MODULAR DICE SYSTEM

Abstract

A modular dice system includes a block member including a plurality of sides each having a same shape and size. Each of the sides includes a first mating member. A plurality of tiles is provided and each has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a perimeter edge. Each of the interior surfaces includes a second mating member. Each of the second mating members is releasably couplable to one of the first mating members. The exterior surfaces each have indicia thereon and the indicia differ from tile to tile. The perimeter edges of the tiles are exposed when the tiles are attached to the block member such that the perimeter edges abut an upper side of a rolling surface when the block member is rolled on the rolling surface. The perimeter edges retain a space between the block member and the rolling surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to the field of games and more specifically to dice used as random number generators.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to modular gaming die devices and more particularly pertains to a new modular gaming die device for allowing a person to alter dice to be used while playing games. While the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 8,405,549 which allows for modification of a die, this disclosure is deficient in that its indicia tiles are countersunk into wells in its cube such that flanges are formed that border each of the tiles. These flanges prevent a gap between adjacent indicia tiles and are intended to abut a surface when that die is rolled. However, the flanges also make removing the tiles difficult and may lead to inconsistent rolls due to marring of the flanges as well as tiles that may not be fully countersunk relative to adjacent flanges.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a block member that has an exterior surface comprising a plurality of sides each having a same shape and size. The plurality of sides is at least four sides. A plurality of first mating members is attached to the exterior surface such that each of the sides includes one of the first mating members. A plurality of tiles is provided and each has an interior surface, an exterior surface and a perimeter edge extending between the interior and exterior surfaces. The tiles each have a same shape as the sides and the exterior surfaces are planar. A plurality of second mating members is attached to the interior surfaces such that each of the interior surfaces includes one of the second mating members positioned thereon. Each of the second mating members is releasably couplable to one of the first mating members such that the exterior surfaces define a die surface. The exterior surfaces each have indicia thereon and the indicia on some of the tiles are different than the indicia on other ones of the tiles. The perimeter edges of the tiles are exposed when the tiles are attached to the block member such that the perimeter edges abut an upper side of a rolling surface when the block member is rolled on the rolling surface. The perimeter edges maintain a space between the block member and the rolling surface.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front and top isometric view of a tile of a modular dice system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom and rear isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a top isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 9 thereof, a new modular gaming die device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the modular dice system 10 generally comprises a block member 12 having an exterior surface 14 comprising a plurality of sides 16. Each of the sides 16 has a same shape and size. As can be seen in the Figures, the block member 12 includes six sides 16 and would be considered a base structure for a conventional six sided die having a cubic shape. However, other shapes are contemplated by the modular dice system 10 and therefore the plurality of sides 16 will be at least four sides 16 and the plurality of sides 16 would likely include no more than twenty sides 16. This variety allows for a plurality of different games which may be played with the modular dice system 10 as will be further explained below. A plurality of first mating members 18 is attached to the exterior surface 14 such that each of the sides 16 includes one of the first mating members 18.

A plurality of tiles 20 is provided and each has an interior surface 22, an exterior surface 24 and a perimeter edge 26 extending between the interior 22 and exterior 24 surfaces. The perimeter edge 26 typically has a thickness from the interior surface 22 to the exterior surface 24 of less than 0.25 inches. Each of the tiles 20 has a same shape as the sides 16. Moreover, each of the tiles 20 may also have a size that is at least equal to the size of the sides 16 of the block member 12. The term “size” herein means that the exterior surface 24 would have an area equal to the area bounded by a perimeter of one of the sides 16. The exterior surface 24 of each of the tiles 20 is planar.

A plurality of second mating members 28 is attached to the interior surfaces 22 such that each of the interior surfaces 22 includes one of the second mating members 28 positioned thereon. Each of the second mating members 28 is releasably couplable to one of the first mating members 18 such that the exterior surfaces 24 define a die surface. The first mating members 18 may each comprise a male coupler and each of the second mating members 28 may each comprise a female coupler. The male and female couplers may be of any conventional design and may, in particular, comprise the types of couplers that are used with toy building bricks. As such, the first mating members 18 may comprise the female coupler and the second mating member 28 may comprise the male coupler.

The perimeter edges 24 of the tiles 20 are exposed when the tiles 20 are attached to the block member 12. Thus, the perimeter edges 24 are configured to abut an upper side of a rolling surface, such as a tabletop, when the block member 12 is rolled on the rolling surface. Because the tiles 20 each have a size at least as large as the sides 16 of the block member 12, the perimeter edges 24 are also configured to maintain a space between the block member 12 and the rolling surface. The tiles 20 may have a size such that their perimeter edges abut the edges of adjacent tiles 20; however, it is beneficial that a gap 30 remains between adjacent tiles 20 to facilitate removal of the tiles 20 from the block member 12. Though not required, flanges 32 may be attached to the perimeter edge 26 to form a tighter grip between the first 18 and second 28 mating members. The flanges 32 may have free edges that abut the block member 12 to stabilize the tiles 20 relative to the block member 12 when the block member 12 is rolled.

