Amusement devices: games – Chance devices – Dice
Patent
1998-09-02
2000-08-29
Layno, Benjamin H.
Amusement devices: games
Chance devices
Dice
D21372, A63F 904
Patent
active
061096083
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a piece, such as a dice or a playing dice, provided with an outer surface with four faces, each face carrying an identifying index.
Suchlike pieces have been used for centuries for playing dice and other games and can, for instance, have any number of different shapes, such as described in the book "Oog in oog" (Eye in eye) by Leo van der Heydt, published in 1990 (ISBN 9060107063). On pages 76 and 77 of this book, pieces with four faces are described, for example, which were already in existence in 3000 BC. In the course of time suchlike pieces with four faces became, however, the least popular, because these pieces hardly roll.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a piece with four faces which is easily rollable, as a result of which the use thereof in dice or other games becomes attractive.
In order to achieve this aim according to the invention a piece is provided, such as a dice or a playing dice, provided with an outer surface with four faces, each face having at least in part the shape of a segment of a sphere and carrying identifying idica, the center of each face being located on the angular points of a symmetrical tetrahedron, in each case three of the four faces, which are situated mutually in pairs adjacent one other, touching one other at a trihedral point, which is situated diametrically with regard to the fourth face, and provided on the outer surface with four support positions for the piece, each support position having as a center a trihedral point. Because each face has at least in part the shape of a segment of a sphere, this piece can roll extremely well, whilst the support positions ensure that after rolling the piece one of the faces is facing upwards. Spherical dice are known per se, they have no support positions on their outer surface, however, and always have another number of identifying indicia than four.
Although in most cases the support positions support the piece sufficiently, when using the piece according to the present invention in a train or aeroplane, for instance, jolts or the like can lead to undesirable rolling of the piece. In order co avoid this undesirable rolling, the piece according to an embodiment of the present invention is further provided with an inner cavity, the piece having an inner surf ace, and with a separate stability-enhancing element, which is movably placed in the inner cavity, the inner surface defining the inner cavity and being provided with receiving means for receiving the stability-enhancing element in a number of stable positions, the number of stable positions being equal to the number of faces, and each stable position being diametrically situated with regard to the face in question. The stability awarded the piece by the support position can be enhanced such by the stability-enhancing element, which can be a small metal ball, for example, that even on a bumpy surface the piece can retain the occupied position. Hollow, spherical dice with a stability-enhancing metal ball are known per se, such as described for instance in the German patent specification 488.334 (page 1, lines 12 to 32). However, on account of the inner ball this known dice wobbles and the dice moves back and forth around its resting position for a while after rolling, so that the player casting the dice has to read the indices whilst the dice is still in motion.
The support positions are formed in a simple fashion by intersecting, slot-shaped recesses on the trihedral points, which separate the faces from each other, or by flat faces formed on the piece.
The piece according to the present invention cannot only be used as a dice but also as a playing dice for playing games such a draughts, go, othello and the like. For this purpose the present invention also provides an assembly of a games' board with a first number of playing surfaces and a second number of playing dice, the playing dice being in accordance with the present invention, and each playing surface containin
REFERENCES:
patent: 3198523 (1965-08-01), Stimson
patent: 3905603 (1975-09-01), Hoetzel
patent: 3954269 (1976-05-01), Brittingham
patent: 4345761 (1982-08-01), China
patent: 4635938 (1987-01-01), Gray
patent: 4890845 (1990-01-01), Gatewood
patent: 5018738 (1991-05-01), Padi
patent: 5114147 (1992-05-01), Faylo
LandOfFree
Playing dice does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Playing dice, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Playing dice will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1240907