Patent Application
20070290440
The drawings include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. Furthermore, with reference to the drawings, the reader should understand that like reference numerals in different drawings refer to the like elements and components of the invention. Moreover, it should be noted that each embodiment of the invention is not depicted by the figures.
Detailed descriptions of the embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Each player game card 102 is unique from all other player game cards 102 in game 101, and contains a combination of randomized words 103 arranged in a rows and columns, with randomized words 103 pertaining to a hobby. In the embodiment shown, randomized words 103 shown on player game card 102 pertain to the hobby of beading, but in other embodiments, randomized words 103 may pertain to a different hobby or other activity such as quilting or trading cards. A hobby is commonly understood to be any activity which an individual may undertake for enjoyment or profit. As used herein, randomized words 103 are selected from a plurality of words in a manner in which it is not known in advance of the selection process which word will be chosen, and are also related to the hobby. Also shown in the embodiment of game apparatus 101 depicted in
In the embodiment shown, a plurality of selection discs 105 is used, each of which contains a selection word corresponding to randomized words 103 appearing on player game cards 102 and selection discs 105 are circular plastic pieces. However, in other embodiments, selection discs 105 could be made of metal, plastic or cardboard, or could be another shape such as squares or balls, and could further also be cards or other embodiments. In another embodiment, player game cards 102 may be a software generated computer interface, and selection discs 105 may be randomly generated words on a screen corresponding to on-screen player game cards 102. Selection disc 105 is any item on which a word is printed or otherwise affixed or software generated image from which it can be ascertained that randomized word 103 which appears on player game cards 102 has been selected.
In the embodiment shown, selection discs 105 are mixed or combined by shaking them in container 104 and dispensing at least one selection disc 105 at a time. However, in other embodiments, selection discs 105 may be combined or randomized without the use of container 104, or by use of a receptacle such as a turning wheel, magnetized device for combining selection discs 105 or by any other utensil or method suitable for containing, combining, and dispensing selection discs 105. In other embodiments, a method of selection may be used which does not involve selection discs 105, such as random generation of randomized words 103 by a software program or choosing words from a list.
In the embodiment shown, marker discs 109 are flat round plastic pieces, but in other embodiments marker discs 109 may be made of metal, glass, paper, or other material; or marker discs 109 may be objects such as coins, beads, buttons, stamps, manufactured game pieces, or other objects suitable for marking player game cards 102 to form pre-determined patterns (such as lines, squares, letter or number formations, depictions, covering of four-corners, or other shapes) to indicate which words have been dispensed, called, or identified on selection discs 105. Marker disc 109 is any object which may be used to identify a word on player game card 102 that has previously been selected using selection disc 105.
In the embodiment shown, the items wagered are beads placed in container 106. However, in other embodiments, other single or multiple objects may be wagered such as trading cards, quilt squares, decorative objects, chips, coins, paper money, paper containing words or symbols, stamps, decorative or functional objects, or any other item suitable for wagering. The term “wagering” is understood to mean designating an object to be given to the player who has at least one player game card 102 that is designated the winning player game card 102 based on obtaining a pre-determined configuration of blank marker discs 109 by placing them on player game card 102 to designate randomized words 103 previously selected using selection discs 105.
Although not shown, an embodiment in which game 101 wages beads, game 101 can further include a wire, string, or other connector 110 on which the beads may be placed to form jewelry.
While the game has been shown and described with respect to several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the details shown and described herein, but rather cover all such changes and modifications obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.
