LETTER BASED TILE GAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

New games must continuously be invented in order to keep play interesting and therefore, to keep the game fun. Consequently, there is a need for an improvement in the art of board, tile, or card games. Historically, board games have included various pieces with each player controlling their pieces individually. Further, the design of games made assumptions about players physical abilities such as the ability to accurately see colors.

A need exists for a game that had dynamic rules and compensates for any disabilities of the players of the game

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description of the disclosure. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a gaming system includes a plurality of tiles enclosed in at least two bags with each bag containing tile s having a different color, a racking system configured to hold at least fourteen tiles with the rack having at least two tiers each configured to hold tiles, wherein each of the tile includes a letter and a number and the tiles are separated by color and placed into separate bags.

In another embodiment, the tiles are arranged on a surface to spell a word.

In another embodiment, each player receives a bag containing tiles of the same color.

In another embodiment, two adjacent tiles are flush with each other.

In another embodiment, each bag of tiles includes forty-five tiles of the same color.

In another embodiment, the number of tiles in all bags having the same letter is limited to decrease the number of words that can be formed by arranging the tiles.

In another embodiment, the rack includes a ledge to hold the tiles in place.

In another embodiment, the number is printed in a smaller font that the letter.

In another embodiment, the tiles are made of wood.

In another embodiment, the tiles are made of plastic.

In another embodiment, each tile includes at least one symbol on the tile indicating the color of the tile.

In another embodiment, each bag has exact same combination of letters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a top down view of an embodiment of a tile for the letter based tile game.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the components for the tile for the letter-based tile game.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the rules of the game.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the players turn.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a sample of the tiles for the letter based tile game in play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the tile for the letter based tile game. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as user for the tile for the letter based tile game. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a top down view of an embodiment of a tile for the letter based tile game. As will be described throughout this application the letter based tile game is made up in part of a plurality of tiles 100. In one embodiment there are tiles 100 which use four different colors. In one embodiment, the tile 100 is made form wood. In another embodiment, the tile 100 is made from plastic. In another embodiment, the tile 100 is virtually represented on a computer screen.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a tile 100 of the game. The tile 100 includes a letter 101 and a number 102. In this embodiment the letter 101 is a capital letter, however, in other embodiments the letter 101 may be a lower-case letter. As will be described the game includes tiles having various colors. In this embodiment the letter 101 and number 102 on the tile 100 is blue. In other embodiments the letter 101 and number 102 may be red, green, black or other colors. The colors are not limited so long as they are different and distinguishable colors.

In the shown embodiment the tile 100 is a square. In other embodiments the tiles 100 may be other geometric shapes. The tiles 100 are configured to align adjacent to other tiles 100 to form words. In one embodiment, the tiles 100 are flush with one another. In another embodiment, the tiles 100 are not flush with one another.

As an illustrative example, the tile 100 includes a number 102 printed on the tile 100. The number 102 represents a score value of each letter 101 played. In one embodiment, the number 102 may be located on the front, lower left corner of the tile 100. In another embodiment, the number 102 may be located on the back center of the tile 100. In one embodiment the number 102 is the same color as the letter 101. In the one embodiment both the letter 101 and the number 102 are blue. It is not required that the letter 101 and the number 102 are the same color, however, the colors are different from the other colors of the tiles 100 of the game, as will be made clear in the description of FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the color of the number is different than the color of the letters or symbol. In one embodiment, each tile includes a symbol indicating the color of the tile.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the components for the tile 100 for the letter based tile game. The letter based tile game is made up of sets of parts. In one embodiment each set of parts include: a set of tiles 100, a tile bag 201, and a tile tray 202. The game includes a plurality of sets of parts. Each set of parts is given at least one color which is different from the others. While there is no limitation which requires any specific colors, for the best game play colors should be distinguished from each other. In one embodiment the game includes four sets of parts. In other embodiments less than four or more sets of parts are provided. In another embodiment sets may be produced one at a time. This will allow players to purchase their own preferred color which is unique to them. In other embodiments this will allow for expansions to be purchased. Each player is assigned a tile color when they select the tile bag 201. Each tile bag 201 includes tiles 100 having letters of the same color.

The features of the tiles were described in FIG. 1. However, a full set of tiles 100 includes at least one of every letter in the alphabet. Below is Chart 1-1 which displays possible tile combinations.

CHART 1-1

Letter
# of Tiles

A
2-4

B
2-4

C
1-3

D
2-4

E
4-6

F
1-2

G
2-4

H
2-4

I
4-6

J
1-2

K
1-2

L
2-4

M
2-4

N
3-5

O
4-6

P
2-4

Q
1

R
3-5

S
2-4

T
3-5

U
2-4

V
1-2

W
1-2

X
1

Y
1-2

Z
1

BLANK
1

Chart I-1 shows the range of tiles which have been shown to provide the best game play. However, it is understood that more or less tiles 100 of each letter may be provided in the set of tiles 100.

Further, in addition to the amount of each letter tiles provided below is a second chart, Chart 1-2 which shows the potential numbers 102 located on each letter tile 100.

CHART 1-2

Points
Letters

0
Wild Tiles

1
E

2
T

3
A, I, N, O, S

4
H, R

5
D, L

8
U, C, M

9
F, W, Y

10
G, P, B, V

12
K, Q, J, X, Z

The numbers 102, or letter scores, are representative values. The letter scores are most likely to produce a desired speed of game play. However, other scores may be used without departing from the present invention.

