WO1994025130A1

WO1994025130A1 - Changeable dice

Info

Publication number: WO1994025130A1
Application number: PCT/BE1994/000031
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Laureyssens
Original assignee: Dirk Laureyssens
Priority date: 1993-04-28
Filing date: 1994-04-27
Publication date: 1994-11-10
Also published as: AU6500494A; BE1006957A6

Abstract

A dice of which sides can be changed and so new values or pictures can be brought into the game.

Description

Description : Changeable Dice

The changeable dice is an invention in the area of games. It will soon cause a real revolution in the world of games, namely a new sort of dice. Dices have always been one of the most used luck-determining elements of games because the throw of the dice leaves the choice- factor to coincidence, namely the side which is above will determine how the course of the game will happen corresponding to the convention among the players. In our case it is regarding a dice which is changeable at the outsides. This can be done : firstly by turning around the detachable faces, secondly by the detaching / pulling in of pieces (5) by means of magnets (fig.11) whereby the fingernails can come after the piece through grooves (6) that easy the detaching, or thirdly by collapsible plates (fig.10) that can be fixed on the dice - body (8) through conductors (7).

The traditional dices in the shops are full geometrical forms in bone, stone, plastic or wood. The forms are mostly cubical, however there are also tetrahedral pyramids, octahedrons, decahedrons, Dodecaeders, even spheres are used. On the surfaces steady patterns are placed by printing or made in that form through the production process. There even exists an electronical dice. A dice with changeable faces certainly has advantages because it creates new possibilities for new games, luck-factor and play- possibilities. The combinations can be adjusted according to the needs of the player or according to the rules of the games. The changeable face are in the beginning loose but can also be attached to a side by a pivoting point. Changeable sides are also possible in different shapes (4 to more sides).

One of the most simple and easy to handle version of the changeable dice is the one made of foam material and consists of 6 parts that fit together through teeth-connectors (fig.2) and by mutual pressure of the foam fit steadily in a cube-form (fig.2). The pieces can be offered in a frame (1 ), where by both sides are printed, each side forming one total dice (fig.1 ) however each side has a different set up (fig.3). The number of tooth-connectors can be different and will go from 4 per side till ten or more, depending on the version. On figure 1 we work with 5 teeth-connectors, this is the most handy formula because it links on the logical thinking of the human being which is in close relation to the 5 fingers of the human hand, and whereby the orientation goes through the third finger - which is in the middle, is easier. The concept of loose sides from our example gives a lot of possibilities on several levels, namely it is possible to do the printing at the outside with normal dots, but at the inside other values can be printed.

As notation we will use "DD (X,Y) (.,." with DD standing for Dirk's Dice and between the brackets with the first number X (or other symbol) which indicates the outside, and a second number Y which gives the corresponding value at the inside.

F.e. DD (6,4)(5,1)(4,2)(3,5)(2,6)(1,3). Another variation can f.e. be : DD (6,0)(5,?)(4,2x)(3,!) (2,6)(1 ,STOP) or DD (6,HOME)(5,STAR)(4,SUN)(3,9)(2, FINE)(1 ,12).

So uncountable variations can be made in function of games or situations wherein or whereby one of more external luck-factors are needed. Very essential is that here the players have the possibility to adjust the luck-factor, whereby new logic and strategies become possible. So can f.e. change the dice of the opponent so that he can only have So, under the condition that the piece can be turned around and fits back in the open piece of the cube - the detached piece (2) will be turned around so that the former inside will come now at the outside of the cube (3) and the dice will have then twice a

5 and no 3 anymore (fig.4). By throwing the chance to throw a five is gone from 1/6 to 2/6. Then the players can change turn by turn or following the rules of the games again and again the faces, and so influence the speed of the pawns or other consequences (f.e. Stop sign). Also is it possible that a number of similar pieces are kept apart which can be used instead of an existing dice-face. In total every player obtains than f.e. 12 faces (fig.7) which all have have a different print on the other side. F.e. a player takes away the six poses the piece in the frame (3) and takes out of the frame a similar piece with f.e. a sun en puts this in the open place in the dice. A twelve-frame can have maximum 24 different prints, this gives a very huge amount of combinations. The sides can have several symbols which refer to values, throws or rules of the round games. The best and fastest reversal is realised if the faces have a horizontal, vertical or diagonal symmetry. The turning is then simple and clear. In figure 6 face 1 (4) has already 3 symmetries. However this is no condition for the realisation of the cube whereby the exchange of 2 pieces does not need symmetry, this all depend on the play-concept and / or rules of the game. Depending on the target of the play-concept simple forms can be used which can be easily turned around. Examples : figure 1 has 2 x (9) and 4 x (10), Figure 6 has 2 x (4) and 4 x (11 ), and figure 7 has twice a series of a piece (9) and a piece (12). The printing can f.e. consist of points, dots, lines, crosses, pictures, illustrations, symbols, figures, numbers, letters, formulas, logo's and / or other representations. T h e w ay whereon a number of games can be conceived with the Dirk's Dice is shown in the following example. A board game for 4 players. Each player becomes a foam plate of a different colour with 12 dice pieces (fig.7) and a number of coloured pawn-discs of the same colour. At the beginning a "normal" dice is made (1/6, 2/5, 3/4 faces one to another). On the board stand symbols or colours in connections with the changing of the dice (4). If a player comes on that field with his pawn he can change his own dices or the dice of this opponent. Following the rules or 1 face, or more faces. One can say that the "speed" of the dice is changeable. This is very new. The STOP sign refers to the waiting of one turn by the thrower. The BOMB to the loosing of a pawn. The CHANGE sign (13) to the changing of the own dice or the one of another player and son. Target of the game ... be the first to get all disc to the other side.

The changeable dice can be used in all board games or round games and give cause to new games where by one can buy or bid other dice sides. The normal version will consist of 6 pieces with on the backside another order of eyes. Other version can consist of f.e.

9, 12, 15 or another number of stones. There can rise a new sort of Yatsee and in fact every dice game can be adjusted to the new dice vision, also special versions and sizes are possible with special missions for events or TV-programs.

Claims

Conclusions : Changeable Dice

1. A dice of which the sides can be turned around, or taken away and replaced by adjusting sides, and that are printed with an eventual other print whereby is becomes possible to have a dice with different values;

2. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 , made out of plastic, metal and / or wood, or another material;

3. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 and 2, who can have different forms such as pyramid, cubed, octoaeder, decaeder, spherical, and so on and can consist of different parts;

4. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 , consisting of foam sides which can be build as a cube through tooth - connections (fig. 2 ) , and which are on both sides totally or partially printed with values an / or pictures;

5. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 , consists of a frame (8) with conductors (7) with therein a number of sides (10) that can be reversed, or replaced by new sides;

6. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 , consisting of a body where on faces with values and / or pictures can be attached by means of magnetism (fig. 11 );

7. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 and 4, which consists in its flat form of a frame with therein at least 6 pieces (fig. 6);

8. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 and 4, which has a number of symmetrical pieces;

9. A dice, as described in conclusion 1 , of service of adjusted versions of existing round games and / or gamble games and for new round games and for events and TV-programs.