1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to functional jewelry, and more particularly, to functional rings that may be used for entertainment purposes such as playing games.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of tools are used for entertainment purposes such as dice, decks of cards, or other gaming pieces. However, such tools can sometimes be problematic. For example, dice may roll off a table or knock other game pieces around. A deck of cards may be ruined if something spills on them or alternatively, if one card is marked in some way. Dice are also frequently used to keep track of a number or tally. For example, for tracking health during a game by leaving the dice on a table with the appropriate number pointing up. Unfortunately, the dice can be bumped or otherwise moved, causing the player to lose the value.
In accordance with the present disclosure, functional rings that may be used for entertainment purposes such as gaming, and methods for creating them are illustrated and described herein.
In one example of a functional ring, dice or other random result generators may be replaced with dice rings. Dice rings are designed in a way that one or multiple outer thinner ring(s) spin in a grooved inner ring that slips onto a finger. The outer smaller ring may have numbers, characters, symbols or words distributed around the ring such that when spun, a random result is produced, designated by an indicator marking on the sides of the grooved inner ring.
In another example of a functional ring, a clicking ring is disclosed. Clicking rings may be used to keep track of a combination of numbers, symbols, words, etc, instead of producing random results. The combination may be held in place by a tension-providing element such as a spring, so that even if the ring is jostled, the combination is not lost.
A method of creating a random result-generating ring such as a dice ring is also disclosed.
It should be noted that this disclosure should not be limited to rings. For example, a ring described in this disclosure may be placed beneath figurines during board games or placed on a pole or other structure. Other embodiments such as bracelets or a standalone tabletop device, for example are also possible using the concepts enclosed herein.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. The principles described herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals may be placed to designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
Dice Rings can be used for the generation of random results, like dice in dice-based games. Numbers, symbols, characters, words, or combinations thereof (from here on out referred to as “faces”) may be distributed in a “pattern” on spinning band(s) around a base ring such that when spun, a random result is produced. One indicator mark or two or more aligned indicator marks on the base ring, which show to the side(s) of the spinning band, indicate which face is the result. In another example, the indicator could be marked on the base ring underneath the spinning band, such that if the spinning band pattern is carved out, the indicator is visible underneath. The groove that the outer band fits into should be machined or otherwise made smooth, and requires no lubricants or bearings. However a dice ring could be made with bearings and/or use lubricant(s), and may still effectively function as a dice ring. After being spun, the outer spinning band gradually comes to rest on its own due to friction, even with bearings and/or lubricant(s). The inside of the spinning bands and the groove they rest in may all be machined into reasonably precise circles to prevent potential imperfections in the circles from catching on each other during rotation. In one embodiment, the mass of the outer spinning band should be made symmetric about the axial center of the inner circular surface of the spinning band. The pattern on the spinning band may take advantage of the fact that any point on the outside of the spinning band should be just as likely to stop between the indicators as any other point. The surface area of each face in a pattern can be adjusted to match a specific desired probability distribution curve. For example, if a specific face should have a higher chance of being the result, it should be given more surface area compared to other faces in proportion to the probability. Some example patterns with uneven probability distributions can be found in
Dice Rings may be made from a variety of different materials. In one example, 316L stainless steel is used as material. In a preferred embodiment, the material used should be strong and durable to help avoid scratches, dents, changes to the shape of any of its constituent parts, etc. Dice rings can come in a variety of styles to represent many common dice and other random result generators, from r4 (a four-sided dice) to r20 (20-sided dice) to r100 (double 10-sided bands to represent each decimal digit) to unorthodox ones (for example, dice rings that represent drawing a random playing card from a standard 54 card deck). To increase the chance of fair rolls even when the rings are spun lightly and may not turn a full revolution, the faces are mixed up and distributed across the band such that there's no concentration of high or low numbers in succession. This decreases a person's ability to control the outcome of a spin by applying more or less force to the spin. This also appears more random at first glance. Although if a spin causes several revolutions in the spinning band(s), it would likely be nearly impossible to predict the results.
Dice rings may be designed in a variety of ring sizes and colors. Various methods may be used to produce different colored or textured dice rings and clicking rings. One goal being for aesthetic purposes, Another, to be able to discern a contrast between different faces. For steel, the rings may be coated through Pressurized Vapor Deposition (PVD), which changes the surface of the steel to color the rings black, blue, gold, rose-gold, and coffee, among others. If, for example, all or any part of the rings were made from titanium, they could be anodized black or any other color(s), or black with colored surfaces within the black.
