GB2344294A

GB2344294A - Playing piece

Info

Publication number: GB2344294A
Application number: GB9826798A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Unsworth; Robert Vincent Manley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-04
Filing date: 1998-12-04
Publication date: 2000-06-07
Also published as: AU1574500A; WO2000033926A1; GB9826798D0

Abstract

A playing piece for playing a game of chance or skill comprises a cylindrical or frusto-conical body with distinctive markings on each flat face.

Description

A GAME This invention relates to games, and more specificaily to a novel and inventive game using corks or other equivalent apparatus.

Discarded corks from wine bottles may be used in different ways, from modelling to decoration. They have even been used as means for deterring flying insects, when attached to the brim of a hat by lengths of string or cord.

Many Pub games are known which are often played when a group of friends congregate. Such games sometimes require a forfeit, and one example is the marking of the face of a player with the charred end of a cork. Such a game is known as"ibble, dibble".

There is a demand for games that may be played within the confines of a Public house or other such establishment. It is necessary for such games to be compact and to consist of few pieces. This requirement is to enable the apparatus of the game to be used in areas of little space, and to limit the chances of pieces being unavoidably lost as a result of the area in which they are utilise.

The present invention provides apparatus necessary for a game of skill, utilising corks. The provided apparatus is of a minimal nature, thus facilitating its use in crowded and confined areas.

According to the present invention there is provided a game comprising one or more pieces wherein the object of the game is to drop the pieces onto a surface so that they stand upon either of their ends, wherein points are scored for each piece left standing upon one of its ends after being dropped, the winner being the first player to reach a pre-determined score.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein the piece or pieces are substantially cylindrical.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein one end of a piece may be distinguished from the other end by some means.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein the piece or pieces are tapered along their length. If so, the piece or pieces are preferably frusto-conical.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein the smaller of the two ends of a tapered piece is coloured red and the larger black.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein the piece or pieces are manufactured from cork.

Other materials could, of course, alternatively be used.

According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein a sliding scale of points exists between one piece left standing upon one end and a number of pieces left standing upon one end after being dropped.

According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein a sliding scale of points exist between one piece left standing upon one end and a number of pieces left standing upon one end after being dropped, said scale of points also depending upon the identifier of the end pointing upwards, said identifier being the means for distinguishing between the ends of the playing piece.

According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein one point is scored for one piece standing with its red end pointing upwards, two points are scored for one piece standing with its black end pointing upwards, three points are scored for either two pieces both standing with their red ends pointing upwards or one piece standing with its red end pointing upwards and one with its black end pointing upwards, and four points are scored for two pieces both standing with their black ends pointing upwards, after being dropped.

According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein the winner is the first player to win two sets, wherein the winner of a set is the first player to score exactly twenty-one points, or to lead by exactly two clear points should a state occur in which two or more players have a score of twenty points.

According to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a game, wherein if the piece or pieces dropped raise the score of the player dropping them above twenty-one points, the player is said to be bust and his score remains the same until his next turn.

A specific embodiment of the present invention is now described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a preferred game piece in perspective.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 depicts one of the necessary pieces for playing the game of the present invention. Each playing piece 2 is a substantially cylindrical cork piece that is tapered from one end 6 to the other end 4. The cork piece is of greater length and diameter than a standard wine bottle cork, and is also of greater weight. Each end of the playing piece is coloured differently.

The end 4 of the playing piece which has a smaller diameter is coloured red, and the end 6 of the piece which has a larger diameter is coloured black.

When playing the game, two playing pieces are dropped simultaneously, by each player in turn, onto a surface in an attempt to stand them upon their ends 4,6. The players forearms, hands and elbows must not contact the playing surface whilst the drop is made. This procedure is repeated until completion of the game. The number of players is two or more.

The skill of standing corks upon their ends lies in dropping them from the correct height and angle to bounce them from their sides onto one of their respective ends. The use of tapered playing pieces increases the difficulty of standing a piece upon its smaller end.

Points are scored according to the number of corks standing after a drop, and relative to the colour pointing upward upon each standing cork. The points allocated conform to the following schedule : one cork standing with red pointing up is worth one point; one cork standing with black pointing up is worth two points; two corks standing, both with red pointing up, is worth three points; two corks standing, one with red and one with black pointing up, is worth three points; and two corks standing, both with black pointing up, is worth four points.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each game consists of at least three sets. The first player to win two sets is the winner of the game. Each set consists of twenty-one points. The first player to reach exactly twenty-one points is the winner of the set. According to this embodiment of the invention, should a player exceed twenty-one points upon his turn, he shall be declared"bust"and shall remain on his existing score until the next round. Should a situation arise in which two players contending the set have a score of twenty, the score of one player must exceed the score of the other by exactly two points for the first player to win the set.

Although the invention has been described as comprising tapered pieces made from cork and characterised by coloured ends, the pieces may be made from other materials, their sides may be parallel or otherwise, and their ends may be characterised in other ways.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described by way of example only, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A game comprising one or more pieces wherein the object of the game is to drop the pieces onto a surface so that they stand upon either of their ends, wherein points are scored for each piece left standing upon one of its ends after being dropped, the winner being the first player to reach a pre-determined score.

2. A game as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the piece or pieces are substantially cylindrical.

3. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein one end of a piece may be distinguished from the other by some means.

4. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the piece or pieces are tapered along their length.

5. A game as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the smaller of the two ends of a tapered piece is coloured red and the larger end black.

6. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the piece or pieces are manufactured from cork.

7. A game as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a sliding scale of points exists between one piece left standing upon one end and a number of pieces left standing upon one end after being dropped.

8. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein a sliding scale of points exists between one piece left standing upon one end and a number of pieces left standing upon one end after being dropped, said schedule of points also depending upon an identifier of the end pointing upwards, said identifier being means for distinguishing between the ends of the playing piece.

9. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein one point is scored for one piece standing with its first end pointing upwards, two points are scored for one piece standing with its second end pointing upwards, three points are scored for either two pieces both standing with their first ends pointing upwards or one piece standing with its first end pointing upwards and one with its second end pointing upwards, and four points are scored for two pieces both standing with their second ends pointing upwards, after being dropped.

10. A game as claimed in any of Claims 7,8 or 9, wherein the winner is the first player to win two sets, wherein the winner of a set is the first player to score exactly twenty-one points, or to lead by exactly two clear points should a state occur in which two or more players have a score of twenty points.

11. A game as claimed in Claim 10, wherein if the piece or pieces dropped raise the score of the player dropping them above twenty-one points, the player is said to be bust and his score remains the same until his next turn.

12. A game substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.