GAME DIE DEVICE

Abstract

A game die device may include a body having a number of walls and each wall may comprise a contact surface. One or more walls may also comprise a wall aperture. The device may include at least one reel which may be pivotally or rotatably coupled to the body via one or more connectors, and the reel may include two or more outer plates which may be alternatingly positioned to be visible through the wall aperture as the reel is rotated. The reel may include one or more inner plates which may be configured to form a reel aperture into which the connector may be inserted. The reel aperture may be shaped to include two or more inner plate junctions and each inner plate junction may be positioned proximate to the center of one of the outer plates of the reel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This patent specification relates to the field of game devices. More specifically, this patent specification relates to a game die device configured to provide multiple values on each side or face of the device.

BACKGROUND

Traditional gaming dice have a number of sides or faces, with each side of the dice having a single outcome or value. For example, a traditional six-sided gaming die has six values that can be randomly drawn at the top side after rolling the die. It is desirable to have dice that are capable of providing a plurality of values, such as more than six values. While gaming dice having more than six values have been developed, they rely on increasing the number of sides or faces. This results in the gaming dice to suffer from drawbacks that include: very large and cumbersome dice; dice having small and hard to read sides or faces; and dice that require a substantially flat and level surface in order to come to rest on their own.

Therefore, a need exists for novel game die devices. A further need exists for novel game die devices that are able to provide multiple values on each side or face of the device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A game die device which may be used in dice games (games that use or incorporate one or more dice as their sole or central component, usually as a random device) is provided. In some embodiments, the device may include: a body having a plurality of walls that are coupled together in a three-dimensional shape. Each wall of the plurality of walls may include a contact surface, and the plurality of walls may include a first wall and a second wall that is opposingly positioned to the first wall so that the first wall and the second wall are on opposite sides of the body. A wall aperture may be disposed in the first wall. A reel may be rotatably coupled to the body via a connector, and the reel may include two or more outer plates which may be alternatingly positioned to be visible through the wall aperture as the reel is rotated. The reel may include two or more inner plates. A reel aperture may be formed in the reel, and the connector may be inserted through the reel aperture or otherwise coupled to the reel aperture. The reel aperture may include two or more inner plate junctions. When the device is rolled or thrown, the reel is configured to rotate around the connector until the device lands on a contact surface of the second wall and the action of gravity causes a first inner plate junction of the two or more inner plate junctions to rest on the connector so that the outer plate proximate to the first inner plate junction is facing away from the second wall and visible through the wall aperture.

In further embodiments, a game die device may include a body having a plurality of walls that are coupled together in a three-dimensional shape. Each wall of the plurality of walls may have a contact surface, and the contact surface of each wall may have substantially the same shape. The plurality of walls may include a first wall and a second wall that is opposingly positioned to the first wall so that the first wall and the second wall are on opposite sides of the body. A wall aperture may be disposed in the first wall. A reel may be rotatably coupled to the body via a connector. The reel may include two or more outer plates which may be alternatingly positioned to be visible through the wall aperture as the reel is rotated. The reel may include two or more inner plates, and each inner plate may have substantially the same shape. A reel aperture may be formed in the reel, and the connector may be inserted through the reel aperture. The reel aperture may include two or more inner plate junctions. A first outer plate of the two or more outer plates may have a plate center, and a first inner plate junction may be positioned proximate to the plate center of the first outer plate. When the device is rolled or thrown, the reel is configured to rotate around the connector until the device lands on a contact surface of the second wall and the action of gravity causes the first inner plate junction of the two or more inner plate junctions to rest on the connector so that the outer plate proximate to the first inner plate junction is facing away from the second wall and visible through the wall aperture.

In preferred embodiments, after the game die device lands on a contact surface of a one wall (now the bottom wall) and via the action of gravity, each outer plate of the reel that is opposingly positioned to the contact surface that the device landed on has a substantially equal probability of facing away from the contact surface that the device landed on and being visible through the wall aperture of the wall (now the top wall) opposite to the contact surface of the bottom wall that the device game die landed on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1-FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an example of a game die device according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2-FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a reel of a game die device according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3-FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another example of a reel of a game die device according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4-FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a further example of a reel of a game die device according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5-FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of yet another example of a reel of a game die device according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6-FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of the example reel of FIG. 2 according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7-FIG. 7 shows a side elevation view of the example reel of FIG. 3 according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8-FIG. 8 depicts a side elevation view of the example reel of FIG. 4 according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9-FIG. 9 illustrates a side elevation view of the example reel of FIG. 5 according to various embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “rear,” “front,” “side,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Therefore, the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, the first element may be designated as the second element, and the second element may be likewise designated as the first element without departing from the scope of the invention.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. Additionally, as used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 8% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein.

