GB2313555A

GB2313555A - Jigsaw with dice

Info

Publication number: GB2313555A
Application number: GB9706398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred Edward Briggs; Alan Jolliffe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-15
Filing date: 1997-03-27
Publication date: 1997-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-27
Also published as: GB2313555B; GB9706398D0

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a game comprises a set of playing pieces 2-26 (eg components of a jigsaw) marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation (eg part of the whole picture of the jigsaw and a name) and at least one die (28-31, fig 3) whose sides have a pictorial and/or verbal representations corresponding to the respective symbols of the playing pieces. The dice (28-31 fig 3) can be used so that a piece 2-26 of a jigsaw puzzle which associated with the outcome of the dice can be picked up and put into a backing board. Die may also include symbols instructing a player to pick a card from a set of instructional playing cards. A master die (fig 4) can be used to pick up more than one piece.

Description

GAKE APPARATUS The present invention relates to game apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide novel game apparatus for playing a game which is fun to play yet has educational value.

According to the invention there is provided game apparatus comprising a set of playing pieces, each playing piece being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation of a component part of a picture and the pieces being adapted to be located together to form a complete picture and one or more dice means, one or more sides of such dice means being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation corresponding to the symbol on a playing piece.

Preferably, the pictorial and verbal representations comprise component parts of a human, animal or other skeleton.

Preferably, the playing piece symbols comprise a pictorial representation only and the dice means symbols comprise both a pictorial and a verbal representation.

Preferably, a plurality of sets of playing pieces are provided, typically one for each player. Preferably, twenty playing pieces are provided and preferably four dice means are provided, each having six sides, such that twenty sides of the dice means carry symbols corresponding to the twenty playing pieces.

Preferably one or more, in the above case four, sides of the dice means carry symbols indicating a playing card.

Preferably, one or more sets of instructional playing cards are provided such that, in use, throw of a playing card symbol indicates that a corresponding playing card should be picked up and the instructions followed.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a master die means, one or more sides of which are marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation corresponding to the symbols on one or more playing pieces. Preferably, the symbols on the sides of the master die means together represent a complete set of component parts of the complete picture. Preferably, that is not the case for each of the principal dice means.

The apparatus may include one or more boards to facilitate location of the playing pieces. Such boards may be marked with part or all of the picture.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided game apparatus comprising a set of playing pieces, each playing piece being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation of an object or part of an object and one or more dice means, one or more sides of such dice means being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation corresponding to the symbol on a playing piece.

Preferred features may be as described above for the first aspect of the invention. Thus, in accordance with the second aspect, the game may involve location of the playing pieces, for example on a board, in an array without forming a complete picture.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a set of playing pieces according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows symbols used on the faces of four dice for use with the playing pieces of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the four dice having symbols as shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 shows symbols used on the faces of a master die.

Referring to Figure 1, the game apparatus of one embodiment of the invention comprises a set of playing pieces which when assembled as shown form a human skeleton. The pieces may be substantially planar with a symbol corresponding to different parts of the human skeleton on the surface of each piece. It will be appreciated that the symbols and picture formed from the assembled pieces may have any suitable design. For example, the completed picture may represent the human body, any animal body or the like. Typically the picture and component parts are chosen to be educational, for example in this case the naming of the various parts of the human skeleton. The pieces may be of jigsaw type with interlocking parts or, as in the embodiment shown, simply fitting together. The pieces may be located in or on a suitable board, for example provided with a slight recess to accommodate the pieces. This helps to retain the pieces in position during play. The board may comprise a plurality of individual recesses such that one or more pieces when located on the board are separated by parts of the board. In this case, the board may comprise part of the completed picture.

