Patent Application
20060055110
The present invention relates generally to toys, and in particular, to a game capsule.
While children enjoy an intellectual stimulation component of board games and puzzles, tactile games are favored by many as well. Most interesting games tend to be those combining intellectual components of board games and puzzles with tactile engagement.
Moreover, a compact game that is relatively convenient to store and transport are commonly preferred by children as well as parents. Also, the packaging of a game can play an important role in its popularity. Games that combine intellectually stimulating puzzles or board games, along with tactile engagement have been successful in the marketplace. Thus, it is with respect to these considerations, and others, that the present invention has been made.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment, which is to be read in association with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Among other things, the present invention may be embodied as methods or devices. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Briefly stated, the present invention is directed towards a game capsule that combines an intellectual stimulation component such as a puzzle, a board game and the like, along with tactile engagement features. A packaging for game elements may be used to facilitate record keeping, a status indication, a movement of a game element, an instruction for a game, and the like. By using the packaging for game elements to facilitate game play, a size of the packaging may be reduced resulting in lower manufacturing costs and increased marketability such as sales through vending machines.
The game elements may comprise one or more figures that are included in the packaging. The figure(s) may include a representation of a character, a vehicle, a device, a weapon, a tool, and the like. According to one aspect of the present invention, each game capsule may include at least one game element that is randomly selected from a predetermined set of game elements such that a game player determines an identity of the at least one game element upon opening the packaging.
In a play mode, lower component 102 may be removed from upper component 104. Figure structure 106 may be attached to the top of upper component 104. In a storage mode, figure structure 106 may be removed from the top of upper component 104 and stored inside game capsule 100. Other elements of the game (not shown) may also be stored inside game capsule 100. In one embodiment, various coloring schemes associated with the game may be implemented on lower component 102, upper component 104, and figure structure 106.
Plug 210 may be molded to the top of upper component 104 or operate as a separate component that is attached to the upper component. Plug 210 may include indices along its circumference to enable placement of figure structure 106 to indicate or point to a particular sticker disposed in one of sticker recesses 208. In one embodiment, further instructions associated with the game may be displayed on plug 210.
Upper component 104 may be manufactured employing a hardened material including, but not limited to, plastic, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polyamide, and the like.
Lower component 102 may include a matching half of locking mechanism 206 that may comprise a pair of threads, tongue and groove, indentations, and the like, along the edge of lower component 102 as described above. Lower component 102 may be manufactured employing a soft material including, but not limited to, softened plastic, nylon, polyester, vulcanized elastomer, natural and synthetic rubber, and the like. In one embodiment, surfaces of lower component 102 and upper component 104 may be textured.
Figure structure 106 may include
Game capsule 100 may be utilized in association with a card game, board game, video game, and the like. In one embodiment, lower component 102 may be employed to measure movement of a player on a board game, and the like. The game may comprise elements including, but not limited to, movements, as measured in capsule lengths, attack and defense positions, statistics such as damage, points, and the like. The game may further include special abilities for each player at different stages of the game. Actions in the game may include a player removing figure structure 106, rotating and repositioning over plug 210 to indicate a new sticker in association with the game. Tactile engagement by employing figure structure 106 in association with the game may increase stimulation provided by the game.
Figure structure 306 includes
In a further embodiment, top portion 324 may include a plurality of substantially round protrusions and base 322 may include at least two substantially round recesses that are arranged to engage the protrusions.
Top portion 324 is indicated in the figure with dashed lines on a center of upper component 304. In one embodiment, top portion 324 may include a plurality of substantially round recesses 326. Recesses 326 may be arranged to form a circle such that figure structure 306 may be rotated by a player and point to a different sticker at each level of the game. As shown in the figure, base 322 includes at least two substantially round protrusions 328 that are arranged to engage at least two of the substantially round recesses 326. By engaging substantially round recesses 326, substantially round protrusions 328 enable figure structure 306 to be firmly attached to upper component 304 while indicating a sticker with pointer 330.
A significant difference between game capsule 100 described in
Similar to
Recesses 436 may be arranged to form a circle such that figure structure 406 may be rotated by a player and point to a different sticker at each level of the game. As shown in the figure, base 432 includes at least two substantially rectangular protrusions 438 that are arranged to engage at least two of the substantially rectangular recesses 436. Pointer 330 is employed to indicate a selected sticker as described previously.
Corresponding to the substantially flat surface of top portion 542, base 540 may also have a substantially flat shape that is arranged for a snug fit to top portion 542. In one embodiment, top portion 542 may include small indentations (not shown) on its upper surface, which together with corresponding small recesses (not shown) on a bottom surface of base 540 are arranged to maintain a position of figure structure 506 relative to a sticker on upper component 504.
In a further embodiment, indicator 546 may include an indentation on its bottom surface such that a position of figure structure 506 relative to upper component 504 is maintained.
In one embodiment, sticker set 600 may include stickers 650-657 that are associated with a particular game. Each sticker may include first symbol 670 and associated first number 671, second symbol 672 and associated second number 673, third symbol 674 and associated third number 675, and status bar 660.
The game may begin with a determination of a player to move by rolling a dice. The selected player may move the figure structure by a distance that is determined by multiplying a width of the game capsule by first number 671. A map may provide at least one path for figure structure to follow. If the figure structure of a moving player touches the figure structure of another player, the moving player may determine whether he/she can attack, based on a second dice roll. If a result of the dice roll is smaller than second number 673 on a currently indicated sticker, the moving player may attack. If the result of the dice roll is larger, the moving player may not attack.
If the moving player is in a position to attack, the player may compare third number 675 on his/her figure structure with the third number on the other player's figure structure. If the moving player's third number 675 is larger, the moving player may score a “hit” and play again. If the other player's third number is larger, the moving player may score a “miss” and the other player may move. Status bar 660 may indicate whether a player may roll the dice for a second time before attacking. Furthermore, one of the stickers of sticker set 600, such as sticker 657, may include a terminate symbol 666, which may indicate loss of game for a player whose figure structure indicates the sticker with terminate symbol 666.
In one embodiment, the figure structure may be rotated left or right depending on a result of an attack indicating a different sticker on the upper component. Sticker set 600 describes an exemplary game which may employ an embodiment of the present invention. The invention, however, is not so limited. The game capsule and other components described herein may be utilized in association with virtually any card game, board game, video game, and the like.
The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
