GB2300575A

GB2300575A - Game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2300575A
Application number: GB9609479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-06
Filing date: 1996-05-07
Publication date: 1996-11-13
Also published as: GB9609479D0

Abstract

Game apparatus comprises a playing surface laid out to a plurality of playing spaces, players' markers to move between the playing spaces, means for indicating one or more symbols from a group of symbols and means for recording the selected symbols. The game is based on the National Lottery and the symbols are the lottery numbers. The means for indicating can be a spinner, a set of dice, cards or numbered balls. The apparatus may also include a die for regulating the movement of markers and play money.

Description

GAME APPARATUS The invention relates to game apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided game apparatus comprising means for recording selected symbols from a group, means defining a playing surface including a plurality of playing spaces, means defining a plurality of counters to be moved between the playing spaces on the playing surface and at least one means for randomly indicating one or more symbols from the group.

The symbols may take any suitable form and may for example be numbers or letters. Preferably, the symbols are numbers and the game is based on the National Lottery so that the numbers one to forty-nine are used.

The recording means is preferably a display with all the symbols in the group thereon and means for marking selected symbols. The recording means may thus comprise a ticket with the numbers one to forty-nine on it, such as is used in the Nationai Lottery, together with a pen or pencil for marking the numbers selected.

The playing spaces maybe arranged on the playing surface in any suitable form and preferably are arranged sequentially in a circuit, for example, in the form of a polygon, preferably a pentagon.

The counters may take any suitable form and may represent items which are considered to bring luck, such as a horseshoe or a rabbit's foot.

The game apparatus may further include random number generating means such as a die for indicating the number of spaces on the playing surface that a player's counter should be moved.

The or each indicating means may take any suitable form. Preferably a plurality of indicating means is provided. The or at least one indicating means may comprise a plurality of dice. The dice may have any suitable number of sides in order to represent the desired symbols. The or at least one indicating means may comprise a spinner. Preferably, the areas that the spinner can point to each represent a plurality of symbols. The or at least one indicating means may comprise a plurality of items, bearing the symbols, there being preferably one item for each symbol. One or a plurality of items may be selected by a player.

The items may comprise discs or cards. In one embodiment, the items may be balls and the or at least one indicating means may include a container, such as a bag, which holds the items. The tokens may be provided in a single group, or in a plurality ci groups. Where the symbols are numbers the items bearing odd numbers may be provided in one group and the items bearing even numbers may be provided in another group. Preferably, the or at least one indicating means is also arranged to indicate an additional symbol not in the said group of symbols.

This may be used in the game as "wild" to thus represent any of the symbols in the group of symbols, as desired by a player.

The game apparatus preferably further includes means defining an amount of money for each player. Such means may comprise fake cash. The game apparatus may further include means for awarding an amount of money.

The awarding means may comprise a plurality of items, such as cards, each marked with an amount of money.

The game apparatus may further include means for denoting at least one of the playing spaces. The denoting means may comprise a plurality of items, such as cards, each denoting preferably a single playing space.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the game board of the game apparatus of the embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view of part of the playing surface of the game board of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of two tickets of the embodiment; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show fake cash of the embodiment; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a spinner of the embodiment; Figs. 8 and 9 show two discs of the embodiment; and, Figs. 10 and 11 show discs in a disc dispenser of the embodiment.

The game apparatus of the embodiment comprises a board 10, three dice (not shown), a counter (not shown) for each player, fifty discs 12 numbered from one to forty-nine and "WILD", five disc dispensers 14, a spinner 16, a set of cards (not shown) which are numbered from one to forty-nine with two extra cards labelled "WILD", fifty balls in a bag (not shown) the balls being numbered one to forty-nine and "WILD", fake cash in the form of 1 coins 18, 5 notes 20, and 10 notes 22, and a plurality of lottery tickets 11.

The lottery ticket has forty-nine squares 13 on it which are marked from one to forty-nine.

There are three dice, one being a ten-sided die with sides numbered zero to nine, another being a si-sided die with sides numbered zero to four and "WILD", and the last die being the more usual six-sided die with sides numbered one to six.

The spinner 16 has a central spinnable arrow 24 pivotally mounted centrally of a circle 26 printed on a square card mounting 28. The circle 26 is divided into eight equal sectors 30. Each sector 30 is printed with a range of five numbers 32 se that all of the numbers from one to forty-nine are mentioned in ranges in the circle 26.

The playing surface 33 on board 10 is pentagonal.

