TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to games, and more particularly to a game involving memory and three-dimensional matching.
BACKGROUND
Existing games challenge a person's memory skills; for example, the classic game of memory involves shuffling or randomly arranging a set of matching pairs of cards, and taking turns revealing two cards while attempting to find each matching set. However, such games include only two-dimensional pictures for matching, and do not invoke a player's spatial or three-dimensional intelligence. Existing three-dimensional puzzles invoke a player's spatial intelligence but do not involve memory skills.
SUMMARY
A game set according to some embodiments of the present invention includes a base and at least three pairs of game pieces, each pair of the at least three pairs of game pieces including dual three-dimensionally shaped interfitting portions which interfit with one another to indicate a match, the base comprising receptacles configured to receive the at least three pairs of game pieces so as to hide the three-dimensionally shaped interfitting portions, such that all game pieces of the at least three pairs of game pieces look visually the same when received by the base.
A game according to other embodiments of the present invention includes a plurality of sets of game pieces, wherein each set of the plurality of sets of game pieces includes two or more game pieces, wherein each of the two or more game pieces includes a common portion and an interfitting portion, wherein the common portion of each of the two or more game pieces is visually similar to the common portion of each other of the two or more game pieces, and wherein the interfitting portions of the two or more game pieces interfit three-dimensionally with each other to form a match, wherein the interfitting portions of a first set of the plurality of sets of game pieces are uniquely shaped with respect to the interfitting portions of a second set of the plurality of sets of game pieces; and a covering system, the covering system configured to cover at least a portion of each of the two or more game pieces of each set of the plurality of sets of game pieces, such that each game piece of the plurality of sets of game pieces is visually similar when covered by the covering system. Such a game may include at least two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more sets of game pieces, and each set may include two, three, or more game pieces which interfit to form a match, according to embodiments of the present invention.
A game according to yet other embodiments of the present invention includes a plurality of sets or pairs of game pieces, for example pairs of game pieces, wherein each pair of the plurality of pairs of game pieces includes a first game piece having a first common portion and a first interfitting portion, a second game piece having a second common portion and a second interfitting portion, and possibly other game pieces with common portions and interfitting portions, wherein the first common portion is visually the same as the second common portion, wherein the first interfitting portion interfits three-dimensionally with the second and/or other interfitting portions of the set to form a geometric solid shape, wherein the geometric solid shape is the same for each pair of the plurality of pairs of game pieces, and wherein each pair of the plurality of pairs of game pieces has first and second interfitting portions that are uniquely shaped with respect to the first and second interfitting portions of each other pair of the plurality of pairs of game pieces. The game set may further includes a base with a plurality of receptacles configured to receive at least a portion of the plurality of pairs of game pieces, wherein each pair of the plurality of pairs of game pieces has first and second common portions that are visually the same as the first and second common portions of each other pair of the plurality of pairs of game pieces, such that each game piece of the plurality of pairs of game pieces is visually similar when received by the base.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a top front perspective view of a game set, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2. Illustrates a bottom front perspective view of the game set of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a top front perspective view of a covering system in the form of a base, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom front perspective view of the base of FIG. 3, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cross sectional perspective view of a game piece inserted into a base, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a pair of game pieces which form a match, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevation view of one of the game pieces of FIG. 6, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates a back elevation view of the game piece of FIG. 7, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9 illustrates a right side elevation view of the game piece of FIGS. 7 and 8, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 10 illustrates a left side elevation view of the game piece of FIGS. 7-9, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates an interfitting element map, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 12 illustrates a set of pairs of game pieces, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 13 illustrates an interfitting portion of a game piece, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 14 illustrates an interfitting portion of a game piece which interfits with the interfitting portion of FIG. 13, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 15 illustrates another set of pairs of game pieces, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 16 illustrates an interfitting portion of a game piece, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 17 illustrates an interfitting portion of a game piece which interfits with the interfitting portion of FIG. 16, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 18 illustrates another set of pairs of game pieces, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 19 illustrates a pair of game pieces, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 20 illustrates a pair of game pieces interfitted to form an egg shape, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 21 illustrates the pair of game pieces of FIG. 20 in a separated configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 22 illustrates another set of pairs of game pieces, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 23 illustrates a side elevation view of a pair of game pieces interfitted, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 24 illustrates a front perspective view of the pair of game pieces of FIG. 23, interfitted, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 25 illustrates a front elevation view of a pair of game pieces interfitted, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 26 illustrates a rear and side perspective view of the pair of game pieces of FIG. 25, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 27 illustrates a top plan view of a set of three game pieces interfitting three-dimensionally, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 28 illustrates a top front perspective view of a game piece with an integrated covering system, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 29 illustrates a side elevation view of the game piece of FIG. 28.
