Amusement devices: games – Card or tile games – cards or tiles therefor – Card or tile structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-22
2001-01-23
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Card or tile games, cards or tiles therefor
Card or tile structure
C273S236000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176490
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of recreational board games and more particularly to an apparatus and method for innovative play of domino playing pieces.
2. The Background Art
Numerous games utilizing dominoes have been enjoyed by many as pleasant recreational past times. Such games enjoy the benefit of being simple to play, requiring an element of chance, while still having a degree of mental concentration. For generations domino games have provided opportunities for social and family interaction.
The basic concept of domino games is to eliminate or reduce the number of dominos that a player has in the player's possession by matching them to dominoes previously laid. Several dominoes are thereby linked to one another as players take turns to match their respective dominoes. Typically, only dominoes on the beginning or end of a domino string may be matched. However, in other variations intermediate dominoes may be matched. In yet other variations, a plurality of domino strings may be created. Typically, players are not able to dictate which strings of dominos may be utilized by other players.
It is an object of the invention to provide an added element of player involvement by allowing players the opportunity to control playability of certain domino strings.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a domino game with visual indicators of playable domino strings to facilitate game play.
Such an invention is disclosed and claimed herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a domino board game for use with multiple players. In one embodiment, the board game comprises a substantially flat surface configured in a circular shape. The board game further has a plurality of notches disposed around the peripheral edge of the surface. A plurality of token areas are configured on the surface. Each token area is disposed adjacent to a corresponding notch. The game of the present invention further uses a plurality of dominoes and a plurality of tokens. Each player commences with a number of dominoes. The object of the game is to match and thereby eliminate as many dominoes as possible to achieve a favorable score.
Each notch, token area, and token corresponds to a player except for one notch, token area, and token which are designated as universal and may be played by any player. During the game, a domino may be placed in a notch. A placed domino positioned in a notch starts a train or string of dominoes. Matching dominoes are then placed next to previously placed dominoes to extend the length of the trains. Players take turns matching and placing dominos until a player eliminates all of their respective dominos.
During game play, a player places a token on the player's corresponding token area to indicate that the domino train issuing from the corresponding notch is playable by any of the opponents. At certain times, a player may remove the token from the player's corresponding token area to indicate that the domino train is non-playable by opponents. That is, an opponent may not add to that player's domino train.
The universal token remains on the universal token area through out game play. This indicates that the domino train in the corresponding notch is playable by all players throughout the game.
Thus, the game of the present invention adds the interactive element of player manipulation to periodically prevent use of certain domino trains.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 420709 (1999-02-01), Trent
patent: 4273338 (1981-06-01), Yaeger
patent: 5346225 (1994-09-01), Walling
“Chickenfoot, The Fascinating Game for All Ages, for All the Family and Friends”, board game instructions; Plastech Industries Co., Fort Worth, Texas; 1986, 2 pages.
“12 Domino Game Instructions, featuring Cardinal Mexican Train,” board game instructions; Cardinal Industries, Inc., Long Island, New York; 1994, 2 pages.
Brown Lynnette B.
Brown Lynnette B.
Chapman Jeanette
Mendiratta V K
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