1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to game devices and more particularly a spherical dice apparatus wherein the random numbers which may turn up when a die is rolled are located on the outer surface of a sphere as opposed to the sides of a cube as is well known in a conventional die. The filed of the present invention further relates to modifications to a die to vary the method by which a random number may be turned up upon the roll of the spherical die.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional and well known die is a small cube marked on each face with from one to six spots and used, usually in pairs, in various games and in gambling by being shaken and thrown to come to rest at random on a flat surface.
In general, variations on the convention die concept have been created and patented in the prior art. The following patents and patent publications are illustrated of the known prior art:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 973,595 issued to Wahlin in 1910 for "Spherical Dice". PA1 2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,978 issued to David in 1985 for "Dice And Games". PA1 3. U.S. Pat. No. 1,593,907 issued to Madan in 1925 for "Game Device". PA1 4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,883 issued to Silverman in 1989 for "Game Apparatus And Dice Construction Therefor". PA1 5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,351 issued to Baker in 1979 for "Die-Resembling Game Cube". PA1 6. U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,778 issued to Willis et al in 1987 for "Political Game Utilizing Die With Interchangeable Faces". PA1 7. U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,932 issued to Conrad in 1965 for "Lawn Dice Having Finger Holes". PA1 8. U.S. Pat. No. 809,293 issued to Friedenthal in 1906 for "Game Apparatus". PA1 9. German Offenlegungsschrift No. 3425 102 A1 published in 1986.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,400,932 to Conrad for "Lawn Dice Having Finger Holes" illustrates a dice with a spherical member 10 disposed therein. The dice has a hollow interior having the shape of a truncated octahedron which contains a ball having an eccentric center of gravity. This is basically a lawn die which can be rolled by hand and which will automatically right itself on one of the flat outer faces. This spherical member has an eccentric weight embedded in the surface sot hat the ball rolling around within the hollow interior will impart a wobbly or eccentric motion to the die which will not only provide entertainment for use thereof, but will render it impossible for the player to predict by expertness of rolling same which of the surfaces will come up.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,778 to Willis is relevant because it shows a changeable eight-sided die. The section inside the die are magnetically attached.
U.S. Pat. No. 973,595 to Wahlin for "Spherical Dice" also discloses a spherical dice. A spherical body 5 is inserted inside the ball. The spherical body is made of heavy material. The sphere also contains various recesses inside it so that the ball can fall on one of the recesses thereby causing a number on the sphere to come up.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,978 to David for "Dice And Games" discloses die configurations which have an outer shell in which a balanced weight is positioned. Also provided is a die construction with manual and/or chance adjustments.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,593,907 to Madan for "Game Device" discloses a die construction of interest in as much as die body 6 is disposed within die 5. The interior die rolls within the exterior die and is also transparent so that both die faces can be seen.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,883 to Silverman is relevant in that it illustrated various shapes of dice in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,351 to Baker illustrated a dice assembly with a ball in it.
U.S. Pat. No. 809,293 to Friedenthal for "Game Apparatus" discloses an odd shaped piece of dice.
German Offenlegungsschrift discloses a dice having a hollow interior.
While overall the concept of having an interior rotating device is shown as described in a number of the above Patents, what is not shown is the concept of having an interchangeable internal piece which causes the circular die to land in a particular location by having a circular weight land inside the interchangeable piece. What is further not shown is the concept of an interchangeable external shell.
There is a need for the improvements of the present invention which permit games of chance to be modified in difficulty through variation of the playing piece such as the dice.