Abstract:
A multi-solution dice and tile has an at least partially transparent, hollow, three-dimensional shape. The dice includes M, free-to-move, inner display members located inside the dice. Each time the dice is tossed and reaches a static display position, one or more display members are arranged on an elevated plane E, spaced apart from a lower plane L, on which other display members are arranged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Amongst the many objects used in games and other social activities two types of objects are commonly in use: dice and various configurations of tiles or gaming pieces (such as typically used in domino and mahjong). 
         [0002]    The traditional and standard dice is a cube having six faces with each face showing a single number from one to six. Standard dice have been used for ages throughout the world in dice games, board games, card games and gambling. The standard use of the word dice is referred to herein as “dice” or “die tossing”. The term “solution” is referred hereafter to the particular number or combination of numbers (as used in multi-faced dice) or marking on display on, e.g., the upper face of the dice obtained after tossing. This position, in which the dice has been tossed, and became static, or stable, is referred to herein as a display position. The numerical solution obtained in tossing the standard dice is usually limited to a random, single number, one to six. 
         [0003]    After the dice is tossed, the number and/or marking displayed on the face of the upper surface of the dice is the “solution” of the particular toss. Although, two or more dice can be tossed, in which case, the number of solutions can be increased only when adding additional dice. The numbers on the faces of a standard dice can be changed to markings (which can include and/colors), in which case the random selection in a toss is between six distinctive markings In using dice which have more than six faces, the obtained solution in a toss is the random selection between the span of numbers or markings on all the faces of the dice. As a result of this structure of the dice, the solution will always be the same when the dice falls on the associated opposite face. 
         [0004]    The term “tile” is referred to hereafter to either a tile or a block or a gaming piece (and the plural of each) used in games and other social activities. Tiles are typically used in sets with each tile of the set presenting only a permanent marking-display that can be either/or numbers, symbols, figures or colors and varies in accordance with characteristics of the use of the tiles. The marking-display is typically presented on one of the surface-faces of each of the tiles. The markings are often hidden from view by the players until they are displayed by exposure, to be seen by all. 
         [0005]    The term “solution” is referred hereafter to the particular number or numbers and/or markings displayed on a particular tile or tiles in the course of using sets or sub-sets of tiles in games and other social activities. Since the numbers and/or markings are permanent, each set or sub-set of displayed tiles generates just one solution. This solution will always be the same, when the same surface-faces of a set or sub set of tiles are exposed. 
         [0006]    Multi solution dice, in accordance with embodiments of the present application displays the equivalent of multiple possible solutions each time the dice is tossed and falls on the same surface-face, and these displays are different and random marking/displays with each toss. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the subject matter of the present invention, there is provided a multi-solution dice and tile which has an at least partially transparent, hollow, three-dimensional shape; the dice includes M, free-to-move, inner display members located inside the dice. 
         [0008]    in a static display position of the dice, one or more display members are arranged in an elevated plane E, spaced apart from a lower plane L, in which other display members are arranged. 
         [0009]    There is further described a gaming method configured for integration with dice games, comprising the steps of:
       a. determining a set of rules according to a chosen game;   b. tossing the dice;   c. after the dice reached the display position, reading, or determining, the solution of the combination of markings and/or colors according to the set of rules.       
 
         [0013]    A gaming method configured for integration with tile games, comprising the steps of:
       a. determining a set of rules according to a chosen game;   b. tossing a first dice;   c. after the dice reached the display position, tossing a second dice identical to the first dice;   d. according to the set of rules, placing the second dice alongside the first dice, wherein one viewable arrangement of inner display members of one side of the tossed dice matches in color, numbers, combinations thereof, or is identical to, the respective portion of the static dice;   e. tossing an additional dice and repeating the above sections (b) to (d).       
 
         [0019]    Any of the following features, either alone or in combination, may be applicable to any of the above aspects of the subject matter of the application: 
         [0020]    The dice can include N&gt;4 identical portions. 
         [0021]    The elevated and lower planes E, L can be parallel. 
         [0022]    Only a single display member lies in the elevated plane E. 
         [0023]    All the inner display members have a spherical shape. 
