GAME DEVICE

Abstract

A game device includes first and second game pieces, and first and second boards. The first game piece and second game piece are different. The first board includes first and second squares on a top surface thereof. The first and second squares are aligned. The second board has first and second surfaces and includes third and fourth squares on the first surface. The second board is configurable on the first board. The first squares and the third squares are configured to overlap in a vertical direction when the second board is in a prescribed location on the first board. When the first game piece is configured at the first square and no game piece is configured at the third game square, and when the first square overlaps with the third square vertically, the first game piece is identifiable through the third squares.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-126957 filed on Aug. 3, 2023. The entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-126957 is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a game device.

Background Art

Conventionally known is a game device that comprises a plurality of square boards of mutually different sizes, and a large number of game pieces of a plurality of types that can be distinguished visually from each other (Patent Document 1). According to this game device, a plurality of recesses is formed along the four sides of each board. A plurality of players take turns placing game pieces in the recesses and moving the board, competing to see which player can line up a prescribed number of their game pieces consecutively.

According to this game device, the situation changes every time the board is changed, so it is possible to enjoy a thrilling game.

PRIOR ART

• • Patent Document 1: U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0187893A1

SUMMARY

Problems the Invention Is Intended to Solve

However, in the game device of the abovementioned Patent Document 1, the locations where game pieces can be placed are limited to the periphery of the board, and even when a game piece is placed on the board, if there is a board above that, the game piece is hidden, and that game piece cannot be used in the game.

Taking that point into consideration, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a game device in which game pieces placed on a lower board can be used even if there is a board above that.

Means for Solving the Problems

A game device includes first and second game pieces, and first and second boards. The first game piece and second game piece are different. The first board includes first and second squares on a top surface thereof. The first and second squares are aligned. The second board has first and second surfaces and includes third and fourth squares on the first surface. The second board is configurable on the first board. Each one of the first to fourth squares has a same shape. The second surface is opposite to the first surface and faces the first board. The second board is configured at a first place or a second place on the first board. The first squares and the third squares are configured to overlap in a vertical direction when the second board is in a prescribed location on the first board. When the first game piece is configured at the first square and no game piece is configured at the third game square, and when the first square overlaps with the third square vertically, the first game piece is identifiable through the third squares.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the use status of a game device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main constituent components of the game device separated from each other.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first board of the game device.

FIG. 4A is a drawing showing a first surface of a second board, and FIG. 4B is a drawing showing a second surface of the second board.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the movement of the second board with respect to the first board.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view showing the state of dropping a game piece from a fitting recess on the lower side of the second board into a first fitting recess of the first board.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a change in the positional relationship of a second fitting recess when the second board is horizontally rotated with respect to the first board.

FIGS. 8A-8D are drawings showing changes in the positional relationship of a third fitting recess when the second board is vertically inverted with respect to the first board.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of various types of game pieces.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing three faces of a die, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing the other three faces of the die.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention is explained based on the drawings.

Configuration

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the use status of a game device 100 according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main constituent components of the game device 100 separated from each other.

The game device 100 comprises a first board 10, a second board 20, game pieces 30, and a die 40. This game device 100 is used in a “Gomoku-narabe game,” for example.

First Board 10

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first board 10.

The first board 10 is made of plastic and formed in a square shape in the plan view, and an edge part 10a in the plan view is a downward sloping inclined plane facing downward.

On the upper surface of the first board 10, as squares on which to place the game pieces 30, eight first fitting recesses 10b that are square and of the same size (only a portion is shown in the drawing) are formed vertically and horizontally at equal intervals. The depth of the first fitting recesses 10b is smaller than the thickness of the game pieces 30. By working in this way, it is easier to remove the fitted game pieces 30.

A seat 10c that has a short cylinder shape and has a hemispherical surface formed on the upper surface is formed at the center of the upper surface of the first board 10. In specific terms, at the center of the first board 10, the seat 10c is formed at the location at which the corners of four first fitting recesses 10b meet. A magnet (not illustrated) is provided on the seat 10c.

