Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WORD GAME APPARATUS
The present invention relates to the field of games, and more particularly, to
word games.
Games involving words are very popular, and are ubiquitous in the prior art,
both for sight-impaired persons and sighted persons.
In one game, taught in United States Patent No. 4,014,548 (Trilling), issued
March 29, 1997, a pot is provided which contains a plurality of tiles. Each
tile
bears a letter or group of letters. The player draws tiles from the pot, and
attempts to build a word in a set period of time. When a word has been built,
the tiles are returned to the pot, and new tiles are drawn. Scoring is based
on
word length. As this game does not contemplate the creation of large
numbers of words in a predetermined period of time, it can suffer in the
opinion of some players in the matter of excitement. Also, it does not lend
itself to use by sight-impaired persons, since the conventional mechanism for
doing so, namely, the addition of Braille indicia to the tiles, would provide
to
sight-impaired persons an unfair advantage when retrieving tiles from the pot.
Another word game is taught in United States Patent No. 6,098,983
(Kennedy), issued August 8, 2000. In the game, each player receives a sheet
of paper containing three words or word-groups. The players are provided a
period of time, fixed by an hourglass, to form as many words as possible
using the letters which form each of the words/word groups. The words are
written on the sheet in spaces provided therefor. The player with the most
words wins. This game is known to provide for a relatively enjoyable
experience, and can easily be accommodated for use by the sight-impaired
by the addition (or substitution) of Braille letters to the sheets. However,
it
can suffer in terms of the production of refuse, since play practically
demands
that a plurality of game sheets be provided, which will typically be disposed
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after a single use.
In another game, taught in United States Patent No. 1,509,873 (Ordway),
issued September 30, 1924, a plurality of tiles are provided; players are
provided a set period of time to pull letters from a pile using a magnet, and
a
further set period of time to produce as many wards as possible using the
letters pulled. This game has features which can produce exciting, enjoyable
play. However, the game is not well-suited for use by sight-impaired persons,
who would be disadvantaged when drawing letters from the pile as compared
to sighted persons.
A game apparatus for use with a container forms one aspect of the invention.
The game apparatus comprises one or more scoops and a plurality of game
pieces disposed in said container in use in a starting arrangement of the
game apparatus. Each game piece bears at least one visually-perceptible
character and a corresponding tactile representation of said at least one
character. The game pieces are sufficient in number such that, from the
starting arrangement, each of said one more scoops can be manually
manipulated to randomly withdraw from said container a respective group of
game pieces, said group containing a sufficient number of game pieces to
permit the game pieces of said group to be arranged in at least one subgroup
wherein the characters of said pieces collectively form a linguistic element.
A game apparatus for use by a plurality of players forms another aspect of
the invention. The game apparatus comprises an opaque bag, a scoop for
each player and a plurality of game pieces disposed in the bag in use in a
starting arrangement of the game apparatus. Each game piece bears at least
one visually-perceptible fetter and a corresponding Braille representation of
said at least one fetter. The game pieces are sufficient in number such that,
from the starting arrangement, in use, each player can, in turn, manually-
manipulate the scoop provided therefor to randomly withdraw from the bag a
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respective group of game pieces, said group containing a sufficient number of
game pieces to permit the game pieces of said group to be arranged in at
least one subgroup wherein the characters of said pieces collectively form a
word. The game apparatus also comprises a timer for demarcating a period
of time in which each player can arrange the pieces of the respective group
into said at least one subgroup.
A method whereby a plurality of players can play the game apparatus for use
by a plurality of players forms another aspect of the invention. The method
comprises the steps of: providing each player with a scoop; placing the game
apparatus in the starting arrangement; allowing each player, in turn, to
withdraw a respective group of game pieces from the container with the
scoop provided to said each player; using the timer to provide a
predetermined period of time to each player to arrange the group of game
pieces into subgroups, wherein the letters of the game pieces of the subgroup
form a word; assigning a score to each player based on the number of words
formed by the player in the predetermined period of time.
The invention produces exciting, enjoyable play by both sighted and sight-
impaired persons, alone or in combination, and does not suffer from a
propensity for the production of refuse. Other advantages, features and
characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and
functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of
parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game piece constructed according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
For playing the game, a plurality of game pieces or tiles 20 are provided, as
shown in Figure 1. One or more scoops, at least one timer and a tile
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container (none shown) are also provided. The tiles 20 preferably are 228 in
number, with each tile measuring 1'/4' x 1" x'/4'. In respect of each tile 20,
a
letter 24 of the alphabet is imprinted, preferably on each of the large faces
or
sides of the tile, in high-contrast, large print type. Each tile also
preferably
has Braille indicia 22 that corresponds to the imprinted letter 24 on each
face.
The scoops preferably are 6 in number and preferably take the form of
collapsible cups. The timer is adapted to demarcate a predetermined period
of time, preferably, a period of time that is adjustable between about 1 and
about 2 minutes. The tile container is preferably an opaque bag.