Each corner 34 of the pentagon 33 is in a different colour and between each corner 34 of the pentagon along each side 35 of the pentagon are provided ten equal rectangular playing spaces 36 shown in detail in Fig. 2 for clarity. One corner 34 of the pentagon is marked "START" and has an arrow pointing clockwise around the pentagon. The inner edges 37 of the rectangular playing spaces 36 define an inner pentagon and in each corner of that inner pentagon is provided a coloured circle 38 in the same colour as the corner 34 that it is next to. A dispenser 14 is placed on each circle 38 and may be the same colour as the circle 38.

Each dispenser 14 is in the form of an open cylindrical tube 40 of the same diameter as the circles 58. The discs 12 are of a suitable diameter to be stacked within the tube 40 and the tube 40 is of a suitable height to receive ten of the discs 12. The lower edge 42 of the tube 40 defines two opposed rectangular slots 44,46. The smaller slot 44 is wide enough to receive the end of the personas index finger and the wider slot 46 is wide enough to enable a disc 12 to be pushed out of it. The slot 46 is of a height less than the depth of two discs 12 stacked together, but greater than the height of one disc 12 so that in use a player can push through the slot 44 against a single disc 12 to push that disc 12 from the bottom of the stack of ten in the dispenser 14 out through the slot 46. The lower edge 42 of the tube 40 is also provided with three downwardly extending locating pins 47 which are received in corresponding recesses 49 around each side 38. The pins 47 are equi-spaced about the circumference of the tube 40.

The discs 12 are shuffled into a random order and placed ten into each dispenser 14 on eah of the circles 38.

The board 10 includes centrally or the circles 38 two marked rectangles 48 which are marked "ODD" and "EVEN". The cards bearing the even numbers from two to forty-eight have the word "EVEN" on the back and the cards bearing the odd numbers from one to fortynine have the word "ODD" on the back. One of the two wild cards has "EVEN" on the back and the other has the word "ODD" on the back. The cards marked "EVEN" including the wild card are shuffled and placed in a stack face down on the rectangle 48 marked "EVEN" and the cards marked "ODD" are shuffled and placed in a stack face down on the rectangle 48 marked "ODD".

It is envisaged that the game will be played with two to six players, although more players could play if desired. A suitable number of counters are provided, one for each player. The counters may take a simple form, but preferably represent items which are considered to bring luck and might consist of a horseshoe, a rabbit's foot, a pixie, and a four-leaf clover, for example. The rectangular playing spaces 36 on each side of the pentagon 33 on the board 10 are provided in one of two sequences.The rectangular spaces 36 are marked with seven different designs to indicate seven different kinds of space 36. In one of the sequences, as shown in Fig. 2, the first space is marked "ODD", the second spaced is marked "BUY A NUMBER", the third spaced is marked "THROW THE DICE", the fourth space is another space marked "BUY A NUMBER", the fifth space is marked "TAKE A SPIN", the si=cth space is marked "LUCKY DIP", the seventh space is another space marked "THROW AGAIN", the eighth space is another space marked "BUY A NUMBER", the ninth space is another space marked "THROW THE DICE", the tenth space is also marked "BUY A NUMBER" and the eleventh space is marked "EVEN". This sequence appears on three of the sides of the pentagon.In the other sequence, the third and ninth spaces are marked "TAKE A SPIN" instead of "THROW THE DICE" and the fifth space is marked "THROW THE DICE" instead of "TAKE A SPIN". This sequence appears on two non-adjacent sides of the pentagon.

To play the game, each player is given 10 from the bank and uses v1 to purchase a lottery ticket 11.

Each player marks off six numbered squares 1 on his lottery ticket 11 using a pencil or pen (not shownj in the same way as in the National Lottery. The players roll the dice and the player with the highest number moves first. If two or more players tie, they roll again. All players start with their counters on the corner o4 of the pentagon marked "START". The player moving first throws the die again and moves the indicated number of spaces clockwise around the board.

Each playing space 36 has a specific requirement which enables the player to acquire a number which can be ticked off on his lottery ticket 11 if it is one of the six numbers that he has marked. If the number required is not one which has been marked then the turn passes to the next player. Once a player has acquired three of the numbers on their lottery ticket 11, a bonus payment of 10 is made from the bank i.e.

the cash 18,20,22 not yet used. The first player tc acquire all six of the numbers on their lottery ticket 11 is the winner.

When a counter lands on the playing space 36 marked "EVEN" the top card is drawn from the cards on the rectangle 48 marked "EVEN" and the number on that card can be ticked off if it is one of the player's six numbers. Once viewed, the card is placed face uppermost to the side of the pack. Shouid the card marked "WILD" be chosen, the player may select any even number from their lottery ticket to tic off.

