Abstract:
A BOGGLE brand word game apparatus having a plurality of dice enclosed in an interior chamber formed in upper and lower container shells. The object of the game is for each player to find as many three and four letter words as possible formed by adjoining dice before three minutes expire. A point system determines the winner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a game apparatus, and more particularly, to a game apparatus with a closed but rotatable container in which is placed a plurality of playing pieces bearing indicia for easy and efficient play of such games as word games, where the playing pieces are dice with a letter on each face of each die. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The word game marketed under the trademark BOGGLE, marketed by Hasbro, is a well-known word forming game. Currently, one form of the BOGGLE brand word game includes an openable container having a partitioned dice tray, a removable transparent shell cover, a plurality of generally cubic-shaped dice, each side of which contains a letter, and a timer in the form of a plastic hourglass. The BOGGLE brand game is played by positioning the shell on the dice tray, followed by a vigorous shaking of the container. The shaking causes the letter bearing dice to be reoriented in a random fashion. An additional gentle shake of the shell covered tray may be needed to align the dice with a grid made by the partitioned tray, and thereafter, the timer is started. The players then try to form as many three and four letter words from adjoining dice in the container as possible within a specific time period, usually three minutes. A point system determines the winner. The BOGGLE brand word game is very successful in the marketplace and has been sold for decades. 
     Other word games and the like, using containers and dice have been patented over the years. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,526,123 to Dawson, for a “Dice Game Device” purports to disclose a word forming game having a shakable hollow body, a portion of which is transparent, and having a plurality of compartments containing the dice. After being shaken, a player attempts to form words from the dice visible through the top of the hollow body. Another U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,847, to Compton, for a “Dice Tumbling Chamber With Timer” purports to disclose a first chamber in a transparent box having dice and several rods for the dice to strike when the box is shaken, and a second chamber having a timing glass. Each die has a letter of the alphabet formed on each face of the die. The game is played by an inversion of the box. Inversion causes the dice to fall against the rods and tumble before coming to rest at the bottom of the box, causing a random arrangement of the dice. Inversion also causes the timer to begin a new timing cycle. Thereafter, players try to form as many words as possible from letters on upturned faces of the dice within the time allotted by the timing glass. 
     Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,503, to Golick for a “Puzzle Game” purports to disclose a box with a transparent front wall enclosing a plurality of dice, each die bearing a visually distinguishing feature. The object of the game is to arrange the dice by manipulating the box so that the visually distinguishing features of the dice are in a selected order. Another U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,796, to Monson, for a “Dice Shaker” purports to disclose a dice shaking device including a box with a transparent front wall, an interior with a slotted partition and two chambers. To one side of the partition is a display chamber and to the other side of the partition is a dice mixing chamber. The tumbled dice are passed one at a time through the slot in the partition from the mixing chamber to the display chamber so that the dice can be displayed to the game players. 
     A further example of patents illustrating dice games is found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,580 to Pasquine for a “Variable Dice Game Device” that purports to disclose a generally transparent box having four compartments of which one compartment is covered on one side. A ten-sided die is located in each compartment, each die having a number from 1 to 9 and 0 formed on each of the die faces. Play begins by agitating the box and the dice so that one side of the box displays three random generated numbers and the other side of the box, four random generated numbers. Still another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,173, to Stern for a “Device For The Random Selection Of Letters And Game Utilizing Same” which purports to disclose a transparent box having a plate with holes mounted in the box so as to divide the box interior into a lower chamber and an upper chamber. Both chambers are filled with a liquid and the upper chamber is also filled with a plurality of balls. The diameter of each ball is slightly larger than the diameter of the holes in the plate, and each ball is filled with a gas having a lower specific gravity than the liquid. Each ball is also printed with a letter. The box is shaken and then placed in an inverted position so that the balls rise. Some of the balls will randomly and partially enter the holes in the plate. Various word games may be played based on the letters on the balls in the holes. 
     Still another word game patent is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,136, entitled “Alpha Cubes Game” where five different color dice are provided with one die bearing vowels on the die faces, and four other dice provide different combinations of twenty-four consonants. The players take turns rolling one of the dice and “banking” the letter or blank that is rolled. A point system accorded to words created by each player from the banked letters results in a winner when a predetermined score is reached. Another word game is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0230914, entitled “Word Game Apparatus,” listing Campbell as the inventor. The game includes a bag, a scoop for each player, a plurality of game pieces in the bag, with each piece bearing a letter, and a timer. The game begins by each player removing game pieces from the bag using the scoop and thereafter words are formed from the pieces possessed by each player within a specific time period. Yet another word game is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0285338, entitled “Timer And Dice Games.” The disclosed game purports to include a game board, a twenty-sided letter die, a six-sided bonus die, a timer, a tile tray and work tiles. Using this equipment allows a traditional word game like that of the SCRABBLE brand word game to be played. 
