Patent Application
20220001267
This patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of this patent document or any related materials in the files of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
This invention relates to interactive mechanical assemblies, including mechanical game assemblies providing games such as Tic Tac Toe.
Playing games is a fun activity enjoyed by children and adults throughout the world. A wide variety of games exist ranging from board games, electronic console games, sports games, single-player games, multi-player games and other types of games.
One of the oldest, simplest and most enjoyed games is the game of Tic Tac Toe. Tic Tac Toe is typically a paper-and-pencil game during which a first player is assigned to play “Xs” and the second player is assigned to play “Os”, and the players take turns placing an X or an O in spaces within a 3×3 grid while attempting to place three in a row (horizontally, vertically or diagonally).
Single-player versions of the game are also available on computers or electronic gaming consoles during which the player plays against a computer. However, these versions of the game are much less enjoyable because the intrigue and mystery associated with playing Tic Tac Toe against a computer is somewhat low.
Accordingly, there is a need for a mechanical game assembly that provides the game of Tic Tac Toe to one or more players thereby providing a higher level of intrigue, mystery and entertainment.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
In general, the assembly according to exemplary embodiments hereof provides a mechanical device that may be used as a game, puzzle or other type of interactive entertainment. The assembly may provide a mechanical platform with which one or more users may interact. In some embodiments, the assembly provides a mechanical gameplay platform (also referred to as a game box) that one or more players may interact with by taking gameplay turns (“making moves”) in conjunction with gameplay turns or “moves” provided by the assembly. In some embodiments, the player and the assembly may take sequentially turns, e.g., the assembly may take the first turn followed by the player taking the second turn and so on (or vice versa). In some embodiments, the assembly may be utilized as a single-player device, and in other embodiments the assembly may be utilized as a multi-player device as will be described in other sections.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the assembly 10 may include a housing 100, a connection assembly 200 and one or more game pieces 300. In general, the connection assembly 200 is enclosed within the housing 100 and the game pieces 300 are used to make gameplay moves (or turns). The game pieces 300 may include balls of different colors, discs, coins or other types of game pieces. The assembly 10 may include other elements and/or components as necessary for it to fulfill its functionalities as described herein or otherwise.
As will be described herein, the connector assembly 200 may be designed, constructed and implemented to apply one or more gameplay algorithms to the game pieces 300 as the pieces 300 are played. For example, after a player may make a move using a first game piece 300, the connector assembly 200 may apply a specific algorithm to a second game piece during its next move to counter the player's move. In some embodiments, each algorithm implemented by the connector assembly 200 may be in direct response to a specific move made by the player.
For the purposes of this specification, the assembly 10 will be described in relation to the assembly 10 being utilized to provide the game of Tic Tac Toe. However, it will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, upon reading this specification, that the assembly 10 may be utilized to provide other type(s) of games and that the scope of the assembly 10 is not limited in any way by the type(s) of games that it may be utilized to provide.
In one exemplary embodiment as shown in
In some embodiments, the housing 100 may comprise plastic, metal, wood, other types of polymers and/or materials and any combination thereof. The housing 100 may be solid so that the inner workings of the assembly 10 within the housing 100 are hidden from view, transparent so that the inner workings of the assembly 10 are visible, opaque or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the housing 100 may have dimensions of about 6″×6″×6″ while in other embodiments the housing 100 may be smaller (e.g., a mini size of about 2″×2″×2″) or larger (e.g., a large size of about 8″×8″×8″) and/or any size as desired.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the housing 100 includes a first outer surface 106 and a second outer surface 108. For example, the first outer surface 106 may include the front of the cubic housing 100 of
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the first outer surface 106 (e.g., the front) includes one or more openings that pass from outside the housing 100 to the inner volume 104, and the second outer surface 108 (e.g., the top) includes an additional one or more openings that pass from outside the housing 100 to the inner volume 104. For example, as shown in
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the connection assembly 200 includes connectors 202 within the inner volume 104 leading between one or more of the front surface openings to one or more of the top surface openings. In some embodiments, each top surface opening includes a dedicated connector 202 that extends within the inner volume between the respective top surface opening and a particular front surface opening. For example, one connector 202 may extend between top surface opening B1-A and front surface opening B2-P.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof as shown in
The tubes 204 may be dimensioned to accommodate the balls 302 (e.g., the inner diameter of the tubes 204 may be greater that the diameter of the balls 302) so that the balls 302 may pass through the tubes 204 without obstructions. The front surface openings and the top surface openings may also be dimensioned to accommodate the balls 302 (e.g., the diameter of the openings may be greater that the diameter of the balls 302) so that the balls 302, when placed through a top surface opening, may pass through the top surface opening, into and through the corresponding tube(s) 204, and out the front surface opening without obstruction. In some embodiments the diameters of the tubes 204 may be the same or similar to the diameters of the corresponding front or top surface openings. Using the example from above, a ball 302 placed in the top opening B1-A may pass through the opening, into and through the tube 204 connecting the top surface opening B1-A to the front surface opening B2-P, and out the front surface opening B2-P. This example is depicted by arrow X in
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the front surface openings include game piece holders 110 (best seen in
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, respective connectors 202 (e.g. tubes 204) may lead from each top surface opening to a corresponding front surface openings as defined in Table 1. In this example, the connectors 202 are configured for a game of Tic Tac Toe in which the assembly 10 is programmed to never lose (that is, the assembly 10 may win or the game may end in a draw between the player and the assembly 10).
