Patent Application
20250229167
This disclosure relates generally to board games and, more particularly, to a method, a device, and/or a system of efficiently organizing and/or playing a game of Dominos.
Dominos is a tile-based game played with pieces that are traditionally rectangular, each divided into two halves, featuring spot counts from zero to six (also referred to as “pips” or “values”). A standard set of dominoes may include 28 pieces (also sometimes called “tiles”, “bones” or “rocks”), one with each combination of two values ranging from zero to six. Similar to the many games that can be played with a standard deck of cards, there are many games that can be played with a set of dominos.
In some versions of dominos, one goal can include to empty one's “hand” of dominoes while blocking opponents, matching the numbers on adjacent dominoes in a line. Some Dominos also include scoring when placing dominos. For example, in the game “Fives” or “All Fives”, dominos can be played in any of four directions from an initial starting domino, and scores are only recorded by a player if that player places a domino that would result in a score that is evenly divisible by 5.
Although Dominos can be fun and exciting, they can also pose a number of challenges to new players, young players, and/or disabled players. For example, it may be difficult for a new player to know a proper geometric placement of one domino, or tidily organize the “board” (typically a table or other flat surface). It may be difficult for a new, young, or disabled player to either determine a valid placement of a domino, or calculate a score when placing a domino. Even seasoned players may also experience these challenges when playing fast or playing while partially distracted. In addition, it can be challenging for dominos to be played where there is not an existing surface (e.g., in the part on the ground).
There is a continuing need for new and improved devices, systems, and methods for improving the classic game of dominos, including for young, new, disabled, and even experienced players.
Disclosed are a method, a device, and/or a system of efficiently organizing and/or playing a game of dominos. In one embodiment, a gameboard for organizing a game of Dominos includes a board, a starting slot, and a first slot. The starting slot on the board is configured to hold a first domino in a first orientation on a surface the board and/or a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation, to begin the game of Dominos. A first slot on the board adjacent to the starting slot is configured to receive a second domino in the first orientation and/or the second orientation, to continue the game of Dominos in an easily understandable and orderly way by constraining the first domino relative to the second domino.
The starting slot and the first slot may include depressions in the board sized greater than a domino. A first set of two or more slots may extend linearly away from the starting slot. The first set of two or more slots may be configured to receive a group of two or more dominoes to continue the game of Dominoes in an easily understandable and orderly way by constraining each the two or more dominos relative to the first domino and relative to each other.
The gameboard may further include: a second set of two or more slots extending linearly away from the starting slot into a second quadrant of the board; a third set of two or more slots extending linearly away from the starting slot into a third quadrant of the board; and a fourth set of two or more slots extending linearly away from the starting slot into a fourth quadrant of the board.
The first set of two or more slots may extend into a first quadrant of the board. The board may also be defined in a first section and a second section. The gameboard may include at least one hinge element enabling the first section to fold onto the second section. Each slot of the first set of two or more slots may include a cross in which a domino of the two or more dominos can be constrained in the first orientation and the second orientation. The cross is sized such that each domino of the two or more dominos may be un-rotatable in the cross from the first orientation to the second orientation. Each slot of the first set of two or more slots may overlap to form a continuous channel with periodic depressions for a domino to be played perpendicularly to the continuous channel. Each slot of the first set of two or more slots may be discrete on the board such that no two slots of the first set of two or more slots overlap.
In another embodiment, an electronic gameboard for learning a Domino game includes a board, a starting slot on the board, a first sensor, a processor, and a computing memory. The starting slot is configured to hold a first domino in a first orientation on a surface of the board and/or a second orientation that is perpendicular to the first orientation, to begin the Domino game. The first sensor of the starting slot configured to detect a beacon of a first domino of a set of dominos, an orientation of the first domino, and a numerical value of the domino and/or a heading of the first domino within the orientation.
The processor is communicatively coupled to the first sensor of the starting slot, and a computing memory that is a physical non-transient computer memory is communicatively coupled to the processor. The computing memory includes computer readable instructions that when executed: (i) receive a first signal from the first sensor; (ii) determine the first domino of the set of dominos is in the starting slot; (iii) query a first numerical value the first domino and a second numerical value of the first domino; (iv) determine an orientation of the first domino from the first signal; (v) determine a heading of the first domino comprising directionality of at least one of the first numerical value and the second numerical value; and (vi) store a state of the starting slot comprising the orientation of the first domino and the heading of the first domino.
