Random sequence generator

Abstract

Apparatus for generating random indicia sequences. The apparatus consists of a hopper for randomly mixing the indicia, at least two differing indicia carrying aggregate, and a viewing chamber. In one application, the random indicia sequences can be used to establish sequences of movements for game pieces having corresponding indicia. A further application would include a game of chance which employ the indicia sequences, and the prediction of the precise indicia sequence prior to entering the viewing chamber would dictate a winner.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 60/517,857 filed Nov. 6, 2003.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERNCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to game piece movement generators and in particular to a user induced random sequence generator.

Varieties of games use randomly manipulated game pieces, such as the spinning of a spinner relative to a numbered wheel, the shaking or throwing of dice, the random settling of a marble relative to a valued game board compartment, or the generation of random sequences based on manual or mechanical selection of a numbered ball.

Random generation of sequences for some game pieces that is facilitated with a mechanical appliance, such as with a gaming box, a dice cup, a rotatable cage, or an air-induced mixing apparatus are well known in the art. Devices of this type most typically contain the game piece within a housing having a generally unobstructed interior. Examples of some of such structures can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,296,001, which discloses and claims a dice agitation box with a dice display area at one end of the box. It is arranged to display several of the dice when they come to rest at the bottom of the container while excluding the other. There is a viewing area and an active or shaking chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,796 which discloses a device for mixing one or more dice, used in a game including a container whose interior is divided into a display chamber and a mixing chamber by an interior partition. Mixed dice are passed one at a time through a slot in the partition from the mixing to the display chamber and prevented from returning by a slidable closure within the interior of the container to hold the mixed dice captive so they can be displayed to participants of the game. U.S. Pat. No. 3,360,267 which discloses a dice agitation and casting apparatus with a hollow cylindrical body rotatable about an axis chamber; U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,689 which discloses a receptacle holding gaming pieces which is mounted for spring-loaded pivotal movement on a support structure. The receptacle is engaged in cocked position by a latching mechanism attached to the support, and when the latching mechanism is disengaged, the receptacle is rapidly rotated about a horizontal axis, causing the receptacle to forcefully strike an abutment mounted on the support, thus scrambling the pieces. The receptacle then is restored to the cocked position in which the playing pieces are so supported that a single upper symbol is displayed on each piece; U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,579 which discloses a device for agitating, casting, and displaying dice includes a base housing having a pair of arms extending upwardly from opposed sides thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,731 discloses a gameboard having a square array of different colored adjacent squares is slidably received in a box containing a plurality of square holes formed by upright criss-crossed partitions. The squares on the gameboard are positioned beneath one of the holes. Different colored balls, corresponding to the colors of the squares on the gameboard, are dropped through a funnel mounted above the box and come to rest in one of the holes. The balls are replaced by correspondingly colored marking discs. The process is repeated until all squares on the gameboard are covered with the discs and then the mathematical probabilities of a particular ball landing on a particular square are compared with the actual occurrence.

A large majority of the agitation and casting devices a large, cumbersome and require movement of the surrounding housing in order to determine the random sequence generation of the game pieces. Other game apparatus place the random sequence-generated game pieces directly on the game board. Furthermore, the gaming devices are designed to generate single indicia only and not a sequence of indicia at one time.

Appreciating, however, the greater variables of randomness which are introducible by way of a resulting sequence of indicia, as opposed to a single indicia, which permit user intervention and the further desirability of a holder for containing the indicia aggregate, Applicant has developed a variety of constructions of randomizers which facilitate the foregoing ends.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a random indicia sequence generator for confining a plurality of indicia aggregate to a viewing chamber including a hopper for random intermixing. It is a further object of the invention to provide a apparatus including means for permitting user to randomly generate a visual sequence. It is a further object of the invention to provide housings of different configurations to accommodate varieties of indicia aggregates.

In variously described constructions of the invention, an enclosed tubular or cubic viewing chamber provide an aperture from the hopper from which indicia aggregate are received into the viewing chamber forming a visual random sequence at one time. The user manipulates the invention to cause the indicia aggregate to enter the hopper from the viewing chamber, to becom randomly mixed, and then re-enter the viewing chamber to result in a random sequence composed of a multiple indicia indicators in a static sequence.

