GB2273882A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Game apparatus comprising a pair of flat discs (10, 12) wherein the periphery of each disc is provided with a series of alternating projections (14) and recesses (16) the projections and recesses having game indicia (18, 20) associated therewith. A projection on one disc can be inserted into a recess defined by two projections on the other disc. The two discs can be kept in contact with each other whilst they are rotated in opposite directions, the projections of each disk at their point of contact being in a meshed relationship. The discs are usefully provided in the form of drip mats. <IMAGE>

Description

GAME APPARATUS The present invention relates to game apparatus. There is a constant need for game apparatus to provide new forms of diversion.

The present invention provides games apparatus comprising a pair of playing pieces, each having a playing surface bounded by a periphery provided with formations which are locatable in or against co-operating locations on the periphery of the playing surface of the other playing piece to enable a player to rotate the pieces together in opposite senses with the periphery of one piece rolling on the periphery of the other in step, each playing piece having a series of game indicia thereon such that said rotation of the playing pieces brings into alignment different combinations of indicia on the two playing pieces. Preferably, the playing pieces are mats such as drip mats.

The apparatus may comprise more than two of the playing pieces.

Preferably, the formations on each piece comprise an alternating succession of recesses and projections respectively engagable with the projections and recesses of the other piece or pieces in the apparatus.

The series of game indicia on each piece may comprise a first sub-group of indicia located on or associated with each said projection and a second sub-group of indica associated with each said recess.

At least some of the indicia in each sub-group may be numbers indicating a players score for a turn or part of a turn. Preferably, the indicia on some of the projections, or associated therewith, of one playing piece match or are thematically related to the indica associated with some of the recesses of the other piece.

Generally it is preferred that in each sub-group of indicia on each playing piece most of the indicia indicate score whilst a lesser number are symbols to be matched in play to similar or thematically related symbols in the opposite sub-group of indicia on the other playing piece.

By way of example, in the first indicia sub-group most projections may bear a respective number representing a score, various different scores being represented, whilst a minority bear a symbol to indicate the taking of a turn and similarly in the second indicia sub-group, most of the recesses may have associated with them a respective number representing a score and a minority may bear a symbol to indicate the taking of a turn.

Using two such playing pieces, a player may position them on a support surface with a projection of one playing piece located in a recess of the other, and may rotate the playing pieces like meshing cog-wheels until a turn indicating indicium on one playing piece projection aligns with a score indicating indicium of the meshed recess of the other playing piece, whereupon the indicated score may be credited to one of the players. Special scoring significance may be attributed to the coming together of a turn indicating indicium on a projection and a turn indicating indicium of a meshed recess. For instance, this may indicate a zero score or may indicate the end of a turn.

The invention will be further explained and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a first game playing apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates a second game playing apparatus according to the invention.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 consists of a pair of drip mats 10, 12 bearing printed indicia on both sides which are adapted for playing a game based on the game of darts.

Each drip mat has a generally circular periphery provided with an alternating succession of teeth 12 and recesses 14.

A series of indicia consisting of letters, numerals and dart symbols runs around the periphery of each mat 10, 12. A first sub-group of indicia 18 consists of symbols printed on each tooth and a second sub-group of indicia 20 consists of symbols printed below each recess. Within each of these sub-groups, there are dart symbols, which as will be described below are used to control the playing of a turn, and also scores. The dart symbols and scores are arranged in an apparently random order around the periphery of each mat. The order of symbols and scores differs between the two illustrated mats 10, 12 and a different order of symbols and scores will be present in a generally similar arrangement on the opposite faces of the mats (not shown).

The rules by which a game may be played with the illustrated apparatus are as follows: 1. Each player chooses his own drip mat.

2. The players decide who is going to "throw" the first darts.

3. The first thrower takes a mat and fits one of the teeth 14 into one of the recesses 16 of the opponent's mat so that two dart symbols are brought together as shown in Figure 1.

4. The first thrower rotates the two mats together fitting teeth into recesses as they turn.

5. Each time a dart on the throwers mat matches up with a number on the opponent's mat, that number is scored.

6. The first thrower "throws" three darts and subtracts the total score from "301" or another agreed starting point such as 501 in the normal way in which the game of darts is played.

7. If two darts come together (excluding the match up which starts the throw) there is no score for that dart "thrown".

8. After three darts, the second thrower "throws" his darts in the same way as above scoring in the usual manner.

9. When the two mats have been rotated back to the original position there are separated and rejoined together as in step 3 above with different dart symbols being matched. The different faces of the mat can both be used.

10. The two players alternate "throwing" darts in the usual manner reducing their 301 starting score down to the final double.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 is for playing a game based on the game of cricket. The apparatus is similar to that as shown in Figure 1 except that the dart symbols are replaced by cricket ball symbols and the dart scores such as "double 20 (D20)" are replaced by scores which might be struck by a batsman in cricket off a single ball Suitable rules for playing "cricket" using this apparatus are as follows: 1. Two players start by tossing a coin to decide who is going to "bat" and who is going to "bowl".

2. The bowler takes two mats and fits a tooth of one to a recess in the other so that two cricket ball symbols come together as shown in Figure 2.

3. The right-hand mat is the bowler, the left-hand mat is the batsman. The bowler rotates the two mats fitting teeth into recesses as they turn.

4. Each time a cricket ball on the bowler's mat matches up with a number on the batsman's mat the batsman scores that number of runs.

5. Six match-ups constitute an over.

6. A batsman is out when two cricket balls match-up (excluding the initial match-up which starts the innings). The batsman keeps a record of the runs scored. The bowler keeps a record of the wickets taken.

7. When two mats have been rotated back to the original position they must be separated and rejoined together as in step 2 but with two different cricket balls being matched, both faces of the mat being useable.

8. It is agreed beforehand how many notional players there are in each team. Play continues until all of the batsman's notional team has been bowled out or the game can be limited by a number of overs.

9. The bowler and batsman then swap roles and repeat the process to determine the final score.

Apparatus according to the invention can readily be devised to enable table games of this nature to be played based upon a wide variety of different known games.

Many modifications and variations of the invention as described above with reference to the specific embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Game apparatus comprising a pair of playing pieces, each having a playing surface bounded by a periphery provided with formations which are locatable in or against co-operating locations on the periphery of the playing surface of the other playing piece to enable a player to rotate the pieces together in opposite senses with the periphery of one piece rolling on the periphery of the other in step, each playing piece having a series of game indicia thereon such that said rotation of playing pieces brings into alignment different combinations of indicia on the two playing pieces.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the formations on each piece comprise an alternating succession of recesses and projections respectively engageable with the projections and recesses of the other piece in the apparatus.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the series of game indicia of each piece comprise a first sub-group of indicia located on or associated with each said projection and a second sub-group of indicia associated with each said recess.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein at least some of the indicia in each sub-group are numbers indicating a player's score for a turn or part of a turn.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the indicia on some of the projections, or associated therewith, of one playing piece match or are thematically related to the indicia associated with some of the recesses of the other piece.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein in each subgroup of indicia on each playing piece most of the indicia indicate score whilst a lesser number are symbols to be matched in play to similar or thematically related symbols in the opposite sub-group of indicia on the other playing piece.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising more than two of the playing pieces.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the playing pieces are mats such as drip mats.

9. Game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.