Mathematical game

• US 20050167923A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amy L. Tsui Collins
• Original Assignee: Amy L. Tsui Collins
• Inventors: Collins, Amy L. Tsui
• Granted Patent: US 7,083,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/0002 Dispensing or collecting devices for tokens or chips dispensers for game pieces in chain reaction games A63F9/28; coin freed apparatus for games G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/046 Mathematics arithmetics A63F3/0415
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0457 concerning science or technology, e.g. geology, chemistry, statistics, computer flow charts, radio, telephone A63F3/0478 takes precedence; other games concerning science or technology A63F9/0076

Abstract

A game is provided that includes a plurality of sets of tiles or cards or an electronic version thereof, where each tile or card contains a number, a letter of an alphabet, or a mathematical symbol or a symbol that can be used in a mathematical equation. Also provided is a method of playing this game by each player taking turns to lay down equations and a method of making the game set.

Claims

1. A game set comprising a plurality of sets of tiles, wherein the plurality of sets of tiles comprises:

(a) a first set of tiles, wherein each tile comprises a number or an alphabet; and

(b) a second set of tiles, wherein each tile comprises a symbol.

2. The game set of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) instructions for playing the game.

3. The game set of claim 1, further comprising a third set of tiles, wherein each tile comprises a wild number.

4. The game set of claim 1, further comprising a fourth set of tiles, wherein each tile comprises a wild symbol.

5. The game set of claim 1, further comprising a fifth set of tiles, wherein each tile comprises a number in superscript.

6. The game set of claim 1, further comprising a sixth set of tiles, wherein each tile is blank.

7. The game set of claim 1, wherein the number is selected from the group consisting of:

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

9. The game set of claim 1, wherein the symbol is one that is useful in a mathematical equation.

10. The game set of claim 9, wherein the symbol is selected from the group consisting of:

a plus (“

+”

), a minus (“

−

“

), a division symbol (“

÷

”

), a multiplication symbol (“

×

”

), an equal sign (“

=”

), an open parenthesis (“

(“

), a close parenthesis (“

)”

), a first open bracket (“

[“

), a first close bracket (“

]”

), a second open bracket (“

{“

), a second close bracket (“

}”

), a greater than symbol (“

>

”

),a smaller than symbol (“

<

”

), a percentage symbol (“

%”

), a dollar sign (“

$”

), a pound sign (“

£

”

), a Euro sign (“

e”

), a Yen sign (“

¥

”

), a cent sign (“

¢

”

), an integration (“

∫

”

) sign, a degree (“

°

”

) sign, a plus and minus (“

±

”

) sign, a slash (“

/“

), a pi (“

π

”

) sign, a delta (“

δ

”

) sign and a logarithmic sign (“

log”

).

11. The game set of claim 5, wherein the number in superscript is selected from the group consisting of:

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

12. The game set of claim 1, further comprising a seventh set of tiles, wherein each tile comprises a number in subscript.

13. The game set of claim 12, wherein the number is subscript is chosen from among 0, 1, 2, and 10.

14. The game set of claim 1, further comprising a container for holding the plurality of tiles.

15. The game set of claim 14, wherein the container is selected from a group consisting of a box, a bag, and a pail.

16. The game set of claim 1, wherein the game set is programmed to run on an electronic device or a computer.

17. The game set of claim 2, wherein the instructions comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of:

(a) how many players can play the game;

(b) how many tiles each player should pick at start of the game;

(c) how many points each player needs to have to begin participating in the game;

(d) how to keep score;

(e) how to determine a winner;

(f) how to play the game; and

(g) rules of the game.

18. The game set of claim 17, wherein the rules comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of:

(a) to start the game, turn all the tiles face down;

(b) each player to pick at least 3 tiles with the face down;

(c) each player to take turns playing, either by laying down one or more tiles during the player'"'"'s turn or picking a tile if the player is unable to lay down any tiles;

(d) to start participating in the game, a player must lay down tiles using a combination of numbers and symbols, with their faces up, where the numbers and symbol represent an equation, and the equation is a correct equation;

(e) players can keep score by adding the face value of one or more components of the equation laid down, or by the number obtained as a result of operation of the equation laid down, or by the number of symbols laid down, or by the number of equations laid down by the player;

(f) if a player does not have any tile to lay down during the player'"'"'s turn, the player will have to pick a tile from a pool of tiles laying face down, wherein the pool can be a combined pool of numbers and symbols or can be separate pools of numbers and symbols, and the player may pick from one or the other pool;

(g) if a player has at least one tile to lay down, player may rearrange any equation that has been previously laid down;

(h) a player wins the game when the player is the first to have laid down all of his or her tiles;

(i) if scores are kept, the player with the highest score wins at end of game session; and

(j) a player who has laid down all of his or her tiles may continue playing the game by picking tiles during his or her turn.

19. The game set of claim 1, further comprising a holder to hold a player'"'"'s tiles during a game.

20. A method of playing a mathematical game, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the game set of claim 1;

and

(b) allowing the game to be played.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of providing instructions for playing the game.

22. A software program for a mathematical game, wherein the program is configured to display the game set of claim 1, and to allow the game to be played.

23. A method of making the game set of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a mould for a plurality of tiles;

(b) pouring a tile-making material into the mould; and

(c) allowing the tile-making material to set to produce the tiles.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the tile-making material is selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, alloy, ceramic, clay, plastic and other synthetic materials.

25. A method of making the game set of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a plurality of tiles from tile-making material; and

(b) imprinting a number or a function on each tile, wherein the tile making material is selected from the group consisting of natural wood, pressed wood, laminated wood, cardboard paper, shells and bone.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of assembling the tiles into a container.

8. The game set of 1, wherein the number is any number chosen from between 0 and 100, or between 0 and 1000, or between 0 and 10,000.