Flying Disc Dice Game

Abstract

A multiplayer game utilizes a throwing device which comprises a flying disc with a container secured thereto which contains one or more multisided tokens, for example conventional six-sided dice, coins, or cards. When the player throws the disc, the tokens will become agitated, resulting in a random disposition of the tokens when the throwing device comes to rest. Players can accumulate points based on the values displayed on the dice within the container. The throwing device may be provided with a container having two compartments, so that points may be determined for two players in a single throw.

Description

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to throwing activities, while adding a distinct aspect of dice games.

Games of chance provide exciting play opportunities, but often they are sedentary, and do not provide an option for active play outdoors. What is needed is a game that combines the exhilaration of chance with the robust and healthful excitement of physical activity outdoors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The game of this invention utilizes a throwing device which comprises a flying disc with a container secured thereto which contains one or more conventional dice. When the player throws the disc, the dice will become agitated, resulting in a random disposition of the dice when the throwing device comes to rest.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game of chance which includes a component of outdoor athletic activity.

It is a further object of the present invention to introduce provide a throwing disc with tokens which may take on alternate states when tossed, to thereby provide an element of chance to a throwing game.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of the throwing device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the throwing device of FIG. 1 taken along section line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a top isometric view of an alternative embodiment throwing device of this invention having two dice containers.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the throwing device of FIG. 3 taken along section line 4-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-5, wherein like numbers refer to similar parts, a throwing device of this invention 20 has a flying disc 24 which is comprised of an aerodynamic cross section as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and which may have an internal polycarbonate stiffening disc 22. The disc may be of conventional design molded out of plastic, such as those manufactured by Wham-O Holding, Ltd. of Hong Kong under the registered trademark FRISBEE (an example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,122, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein) or those manufactured by Swimways Corporation of Virginia Beach, Va. under the registered trademark AEROBIE (an example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,358, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein). A central token container 26 is mounted in the center of the ring 24 by two crossing straps 28 made of one-inch nylon webbing which is glued to the ring, and, where the straps cross, glued to the container. Alternatively, the container could be riveted to the straps or portions of the container could be molded or co-molded with the ring.

The container 26 may have a transparent plastic base 30 with a screw-on or otherwise removable lid 32, or the lid may be hinged to the base. The lid 32 is also preferably transparent or has a transparent component. When the lid 32 is secured to the base 30 a closed compartment 33 is defined for the retention of one or more tokens 34. Each token 34 has at least two display states, such that agitation of the token when the throwing device 20 is tossed may cause the at least one token to assume one or another of the at least two display states within the closed container. In its simplest form, the token 34 may be a coin, having two display states: heads or tails. Another two-state token which may be employed is a printed card, similar to a small playing card, which has different indicia on each face of the card. Alternatively, the token 34 may have a multiplicity of display states, such as a conventional six-sided die as illustrated in the figures. Each upwardly facing face of the die 34 constitutes a different display state.

An alternative device 120 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 which is identical to the device 20, but which includes a second container 122 which is mounted to the straps 28 beneath the container 26 and which also has a lid 124 and which contains two dice 34. This device 120 is used in game play in a similar fashion, but with the two containers 26, 122 differentiated in some fashion, for example by different colored lids, a single throw can determine dice values for both players at once. The device 120 may be used with two types of tokens, each having only a single state: for example colored marbles. In this arrangement marbles of one color may be placed in the first compartment 33 and marbles of another color placed in the second compartment 133. The player whose color appears on top after a throw will then score points. Each compartment lid may be of a different color to mark the compartment with token values that will be allocated to a particular player.

The throwing device 20, 120 may be used in a game for two to four players, or any number of people may form up to four teams. The throwing device 20 or 120 may be used in a number of different games, but, in general, the players or teams alternate in throwing the throwing device 20, 120. Points are awarded to the players based on the status of the tokens within the throwing device compartment or compartments when the throwing device comes to rest after a throw.

Before start of play, the players agree among themselves on the conditions of the game, including whether the game will be complete when a certain number of points is accumulated by a winning player (i.e., 100, 200, or 300 points) or whether a set number of rounds will be played (from one to ten), with the winner being the player with the highest score at the end of the selected number of rounds. The players also will agree on which color dice will be assigned to each player or team. The dice for each player are then loaded into the container or containers of the devices before play begins.

The use of the throwing device 20 will now be described, but the use of the device 120 will be similar. The first player throws the throwing device 20. The flight of the throwing device 20 agitates the dice 34 contained within the container 26, and as the device 20 goes about a parabolic flight path, the dice go into free fall, with the result that they will be generally randomly disposed when the device 20 comes to rest. The player then can read the values on the dice, usually one to six spots on a six-sided die, add them together, and tally this value as his points scored. The other player then tosses the device 20, reads the values on the tossed dice, and compares points with the first player.

