Computer fashion game with machine-readable trading cards

• US 8,206,223 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Marans, Elaine, Zielinski, James, Pasko, Rene M., Culmone, Kimberly, Brand, Stacey K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US12/111,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20090011837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 463/43, 345/419, 345/422, 345/661, 273/293, 273/85, 434/410, 434/409
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/0491 having markings on the rear face or reverse side

Abstract

A game system including cards with computer-readable information is provided. The computer-readable information may be in the form of a code embodied on the cards. The cards may be selectively chosen and compiled in a card compiling device that is configured to remove singly a series of cards from one location and to deliver the removed cards to a new location.

Claims

1. A method of playing a design game, the method comprising the steps of:

selecting a first card having a first opaque design component and a transparent portion;

selecting a second card having a second opaque design component and a transparent portion, wherein the opaque design component and transparent portion of each card are configured such that a layered configuration of the cards allows the opaque design component of the first card to be seen through the transparent portion of the second card;

scanning into a computing device a first design code from the first card, wherein the first design code corresponds to the first opaque design component;

scanning into the computing device a second design code from the second card, wherein the second design code corresponds to the second opaque design component; and

displaying on a visual display device associated with the computing device at least the first and second opaque design components in response to scanning the first and second design codes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of selecting the first and second cards are performed with a card compiler, the method of using the card compiler comprising:

holding a deck of cards at a first frame portion;

removing selectively, with a second frame portion movable relative to the first frame portion and a third frame portion, a card from a position in the deck of cards held at the first frame portion; and

delivering, with the second frame portion, the selected card to a location near the third frame portion.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of returning the selected card to the first frame portion, wherein the step of returning the selected card includes returning the card to a different location within the deck of cards than the location from which the card was removed from the deck of cards.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of transferring the selected card from the second frame portion to the third frame portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of scanning a design code includes scanning a bar code.

6. A game system, comprising:

a deck of cards, wherein each card includes an opaque design component and a transparent portion, wherein each card in the deck of cards includes a design code unique to that card, and wherein the opaque design component and transparent portion of each card are configured such that a layered plurality of the cards allows the opaque design component of a first card to be seen through the transparent portion of a second card;

a computer readable medium embodying computer-executable instructions for enabling a computer to perform a method comprising the steps of;

receiving the design code corresponding to the opaque design component from the first card; and

displaying the opaque design component on a visual display device in response to receiving the design code; and

a card compiler, wherein the card compiler is configured to compile selectively a subset of the deck of cards from the deck of cards.

7. The game system of claim 6, wherein the card compiler comprises:

a first frame portion configured to hold the deck of cards at a first location;

a second frame portion configured to hold a subset of the deck of cards at a second location; and

a third frame portion, movable relative to the first frame portion and the second frame portion, wherein the third frame portion is configured to remove selectively a single card from a position in the deck of cards held at the first frame portion and deliver it to the second frame portion to form the subset of the deck of cards.

8. The card compiler of claim 7, further comprising a release mechanism configured selectively to transfer the card from the third frame portion to the second frame portion, wherein the third frame portion is configured to return a nontransferred card to the first frame portion.

9. The card compiler of claim 8, wherein the third frame portion returns the card to a position in the deck of cards that is different from the position from which it was removed.

10. A card compiler for use in a design game, comprising:

a housing including at least a first window and a second window;

a first frame portion configured to hold a deck of cards and removably positionable within the housing to display a top card of the deck of cards through a first one of the windows;

a second frame portion configured to hold a subset of the deck of cards and removably positionable within the housing to display the subset of the deck of cards through a second one of the windows; and

a third frame portion, movably coupled to the housing and configured to move selectively a card from the deck of cards held by the first frame portion and deliver it to the second frame portion when the first and second frame portions are positioned within the housing.

11. The card compiler of claim 10, further comprising a release mechanism configured selectively to transfer the card from the third frame portion to the second frame portion, wherein the third frame portion is configured to return a nontransferred card to the first frame portion.

12. The card compiler of claim 11, wherein the third frame portion returns the card to a position in the deck of cards that is different from the position from which it was removed.

13. The card compiler of claim 10, wherein a card in the deck of cards includes a transparent portion and an opaque design component, wherein the card includes a design code unique to that card, and wherein the opaque design component and transparent portion of the card are configured such that a layered plurality of the cards allows the opaque design component of a first card to be seen through the transparent portion of a second card.

14. The card compiler of claim 13, wherein each design code includes a bar code.

15. The card compiler of claim 14, wherein each card further includes a combination code, wherein the deck of cards includes a plurality of classes of cards, wherein each card in a class of cards shares a similar combination code, and wherein the combination codes are configured to signify complementary combinations of the design components.

16. The card compiler of claim 10, wherein the second frame portion of the card compiler is configured to be removable from the card compiler, and wherein the second frame portion is configured to hold securely the subset of cards when the second frame portion is removed from the card compiler.

17. A method of using a card compiler comprising:

holding, via a first frame portion of the card compiler, a deck of cards;

removing selectively, via a second frame portion of the card compiler, a card from a position in the deck of cards held at the first frame portion, the second frame portion being moveable relative to the first frame portion and a third frame portion of the card compiler; and

delivering, via the second frame portion, the selected card to a position in the card compiler near the third frame portion.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transferring, via the second frame portion, the selected card from the second frame portion to the third frame portion.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising returning, via the second frame portion, the selected card to the deck of cards.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein returning the selected card includes returning, via the second frame portion, the selected card to a different location within the deck of cards than the location from which the card was removed from the deck of cards.