WO1993017767A1

WO1993017767A1 - A playing piece and an assembly for a game

Info

Publication number: WO1993017767A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000082
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Elie Tefaye
Original assignee: Joseph Elie Tefaye
Priority date: 1992-03-11
Filing date: 1993-02-26
Publication date: 1993-09-16

Abstract

An assembly for a game consisting of playing pieces which have coupling portions and indicia on respective faces of the playing piece. Two playing pieces (12) are connected together using their coupling portions so as to form a branch with the indicia on each exposed face of the branch forming a predetermined configuration such as a word. Because each playing piece has coupling portions and indicia on each face, a construction (11) can be formed in any of three mutually perpendicular planes. A board (15) may be used to play a game with the playing pieces and the connection between playing pieces is sufficiently strong to prevent playing pieces from coming apart.

Description

A PLAYING PIECE AND AN ASSEMBLY FOR A GAME The present invention relates to a new type of game which in a particular form requires an element of skill.

In its preferred form, the present invention is particularly pertinent to word games.

BACKGROUND ART A number of word games are already in existence and involve the formation of words from a selection of tiles each having a letter printed thereon. The tiles are placed on a board having a specific number of squares and a player scores points by forming words using at least one letter from a word previously formed on the board.

The problem with such a game is that a player can only form words in the two dimensional plane defined by the board and eventually as the game progresses, space for forming new words becomes limited.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly for playing a game, the assembly comprising a plurality of playing pieces each playing piece having at least one coupling portion and at least one indicia portion, the playing pieces being arranged to be connected together to form a plurality of branches lying in more than one plane which branches each display a predetermined configuration of indicia of the indicia portion.

The indicia may each be symbols.

Preferably, the predetermined configuration comprises a set of indicia arranged in accordance with the rules of the game.

It is preferred that at least one indicia of each playing piece remains visible when that playing piece is connected in a single branch.

Preferably, an indicia is arranged to be removably received by the indicia portion.

Preferably, at least one indicia of an indicia portion when connected therewith, is visible when the playing piece with which it is associated is connected with two other playing pieces.

UBSTITUTE SHEET ___ ₂

The indicia may also be visible when the playing piece with which it is associated is connected with more than two other playing pieces.

The location of the or each indicia portion of respective playing pieces preferably enables at least one indicia portion of respective playing pieces in a branch to be visible.

Each coupling portion may comprise a region of its playing piece which is arranged to abut -with a coupling portion of another playing piece.

Each of a plurality of playing pieces may have at least one of its coupling portions comprising a hole or recess.

Each of a plurality of the playing pieces may have at least one of its coupling portions comprising a protrusion.

Each playing piece may comprise a plurality of coupling portions each enabling one coupling portion of another playing piece to be connected with it. At least one coupling portion of each playing piece may be provided on an external face of its playing piece.

Coupling portions preferably are arranged in pairs on opposite external faces of their associated playing piece. Pairs of coupling portions preferably lie in different planes.

Coupling portions of each playing piece may be arranged to enable branches to be formed in two or more planes. Coupling portions of each playing piece may be arranged to enable branches to be formed in three mutually perpendicular planes.

Some playing pieces may comprise coupling portions some of which have holes and others which have protrusions.

A protrusion of one coupling portion of one playing piece is preferably arranged to be connected with a hole of one coupling portion of another playing piece. Preferably, each playing piece has at least one coupling portion which has a combination of female and male portions.

Preferably, each playing piece has a coupling portion having a male portion.

Each playing piece preferably has a coupling portion having a female portion.

It is preferred that the male portion comprise a disc-shaped protrusion and the female portion comprise matching circular recesses.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the male or female portion comprises an opening in a wall which permits air between the male and female portions to escape as these two portions are connected together. Preferably, the disc-shaped protrusion has a plurality of edge faces around its circumferential periphery.

The plurality of edge faces may be equally sized and equally spaced around the circumferential periphery. The disc-shaped portion preferably has a planar face.

The circumferential periphery preferably comprises a plurality of equally spaced castellations.

The female portion preferably has a peripheral surface to match the circumferential peripheral surface of the male portion.

Preferably, each female portion comprises a groove. Preferably, each male portion comprises a guide. Preferably, coupling portions on different playing pieces are arranged to be connected together when guides or grooves, by slidable engagement between the guides and grooves.

Preferably, the male portion is a protrusion and the female portion is a hole. Preferably, coupling portions on different playing pieces are arranged to be connected together when protrusions and holes, by insertion of one protrusion in one hole. _ .

According to one embodiment of the present invention each playing piece comprises a plurality of faces.

The guides may be provided on opposite sides of each face of a playing piece. The guides may have a wedge shaped or dove-tail shaped end cross-section.

The grooves may be formed between each guide and its adjacent face of its associated playing piece.

Preferably, one end of each groove comprises a means for preventing a guide sliding past the end.

Each coupling portion may comprise an inter locking means which enables a coupling portion of one playing piece to be attached to a coupling portion of another playing piece. It is preferred that each playing piece comprise 3 or more faces.

Each playing piece may be cuboidal, hexagonal, pentagonal or a block having between three and twelve equally sized faces. According to one embodiment, the faces of each playing piece may be of different sizes.

Alternatively, some of the faces of playing pieces may be of different sizes to other faces.

Each coupling portion may comprise rectangular holes forming the female portion and matching rectangular protrusions forming the male portion.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, each playing piece is spherical or ball like in shape. Each playing piece may have either all coupling portions having female portions, all coupling portions having male portions or all coupling portions having a combination of both male and female portions.

Each female portion of one playing piece may be arranged to receive a male portion of another playing piece.

Preferably, each female portion of one playing piece may be arranged to receive a connecting member. 5

Preferably, the connecting member is a rod. The connecting member may comprise female and/or male portions.

Preferably, each connecting member interconnects playing pieces.

Each female portion of the playing pieces may comprise a hole which is connected to another female portion by an interconnecting passage.

Each female portion of playing pieces may comprise two openings interconnected by a passage.

Preferably, each female portion comprises diametrically opposed holes interconnected by a passage.

Preferably, the passage passes through the centre of the playing piece. Preferably, the passage is co-incident with a dimetric axis of the playing piece.

The passage may be co-incident with an axis not passing through the centre of the playing piece.

The connecting member may be arranged to pass through a female member of a playing piece.

The connecting member may be arranged to be connected to a base.

The connecting member may comprise a plurality of locating members for locating each playing piece in a predetermined position.

The connecting member may be arranged to receive a plurality of playing pieces thereon.

Each playing piece may comprise a plurality of passages. All passages may intersect.

Alternatively, none of the passages may intersect. Preferably, passages of one playing piece are mutually perpendicular.

The playing pieces may be connected with the connecting member to produce branches in three mutually perpendicular planes.

The connecting member may be rigid to support playing pieces without substantial bending. The locating means may be provided as ridges or ribs around the periphery of the connecting member.

The locating means may be deformable to fit through passages of the playing pieces. The playing pieces may comprise male portions which fit into holes in the connecting member.

Preferably, the holes in the connecting member are lateral passages extending between openings on opposite sides of the connecting member. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the playing pieces are video images on a video display unit.

The coupling portions may comprise abutting faces of each playing piece. 5 The assembly may be a combination of playing pieces displayed on a video display unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a plurality of playing pieces which are transparent with an indicia visible from inside 0 each playing piece.

Preferably, an indicia is provided on each face of the playing pieces.

Preferably, different indicia are provided on different faces of each playing piece. 5 Preferably, at least one face of a playing piece is not provided with an indicia.

Opposite side faces of a playing piece may have the same indicia.

Each playing piece may have two different indicia. 0 Preferably, each indicia is provided between a pair of guides.

Each playing piece may have one indicia. Each playing piece may have the same indicia appearing on a plurality of faces on different locations 5 on its surface.

The indicia may be removable from each playing piece.

Preferably, the indicia clip onto the playing pieces .

The indicia may slide into grooves of the playing pieces.

The indicia may comprise flags insertable in a flag hole of each playing piece.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the assembly comprises a board for receipt of playing pieces.

Preferably, the board comprises attachment portions. Preferably, the attachment portions of the board comprise male or female portions or both, which male or female portions are arranged to receive the coupling portions of playing pieces.

The board may be planar. The board may comprise a plurality of planar portions.

The board may comprise two planar portions which are arranged to be aligned in mutually perpendicular planes.

The board attachment portions may be for receipt of connecting members.

The attachment portions may comprise an engagement means for rigidly securing a connecting member to the board.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises one part of a bayonet connection.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises one part of a snap and lock arrangement.

Preferably, the board comprises base portions shaped to receive a face of a playing piece. The base portions may comprise recesses.

It is preferred that the board be rectangular and have rectangular base portions.

Preferably, the base portions are squares. Each base portion may comprise a recess or hole for receipt of a connecting portion of a playing piece.

Preferably, the hole of each base portion is located at the centre of the base portion.

According to another embodiment of the present _g

invention, the playing pieces are cuboidal blocks.

The coupling portions may comprise L-shaped protrusions.

The coupling portions may have male portions on one face of its playing piece and a female portion on another face.

Preferably, there is greater than one male portion on one face and greater than one female portion on another face. Different faces preferably have different male or female portions provided thereon.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, some playing pieces have a base connection portion which permits the playing piece to be connected to one portion.

Preferably, the base connection portion comprises a protrusion.

The protrusion may be a stem.

The stem may extend from the centre of one face of the playing piece.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising support members.

Preferably, the support members each comprise a stem, a board connection portion and platform for support of playing pieces.

The base connection portion and platform may be located at opposite ends of the stem.

According to another embodiment, each male portion comprises an elongate T-shaped ridge on one face of the playing piece.

The female portion may comprise a T-shaped channel arranged to receive the T-shaped ridge on another playing piece. The male and female portions may lie on a central axis of a respective face of the playing piece.

According to another embodiment, male and female portions may comprise V-shaped lugs and recesses respectively.

According to a further embodiment, male portions comprise resilient movable jaw portions which may be squeezed together to fit into a female portion. Preferably, the female portion comprises a cavity beneath a small opening in one or more faces of the playing piece.

According to another embodiment, the male portion may be twisted about a central axis. Preferably, this male portion has a width corresponding to the length of a female portion and the female portion has a narrow width less than the width of the male portion.

Preferably, the male portion is arranged to fit into the female portion and then be twisted to securely connect one playing piece to another.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the connecting member comprises a sleeve.

Preferably, the sleeve has lips at each end to prevent playing pieces from sliding out.

The lips may be resiliently movable apart to enable a playing piece to be inserted into the sleeve or removed therefrom.

The sleeves may be connected together by connecting means.

Preferably, the connecting means are the lips which allow one sleeve to be clipped onto recesses of another sleeve.

