WO2021160225A1

WO2021160225A1 - Mechanical randomiser for a game and use of a randomiser of this type

Info

Publication number: WO2021160225A1
Application number: PCT/DE2021/200009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Bauer
Original assignee: Michael Bauer
Priority date: 2020-02-12
Filing date: 2021-02-01
Publication date: 2021-08-19
Also published as: DE112021000988A5; DE102020103578A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical randomiser for a game, comprising a ball store for accommodating at least two balls, wherein the ball store has at least one mixing volume required for randomising the balls and the at least two balls have two different colours; an arranging device having a connection to the mixing volume, wherein the arranging device is designed and configured to arrange at least one ball, wherein the respective at least one ball is randomly selected from the at least two balls; and an opening, which is assigned to the arranging device, such that ball arranged in the arranging device can be read; wherein a mechanically actuatable cover device assigned to the opening and for covering and revealing the at least one ball arranged in the arranging device is also provided, and the invention also relates to the use of a randomiser.

Description

Mechanical random number generator for a game and the use of such a random number generator

The invention relates to a mechanical random number generator for a game and a use of such a random number generator.

Mechanical random number generators are known in the prior art. A random generator, also known as a random number generator, is a device or a method that generates a sequence of random numbers, for example a cube. The range from which the random numbers are generated depends on the specific random number generator. A mechanical random number generator is a special case of a physical random number generator which uses physical processes to generate random numbers. A field of application of random generators or random numbers that is known in the prior art is games, in particular role-playing games and games of chance.

DE 854 913 B discloses a game device in which balls form a random sequence in a roof-shaped, obliquely inclined magazine chamber, as well as a container placed on the magazine chamber, openings being made in the magazine chamber through which the balls can be read and the Container with adjoining chambers can be designed in the form of a table bell. In FR 753 704 A, a construction of a prismatic box open at both ends with a rectangular opening at one end and on one long side is shown, in which a transparent glass or another transparent material is embedded, which is also the A view of the objects facing the opening and placed inside, in particular balls, is allowed, with a bottomless part of the opening of the box being closed by means of another box and the exact position of the balls in front of the opening being limited by a transverse partition.

DE 36 14 822 A1 discloses a flat box with separate shafts with which a user can specify possible combinations of numbers or symbols for a game, with number tiles having enough space inside the box to be shaken by the user through special To be swirled around deflection webs, then the numerical value plates each fall into a chute to be read there by means of a slot in the cover.

[06] The device of DE 37 22 430 Al is used for the possible determination of numerical value, symbol or color combinations with platelets in the interior of a device box, which can be provided with numerical values as well as symbols or with a color code essentially box-shaped device has a window in the cover for reading the values by means of a slot, while the interior of the box is equipped with deflector corners and deflector web. A random number generator shown in DE 83 23 391 Ul with a cavity used as a storage container has a tubular, transparent extension which, as soon as it is directed downwards, a number of balls arranged one behind the other, by means of which numbers of a bet are easy can be obtained as a random result, wherein the tubular extension of the hollow body can be extended telescopically and has an adjusting screw for closing the shaft.

US 5 335 912 A discloses a random number generator comprising a bottle having a main body, a bottom wall and a neck which is integrally formed with the main body; a predetermined plurality of numbered balls loosely received in the main body so that the balls may be randomly mixed up when the bottle is shaken or turned over; a flexible boot element with an elongated, cylindrical configuration, in which the balls fall into the bottle neck after the bottle is turned over, the bottle neck being able to accommodate the more balls the further it is pulled out.

[09] The object of the present invention is to improve the state of the art. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical random number generator which is small and handy, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate; in particular, the generation of the random result of the random number generator should be simple, fast and reliable be feasible. Another object of the invention is in particular that the random result of the random generator can be displayed quickly and easily. Furthermore, the random number generator should in particular offer the possibility of displaying game-relevant information, with the information being easy to display and being able to be changed quickly. Furthermore, it is particularly an object to provide a random number generator in which an already generated random number is only displayed at a later point in time or in which a random number is revealed step by step so that it is initially completely unknown and finally completely known.

