GB2171609A - Puzzle or game - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game, comprises a three-dimensional body (7) and a plurality of playing pieces (2), the body being provided at its exterior with an array of sites (4) surrounding the centre of the body and at each of which any single one of the playing pieces can be removably located, whereby at least some of the playing pieces can be located at at least some of said sites and optionally moved from one site to another and optionally removed from the body in accordance with predetermined rules when one or more persons are playing a game. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game or puzzle The present invention relates to apparatus which may be used for playing a game or for solving a puzzle. (Bya puzzlewe mean merely a gamefora single player).

In accordance with the invention there is provided apparatus for playing a game, comprising athree dimensional body and a plurality of playing pieces, the body being provided at its outer surface with an arrayofsites surrounding the centre ofthe bodyand at each of which any single one of the playing pieces can be removably located, whereby at least some of the playing pieces can be located at at least some of said sites and optionally moved from one site to another and optionally removed from the body in accordance with predetermined rules when one or more persons are playing a game.

Preferably the playing pieces are of two or more contrasting colours, each piece itself being of a single colour. Preferably the number of playing pieces of each coiour is at least one half ofthe total numberof said sites.

Preferably at least some of the sites are arranged along lines which (a) definethe edges of a polyhedron or (b) are topologically equivalentto lines defining the edges of a polyhedron.

Preferably the sites are provided at the following positions or positions topologically equivalent thereto: one site at each corner of the polyhedron, one along each edge of the polyhedron intermediate the corners at the ends of the edge and one substantially centrally of each face of the polyhedron.

The polyhedron is preferably regular and is preferably a cube.

The invention is further described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of the body and some playing pieces of apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front view ofthe body, slightly from above and one side, illustrating arrangements of playing pieceswhich mayariseduring useofthe apparatus; and Figure 3 is a frontview of the body, also illustrating arrangements of playing pieces which may arise in use of the apparatus.

Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus shown therein comprises a body 1 and a plurality of playing pieces 2, only two of which are shown in the drawings.

The body 1 has an overall cuboidai shape and is in the form of a frame with an array of compartments or cells denoted generally by reference numberal 4 surrounding the centre ofthe frame and opening to the outer surface thereof. The cells 4 consist of cells 4a at the centre of each face ofthe body 1, cells 4b at each cornerofthe body, and cells4calong each edge of the body intermediate the corners. There arethus twentysixcells in total.

The cells 4 define a pair of horizontal webs 6 and two pairs of orthogonal vertical webs 7, the webs of each pair intersecting the webs of the other two pairs. The cel Is 4 may be regarded as being in three layers, an upper layerabovethe upperweb 6, a middle layer between' the webs 6, and a lower layer belowtheweb 6.

At the bottom of each cell 4 of the upper layer isa circular recess orthrough hole 8 in the upperweb 6.

Similarly at the top of each cell 4 of the lower layer is a circular recess orthrough hole 8 in the lowerweb 6.

Each cell 4ofthe middle layer is also provided with a circularrecess orthrough hole 8 in one ofthewebs 7, the recesses 8 of the cells 4a of the middle layer being provided in theweb7remotefrom and parallel to the open face of the cell.

Each playing piece 2 is cuboidal and can fit into any one ofthe cells 4. Preferably each piece 2 is a loose fit our a sliding fit in the cells4a and 4c. Each piece 2 is provided on one face (somewhat off centre thereof) with a spigot or projection 9 which is a friction fit in any one of the recesses 8. When any piece 2 is flitted into any one of the cells 4with the spigot or projection 9 of the piece fitted into the recess 8 ofthe cell,the piecestands proud oftheframe 1.

The apparatus comprises at least twenty six pieces 2 (i.e. a number of pieces 2 equal to the number of cells 4).

The playing pieces 2 are of two or more contrasting colours, each piece being of a single colour, the number of pieces of each colour being at least equal to thirteen, one halfbfthe number of cells 4. Suitable colours are red and white or blackand white.

Each piece 2 can be located in any selected cell 4 by offering the piece up to the cell and inserting it into the cell so that the projection 9 engages in the recess 8 of the cell. Thus each cell 4 constitutes a site forthe possible location of any selected one of the pieces 2.

Furthermore each piece 2 can readily be removed, when desired, from a cell 4 in which it has been located.

The apparatus described above may be used for playing a large variety of different games. The rules of some ofthese games are given below. Atentative name for each game is given before its rules.

"NO LINES" 1. This is a puzzle, i.e. a gamefora single player.

