GB2131304A - Random symbol selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device may comprise a modified die (dice) having six faces (2) bearing any chosen number of pips from "1 " to "6" or "0", each face (2) being separated from its neighbours by one of eight intervening elongate hexagonal further faces (4,6) which may be blank or may bear commands such as "ADD" or "SELECT". Thus the dice may be used in existing or new board games, to modify the scoring rates perhaps at different stages of a game. Instead of being a regular polyhedral die, the device may be a disc bearing sectored faces and rotatable about a central axis. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Symbol selection devices The invention relates to symbol selection devices, for example, dice.

The invention provides a symbol selection device having a plurality of first faces or past-faces defined thereon, a selected number of said faces or partfaces bearing information symbols, wherein there is provided at least one further face or part-face intervening between two adjacent first faces, said further face or part bearing commands or being otherwise non-information bearing.

The device may be, for example, a disc bearing sectored faces and rotatable about a central axis, or, as in the following examples, a regular polyhedral die or dice.

In the drawings which show a few examples of devices according to the invention: Figures 1 and2 are perspective views of an example of a dice; Figures 3 to 6 show various arrangements of symbols.

In the examples; the dice have six square first faces 2, each face being spaced from each of its four adjacent faces by an elongate hexagonal face 4 arranged at450thernto. Figure 1 shows the hexagonal faces 4 as non-information bearing, whereas the faces 2 carry information symbols in the form of pips 8. Figure 2 shows some of the hexagonal faces bearing commands.

When a die (dice) is thrown and lands with a face 4 uppermost, the reading may be taken in accordance with separate rules or in accordance with the command. Thus a playerthrowing a dice to land as in Figure 2 may "select" either the score "3" or "2".

If "add" had been uppermost, the player would have scored "2" and "6", i.e. "8". This permits a wide range of score values to be achievable and increases the versatility of the games playable with the dice.

The dice need not have the conventional arrangement of pips as shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows a dice having faces 2 showing "H" and "M" only. The dice of Figures 5 and 6 may be used as a pair or as alternatives according to the rules of an appropriate game, the dice of Figure 5 showing "1", "2" and "3" only and the dice of Figure 6 showing "4", "5" and "6" only. It would therefore be possible to score up to "16" with these two dice.

It will be understood that the symbols of the faces 6 may be numbers, letters of any other symbols as required.

1. A random symbol selection device having a plurality of first faces or part faces defined thereon, a selected number of said faces or part faces bearing information symbols, wherein there is provided at least one furtherface or part face intervening between two adjacent first faces, said further face or part bearing commands or being otherwise noninformation bearing.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a regular polyhedral die.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the die is provided with 6 square first faces arranged in the manner of a cube, each face being spaced from each of its four adjacent faces by an elongate hexagonal face arranged at 45" thereto.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the six square first faces bear one symbol selected from "1" to "6".

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the six square first faces each bear one symbol selected from "H" and "M".

6. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the six square faces each bear one symbol selected from "1"to"3".

7. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the six square faces each bear one symbol selected from "4" to "6".

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a disc bearing sectored faces and rotatable about a central axis.

9. A random symbol selection device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Symbol selection devices The invention relates to symbol selection devices, for example, dice. The invention provides a symbol selection device having a plurality of first faces or past-faces defined thereon, a selected number of said faces or partfaces bearing information symbols, wherein there is provided at least one further face or part-face intervening between two adjacent first faces, said further face or part bearing commands or being otherwise non-information bearing. The device may be, for example, a disc bearing sectored faces and rotatable about a central axis, or, as in the following examples, a regular polyhedral die or dice. In the drawings which show a few examples of devices according to the invention: Figures 1 and2 are perspective views of an example of a dice; Figures 3 to 6 show various arrangements of symbols. In the examples; the dice have six square first faces 2, each face being spaced from each of its four adjacent faces by an elongate hexagonal face 4 arranged at450thernto. Figure 1 shows the hexagonal faces 4 as non-information bearing, whereas the faces 2 carry information symbols in the form of pips 8. Figure 2 shows some of the hexagonal faces bearing commands. When a die (dice) is thrown and lands with a face 4 uppermost, the reading may be taken in accordance with separate rules or in accordance with the command. Thus a playerthrowing a dice to land as in Figure 2 may "select" either the score "3" or "2". If "add" had been uppermost, the player would have scored "2" and "6", i.e. "8". This permits a wide range of score values to be achievable and increases the versatility of the games playable with the dice. The dice need not have the conventional arrangement of pips as shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows a dice having faces 2 showing "H" and "M" only. The dice of Figures 5 and 6 may be used as a pair or as alternatives according to the rules of an appropriate game, the dice of Figure 5 showing "1", "2" and "3" only and the dice of Figure 6 showing "4", "5" and "6" only. It would therefore be possible to score up to "16" with these two dice. It will be understood that the symbols of the faces 6 may be numbers, letters of any other symbols as required. CLAIMS

1. A random symbol selection device having a plurality of first faces or part faces defined thereon, a selected number of said faces or part faces bearing information symbols, wherein there is provided at least one furtherface or part face intervening between two adjacent first faces, said further face or part bearing commands or being otherwise noninformation bearing.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a regular polyhedral die.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the die is provided with 6 square first faces arranged in the manner of a cube, each face being spaced from each of its four adjacent faces by an elongate hexagonal face arranged at 45" thereto.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the six square first faces bear one symbol selected from "1" to "6".

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the six square first faces each bear one symbol selected from "H" and "M".

6. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the six square faces each bear one symbol selected from "1"to"3".

7. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the six square faces each bear one symbol selected from "4" to "6".

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a disc bearing sectored faces and rotatable about a central axis.

9. A random symbol selection device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.