A first slot adjacent to the starting slot may be configured to receive a second domino in the first orientation and/or the second orientation, to continue the Domino game in an easily understandable and orderly way by constraining the first domino relative to the first domino.
A second sensor of the first slot may be configured to detect a beacon of the second domino of the set of dominos, an orientation of the second domino, and/or a heading of the second domino within the orientation. The computing memory may further include computer readable instructions that when executed: (i) receive a second signal from the second sensor; (ii) determine the second domino of the set of dominos is in the first slot; (iii) query a first numerical value the second domino and a second numerical value of the second domino, (iv) determine an orientation of the first domino from the second signal; (v) determine a heading of the second domino comprising directionality of at least one of the first numerical value and the second numerical value; and (vi) store a state of the first slot comprising the orientation of the second domino and the heading of the second domino.
The first display may act as a primary display for the gameboard, and may be communicatively coupled to the processor. The computing memory may further comprise computer readable instructions that when executed: (i) compare the first numerical value of the first domino and/or the second numerical value of the second domino to the first numerical value of the second domino and/or the second numerical value of the second domino; (ii) determine a valid placement of the second domino relative to the first domino; and (iii) generate a visual output on the first display indicating the valid placement.
The board may include a plurality of slots. Each of the plurality of slots include a first leg comprising first set of two or more slots extending linearly away from the starting slot into a first quadrant of the board and configured to receive a group of two or more dominoes; a second leg comprising a second set of two or more slots extending linearly away from the starting slot into a second quadrant of the board and configured to receive a group of two or more dominoes; a third leg comprising third set of two or more slots extending linearly away from the starting slot into a third quadrant of the board and configured to receive a group of two or more dominoes; and a fourth leg fourth set of two or more slots extending linearly away from the starting slot into a fourth quadrant of the board and configured to receive a group of two or more dominoes.
The computing memory may further include computer readable instructions that when executed: (i) determine a state of each of the plurality of slots; (ii) determine, for each of the first leg, the second leg, the third leg, and the fourth leg each storing at least one domino, a set of one or more terminal slot states. The terminal slot state may include a slot state of a farthest domino from the starting slot.
The computing memory may further include computer readable instructions that when executed (i) determine a terminal value of each domino in each of the set of one or more terminal slot states; (ii) determine, for each of the first leg, the second leg, the third leg, and the fourth leg that are empty, a value of the first domino in the starting slot; (iii) calculate a score based at least one of (A) the terminal value of each domino in each of the set of one or more terminal slots, and (B) the value of the first domino in the starting slot; and (iv) display the value on the first display as a tentative score of the gameboard following a latest placement.
The electronic gameboard may further include a second display for tracking a score of a first player. The second display may be communicatively coupled to the processor; a scoring button communicatively coupled to the processor. The computing memory further comprising computer readable instructions that when executed: (i) receive a signal from the scoring button, (ii) add the tentative score a score data of a profile of the first player; and (iii) display the score data of the profile of the first player on the second display.
The gameboard may further include a speaker. The computing memory may further include an audio file and computer readable instructions that when executed generate a sound with the audio file in response to a valid placement of the second domino relative to the first domino. The starting slot and the first slot may include depressions in the board that are sized greater than a domino. Each slot of the set of two or more slots may include a cross in which a domino of the two or more dominos can be constrained in the first orientation and/or the second orientation. The cross may be sized such that the domino is un-rotatable in the cross from the first orientation to the second orientation.
The embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
Disclosed are a method, a device, and/or system of efficiently organizing and/or playing a game of dominos.
The gameboard 100 may be used to play and/or support play of various games of Dominos depending on the layout and configuration of the slots 104. In one or more embodiments, the gameboard 100 may be used to play a game of “All Five's” Dominos. However, in one or more other embodiments, the gameboard 100 can be used to play Classic Dominos, Mexican Train, Muggins Dominos, and many other versions involving placing dominos 110 in various spatial configurations on a two-dimensional plane.