     Different, more stimulating and more attractive devices are often sought to refresh existing games to appeal to new and as well as to older generations of players. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, advantageous apparatus and methods are provided for games, especially word games, that are easy to operate, aesthetically pleasing, simply and robustly constructed, and have great play value. Described embodiments include a BOGGLE word game. One such embodiment relates to a game apparatus including a first container shell, a second container shell connected to the first container shell, the first and the second container shells being relatively rotatable and forming together a viewable interior chamber having an adjustable volume, and a plurality of playing pieces located in the interior chamber, wherein relative rotation of the first and the second container shells in first and second directions cause the interior chamber to alternate between a first volume to enable the plurality of playing pieces to be randomly reoriented and a second volume to enable the plurality of playing pieces to be confined. 
     The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the game apparatus including the steps of engaging first and second structures, each of the first and second structures having a flange to enable a connection between the first and the second structures and to enable relative rotation between the first and the second structures, mounting a third structure having side walls and slanted walls, connecting the first structure to an upper container shell of the game apparatus for capturing the third structure and for forming a portion of an interior chamber, placing a plurality of playing pieces into the portion of the interior chamber, mounting a fourth structure to the second structure to enable an adjustable volume for the interior chamber, and connecting a lower container shell to the second structure for closing the game apparatus and for enabling the interior chamber to be expanded and contracted by the relative rotation of the upper and the lower container shell. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings and description illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, from which the invention, its structure, its construction, its operation, it process and its many related advantages may be readily understood and appreciated. 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a word game apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the word game apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic cross-section view of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , with an expanded interior chamber. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic cross-section view like that shown in  FIG. 4 , but with the interior chamber in a contracted configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a scaled down, exploded isometric view of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , including an upper container shell, a lens, a collector of playing pieces, a collar for attachment to the upper container shell, a platform for the playing pieces, an alignment plate for the playing pieces, a cam for moving the platform, a lower container shell, a switch, a timer, a transducer, and a battery. 
         FIG. 7  is a downward looking isometric view of a top portion of the upper container shell of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a downward looking isometric view of a bottom portion of the upper container shell shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a downward looking isometric view of the lens of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 10  is a downward looking isometric view of a top portion of the collector of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 11  is a downward looking isometric view of the collector shown in  FIG. 10 , turned upside down. 
         FIG. 12  is a downward looking isometric view of a top portion of the collar of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 13  is a downward looking isometric view of the attachment collar shown in  FIG. 12 , turned upside down. 
         FIG. 14  is a downward looking isometric view of a top portion of the cam of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 15  is a downward looking isometric view of the cam shown in  FIG. 14 , turned upside down 
         FIG. 16  is a downward looking isometric view of the platform of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 17  is a downward looking isometric view of the alignment plate of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 18  is a downward looking isometric view of a top portion of the lower container shell of the word game apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
         FIG. 19  is a downward looking isometric view of the lower container shell shown in  FIG. 18 , turned upside down and illustrating in a compartment, the timer, the switch, the transducer, and the battery. 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom plan view of a cover for the compartment of the lower container shell. 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom plan view of a battery cover for the compartment cover. 
         FIG. 22  is a plan view of sixteen dice playing pieces shown in flatten illustration to show the various letters on the dice faces. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments set forth in the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents and alternatives, however, will appear readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the form of a BOGGLE word game apparatus  10  including a first or upper container shell  12  and a second or lower container shell  14 . Housed within the upper and the lower container shells are a plurality of playing pieces in the form of generally cubic shaped dice  16 , with each die bearing a letter of the alphabet (except for the letters “Qu” on one of the die faces) on each of six die faces. The upper and the lower container shells  12 ,  14  are connected to form an interior chamber  18 ,  FIGS. 4 and 5 , for the dice  16 . The chamber has an interior volume that is adjustable as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In  FIG. 4 , the volume of the chamber is shown in an expanded or enlarged configuration, whereas in  FIG. 5 , the volume of the chamber is shown in a contracted configuration. The reasons for the adjustable volume will be explained in more detail below. Also, within the apparatus are an electronic timer  20  and a switch  22  as will also be explained in more detail below. In the alternative, numbers, pictures and/or designs may be placed on the play pieces and other game objectives besides word formations may be sought. The game apparatus may use a manual timer and, therefore, have no use for an electronic timer, a transducer, or a battery. 
