The present invention relates to play apparatus or games. The invention finds particular, although not exclusive, use in relation to provision of educational games.

Many games currently available include a base, typically a generally planar board, which provides a play surface, and a plurality of pieces or "play elements". Generally a scheme of play/rules defines either appropriate choice of pieces.or elements for play on the board, or perhaps the appropriate sequence for playing the pieces on the board, and often steps for moving them over the board-

Examples of such games may involve allocation of a play element, .usually called a "piece", which comprises a tile or other similar counter, to each player. A path is set out on the board and each player takes it in turns to advance their piece along the path, in accordance with a set of rules, often involving throwing a die to choose a number which determines how far the piece advances along the path. Other types of games involve each player having a plurality of play elements, perhaps having respective insignia thereon, for placing in defined locations on the board, perhaps aligning the pieces to form patterns with their associated insignia. Such games may be educational, for example in encouraging players to count Xparticularly where a die is thrown) and in encouraging reading skills, (particularly where insignia on the play elements includes letters/words).

We have now found that versatility of play apparatus is increased by the use of an alternative, three dimensional base which provides a plurality of play surfaces.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Accordingly, the present invention provides play apparatus comprising a body having twelve or more faces and which, when thrown, will come to rest on one said face, a plurality of discrete play elements being releasably securable to respective alternative faces of the body to act as biassing means to alter the probability of the body coming to rest on any one said face. The play elements are suitably releasably securable to the body in such a way as to resist release of elements from the body when it is thrown. The play elements are preferably distinguished by insignia applied thereto.

Whilst some games currently available involve use of a multi-faced body as a die, we do not know of any other games which involve use of such bodies to provide a plurality of play surfaces for receiving play elements, and for having the play elements releasably secured thereto in such a way as to alter rolling characteristics of the body. In fact, it is generally an essential requirement of a die that each and every face must have the same probability of coming to rest when the die rolls unhindered on a flat surface.

Changeable dies are known from, for example US 4682778. This document describes a die which comprises an eight-faced body onto which very thin magnetic coloured triangles are applied. This is to provide an alternative to the-usual die having numbered faces. However it is essential in that case that the triangles do not alter the odds of the roll of the die and in this respect it differs significantly from the present invention.

The apparatus provided by the present invention may be employed in various ways. For example, in use, a play element will typically be secured to a face of the body, arranged such that any insignia on the play element is exposed. Suitable games may require player(s) to arrange subsequent play elements in sequence on other faces of the body, such that insignia on the elements form a particular pattern, as defined by associated rules. If desired, the appropriate face of the

body to receive a subsequent play element may be determined by throwing or rolling the body and whichever face is directed upwards (or any other desired direction) is chosen to receive the next play element.

In this respect, securing a play element to a face of the body affects the rolling characteristics of the body so that, provided not all of the faces of the body are occupied by equivalent play elements, there is no longer an equal probability of the body coming to rest on each and every face. Thus, addition of play elements to the body alters the odds of the roll, tending to bias the body to come to rest on a face which carries a play element and tending to leave unoccupied faces directed upwardly. This advantageous feature of the present apparatus makes it suitable for use in a variety of new games to be discused in more detail below.

Preferably the faces of the body are of generally equal size and shape, so that the body is a substantially regular polyhedron. This is advantageous in that it increases the element of chance in the game, since, if all faces are of equal shape/weight, there should be equal probability of the body, when first thrown, coming to rest on any face.

Typically the play elements will be of smaller size than the faces of the body, so that they fit within those faces and do not obstruct rolling of the body when applied thereto. It is also preferred in some embodiments that all the play elements be of the same size and shape, so that each play element may overlie any face on the body. If desired the body may be adapted to receive more than one play element at each face. Preferably the apparatus will comprise at least as many play elements as there are faces on the body.

Preferably the body has at least twenty faces, to increase the number of surfaces available for play. It is further preferred that, in the case where the body has twenty faces, each of these twenty faces is triangular. In this

regard it is also preferred that the body is configured so that, when resting on one face, several adjacent faces are presented to the player to provide a single play surface.

It will be appreciated that bodies of various sizes may be employed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments it is preferred that the body be of an appropriate size so that it may be held in the hand. As an example, a body having a height of about 5 or 6 cm is useful.

