Game piece and method of playing game using same

Abstract

An article of manufacture for use by a player in a game or as a collectible figure, comprising a first portion comprising a representational figure and a second portion affixed to the first portion and comprising a coupling member arranged to be coupled with a preexisting support structure so that a user of the article of manufacture is enabled to couple it with the support structure and uncouple it therefrom.

1 . An article of manufacture for use by a player in a game or as a collectible figure, comprising:
 a first portion comprising a representational figure; and   a second portion affixed to the first portion and comprising a coupling member arranged to be coupled with a preexisting support structure so that a user of the article of manufacture is enabled to couple it with the support structure and uncouple it therefrom.   
   
   
       2 . An article of manufacture of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is arranged to couple with the preexisting support structure so that the coupling member is rotatable thereon. 
   
   
       3 . An article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling member is arranged to rotate freely on the preexisting support structure. 
   
   
       4 . An article of manufacture of  claim 3 , wherein the preexisting support structure includes a support portion and the coupling member includes a mounting portion arranged to fit over the support portion so that the coupling member is adapted to be mounted on the preexisting support structure. 
   
   
       5 . An article of manufacture of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes a central member having an upper surface, the representational figure being affixed to the upper surface, and a medial ring portion extending outwardly from the central member, and wherein the mounting portion is formed on a lower surface of the central member so that the mounting portion is adapted to be mounted on a support portion formed on an upper surface of the preexisting support structure. 
   
   
       6 . The article of manufacture of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting portion has an inner surface adapted to fit closely over a post of the preexisting support structure having a substantially cylindrical shape. 
   
   
       7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 6 , wherein the mounting portion has a predetermined length such that a lowermost edge of the mounting portion is supported by an upper surface of the preexisting support structure. 
   
   
       8 . The article of manufacture of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the coupling member and the preexisting support structure is formed from a molded plastic having a low friction surface. 
   
   
       9 . The article of manufacture of  claim 8 , wherein the molded plastic comprises molded ABS. 
   
   
       10 . A game piece, comprising the article of manufacture of claim and said preexisting support structure, the article of manufacture being supported by the preexisting support structure and freely rotatable thereon. 
   
   
       11 . The game piece of  claim 10 , wherein one of the article of manufacture and the preexisting support structure comprises an index indicator and the other one of the article of manufacture and the preexisting support structure comprises game related indicia so that when the article of manufacture is rotated with respect to the preexisting support structure, the index indicator is registered with the game related indicia. 
   
   
       12 . The game piece of  claim 11 , wherein the representational figure is at least one of a figure representing an animal, a character, a person, a marker, a scoring device, a record keeping device, a structure, sports equipment, a weapon, a tool, a vehicle and a device. 
   
   
       13 . The game piece of  claim 11 , wherein the preexisting support structure includes a base and a retaining member releasably engaged with the base, and wherein the coupling member is captured by the base and the retaining member. 
   
   
       14 . The game piece of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining member is rotatable relative to the base to releasably engage the retaining member with the base. 
   
   
       15 . The game piece of  claim 14 , wherein the retaining member includes a plurality of retainer fingers formed integrally with the retaining member and the base includes a plurality of recesses, the plurality of retainer fingers being arranged to engage with the respective recesses. 
   
   
       16 . The game piece of  claim 15 , wherein each recess includes a first recess portion arranged to pass a respective one of the retainer fingers therethrough and a second recess portion arranged to capture the respective one of the retainer fingers to engage the retaining member to the base. 
   
   
       17 . The game piece of  claim 16 , wherein the first recess portion has a width greater than a width of the second recess portion. 
   
   
       18 . The game piece of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion includes a central member having a flat upper surface, the representational figure being affixed to the flat upper surface, and a medial ring portion extending outwardly from the central member. 
   