     An exploded view of the game apparatus  10  is shown in  FIG. 6  (but without the dice playing pieces) and includes the upper container shell  12 , the lower container shell  14 , the timer  20  and the switch  22 . Mounted to the container formed by the upper and the lower container shells  12 ,  14 , are a transparent lens  30 , a collector  32  for the dice, a platform  34  for the dice, an alignment plate  36 , a collar  38  for connecting the lens and the collector to the upper container shell, and a cylindrically shaped cam  40  for moving the platform. A bottom cover  42  is fastened to the lower container shell  14  and a battery cover  44  is removably fastened to the bottom cover  42 . The terms “upper”, “lower” and “bottom” are used here throughout because the word game disclosed is played with a view of the dice through the top of the apparatus as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . For that reason, when in play the orientation of the game apparatus is like that shown in  FIG. 2 . During the time that the dice are shaken, the apparatus may be turned in any and/or many attitudes before returning the apparatus to a level surface, such as a tabletop  46 , in the position shown in  FIG. 2 . In the alternative, some games may not operate in the same way and the apparatus may not necessarily have a traditional top and bottom. Instead, such an apparatus may have a first side and a second side. 
     The upper container shell  12  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The upper container shell  12  has a somewhat convex shape (best seen in  FIG. 2 ) with a large, generally square shaped central opening  50  for mounting the transparent lens  30 . A small alignment hole  52  is formed in the upper container shell  12  to align the transparent lens  30  with the upper container shell. A small alignment wall  54  is formed on a bottom or inner surface  56  of the upper container shell and is provided for aligning the collector  32 . Three smaller alignment walls  58 ,  60 ,  64  are spaced every ninety degrees from the alignment wall  54  to align the collar  38 . A border edge  66  around the opening  50  is also provided to help align the lens  30 . Four fastener posts  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76  are provided to received fasteners, such as screws  78 ,  FIG. 6 , for connection of the collar  38  to the upper container shell. The upper container shell  12  includes a circular peripheral edge  80 , and a top surface  82 , where the top surface  82  may be shaped, designed and/or colored to enhance aesthetic appeal. A trademark  84  may also be incorporated in the design. The upper container shell  12  may be formed of any suitable plastic and all of the various parts described above may be molded as one piece. In the alternative, the upper container shell may be made of a transparent material obviating the need for the central opening. 
     The transparent lens  30   FIG. 9 , has a slight convex shape with a generally square shaped central viewing portion  90  that includes a stepped border  92  to mate with the border edge  66  of the central opening  50  of the upper container shell  12 . The lens includes a peripheral border  94 , four mounting wings  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102 , and an alignment projection  104  to which is mounted a light transmitting alignment peg  106 . The mounting wings  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102  engage the inner surface  56  of the upper container shell, and the alignment peg  106  of the lens is received by the alignment hole  52  in the upper container shell. The transparent lens  30  functions like a window to allow a view of the dice  16  in the interior chamber  18 , and the transparent lens also functions as a top wall of the interior chamber  18 . The transparent lens may be formed of any suitable clear plastic. In the alternative, if the upper container shell is transparent there will be no need for the lens. 
     The collector  32 ,  FIGS. 10 and 11 , includes a generally square shaped upper mantle  110  having a square opening  112  to align the dice in a four by four array, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The collector  32  also includes four vertically disposed sidewalls  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  and four slanted walls  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128 . The sidewalls also form, partially, the interior chamber  18  for the dice. One of the sidewalls, the sidewall  114 , is formed with an extended actuator post  130  to engage and move a switch actuator as will be described in more detail herein below. The slanted walls  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128  extend from the sidewalls  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 , respectively, to a stepped border  132  around the square opening  112  at about a forty-five degree angle. An indentation  134  is formed in the mantle  110  to align the collector  32  with the small alignment wall  54  of the upper container shell  12 , whereby the collector is aligned with the upper container shell and prevented from rotation relative to the upper container shell. The stepped border  132  on the mantle  110  engages the stepped border  92  of the viewing portion  90  of the transparent lens  30 . In assembly, the mantle  110  bears against the wings  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102  of the lens to maintain the lens in position against the upper container shell  12 . The collector may be formed of any suitable material and molded or made as one piece. In the alternative, the shape and size of the collector may be altered as a function of the playing pieces to be housed and manipulated in the apparatus. 
