EP0327477A2 - Game composed of dice with eight faces, marked with colour symbols and court figures of a game of 52 cards - Google Patents

Abstract

The dice with eight faces are marked with the court figures and colour symbols of all or some of the cards of a pack of 52 cards. The throwing of the dice produces combinations of the game of poker and particularly series of cards which follow each other in the same colour. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a die with eight flat faces and six convex faces, the first eight being marked with figurines and colored symbols of a deck of cards, and which can be used, alone in combination with other dice, at board games. It is possible to obtain, in particular, with dice with eight flat faces marked with all or part of the symbols and colors of a deck of 52 cards, combinations corresponding to several cards whose values follow one another in the same color. The invention relates for example to games which may be composed of two, three, four, five, six or seven eight-sided dice which make it possible to obtain, by simple throwing, all or part of the poker announcements.

The dice used to randomly select a brand are commonly used in board games. We know the six-sided die marked with one to six points and which is used for multiple board games all over the world. We know the six-sided die marked with the card game figurines which are the ace, the king, the lady, the jack, the ten, the nine and which is used in particular to play the ace poker game. This game is played with 5 identical dice and allows you to make combinations of figures. There are four-sided dice, eight-sided dice formed substantially of two pyramids with a square base and faces in the shape of an equilateral triangle, joined by their base. These dice have their faces numbered from one to eight. There are ten-sided, twelve-sided, twenty-sided dice. Apart from the six-sided dice which are properly studied to guarantee a credible level of chance, the dice of four, eight, ten faces, have angles between faces and points too pronounced to roll enough to neutralize the anomalies of the launch.

• La Fig.1 représente une vue de dé suivant un des axes de symétrie (B).
• La Fig.2 représente une vue du dé suivant la direction "E" indiquée Fig.1
• La Fig.3 représente une des faces planes du dé.
• Les Fig.4 à Fig.8 indices C et D représentent un jeu de cinq dés suivant l'invention comprenant 40 cartes.
• Les Fig.9 indices C et D représentent une grappe, imprimée suivant l'invention, d'un jeu de quatre dés basé sur 32 cartes avant dégrappage.

The die, object of the invention, makes it possible to make random draws, and consequently can be used in particular in games derived from card games, such as poker, or lotteries. In general, several dice are used, marked with symbols and colors of a deck of cards, which are rolled simultaneously or one after the other in order to obtain combinations. The classic card games are made up of four colors which makes the die to eight faces particularly well suited since it has a number of faces multiple of four, that the four-sided die does not have enough and that the twelve-sided die has too many. First we will define a way to make a die with eight flat faces, then secondly, the method of distributing the cards according to the number of dice used in the game in order to obtain in particular the announcements of the game of poker. .

• Fig.1 shows a dice view along one of the axes of symmetry (B).
• Fig.2 shows a view of the die in the direction "E" indicated in Fig.1
• Fig.3 shows one of the flat faces of the die.
• Figs. 4 to Fig. 8 indices C and D represent a set of five dice according to the invention comprising 40 cards.
• Fig. 9 indices C and D represent a cluster, printed according to the invention, of a set of four dice based on 32 cards before unclipping.

The dice Fig. 1 can be formed by assembling 8 identical regular hexagonal faces, of length (A) from side, which have in common two by two a side (3) of the hexagon which constitutes them. In the figures, the hexagons are shown as three sides in solid lines and three sides in dotted lines. If the sides of a hexagon are numbered from 1 to 6, we each have sides with an odd number (4), represented in solid lines, which will be common with an odd side (5) of one of the other seven hexagons and the even sides (6), shown in dotted lines, which will constitute the sides of a square (8) bordered by four hexagons (7) connected to each other as indicated above. The figure thus formed has 8 hexagonal faces (7) and 6 square faces (8) of smaller area whose length (A) on the side is equal to that of the sides of the hexagon (7).