According to another embodiment, a plurality of boards may be connected together to form an open topped box.

According to another embodiment, an adaptation means is provided to connect a playing piece to the board.

The adaptation means may enable a playing piece to be connected to another playing piece.

The adaptation means may comprise a mating portion for connecting the adaptation means to one connecting portion of a playing piece. The adaptation means may comprise a base connection member for enabling connection of the adaptation means to one board.

Preferably, the base connection member is on an opposite side face of the adaptation means to the mating portion.

It is preferred that the mating portion comprise a groove to receive a coupling portion of a playing piece. According to another embodiment of the present invention the connecting member is arranged to be received in a support platform.

Preferably, a plurality of connecting members are supported by the platform.

Preferably, the platform comprises^' a cross shaped base having mating portions for connection with respective connecting members.

Preferably, the mating portions are located at each end of arms of the cross shaped platform.

Preferably, the platform is oriented in one plane. According to another aspect of the present invention, a playing piece for a game comprises a coupling portion and an indicia portion which enables an indicia of the playing piece to be visible when the playing piece is connected to another playing piece. According to another embodiment of the presenr invention there is provided a board game comprising a plurality of playing pieces and a support structure for the playing pieces.

Preferably, the support structure is the connecting member and/or a base support.

Preferably, the playing pieces have a central bore therethrough which enables each playing piece to be received on a connecting member.

Preferably, the indicia are alpha numeric symbols. Indicia may be of a linear design or picture or parts of "a linear design or picture or parts of a linear design or picture and any design which is arranged to form an overall picture, design etc, such as an object, circuit, schematic of physical structures.

Preferably, the object of the game is to form predetermined configurations of indicia.

A plurality of persons may play the game. Preferably, each person starts the game by taking a certain number of playing pieces from a pool of playing pieces.

Preferably, each person takes it in turn to form a predetermined configuration by connecting together playing pieces to form one branch.

A predetermined configuration preferably is not permitted if the resultant construction of playing pieces is unstable, that is, it is not free standing.

Preferably, playing pieces on a connecting member may be pivoted about the connecting member. Accordingly, any playing pieces connected to a playing piece connected with a connecting member may also be pivoted with respect to the connecting member.

Preferably, playing pieces may be pivoted or rotated with respect to each other.

Preferably, branches may be moved with respect to other branches.

Preferably, a playing piece in a branch may be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the branch. 5 Preferably, the extent to which a playing piece may be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the branch is determined by the number of playing pieces connected to it and forming one or more additional branches to the branch with the longitudinal axis. 0 According to the present invention there is provided an assembly for playing a game, the assembly comprising a plurality of playing pieces each playing piece having at least one coupling portion and at least one indicia portion, the playing pieces being connectable together to 5 form a plurality of branches lying in at least one plane.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a playing piece having a plurality of coupling portions and at least one indicia - 12 - portion, the coupling portions and the indicia portion being arranged so that an indicia on the indicia portion is visible and whereby connection of the playing piece with another playing piece does not hinder the visibility of the indicia.

Preferably each playing piece is arranged to be connected to another playing piece according to the or each indicia portion and the rules of the game.

The indicia of each indicia portion of one playing piece may in accordance with the rules of the game indicate which playing piece or which plurality of playing pieces may be connected therewith.

The assembly may comprise a base having a plurality of coupling portions for connection with coupling portions of playing pieces.

Each playing piece may comprise a plurality of coupling portions.

Each coupling portion may comprise either a male or female portion. Preferably each male portion comprises a peg and each female portion comprises a hole which is arranged to receive the peg.

Each playing piece preferably comprises a body. Each body may comprise a plurality of faces. One face may comprise the indicia portion.

An indicia portion may be provided on a predetermined number of faces of the body. Each body may be planar. Each body may be a tile or cube. Each body may comprise two major faces and four minor faces.

Preferably one of the major faces comprises one indicia portion.

Each body may be in the form of a rectangular block. Each minor face may have a coupling portion.

The other major face may have at least one coupling portion.

Each tile may be rectangular. Each male/female portion may be located substantially in the centre of its respective face.

Preferably each male/female portion located on a minor face is positioned substantially in the centre of its respective face.

The other major face preferably comprises a plurality of female portions or a plurality of male portions.

Each female portion is desirably located adjacent a respective side of the other major face.

Each female portion may be located approximately halfway midway along its adjacent side.

Each peg may be a cylindrical or substantially rectangular member in cross-section. Preferably each female portion in adjacent faces are interconnected through a passage.

Each female portion may be connected through a passage with an opening on the same or another face.

Preferably each female portion is a rectilinear slot.

Each slot may be counter sunk perpendicular to its face.

Preferably adjacent slots on a minor and major face intersect. Preferably each slot is located between one and two millimetres from one side of its face.

Preferably the other major face comprises three female portions.

Preferably the three female portions are arranged adjacent minor faces not having a male portion.

According to another embodiment of the present invention each playing piece is cuboidal.

Each playing piece may comprise only male or female portions. Each playing piece comprising only male or female portions is preferably arranged to be connected with a male/female portion of another playing piece through a connecting means. Preferably the connecting means is either a clip or member having female portions at each end or male portions at each end.

Preferably each connecting member is a hollow cylinder which is arranged to be placed over a male portion of a playing piece.

Preferably each connecting member is a cylindrical peg which is arranged to be inserted into a female portion. Preferably if the playing piece is cuboidal, each face is provided with a coupling portion.

Preferably each face is provided with an indicia portion.

Each male/female portion may be a peg or slot. Each playing piece preferably comprises three slots and three pegs.

Preferably only one face of the cuboidal playing piece is provided with an indicia portion.

Preferably each coupling portion is located in the centre of a respective face of the cuboidal playing piece.

According to another embodiment of the invention each minor face has two coupling portions.

Preferably at least one minor face comprises two female portions.

Each female portion is preferably located at opposite ends of its minor face.

At least one of the minor faces has two male portions each located at opposite ends of the minor face. Preferably each of the male and female portions is located with its centre along a central longitudinal axis of each minor face.

Preferably each female portion is a cylindrical slot. Preferably the other major face comprises male or female portions only having their central axes arranged to intersect a central axis of one of the male or female portion of an adjacent minor face. Preferably the male or female portions on the other major face are located adjacent respective corners of the other major face and preferably equidistant adjacent minor faces. Preferably the branches are arranged to lie in at least two planes.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly which enables components to be connected together, the assembly comprising at least one component having a male connection portion and another component having a female connection portion, one of the connection portions comprising an opening in a wall which permits air between the male and female portions to escape as they are connected together. It is preferred that the opening be in a side wall of the female portion.

Alternatively, the opening may be in a side wall of the male portion.

The opening may be in direct communication with the atmosphere.

The opening may comprise a channel connecting holes together.

The opening may comprise a channel connecting holes together in different faces of one component. The openings may comprise a channel connecting holes together in different components.

Preferably, either the male or female portions comprise a resiliently movable section which allows the male portion to fit into the female portion. According to one embodiment of the present invention a component may have a female connection portion comprising a cavity including a base portion with a neck portion.

Preferably, the neck comprises a further opening in a face of the component.

Preferably, the base portion tapers inwardly towards the further opening in the face.

Preferably, the base portion communicates with an - 16 - interior chamber of the component.

The cavity may be either cylindrical or frustoconical.

Preferably, an opening is provided in a side wall of the cavity.

Preferably, the side wall is smooth.

Preferably, the side wall forms an acute angle with a base wall of the cavity.

The side wall may be rectangular or circular or multi-sided.

The cavity may have a base wall which is flat. The opening in the side wall preferably is almost flush with the base portion.

The opening in the side wall is preferably almost flush with the base wall.

The opening may be in the form of a triangular notch with its apex closest to the base portion.

The triangular notch may comprise a V-shaped channel which channel extends from the side wall to another face of the component.

The side wall may be knurled.

The side wall alternatively may comprise a plurality of equally sized faces.

The notch preferably has a 45° apex angle. The top surface of the triangle is preferably parallel with the face of the component.

Preferably, the male portion forms an interference fit with the female portion.

Preferably, substantially all air is evacuated from between the surface of the base portion and the opposing surface of the male portion.

Preferably, the opening is located fractionally above the base wall of the female portion (about .05 to .1 millimetres) . Preferably, this has the effect of completely enclosing and isolating the two mating surfaces from the ambient air.

Preferably, the apex of the inverted triangular notch is located just above the plane of the female base wall.

Preferably, the side wall of the female connection portion comprises a plurality of tapered portions. Preferably, the neck is located just above the opening.

Preferably, the neck is a region of reduced diameter or width of the cavity.

Preferably, the degree of tapering is between 0 and 1° with respect to a vertical axis perpendicular to the base wall of the female portion.

According to another embodiment of the present invention the component has a male connection portion comprising a protrusion including a top surface portion and a neck.

Preferably, the male portion fits into the female connection portion in an interference fit.

The male connection portion preferably comprises a peripheral side wall which tapers from the top surface portion to the neck.

The side wall may be circular, rectangular, polygonal or knurled.

The top surface portion may be flat.

The side wall may be of a matching shape to the female connection portion side wall, excluding the opening.

The neck may have a slightly smaller cross-sectional area to that of the top surface portion.

The male connection portion may be provided on a flat face of the component.

The male connection portion may comprise a hole in its side wall which hole extends to the top surface portion.

Preferably, the side wall of the male connection portion and/or the female connection portion is roughened to provide frictional engagement between the side walls of the male and female connection portions when connected together. Preferably, the base portion of the female connection portion opens into another face of the component.

The base portion of the female connection portion may open into another face of the component which is an external face of the component.

The opening if in the male connection portion, may be slightly above the neck.

The side wall of the male connection portion and the face of the component preferably form an acute angle with the neck forming the corner of the angle.

The male connection portion or the female connection portion may comprise a resilient portion.

The male connection portion preferably is arranged to be squeezed so that the top surface portion fits through the neck of the female connection portion into the cavity.

The neck of the female connection portion may be resiliently deformable to allow the male connection portion to be inserted into the cavity of the female connection portion.

The male connection portion and the female connection portion may be made of a plastics material.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention, each component comprises a block having a plurality of external faces.

Preferably, each component comprises a plurality of mutually perpendicular external faces.

The component having the female connection portion may be arranged to have its face with the female connection portion flat or planar.

The component having the male portion preferably is arranged to have its face with the male connection portion flat or planar. Preferably, a component having the female connection portion when connected with a component having the male connection portion is arranged to have its connecting faces substantially flush. Components having male and female connection portions preferably have these in different faces or on the same face.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of connecting together two components comprising the steps of providing a female connection portion in one component, providing a male connection portion in another component, providing an opening in either a wall of the female connection portion or the male connection portion and inserting the male connection portion into the female connection portion.