     The collar  38 , shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , is in the general shape of a ring. Four fastener arms  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  extend laterally from a cylindrical body  148  and align with the four fastener posts  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76  of the upper container shell  12 . The fastener arms of the collar receive fasteners, such as the screws  78 ,  FIG. 6 , that attach the collar to the upper container shell with the lens  30  and the mantle  110  of the collector sandwiched between the collar and the container shell. A large loop  150  extends from the body  148  and is positioned to enclose the light transmitting alignment peg  106  of the lens  30 . Three smaller loops  152 ,  154 ,  156  are spaced about the circumference of the ring and function to engage the cam  40  as will be explained in more detail below. Four evenly spaced recesses  160 ,  162 ,  164 ,  166  are formed in an upper edge  168  of the body  148  for straddling the four mounting wings  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102  of the lens  30  for capturing the lens when the collar is assembled to the upper container shell. A laterally extending bottom flange  170  is formed on an inside surface  172  near a bottom edge  174  of the collar. The bottom flange  170  and the smaller loops  152 ,  154 ,  156  cause the cam  40  to be engaged and captured by the collar  38  whereby the cam is able to rotate relative to the collar, but is not able to disengage from the collar without disassembly of the apparatus. The collar may be made of any suitable material and may be molded as one piece. 
     The cam  40 , shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , is formed in a generally cylindrical shape having four helical grooves  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186  formed in an inner surface  188 . The cam  40  includes an outer surface  190  having a laterally extending flange  192  positioned near a top edge  194  to engage the flange  170  of the collar  38 . Four evenly spaced fastener sleeves  196 ,  198 ,  200 ,  202  are formed about the outer surface  190  to facilitate connection of the cam  40  with the lower container shell  14 . The four fastener sleeves  196 ,  198 ,  200 ,  202  of the cam are also used to engage the collar and prevent separation once assembled. The four fastener sleeves are received by the large and small loops  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  156  of the collar  38  to allow the cam  40  to be passed through the ring-like collar  38  until the flange  192  of the cam  40  engages or abuts the flange  170  of the collar  38 . Once assembled, the cam is connected to the collar after the cam or the collar is twisted slightly to misalign the fastener sleeves of the cam and the loops of the collar. Even though the cam is captured by abutment of the flanges, the cam is still able to rotate relative to the collar. The cam may also be made of any suitable material. 
     The platform  34  is shown in  FIG. 16 , in more detail. The platform includes a flat plate  210  with a generally square shape and a series of slot openings in a row and column pattern, such as the row slot opening  212  and the column slot opening  214 . At chamfered corners  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222  of the platform, are laterally extending tabs  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236 . Each tab of the platform is arranged to engage one of the four helical grooves  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186  of the cam  40 , and the platform functions as a cam follower. Rotating the cam  40  causes movement of the platform toward and away from the lens  30 . The platform  34  also completes the interior chamber  18 . The lens  30  forms the top of the chamber, the platform  34  forms the bottom, and the walls  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  of the collector  32  form the sides. When viewed in the attitude of  FIG. 2 , the lens  30  and the platform  34  are generally horizontally disposed and the walls  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120  of the collector are generally vertically disposed. 
     The platform  34  moves vertically when driven by rotation of the cam  40  such that the interior chamber is made larger or smaller as a function of the position of the movable platform. When the platform is in a first or lower position as shown in  FIG. 4 , the interior chamber is enlarged or expanded and the dice have room to be randomly oriented by shaking the container formed by the upper and the lower container shells. When the platform  34  is moved to a second or upper position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the interior chamber  18  is contracted so that the dice are confined as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . 
     Below the platform  34 , is the alignment plate  36 ,  FIG. 17 . The alignment plate is square shaped with chamfered corners  240 ,  242 ,  244 ,  246  and a plurality of upstanding tabs, such as the tabs  248  and  250 . The upstanding tabs are arranged in a row and column pattern, and are aligned with the slot openings in the platform  34 , such as the slot openings  212 ,  214  being aligned with the upstanding tabs  248 ,  250 . When the platform is in its lower position, the upstanding tabs of the alignment plate extend through the slot openings of the platform and help align the dice after they are shaken. When the platform is raised, the alignment plate remains resting on the lower container shell  14  and the upstanding tabs disengage from the slot openings of the platform. 
