WO2006121328A1

WO2006121328A1 - Three-dimensional board game

Info

Publication number: WO2006121328A1
Application number: PCT/NL2006/000240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herman Johan Beeftink
Original assignee: Herman Johan Beeftink
Priority date: 2005-05-12
Filing date: 2006-05-05
Publication date: 2006-11-16
Also published as: NL1029027C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for playing a game. The system consists of a closed three-dimensional game body on which are situated a number of playing areas on which a number of playing positions are marked per playing area, and of game elements which can be situated at the playing positions. The game body can be for instance a sphere or a regular polyhedron on which the playing areas are designated. In a favourable variant the game body is provided with one or more internal playing positions for the game elements.

Description

THREE-DIMENSIONAL BOARD GAME

The invention relates to a system for playing a game, comprising a game body and one or more game elements, wherein the game body is provided on one or more surfaces thereof with a number of playing positions for placing of the game elements. Known systems of this type after instance the games of chess and draughts. A drawback of the known systems is that they present little challenge to a young audience and have therefore become less attractive.

The system according to the invention obviates this drawback by on the one hand using aspects of the known board games, whereby the basic principles of the game can be understood relatively easily, and on the other making relatively high demands of the spatial perception of the player. For this purpose the game body has an at least substantially closed three- dimensional form, preferably a known and clear stereometric figure, such as a sphere or a regular polyhedron, for instance a cube or a regular tetrahedron, the surface of which is provided with groups of playing positions. In the case of a tetrahedron the four side surfaces can then be allocated to four players who, using game elements initially situated on their side surface, can then attack the game elements of opponents, wherein predetermined game rules must of course be observed. A system of the above stated type is known from US 5,860,651 which describes a three-dimensional chessboard.

The invention has for its object to provide an alternative to the known system which is suitable for playing diverse games.

The system according to the invention has for this purpose the feature that the game body is manufactured from a transparent material. Owing to the transparent nature, game elements can also be observed on side surfaces not directed toward the player, which significantly simplifies exploration of for instance the diverse possible attack strategies. In addition, the transparent system provides the option of playing a wide variety of games with existing as well as new game rules.

In a first preferred embodiment each playing position comprises in a surface of the game body a recess or an opening which is suitable for at least partially receiving a game element. Game elements can then be pressed simply into such a recess or opening, whereby they are moreover readily visible when the relevant side surface is not directed toward the player.

In a further preferred embodiment the game body is further provided with one or more internal playing positions for the game elements, which internal playing positions are situated in the interior of the game body. The internal playing positions impart an added dimension to the system and open up the possibility of playing really three-dimensional games.

In an elegant embodiment the game body is provided with one or more passages for the game elements, which passages extend from a surface playing position. The interior of the game body can be reached via the passages. According to a practical development, each passage connects at least two surface playing positions on opposite surfaces of the game body. The internal playing positions are preferably situated at the intersection of two or more passages. In a favourable embodiment the game body comprises a regular polyhedron, the side surfaces of which are releasably attached to each other, whereby the game can be folded out and laid down on a flat surface. Side surfaces can then also be displaced, for instance in order to make a move more readily visible. In a favourable embodiment the game body is constructed from a number of modules for releasable connection. Putting together the game body in the correct manner represents a challenging extra game component.

According to another favourable embodiment, the system also comprises a shaft, two outer ends of which protrude from the game body via two corner points lying diagonally opposite each other. The system then preferably also comprises a support for supporting the two outer ends, whereby a player can rotate the game body such that, before making a move, he/she can work out precisely what the consequences thereof will be. The support can be embodied here such that in a position of use the game body can rotate around a horizontal axis or around a vertical axis. If the game is played with two players, it is generally advantageous to position the shaft horizontally, while if the game is played with three players a vertical shaft is more advantageous.

A very advantageous embodiment of the inventive system has the feature that the game body comprises a cube, six side surfaces of which are each provided with an equal number of surface playing positions. A cube realizes a clear surface which intuitively matches known board games and moreover makes it possible to play the game with two or with three persons. With two persons three side surfaces connecting to one corner point are for instance then allocated to the one player and the remaining side surfaces to the other player. In the case of three players each player receives for instance two side surfaces positioned opposite each other.