In one or more embodiment, the board 102 includes an instance of the slot 104 referred to as a starting slot 105, and four slot sets 106, each comprising a set of two or more slots 104 each extending in a sequence into one of four quadrants 108. For example, the slot set 106A comprises the slot 104A.1, the slot 104A.2, etc., until the slot 104A.n. The board 102 may be sized accordingly (and/or the size of the dominos reduced) to accommodate each of the slots 104 depending on the intended game(s) to be supported and their associated layout. In one or more embodiments, the gameboard 100 includes two or more slots 104 (e.g., the slot set 106) extending linearly away from the starting slot 105, each of slot set 106 configured to receive a group of two or more dominoes 110 to continue the game of Dominoes in an easily understandable and orderly way by constraining the two or more dominos 110 relative to the starting domino 110.1 and relative to each other. In a game of All Fives Dominos, there may be four slot sets 106, for example as shown in
In one or more embodiments, the starting slot 105 may be placed in the center of the board 102. The starting slot 105 may be configured to hold a first domino 110.1 in at least one of a first orientation 101 on a surface the board 102 and a second orientation 103 that is perpendicular to the first orientation 101 to begin the game of Dominos. In one or more embodiments, the slot 104 may be configured to hold the domino 110 through a depression in the board 102, for example as shown and described throughout the present embodiments. The depressions in the board 102 may be sized greater than a domino 110 such that the domino 110 is received and held in place by gravity, friction with the board 102, and/or the walls the depression. In one or more other embodiments, the slot 104 may include magnets that pair with metal or complementary magnets inside the domino 110, may include clasps or catches into which the domino 110 may snap, may include hook-and-loop fasteners, a reusable tack adhesive, and/or other systems and methods known in the art. A visual designation may be applied to each slot 104 on the board (e.g., surface pain, surface ink) to designate locations, for example to designate magnet locations.
The first domino 110.1 placed in the starting slot 105 may be referred to as an initial placement and/or starting placement, also shown and described herein as the placement 111.0. A first placement may then occur in one of the four adjacent slots 104 (e.g., the slot 104A.1, the slot 104B.1, the slot 104C.1, the slot 104D.1), and may be referred to as the placement 111.1. Similar to the starting slot 105, the slot 104 on the board 102 adjacent to the starting slot 105 also may be configured to receive a domino 110 (e.g., the second domino 110.2) in at least one of the first orientation 101 and the second orientation 103 to continue the game of Dominos in an easily understandable and orderly way by constraining the starting domino relative to the first domino 110.1. The game then continues with additional placements 111 of dominos 110 in other slots 104, in compliance with the rules (as determined by the players and/or as may be optionally electronically evaluated, as shown and described in conjunction with
Although
In one or more embodiments, an advantage of the gameboard 100 includes that a game of Dominos can be brought to and/or played at a location that may not have an ideal surface for laying out and organizing dominos 110. For example, this can include grass, uneven or unlevel surface, tables with cracks (e.g., wooden picnic tables), etc. A folding instance of the gameboard 100 can enable friends, family, and other to easily take the gameboard 100 with them to such locations as well.
Another advantage of the gameboard 100 includes support for children who may be new to games, persons with learning disabilities who may have reduced ability to assess moves without visual cues (e.g., the slots 104), and/or persons with sensor disabilities such as blindness. In the first two examples, children and those with learning disabilities may be easily able to visually see both where to place dominos 110 next and how the game will naturally progress. In the case of those with visual impairment, the dominos 110 and values thereon (e.g., the values 112) may be able to be felt, similar to Braille, but without the dominos 110 being dispersed or otherwise disturbed from their placement configuration. Specifically, in one or more embodiments, the slot 104 can retain the domino 110 while fingers of the user feel for any tactile indications of its value (e.g., bumps or depressions on the surface of the domino 110). In addition, someone with visual impairment can feel the layout of the game with their hands and/or fingers, even before dominos 110 are placed.
