FR2462178A1 - Indoor game consisting of making house plans - has case containing cards marked with walls, doors windows and furniture on same scale which can be fitted together - Google Patents

Abstract

The indoor game involves making plans for houses or flats. It has a case inside which there are compartments in which the parts to be used are stored. These are at a predetermined scale and can be assembled together. The parts are cards on which the top view of items of furniture, flat and curved walls, doors and windows are marked. Cards showing people, seen from above, and a compass card to orientate the plan can be included. The plans can be assembled on a board, marked in squares.

Description

 The present invention relates to a board game to constitute plans of apartments or houses.

 The need for a better understanding of architecture and its development process has been recognized many times. Recent or older studies and experiences have shown the difficulty of understanding architectural language in its terms as in its forms. Most of the difficulty stems from the transition from the physical experience of space to its mental reconstruction, that is, to the plane.

 All architecture inexorably proceeds from the plan, from the trace in the sand preliminary to any construction, to the explicit projection of the constraints and expressions of social habits. the plan is the only means which makes it possible to mark the space and to apprehend it mentally in advance, a process which requires mastery of its abstract language.

Some recent direct pedagogy experiments have shown the interest of a material facilitating pedagogical work without restricting the imagination of the group or the child.

 The invention therefore aims to respond to these concerns, relating to the pedagogy of architecture as well as the game itself.

 According to the invention, the board game includes a box inside which are provided a certain number of boxes, in each of which are placed elements determined on the basis of a category of elements per box, representing on a scale predetermined and top plan views of the various constituent parts of an apartment or house, in particular sections of walls, straight and curved, window elements, pieces of furniture, such as beds, seats, tables, all these series of elements being likely to be assembled by the user to constitute at his discretion plans of apartments or houses by including furniture of his choice.

 It is easy to understand that the principle of this game consists of forming combinations that can vary endlessly, from different groups of elements stacked in boxes, and offered to players, or students as part of an initiation to architecture. Thus, from the constituent elements which are proposed to him, the player or the child can arrange all kinds of plans of apartments or houses according to different standard situations which can be proposed to him.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the elements housed in the boxes are cut-out cartons on which the movable elements are drawn5, as well as straight bars, curved bars, opaque bars and transparent bars, opaque bars symbolizing sections of walls or partitions, while the transparent bars symbolize parts of windows, boxes representing figures seen from above can also be provided, as well as a box representing a compass rose for orientation plans.

 This embodiment is particularly intended for young children, who can assemble according to their taste and according to the different family situations which are proposed to them by the monitor, the groups of elements contained in the housing, by arranging these preferably on a grid support of small tiles, allowing the different sections of walls or partitions to be properly aligned at the desired angles.

 This grid support can also be formed by a leaflet with several flaps offering a functional surface of the size of the apartment or the house built by the child. When the latter has traced on the grid support the plan of the apartment he has imagined, he can by drawing from the appropriate boxes, furnish this apartment by positioning beds, armchairs, tables, chairs, kitchen elements, and also figures looking upwards, which symbolize occupants of the apartment.

'one of the boxes in the box contains a plaque representing a compass rose, which allows players to orient the different rooms of the apartment and position them according to the lighting from which they are likely to benefit.

 Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows. In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples, two embodiments of the game according to the invention have been shown.

 - Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the board game according to the invention.

 FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover of the box shown in FIG. 1, showing an example of an apartment plan that can be produced from the components of the game in FIG. 1.

 - Figure 3 shows, seen from above in plan, a set of parts part of the set of Figures 1 and 2, and consisting of boxes or plates representing furniture, characters or animals.

- Figure 4 is a top plan view of a furnished apartment, surrounded by greenery, which can be made according to a second embodiment of the game according to the invention, the plan visible in this figure 4 can also appear on the lid of the case containing the game.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first sub-housing containing part of the groups of elements of the game allowing the construction of the plane of FIG. 4

- Figure 6 is a plan view of a second housing of the same dimensions as that of Figure 5, containing other groups of elements of the second embodiment of the game, the two housing of Figures 5 and 6 can be superimposed in a common box closed by a cover on which is drawn a plane, for example identical to that of FIG. 4.

 the board game shown in Figures 1 to 3 is intended to allow the creation of plans of apartments or houses, preferably by young children, in particular as part of an educational initiation to architecture.

