It is important to learn basic concepts such as pattern recognition, basic mathematics, spatial relationships, and how to deal with setbacks in a mature and sportsmanlike manner. As these simple skills are mastered, more complex skills may be acquired, such as how to plan competitive strategies and how to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves.
One way of acquiring such basic skills is through the playing of educational games that make the learning process fun and entertaining. One such game is Mexican train dominoes. Mexican train is a dominoes variant with the object being for a player to play all of the domino tiles in his hand onto one or more ‘trains’ (domino chains) that branch out from a central ‘roundhouse’. While there are a vast number of rules variants, most include a central community ‘Mexican train’ that may be used by all players. Each player's ‘train’ is usually identified by a small, typically color-coded, locomotive figurine.
While quite popular, the game does have a few drawbacks. First, a lot of dominoes are required for multi-player games. Also, the tiny locomotives are a choking hazard for very young players. Further, it may be hard for younger players or those with poor finger coordination to hold all of the dominoes in their hand. Hence, there is a need for an improved portable Mexican train dominoes game capable of storing and transporting the requisite number of dominoes while providing means for privately displaying all of the dominoes in a player's hand to the player and addressing the issue of the tiny locomotive choking hazard so as to be safely and easily played by anyone, including young children. A means for satisfying this need has so far eluded those skilled in the art.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates.
Basic Mexican Train dominoes are played with a standard set of double twelve dominoes, each set with ninety-one dominoes. In addition to the dominoes, the game of Mexican Train requires additional equipment. Most importantly, Mexican Train requires a roundhouse, essentially a hub having a central recess for the starting double and a plurality (typically eight) of equidistantly spaced peripheral slots from which to initiate each respective domino train. In addition to the roundhouse, each train is represented by a token, which is usually an individually colored train engine figurine.
Players play their dominoes in Mexican Train just like they would in regular dominoes—each domino is played so that one end is adjacent the end of a domino already on the table and the two adjacent domino ends match by having the same number of dots. Unless the domino tile is a double, the domino may be placed along either side or the end of the already played end domino so long as the two matching sides are flush. A double may be played adjacent to a matching end of an already played domino, but must be oriented perpendicular to the already played domino. Thus, the train of played dominoes plays out like a train track, twisting and turning across the table.
The game is started by shuffling the dominoes face down, and then each player draws a predetermined number of dominoes, said predetermined number decreasing as the number of players increases (2-4 players take 15 dominoes each, 5-6 players take 12 each, 7-8 players take 10 dominoes each), with the rest of the dominoes remaining in the Boneyard. The roundhouse is placed in the middle of the playing area, with each player claiming a slot as their starting point. The shared Mexican Train is likewise assigned a slot.
The player holding the highest double places his domino in the roundhouse recess to start the game. Then, the player to the immediate left of the starting player takes his turn, followed by the next player, and so on. Each player starts their train by putting a first domino into their slot in the roundhouse, with the end engaging the roundhouse matching the domino in the recess. Players continue extending their trains by adding more dominoes from their hand until they can't play any more. After this first turn, each player may only play one domino on an available train. If a player can play a domino to one of the available trains, their turn is over. If not, the payer draws a domino from the boneyard, and plays it if possible to end their turn. If the player cannot play the boneyard-drawn domino, the player places a marker on the domino at the end of their train to indicate that their train is now open for other players to use. Players may remove a marker on their train by playing one of their own dominos to extend their own train. As in many other games, if a player plays a double, they immediately may take another turn. The game is over when a (winning) player pays his last domino. That player incurs no points against him, while the other players tally up the dots on the dominoes in their respective hands. The over all winner has the lowest cumulative score after a predetermined number of games (usually termed a match) are played. If a player gets rid of all of his dominoes during the first turn, the remaining players are allowed to take their first turn before tallying up their points.
There are a number of game play variants, but the above recitation of the rules gives the gist of the game.
Each elongated side member 115 is typically a parallelepiped and includes a pair of oppositely disposed elongated side faces 140A, 140B extending between interior and exterior faces 135, 130. Matably engageable fastening member 145A, 145B are operationally connected to each respective elongated side faces 140A, 140B. Fastening member 145A is matingly engageable to fastening member 145B but not to another fastening member 145A. Fastening members 145A, 145B may be opposite poled magnets, a magnet and a ferromagnetic member, hook and loop connectors, or the like. The number of side members 115 is equal to the number of sides defined by the regular shape of the top and bottom members 105, 110.
Generally circular roundhouse assembly 150 is sized to fit over top or bottom member 105, 110 and incudes a generally circular base member 153 defining a plurality of slots 155 equidistantly circumferentially positioned therearound, each slot 155 sized to accept a domino tile. A plurality of respective generally rectangular recesses 160 extend inwardly from each respective slot 155, and a plurality of respective train tokens 165 are operationally connected to extend from a raised central circular dais 170 connected to base member 153 and into each respective slot 160. A circular cap 175 covers the raised dais 170 and includes a rectangular recess 180 sized and shaped to accept a domino. The roundhouse assembly 150 is securable to the top or bottom member 105, 110 during transport, by a connector 151, such as strap or by a fastener pair operationally connected to the bottom or the roundhouse assembly 150 and the top or bottom member 105, 110.
Typically, the interior volume is large enough to hold a double-eighteen set of dominoes, and there are eighteen slots 155 formed in the roundhouse assembly 150, such that eighteen players may be accommodated.
Each train token 165 has a sculpted train portion 190 and an elongated tail member 195 extending therefrom. Each respective elongated tail member 195 is locked into the dais 170, such as by a pin, thickened wedge, or the like, so that the train token 165 is extendable from the dais 170 but not freely disengageable therefrom.
When it is time to play Mexican Train dominoes, connector 151 is disengaged and the roundhouse assembly is set aside. Side members 115 are disengaged to allow access to the dominoes house in the box 100, and dominoes are removed therefrom for play. Each player takes a side member 115 for holding their dominoes in the parallel groves 131. Each player claims a train token 165 and uses the associated slot 160a the starting point for their train.
After play, the carrying case 100 is reassembled matingly engaging the eight side members 115 to respective edges 129 of the top, bottom, and separation members 105, 110, 125 and one another. Before the last side member 115 is so engaged, dominoes are placed into the now-defined interior volume 120. Once all side members 115 are engaged with the top, bottom, and side members 105, 110, 125 and one another, the roundhouse assembly 150 is positioned against a box face 129 and fastener 151 is reengaged. Handle 200 is lockingly engaged to grooves 131 of two adjacent side members 115 for ease of carrying.
While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20230132650 A1 | May 2023 | US |