WO2013084003A1

WO2013084003A1 - Die with interchangeable faces

Info

Publication number: WO2013084003A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/053058
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas Mark Ellis
Original assignee: PRIESTLEY, Andrew James
Priority date: 2011-12-07
Filing date: 2012-12-07
Publication date: 2013-06-13
Also published as: GB201121022D0

Abstract

A die for playing a game is provided. The die includes a plurality of panels (2), wherein each panel includes a display portion (4) displaying a particular aspect or effect relating to the game, and wherein the panels are interchangeable.

Description

Die with interchangeable faces

The invention to which this application relates is a cube or die structure with interchangeable faces, provided for playing a game.

Although the following description refers almo st exclusively to a die comprising a cube with six faces, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the die can comprise any number of faces to form other shapes.

Typically dice are three dimensional solid obj ects with particular shapes, most commonly cubes with six faces. The displays on each face, such as numbers, are fixed, so there is no way of changing the display or covering the existing display with an alternative display.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a die with interchangeable panels to allow a game to be played by throwing the same, the play being determined by the displays on the panels.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a die for playing a game, said die including a plurality of panels, each panel including a display portion displaying a particular aspect or effect relating to the game, characterised in that said panels are interchangeable.

In one embodiment each panel is provided with engaging means and/or locating means to allow the panels to be interengaged.

Typically the engaging means and the locating means are provided in the form of one or more tabs on opposing sides of each panel. Typically the engaging means and the locating means are extensions of the display portion and are distinguished from the same by a fold.

Alternatively the engaging means and the locating means are separately connected to each panel by any or any combination of adhesive, tape, grips, clips, holes, protrusions, and/or the like.

Typically each engaging means and locating means are moveable between a first flat position in which the same are substantially in the same plane as the plane of the display portion, and a second folded position in which the same are substantially perpendicular to the display portion.

In one embodiment the locating means of a first panel are provided with an aperture or slit for receiving the engaging means of at least a second panel.

In one embodiment the engaging means includes releasing means subdivided from the engaging means.

Typically the releasing means is in the form of a tab extended from the display portion without a fold therein.

Thus as the engaging means is moved to the second folded position perpendicular to the display portion, the releasing means remains in the same plane as the display portion.

Typically the panel includes one or more recesses adjacent the locating means to allow a user to actuate the releasing means.

In one embodiment the panel includes one or more slits adjacent the engaging means and/or releasing means. The recess is designed to allow a user to position a finger tip therein and move the panels apart, the slits adjacent the engaging means and/or releasing means allowing movement of a portion of the panels to allow the release of the engagement means from the corresponding slit in the locating means.

Preferably the panels are manufactured from a flexible or pliable material.

Typically six panels are interengaged to form a cube-like structure.

Typically, any panel can be interchanged to allow a different display portion to be presented.

In one embodiment the panels are attached to a base or frame rather than to each other but again can be interchangeable as required with respect to the base or frame. In this embodiment the display portion of the panels form the external surface of the cube or die.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of constructing a cube for playing a game, including providing a plurality of panels, each panel including a display portion describing a particular aspect or effect relating to the game, each panel provided with engaging means, said engaging means allowing adjacent panels to be placed together to form the outer face of said cube, characterised in that the engaging means are releasable to allow the panels to be interchanged to allow the selection of display portions to be displayed on said cube. In one embodiment each panel display portion includes slits and nonfolding tabs to allow movement of the area defined by the same to allow release of panels from the die.

Typically each display portion displays any or any combination of value, effect, characteristic and/or the like.

Thus, as the panels are changed in the die, the effect of the same may be changed when playing the game.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described wherein: -

Figure 1 illustrates a panel used in constructing a die in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a die constructed from six panels to form a cube in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates characteristics that may be indicated by a plurality of panels.

With reference to Figure 1 , there is illustrated a panel 2 with a square central area forming a display portion 4. Locating means are provided in the form of two tabs 6 on opposite sides of the panel 2, extended from the display portion 4 and differentiated from the display portion 4 by a fold line 8. The locating tabs 6 can fold along the fold lines 8 from a flat position planar with the display portion 4 to a folded po sition perpendicular to the display portion 4.

The panel is provided with locating slits 10 for receiving the engaging means of another panel 2', in the form of tabs 12. The locating slits 10 are provided along part of the fold lines 8. The engaging tabs 12 are extended from the display portion 4 and differentiated from the display portion 4 by fold lines 14. The engaging tabs 12 can fold along the fold lines 14 from a flat position planar with the display portion 4 to a folded position perpendicular to the display portion 4.

The engaging tabs 12 is cut to form a releasing tab 16 which remains planar to the display portion 4 when the tabs 12 are folded. However, the face also includes releasing slits 1 8 such that the releasing tabs 16 can be lifted above the plane of the display portion 4.

The panels 2 are made from a sufficiently flexible material that allows the locating and engaging tabs 6, 12 to be folded without breaking the same, the releasing tabs 16 to bend a portion of the display portion 4 as described, while still retaining some resilience to prevent the panel 2 from deforming too far due to such movements. Polypropylene or other similar materials are suitable.

The panel 2 also includes D-shaped cutouts or recesses 20 to allow a user to insert the engaging tab 12 or ej ect the releasing tab 16 more easily.

With reference to figure 2, several panels are shown connected together to form a cube. Each panel 2, 2', 2" is perpendicularly connected to four other panels by engagement of the engaging tabs 12 with the locating slits 10 as hereinbefore described.

To release a panel 2" from the cube, a user can insert a finger into a recess 20' provided in an adjacent panel 2', and pull on the adjacent tab 16". This has the effect of bending a portion of the display portion 4" and allows the engaging tab 12" to be released from the corresponding locating slit 10'. The opposing engaging tab 12" can be released in the same way. Once the engaging tabs 12" have been released, the panel 2" is sufficiently flexible to allow the same to be pulled out. Thus the tabs flex the display portion 4" and provide the user with grips to allow the panel 2" to be removed.