When all the cards have been used, the pack is reversed and placed back on the rectangle 48 marked "EVEN" to be used again. Similarly a card is taken from the stack of cards on the rectangle marked "ODD" if a player's counter lands on a playing spaced marked "ODD". Should the card marked "WILD" be chosen, the player may select any odd number from their lottery ticket to tick off.

When a counter lands on a playing space 3o marked "BUY A NUMBER" the player has the option to purchase a number at a cost of E1 from the dispenser 14 of the same colour as a coloured block on the space 36. If the disc 12 marked "WILD" is chosen, the player may select any number from their ticket 11. If the player has no funds available, play passes to the net player. Once a disc 12 has been read by a player it is returned to the top of the dispenser 14 from which it was taken.

When a counter lands on the playing space 36 marked "THROW THE DICE" the player throws the ten-sided and six-sided dice together. The six-sided die represents the "tens" of the number thrown and the ten-sided d.e represents the "units". Thus, for example, if three is thrown on the six-sided die and nine on the tensided die then the number is thirty-nine. If zero is thrown on the six-sided die and two on the ten-sided die then the number is two. If zero and zero is thrown, play passes to the next player. If the sixsided die lands with the side marked "WILD" uppermost then the player can choose any number of "tens" as he wishes.Thus, if a player throws "WILD" on the six- sided die and four on the ten-sided die then he can choose any of the numbers four, fourteen, twenty-four, thirty-four or forty-four.

If a player's counter lands on the space 36 marked "THROW AGAiN" he simply throws the die again and moves on. If a player's counter lands on the playing space 36 marked "LUCKY DIP" then the player picks a ball from the bag to acquire a number. If the ball marked "WILD" is chosen, a player may select any number from their lottery ticket 11. The chosen ball is returned to the bag afterwards.

If a player's counter lands on the space 36 marked "TAKE A SPIN" then the player spins the arrow 24 of the spinner 16. The spinner arrow 24 will stop in one of the eight sectors 30 and the player can then choose any number from the range marked in that sector.

If a player's counter lands on one of the coloured corners 34 of the pentagon, then the player can take a disc 12 from the dispenser 14 on the circle 38 of the same colour adjacent the corner 34 without having to pay 1 to the bank.

All numbers drawn must be made known to the other players, but only the player drawing the number may cross it off their ticket.

A shorter version of the tame can also be played in which a time limit is agreed after wh;-.., f no single player has won, then the player with the most numbers circled on their lottery ticket 11 wins. In the event of two or more players having acquired the same amount of numbers, the player with the most money is declared the winner.

While the game apparatus which has been described is considered to be optimised, the game apparatus could be varied in other embodiments. Thus, the playing area need not be in the form of a pentagon, but there could be a circuit of playing spaces in any desired arrangement. The number of each type of playing space â4,â6 may be varied as desired. Thus, there may be fewer of the spaces 36 marked "BUY A NUMBER" and more of the spaces marked "TAKE A SPIN", for example.

Similarly, certain kinds of space 34,36 may not be provided and the game apparatus may then lack one or more of the six-sided and ten-sided dice, the "ODD" and "EVEN" cards, the discs 12 and dispensers 14, the spinner 16 or the bag and balls. In another variation, the game apparatus need not include cash.

In that case the players do not have to buy their lottery tickets 11, and the playing spaces 36 marked "BUY A NUMBER" could be repiaced by other kinds of space 36, or could have the same effect as the corner spaces 34. The slot 44 in the dispenser 14 may be of a different height from the slot 46. In another embodiment a spatula may be provided for insertion through the slot 44 of a dispenser 34 to dispense a disc 12.

A further embodiment of the game will now be described which is similar to the first embodiment and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. In the embodiment, the playing pieces are identical and are provided in the five colours of the five corners 34 of the pentagon. Instead of one of the corners 34 being marked "Start" each player's playing piece starts from the corner 34 of the same colour. The spinner, rather than being a separate item, is provided integrally in the centre of the board 10. The disc dispensers 14 are not provided and the discs 12 themselves are replaced by disc shaped, numbered cards. Each side of the pentagon includes an additional space marked "Take a Scratchcard". The scratchcards are a new set of cards which is provided in a separate stack in a marked place on the board, like the ODD and EVEN cards.The cards comprise five cards saying "Sorry you have not won this time", one card saying "Congratulations move to yellow bonus segment" and a further four cards referring to the colours of the other corners 34 of the board 10 which may be white, blue, pink and green, one card saying "Congratulations you have won 100, one card saying "Congratulations you have won 10" and one card saying "Congratulations move to any lucky dip square", with further cards having the same wording but referring to the other types of playing space.