The male connection portion may form an interference fit with the female connection portion. The male connection portion may be removable from the female connection portion by turning one connection portion with respect to the other.

The opening may introduce a partial vacuum between the opposing surfaces of the male connection portion and the female connection portion when these two portions are connected together.

Preferably, the male connection portion introduces a partial vacuum between the base portion and top surface portion surfaces of the male connection portion and female connection portion respectively. Preferably, the above described components are arranged to have at least one indicia on each of their external faces to enable components to be connected together whereby each indicia is still visible on at least one face when one component is connected to another component. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an assembly for a game according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a different configuration ^*of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows &^■ two dimensional version of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment for a playing piece in the form of a free cube; Figure 5 shows a top view of the free cube;

Figure 6 shows a front view of the free cube; Figure 7 shows a top view of a base cube; Figure 8 shows a front view of a base cube; Figure 9 shows two variations of a male portion; Figure 10 shows a top view of a board according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 11 shows four free cubes attached to a centre free cube according to the first embodiment;

Figure 12 shows five inter linked base cubes according to the first embodiment;

Figure 13 shows support legs for free cubes; Figure 14 shows a second embodiment of a free cube; Figure 15 shows a third embodiment of a free cube which is effectively a front view of the second embodiment with the addition of lugs on front and side faces of the cube as shown in Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 16 shows a fourth embodiment of a free cube; Figure 17 shows a fifth embodiment of a free cube; Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of a free cube;

Figure 19 shows free cubes of the fifth embodiment connected together;

Figure 20 shows a sixth embodiment of a free cube; Figure 21 shows two connected free cubes according to the sixth embodiment;

Figure 22 shows a free cube according to an seventh embodiment;

Figure 23 shows a connecting member in the form of sleeves according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 24 shows a board according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 25 shows a end view of an eighth embodiment of a free cube ;

Figure 26 shows a perspective view of a free cube according to the eighth embodiment;

Figure 27 shows a plan view of the free cube of Figure 25;

Figure 28 shows a base connection member for a free cube according to the eighth embodiment;

Figure 29 shows a combination of the base connection member and free cube according to the eighth embodiment; Figure 30 shows an end view of the base connection member according to the first embodiment;

Figure 31 shows a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a free cube;

Figure 32 shows a top view of the free cube according to the ninth embodiment;

Figure 33 shows two branches of free cubes according to the ninth embodiment in front view;

Figure 34 shows two branches of free cubes according to the ninth embodiment when connected together in top view;

Figure 35 shows a free cube according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 36 shows a playing piece according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention in perspective view;

Figure 37 shows a base platform and connecting member according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 38 shows a base platform and connecting members according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 39 shows the base platform and connecting member shown in Figure 38;

Figure 40 shows an isometric view of a playing piece according to a second aspect of the present invention which is in the form of a rectangular tile;

Figure 41 shows a back view of the playing piece shown in Figure 40; Figure 42 shows a top view of the playing piece shown in Figure 40;

Figure 43 shows a front view of the playing piece shown in Figure 40; Figure 44 shows two playing pieces according to the second aspect, when connected together in a first configuration;

Figure 45 shows the two playing pieces when connected together in a second configuration; Figure 46 shows a plurality of playing pieces according to the second aspect, when assembled to form a plurality of branches;

Figure 47 shows an isometric view of a playing piece according to a third aspect of the present invention; Figure 48 shows a top view of the playing piece according to the third aspect;

Figure 49 shows a fourth aspect of a playing piece of the present invention in isometric view;

Figure 50 shows an isometric view of a fifth aspect of a playing piece of the present invention;

Figure 51 shows a variation of the playing piece shown in Figure 50;

Figure 52 shows a connection piece for the sixth aspect shown in Figure 51; Figure 53 shows two playing pieces according to the sixth aspect aligned side by side;

Figure 54 shows a connection piece according to a second aspect;

Figure 55 shows a connection piece according to a third aspect; and

Figure 56 shows a connection piece according to a fourth aspect.

Figure 57 shows an isometric view of a female connection portion according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 58 shows an isometric view of a male connection portion in accordance with the first: embodiment of the present invention; Figure 59 shows a top view of the male connection portion according to the first embodiment;

Figure 60 shows a side view of the male connection portion of Figure 59; Figure 61 shows a side view of the female portion according to the first embodiment;

Figure 62 shows a top view of the female connection portion according to the first embodiment;

Figure 63 shows the female connection portion connected with a male connection portion according to the first embodiment;

Figure 64a shows in side view the male connection portion just before connection with a female connection portion according to the first embodiment; Figure 64b shows a cross-sectional side view of the male connection portion when connected with the female connection portion according to the first embodiment;

Figure 65 shows a cube having male and female portions in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 66 shows a cube according to another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 67 shows a top view of a playing piece according to another version of the present invention; Figure 68 shows a front view of the playing piece shown in Figure 67;

Figure 69 shows a side view of the playing piece shown in Figure 67;

Figure 70 shows an isometric view of the playing piece shown in Figure 67;

Figure 71 shows three playing pieces connected together in accordance with the embodiments of the invention shown in Figures 67 to 70;

Figure 72 shows one component which forms part of the playing piece shown in Figure 70;

Figure 73 shows another component which is connected with the component shown in Figure 72 to form the playing piece shown in Figure 70; and Figure 74 shows an enlarged view of Figure 70 without the dimples and knobs.

Figure 75 shows a second version of the playing piece shown in Figure 70, in isometric view; Figure 76 shows a top view of the playing piece shown in Figure 75;

Figure 77 shows a front view of the playing piece shown in Figure 75;

Figure 78 shows an end view of the playing piece shown in Figure 75;

Figure 79 shows an isometric view of a third version of a playing piece shown in Figure 70;

Figure 80 shows a top view of the playing piece shown in Figure 79; Figure 81 shows a front view of the playing piece shown in Figure 79;

Figure 82 shows an end view of the playing piece shown in Figure 79;

Figure 83 shows an isometric view of another version of the playing piece shown in Figure 65;

Figure 84 shows an isometric view of a cylindrical interconnecting member;

Figure 85 shows an isometric view of an indicia piece; Figure 8.6 shows an isometric view of another indicia piece with an indicia formed on its surface;

Figure 87 shows an indicia piece showing a female portion;

Figure 88 shows a construction of playing pieces and indicia pieces using the playing pieces and indicia pieces shown in Figures 83 to 87;

Figure 89 shows an isometric view of a fourth version of the playing piece shown in Figure 70;

Figure 90 shows an isometric view of four playing pieces according to Figure 83, when connected together to form a rectangular block;

Figure 91 shows an isometric view of arcuate blocks; Figure 92 shows an isometric view of arcuate blocks -_ 3 when connected with the rectangular block of Figure 90;

Figure 93 shows a top view of the playing pieces and arcuate blocks shown in Figure 92;

Figure 94 shows an isometric view of a fourth version of a playing piece shown in figure 70;

Figure 95 shows a top view of the playing piece shown in figure 94;

Figure 96 shows an end view of the fourth version of the playing piece; Figure 97 shows a front view of the fourth version of the playing piece;

Figure 98 shows a schematic diagram of two playing pieces according to the first to third versions of the playing piece; and Figure 99 shows a schematic view of two playing pieces connected together according to the fourth version of a playing piece.

Figure 100 shows a side view of two playing pieces according to a fifth version of the present invention; and

Figure 101 shows an end view of the two playing pieces shown in Figure 100 when connected together.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, playing pieces in the form of cubes are shown connected together to form a number of branches extending in three mutually perpendicular planes defined by mutually perpendicular axes X,Y and Z. The construction 11 formed from the assembly of free cubes 12 is built from base cubes 13 lying in squares 14 which are formed by dividing up board 15 into a grid. The squares 14 match the dimensions of each face of the free cubes and may be provided with recesses or other suitable means to connect a base cube to the board.

The way in which the game is played using the assembly may be varied in accordance with the particular embodiments described hereinafter. According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, a board game with the components shown in Figures 1 and 2 is played - 26 -

according to the following method.

A pool of cubes is provided and each player then selects seven cubes or another predetermined number of cubes from the pool. Each cube is provided with a letter marked on each face, the game is commenced by one player forming a word from the cubes he has selected and placing these on the board to form a branch. Alternatively, the player may form a branch by connecting the cubes together and connecting the lower most cube to one square of the board.

If a word is formed by placing all cubes in the word on respective squares of the board, it may not be necessary to connect these cubes together. Thus, adjacent cubes on the board do not necessarily have to abut.

When one branch has been formed by the first player, a second player then must form another word using at least one letter of the previous word already on the board. This may be done by either forming a horizontal or vertical branch, also the letter used may form the middle of a branch (in effect, the centre of two branches) .

Each person in turn must then form words utilising the letters in the configuration of cubes already formed. Each time a player has a turn, the number of cubes which are used must be replenished by taking the same number of cubes from the pool. Thus, the game may be played in a similar manner to the conventional game of Scrabble (TM) except that words can be formed in three dimensions 0 rather than two dimensions.

The scoring rules can be altered depending on the particular form of the game which is utilised. For example, each letter can be provided with a number which indicates the score in using that letter. Alternatively, 5 there can be predetermined scoring systems according to the number of letters in a word or the particular axes along which a branch lies when it is formed.

At any time after the game is started in the horizontal plane, any player has the option and right to commence building words in the vertical plane. Once a single word is put together vertically, any player has the option to either continue to form words in the horizontal board plane or to attach any letter on a vertical word as long as the general rules are adhered to.

Each player continues to form words using the letters of his cubes until all cubes are used or no further words can be formed by any one of the players.

As shown in Figure 3, the game may be played purely in a horizontal plane if desired.

According to another version of the game, the configuration of branches formed can be limited to the confines of vertical planes formed from each side of the board. Thus, a configuration as shown in Figure 2 would be possible.

Each player starts the game by forming a first word in either a horizontal or vertical configuration. Thereafter the game can take on two forms. In one of these forms, each player continues to build up his/her word matrix in horizontal or vertical modes using only that persons branches (words) as previously formed or alternatively, each player can rotate the board around and place letter cubes on any matrix making use of the other players matrices.

There are two basic and distinct cube designs referred to as base cubes and free cubes. The base cubes are connected directly to the board while the free cubes are connected to other free cubes or to base cubes.

It is preferred that each free cube be hollow with a thin peripheral shell.

Referring to Figure 4, the first embodiment of a free cube is shown having coupling portions in the form of male and female portions 16, 17. The male portion 16 are in the form of L-shaped lugs, these lugs are arranged in a symmetrical configuration on face 18 of cube 19 with the vertical portions of the lugs pointing downwards. On an adjacent right hand face 20, the female portions 17 are arranged symmetrically at an upper end thereof as longitudinal slots. The length of these slots and width of these slots matches the vertical length and width of the lugs 16.

