Dice Counter System

Abstract

A counter system for a game includes three six-sided die including numbers and symbols thereon, that can be used to represent a numeric value. The counter system provides an easy, fast and visually clean way to represent a number with one or multiple digits, as well as positive and negative values. The counter system is useful for any tabletop game that requires players to keep count of values such as (but not limited to) life, damage, power, toughness, poison, etc.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of games of existing art and more specifically relates to a counter system utilizing die for displaying numeric values in a game.

RELATED ART

There are many tabletop games requiring counters to keep track of important values such as life, damage, power, toughness, poison, copies, etc. Currently, to keep track of these values, die with dots are used. However, the use of dots on the die causes players to have to perform addition or subtraction constantly throughout the game and when multiple dice are needed, it can get cluttered and confusing.

There have been attempts to work-around this issue. For example, die having more than 6 sides such as d10, d12, d20 can be used as an easier alternative to die with dots. However, their shapes are not practical for placing multiple die side by side to compose numbers with more than one digit. Further, searching for a number can be confusing and time consuming if the die has many sides, and their larger size consumes a larger space on the table. As such, a suitable solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known games art, the present disclosure provides a novel dice counter system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a counter system for use in a tabletop game requiring the display of numeric values.

A counter system for a game is disclosed herein. According to some embodiments, the counter system may include at least one first die, at least one second die and the at least one third die. The at least one first die may include a first plurality of faces. A portion of the first plurality of faces may each include a number from between zero and four, inclusive; and a remaining portion of the first plurality of faces may include one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. The at least one second die may include a second plurality of faces; a portion of the second plurality of faces may each include a number from between five and nine, inclusive, and a remaining portion of the second plurality of faces may include another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. The at least one third die may include a third plurality of faces. A portion of the third plurality of faces may include a minus symbol, and a remaining portion of the third plurality of faces may include a plus symbol. At least one of the at least one first die, the at least one second die and/or the at least one third die may be used to represent a numeric value in the game.

According to another embodiment, a counter system for a game may include a at least one first cube die, a at least one second cube die and a at least one third cube die. The at least one first cube die may include six faces; five of the six faces of the at least one first cube die may each include a different number between zero and four, inclusive, such that the at least one first die is numbered zero to four, and (the remaining) one of the six faces of the at least one first cube die may include a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. The at least one second cube die may include six faces, five of the six faces of the at least one second cube die may each include a different number between five and nine, inclusive, such that the at least one second die is numbered five to nine, and (the remaining) one of the six faces of the at least one second cube die may include another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. The at least one third cube die may include six faces. Three of the six faces of the at least one third cube die may each include a minus symbol and another three of the six faces of the at least one third cube die may each include a plus symbol. At least one of the at least one first cube die, the at least one second cube die and/or the at least one third cube die may be used to represent a numeric value in the game.

According to another embodiment still, a game kit is also disclosed herein. The game kit may include a tabletop game in some embodiments chosen from the group consisting of board games, card games, dice games and any combination thereof; at least one first die; at least one second die; and at least one third die. The at least one first die may include a first plurality of faces. A portion of the first plurality of faces may each include a number from between zero and four, inclusive; and a remaining portion of the first plurality of faces may include one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. The at least one second die may include a second plurality of faces; a portion of the second plurality of faces may each include a number from between five and nine, inclusive, and a remaining portion of the second plurality of faces may include another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. The at least one third die may include a third plurality of faces. A portion of the third plurality of faces may include a minus symbol, and a remaining portion of the third plurality of faces may include a plus symbol. At least one of the at least one first die, the at least one second die and/or the at least one third die may be used to represent a numeric value in the tabletop game.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a dice counter system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a counter system being used in a tabletop game, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the counter system displaying a numeric value, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the counter system displaying another numeric value, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the counter system including at least one first die, at least one second die and the at least one third die, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top unfolded view of the at least one first die, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top unfolded view of the at least one second die, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top unfolded view of the at least one third die, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a game kit including a tabletop game, at least one first die, at least one second die and at least one third die, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to die for use in games, and more particularly, a dice counter system. The dice counter system may include a combination of, in some embodiments, six-sided die (d6) having numbers and symbols printed on them. Particularly, the dice counter system may include three different die that can be used to represent a numeric value. The dice counter system may be used in any tabletop game that requires players to keep count of values such as (but not limited to) life, damage, power, toughness, poison, etc.