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a top front perspective view of a game set 100, according to embodiments of the present invention. Game set 100 includes a base 120 and a set of game pieces 110. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the base 120 may include a number of apertures for receiving the game pieces 110. Each aperture may include an inner wall 126, a recessed top ring 128 for receiving a bottom end of a common portion of a game piece 110 and inhibiting sliding thereof with respect to the base 120, and a bottom support 124, according to embodiments of the present invention. The bottom surface of the base 120 may include the bottom surfaces of each bottom support 124, as well as a bottom edge 122 of a base 120 outer perimeter, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5 illustrates a partial cross sectional perspective view of a game piece 110 inserted into a base 120, according to embodiments of the present invention. Each game piece 110 includes a common portion 112 and an interfitting portion 114, according to embodiments of the present invention. Although the interfitting portion 114 of each game piece 110 is different and/or unique, the common portion 112 of each game piece is visually similar and/or indistinguishable. When the game piece 110 is placed into the base 120, the common portions 112 provide no visual indication which would permit a user to distinguish one game piece 110 from another. When placed into the base 120, all game pieces 110 look the same, because their unique interfitting portions 114 are hidden from view by the receptacles in the base 120. This feature permits a memory requirement to be added to the game, because unless a player finds a pair of matching pieces during the same turn, the player must remember a spatial location on the base 120 (e.g. the location of one of the apertures or the game piece 110 in it) corresponding to a particular interfitting portion 114 in order to retrieve the same game piece 110 again once a matching game piece 110 is recognized. For this reason, each aperture 126 may also be sized to accommodate each other game piece 110, so that the locations of the game pieces 110 may be varied from game to game.
FIG. 6 illustrates a pair of game pieces 110a, 110b which form a match, according to embodiments of the present invention. Game pieces 110a, 110b each have a common portion 112 which is visually similar. In some instances, common portion 112 is identical for each game piece 110a, 110b. Game piece 110a has an interfitting portion 214a, and game piece 110b has an interfitting portion 214b which interfits with interfitting portion 214a. Each interfitting portion 214a, 214b may include one or more interfitting elements. For example, interfitting portion 214a includes interfitting elements 202a, 204a, 206a, and 208a. Interfitting element 208a extends to a zero height, interfitting element 206a extends to a first height (e.g. height d1 shown in FIG. 7), interfitting element 204a extends to a second height (e.g. height d2 shown in FIG. 7) different from the first height, and interfitting element 202a extends to a third height (e.g. height d3 shown in FIG. 7) different from the first and second heights, according to embodiments of the present invention.
Interfitting portion 214b is a negative of interfitting portion 214a, according to embodiments of the present invention. Interfitting portion 214b includes interfitting elements 202b, 204b, 206b, and 208b. Interfitting element 202b has a zero height, and corresponds to interfitting element 202a, which has a height of d3. Interfitting element 204b has a height of d1, and corresponds to interfitting element 204a, which has a height of d2. Interfitting element 206b has a height of d2, and corresponds to interfitting element 206a, which has a height of d1. And interfitting element 208b has a height of d3, and corresponds to interfitting element 208a, which has a height of zero. When the interfitting portions 214a and 214b are placed together with their respective interfitting elements aligned, the interfitting portions 214a and 214b interfit (e.g. element 202a onto 202b, 204a onto 204b, 206a onto 206b, and 208a onto 208b) to form a geometric solid shape. For example, the base formed by the set of interfitting elements is substantially square, as illustrated in FIG. 6; thus, when the interfitting portions 214a, 214b are fitted together, the outer surface of the interfitting portions forms a partial cube or partial rectangular solid shape (with a partial cube being a subset of a partial rectangular solid shape). One example of this geometric solid shape formed between the common portions 112 is illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, which show a substantially cubic or rectangular solid geometric shape formed by the union of the two interfitting portions. This solid geometric shape may include beveled edges, as illustrated. If the interfitting portions 214a, 214b were not actually a match, then they would simply not interfit together, or they would interfit in a way which leaves substantial gaps between the portions 214a, 214b visible from the outside. In this same way, players who select two game pieces 110 will be able to ascertain whether they have found a match by attempting to interfit (perhaps several times after turning one piece 110 or the other) the game pieces 110. A lack of interfit (for example, substantial gaps between one or more interfitting elements of each interfitting portion 214a, 214b) signals that the particular pair of game pieces 110 is not a match.