In order to connect to free cubes, the lugs of one cube are inserted into the slots 17 of another cube until the face 18 of the cube with lugs 16 abuts the face 20 with slots 17. Both lugs 16 however, are displaced vertically from top surface 21 a sufficient distance so that when the lugs are inserted into slots 17, the cube with the lugs is higher than the face with the slots a distance, substantially the same as the distance from the bottom of the vertical extent of lug 16 to the vertical position of the horizontal part of the lugs as indicated by item 22. Thus, to complete the connection of two cubes, they are connected together by engaging the lugs on face 18 and the slots on face 20 of respective cubes.

Each free cube can be provided with three sets of lugs 16 one on each of three faces and three pairs of slots 17 one on each of the other three faces. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4 and 5, the top face of the cube as represented in Figure 4, may be provided with diagonally opposed slots 23, each slot being parallel to the other and parallel to one of the side faces of the cube near opposing corners of the cube. Matching lugs 16a can then be provided on the bottom face of the cube (see Figure 6) which lugs would fit into the slots 23 of another cube in the same manner as described in relation to lug 16 and slots 17.

Figures 7 and 8 show a base cube having the same type of male and female portions as shown in Figures 4 to 6. The base cube differs in that the lower surface 24 has a circular peg 25 extending from its centre. As shown in Figure 9, the lugs 16 of a cube may be provided^' with an upwardly extending leg 26 or a downwardly extending leg 27.

A second embodiment of a board is shown in Figure 10 and in this embodiment each square is provided with a central hole 28 circular in shape and of a matching configuration to the circular peg of a base cube as shown in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 11, one free cube 29 may have other cubes 30 connected to any one of its six faces.

Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a board as shown in Figure 10 with five base cubes connected together with their respective pegs inserted in holes of a respective one of five squares.

Because of the number of different configurations possible when playing the game, it may be necessary to have a support structure to support branches which are raised above the board. In such a situation, a support structure may be provided for these branches and may take the form as shown in Figure 13. Thus, the support structures may take the form of legs 31a, 31b, and 3lc having a lower end peg 32a, 32b, and 32c which is arranged to be inserted in a hole 28 of one of the board squares and an upper end platform 33a, 33b and 33c which is arranged to abut with a bottom surface of free cubes in a branch. As shown in Figure 13, the supporting leg may be short with a short platform, it may be long with a short platform or it may be long with a long platform. The platform in each case being perpendicular to the length of the leg.

As shown in Figure 14, a free standing cube 34 according to a second embodiment of the invention, may have a female portion in the form of an elongated T-shaped channel which cuts the top surface 36 into two equal halves 36a and 36b. The bottom surface of the cube on the other hand, 37 is provided with an elongated

T-shaped ridge 38 which also divides bottom surface 37 in half. The male portion like the female portion runs parallel to a side face 39 from one end of face 37 to the other end of face 37. The shape of the male portion 38 is specifically designed to slide into the channel 35 of the female portion so as to connect such cubes together. In Figure 15, an indicia in the form of a letter a is provided on a central face of side 40. The indicia is positioned so that its distance from any side of side face 40 is greater than the depth of lip 41 of the channel 35. In the embodiment shown, the indicia is only provided on side faces of the free cube.

Figure 16 shows a male and female portion 42, 43 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the male portion is a V-shaped protrusion on each of three faces of the cube and the female portion is a matching recess on each face of the other three faces of the cube.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 17, the male portions 44 are in the form of resilient jaws located approximately at the centre of each one of three faces of the cube and the female portions are frustoconical recesses 45 on each one of the other three faces of the cube. One male portion 44 of one cube fits into the female portion of another cube by having its jaw pressed together by insertion into a female portion. Once fully inserted, the jaws spring apart and two cubes are thus connected together.

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the free cube shown in Figure 17, in this Figure it can be seen that the male and female portions are closer to the top face than to the bottom face although they are equidistant the adjacent side faces 45a and 45b.

Figure 19 shows four cubes of Figure 17 and 18, when connected together to form a square in top view. Figure 20 shows a fifth embodiment of a free cube in which the male portions are in the form of lugs 46 while the female portions are in the form of frustoconical slots 47 having a length slightly smaller than the width of lugs 46. The lugs 46 may be resiliently squeezed so that they may be inserted into the female slots 47.

Figure 21 shows two free cubes 48 according to the fifth embodiment when connected together.

As shown in Figure 22, a free cube 49 according to a sixth embodiment may have purely female portions in the form of holes 50 or 51 provided on each face. The location of the holes is not restricted to the embodiment shown in Figure 22 however, in Figure 22 the holes are located approximately between adjacent side faces but close to the top face 52. The female portions 50 are circular holes while the female portions 51 are rectangular slots located adjacent a right hand corner of the top face 52 and aligned to have its sides parallel to the sides of the face 52. Cubes according to this embodiment are connected together by connecting rods having a cross-section which matches the shape of the holes, and L-shaped lugs 16 for slots of female portions

50 and 51. As shown in Figure 23, the present invention includes an embodiment in which the cubes have no connecting portions but are connected together by virtue of sleeves 53 which allow cubes 54 to be slid therebetween. The sleeves have lips 55 which enable them to be connected to other sleeves having recesses 56. The lips may also prevent cubes from sliding out from within the sleeve or an alternative means for preventing this may be provided.

As shown in Figure 24, the board may comprise five identical boards constructed to form a box with an open lid. Cubes can then be connected to the board in accordance with one of the previously mentioned sets of rules. In addition, a board can be added as a lid so that the board is in effect a cube itself. As shown in Figure 25, an eighth embodiment of the present invention envisages a cube having a male portion in the shape of an elongate wedge 58 located on a bottom surface of a cube 59 and a female portion in the form of guides 60a and 60b which run parallel to side faces 61a and 61b of the top surface 62 having an oblique inner wall 63 to define a wedged shape channel 64 of matching shape to the elongate wedge 58.

As shown in Figure 31, the cube 59 has guides 60a and 60b on each of three faces and wedges 58 on each of the other three faces. It is preferred also that each wedge be provided with a stop 65. This stop is in the form of a rectangular portion as shown in Figure 31 terminating flush with female guide portion 60a. This stop prevents the wedge from sliding all the way through guides 60a and 60b and has its length the same and aligned with the width of the outer surface 59 of the wedge 58. Figure 27 shows a top view of the cube shown in Figure 26.

Figures 28 and 30 show a base connection member 67 having a top surface 68 provided with a female portion 69 in the form of guide 70a and 70b, being identical to the guides 60a and 60b of Figures 25 to 27. The channel 71 formed by the guides 69 permits a wedged shaped male portion 58 to be slidably engaged therewith. The sides

72 and 73 are narrow compared to the length and width of the member. The bottom surface 74 of the base connection member as shown in Figure 29 is provided with a central peg 75 and this peg enables the base connection member to be connected with a matching hole 28 of the board thus by slidably engaging a cube with the base connection member such a cube can be connected with the board.

Figure 32 shows a top view of the cube shown in Figure 31 and Figure 33 shows two branches formed by connecting 7 cubes according to the embodiment shown in Figures 25 to 27. Figure 34 shows two branches of 7 cubes of the type shown in Figure 31 when connected together.

Figure 35 shows another variation of the cube shown in Figure 31 and in this embodiment left side face 75 is provided with a short male portion 76 in the form of the wedge. In this embodiment the wedge on this face extends approximately a third way up from the bottom surface and then terminates. On the right side face 77, a matching female portion is provided in the form of guides 78a and 78b. These guides are the same in configuration to the guides 60a and 60b except that they extend from the lower surface a vertical distance the same as the height of the male portion 76. The advantage of this embodiment is that greater area is available on which to place an indicia as indicated by dotted squares 79.

According to another embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 36, cubes are provided similar to those shown in Figure 35 but with an axial bore extending from the top surface 80 to the bottom surface 81. This axial bore allows the cube to be received on a connecting member 83 as shown in Figure 38 and 39, in the form of a rod. The rod 83 is connected to a rectangular stand 84 or any hole in the board. As shown in Figure 37, the stand instead of being rectangular may be cross-shaped 85 and may have holes 86 located at the end of each of the crosses. These holes each receive one rod 83. It should be noted that the stand may be of any particular configuration as long as it is able to receive rods 83 and hold such rods so that the rods do not fall over. The base may also be mounted on an axle 87 which allows the base to be rotated thereabout.

As shown in Figure 38, cubes can be mounted on the rod 83 by merely being slid over the rod 83. It should also be noted that the cubes are not limited to the embodiments previously described but may be of any shape as long as there is a central bore which allows it to be received on the rod 83. Other embodiments of the present invention envisage cubes which are spherical and have pegs on their outer surface or holes on their outer surface to enable them to be connected with other playing pieces. It is also envisaged that the spheres be transparent with the indicia visible from inside the sphere. It is also within the scope of the present invention to have a plurality of bores provided through the playing pieces tc enable a number of rods to be inserted through the playing pieces to allow a plurality of rods to be inserted therethrough along different axes. Preferably, such playing pieces have mutually perpendicular bores for the rods to be inserted therethrough. It is also possible using the rod embodiment to rotate playing pieces inserted on the rod about the axis of the rod. It is also envisaged that male and female portions of the playing pieces allow relative rotation of one playing piece with respect to another. As shown in Figure 40, the playing piece according to the second embodiment is in the form of a rectangular tile 110 having two major surfaces 111, 112 and four minor faces 113, 114, 115, 116.

The back major face ill is provided with four rectangular slots 117, 118, 119, 120 each with their lengths parallel to their adjacent side wall.

Each slot is located close to its adjacent side wall and approximately midway along its adjacent side wall.

The thus formed configuration defines the ends of a cross with each slot being symmetrically arranged around the centre of the face 111.

Each slot has a similar depth which is approximately

% of the width of the minor faces. Some of the slots, in this case slots 118 and 119, intersect slots provided on the minor faces of the rectangular tile 110. These rectangular slots 121, 122 are provided in the centre of each minor face 113, 116 respectively and also extend perpendicular to those faces to a depth similar to that for the other slots. As shown in Figure 40, slots 118, 121 and 119, 122 form a right angled passage which interconnects both slots, although other^"embodiments are envisaged where it is not necessary ^*to have slots of adjacent faces interconnected in such a way.

It is possible to have a slot in one face connected with another face through a pin hole which extends into the slot from the other face. However, this is only an optional form of the present invention.

On the two minor faces 114 and 115, which are - _S b opposite to minor faces 116 and 113 respectively, rectangular pegs 123, 124 are provided approximately in the centre of their respective faces with their longest sides parallel to the length of the side walls of the minor face. The pegs 123 and 124 are dimensioned so that they fit snugly into any one of the slots 117, 118, 119 or 120.