The faces may be made by coloring the entire ring, and then using lasering, etching, carving, coating with a different color, or any other process to distinguish/contrast the characteristics and boundaries of the faces. Alternating the background color of the faces, or putting a line between faces are two ways to distinguish the faces from each other. Laser etching is one very effective way to mark the faces of a spinning band because it removes a very minimal amount of mass from the surface of the ring, and that amount is removed evenly from around the entire spinning band, helping keep the ring's center of mass aligned with the axis of rotation.
Referring now to
Base ring 120 is the encompassing structure of the ring that touches/grips the finger worn on. Spinning band 110 is the structure that fits into the groove(s) of the base ring.
On spinning band 110, the numbers/faces 1-20 (12, 7, 2, 15, 20, 5, 10, 13, and 18 shown) are evenly distributed around the ring so that when spinning band 110 is spun, each face has an equal chance of coming to a stop in between the arrows. Instead of rolling a 20 sided die, a player may spin the spinning band 110 of dice ring 100.
Dice rings 140 and 150 incorporate dividing lines 131 between the faces for contrast instead of alternating the backgrounds of faces in the pattern.
Indicators 130 may be lasered, etched, carved, painted, or otherwise marked on base ring 120. Indicators 130 are used to show/indicate the results of a spin. In a preferred embodiment, indicator(s) 130 should stand out and be aligned to each other. In
While there may be an infinite number of possible designs for dice rings,
In the case of multi-band dice rings, patterns here are grouped together, but separated by gray space. Notationally, dice rings may be referenced using standard dice notation combinations except that the “d” is replaced with an “r.” For example, an r4 dice ring may be used in place of a 4 sided die, commonly referred to as a d4.
Each spinning band in a multi spinning band dice ring may have its own track or path to prevent them from rubbing against each other or affecting each other's outcome. In a preferred embodiment, dice rings that have two or more spinning bands may have a physical divider between them. A physical divider, as shown in
Sometimes the results of dice (or any other random number/symbol/word generators) do not have outcomes with a perfectly equal probability. Referring to
In
In another example, rolling three 6-sided dice together for the purpose of summing the results would not have outcomes with a perfectly equal probability. Referring to
Any probability curve for random results generated from a discrete set could be reproduced in a dice ring by adjusting the percentage of the spinning band face that the result occupies, or through a combination of small sections of one spinning band being expanded on a separate spinning band for very low probability results (for example, rolling 3, 4, 5, 16, 17, or 18 on a 3d6 roll).
In an embodiment of a method of making a ring, if made from a single material, that material should be able to be permanently stretched outwards. In this embodiment the base ring starts out with an outer diameter small enough to fit freely inside the spinning bands, such that the ridges 340 and lips 350 also fit freely inside the spinning bands. This is so that the base ring can be permanently stretched to encompass the outer spinning bands during assembly of the base ring with its spinning bands. Alternatively, instead of stretching the base ring to encompass the spinning bands, the base ring could be cooled so that the material shrinks and the spinning band can be heated so that they expand, and then slipped into each other and brought to the same temperature to permanently combine parts.
When any two base parts (i.e. any two of 1-4) of the base ring are pushed together, they may be either welded or cemented with an adhesive, or otherwise permanently merged. One merging method may be to push together a male and female part to be bonded, and then stretch the male part from the inside while it is in position, press bonding it with the female part. Alternatively, the male part could be cooled, and the female part heated, and then they may be pushed together and returned to room temperature, bonding them. If intending to bond them in this fashion (using temperature to alter the size of the parts) the male ends of parts should be made with a slightly larger diameter than can fit in the female end. That is so they only fit together when brought to different temperatures, and then become permanently bonded when brought to the same temperature while held in the desired final positions.
Lip 360, shown in
Base rings 310, 320, and 330 are designed to produce statistically independent results on each spinning band. Grooves 340 on multi-band rings keep the spinning bands from touching each other and affecting each other's outcomes. Base rings 310, 320, and 330 either have ridges between the bands, separate and/or distinctive grooves for each spinning band, or other means to ensure that spinning bands in multi-band rings do not touch or otherwise affect each other.
