US 5,458,342 AGranted

Game for teaching manual dexterity

OwnerLeonel G. Hernandezinventor

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Abstract

A game for teaching manual dexterity provides a common tray or arena in which a plurality of individual playing pieces are placed face down. Separate sets of individual playing pieces (which may be differentiated by color), separate playing piece storage trays, and separate pairs of tongs for handling the individual playing pieces, are provided for each player. A timer is also provided to determine the duration of each player's turn. The common tray or arena, the individual playing pieces, the individual storage trays for each player, the tongs for each player, and the timer, are each formed with crenelated edges to resemble the configuration of a bottle cap with its crimped edges. The individual playing pieces are placed inverted, i. e., face down with the crenelated edges facing upward, in the common playing arena. Players all play simultaneously, with the object of the game being to turn each playing piece face up for that respective player, and then to remove each playing piece to the storage tray for that respective player. The player who removes the greatest number of his/her pieces from the arena before time expires, or who is first to do so before time expires, wins the round.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A game for teaching manual dexterity for a plurality of players, comprising:

a plurality of groups of individual playing pieces, with each of said playing pieces having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface of different configuration and with each of said groups having means providing for differentiation from other said groups;
a common playing arena, providing for placement of said groups of individual playing pieces therein;
a plurality of receptacles providing for the containment of said individual playing pieces when said individual playing pieces are removed from said common playing area, with each of said receptacles corresponding to one of said groups of individual playing pieces and including means providing for identification with said corresponding one of said groups and for differentiation. from other said receptacles;
a plurality of tongs providing for the grasping of said individual playing pieces, with each of said tongs corresponding to one of said groups of individual playing pieces and including means providing for identification with said corresponding one of said groups and for differentiation from other said tongs, and;
timer means providing for the determination of an interval of time for a turn of play, whereby;
each of said groups of playing pieces, said receptacles, and said tongs are assigned to different players, said playing pieces are randomly placed inverted within said common playing arena with said bottom surface of each of said playing pieces facing upward, and each of the players simultaneously first attempts to turn upright said playing pieces assigned to that player by means of said tongs assigned to that player and then attempts to remove said playing pieces assigned to that player to said receptacle assigned to that player by means of said tongs assigned to that player, with play being limited by said timer means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.