Patent Grant
8678392
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a card game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a card game having a series of cards including various numbers, pictures, and characters that, when combined, result in a sum total.
2. Description of the Related Art
Card games are considered by many to be enjoyable, educational, and pleasurable social activities. Many popular card games are designed to encourage strategic flexibility as well as test the nimbleness of each individual player. There is an element in the manner of play that generates delight of a player in a card game. For many players it is the perception of luck that is the driving force to play the game. Other players rely on the competitiveness and subsequent triumph as the driving force to play. For other players, the perceived level of skill to affect the outcome is key.
Various common cards games are played with a deck of 52 playing cards which typically includes thirteen ranks of each of four suits: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades, with “court” or face cards. Each suit includes an ace, depicting a single symbol of its suit, a king, queen, and jack, each depicted with a symbol of their suit; and ranks two through ten, with each card depicting that number of symbols of its suit. Common playing cards also carry index labels on opposite corners so that the card can be identified when held in a fan from left to right, regardless of which of the two narrow edges faces up. In addition to these traditional 52 cards, commercial decks often include between one and four jokers, most often two. These jokers are not used in most basic game rules, but have a variety of uses with rule variations, and can simply serve as “spares” to replace a damaged or lost card.
Card games are known which incorporate cards with numeric values in the playing of the game. Card playing games of this type include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,197 B2, issued to Jones, which discloses a game of chance card game which the object of the game is for a player to successfully hold five cards whose total numeric value is higher than that of any of the other players or dealer at the end of the round.
Also, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,999, issued to Stewart et al., discloses a card playing game wherein each card in a deck is assigned any one of several different numeric values. The cards each have a given situation or problem on the front and a rule or solution on its rear. As the players follow the instructions on the cards, each player keeps track of their own cards and discards the cards when instructed.
Other card games are known which incorporate pictures and icons in the play of the game. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,984 B1, issued to Luken, discloses a deck of cards for playing a game of matching cards. Some of the cards have representations of the people, animals, objects, and symbols. As the players match cards, the first player to reach a certain point amount wins.
There appears to be a need for a card game that includes features related to calculation of numeric values and features related to performing operations based on a certain group of numeric or pictorial cards providing not only entertainment value to the players, but also encourages mental dexterity in the operation of playing the game. Thus, such a card game providing the aforementioned features is desired.
Embodiments of apparatuses include various sets of cards and also embodiments include methods for playing a card game with a set of cards, each of the cards has a front and a back, the set of cards including a plurality of cards having a plurality of sub-sets of cards, the cards from each sub-set displaying a numeric value, a pictorial icon, a number of characters, or both a numeric value and a pictorial icon, wherein a sum total of the cards in a player's hand is based on the numeric value of cards and one or more operations of cards which can change the sum total of cards in a player's hand.
In embodiments, each card of the various sub-sets of cards has a front face bearing a numeric value, a pictorial icon, a number of characters, or a both a numeric value and a pictorial icon. The cards of the various sub-sets of cards also have a back face, the back face can include a blank face or can also bear a numeric value, a pictorial icon, a number of characters, or a both a numeric value and a pictorial icon, for example.
An objective of the game, for example, is to obtain a sum total based on the calculation of numeric value of cards and operation of cards which can change the sum total of cards in a player's hand. Scoring is accomplished by adding the total sum of all the numeric cards of one distinct sub-set of cards and adjusting that total sum by an operation of one or more cards from one or more sub-sets of cards. A player to reach the designated winning sum is the winner and the game ends.
In embodiments, for example, to begin a method in the play of the game, the cards are shuffled and cards are dealt to each player including the dealer. The remainder of the cards is placed in the center of the players and is known as the withdrawing deck.
The dealer initiates the game, although the players may select any player for this purpose, including the player who won a previous game. The first player has a choice of discarding cards from the player's hand in a discard pile. If the player selects to discard any cards, the player must obtain the same number of cards that were discarded, from the withdrawing deck. The player may only discard and withdraw cards once per the player's turn.
