05/331736

08/27/1974

02/13/1973

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273/296

273/288

A63F1/00; A63F1/00

273/152.2,152.41,146,137R,137B,137C,137D,138R D34/13R,5GP

Oechsle, Anton O.

Kramer, Arnold W.

Jones, And Lockwood

What is claimed is

1. The combination of playing pieces, each of which constitutes an actual implement of play and together constituting a game, said playing pieces being relatively small, thin and flat and adapted to be thrown from a shaker for intermixing, the playing pieces being fundamentally constituted of two similar series, each piece having two oppositely disposed faces, insignia for the oppositely disposed faces being four distinctive symbols of different design, color or shape and a plurality of sequential figures, one series having one of the four symbols on one face of each of its pieces and one of the other symbols on its opposite face, the other series carrying the other two symbols in like manner, both series additionally having in common a consecutive marking of said sequential figures, each series having one sequential figure of said consecutive marking on one face of each playing piece and a different sequential figure of said consecutive marking on the opposite face thereto, there being a constant sequential interval between the figures on opposing faces of the respective pieces, whereby said combination of playing pieces, with its interlocking arrangement of insignia on opposing faces, provides the essential elements of a game for rearrangement of a random throw of all the pieces, exposing only the insignia of the uppermost faces, into five separate perfect prescribed combinations.

2. A combination game according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of sequential figures are respectively representative of sequential numerical values and wherein said sequential figure on one face of a piece differs from the sequential figure on the opposite face thereto by a constant numerical value.

3. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination of playing pieces consists of twenty four pieces and each said series of playing pieces consists of twelve pieces with the said consecutive figure sequence, common to both series, consisting of numerical representations from one through twelve, said constant sequential interval between opposing faces being a constant numerical amount; there being in addition to the two said series of playing pieces an odd twenty-fifth piece having two oppositely disposed faces, one of said faces having thereon two of the said four distinctive symbols together with a numerical representation for thirteen and the opposing face of said odd piece having thereon the other two distinctive symbols together with the numerical representation for thirteen as marked on the opposing face; whereby said five separate perfect prescribed combinations are made up of five playing pieces per combination.

4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein one of said two series of twelve playing pieces has on one face of the respective pieces as said marking sequence representative of consecutive numbers, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q; the accompanying symbol on said one face of the respective pieces being a design representation of a heart shape; the other and opposite face of said one series of respective pieces having as its distinctive symbol thereon a design representation of a spade; the numerical representation on said opposite faces differing by a constant numerical amount of six and the respective marking being 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; the other of said two series being similarly marked with a diamond symbol in place of a heart and a club symbol in place of a spade; said odd piece symbols on one face being the designs of a heart and a diamond and said numerical representation being a K, and on the opposite face of the symbols being the designs of a spade and a club along with said numerical representation also being a K, whereby said arrangement of playing pieces provides the optimum interlocking combination for rearrangement of a random throw into five pat poker hands with the highest scoring combinations.

5. The combination of playing pieces according to claim 4 wherein the playing pieces are in the form of cards.

6. A combination according to claim 3 wherein one of said two series of twelve playing pieces has on one face of the respective pieces as said marking sequence representative of consecutive numbers, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q; the accompanying symbol on said one face of the respective pieces being effected by means of a first color representation; the other and opposite face of said one series of respective pieces having as its distinctive symbol thereon a second color representation; the numerical representation on said opposite faces differing by a constant numerical amount of six and the respective marking being 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; the other of said two series being similarly marked with a third color as the symbol in place of a first color as the symbol and a fourth color as the symbol in place of a second color as the symbol; said odd piece symbols on one face being the first and third colors as the symbols and said numerical representation being a K, and on the opposite face the symbols being the second and fourth colors along with said numerical representation also being a K, whereby said arrangement of playing pieces provides the optimum interlocking combination for rearrangement of a random throw into five pat poker hands with the highest scoring combination.

7. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said combination of playing pieces consists of twenty pieces and each said series of playing pieces consist of ten pieces, said consecutive marking sequence common to both series consisting of numerical representations from one through ten, said constant sequential interval between opposing faces being a constant numerical amount; whereby said five separate perfect prescribed combinations are made up of four playing pieces per combination.

