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A persons Intelligence Quotient is often tested by their spatial ability, mathematical ability, language ability and memory ability. Spatial ability is the ability to visualize the manipulation of shapes. Mathematical ability is the ability to solve problems and use logic. Language ability could include the ability to complete sentences of recognize words when letters have been rearranged or removed. Memory ability is the ability to recall things when they are presented either visually or aurally.
Children's games generally try to exercise spatial ability, mathematical ability, language ability and memory ability. One way in which children may exercise their brains is through the use of puzzles. The puzzles exercise a childs spatial ability allowing them to visualize the manipulation of shapes and fit the pieces. A puzzle may also exercise their memory ability by forcing them to remember which pieces fit where and those that do not. Mathematical and language ability may also be exercise by placing numbers and languages on the pieces or in other ways.
One problem with puzzles is that children's hands are too small to grasp the pieces. Because of this, the child may spend undue time trying to get the pieces out or attempting to lift the pieces. Accordingly, a raised piece is useful for the childs small hands to grasp the piece. However, creating raised pieces can be expensive to manufacture, difficult to attach to the game piece and can cause the puzzle pieces to no longer sit flat.
The present invention solves these problems by providing an easy to manufacture, easy to attach game piece apparatus that still allows the game piece to sit flat.
The present invention relates to puzzle and game pieces and pegs for puzzle and game pieces.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a game piece apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a first piece having a flat portion in communication with a smaller raised circular portion, the first piece having a longitudinal opening running through the flat portion and the smaller raised circular portion with an lip along the end opening of the smaller raised circular portion; a second piece having a connection portion and handle portion, wherein the connection portion consists of a first connector half having a first half cylinder with a larger first half circle in communication with the first half cylinder and a second connector half having a second half cylinder with a larger second half circle in communication with the second half cylinder, wherein the first connector half mirrors the second connector half and the first connector half and the second connector half fit inside the longitudinal opening of the first piece as to attach the second piece to the first piece with a game piece between the first piece and the second piece.
According to another embodiment, a game piece apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a first piece having a substantially circular flat portion in communication with a smaller raised circular portion, the first piece having a longitudinal opening running through the flat portion and the smaller raised circular portion with an lip along the end opening of the smaller raised circular portion, wherein the smaller raised portion is received in a slightly larger hole in the game piece to allow the flat portion to be substantially flush with the bottom of the game piece; a second piece having a connection portion and handle portion, wherein the connection portion consists of a first connector half having a first half cylinder with a larger first half circle in communication with the first half cylinder and a second connector half having a second half cylinder with a larger second half circle in communication with the second half cylinder, wherein the first connector half mirrors the second connector half and the first connector half and the second connector half fit inside the longitudinal opening of the first piece as to attach the second piece to the first piece with a game piece between the first piece and the second piece.
A game piece apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a first piece having a substantially circular flat portion in communication with a smaller raised circular portion, the first piece having a longitudinal opening running through the flat portion and the smaller raised circular portion with an lip along the end opening of the smaller raised circular portion, wherein the smaller raised portion is received in a slightly larger hole in the game piece to allow the flat portion to be substantially flush with the bottom of the game piece; a second piece having a connection portion and handle portion, wherein the connection portion consists of a first connector half having a first half cylinder with a larger graduated first half circle in communication with the first half cylinder and a second connector half having a second half cylinder with a larger graduated second half circle in communication with the second half cylinder and the handle portion is a raised circle with an angled portion in communication the top of the game piece, wherein the first connector half mirrors the second connector half and the first connector half and the second connector half fit inside the longitudinal opening of the first piece as to attach the second piece to the first piece with a game piece between the first piece and the second piece.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and claims
FIG. 1 is an elevational view according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a side view according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a bottom view according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a top view according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a side view according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a top view according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view according to the present invention; and
FIG. 10 is a side view according to the present invention.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
A game piece apparatus 10, according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-10. The apparatus has a first piece 22 having a flat portion 24 (the flat portion may be substantially circular) in communication with a smaller raised circular portion 26, the first piece 22 having a longitudinal opening running through flat portion 24 and the smaller raised circular portion 26 with an lip 28 along the end opening of the smaller raised circular portion 26. The game piece apparatus 10 has a second piece 23 having a connection portion (18, 20) and handle portion (14, 16), wherein the connection portion consists of a first connector half 18 having a first half cylinder 17 with a larger first half circle 19 in communication with the first half cylinder 17 and a second connector half 20 having a second half cylinder 40 with a larger second half circle 42 in communication with the second half cylinder 40. As shown, the first half circle 17 and second half circle 42 may be graduated having a bottom and a top, wherein the bottom is smaller than the top. In this way, the top catches on the lip 28 to connect the first piece 22 to the second piece 23. Between the lip and the outward pressure of the first half circle 17 and second half circle 42, the pieces are attached to each other and sturdy, making the apparatus firmly attached to the game piece 60. Glue may also be added to the hole in the game piece 60, to make the apparatus even more sturdy. FIG. 4 depicts the graduated nature of the first half circle (17) and second half circle (42). The first connector half mirrors (18) the second connector half (20) and the first connector half (18) and the second connector half (20) fit inside the longitudinal opening of the first piece (22) as to attach the second piece to the first piece with a game piece between the first piece and the second piece. FIGS. 8-9 depict the first connector half (18) and the second connector half (20) inside the longitudinal opening of the first piece (22) as to attach the second piece to the first piece with a game piece between the first piece and the second piece. FIG. 7 depicts a cutaway of the game piece (60). As attached the smaller raised circular portion (26) is receive in a slightly larger hole in the game piece (60) as to be substantially flush with the bottom of the game piece (60) as shown in FIG. 10.
The handle portion may be any shape including a raised circle without departing from the scope of the present invention. The handle portion may also have angled portion (16), wherein the angled portion (16) is in communication with the top of the game piece (60).
It should be understood that the foregoing relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.