[10] The object is achieved by a mechanical random generator for a game, having a ball storage device for receiving at least two balls, the ball storage device having at least one mixing volume necessary for randomizing the balls and the at least two balls having two different colors; an arrangement device with a connection to the mixing volume, the arrangement device being designed and set up to arrange at least one ball, the at least one ball being selected at random from the at least two balls; and an opening which is assigned to the arrangement device, so that the ball arranged in the arrangement device can be read; a mechanically actuatable uncovering device assigned to the opening for opening and closing Concealment of the at least one ball arranged in the arrangement device.

The random generator according to the invention advantageously ensures that a sequence of random values can be generated quickly and easily with the aid of a small, handy device.

[12] In stochastics, a variable whose value depends on chance is also called random variable, random variable, random variable, random variable, stochastic variable or stochastic variable. Formally, a random variable is an assignment rule that assigns a variable to each possible result of a random experiment. If this quantity is a number, one speaks of a random number.

[13] The following terms should be explained in advance:

[14] A “ball” should be understood to mean a ball-shaped object which can be used in a mechanical apparatus and which can move, in particular roll or shift, in such an apparatus.

[15] A "ball reservoir" should be understood to mean a device in which at least one ball can be temporarily stored. Preferably, a ball reservoir can be a volume defined by a border. Furthermore, the ball reservoir can have a reversibly closable opening. A core idea of the invention is that a mechanical random number generator can be implemented with the aid of at least two balls having different colors, which are stored in a ball memory and can be displayed to a user in an arrangement device, in the sense that the The sequence of the colors of the balls from the first to the last arranged ball results in a random sequence.

A further core idea of the invention is in particular that an initially generated random sequence can only be uncovered at a later point in time by means of the uncovering device. Here, in particular, step-by-step uncovering is also made possible, so that, for example, two balls are uncovered at a first point in time and further balls are uncovered at a later point in time. A random number is generated, which becomes more specific step by step through an uncovering process.

[18] Thus, the mechanically operated revealing device for a game can be used to sequentially display the randomly arranged balls. The mechanically actuatable uncovering device can have a linearly displaceable, in particular strip-shaped, cover which is suitable for covering at least one ball of the balls arranged in the arrangement device.

[19] The mixing volume of the ball reservoir can be connected to the arrangement device through an opening which is at least as large as the diameter of the balls is so that the ball can pass through the opening in the arrangement device, in particular can fall. In particular, if the ball storage device is formed by a box element or a cylinder element, the ball storage device can be connected directly to the arrangement device on an underside which is directed towards the arrangement device. The box element or the cylinder element form part of the housing of the random number generator. It is thus possible, for example, to dispense with a partition between the mixing volume of the ball accumulator and the arrangement device, since the underside of the ball accumulator is closed off by the arrangement device.

In one embodiment, the random number generator can have two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more balls. This allows a sufficiently large number of random events to be generated so that the statistics are sufficiently good.

In order to ensure that the balls can be manufactured easily, a ball can have or consist of metal, glass, plastic or wood as material.

[22] To produce random results with multiple results, the balls stored in the ball memory can be two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more different colors. In the case of two different colors, a binary random sequence is generated. If the balls are more than two have different colors, the random values can assume more than two different values.

In a further embodiment, the random number generator has several arrangement devices, the arrangement devices each being aligned horizontally, obliquely or vertically with respect to one another.

[24] The balls are preferably arranged along a row within the arrangement device. According to another embodiment, the balls are arranged in at least two rows running parallel to one another by a corresponding alignment of the arrangement devices. Other arrangements of the balls can also be implemented by aligning the arrangement devices accordingly. When the random generator is used as intended, the balls are arranged parallel to one side of a housing of the random generator. The balls are preferably arranged horizontally by the corresponding arrangement devices.

