Patent Publication Number: US-2023132650-A1

Title: Mexican train dominoes game kit and assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     It is important to learn basic concepts such as pattern recognition, basic mathematics, spatial relationships, and how to deal with setbacks in a mature and sportsmanlike manner. As these simple skills are mastered, more complex skills may be acquired, such as how to plan competitive strategies and how to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves. 
     One way of acquiring such basic skills is through the playing of educational games that make the learning process fun and entertaining. One such game is Mexican train dominoes. Mexican train is a dominoes variant with the object being for a player to play all of the domino tiles in his hand onto one or more ‘trains’ (domino chains) that branch out from a central ‘roundhouse’. While there are a vast number of rules variants, most include a central community ‘Mexican train’ that may be used by all players. Each player&#39;s ‘train’ is usually identified by a small, typically color-coded, locomotive figurine. 
     While quite popular, the game does have a few drawbacks. First, a lot of dominoes are required for multi-player games. Also, the tiny locomotives are a choking hazard for very young players. Further, it may be hard for younger players or those with poor finger coordination to hold all of the dominoes in their hand. Hence, there is a need for an improved portable Mexican train dominoes game capable of storing and transporting the requisite number of dominoes while providing means for privately displaying all of the dominoes in a player&#39;s hand to the player and addressing the issue of the tiny locomotive choking hazard so as to be safely and easily played by anyone, including young children. A means for satisfying this need has so far eluded those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a first embodiment container of the present novel technology. 
         FIG.  2    is a side perspective view of the container of  FIG.  1    partially disassembled with removed side members visible. 
         FIG.  3    is a side perspective view of the container of  FIG.  1    partially disassembled. 
         FIG.  4    is a top plan view of elongated side members of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the exterior surface of an elongated side member with a domino engaged in an exterior groove. 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view of the container of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of the roundhouse assembly of the container of  FIG.  1    with top cover engaged. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the roundhouse assembly of the container of  FIG.  1    with top cover disengaged. 
         FIG.  9    is a top plan view of the container of  FIG.  1    with roundhouse assembly engaged thereto. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates. 
     Overview of Mexican Train Dominoes 
     Basic Mexican Train dominoes are played with a standard set of double twelve dominoes, each set with ninety-one dominoes. In addition to the dominoes, the game of Mexican Train requires additional equipment. Most importantly, Mexican Train requires a roundhouse, essentially a hub having a central recess for the starting double and a plurality (typically eight) of equidistantly spaced peripheral slots from which to initiate each respective domino train. In addition to the roundhouse, each train is represented by a token, which is usually an individually colored train engine figurine. 
     Players play their dominoes in Mexican Train just like they would in regular dominoes—each domino is played so that one end is adjacent the end of a domino already on the table and the two adjacent domino ends match by having the same number of dots. Unless the domino tile is a double, the domino may be placed along either side or the end of the already played end domino so long as the two matching sides are flush. A double may be played adjacent to a matching end of an already played domino, but must be oriented perpendicular to the already played domino. Thus, the train of played dominoes plays out like a train track, twisting and turning across the table. 
     The game is started by shuffling the dominoes face down, and then each player draws a predetermined number of dominoes, said predetermined number decreasing as the number of players increases (2-4 players take 15 dominoes each, 5-6 players take 12 each, 7-8 players take 10 dominoes each), with the rest of the dominoes remaining in the Boneyard. The roundhouse is placed in the middle of the playing area, with each player claiming a slot as their starting point. The shared Mexican Train is likewise assigned a slot. 
     The player holding the highest double places his domino in the roundhouse recess to start the game. Then, the player to the immediate left of the starting player takes his turn, followed by the next player, and so on. Each player starts their train by putting a first domino into their slot in the roundhouse, with the end engaging the roundhouse matching the domino in the recess. Players continue extending their trains by adding more dominoes from their hand until they can&#39;t play any more. After this first turn, each player may only play one domino on an available train. If a player can play a domino to one of the available trains, their turn is over. If not, the payer draws a domino from the boneyard, and plays it if possible to end their turn. If the player cannot play the boneyard-drawn domino, the player places a marker on the domino at the end of their train to indicate that their train is now open for other players to use. Players may remove a marker on their train by playing one of their own dominos to extend their own train. As in many other games, if a player plays a double, they immediately may take another turn. The game is over when a (winning) player pays his last domino. That player incurs no points against him, while the other players tally up the dots on the dominoes in their respective hands. The over all winner has the lowest cumulative score after a predetermined number of games (usually termed a match) are played. If a player gets rid of all of his dominoes during the first turn, the remaining players are allowed to take their first turn before tallying up their points. 
     There are a number of game play variants, but the above recitation of the rules gives the gist of the game. 
