GB2194738A

GB2194738A - Game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2194738A
Application number: GB08619321A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beric Watson
Original assignee: Waddingtons Games Ltd
Current assignee: Waddingtons Games Ltd
Priority date: 1986-08-07
Filing date: 1986-08-07
Publication date: 1988-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-07
Also published as: GB8619321D0; GB2194738B

Abstract

The invention provides a game apparatus comprising cards or a board carrying a representation or representations which when viewed from different directions gives or give different images. The representation of representations preferably are produced by holography. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for playing a card, table or board game.

Generally speaking, card games and such table and board games as involve the use of cards, employ cards which have a "face" surface on which is displayed a device which is meaningful in the playing of the game, and a reverse "back" surface. In the playing of the game, the card may be placed on the table or on a board with the "face" uppermost so as to be visible to all the players, or it may be placed face-downwards and only visible to such player or players as, according to the Rules of the game, is or are allowed to raise the card to view the device on the face.

In contrast to the limitation imposed by the above feature, we provide, according to the present invention, game apparatus comprising at least one card, board or sheet on at least one face whereof there is provided an image which presents to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed thereby.

According to one aspect of the invention the apparatus comprises a plurality of cards each having on at least one face an image which presents to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed thereby. Each of the different devices presented to the viewers by a single image according to the direction of viewing may be, for example, an alphabetic character. In another embodiment each of the different devices presented to the viewers by a single image may be a numeric character. In general the devices so presented may of a single category, such as alphanumeric character, a word or a picture or other symbol, or devices of different categories may be presented by single image according to the direction of viewing and limited only by the technology of producing the required image.

According to another aspect of the invention the apparatus may comprise a game board having on at least one face at least one image presenting to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed. Preferably the board will have a plurality of such images.

It is expected that the image will be made by holography and the holograph or hologram will preferably present different images to at least four- players arranged equiangularly around the image.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which the figures represent the device presented by a single, stationary, rectangular card respectively to four players positioned to each side of the card.

Thus figure 1 represents the appearance of the card as seen by a player seated to the North of the card, and Figs 2, 3 and 4 represent the appearance of the same card, unmoved, as seen by players seated respectively to the East, South and West of the card. It will be observed that the first-named player sees a device of a Heart, and the others respectively devices of a Club, Diamond and Spade. In an alternative embodiment, the card will carry an image which to the different players presents a different word. The game may consist basically in each of the players attempting, by questioning the other players, to determine the appearance of the card as seen by one or more of the other players.

Other games may be played using cards as described above. Thus, for example, a series of cards may be viewed in turn by the players of a board game. One card may have an image which to one side may present the message "GO FORWARD TWO SPACES", to another the message "GO BACK THREE SPACES" -and to other sides "GO BACK HOME" and "START NEW MAN". Each player in the game is required to act in the game as directed by his own vision of the card.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to different appearances being provided by a single image from four equiangularly-spaced directions in the plane of the image, the scope of the invention includes different images being provided from more or fewer directions, not necessarily equiangularly spaced and not necessarily in the plane of the image. Thus different views may be presented to viewers respectively above and to one side of the image.

1. Apparatus comprising a plurality of cards each having on at least one face an image which presents to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed thereby.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each of the different devices presented to the viewers by a single image according to the direction of viewing is an alphabetic character or a numeric character or both.

3. Apparatus comprising a game board having on at least one face at least one image presenting to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the board has a plurality of such images.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the image or images is or are made by holography.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the holograph or hoiogram presents different images to at least four players arranged equiangularly around the image.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Game apparatus The invention relates to apparatus for playing a card, table or board game. Generally speaking, card games and such table and board games as involve the use of cards, employ cards which have a "face" surface on which is displayed a device which is meaningful in the playing of the game, and a reverse "back" surface. In the playing of the game, the card may be placed on the table or on a board with the "face" uppermost so as to be visible to all the players, or it may be placed face-downwards and only visible to such player or players as, according to the Rules of the game, is or are allowed to raise the card to view the device on the face. In contrast to the limitation imposed by the above feature, we provide, according to the present invention, game apparatus comprising at least one card, board or sheet on at least one face whereof there is provided an image which presents to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed thereby. According to one aspect of the invention the apparatus comprises a plurality of cards each having on at least one face an image which presents to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed thereby. Each of the different devices presented to the viewers by a single image according to the direction of viewing may be, for example, an alphabetic character. In another embodiment each of the different devices presented to the viewers by a single image may be a numeric character. In general the devices so presented may of a single category, such as alphanumeric character, a word or a picture or other symbol, or devices of different categories may be presented by single image according to the direction of viewing and limited only by the technology of producing the required image. According to another aspect of the invention the apparatus may comprise a game board having on at least one face at least one image presenting to viewers a plurality of different devices according to the direction in which the image is viewed. Preferably the board will have a plurality of such images. It is expected that the image will be made by holography and the holograph or hologram will preferably present different images to at least four- players arranged equiangularly around the image. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which the figures represent the device presented by a single, stationary, rectangular card respectively to four players positioned to each side of the card. Thus figure 1 represents the appearance of the card as seen by a player seated to the North of the card, and Figs 2, 3 and 4 represent the appearance of the same card, unmoved, as seen by players seated respectively to the East, South and West of the card. It will be observed that the first-named player sees a device of a Heart, and the others respectively devices of a Club, Diamond and Spade. In an alternative embodiment, the card will carry an image which to the different players presents a different word. The game may consist basically in each of the players attempting, by questioning the other players, to determine the appearance of the card as seen by one or more of the other players. Other games may be played using cards as described above. Thus, for example, a series of cards may be viewed in turn by the players of a board game. One card may have an image which to one side may present the message "GO FORWARD TWO SPACES", to another the message "GO BACK THREE SPACES" -and to other sides "GO BACK HOME" and "START NEW MAN". Each player in the game is required to act in the game as directed by his own vision of the card. Whilst the invention has been described with reference to different appearances being provided by a single image from four equiangularly-spaced directions in the plane of the image, the scope of the invention includes different images being provided from more or fewer directions, not necessarily equiangularly spaced and not necessarily in the plane of the image. Thus different views may be presented to viewers respectively above and to one side of the image. CLAIMS

7. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.