In one or more embodiments, each of the slots 104 may include one or more sensors 300 for detecting a domino 110 within the slot 104 and/or attributes of the domino 110, such as the unique domino 110 within the set (e.g., the only two-three pieces within a standard set, as shown in
In one or more embodiments and the embodiment of
Each sensor 300 may sense an attribute of the domino 110, such as: a unique identifier that may be electronically, physically, or optically embedded in or on the domino 110; one or more beacons 302, a value 112A of the domino 110, and/or an orientation of the domino 110 on the board 102. In one or more embodiments, the domino 110 may include one or more beacons 302 that can include encoded information that may be sensed through one or more of the sensors 300. For example, the beacon 302 may include a radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag), a near-field communication tag (NFC tag), and/or other similar close-range sensing capabilities. The sensor 300 may include an RFID rag reader, NFC reader, and/or other close-range sensor reader, respectively.
The sensors 300 may also include light sensors (e.g., whether the domino 110 is covering a location within the slot 104 or other location on the board 102), optical readers (e.g., able to “scan” or sense color, text, QR codes, or other information on the domino 110, a magnetic sensor (e.g., able to sense a strength of a magnetic field from an embedded magnet or metal element such as a metallic strip), an IR reader (e.g., able to see hidden or embedded patterns or other encoded information within the domino 110), etc.
In the present example of
In
The sensor 300B and the sensor 300C may be used to sense orientation. Specifically, in one or more embodiments, and the embodiment of
In addition, both the sensor 300B and the sensor 300C may be capable of sensing magnetic fields at two or more strengths. A strong magnetic field (e.g., a neodymium magnet) may be associated with the high value side of the domino 110 (e.g., the value 112A, or “3” in the present example), and a weak magnetic field (e.g., a conventional iron magnet) may be associated with a low value side of the domino 110 (e.g., the value 112B, or “2” in the present example). As pictured in the present example, the sensor 300B may sense a weak signal from the beacon 302B to result in a value signal 312. The sensor signals 304 may be communicated to a controller 400 to be processed and possible result in audio or display output, as shown and described in conjunction with
It will be appreciated that the sensors 300 can be effected through other configurations. For example, in one or more embodiments, the slot 104 may include four instances of the sensor 300, one in each end of the “cross”, where six strengths of magnetic field can be individually detected. In such case, each magnetic field strength may be able to be associated with a value (e.g., the weakest magnetic field with “zero”, the strongest magnetic field with “six”), and therefore the values 112 directly “read” from the domino 110, with the sensors 300 transmitting the readings usable to determine the orientation. Still other techniques may include optically reading patterns or colors on the back of each domino 110 as detected with one or more sensors 300 within the slot 104. For example, a single instance of the sensor 300 in the center of the slot 104 may be able to determine the domino UID 432, orientation, and thus values 112 by reading a central QR code embedding the information. As yet another example, a sensor 300 determining the domino UID 432 and a heading (e.g., of the highest numerical value 112) may be used to simultaneously determine the location of the value 112 and the orientation of the domino 110 relative to the board 102. The value 112 may also be referred to as a numerical value 112 herein. One or more sensors 300 can also be used to sense other game tokens (e.g., a “train” token from Mexican Train).
In one or more embodiments, the controller 400 may include a processor 401 and a memory 403. The processor 401 may include a computer processor, a CPU, a microprocessor, and/or an MCU. The memory 403 may include a non-transient computer readable memory, such as RAM, ROM, solid-state memory, SATA memory, a hard drive, and/or a hard disk.
The controller 400 may include a state determination routine 402 configured to determine a board state, including a placement of each domino 110 within the gameboard 100. In one or more embodiments, the state determination routine 402 may include computer readable instructions that when executed receive a first signal (e.g., a sensor signal 304) from the first sensor 300 (e.g., a sensor 300A); determine a first domino 110A of a set of dominos 110 is in a slot 104 (e.g., the starting slot 105); query a first numerical value 112 the first domino 110A and a second numerical value 112B of the first domino 110; determine an orientation of the first domino from the first signal (e.g., the sensor signal 304); determine a heading of the first domino 110A, which may comprise directionality of the first numerical value 112A and/or the second numerical value 112B; and store a state of the slot 104 comprising the domino UID 432, the orientation of the first domino and/or the heading of the first domino 110.