2. Thirteen.pieces 2 of one colour and thirteen pieces 2 of another colour are used.

3. The object of the puzzle is to fill all faces ofthe frame 1 with the pieces in such a way that no lines of three of any single colourarn formed.

4. A line consists of a rowofthree pieces 2 on one face ofthe frame 1 and extending diagonally ofthe face (i.e. from corner to corner) or parallel to edges of the face. Figure 2 indicates such rows by means of dotted and dashed lines.

5. Beginning with the frame empty, the player inserts pieces 2 of either colour, one art a time in any cell on any face ofthe cube. If a line ofthree of any single colourisformed the playerhas failed to solve the puzzle. If all the cells are filled with the pieces 2 with no such lines being formed, then the player has solved the puzzle.

"REMAINDER ONE" 1. This is a puzzle, i.e. a game for a single player.

2. All the cells 4 of the frame 1 are filled with the playing pieces 2 except for one cell at the centre of one face.

3. The object of the puzzle is to remove playing pieces 2 from the frame until only one piece 2 is left in the frame.

4. Playing pieces 2 are removed by successive moves: in each move a selected playing piece 2 is moved or "jumped-over" an adjacent piece 2 into a vacant cell 4 and the "jumped-over" piece 2 is removed from the frame. The "jumped-over" piece 2 may be at an edge or corner of the frame 1. The initial positions of the playing piece 2 which is moved, the "jumped-over" piece and the vacant cell must be in a straight line or lie in a plane passing through the centre of the frame if the "jumpedover" piece is at an edge or corner of the frame. The straight line or plane may extend parallel to edges of the frame 1 or diagonally relative to the frame.The only pieces 2 which can be selected to be moved must of course be disposed adjacent a cell occupied by a piece 2, which latter piece is adjacent a vacant cell, the selected piece 2, the adjacent cell occupied by a piece 2 and the vacant cell being in a straight line or lying in a plane passing through the centre of the frame.

It will be appreciated that this game is similar in its rules to the well known board and peg game of "Solitaire" but is played in three-dimensions.

"REMAINDER ONE - DESIGNATED POSITION" This game is the same as the preceding game except that the object of the game is to remove playing pieces 2 from the frame until only one piece 2 is left in the frame in a position determined or decided upon before starting to play the game.

"REMAINDER ONE -- DESIGNATED POSITION AND DESIGNATED COLOUR" This game is the same as the last-mentioned game except that the frame 1 is initially filled with thirteen pieces 2 of one colour and twelve pieces 2 of another colour and the object of the game further requires that the single piece 2 left at the end of the game is of a colour decided upon before starting the game.

"THREEJN A LINE" 1. This game is for two or more players.

2. Each player uses pieces 2 of a single colour different to the colour or colours ofthe pieces 2 used by the other player or players.

3. The players take turns to insert their pieces 2 one at a time into the cells 4 of the frame until the cells have all been filled.

4. The object of each player is to form, by the end of the game, more lines of that player's colour than lines formed by any other of the players. "Lines" are defined as in "NO LINES" above. The winner is the player who has formed most lines by the end of the game.

"THREE IN LINE-LEAPFROG" 1. This game is for two or more players.

2. Each player uses a stock of pieces 2 of a single colour different to the colour or colours of the pieces 2 used by the other player or players. The number of pieces 2 in the stock of pieces of each player is the same and is preferably equal to at least 26 divided by the number of players.

3. The object of the game is for each player to form more lines consisting of three of his pieces 2 in a straight line on any face of the frame 1 than any of his opponents.

4. Players take turns to do (in each turn) any one only of the following acts: (a) the player places a single piece 2 into a cell 4 of the frame.

(b) the player moves one of his pieces already in the frame to an adjacent vacant cell 4.

(c) the player moves one of his pieces already in the frame over an adjacent piece 2 of an opponent to a vacant cell 4 and removes the "jumped-over" piece of his opponent. The initial positions of the piece which is moved, the "jumped-over" piece and the vacant cell must be in a straight line or, if the "jumped-over" piece is at an edge or corner of the frame, lie in a plane passing through the centre of the frame (as in Rule 4 of "REMAINDER ONE"). In one version of this game, the player may continue to make (or may be obliged to make) as many such moves as possible before the next player's turn (as in the game of Draughts).

(Each player's first turn must obviously be in accordance with Rule 4(a).) 5. A piece 2 removed from the frame under Rule 4(c) cannot be used again in the same game.

6. Once a line of three pieces of a single colour has been established it cannot be broken up again by moving any of its pieces or removing any of its pieces from the frame 1. I.e. the three pieces of the line must remain in position until the end of the game.