     The lower container shell  14 , shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , has a somewhat rounded shape like the upper container shell  12 , but is configured with a flat outer bottom surface  260 ,  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The lower container shell is also configured to complement the upper container shell to form an aesthetically pleasing container, and one of robust construction. The lower container shell  14  includes a top surface  262  to support the alignment plate  36  that rests on the top surface  262  when the container is in the position shown in  FIG. 5 . The top surface also includes an arcuate slot  264  to receive a switch actuator  266  connected to the actuator post  130  of the collector  32  for energizing the timer. The top surface  262  of the lower container shell also includes four fastener sleeves  270 ,  272 ,  274 ,  276  that align with the four fastener sleeves  196 ,  198 ,  200 ,  202  of the cam  40 . It may now be appreciated that when fasteners, such as screws  278 ,  FIG. 6 , are inserted from the bottom surface  260  of the lower container shell  14 , the lower container shell is attached to the cam and will rotate as the cam rotates. The top surface  262  is bordered by an edge  280  that lies opposite the circular peripheral edge  80  of the upper container shell  12 . 
     The bottom surface  260  of the lower container shell  14  forms a compartment  282  with the bottom or compartment cover  42 ,  FIG. 20 , to house the switch  22  and the timer  20 . The small battery cover  44 ,  FIG. 21 , is connected to the bottom cover  42 . Mounted in the arcuate slot  264  in the lower container shell is the switch actuator  266 , which is also arcuate shaped. The switch actuator  266  is connected to the actuator post  130  of the collector  32  and is driven by it. Because the collector is connected to the upper container shell, when there is relative rotation between the upper and the lower container shells, the collector  32  and the integral post  130  are also rotated, as is the switch actuator  266 . As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , when the switch actuator is in the position shown, the platform is in a lower position similar to that shown in  FIG. 4  although the platform has risen somewhat, and a leaf spring  286  of the switch  22  is restrained by the switch actuator so that the switch does not energize the timer. As the switch actuator continues to move clockwise around the slot  264 , as viewed in  FIG. 19 , the cam is raising the platform and the interior chamber is contracting. The switch actuator continues to move passed the switch and continues to constrain the leaf spring. When the platform is fully raised and the dice are confined in the four by four array shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the game is ready to begin and the switch actuator  266  has passed the leaf spring  286  allowing it to flip clockwise. The clockwise movement of the leaf spring connects the battery  288 ,  FIG. 19 , to the timer  20  and energizes the timer to begin a three minute countdown during which the game is played. A transducer  290  is also provided to indicate to the players when the time period has expired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 22 , there is illustrated the sixteen dice, such as the die  300 , in flatten form so that all of the various letters, such as the letter “T” on one of the faces  302  of the die  300 , may be readily observed. The corners of the dice are chamfered as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , to facilitate reorientation of the dice when a player shakes the apparatus. 
     When assembled, the container has a flatten rounded shape as shown in  FIG. 2  and the upper and the lower container shells  12 ,  14  are rotatable relative to one another. Stated in another manner, relative rotation means that either shell may be twisted or rotated while the other shell is held stationary. Relative rotation of the apparatus structure is accomplished by having the collar  38  fastened to the upper container shell  12 . This arrangement captures the lens  30  and the collector  32  and provides a receptacle for the dice  16 . The cam  40  is operatively connected to the collar by being engaged and captured by one another because of an abutment between the flange  170  of the collar and the flange  192  of the cam. The cam is fastened to the lower container shell  14  and the platform is engaged with the helical grooves of the cam. Therefore, holding one shell while rotating the other shell moves the platform in a perpendicular direction to the plane of rotation between the two shells and the movement of the platform causes the interior chamber to expand and contract. 
     In the alternative, the configuration of the upper and lower container shells may be designed in another geometric shape than is shown, and/or may be made of material other than plastic, a material such as wood. The dice may have other indicia on the faces of each die, such as numbers or small pictures and/or the geometry of each die may be modified. 
     In preferred operation, the lower container shell  14  is held stationary with one hand and the upper container shell  12  is rotated clockwise to place the interior chamber in its expanded configuration. When the upper container shell is rotated counter clockwise the interior chamber is placed in its contracted configuration. When the chamber is fully contracted, the timer is energized and the players will have three minutes to play the game. As mentioned, a rotation plane is formed between the upper and the lower container shells and is designated  310  in  FIG. 2 . To expand and contract the interior chamber  18 , the platform  34  is moved by the cam  40  in a direction perpendicular to the plane of rotation. The perpendicular direction is designated  312  in  FIG. 2 . 
