GB2153239A

GB2153239A - Word game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2153239A
Application number: GB08502465A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Mountford
Original assignee: MOUNTFORD PAULINE
Current assignee: MOUNTFORD PAULINE
Priority date: 1984-02-02
Filing date: 1985-01-31
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: GB2153239B; GB8502465D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a plurality of playing pieces (20) each having a display, such as a letter or character, on each of opposed side faces with at least some of the pieces having a different display on each opposed face and means such as a frame (10) defining channels (18) for receiving and supporting the pieces in parallel rows with their opposed faces visible from respective opposite sides of the frame. Each player takes it in turn to introduce a piece (20) to a channel (18), and attempts to combine the letters or characters on his pieces with those shown on the reverse face of his opponent's pieces so as to construct appropriate words or patterns. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game This invention relates to a game and the components or apparatus for playing the game.

According to the present invention there is provided a game comprising a plurality of playing pieces each having a display on each of opposed side faces, each of at least some of the playing pieces having a different display on the opposed side faces, and means for receiving the playing pieces and supporting the pieces one adjacent the other in each of a plurality of parallel rows, with the opposed side faces of each of the pieces visible from respective opposed sides of the apparatus, whereby each of two or more players can selectively introduce from respective sides of the apparatus one or more of the playing pieces to the support means in an attempt to form the displays into a desired pattern on the respective side of the apparatus.

Preferably the playing pieces each have a display in the form of a letter on each of the opposed side faces, some of the pieces having the same letter on the opposed side faces and other having different letters on the opposed side faces, the object of the game being to arrange the playing pieces so as to form readable words.

Alternatively the playing pieces may each have a character of a family of characters displayed on each of the opposed side faces, some of the pieces having the same character on the opposed side faces and others having different characters on the opposed side faces, the object of the game being to arrange the playing pieces so as to form a family of characters in a straight line.

Preferably also the support means comprises a frame having a base and vertically arranged channels open at their upper ends whereby to slidably receive the playing pieces.

The invention also provides a game played in accordance with the rules as hereinbefore described.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of playing pieces of the game: Figure 2 is an elevation of the game during play: and Figure 3 is a top plan of a frame support of the game.

Referring to the drawings, the component for playing a game comprise a frame 10 of narrow width having a base 1 2 formed with upwardly extending end members 1 4 and upwardly extending supports 1 6 arranged in pairs at equispaced intervals between the end members 14. As seen in Fig. 3, the supports 1 6 of each pair are located at opposed sides of the frame 10 and each pair of supports 1 6, together with a respective one of the end members 14 and/or one or more of adjacent pairs of the supports 16, define vertically arranged channels 1 8 open at their upper ends, for a purpose hereinafter described. The frame 10 may be formed of any suitable material, preferably a plastics material.

The game further includes a plurality of playing pieces 20, preferably formed from a plastics material, and being of octagonal shape. Each of the pieces 20 presents opposed side faces 22 on which there is provided a display. In this embodiment a letter of the alphabet is displayed on each face 22.

Some of the playing pieces 20 have the same letter displayed on each of their faces 22 whereas others of the playing pieces 20 display different letters.

The supports 1 6 are formed with an arcuate inwardly facing profile and the supports of each pair are so spaced apart relative to the thickness of the playing pieces 20 that the edges of the latter can enter between the supports 1 6 of each pair from either side but the piece 20 cannot pass completely therebetween. In this way the playing pieces 20 can be introduced through the open ends of the channels 1 8 defined in the frame 10 and are slidable in each channel 1 8 vertically but are unable to pass horizontally from one channel to another. The channels 1 8 are of course closed at their lower ends by the base 1 2 of the frame 10.

The game is designed to be played by two or more players. When two players are involved they position themselves at opposite sides of the frame 1 0. Each player is provided with a random selection of playing pieces 20 and the players take it in turn to introduce one of their playing pieces 20 into any of the channels 18, it having been decided beforehand which player is to commence the game.

When one playing piece 20 is introduced into a channel it will fall to the bottom of the channel and thereafter any other pieces 20 introduced into that channel will be arranged vertically above one another. Each player attempts to introduce the letters into such positions that, in combination with the letters visible to him on the pieces 20 introduced by his opponent, the letters construct words which can be read in a straight line either vertically, or horizontally. as well as diagonally if desired. It will be appreciated that the introduction by a player of a piece 20. which, on one side has a letter suitable for his purposes but a different letter on the other side, may help or hinder the opponent in constructing his words.

The game will terminate when each player has utilised all the available playing pieces and thereafter the words created by each player are noted, with each word earning a certain amount of credits in accordance with the rules. The credits may be dependent on any or all of the position of the word, the amount of the word, and the type of the word itself. The winner of the game is the player with more credits.

It is to be appreciated that the game may be played with playing pieces displaying other than letters. For example, the playing pieces may display cartoon characters with the object of the game to arrange families of characters in straight lines. Again some playing pieces will have the same characters displayed on the opposed sides with others having different characters on the opposed sides.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the playing pieces can obviously be of different shapes as can the frame, provided the frame defines channels which can receive the playing pieces and prevent the latter from moving from one channel to the other.

Claims

1. A game comprising a plurality of playing pieces each having a display on each of opposed side faces, each of at least some of the playing pieces having a different display on the opposed side faces, and means for receiving the playing pieces and supporting the pieces one adjacent the other in each of a plurality of parallel rows, with the opposed side faces of each of the pieces visible from respective opposed sides of the apparatus, whereby each of two or more players can selectively introduce from respective sides of the apparatus one or more of the playing pieces to the support means in an attempt to form the displays into a desired pattern on the respective side of the apparatus.

2. A game according to claim 1, wherein the playing pieces each have a display in the form of a letter on each of the opposed side faces, some of the pieces having the same letter on the opposed side faces and others having different letters on the opposed side faces, the object of the game being to arrange the playing pieces so as to form readable words.

3. A game according to claim 1, wherein the playing pieces each have a character of a family of characters displayed on each of the opposed side faces, some of the pieces having the same character on the opposed side faces and others having different characters on the opposed side faces, the object of the game being to arrange the playing pieces so as to form a family of characters in a straight line.

4. A game according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support means provides the parallel rows in a substantially vertical ar rangement whereby the pieces are supported in the rows one above the other.

5. A game according to any of the preced ing claims, wherein the support means comprises a frame having a base and vertically arranged channels open at their upper ends whereby to slidably receive the playing pieces.

6. A game according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rows of the support means are defined by respective pairs of members each having such a profile and each pair being so spaced apart that edges of the playing pieces can enter therebetween but the playing pieces cannot pass therebetween.

7. A game according to any of the preceding claims. wherein each of the playing pieces is formed of a plastics material.

8. A game according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the playing pieces is of octagonal shape.

9. A game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A game according to claim 1 and played in accordance with the rules hereinbefore described.

11. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed. whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.