FIG. 11 illustrates an interfitting element map, according to embodiments of the present invention. For a particular set of game pieces, each game piece 110 may include an interfitting element located at each of zones p1, p2, p3, and p4. The height of each interfitting element may vary from one zone to another. For example, the interfitting portion 214a of FIG. 6 includes interfitting elements, one in each zone p1, p2, p3, p4, of heights ranging from zero to a first height to a second height to a third height. If an interfitting element is located at zone p1, and its height is zero, zone p1 may also be referred to as lacking an interfitting element. Two or more zones p1, p2, p3, p4 may include interfitting elements with the same height, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 12 illustrates a set of pairs of game pieces 110, according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a set of sixteen game pieces 110—eight pairs of game pieces 110. As can be seen in FIG. 12, each interfitting portion 114 interfits (e.g. mates) with only one other interfitting portion 114 in the set. Each interfitting element of each interfitting portion, similarly to the game pieces 110 of FIG. 6, is either lacking (e.g. zero height), or extends to a first, second, or third height. Each interfitting portion is uniquely shaped with respect to each other interfitting portion in the set, except for its unique match which is a negative shape of the interfitting portion.
The height and/or the shape of the interfitting portions of each game piece 110 may be varied within, or across, sets in order to provide pairs of game pieces of varying levels of matching difficulty, according to embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate interfitting portions 14a, 14b of a game piece with an easier or lower level of difficulty. Interfitting portion 14a includes a first interfitting element 2a and a second interfitting element 4a. Interfitting portion 14b includes a first interfitting element 2b configured to interface, or interfit, with interfitting element 2a, and a second interfitting element 4b configured to interface, or interfit, with interfitting element 4a.
FIG. 15 illustrates another set of pairs of game pieces 110, according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 15 shows a set of sixteen game pieces 110—eight pairs of game pieces 110. As shown in FIG. 15, each interfitting portion 114 interfits (e.g. mates) with only one other interfitting portion 114 in the set. Each interfitting element of each interfitting portion, similarly to the interfitting portions 14a, 14b of FIGS. 13 and 14, is of a low difficulty level. For example, each interfitting element 2a, 4a extends to either a zero height or a first height, and each interfitting portion includes no more than two interfitting elements (one of which is lacking, or is zero height). Each interfitting portion is uniquely shaped with respect to each other interfitting portion in the set, except for its unique match which is a negative shape of the interfitting portion. As illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24, interfitting portions 14a, 14b interfit to form a substantially cylindrical shape.
FIG. 16 illustrates an interfitting portion 114a of a game piece, and FIG. 17 illustrates a matching interfitting portion 114b which interfits with the interfitting portion 114a, according to embodiments of the present invention. Interfitting portion 114a includes interfitting element 108a which extends to a zero height, which corresponds to interfitting element 108b of interfitting portion 114b. Interfitting element 106a corresponds to interfitting element 106b; interfitting element 104a corresponds to interfitting element 104b; and interfitting element 102a corresponds to interfitting element 102b. The interfitting portions of FIGS. 16 and 17, as well as those illustrated in the set of sixteen shown in FIG. 18, are of a difficulty which is intermediate to the matching difficulty of the interfitting portions of FIG. 12 and FIG. 15, because the interfitting elements of FIGS. 16-18 extend to only one of two heights above zero.