The formation region of the first fitting recesses 10b of the first board 10 is divided into four regions, and a plus, circle, triangle, or square mark is applied to the first fitting recesses 10b according to the region. These marks are used as marks when rotating the second board 20 with respect to the first board 10, and can be used as marks when placing the game pieces 30 in a second game described later.

Second Board 20

FIG. 4A is a drawing showing a first surface (surface A) of the second board 20, and FIG. 4B is a drawing showing a second surface (surface B) of the second board 20.

The second board 20 is made of plastic and is formed in a square shape in the plan view. The size of the second board 20 is one fourth the size of the formation region of the first fitting recesses 10b of the first board 10.

On the first surface of the second board 20, as squares on which to place game pieces 30, four second fitting recesses 20a (only a portion is shown in the drawing) each of the same shape as the first fitting recesses 10b are formed vertically and horizontally at equal intervals. The depth of the second fitting recesses 20a is smaller than the thickness of the game pieces 30. By working in this way, it is easier to remove fitted game pieces 30.

On the second surface of the second board 20, as squares for placing game pieces 30, four third fitting recesses 20b (only a portion is shown in the drawing) each of the same shape as the second fitting recess 20a are formed vertically and horizontally at equal intervals. The third fitting recesses 20b are formed directly behind the second fitting recesses 20a. The depth of the third fitting recesses 20b is smaller than the thickness of the game pieces 30. By working in this way, it is easier to remove fitted game pieces 30.

The second fitting recesses 20a and the third fitting recesses 20b share bottom plates 20c (only a portion is shown in the drawing). At the center of the bottom plates 20c, a circular through hole 20d (only a portion is shown in the drawing) that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the game pieces 30 is formed. The second fitting recesses 20a and the third fitting recesses 20b are in communication by the through holes 20d. As a result, it is possible to visually recognize the lower side through the through hole 20d, and as shown in FIG. 6, a finger through this through hole 20d can drop a game piece 30 in the fitting recess on the lower side of the second board 20 into a first fitting recess 10b of the first board 10.

A spherical part 20e of the same diameter as the hemispherical recess of the seat 10c is formed at one corner of the second board 20. An iron ball (not illustrated) which is a magnetic body is provided inside the spherical part 20e. As a result, the hemispherical recess of the seat 10c and the spherical part 20e are attracted to each other by the magnetic force acting between the magnet and the iron ball.

A gripping piece 20f is formed on the second board 20. The gripping piece 20f is formed over two sides that meet at diagonals of the seat 10c. As shown in FIG. 5, gripping the gripping piece 20f with fingers, it is possible to horizontally rotate and vertically invert the second board 20 with respect to the first board 10 while abutting the hemispherical recess and spherical part 20e.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a change in the position of the second fitting recesses 20a of the first surface (surface A) of the second board 20 when the second board 20 is horizontally rotated with respect to the first board 10. In the drawing, to distinguish the second fitting recesses 20a of the first surface, code numbers A1 to A16 are given to each fitting recess.

Now, assume that the second board 20 in the plus region of the first board 10. At this time, the fitting recesses A1 to A16 on the second board 20 are in the positional relationship shown in the upper left of the drawing. When this second board 20 is rotated to the circle region (90 degrees), the triangle region (180 degrees), and the square region (270 degrees), each of the fitting recesses A1 to A16 are in the positional relationships shown in the upper right, lower right, and lower left of the drawing.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8 (D) are drawings showing changes in positions of the third fitting recesses 20b of the second surface (surface B) of the second board 20 when the second board 20 is vertically inverted with respect to the first board 10, in other words, when rotated or turned around in place. In the drawing, code numbers B1 to B16 are given to each fitting recess to distinguish the third fitting recesses 20b of the second surface. The fitting recesses B1 to B16 are positioned on the back side of the fitting recesses A1 to A16.

Now, assume that the second board 20 is in the plus region of the first board 10. At this time, the fitting recesses A1 to A16 on the second board 20 are in the positional relationship shown in the left part of the drawing. When this second board 20 is vertically inverted around the spherical part 20e seated in the seat 10c so that the plus region, the circle region, the triangle region, and the square region overlap, the fitting recesses B1 to B16 are in the positional relationships shown in these FIGS. 8A to 8D.