The square faces (8), when they are flat, can constitute stable support zones for the die. In this case, it is not possible to select with certainty a hexagonal face (7). Generally, when this possibility occurs, you have to roll the die again. It is still desirable, for the comfort of the player, to reduce the chances of obtaining this position. To obtain this result, it suffices to define a convex surface (9), occupying the interior of the square (8), and the edges of which are the square itself. The perpendicular located in the middle of the square surface constitutes the axis of symmetry (B) of this convex surface (9) whose square (8) constitutes the edges, and whose meeting point (S) with the axis of symmetry (B) constitutes the summit. This axis of symmetry (B) is also an axis of symmetry for the die. The curvature of this surface (9) can be continuous or discontinuous, in particular having flat parts in the extension of the faces. The important thing is that the point (S) where this surface crosses the axis of symmetry (B) is a point of unstable equilibrium. The geometric center (O) or barycenter of the die which is considered as a homogeneous volume, is in particular the meeting point of the axes of symmetries (B) defined above which are three in number and which are perpendicular to each other two by two. It is also the center of the circumscribed sphere (C) at the vertices (14) of the hexagons (7) which are also the vertices of the squares (8). This sphere (C) whose radius is equal to 1.581 * (A) intersects the axis (B) defined above either at a point outside the die, if the surface is not very convex, or at a point inside the die if the surface is very convex. In the first case there is a stable equilibrium zone since the fact of slightly moving the dice from its equilibrium position formed by the top of the convex surface creates a restoring torque which tends to bring the dice back to this point. In the second case we have an unstable equilibrium zone because the fact of moving the dice from its equilibrium position accelerates the imbalance by creating a couple tending to move away, the point of application of the weight, from the position d 'balanced. The surface of the circumscribed sphere (C), passing through the vertices (14) of the squares (8), constitutes a neutral form where each point is a point of equilibrium and it separates the two large families of surfaces which lead from a part to a stable equilibrium position and secondly to an unstable equilibrium position. Any convex surface passing through the vertices (14) of the square (8) and external to the circumscribed sphere (C) is likely to respond to the problem. However, an additional constraint must be met because it is easy to understand that one can nevertheless obtain a zone of stability by creating, for example, at the top of the convex surface a flat perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (B). To avoid this problem, the radii of curvature at the top (S) and in its vicinity, intersection curves of the convex surface (9) with the various planes of symmetry passing through the axis (B) must be smaller than the radius of the sphere (D) centered at the barycenter (O) of the die and passing through the said vertex (S). In a preferred version of the invention, we use, as the convex surface (9), a portion of sphere passing through the vertices (14) of the square and tangent to the edges common (4) to two contiguous hexagons (7) which pass through the vertices (14) of the square (8) considered. Indeed there are four edges (4) which each arrive at a vertex of the square (8). The edges (4) corresponding to vertices (14) opposite the square (8) are in the same plane passing through the axis of symmetry (B) perpendicular to the square (8) and are perpendicular to each other. There exists a sphere (9) whose radius is equal to the length (A) of the sides (4) and (6) of the hexagons (7) constituting the faces of the die, and which is tangent to the four edges (4). The points of contact of the edges (4) tangent to the sphere being the vertices (14) of the square (8). We chose this solution because it allows good continuity of the edge (4) and the convex surface (9). If the radius is greater than (A) while respecting the condition enacted above, we obtain an unaesthetic discontinuity but which answers the problem, if the radius becomes less than (A) we obtain at the angles a prominence which comes out of the line of the die which is not acceptable. This sphere cannot, of course, contain the sides (6) of the square (8). It is then necessary to extend each initial hexagonal face (7) up to its intersection with the sphere (9) which is an arc of a circle passing through two consecutive vertices (14) of the square (8) and which underlies the side (6) of the corresponding square (8). The hexagon Fig.3 then becomes a surface comprising vertices (14) which are arranged in the shape of a regular hexagon, and whose sides are formed alternately by a straight line (4 ′) and an arc (9 ′). When the radius of the sphere (9) Fig.1 is equal to (A), the radius of the arc (9 ′) is equal to 0.577 (A). Here we have given the ideal dimensions to define the 8-sided die. It is obvious that variations of 3 to 5% more or less from these ideal ratings are not a new product. Insofar as this part is not a precision part, it is natural to take into account such deviations which make it possible to lower the manufacturing costs.

