Abstract:
A game apparatus is provided and includes a magnetic pickup apparatus and a plurality of ferromagnetic game pieces. The magnetic pickup apparatus such as a wand has at least two spaced-apart game piece pickup regions wherein each pickup region incorporates a magnet having field strength differing than the field strength of the magnet associated with other pickup points. The magnetic pickup apparatus is capable of being manipulated by a user to magnetically pick up a ferromagnetic object using any one of the incorporated magnets. The ferromagnetic game pieces are provisioned having different colour, size and/or weight characteristics.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/137,864, filed Mar. 25, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to games and in particular to a game that incorporates a magnetic member intended for picking up other items. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Games using magnets are available in a wide variety of forms, including games where players pick up game pieces without directly using their hands. For example, a “Magnetic Card Pick-up Game and Apparatus” is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,663 to Avigal et al., wherein a player uses a magnet tied to an elastic cable to pick up magnetic cards. 
         [0004]    Magnetic games can exercise the manual dexterity of the players. Magnetic games may also be used to educate players, particularly young children, about the principles of magnetism and the physics of magnetic fields. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    According to one aspect, game apparatus is provided which includes a magnetic pickup apparatus and a plurality of ferromagnetic game pieces. The magnetic pickup apparatus has at least two spaced-apart game piece pickup regions wherein each pickup region incorporates a magnet having field strength differing than the field strength of the magnet associated with other pickup points. The magnetic pickup apparatus is capable of being manipulated by a user to magnetically pick up a ferromagnetic object using any one of the incorporated magnets. The ferromagnetic game pieces are provisioned having different colour, size and/or weight characteristics and are sized and weighted to be picked up by at least one of the magnets on the magnetic pickup apparatus. 
         [0006]    The magnetic pickup apparatus can be a wand having first and second opposing ends, the game piece pickup regions being located at the first and second opposing ends, respectively. 
         [0007]    The ferromagnetic game pieces can be organized into multiple groups based on a first characteristic, with each group being organized into a series, wherein at least two of the members of each series have different weights. 
         [0008]    The game apparatus can include a container sized to at least store the magnetic pickup apparatus and the plurality of ferromagnetic game pieces. The container can provide a defined playing surface upon which the ferromagnetic game pieces may be disposed for pickup by a user utilizing the magnetic pickup apparatus. The container can be a pouch formed from flexible material. 
         [0009]    Another aspect provides a method of game play utilizing a magnetic pickup apparatus and a plurality of ferromagnetic game pieces, wherein the magnetic pickup apparatus has at least two spaced-apart game piece pickup regions, wherein each pickup region incorporates a magnet having field strength differing than the field strength of the magnet associated with other pickup points, wherein the magnetic pickup apparatus is capable of being manipulated by a user to magnetically pick up a ferromagnetic object using any one of the incorporated magnets, and wherein the plurality of ferromagnetic game pieces are organized into multiple groups based on a first characteristic, each group being organized into a series, wherein at least two of the members of each said series have different weights. The method includes: depositing the game pieces onto a defined playing area, wherein the number and size of the ferromagnetic game pieces relative to the size of said playing area are such that there would be a reasonable likelihood of many of the ferromagnetic game pieces clumping together if the ferromagnetic game pieces were to be randomly deposited on the defined playing area; and playing a game with multiple players, where each player is assigned to a group of the ferromagnetic game pieces corresponding to a particular one of the ferromagnetic game piece characteristics, and the player&#39;s objective is to pick up only the assigned ferromagnetic game pieces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will be more readily appreciated having reference to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a magnetic wand, which is an element of a first embodiment of a magnetic game apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of ferromagnetic bells of various sizes, weights, and colours; the bells constituting additional elements of the first embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a view of a series of bells of the same colour, having different sizes and weights. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a playing surface, which is another element of the first embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a pouch, which can provide the playing surface shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the pouch, partially opened, showing the magnetic wand and bells contained therein. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the pouch, fully opened, flattened for use as the playing surface and having various bells located thereon. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a view of the magnetic wand being grasped in a first orientation. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is view of the magnetic wand being grasped in a second orientation, opposite the first orientation. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a view of the magnetic wand being grasped by a user to pick up a “string” of bells. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a diagram of a pamphlet detailing rules of play for a method playing a game using the apparatus of the first embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The drawings show an embodiment of a set of elements for a game (the “illustrated embodiment”). As will be discussed in greater detail below, the invention is broader in scope than the illustrated embodiment and thus the illustrated embodiment should be understood only as an example of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0023]    The a set of elements of the illustrated embodiment includes a magnetic pickup apparatus such as a bottle-shaped magnetic “wand”  13  (see  FIG. 1 ), a plurality of ferromagnetic game pieces such as coloured ferromagnetic bells  14  of various sizes, weights, and colours (see  FIG. 2 ), and an optional container such as a pouch  11  (see  FIG. 5 ), which, in some embodiments, also can serve as a playing surface  11   a  (se  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0024]    In one potential method of play, players can take turns using the magnetic wand  13  to attempt to pick up a “string” of bells  14  of a single colour from the playing surface  11 A, according to detailed rules of play. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pouch  11  can be semicircular and, when opened, is a circular piece of flexible material having a releasable fastener such as zipper  12  about its perimeter. The zipper  12  permits the opposing halves of the pouch  11  to be releasably attached to one another to thereby provide a closable pouch, or container, for the magnetic wand  13  and the plurality of coloured ferromagnetic bells  14 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Preferably, the pouch  11  is made of a flexible foam material with decorative fabric attached to both sides. 
         [0026]    The pouch  11  also serves as a playing surface  11   a , as shown in  FIG. 7 . When opened, the pouch  11  has a circular, mat-like shape that provisions the playing surface  11   a . When the zipper  12  is engaged and in closed position, the pouch  11  has a semi-circular, pocket-like shape and can function as a container for the game components. 