The dice counter system may provide an easy, fast and visually clean way to represent a number with multiple digits by simply placing die next to each other. To compose any integer, a user may simply rotate a die to the required number, combining it with others as needed. Using the dice counter system may provide flexibility to compose integers from one digit to multiple digits just by combining die as needed. The resulting display of numbers is easy to read. It may also be easy to add values in case there are multiple counters in play. The inclusion of minus and plus symbols in the dice counter system may allow for representation of negative values as well as positive values.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-7, various views of a counter system for a game (“counter system” 100) and in FIG. 8 a perspective view of a game kit 200. As shown in FIG. 1, the counter system 100 may be used with any tabletop game such as (but not limited to) board games, card games, dice games, tabletop role-playing games, etc. As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the counter system 100 may include at least one first die 110, at least one second die 120 and the at least one third die 130.

At least one of the at least one first die 110, the at least one second die 120 and/or the at least one third die 130 may be used to represent the numeric value 101 in the game 5, as shown in FIGS. 2-3. In some embodiments, more than one of a particular die 110, 120, 130 may be used for displaying the numerical value 101. For example, FIG. 3 demonstrates one of the at least one third die 130 displaying a plus symbol (+), and two of the at least one first die 110, all used together to display the number eleven (+11). Further, in some embodiments, the at least one first die 110, the at least one second die 120 and the at least one third die 130 may each include magnets therein (not illustrated) configured to attach two or more of the die 110, 120, 130 together when displaying the numeric value 101.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, there is shown an (example) unfolded view of the at least one first die 110. The at least one first die 110 may include a first plurality of faces 111. A portion of the first plurality of faces 111 may each include a number from between zero and four, inclusive, and a remaining portion of the first plurality of faces 111 may include one of a minus symbol (−), a plus symbol (+), a special symbol or a logo. In some embodiments, the plus symbol and the minus symbol may represent a negative and a positive (for negative and positive numeric values). The special symbol and logo may be representative of something in the game 5.

In some embodiments, the at least one first die 110 may include a cube shape and the first plurality of faces 111 may include six faces 111. In this embodiment, as shown, five of the six faces 111 of the at least one first die 110 may each include a different one of the numbers between zero and four such that the at least one first die 110 is numbered zero to four. As shown in FIG. 5, the remaining one of the six faces 111 of the at least one first die 110 may include a minus symbol. As such, as shown, one face bears the number zero, one face bears the number one, one face bears the number two, one face bears the number three, one face bears the number four, and one face bears the minus symbol. However, it should be appreciated that the remaining one of the six faces 111 is not limited to the minus symbol and may instead include the plus symbol, the special symbol or the logo.

In some embodiments, the number three may be parallel to the number four. Particularly, the number three may include the same orientation as the number four. For example, if the number three is being displayed, to display the number four, a user would turn the at least one first die 110 to the left and the number four would then be displayed in the same orientation. When rotating the at least one first die 110 upwards, the sequence of numbers displayed may be as follows: zero, one, two, three; and when turned to the left from the number three, the number four is displayed. Each of the numbers and symbols may be printed onto the at least one first die 110.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 6, there is shown an (example) unfolded view of the at least one second die 120. The at least one second die 120 may include a second plurality of faces 121. A portion of the second plurality of faces 121 may each include a number from between five and nine, inclusive, and a remaining portion of the second plurality of faces 121 may include another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. Again, as above, the plus symbol and the minus symbol may represent a negative, a positive; and the special symbol, and logo may represent something in the game 5.

Particularly, the at least one second die 120 may include the cube shape and the second plurality of faces 121 may include six faces 121. Five of the six faces 121 of the at least one second die 120 may each include a different one of the numbers between five and nine such that the at least one second die 120 is numbered five to nine. As shown in FIG. 6, one (remaining one) of the six faces 121 of the at least one second die 120 may include the plus symbol. As such, as shown, one face bears the number five, one face bears the number six, one face bears the number seven, one face bears the number eight, one face bears the number nine and one face bears the plus symbol. However, it should be appreciated that the remaining one of the six faces 121 is not limited to the plus symbol and may instead include the minus symbol, the special symbol or the logo, as discussed above. The particular symbol/logo on the at least one second die 120 may differ from the symbol/logo on the at least one first die 110.

