BACKGROUND
The game of standard marbles is not featured for larger, easy-to-use components and a bigger playing area. It is not very user-friendly and the standard marbles are tiny and cumbersome for small children, disabled adults, or the elderly. Therefore, it is desired to have a game that can work on grass, dirt, pavement, or any large area for small children, disabled adults, or the elderly would be able to enjoy this time-honored amusement without struggling with tiny, cumbersome marbles. The traditional marble game is very static, which only depending on the player's rolling skill to determine the chance to roll the ball into the target hole. The target hole does not have any features to interact with the player and the player's strategies. The traditional game is only a manual process without any proactive association with the game devices. So, it is easy to get boring after playing the conventional game for a while, and it becomes only a seniors' game device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed the apparatus for a roll battle game comprises a plurality of discs, wherein each of the plurality of discs further comprises a center, a circumference, and a surface between the center and the circumference, wherein the circumference is lower than the center, and wherein the surface is from the circumference and upwardly toward the center; a plurality of disc bases, wherein each of the plurality of discs disposed on each of the plurality of disc bases, and wherein each of the plurality of discs is relatively rotatable axially of each of the plurality of disc bases, and wherein a hole is formed through a center of each of the plurality of discs and each of the plurality of disc bases; a plurality of balls; and a plurality of obstacles to impede the plurality of balls into the hole of the plurality of discs, wherein the plurality of obstacles are associated with the plurality of discs or the plurality of balls or both. The invention is also directed to a method of playing the rolling battle game comprises steps of providing a roll battle game apparatus, introducing the plurality of players, directing players to either rolling the ball to the hole or striking the ball of a previous player until all players roll the ball to stay in the hole; permitting players whose ball was struck by the other players to rotate or spin the disc; the first player rolls to the base goal in the final iteration is the winner. This invention solves the issues traditional rolling-ball games. This invention incorporates the obstacles and the rotatable discs that increase the uncertainty of rolling the ball into the target holes. Furthermore, the inventive method of the roll battle game allows to knock away other's ball but also provide the rotation of the disc to revenge who knocks away other's ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the roll battle game.
FIG. 2 shows a top view of an embodiment of the discs with protuberance as obstacles.
FIG. 2A shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the disc with protuberance as obstacles
FIG. 3 shows a top, perspective view of an embodiment of the disc with magnets on the disc as obstacles.
FIG. 3A shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the disc with magnets on the disc as obstacles.
FIG. 4 shows a top, perspective view of an embodiment of the disc with magnets in the disc as obstacles.
FIG. 4A shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the disc with magnets in the disc as obstacles.
FIG. 5 shows a top, perspective view of an example of the balls with magnets on the ball.
FIG. 5A shows a sectional view of an example of the balls with magnets on the ball.
FIG. 6 shows a top, perspective view of an example of the balls with magnets in the ball
FIG. 6A shows a sectional view of an example of the balls with magnets in the ball
FIG. 7 is a representation showing the players and one example of arrangement of the roll battle game.
FIG. 8 is a representation showing an example of the playing rolling a ball to either strike other ball, or toward the ball, and the ball which is taken out if the ball into the hole.
FIGS. 9-11 illustrates an example of the method of playing the roll battle game.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular embodiments described, and as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.
Where a range of values are provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller range between any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included or excluded in the range, and each range where either, neither or both limits are included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.
Other than in the embodiment or example, or where indicated otherwise, all numbers indicating ingredient quantities and/or reaction conditions are to be understood as being modified in every instance by the word “about,” which means the ingredient quantities or reaction conditions are within 10 percent to 15 percent of the indicated value.
Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, some potential and exemplary methods and materials may now be described. Any and all publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. It is understood that the present disclosure supersedes any disclosure of an incorporated publication to the extent there is a contradiction.
It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” may also include the plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any element that may be optional. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely”, “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or the use of a “negative” limitation.
