Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a three-dimensional game and/or educational apparatus and a method of playing the game. The apparatus generally comprises a plurality of cells arranged in predetermined rows and columns which allow the movement of gaming pieces in three distinct directions.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/051,985, filed May 9, 2008, entitled “Three-Dimensional Game and Method of Playing the Same”, which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a three-dimensional game apparatus and method of playing a game therewith. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to educational and gaming units for children and adults, and more specifically to a three-dimensional strategy game. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    One embodiment of the present invention is a three-dimensional gaming unit, in particular a three-dimensional gaming unit having a plurality of void spaces and a plurality of gaming pieces. The three-dimensional gaming unit can have any geometric shape. In one aspect, the geometric shape is a polygon, and preferably a platonic polygon. More preferred geometric shapes are a cube and a tetrahedron. The gaming unit size can be hand-held or may be large enough in one embodiment for a human being to crawl through. 
         [0005]    In one aspect, a plurality of passageways interconnects the plurality of void spaces. The gaming pieces can move from one void space to another void space through the passageways. In one embodiment, one gaming piece can substantially occupy one void space. Stated another way, the size of void space and gaming piece substantially compliment one another, such that, only one gaming piece can occupy one void space at a time. In another embodiment of the present invention, the gaming pieces can be selectively held in position within the void space by one or more controlling members. The controlling members may be magnets, physical obstructions, or wire, or other mechanisms known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0006]    The gaming pieces can be indistinguishable from one another or can differ from one another depending on the game being played on the gaming unit. In one embodiment, the gaming pieces can be placed in the void spaces from outside the gaming unit. In another embodiment, the gaming pieces can be moved only from one void space to another within the gaming unit, typically through one or more of the passageways interconnecting the void spaces. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the gaming unit can be comprised of a plurality of cells. The gaming unit is comprised of geometric subunits, such as, cells, columns, rows, layers, sheets, and/or polygonal subunits. The plurality of cells can be configured to form one or more of columns, rows, layers, sheet and/or polygonal subunits. In one embodiment, each cell has one void space. In another embodiment, one or more cells are attachable and detachable from one another. Agglomerates, such as, cells, columns, rows, sheets, layers, and geometric subunits of a polygon can be attached and/or detached from the gaming unit. That is, the gaming unit can be configured and/or re-configured to have different geometric shapes. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, the gaming unit can be configured to play one or more games consecutively or concurrently. In one embodiment, one or more games can be played on the subunits comprising the gaming unit. In another embodiment, the game can be played three-dimensionally on the gaming unit. Stated another way, a single type of game can be played in variety of ways on the gaming unit and the complexity of the game can be varied by the three-dimensional nature of the gaming unit. For example, multiple individual games of Tic-Tac-Toe can be played on multiple two-dimensional surfaces (i.e., each game being played within a single vertical or horizontal layer) or a single game of Tic-Tac-Toe can be played in three-dimensions (i.e., within the entire gaming unit). Additionally, the three-dimensional nature of the gaming unit and the variety of distinguishable gaming pieces permits a variety of different types of games playable on the gaming unit. It can be appreciated that, the games playable on the gaming unit can be played solitarily by a individual or competitively between individuals or teams. 
         [0009]    These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the invention contained herein. As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. 
         [0010]    It is to be noted that the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably. 
         [0011]    The above-described embodiments and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts an elevation view of a cell of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts an elevation view of a column and/or row of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts an elevation view of a layer of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts a planar view of a common passage way between two adjacent cells. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The following is a description of a gaming apparatus and method for playing a three-dimensional game with the same.  FIGS. 1-4  depict a three-dimensional gaming apparatus  100  comprising a gaming unit  105  and plurality of gaming pieces  120 . The gaming unit  105  comprises a plurality of cells  110 . Each cell of the plurality of cells  110  has a void  191  interconnected by a plurality of passageways  195 , and a plurality of support members  197 . The support members  197  are joined together to form the geometric structure of each cell  110 . The geometric shape of the cell  110  can be the same as or differ from the geometric shape of the gaming unit  105 . Each passageway  195  is a portal to a void  191 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  depicts a single cell  110  having six passageways lading to a single void.  FIG. 5  depicts, a first  181  cell having a first void  182  and a second cell  183  having a second  184  void positioned one adjacent to another having a common passageway  195 , respectively, interconnecting first  182  and second  184  voids. 