   
       19 . The game piece of  claim 18 , wherein the preexisting support structure includes a base and a retaining member releasably engaged with the base, and wherein the second portion includes an outer lip portion adapted to be captured by the base and the retaining member. 
   
   
       20 . The game piece of  claim 19 , wherein the outer lip portion comprises a ring-shaped lip portion and wherein a first segment of the outer lip portion extends downwardly from the central member and a second segment of the outer lip portion extends outwardly from the first segment. 
   
   
       21 . The game piece of  claim 19 , wherein the retaining member comprises a ring-shaped member and wherein an inner periphery of the retaining member is smaller than an outer periphery of the outer lip portion so that the outer lip portion is captured between the retaining member and the base when they are releasably engaged. 
   
   
       22 . The game piece of  claim 21 , wherein the retaining member includes an outer skirt portion extending at least downwardly from an outer edge of the ring-shaped member and wherein a lower surface of the outer skirt portion abuts an upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       23 . The game piece of  claim 22 , wherein the retaining member includes a plurality of retainer fingers formed integrally with the retaining member and interrupting the lower surface of the outer skirt portion, and the base includes a plurality of recesses, each of the plurality of retainer fingers being arranged to engage with a respective one of the recesses. 
   
   
       24 . The game piece of  claim 23 , wherein the retainer fingers are equally spaced about the lower surface of the outer skirt portion of the retaining member. 
   
   
       25 . The game piece of  claim 23 , wherein each retainer finger includes a downwardly projecting portion and an outwardly projecting portion, and each recess includes a first recess portion arranged to pass the outwardly projecting portion of the respective retainer finger therethrough and a second recess portion arranged to engage with the outwardly projecting portion to capture the retainer finger. 
   
   
       26 . The game piece of  claim 25 , wherein the first recess portion has a width greater than a width of the second recess portion. 
   
   
       27 . The game piece of  claim 26 , wherein the second recess portion is formed by an inwardly projecting flange, an upper surface of the inwardly projecting flange being co-extensive with an upper surface of the base, and a thickness of the inwardly projecting flange being smaller than a thickness of the base. 
   
   
       28 . The game piece of  claim 23 , wherein each retainer finger includes a downwardly projecting portion projecting from the lower surface of the outer skirt portion and an inwardly projecting portion, and each recess extends inwardly from an outer periphery of the base and includes a first recess portion arranged to pass the respective retainer finger therethrough and a second recess portion arranged to engage with the inwardly projecting portion of the retainer finger to capture the retainer finger. 
   
   
       29 . The game piece of  claim 28 , wherein the first recess portion has a width greater than a width of the second recess portion. 
   
   
       30 . The game piece of  claim 29 , wherein the second recess portion is formed by an outwardly projecting flange having an upper surface co-extensive with an upper surface of the base, and having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the base. 
   
   
       31 . The game piece of  claim 30 , wherein one of an inner surface of the downwardly projecting portion of the retainer finger and an outer surface of the outwardly projecting flange includes a locking projection for restraining disengagement of the retaining member from the base, and the other one of the inner surface of the downwardly projecting portion and the outer surface of the outwardly projecting flange includes an indentation adapted to align with the locking projection and sized to accommodate the locking projection when the retaining member is engaged with the base. 
   
   
       32 . The game piece of  claim 27 , wherein one of an outer surface of the downwardly projecting portion of the retainer finger and an inner surface of the inwardly projecting flange includes a locking projection for restraining disengagement of the retaining member from the base, and the other one of the outer surface of the downwardly projecting portion and the inner surface of the inwardly projecting flange includes an indentation adapted to align with the locking projection and sized to accommodate the locking projection when the retaining member is engaged with the base. 
   
   
       33 . The game piece of  claim 13 , wherein the base includes a support portion and the coupling member includes a mounting portion adapted to fit over the support portion to mount the coupling member on the base. 
   