As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, one of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 for a roll battle game comprises a plurality of discs 11, wherein each of the plurality of discs 11 further comprises a center 18, a circumference 16, and a surface 17 between the center 18 and the circumference 16, wherein the circumference 16 is lower than the center 18, and wherein the surface 17 is from the circumference 16 and upwardly toward the center 18; a plurality of disc bases 20, wherein each of the plurality of discs 11 disposed on each of the plurality of disc bases 20, and wherein each of the plurality of discs 11 is relatively rotatable axially of each of the plurality of disc bases 20, and wherein a hole 15 is formed through a center of each of the plurality of discs 11 and each of the plurality of disc bases 20; a plurality of balls 32; and a plurality of obstacles 22 to impede the plurality of balls 32 into the hole 15 of the plurality of discs 11, wherein the plurality of obstacles 22 are associated with the plurality of discs 11 or the plurality of balls 32 or both. The material of the plurality of discs 11, plurality of balls 32, and both may be made of any suitable materials, such as but not limited to hard plastic, soft plastic, Polystyrene, polyester, wood, metal, and glass. The material of the plurality of discs 11, the plurality of balls 32, and both may be made of photoluminescent material that can glows in the dark so that the players can play the roll battle game in the night. Each of the plurality of balls 32 and each of the plurality of discs can be in any color, combination of colors and patterns, prints of figures, letters, or numbers. The size of each of the plurality of balls 32 can be all in one size or in various sizes suitable to fit with a size of the hole 15 in the disc 11. The size of each of the plurality of discs 11 can be a size the person having ordinary skill of the art thinks suitable for carry around and fitted with the size of the balls 32. The balls 32 may be sized from a Ping-Pong ball to a billiard ball, which is the preferable size. The hole 15 of each of the plurality of discs 11 can be all in one size or in different size. The size of the hole 15 of each of the plurality of discs 11 is a size fitted with the size of the balls 32.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 2A, one of the embodiment of the invention shows the plurality of obstacles 22 further comprise a plurality of protuberances 22 on the surface 17 of each of the plurality of discs 11. The plurality of protuberances 22 can be arranged in a pattern or in a random layout. The plurality of protuberances 22 can be same material as the material of the discs or different material of the plurality of the discs. The plurality of protuberances 22 can be arranged in a way that forms a path to allow the ball 32 to pass if the ball rolls in a particular angle, but in another way, blocking the ball 32 to pass if the ball rolls in otherwise angles. This arrangement of the plurality of protuberances 22 increases the entertainment effect of the roll battle game, and also allows the player transform mental calculations to into a mechanical device capable of interfering with other players' ball game. Especially when plurality of protuberances 22 is combined with the rotation of the discs, the opportunity to interfere the ball 32 rolling into the hole 15 will become uncertain. This inventive mechanical features associated with the method of playing the roll battle game that allows one prior player to revenge the other later players who knock the prior player's ball far away from the hole 15 of the discs 11 will transform a traditional ball rolling game, such as marble game or bocce ball type game, into a nonconventional machine-driven game process. In one of the embodiments, a bearing 23 is used to allow the disc relatively rotatable to the disc base; however, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate and understand that other mechanisms such as but not limited to gears, hinges, low-friction slides, low-friction rollers, or gliding surfaces, will provide the equivalent rotatable function and result.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 3A, FIG. 4, and FIG. 4A, in one of the embodiments, the plurality of obstacles 22 further comprise a plurality of magnets 26 attached on the surface of each of the plurality of discs 11 or alternatively disposed in each of the plurality of discs 15. Also referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A, in one of the embodiments, the plurality of obstacles further comprise a plurality of magnets 28 attached on each of the plurality of balls 32. The plurality of magnets 26 of the plurality of discs 11 and the plurality of magnets 28 of the plurality of balls 32 together will have an effect as intended by the plurality of obstacle 22 since two magnets may repel each other or attack each other depending the poles of two magnets meet. Therefore, on the moment the ball 32 rolling up to the disc 11, the magnet 28 of ball 32 may be the opposite pole to the pole of the magnet 26 on the disc 11, which will slow down the ball rolling action, or be the same pole, which may repel the ball up or down, depending on the angel or timing of the ball 32 on the surface 17. Therefore, it increases the uncertainty. Furthermore, together with the rotation of the discs, this invention is a nonconventional game that associated with mechanical components and transforms a revengefully mental game into a machine-driven process. In one of the embodiments, a low-friction roller 24 is used to allow the disc relatively rotatable to the disc base; however, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate and understand that other mechanisms such as but not limited to gears, hinges, low-friction slides, bearings, or gliding surfaces, will provide the equivalent rotatable function and result.
Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 6A, in one of the embodiments, the plurality of obstacles further comprise a plurality of magnets 28 alternatively disposed in each of the plurality of balls 32. The plurality of balls 32 can be solid or hollow. The plurality of magnets can be magnetic mineral, magnetic strips, magnetic nuggets, powdered magnet, flexible magnet strips, magnetic coatings, or in all forms of magnets.
Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, in one preferable embodiment of the method of rolling battle game comprises the steps of providing a roll battle game apparatus 10 comprising a plurality of discs 11, wherein each of the plurality of discs 11 further comprises a center 18, a circumference 16, and a surface 17 between the center 18 and the circumference 16, wherein the circumference 16 is lower than the center 18, and wherein the surface 17 is from the circumference 16 and upwardly toward the center 18; a plurality of disc bases 20, wherein each of the plurality of discs 11 disposed on each of the plurality of disc bases 20, and wherein each of the plurality of discs 11 is relatively rotatable axially of each of the plurality of disc bases 20, and wherein a hole 15 is formed through a center of each of the plurality of discs 11 and each of the plurality of disc bases 20; a plurality of balls 32; and a plurality of obstacles 22 to impede the plurality of balls 32 into the hole 15 of the plurality of discs 11, wherein the plurality of obstacles 22 are associated with the plurality of discs 11 or the plurality of balls 32 or both. (Step 200); choosing a ground 100, which can be indoor or outdoor surfaces, grass or pavement surfaces, smooth or bumpy surfaces, flat or inclined surfaces (Step 210); placing the plurality of discs 11 on the ground 100, wherein the plurality of discs 11 are separated in a pre-determined distance decided by a plurality of players 41, 42, and 43, where in the plurality of discs are arranged and named as a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole (Step 220); introducing the plurality of players behind the first hole 12, wherein each of the plurality of players 41, 42, 43 chooses a ball from the plurality of balls 32 (Step 230); determining a number of a plurality of iterations to play the roll battle game before calling the first hole 12 as a goal hole, wherein one of the plurality of iterations to play the roll battle game 10 is a completion of tossing the plurality of balls by the plurality of players through the plurality of discs (Step 240); directing a first player 41 of the plurality of players 41, 42, 43 to roll the ball toward the third hole 14 (Step 250); directing the first player 41 to take out the ball 32 that stays in the third hole 14 after the first player 41 rolled the ball 32 into the third hole 14 (Step 260 and Step 270); directing the first player 41 to leave the ball 32 on the ground 100 after the first player 41 rolled the balls to the third hole 14 but failed to let the ball 32 into the third hole 14 (Step 260 and Step 272); directing a second player 42 to either roll the ball to the third hole or to strike the first player's ball that stays on the ground (Step 280 and Step 290); directing the second player to call the first player's ball before the second player rolls the ball to strike the first player's ball when the second player 42 chose to strike the first player's ball (Step 300); directing the second player 42 to leave the ball on the surface after the second player failed to strike the first player's ball or failed to let the ball into the third hole (Step 310 and Step 320); directing the second player 42 to roll the ball toward the third hole after the second player successfully strikes the first player's ball (Step 310 and Step 330); permitting the first player 41 to rotate the third disc 11 so that increases a chance of bumping the ball of second player 42 when the second player rolls the ball toward the third hole (Step 340). The players need to calculate their moves. If the play decides to knock prior player's ball away from the hole, the player has to consider the consequences and the opportunities that he/she may miss the strike, knock the other player's ball even closer to the hole, leave his/her own ball too far away from the hole even he/she successfully strikes other player's ball, and finally the revenge from the other player whose ball was knocked by the player that the other player now can rotate the disc to increase the uncertainty of the ball to get into the hole. However, the revenge offered by the apparatus of the roll battle game, for example, may not be that certain too since the obstacles on the discs and/or on the balls may increase or decrease the chance of the ball rolling into the hole of the disc. Like in one embodiment that the obstacles are magnets on the disc and one the ball. The magnetic forces between the obstacles on the disc and on the ball may be repellent and attractive depending on the angles and positions the ball contacting the disc. Therefore, the interactions between the players and the apparatus will transform a traditional rolling-ball game to a mechanically uncertain game device and method.