         [0019]    The arrangement of the cells  110  in columns  122  and/or layers  124  determines the three-dimensional shape of the gaming unit  105  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 ). A column (or in row)  122  comprises one cell  110  or plurality of cells  110  positioned adjacent to one another in a straight line. A layer  124  comprises a single column  122  or a plurality of columns  122  positioned adjacent and parallel to one another. 
         [0020]    The columns  122  and/or layers  124  can be arranged in any order to form the gaming unit  105  and to form any three-dimensional shape. Preferred gaming unit  105  shapes are regular or irregular polygons, such as, but not limited to platonic and archimedean polygons. In a preferred embodiment, the gaming unit  105  shape is one of a cube, irregular rectangular cube, dodecahedron, icosahedron, octahedron, tetrahedron, cubeoctahedron, icosidodecahedron, rhombicubeoctahedron, rhombicododecahedron, rhombitruncated cubeoctahedron, rhombitruncated icosidodecahedron, snub cube, snub dodecahedron, truncated cube, truncated dodecahedron, truncated icosahedron, truncated octahedron, or truncated tetrahedron. 
         [0021]    In a more preferred embodiment, the gaming unit  105  comprises a plurality of ‘n’ layers, each layer having ‘n’ columns and ‘n’ rows. Each column and row having ‘n’ cells positioned adjacent to one another in straight line and each column and positioned adjacent to one another in parallel. The layers are positioned in parallel one on top of the other. More specifically, the gaming unit  105  comprises a cube shape having an ‘n’-by-‘n’-by-‘n’ arrangement of cells  110 , where ‘n’ is an integer greater than and or equal to 2. That is, the gaming unit  105  shape is one of a 2-by-2-by-2, 3-by-3-by-3, 4-by-4-by-4 and so forth. In a preferred embodiment, ‘n’ is equal to ‘3’. In another configuration, the gaming unit  105  comprises an irregular rectangular cube having an ‘n’-by-‘n’-by-‘m’ shape, where ‘n’ and ‘m’ are integers. In a preferred embodiment ‘n’ is 8 and ‘m’ is an integer greater than or equal to 2. In a more preferred embodiment, the irregular rectangular cube comprises one of 8-by-8-by-2, 8-by-8-by-3 and 8-by-8-by-4. 
         [0022]    In one configuration, the cells  110  reversibly attach and detach from one another to form columns  122 . In a similar manner the columns (or rows)  122  reversibly attach and detach from one another to form layers  124 . Likewise, the layers  124  reversibly attach and detach to another to form and/or reform the gaming unit  105 . That is, one or more of the cells  110 , columns  122  and/or layers  123  comprising the gaming unit can be detached from the gaming unit  105  to change the shape of the gaming unit  105 . Analogously, an additional cell (or cells)  110 , column (or columns)  122  and/or layer (or layers)  123  can be added to the gaming unit  105  to change the shape of the gaming unit  105 . In yet another configuration, one or more of the cells  110 , columns  122  and/or layers  123  comprising the gaming unit can be detached from the gaming unit  105 , rearranged to form a different geometric pattern and reattached to the gaming unit  105  to change the gaming unit  105 . 
         [0023]    In another embodiment of the present invention, one or more layers  124  comprising the gaming unit  105  are rotatable. When the one or more rotatable layers are rotated, the positional relationship of one or more cells in the rotatable layer to the one or more cells in the layers of gaming unit  105  not being rotated change. In some embodiments, the rotation changes the shape of the gaming unit  105 , while in other embodiments the shape of gaming unit remains unchanged after the rotation. The rotation can comprise any angle greater than about 0° and less than about 360°. 