8. A combination according to claim 7 wherein said two series of pieces form a game set and wherein there are two duplicate game sets for competitive play with a variant color, hue, shape or marking of the pieces of one set to avoid intermixing of sets but otherwise having identical marking arrangement; said constant numerical amount being five by which the marking representative of numbers on the opposite respective faces differ, whereby for each set said arrangement of playing pieces provides the optimum interlocking combination for rearrangement of a random throw into said five perfect prescribed combinations with the highest scoring combinations.

9. A combination according to claim 7 wherein the four distinctive symbols are four different colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The game involves a concept of mixing one variable of thirteen sequential figures on the playing pieces against another variable of four different symbols or distinguishing characteristics. The figures and symbols are so arranged and intermixed as to provide good probabilities of making five separate perfect prescribed combinations of five pieces on each from an arrangement of twenty-five playing pieces. A variation of this, but still using the arrangement of five separate perfect prescribed combinations of playing pieces is five arrangements of four pieces each.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is made to the drawings and the description which follows:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of each of twelve game pieces with the symbol red hearts marked Ace, as one, through Queen as twelve;

FIG. 1B is a representation of the opposite face marking of the respective pieces in FIG. 1A with the symbol black spades.

FIG. 2A is a representation of twelve game pieces as in FIG. 1A, but with the marking symbol of red diamonds, Ace through Queen;

FIG. 2B is a representation of the opposite faces of the game pieces in FIG. 2A with the representation of black clubs marked as in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3A is a game piece or chip with the King represented as either the black King of clubs or spades;

FIG. 3B is the opposite side of the fame piece in FIG. 3A marked to represent either the red King of diamonds or hearts;

FIG. 4 represents an actual random throw of the chips onto a flat surface as from a shaker cup (not shown);

FIG. 5 shows the first step in arranging the random throw of FIG. 4 into an orderly sequence by suits to permit analysis, a desirable step towards solution of the game;

FIG. 6 shows the first and easiest solution of rearrangement of the random throw of FIG. 4, arranged as four Flushes and one Straight, with a score of 11 points;

FIG. 7 depicts how the same random throw of FIG. 4 can be more cleverly arranged into three Flushes, a Straight and a Straight Flush, with a core of 15 points;

FIG. 8 shows a further possible rearrangement of the random throw of the pieces in FIG. 4 into a still more clever arrangement of one Straight, two Full Houses and two Four-of-a-Kind, with a score of 21 points.

FIG. 9A shows the front face of ten playing pieces of the JUNIOR PENTAGO game version; numbered 1-10 on a red background;

FIG. 9B is a view of the opposite faces of the pieces in FIG. 9A colored blue and differing by five in number from the respective piece numbering in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a representation of ten game pieces numbered as in FIG. 9A, but green in background color;

FIG. 10B is a representation of the opposite faces of the pieces in FIG. 10A, colored yellow and differing by five from the respective piece numbering in FIG. 10A;

FIGS. 11 through 15 show an arrangement of the twenty pieces of a JUNIOR PENTAGO game set into a perfect solution (a Pentago) and also show all of the different types of "4 chip" pat hands;

FIG. 11 shows a Flush of four red facings;

FIG. 12 shows a Two Pair group, 2 twos and 2 fours;

FIG. 13 shows a Straight, consisting of four chips in sequence of any color;

FIG. 14 shows Four-of-a-Kind consisting of 4 tens; and

FIG. 15 shows a Straight Flush, consisting of a Straight and Flush combined.

ELEMENTS OF THE GAME

The basic elements of the PENTAGO game assembly consist of:

a. Two complete sets of playing pieces, each set consisting of the twenty-four pieces represented in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B plus the King whose two sides are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The basic pieces of one of the sets may be varied in color, hue or shape to avoid intermixing of player's sets but are otherwise identical with the other set in indicia arrangement;

b. Two plastic throwing cups or containers (not shown) similar to dice cups;

c. Rules of Play pamphlet (not shown).

d. Suitable packaging box (not shown).

