AU2005100448A4 - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION

PATENT

Applicant(s): Werko Pty Ltd Invention Title: GAME APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 Game Apparatus Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game apparatus N 5 comprising a playing surface having discrete locations and 0O playing pieces which are.adapted to be positioned at the discrete locations.

Background of the Invention An example of this type of game apparatus is a puttogether puzzle. In put-together puzzles the discrete locations may be wells or recesses on the playing surface which are adapted to hold the playing pieces. The playing pieces may all be the same shape or of different shapes.

Each playing piece is positioned on the playing surface so that each well or recess is filled with a-playing piece.

Another example of a game apparatus of this type is a rolling ball puzzle. In one type of rolling ball puzzle, the playing surface has recesses adapted for holding small balls. The balls are rolled about the playing surface until all the recesses are filled with a ball. In rolling ball puzzles the recesses may be smaller in diameter than the balls so that when a ball is positioned in a recess it may be easily knocked from it's position when attempting to position another ball into another recess on the playing surface. In rolling ball puzzles the playing surface and the balls may be encapsulated in a transparent container and the container is then manipulated by the player so as to roll/move the balls into the recesses.

Moving the container in one direction to get one ball in to a location may result in other balls already positioned at a location to be dislodged.

3 When playing a game using a game apparatus of this type a certain level of manual dexterity is required to position the playing pieces on the playing surface at the discrete locations. The level of dexterity required to 0 position the playing pieces determines the difficulty of 00 Sthe game. The harder it is to position the playing pieces C on the playing surface, the more difficult the game. For example, in a rolling ball puzzle there may be multiple levels of playing surfaces and the balls have to be moved not only on a playing surface but also between different playing surfaces.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a game apparatus comprising a playing surface having a plurality of discrete locations thereon; a plurality of magnetized playing pieces adapted to be selectively positioned at said discrete locations; the playing pieces being attracted to one another by their magnetic fields and wherein a plurality of said playing pieces positioned at respective ones of the discrete locations are able to adopt a stable configuration and remain at those locations when those pieces are in at least one first configuration on the playing surface.

The playing pieces are adapted to be selectively positioned at discrete locations on the playing surface.

The playing pieces are magnetized and therefore may be attracted to one another by their magnetic fields. In at least one configuration the magnetized playing pieces can be positioned at discrete locations on the playing surface so that no individual playing piece exerts a magnetic 4 Cfield strong enough to attract another playing piece positioned at its respective discrete location. In this configuration the playing pieces remain at their discrete locations and thus are in a stable configuration. The magnetic field of the playing pieces adds an element of 0 chance to the game and a certain level of dexterity is 0 required to position the playing pieces at the discrete locations on the playing surface so that the playing pieces are not attracted to one of more other playing pieces by their magnetic fields.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a playing piece positioned at a respective one of the discrete locations becomes unstable and moves from its location when another playing piece is moved within a predetermined distance of that playing piece.

A first playing piece positioned at a discrete location may become unstable and move from its discrete location if a second playing piece is moved onto the playing surface within a distance of the first playing piece that causes the first and second playing pieces to attract one another by their magnetic field. This will cause the first playing piece to be moved from its respective discrete location and thus the playing pieces adopt an unstable configuration. In order for the playing pieces to adopt a stable configuration the second playing piece must be added to the playing surface at a discrete location that is greater in distance than the magnetic field of the first playing piece positioned at its respective discrete location.

In another embodiment of the present invention, playing pieces positioned at respective ones of the discrete locations become unstable and move from their location when those playing pieces are in at least one second configuration on the playing surface.

00 Playing pieces positioned at discrete locations may Cbecome unstable if those playing pieces are positioned in a configuration such at one or more of the playing pieces are able to attract another playing piece due to their magnetic field and move that playing piece from its discrete location.

The playing pieces may all have the same strength magnetic field. The playing pieces may have different magnetic strengths. The playing pieces may be any type of magnet. The playing pieces may be any shape provided that they are adapted to be positioned at the discrete locations. The playing pieces may spherical in shape. The playing pieces may be marbles. The discrete locations may be positioned on the playing surface at a distance relative to the magnetic field of the playing pieces.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the game apparatus may further comprise retaining means associated with respective ones of the discrete locations, the retaining means being operative to inhibit movement of one playing piece towards one or more other playing pieces when those playing pieces are positioned at respective ones of said discrete locations.