If there is an instance in which the cards in the withdrawing deck are exhausted, a player or any player selected for this purpose may shuffle the cards in the discard deck and place it in the location of the previous withdrawing deck. This deck is now the current withdrawing deck. The player that created the new withdrawing deck can then take one card from the withdrawing deck and place it in a location near the withdrawing deck. This can be the new discard pile.
After the player re-establishes his or her personal set of cards or maintains his or her current set of cards, the player can then calculate the total sum value in his or her hand based on the cards as represented in his or her hand from various sub-sets of cards.
If the player does not have the winning sum, the player may selectively implement any card in the player's possession whose operation can affect the value or arrangement of one or more cards in one or more other player's hands.
After a player has been determined to have a non-winning sum, the rotation or turn is moved to a next player as the current designated player. The current designated player then has the opportunity to discard cards, withdraw new cards or maintain the same cards in the player's possession for attempting to obtain a winning sum.
Play continues, for example, by each player selectively determining whether to discard one or more cards and, if discarding one or more cards, to then withdraw a corresponding number of one or more new cards, implementing card operations, and attempting to obtain the whining sum during the player's turn of play. The game continues in this fashion until one player obtains the winning sum and declares it. When a player obtains the winning sum and a winning combination of cards, he or she can say “it” or another agreed upon signal. That player is deemed the winner, the other players are no longer able to win, and the game is over.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Unless otherwise indicated, similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
With reference now to the drawings, in particular to
Referring to
The distinct cards of the card deck 100 include various distinct sub-sets of cards used in the card game, as illustrated in the sub-sets 200-500 of
Accordingly, in playing the game, the game can include the card deck 100 having, for example, one hundred and two (102) cards (but can have more or fewer cards) forming the card deck 100, and should not be construed in a limiting sense. Each card in the card deck 100 can have on a face, such as on the card's front face, a number, picture, character, or combination thereof. The card deck 100 includes a plurality of sub-sets of cards, the cards from each sub-set distinctly displaying a numeric value, a pictorial icon, a number of characters, or a both a numeric value and a pictorial icon, for example.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In the first sub-set of cards 200, the numeric cards with numbers of one to nine can have six copies of each card in the card deck 100, for example. The cards in the second, third, and fourth sub sets of cards 300, 400 and 500 with a pictorial representation, special character, or combination of a numeric value and pictorial representation can have four copies of each card, for example. Each subset in the card deck 100 is distinct and separate from another sub-set of cards. Each card in each sub-set of cards 200, 300, 400, and 500 are distinct and separate from another card in the same sub-set. In order to play the card game, a player must calculate or sum the values of the cards in the player's hand and selectively apply various operation cards as may affect the numeric value or sum of one or more of the cards in one or more player's hands. Examples of card values and operations thereon are illustrated in Table II, but should not be construed in a limiting sense:
Referring now to
An objective of the card game is to obtain a winning sum total of points based on the calculation of a numeric value of the points of the cards and based on operations of cards which can change the sum total of the points in a player's hand. Players must attempt to obtain a numeric sum total of points, as may be agreed by all players, for example, in order to win the game. Various cards in the card deck 100 can have a point value or numeric value of and including zero (0) points. The set of cards can include 102 cards, with 4 card sub-sets, as discussed, that are used in calculating a sum amount. However, unlike a standard deck of cards, which incorporates a set range of cards and no card typically performing an operation on another card, the card deck 100 can have an open range for cards and can include cards that can alter the numeric value of one or more cards in a player's hand by various operations or functions.
In examples of various methods for playing the card game, scoring is accomplished by adding the total sum of all the numeric cards of one sub-set of cards and adjusting that total sum by an operation of one or more cards from one or more sub-sets of cards. A player to reach the designated winning sum and a winning combination of cards, based on the cards from the sub-sets in the player's hand, is the winner and the game ends.
For example, after the set of cards of the card deck 100 are shuffled, the dealer deals out five cards from the card deck 100 to each player at step 605, and the remainder of the cards from the card deck 100 are placed in the convenient location in relation to the players to form the withdrawing deck. The dealer can take one card from the withdrawing deck and place it beside the withdrawing deck. This is called the discard pile.
The dealer or other selected player initiates the game at step 615. Any player may be selected to initiate the game at step 615, including the player who won a previous game. Once the game is initiated at step 615, the game can be played in a clockwise rotation, but is not limited in this regard.