A new game die device is discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

The present invention will now be described by example and through referencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternative embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a game die device (“the device”) 100 according to various embodiments. In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise a body 11 having a number of walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and each wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise a contact surface 18, 19, 20. One or more walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may also comprise a wall aperture 36, 37, 38. The device 100 may comprise a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, which may be pivotally or rotatably coupled to the body 11 via a connector 31, 32, 33, 34, and the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may include two or more outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, which may be alternatingly positioned to be visible through the wall aperture 36, 37, 38, as the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, is rotated. The reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may include one or more inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, which may be configured to form a reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, into which the connector 31, 32, 33, 34, may be inserted. The reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, may be shaped to include two or more inner plate junctions 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and each inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, may be positioned proximate to the center of one of the outer plates of the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. When the device 100 is rolled or thrown, the connector 31, 32, 33, 34, inserted into the reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, may enable the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, to rotate, such as until the device 100 lands on a contact surface 18, 19, 20, of a wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, that is opposite to the wall aperture 18, 19, 20, that the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, is visible through, and the action of gravity may cause an inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, to rest on the connector 31, 32, 33, 34, so that the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, that is proximate to that inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, is visible through the wall aperture 36, 37, 38. In this manner, the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, is able to display a different outcome for each of its outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

The device 100 may comprise a body 11 having a plurality of walls, such as a first wall 12, a second wall 13, a third wall 14, a fourth wall 15, a fifth wall 16, a sixth wall 17, etc. Generally, the device 100 may comprise a plurality of walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, that may be coupled together in a three-dimensional shape, such as a cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, or any other shape having three dimensions. In preferred embodiments, the body 11 may comprise at least six walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, that may be coupled together generally in the shape of a cube, optionally having rounded or beveled corners. In further preferred embodiments, at least two walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may be opposingly positioned to each other so that two opposingly positioned walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may be on opposite sides of the body 11 relative to each other.

Each wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise a contact surface 18, 19, 20, that may support the device 100 on a surface so that the contact surface(s) 18, 19, 20, of a single wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may contact the surface that is supporting the device 100. For example, a device 100 may comprise a body 11 having six walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and each wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise a contact surface 18, 19, 20, so that the device may comprise six contact surfaces 18, 19, 20, (three of which are shown in FIG. 1). In some embodiments, one or more, and more preferably, each contact surface 18, 19, 20, may be planar in shape, such as by having a flat or level surface that continues in all directions.

In further embodiments, a body 11 may comprise four, five, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or more walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, with each wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, having a contact surface 18, 19, 20, that the body 11 may land on. Walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and contact surface surfaces 18, 19, 20, may be configured in any shape and size. In some embodiments, one or more, and more preferably, each wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may be planar in shape, such as by having a flat or level surface that continues in all directions. Optionally, the junction of two or more walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may be rounded, beveled, or otherwise shaped.

One or more walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise one or more wall apertures 36, 37, 38. In preferred embodiments, one or more walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise one wall aperture 36, 37, 38. Generally, a wall aperture 36, 37, 38, may comprise an opening in a wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, which may allow one or more reels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, that are coupled to or proximate to the wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, to be visible through the wall aperture 36, 37, 38. For example, the device 100 may comprise a single reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, which may be visible in or through a wall aperture 36, 37, 38. As another example, the device 100 may comprise a two or more reels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, which may be visible in or through a wall aperture 36, 37, 38. In some embodiments, the device 100 may comprise two or more walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, that may comprise a wall aperture 36, 37, 38. In preferred embodiments, each wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise a wall aperture 36, 37, 38. For example, a device 100 having six walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise six wall apertures 36, 37, 38. In further embodiments, one or more walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise two or more wall apertures 36, 37, 38. Wall apertures 36, 37, 38, may be configured in any shape and size, such as by being square or rectangular in shape as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, a wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, may comprise a contact surface 18, 19, 20, that may surround a wall aperture 36, 37, 38 of the wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.

