Abstract:
Three-dimensional game devices and methods of their use and manufacture are provided. One game device is disclosed for use with a plurality of game pieces and includes a three-dimensional pathway segmented into a plurality of distinct spaces in which the game pieces fit. The pathway rises and falls in elevation with at least one portion of the pathway passing over at least one other portion of the pathway such that the game pieces pass over the underlying portion and under the overlying portion when traveling along the pathway. The pathway is at least partially defined in a housing. An entrance portion of the pathway may be sloped downwardly and at least partially covered; and an exit portion of the pathway may be sloped downwardly, at least partially covered, and include an opening through which the game pieces pass to exit the pathway.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Game devices, and particularly board games, are very popular. Examples of prior art board games include Chutes And Ladders® and Candy Land™ both marketed by Hasbro, Inc. of Rhode Island. These and other such games typically use a two-dimensional playing surface having a path marked thereon and tokens or other game pieces for moving along the path to a finish line. The games are often distinguished by the indicia on the playing surface, the aesthetic configuration of the game pieces, and the method of selecting where game pieces are to be moved. 
     SUMMARY 
     Three-dimensional game devices and methods of their use and manufacture are disclosed. In one embodiment, a game device is provided for use with a plurality of game pieces. The game device includes a three-dimensional pathway segmented into a plurality of distinct spaces in which the game pieces fit. The pathway rises and falls in elevation with at least one portion of the pathway passing over at least one other portion of the pathway such that the game pieces pass over the underlying portion and under the overlying portion when traveling along the pathway. The pathway is at least partially defined in a housing. 
     In another embodiment, a game system includes a primary portion and an entry portion. The primary portion has a pathway segmented into a plurality of distinct spaces, and at least part of the pathway is recessed inside a housing. The entry portion has an opening, and a slide extends downwardly from the entry portion opening to the pathway in the primary portion. A plurality of game pieces are configured to pass through the entry portion opening, the slide, and the primary portion pathway; and at least one selection device is provided for determining advancement of the game pieces. 
     In still another embodiment, a method of playing a game includes the steps: (a) placing a game piece on a first slide and allowing the game piece to move along the first slide and come to rest at one of a plurality of spaces along a pathway; (b) moving the game piece along the pathway in accordance with guidance from at least one selection device; and (c) placing the game piece on a second slide and allowing the game piece to move along the second slide and exit the pathway through a covered opening. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of portions of a three-dimensional game device according to one embodiment of the invention, at a use configuration. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the game device of  FIG. 1 , at the use configuration. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional slice taken from section  3 - 3  marked in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4   a  shows a portion of a pathway of the game device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4   b  shows a portion of a pathway of a game device according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows a portion of the game device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional slice of an exit portion of the game device of  FIG. 1 , at a storage configuration. 
         FIG. 7   a  shows a plurality of game pieces for use in the game device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7   b  shows another plurality of game pieces for use in the game device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7   c  shows yet another plurality of game pieces for use in the game device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 7   c  illustrate three-dimensional game devices  100 , according to various embodiments. One device  100  includes game pieces  110 , a selection device  120 , and a pathway  140 . In some embodiments (such as shown), the game pieces  110  are selected to represent food items and the pathway  140  is configured to represent a human digestive system. 
     Focusing first on the game pieces  110 , the game pieces  110  may be configured in a variety of ways. In some embodiments, the game pieces  110  may be three-dimensional representations of items (e.g., three-dimensional representations of food, as shown in  FIG. 7   a ). In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 7   b , the game pieces  110  may be tokens distinguished from one another by color, indicia (e.g., food indicia), and/or other identifying characteristics. And in still other embodiments, the game pieces  110  may be beanbag-type items ( FIG. 7   c ) distinguished from one another by color, indicia (e.g., food indicia), and/or other identifying characteristics. Other types of game pieces  110  may also be appropriate (e.g., marbles or blocks having images of food thereon or visibly encased therein), though the game pieces  110  should be sized to fit throughout the pathway  140  as discussed below. 
     The selection device  120  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to be a spinner  120   a . The spinner  120   a  includes a field  122  of options  122   a  ( FIG. 1 ) and an arrow  124  that rotates about an axis  125  to selectively point at one of the options  122   a . Other appropriate selection devices  120  may include one or more die, a deck of cards, and/or any other selection device (whether now known or later developed). In some embodiments, the selection device may simply point a user to take a certain movement. In other embodiments, the selection device may include a further interactive component such as a question that must be correctly answered before the user may take the movement. 
     Attention is now directed to the pathway  140 . The pathway  140  extends in three dimensions, with some portions passing directly above other portions. As noted above and as can be seen from the drawings, the pathway  140  in the embodiment  100  is configured to represent a human digestive system. While the pathway  140  may clearly be an abridged version of the human digestive system, it may nevertheless be desirable for each distinct part of the digestive system to be present in some manner, and it may further be desirable for the distinct parts to be generally proportional in some manner (e.g., diameter). In some embodiments, it may by particularly desirable for the distinct parts of the digestive system to be represented in a generally anatomically correct manner except for the length of the large and small intestines. 
     The pathway  140  of the embodiment  100  may be conceptually separated into three portions: an entrance portion  142 , a primary portion  152 , and an exit portion  172 . The entrance portion  142  includes a representation of a human head  143  having an open mouth  144 , and a downwardly-sloping tunnel  145  extends from the mouth  144  to the primary portion  152  of the pathway  140 . The entrance portion  142  may be generally formed with (or fixedly coupled to) the primary portion  152 , or (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) it may be a separate piece that is temporarily positioned to form a unitary passage for the pathway  140 . In some embodiments, at least one overlay  148  ( FIG. 2 ) is provided that may be placed atop the head  143  to provide a different appearance. For example, overlays  148  may be provided to alter the race, gender, or age of the represented person. The overlays  148  may include an open mouth  149  that corresponds to the open mouth  144 , allowing access to the tunnel  145  even when the overlay  148  is positioned atop the head  143 . 