The retaining means may be in the form of a plurality of recesses disposed on the playing surfaces at the 6 O discrete locations, the recesses being arranged to receive individual ones of the playing pieces.

The retaining means may be an adhesive applied to the playing surface at the discrete locations. The retaining means may be magnets within the playing surface and

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associated with the discrete locations that attract and Sholds the magnetized playing pieces on the playing surface at the discrete locations.

It is envisioned that many different games may be played using the game apparatus of the present invention, the rules of which are only limited by the user's imagination. For example, the games may involve one player or two or more players. The games may involve positioning all the playing pieces on the playing surface so that all the discrete locations are occupied by a playing piece, or positioning only some of the playing pieces on the playing surface so that only some of the discrete locations are occupied by a playing piece.

The invention will now be described in detail by way of reference only to the following non-limiting drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig 1 is a top plan view of the playing surface of one game apparatus; Fig 2 is a sectional view of a game board having the playing surface shown in Fig 1 thereon; Fig 3 is a side view of the playing pieces for use with the playing surface shown in Fig 1; 7 Fig 4 is a top plan view of the playing surface of another game apparatus; Fig 5 is a sectional view of a game board having the playing surface shown in Fig 4 thereon; Fig 6 is a side view of the playing pieces for use with the playing surface shown in Fig 4; Fig 7 is a top plan view of the playing surface of another game apparatus; Fig 8 is a sectional view of a game board having the playing surface shown in Fig 7 thereon; Fig 9 is a side view of the playing pieces for use with the playing surface shown in Fig 7; Fig 10 is a top plan view of the playing surface of another game apparatus; and Fig 11 is a sectional view of a game board having the playing surface shown in Fig 10 thereon.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Figs 1 to 3 illustrate a game apparatus comprising a substantially flat horizontal board 10 with a playing surface 11 on the upper surface thereof having a plurality of recesses 12 at discrete locations 13, and a plurality of magnetized playing pieces 14.

8 As shown in Fig 2 the playing surface 11 has four sides. Each side is approximately 148mm in length. There are nine discrete locations 13 on the playing surface 11 arranged in an array the same shape as the playing surface 5 11. The distance between each discrete location 13 in the array is approximately 43.5mm. The discrete locations 13 00 on the outer edge of the playing surface 11 are located approximately 30.5mm from the edge of the playing surface 11.

A recess 12 is associated with each of the discrete locations 13. As shown in Fig 2 each recess 12 is approximately 9.5mm in diameter and 3mm in depth. The board 10 is approximately 10mm in depth.

Fig 3 illustrates nine magnetized playing pieces 14 adapted to be selectively positioned at the discrete locations 12 on the playing surface 11 of the board shown in Fig i.

The playing pieces 14 are 10mm N30M grade neodymiumiron-boron magnet marbles. These playing pieces 14 are adapted to be positioned at the discrete locations 13 and retained at the discrete locations 13 by the recesses 12.

The recesses 12 shown in Figs 1 and 2 are 9.5mm in diameter so that when the playing pieces 14 are positioned at the discrete locations 13 the recesses 12 stop the playing pieces 14 from rolling from that discrete location 13 but do not prevent the playing pieces 14 from being moved from that discrete location when attracted by another magnetized playing piece 14.

I

9 In The discrete locations 13 and recesses 12 shown in Figs 1 and 2 are positioned on the playing surface approximately 43.5mm from each other. N30M grade V neodymium-iron-boron marbles have a magnetic strength of

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1.08 1.13 telsa.

00 Figs 4 to 6 illustrate another game apparatus Scomprising a substantially flat horizontal board 10 with a playing surface 11 on the upper surface thereof having a plurality of recesses 12 at discrete locations 13, and a q plurality of magnetized playing pieces 14.

As shown in Fig 4 the playing surface 11 has four sides. Each side is approximately 170.5mm in length.

There are sixteen discrete locations 13 on the playing surface 11 arranged in an array the same shape as the playing surface. The distance between each discrete location 13 in the array is approximately 43.5mm. The discrete locations 13 on the outer edge of the playing surface 11 are located approximately 20mm from the edge of the playing surface.