         [0024]    Each portion can include an at least partially flat plate, each of which has inner and outer faces. 
         [0025]    The dice comprises outer faces, each of which can have at least one mark printed, painted or carved thereon. 
         [0026]    The mark can be a number. 
         [0027]    The dice is configured to statically, and stably, rest on a flat surface. 
         [0028]    N can be an even number. 
         [0029]    M can be equal to, or larger than 4. 
         [0030]    M can be 5. 
         [0031]    The three-dimensional shape can be a regular polyhedron. 
         [0032]    The three-dimensional shape can be a cube. 
         [0033]    All the inner display members can have the same diameter. 
         [0034]    Each inner display member can have a different color. 
         [0035]    In a display position, the inner display members are configured for a unitary form of arrangement adjacent a respective inner surface which is located closest to the surface on which the dice rests in the display position. 
         [0036]    The mark can be an arrow or any orientation mark. 
         [0037]    Although in the past, a die was known in the field as the singular form of dice, modern dictionaries and linguistics contend that the word dice can be used both in the plural and/or singular sense of the word. The word “dice” will therefore be referred to herein in both the plural and singular sense. According to the present example, the dice is a partially transparent cube built of durable, partially transparent, rigid material. The dice includes balls located inside of it. Each ball can have a different color and/or marking There can be two different kinds of markings on the faces of the cube:
   1. Markings that are numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors, as required for the specific use of the dice. Each face can have a different, permanent marking   2. Permanent orientation marking on each face, indicating the direction of the face of the dice relative to the balls in the cube.   
 
         [0040]    When tossed onto a level surface the dice always lands and comes to a rest on one face with the markings of the upper face visible. When the dice is tossed, the balls inside the dice are mixed. When the dice lands on one face and comes to a rest, the balls fall to the bottom of the dice and position themselves at random in a formation structure of four balls in a square and the fifth ball on top and at the center of the four balls in the square structure. 
         [0041]    When used as either a die or a tile the dice is tossed onto a level surface from either a hand or from a cup; one or more dice can be tossed together. After being tossed, the dice lands on one face and comes to a rest. When at rest the upper face of the dice displays one of six numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors markings (as used specifically) In addition, the dice displays on the upper face one of four configuration possibilities of the orientation marking on the particular surface-face. In every toss, after the dice comes to a rest, inside the dice the arrangement of a particular colored ball on top of the other balls and the placement arrangement in a square of the other colored balls is randomly determined The maximum number of different ball-arrangements is obtained when each of the balls has a different and distinct color that distinguishes it from the other four balls. The distinction between the various balls does not necessarily rely on the differences in color and can (also) be done by a permanent sign or mark on each of the balls. 
         [0042]    The term “dice solution” is referred hereafter to the particular combination of number or numbers and/or marks and/or colored ball arrangements derived from combining the solution from the upper face of the dice with the ball arrangements inside the dice after the dice comes to a rest after being tossed. 
         [0043]    dice solutions depend on the desired combinations and vary in accordance to the use of the dice. 
         [0044]    Examples of how various dice solutions can be obtained are given below. In the example each of the five balls has a different color: 
         [0045]    a) If the desired solution is represented by (only) the colored ball on top of the other four balls there are  5  possible solutions. 
         [0046]    b) If the desired solution is derived from using the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/on the faces of the dice, there are  6  possible solutions. 
         [0047]    c) If the desired solution is derived from combining the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors on the faces of dice, and the colored ball on top of the other four balls, there are  30  possible solutions. 
         [0048]    d) If the desired solution is derived from the arrangement of all five colored balls, there are  30  possible solutions. 
         [0049]    e) If the desired solution is derived from combining the orientation markings with the arrangement of all five colored balls, there are 120 possible solutions. 
         [0050]    f) If the desired solution is derived from combining the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors on the faces of the dice with the arrangement of all five colored balls, there are  180  various possible solutions. 