In a further embodiment, the random number generator has a plurality of openings, each of the openings being assigned to at least one of the arrangement devices. This enables the user to view several balls arranged in a stack within the random number generator. Using multiple openings avoids using an opening that is larger than a single sphere to view multiple spheres. This could otherwise the balls will fall out through the opening or the stability of the random number generator will be restricted.

In order to cover several openings, the random number generator has in particular several mechanically actuatable uncovering devices, each of the uncovering devices being assigned to the opening or to one of the openings. Thus, by using multiple uncovering devices, the balls of more than one row or more than one column can be displayed sequentially.

In a further embodiment, the ball storage device is designed to accommodate at least as many balls as can be arranged by means of the arrangement device. Mixing is thus facilitated, since the mixing can take place predominantly or exclusively in the volume of the ball accumulator.

According to yet another embodiment, a volume of the random generator is greater than a volume of the densest ball packing of the balls present in the random generator, so that the balls stored in the random generator can be arranged at random by shaking. This feature ensures, for example, that the balls can mix within the random number generator, so that a random arrangement of the balls is created. In particular, a volume of the ball accumulator is greater than a volume of the closest packing of the balls present in the ball accumulator, so that the in Balls stored balls can be randomly arranged by shaking them.

[29] Furthermore, a separating device can be arranged between the ball storage device and the arrangement device. The separating device is located, for example, between a reversibly closable opening, for example a door, of the ball reservoir and a side, for example an entrance of the arrangement device.

[30] In order to be able to generate and read off a random variable of a specific length, the arrangement device or the arrangement devices are designed for the arrangement of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more balls.

In a further embodiment, the arrangement device or the arrangement devices is or are designed in the shape of a shaft or hose and has or have such a circumference that the balls can only be arranged in a stack within the arrangement device or the arrangement devices, so that a within the arrangement device or the arrangement devices Arranging the balls in a row of balls is forced and the balls within the arrangement device or the arrangement devices each have only one degree of freedom of translation.

[32] "One degree of freedom of translation" means that a sphere can be moved along one orientation, ie in one direction and in the opposite direction is. The arrangement devices are in particular parallel to one another. Furthermore, the arrangement device or the arrangement devices can each be configured straight.

[33] In order to be able to read several rows at the same time, the opening or the openings are in each case oriented obliquely or transversely to the arrangement device or arrangements. By reading a random variable formed from spheres that are part of multiple rows, a higher degree of randomization is provided.

In a further embodiment, the mechanically actuatable uncovering device or at least one of the mechanically actuable uncovering devices has a linearly displaceable, in particular strip-shaped, cover which is suitable for covering at least one ball in the arrangement device with the uncovering device in which the ball is arranged.

In order to achieve increased ease of use, the sliding cover or covers are made of a flexible material and a housing of the random generator has a cover holder, the cover holder being oriented such that when the ball is uncovered, the sliding cover or the sliding covers can be pushed into the cover receptacle or are. Thus, a random number generator can be provided with a sliding cover, in which the cover after the Uncovering does not protrude from the housing, but is picked up by the random generator itself.

In a further embodiment, the linearly displaceable cover or one of the linearly displaceable covers is assigned a detent and the random number generator has a counter-detent, the counter-detent being spaced along an opening direction of the linearly displaceable cover with a detent on the housing that a stepwise , latching uncovering of the opening is made possible. In particular, a detent prevents further balls from being unintentionally uncovered by accidental movement or inclination of the random generator.

[37] For example, the linearly displaceable cover is guided in a rail, for example, the cover being able to be latched in in particular in at least two different positions.

[38] To display game-relevant information, the random number generator preferably has at least one display device.

In a further aspect of the invention, the object can be achieved by using the random generator described above, a random decision in the course of the game being decided by a result of the random generator. For example, the game is a strategy game, a role-playing game, in particular a fantasy role-playing game, and / or a tabletop game. [40] Under a tabletop or

A tabletop game is a strategy game system in which miniature figures, e.g. tin or plastic figures, are played on a surface, in particular a table surface. The playing area is often designed with so-called pieces of terrain, such as hills, forests, ruins. Tabletop games can be classified in the field of conflict simulation games.