Alternatively, much larger bodies may be used, of a size comparable to footballs or larger. However, in such embodiments, the body is preferably constructed of a suitably lightweight material so that it can be rolled or perhaps thrown.

Suitably at least some, preferably all, of the faces of the body are recessed, and adapted to receive one or more play elements in each recess. In this regard the play elements are preferably generally planar or at least have one flat surface which will be exposed when the elements are mounted on the body. This is advantageous since a generally flush surface may be provided by the recessed body face and associated received play element(s), to allow the combination of the body and the element to be thrown and rolled without obstruction. Rolling is further.assisted by radiussing edges of the body and/or play elements.

Various means may be employed for releasably securing the elements to faces of the body.

As discussed above, suitably the play elements comprise a generally flat tile having means associated therewith to releasably secure the elements to the body. Such means may comprise releasable adhesives or barbed fastener materials such as Velcrose, for example. Preferably the play elements have surface formations on one face for engagement with

corresponding surface formations on the body, typically in the recessed faces of the body. The surface formations may be shaped for example so that preferably each, or alternatively only some, of the play elements may be engaged with each face of the body. Such formations may be of engager/receiver type. However, most preferably the elements and body are held together by magnetic attraction. This has been found to be preferred from the point of view of ease of interengagement of play elements and the body. Also the strength of engagement is satisfactory by way of this method.

In a suitable preferred arrangement, the play elements have magnetic properties, for example by provision of a ferro magnetic material on the elements, and the body is thus provided with a material artractive to the magnets on the play elements. Preferably the elements are constructed of a resilient material such as a rubber or plastic with a permanent magnetic material incorporated therein or associated therewith (by lamination or the like). The body is preferably moulded from a plastics material and provided with metallic inserts, attractive to the magnets associated with the play elements. In the case where the faces of the body are recessed, suitably a metallic insert is provided at least at the base of each recess.

Various insignia may be applied to or otherwise associated with the play elements, such as numerals, letters, shapes, colours or combinations of any of these. If colouration is adopted as the distinguishing insignia, play ^{^} elements may be constructed of different coloured materials so that all surfaces of each element appear coloured. An alternative is to provide the insignia only on that surface of a play element which will be exposed when the element is mounted on the body. The insignia may be applied to the element by various means. For example, by painting a surface of the element or by provision of shaped surface formations, for example defining a letter of the alphabet, preferably recessed into the exposed surface of the element.

An embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 to 3 show alternative views of an example body, and Figs. 4 and 5 show plan and side views respectively of an example play element.

The illustrated apparatus 1 comprises a body 3 having faces 6 for receiving a plurality of play elements 5. The body 3 is a regular twenty-faced polyhedron, each face 6 being in the shape of an equilateral triangle. In mathematical terms such a body 3 is known as an icosahedron. In more detail, the body 3 has thirty edges 4 bounding twenty triangular faces 6. Each face 6 is rebated a few millimetres from each edge 4 to provide generally triangular recesses 7 to receive respective play elements 5. In practice, the edges 4 of the body 3 will be radiussed to improve rolling characteristics of the body 3 and so the faces 6 of the body may not have an exactly triangular outline.

The body 3 is moulded from a rigid plastics material such as high impact polystyrene, and provided with a metallic insert 17 at the base of recess 7 in each face 6.

Turning in Figs. 4 and 5, the play elements 5 are of- triangular shape having three edges 14 and constructed so that they will fit into recesses 7 in the body 3. They are made of a material having a magnetic attraction to the insert 17 in recesses 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the play elements 5 are made from a rubber textured magnet, for example from a strontium compound laminated in rubber. The elements have insignia 18 applied to a first surface 25. The magnetic attraction on the play elements is required to be particularly effective at surface 35.

In use, the play elements 5 are inserted into recesses 7 of faces 6 of the body 3, with surface 35 of each element 5 magnetically engaging with metallic insert 17 in the recesses

7. Surface 25 of each element 5 is thus exposed to show its insignia 18.

The play elements 5 may be removed from the body 3 by use of a release aid having a greater magnetic attraction to the play elements 5 than the body does. Alternatively, if the elements 5 are made of a flexible material, they may be peeled from the surface of the body.

