GB2299029A

GB2299029A - Die

Info

Publication number: GB2299029A
Application number: GB9505823A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sam Duncan Livingstone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-22
Filing date: 1995-03-22
Publication date: 1996-09-25
Also published as: GB9505823D0

Abstract

A die comprises a solid body 2 bearing indicia on its surfaces held within an at least partially transparent body 1 which itself bears indicia 3 on its surfaces.

Description

DIE This invention relates to a die.

Dice are well known devices for selecting random numbers in games of chance. Though commonly cubic with faces marked with numbers 1 to 6, dice are also available in other shapes with various ranges of numbers or symbols inscribed on the faces. Not all possible number ranges can be accommodated on shapes which have an equal probability of coming to rest on any face. Also a shape with a large number of faces approximates to a sphere. A die of this shape, when thrown, rolls a considerable distance before coming to rest and will perform less satisfactorily on uneven or sloping surfaces than a die with fewer faces.

According to the present invention there is provided a transparent or partially transparent shell inside which is a solid free to rotate to any orientation relative to the shell, both components having faces on which are inscribed numbers or symbols, the numbers or symbols on the faces of the inner solid being clearly visible through the shell.

It is an object of the present invention to extend, beyond the number of its external faces, the range of numbers or symbols which may be indicated by a die.

A specific embodiment of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a die in perspective; Figure 2 shows a cross section through a die.

Referring to the drawing, the die comprises a transparent shell 1 containing a cube 2.

The shell 1 has the form of dodecahedron, having twelve faces 3. The size of the cube 2 is such that it may be rotated unconstrained by the shell 1. On each face 4 of the cube 2 is inscribed a number, 5. On each face of the shell 1 is inscribed a number, 6 in such a manner that it does not prevent any number, 5 on the cube 2 being seen clearly through the shell 1. As shown in figure 2 the shell 1 is of substantially constant thickness 7 so that when it is resting, with a face flat on a horizontal surface 8, there is an upward facing, horizontal flat surface 9 inside the shell 1. The sizes of the shell 1 and the cube 2 are chosen so that a face on the cube may rest flat on the surface 9. After a throw the die will come to rest with a horizontal face 10 on the shell 1 and a horizontal face 11 on the cube 2 each presenting a number. Some predetermined method of combining these numbers is the number indicated by the die.

Claims

1 A die comprising a transparent or partially transparent shell inside which is a solid free to rotate to any orientation relative to the shell, the shell and the solid each having faces on which are inscribed numbers or other symbols, the numbers or symbols on the faces of the inner solid being visible through the shell.

2 A die comprising a transparent or partially transparent shell inside which is a solid free to rotate to any orientation relative to the shell, the shell and the solid each having faces on which are inscribed numbers or other symbols, the numbers or symbols on the faces of the inner solid being visible through the shell, the outer shell having, corresponding to the faces on the outer surface, internal faces on which a face of the contained solid may rest in full contact in any orientation.