Also referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 in one preferable embodiment of the method of rolling battle game further comprises the steps of directing the second player to leave the ball on the ground after the second player failed to let the ball into the third hole and wait a turn to roll ball or strike a ball again (Step 350, Step 360, Step 290); directing the second player to take out the ball that stays in the third hole after the second player rolled the ball into the third hole (Step 350 and Step 370); directing the plurality of players to continue either rolling the ball to the third hole or striking the ball of a previous player of the plurality of players until all of the plurality of players roll the ball to stay in the third hole (Step 380); directing an order of playing the rolling battle game on the second hole by the order of the plurality of players successfully roll the balls to stay in the third hole (Step 390); repeating either rolling the ball toward the second hole or striking a ball of a prior player in the order of playing the rolling battle game until all of the plurality of players successfully roll the balls to stay in the second hole (Step 400); permitting the plurality of players whose ball was struck by the other of the plurality of players to rotate or spin the disc when the other plurality of players is rolling the ball toward the second hole (Step 410); directing an order of playing the rolling battle game on the first hole by the order of the plurality of players successfully roll the balls to stay in the second hole (Step 420); checking whether the number of the plurality of iterations will be reached the predetermined the plurality of iterations when play on first hole (Step 430); repeating either rolling the ball toward the first hole or striking a ball of a prior player in the order of playing the rolling battle game until all of the plurality of players successfully roll the balls to stay in the first hole when the number of the plurality of iterations has not been reached (Step 440); permitting the plurality of players whose ball was struck by the other of the plurality of players to rotate or spin the disc when the other plurality of players is rolling the ball toward the first hole (Step 450); repeating the plurality of iterations of the roll battle game starting from the third hole, if the plurality of iterations have not been completed (Step 250); setting the first hole as a base goal if the plurality of players have completed the plurality of iterations predetermined by the plurality of players (Step 460); appointing a player first rolling ball into the base goal as a winner of the roll battle game and as a guard if the first hole is a base goal (Step 470); directing the plurality of players to roll the ball toward the base goal by the order of playing (Step 480); directing the guard to strike the ball away the base goal if the guard determines the ball is too close to the base goal when the plurality of player's balls do not roll into the base goal (Step 490 and Step 500); repeating either rolling the ball toward the first hole or striking a ball of a prior player in the order of playing the rolling battle game until all of the plurality of players successfully roll the balls to stay in the first hole when the number of the plurality of iterations has been reached (Step 510); permitting the plurality of players whose ball was struck by the other of the plurality of players to rotate or spin the disc when the other plurality of players is rolling the ball toward the first hole (Step 520); directing the guard to take out the ball that stays in the base goal after the plurality of players successfully roll the ball into the base goal (Step 530); and determining an order of winners by a sequence of the plurality of players successfully rolling the ball into the base goal (Step 540). The plurality of players can more than two. When one of the plurality of players decide whether to strike another of the plurality of player, the player has to consider the chance of knocking off another player's ball far enough, whether the player's ball itself will stay close enough to the hole for next turn to roll in, and whether another player's revenge of rotating the disc will increase or decrease the opportunity of the player's ball getting into the hole. It is an interactive steps with the discs and the type of the obstacle on the discs. Therefore, it is a transformation of merely mental game to a machine-driven process.
Patent Application
20170282036