As shown in Figure 1, twenty playing pieces are provided and these include a skull 2, a neck 4, ribs 6, sternum 8, vertebrae 10, pelvis 12, two humerus pieces 14, two radius and ulna pieces 16, two hands 18, two femur pieces 20, two patella pieces 22, two tibia and fibia pieces 24 and two feet 26.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the game apparatus includes one or more dice. In the embodiment described four dice 28, 29, 30, 31 each having six sides are provided. The twenty-four sides of the dice are shown in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that the symbols can be arranged in any order on the four dice. Twenty of the dice symbols each correspond to one of the twenty playing pieces, the remaining four dice symbols represent playing cards. Preferably, the dice symbols and corresponding playing piece symbols are substantially the same. The skull symbol on dice 29 does not include a neck; the neck is represented by a separate symbol on a further side.

As shown, the dice and playing piece symbols each comprise a pictorial view of part of the human skeleton and the dice symbols include corresponding words describing that part. Preferably at least the playing piece symbols include such pictorial representation and optionally may include the verbal representation. However for an advanced version of the game the playing pieces may comprise a verbal representation only so that the player needs to know where to locate the piece in the picture in accordance with the verbal representation. One or more of the dice symbols may include one or both of these depending on the level of play required. For example, pictorial representation only may be used on the dice for a simplified version of the game and verbal representations only may be used for a more advanced version of the game. This equally applies to the master die described below.

Referring to Figure 4, the game apparatus preferably includes a master die having six sides with symbols as shown. The six sides represent parts of the human skeleton which together make up a full skeleton. The symbols illustrated include a two arm symbol with hands 32, a two leg symbol with feet 34, a skull and neck 36, a pelvis 38, a full set of ribs and sternum 40 and a vertebrae 42. This die may be used during play, as described below. It will be noted that one or more of these symbols may correspond to a plurality of symbols on the playing pieces or dice. For example, one symbol on the master die includes the neck and skull whereas these are two separate symbols on the four main dice. Similarly on the four main dice the ribs are one symbol and the sternum is a separate symbol whereas on the master die the ribs and sternum together are represented by a single symbol.

The game apparatus preferably also includes a set of instructional playing cards such that the player follows the instructions when -the card is picked-up during play.

Preferably two sets of playing cards are provided.

Typical instructions on a playing card may be as follows: SET ONE 1. Give yourself a pair of hands.

2. Did you wish for a full skeleton? Help yourself to some spare ribs.

3. Shake a leg! Give yourself a leg.

4. You have a head start - give yourself a skull.

5. Sorry - your wish has not come true.

6. You are so handy. Give yourself a hand.

7. You have a bone to pick with a player. Take one bone from any one player.

8. Did you wish someone would give you hand? Keep this card and use it when you need a hand.

9. Did you wish someone would give you a hand? Keep this card and use it when you need a hand.

10. Did you wish someone would give you hand? Keep this card and use it when you need a hand.

11. Pull your socks up. Give yourself a new pair of legs.

12. You always wanted another pair of hands. Now you have them.

13. Did you wish you could taken another bone from a player? Now you can.

14. Keep this card till you want to use it. Take a bone from any player.

15. Keep this card till you want to use it. Take a bone from any player.

16. Throw the single SKELETON DICE once.

17. Throw the single SKELETON DICE once.

18. Give yourself a leg up - you have acquired a new leg.

19. This card is NOT costing you an arm and a leg - take a hand from any one player.

20. Keep this card till you want to use it. Take a bone from any player.

8ET TWO 1. Lucky you! One of your friends is going to give you a hand! Take a hand from any one player.

2. You have a bone to pick with a player. Name a bone and take it from the next player.

3. Broken leg! Take any part of a leg from the player who went before you.

4. Not so funny! Miss your next shake of the dice.

5. Take any one bone from each player.

6. Name any bone and take it from any player.

7. Harmless Yes - you are now! Remove one of your arms.

8. Name two bones and remove it. Not so funny! 10. This card is costing you an arm and a leg. Remove one arm and one leg.

11. Put your best foot forward - give yourself a foot.

12. Broken foot! Remove one of your feet.

13. Shake and throw the single Skeleton Dice once.

14. Help yourself to some spare ribs.

15. Keep Card - keep this card until you need to use it.

Take a bone from any player.