Rules may determine appropriate choice of play element 5 for application to the body 3 and appropriate face 6 of the body 3 to receive the subsequent play elements 5. The illustrated body 3 is useful since it has various faces 6, each of which may provide a play surface which enables many different games to be played using the body 3.

Example uses of the play apparatus will now be discussed.

A stock of at least twenty play elements 5 will be provided for use in the game. In addition to elements 5 having indicia 18 thereon, "blank" or "joker" (marked "*" for example) elements 5 may be included in this stock. Players may take it in turns to apply elements 5 to the body 3. If desired, this "Master" stock can be divided between players before the game begins. Alternatively, each player could be given their own stock, a certain number of elements 5 and each time an element 5 is applied to the body 3, the player takes another element 5 from the master stock. A scoring system may be devised for allocation of scores once particular ^" combinations/arrangements of elements 5 have been applied to the body 3. This system may also include forfeits for alternative combinations/arrangements.

The order of play may be determined as follows. As illustrated in Fig. 1, once the body 3 is rolled or thrown, it will come to rest on one triangular face 6' with another face 6" arranged parallel thereto and directed upwards. This rolling action may be used to determine the order in which

play elements 5 are applied to the various faces 6. For example, each time after the body 3 has been rolled, the upwardly directed face 6" could be chosen to receive the next play element 5.

Players may take it in turns to roll the body 3, select a play element 5 from one of the stocks, optionally at random, for application to the appropriate face 6 of the body 3. In this embodiment, biassing of the body 3 is effected as play elements 5 are successively applied to it, thereby reducing the probability of a filled recess 7 (i.e. a recess 7 which has already received a play element 5) being directed upwards after subsequent throws. This reduces likelihood of the appropriate face 6 being unable to receive the subsequent play element. An alternative is to choose that face 6 which points in another, alternative direction to always receive the subsequent play element. The action of the play elements 5 as biassing means for affecting rolling characteristics of the body is a particularly advantageous feature of the present invention.

The apparatus 1 may be employed to achieve various objects. As discussed above it may be used by two or more players each taking turns to roll the body 3 and apply elements 5 to it. An example game which can be played by one person may be understood in more detail with reference to Fig. 2. This shows that five adjacent triangular faces 6 of the body 3 define a pentagonal area 26 which may itself form a play surface. The icosahedron body 3 has twelve such pentagonal areas 26. An example game may require that play elements 5, having different insignia 18 thereon, be applied to faces 6 of the body 3 such that each pentagonal area 26 includes play elements 5 having the same combination of five different insignia 18. For example, in the case where different coloured play elements 5 are used, it could be an aim of the game that recesses 7 be filled with play elements 5 such that each pentagonal area 26 includes the same five- colour combinations. Alternatively, if the insignia 18

comprises letters of the alphabet, the player could be required to form the same five letter word in each pentagonal area 26. This game is of particular educational benefit and it is an advantage of the icosahedron body 3 that these pentagonal areas 26 are provided by it. If desired, the choice of face 6 which is to receive a subsequent play element 5 may be determined by rolling the body 3 as described above.

An alternative is to require the ten diamond shaped areas 36 on the body 3 to be occupied by particular insignia (see Fig 3). Clearly many modifications of the illustrated embodiment are possible, particularly in the shape of the play elements 5 and type of indicia 18 associated therewith, for example. Similarly, various schemes or rules for play and scoring systems could be adopted.

A further alternative game is to apply "blank" play elements 5 to all faces 6 of the body 3 and to roll the body 3 to determine which "blank" be replaced by a biassing element 5 having insignia thereon.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 is particularly suitable for use in a game in which the body may be hand held (by, for example, having a height of about 5 or 6 cm). As an alternative a much larger body can be emplo yed, which has a height of tens of centimetres or perhaps several feet, and which is more likely to be rolled than thrown. In such cases the body is suitably constructed from a relatively lightweight material, for example a foamed synthetic material. In these embodiments it may also be more practical to employ alternative means for releasably securing the elements to the body. An example comprises a barbed fastener with hook-like formations associated with an element and loop like formations with the body, or vice versa. Such larger bodies are particularly, attractive to young children and may be used in educational games and exercises.