Game pieces

• US 9,295,904 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naamloze Vennootschap Smart
• Original Assignee: Naamloze Vennootschap Smart
• Inventors: Vandoren, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, STEVEN B
• Application Number:
  US14/003,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20130341867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 273/153.S, 273/157.R, 273/156, 273/153.R, 446/85, 446/102, 446/104, 446/120, 446/124, 446/125
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0081 Blocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00826 Changeable playing pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/0698 all rectilinear
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1236 with a final configuration thereof, i.e. the solution, being packed in a box or container
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1244 with foldable pieces, e.g. pieces having folds or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1292 formed by stackable elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00697 Playing pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0669 Tesselation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/088 Puzzles with elements that are connected by straps, strings or hinges, e.g. Rubik's Magic
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/1288 Sculpture puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/062 with clip or snap mechanisms

Abstract

Game piece (1) comprising three or more sphere-shaped elements (6) which are connected to each other, wherein the elements (6) are divided into two or more groups (7, 8, 9) each consisting of at least one element (6), wherein the elements (6) within one group (7, 8, 9) are immovably connected to each other and wherein each group (7, 8, 9) is rotationally connected to at least one other group (7, 8, 9), and wherein there is at least one group (7, 8, 9) with two or more elements (6).

Claims

1. Game piece (1) comprising three or more sphere-shaped elements (6) which are connected to each other, wherein the elements (6) are divided into two or more groups (7,8,9) each consisting of at least one element (6), wherein the elements (6) within one group (7,8,9) are immovably connected to each other and wherein each group (7,8,9) is rotationally connected to at least one other group (7,8,9), and wherein there is at least one group (7,8,9) with two or more elements (6);

whereby each group (7,8,9) is rotationally connected to another group (7,8,9) with an axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) coinciding with a line through the centre of an element (6), whereby all centres of the elements (6) lie in the same plane, and that the axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) for each combination of adjacent rotationally connected groups (7,8,9) is perpendicular to this plane, so that in all possible rotational configurations of the game piece (1) the centres of the elements (6) are in the same plane.

2. Game piece according to claim 1, characterised in that the sphere-shaped elements (6) are placed at a centre-to-centre distance from each other which is the same as the diameter (D) of the sphere (10) defined by the sphere-shaped elements (6).

9. Set of game pieces (1) consisting of a number of game pieces (1) according to claim 1.

10. Game or puzzle, characterised in that it contains a set of game pieces (1) according to claim 9.

11. Game or puzzle according to claim 10, characterised in that it contains a playing board with a multitude of recesses matching the spherical elements (6) both in shape as well as in mutual distance.

12. Game piece according to claim 1, wherein each group is rotationally connected to at least one other group around a single axis of rotation only.

13. Game piece according to claim 12, characterised in that all centers of the elements (6) lie in the same plane, and that the axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) for each combination of adjacent rotationally connected groups (7,8,9) is perpendicular to this plane, so that in all possible rotational configurations of the game piece (1) the centers of the elements (6) are in the same plane.

14. Game piece according to claim 1, whereby the axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) for each combination of adjacent rotationally connected groups (7, 8, 9) is perpendicular to this plane in all possible rotational configurations of the game piece (1).

3. Game piece (1) comprising three of more sphere-shaped elements (6) which are connected to each other, wherein the elements (6) are divided into two or more groups (7, 8, 9) each consisting of at least one element (6) wherein the elements (6) within one group (7, 8, 9) are immovably connected to each other and wherein each group (7, 8, 9) is rotationally connected to at least one other group (7,8,9), and wherein there is at least one group (7,8,9) with two or more elements (6);

whereby each group (7, 8, 9) is rotationally connected to another group (7,8,9) with an axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) coinciding with a line through the centre of an element (6), whereby for each combination of adjacent rotationally connected groups (7,8,9) an element (6) of one of the two connected groups (7,8,9), which element (6) borders the other connected group (7,8,9), is formed as a spherically shaped hinge;

characterised in that the hinge is provided with indicating means (16, 23) to indicate that the two groups (7,8,9) connected by the hinge have a preferential rotational position as defined by the angle formed between the line between the centre of the element (6) which is formed as a hinge and the centre of the adjacent element (6) in the same group (7,8,9), and the line between the centre of the element (6) which is formed as a hinge and the centre of the adjacent element (6) in the other group (7,8,9).

4. Game piece according to claim 3, characterised in that the hinge has preferential positions at values of the angle of 90°

and 180°

.

5. Game piece according to claim 3, characterised in that the hinge has preferential positions at values of the angle of 60°

, 120°

or 180°

.

6. Game piece according to claim 3, characterised in that the indicating means (16,23) work by providing a resistance to rotation which is larger when the two groups (7,8,9) are in a preferred position than when the two groups (7,8,9) are not in such a position.

7. Game piece according to claim 3, characterised in that the means comprise at least one protrusion (16) on one part of the hinge and at least one recess (23) in another part of the hinge.

8. Game piece (1) comprising three of more sphere-shaped elements (6) which are connected to each other, wherein the elements (6) are divided into two or more groups (7, 8, 9) each consisting of at least one element (6) wherein the elements (6) within one group (7, 8, 9) are immovably connected to each other and wherein each group (7, 8, 9) is rotationally connected to at least one other group (7,8,9), and wherein there is at least one group (7,8,9) with two or more elements (6);

whereby each group (7, 8, 9) is rotationally connected to another group (7,8,9) with an axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) coinciding with a line through the centre of an element (6), whereby for each combination of adjacent rotationally connected groups (7,8,9) an element (6) of one of the two connected groups (7,8,9), which element (6) borders the other connected group (7,8,9), is formed as a spherically shaped hinge;

characterised in that the hinge is provided with a stop (26) to stop further rotational movement at a certain rotational position and is provided with means for avoiding damage if further force is applied if this position is reached, which means comprise a circular groove (27) in one part of the hinge and a matching circular ridge (14) on another part of the hinge, the groove (27) and the ridge (14) having a centre coinciding with the axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) of the hinge.

15. Game piece (1) comprising three of more sphere-shaped elements (6) which are connected to each other, wherein the elements (6) are divided into two or more groups (7, 8, 9) each consisting of at least one element (6) wherein the elements (6) within one group (7, 8, 9) are immovably connected to each other and wherein each group (7, 8, 9) is rotationally connected to at least one other group (7,8,9), and wherein there is at least one group (7,8,9) with two or more elements (6);

whereby each group (7, 8, 9) is rotationally connected to another group (7,8,9) with an axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B′

) coinciding with a line through the centre of an element (6), whereby for each combination of adjacent rotationally connected groups (7,8,9) an element (6) of one of the two connected groups (7,8,9), which element (6) borders the other connected group (7,8,9), is formed as a spherically shaped hinge;

whereby said hinge has a physical axis (20) at the position of the axis of rotation (A-A′

, B-B).