For example, the state may be stored in a game state data 420, where each slot 104 includes an associated slot data 422 within the memory 403. The slot data 422 may include, for example, the domino reference 424 (abbreviated domino ref. 424 in
The controller 400 may also include a placement validity routine 404, according to one or more embodiments. The placement validity routine 404 may determine whether a valid placement 111 has occurred, as may be determined by the game of Dominos being played. For example, in many versions of Dominos, one piece must line-up with another piece (e.g., a “five” from one domino 110 to a “five” from another domino). By comparing slot data 422, the controller 400 using the placement validity routine 404 can be determine if a valid placement has occurred. If an invalid placement results, then the players can be alerted, for example audibly through a speaker 444 and/or visually through a display 441.
In one or more embodiments, the placement validity routine 404 may include computer readable instructions that when executed compares a numerical value 112 of a first domino 110.1 to a numerical value 112 of the second domino 110.2. For perpendicular placements 111, both values of the perpendicular domino 110 may be compared to a preceding domino 110 (as is common in many games of Dominos). In one or more embodiments, the placement validity routine 404 may include computer readable instructions that when executed determine a valid placement of the second domino 110.2 relative to the first domino 110.1; and generate a visual output on a display 441 indicating the valid placement and/or a sound output on a speaker 444 to indicate the valid placement. For example, the display 441 may read “valid”, flash green, or show a tentative score; the speaker 444 may emit an audio chime.
Any other validity check is possible. For example, in All Fives, a placement may be checked to determine it has not been “played off the cross”: that no perpendicular placements have been made off the starting domino until both parallel placements 111 have been made off the starting domino 110.0. In another example, by tracking which dominos 110 have already been played and a current board state, the controller 400 can determine that no additional placements 111 are possible and information the players that the game has ended.
In one or more other embodiments, the gameboard 100 may include slots 104 for a player's “hand”. Players can place their dominos 110 in the slots 104, and the gameboard 100 can assist the players in making moves if needed (e.g., the speaker 444 giving the player a hint that one of their dominos could be placed to score in “All Fives). By detecting the hand of the player, the gameboard 100 may then be able to assist the player, which may help for players who are new, young, and/or disabled.
In one or more embodiments, the controller 400 may include a terminal value determination routine 406 configured to determine a numerical value of each domino 110 in a terminal position. This determination may be especially useful in All Fives, where the sum of the values 112 of the terminal dominos 110 determine a score for a given placement 111.
The terminal value determination routine 406 may include computer readable instructions that when executed determine: a state of each of a plurality of slots 104 in the board 102; determine, for each leg of slots (e.g., each slot set 106) storing at least one domino, a set of one or more terminal slot states (e.g., the terminal slot state is the slot state of a farthest domino from the starting slot 105); and determine a terminal value of each domino 110 in each of the set of one or more terminal slot states. In All Fives, for example, the dominos 110 in
A score calculation subroutine 408 may include computer readable instructions that when executed calculate a tentative score based on (i) the terminal value of each domino 110 in each of the set of one or more terminal slots, and/or (ii) the value of the first domino 110.0 in the starting slot; and then display a tentative score on a display 442 of the gameboard 100 following a latest placement. Alternatively, or in addition, the tentative score may be read to the player by playing audio (e.g., an audio file 407 or text-to-speech software routine).
In one or more embodiments, the controller 400 may include a score allocation subroutine 409 which may be configured to allocate a tentative score to one or more players, as may be stored within a player profile 410. The score allocation subroutine 409 may include computer readable instructions that when executed receive a signal from a scoring button (e.g., the scoring button 546 as shown and described in conjunction with
The controller 400 may further include a player profile 410 stored on the memory 403. The player profile 410 may include a score data 412 of a current score of the player, a turn order 414, and may optionally include additional player data (e.g., name, handle, other information about the payer, etc.).
The controller 400 may be communicatively coupled with a user interface 440 (which may include one or more displays 441, displays 442, speakers 444, buttons 446, buttons 546, and/or other computer I/O). The controller 400 may also be communicatively coupled to one or more other devices (e.g., a smartphone) through the network 450, for example a wireless network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and/or the Internet. The controller 400 may also be communicatively coupled to each of the sensors 300 (which may be communicatively coupled and/or sensorially coupled to one or more beacons 302 in one or more dominoes 110.