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, Tic Tac Toe gameplay flow utilizing an assembly 10 configured with connecting tubes 204 as defined in Table 1 may proceed as follows:
Nine game balls 302 may be provided, with four game balls 302 being a first color (or including a first insignia and/or pattern or having other designating characteristic(s)) and five game balls being a second color (or including a second insignia and/or pattern or having other designating characteristic(s)). The first color game balls 302 may be designated as the player game balls 302-P and the second color game balls 302 may be designated as the assembly's game balls 302-A.
The Tic Tac Toe game may begin with the assembly 10 making the first move into the X position on the front surface 106 of the assembly 10. To implement this move, the player places a first assembly game ball 302-A into the game ball holder 110 corresponding with the X position. This is depicted as M1 in
Next, the player may make a move by placing a player game ball 302-P into a ball holder 110 corresponding to the position he/she wishes to play. For example, in this example, the player places a player game ball 302-P in the ball holder at opening A1-P depicted as M2.
In general, to implement additional moves by the assembly 10, the player places an assembly game ball 302-A into the top surface opening that corresponds to the front surface opening of the player's prior move.
Accordingly, to implement a second move by the assembly 10 in this example, because the player moved into front surface opening A1-P in his/her prior move (M2), the player places an assembly game ball 302-A into top surface opening A1-A. As shown in Table 1, a connecting tube 204 may connect top surface opening A1-A to front surface opening A2-P, so that the assembly game ball 302-A placed in top surface opening A1-A will be directed through the connecting assembly 200 and out of front surface opening A2-P where it will be held in place by the ball holder 110 configured with this opening. This is shown as M3.
Next, the player may wish to block the assembly 10 by placing a player game ball 302-P into the holder 110 at front surface opening C2-P as shown as M4.
Next, to implement a next move by the assembly 10, the player places an assembly game ball 302-A into the top surface opening that corresponds to the front surface opening of the player's prior move. In this example, because the player moved into front surface opening C2-P in his/her prior move (M4), the player places an assembly game ball 302-A into top surface opening C2-A. As shown in Table 1, a connecting tube 204 may connect top surface opening C2-A to front surface opening C1-P, so that the assembly game ball 302-A placed in top surface opening A1-A will be directed through the connection assembly 200 and out of front surface opening C1-P where it will be held in place by the ball holder 110 configured with this opening. This is shown as M5.
Next, the player may make a move by placing a player game ball 302-P into the holder 110 at front surface opening D2-P as shown as M6.
Next, to implement a next move by the assembly 10, the player places an assembly game ball 302-A into the top surface D2-A (corresponding to his/her prior move at D2-P). As shown in Table 1, a connecting tube 204 may connect top surface opening D2-A to front surface opening D1-P, so that the assembly game ball 302-A placed in top surface opening D2-A will be directed through the connecting assembly 200 and out of front surface opening D1-P where it will be held in place by the ball holder 110 configured with this opening. This is shown as M7.
Next, the player may make a move by placing a player game ball 302-P into the holder 110 at front surface opening B2-P as shown as M8.
Next, to implement a next move by the assembly 10, the player places an assembly game ball 302-A into the top surface B2-A (corresponding to his/her prior move at B2-P). As shown in Table 1, a connecting tube 204 may connect top surface opening B2-A to front surface opening B1-P, so that the assembly game ball 302-A placed in top surface opening B2-A will be directed through the connecting assembly 200 and out of front surface opening B1-P where it will be held in place by the ball holder 110 configured with this opening. This is shown as M9. With this move, it can be seen that the game assembly 10 has won the game of Tic Tac Toe by having three assembly game pieces 302-A in a row diagonally in front surface openings D1-P, X and B1-P.