The cubes are provided to allow the user to play a game, where each display portion 4 represents particular characteristics, for example as indicated by Figure 3. U sers take it in turns to throw the cubes, and then a specified display portion is examined on each cube to determine the winner, in accordance with the aforementioned characteristics. The users can then reconfigure the cubes in accordance with the rules of the game, by interchanging the panels 2 as hereinbefore described.

The die thus formed in accordance with the present invention there provides improvement to conventional dice and games . Conventional games include trading card games which have become popular in recent times, and typically include sets of cards, each card including specific characteristics or attributes to describe one or more effects of playing the same in a particular round. In a game, two or more users may selectively play their cards against each other, the aforementioned effects determining who wins the round and/or game. Typically, each user will construct a deck of cards, and to play the game, draws a small number of cards from the deck to create a hand. During play of the game, each user can select the mo st appropriate card to play during a round to try and win the round. However, this is a relatively static means of playing the game, and there is little physical movement of the cards other than from the user's hands to the playing area. In accordance with the present invention and using the die there can be provided a new form of game described as follows. Each display portion displays a character or obj ect with an as sociated attack and defence score. The players take it in turns to attack and defend, and must use the respective scores in accordance with their mode of turn.

There are four fighting levels for both attack and defence modes represented by the display portions; 1 : weapons, 2: troops, 3: buildings, 4: mechanical. A die is constructed from any combination of panels, except that for any given level and mode described above, panels representing each of the lower levels in the same mode must be present. At least one panel representing each mode must also be present. For example, for panel representing a fighting level of 4 to be present, each of the 3 lower levels must also be present, together with at least level 1 of the opposite mode.

To start, each player shuffles their panels, cuts the pack and takes the top one. The scores from attack and defence are added together and the person with the highest overall score goes first.

To play, each player constructs a die from their panels, and the first player throws the same to attack. The top display portion indicates a particular attack score. The second player defends by throwing their die and the top display portion indicates a particular defence score. If the attack score is greater than the defence score, the defender removes the losing panel from the game and replaces it with an alternative. The dies are thrown again in a similar fashion, until the defence score is greater than the attack score, at which point the attacker removes the losing panel from the game and replaces it with an alternative, and the roles are reversed, the defender now becoming the attacker. Play continues until the defender runs out of panels, or one player surrenders.

Alternatively, the game can be played by simply taking it in turns to reveal individual panels and comparing the attack score of the first player's panel with the defence score of the second player's panel, in a similar fashion to that described above.

Thus there is provided an invention where a die can be adapted to suit particular purposes such as, for example, to allow the same to be adapted for use during the play of a game as herein described.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention also includes further additional modifications made to the device which does not effect the overall functioning of the device, such as the provision of decoration, a fabric, or plastic covering to provide improved aesthetic appearance, and/ or the like.

Claims

1. A die for playing a game, said die including a plurality of panels, each panel including a display portion displaying a particular aspect or effect relating to the game, characterised in that said panels are interchangeable.

2. A die according to claim 1 , wherein each panel is provided with engaging means and/or locating means to allow the panels to be interengaged.

3. A die according to claim 2, wherein the engaging means and/or locating means are provided in the form of one or more tabs on opposing sides of each panel.

4. A die according to claim 2, wherein the engaging means and/or locating means are extensions of the display portion and are distinguished from the same by a fold.

5. A die according to claim 2, wherein the engaging means and/or locating means are separately connected to each panel by any or any combination of adhesive, tape, grips, clips, holes, protrusions, and/or the like.

6. A die according to claim 2, wherein each engaging means and/or locating means are moveable between a first flat position in which the same are substantially in the same plane as the plane of the display portion, and a second folded position in which the same are substantially perpendicular to the display portion.

7. A die according to claim 2, wherein the locating means of a first panel are provided with an aperture or slit for receiving the engaging means of at least a second panel.

8. A die according to claim 2, wherein the engaging means includes releasing means subdivided from the engaging means.

9. A die according to claim 8, wherein the releasing means is in the form of a tab extended from the display portion without a fold therein.

10. A die according to claim 8, wherein at least one panel includes one or more reces ses adjacent the locating means to allow a user to actuate the releasing means.

1 1. A die according to claim 10, wherein the at least one panel includes one or more slits adjacent the engaging means and/or releasing means.

12. A die according to claim 1 , wherein the panels are manufactured from a flexible or pliable material.

13. A die according to claim 1 , wherein six panels are interengaged to form a cube-like structure.

14. A die according to claim 1 , wherein any panel can be interchanged to allow a different display portion to be presented.

15. A die according to claim 1 , wherein the panels are attached to base or frame means.

16. A die according to claim 1 5, wherein the panels are interchangeable as required with respect to the base or frame means.

17. A die according to claim 16, wherein the display portions of the panels form the external surface of the cube or die.

18. A method of constructing a cube for playing a game, including providing a plurality of panels, each panel including a display portion describing a particular aspect or effect relating to the game, each panel provided with engaging means, said engaging means allowing adjacent panels to be placed together to form the outer face of said cube, characterised in that the engaging means are releasable to allow the panels to be interchanged to allow the selection of display portions to be displayed on said cube.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein each panel display portion includes a plurality of slits and non-folding tabs to allow movement of the area defined by the same to allow release of panels from the die.

20. A method according to claim 1 8, wherein each display portion displays any or any combination of value, effect, characteristic and/or the like.

21. A method according to claim 1 8, wherein as the panels are changed in the die, the effect of the same may be changed when playing the game.