FIG. 18 shows a set of sixteen game pieces 110—eight pairs of game pieces 110. As shown in FIG. 18, each interfitting portion 114 interfits (e.g. mates) with only one other interfitting portion 114 in the set. Each interfitting element of each interfitting portion, similarly to the interfitting portions 114a, 114b of FIGS. 16 and 17, is of an intermediate difficulty level. Each interfitting portion is uniquely shaped with respect to each other interfitting portion in the set, except for its unique match which is a negative shape of the interfitting portion.
FIG. 19 illustrates a pair of game pieces of an advanced matching difficulty level, according to embodiments of the present invention. Interfitting portions 314a, 314b each include nine interfitting elements, and each of the nine interfitting elements extends to a zero, first, second, or third height, according to embodiments of the present invention. Interfitting element 302a corresponds to interfitting element 302b, 304a to 304b, 306a to 306b, 308a to 308b, 310a to 310b, 312a to 312b, 314a to 314b, 315a to 315b, 316a to 316b, and 318a to 318b. Interfitting element 312b extends to a zero height (e.g. is missing or lacking), interfitting element 308b extends to a first height, interfitting element 310b extends to a second height greater than the first height, and interfitting element 306b extends to a third height greater than the first and second heights, according to embodiments of the present invention. When interfitting elements 314a and 314b are interfitted, or matched, their outer surfaces form a substantially cubic or rectangular solid geometric shape, which may have beveled edges, similar to that shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. A set of sixteen such advanced difficulty game pieces may be created, with eight pairs of matching pieces, according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate a pair 410 of game pieces 410a, 410b interfitted to form an egg shape, according to embodiments of the present invention. Game piece 410a includes a common portion 412 and an interfitting portion 414a. Game piece 410b includes a common portion 412 and an interfitting portion 414b. Interfitting portion 414a includes one or more interfitting elements 402a which interfit with and/or mate with one or more interfitting elements 402b of interfitting portion 414b, according to embodiments of the present invention. The solid geometric shape illustrated in FIG. 20 may also be referred to as an ellipsoid. FIG. 22 illustrates a set of sixteen game pieces 410, or eight pairs of game pieces, which form an egg shape or ellipsoid similar to those described with respect to FIGS. 20 and 21. Each game piece 410 may be placed with the cup shape down on a base 120, and the base 120 conceals the interfitting portion 414a, 414b of each game piece 410, to provide a memory matching game experience.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the base 120, the common portion 112, and the interfitting portion 114 are plastic injection molded pieces. The common portion 112 and interfitting portion 114 may be substantially hollow, and the interfitting portion 114 may be snapped onto and/or adhered to the common portion 112, as illustrated in FIG. 5. This may reduce the cost of materials and/or manufacturing of the components. Manufacturing the common portions 112 separately also permits the same common portion 112 to be used for different sets or interfitting portions with different levels of difficulty. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the common portion 112 and/or interfitting portion 114 is substantially solid or non-hollow.
Although sets of sixteen game pieces 110 are shown, with eight matching pairs of game pieces 110, more or less game pieces may be included in a set. For example, a set of pairs of game pieces 110 may include two pairs, three pairs, four pairs, five pairs, six pairs, seven pairs, eight pairs, nine pairs, ten pairs, eleven pairs, twelve pairs, thirteen pairs, fourteen pairs, fifteen pairs, sixteen pairs, seventeen pairs, eighteen pairs, nineteen pairs, twenty pairs, thirty pairs, forty pairs, fifty pairs, or more. According to some embodiments, two or more pairs of game pieces 110 are included for two or more difficulty levels. These multiple sets of pairs may be configured to work with the same base 120, such that a single game set includes one base 120 and multiple sets of pairs of game pieces 110. Base 120 may be referred to as a covering system. Alternatively, other covering systems may be used to cover a portion of each game piece 110, for example to cover the interfitting portion 114 of each game piece, such that at least a portion of each of the two or more game pieces of each set of the plurality of sets of game pieces is visually similar when covered by the covering system. For example, one covering system includes independent sleeves which cover the interfitting portion 114 of each game piece 110. In addition to having multiple sets of matching pairs, each set of game pieces 110 may optionally include one or more game pieces 110 which do not include a match within the set, in order to increase the difficulty of the game. All game components described herein, or any combination or subcombination thereof, may be packaged as a game kit, for example within a game box as commonly seen in the board game section of a retail store.