16. Give yourself a big hand. You have bought a hand from a second-hand shop.

17. This card is costing you an arm and a leg.

18. Keep Card - keep this card until you need to use it.

Take a bone from any player.

19. Lucky you! One of your friends is gong to give you a hand! Take a hand from any one player.

20. Name two bones and take one from each player.

The aim of the game is to build a complete picture from the playing pieces supplied. Typically each player is provided with his own set of playing pieces which when assembled form a complete picture.

The first person to play may be selected according to conventional means. Preferably all players shake and throw the four dice in turn and the player who shakes the most playing card symbols plays first. If two or more players shake the same number of card symbols, they shake again.

The first player throws the set of all four dice (not the master die) and picks up playing pieces which correspond to the symbols showing on the dice. The pieces are located together or placed on a board if provided. If the dice show a playing card symbol the player picks up the appropriate card, for example whichever of the two card symbols is showing where two sets of cards are provided. The player acts on the instructions of the card and returns the card to the bottom of the pack. If the card indicates that it should be kept, the player may keep the card until it is needed. When used, the card is returned to the bottom of the pack.

If the instructional card indicates that the master die should be thrown, the player throws this die only, not the four main dice. The player then picks up the playing pieces which correspond to the symbol shown to build his skeleton. It will be seen that the master die allows more than one piece per symbol to be picked up. Thus, the symbols allow the following number of pieces to be picked up: legs symbol 34 = 8 playing pieces (two feet 26, two tibia and fibia pieces 24, two patella pieces 22 and two femur pieces 20) arms symbol 32 = 6 playing pieces (two hands 18, two radius and ulna pieces 16 and two humerous pieces 14) skull symbol 36 = 2 playing pieces (skull 2 and neck 4) ribs symbol 40 = 2 playing pieces (ribs 6 and sternum 8) pelvis symbol 38 = 1 playing piece (pelvis 12) vertebrae symbol 42 = 1 playing piece (vertebrae 10) Clearly the number of pieces per symbol may be varied as desired.

If the player shakes skeleton bones or symbols corresponding to playing pieces he already has, he does not shake again but must await his next turn.

The player who completes his picture first is the winner.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only. In particular, pictorial and verbal representations which give any complete picture, not just the human skeleton, may be used. For example, the symbols whether pictorial or verbal may represent component parts of a human or animal skeleton, a human or animal body, a vehicle such as an aircraft, an engine, a building structure or the like.

Use of verbal representations in alternative languages may aid technical language acquisition in a particular language. Furthermore, although a twenty piece game has been described it will be appreciated that any number of playing pieces may be used depending on the detail and complexity of the game required. A corresponding number of dice or dice having more or less than six sides may be used to correlate the sides of the dice with number of playing pieces used.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a set of playing pieces, each playing piece being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation of a component part of a picture and the pieces being adapted to be located together to form a complete picture and one or more dice means, one or more sides of such dice means being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation corresponding to the symbol on a playing piece.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pictorial and verbal representations comprise component parts of a human, animal or other skeleton.

3. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the playing piece symbols comprise a pictorial representation only and the dice means symbols comprise both a pictorial and a verbal representation.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of sets of playing pieces, typically one for each player.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein twenty playing pieces are provided and four dice means are provided, each having six sides.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more sides of the dice means carry symbols indicatiny a playing card.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more sets of instructional playing cards are provided.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a master die means, one or more sides of which are marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation corresponding to the symbols on one or more playing pieces.

9. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the symbols on the sides of the master die means together represent a complete set of component parts of the complete picture.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes one or more boards to facilitate location of the playing pieces.

11. Apparatus comprising a set of playing pieces, each playing piece being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation of an object or part of an object and one or more dice means, one or more sides of such dice means being marked with a symbol comprising a pictorial and/or verbal representation corresponding to the symbol on a playing piece.

12. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.