As shown in Figure 44, two tiles 125 and 126 can be connected together to form a right angle by connecting a peg (not shown) on the right minor face of tile 125 into a slot (not shown) on the back major face adjacent to the left minor face 127. Referring to Figure 40 and Figure

43, this would be equivalent to inserting peg 123 into slot 119. As shown in Figure 43, an indicia represented by the letter Z is provided in the middle of the front major face and thus as shown in Figure 44, tiles 125 and 126 can be connected so that their indicia faces 128, 129 show the word "AT". Similarly, as shown in Figure 45, two tiles 130 and 131 can be connected together so their indicia faces 132, 133 respectively form the word "so" reading from left to right.

Referring to Figure 46, a number of tiles can be connected together in the same plane by connecting a peg in one of the minor faces to a corresponding slot in the minor face of another tile. Thus, a string of tiles 134 can be formed in a vertical orientation with a horizontal branch 135 connected from a middle tile 136. Similarly, a branch can be formed any where along the length of the string 134 by merely connecting it to one of the tiles in the string 134 either on the left or right side of the string or at the top or bottom of the string.

According to one method of playing a game using the tiles (or any other playing piece) of the present invention, a rectangular board is provided consisting of 100 squares formed by an 10 x 10 square configuration.

Each square is provided with a slot or a peg extending perpendicular to the face of the square. In addition, one hundred tiles are provided each having a configuration shown in Figure 40.

Each tile is provided with a letter on its indicia face (that is the front face 112) and each person playing the game draws seven tiles from a pool of tiles.

The player to have a turn first forms a word from the letters on his tiles and connects those tiles together to form a string of tiles with a word formed by reading the string from left to right or from top to bottom. Thus, a vertical string can be formed as shown in Figure 46 having the word "CRYPTIC". The lower most tile of this string would be inserted into a slot in the board and the player would then draw another seven tiles.

The next player to have a turn must then form a word using any of the letters in the word cryptic in a similar fashion to the way in which the game scrabble is played.

In the example shown in Figure 46, the second player can form the word "PALE" by adding the words "ALE" to the right minor face of the tile having the letter P on it. Depending on the letters which each player has, it is possible to start a new branch from the string anywhere along the length of the string and on any side of the string.

A third player may then add letters to the original words to form new words by either continuing to add branches to the first string 134 in a horizontal axis or by adding letters to the branch 135 in a vertical axis.

Another option also is provided whereby a person can make a word by adding letters at right angles to an existing letter as is shown in Figures 44 and 45. Thus, a word can be formed which starts in one plane and ends in another plane perpendicular to the first plane. Thus, as an example, a person wishing to form a word using the letter E can build a branch by adding tiles on top of the E vertically upwards, to the bottom of the E vertically downwards, to the right side of the E horizontally or alternatively, by adding a branch to the top of the E at right angles so that the branch extends to the back of - 37 -

the E horizontally or to the front of the E horizontally or to the side of the E horizontally so that the word thus formed starts with the word pale in one plane and ends up in a mutually perpendicular plane by adding a 5 branch with the letters ST to form the word "palest". In such a case, the branch with the letters S and T could be connected to right side peg 137 at right angles to extend in the direction indicated by arrow A or in the same direction as the word "pale" as represented by the 0 arrow B.

Alternatively, a person seated on the left side of the string 134 could add a branch ST with the letters ST facing towards the left side of the string 134 so that from the Figure 46, the words S and T would be hidden and 5 the branch would effectively extend in the negative A direction.

Similarly, the letters LK could be connected together and added to the peg 138 at the bottom of tile E to extend a new branch vertically downwards in the 0 direction represented by the arrow C. Similarly, the letters LK could be connected to peg 138 to extend in the negative A direction with the letters L and K facing upwards.

In conclusion, it can be seen that branches can be 25 added to words already formed in three mutually perpendicular planes to form a truly three dimensional game. In addition, depending on the rules of the game, it is possible to form words which appear in any particular plane or cross over from one plane to another 30 plane.

According to another aspect of the present invention it is intended to change the configuration of some of the tiles so that they have different numbers of male and female members (in the example given of pegs and slots) . 35 In addition, it is possible to change the shape of the tiles so that they are not rectangular but are triangular, hexagonal or of any regular or irregular multi-sided configuration. It is also envisaged that the playing pieces rather than being tiles are in fact multi-sided blocks with twelve or more faces each with slots or pegs or other mating connecting members allowing branches to be built in a multitude of different planes.

It is also envisaged that the game be played on a computer with the playing pieces and assembly of playing pieces displayed on a VDU by computer graphics and controlled by a program based on the rules of the game. According to another aspect of the present invention as shown in Figure 47, the tiles are changed to cubes 139 each face of the cube having either a male or female portion in the form of a slot or peg. In the example shown in Figure 47, the top, front and left faces are provided with rectangular slots 140, 141, 142 having a similar configuration to those shown in the first embodiment. Rectangular pegs 143, 144, 145 are provided in the other faces and each slot or peg is located adjacent a respective side wall of the cube in a similar fashion to the slots and pegs of the first embodiment.

As with the first embodiment indicia in the form of letters or numbers or any other representation may be provided on any number of faces of the cube.

According to another variation, each face of the cube is provided with a recessed portion which is arranged to receive an indicia portion having a matching protrusion to fit the indicia portion into that recess of the cube. In this way, strings and branches can be formed prior to the indicia being added to each playing piece. Thus, referring to Figure 46 for example, a string 134 could be formed without any indicia on the string but the indicia can then be added onto each tile of the string by pressing the respective indicia with the letter or other marking on it into a recess formed on the front face of each of the tiles concerned.

When- larger playing pieces such as cubes are used it is easier to have more than one indicia on respective faces of the playing piece. With the tile playing piece - 39 -

however, it is only practical to have the two major faces provided with a suitable indicia.

Referring to Figure 49, the fourth aspect of the present invention changes the structure of the

5 rectangular tiles of the first embodiment so that each minor face is provided with either two male portions or two female portions. Thus, the tile 150 of this embodiment has two adjacent minor faces 151 and 152 provided with female portions in the form of cylindrical

10 slots 153 located at each end of its minor face and with the centre of each slot coinciding with a central longitudinal axis of each minor face. Each slot is symmetrically arranged about a central lateral axis parallel with the end sides of each minor face.

15 Similarly, the other two minor faces 154, 155 are provided with male portions in the form of cylindrical dowels which like the female portions are located in matching locations on their respective minor faces so that when two such playing pieces 150 are connected

20 together, the two male portions 156, fit snugly into corresponding female portions 153 so that the two so connected tiles form a single rectangular slab.

On the back major face 157 of the tile, three cylindrical slots 158 are provided adjacent the top left 25 and right corners and the lower right corner of the major face 157. Each of these slots is arranged so that its central longitudinal axis intersects the central longitudinal axis of an adjacent slot 153 of the adjacent minor face 151 or 150. The result is that each pair of 30 slots form a right angled passage connecting the major face with an adjacent minor face.

Therefore, the tiles can be connected as shown in Figures 44 and 45.

The aspect shown in Figure 49 can be varied to

35 increase the number of slots or dowels in order to increase the load carrying capacity of strings and branches so that greater stability is provided for an assembly of strings and branches. _4Q

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention as shown in Figure 50, the playing piece is made into a thicker tile having lower and left side minor faces 160, 161 provided with a T-shaped slot which is located in the centre of the respective minor face so that the leg of the T extends all the way to the adjacent major face 162. Each slot 163, 164 in the minor faces is connected with an adjacent slot 165, 166 respectively in the major face 162. Each slot consists of a passage which extends perpendicular to the respective face in which it is formed and communicates with the passage of the adjacent slot of the adjacent face.

The thus, formed slots in the tile are in effect paired together so that they are symmetrical about respective edges 167, 168 which separate the respective faces of the tile. Because the leg part of each T-shaped slot extends all the way to the adjacent edge 167, 168, a right angled rectangular slot 163, 165 and 164, 166 is formed with over hanging rectangular portions 169, 170 and 171, 172.

On the other minor faces 173, 174, T-shaped protrusions 175,176 extend centrally therefrom. Each protrusion comprises a rectangular leg 177, 178 which extends perpendicularly outwardly from the centre of the minor face concerned. This leg portion 177, 178 extends into a rectangular head forming the head of the T. This rectangular head has its sides parallel with the sides of the major face 162 and is sized so that it can fit snugly into one of the slots 163, 164, 165, 166 so that its top or bottom surface (i.e. the surface parallel with one of the major faces of the tile) is effectively flush with the level of the face having the slot.

The above described arrangement shown in Figure 5C, enables a greater number of tiles to be connected together with a greater number of branches extending therefrom so as to provide improved stability with respect to the other embodiments.

According to another embodiment of the present - 4₁ -

invention, a playing piece is provided with male and female portions which each include portions extending in different directions.

Preferably each male portion comprises a main portion and a branch portion.

Preferably each female portion comprises a main passage and a branching passage.

Referring to the sixth aspect of the present invention shown in Figure 51, effectively the playing piece shown in that Figure is the same as the playing piece shown in Figure 50 except that all male T-shaped protrusions have been removed and replaced by T-shaped slots the same as slot 163, 164, 165, 166. The result is a playing piece as shown in Figure 51 having four pairs of T-shaped slots 181, 182, 183, 184. Thus, a female slot is provided in each minor face of the playing piece 180 and in the adjacent major face 185 symmetrically about respective sides of the major face 185.

In order to connect two playing pieces together, a connection member which is shaped in the form of a letter H as shown in Figure 52 and referenced by item 186, as each of its legs 187, 188 inserted in abutting slots of two playing pieces (slots 189 and 190 in Figure 53) so that the front face 191 of the connection piece 186 is flush with the two major faces 192, 193 of the playing pieces.

With the arrangement thus described, two playing pieces may be connected together so that their major faces lie in the same plane or in mutually perpendicular planes as previously described.

Referring to Figure 54, alternative versions of the playing piece shown in Figures 51 to 53, are envisaged in which the shape of the slots in the playing pieces are changed and accordingly the shape of the connection pieces are also changed. Thus, in Figure 54 a connection piece is envisaged which is in the shape of an X and is arranged to fit into respective slots which when assembled side by side, form a slot having the shape of _ ^ _ _.

an X which thus allows the X-shaped connection piece to be inserted in the combined slot to connect the two playing pieces together. It should be noted that the X shown in Figure 54 comprises a horizontal section 195 so that in effect, it has the shape of two letters Y having the ends of their legs connected together. This configuration of the letter X makes it easier to form slots which are symmetrical to adjacent slots of playing pieces to which they are to be connected. Referring to Figure 55, another form of a connection piece 196 is shown which is similar to the H-shaped connection piece of Figure 52. However, the legs of the

H, namely items 197 and 198, have arcuate upper and lower surfaces 199, 1100 respectively and arcuate inner surfaces 1101, 1102, 1103 and 1104 respectively. The result is that the H-shaped connection piece has the form of two T's connected end to end so that the heads of the respective T's curve downwardly at either end of the head of the T. It is also noted that each outer surface 199, 1100 may have a knurled surface.