It is understood that the gameplay moves described in the example above are meant for demonstration and that the player may make other moves during gameplay with the assembly 10 making other corresponding moves according to the programming (configurations) of the tubes 304 within the connection assembly 200. It is also understood that the scope of the assembly 10 is not limited in any way by the moves that the player may make during gameplay, nor by the corresponding moves that the assembly 10 may make in response to the players moves.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, respective connectors 202 (e.g. tubes 204) may lead from each top surface opening to a corresponding front surface openings as shown in Table 2. In this example, the connectors 202 are configured for a game of Tic Tac Toe in which the assembly 10 is programmed to never win (that is, the assembly 10 may lose or the game may end in a draw between the player and the assembly 10).
In this example, the gameplay moves of the player and/or of the assembly 10 may be performed as described above with relation to the example of Table 1.
It is understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the predefined configurations of the connectors 202 between associated top surface openings and front surface openings as shown in Table 1 and Table 2 are shown for demonstration, and that the connectors 202 (e.g., tubes 204) may be configured to lead from any top surface opening to any corresponding front surface opening depending on the game being played and the desired outcome of the game. It is also understood that the scope of the assembly 10 is not limited in any way by the configurations of the connectors 202 (e.g., tubes 204) in relation to the top surface openings and/or the front surface openings.
In one embodiment, the housing 100 may be opened or otherwise configured to allow access to and/or the removal of the connection assembly 200 within or from the housing 100. In some embodiments, the connection assembly 200 may be reconfigurable or interchangeable (e.g., by the owner of the assembly 10, the player(s) of the assembly, etc.) so that connectors 202 may be reconfigured to lead between different top surface openings and front surface openings. In this way, the algorithms defined by the connection assembly 200 may be changed as desired.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the assembly 10 may be configured to provide the game of Tic Tac Toe generalized to higher dimensions and played on an m×n grid (as opposed to a 3×3 grid). In this case, the first and second surfaces may include openings forming an m×n grid and the connection assembly 200 may be configured to connect respective first and second surface openings accordingly (apply the algorithms). Example games of this sort may include (without limitation), Qubic, Gomoku, Order and Chaos, Pente and other types of games.
In other embodiments, the assembly 10 may be configured to provide a nd game (also referred to as a nk game) and may be played using an assembly 10 formed as a hypercube.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, two or more players may play one or more types of games utilizing one or more assemblies 10.
In one example, two players may play a strategy version of the Tic Tac Toe game with each player utilizing their own individual assembly 10. In this example, each player may receive nine game pieces 300, each with a number from one to nine on its face (or elsewhere). The first player's game pieces 300 may include an “X” on the side opposite the numbers (or elsewhere) and the second player's game pieces may include a “0” on the side opposite the numbers (or elsewhere). Other insignia may also be used.
In a first step of the gameplay, each player may predetermine his/her Tic Tac Toe moves by placing their game pieces in the front surface ball holders 110 their respective assembly 10. The front surface opening position in which each game piece is positioned may represent the move that the game piece 300 may represent when it is played, and with the number on each game piece 300 representing the order that the game piece 300 will be played. An example of this is shown in
Next, the players may reveal their predetermined plays by turning around their assemblies 10 and exclaiming “Tic Tac No” at the same time. The players play then may play out their sequences on a Tic Tac Toe grid, alternating from player to player, each one placing an “X” or an “0” according to the sequence they pre-chose and skipping any obstructed grid that the competing player may have filled in a prior move. This sequence may continue until the first or second player wins or there is a draw between the players.
In some embodiments, the assembly 10 includes an accessible storage area (e.g., within the inner volume 104 that may be used to store the game pieces 300 when not in use. The storage area may include a cavity or other type of volume large enough to hold the game pieces 300. The storage area may be closed (e.g., with a closing door, cover or such) to hold the game pieces 300 safe and secure when not in use and subsequently opened to retrieve the pieces 300 to play the games.
Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).
It is understood that any aspect and/or detail of any embodiment described herein or otherwise may be combined with any other aspect and/or detail of any other embodiment described herein or otherwise to form an additional embodiment that also is within the scope of the assembly 10.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs”, and includes the case of only one ABC.
As used herein, including in the claims, term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.
As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X”. In the context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all of the conversation.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “using at least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means “using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “based on” means “based in part on” or “based, at least in part, on,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “based on factor X” means “based in part on factor X” or “based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “based on X” does not mean “based only on X.”
In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “at least partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y” means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not mean that “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.
It should be appreciated that the words “first,” “second,” and so on, in the description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels (e.g., “(A)”, “(B)”, “(C)”, and so on, or “(a)”, “(b)”, and so on) and/or numbers (e.g., “(i)”, “(ii)”, and so on) are used to assist in readability and to help distinguish and/or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial or numerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as “particular,” “specific,” “certain,” and “given,” in the description and claims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.
As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and “plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus, e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes “two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two or more PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”
The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” or “approximately 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.
It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless specifically so claimed.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