The current player in rotation has the option of discarding cards from his or her hand into the discard pile and picking up the same number of cards from the withdrawing deck that were discarded at step 625. The player may only discard and withdraw cards once per the player's turn. After the player either maintains the player's current set of five cards or replaces the discarded cards from the withdrawing deck to again have a hand of a set of five cards, the player can then calculate the total sum value in the player's hand based on the cards from the one or more sub-sets represented in the player's hand at step 635.
If there is an instance in which the cards in the withdrawing deck are exhausted, a current player, or any player selected for this purpose, may shuffle the cards in the discard deck and place it in the location of the previous withdrawing deck. This deck is now the current withdrawing deck. The player that created the new withdrawing deck can then take one card from the withdrawing deck and place it in a location near the withdrawing deck. This can be the new discard pile.
If the current player does not have the winning sum at step 635, the play proceeds to step 645. At step 645, the player may selectively implement any card in the player's possession whose operation can affect the value or arrangement of one or more cards in one or more players' hands. At step 645, after any selective implementation of any card in the player's possession to perform an operation to affect the value or arrangement of one or more cards in one or more players' hands, the rotation or turn is moved and the play continues at step 625 to a next player as the current designated player and the play proceeds as discussed. The current designated player then has the opportunity to discard cards and then withdraw new cards or maintain the same cards in the player's possession for attempting to obtain a winning sum.
However, if the player at step 635 is determined to have the winning sum, the player must check to ensure he or she meets the additional requirements of having the required number of cards in the player's hand to win the game at step 655, such as a total of five cards in his or her possession. If so, the play then proceeds to step 665, where the player determines whether at least one of the winning total of cards, such as five cards, in the player's possession is a card having a numeric value and the card is from the first sub-set of cards 200.
If the current player meets the criteria of having the winning sum at step 635, and has the required number of cards, e.g., five cards, in the player's possession at step 655, and the player has a winning combination of cards and at least one of the player's required cards, e.g., one of the five cards, is of a numeric value and is from the first sub-set of cards 200 at step 665, then the play proceeds to step 675 and the player wins the game and the game is then over at step 685. Otherwise, play continues at step 645, wherein the player follows the instruction of an applicable card in the player's hand, for example, by a player selectively determining whether to discard one or more cards and withdraw a corresponding one or more new cards, implement card operations, or attempting to obtain the winning sum during the player's turn of play, or the play moves to a next current player. The game continues in this fashion until one player obtains the winning sum. When a player obtains the winning sum, he or she can say “it” or another agreed upon signal. That player is deemed the winner, the other players are no longer able to win, and the game is over.
The following example illustrates playing the card game among a plurality of players, and should not be construed in a limiting sense. In this regard, for example, the dealer (player 1) deals five cards to player 2, player 3 and dealer (player 1), respectively at step 605. Player 1 looks at the cards in player 1's possession, and, in this instance, decides to discard three cards into the discard deck, and to take three cards from the withdrawing deck at step 625. The cards in player 1's possession are now the following cards: the one card 205, the two card 215, the nine card 285, the “%” card 435, and the star card 315. Player 1, at step 635, then looks at the cards in his possession, calculates the sum total points according to the card values, such as in Table II, and determines the sum value of points of the cards totals twenty-four. As player 1 does not have any cards in player 1's possession that could interact with the other players at step 645, player 1's turns ends and player 2 is then current designated player.
Player 2, as the current designated player, was dealt the following cards: the nine card 285, the numeric-pictorial card 535 having the number one with an arrow underneath, the numeric-pictorial card 555 having the number three with an arrow underneath, the “it” card 425, and the “%” card 435. Player 2 looks at the cards in player 2's possession, calculates the sum total of points of the cards according to the card values in Table II, and determines the numeric value of the points of the cards total at least twenty-six (the value could be more depending on the numeric value player 2 assigns the “it” card 425).