In addition to the sensor signals 304 described in conjunction with the embodiment of
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first signal (e.g., a sensor signal 304) from the first sensor 300 (e.g., a sensor 300A); determining a first domino 110A of a set of dominos 110 is in a slot 104 (e.g., the starting slot 105); querying a first numerical value 112 the first domino 110A and a second numerical value 112B of the first domino 110; determining an orientation of the first domino from the first signal (e.g., the sensor signal 304); determining a heading of the first domino 110A (which may comprise directionality of the first numerical value 112A and/or the second numerical value 112B); and/or storing a state (e.g., within the memory 403) of the slot 104 comprising the domino UID 432, the orientation of the first domino and/or the heading of the first domino 110.
In another embodiment, a method includes comparing a numerical value 112 of a first domino 110.1 to a numerical value 112 of the second domino 110.2. The method may include determining a valid placement of the second domino 110.2 relative to the first domino 110.1; and generating a visual output on a display 441 indicating the valid placement and/or a sound output on a speaker 444 to indicate the valid placement.
In yet another embodiment, a method includes determining a state of each of a plurality of slots 104 in the board 102; determining, for each leg of slots (e.g., each slot set 106) storing at least one domino, a set of one or more terminal slot states (e.g., the terminal slot state is the slot state of a farthest domino from the starting slot 105); and determining a terminal value of each domino 110 in each of the set of one or more terminal slot states.
In yet another embodiment, a method includes calculating a tentative score based on (i) the terminal value of each domino 110 in each of the set of one or more terminal slots, and/or (ii) the value of the first domino 110.0 in the starting slot; and displaying a tentative score on a display 442 of the gameboard 100 following a latest placement.
In still another embodiment, a method includes receiving a signal from a scoring button (e.g., the scoring button 546 as shown and described in conjunction with
The electronic gameboard 500 may include several user interface elements, including a display 441 which may act as a primary display, one or more individual displays 443 (the individual display 443A through the individual display 443D), and one or more scoring buttons 546 (the scoring button 546A through the scoring button 546D).
In the present example, four players may be playing a game of All Fives on the electronic gameboard 500. Each player may make a placement 111, starting with the placement 111.1 in the starting slot 105. In the present example, the player corresponding to the display 442A and the scoring button 546A may have placed first, with play proceeding clockwise through sequential placements 111, with one placement 111 per player. Upon making a placement 111, the display 441 may show a tentative score, whereupon the player may push their scoring button 546. The tentative score may then be added to the current player score on the respective display 442. Although four “player positions” are shown, fewer or more are possible.
In a current game state of the present example, it may be the turn of the player corresponding to the display 442D and the scoring button 546D (e.g., the player 501D, not shown). The player 501D may initially place the 3-4 domino in the slot 104A.3. The domino 110 may have been sensed and determined to be a valid placement (the “3” aligns with the perpendicular 3-3 in placement 111.5). However, by rules of All Fives, the tentative placement 111.8 will only result in a tentative score of 9 (4+0+2+3 for the terminal slots), resulting in no attributable score because the tentative score is not evenly divisible by the number five. As a result, the player 501D checks the other dominos 110 in their hand and changes the “3-4” domino to a “3-5” domino. The tentative score of this placement 111.8 is then 10 (5+0+2+3), because this number is divisible by 5 without a remainder. The player 501D can then “claim” this tentative score by pressing the scoring button 546D, increasing his or her player score from 10 to 20, as shown. It may then again become the turn of the Payer 501A associated with the display 442 and the scoring button 546A. The displays and buttons are an example of the user interface 411.
Many other user interfaces are possible. For example, a single display 441 may be shared and several buttons may be used to set up player profiles, determine a number of players in a play session, select a game of Dominos to be played, indicate which player's turn it is (e.g., an “active” player), and track score. There may also be more than four instances of the display 441, for example up to eight to accommodate other Domino games (e.g., Mexican Train). The displays 442 can be used to track end-of-round point values for games where an objective is to have a low score. If domino slots 104 exist for a player's “hand”, their end-of-round score can be also automatically determined. For example, in many games of Dominos, the numerical values 112 of each domino 110 in your hand may be counted as negative points (and/or counted as points, but where the smallest score is required to win, rather than the largest).
