MATCH UP

Abstract

A matching game apparatus and method of play comprising a gaming board in the form of a grid with a starting space located thereon. Indicia bearing tiles are pulled at random by the players, who commence play by amassing an initial set of tiles and a first player setting a tile in the starting space. Subsequent players must find a match within their sets of tiles, and place a matching tile atop the previous player's tile and another tile adjacent to the matching tiles. If a player doesn't have a matching tile, that player must draw tiles at random in an attempt to draw a matching tile. After three attempts, the player forfeits the turn and the next player's turn commences. The first player to get rid of all tiles in that player's possession is declared the winner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Board games are known in the art, as are games wherein players must match symbols or indicia. However, there are currently no games in the art wherein players chose tiles bearing a variety of indicia, and attempt to match the indicia with the tiles of other players, and wherein unmatched tiles are placed immediately adjacent to matching tiles.

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved matching game wherein players chose indicia bearing tiles to match the indicia on tiles of other players and continue play by placing non-matching tiles in adjacent spaces on the gaming board. A further object of the invention is to provide a game wherein players draw a series of tiles at random to create a source of tiles from which to select matching tiles. Still another object of the invention is to provide a game wherein players that cannot locate matching tiles among the tiles in their possession must draw new tiles at random in an attempt to draw a matching tile. These and other embodiments will become apparent from the appended Summary, Description and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises an improved matching game apparatus and playing method. The game apparatus comprises a game board with a playing grid, including a starting point located in a corner of the grid. A series of racks to hold tiles are allocated to the players. The tiles are disposed on the racks in a manner that prevents other players from seeing the indicia of other players. A total of 160 tiles are used in the game, each bearing one of twenty indicia or symbols. A container keeps the tiles hidden from view so that a player cannot see the indicia on a tile when drawing it from the bag. In this manner the tiles are chosen at random by the players. Each player randomly selects twenty tiles from the bag.

After determining the first player by pulling numbered cards, the first player places a first tile on the game board. The next player searches their tiles for matching indicia. The second player places a matching tile atop the first player's tile if the second player has a matching tile. The second player then places another tile adjacent to the starting point and first tile. Thereafter, subsequent players place matching tiles in the same manner as the second player.

If a player cannot find a tile with matching indicia, the player must attempt to draw a matching tile from the bag containing the remaining tiles. If the drawn tile has matching indicia, it may be played. If the drawn tile lacks matching indicia, another tile must be drawn. After three draws, a player is forced to pass and the next player goes. The use of numerical indicia, is by way of example only, and other indicia or symbols may be used

FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game board racks and tiles of the present invention being set up to commence play.

FIG. 2 is a view of the starting point at the top left of the game board prior to commencing play.

FIG. 3 is a view of the starting point of the board and subsequently tiled squares after play has commenced and three player turns have occurred.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the matching game of the present invention comprises an improved apparatus and method of play. The game apparatus comprises a game board 12 consisting of a playing grid 14. In one preferred embodiment, the grid comprises a square of 144 individual boxes. One box in the grid is designated as the starting point 16 for the game. In a preferred embodiment, the starting point is located in a corner of the grid, and bears the phrase “start here” oriented so that it appears in the top left corner of the board. In various other embodiments, other indicia may be placed on the board, including the title of the game. In one embodiment, the title is placed on one side of the board, and oriented so that it appears along the left side of the board.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a series of racks 18 are allocated to the players in order to hold indicia bearing tiles 20. The tiles 20 are disposed on the racks 18 in a manner that prevents other players from seeing the indicia 22 on a player's tiles 20. In one embodiment, the racks are “V” shaped in profile, allowing the tiles to rest at an angle facing a player. In a further preferred embodiment, the game comprises 160 tiles 20, each bearing one of twenty indicia 22 or symbols, and until a player selects a tile or tiles, they are housed in a container, or bag 24, hidden from view so that a player cannot see the indicia 22 on a tile 20 when drawing it from the bag 24.

A means of establishing the priority and order of play accompanies the game. In a preferred embodiment, this means comprises a series of numbered cards which are selected at random by the players; wherein the player selecting the lowest card goes first. In further embodiments, the means comprises blue numbered cards contained in a separate bag.

Referring to FIG. 2, the game is played by first selecting an order of play, including a first player. Each player randomly selects twenty tiles 20 from the bag 24 and arrays the tiles 20 on their individual racks 18 so that the indicia 22 on the tiles 20 are out of view of the other players. Each tile will bear one of twenty indicia chosen randomly, and after the players pull their respective tiles, eighty tiles remain in the bag 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, to start the game, the first player places a first tile on a predetermined starting point on the game board. The next player searches their rack of tiles for a tile with matching indicia. In the illustrated embodiment, the first player has placed a tile with the indicia “14” on the starting square to start the game. The second player has found a matching tile and placed that tile atop the first player's tile.

After the second player places a matching tile atop the first players tile, the second player places another tile comprising any indicia, including the indicia of the first players tile, adjacent to the starting point. In the illustrated embodiment, the second player has placed a tile with the indicia “18” adjacent to the starting point. Thereafter, subsequent players place matching tiles in the same manner as the second player. In the illustrated embodiment, the third player has placed a matching tile bearing the indicia “18” atop the second player's tile, and has placed a tile bearing the indicia “2” adjacent to it. In this manner, play continues until one of the players runs out of tiles and is declared the winner.