As can be understood from the above description, by horizontally rotating or vertically inverting the second board 20 with respect to the first board 10, it is possible to change the combination of the fitting recesses aligned in the height direction or the planar alignment of the fitting recesses. This means that by rotating or vertically inverting the second board 20 with respect to the first board 10, it is possible to change the alignment of the game pieces 30 in the plan view.

Game Pieces 30

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the game pieces 30.

The game pieces 30 are made of plastic and formed in a disk shape. The game pieces 30 can be engaged and removed with respect to the first fitting recesses 10b, the second fitting recesses 20a, and the third fitting recesses 20b.

Here, four types of game pieces 30 are used. As the four types of game pieces 30, at least the color or pattern of the main surface of the game pieces 30 is different, and items that can easily be identified visually are used. For example, four types of game pieces 30 of red, blue, green, and yellow are used. In the drawing, plus, triangle, square, and circle marks are given to the game pieces 30 in accordance with the red, blue, green, and yellow. Actually, if the game pieces 30 are given colors such as red, blue, green, yellow, etc., it is not necessary to give the plus, triangle, square, and circle marks. If the plus, triangle, square, and circle marks are given, the color can be the same.

On the game pieces 30, claw holes 30a are formed for hooking claws when removing the game pieces 30 from the first fitting recesses 10b, the second fitting recesses 20a, and the third fitting recesses 20b.

The number of game pieces 30 of each type is prepared so that two to four players can play five in a row, for example, 40 pieces of each color. The front and back of the game pieces 30 are the same color and pattern.

Die 40

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing three faces of the die 40, and FIG. 10 (B) is a perspective view showing the other three faces.

The die 40 is used in a second game described later. An action that a player should take in the game (game action) is displayed on each face of the die 40. Specifically, on four of the faces, one color among red, blue, green, and yellow, and a plus, triangle, square, and circle mark corresponding to that is marked. On the remaining two faces, an arrow is marked showing the rotation direction of the second board 20.

For example, with this die 40, whichever of the plus, triangle, square, and circle appears, the game piece 30 is fitted into the first fitting recess 10b of the region that corresponds to what appeared on the die. At that time, when the second board 20 is in that region, the game piece 30 is fitted into the second fitting recess 20a or the third fitting recess 20b on the upper surface side of the second board 20.

How to Play

First Game

Players take turns one by one performing game actions at their own will, competing to align five of their own game pieces 30 in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally in plan view.

(1) Select and perform a game action from the following four items a to d.

a. Fit one of one's own game pieces 30 into an open fitting recess on the first board 10 or the second board 20. When the first board 10 and the second board 20 are overlapping, fitting into the fitting recess on the upper surface side of the second board 20 is possible, but even if there is an opening in the fitting recess on the lower surface, fitting is not possible.

b. When the game pieces 30 is fitted only in the fitting recess of the lower surface side of the second board 20, by pushing that game piece 30 from the through hole 20d, that game piece 30 is fitted into the first fitting recess 10b that is open below. In this case, the player can drop the game piece 30 using his or her finger or the game piece 30 in hand (see FIG. 6).

c. Rotate the second board 20 clockwise or counterclockwise horizontally from the current position by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees.

d. Vertically invert the second board 20 in place (FIG. 8A). In this case, the second board 20 may be folded back to be vertically inverted as shown in FIG. 8 (B) to (D).

(2) When a player has aligned five of the game pieces 30 of the same color in a row at the time when the game action has ended, and there are five aligned in the vertical, horizontal, or diagonal direction, the player corresponding to the game pieces 30 of that color is the winner. In this case, whether five of the game pieces 30 of the same color are aligned in the vertical, horizontal, or diagonal direction is determined by whether the game pieces 30 can be visually recognized from above. At the location at which the second board 20 is placed on the first board 10, the game pieces 30 that are fitted in the fitting recess on the upper surface of the second board 20 (second fitting recesses 20a or third fitting recesses 20b), as well as the game pieces 30 that can be visually recognized from the through holes 20d of the fitting recesses are counted.