Although interfitting portions 114 are described herein which interfit to form cubic, rectangular solid, and/or cylindrical solid geometric shapes, based on the present disclosure one of ordinary skill will appreciate that various other geometric shapes and/or cross-sectional shapes are possible; for example: a star, a hexagon solid, a decagon solid, a dog bone, or any other shape. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the geometric solid shape is a complex three-dimensional shape having holes, protrusions, or forming patterns.
One way in which a match of two game pieces is formed is when the two game pieces interfit to form a solid geometric shape, for example an easily-recognizable solid geometric shape, as described above. Matches of two or three or more game pieces may be formed or indicated in other ways. For example, two or three or more game pieces do not form a match if they do not interfit with one another at all. Two or three or more game pieces may form a match by partially interfitting, interfitting at angles (e.g. a ninety-degree angle) with one another, and/or in any other manner which indicates to the player that the game pieces of a set belong together and not to another set, or in some cases, that the game pieces of a set do not belong to any other set of a plurality of sets. According to another embodiment of the present invention, two or three or more game pieces may interfit virtually to form a set and/or to indicate a match, even if they do not interfit physically. For example, for an added challenge, each game piece of a matching set of game pieces may be formed of a different size, so that the players can recognize that the game pieces would interfit if they were of the correct size or proportion, even if the game pieces do not actually fit together. A set of matching game pieces visibly forms a whole or match or pair or set, such that it is visibly clear to the players that matching pieces form a match or pair or set together and not with other game pieces or sets of game pieces. Based on the disclosure provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the various ways in which a set of game pieces may be formed so as to indicate a match.
Color may be used to increase or decrease the difficulty level for any particular set of game pieces 110. For example, coloring each interfitting portion 114 the same color would make it more difficult to remember the location of that interfitting portion 114. Giving the interfitting portion 114 of each pair the same unique color would make it easier to find and/or remember matching game pieces 110.
Embodiments of the present invention include game sets which invoke not only a player's memory skills, but also their matching skills and their three-dimensional spatial shape and orientation skills, by requiring the location of negative shapes. As such, a player must not only remember a location with a certain shape or volume, but also the negative shape or shapes to complete the matching set. These skills are used simultaneously to play the game, by sequentially locating matching pairs or sets of three-dimensionally shaped interfitting portions. As such, the game may be played by two or more players who take turns revealing and/or lifting two or more game pieces 110; if the revealed game pieces interfit with one another and form a match, then the player may go again. If not, then the next player may reveal and/or lift two (or three or more depending on the number per set) game pieces 110 as the game continues.
Although some embodiments of the present invention include pairs of matching game pieces, three or more game pieces may be used to form a set of matching game pieces. For example, FIG. 27 illustrates a top plan view of a set 510 of three game pieces 510a, 510b, 510c interfitting three-dimensionally, according to embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, each set of a plurality of sets of game pieces may include two or more game pieces which interfit three-dimensionally to form a match, and the two or more game pieces may be two game pieces (e.g. a pair), three game pieces (see FIG. 27), or more, according to embodiments of the present invention.
The game according to embodiments of the present invention may also be played by placing all playing pieces into a playing board, base, or other covering system with only the identical or similar or common portion visible by all players. One by one a player reveals the interfitting portion of a game piece, for example by turning it around and/or placing it with the interfitting portion facing upwardly. If a player sees a matching set after revealing the interfitting portion of a playing piece, the player makes the set and may reveal the interfitting portion of another game piece. If the player does not see a matching set, the next player may reveal the interfitting portion of another game piece. Such a game may end when all available sets of matches are made, with the player having the most sets of matches being the winner.
Although some embodiments of the present invention include a base as a covering system, other covering systems may be used to cover a portion of each game piece. For example, FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate a game piece 610 with an integrated covering system 620. The interfitting portion 614 may be covered by a covering system 620 that is an integral part of the common portion 612, when laid out in a particular position in which the players of the game may have a view of the game piece 610 according to the illustrative direction indicated by arrow 90. Alternatively, other covering systems are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention, including without limitation a plurality of cover elements with single receptacles or moving cover elements on each game piece.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
Patent Application
20120146286