Spinning band 5 may be used for a single-band dice ring 410. Spinning band 6 may be used as the spinning band for multi-band dice rings 420 and 430. Spinning band 6 is thinner so that the overall sizes of multi-band rings are closer to single-band dice rings. This produces a more attractive ring, and keeps them closer to each other in size, but this is not a design necessity. The spinning bands can be any width, even different widths mixed within a single ring. Differences in the width of spinning bands have little effect on the probability of its outcomes. A wider ring will have more mass and more momentum, but that only makes the ring spin longer when given the same initial speed. This does not affect the probability of resulting faces.
At step S501, a single base ring and the number of required spinning bands are created, each from a single material (not necessarily all the same material). Next, at S502, all parts are coated in a particular color or other coating such that when later removed, high contrast patterns will be produced. At S503a, the indicators are laser etched onto the base ring. In step S504a, the pattern(s) are laser etched onto the spinning bands. Lasering may be done before or after combining the parts of the ring into a single unit, as shown in S503b and S504b. Depending on the flexibility of the lasering equipment available, it may be better for the lasering to be done to each constituent part prior to combining them. The lasering machine may be incapable of reliably manipulating and lasering the spinning bands once they are encompassed by the base ring. It may be preferred to combine all of the parts first and then perform all of the lasering in a single pass over the entire ring. Finally, the fitting process begins at step S505. First, the spinning bands are fit loosely over the base ring. Next, the base ring is stretched outwards until it encompasses the outer spinning band(s).
Clicking ring 600 may include base ring 610, clicking bands 620, and a spring 630. Clicking bands 620 fit into the groove of base ring 600. Clicking ring 600 may not be spun due to the tension providing element, spring 630. Clicking bands 620 are locked at a specific value or combination of faces, and can be rotated by hand by gripping and putting twisting force on the bands, or by pushing on the band and then twisting. The notches 640 are made in such a way that this twisting force would automatically push two clicking bands 620 apart because of the angle or curve of the notches 640. Up and down pressure may cause the notches 610 and grooves to slide against each other, pushing the bands sideways and compressing the spring. In this way, the spring also holds the bands in place. The closer to a 0 degree slope the angle or curve has, the easier it is for twisting force to move the clicking bands apart and click to the next one over. A 90 degree slope means that no amount of twisting force would cause them to click over, and a zero degree slope would mean that nothing would be holding the symbols in place. In some examples included herein, a 45 degree angle is used. If the wearer pushes the band to be clicked towards the spring, compressing the spring, it takes pressure off of the notches and the band is much easier to rotate.
Base ring 610 may have lips 650 that may be pushed into each other and welded or cemented together using an adhesive, or otherwise merged/bonded together, similar to combining the parts of dice rings previously discussed. Either side of this base ring can be extended in length to accommodate more clicking bands 620, since this forms a single groove for all bands. Clicking rings do not require individual grooves. Notches 640 may hold the band in place. In this example, the number of notches 640 on a clicking ring 600 match the number of faces on the clicking band(s) 620 that the notches 640 match up with. This is so that when the clicking ring 600 comes to rest, one of its faces will always be aligned with the indicator mark.
Clicking rings with patterns with uneven faces, or in other words patterns that have faces that take up different amounts of surface area each, may have notches that are unevenly spaced too. The notches should, but do not have to, line up with the faces so that when they click into place, they line up with the indicator mark. This implies that the base band should only have a single protrusion; otherwise all notches may not line up perfectly with all protrusions and click into place in all positions. This is different from a clicking ring with perfectly even faces like the example clicking ring shown in
Indicators 611 on base ring 610 are displayed as rectangles. However, as with other functional rings described herein, anything may be used as a marker as long as it contrasts the rest of the area of the base band. As with dice rings, indicators 611 on clicking ring 600 may be lasered, etched, or otherwise marked on base ring 610. In a preferred embodiment, indicator(s) 611 stand out and are centered across a row of faces, similar to a slot machine to ensure that the results from clicking band 620 are clear.
Additionally, clicking rings may be used for a variety of uses outside of numerical tracking. For example, referring to
While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted, except as set forth in the following claims.
The present patent document claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/792,974, filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61792974 | Mar 2013 | US |