Each PENTAGO game set consists of twenty-five pieces with approximate dimensions, see perspective showing of the chips in FIG. 1A, of 3/4 inch × 11/16 inch × 3/16 inch of a rectangular shape. The shape and dimensions are unimportant to the game except as needed for ease of handling during play of the game and may be modified. It is considered important that the chips have two opposite substantially flat surfaces or faces on which the insignia elements of the game can be imprinted or applied. The material of the chips may be any solid substance such as wood, cardboard, or plastic.

CHIP INSIGNIA

Each set of PENTAGO chips contains the essential insignia elements of a complete set of standard playing cards. One of the unique features is that both sides of each chip are utilized in such a manner that a throw from the throwing cup results in a random array of twenty-six "cards" on the upper faces of the twenty-five double-faced chips.

The twenty-five chips of each set are madeup as follows: One series of twelve chips has the playing card indicia, see FIG. 1A, Ace through Queen, marked A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J and Q together with the heart symbol. The opposite facings, see FIG. 1B, all have spade symbols with the numerical values differing by six. (Ace has a value of 1, Jack of 11 and Queen of 12.) Thus, as examples, the Ace of hearts is opposite the 7 of spades, the 2 of hearts opposite the 8 of spades, 6 of hearts over the Queen of spades, 7 of hearts over the Ace of spades and the Jack of hearts over the 5 of spades. The companion series of the other twelve chips, see FIGS. 2A and 2B, has exactly the same pattern using diamonds over clubs. The twenty-fifth chip represents the King for all four suits, with both club and spade symbols on one face, see FIG. 3A, and both heart and diamond symbols on the opposing face, see FIG. 3B, giving the player the optional use of either one of the two suits showing. This dual role of the King imparts several important benefits to the PENTAGO game as follows:

1. It permits an orderly progression of opposing numerical values, as six between, or alternatively 1, 2, 3, or 4 between, and permits the other twelve hearts over the other twelve spades. Otherwise, the odd number of thirteen pieces for the two suits would render this impossible and serve to complicate the indicia arrangement and manufacture of the game.

2. Since only twenty-five chips can be used for making a Pentago of five pat hands, the twenty-six chips that would normally be required to represent a deck of fifty-two cards are automatically reduced to twenty-five, thus eliminating any need to discard a chip but still retaining the complete "deck."

3. The optional use of two suits for the King imparts an additional flexibility in play to permit a player to achieve a Pentago solution practically every time. Out of about five hundred random throws tested a Pentago of five pat hands was obtained in all except one throw.

Extensive computations and studies, including several thousand game trials were conducted during development of the game to seek the best interlocking pattern arrangement of opposing indicia. The use of different suits on opposing faces is, for example, an important factor. With the same suit on both sides of each chip, every throw would produce six chips in each of the four suits, and result in a boring and inflexible arrangement. Numerical spreads between opposing faces of 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as 6, were extensively tested and produced satisfactory game results. However, the spread of 6 improved Straight probabilities and, together with the creation of the dual King, produced the optimum arrangement for game interest and scoring possibilities. A constant numerical difference, although not essential to the principle of the game, keeps the arrangement uncomplicated for purposes of manufacture, for players who may wish to arrange their layouts in duplicate or for preset layouts for puzzle purposes.

OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME OF PENTAGO

The objective of the game of PENTAGO is to arrange the chips, thrown at random from a "dice cup," into as many pat poker hands as possible and with the highest scoring combinations. Five pat poker hands, arranged from twenty-five chips thrown, constitute a Pentago. It is not necessary to achieve a Pentago, but only the pat hands are scored, with a bonus awarded for a Pentago solution. Scoring is as follows:

Points ______________________________________ Flush 1 Straight 2 Full House 3 Four-of-a-Kind 4 Straight Flush 5 Pentago (Five pat hands) 5 bonus

Definitions of pat poker hands in accordance with standard poker practice is repeated here for clarity:

Flush: Any five cards of the same suit, not in sequence, such as Q, 9, 8, 6, 2 of spades.

Straight: A sequence of five cards, in various suits, such as Jd, 10h, 9s, 8d, 7h. The Ace may be used with the K, Q, J, 10 or the 2, 3, 4, 5.

