with a pattern of repeating geometric shapes, which may be squares, triangles, hexagons, rectangles, circles and the like, or any combination thereof, at least one of the repeating geometric shapes comprising a number appearing therein; and (b) providing at least one game piece comprising one or more blocks corresponding to the geometric shapes of the board; the method of playing comprising: arranging each of the game pieces in a manner corresponding to the repeating geometric shapes of the board and so that the same number of blocks touch/border a geometric shape as the number appearing therein. While the present game is ideal for solitary playing in an entertaining and thinking manner, it may also be adapted for play between two players or a group of players. For example, the winner may be the player who is the first/quickest to provide a successful solution; or the first to provide all successful solutions possible, and so on. The game can also be convenient for allowing players of different skill levels (e.g. young children and older players) to compete, wherein players of lower skill levels receive boards of a relatively lower difficulty level and those of higher skill levels receive boards of a relatively higher difficulty level. This can allow, for example, parents to play the game along with their children. Due to the required thought involved in playing the game, it develops the mind as well as being entertaining. It should be understood that the above description is merely exemplary and that there are various embodiments of the present invention that may be devised, mutatis mutandis, and that the features described in the above-described embodiments may be used separately or in any suitable combination; or the invention can be devised in accordance with embodiments not necessarily described above.

Claims

I. A game comprising: a board comprising repeating geometric shapes, some of said geometric shapes comprising a mark appearing therein; and one or more game pieces, each piece comprising one or more blocks, said blocks having a shape corresponding to that of said geometric shapes, wherein for a successful solution to the game the rules of the game stipulate arranging said game pieces on said shapes of the board in relation to the marks appearing within the shapes, and the marks are numbers and a geometric shape with a number appearing therein is to be bordered by the same number of blocks as said number appearing in the geometric shape; and/or the marks are constituted by two or more different symbols written in different geometric shapes of the board and said different symbols are to be covered by blocks without being covered by the same piece.

2. A game according to claim 1, wherein there is a singular arrangement of pieces that satisfy the stipulated rules.

3. A game according to claim 1, wherein there is a plurality of arrangements of pieces that satisfy the stipulated rules.

4. A game according to claim 1, wherein the rules further stipulate that only one piece may border each number.

5. A game according to claim 1 , wherein the rules stipulate that the pieces may not border one another on the board.

6. A game according to claim 1, wherein the rules further stipulate that at least two pieces border each other on the board.

7. A game according to claim 1, wherein the rules stipulate that at least some of the pieces arranged on the board may at least partially overlap each other.

8. A game according to claim 1, wherein the blocks and the geometric shapes are any of square, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal or any combination thereof.

9. A game according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the pieces are uniquely shaped one to another.

10. A game according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the pieces comprise a different number of blocks.

II. A game according to claim 1, wherein the board is constituted by any one of a sheet of paper, a write-able board, a magnetic surface and an electronic screen.

12. A game according to claim 1, wherein it is provided via a game board adapted to hold one or more boards and to hold the game pieces in an arrangement on or above the board.

13. A game comprising: a board comprising repeating geometric shapes, some of said geometric shapes comprising a number appearing therein; and one or more game pieces, each piece comprising one or more blocks, said blocks having a shape corresponding to that of said geometric shapes, wherein for a successful solution to the game the rules of the game stipulate arranging said game pieces on said shapes of the board in relation to numbers appearing in the shapes so that a geometric shape with a number appearing therein is bordered by the same number of blocks as said number appearing in the geometric shape.

14. A game comprising: a board comprising repeating geometric shapes, some of said geometric shapes comprising two or more different symbols appearing in different geometric shapes of the board; and one or more game pieces, each piece comprising one or more blocks, said blocks having a shape corresponding to that of said geometric shapes, wherein for a successful solution to the game the rules of the game stipulate arranging said game pieces on said shapes of the board so that said two or more different symbols are covered by blocks without being covered by the same piece.

15. A method of playing a game, comprising: providing a board with a pattern of repeating geometric shapes, some of said repeating geometric shapes comprising a mark appearing therein; and providing at least one game piece comprising one or more blocks corresponding to the geometric shapes of the board; the method of playing comprising: arranging the game pieces in a manner corresponding to the repeating geometric shapes of the board and so that if the marks are numbers, the number of blocks that border a geometric shape with a number appearing therein is the same as said number appearing therein; and/or if the marks are constituted by two or more different symbols appearing in different geometric shapes of the board, said different symbols are to be covered by blocks without being covered by the same piece.