A recess 12 is associated with each of the discrete locations 13. As shown in Fig 5 each recess 12 is approximately 9.5mm in diameter and 3mm in depth. The board 10 is approximately 10mm in depth.

Fig 6 illustrates sixteen magnetized playing pieces 14 adapted to be selectively positioned at the discrete locations 12 on the playing surface 11 of the board shown in Fig 4. The playing pieces 14 are 10mm N30M grade neodymium-iron-boron magnet marbles.

10 SFigs 7 to 9 illustrate another game apparatus comprising a substantially flat horizontal board 10 with a playing surface 11 on the upper surface thereof having a Splurality of recesses 12 at discrete locations 13, and a 5 plurality of magnetized playing pieces 14.

00 As shown in Fig 7 the playing surface 11 has eight sides. Each side is approximately 70mm in length. There are twelve discrete locations 13 on the playing surface 11 In arranged in an array the same shape as the playing surface. The distance between each discrete location 13 in the array is approximately 43.5mm. The discrete locations 13 on the outer edge of the playing surface 11 are located approximately 15mm from the edge of the playing surface.

A recess 12 is associated with each of the discrete locations 13. As shown in Fig 8 each recess 12 is approximately 9.5mm in diameter and 3mm in depth. The board 10 is approximately 10mm in depth.

Fig 9 illustrates twelve magnetized playing pieces 14 adapted to be selectively positioned at the discrete locations 12 on the playing surface 11 of the board shown in Fig 7. The playing pieces 14 are 10mm N30M grade neodymium-iron-boron magnet marbles.

Figs 10 and 11 illustrate another game apparatus comprising a substantially flat horizontal board 10 with a playing surface 11 on the upper surface thereof having a V% -11plurality of recesses 12 at discrete locations 13, and a plurality of magnetized playing pieces 14.

SAs shown in Fig 10 the playing surface 11 has eight 5 sides. Each side is approximately 42mm in length. There are twenty-one discrete locations 13 on the playing 00 surface 11 arranged in an array the same shape as the Splaying surface. The distance between each discrete location 13 in the array is approximately 43.5mm. The In 1 0 discrete locations 13 on the outer edge of the playing surface 11 are located approximately 21mm from the edge of the playing surface.

A recess 12 is associated with each of the discrete locations 13. As shown in Fig 11 each recess 12 is approximately 9.5mm in diameter and 3mm in depth. The board 0is approximately 10mm in depth.

Twenty-one magnetized playing pieces (not shown) are provided which are adapted to be selectively positioned at the discrete locations 12 on the playing surface 11 of the board shown in Fig 10. The playing pieces (not shown) are N30M grade neodymium-iron-boron magnet marbles.

It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that while the invention has been described in some detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding, various modifications and alterations to the embodiments and methods described herein may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concept disclosed in this specification.

12 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as 5 "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but 00 not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is understood that a reference herein to a prior Sart document does not constitute an admission that the q document forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or any other country.

Claims (4)

1. A game apparatus comprising D a playing surface having a plurality of discrete locations thereon; OO a plurality of magnetized playing pieces adapted to be Sselectively positioned at said discrete locations; Cthe playing pieces being attracted to one another by their Vmagnetic fields and wherein a plurality of said playing pieces positioned at respective ones of the discrete locations are able to adopt a stable configuration and remain at those locations when those pieces are in at least one first configuration on the playing surface.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a said playing piece positioned at a respective one of the discrete locations become unstable and moves from its location when another one of said playing pieces is moved within a predetermined distance of that playing piece.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein playing pieces positioned at respective ones of the discrete locations become unstable and move from their location when those playing pieces are in at least one second configuration on the playing surface.

4. The game apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising retaining means associated with respective ones of the discrete locations, the retaining means being operative to inhibit movement of one playing piece towards one or more other playing pieces when those playing pieces are positioned at respective ones of said discrete locations. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the retaining means is in the form of a plurality of recesses disposed on the playing surfaces at the discrete 1 S 14 0 locations, the recesses being arranged to receive individual ones of the playing pieces. IO Dated this 24th day of May 2005 WERKO PTY LTD 00 By their Patent Attorneys j GRIFFITH HACK 0D 0D ^-i oD oq