       FIGS.  1 - 11    illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention, a modular carrying case or game kit for playing Mexican Train dominoes. A Mexican train dominoes modular carrying case (also called game kit)  100  is shown including a top member  105 , a bottom member  110 , and a plurality of side elongated members  115  defining an interior volume  120  for holding dominoes  121 . The carrying case  100  typically includes at least one separating member  125  positioned with interior volume  120  to bifurcate the same. Top and bottom members and separating member  105 , no,  125  are typically identically shaped, typically thin multisided members having regularly shaped faces  127  having a plurality of edges  129 , such as hexagons, octagons, dodecagons, or the like. Each edge  129  is typically of equal length. Each respective side member  115  has an exterior face  130  and a generally parallel interior face  135 . Exterior face  130  typically includes a plurality of parallel elongated recesses or grooves  131  (for holding dominoes in an orientation visible to a respective player but not the other players) oriented in the direction of elongation, while interior face  135  typically includes a plurality of straight grooves or recesses  137  oriented in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation for matingly engaging separation member  125  and one or both of the remaining members  105  to define the box  100 . 
     Each elongated side member  115  is typically a parallelepiped and includes a pair of oppositely disposed elongated side faces  140 A,  140 B extending between interior and exterior faces  135 ,  130 . Matably engageable fastening member  145 A,  145 B are operationally connected to each respective elongated side faces  140 A,  140 B. Fastening member  145 A is matingly engageable to fastening member  145 B but not to another fastening member  145 A. Fastening members  145 A,  145 B may be opposite poled magnets, a magnet and a ferromagnetic member, hook and loop connectors, or the like. The number of side members  115  is equal to the number of sides defined by the regular shape of the top and bottom members  105 ,  110 . 
     Generally circular roundhouse assembly  150  is sized to fit over top or bottom member  105 ,  110  and incudes a generally circular base member  153  defining a plurality of slots  155  equidistantly circumferentially positioned therearound, each slot  155  sized to accept a domino tile. A plurality of respective generally rectangular recesses  160  extend inwardly from each respective slot  155 , and a plurality of respective train tokens  165  are operationally connected to extend from a raised central circular dais  170  connected to base member  153  and into each respective slot  160 . A circular cap  175  covers the raised dais  170  and includes a rectangular recess  180  sized and shaped to accept a domino. The roundhouse assembly  150  is securable to the top or bottom member  105 ,  110  during transport, by a connector  151 , such as strap or by a fastener pair operationally connected to the bottom or the roundhouse assembly  150  and the top or bottom member  105 ,  110 . 
     Typically, the interior volume is large enough to hold a double-eighteen set of dominoes, and there are eighteen slots  155  formed in the roundhouse assembly  150 , such that eighteen players may be accommodated. 
     Each train token  165  has a sculpted train portion  190  and an elongated tail member  195  extending therefrom. Each respective elongated tail member  195  is locked into the dais  170 , such as by a pin, thickened wedge, or the like, so that the train token  165  is extendable from the dais  170  but not freely disengageable therefrom. 
     Example 
       FIGS.  1 - 11    illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present novel technology, an octagonal Mexican Train dominoes carrying case  100 . As shown in  FIG.  1   , the case  100  includes octagonal top and bottom members  105 , no with eight elongated side members lockingly engaged thereto. Each respective side member  115  is matingly engaged to an edge  129  with the edge  129  engaging a groove  137  in an interference fit. Top, bottom, and separation members  105 , no,  125  are thus engaged with each respective side member  115 , and adjacent side members  115  are locking engaged with one another via cooperation of fasteners  145 A,  145 B. Case  100  may be filled with dominoes and domino accessories. Roundhouse assembly  150  is positioned adjacent an exterior face  127  and held in place with a connector  151 . 
     When it is time to play Mexican Train dominoes, connector  151  is disengaged and the roundhouse assembly is set aside. Side members  115  are disengaged to allow access to the dominoes house in the box  100 , and dominoes are removed therefrom for play. Each player takes a side member  115  for holding their dominoes in the parallel groves  131 . Each player claims a train token  165  and uses the associated slot  160  a the starting point for their train. 
     After play, the carrying case  100  is reassembled matingly engaging the eight side members  115  to respective edges  129  of the top, bottom, and separation members  105 ,  110 ,  125  and one another. Before the last side member  115  is so engaged, dominoes are placed into the now-defined interior volume  120 . Once all side members  115  are engaged with the top, bottom, and side members  105 ,  110 ,  125  and one another, the roundhouse assembly  150  is positioned against a box face  129  and fastener  151  is reengaged. Handle  200  is lockingly engaged to grooves  131  of two adjacent side members  115  for ease of carrying. 
     While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.