     It should be noted that the apparatus may be broadly described by having the collar  38 , or another functionally equivalent element called a first structure; the cam  40 , or another functionally equivalent element may be called a second structure; the collector  32 , or another functionally equivalent element may be called a third structure; and the platform  34 , or another functionally equivalent element may be called a fourth structure. The first and second structures each have a flange, such as the flanges  170  and  192 , and the flanges enable the first and the second structures to be connected by an abutment of the flanges. The third structure, the platform, is received in the helical groove  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186  of the second structure to enable the platform to move up and down when there is relative rotation between the first and the second structures. 
     The BOGGLE word game disclosed above is played or operated by placing the interior chamber  18  in its expanded configuration as shown in  FIG. 4 . The interior chamber  18  is expanded by twisting or rotating the upper container shell  12 , while the lower container shell  14 , is held stationary. When viewed from plan view, the view of  FIG. 1 , the upper container shell is rotated clockwise, or while holding the upper container shell stationary, the lower container shell is rotated counter clockwise. Once the interior chamber is fully expanded, the apparatus  10  is shaken to randomly orient or reorient the dice. The apparatus may be held upright, sideways or upside down, or a combination of these attitudes while the apparatus is shaken. The apparatus is then returned to a generally horizontal position, the attitude shown in  FIG. 2 , with the apparatus then being slightly shaken, if necessary, to move the dice on the platform to a generally aligned position with the upstanding tabs of the alignment plate  36 . 
     Thereafter, the upper container shell is rotated counter clockwise to cause the platform to rise in the interior chamber, thereby contracting the chamber. The counter clockwise rotation causes the cam  40  to lift the platform  34  upwardly, the vertical direction, along the line  312  when viewed in  FIG. 2 . Lifting the platform causes the dice to move upwardly and bear against the slanted walls of the collector  32  to confine the dice into a four by four array as shown in  FIG. 1 . As rotation causes full contraction of the interior chamber, the actuator post  130  slides the switch actuator  266  beyond the leaf spring  286 . The change of position of the leaf spring causes the timer to energize. The timer is set for three minutes, although in the alternative, the timer may be set for other periods. During the three minutes the player who creates the most three and four letter words by point total, or the most words that other players do not also have, also by point total, is consider the winner. One manner of scoring is to assign one point to a three-letter word, one point to a four-letter word, two points to a five-letter work, three points to a six-letter word, five points to a seven-letter word and eleven points to an eight or more-letter word. 
     To manufacture the BOGGLE word game apparatus, the various structures, such as the upper and the lower container shells, the lens, the collector, the collar, the platform, the alignment plate, the cam, the dice, the bottom cover, and the battery cover are molded from any suitable plastic or formed of any other suitable material. The cam  40  is aligned with the collar  38  and then slipped through the collar to enable the flange  170 ,  192  of each structure to come into abutment. Thereafter, the cam and the collar are misaligned so that they do not disengage inadvertently. The lens  30  and the collector  32  are aligned in the upper container shell  12 , and the collar  38  is fastened to the upper container shell, whereby the lens and the collector are captured between the collar and the upper container shell. The dice are loaded into the partial interior chamber formed by the lens and the sidewalls of the collector. The platform  34  and alignment plate  36  are placed over the cam and the tabs  230 ,  232 ,  234 ,  236  of the platform are engaged with the helical grooves  180 ,  182 ,  184 ,  186  of the cam. The timer  20 , the switch  22  and the transducer  290  are installed in the lower container shell compartment and the lower container shell is fastened to the cam. Because the cam and the collar are captured by one another by their abutting flanges, the upper and lower container shells are connected together in a close fitting configuration. Nevertheless, the cam and the collar are able to rotated relative to each other to cause the interior chamber to enlarge and contract. 
     It is now appreciated that the game apparatus  10  is very strong and robust, but relatively inexpensive. The game apparatus is simply constructed, but is also efficient in operation. The upper and lower container shells are aesthetically pleasing and may include a distinctive and recognizable design. The apparatus is easy to operate, and intuitive. The game apparatus also has great play value, equal to existing BOOGLE game apparatus, but more fun to operate. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided features for an improved game apparatus and method of assembly. While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation. The actual scope of the invention is defined by the subsequent claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.