Each of the exterior surfaces 24 has indicia thereon 34. The indicia 34 from one tile 20 to another tile 20 is typically different, however, some tiles 20 may include the same indicia 34. One or more tiles 20 may be without indicia 34 should a particular game require such, however, most, if not all, of the tiles 20 will have indicia 34 positioned thereon. The indicia may vary widely depending not only on the type of games to be played which will require the modular dice system 10, but also on the age group being targeted for game play. For example, the indicia 34 may include numerals for games requiring a number of game spaces, cards drawn, random numbers, etc., are needed to play the game. The numeral indicia need not be consecutive or correspond to the number of sides 16 of the block member 20. Other games may require indicia which comprises letters while other indicia 34 may comprise shapes or symbols. As can be readily understood, the type of indicia 34 selected is essentially limitless.

In use, a player is provided with one or more block members 12 and a plurality of tiles 20. The player attaches the desired tiles 20 to the block members 12 such that a complete die, or a plurality thereof, is created. The modular dice system 10 further permits the user to create a die which includes numerals, letter, symbols, or combinations thereof. The modular dice system 10 may therefore be used with more traditional board games that only require numerals but may also be used for new dice games, board games, children's games and adult games where more than only numerals are helpful or required to enhance the enjoyability, playability and variability of game play.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A modular die assembly comprising:

a block member having an exterior surface comprising a plurality of sides, each of the sides having a same shape and size, the plurality of sides being at least four sides, each of the sides being planar and adjacently positioned sides defining a respective linear edge between the adjacently positioned sides;

a plurality of first mating members being attached to the exterior surface such that each of the sides includes one of the first mating members, each of the first mating members comprising a male coupler extending outwardly from the exterior surface, each male coupler having an outer face parallel and spaced from the exterior surface such that the outer face of each male coupler is outwardly offset from each linear edge of the side of the block member associated with the male coupler;

a plurality of tiles each having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a perimeter edge extending between the interior and exterior surfaces, each of the tiles having a same shape as the sides, the exterior surface of each of the tiles being planar;

a plurality of second mating members being attached to the interior surfaces such that each of the interior surfaces includes one of the second mating members positioned thereon, each of the second mating members being releasably couplable to one of the first mating members such that the exterior surfaces define a die surface, each of the second mating members comprises a female coupler;

each of the exterior surfaces having indicia thereon, wherein at least some of the indicia on some of the tiles being different than the indicia on other ones of the tiles; and

the perimeter edges of the tiles being exposed when the tiles are attached to the block member such that the perimeter edges are configured to abut an upper side of a rolling surface when the block member is rolled on the rolling surface, the perimeter edges being configured to maintain a space between the block member and the rolling surface.

2. The modular die assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sides of the block member being equal to six sides.

3. The modular die assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sides of the block member includes no more than twenty sides.

4. The modular die assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the tiles has a size at least equal to the size of the sides of the block member.

5. (canceled)

6. A modular die assembly comprising:

a block member having an exterior surface comprising a plurality of sides, each of the sides having a same shape and size, the plurality of sides being at least four sides, the plurality of sides including no more than twenty sides, each of the sides being planar and adjacently positioned sides defining a respective linear edge between the adjacently positioned sides;

a plurality of first mating members being attached to the exterior surface such that each of the sides includes one of the first mating members, each of the first mating members comprising a male coupler extending outwardly from the exterior surface, each male coupler having an outer face parallel and spaced from the exterior surface such that the outer face of each male coupler is outwardly offset from each linear edge of the side of the block member associated with the male coupler;

a plurality of tiles each having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a perimeter edge extending between the interior and exterior surfaces, each of the tiles having a same shape as the sides, each of the tiles having a size at least equal to the size of the sides of the block member, the exterior surface of each of the tiles being planar;

a plurality of second mating members being attached to the interior surfaces such that each of the interior surfaces includes one of the second mating members positioned thereon, each of the second mating members being releasably couplable to one of the first mating members such that the exterior surfaces define a die surface, each of the second mating members comprising a female coupler;

each of the exterior surfaces having indicia thereon, wherein at least some of the indicia on some of the tiles being different than the indicia on other ones of the tiles; and

the perimeter edges of the tiles being exposed when the tiles are attached to the block member such that the perimeter edges are configured to abut an upper side of a rolling surface when the block member is rolled on the rolling surface, the perimeter edges being configured to maintain a space between the block member and the rolling surface.