According to a further development of the cube-shaped game body, surface playing positions on opposite side surfaces of the cube are connected in pairs by means of passages, and internal playing positions are situated at the intersection of two or more passages, so that more complex board positions can be realized.

A further favourable embodiment has the feature that game elements are spherical, manufactured from a resilient material such as plastic. Game elements for different players can herein have different colours, as well as different types of game elements, such as the equivalent of a king in draughts.

The invention also relates to a game body or game elements as part of a system as described in the foregoing paragraphs. The invention also relates to a computer provided with a program suitable for simulating on a display a system as described in the foregoing paragraphs. The advantage here is that a computer can rotate the system in a manner self-evident to a skilled person, whereby interesting playing positions can be viewed optimally at any moment in time.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the following figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 A shows a possible embodiment of a game body according to the invention;

Fig. 1 B shows an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows a further alternative embodiment;

Fig. 3 shows a cube-shaped game body in more detail;

Fig. 4A shows schematically a game body disposed rotatably around a vertical shaft;

Fig. 4B shows schematically a game body disposed rotatably around a horizontal shaft;

Fig. 5 shows schematically a folded-out game body;

Fig. 6A shows in cross-section a possible embodiment of a game element according to the invention;

Fig. 6B shows an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 6C shows a further alternative embodiment;

Fig. 7A shows a game body with surface and internal playing positions;

Fig. 7B shows a detail of the game body of figure 7A; Fig. 8A shows a module of the game body of figure 7A; and

Fig. 8B shows four modules of figure 8A attached releasably to each other.

Fig. 1A shows a possible embodiment of a game body 1 according to the invention consisting of a spherical object manufactured from a transparent plastic, for instance polycarbonate, on which are marked a number of playing areas 2 on which are designated playing positions 3 in which or on which game elements 4 can be releasably attached. Game players are assigned one or more playing areas 2 and can place their game elements 4 thereon in accordance with certain game rules, whereafter the game can be played, wherein game elements 5 can be displaced within playing areas 2, but also between different playing areas, as indicated symbolically with arrows in the figure. The game elements of different players have different colours, whereby a good overview of the game situation can be obtained because game body 1 is transparent. It is also possible to assign game elements with different colours to a player, whereby it is possible to play with regular game elements and special game elements, analogously to for instance pieces and kings in the known game of draughts. Game body 1 has in this embodiment a diameter of for instance 20 cm, and is readily portable and can be used in situations where it is necessary to wait, such as in the back of a car or in the train and the like.

Fig. 1 B shows an alternative embodiment, wherein game body 1 is a cube consisting of six identical side surfaces 2a,2b,2c,2d,2e,2f, of which only side surface 2a is visible here, wherein the side surfaces form the same number of playing areas. The side surfaces are manufactured from a transparent plastic, for instance polycarbonate, the edges of which are mutually connected using a glue connection, and designated on each side surface are playing positions 3 in which or on which game elements 4 can be releasably attached. Game players are assigned one, two or three side surfaces 2 and can place their game elements 4 thereon in accordance with certain game rules, whereafter the game can be played, wherein game elements 4 can be displaced within playing areas 2, but also between different game vehicles, as indicated symbolically with arrows in the figure. The game rules may also allow game elements to be as it were displaced through game body 1 , for instance in order to take a piece at a corresponding playing position on another playing area. The game elements of different players have different colours, whereby a good overview of the game situation can be obtained because game body 1 is transparent. It is also possible to assign game elements with different colours to a player, whereby it is possible to play with regular game elements and special game elements, analogously to for instance pieces and kings in the known game of draughts. The edges of game body 1 have in this embodiment a length of for instance 50 cm, which means that it will be mainly used indoors, wherein the relatively large dimensions of game body 1 and game elements 4 make the game readily manageable so that children and older people can also handle the game well. Fig. 2 shows a further alternative embodiment, wherein game body 1 is a tetrahedron consisting of four identical side surfaces 2a,2b,2c₍2d, of which only side surface 2a is visible here, wherein the side surfaces also form the same number of playing areas. The side surfaces are manufactured from a transparent plastic, for instance polycarbonate, the edges of which are mutually connected using a glue connection, and on each side surface are designated playing positions 3 in which or on which game elements 4 can be releasably attached. Game players are allocated one or two side surfaces 2 and can place their game elements 4 thereon in accordance with certain game rules, whereafter the game can be played, wherein game elements 4 can be displaced within playing areas 2, but also between different playing areas, as indicated symbolically with arrows in the figure. The game elements of different players have different colours, whereby a good overview of the game situation can be obtained because game body 1 is transparent. It is also possible to assign game elements with different colours to a player, whereby it is possible to play with regular game elements and special game elements, analogously to for instance pieces and kings in the known game of draughts.