In some embodiments, the number eight may be parallel to the number nine. In this embodiment, when rotating the at least one second die 120 upwards, the sequence of numbers displayed may be as follows: five, six, seven, eight; and when turned to the left from the number eight, the number nine is displayed. As above, each of the numbers and symbols may be printed onto the at least one second die 120. The number six and the number nine may also include an indicator for indicating correct orientation thereof. For example, a dot 122 may be printed at a bottom of the number six; and another dot 123 may be printed at a bottom of the number nine.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 7, there is shown an (example) unfolded view of the at least one third die 130. The at least one third die 130 may include a third plurality of faces 131. A portion of the third plurality of faces 131 may each include a minus symbol, and a remaining portion of the third plurality of faces 131 may each include a plus symbol. For example, in some embodiments, the at least one third die 130 may include the cube shape and the third plurality of faces 131 may include six faces 131. As shown, three of the six faces 131 of the at least one third die 130 may each include the minus symbol and another three of the six faces 131 of the at least one third die 130 each may include the plus symbol. As above, each of the symbols may be printed onto the at least one third die 130. In some embodiments, the at least one third die 130 may be used as a binary die, replacing a coin for the action of “flip a coin” in the game 5.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 8, there is shown a game kit 200, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the game kit 200 may include one or more components or features of the counter system 100 as above. As shown in FIG. 8, the game kit 200 may include a tabletop game 210, at least one first die 220, at least one second die 230, and at least one third die 240. At least one of the at least one first die 220, the at least one second die 230 and the at least one third die 240 may be used to represent a numeric value 101 (FIGS. 2-3) in the tabletop game 210.

In some embodiments, the at least one first die 220 may include a plurality of first die 220, the at least one second die 230 may include a plurality of second die 230 and the at least one third die 240 may include a plurality of third die 240. For example, players of the tabletop game 210 may each be provided a set of the three dice (220, 230, 240), as demonstrated in FIG. 1. In another example, as above, multiples of each die (220, 230, 240) may be provided for displaying numerical values 101 that include more than one number from each die, as shown in FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, the tabletop game 210 may be chosen from board games, card games, dice games or any combination thereof. It should be appreciated that the use of “board games”, “card games” and “dice games” herein should be taken to mean any tabletop game that primarily employs the use of boards, cards and dice, respectively, and also requires the display of numeric values. For example, some tabletop role-playing games may be included in “dice games” if dice are a key component of the play of the game (such as DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS®). There may also be an overlap in categorizing the games — for example, some games may be categorized as both a board game and a dice game.

As shown in FIG. 8, the at least one first die 220 may include a first plurality of faces 221—a portion of which may each include a number from between zero and four, inclusive, and a remaining portion of the first plurality of faces 221 including one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. Particularly, as discussed above, the at least one first die 220 may include a cube shape and the first plurality of faces 221 may include six faces 221. Five of the six faces 221 of the at least one first die 220 may each include a different one of the numbers between zero and four such that the at least one first die 220 is numbered zero to four. Accordingly, the remaining one of the six faces of the at least one first die 220 may include a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. In some embodiments, number three may be parallel to number four.

The at least one second die 230 may include a second plurality of faces 231. A portion of the second plurality of faces 231 may each include a number from between five and nine, inclusive, and a remaining portion of the second plurality of faces 231 may include another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo. Particularly, the at least one second die 230 may include the cube shape and the second plurality of faces 231 may include six faces 231. Five of the six faces 231 of the at least one second die 230 may each include a different one of the numbers between five and nine such that the at least one second die 230 is numbered five to nine; and one (remaining one) of the six faces 231 of the at least one second die 230 may include the minus symbol, the plus symbol, the special symbol or the logo. In some embodiments, number eight may be parallel to the number nine.

The at least one third die 240 may include a third plurality of faces 241; a portion of the third plurality of faces 241 may include a minus symbol, and a remaining portion of the third plurality of faces 241 may include a plus symbol. Particularly, the at least one third die 240 may include the cube shape and the third plurality of faces 241 may include six faces 241. Three of the six faces 241 of the at least one third die 240 may each include the minus symbol and another three of the six faces 241 of the at least one third die 240 each may include the plus symbol.

A method of representing numeric values in a game may also be disclosed herein (not illustrated). The method may comprise the steps of: providing the counter system 100 as above; playing the game with one or more players; utilizing at least one of the at least one first die 220, the at least one second die 230 and the at least one third die 240 to represent a numeric value 101 in the game.