The device 100 may comprise one or more reels, such as a first reel 21, a second reel 22, a third reel 23, a fourth reel 24, a fifth reel 25, a sixth reel 26, a seventh reel 27, an eighth reel 28, a ninth reel 29, etc., which may be rotatably or pivotally coupled to the body 11 via one or more connectors 31, 32, 33, 34. Each reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may include one or more outer plates, such as a first outer plate 41, a second outer plate 42, a third outer plate 43, a fourth outer plate 44, a fifth outer plate 45, etc., which may be alternatingly positioned to be visible through the wall aperture 36, 37, 38, as the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, is rotated. Indicia 81 may be applied to the outer surface (surface of outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, facing away from the reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64) of one or more of the outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, of each reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and the indicia 81 may be used to denote outcomes that the device 100 is capable of generating once thrown, rolled, etc. In the example of FIG. 1, the topmost reel 25, is displaying the indicia 81 of “18”.

A reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may comprise any number of outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, that may be configured in any size and shape. In some embodiments, one or more, and more preferably, each outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, of a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may be planar in shape, such as by having a flat or level surface that continues in all directions. In preferred embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, each outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, of a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may comprise the same shape. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, each outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, of a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may comprise the same rectangular shape.

In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a reel 26 may comprise three outer plates 41, 42, 43, which may be coupled together in a generally triangular prism shape. In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a reel 27 may comprise four outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, which may be coupled together in a generally shortened rectangular prism shape. In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, a reel 28 may comprise four outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, which may be coupled together in a generally rectangular prism shape. In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a reel 29 may comprise five outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, which may be coupled together in a generally pentagonal prism shape. In further embodiments, a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may comprise two outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 which may be opposingly positioned relative to each other. In further embodiments, a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may comprise six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or any number of outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. In some embodiments, outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, may be configured with a generally rectangular shape. In further embodiments, outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, may be configured in any shape and size.

In preferred embodiments, reels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may include one or more inner plates, such as a first inner plate 51, a second inner plate 52, a third inner plate 53, a fourth inner plate 54, a fifth inner plate 55, etc., which may optionally be coupled together and/or coupled to an inner surface (surface facing the reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64) of an outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, to form a reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, into which a portion of one or more connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, may be inserted or otherwise coupled to a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. In further preferred embodiments, a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may be rotatably coupled to the body 11 via a connector 31, 32, 33, 34, that may be inserted through the reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, of the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, so that the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may rotate, revolve, or otherwise spin and move around the connector 31, 32, 33, 34.

In some embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may include a number of inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, that is equal to the number of outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, that the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, comprises. In alternative embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may include a number of inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, that is less than the number of outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, that the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, comprises.

Inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, of a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may be configured in any shape and size and may be coupled together to form one or more reel apertures 61, 62, 63, 64. In some embodiments, inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, may be configured with a generally rectangular shape. In further embodiments, inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, may be configured in any shape and size. In further embodiments, one or more, and more preferably, each inner plate 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, of a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may be planar in shape, such as by having a flat or level surface that continues in all directions. In preferred embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, each inner plate 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, of a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may comprise the same shape. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 2-9, each inner plate 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, of a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may comprise the same rectangular shape.

In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a reel 26 may comprise inner plates 51, 52, 53, which may be coupled together to form a generally triangular prism shaped reel aperture 61. In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a reel 27 may comprise two inner plates 51, 52, that may be coupled to two outer plates 41, 43, to form a generally short rectangular prism shaped reel aperture 62. In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, a reel 28 may comprise four inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, which may be coupled together to form a generally rectangular prism shaped reel aperture 63. In some embodiments and as perhaps best shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, a reel 29 may comprise five inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, which may be coupled together to form a generally pentagonal prism shaped reel aperture 64. In further embodiments, a reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, may be formed in any shape and size by any number and shaped inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54.

In some embodiments, a reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, may include two or more inner plate junctions, such as a first inner plate junction 71, a second inner plate junction 72, a third inner plate junction 73, a fourth inner plate junction 74, a fifth inner plate junction 75, etc. An inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, may comprise an intersection or junction between one inner plate 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, and another element within a reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, such as an intersection or junction between one inner plate 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, and another inner plate 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9, or an intersection or junction between one inner plate 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, and one outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7.

