초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for assembling one or more coherent images from a plurality of segments of the coherent image reproduced on parts, pieces, blocks, cards, or the like is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the face of each segment includes a portion of the resulting single c

A method and apparatus for assembling one or more coherent images from a plurality of segments of the coherent image reproduced on parts, pieces, blocks, cards, or the like is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the face of each segment includes a portion of the resulting single coherent image. When all segments are correctly arranged and stacked, or overlapped, with the correct orientation, the visible images on the faces of the segments mesh to form one or more larger coherent images. A variety of plates or stands are disclosed to aid the player in stacking the segments and arranging them with the proper orientation during the reassembly process. Additionally, information or images may be included on the portions of the faces of each segment that are obscured by other segments when the segments are properly assembled, thereby allowing such games to have multiple uses.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A game apparatus comprising: at least one support, said support including at least one face, said at least one face including at least two recesses arranged radially about said face in at least one a group consisting of a clockwise direction of said face and a countercl

The invention claimed is: 1. A game apparatus comprising: at least one support, said support including at least one face, said at least one face including at least two recesses arranged radially about said face in at least one a group consisting of a clockwise direction of said face and a counterclockwise direction of said face, each of said at least two recesses being progressively more shallow than a preceding one of said at least two recesses along at least one of the group consisting of said clockwise direction of said face and said counterclockwise direction of said face; at least one post protruding from said at least one face of said at least one support, said at least one post attached to said at least one support at a proximal end of said at least one post; and at least two segments, each of said at least two segments including at least one segment aperture configured to mate with said at least one post, each of said at least two segments including at least one subsection of at least one resultant image; wherein overlapping each of said at least two segments in at least one predetermined orientation combines said at least one subsection to form said at least one resultant image. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least two segments has at least two sides; and wherein said at least two segments are positioned such that a first of said at least two sides face a same direction. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first side of each of said at least two segments includes a first of said at least one subsection of a first of said at least one resultant image; and wherein a second side of each of said at least two segments includes a second of said at least one subsection of a second of said at least one resultant image. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least two segments are a cards. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, a first of said at least one subsection is located on a first side of each of said at least two segments; wherein said first of said at least one subsection is visible in a first of said at least one resultant image when said at least two segments are assembled in a first position; wherein a second of said at least one subsection is located on a second side of each of said at least two segments; and wherein said second of said at least one subsection is visible in a second of said at least one resultant image when said at least two segments are assembled in a second position. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of said at least two segments includes an obscured portion; wherein said obscured portion does not include said first of said at least one subsection; and wherein said obscured portion does not include said second of said at least one subsection. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said obscured portion of each of said at least two segments is at least one of the group consisting of blank, a playing card face, a face of a card of a special deck of cards, a trivia card face, and a flash card face. 8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one segment aperture is coded to aid a player in assembling at least one of said at least one resultant image. 9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said coding of said at least one segment aperture is color coding. 10. An apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: at least one recess lip located in at least one of said at least two recesses. 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: at least one suspension mechanism. 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said at least one suspension mechanism is an aperture located in said support. 13. An apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: at least one locking device. 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one locking device is at least one of the group consisting of a knob, a stop, compressive stress, and a cap. 15. An apparatus according to claim 13, said apparatus further comprising: at least one locking device lip located in said locking device. 16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one locking device is at least one of the group consisting of a knob, a stop, and combinations thereof; and wherein tightening of said at least one locking device to a longitudinal end of a post renders said at least two segments immovable. 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one locking device and said at least one post are inversely threaded. 18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one stop includes at least one stop aperture for passing said at least one stop over said at least one post; and wherein proper positioning of said at least one stop atop said at least two segments mounted to said at least one support aids in maintaining said at least two segments in an immovable state. 19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a material of at least one of the group consisting of said at least one stop and said at least one knob is at least one of the group consisting of rubber, a transparent material, and combinations thereof. 20. An apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: at least one stand; wherein said at least one stand allows said apparatus to be supported on a horizontal surface; and wherein said at least one stand is at least one of the group consisting of an integral stand and a removable stand. 21. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one side of each of said at least two segments includes at least one of the group consisting of a portion of said at least one resultant image and information unrelated to said at least one resultant image combined with said portion of said at least one resultant image. 22. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two segments includes at least one obscured portion; and wherein said at least one obscured portion is not visible in at least one of said at least one resultant image. 23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said at least one obscured portion is at least one of the group consisting of blank, a playing card face, a face of a card of a special deck of cards, a trivia card face, and a flash card face. 24. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus includes fifty-two of said at least two segments; wherein said fifty-two of said at least two segments are shaped as playing cards; and wherein each of said at least one obscured portion of said fifty-two of said at least two segments corresponds to each one of fifty-two faces of a deck of said playing cards. 25. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus includes fifty-four of said at least two segments; wherein said fifty-four of said at least two segments are shaped as playing cards; wherein each of said at least one obscured portion of fifty-two of said fifty four of said at least two segments corresponds to each one of fifty-two faces of a deck of said playing cards; and wherein at least one of the group consisting of said at least one obscured portion and a full side of two of said fifty four of said at least two segments represent jokers. 26. An apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: at least one extension coupled to said at least one support, said at least one extension encircling at least a portion of said at least two segments. 27. An apparatus according to claim 26, said apparatus further comprising: at least one extension recess located in said at least one extension. 28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said at least one extension recess facilitates mounting said at least two segments in at least two orientations within said at least one extension recess. 29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said at least two orientations include a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation. 30. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one resultant image has a configuration of at least one of the group consisting of circular, varied, rectangular, and multi-tiered. 31. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one support has a configuration selected from the group consisting of circular, rectangular, and multi-tiered. 32. An apparatus according to claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: at least one cover. 33. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least two segments include at least one standardized edge. 34. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein a first of said at least two segments is matched to a second of said at least two segments along at least one of said at least one standardized edge. 35. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one side of each of said at least two segments includes a portion of said at least one resultant image; wherein any one of said at least two segments may be positioned as a base segment; and wherein said at least one resultant image created by said apparatus varies in relation to said one of said at least two segments positioned as said base segment. 36. A game apparatus comprising: at least two segments, each of said at least two segments including at least one subsection of at least one resultant image; a plurality of segment apertures bored through each of said at least two segments; at least one support; and a plurality of posts coupled to said at least one support; a first of said plurality of posts protruding from a first of said at least one support, a second of said at least one support is removably mountable atop said first of said plurality of posts such that said second of said at least one support supports a second set of said at least two segments, a second of said plurality of posts protruding from said second of said at least one support; wherein overlapping each of said at least two segments in at least one predetermined orientation combines said at least one subsection to form said at least one resultant image; wherein passing each of said plurality of segment apertures of a first set of said at least two segments over said first of said plurality of posts mounts said first set atop said first of said at least one support; wherein passing each of said plurality of segment apertures of a second set of said at least two segments over said second of said plurality of posts mounts said second set atop said second of said at least one support; wherein passing each of said plurality of segment apertures over said first and second of said plurality of posts aids a player with at least one of a group consisting of overlapping said first and second set of said at least two segments, orienting said first and second set of said at least two segments, and affixing said first and second set of said at least two segments; and wherein said apparatus is multi-tiered. 37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said at least two segments mounted to said first of said at least one support are assembled in a first direction; and wherein said at least two segments mounted to said second of said at least one support are assembled in a second direction. 38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said first direction is clockwise and said second direction is counterclockwise. 39. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said first direction is counterclockwise and said second direction is clockwise.