The manufacturing of a die begins in any case with the size of a piece with final dimensions which will then be used to make the molds. This is the reason why we will define below all of the configuration elements allowing a mother form to be obtained by a simple machining method. The preferred case described above is given as an example. The reference parameter is the length (A) of the side (4) Fig. 2 of the hexagon that we want to obtain ultimately. The minimum volume to be used to machine this die is the sphere (D) of radius equal to 1.707 (A) passing through the vertices (S) of the convex surfaces (9). If (O) is the center of this sphere (D), the first two faces (18) are machined by making two parallel flat surfaces symmetrical with respect to (O) and distant by 2,446 (A). We then machine two other parallel planes (19) symmetrical with respect to (O) and distant from 2,446 (A), but making an angle (20) of 109.39 ° with the two previous planes (18). Two other faces are thus obtained. We define the axis (B) passing through (O) and perpendicular to the plane formed by the edges (21) of intersection of the faces (18) and (19) previously machined which make between them the angle (20) of 109 , 39 °. The last four faces are obtained by machining planes arising from previous planes by a 90 ° rotation around the axis (B). There are three axes of type (B), passing through (O), perpendicular two by two, which are also the axes (B) Fig.1 passing through the vertices (S) of the convex surfaces (9) previously defined. It remains to machine the convex surfaces (9) Fig. 2 which are spherical surfaces of radius (A), tangent internally to the initial sphere (D) of radius equal to 1.707 (A) at the points (S) where the axes ( B) intersect the sphere (D). Once these machining carried out, the desired shape is obtained, formed in particular by 8 faces (7) Fig.1 substantially hexagonal from the side (A). The edges (4) Fig.3 and the circular arcs (9 ′) can be rounded to prevent them from introducing anomalies related to their irregular wear. We have given ratios allowing to obtain the ideal proportions. It is obvious that a variation of some percent of these does not necessarily call into question the function of the die.

This die can be manufactured in various ways, in particular by injecting plastic material into a mold. The complete die can be injected into a mold made up of two symmetrical impressions having an axis (B) as a common axis, the joint plane being coincident with the plane formed by the other two axes (B).

The eight hexagonal faces each include a figurine and the colored symbol of a card from a deck of 52 cards. This deck of cards has four colors which are the "SPADE" the "TILE" the "TREFLE" the "HEART" and whose color symbols are well known. Each color includes 13 cards whose figures range from 1 ′ "AS" to "TWO". These cards are not randomly placed on the sides of the dice, and the distribution is directly dependent on the game you want to obtain. In particular, in a preferred version of the invention, the allocation of the figurines and the color symbols follow from a general principle making it possible also to obtain, with two, three, four, five, six or seven dice with eight hexagonal faces, combinations of figures which follow each other with the same color symbol, and which are printed in two printing runs. It is of course sufficient to limit the number of cards in the game in question to a multiple of eight cards obtained by multiplying by eight the number of dice chosen.

It is not possible, with two, three, or four dice, to get exactly all the poker game announcements, especially those that are expressed in five cards like the "FULL" or the "QUINTE". The game of seven dice, comprising 52 cards and 4 jokers, overcomes this drawback but this implies the presence of four jokers which can be disturbing for the game; then you have to roll seven dice and build your combination, choosing a part of the dice, which takes the game away from the spirit of classic poker based on five cards in hand. Hence the idea of choosing for example a number of dice which does not require the use of jokers and which comprises a minimum of five dice. The use of five dice therefore uses 40 cards which leads to the elimination of cards lower than the "FIVE". The use of six dice therefore uses 48 cards which leads to the elimination of cards lower than the "THREE". It should be noted that, following the same principles, we can make games using a number of dice less than five dice comprising 16, 24 or 32 cards or more than seven dice even if we do not see any immediately commercial interest. To facilitate understanding, we often take the five-dice game as an example, but the rules established apply to all games with a different number of dice.

The Figures which are numbered from 4 to 8, with indices "C" and "D", each represent one of the dice in a set of five dice according to the invention. The figurines are represented by letters or numbers using for example "A" for the "AS" "R" for the "ROI" "D" for the "LADY" "V" for the "VALET" "10" for the "TEN" etc ... The Figures marked with the index "C" represent the faces marked with the figurines and symbols in red color which are the "HEART" and the "TILE", and the figures marked with the subscript "D" represent the marked faces of the figurines and symbols of black color which are the "PIQUE" and the "CLOVER". In addition, the opposite faces of the same die occupy the same place in the figure with the index "C" and in the figure with the index "D". For example, the "AS of HEART" in Fig.4C is opposite to the "LADY OF SPADES" in Fig.4D.