   
       34 . The game piece of  claim 33 , wherein the coupling member includes a central member having a flat upper surface, the representational figure being affixed to the flat upper surface, and a medial ring portion extending outwardly from the central member, and wherein the mounting portion is formed on a lower surface of the central member and the support portion is formed on an upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       35 . The game piece of  claim 34 , wherein the support portion comprises a post having a substantially cylindrical shape and an inner surface of the mounting portion is adapted to fit closely over the post to mount the coupling member on the base. 
   
   
       36 . The game piece of  claim 34 , wherein the base includes a raised platform on an upper surface of the base, the raised platform supporting a lowermost edge of the mounting portion, and wherein the mounting portion has a predetermined length such that the lowermost edge of the mounting portion does not extend beyond a lowermost surface of the medial ring portion. 
   
   
       37 . The game piece of  claim 34 , wherein a lowermost edge of the mounting portion is supported by an upper surface of the base and wherein the mounting portion has a predetermined length such that the lowermost edge of the mounting portion extends beyond a lowermost surface of the medial ring portion. 
   
   
       38 . The game piece of  claim 13 , wherein the base includes a lateral projection extending outwardly beyond an outer edge of the retaining member when releasably engaged with the base and of sufficient size to permit a player to grasp the lateral projection. 
   
   
       39 . The game piece of  claim 13 , wherein one of the coupling member and the base comprises the index indicator and the other one of the coupling member and the base comprises game related indicia, and wherein the game related indicia includes a plurality of sections representing at least one parameter. 
   
   
       40 . The game piece of  claim 39 , wherein each parameter is at least one of an action, a condition and a capability of the game piece. 
   
   
       41 . The game piece of  claim 40 , wherein the index indicator comprises an arrow. 
   
   
       42 . The game piece of  claim 40 , wherein the coupling member comprises a central member having an upper surface for affixing the representational figure thereto and a medial ring portion extending outwardly from the central member and including the game related indicia, and wherein the retaining member includes the index indicator such that when the coupling member is rotated relative to the preexisting support structure, the game related indicia is rotated with the coupling member relative to the index indicator on the retaining member. 
   
   
       43 . The game piece of  claim 42 , wherein an upper surface of the medial ring portion includes the game related indicia and an upper surface of the retaining member includes the index indicator. 
   
   
       44 . The game piece of  claim 43 , wherein at least one of the parameters includes a predetermined value representing one of a damage value and a defense value. 
   
   
       45 . The game piece of  claim 43 , wherein the game indicia further includes at least one figure parameter representing at least one characteristic of the game piece. 
   
   
       46 . The game piece of  claim 45 , wherein the figure parameter comprises a moving value representing a maximum distance the game piece can move in one turn of a game. 
   
   
       47 . The game piece of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the second portion and the preexisting support structure is formed from a molded plastic having a low friction surface. 
   
   
       48 . The game piece of  claim 47 , wherein the molded plastic comprises molded ABS. 
   
   
       49 . A game piece, comprising the article of manufacture of  claim 1  and said preexisting support structure, the article of manufacture being supported by the preexisting support structure, the preexisting support structure comprising a base and a retaining member, the retaining member being releasably engaged with the base, with the coupling member of the article of manufacture being captured between the base and the retaining member, the retaining member and the base being arranged such that they may be released from engagement by rotation of the retaining member with respect to the base. 
   
   
       50 . The game piece of  claim 49 , wherein the retaining member includes a plurality of retainer fingers formed integrally with the retaining member, and the base includes a plurality of recesses corresponding to the retainer fingers, the plurality of the retainer fingers being arranged to engage with respective recesses. 
   
   
       51 . The game piece of  claim 50 , wherein each recess includes a first recess portion arranged to permit a respective one of the retainer finger to pass therethrough and a second recess portion arranged to capture the respective one of the retainer fingers to releasably engage the retaining member to the base. 
   
   
       52 . The game piece of  claim 51 , wherein the coupling member includes a central member having a flat surface arranged to affix the representational figure thereto, a medial ring portion extending outwardly from the central member and an outer lip portion adapted to be captured by the base and the retaining member. 
   