It should be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods are taught herein. It should also be understood by one of skill in the art that the disclosed invention is described here in a few exemplary embodiments of many. No particular terminology or description should be considered limiting on the disclosure or the scope of any claims issuing therefrom.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

Claims

1. A counter system for a game, the counter system comprising: at least one first die including a first plurality of faces, a portion of the first plurality of faces each including a number from between zero and four, inclusive, a remaining portion of the first plurality of faces including one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo;at least one second die including a second plurality of faces, a portion of the second plurality of faces each including a number from between five and nine, inclusive, a remaining portion of the second plurality of faces including another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo; andat least one third die including a third plurality of faces, a portion of the third plurality of faces each including a minus symbol, a remaining portion of the third plurality of faces each including a plus symbol; andwherein at least one of the at least one first die, the at least one second die and the at least one third die are used in combination to represent a numeric value in the game.

2. The counter system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first die includes a cube shape and wherein the first plurality of faces includes six faces.

3. The counter system of claim 2, wherein five of the six faces of the at least one first die each include a different one of the numbers between zero and four such that the at least one first die is numbered zero to four.

4. The counter system of claim 3, wherein one of the six faces of the at least one first die includes the one of the minus symbol, the plus symbol, the special symbol or the logo.

5. The counter system of claim 4, wherein number three is parallel to number four on the at least one first die.

6. The counter system of claim 1, wherein the at least one second die includes the cube shape and wherein the second plurality of faces includes six faces.

7. The counter system of claim 6, wherein five of the six faces of the at least one second die each include a different one of the numbers between five and nine such that the at least one second die is numbered five to nine.

8. The counter system of claim 7, wherein one of the six faces of the at least one second die includes the another one of the minus symbol, the plus symbol, the special symbol or the logo.

9. The counter system of claim 8, wherein number eight is parallel to number nine on the at least one second die.

10. The counter system of claim 1, wherein the at least one third die includes the cube shape and wherein the third plurality of faces includes six faces.

11. The counter system of claim 10, wherein three of the six faces of the at least one third die each include the minus symbol and wherein another three of the six faces of the at least one third die each include the plus symbol.

12. A counter system for a game, the counter system comprising: at least one first cube die including six faces, five of the six faces of the at least one first cube die each including a different number between zero and four, inclusive, such that the at least one first die is numbered zero to four, and one of the six faces of the at least one first cube die including one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo;at least one second cube die including six faces, five of the six faces of the at least one second cube die each including a different number between five and nine, inclusive, such that the at least one second die is numbered five to nine, and one of the six faces of the at least one second cube die including another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo; andat least one third cube die including six faces, three of the six faces of the at least one third cube die each including a minus symbol, another three of the six faces of the at least one third cube die each including a plus symbol; andwherein at least one of the at least one first cube die, the at least one second cube die and the at least one third cube die are used in combination to represent a numeric value in the game.

13. The counter system of claim 12, wherein number three is parallel to number four on the at least one first cube die.

14. The counter system of claim 13, wherein number eight is parallel to number nine on the at least one second cube die.

15. A game kit comprising: a tabletop game chosen from the group consisting of board games, card games, dice games and any combination thereof;at least one first die including a first plurality of faces, a portion of the first plurality of faces each including a number from between zero and four, inclusive, a remaining portion of the first plurality of faces including one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo;at least one second die including a second plurality of faces, a portion of the second plurality of faces each including a number from between five and nine, inclusive, a remaining portion of the second plurality of faces including another one of a minus symbol, a plus symbol, a special symbol or a logo; andat least one third die including a third plurality of faces, a portion of the third plurality of faces each including a minus symbol, a remaining portion of the third plurality of faces each including a plus symbol; andwherein at least one of the at least one first die, the at least one second die and the at least one third die are used in combination to represent a numeric value in the tabletop game.

16. The game kit of claim 15, wherein the at least one first die includes a cube shape, wherein the first plurality of faces includes six faces, wherein five of the six faces of the at least one first die each include a different one of the numbers between zero and four such that the at least one first die is numbered zero to four, and wherein one of the six faces of the at least one first die includes the one of the minus symbol, the plus symbol, the special symbol or the logo.

17. The game kit of claim 16, wherein number three is parallel to number four on the at least one first die.

18. The game kit of claim 15, wherein the at least one second die includes the cube shape, wherein the second plurality of faces includes six faces, wherein five of the six faces of the at least one second die each include a different one of the numbers between five and nine such that the at least one second die is numbered five to nine, and wherein one of the six faces of the at least one second die includes the another one of the minus symbol, the plus symbol, the special symbol or the logo.

19. The game kit of claim 17, wherein number eight is parallel to number nine on the at least one second die.

20. The game kit of claim 15, wherein the at least one third die includes the cube shape, wherein the third plurality of faces includes six faces, wherein three of the six faces of the at least one third die each include the minus symbol and wherein another three of the six faces of the at least one third die each include the plus symbol.