To obtain the desired result according to the number of dice, you must first define the value order of the figures. We will take the order of the deck of 52 cards which begins with the "AS" then the "ROI" and so on until "TWO". For the game with 7 dice, we add the joker, which we can place for example after the "TWO". For the game with five dice, we will use the same order, stopping at "FIVE" which allows to hold 40 cards and at "THREE" for the game with six dice which allows to hold 48 cards. We would determine in the same way the cards to keep in the case of a game with four, three or two dice by stopping respectively at "SEPT", "NEUF" and "VALET". The card consists of a figurine such as "ROI" and a colored symbol like "PIQUE". We consider the figures for example in descending order and we form a series which, when we have arrived at the weakest figure, continues with the strongest figure and again by the figures in descending order. For example, for the game with five dice, the figures go from "AS" to "FIVE" then we continue with "AS", "ROI" and so on. Then, you must assign the figures to each of the dice. For this, we choose to assign to each die, two blocks of four figures which follow each other; the first second block figurine of four successive figurines is obtained by counting in the decreasing order of the figurines as many figurines as there are dice provided in the game. For example in the case of five dice, if the first figurine of the first die is an "AS" Fig.7C and Fig.7D, the first block of four figurines is "AS, ROI, DAME, VALET", and the first figurine of the second block is obtained by counting five cards from the AS, ie "ROI, DAME, VALET, DIX, NEUF"; the second block is therefore made up of the "NEW, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX" figures. The first figurine of the first block of the second die is obtained by choosing the figurine which follows in value the first figurine of the first block of the preceding die. For example, if the first block of the first die begins with an "AS", the first block of four figurines of the second die will begin with a "ROI", that of the third die with a "LADY", that of the fourth with a "VALET", finally the fifth with a "TEN". Consequently in the example chosen, the first block of the third die Fig.4C and Fig4D which begins with the "LADY" is "DAME, VALET, DIX, NEUF" and its second block of four figures is "SEPT, SIX, FIVE , AS ". We continue like this until the fifth die Fig.6C and Fig6D, the first block of which is "TEN, NEW, EIGHT, SEVEN" and the second block of "FIVE, AS, KING, LADY". When the figures have been assigned to each die, the color symbols are assigned. Simply define an order for the four colored symbols and assign it without changing it to each block of four cards that follow each other. In a preferred version of the invention, the alternating black and red symbols are carried out in a defined order and always the same for the whole game, for example "PIQUE", "CHREAU", "TREFLE", "COEUR" . The reason for this choice is that, when it is combined with the rules for positioning the figures, one in relation to the other, which we will explain, it makes the manufacture of the die more economical. It is obvious that another order can be chosen, but the cost of marking will be higher. The application of this rule gives for the first die of the game Fig.7C and Fig.7D of five dice: "AS of SPAD, KING of TILE, LADY OF CLOVER, VALET of HEART, NINE OF SPADE, EIGHT of TILE, SEVEN of TREFLE, SIX DE COEUR "; the second die Fig.8C and Fig.8D begins with the "KING OF SPADES" the third with the "LADY OF SPADES" Fig.4C and Fig4D and so on until the last die Fig.6C and Fig.6D which begins by the "TEN OF SPADES". An equivalent result is obtained by inverting, for example, PIQUES and CLOVER or TILE and HEART or red and black. The layout on the dice will be different, but allows to obtain the same performances. It remains to position the faces relative to each other on the same die. It is enough to apply the rules which consist first of all in creating pairs of figurines which are positioned on opposite sides, constituted for the figurines of the same die, the first figurine of the first block and the fourth of the second block for the first couple, from the second of the first block and from the third of the second block for the second couple and so on until the fourth couple. As an example, this gives for the first dice Fig.7C and Fig.7D of the game with five dice the following couples: "AS of PICK and SIX of HEART, KING of TILE and SEVEN of TREFLE, DAME of TREFLE and EIGHT of TILE, VALET of HEART and MINT OF SPADE ". Then when the couples are created it is necessary to assign them to the hexagonal faces of the dice considered so that two figurines whose values follow one another are not located on dice having one side of the hexagon in common. There remain in this assignment of the faces two solutions possible that give dice that are symmetrical.

Under these conditions, as shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 8, the four sides of the same color are grouped around the same curved face, which allows the pad printing of the die in two passes, in the 'hypothesis where we limit ourselves to two colors, taking care to leave the dice attached in clusters (2) Fig.9 index "C" and "D" to avoid any risk of positioning error. And we can get, by rolling the dice, a series of cards of the same color which follow each other, equal to the number of dice. For example the game with five dice makes it possible to obtain "QUINTE FLUSH" as indicated for example by the figures going from 4C to 8C showing a "QUINTE FLUSH" at HEART. It is quite obvious that one can also adopt other rules of positioning of the figurines on the faces and change the order of allocation of the colors, but one is likely to complicate the manufacture of the die in particular to increase the risk of errors . We may also want to enrich the decor by using other colors, this does not change the principle of the invention.