In a further embodiment, mixing of the

Balls happen, for example, that the balls contained in the arrangement device are removed from the arrangement device by tilting the random number generator and they roll into the ball storage device so that all the balls of the random number generator in the

Ball storage are. In this situation, the balls can be mixed inside the ball accumulator, in particular the opening of the ball accumulator is closed. To then insert a random sequence of balls into the

To bring the arrangement device, the opening can be opened again, so that the balls can be moved by moving the

Random generator are brought from the ball memory in the arrangement device.

[42] The invention is further illustrated by FIG

Embodiments explained. Show it

Figure 1 is a front view of a mechanical

Random device; and

Figure 2 is a rear view of the mechanical

Random device, the back wall is removed to show the interior of the random device.

A mechanical random number generator 100 has inside a housing 102 a ball storage 110, a plurality of balls 120 with two different colors and several columnar ball seats 142 for receiving the balls 120 to be arranged, so that in the columnar ball seats 142 located balls 120 only one Have degrees of freedom of translation, ie they can only move up or down. A cavity of the ball accumulator 110 is delimited by an inclined rear wall (not shown), so that the cavity is enlarged.

[44] On a front side of the random number generator 100 there is an arrangement area 130 for displaying randomly selected balls 120 and a mechanically actuatable open and top area 150 for uncovering and concealing the arranged balls 120. The columnar ball seats 142 are arranged in the arrangement area 130 in the interior of the housing, so that when the top and top area 150 is open, the balls 120 in the columnar ball seats 142 can be inspected via openings 132.

The width of the respective columnar ball receptacles 142, which are connected to the ball storage device 110, is designed such that one ball can be inserted from the ball storage device 110. In terms of height, the respective columnar spherical receptacles 142 are like this designed so that five balls 120 can be stacked on top of one another.

In the present case, the balls 120 have two different colors. In an alternative, the balls 120 are ten different colors.

[47] On the front of the random device 100, a plurality of display clips 160 are provided in an upper right half. These display clips 160 can be clipped in and out of rails 163 and are used to display game-related information, for example scores, such as points or other properties, such as equipment or special items, of players or characters. In addition, an exchangeable large-area display field 161 is provided on the front side of the random device 100 in the upper left half, which, for example, serves as a character field.

[48] In a lower half of the front of the random device 100, display clips 165 are provided on a left and right side, which, for example, depict a player.

[49] Between these display clips 165 four horizontal openings 132 are introduced, which can each be opened and closed by means of guided slides 167 on which a cover tape 152 is arranged by horizontal (left / right) movement. When the slide 167 is in an open position, balls 120 underneath are visible to a viewer. The masking tape 152 covers a part of the columnar spherical receptacles 142 for an observer.

In the interior of the housing 102, the cover tape 152 is guided on a rear wall of the housing 102, so that the cover tape 152 has sufficient space when the slide 152 is fully open.

[51] For the respective cover strips 152 and the associated slide 167, locking receptacles (not shown) are provided so that the respective cover strips 152 and the associated slide 167 can be locked at several points so that an integer number of balls or no ball are visible or is. In the latching position located furthest to the left, no balls 120 are visible in the respective horizontal opening 132. If a slide is moved to the right, the randomly selected balls 120 appear one after the other in the opened opening 132.

The following mode of operation can be implemented with the mechanical random number generator 100. By tilting the random generator 100 so that an upper side of the random generator 100 is closer to the center of gravity of the earth, it is achieved that all balls 120 are removed from the columnar ball receptacles 142 and roll into the ball storage 110 so that all balls 120 of the random generator are located 100 are located in ball storage 110. In this position, the balls 120 are mixed in the ball storage 110 by shaking the housing 102, whereby they experience a random arrangement. [53] A subsequent, repeated tilting of the

Random generator 100, so that the lower side of random generator 100 is closer to the center of gravity of the earth, causes some of the balls 120 from the ball storage 110 to roll into the columnar ball seats 142, so that the balls 120 arranged in columnar ball seats 142 have. Through a

When the slide 167 is pushed open by three locking units, the visible balls 120 reproduce a random result.