   
       53 . The game piece of  claim 52 , wherein the outer lip portion is ring-shaped and a first segment of the outer lip portion extends downwardly from the central member and a second segment of the outer lip portion extends outwardly from the first segment. 
   
   
       54 . The game piece of  claim 53 , wherein the retaining member comprises a ring-shaped member, an inner periphery of the ring-shaped member being smaller than an outer periphery of the outer lip portion. 
   
   
       55 . The game piece of  claim 54 , wherein the retaining member includes an outer skirt portion extending at least downwardly from an outer edge of the ring-shaped member and wherein a lower surface of the outer skirt portion abuts an upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       56 . The game piece of  claim 55 , wherein the plurality of the retainer fingers interrupt the lower surface of the outer skirt portion, each of the retainer fingers including a downwardly projecting portion and an outwardly projecting portion, and wherein the first recess portion of each recess is arranged to permit the outwardly projecting portion of the respective retainer finger to pass therethrough and the second recess portion is arranged to engage with the outwardly projecting portion to capture the retainer finger. 
   
   
       57 . The game piece of  claim 56 , wherein the second recess portion of each of the plurality of recesses is formed by an inwardly projecting flange, an upper surface of the inwardly projecting flange being co-extensive with an upper surface of the base, and a thickness of the inwardly projecting flange being smaller than a thickness of the base. 
   
   
       58 . The game piece of  claim 55 , wherein each of the plurality of the retainer fingers includes a downwardly projecting portion projecting from a lower surface of the outer skirt portion and an inwardly projecting portion, and wherein each recess extends inwardly from an outer periphery of the base, the second recess portion of the recess being arranged to engage with the inwardly projecting portion of the retainer finger to capture the retainer finger. 
   
   
       59 . The game piece of  claim 58 , wherein the second recess portion is formed by an outwardly projecting flange having an upper surface co-extensive with the upper surface of the base and having a thickness which is smaller than a thickness of the base. 
   
   
       60 . The game piece of  claim 49 , wherein the base includes a support portion and the coupling member includes a mounting portion adapted to fit over the support portion to mount the coupling member on the base. 
   
   
       61 . The game piece of  claim 60 , wherein the coupling member includes a central member having an upper surface for affixing the representational figure and a medial ring portion extending outwardly from the central member, and wherein the mounting portion is formed on a lower surface of the central member and the support portion is formed on an upper surface of the base. 
   
   
       62 . The game piece of  claim 61 , wherein the base includes a raised platform on the upper surface of the base for supporting a lowermost edge of the mounting portion and wherein the mounting portion has a predetermined length such that the lowermost edge of the mounting portion does not extend beyond a lowermost surface of the medial ring portion. 
   
   
       63 . The game piece of  claim 61 , wherein a lowermost edge of the mounting portion is supported by an upper surface of the base and wherein the mounting portion has a predetermined length such that the lowermost edge of the mounting portion extends beyond a lowermost surface of the medial ring portion. 
   
   
       64 . The game piece of  claim 61 , wherein the support portion comprises a post having a substantially cylindrical shape and the mounting portion is arranged to fit closely over the post. 
   
   
       65 . The game piece of  claim 49 , wherein at least one of the coupling member and the preexisting support structure are formed from a molded plastic having a low friction surface. 
   
   
       66 . The game piece of  claim 65 , wherein the molded plastic comprises molded ABS. 
   
   
       67 . A game piece, comprising the article of manufacture of  claim 1  and said preexisting support structure, the article of manufacture being supported by the preexisting support structure,
 the game piece further comprising indicia on one of the article of manufacture and the preexisting support structure representing a plurality of attack parameters usable in a preexisting game, said indicia being movable with respect to the other of the article of manufacture and the preexisting support structure in response to a force applied by a user,   wherein selection of an attack parameter from said plurality of attack parameters is determined by a position at which said indicia rests after being moved by the user.   
   