Each female slot of a corresponding playing piece has a corresponding shape to the portion of- the connection piece occurring on either side of a centre line represented by item 1105. Alternatively the slots are H-shaped and the legs of the H-shaped connection piece are flexible so that their curved surfaces can be straightened when inserted in a H-shaped slot. The resilience thus providing a gripping action. According to another aspect of the present invention shown in Figure 56, the connection piece 1106 is symmetrical about a central lateral axis 1107 and as with the previous connection pieces, is also symmetrical about a longitudinal central axis 1108. Thus, describing the top part of the connection piece, a rectangular neck portion 1109 is provided which extends into an -arcuate head portion 1110 which has a longitudinal slot nil formed in the apex of its head and extending axially with the central longitudinal axis 1108 into a cylindrical channel 1112 which has its bottom section extending slightly into the neck 1109 of the connection piece. The head portions 1113 and 1114 on either side of the slot 1111 may be resiliently deformable to open and close the slot. In addition, the outer peripheral surfaces of the head portions 1113, 1114 and the inner surface of the channel 1112 are each provided with a knurled surface

(optional) which is arranged to mate with a matching knurled surface (optional) of a slot of a playing piece.

For the connection piece described in this embodiment, the matching slot of a playing piece would conform to the peripheral shape of the connection piece on either side of the lateral axis 1107 and may have a male member arranged to fit into the slot llll and channel 1112.

As shown in the Figure 57, a rectangular tile 211 is provided with an effectively rectangular planar upper surface 212. In a central portion of this upper surface 212 is provided the female connection portion 213 and this female connection portion is in the form of a generally circular cavity forming a side wall 215 which according to another embodiment tapers inwardly towards the surface 212. In one side of the side wall 215 is provided a notch 216 which is in the form of a V-shaped channel extending between the side face of the wall 215 and a front edge face 217 of the component 211. The female connection portion also has a planar base 218.

As shown in Figure 58 the male connection portion is also provided on an upper face 219 of component 220 in the form of a rectangular tile. The male connection portion is in the form of a protrusion 221 centrally located in the upper face 219. The top surface 222 of the protrusion is planar and has a matching configuration to the female portion 213. Like the female portion, the male connection portion has a generally circular side wall 224 which optionally may also taper from the top surface 222 to the upper surface 219 of the component 220 if the female connection portion has a similar taper. The angle of the taper is very slight and lies between 0 and 5° preferably and more preferably between 0 and 1°.

Optionally the male connection portion has a protrusion 221a with bevelled sides and a front face flush and parallel with the front side face of component 220.

As shown in figures 57 and 58 the cubes are connected by means of an interference fit, whereby the male coupling portion is approximately 0.0015 inches larger in diameter than the female coupling portion. It should also be noted that for all other embodiments, versions and aspects of the present invention herein described, an interference fit between matching coupling members is also applicable.

The protrusion 221a has a flat top surface and abuts the side wall 224. It is intended to mate with the notch 216 so as to allow alignment of connected male and female connection portions. The protrusion 221a preferably matches the profile angle of notch 216 with the exception that it is only about half the notch's height and does not block it off completely. Thus a channel still exists for communicating ambient air to the male protrusion 221 when it is inserted in a circular cavity of a female connection portion.

The male connection portion is preferably made out of a plastics material with the size of the top surface

222 being the same as the size of the bottom surface 218 of the female connection portion. The length of the periphery of the base of the wall 224 is the same as the size of the periphery of the top of the wall 215 of the female connection portion. In the embodiment where the connection portions have tapered side walls to fit the male connection portion into the female connection portion, the male connection portion must be deformed and squeezed into the opening formed by the top of the wall of the female connection portion and must then be pushed into the cavity defined by the wall 215.

As the male connection portion is pushed into the female connection portion, air between the opposing bottom surface 218 and top surface 222 is forced out through the notch 216 so that there is a minimum of air between the two surfaces. Any attempt to then separate the two surfaces by moving both components in opposite directions, will require a reasonable amount of force before the male connection portion is -removed from the female connection portion.

Experiments reveal that the provision of the notch does provide a partial vacuum between the opposing surfaces of the female and male connection portion. What the notch preferably achieves is the ability of the male connection portion to travel further into the cavity of the female connection portion so that the opposing faces may actually touch. Without the notch entrapped air would oppose motion.

The notch may be in the form of an exit passage in the bottom 218 of the female connection portion or in another part of the female portion, that allows air during connection of female and male connection portions to escape from therebetween.

In the embodiment utilising tapering side walls for male and female portions, the way in which the two portions are connected provides an anti-rotation moment which opposes "breaking" of the bond between the two surfaces of the male and female connection portions, in an action similar to the applied to a pencil while trying to break it into two halves using two hands. This moment would take place along an axis parallel to the two mating surfaces.

While the two mating surfaces can be flat and thin any attachments can be introduced to customise this invention to specific applications for example, the outer surface of each half of coupled components can incorporate a rubberised section to allow the couple to be used say for mounting vibrating objects such as . ^ _

engines, electric motors etc.

As shown in Figure 64b, the notch 216 has its apex located slightly above the bottom surface 218 of the female connection portion. This arrangement is preferred in order to allow a maximum amount of air between converging male and female upper and lower surfaces to be expelled when the two portions are connected together. Also, this prevents seepage of air between the male and female surfaces. In addition, the inside surfaces of the female portion and/or the outside surfaces of the male connection portion may be roughened to provide additional frictional resistance between the two surfaces when connected together.

It is also preferred according to one embodiment that the inside surfaces of the female connection portion and the outside surfaces of the male connection portion each be highly polished surfaces.

Also the notch 216 preferably has a 45° apex angle as indicated in Figure 61. Also the distance between the apex of the notch and the bottom surface 218 of the female portion is between .05 to .1 millimetres.

According to another embodiment, there may be more than one notch provided around the peripheral wall of the female connection portion. Although the embodiments of the rectangular tile, described with reference to Figure 57 to 64b, disclose a notch which enables air to escape when the male and female portions are connected together, it has been found that it is still possible to connect male and female portions together although the notch does not extend to one of the edge faces of the tile (for example 217 as shown in Figure 57) . Thus, the notch need only be cut in the top surface of the tile 211, being surface 212. It should also be noted that although Figure 57 and it's associated Figures show the notch when used in connection with a tile, the concept of providing a notch or opening in a wall of the female portion equally applies to any other shaped playing piece, such as a cube, sphere or any - 47 -

other geometrical shape. Likewise the notch does not need to V-shaped, although this is preferable.

Similarly, the protrusion 221a, although preferable, may be removed altogether. Similarly, a groove can be provided in the side wall of the male protrusion 221 so that when it is connected with a female portion an opening or gap is still provided to allow air to escape when the two portions are brought together. Preferably, such a groove would not extend to the top surface 222 but would extend from the surface 219 as a vertical groove extending in wall 224 and terminating before reaching the top of the wall abutting with surface 222.

As another variation of the embodiments previously described, instead of having indicia printed on the surface of a male or female portion, for example surface

222 of male portion 221 shown in Figure 58, it is possible to make the indicia as part of a tile similar to that shown in Figure 57. Thus, a playing piece could be any of the previously described geometrical shapes, that is a tile, a cube, a sphere etc, with a plurality of male or female coupling portions on respective faces. The indicia, however, can be provided on a separate portion similar to that shown in Figure 57 or 58. In both situations the indicia would be on the bottom surface (not shown) . Thus, either a male or female tile would be connected to a playing piece to provide the playing piece with an indicia on any one of its faces provided with a connection portion, in this situation it is also viable to remove the notch altogether. Although preferably a plurality of notches are provided, for example four, 90° apart on the edge wall of the female or male portion. In this way the playing pieces may first be connected together to form a branch and then the indicia may be added afterward to one face of the branch and therefore, each of the playing pieces in that branch.-

According to another variation of the -present invention, instead of connecting pieces with indicia thereon directly to ^■ playing pieces, interconnecting members may be provided as previously described with reference to Figures 50 to 56. Thus, tiles as shown in

Figures 57 and 58 may be varied so that their male and female portions have completely different shapes to those shown in those Figures and may have matching configurations to the interconnecting members shown in any of the previously described Figures. If, however, the male and female portions have the shapes shown in

Figures 57 and 58, a cylindrical interconnecting member may be provided as shown in Figures 84. Thus according to another version of the present invention a playing piece 600 in the form of a cube has male and female portions 611 and 612 respectively which are similar to those shown in Figures 57 and 58, the main difference being that instead of the tile having the male and female portions a cube has these portions.

When it is desired to connect two playing pieces together male and female portions are connected together in a similar fashion to that described in relation to the embodiments of Figures 57 to 65. However once such playing pieces have been connected together an indicia piece in the form of a tile with an indicia mark thereon can be connected to either the male or female portions.

If an indicia piece 613 is connected to a male portion because its cylindrical female portion has a matching shape to the male portion of the cube 600 the indicia piece may be connected to the male portion of the cube

600. If on the other hand it is desired to connect the indicia piece to a female portion then an interconnecting portion 615 is required. As shown in Figure' 84 this interconnecting portion 615 is a cylindrical disk with an axial cylindrical bore 616 therethrough. This interconnecting portion 615 thus interconnects the female portions 612 and 614 of the cube and indicia piece respectively. In another variation the indicia piece 613 may be provided with a male portion and the interconnecting member 615 may have two female portions which allow two male portions to be connected together. It should also be noted that a notch 615 may be provided in each of the female portions. This notch unlike that shown in Figure 65 does not extend to one of the edges of the cube face. In Figure 88 an example is given of a number of branches which are formed by connecting a number of playing pieces 600 together. Indicia pieces 613 are then added to the face of branches formed by connecting playing pieces together. Thus in Figure 88 the words ACTOR, RIDE and CART can be formed by connecting indicia pieces 613 to respective ones of the playing pieces 600.

As another variation, instead of having the notch in either the indicia member or the playing piece, the notch may be provided in the interconnecting member, especially where the interconnecting member is cylindrical as in the form of a flat cylindrical disc. Also, the notch or opening can be a vertical shaft extending all the way through the interconnecting member, similarly, the notch could be a cylindrical shaft or other shaped shaft in the male portion.