Player 2 then decides to keep the “it” card 425, discard the other four cards into the discard deck, and take four cards from the withdrawing deck at step 625. The cards in player 2's hand are now the “it” card 425, the six card 255, an “Oh!” card 415, the three card 225, and a star card 315. According to the card values, such as in Table II, the sum total of points of the cards now of player 2's cards is at least twelve (the value could be more depending on the numeric value player 2 assigns the “it” card 425). Calculating the basic numeric values of the three card 225 and the six card 255, i.e. 6+3, gives player 2 the initial sum total of points of at least 9 (which is the winning sum total in this example), but the “Oh!” card's 415 operation changes the numeric value of the points of the number six card from 6 points to 9 points. Thus, the calculated new numeric total of player 2's points by operation the “Oh!” card 415, is 9+3 and is at least 12 points (the value could be more depending on the numeric value player 2 assigns the “it” card 425). Since player 2 does not have the designated winning sum, e.g. of nine points, and does not have a card player 2 can use against another player, player 2's turn ends and player 3 is now the current designated player at step 645.
Player 3, as the current designated player, looks at the cards in player 3's possession, and decides to discard two cards into the discard deck, and take two cards from the withdrawing deck at step 625. The cards now in player 3's possession are the five card 245, the seven card 265, the eight card 275, the “%” card 435, and the tornado card 305. Player 3 looks at the cards in player 3's possession, calculates the sum total of points of the cards according to the card values, such as in Table II, and determines the cards total forty points (the “%” card 435 changed by a predetermined percentage, e.g., doubled in this example, the total sum of the points of all the cards in player 3's hand). Although player 3 does not have the winning sum, player 3 can select to use the tornado card 305, such as according to Table II, and make every player, including player 3, drop one card from each player's hand and then player 3 redistributes the dropped cards among all the players at step 645. After player 3 uses the tornado card 305 and redistributes some cards among all the players or decides not to implement the tornado card 305, player 3's turn is over and player 1 is the current designated player in the rotation again at step 645.
As the current designated player, the cards in player 1's possession are still the one card 205, the two card 215, the nine card 285, the “%” card 435, and the star card 315. Player 1 looks at the cards in player 1's possession, and decides to discard three cards into the discard deck, and take three cards from the withdrawing deck at step 625. The cards now in player 1's possession are the cards shown in
For example, a player looks at the cards 800 in the player's and calculates the sum total of the points of the cards according to the card values, such as in Table II, and determines the sum total of the points of the cards totals the designated winning sum, e.g., nine points in this example, after the player includes in the determination of the sum the operation of the numeric-pictorial card 545 that increases the value of points of any numeric card in the player's hand 800 by two points and the operation of the numeric-pictorial card 525 that decreases the value of points of any numeric card in the player's hand 800 by three points, for example. After confirming the calculation that the player in the hand 800 has the winning sum of points at step 635, the player confirms he has the required number of cards, e.g., five cards in this example, at step 655, and verifies at least one of player's cards is a card from the first sub-set 200 with a numeric value and determines the player has a winning combination of cards at step 665. Therefore, since the hand 800 is determined to be a winning hand, the player can then proceed to win the card game at step 675 and the game ends at step 685.
Although embodiments has been described in terms of a set of cards, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the card game and methods for playing the card game can be applied to a computer game in which various sub-sets of cards and the instructions for playing the card game can be stored in a memory of and can be implemented by a computer implemented device, as well as the game and the cards of the game can be generated by the computer implemented device and can be displayed as images on a digital screen associated with the computer implemented device, such as a computer. The set of cards can therefore also be a set of virtual “cards” in such embodiments and the computer application includes hardware, such as can include processors and memory, and software for adapting and implementing the processes and methods of
For example, when cards are dealt in a computer or digital game, one player may be human and one player may be the computer itself. The human player may interact with the computer player as the human player would with any other player. In addition to interacting with the computer player, the human player may also interact with various other players in various locations through a networking system, such as a local or global computer communication system.
Also, referring to
Therefore, embodiments of the card game provide game apparatuses and methods for playing a card game which is relatively simple and versatile so that players of various ages and levels of gamesmanship may enjoy the card game and benefit therefrom.
Further, embodiments of the card game provide a versatile card game that can be played through a variety of different methods, such as paper cards, digital & computer mediums, tiles and the like.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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