Transformation tiles

Abstract

Game apparatus is disclosed comprising a plurality of square tiles surfaced with unique single solid stripes extending from one edge or corner to another edge or corner on the face of the tile. The stripes are fashioned as horizontal, acute, or diagonal straight-line segments. Players arrange the individual game tiles in relation to the other tiles on a planar surface in an ordered or arbitrary assemblage in either a contiguous or noncontiguous manner to form creative and original designs or images.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to tile-based games and particularly to creative and amusing games that comprise interchangeable pieces used for the generation of images.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tiles form the basis of numerous games in which players re-arrange lettered, numbered, or patterned tiles to form words, matched sets, or images. Examples of such tile-based games include anagrams, dominoes, and mahjong. Dissection or transformation puzzles utilize tiles that can be separated and assembled in different ways to produce distinct geometric shapes, often as a game to solve a mathematical challenge or conundrum. The tangram is a popular dissection puzzle comprising seven flat polygon-shaped tiles, which are pieced together in a manner to form a predefined shape. Alternatively, the tangram tiles can be assembled to create shapes and images for purely aesthetic purposes. Other educational or artistic games have been devised consisting of polygon-shaped tiles or tiles printed with a variety of solid patterns that may be arranged randomly or purposefully to generate a diversity of images.

There are no tile-based games that feature simple tiles overlayed with straight line segments, such as horizontal and oblique stripes. Such tiles could be employed in games for creative purposes to form original designs and images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a creative game based on the planar arrangement in a cooperative manner of a plurality of square tiles surfaced with an assortment of single line segments that create pleasing two-dimensional designs and images, which can then be transformed into other designs or images by applying the same method.

Broadly, the game according to the present invention comprises a plurality of unique square tiles, each having a different single straight stripe (line segment) printed on its face. The striped tiles are arranged by the player on a flat surface such that the tiles align with the edges of other tiles, fully or partially, or in any other way or combination that collectively generates an image. All tiles within a set are interchangeable and can pair or group with any other tile on any of the four sides of each tile. One of the attributes of the game of this invention is that the stripes appearing on the tiles by themselves have limited aesthetic appeal, but when juxtaposed with other tiles, they transform into a myriad of possible pleasing images. There are no rules per se for the game, but there is an emphasis on arranging every tile in the set in an imaginative and unique fashion. Thus, the game is a creative tool for the artistic expression of the player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of tiles comprising the game according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in which the solid black stripes on the white surface of the square tiles may be connected with the stripes on the other tiles to form designs and images. Alternatively, the tiles can be configured in any manner as the player sees fit.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the game of FIG. 1, illustrating the ten tiles arranged in one unique pattern, one of countless possible combinations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown the preferred embodiment of the present invention in which square tiles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 have a printed single solid linear stripe of various lengths and angles spanning one face of each said tile. The stripes have a uniform width and are black in color, and the faces of the tiles are white in color. The height of the tiles is uniform and relatively thin for steadiness and ease of manual manipulation. The complete set of tiles comprises two of each of the five unique tiles. The ten tiles may be combined on a flat surface in a variety of ways to form original designs and images.

In the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1, a single stripe 21 extends from the center of the left side to the center of the right side of one tile. The resultant stripe forms a 0-degree angle relative to said tile (horizontal line tile 11).

In the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1, a single stripe 22 extends from the bottom left corner to the center of the right side of one tile. The resultant stripe forms an ascending 27-degree angle relative to the said tile (acute line 1 tile 12).

In the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1, a single stripe 23 extends from the center of the left side to the bottom right corner of one tile. The resultant stripe forms a descending 63-degree angle relative to the said tile (acute line 2 tile 13) and is the mirror image of stripe 22 of acute line 1 tile 12.

In the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1, a single stripe 24 extends from the center of the bottom side to the center of the right side of one tile. The resultant stripe forms a 45-degree angle relative to the said tile (short diagonal line tile 14).

In the preferred embodiment, FIG. 1, a single stripe 25 extends from the bottom left corner to the top right corner of one tile. The resultant stripe forms a 45-degree angle relative to the said tile (long diagonal line tile 15).

The tiles 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are amenable to being placed on a flat surface and manipulated into a multitude of different arrangements. Exemplary arrangement 31 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The tiles can be arranged to form numerous designs or patterns, limited only by the stripe printed on each tile and a player's imagination.

The tiles are preferably packaged and sold in bundles of ten tiles containing two tiles of each uniquely designed striped tile 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain preferred embodiment thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment contained therein.

Claims

1. A game comprising a plurality of tiles, substantially square in plan aspect and relatively thin, each top face of two said tiles printed with one of five unique solid line segments of contrasting color to that of the face of said tile comprising a single horizontal (0-degree angle) stripe extending across the center; an ascending (27-degree angle) stripe extending from the bottom left corner to the center of the right side; a descending (63-degree angle) stripe extending from the center of the left side to the bottom right corner; a diagonal (45-degree angle) stripe extending from the center of the bottom side to the center of the right side; and a diagonal (45-degree angle) stripe extending from the bottom left corner to the top right corner whereby the said ten tiles can be arranged in any combinatorial manner with each other on a flat surface to create original designs or images.

2. The game tiles of claim 1, wherein the width of the stripe varies in proportion to the planar dimensions of said tiles in a manner retaining the creative feature of the element.

3. The game tiles of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom faces of said tiles have the same or different printed stripes.

4. The game tiles of claim 1, wherein the planar dimensions of said tiles may have any length but are substantially equal.

5. The game tiles of claim 1, wherein the height of said tiles is uniform but may have any thickness that maintains steadiness and ease of manual manipulation.

6. The game tiles of claim 1, wherein said tiles are constructed of solid material, such as ceramic, glass, metal, plastic, or wood.

7. The game tiles of claim 1, wherein the bottom face of said tiles is affixed with a permanent magnet on its surface.

8. The game tiles of claim 1 wherein said tiles are rendered electronically for display and manipulation on a computer screen or similar device.