 The game includes a box 1 of rectangular shape, inside which are provided a number of also rectangular boxes which can obviously vary depending on the elements that one wishes to introduce into the game.

boxes 2, 3, 5, 6, 17, 16, 19 and 20 contain constituent parts of the walls and partitions of the apartment; for example, boxes 2 and 16 contain transparent bars 2a, 16a respectively, of different lengths, and intended to represent window elements. Box 3 contains rectilinear black bars 3a, while box 5 contains a stack of black bars 5a with bevelled ends. Box 6 also contains black bars 6a with bevelled ends, but shorter than that of bars 5a. Two boxes 17 contain small black bars 17a, not bevelled and of length substantially equal to that of the bevelled bars 6a. A row of boxes 70, 19, 20, 73 contains the following elements in boxes 70 and 73 are respectively a pillar 71 and a pillar 74 of oval shape but with sharp angled ends, around which are housed curved elements in correspondence , 72 and 75, black and transparent respectively.

the middle compartments 19, 20 contain circular pivots 24, 25 respectively around which are placed corresponding circular elements 19a, 20a.

 Generally, the black bars represent sections of walls or partitions, while the transparent bars represent window elements.

In boxes 7 to 15, are arranged different stacks of cardboard plates on which are drawn movable elements, such as cue beds 26 in box 15, cushions 27 in box 11, seats 28, 14 in boxes 12, 13 , characters or animals in box 9, sanitary elements in boxes 8 and 10 (sink 8a, stove 8b, bathtub 10a), various objects such as shelves, bookcases carrying books, flowers, vases, etc. in the box 23.

 FIG. 3 shows, by way of nonlimiting examples, some movable elements and characters that can enter into the game of FIG. 1. We thus see a dining table 29 on which the cover is placed, a cushion 31, a fireplace 32, a closet-wardrobe 33, a night table or coffee table 34, a chair 35, animals 36, 37, 58, and figures 39, 41.

 Of course, these movable elements and characters are only a part of those normally included in the game shown in Figure 1.

The game also includes a repertoire not shown, on which are illustrated and identified all of the aforementioned furniture and characters. the game also includes an explanatory brochure, containing several examples of plans for apartments and houses from the elements housed in the boxes of box 1 as well as a list of given family situations to inspire the creation of different plans likely
to be more particularly suited to these situations.

The brochure can thus indicate for example successively a family made up of parents and three children, for example two boys aged 13 and 12 and a girl aged 8, the father being a veterinarian and practicing his trade at home, so that a part of it must therefore be reserved for animals.

 Another example of a house for the participants in the game could be a house for a family made up of parents and two children including a 14 year old girl and a 10 year old boy, the father being a doctor and having his office at the House. A third example could be that of a family comprising, in addition to the parents, a daughter aged 14 and a daughter aged 15, the parents being both teachers and therefore needing an office each.

 We can thus multiply the family situations likely to provide inspiration to the participants in the game to create apartments and houses related to these family situations.

 There is shown in Figure 2 a possible example of an apartment plan that can be produced from groups of plates housed in the housing 1. This apartment is formed by the assembly of black bars 5a, 6a which, suitably placed, make it possible to appear walls or partitions at right angles with their bevelled ends, rectilinear black bars 3a, 17a, transparent bars representing the windows, such as 2a which represents the window of a room in which one sees a bed 26, and curved bars 20a symbolizing the windows in the dining room, the living room, and the bathroom. In the latter we see a bathtub 10a, armchairs 12 and a sofa in the living room, as well as a piano 40, a kitchen table with cutlery 41, four chairs being also visible.

 If this plan appears on a cover intended to close the box 1, this cover can bear an indication such as the word PlAN, identified by the general reference 42 and constituted by the judicious assembly of black rectilinear bars 3a, 17a and curves 19a.

A second, more advanced embodiment of the game according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. This game, intended especially for older children and adults, contains the following groups of elements
a) A first series of boxes, formed in a first sub-housing 43 (FIG. 5) of rectangular shape, the boxes being square, contains stacks of plates each representing both a modular part of an apartment or house and of surrounding land, for example grass, with elements of walls or partitions.