     The primary portion  152  of the pathway  140  is formed inside a housing  150  having an upper surface  150   a  (which may, but need not, be generally planar) and an external perimeter  150   b , and at least part of the pathway  140  extends below the upper surface  150   a  such that the pathway  140  forms an uncovered tunnel. Different portions of the pathway  140  may be located at different relative heights inside the housing  150 , causing the pathway  140  to raise and fall. Moreover, the pathway  140  may be segmented into distinct spaces  153  through indicia  154   a  ( FIG. 4   a ), ridges  154   b  ( FIG. 4   b ), a combination of indicia  154   a  and ridges  154   b , or other acceptable divider. While each space  153  may be configured to hold at least one of the game pieces  110 , the spaces  153  need not be all of the same shape or size. Different parts of the digestive system may also be highlighted through indicia. For example, the spaces  153  forming the esophagus, stomach, small intestines, and large intestines may have a distinct color or outline. 
     The housing  150  may be constructed in various manners. For example, the housing  150  may be vacuum formed, blow molded, stamped, or cast to define a hollow housing with a relatively thin but sturdy sidewall. While the housing  150  may alternately be formed in a manner that is generally not hollow, the additional material and weight added by such configurations may be undesirable. In some embodiments, the housing  150  may define cavities  158  ( FIG. 2 ) separate from the pathway  140  for securing elements (e.g., game pieces  110 , selection devices  120 , etc.) when not in use. The cavities  158  may be either covered cavities, such as cavity  158   a , or uncovered cavities, such as cavity  158   b.    
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , some parts of the pathway  140  (e.g., upper portion  155 ) may extend above the housing upper surface  150   a  and other parts of the pathway  140 , further conveying the three-dimensional and interweaving relationship of the illustrated digestive system. These upper portions  155  may be constructed separately from the housing  150 , and may be fitted into place on the housing  150  either before being provided to the user or by the user after purchase. The upper portions  155  may be adhered to the housing  150 , snapped to the housing  150 , or coupled to the housing  150  in any other permanent or temporary manner, whether now know or later developed.  FIG. 5  shows an example snapping configuration, with tabs  159   a  on the upper portion  155  configured for insertion in voids  159   b  in the housing  150 . 
     Turning now to the exit portion  172  ( FIG. 2 ), the exit portion  172  may include a covered pathway section  174  leading game pieces  110  out of the housing  150  to signify excretion of the processed food and that the digestive processes (as well as the game) are completed. Much like the upper portions  155  of the pathway  140 , a covering  176  may be constructed separately from the housing  150  and subsequently coupled to the housing  150 . 
     In some embodiments, the housing  150  is contained in a box  180  (e.g., a cardboard box) having lower and upper portions  182 ,  184 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . In such embodiments, it may be desirable for sidewalls  182   a  of the lower portion  182  to extend sufficiently high to prevent the upper portion  184  from resting on the pathway upper portions  155  when the box upper portion  184  is located atop the box lower portion  182 . To allow the housing to be used without being removed from the box  180 , a hole  188  in the box lower portion  182  may align with an end  174   a  of the covered pathway section  174 , allowing game pieces  110  to pass through the exit portion  172  and out of the box  180  (when the box upper portion  184  is removed). 
     To use the three-dimensional game device  100 , an overlay  148  ( FIG. 2 ) is placed atop the head  143  if desired and at least two players each select a respective game piece  110 . The first player places his game piece  110  through the mouth  144 , and the game piece  110  slides through the downwardly-sloping tunnel  145  until it lands on a space  153  of the pathway  140 . The second player then places his game piece  110  through the mouth  144 , and that game piece  110  also slides through the downwardly-sloping tunnel  145  unit coming to a rest on a space  153 . Under one set of rules, the game pieces may interact with one another, and may bump each other forwards or backwards; in such gameplay, the game pieces  110  of the first player may be moved forwards or backwards during the second player&#39;s turn, and the first player then resumes play from the new location. 
     After both players have begun by using the tunnel  145 , the players alternately use the selection device  120  to determine how many spaces  153  to advance the game pieces  110 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the selection device  120  may allow the players to respectively advance (i.e., by obtaining a “1”, “2”, or “3”), may cause the players to respectively move backwards (i.e., by obtaining a “−1”), or may cause the players to respectively lose a turn (or, in other words, simply remain still, by obtaining a “LT”). The options for advancement shown in the embodiment  100  are in no way limiting. 
     As the game pieces  110  advance, the slope of the pathway  140  may cause the game pieces  110  to advance or retreat along the pathway  140  from one space  153  to another space  153 , and the game pieces  110  will eventually pass below and above other portions of the pathway  140 . In addition, indicia on the spaces  153  may cause the game pieces  110  to advance or retreat along the path  140 , or to remain at a space  153  and miss a turn. 
     Once a game piece  110  reaches the exit portion  172 , the game piece  110  passes downwardly through the covered pathway section  174  and out of the housing  110  (and the box  180 , if the box  180  is present). The player whose game piece  110  passes out of the housing  110  first may be declared the winner. By passing along the three-dimensional path  140 , the players may learn the portions of the digestive system and obtain an appreciation for the intertwined nature of the various parts, all while being enjoyably entertained. 
     After use, all elements may be located inside the box  180 , and the box  180  may allow the game to be securely stored. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. The specific configurations and contours set forth in the accompanying drawings are illustrative and not limiting.