GB2042906A - A Domino-type Game - Google Patents

Abstract

A domino-type game consisting of square blocks, any complementary two of which can be fitted together. The blocks may carry numbers, colours, animals or any other symbols. The blocks are connected by plugs and sockets or dovetails on two or four sides of the blocks. In the latter case, identical blocks are connected by dovetail rods fitting in grooves in the sides of the blocks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Game The invention relates to a game of the kind comprising a plurality of playing blocks adapted to be juxtaposed on a playing surface in a manner determined by rules concerning markings or other characteristics on the blocks.

An example of such a game is dominoes, which, as is known, consists of rectangular blocks, which carry on one side a pair of identical or different quantity symbols, namely blank or 1-6. According to the rules of the game the players must attempt to discard if possible all blocks dealt to them. The placing of a playing block is only possible if a symbol of a block can be placed adjacent to a free identical symbol.

In the known domino game the number of pairs of symbols is determined by the existing number of rectangular playing blocks. An object of the invention is to make the game more interesting by avoiding the fixed pairing of symbols for each player.

According to the present invention there is provided a game of the kind comprising a plurality of playing blocks adapted to be juxtaposed on a playing surface in a manner determined by rules concerning markings or other characteristics on the blocks, wherein each block comprises two interfitting halves inter-changeable with other block halves so as to vary the combinations of characteristics on the blocks.

Each player receives a certain number of square individual blocks or block halves which, depending on the situation with the placed blocks and with regard to his own stock of blocks, can be combined so that the placing of a block is made more difficult for the opponent.

The division of the rectangular blocks into individual blocks or block halves which can be fitted together, opens up also the possibility of introducing into the game symbols which are different from those used previously, i.e. quantity symbols 1 to 6, different colours, figures, geometrical shapes, animal figures etc. The game can thus be made readily playable also for small children. It is important that always two individual blocks must be fitted together.

A variety of possibilities exist for fitting together of individual blocks according to the invention. In one embodiment each individual block has on one edge a projecting plug and at least on another edge the sunk seat part of a plug and socket connection or push connection. If the sunk seat part of the socket and plug or push connection is provided on all three remaining edges of each individual block, then each block can be fitted together in three different rotated positions with another square individual block, This can be advantageous, if symbols are attached only partly in the edge region of individual blocks in such a manner that they can be supplemented by the connection of two given corresponding parts of the symbol.

There exists also the possibility of fitting together individual blocks in any arbitrary relative rotated position, for example by using the plug and socket connection according to German patent documents 20 01 799 and/or 22 05 004.

The application of the plug and socket connetions disclosed in these patent documents is free from the forward projecting parts of the plug and socket connection with the advantage that the blocks, as in the well known domino game, can be connected on placing without gaps.

Another possibility of fitting together individual blocks in arbitrary relative position and of avoiding forward projecting parts of a plug and socket or push connection consists of the arrangement that the individual blocks are provided on all edges with the sunk seat part of a push connection and are fitted together by a third, rod shaped double acting plug part which is pushed into opposite groove parts. A dovetail profile is useful for the push connections in which the connecting profile has double dovetail shape cross section.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 show block halves in plan view shortly before fitting together; Fig. 3 shows a side view of the square block half shown in Fig. 2 from the left; Figs. 4 and 5 show an individual block half in plan view and side view from the left, arranged for a dovetail shaped push connection, and Fig. 6 shows two individual block halves connected by a connection profile in cross section, partly in plan view on an edge face.

The square individual blocks or block halves 1 and 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have on one edge a pair of plugs 3 as projecting part of a plug and socket connection and on another edge the matching blind holes 4 as the socket part of the plug and socket connection. The individual block 1 carries a circle, as a symbol of a geometrical figure, which can also be made coloured: however, the block 2 carries the quantity symbol "3" of the known domino game.

The individual block 5 according to Figs. 4 and 5 has on one side, as the plug edge part of a push connection a dovetail profile member 6 and on the opposite side a matching recess 7. Two individual blocks of this design are fitted together by pushing in of the dovetail shape profile 6 of one block into the dovetail shaped recess 7 of another block.

The individual blocks 8 and 9 according to Fig.

6 have on all four sides dovetail cross section openings 7 and they can be fitted together in any arbitrary rotated position by virtue of the fact that into the corresponding opposite sunk seats 7 can be pushed a connecting profile 10 with double dovetail shape cross section. For releasing this push connection it is necessary only to slide both blocks 8 and 9 in opposite directions lengthwise of the rod 10.

Claims (6)

Claims

1. A game of the kind comprising a plurality of playing blocks adapted to be juxtaposed on a playing surface in a manner determined by rules concerning markings or other characteristics on the blocks, wherein each block comprises two interfitting halves interchangeable with other block halves so as to vary the combinations of characteristics on the blocks.

2. A game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block halves are provided with complementary engaging male and female formations on mating edge surfaces thereof.

3. A game as claimed in claim 2, wherein the four edge surfaces of each block half are each provided with such a male or female formation, whereby the two halves of a block may be interfitted in any desired mutual orientation.

4. A game as claimed in claim 1, wherein the block halves are interconnected by a connecting element and each block half and the corresponding side of the connecting element are provided with complementary engaging male and female formations on mating surfaces thereof.

5. A game as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connecting element is a rod with a double dovetail profile and the mating surfaces of the block halves are provided with complementary dovetail profiles.

6. A game substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.