The electronic gameboard 500 may have a number of advantages, including: (i) helping easily keep track of score without paper; (ii) helping automatically determine valid placement; (iii) helping to determine tentative score; (iv) using visual and/or audible means to help sensory impaired individuals or those with disabilities. These advantages may help new players, young payers, players with disabilities, and even experienced players who wish to play faster.
In one or more embodiments, it will be recognized that the controller 400 and components thereof may be implemented by an app on a smartphone. In such case, the gameboard 100 may communicate sensor data (e.g., via a wireless connection through a network interface controller 405, such as a Bluetooth® connection) from the gameboard 100 to the smartphone.
In one or more embodiments, and the embodiment of
The board 102 may be made of wood, with milled out recesses implementing the slots 104 (e.g., the slots 604 and including the cross-slots 605). The board 102 may include a raised rim 601, for example for preventing dominos 110 for sliding off the board even when without of the slots 104. The raised rim 601 is further illustrated in
The board 102 in
In one or more embodiments, the gameboard of
Many adults have issues with properly holding more than 3 or 4 dominos in one hand. Therefore, reduction in the size of dominos can help enable children to hold and manage placement of said specified dominos into their slots 104 on the gameboard 100 such as the gameboard 600. The dominos 110 may be made out of acrylic or another plastic. In one or more embodiments, opaque acrylic is used for the dominos 110, which can be laser cut from sheets of acrylic and simultaneously edged to include domino values 112 (e.g., pips). In one or more embodiments, a “standard” set of dominos 110 can be used, e.g., 28 dominos with every combination of two values ranging from zero to six (e.g., zero-zero, zero-one, zero-two . . . six-six).
Although the embodiment of
Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. For example, the various routines and subroutines described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry (e.g., CMOS based logic circuitry), firmware, software or any combination of hardware, firmware, and software (e.g., embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable medium). For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits (e.g., application specific integrated (ASIC) circuitry and/or Digital Signal Processor (DSP) circuitry).
In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations, processes and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable medium and/or a machine-accessible medium compatible with a data processing system (e.g., the controller 400). Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
The structures in the figures such as the routines and modules may be shown as distinct and communicating with only a few specific structures and not others. The structures may be merged with each other, may perform overlapping functions, and may communicate with other structures not shown to be connected in the figures. Accordingly, the specification and/or drawings may be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
In addition, the process flows described or logic flows depicted in the text or figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the preceding disclosure.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed above with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical, engineering, and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.
From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art, and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.
Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems.
Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.
References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every possible embodiment of the invention necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” “an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. Moreover, any use of phrases like “embodiments” in connection with “the invention” are never meant to characterize that all embodiments of the invention must include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and should instead be understood to mean “at least one or more embodiments of the invention” includes the stated particular feature, structure, or characteristic.
The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.
It is understood that the use of a specific component, device and/or parameter names are for example only and not meant to imply any limitations on the invention. The invention may thus be implemented with different nomenclature and/or terminology utilized to describe the mechanisms, units, structures, components, devices, parameters and/or elements herein, without limitation. Each term utilized herein is to be given its broadest interpretation given the context in which that term is utilized.
A description of an embodiment with several components in physical communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.
Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.
When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article.
The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the present invention need not include the device itself.
It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that at least a portion of the novel method steps and/or system components of the present invention may be practiced and/or located in location(s) possibly outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America (USA), whereby it will be accordingly readily recognized that at least a subset of the novel method steps and/or system components in the foregoing embodiments must be practiced within the jurisdiction of the USA for the benefit of an entity therein or to achieve an object of the present invention.
All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Any abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72 (b) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
This patent application claims priority from, and hereby incorporates by reference: U.S. patent application number No. 18/813,877, titled ‘Dominoe Crease Gameboard’, filed Aug. 23, 2024, which claimed benefit of priority from, and hereby incorporates by reference U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/609,540 filed Dec. 13, 2023.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63609540 | Dec 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18813877 | Aug 2024 | US |
| Child | 19170087 | US |