This embodiment of the game is played in a similar manner to the first embodiment but with certain differences which increase the chances of a player getting a number that they need. Each player is given 10 from the bank to begin and instead of only buying one lottery ticket 11 may buy up to a maximum of three lottery tickets 11 at 1 each. The players throw to start and move around the board in the same way as in the first embodiment. If a player acquires a number as a result of his turn, he has another turn by rolling the dice again up to a maximum of three times.

When a player has circled three or more numbers on any one ticket, the following bonus payments are made from the bank: for three numbers, 10; for four numbers, 100; and for five numbers, 1000.

When a counter lands on the playing space 36 marked "Throw the Dice the player throws the dice as in the first embodiment. However, the player can throw the dice twice. If the player on his'second turn only wishes to throw one of the two dice and to keep the number from the other die then this is permissable.

Thus, if in his throw a player throws two on the six sided dice and five on the ten sided dice, the number would be twenty-five. If the player requires the number twenty-six he may retain the two on the six sided die and re-throw the ten sided die in the hope of throwing a six.

If a player's counter lands on the playing space 36 marked "Lucky Dip" then the player first throws the normal six sided die to see how many balls he should draw from the bag.

The game may be played until one player has completed a ticket with all six numbers and won the Lottery. In a faster version of the game, a time limit is agreed after which, if no single player has won, the player with the most numbers circled on their ticket wins.

In the event of a draw, the player with the most money is declared the winner.

Claims

1. Game apparatus comprising means for recording selected symbols from a group, means defining a playing surface including a plurality of playing spaces, means defining a plurality of counters to be moved between the playing spaces on the playing surface and at least one means for randomly indication3 one or more symbols from the group.

2. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the symbols are numbers or letters.

Game apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the symbols are numbers.

4. Game apparatus as claimed in claim , wherein the numbers used are the numbers one to fortynine.

5. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recording means is a display with all the symbols in the group thereon and means for marking selected symbols.

6. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recording means comprises a ticket with the groups of symbols on it.

7. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the recording means includes a pen or pencil for marking the symbols selected.

8. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the playing spaces are arranged sequent,ally in a circuit.

9. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the circuit is a polygon.

10. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the circuit is a pentagon.

11. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim7 wherein the counters represent items which are considered to bring luck.

12. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the game apparatus further includes random number generating means for indicating the number of spaces on the playing surface that a player's counter should be moved.

13. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of indicating means is provided.

14. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one indicating means comprises a plurality of dice.

15. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one indicating means comprises a spinner.

li. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the areas that the spinner can point to each represent a plurality of symbols.

17. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one indicating means comprises a plurality of items, bearing the symbols.

13. Same apparatus as claimed in claim -l7, wherein there is one item for each symbol.

19. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the items comprise discs or cards.

20. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the items are balls

20. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the items are balls.

21. Game apparatus as claimed in any of claims 17 to 20, wherein the or at least one indicating means includes a container.

22. Game apparatus as claimed in any of claims 17 to 21, wherein where the symbols are numbers, the items bearings odd numbers are provided in one group and the items bearing even numbers are provided in another group.

23. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one indicating means is also arranged to indicate an additional symbol not in the said group of symbols.

24. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the game apparatus further includes means defining an amount of money for each player.

25. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the game apparatus further includes means for awarding an amount of money.

26. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the awarding means comprises a plurality of items each marked with an amount of money.

27. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the game apparatus further includes means for denoting at least one of the playing spaces.

28. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the denoting means comprises a plurality of items each denoting a single playing space.

29. Game apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompany.ng drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Game apparatus comprising means for recording selected symbols from a group, means defining a playing surface including a plurality of playing spaces, means defining a plurality of counters to be moved between the playing spaces on the playing surface and at least one indicating means for randomly indicating more than one symbol from the group.

2. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the symbols are numbers or letters Game apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the symbols are numbers.

8. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the playing spaces are arranged sequentially in a circuit.

9. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the circuit is a polygon.

10. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the circuit is a pentagon.

11. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the counters represent items which are considered to bring luck.

13. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or at least one indicating means comprises a spinner, the areas that the spinner can point to each representing a plurality of symbols.

14. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one further indicating means is provided for randomly indicating one or more symbols from the group.

15. Game apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of indicating means is provided.

16. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the or at least one indicating means comprises a plurality of dice.

17. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein the or at least one indicating means comprises a plurality of items, bearing the symbols.

18. Game apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein there is one item for each symbol.