The marking of the faces can also be done by one of the other printing processes available on the market, in particular by the sublimation technique which allows a marking of the material in depth while allowing several colors per face. The problem is that it is difficult to print several faces at the same time by this technique, which leads to significant decoration costs.

It is possible, as we said, to make an economic marking by operating by pad printing. This technique consists of pressing the die, a flexible silicone pad previously suitably inked, parallel to an axis of symmetry (B) Fig.1. One can thus print simultaneously four flat faces which for example are, for the first die of the game with five dice Fig.7D, the "AS of SPOKE", the "LADY OF CLOVER", the "NEW OF SPOKE", the " SEVEN DE TREFLE "or four black cards. We return the dice and by a new marking, we print the four other flat faces Fig.7C which are in the example chosen, the "SIX OF HEART", the "EIGHT OF TILE", the "VALET of HEART", the "ROI de TILE", four cards of Red color. In two passages, the eight flat faces were thus marked. We can take advantage of these passages to make a marking on the curved faces which are at the center of a group of four faces of the same color, but we risk having a poor quality of marking. It is better to make a new print run.

It is advantageous to keep for the marking operation the dice linked to each other by the material coming from the feed channels (2) Fig. 9C and 9D of the mold cavities, to avoid positioning errors when the repeat for the second impression.

Such a technique makes it possible to limit the costs of tooling, but there may be a problem with the marking being kept against friction linked to use. Nothing prevents us from using the classic techniques for making engraved dice, provided that they are adapted to the fact in particular that there can be several colors on the same die and that the dice in the same game are different, which multiplies the risk of errors during the manufacturing process. Using the same technique, you can print a deck of 32 cards on four dice by assigning one die per color. Which gives for example for the first die all cards with "SPADES" from the "AS of SPOKE" to "SEVEN OF SPOKS" for the second die, all cards with "HEART" and so on. The other rules for assigning cards per side remain valid. This game allows you to select a card by color.

Claims (7)

1-Die with eight flat faces and six convex faces, is characterized in that its flat faces are hexagonal and have the common sides tangent at their ends to a sphere having for radius the length (A) on the side of the hexagon, constituting unstable equilibrium zones, so as to favor the positioning of the die on one of its flat faces. 2-die with eight flat faces according to claim 1 is characterized in that it allows, by the application of general rules, to constitute games composed of several dices each comprising, on each of its flat faces, both a figurine and a colored symbol representing one of the cards in a deck of 52 cards with or without a joker, constituting, for all eight flat faces, a particular combination of eight of the figurines, taken in a defined order, as well as a combination particular of the four colored symbols also taken in a defined order, so that the simultaneous throwing of all the dice of the game allows to obtain, in particular, either series of cards which follow one another in the defined order of value and in the same color symbol, that is to say series of cards which follow one another in the defined order, of symbol of systematically different color. 3- Dice with eight flat faces, according to claim 2, characterized in that it is part of games which may include two to seven dice, marked with figurines and colors of the cards from a deck of 52 cards which have been retained. a number of cards equal to eight times the number of dice in the game, in the defined order of value of the figurines, in that each die, making up a game, comprises two blocks of four figurines which follow each other in order of value defined, the first figurine of the second block being obtained by counting a number of figurines equal to the number of dice retained for the game from the first figurine of the first block, the first figurine of the first block of each die following in order of defined value. 4- Die with eight flat faces, according to claim 3, characterized in that the eight figurines appearing on each die, are each assigned one of the four symbols of colors, taken in a defined order, in the order of classification of the figurines, the figurines of the second block having respectively the color symbols of the four figurines of the first block. 5- Dice with eight flat faces, according to claim 4, characterized in that the order of assignment of the colors alternately alternates a black color and a red color, the figurines being arranged on the flat faces so that the first of the first block is opposite to the fourth of the second block, the second of the first block to the third of the second block, then respectively the third to the second, finally the fourth to the first, so that two successive figures are not on faces having a common edge, the four figurines of the same color are then grouped around the same convex face which allows the printing of the die by pad printing in two passes. 6-die with eight flat faces according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dice are held together by the molding core which acts as a polarizing device, during the pad printing phase, in order to eliminate the risks. positioning error. 7-die with eight flat faces according to claim 1, characterized in that it is obtained by machining two pairs of parallel flat faces, distant from 2,446 (A), located on either side of the center of symmetry (O ), and making an angle of 109.39 ° between them, the position of the two other pairs of plane faces being obtained by rotation of 90 °, around an axis (B) passing through (O) and perpendicular to the edges of intersection (21), planes of the first two pairs of plane faces.

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