Second Game

The point of competing by aligning five of one's own game pieces 30 in a row in the plan view is the same as the first game, but the point of rolling the die 40 and having the player progress in the game according to what the die shows is different from the first game.

(1) The participating players take turns rolling the die 40, and progress in the game according to what the die shows.

When the die 40 shows plus, triangle, square, or circle, the game piece 30 is placed in that region. In the case of an arrow, the second board 20 is rotated in that arrow direction by 90 degrees.

(2) When a player performs a game action, when five game pieces 30 of the same color are aligned five in a row in the vertical, horizontal, or diagonal direction first, the player corresponding to that color game pieces 30 wins. In this case, the determination of whether five of the game pieces 30 of the same color are aligned in the vertical, horizontal, or diagonal direction is performed in the same way as the first game.

Effect of the Embodiment

In the game device 100 configured in this way, it is possible to obtain the following effects.

According to this game device 100, even when game pieces are not fitted in the fitting recesses on the upper surface side of the second board 20 placed on the first board 10, when there is a game piece in the fitting recess below the through hole 20d, it is possible to visually recognize that game piece through the through hole 20d, so it is possible to use that game piece 30 in the game.

Since the placement status of the second board 20 on the first board 10 can be changed, the placement location of the game pieces 30 fitted in the fitting recesses of the second board 20 can be changed with respect to the first board 10.

Since the bottom plates 20c of the second board 20 have the through holes 20d, the game pieces 30 on the lower surface side of the second board 20 can be dropped into the first fitting recesses 10b below using the through holes 20d.

Furthermore, because it is possible to vertically invert the second board 20 and place it on the first board 10, by inverting, it is possible to change the placement location of the game pieces 30 fitted in the second fitting recesses 20a with respect to the first board 10.

The second board can be moved with respect to the first board while abutting the spherical part 20e on the hemispherical recess, so the second board 20 can be moved with respect to the first board 10 efficiently.

Furthermore, the hemispherical recess and the spherical part 20e are attracted by magnetic force, so it is possible to easily move the second board 20 with respect to the first board 10 while maintaining the abutting state of the hemispherical recess and the spherical recess 20e.

Modification Example

Above, an embodiment of the present invention was explained, but it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

For example, in the embodiment above, the second board 20 was rotated or vertically inverted, but it may also be slid vertically or horizontally, or the placement location of the second board 20 may simply be freely moved on the first board 10.

In the above embodiment, the through holes 20d were provided on the second board 20 as an example of a viewing window, but it is also possible to have the bottom plates 20c be transparent.

In the embodiment above, the second board 20 was a square shape, but it may also be a band shape or a curved shape. In short, it is sufficient that when the second board 20 is placed on the first board 10, at a prescribed placement position, the fitting recesses of the second board 20 overlap a portion of the first fitting recesses 10b of the first board 10, and the remaining first fitting recesses 10b extend outside the second board 20 to be able to fit the game pieces 30.

In the embodiment above, the game “Gomoku-narabe” was used as an example of the game executed using the game device 100, but this is also applicable to games such as territory capture games in which winning is determined by the arrangement of the game pieces 30.

In the above embodiment, the configuration was such the type of the game pieces 30 could be identified visually, but so that even a person with visual impairment can enjoy the game, a mark that can be identified by the sense of touch may also be engraved on the front and back surfaces of the game pieces 30. For example, the plus, triangle, square, and circle marks of the game pieces 30 noted above may also be three-dimensional marks that can be touched to recognized by the sense of touch. Braille may also be used.

Furthermore, in the embodiment above, the first fitting recesses 10b, the second fitting recesses 20a, and the third fitting recesses 20b were square shaped, and the game pieces 30 were disk shaped, but as long as the shapes can be fitted together, there is no restriction.