It is also envisaged that instead of having a notch in the female connection portion, a hole may be provided in the male connection portion and this hole can commence in one side wall 223 and pass from there to another side face of the component 220.

It is envisaged that the various embodiments of the present invention as herein described may be applicable to any application which involves the connection of one component to another component. For instance, in construction of building components, carpentry or any other application in which it is desired to secure two components together.

As shown in Figure 65, a cube may be provided with three male portions 221 and three female portions 213, so that a plurality of cubes may be connected together. Indicia in the form of symbols may be provided on the faces of the male portions^, so that the cubes may be used together to play a game involving the formation of sets of indicia formed by connecting cubes together to form branches.

According to another embodiment of the present invention a cube may be provided having a plurality of female and male portions on respective faces of the cube.

The male connection portions may be in the form of four cylindrical protrusions each located adjacent a respective corner of the side face so as to form a square configuration. It is envisaged that three of the faces will be provided with male protrusions and the other three faces will be provided with cylindrical recesses arranged in a matching configuration to that of the male protrusions. Each of the female recesses is provided with a corresponding notch 227 which connects the recess with the edge of its associated face, in a similar fashion to that previously described with reference to the other drawings.

Although the present invention has been described with female connection portions which are connected with notches, the present invention also contemplates cubes which do not have notches and which rely on an interference fit to connect female and male connection portions together.

In the. embodiment shown in Figure 66, protrusions similar to that shown in Figure 58 may also be provided on the faces of the cube associated with the male connection portions.

According to one embodiment as shown in Figures 57 and 58, cubes as shown in Figures 65 and 66 are formed by connecting together a plurality of tiles each representing respective faces of the cube. These tiles may be glued together or may be connected together by any other suitable securing means.

The cube may be injection moulded as a one piece solid or two piece or more hollow cube.

It is further envisaged that the present invention takes the form of a block of any geometric shape as long as some faces of this block are provided with male or female connection portions incorporating the features previously mentioned.

Thus by connecting together blocks of different shapes it is possible to form any number of configurations not previously possible with rectangular blocks. For example rings, by having blocks with curved faces.

Figures 67 to 70 show a playing piece which is effectively cuboidal in shape and is provided with coupling members on each face. Each coupling member is rectangular and planar and extends parallel to its respective face. Thus, the coupling member comprises an upstanding portion 302 which extends perpendicularly away from the face of the cube and terminates in a rectangular overhanging section 301 which is parallel with the face to which it is connected. Thus, forming an L-shaped member which covers a major part of its face and has its sides parallel with respective sides of the face to which it is connected. The size and shape of the connecting member may be changed and its position may be changed so that when different playing pieces are connecting together, the rectangular overhanging members of adjacent playing pieces are aligned so that their sides are symmetrically aligned. As shown in Figure 68, the faces adjacent the front face 303 are each provided with a coupling member which has its overhanging portion 301 extending towards the upstanding section 302 of the adjacent face (moving in an anticlockwise direction) .

This ensures that when two playing pieces are connected, a sliding engagement between two coupling members is possible by sliding the overhanging portion of one playing piece into the slot defined between the overhanging portion of the other playing piece and its adjacent face. The slot in this instance is referenced by item 304.

To ensure that coupling members of different playing pieces are properly engaged and the playing pieces are in proper alignment, each face is provided with a locating knob 305 which is effectively located in the centre of each face. To compliment this, the top surface 306 of each overhanging portion 301 is provided with a centrally located dimple 307. Accordingly, when two coupling members are engaged, the overhanging portion which is inserted into the slot of the other coupling member slides into the slot until the knob 305 associated with the slot 304 of the first coupling member is located in the dimple 307 of the other coupling member. The overhanging portions 301 on the front and rear faces of the cube extend vertically downwardly and upwardly respectively. It should be noted however, that the orientation of each coupling member may be changed as desired. It is also possible to change the shape of each coupling member and its size so as to provide different configurations when a series of playing pieces are connected together in a row. As an example, each overhanging section may be provided with some form of indicia on its top surface so that when playing pieces are connected together, a predetermined configuration of indicia may be formed. For example, words or numbers or patterns, which predetermined configurations are in accordance with objectives outlined in the rules of a game. The advantage of the configuration of the coupling members described above is that a rigid connection is provided between connected playing pieces. At the same time however, playing pieces can easily be disengaged and even re-oriented with respect to adjacent playing pieces. For example, although normally overhanging portions of coupling members which are to be connected together are connected by sliding one overhanging portion into the slot defined by the other until the end 307 of the overhanging portion abuts the inside surface 308 of the upstanding portion 302, alternatively, the first mentioned overhanging portion 301 may be inserted into the slot of the other overhanging portion, side ways until side edge 309 of the first mentioned coupling member abuts with wall 308 of the other. Then by simply turning one playing piece with respect to the other the first mentioned abutting relationship may be obtained and the playing pieces are then arranged in a different orientation with respect to each other.

With reference to Figure 72 and 73 a method will now be described of forming a playing piece as shown in Figures 67 to 71.

For convenience, the top and bottom coupling members 3 and 7 have been omitted from Figures 72 and 73.

In order to easily manufacture a playing piece having dimples and knobs as outlined above the playing piece is made in two separate components which are connected together to form male coupling members 311 (which arbitrarily can be considered as those coupling members facing downwards) , female components 312 (being those coupling members facing upwards) and the cube walls 313 as shown in Figure 74.

Each component 310, 314 consists of two walls 313 and two coupling components 315 corresponding to male coupling members 311 (in Figure 74) and female coupling members 312 (in Figure 74) . If the component in Figure 73 is turned over and slid into the other half shown in Figure 72, together both halves make a complete playing piece as shown in Figure 74. The 45° angle 316 featured on the edge walls 314 allow the two halves to abut smoothly to form a perfect square.

It has been found to be advantageous to form a playing piece using the components previously described because it is much easier to form the dimples and knobs when playing pieces are formed from these two components. Without this method of forming playing pieces, it is very difficult to form the knobs which are located between the overhanging portion and adjacent face of each playing piece.

A variation of the playing piece shown in Figure 74 is shown in Figures 75 to 78 and 79 to 82. In Figures 75 to 78 coupling members are provided on every face of the playing pieces, although this is not shown. Thus the arrangement of couplings will be similar to that shown in

Figures 79 to 82. In Figures 75 to 78 the male and female coupling members 311 and 312, shown in Figure 74 are represented by numerals 411 and 412 on cube 410. The major difference between the two playing pieces is that in Figures 75 to 78 the male and female coupling members

411 and 412 are provided with a stepped top surface with an upper surface 413 and a lower surface 414, for convenience these surfaces have been omitted from the top and bottom coupling members 415. In the slot formed between each coupling member and its adjacent face, a stepped surface is also provided having upper and lower surfaces 416 and 417 which are arranged to match those surfaces of the coupling members when two playing pieces are connected together by connecting their male and female coupling members. The stepped surfaces provide an additional means of strengthening the coupling between the two playing pieces, this is because the respective stepped surfaces are in an abutting relationship and the actual stepped surface separating the two surfaces provides a reactionary force against any moment or force applied about an axis A-A' perpendicular to the abetting faces to try and separate two playing pieces by rotating one with respect to the other about the axis.

In the same way as outlined in connection with in

Figure 67 to 70, notches and dimples may also be provided to facilitate locating of the coupling members when they are connected together. Referring to Figures 79 to 82, the cube 510, instead of being provided with stepped surfaces are provided with matching ridged and slotted surfaces, each of the male and female coupling members 511, 512 are provided with planar ridges on their outside surfaces. These ridges are effectively located in the centre of each coupling member with their longest sides parallel with end edges

514 of each coupling member. These ridges, however, may be arranged in any orientation as long as they have a

- 55 - matching slotted section in this case represented by numeral 515, which is located in the face of the cube opposing the inside face of the male or female coupling member. The width of the slot 515 is effectively the same as that of the ridge 513, however, the length of the slot may be at least as long as that of the ridge or as shown in Figures 79 to 82 may be continuous so as to extend all the way round the cube. The provision of the slots and ridges provides an alternative method of opposing any moment and any force applied parallel to the face of the abutting faces applied to two cubes which are connected together in order to try and separate them.

These moments being applied about the axis previously defined. The present invention also covers other variations of slots and ridges or stepped surfaces which act to oppose a moment applied about an axis perpendicular to the abutting faces of the playing pieces.

Figure 89 shows a variation of the playing piece shown in Figure 79. This playing piece 700 is the same as the playing piece 510 except that it has an arcuate protrusion 701 on the upper most edge of each of the ridges 702. The ridges and protrusions on the upper and lower coupling members 703, 704 have been omitted. The arcuate protrusions 701 are formed so as to fit into matching slits in the peripheral wall 705 of slots

706, these slits are represented by numeral 707.

Although the arcuate protrusions are shown in the upper edge surface of each ridge (upper having regard to the orientation of the playing piece shown in the drawing) , the arcuate protrusion may be located on one of the other edges of the ridge providing that it has a corresponding slit provided in a corresponding peripheral wall of each slot .706. In addition each of the coupling members and faces of the playing piece opposing the inside face of respective coupling members, may be provided with dimples and knobs as outlined in previous embodiments. The various features described before may also be mixed and matched to provide additional embodiments of the present invention.

Figures 90, 91 and 92 show another variation of the present invention in which playing pieces 810 being the same in shape as those shown in Figure 88 and represented by numeral 600, may be connected together to form a block of four as shown in Figure 90.

Instead of connecting indicia pieces to the coupling portions of each of the playing pieces it is possible to form arcuate blocks 813 (cladding, tiles, with or without indicia) having arcuate outside surfaces 814 as shown in

Figure 93. These arcuate blocks have inside faces 815 provided with female portions the same as the female portions of the playing pieces 810. Each of these female portions is located in the position which enables it to be connected to one of the cubes in the manner as shown in Figure 93. Thus arcuate blocks 3, 4, 7 and 8 are similar in shape and arcuate blocks 1, 2, 6 and 5 are similar in shape. When these arcuate blocks are connected to cubes 816, 817, 818 and 819 in the manner shown in Figure 93 a cylindrical block 820 may be formed.

The arcuate surfaces of each of the arcuate blocks may be provided with an indicia so that words may be formed around the periphery of the cylinder 820 with one of the arcuate blocks being a blank. In a similar fashion other shaped blocks may be provided with indicia on their outer faces in order to form different geometrical shapes. In this way it is possible to build any shaped construction at all provided the right shaped indicia pieces/arcuate blocks are provided.

Figure 94 shows a fourth version of the playing piece shown in figure 70. However, for convenience only one face 901 is provided with a coupling member 902.

The important feature of this version of the playing piece is the portion of the connection piece 902 which connects the overhanging piece 903 with the face 901.