List of reference symbols

100 mechanical random number generator

102 housing

110 ball storage

120 bullet

130 arrangement area

132 opening

140 ball seats

150 Top and top area

152 masking tape

160 display clip

161 display panel 163 rails 165 display clips 167 slide

Claims

Patent claims:

A mechanical random number generator (100) for a game, comprising: a ball storage (110) for receiving at least two balls (120), the ball storage (110) having at least one mixing volume necessary for randomizing the balls (120) and the at least two Balls (120) have two different colors; an arrangement device (142) with a connection to the mixing volume, the arrangement device (142) being designed and set up to arrange at least one ball (120), the at least one ball (120) being selected at random from the at least two balls (120) ; and an opening (132) which the

Arrangement device (142) is assigned, so that the ball (120) arranged in the arrangement device (142) can be read; characterized by a mechanically actuatable uncovering device (150) assigned to the opening (132) for

Uncovering and concealing the at least one ball (120) arranged in the arrangement device (142).

2. random generator (100) according to claim 1, characterized by two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more balls (120).

3. random generator (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the balls (120) have two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more colors.

4. Random generator (100) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized by several

Placement devices (142), wherein the

Arrangement devices (142) to each other in particular are aligned horizontally, obliquely or vertically.

5. random generator (100) according to claim 4, characterized by a plurality of openings (132), wherein each of the openings (132) in each case at least one of the

Arranging devices (142) is assigned.

6. random generator (100) according to claim 4 or claim

5, characterized by a plurality of mechanically actuatable uncovering devices (150), each of the

Uncovering devices (150) each associated with the opening (132) or one of the openings (132).

7. Random generator (100) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the

Ball storage (110) is designed to receive at least as many balls (120) as can be arranged by means of the arrangement device (142).

8. Random generator (100) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the

Placement device (142) or the

Arranging devices (142) is or are designed for arranging two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more balls (120).

9. Random generator (100) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the

Placement device (142) or the

Arrangement devices (142) is or are designed in the form of a shaft or hose and has or have a circumference such that the

Balls (120) within the arrangement device (142) or the arrangement devices (142) can only be arranged in a stack, so that within the

Placement device (142) or the

Placement devices (142) a placement of the balls (120) is forced into a row of balls and the balls (120) within the arrangement device (142) or the arrangement devices (142) each have only one degree of freedom of translation.

10. random generator (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the opening (132) or the openings (132) in each case obliquely or transversely to the arrangement device (142) or the

Placement devices (142) is aligned or are.

11. Random generator (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanically actuatable uncovering device (150) or at least one of the mechanically actuable uncovering devices (150) has a linearly displaceable, in particular strip-shaped, cover (152) which is suitable at least one ball (120) in the arrangement device (142) with a cover device

(150), in which the ball (120) is arranged, to cover.

12. random generator (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the sliding cover (152) or the sliding covers (152) is or are made of a flexible material and a housing (102) of the random generator (100) has a cover receptacle, where the

Cover receptacle is aligned such that when the ball (120) is uncovered, the displaceable cover

(152) or the displaceable covers (152) can be pushed into the cover receptacle or are.

13. random generator (100) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the linearly displaceable cover (152) or one of the linearly displaceable covers (152) is assigned a detent and the random generator (100) has a counter-detent, the counter-detent such along an opening direction the linearly displaceable cover (152) is spaced apart with a catch on the housing, that a step-by-step, catching uncovering of the opening is made possible.

14. Random generator (100) according to one of the preceding

Claims further comprising: at least one

Display device (160, 161, 165) for displaying information relevant to the game.

15. Use of a random generator (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a random decision in the course of the game is decided by a result of the random generator (100).