Thus, in FIG. 5, we see different kinds of plates, such as 44, 45, 46, 47, / represent transparent curved or rectilinear sections therefore representing windows, and bordered on one side by grass 48. A second category square plates such as the plates referenced 49 to 55, carries drawings consisting of opaque sections, rectilinear or curved, representing elements of walls or partitions, and bordered on one side of grass 48.

Finally, a third category of chips (56 and 57) represents only the surrounding terrain, for example grass.

Thus, the three categories of plates housed in their square boxes in Figure 5 can compose a colored set, for example in black, for the sections of walls or partitions, in white for the sections of windows, and in green for the lawn 48 or 57
The game also includes the following:
b) A second series of square boxes (FIG. 6) formed in a second sub-box 59 of the same dimensions as the su̲s-boltier 43.

 In the example illustrated in Figure-6, these square boxes are 24 in number, and each contain a stack of plates of the same dimensions as the plates visible in Figure 5, but representing only modular surface elements inside the apartment or home.

On these plates are therefore drawn only sections of walls, of eloisonseidefenêtres taken either individually, or assembled end-to-end in different ways to represent different possible configurations. Thus, we see for example that the plate 61 is provided on two opposite sides with two black lines 62 representing rectilinear walls, the plate 63 is crossed diagonally by a black curved line 64 representing a curved wall, the plate 65 is crossed diagonally by a straight black section 66, the plate 67 carries two sections of cross walls, the plate 68 is provided with a curved wall section 69, the plate 71 is provided with two T sections 72, 73 etc ...

 Certain plates, for example 74, 75, are entirely white, and are thus intended to materialize the floor of a room of the apartment.

 c) The game finally comprises a third series of boxes, of dimensions smaller than those of the first two series, housed in the second sub-housing 59 in the part left free by the stacks of plates representing sections of walls or partitions. This third series of boxes, referenced 76 to 87 in the example shown, contains stacks of small cardboard plates similar to the stacks of cardboard placed in boxes 7 to 15 and 23 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

As an indication, box 77 may contain boxes on which plants, pianos, playpens, fireplaces are drawn, box 76 may agree on boxes representing beds, box 78 on boxes representing shelves, box 79 for chairs, box 81 for stools, box 82 for cushions, box 83 for armchairs, box 84 for cupboards, box 85 for tables, box 86 for sanitary and kitchen elements, ase 87 for characters and animals, such as those illustrated in Figure 3.

The two sub-boxes 43 and 59 containing the three series or groups of aforementioned elements, have the same dimensions and can be superimposed in a bolier, closed by a cover on which a plane such as that illustrated in FIG. Figure 4. We understand that from the different stacks of plates contained in the first sub-housing 43 and in the sub-housing 59, we can imagine and draw all kinds of combinations of apartments or house plans, the one shown in Figure 4 being given only by way of nonlimiting example. However, the implementation of this second embodiment of the game according to the invention is significantly more complex than for the first embodiment, because the players have pads more difficult to assemble properly to form a coherent whole, than the component parts of the game in Figure 1.

the game additionally comprises a support, not shown, squared, and the tiles of which have dimensions equal to those of the square plates shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This support can be, as in the previous folding case, so as to offer a larger surface to the player to create his apartment. The game then consists in selecting the plates necessary to succeed in drawing the plan of the apartment or the house imagined, each plate covering the surface of a corresponding tile on the support.

 We thus see in Figure 4, the plan of an apartment surrounded by greenery (plates 57, 58 etc. with grass) and comprising a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom, with a corner office, and a bathroom. bath, this plan being formed by a judicious assembly of a series of plates contained in the sub-boxes 43 and 59, and being supplemented by furniture elements (beds, armchairs, tables, etc.) identical to those previously described.

 the elements of furniture have in particular the advantage of making it possible to verify that the drawn pieces are indeed quite large, as one can realize it when one places a bed in a room, a table in a stay or in the kitchen etc ...

the movable elements and the characters also animate the plan, and make it possible to deepen the notion of scale.