         [0051]    g) If the desired solution is derived from combining the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors on the faces of the dice with the arrangement of all five colored balls and with the orientation markings, there are 720 possible solutions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0052]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a multi-solution dice and tile, in accordance with an embodiment of the current application. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0053]    According to a preferred example, a dice  10  has a six-face  12 , or six-portion  12 , cube shape, which contains five balls  14 , or inner display members  14 . Each ball  14  can have a different color, or alternatively, some of the balls  14  can have an identical color. The distinction between the various balls  14  does not necessarily rely on the differences in color and can (also) be done by a permanent sign or mark  16  on each of the balls  14 . The dice  10  can be produced of a durable, at least partially transparent, and rigid material such as plastic. According to the present example, the balls  14  have the same diameter. The balls can be made of a durable and rigid material. Each of the faces  12  of the dice  10  can include a unique and permanent number  16  and/or symbol  18  and/or letter and/or shape and/or color. In  FIG. 1 , numbers  1  and  4  are displayed as examples of numbers on two different faces  16  of the six faces  16  of the semi-transparent cubic dice  10 . In addition to the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors, each face  12  can include a permanent orientation marking  18 , exemplified by arrow-heads  18  in the  FIG. 1 . 
         [0054]    The five balls  14  are enclosed in the dice  10  and can move freely within the volume of dice  10 . When the cube is tossed the balls  14  are juggled or mixed within the dice  10 . The inner volume of the dice  10  and dimensions of the balls  14  are “designed” such that after tossing, when the dice  10  comes to a rest, the 5 balls  14  always set themselves on the floor (or inner face) of the cube; a single ball  14  on top of the other four balls  14  having a square formation structure. The one ball of the five balls  14  on the top of the other balls is designated  20 , as shown in the Figure. 
         [0055]    In other words, according to the subject matter of the present invention, after the dice  10  is tossed and reaches the static, display position, four out of the five balls  14  fall into, i.e., are automatically arranged, a single possible formation, in which the four out of five balls  14  are arranged, or lie, in a single, lower plane L confined by all the adjacent, surrounding faces  12 . The fifth ball  20  then falls, or lies in, a recess  15  created by the balls (between them). After falling into the recess  15 , the fifth ball  20  is then situated in an elevated plane E, which is spaced apart from the lower plane L. This arrangement is repetitive, in the sense that the number of balls  14  arranged in plane L will always remain the same (i.e. four balls in the present example). This occurs, since the space inside the dice  10  adjacent the respective lower-most face confines, or accommodates, only four balls, depending on their diameter. In the present example, where only two balls can fit along an edge of the cube, each ball  14  has a diameter, which is equal, or slightly (to prevent wedging, and allow free movement during tossing) shorter, than half the edge-length EL, or face length of the cube-shaped dice. In the present example, the diameter is chosen to allow exactly four balls which lie in the lower plane L, or every pair of balls which lie along each respective edge around the face closest to the surface on which the dice rests. This confinement principal can be applied to almost any regular polyhedron shaped dice  10 , which has side faces  12  which can confine a precise number of balls to lie on, or along, the lower plane L associated with (or adjacent to) one of the faces  12 . After tossing, while the dice  10  is spinning, the balls  14  are thus free to move in the hollow space within the dice  10 . 
         [0056]    In using the embodiment of the dice described above and deploying five balls each having a different color in games and other social activities various presentations of dice solutions can be utilized:
       1. If the desired solution is represented by the colored ball on top  20  of the other four balls  14 , there are 5 possible solutions.   2. If the desired solution is derived from using the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors  16  on the faces of the dice, there are 6 possible solutions.   3. If the desired solution is derived from combining the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/ 16  on the faces of dice with the colored ball on top ( 20 ) of the other four balls  14 , there are 30 possible solutions   4. If the desired solution is derived from the arrangement of all five colored balls ( 14  and  20 ), there are 30 possible solutions.   5. If the desired solution is derived from combining the orientation markings  18  with the arrangement of all five colored balls  14  and  20 , there are 120 possible solutions.   6. If the desired solution is derived from combining the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors  16  on the faces of the dice with the arrangement of all five colored balls  14  and  20 , there are 180 various possible solutions.   7. If the desired solution is derived from combining the numbers/shapes/symbols/letters/colors  16  on the faces of the dice with the arrangement of all five colored balls  14  and  20  and with the orientation markings  18 , there are 720 possible solutions.