GB2110097A - Line forming game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a plurality of vertically located members (20) corresponding to the number of planes in which a game is to be played. The vertical members are of transparent material and each is divided into a plurality of separate elongate vertical compartments (23). Each compartment receives and retains markers (30) and the number of members, compartments per member, and markers per compartment is the same. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A game This invention relates to a game which, as well as being able to be used for amusement and occupation, is also useful in testing and developing spatial appreciation and manipulative abilities.

The game can be considered to be a three dimensional form of the game known as Noughts and Crosses" or "Tic-Tac-Toe".

There has previously been proposed a first three dimensional form of a game of this type in which there are provided horizontal planes, normally of a transparent material, having holes or recesses whereby markers can selectively be placed in any of the possible positions whilst attempting to make a row of markers of a similar type; and a second form where a number of posts extend upwardly from a base and each of which is adapted to receive perforated markers.

The object of the invention is to provide a game of this general type which has features beyond the previously known game.

The invention includes a game of the "Noughts and Crosses" type in three dimensions, including a playing device having number of vertically located member corresponding to the number of planes in which the game is to be played, the vertical members being in spaced parallel planes and each vertical member being divided into a number of separate elongated vertical compartments, each compartment being of a size such as to receive and retain markers in the required position for the orientation of the marker to be fixed and so that further markers placed in the compartments are each located at the required vertical location.

Preferably, the vertically located member are of a transparent material so that the players of the game can examine the orientation of the markers located in the vertical members and, further, it is preferable that the markers are relatively flat and the vertically located members are adapted to closely receive these markers.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I shall describe, in relation to the accompanying drawings, two particular embodiments which I have found satisfactory, and the rules of the game.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a first form of the device of the invention which can be considered to be a standard, large version; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the form of the invention of Fig. 1 from beneath showing that the main portion of the device can rotate relative to its base; Figure 3 is a plan view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2; Figures 4 and 5 are front and side views of the device; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second form of device which can be disassembled, showing one of the vertically located members removed.

The device as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 can be considered to be a standard or table size device and can be of the order of 1 5 cm wide and 17 cm high.

The device 10 has a body portion 1 5 and a base 1 6 to which the body portion is pivotally connected by pivot members 17.

The body portion has a floor 1 8 which may be of a transparent plastics material or of any other required material which has dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of the base 16. Extending downwardly from this floor there are four vertical locating members 20, each of which have a pair of spaced walls 21, which spaced walls 21 are interconnected by five transverse spacers 22, two of which are located at the sides of the walls 21 and the other three are equidistantly spaced to divide the vertical members 20 into four vertical compartments 23.

As illustrated there are four vertical members 20 and these are spaced equally across the floor 1 8 so as to define what is substantially a cube.

The walls 21 and the transverse members 22 of the vertical spacing members 20 are all perferably formed of a clear transparent plastics material so that it is possible to see through the device.

The size of the compartments 23 are such as to permit the reception therein of markers 30, which markers have a diameter substantially equal to the width of the compartments and a thickness slightly less than the spacing provided by the transverse spacers 22. The height of the compartments is preferably such as to receive a number of markers equal to the number of compartments in one of the locating members 20.

In the illustrated embodiment this provides a height equivalent to just over four diameters of the markers and in the total arrangement, if all compartments have a maximum number of markers, then the number is equivalent to a 4 X 4 X 4 cube, that is there are 64 markers.

In this particular embodiment the pivot 1 7 enables the spatial orientation about the horizontal plane of the vertical compartments to be varied, thus permitting examination of any of the compartments.

The embodiments of Fig. 6, whilst identical in use to the earlier embodiment, is applicable to a smaller version of game and particularly to one which can be portable.

In this case the base 40 is provided with four spaced slots 41, each of which is adapted to receive a vertical locating member 42 which can be considered identical in form and proportion to the locating members 20 of the previous embodiment, although of a different size.

One practical size I have found is for the compartments in each locating member to be approximately 7cm square.

When each of the vertical locating members 42 are located in a slot 41 there is provided, again, an arrangement having sixteen spaced compartments which can receive a total of 64 markers and, again, in basically cube orientation.

In this particular case, the base is not associated with a rotatable floor and for packaging and transport purposes, the vertical locating members 42 can simply be removed and packed flat.

As mentioned above the operation of the two embodiments can be considered identical.

The markers 30 of the first embodiment and 45 of the second embodiment are preferably thin plastic discs which have a diameter and thickness sufficient to be received within the compartments and to fully occupy these when four markers are located, as previously described.

The markers are preferably of two colours.

In playing the game it is the object of a player to obtain a line or vector of four markers. These vectors can be horizontal or vertical or can be diagonals, either in planes directly transverse to the planes or on a plane which is at 45 to the other planes.

In playing the game, the players each adopt a set of markers of a different colour and alternately place a marker into a selected compartment. It will be seen that when a vector is being obtained in a plane other than the lower horizontal plane, then it is necessary to build up the required number of makers below the marker which is to constitute part of a vector.

Thus, there are very real constraints on the locations of any particular marker at any time which depend not only upon the actuai location of a particular compartment but, also, on the number of markers alredy received in the compartment.

I have found that this makes a challenging game and is also a good test for, and can aid in, the devlopment of spatial conceptual abilities.

Claims (5)

1. A game in three dimensions, including a playing device having a number of vertically located members corresponding to the number of planes in which the game is to be played, the vertical members being in spaced parallel planes and each vertical member being divided into a number of separate, elongated vertical compartments, each compartment being of a size such as to receive and retain markers in the required position for the orientation of the marker to be fixed and so that further members placed in the compartment are each located at the required vertical location.

2. A game as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the vertically located members comprises a pair of spaced walls of a transparent material separated by a number of transverse, vertically extending spacers.

3. A game as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the vertically located members are affixed to a floor, which floor is pivotally connected by a central vertical pivot axis to a base member whereby the orientation of the vertically located members relative to the base can be varied.

4. A game as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the vertically located members are each removably located in a slot in a base, the slots being so arranged to cause the members to be retained in spaced parallel planes.

5. A game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.