Each outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, may comprise a plate center 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, which may describe the balance point of the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, such that the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, taken alone, will balance if supported at the plate center 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. Put another way, a plate center 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, may be the balance point, or center of gravity of its outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

In some embodiments, each inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, may be positioned at a plate center 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, or proximate to (within five percent, and more preferably within two percent, of its balance point, or center of gravity) the plate center 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, that each inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, is closest to. For example, one or more inner plate junctions 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, may be coupled to its closest outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

In some embodiments, each inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, may be elongated so as to extend through the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and may be aligned with a plate center 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, of the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, that each inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, is closest to. For example, one or more inner plate junctions 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, may be separated from its closest outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, while still being aligned with a plate center 46, 47, 48, 49, 50.

A reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may be rotatably or pivotally coupled to the body 11 via one or more connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, which preferably may be inserted into the reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, of the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and which may form an axis around which the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may rotate. In some embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 2-5, a connector 31, 32, 33, 34, may comprise a length of material having opposing ends, such as a metal or plastic rod, metal or plastic wire, etc., which may extend completely through a reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, and which may have its opposing ends coupled to at least one wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, so that the outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, of the wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, can be observed through a wall aperture 36, 37, 38. In further embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 1, a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may be pivotally or rotatably coupled to the body 11 via two connectors 31, 32, which may be inserted into opposing ends of the wall aperture 36, 37, 38, of the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. In still further embodiments, a connector 31, 32, 33, 34, may comprise any other device or coupling method which may enable a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, to be pivotally or rotatably coupled to the body 11.

While a reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, may be pivotally or rotatably coupled to the body 11, the one or more connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, coupling the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, to the body 11 may interact with the inner plate junctions 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, of the reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64, of the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, in order to cause an outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, to be displayed in the wall aperture 36, 37, 38, that is farthest from the object, such as a table top, desk top, user's palm, etc., that the device 100 is resting on. Generally, the action of gravity may cause the one or more connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, coupling the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, to the body 11 to come to rest in an inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, of the reel aperture 61, 62, 63, 64. By having the inner plate junctions 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, positioned at or approximately proximate to the center of the outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, when the one or more connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, coupling the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, to the body 11 to come to rest in an inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, above the inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, may come to rest so that it is approximately perpendicular to the action of gravity (or otherwise positioned to be the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, that is farthest from the object that the device 100 is resting on) with the indicia 81 of that outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, being read as the outcome of the device 100. In preferred embodiments, after the device 100 lands on a contact surface 18, 19, 20, of a first wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and via the action of gravity, each outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, of the reel 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, that is opposingly positioned to the contact surface 18, 19, 20, that the device 100 landed on has a substantially equal (within five percent) probability of facing away from the contact surface 18, 19, 20, that the device 100 landed on and being visible through the wall aperture 36, 37, 38, opposite to the contact surface 18, 19, 20, that the device 100 landed on.

When the device 100 is rolled or thrown, the one or more connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, inserted into the reel aperture(s) 61, 62, 63, 64, may enable the reel(s) 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, to rotate until the device 100 lands or rests on a contact surface 18, 19, 20, of a wall 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. The action of gravity will cause the reel(s) 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, farthest from the contact surface 18, 19, 20, that the device 100 is resting on to stop rotating with the connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, of that reel(s) 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, positioned within or contacting an inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, so that the outer plate 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, proximate to the inner plate junction 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, is “face up” in or below the wall aperture 36, 37, 38, that is farthest from the contact surface 18, 19, 20, that the device 100 is resting on. In this manner, the one or more reels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, of the device 100 are able to display a different outcome for each of their outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

While some exemplary shapes and sizes have been provided for elements of the device 100, it should be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that the body 11, walls 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, contact surface 18, 19, 20, reels 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, connectors 31, 32, 33, 34, wall apertured 36, 37, 38, outer plates 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, inner plates 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, reel apertures 61, 62, 63, 64, inner plate junctions 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and any other element described herein may be configured in a plurality of sizes and shapes including “T” shaped, “X” shaped, square shaped, rectangular shaped, cylinder shaped, cuboid shaped, hexagonal prism shaped, triangular prism shaped, or any other geometric or non-geometric shape, including combinations of shapes. It is not intended herein to mention all the possible alternatives, equivalent forms or ramifications of the invention. It is understood that the terms and proposed shapes used herein are merely descriptive, rather than limiting, and that various changes, such as to size and shape, may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Additionally, while some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, the elements that comprise the device 100 may be made from or may comprise durable materials such as aluminum, steel, other metals and metal alloys, wood, hard rubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, fiberglass, resins, polymers or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally, one or more elements may be made from or may comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or connected together with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, or any other suitable joining method. In other embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled or removably connected by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as hook and loop type or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, snap fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, a push-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connection method, a slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitable temporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the same function. In further embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device 100 may be coupled by being one of connected to and integrally formed with another element of the device 100.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Claims