         [0024]    The gaming piece  120  can have any shape and/or volume capable of traversing the passageway  195  and substantially occupying the void  191 , such as a ball, sphere, cube, or shape of an animal, human character or other designated object. The gaming piece  120  can comprise of any material. Preferably the gaming piece  120  comprises one of plastic, wood, rubber, glass, polymer, metal, foam, or combination thereof. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the gaming piece  120  is positioned in the void  191  and substantially symmetrically suspended in the void  191 . It can be appreciated that, only one gaming piece  120  typically occupies the void  191  at a specific time. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the gaming piece  120  is positioned in the void  191  by one or more controlling members  221 . The controlling members  221  position the gaming piece  120  within the void  191  and/or assist the gaming piece  120  in traversing the passageway  195 . The gaming piece  120  is thus mechanically, magnetically, electrically, pneumatically, or a combination thereof positioned in the void  191  by the controlling member  221 . The controlling members  221  comprise, without limitation, wires, magnets, ball detents, support members  197  (such as, but not limited to, a support member  197  having at least one of curvature, ribbing, finger, dome, hook, notch, concavity, and/or convexity), or combination thereof. 
         [0027]    In a non-limiting example, controlling members  221  comprise a wire positioned on and attached to the support members  197  of each passageway  195  of each cell  110 . More specifically, the controlling member  221  wires are positioned a distance  128  from an adjacent supporting member  197 . The distance  128  ranges from about one-eight to about three-eights of passageway  195  width ‘W’, preferably at about one-quarter passage  195  width ‘W’. 
         [0028]    The controlling member  221  wire has a length ‘L’. The length of the controlling member  221  wire ranges from about five-eights to about seven-eights of the passageway width ‘W’, preferably the length ‘L’ is about three-quarters of the passage width ‘W’. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, controlling member wire distal end  126  is bent at an angle ranging from about 20° to about 180°. The distal end  126  substantially points towards an opposing cell passage way  195 . The bend distal end  126  has a length ‘d’ ranging from about one-sixteenth to about three-sixteenths of the passageway width ‘W’, preferably about one-eight of the passage way width ‘W’. 
         [0030]    The controlling member  221  configuration substantially positions the gaming piece  120  within the void  195  and allows the gaming piece  120  to spread the controlling member  221  wires for one or both of exiting and entering the cell  110 . The controlling members  221  restrain the gaming piece  120  substantially suspended in the void  191  and substantially assist the gaming piece  120  to traverse the passageway  195 . When a first gaming piece  120  pushes a second gaming piece  120  from a first cell  110  to a second cell  110 , the controlling member  221  configuration “springs” the second gaming piece  120  forward into void  195  of the second cell  110  by the spring tension of the controlling members  221  of second cell  110 . Similarly, the first gaming piece  120  is “snapped” into the void  191  of the first cell  110  by the controlling members  221  of the first cell  110 . In other words, the gaming piece  120  is suspended in the void  195  and not in passageway  195 . 
         [0031]    The gaming pieces  120  can be moved from a first to a second cell void  191  directly or indirectly by one or more of a human hand, a handle, and/or another gaming piece  120 . The handle fits and/or works with the gaming piece  120 . The gaming piece  120  moves into the void  191  by one of: a) direct placement from outside the gaming unit  105 ; b) by movement from a previously occupied nearest neighbor void  191 ; or c) by movement from a non-nearest neighbor void  191 . The gaming piece  120  movement within the gaming unit  105  is from a first to a second void  191 . When the first and second voids are nearest neighbors, they are adjoined by a shared passageway  195 . It can be appreciated that, non-nearest neighbor first and second voids are not in most instances adjoined by a shared passageway  195 . 