The pedagogy that can be practiced from the game according to the invention can be done in a group or in isolation, and can be progressive or global. For a progressive pedagogy, the instructor first selects the simplest elements: the right angle crossings which are the only ones made available to the players. They use them to compose simple spaces (square, rectangle). The notions of continuity or discontinuity of the walls, of opening, of closing, of bringing spaces together, passages for the occupants, etc. can intervene simultaneously from this simplified repertoire. The progressive introduction of more complex elements such as curves, off-center oblique walls, makes it possible to soften and develop the plan more freely.

 In the last phase, the notions of scale and surface can be approached from furniture, sanitary accessories and plants. Finally, the sense of orientation with its notion of sunshine during the different hours of the day can intervene at any time of the process, in particular for the orientation of living rooms by means of the compass rose 20.

If we adopt a global pedagogy, the entire repertoire of signs and elements of the game is delivered at the same time. the beginnings inevitably drafts are organized little by little, the interventions of the monitor can facilitate the learning of handling forms. The very shape of the game, plates and elements that can be manipulated, allows permanent retouching, while the drawing, for example, does not allow modifications and shows blunders. In the game according to the invention, the composition can be changed at any time, one form suggesting another.

it is therefore a discovery of architecture, on a manipulable scale, in what is closest and most abstract at the same time; the wall, the space on the ground, the connection or not of adjoining spaces, its relationship to furniture etc ...

This approach, supplemented by the discovery and analysis of the physical environment of the child, makes it possible to enrich the educational possibilities by deepening the transition from the concept of surface on a reduced scale, to that of full-scale volume.

 This game can be used by adults, in particular the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, and they will find there a support for their imagination which will allow them to plan their house, like children.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and can include numerous variant embodiments. Thus, it is obvious that one can vary practically infinitely the drawings represented on the plates, on the cardboard elements representing pieces of furniture, or the pieces such as black and transparent bars etc ...

 You can also use blank cardboard plates on which the player can draw additional elements, for example a bicycle, a television.

the game can also include several superimposed sub-boxes, and not only the sub-boxes (43,59).

Claims (7)

 1 - Board game to constitute plans of apartments or houses, characterized in that it comprises a box inside which are made a certain number of boxes, in each of which are placed elements determined at a rate of a category of elements per box, representing on a predetermined scale and views from above in plan different constituent parts of an apartment or a house, in particular sections of walls, straight and curved, window elements, pieces of furniture, such as beds , seats, tables, all these series of elements being capable of being assembled by the user to constitute, as he pleases, plans of apartments or houses, including furniture of his choice.  2 - Board game according to claim 1 characterized in that the elements housed in the boxes are cut cardboard boxes on which are drawn the movable elements, as well as straight bars, curved bars, opaque bars and transparent bars, the opaque bars symbolizing sections of walls or partitions while the transparent bars symbolize parts of windows, boxes representing characters seen from above can also be provided, as well as a card representing a compass rose for the orientation of the plans.  3 - Game according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises a grid support, formed for example of a folder with several components, intended to receive the constituent elements of the plan drawn by the user in order to allow correct positioning of said elements relatively to each other.  4 - Game according to claim 1, intended more particularly for large children and adults, characterized in that the boxes contain the following groups of elements a first series of boxes contains stacks of plates each representing both a modular part of an apartment or house and the surrounding terrain, for example grass with elements of walls or partitions, or only represents the surrounding terrain,  - a second series of boxes contains stacks of plates on which are drawn pieces of plan representing exclusively the interior of the apartment or the house, in particular parts of partitions and windows,  - a third series of boxes, of dimensions smaller than those of the first two series, contains stacks of cardboard elements on which furniture, various objects likely to be found in an apartment are drawn, and possibly drawn characters raising their heads towards the top.  5 - Game according to claim 4, characterized in that the boxes and the plates of the first two series are square or rectangular, and intended to be positioned on a grid support whose tiles have dimensions equal to those of the plates and corresponding boxes .  6 - Game according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the first series of boxes is arranged in at least one sub-case and in that the second and, at least the third series are arranged in / a second sub -box, these sub-boxes being of equal dimensions and can be superimposed in the box itself.  7 - Game according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a directory on which are illustrated and identified all the furniture such as beds, tables, armchairs, as well as an explanatory brochure of the game, containing in particular several examples of plans of apartments and houses, and a list of family situations given to inspire the creation of different plans likely to be more particularly suited to these situations.