In the embodiment above, the game pieces 30 were fitted in the fitting recesses, but a structure may also be used in which game pieces are placed on squares. However, in this case, game pieces can only be placed on one surface of the second board 20, and the second board 20 cannot be vertically inverted.

In the above embodiment, plus, circle, triangle, or square marks were given to the first fitting recesses 10b, and plus, triangle, square, and circle marks were given to four faces of the die 40, with arrow marks showing the rotation direction of the second board 20 given to the remaining two faces of the die 40, but to be able to play the game even using a normal die marked with the numbers 1 to 6 on the six faces, the numbers 1 to 4 may be given to the first fitting recesses 10b instead of giving the plus, circle, triangle, or square marks, and when the die is rolled and a number 1 to 4 appears, the game proceeds in the same manner as with the plus, circle, triangle, or square, and if the number 5 or 6 appears, the second board 20 may be rotated by a prescribed angle, or inverted in place. Alternatively, it is also possible to move the second board 20 in a combination of rotation and inversion. The way the second board 20 is moved may be also changed according to whether 5 or 6 appears.

Effect of the Invention

According to the first aspect, when there is no game piece placed on the square of the second board that is placed on the first board, if there is a game piece on the square of the first board, it is possible to identify the type of that game piece, so that game piece can be used in the game.

It is also possible to change the placement state of the second board on the first board, so it is possible to change the placement location of the game piece placed on a square of the second board with respect to the first board.

According to the second aspect, the squares are constituted from fitting recesses, so the game pieces can be reliably held on the squares.

According to the third and fourth aspects, it is possible to visually read the status below (presence or absence and type of game piece) through a viewing window or a through hole. According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to use sense of touch to read the status below (presence or absence and type of game piece) by touching.

According to the fifth aspect the second board can be vertically inverted and placed on the first board, so by inverting, it is possible to change the placement location of the game piece fitted in the fitting recess of the first surface of the second board with respect to the first board.

According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to use the game piece fitted in the fitting recess of the second surface of the second board in the game.

According to the seventh aspect, it is possible to move the second board with respect to the first board while abutting the spherical part on the hemispherical recess, so it is possible to move the second board with respect to the first board efficiently. According to the eighth aspect, the hemispherical recess and the spherical part are attracted by magnetic force, so the second board can easily be moved with respect to the first board while maintaining the abutting status of the hemispherical recess and the spherical part.

Claims

1. A game device comprising: first game piece and second game piece being different from the first game piece;a first board including first and second squares on a top surface thereof, the first and second squares being aligned; anda second board having first and second surfaces and including third and fourth squares on the first surface, the second board being configurable on the first board, each one of the first to fourth squares having a same shape, the second surface being opposite to the first surface and facing the first board,the second board being configured at a first place or a second place on the first board,the first squares and the third squares being configured to overlap in a vertical direction when the second board is in a prescribed location on the first board,when the first game piece is configured at the first square and no game piece is configured at the third game square, and when the first square overlaps with the third square vertically, the first game piece being identifiable through the third squares.

2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the third square having a first fitting recess, andthe first game piece is configurable in or removable from the first fitting recess.

3. The game device according to claim 2, wherein the third square includes a bottom plate having a viewing window.

4. The game device according to claim 2, wherein the bottom place has a through hole being smaller than the first game piece.

5. The game device according to claim 4, wherein the second board invertible such that the first surface faces the first board.

6. The game device according to claim 5, wherein the second board includes a fifth square having a second fitting recess on the second surface,the first game piece is configurable in and removable from the second fitting recess,the fifth square has having the same shape as the third square, andthe fifth square shares the bottom plate with the third square.

7. The game device according to claim 6, wherein the first to fifth squares are square shaped,the first and second game pieces are disk shaped,the first board includes a hemispherical recess at a corner of the first square,the second board includes a spherical part being configured in the hemispherical recess when the second board is configured on the first board, andthe second board is rotating horizontally and invertible around the spherical part.

8. The game device according to claim 6, wherein the first board includes a magnet being in the hemispherical recess, andthe spherical part includes a magnetic body that is attracted to the magnet.