Full House: Any three cards of one denomination combined with two of another denomination, such as three Queens and a pair of eights.

Four-of-a-Kind: Any four cards of the same denomination, one of each suit, such as four tens. The odd or fifth card may be anything.

Straight Flush: Any five cards of the same suit in sequence, such as 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 of clubs. Includes Royal Flush.

PENTAGO may be enjoyed by one person as a challenging game of solitaire in different ways such as:

a. To achieve a Pentago of five pat hands without regard to scoring. Some solutions are very difficult and thus this game serves as an excellent type of puzzle.

b. To make a Pentago with the highest possible score. Some random throws can be arranged into several different arrangements of five pat hands, with considerable difference in scoring, depending on the skill and analysis of the player. See FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

FOR TWO PLAYERS:

Each player throws and arranges his own set of PENTAGO chips to obtain the highest possible score for each throw. The first player to reach forty points wins the game. If both players reach forty points after an equal number of throws, the highest score wins. A player may not begin another throw until his opponent has completed his arrangement and scoring. No time limit is imposed unless mutually agreed upon. When playing time is limited the game may be cut to one throw per player.

FOR FOUR OR MORE PLAYERS:

With one PENTAGO game available, comprising two sets of chips, four players can play as partners in two teams. With two games available, comprising four sets, they may play as individuals. The game rules apply as for two players. With sufficient sets available any number may play.

ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF PLAY - "HIGH HAND PENTAGO"

An alternative, simplified method of play, applicable to any number of players, is to adjudge the winner by the highest pat hand instead of scoring the hands. Value of hands is in the same order as in the scoring version, with a Straight Flush highest, a Flush lowest. When one player or team has a Pentago solution and the opponent does not, the Pentago solution wins over the non-Pentago layout regardless of the rank of the individual hands. When high hands are tied (same type of pat hand regardless of individual card rank) the winner is determined by the second highest hand, etc.

VARIANTS IN INDICIA DESIGN

Heretofore the chip markings for the PENTAGO version, as shown in FIGS. 1A through 3B, have been discussed in terms of standard playing card indicia and the pat hands in traditional poker style. Several variants of this can be employed without changing the basic game or the thought processes required in the playing.

First, regarding the numerical sequence, any orderly progression of figures which can be identified from 1 to 13 in a sequence could be employed. Thus, instead of A, 2 etc., through King, the numbers 1 through 13 could be substituted, the only effect being to make a Pentago solution slightly more difficult in some throws, as the Ace-high straights would be eliminated. The 13, however, would take the role of the dual King, each face carrying two suit symbols. Another example is a sequential arrangement of thirteen letters in alphabetical order such as A through M. In lieu of arabic numerals on the chips a "spot marking system," similar to that used on playing cards could be employed; or markings similar to those used on dice could be used. Either the numbers could be eliminated and the spots substituted or both could be used. Also, the face card chips could carry the face card head insignia in lieu of simply J, Q and K.

Regarding the playing card symbols of clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades, these could be replaced by any other four different symbols, designs, markings, shapes or by four different colors. For instance, each card suit could be replaced by a different color such as red, blue, yellow and green, as in the JUNIOR PENTAGO version of the game. For example, the Queen of hearts is replaced by a red Queen, the 6 of diamonds by a yellow 6, the 3 of clubs by a blue 3, the 8 of spades by a green 8, etc. The suit markings on the K chip are replaced by a red K and a yellow K on one side and by a blue K and a green K on the opposite side, thus retaining the dual role of the King. If numerals 1 through 13 were employed, the "13" chip would assume the dual role with different colored numeral 13's on each side.

Such variants in indicia design are considered secondary to the traditional card markings as described for the game. However, it is important to realize that the development of this PENTAGO game is not simply a type of poker but a completely new concept in games wherein one variable of thirteen consecutive figures, numbers or sequential representations is mixed against another variable of four different symbols, designs, markings or colors; the figures and symbols being so arranged and intermixed, utilizing double-faced playing pieces as to provide the challenge of regrouping into five separate perfect prescribed combinations. In PENTAGO or its variants each combination has five chips.

