GB2269111A

GB2269111A - Piece for playing a game

Info

Publication number: GB2269111A
Application number: GB9216018A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric John Stephens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-28
Filing date: 1992-07-28
Publication date: 1994-02-02
Also published as: GB9216018D0

Abstract

A piece for playing a game comprises a tile (1) having a surface (3) for bearing indicia, and a support (2) integral with or joined to the tile on an opposite surface. The support is of smaller dimensions than those of the tile whereby there is created an edge beneath the tile to facilitate manual manipulation thereof when the tile has its indicia bearing surface uppermost. <IMAGE>

Description

PIECE FOR PLAYING A GAME The present invention relates to a piece for playing a game. More particularly, it relates to a piece which facilitates manual manipulation thereof.

It is well-known to provide playing pieces for word games which take the form of a tile which bears indicia on an, in playing use, uppermost surface thereof. However, such playing pieces suffer from the disadvantage that they are not easily picked up and moved during the course of the game.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a playing piece which may be easily picked up and moved whereby the course of the game is more easily changed according to the wishes of the player.

According to the present invention there is provided a piece for playing a game comprising a tile means having a surface for bearing indicia, and a support means integral with or joined to the tile means on an opposite surface thereof, the support means being of smaller dimensions than those of the tile means whereby there is created an edge beneath the tile means. to facilitate manual manipulation thereof when the tile has its indicia bearing surface uppermost.

The tile means may preferably be square. However, other shapes may be possible, e.g. interlocking shapes, or tessellatable shapes.

The thicknesses of the tile means and of the support means may be approximately equal, one to the other.

The support means may have an annular form, the outside diameter of which is preferably less than that of a side dimension of the square tile means. Alternatively, other shapes may be appropriate, such as hollow or solid squares, rectangles, rhombi or the like.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view from below of a playing piece embodying the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of such a playing piece.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a tile for use in playing a game. Each tile bears on one surface 3 a letter or other indicia such as a star, and the tiles are initially arranged with the letters hidden, generally by having the surface 3 undermost.

Each player takes a predetermined number of tiles and -attempts to form from the letters on them a word or a crossword (viz. a series of two or more words each having one letter in common with another word, such 'communal' words being arranged orthogonally).

When all of his (or her) initial number of lettered tiles have been formed into an individual crossword (each and every word being present in an agreed dictionary) by one of the players, that player may call for every player to take a further tile from a common store, for incorporation in their individual crossword. This may cause the need for changing any existing individual crossword and therefore it is important that the tiles can be gripped and moved around easily.

An opposite surface of each tile 1 is provided with a annular support 2. Although not shown, other shapes of support are possible, such as hollow (or solid) squares or rectangles.

The supporting annulus 2 or other support is of a lesser diameter or size than the size of the tile 1 so that there always remains an undersurface which can be gripped by the fingers of the user to enable ready manipulation of the tile into a different position in the crossword.

The tile 1 and annular support 2 are preferably integrally moulded of plastics material such as polystyrene or ABS.

The tiles are preferably 0.75 inches square and the annulus support is preferably 0.55 inches in diameter.

Claims

1. A piece for playing a game comprising a tile means having a surface for bearing indicia, and a support means integral with or joined to the tile means on an opposite surface thereof, the support means being of smaller dimensions than those of the tile means whereby there is created an edge beneath the tile means to facilitate manual manipulation thereof when the tile has its indicia bearing surface uppermost.

2. A playing piece as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tile means is square.

3. A playing piece as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tile means has a tessellatable shape.

4. A playing piece as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thicknesses of the tile means and of the support means are approximately equal, one to the other.

5. A playing piece as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means has an annular form, the outside diameter of which is less than that of a side dimension of the square tile means.

6. A playing piece substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.