Patent Publication Number: US-2009236803-A1

Title: Device for a guess-and-mind game

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for a guess-and-mind game according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
     Such a device is for instance known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,629. In said known device the means for selecting the image visible through the window are formed by slidable shutters in the form of rigid opaque synthetic material, which at the bottom side have been provided with finger slits in order to be able to operate the shutters. Opening all windows covered by shutters requires time and effort. The result may be that it is decided not to play a next game, optionally with other images. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a game of the type mentioned in the preamble that is easier to use. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a game of the type mentioned in the preamble that is versatile in use. 
     For that purpose the invention provides a device for a guess-and-mind game, comprising a holder and a carrier to be placed on or in the holder which carrier has been provided with a series of different images, wherein the holder extends over the carrier and at that side has been provided with a series of windows, wherein at each window means have been provided for selecting the image or images visible through the window, wherein the means for selecting are movable with respect to the images, characterised in that the means for selecting have been made like a shutter arranged on the holder, wherein the shutter is a hinging flap. In this way all closed hinging shutters can be opened in a single motion, tilting the holder. This simultaneous opening of the shutters also produces a sound that seems to increase the joy of playing. 
     The shutter can at least be partially transparent, so that it can be checked at all times whether the image in question has been correctly selected. 
     In one embodiment the number of windows corresponds with the number of images in a series arranged on the carrier. For an overview the series of windows may be positioned in rows and columns. In an easy to store embodiment the carrier is sheet-shaped, such as paper. 
     In one embodiment of the invention or according to an individual aspect thereof, the holder has been provided with a first accommodation space for the carrier, wherein the holder has been provided with a slot leading to the first accommodation space for inserting/taking out the carrier, wherein the holder has been provided with a second accommodation space for a supplementary carrier having a second series of images, wherein the holder has been provided with a screen between both accommodation spaces. In that way, if the first images correspond with the second images, the other player is able to select the image to be guessed by the first player in a screened manner that is not visible to the first player. 
     The effect of the screen can be enhanced when the holder has been provided with means for positioning the holder inclined. 
     In a simple and handy embodiment the supplementary carrier forms one unity with the carrier. Both series of images then always remain together and can be simultaneously placed or replaced. 
     To facilitate the selection, the holder, at the viewing side of the second accommodation space, can be provided with marking means, such as an indicator. 
     From a further aspect the invention provides a device for a guess-and-mind game, comprising a first accommodation space comprising a holder having a series of windows and one or more series of images that have been arranged on carriers, which carriers can be accommodated in the first accommodation space of the holder in a position in which the images are visible through the windows from a viewing side, wherein the holder has been provided with marking means for selectively marking the windows, wherein each carrier comprises a series of images. 
     From a further aspect the invention provides an assembly of two devices according to the invention so that both players are able to play simultaneously. In that case, when use is made of the said carriers with two series of images, the images in both series need not be identical to each other. 
     From a further aspect the invention provides a carrier suitable and intended for a device or assembly according to the invention. 
     The aspects and measures described in this description and claims of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. This particularly applies to the measures and aspects that have been described per se in the sub claims. 
    
    
     
       SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  shows a carrier with series of images, for an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 1B-D  show a holder for the carrier of  FIG. 1A  in top view, end view and in side view, respectively; 
         FIG. 2  shows the insertion of the carrier of  FIG. 1A  into the holder of  FIGS. 1B-D ; and 
         FIG. 3  shows the device assembled with the carrier of  FIG. 1A  and the holder of  FIGS. 1B-D , during the game. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The carrier  1 , shown in  FIG. 1A , is sheet-shaped and made of for instance paper or cardboard. Two series  2 ,  3  of images  4  and  5 , respectively, have been arranged on the carrier  1 , wherein in this example the series show identical images, however arranged in a different order. For instance the images  4  of the series  2  have been spaced apart, arranged like a matrix, and the images  5  of the series  3  have been placed closer together in two rows. In this example both series  2 ,  3  have twenty-four images. 
     Near an edge the carrier  1  has been provided with an indication  7  for identifying the type of series  2 ,  3 . The carrier  1  has furthermore been provided with and engagement edge  8 . 
     The holder  10  shown in the  FIGS. 1B-D  is flat having a bottom plate  12  and an upper plate  11 . Near the upper edge two legs  23  have been provided with which, as can be seen in  FIG. 1D , the holder  1  can be placed slightly inclined on a basis. An accommodation space  25  is kept free between the upper plate  11  and the bottom plate  12 , which accommodation space is accessible by means of a slot  13  at the upper edge. The bottom plate  12  is closed yet the upper plate  11  has been provided with a number of windows  16 , which by means of window-shaped shutters, one in front of each window, can be “closed”, in which way the images underneath can be selected. Through the panes of the shutter frames  17  the windows  16  can still be looked through. In an alternative embodiment opaque shutters can however be made use of. The shutter frames  17  have been provided with a handle  18  and at the location of  24  have been hinged to the upper plate  11 . 
     Adjacent to the arrangement of windows  16  a slot  15  has been arranged, in which an indicator of points  21  can be moved, in order to tally the number of questions asked during the game. 
     In the drawing of  FIG. 1B  it can be seen that below the set up of windows  16  a grid  19  has been provided having openings  20 . In this example the number of openings  20  corresponds with the number of windows  16 , and thus with the number of images in the series  2  and  3 , respectively, of the carrier  1 . 
     A flap-shaped screen  14  is hinged to the holder  10 , which screen is folded down in  FIG. 1B . 
     Above the grid  19  with openings  20  a slot  26  has been arranged, in which indicators  27   a ,  27   b ,  27   c  can be moved so as to slide. The indicators  27   a  and  27   c  are in this case identical, adapted to the uppermost series. The indicator  27   b  is adapted to the lowermost series. As an indicator for the other series is always present on both sides of the centre indicator  27   b , it is possible to make a random combination of an image of the one series and an image of the other series, when guessing two images at a time in one game is opted for. 
     The game is played as follows. From a series of sheet-shaped carriers the one with the wanted images is chosen. Said carrier  1  is slid through the slot  13  into the accommodation space  25 , see  FIG. 2 . When the images  4 ,  5  are situated behind the windows  16  and  20 , respectively, and all shutter frames  17  are open, the game can begin. Opening the shutter frames  17  can be done in one single motion, by tilting the board. The first player turns the screen  14  upwards, so that the openings  20  are not visible to the second player. The first player then slides one of the indicators  27   a ,  27   b ,  27   c  to a location wherein the tip points at the image to be guessed by the second player. 
     In this example with animal pictures the first player may for instance ask whether the animal to be guessed has feathers. The slide  21  is then moved to position “1”, as one question has been asked. As the indicator  27   b  is pointed at the snail, the answer of the first player will be “no”. The second player can then close all shutter frames  17  over the windows  16  displaying birds. 
     The next question of the second player may for instance be whether the animal to be guessed has legs. The slide  21  is then moved to “2”. Again the answer will be “no”, on the basis of which the second player is able to close the shutters in front of windows displaying mammals, insects, etcetera. The game continues until the second player has guessed that in this case it should be the snail. The position of the slide  21  is then noted, and the roles can be reversed, in order to let the first player guess the image selected by the second player. The position of the board is then turned. 
     It is also possible to make one holder available to each player, so that the game can be played in turns simultaneously. The series  2 ,  3  on the same carrier  1  need not be identical. 
     If another series of images is wanted the player takes the carrier  1  by the engagement edge  8  and subsequently pulls the carrier  1  out of the holder  10 , in order to subsequently insert another carrier into the slot  13 . 
     It will be clear that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert, particularly as defined in the attached claims.