GAME CARDS

Abstract: Game-cards which have an image, graphic, or information on one side, with a section, perhaps in the centre, replaced by a corresponding section from another game-card. Around one side of the replaced section is a cut, which created a flange or tab projecting in one direction, but remaining attached to the game-card at one side. When this flange is slid from beneath a similar game-card, over a similar flange or tab, cut in the opposite side of the replaced section in another image, it may complete the image on the top game-card; simultaneously, as the underside of the flange on the top card replaces the lost section on the lower surface of the lower game-card, it too may complete the graphic or information on that side.

Description: Game Cards The present invention relates to apparatus for playing a game. Companies are constantly seeking to encourage people to purchase their goods, and to encourage existing customers to purchase more. They are also constantly looking for interesting ways of presenting pictures and graphics, relating either to their products, or to promotional activities in which they are involved. Furthermore, companies are constantly looking for new ways to promote these products, and therefore there is a constant demand for inexpensive 'novelty' items which companies can give away as promotional gifts, either with or without their products. These may be simple interactive novelties, and they may also involve winning a prize of some kind. According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for playing a game, which may be a game of chance, with a prize or reward, or be a collectable item which displays pictures, graphics, logos, numbers, letters or symbols either on their own or as part of a game of chance. In the present embodiment, the apparatus would consist of two or more pieces of paper, card, plastic or any other suitable inexpensive material. These cards could be of any shape, but in the versions shown here, are rectangular. The cards would have, cut out from the centre, a section, tab or flange, which could also be of any shape, but which in the present version is a semi-circular cut which creates a tab or flange, which remains attached to the main card at one side. The basis of the game, is to match or combine in any way, the images, or information on one card with that on another card, and therefore, two cards are required, the game working by combining a pair. The game could attract a prize by matching or completing the graphics or information on one side of a combined pair, and/or both sides simultaneously, the winning combinations to be decided by the promoter. On one side of the card may be a graphic, picture, logo letters, numbers, symbols, etc, with a centre-section of the graphic, in this case a circular area, replaced by the same circular area from another graphic, picture or device, from another graphic or image. The obverse of the game-card may also carry a graphic, perhaps the name of a reward, the image of an artefact, a money prize etc. These may also be divided between two cards in the same way, i.e., the central panel, separated from the main card around one side, being replaced by a section from another card carrying different information, graphic etc. Obviously, it is envisaged that there would be a number of these images. For the purposes of showing how the apparatus works, however, two images, and two pieces of information, have been employed here, although it will be appreciated that with a great number of units, or pairs of cards, a promoter would be free to have these work in a number of different combinations, more than could adequately be described here. Since the concept works by 'pairing', there may be a number of formats for the cards: one could be cut with the tab, or flange facing towards one side, the other facing in the opposite direction. Alternatively, images may be 'inverted' or turned at different angles, keeping the cutting format the same throughout. The user would therefore, receive a card with every purchase, and when a number have been collected the user may try to find a match, first by sliding one card over another, then by sliding the tab from the card below, into the space over the tab of the other, and then by pushing the two cards together. If the image one side becomes complete or coherent, the card is turned over to see if the image or information on the other side of the assembled cards also becomes complete or coherent. The same pair may also complete information when similarly conjoined on their opposite sides. It will be appreciated also, that the theme has a number of possible variants, e.g., by locating the tab at the edge of the card, or simply by having one cut, which enables the user to slide two cards into each other to complete a graphic or information. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is the front of a game-card showing the circular panel in the centre, which carries the section of an image cut from the centre of another card (Fig.2). Fig. 2 is the obverse of Fig. 1, showing the semi-circular cut which partially separates the circular panel from the main game card, creating a tab or flange, plus the incomplete information/graphic on the central panel, and also the incomplete information on the outer part of the game card. Fig. 3 is the front of a game-card showing the circular panel in the centre, which carries the section of an image cut from the centre of another card (Fig.1). Fig. 4 is the obverse of Fig. 3, showing the semi-circular cut which partially separates the circular panel from the main game card, plus the incomplete information/graphic on the central panel, and also the incomplete information on the outer part of the game card. Fig.5 shows how the two cards slide into one another, to complete the image on the front card. Fig.6 shows the same operation from behind. Fig. 7 shows how the two cards slide into one another, to complete the image on the front card. Fig. 8 shows the same operation from behind. Fig. 9 shows the two cards fully engaged with the image on the front card complete. Fig.10 shows the obverse, with the information/graphic also complete. Fig.ll shows the two cards fully engaged with the image on the front card complete. Fig.12 shows the obverse, with the information graphic also complete. Figs. 13 & 14 show variant formats in fitting the cards together. According to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the game consists basically of any number of pairs of cards, 1, 2, which when joined in the way in which they are designed to do, may or may not complete the missing image, or part of an image, graphic, information etc, on the surface of one card, and may or may not complete the missing, image/information wholly or in part, on the obverse of the back card. Figs.1, 2, 3 and 4 show the cards 1, 2, which may be of any shape, and made in almost any material, such as paper, card, plastic etc., as they may be dispensed to the user. Fig. 1 shows the front surface of one card 1, which bears an image 9 with a circular panel 5, from the centre, replaced by a section 10A from another (Fig. 2) image 10 on the other card 2. Fig. 3 shows the front surface of the other card 2, which bears an image 10, also with a circular section 6, replaced by the corresponding section from the other (Fig. 1) image 9 on the first card 1. The circular areas, or flanges, 5, 6 are partially separated from the main card by semi-circular cuts 7, 8 running around one side of each of the circular sections 5, 6 from top to bottom. In the current embodiment, the pair of cards 1, 2 have the cut on opposite sides of the sections 5, 6, however, it will be obvious that the sections 5, 6 may carry the parts of the images 9A, 10A inverted, so that the cuts 7, 8 remain on the same side throughout Figs. 2 and 4 show the obverse of the cards, 1, 2 with the incoherent/incomplete information occupying the corresponding areas to those on the front Figs. 2 and 4 show the position of the cuts 7, 8 creating the flanges 5, 6. Fig. 5 and 6 show how the user would bring the cards 1, 2 together, in order to try to complete the image 9 on one side, and the information^ on the other. To complete the image on the front surface of the card 1, the user places card 1 on top of card 2 and pushes down on the edge nearest the cut 7 of the flange 5; next, the flange 6 on the card 2 below, is pressed upwards from beneath so that the flange 5 on the upper card 1 can slide beneath the flange 6 on card 2. As the two cards are pushed together, and the two cards merge as in a 'total eclipse' the flange 6 from the lower card 2 will be seen to wholly cover the central section of card 1. Since the central section of card 2 carries the missing section 9A of the image from the centre of card 1, the image 9 on card 1 will be seen to be completed by the section 9A on the central panel 6 from card 2. Fig. 6 shows the same operation from behind, with the information/graphic 12 being completed by the insertion of the back of the flange 5 from the card 1, over the surface of the flange 6 on the card 2. Fig. 7 and 8 show how the user would bring the cards 2, 1 together, in order to try to complete the image 10 on one side, and the informationll on the other. To complete the image on the front surface of the card 2, the user places card 2 on top of card 1 and pushes down on the edge nearest the cut 8 of the flange 6; next, the flange 5 on the card 1 below, is pressed upwards from beneath so that the flange 6 on the upper card 2 can slide beneath the flange 5 on card 1. As the two cards2, 1 are pushed together, and merge as in a 'total eclipse' the flange 5 from the lower card 1 will be seen to wholly cover the central section of card 2. Since the central section of card 1 is the missing section 10A of the image from the centre of card 2, the image 10 on card 1 will be seen to be completed by the central panel 5 from card 1. Fig. 6 shows the same operation from behind, with the information/graphic 11 being completed by the insertion of the back of the flange 6 from the card 2, over the surface of the flange 6 on the card 1. In the examples shown, the cards 1, 2 have been made up to complete each other, on both sides: however, while this may happen in the course of an actual promotion, and may attract an enhanced reward, it will be appreciated that the completions or matches will occur according to a promoter's discretion. Some pairs, for instance, may complete the image on one side, but not the other. In other cases, the 'missing' central sections may be inverted, completing the image/graphic/information on one side, but not the other, or, requiring the user to 'inverf the cards to obtain a match or completion on the other side. Figs 13 and 14 show alternative constructions of cards, pushed partially towards completion, the object being the same, i.e., completion of images/ graphics/ information, as in the embodiments already described and discussed.