The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention, among others, as well as the details of the variously considered constructions will become more apparent hereinafter upon reference to the following description with respect to the appended drawings. Before referring thereto, it is to be appreciated the following description is made by way only of variously considered and presently preferred constructions. Such constructions should not be interpreted in limitation of the invention, but should be interpreted to encompass all those constructions contemplated by the following claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above sited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed that the same will be better understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric drawing of a tubular random sequence generator containing indicia aggregate.

FIG. 2 shows an isometric drawing of a tubular random sequence generator with a walled housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an isometric drawing is shown of a random sequence generator 10 having a tubular tubular viewing chamber 13 including a lower, circularly flat endplate 14 which is bonded to the viewing chamber for stability. As presently constructed, the viewing chamber 13 is formed of clear, acrylic materials, which through the selective use of various adhesion systems, permit the bonding of the end plate 14 and a hopper 21. The hopper 11 has a top plate 22 which is shown as flat, but may be convex or concave. The hopper 21 is sized and shaped to allow for random intermixing of the indicia aggregate 30 contained within the viewing chamber 13 and the hopper 21. The hopper 21 has an aperture 23 at the opposite end of the top plate 22. The aperture 23 allows the indicia aggregate 30 to pass from the hopper 21 to the viewing chamber 13. The indicia aggregate 30 shown are spherical in shape and differentiated by each being a different color.

Although FIG. 1 shows a tubular or column constructed view chamber 13 and a funnel shaped hopper 21 and FIG. 2 depicts the same shaped apparatus enclosed in a tubular housing 40 secured to the top plate 22 and the endplate 14, a rectangular shape or any other shape may be used to allow the indicia aggregate to intermix freely in the hopper 21 and display a random yet static sequence in the viewing chamber 13. It is to be appreciated that still other multi-sided enclosed housing constructions can be formed, such as cubes, spheres, octagons or the like. The specific shape merely being a matter of manufacturer preference and/or imagination. The more elaborate the configuration, however, the greater the labor requirements to fit and bond the walls to one another. The shown apparatus is meant to have user involvement and initiation of the intermixing of the indicia aggregate 30 in the hopper 21. Mechanical actuators may also be included to facilitate intermixing of the indicia aggregate within the hopper 21.

While the present invention has been described with respect to various presently considered and preferred constructions, it is to be appreciated that still other constructions may suggest themselves to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the following claims should be interpreted to include all those equivalent embodiments within the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating a random indicia sequence comprising:

a hopper having an aperture of a volumetric size and shape to allow for containment and random intermixing of a plurality of indicia aggregate;

a viewing chamber attached to said hopper at said aperture sized and shaped to allow said indicia aggregate to enter said viewing chamber from said hopper resulting in a random sequence represented by an order of appearance of said indicia aggregate.

2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said hopper is funnel shaped.

3. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said indicia aggregate are spherical in shape and are distinguished from each other by color.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a base means which mounts to said viewing chamber for supporting and stabilizing said apparatus when placed on a horizontal surface.

5. An apparatus for generating a random indicia sequence comprising:

a plurality of indicia aggregate;

a multi-walled, gas filled viewing chamber, wherein the walls mount to one another to completely enclose and contain said indicia aggregate and to define a columnar play space between the plurality of walls mounted to one another where movement of said indicia aggregate is restricted, wherein said viewing chamber flares at a top end to form a mixing chamber comprised of first and second open-ended shells, wherein peripheral edges of said first and second shells mate to one another.

6. The apparatus in claim 5 wherein said indicia aggregate are spherical in shape and are distinguished from each other by color.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including a base means which mounts to said viewing chamber for supporting and stabilizing said apparatus when placed on a horizontal surface.

8. An apparatus for generating a random indicia sequence comprising:

a plurality of indicia aggregate;

a multi-walled, fluid filled viewing chamber, wherein the walls mount to one another to completely enclose and contain said indicia aggregate and to define a columnar play space between the plurality of walls mounted to one another where movement of said indicia aggregate is restricted, wherein said viewing chamber flares at a top end to form a mixing chamber comprised of first and second open-ended shells, wherein peripheral edges of said first and second shells mate to one another.

9. The apparatus in claim 8 wherein said indicia aggregate are spherical in shape and are distinguished from each other by color.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including a base means which mounts to said viewing chamber for supporting and stabilizing said apparatus when placed on a horizontal surface.