Variation One: Basic Play. Although the players take turns in throwing the throwing device 20, all players receive points on each throw, depending on the values displayed on the dice of their chosen color. When using the throwing device 120 with two compartments, dice of different colors may be included in both the compartments, and rather than awarding points to all players with each throw, only the values on those dice which are in the uppermost compartment may be tallied.

Variation Two: Winning Card. In this variation, the players are supplied with a deck of cards preprinted with a number which can be achieved by a throw of all the dice contained in the throwing device's compartments, regardless of color.

Before each throw, the player draws a card from the deck. If the total of the values on all the dice displayed after the throw matches the number on the drawn card, then the player is awarded that number of points. If the total of the dice values does not match the drawn card, the player receives no points. The players draw a new card before each throw.

Variation Three: Hardways (or Doubles). “Hardways” are combinations of the values on two dice as follows:

4 of double 2's

6 of double 3's

8 of double 4's

10 of double 5's

12 of double 6's.

Before the game begins, each player chooses his or her hardway. The game is played as in the Basic Play, with the difference that regardless of which player makes the throw, if any player's hardway is displayed on his color dice, then he receives a bonus of 50 points. In any event, the throwing player receives his points in the regular way. In one variation a second deck of cards may be used, each with one of the possible hardways, and rather than having a player freely choose which will be his hardway, he is assigned a hardway according to the option shown on the card he draws.

Variation 4: Tournament Play. After a game is played, the player or team with the highest score plays another player or team with the highest score.

In a variation of the throwing device where the tokens are small playing cards, the compartments of the container or containers may have the 12 face cards (kings, queens, and jacks of the four suits) disposed therein, and players may compete on the basis of the value of the hand displayed after each throw. Another variation is to place in the container compartments blank cards on which the players may write their names, leaving the opposite side of each card blank. If a player's name is visible after a throw, he is accorded a point.

If there are less than four players, there are various ways to adapt game play. Players may choose to ignore some colors of dice, they may take out the unused dicer, or they could apportion the colors of dice to each player, or (in the double compartment version) choose to use only a single compartment.

It should be noted that although the container or containers are disclosed as being fixed to the flying ring by straps, the containers could also be connected by stiff plastic elements, or the entire container and ring could be molded or co-molded in a single unit, each container having a separate lid. Furthermore, although two distinct containers are illustrated, multiple distinct compartments for dice may be provided within a single container.

It should be noted that the throwing device may have the token compartment integrally formed therein, and the see-throw properties may be a part of the throwing device itself. For example, two conventional flying discs may be secured to one another rim-to-rim to define an internal compartment, and one or both of the flying discs may be formed of transparent plastic or with perforations which are smaller than the tokens, but large enough to permit the state of the tokens to be readily examined from the exterior.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A game element comprising: a flying disc having a ring and portions defining a closed container with see-through portions;at least one token disposed within the closed container, the at least one token having at least two display states, such that agitation of the token when the game element is tossed may cause the at least one token to assume one or another of the at least two display states within the closed container.

2. The game element of claim 1 wherein the at least one token comprises a six-sided die.

3. The game element of claim 1 wherein the at least one token comprises a plurality of six-sided dice.

4. The game element of claim 1 wherein the container comprises two compartments, and wherein the at least one token comprises at least one token within each of the two compartments.

5. The game element of claim 1 wherein the container further comprises a base and a lid removably connected to the base, such that by removing the lid, said at least one token may be removed from or placed within the container.

6. The game element of claim 1 wherein the portions defining a closed container are centrally positioned within the flying disc and connected thereto by a plurality of straps.

7. A throwing device comprising: a flying disc having an annular ring;a central container having a compartment which may receive one or more tokens therein;a plurality of members which extend radially inward from the ring to connect the ring to the central container, the throwing device being throwable to agitate any tokens received within the central container.

8. The throwing device of claim 7 further comprising at least one token disposed within the central container, the at least one token having at least two display states, such that agitation of the token when the throwing device is tossed may cause the at least one token to assume one or another of the at least two display states within the central container.

9. The throwing device of claim 8 wherein the at least one token comprises a plurality of six-sided dice.

10. The throwing device of claim 7 wherein the central container comprises two compartments, and wherein each compartment is configured to receive at least one token.

11. The throwing device of claim 7 wherein the central container further comprises a base and a lid removably connected to the base, such that by removing the lid, central container contents may be removed from or placed within the central container.

12. The throwing device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of members which extend radially inward from the ring to connect the ring to the central container comprise a plurality of straps.

13. A game element comprising: a flying disc having portions defining a closed container having two distinct compartments, one above the other, and each with see-through portions;at least one first token disposed within one of the at least two distinct compartments; andat least one second token disposed within another of the at least two distinct compartments, wherein the at least one second token has visible attributes which are differentiated from those of the at least one first token, such that when the game element is tossed it will land with either the first or second compartment in an uppermost condition, thereby displaying either the at least one first token or the at least second token at a more elevated orientation to thereby signal a superior point total to the player who has selected said more elevated token.

14. The game element of claim 13 where the at least one first token is a marble of a first color, and the at least one second token is a marble of a second, different, color.