If a player cannot find a tile with matching indicia, the player must draw a tile in an attempt to pull a matching tile from the bag. If the pulled tile has indicia matching the last tile played on the board, that tile may be played. If the pulled tile lacks indicia matching the last tile played on the board, the player may pull another tile. This attempt may be made a total of three times before the player is forced to “pass” and it becomes the next player's turn. In one preferred embodiment, play is executed in a clockwise rotation around the board from the starting position. All non-matching tiles are retained in the player's racks following their turn.

The use of numerical indicia, including the numbers one through twenty in the illustrated game apparatus is by way of example only. It is anticipated that other indicia or symbols may be used. In another preferred embodiment, letters of the alphabet are used as indicia, including the letters “A” through “T.” In one further embodiment, human anatomical parts comprising words or symbols for the chest, heart, ankle, foot, knee, finger, stomach, nose, ear, eye, neck, elbow, toe, hand, leg, throat, spine, rib, head, and arm may be used. In yet another embodiment, words or symbols for; horse, goat, rabbit, donkey, dog, cat, mule, pig, lion, elephant, tiger, cow, giraffe, camel, ox, bear, hippopotamus, zebra, sheep, and leopard or other animals may be used. In yet another embodiment words or symbols for orange, banana, apple, mango, plum, cherry, tangerine, golden apple, peach, watermelon, grape, nectarine, guava, papaya, strawberry, kiwi, cantaloupe, pear, grapefruit, and raspberry or other fruits may be used. Finally, in yet another embodiment, the symbols may comprise biblical names such as Moses, Job, Daniel, Jonah, Noah, Amos, Samson, Isaiah, Ezra, Adam, Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, Samuel, David, Gideon, Solomon, Ezekiel, and Abraham.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

Claims

1. An improved matching game method comprising the steps of;

a. four players establishing an order of play and designate a first player using a predetermined selection criteria;

b. each player randomly selecting 20 indicia bearing tiles from a tile container, including a bag, and placing the tiles on a rack such that the indicia are out of view of the other players, and wherein the indicia on the tiles bear symbols;

c. the first player commencing game play by placing a tile on a predetermined starting point on the game board;

d. a subsequent player attempting to find a tile with a matching symbol among that subsequent player's tiles, wherein if a tile with a matching symbol is available, that tile is placed atop the first player's tile and a second tile is selected and placed at a position adjoining the matching tile; and wherein if no matching tile is available, the subsequent player pulls a tile at random from the tile container, attempting to obtain a matching tile, and pulls no more than three tiles during the attempt;

e. subsequent players engaging in the same method of play; and

f. determining a winner by identifying the first player who successfully moves all of their tiles from their rack to the game board.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein play order is established by a random selection means.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein random selection is established by pulling number bearing means from a container, including a bag.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein four blue number bearing means indicia are pulled at random from the bag and the lowest number goes first.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the starting point is located at the upper left corner of the board.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the game is played in a clockwise rotation from the predetermined starting point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tile container contains 160 tiles, and 20 indicia, so that eight tiles bear the same indicia.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein tiles with non-matching indicia are retained in a player's rack following their turn.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia on the tiles comprise indicia chosen from the list of; numerical characters, alphabetical characters, human anatomical parts, animal names, fruit names, or biblical names.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the numerical characters comprise the numbers one through twenty.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the alphabetical characters comprise characters from the Roman alphabet; letters “A” through “T”

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the anatomical parts comprise words or symbols for; chest, heart, ankle, foot, knee, finger, stomach, nose, ear, eye, neck, elbow, toe, hand, leg, throat, spine, rib, head, and arm.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the animals comprise words or symbols for; horse, goat, rabbit, donkey, dog, cat, mule, pig, lion, elephant, tiger, cow, giraffe, camel, ox, bear, hippopotamus, zebra, sheep, and leopard.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the fruits comprise words or symbols for; orange, banana, apple, mango, plum, cherry, tangerine, golden apple, peach, watermelon, grape, nectarine, guava, papaya, strawberry, kiwi, cantaloupe, pear, grapefruit, and raspberry.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the biblical names comprise; Moses, Job, Daniel, Jonah, Noah, Amos, Samson, Isaiah, Ezra, Adam, Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, Samuel, David, Gideon, Solomon, Ezekiel, and Abraham.

16. An improved matching game apparatus comprising;

a. a game board comprising a playing grid, indicia for a predetermined starting point, and an indicia indicating the title of the game;

b. a series of racks for holding indicia bearing tiles, wherein any single player of the game will possess a rack while play is carried out;

c. a tile containing means which holds 160 indicia bearing tiles in a manner that permits a player to pull a tile from the container without prior knowledge of the indicia on the tile; and

d. a means of establishing a first player and order of play, wherein the players each select 20 tiles, placing the tiles on their racks so that the indicia are out of view of the other players, and wherein the first player sets a tile at a predetermined starting point, and subsequent players must either place a matching tile atop the previous player's tile and another tile adjacent to the matching tile, or if no matching tiles are available, pull tiles one at a time from the containing means in an attempt to obtain a matching tile, wherein a player's turn stops after placing a matching and second tile, or after three unsuccessful attempts to find a matching tile.

17. The game apparatus of claim 16, wherein the racks comprise “V” shaped channels that hold the tiles at an angle viewable to only one player.

18. The game apparatus of claim 16, wherein the game board comprises a square grid of 144 boxes.