GAME VARIANT - JUNIOR PENTAGO

As a variant to the game which represents a simplified form for play by children the following is provided:

1. Physical Characteristics:

Same size chip and material is used. There is a total of twenty chips per set. Four colors are used instead of card suits, such as red, blue, green and yellow. The color scheme may be imposed by either coloring the numbers themselves or by coloring the background as represented by the hatching on the chips in FIGS. 9A through 10B. Numerical progression or consecutiveness is from 1 through 10 as shown by the chip markings. Numerical spread between opposing faces of chips is 5 (see FIG. 9A showing one face of a series of ten chips and FIG. 9B showing the respective opposite face markings.) The markings are 1/6, 2/7, 3/8, 4/9, 5/10, 6/1, 7/2, 8/3, 9/4 and 10/5, with a red face over a blue face for the series of ten chips shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and a green face over a yellow face for the companion series of ten chips shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B.

2. Game Objective:

Two sets of chips, each comprising twenty JUNIOR PENTAGO chips, see FIGS. 9A-10B, are provided in a game assembly for two players or teams. Each set of chips is shaken in a cup and thrown out onto a table or other flat surface. The objective of the game is to arrange the chips into as many "4 chip" pat hands as possible and with the highest scoring combinations. A solution of five pat hands is termed, as in the PENTAGO game version, a "Pentago," as illustrated in the total layout of FIGS. 11 through 15 and which also show all the various possible pat hands. In this version of the game special pat hands are prescribed for combinations of four chips for which points are awarded as follows:

Pat Hand Points ______________________________________ Flush (any four chips of one color) -- FIG. 11 1 Two Pair (such as two 4's and two 2's) FIG. 12 2 Straight (four chips in numerical sequence, any color) FIG. 13 3 Four-of-a-kind (such as four 10's) -- FIG. 14 4 Straight Flush (straight and flush combined) FIG. 15 5 Pentago (all five pat hands) FIGS. 11-15 5 bonus ______________________________________

The points are totaled and the first player to reach forty points is the winner. If more than one player has reached forty points the high score wins.

As in PENTAGO, the JUNIOR PENTAGO version may be played as a form of solitaire. Also, the "High Hand" method of play may be employed as described for PENTAGO.

3. Variant Indicia for JUNIOR PENTAGO:

For use by young children the indicia can be modified to include a different interesting symbol or diagram with each of the numerals from one to ten, repeated respectively in each of the four colors used. For example, each 7 facing might carry a tiger so that there would be a total of four tigers, one in each of the four colors. In this version the animal or other figure would be predominant in the indicia with the numbers small and inscribed in two diagonally opposite corners. A sequence of ten different animals in each of four colors could provide increased interest and appeal to the juvenile mind. Either the point scoring method or the "high hand" method of play, already described, may be used in this variation. The high hand method is particularly applicable to this form of JUNIOR PENTAGO for younger children. Thus, the child player with a high hand of four tigers wins over an opposing high hand of a pair of elephants and a pair of lions, without the complications of scoring. However, he is still encouraged to use his best mental processes to attain a Pentago solution as that combination always wins over a non-Pentago layout regardless of the individual high hands.

PURPOSE OF INCLUDING VARIATIONS

It is evident that some variations in indicia design and arrangement may be desirable, considering the wide range of age groups and mental abilities which may wish to participate in the challenge of the PENTAGO concept.

Further, a basic principle is that the JUNIOR PENTAGO version is simply an extension of the main PENTAGO game. This is shown by simply discarding five chips from a PENTAGO set, such as the four "Queen over 6" chips and the King chip. The resulting twenty chips essentially represent a JUNIOR PENTAGO set and can be used to play the game quite satisfactorily. However, the Junior version is improved in its arrangement by using a spread of 5 between opposing faces instead of 6, and this permits discarding the Jacks (as well as the Queens and Kings) and permits use of the sixes in an orderly progression from 1 to 10. Accordingly, this numerical arrangement was used for the game, along with substitution of four different colors for the four playing card suits. The basic principle of seeking five pat hands is undisturbed. Whether four or five chips are employed as pat hands is relatively unimportant to the basic PENTAGO principle. The variant game does, however, offer the opportunity of extending the game to those children who could not manage the full PENTAGO version.