This connection portion 904 in contrast to similar portions of the other three versions is much longer in the direction in which the overhanging portion 903 extends; that is the length indicated by the reference numeral L. The connection portion 904 in contrast to the other three version of the playing piece is in the form of two leg portions 905 on left and right sides of the coupling portion 902. Thus, when two playing pieces 906 are connected together as shown in figure 98, if rotational forces Ml and M2 are applied in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction as shown, the interlocking portions 907 of each coupling portion tend to bend with respect to their connection portions 908, thus a gap 909 begins to open between each interlocking portion 907 and the abutting face of the other playing piece. Thus the greater the number of playing pieces connected together, the greater the rotational force and the further each interlocking portion 907 separates from its abutting face of the adjacent playing piece. The result is that the gap 909 gradually gets wider. To overcome this problem as shown in figure 99 the connection portion 910 is made so that it extends further along the face of the playing piece with which it is connected. This makes the overall coupling portion 911 much more rigid and reduces the amount of gap 912 that forms between an interlocking portion 913 and the abutting face of an adjacent playing piece 914. In addition, as shown in figure 96, the legs

905 or if the overhanging portion is continuous, the lower most portion of the overhanging portion are provided with a very slight outwardly directed slant so as to reduce the gap 912 even further when a rotational force M1,M2 is applied as shown in figures 98 and 99.

Figure 100 shows two playing pieces 920 according to another version of the present invention which is similar to that of the other versions of the playing piece, i.e. the coupling portions 921 are effectively the same. Although similar to the versions shown in Figure 79 the single ridge and single slot which is associated with each coupling portion is replaced by two slots and two protrusions 922a, 922b and 923a and 923b respectively. s shown in Figure 101 the ridges and slots are arranged to engage each other. Preferably the ridges and extensions 924 of the coupling portions 921 are resilient enough for the extension of one playing piece to be slid down into the recess formed between the extension and adjacent face of the other playing piece. Thus the ridge

923b has a slanted front edge 925 which allows it to slide past the first slot 922a whereby its resilience enables it to be squeezed further down the recess until it fits into slot 922b. As an alternative the two coupling members can be aligned with their ridges and slots adjacent each other and then slid relative each other into and out of the page to form a suitable engagement. Because the two slots are spaced apart any moment which is applied in the directions M3 and M4, that is clockwise and anti-clockwise, to try and separate the two playing pieces, is opposed by a reactionary force arising as a result of the engagement of the slots and ridges. In addition to this however the moments M3 and M4 as well as being opposed by a reactionary force actually provide a component of force which acts to push each ridge back into its associated slot. In addition the amount of reactionary force applied as a result of the engagement between the ridges and slots can be varied by varying the distance between the two slots and by changing their location up and down the face of the cube. As slot 922b moves closer towards the part of the coupling member which is joined to the cube face the reactionary force which it applies with its associated protrusions is located closer to the centre of rotation C which is located at the inside elbow of the coupling portion.

It should be noted that for each of the coupling portions herein described for the different types of playing pieces described, indicia pieces have their own coupling portions which match those of the playing pieces, and are arranged to be connected to the coupling portions of playing pieces so that playing pieces are . ₅₉

provided with indicia. Thus, in figures 75 to 82 and 94 to 98, an indicia piece similar to that shown in figure 86 but provided with a coupling portion of a matching shape to any one of the versions shown in figures 75 to 82 and 96 to 98 or figure 89, etc. may be attached to a matching coupling portion of a playing piece to provide that playing piece with an indicia on the face for that particular coupling portion.

It is important to note that in the embodiments previously described it is possible to form large structures by connecting playing pieces together. Unlike the prior art these structures can be self-supporting because of the strength of the connection between connecting members of adjacent playing pieces. In this way according to a preferred aspect of the invention, it is possible to build a structure from playing pieces approximately 2 cm square, which extends 30 playing pieces in any direction from a starting playing piece.

Thus a connection between two playing pieces could hold up to 30 other playing pieces. In the prior art either the constructions which are made by connecting playing pieces together eventually fall apart because of the weakness of connections between adjacent playing pieces or supporting structures must be provided in order co add extra rigidity to the construction.

Claims

- 60 - "

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An assembly for playing a game, the assembly comprising a plurality of playing pieces each playing piece having at least one coupling portion and at least one indicia portion, the playing pieces being connectable together to form a plurality of branches lying in at least two planes wherein in use a branch is arranged to be formed by connecting together playing pieces so that indicia of respective indicia portions display a predetermined configuration in accordance with the rules of the game.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicia of each indicia portion is removably connectable to the indicia portion.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each playing piece comprises a plurality of faces with at least two faces having indicia portions and at least two faces having coupling portions. 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the indicia portions and coupling portions are arranged on the same faces.

5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each coupling portion comprises either a female or male portion.

6. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each coupling portion comprises a male and female portion.

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each playing piece is a rectangular block and coupling portions of playing pieces are arranged to be connected together.

8. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein each female portion comprises a hole and each male portion comprises a protrusion.

9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each playing piece has six ^' faces arranged in three mutually perpendicular planes. 10. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each indicia portion is provided on a surface of a respective one of the coupling portions. 11. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein each playing piece comprises a plurality of female and male portions.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein each male portion comprises a disc shaped protrusion and each female portion comprises a disk shaped recess of a matching configuration to the male portion.

13. An assembly according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein each male or female portion comprises an opening in a wall which permits air between the male and female portions of separate playing pieces to escape as these two portions are connected together.

14. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein each male portion and female portion comprises guides and grooves respectively, which on different playing pieces can be connected together by a sliding engagement.

15. An assembly which enables components to be connected together, the assembly comprising at least one component having a male connection portion and another component having a female connection portion, one of the connection portions comprising an opening in a wall which permits air between the male and female portions to escape as they are connected together. 16. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein the opening is in the form of a notch in the wall of the female connection portion.

17. An assembly according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the female connection portion comprises a recess ?nd the opening extends almost to the base of the recess.

18. An assembly according to claim 17 wherein the opening decreases in width from a top section to a base section. - 62 -

1 . An assembly according to claim 18 wherein the opening is V-shaped.

20. An assembly according to claim 19 wherein each male and female connection portion is arranged to receive an indicia portion having an indicia on a surface thereof.

21. An assembly according to claim 20 wherein each indicia comprises a recess with an opening in a peripheral wall, the recess being arranged to have a ^' complimentary shape to the male connection portion and being substantially the same in shape as the female connection portion.

22. The assembly according to claim 21 further comprising an interconnecting portion for connecting an indicia portion with a female connection portion.

23. A playing piece for a game, the playing piece comprising a body, a plurality of faces, a coupling portion on each face and an indicia portion on each face, coupling portions of different playing pieces being releasably engagable with each other to rigidly connect the playing pieces together.

24. A playing piece according to claim 23 comprising a catch which is arranged to slidably engage another catch of another playing piece. 25. A playing piece according to claim 24 wherein each catch comprises an extension which has a slot formed between it and the adjacent face of the playing piece.

26. A playing piece according to claim 25 wherein each body comprises a cuboidal structure and one coupling portion is arranged on each face, the extension comprising a flange which extends substantially parallel to the face with the slot being defined therebetween. 27. A playing piece according to any one of claims 23 to

26 wherein the playing piece comprises top, bottom and side faces and each side face has its coupling portion arranged so that when one coupling portion 63 - is connected with the coupling portion of another playing piece, top surfaces of adjacent non-engaging coupling portions are aligned in a row. 28. A playing piece according to any one of claims 23 to 27 wherein indicia located on respective faces are arranged to form predetermined configurations by permitting predetermined playing pieces to be connected together in accordance with the rules of a game. 29. A playing piece according to any one of claims 23 to 28 having a body in the form of a geometrical shape with equally sized faces. 30. A playing piece having a plurality of coupling portions and at least one indicia portion, the coupling portions and indicia portions being arranged so that an indicia on the indicia portion is visible and whereby connection of the playing piece with another playing piece does not hinder visibility of the indicia, each playing piece comprising a plurality of edge faces and at least one major face which comprises the indicia portion, each edge face having a respective coupling portion comprising either a male or female portion which is arranged to engage a matching coupling portion of another playing piece, at least one of the major faces having a coupling portion. 31. A playing piece as claimed in claim 30 wherein one major face of the playing piece excludes a coupling portion. 32. A playing piece according to claim 30 or 31 wherein at least one major face comprises male or female portions exclusively and adjacent female portions of major and edge faces are connected together by a channel. 33. A playing piece according to claim 30 wherein each coupling ortion is a female portion and playing pieces are arranged to be connected together with an interconnecting member. 34. A playing piece according to claim 30 wherein each female portion comprises a slot counter sunk perpendicular to its face of the playing piece and approximately midway along the length of the face, slots in edge faces and their adjacent slots in an adjacent major face being interconnected through a passage, whereby an interconnecting member having male portions at each end is arranged to be received in female portions of respective playing pieces to connect playing pieces together.

35. A playing piece according to claim 34 wherein the interconnecting member comprises flexible male portions which may be flexed to fit into female portions of a playing piece. 36. A playing piece according to claim 30 wherein each indicia of a playing piece determines which other playing piece the playing piece can be connected with.

37. A playing piece for a game, the playing piece comprising a body, a plurality of faces, a coupling portion on each face and an indicia portion on each face, each coupling portion comprising L-shaped members having either ridges or slots of a matching configuration to ridges or slots of the cube faces opposing inner faces of respective coupling portions, coupling portions of different playing pieces being releasably engagable with each other to oppose any moment applied about an axis perpendicular to the abutting faces of playing pieces when connected together.

38. An assembly for playing a game, the assembly comprising a plurality of playing pieces, each playing piece having at least one coupling portion and at least one indicia portion which is arranged to be connected with an indicia piece, the playing pieces being connectable and disconnectable together to form a plurality of branches lying in at least two planes, wherein in use aligned indicia portions 65 - of each playing piece in one branch are arranged to be connected with indicia pieces displaying an indicia, the indicia on aligned faces in a single branch being arranged to display a predetermined configuration in accordance with the rules of a game. 39. An assembly according to claim 38, wherein each indicia portion forms part of a respective one of the playing pieces. ^'40. An assembly according to claim 39, wherein the coupling portion is either a male or female portion of matching configuration and the indicia pieces comprise either a male or female connection portion of a matching configuration to the male or female portions of the coupling portion of each playing piece. 41. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 38 to 40 wherein a construction formed by connecting playing pieces together, is self-supporting. 42. An assembly as claimed in claim 41 wherein one connection between playing pieces, will support up to 30 other playing pieces in any orientation.

43. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 38 to 42 wherein playing pieces are connected together in an interference fit.

44. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 38 to 43, wherein arcuate indicia pieces are arranged to be coupled with indicia portions.