         [0032]    The support members  197  comprise any material or a combination of materials. In a preferred embodiment, the support member  197  material is selected from the group consisting of: cellulosics, woods, plastics, polymers, laminates, metals, minerals, alloys, and combinations thereof. Woods, plastics and polymers are preferred for cost, ease of construction, durability and ease of use. 
         [0033]    The following is a non-limiting description of some of the games playable with the gaming unit  105 . For example, many existing games are playable or adaptable for play, such as, but not limited to tic-tac-toe, checkers, chess, Othello™, Abalone, Sudoku, Rubik&#39;s Cube™, Scrabble™, Pentago™, puzzles, math games, word games, labyrinth, maze-style games, dominoes, slide-type games, and Battleship™. 
         [0034]    In one aspect, multiple two-dimensional games are played substantially simultaneously on different layers. That is, single or multiple games are playable in one or more layers  124  (that is, two-dimensionally in a conventional manner). 
         [0035]    In another aspect, a single game is play within the three-dimensions of the gaming unit  105 . The single game can be a known or a new game based on the unique three-dimensional movement the gaming unit  105  offers. 
         [0036]    For example, a two-dimensional game such as tic-tac-toe is playable in the conventional fashion by choosing a layer  124  of the gaming unit to play tic-tac-toe. Single games are played sequentially one layer  124  after another, collectively as independent games on multiple layers  124  at the same time, or as a single game played within the three-dimensions of the gamine unite  105 . 
         [0037]    A non-limiting example of game playable on gaming device  105  is tic-tac-toe. In one configuration, a single three-dimensional game of Tic-Tac-Toe is playable on gaming unit  105 , where points are scored within the two- and/or three-dimensional space. In another configuration, the entire three-dimensional gaming unit  105  is playable with the goal of getting three or more gaming pieces  120  in a straight-linear arrangement anywhere within the three-dimensional gaming unit  105  as the objective. 
         [0038]    In another embodiment, the gaming pieces  120  can have one of more of the following designations:
       1) one or more colors;   2) one or more symbols (including but not limited to alpha-numeric characters, and/or geometric symbols);   3) differing values, colors, markings and/or rankings;   4) one or markings (such as, but not limited to, stripes, dots, geometrics, etc.); and   5) any combination thereof.       
 
         [0044]    In another configuration, the gaming pieces  120  can have the same designations. In another configuration, the gaming pieces  120  can have differing designations. In yet another configuration, one or more gaming pieces  120  can be designated neutral, poison, and/or “wild.” In still yet another configuration, each gaming piece  120  designation can have a differing value, and/or ability to move (such as, for example, movement within the cube as with chess pieces). It can be appreciated that, the gaming piece  120  attributes can be used in any combination and/or can be played in any combination. 
         [0045]    In another embodiment, gaming piece  120  movement is by one or more of the following: a) the game piece  120  is introduced to the gaming unit  105  from outside the gaming unit  105 ; and/or b) movement of a gaming piece  120  within the gaming unit  105  is by being ‘pushed’ (that is, being moved) to another void  191 , by another gaming piece  120 . It can be appreciated that, one or more gaming pieces  120  can be ‘pushed’ at one time. This ‘pushing’ of the gaming piece  120  into a cell  110  or a column  122  results in a shifting motion of the gaming piece out the cell  110  into an adjacent cell  110  and automatically re-positioned (that is, centered) within the relocated cell  110 . The re-positioned gaming pieces  120  can be further moved and/or ‘pushed’. It can be appreciated that one or more move gaming pieces  120  can be pushed and moved at a time. 
         [0046]    In one aspect, gaming piece  120  can be pushed out of the gaming unit  105 . In another aspect, the pushed-out gaming piece  120  can re-enter the gaming unit  105  at another time during play. In yet another aspect, the pushed-out gaming piece  120  is excluded from re-entering the gaming unit  105  during the time of play. 