         [0027]    In alternative embodiments, the pouch  11  may be omitted in its entirety or replaced, for example, with a plastic dished member with a flat bottom interior surface to hold the bells  14 , or with any other suitable member. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the magnetic wand  13  of the illustrated embodiment has a bottle-like shape, a first end such as top end  15 , and a second end such as bottom end  16 , with the wand  13  asymmetrically tapering towards the ends. The first and second ends  15  and  16  of the wand  13  are circular and have different diameters, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The bottom end  16  has a larger diameter than the top end  15 . The surfaces of the first and second ends  15  and  16  are slightly and smoothly rounded, or curved outwardly, from the ends  15  and  16  of the wand  13 . 
         [0029]    Magnets are incorporated into the wand such as magnets  17   a  and  17   b  located in each end  15  and  16  of the wand  13 . Magnet  17   a , which is weaker than magnet  17   b , is located inside and adjacent the first end  15  of the wand  3 . Magnet  17   b , which is stronger than magnet  17   a , is located inside and adjacent the bottom end  16  of the wand  13 . The stronger magnet  17   b  generates a stronger magnetic field than the weaker magnet  17   a . Preferably, the magnets  17  are permanent magnets. 
         [0030]    In alternative embodiments, the wand  13  can have three or more magnets  17  each having a different magnetic strength. For example, a three-pointed wand may be used instead of the two-ended wand  13 , wherein each of the three points of the wand has a magnet  17  having a strength that differs from the strengths of the other magnets  17 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the plurality of coloured ferromagnetic bells  14  are generally spherical and hollow, with a hard pellet (not shown) loosely contained therein. One or more apertures  18  in the walls of the bells  14  permit the sound made by the pellet to emanate from the bells  14 . Bells of this type are sometimes referred to as sleigh bells or jingle bells. The bells  14  are made of a ferromagnetic material, such as nickel, iron, or another magnetic material or alloy. Preferably, a plurality of bells  14  are provided in various sizes, weights, and colours, with an equal number of bells  14  of each size, weight, and colour. For example, four different colours of bells  14  may be provided, each colour having two large bells, having a diameter of 2.6 cm at the midpoint; three medium bells, having a diameter of 2.0 cm at the midpoint; and five small bells, having a diameter of 1.3 cm at the midpoint. 
         [0032]    In alternative embodiments, other arrangements of ferromagnetic game pieces or targets are possible. Generally speaking, the ferromagnetic game pieces can have different colour, size and/or weight characteristics. For the purposes of game play whose objective is to pick up at least one and preferably a string of magnetic targets, the magnetic targets can be organized into multiple groups based on a first characteristic, such as colour or shape. For example, the magnetic targets could have one of a predefined number of shapes such as round, square, heart, cross, etc. Each said group can be further organized into a series, wherein at least two of the members of each series have different weights. Thus, for example, the series of heart shaped targets could include four members, having small, medium, medium and large weights, respectively. 
         [0033]    One method of game play involves a player attempting to selectively pick up bells  14  of a single colour from the plurality of bells  14  located on the playing surface  11   a , using one end of the wand  13 . First, the player places a plurality of bells  14  on the playing surface  11   a , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The number of different colours of bells  14  may be selected, based on the number of players. Preferably, the number and size of the bells  14  relative to the size of the playing surface  11   a  are such that there would be a reasonable likelihood of many bells  14  clumping together if they were to be randomly deposited onto the playing surface  11   a . This increases the likelihood of magnetic interference, making the game more interesting. 
         [0034]    Before attempting to pick up any bells  14 , the player decides whether to use the weaker magnet  17   a  or the stronger magnet  17   b  and selects the desired magnet  7 . The player may select the weaker magnet  17   a  by grasping the wand  13  by the bottom end  16 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , or may select the stronger magnet  17   b  by grasping the wand  13  by the top end  15 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Using the stronger magnet  17   b  provides the player with a stronger magnetic field, which exerts a stronger attraction on the bells  14 , thereby permitting the player to pick up more weight, for example, a long “string” of bells  14 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Using the weaker magnet  17   a  provides the player with a weaker magnetic field, which exerts a weaker attraction on the bells  14 , thereby permitting the player to pick up bells  14  with greater precision. For example, a player may select the weaker magnet  17   a  to pick up a bell  14  of his or her colour, which is surrounded by bells  14  of another colour. Alternatively, a player may select the stronger magnet  17   b  to pick up a number of bells  14  of his or her colour, which are grouped together and isolated from bells  14  of another colour. 
         [0035]    Once one or more bells  14  of a single colour have been picked up using the wand  13 , the player may set these bells  14  aside. Alternatively, the player may attempt to pick up additional bells  14 . If the player picks up bells  14  of more than one colour, the player immediately returns all bells  14  picked up that turn to the playing surface  11   a . At any time after picking up one or more bells  14  the player may stop the turn and set aside the bells  14  picked up that turn, so long as bells  14  of only a single colour have been picked up that turn. 
         [0036]    The next player can then grasps the wand  13  and attempts to pick up bells  4  of his or her colour, as above. The players take turns until one of them has picked up all of the bells  4  of his or her colour. 
         [0037]    The game may be played by one or more players, using one playing surface  11   a , one wand  13 , and a plurality of bells  14  of different colours. Preferably, the number of players is equal to the number of different colours of bells  14 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 11  shows a pamphlet detailing specific rules of play governing how players take turns and the results required to win the game. Alternative rules are also possible. 
         [0039]    The embodiments are described herein illustratively and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Variations of the foregoing embodiments will be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are intended by the inventor to be encompassed by the appended claims.