In addition to the set of tiles 100 there is a tile bag 201. In one embodiment the tile bag 201 is a simple bag, including closed sides and an open side. For example, the tile bag 201 may be comprised of three closed sides and one open side. In another embodiment the tile bag 201 may include additional features. For example, in the shown embodiment the tile bag 201 includes a closure string 201a. However, the most important feature of the tile bag 201 is that it is able to hold one complete set of tiles 100.

In addition to the set of tiles 100 and the tile bag 201 there is a tile tray 202. The tile tray 202 minimally should be capable of holding the tiles 100 in an upright manner such that a player may arrange tiles 100 thereon. In one embodiment, the rack has two separate tiers each tier being capable of holding tiles. In one embodiment the tile tray 202 is shaped in an L shape. Further, the tile tray 202 may include a trench 202a which will prevent the tiles 100 from slipping from the tile tray 202. In another embodiment, a lip 202b may be used instead of a trench 202a. In one embodiment the tile tray 202 is capable of holding at least 20 tiles 100, however, sizes may vary.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a flow chart of an embodiment of the rules of the game. The game starts by being set up 301. In one embodiment, the game setup 301 will simply include players picking their colors and placing all of their respective tiles in their tile bag. Next the turn order will be decided 302. In one embodiment, the turn order 302 is decided by each player selecting one tile from their bag; the player with the letter A or closest thereto will go first. In another embodiment turn order may be randomly selected by the players. In other embodiments turn order may be selected by other means.

The players will then pick a set amount of tiles and place them in their tile trays, 303. In one embodiment each player will pick 14 tiles. In another embodiment, other tiles amounts are selected. Each player must select at least the same amount of tiles as the minimum word length. After the tiles are selected, the first player begins their turn 304.

Players take successive turns 304 until the round is over 306. The round may end in various ways. In step 305, the round ends when each player empties their tile tray or when each player empties their entire tile bag.

In step 306, the round ends and in step 307, the scores are tabulated. In step 307, the scores are counted by taking the total number of points from all tiles played by each player, as indicated by the player's tile colors on the board, then subtracting the number of point still remaining on the players tray. In one embodiment, the score is counted by counting the total number of tiles played by color. The score of the remaining tiles in that tray, or a predetermined number, are then subtracted to get the final scores of the round. In step 309, when one player reaches a winning score, the game ends.

In one embodiment, the minimum score to win a game is 150 points. In another embodiment the minimum score to win a game is determined by the players prior to the game beginning. At the end of the game, two or more players may meet or exceed the minimum score to win a game. When two or more player exceed the minimum score to win the game, the player with the highest overall score will win.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a flow chart of a process of determining what order players will play the game. In step 401, if a player can form a word from the player's tile tray then the player plays that word and is the first player to play the round. Each player may keep playing words using tiles from their tile tray until no more words can be played or a timer has elapsed. In one embodiment, blank tiles cannot be used in the first word. In step 402, if the player cannot play a word only from the player's tile tray, then the player can play a word by taking tiles from their tray to form words. The player may also rearrange the tiles in play on the board to form new words. In one embodiment, the player may only play using tiles that have already been used if the player has played an opening word. In some embodiments opening words must be of different lengths as shown in chart 1-3. These different lengths add complexity to the game.

CHART I-3

4/3/2 Rule
5/4/3 Rule
6/5/4 Rule
7/6/5 Rule

Starting Word
4
5
6
7

Other Words
3
4
5
6

Broken Words
2
3
4
5

Using the rules in Chart I-3 can add different complexities to the game. Word lengths other than lengths in chart I-3 may be used. Chart I-3 shows the length of sample word lengths for the opening word, or the starting word, a player must play to begin the game. The “Other Words” row represents the minimum length of the remaining words they must play. Lastly, the “Broken Words” row represents the minimum length of words for when a player forms words from other tiles. In one embodiment, the opening word must be at least five letters and the words after the opening word must be at least four letters.

When a player uses tiles already in play to form new words, all tiles which were in play at the beginning of the player's turn and tiles in the player's rack can be used to create words. If a player rearranges tiles already on the board to make a new word, no tiles already on the board that are used to make new words may be left over. In one embodiment, a word created by rearranging letters already on the board cannot be rearranged to make a new word in the same turn, but the next player may use the tiles in the new word to make another word. In step 403, if a player cannot use all the tiles 403, then that player must draw from the player's tile bag as shown in step 404. In one embodiment, the player draws a single tile and the player's turn ends. In another embodiment, the player draws more than one tile and the player's turn ends. In one embodiment, the player is given an opportunity to make a play with the tile or tiles drawn. In step 405, after the player plays using a previously in play tile or the player draws a tile from the bag, the player's turn ends. In one embodiment, each turn is limited by a predetermined time. In another embodiment, the predetermined time is two minutes.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a top view of an illustrative example of a playing surface. As an illustrative example, the first player begins the game by spelling the word “CARTS” with tiles 501. The next player spells the word “APPLE” with tiles 502. The next player spells the word “CATTLE” with the tiles 503. The next player cannot spell a word with the tiles 504 and must draw a tile 505 having the letter “A” to spell a word using other tiles. The round will then continue until one player is out of tiles. The scores will then be calculated and the game continued.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

LETTER BASED TILE GAME

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (1)