The game is preferably played by 2-6 players at a time.
Prior to playing the game, the players preferably designate one person
amongst their number to act as scorekeeper and agree upon a target score
and, if the timer is adjustable, agree upon the predetermined period of time.
It is suggested that sighted adult persons will find a period of time of one
minute to provide for enjoyable play; children and sight-impaired persons may
benefit from a longer period of time, such as two minutes. A target score of
300 is suggested.
To play a round of the game, all of the tiles are placed in the bag, which
arrangement defines a starting arrangement of the game apparatus.
Thereafter, in turn, each player fills his or her scoop with tiles by dipping
it into
the bag and manually manipulating same to randomly withdraw a group-of
tiles.
When all players have filled their respective measuring cups with tiles, and
announced their readiness, one of the players starts the timer and the players
all empty their tiles in front of them.
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Then, each player tries to arrange his or her group of tiles into as many
words
as possible, by arranging the tiles into subgroups wherein the characters of
the pieces collectively form a word. Preferably, each player tries to make as
S many different words as possible using the tiles they have drawn from the
bag. In so doing, each tile is preferably used only in a single word. Thus, if
a
player has drawn 50 tiles from the bag using the measuring cup, he or she
can, for example, make a maximum of ten five-letter words, five ten-letter
words, or any other combination of words having an aggregate of 50 letters.
W hen the timer indicates that the predetermined period of time has elapsed,
a score for each player is calculated. Scoring is preferably based on the
number of words and word length.
A preferred scoring regime is:
words two to six letters long receive two points for each letter
Examples: CAT (3 letters x 2 points) = 6 points
HORSES (6 fetters x 2 points) = 12 points
words seven to nine letters long receive a base of twenty points
for the first seven letters plus ten points for each additional letter
Examples: IMPRINT (7 letters) = 20 points
IMPRINTS (8 letters) : 20 + 10) = 30 points
IMPRINTED (9 letters) : 20 + 10 + 10 ) = 40 points
words ten letters or more in length receive a base of fifty points
for the first ten letters plus twenty points for each additional
letter
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Examples: IMPRESSION (10 letters) = 50 points
IMPRESSSIONS (11 letters) : 50 + 20) = 70 points
IMPRESSIONIST (13 letters):50+20+20+20+20)=
110 points
Rounds of the game are preferably played until the aggregate score of any
one of the players meets or exceeds the predetermined target score,
whereupon a winner or winners is determined on the basis of the player or
players having the highest score.
From the foregoing, it will be evident that the game has many advantages.
Firstly, it is educational; play can improve reading skills, spelling,
counting and
multiplication skills.
Additionally, it is inclusive; each tile has Braille lettering, and the high
contrast
and large lettering make it is easy to read. This allows seniors, young
readers
and visually impaired individuals to play with any member of the family. The
tiles are also manageable sizes, making them easy to manipulate.
Further, the game is versatile. The game can be adjusted for individuals of
low literacy by allowing them to make smaller words, and by increasing the
predetermined time. As well, whereas in the preferred embodiment described
above, only a single timer is expressly described, multiple timers can be
used,
to give persons of differing abilities different periods of time for word
construction. Each player could be provided with a timer, if desirable. All
players can play simultaneously, or one after another. Players can be
creative and make the game more challenging by requiring words in any
particular round to be based on a category, for example, animals, places, etc.
As well, instead of returning tiles to the bag, players can swap hands with
other players, and attempt to beat that person's score. Further, for even more
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challenge, before the round begins, players can agree to make only words
with the same amount of letters, for example, eight-letter words. As well,
whereas the preferred embodiment contemplates the predetermination of a
target score, the players could equally predetermine a game duration, based
on time or number of turns, and select the winner of the game on the basis of
the highest aggregate score at the end of the duration.
Moreover, the game is portable; the game requires only a relatively flat
surface.
Whereas only a single embodiment of the game is herein described, it should
be understood that variations can be made. For example, whereas in the
preferred embodiment, letters of the alphabet are imprinted, printing is not
strictly necessary. The game contemplates the use of visually-perceptible
characters of any type. Further, whereas Braille representations are provided
on the tiles, this is not necessary: any other tactile representation of the
character could be employed. As well, whereas in the preferred embodiment,
the same character and tactile representation appears on each side of the
tile, it is possible to put different letters on opposite sides of the tile.
Tiles
could also be avoided, in favour of other styles of game pieces, such as dies
or tokens. As well, it is conceivable that the visually-perceptible character
may be put on only one side of the game piece and the tactile representation
put on the opposite side or both, to more evenly-match sighted and sight-
impaired persons. Yet further, groups of letters which appear together
commonly could be put on selected tiles, such as "qu" in the English
language. Wild card game pieces, usable for any letter, could also be
provided.
In view of the foregoing, it should be understood that the scope of the
invention is limited only by the appended claims, purposively construed.
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