Claims: CLAIMS 1) Apparatus consisting of two or more game-cards, bearing on one or both sides, an image, graphic, message or information, from which a section, which may be in the centre, or at any other position within the image, has been replaced by the corresponding section from another image, graphic, message or information, and into which a cut has been made, on one side of the replaced graphic so as to produce a flange or tab, which, when slid from beneath a similar game-card, from which a similar cut has been made on the opposite side of the central or replaced section of the image, into the space made by the corresponding flange, may complete the image on the top game-card, and may simultaneously complete the image on the bottom game-card, with the information or graphic on the flange section on the lower side of the top game-card, thus attracting a reward or prize. 2) Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, whereby a distributor may produce the game-cards in very large quantities, where the graphic or information may be completed on one side, but not on the other. 3) Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 whereby the image or graphic may be completed on both sides of the fully engaged game-cards, and where, by engaging the game-cards the other way, i.e., by taking the bottom game-card and placing on top of the game-card which was previously on the top, the engagement of the flange in the same way will also produce a completion of the graphic or information on both sides of the fully engaged game-cards, thus possibly attracting an additional reward. 4) Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, where an image is obtained for any other purpose besides attracting a reward, or prize, such as obtaining a collectible image, picture, graphic or information. 5) Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, where the flange or tab may be of any shape. 6) Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, where the flange or tab may be located at different positions within the image area. 7) Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, where there may be more than one flange or tab. 8) Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 6 and Claim 7, where the image, graphic or information on any of the image or information areas on the flange, may not be replaced by graphics or information from another game-card, but which may carry already complete image or information from if s existing setting, the completion of which may or may nor attract a prize or reward. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 16 March 2001(16.03.01); original claims 1-8 replaced by new claims 1-7 (2 pages)] 1. Apparatus consisting of two or more pieces of paper, card, plastic or the like, each piece comprising a tab or flange defined by a cut in the piece, at least a first side of each piece bearing an image, graphic, message or information, the tab or flange defining a section of said image, graphic, message or information, which section has been replaced by a corresponding section of another image, graphic, message or information, such by sliding the tab or flange of a first piece, located beneath a second piece, into the cut of the second piece and over the tab or flange thereof, the image, graphic, message or information on the second piece can be completed. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sliding of the tab or flange on the first piece into the cut of the second piece simultaneously causes the tab or flange of the second piece to complete the image, graphic, message or information on the first piece. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each piece bears an additional image, graphic, message or information on its second side and by locating the first piece above the second piece and sliding the tab or flange of each of the pieces through the cut in the other piece, the image, graphic, message or information on the second side of each of the first and second pieces can be completed. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tab or flange is in the centre of the piece. 5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tab or flange is in the centre of the image, graphic, message or information. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each piece comprises more than one flange or tab. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the completion of an image, graphic, message or information signifies that a prize has been won.

Inventors: MACKENZIE NORMAN FRASER, MACKENZIE, NORMAN, FRASER
Applicants: MACKENZIE NORMAN FRASER, MACKENZIE, NORMAN, FRASER
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A63F1
IPC codes: A63F1, A63F3