         [0047]    In another aspect, gaming piece  120  movement includes surrounding another gaming piece  120 . The surrounded gaming piece  120  is excluded from play by being removed from or no longer permitted to move within the gaming unit  105 . 
         [0048]    In yet another aspect, one or more gaming pieces  120  traverse the gaming unit  105 , to reach a certain void  191  without being captured or pushed-out of the gaming unit  105 . 
         [0049]    In still yet another aspect, one or more gaming pieces  120  are moveable only by being “pushed” by a neutral gaming pieces  120 . 
         [0050]    In another embodiment, a gaming unit holder (not pictured) supports the gaming unit  105 , preferably gaming holder rotatably supports the gaming unit  105 . The gaming unit holder can encompass a playable aspect of the gaming unit  105 . 
         [0051]    In another embodiment, the gaming unit  105  includes a game cover (not pictured). The game cover can comprise a playable aspect of the gaming unit  105 . For example, in one aspect, the game cover includes games playable on the surface of the gaming unit  105 . In another aspect, the game cover includes the gaming pieces  120  playable on the surface and/or within the gaming unit  105 . 
         [0052]    In one embodiment, the gaming unit  105  can be adapted for play on a computer, game cube, hand-held phone, PDA or other similar electrical device. In this embodiment, the software allows easy variation of playing one or more games in three-dimensions, and allows movement of the gaming piece  120  within the cells to be accomplished with the use of a joystick, keyboard, pressure sensitive button or pad, touch screen, or computer hardware device. In another embodiment, the gaming unit  105  can be adapted to be played using a CAD software program. 
         [0053]    In another aspect of the invention, the systems, methods and protocols of this invention can be implemented on a special purpose computer in addition to or in place of the described communication equipment, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit such as discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device such as PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, a communications device, such as a server, personal computer, any comparable means, or the like. In general, any device capable of implementing a state machine that is in turn capable of implementing the methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the various communication methods, protocols and techniques according to this invention. 
         [0054]    Furthermore, the disclosed methods may be readily implemented in software using object or object-oriented software development environments that provide portable source code that can be used on a variety of computer or workstation platforms. Alternatively, the disclosed system may be implemented partially or fully in hardware using standard logic circuits or VLSI design. Whether software or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance with this invention is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirements of the system, the particular function, and the particular software or hardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems being utilized. The analysis systems, methods and protocols illustrated herein can be readily implemented in hardware and/or software using any known or later developed systems or structures, devices and/or software by those of ordinary skill in the applicable art from the functional description provided herein and with a general basic knowledge of the communication arts. 
         [0055]    Moreover, the disclosed methods may be readily implemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, executed on a programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of a controller and memory, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, or the like. In these instances, the systems and methods of this invention can be implemented as program embedded on personal computer such as an applet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing on a server or computer workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated communication system or system component, or the like. The system can also be implemented by physically incorporating the system and/or method into a software and/or hardware system, such as the hardware and software systems of a communications device or system. 
         [0056]    It is therefore apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, systems, apparatuses and methods for sharing status and/or control information among a number of different entities. While this invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of this invention. 
         [0057]    A number of variations and modifications of the invention can be used. It would be possible to provide for some features of the invention without providing others. Such as, providing the gaming unit  105  and gaming pieces  120  separately. It can also be appreciated that, the gaming unit  105  can be any size, such as, allowing play by crawling through or within the gaming unit  105  to move the gaming pieces  120 . 
         [0058]    The present invention, in various embodiments, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure. The present invention, in various embodiments, includes providing apparatus and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous apparatus or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation. 
         [0059]    The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. Although the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter. 
         [0060]    The outer surface of each side could be made a different color. This could help keep the players point of reference when rotating the device and/or be another integral part of a game that involves matching a number of similar colored pieces to the same colored side. 
         [0061]    Each individual cell could be identified by a number, letter, a character etc. This can help when scoring a game and/or facilitate play and/or increase the variety of games that could be played etc.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0