7. Two or three lines of pieces 2 of a single colour may share one or three pieces. I.e. two or three lines of a single colour may share a piece at a corner of the frame and a line of three pieces 2 of a single colour along one edge of the frame is regarded as two lines, one on each of the two faces of the frame which meet at that edge.

8. When a player has used up all of his stock of pieces 2, then in each of his turns he is required to move one of his pieces in accordance with Rule 4(a) or(b).

9. The game ends when all players have exhausted their stock of pieces or all cells are full.

The winner is the player who has made most lines with his pieces.

As mentioned above in Rule 4, during the playing of this game, a player (in each of his turns) may elect to insert one of his stock of pieces 2 into the frame 1 or to move one of his pieces 2 which is already in the frame to a different position within the frame.

Thus if a player A elects to insert, say, six of his pieces 2 in six of his turns and player B elects to insert, say, three of his pieces in three of his turns and to move them to different positions on his subsequent three turns, their remaining respective stocks of pieces will differ in number by three.

Therefore at some stage of the game it is possible that player A will have inserted all of his pieces whereas player B still has a stock of three pieces. In this situation player A is not allowed to "miss" his turn but, having no stock of pieces left, must move one of his already inserted pieces to a different location within the frame (provided, however, that Rule 6 is complied with). This obligation persists until all pieces 2 in each player's stock have been inserted in the frame. The game then ends.

"SQUARES" 1. This game is for two or more players.

2. Each player uses a stock of pieces 2 of a single colour different to the colour of the pieces used by the or each other player.

3. The players take turns to make moves. Each player's move consists of placing one piece 2 in the frame. Once a piece 2 has been inserted in the frame, its position cannot be changed during the remainder of the game.

4. The object of the game is for each player to form with his pieces as many squares as possible, each square using only that player's pieces.

5. Each square may be formed by four pieces at four corners of one face of the frame as in Figure 3(a), four pieces at the edge cells (between the corners) of a face of the frame, as in Figure 3(b), or four pieces in four adjacent cells of one face of the frame as in Figure 3(c).

It will be appreciated that since adjacent faces of the frame share edges of the frame, and in some games, pieces can be moved from one face to an adjacent face, the state of play (i.e. position and colour of pieces 2 on one face) will affect the state of play on the adjacent faces.

Instead of the frame described above, the apparatus may comprise a body consisting of a cube with a blind bore at each corner, in the centre of each face and on each edge between the corners, and the playing pieces may be coloured pegs or pins which are a frictional fit in the bores. Preferably the pins or pegs are longer than the bores and have enlarged heads which cannot fit into the bores. The number and colouring of the pins and pegs may be as described above with reference to the pieces 2.

The same games may be played with the latter apparatus as the apparatus shown in the drawings, the pins or pegs being inserted into the bores instead of the pieces 2 being located in the cells.

A modified apparatus according to the invention comprises two or more frames 1 as described above and one or more adaptors. Each adaptor is of like cross-section to the pieces 2 as described above and has, on opposite end faces thereof, a pair of spigots or projections of like shape and size to the spigots or projections 9 referred to above. Each adaptor is of such length that two frames 1 can be joined together, with respective faces of the frames closely adjacent, by inserting the end portions of the adaptor into the cells 4a of the respective faces of the two frames and engaging the spigots or projections 9 of the adaptor in the recesses 8 of the two cells.

Thus by means of such adaptors, any number of frames 1 can be joined together to provide an enlarged framework on which games, such as described above, with appropriately modified rules if necessary, can be played.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for playing a game, comprising a three-dimensional body and a plurality of playing pieces, the body being provided at its exterior with an array of sites surrounding the centre of the body and at each of which any single one of the playing pieces can be removably located, whereby at least some of the playing pieces can be located at at least some of said sites and optionally moved from one site to another and optionally removed from the body in accordance with predetermined rules when one or more persons are playing a game.

2. Apparatus accdrding to claim 1, wherein the playing pieces are of at least two visually distinct types.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each type of playing piece is at least predominantly of a colourdistinctfrom that of the or each othertype of playing piece.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the number of playing pieces of each type is at least one half of the total number of said sites.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the sites are arranged along lines which (a) define the edges of a polyhedron or (b) aretopologically equivalent to lines defining the edges of a polyhedron.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sites are provided at the following positions or positions topologically equivalent thereto: one site at each corner of the polyhedron, one along each edge of the polyhedron intermediate the corners at the ends of the edge and one substantially centrally of each face of the polyhedron.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the polyhedron is regular.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the polyhedron is a cube.