1. A game die device, the device comprising: a body having a plurality of walls that are coupled together in a three-dimensional shape, wherein each wall of the plurality of walls comprises a contact surface, and wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall and a second wall that is opposingly positioned to the first wall so that the first wall and the second wall are on opposite sides of the body;a wall aperture disposed in the first wall;a reel rotatably coupled to the body via a connector, wherein the reel includes two or more outer plates which may be alternatingly positioned to be visible through the wall aperture as the reel is rotated, and wherein the reel includes two or more inner plates;a reel aperture formed in the reel, wherein the connector is inserted through the reel aperture, wherein the reel aperture includes two or more inner plate junctions, and wherein when the device is rolled or thrown, the reel is configured to rotate around the connector until the device lands on a contact surface of the second wall and the action of gravity causes a first inner plate junction of the two or more inner plate junctions to rest on the connector so that the outer plate proximate to the first inner plate junction is facing away from the second wall and visible through the wall aperture.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the connector is coupled to at least one wall of the plurality of walls.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a first outer plate of the two or more outer plates has a plate center, and wherein the first inner plate junction is positioned proximate to the plate center of the first outer plate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least six walls.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first inner plate junction is formed at an intersection of a first inner plate and a second inner plate that are coupled together.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first inner plate junction is formed between an intersection of a first inner plate with an outer plate and an intersection of a second inner plate with the outer plate.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the two or more outer plates are each planar in shape.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of walls are each planar in shape.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the reel has a number of inner plates and a number of outer plates, and wherein the number of inner plates is equal to the number of outer plates.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the reel has a number of inner plates and a number of outer plates, and wherein the number of inner plates is less than the number of outer plates.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein after the device lands on a contact surface of the second wall and via the action of gravity, each outer plate of the reel has a substantially equal probability of facing away from the second wall and being visible through the wall aperture.

12. A game die device, the device comprising: a body having a plurality of walls that are coupled together in a three-dimensional shape, wherein each wall of the plurality of walls comprises a contact surface, wherein the contact surface of each wall comprises substantially the same shape, and wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall and a second wall that is opposingly positioned to the first wall so that the first wall and the second wall are on opposite sides of the body;a wall aperture disposed in the first wall;a reel rotatably coupled to the body via a connector, wherein the reel includes two or more outer plates which may be alternatingly positioned to be visible through the wall aperture as the reel is rotated, and wherein the reel includes two or more inner plates;a reel aperture formed in the reel, wherein each inner plate has substantially the same shape, wherein the connector is inserted through the reel aperture, wherein the reel aperture includes two or more inner plate junctions, wherein a first outer plate of the two or more outer plates has a plate center, wherein a first inner plate junction is positioned proximate to the plate center of the first outer plate, wherein when the device is rolled or thrown, the reel is configured to rotate around the connector until the device lands on a contact surface of the second wall and the action of gravity causes the first inner plate junction of the two or more inner plate junctions to rest on the connector so that the outer plate proximate to the first inner plate junction is facing away from the second wall and visible through the wall aperture, and wherein after the device lands on a contact surface of the second wall and via the action of gravity, each outer plate of the reel has a substantially equal probability of facing away from the second wall and being visible through the wall aperture.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the connector is coupled to at least one wall of the plurality of walls.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the body comprises at least six walls.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the first inner plate junction is formed at an intersection of a first inner plate and a second inner plate that are coupled together.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the first inner plate junction is formed between an intersection of a first inner plate with an outer plate and an intersection of a second inner plate with the outer plate.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the two or more outer plates are each planar in shape.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of walls are each planar in shape.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the reel has a number of inner plates and a number of outer plates, and wherein the number of inner plates is equal to the number of outer plates.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the reel has a number of inner plates and a number of outer plates, and wherein the number of inner plates is less than the number of outer plates.