Fig. 3 shows in more detail a cube-shaped game body 1 , of which side surfaces 2a, 2b, 2c are visible, with playing positions 3 in which or on which game elements 4 can be releasably attached. Side surfaces 2a, 2b, 2c and side surfaces 2d,2e,2f (not shown in the figure) are manufactured from a transparent plastic, for instance polycarbonate, and the edges of the side surfaces are glued together with glue connections 5. Side surfaces 2d,2e,2f are in fact hereby visible, as are the game elements attached thereto, which greatly enhances the overall view of the game. Embodied relatively small, game body 1 can be held in one hand, while the other hand for instance makes a move by displacing a game element and possibly removing game elements of an opponent. Embodied relatively large, game body 1 can be provided with a shaft 6 mounted at two corner points diagonally opposite each other, whereby the game body can be rotated into a desired position.

Fig. 4A shows schematically a game body 1 disposed rotatably around a vertical shaft. This position is very favourable when a game is played with three people, who are each assigned two opposite sides surfaces. It is then readily possible for a player to rotate his/her own side surface toward him/her and then for instance consider how the side surfaces of the opponents can be attacked from this side surface. In the shown embodiment shaft 6 is mounted rotatably in a manner self-evident to the skilled person in a base 7. Fig. 4B shows schematically a game body disposed rotatably around a horizontal shaft. This position is very favourable when a game is played with two people, who are each assigned three connected side surfaces. It is then possible to take a seat at a corner point where all three sides surfaces come together, and then consider for instance how the side surfaces of the opponent can be attacked from these three side surfaces. In the shown embodiment shaft 6 is mounted rotatably in a manner self-evident to a skilled person in two legs 8a, 8b, which are in turn mounted in a base 7.

Fig. 5 shows schematically a folded-out game body 1 which corresponds with the game body shown in fig. 1 B₁ but wherein the edges of the different side surfaces 2a,2b,2c,2d,2e,2f are fastened releasably to each other. The advantage is that the game can now be played lying on a table, thereby corresponding to existing board games. If a player considers moving a piece 4 to the left in the figure, it may then be advantageous to release side surface 2a and displace it in the manner indicated with an arrow such that side surface 2a connects to side surface 2d. It is useful here, in order to prevent mistakes, to provide the edges of the side surfaces with a code, for instance a colour code, which ensures that side surfaces are always connected to each other in the prescribed manner.

Fig. 6A shows in cross-section a possible embodiment of a game element 4 according to the invention. Game element 4 consists of a disc-like part 9 and a pin 10 which can be pressed into an opening 11 in side surface 2 forming a playing position. The game element is preferably manufactured from a resilient plastic whereby, once placed, it will not fall out of opening 11. Fig. 6B shows an alternative embodiment wherein game element 4 is a ball which is manufactured from a plastic and the diameter of which is chosen such that it can be pressed with some force into opening 11 , and does not then fall out of this opening. Fig. 6C shows a further alternative embodiment wherein game element 4 consists of a disc-like steel plate 12 which can be placed on a magnet 13 forming a playing position. Magnet 13 is herein mounted flush in side surface 2.

Fig. 7A shows in more detail a cube-shaped game body 100 which is manufactured from a transparent plastic, for instance polycarbonate.

