Patent Application
20070222152
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is in gaming products. More specifically this invention is a unique set of game pieces which can also be identified as a new type of playing cards (deck of cards).
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Many people are familiar with the traditional deck of playing cards, which consists of 52 cards with each card having a combination of two symbols; one of the two symbols is a suit which is one of the following: heart (usually red), diamond (usually red), club (usually black), or spade (usually black); the other symbol is a value-the value is one of the following: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), or Ace (A).
Also common is a gaming set consisting of 28 pieces known as Dominoes. Each domino piece is divided into two halves with each half having indicia representing one of the following values: 0 (or blank), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Typically the indicia value is represented by an equivalent number of dots.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,358 to Hancock, on Oct. 9, 1979, is an example of a unique type of playing cards that uses features of a traditional playing card deck; each card is divided into two diagonal sections with each section having indicia of a traditional playing card.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,652 to Nielsen, on Aug. 11, 1998, is an example of a unique type of domino set in the form of a deck of cards. U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,873 to Freeman, on Mar. 30, 1999, is an example of a unique type of playing cards that uses features of a traditional playing card deck.
3. Objects and Advantages
The invention may be realized in the form of a physical set of cards (any type of material, for example, paper or plastic) or it may be represented in other ways such as on a monitor (or any other visual device) as in a video-based card game. This invention, which is a new type of playing cards, will allow for new games to be realized. These new games may be completely unrelated to the games played by either traditional playing cards or dominoes, or the games may be any type of combination of: new ideas, games played with dominoes, and/or games played with traditional playing cards.
The card-values (20), which are a set of card indicia, may be identified by words or numerical symbols. As an alternative to using words or letters, a distinctive and representative picture maybe used to identify a King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J), or Ace (A). The domino-value (26) may be represented as a number (numerical word or symbol) or by an equivalent number of individual symbols—for example, dots—on the domino-section (16) of the invention. The domino-values may be represented by dots (or any other symbols) were the actual number of dots (or other symbols) represents the domino-value. As previously indicated, the domino-value may also be identified by a numeric word or symbol (number).
As is conveyed by the claims and illustrated by the drawings, the same collective information can be represented in different layouts. These layouts are achieved by changing the symbol arrangements (orientation) while maintaining the same symbol combinations for each card. These different layouts provide a basis for multiple embodiments of the invention that may be solely aesthetic without adding any functionality—for example, the third preferred embodiment of the invention discussed below. Other embodiments may be achieved by limiting the range of the available symbols that have been outline previously—for example, the second preferred embodiment of the invention discussed below.
The invention is a new type of playing cards (a unique set of game pieces) that consists of a combination of features of both traditional playing cards and traditional dominoes. The new cards will have indicia derived from actual dominoes and traditional playing cards. This new combination of old features presents the possibility for a new set of games. These new games may be completely unique or have aspects derived from games played with a typical deck of playing cards and/or a typical domino set.
The preferred embodiment of the invention will consist of a new deck of physical cards with two flat surfaces (sides). Each card will have a completely opaque-surface (14), while the other surface will bear the indicia and thus be identified as the indicia-surface (12). The indicia-surface (12) will consist of a line that divides the card surface into two sections. One section will consist of domino indicia [with values between blank/zero (0) and six (6)] and is identified as the domino-section (16). The other section of the India surface will consist of both card indicia [a suit symbol (diamond, club, heart, or spade)] and card-value [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), and Ace (A)]. The domino indicia consist of a domino-value (26) and a domino-arrow symbol (24). The domino-value (26) is symbolized by a number of dots that are equivalent to the domino-value (26) being represented—this is similar to traditional dominoes. The domino-arrow symbol (24) can be used to either identify the domino-section (16) or it may have some other significance such as in a unique game derived for specific use with the invention.
In addition to the above mentioned description, the preferred embodiment has an arrow that is on the domino-section (16) of the indicia-surface (12). The arrow points away from the divider-line (10) of the indicia-surface (12) of each card.
The preferred embodiment of the invention will use all combinations of the possible domino-values (26) and card-values (20), which gives three hundred and sixty four (7*52 =364) unique card faces (12).
The invention while being used may be identified by saying or writing as follows: “domino-value, traditional card-value of suit symbol”—for example: “2, 6 of diamonds”; this is one possible naming convention to be used with the preferred embodiment.
The second preferred embodiment of the invention will be identical to the preferred embodiment except that it will not use all the combinations of the possible domino-values (26) and card-values (20); this will allow for a smaller convenient every day version of this unique deck of cards. The second preferred embodiment will have limitations of: only being able to play a few games of the entire more complete deck of the preferred embodiment; being able to play modified versions of games designed for the preferred embodiment; or new games that are unique to this smaller deck. The second preferred embodiment of the invention will consist of card-suit symbols (22)—club, heart, spade, and diamond; card-value symbols (20)—King (K), Queen (Q), Jack (J), and Ace (A); domino-values —1, 2, 3, and 4; and domino-arrow symbol (24). These combinations generate a deck of sixty-four (64) cards for the second preferred embodiment.
The third preferred embodiment of the invention will choose from the same types and combinations of symbols as the preferred embodiment. It will essentially carry the same information, except be represented in a different way or orientation on the face of the card. The domino-arrow symbol (24) will be at one end of the card and the card-suite symbol (22) will be at the opposite end of the card. In the middle there will be a number of circles—essentially dots or domino-value symbols (26)—the count of which will be equal to and identified as the domino value. Within each circle (essentially domino dots) will be the card-value symbol (20). As captured in the scope of the claims and illustrated by the drawings, the same combined information is represented in a different layout or arrangement when comparing the preferred embodiment to the third preferred embodiment.
The drawings indicated below serves as an example of one possible realization of the invention and do not serve as a limitation or distortion of the broadness of the claims provided with this document.
The drawings provided with this document, which shows views of the first and third preferred embodiments, will assist in distinguishing this invention from its prior arts as well as convey the scope of the claims presented.