Situated on the six side surfaces 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e and 102f of cube 100 are surface playing positions 103 in which game elements 104 can be releasably attached. Each surface playing position 103 comprises a recess or an opening in a surface of game body 100 which is suitable for receiving a game element 104. In the shown embodiment each side surface is provided with sixteen playing positions which are ordered in four rows and four columns.

One or more internal playing positions 103 for the game elements are situated in the interior of game body 100. These internal playing positions can be reached by means of passages 105 which extend from a surface playing position. Each passage 105 connects at least two surface playing positions 103 on opposite sides surfaces 102 of game body 100. The internal playing positions 103 are situated at the intersection of two or more passages 105. This is illustrated in figure 7B showing a detail of game body 100 of figure 7A. Here is shown that passage 105-1 connects the surface playing positions 103a and 103d which lie directly opposite each other on the respective sides surfaces 102a and 102d. In similar manner passage 105-2 connects the surface playing positions 103b and 103e which lie directly opposite each other on the respective sides surfaces 102b and 102e. Passage 105-3 connects surface playing positions 103c and 103f which lie directly opposite each other on the respective sides surfaces 102c and 102f. An internal playing position 103i is located at the intersection of passages 105-1 , 105-2 and 105-3. In order to position a game element 104 at the internal playing position 103i an auxiliary means can if desired be used that is suitable for insertion into one of the passages 105-1 , 105-2 and 105-3 in order to displace the game element.

Game body 100 can be constructed in modular manner from a number of modules for releasable connection. For the cube-shaped game body 100 of figure 7A the modules can have the form such as module 101 shown in figure 8A. Fig. 8B shows four modules 101 of figure 8A attached releasably to each other. Each module 101 is provided with connecting means 106 and 107 which are adapted for co-action. Connecting means 106 can for instance be of the insertion type and connecting means 107 of the receiving type, or vice versa. The form of modules 101 is chosen such that four connected modules enclose a part of a passage 105. It is noted that a skilled person in the field, after reading the foregoing, can subdivide the game body according to the invention into modules for releasable connection according to his own judgment, wherein the number and the form of the modules can be freely chosen.

It is noted for the sake of completeness that within the framework of the present invention each game body can be provided with a freely chosen number of playing positions. The number of playing positions will generally be adapted to the game rules, taking into account the intended complexity of the game.

Finally, the invention is expressly not limited to the shown preferred embodiments, but extends to all embodiments which fall within the sought scope of protection as stated in the claims, viewed in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Claims

1. System for playing a game, comprising a game body and one or more game elements, which game body has an at least substantially closed three- dimensional form and is provided on one or more surfaces thereof with a number of playing positions for placing of the game elements, characterized in that the game body is manufactured from a transparent material.

2. System as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each surface playing position comprises in a surface of the game body a recess or an opening which is suitable for at least partially receiving a game element.

3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the game body is further provided with one or more internal playing positions for the game elements, which internal playing positions are situated in the interior of the game body.

4. System as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the game body is provided with one or more passages for the game elements, which passages extend from a surface playing position.

5. System as claimed in claim 4, wherein each passage connects at least two surface playing positions on opposite surfaces of the game body.

6. System as claimed in claim 4 or 5, referring to claim 3, wherein the internal playing positions are situated at the intersection of two or more passages.

7. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the game body comprises a regular polyhedron, the side surfaces of which are releasably attached to each other.

8. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the game body is constructed from a number of modules for releasable connection.

9. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the system also comprises a shaft, the two outer ends of which protrude from the game body via two comer points lying diagonally opposite each other.

10. System as claimed in claim 9, wherein the system also comprises a support for supporting the two outer ends.

11. System as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support is embodied such that in a position of use the game body can rotate around a horizontal axis or around a vertical axis.

12. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the game body comprises a cube, six side surfaces of which are each provided with an equal number of surface playing positions.

13. System as claimed in claim 12, wherein surface playing positions on opposite side surfaces of the cube are connected in pairs by means of passages, and wherein internal playing positions are situated at the intersection of two or more passages.

14. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the game elements are spherical, manufactured from a resilient material.

15. Game body or game elements as part of a system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims.

16. Computer, provided with a program, suitable for simulating on a display a system as claimed in any of the claims 1-14.