   
       68 . An article of manufacture for use by a player in a game or as a collectible figure, comprising:
 a support member adapted to support a representational figure;   a base; and   a retaining member;   wherein said base and said retaining member are adapted to capture said support member therebetween, and said retaining member is adapted to releasably engage with said base by rotating one of said base member and said retaining member with respect to the other of said base and said retaining member.   
   
   
       69 . An article of manufacture for use by a player in a game comprising:
 a collectable figure comprising a representational figure on a support member;   a base; and   a retaining member;   the retaining member being rotatable relative to the base with the support member therebetween to releasably engage the retaining member with the base and capture the support member therebetween.   
   
   
       70 . The article of manufacture of  claim 68 , wherein one of the base and the retaining member comprises an index indicator and the support member comprises game related indicia so that when the support member is captured between the base and the retaining member and is rotated with respect thereto, the index indicator is registered with the game related indicia. 
   
   
       71 . The article of manufacture of  claim 68 , wherein the support member, the base and the retaining member are configured so that, when the support member is captured between the base and the retaining member, the support member is freely rotatable with respect to the base and the retaining member. 
   
   
       72 . The article of manufacture of  claim 69 , wherein one of the base and the retaining member comprises an index indicator and the support member comprises game related indicia so that when the support member is captured between the base and the retaining member and is rotated with respect to the base and the retaining member, the index indicator is registered with the game related indicia. 
   
   
       73 . The article of manufacture of  claim 69 , wherein the support member, the base and the retaining member are configured so that, when the support member is captured between the base and the retaining member, the support member is freely rotatable with respect to the base and the retaining member. 
   
   
       74 . A game piece for use as a position marker on a game board, the game piece comprising:
 a base having a rotatable top portion and a stationary bottom portion, the top portion being prevented from unintentional separation from the bottom portion and being freely rotatable in relation to the bottom portion in a manner wherein there is the absence of circumferential impedance elements against the free rotation of the top portion;   a retainer releasably engaged with the bottom portion of the base and enclosing but not contacting an outer circumferential section of the top portion such that the top portion is prevented from unintentional separation from the stationary portion and is allowed to freely rotate; and   a game figure connected to the top portion of the base.   
   
   
       75 . A game piece for use as a position marker on a game board, the game piece comprising:
 a base having a rotatable top portion and a stationary bottom portion, the stationary bottom portion having a post member defining a vertical axis, the top portion having a bushing for engaging the post member, the top portion being freely spinnable around the vertical axis in a manner wherein there is the absence of circumferential impedance elements against the free spinning of the top portion; and   a game figure connected to the top portion of the base.   
   
   
       76 . The game piece as claimed in  claim 75  wherein the sole engagement of the top and bottom portion is through the post and bushing. 
   
   
       77 . A game piece for use as a position marker on a game board, the game piece comprising:
 a base having a rotatable top portion and a stationary bottom portion, the bottom portion having a plurality of slots, a post member, and a raised platform surrounding the post member, the top portion having a bushing for engaging the post member, the raised platform supporting the bushing such that the bottom portion solely contacts the top portion through the bushing, the retainer enclosing but not contacting an outer circumferential section of the top portion and having a plurality of fingers releasably engaged with the plurality of slots in the bottom portion, thereby preventing the top portion from unintentional separation from the bottom portion; and   a game figure connected to the top portion of the base;   wherein the top portion is freely spinnable around the post member in a manner wherein there is the absence of circumferential impedance elements against the free spinning of the top portion.   
   
   
       78 . The game piece as claimed in  claim 77  wherein the bottom portion of the base includes an extension to facilitate a user in maintaining the bottom portion stationary while spinning the top portion. 
   
   
       79 . The game piece as claimed in  claim 77  wherein the top portion of the base includes a plurality of game related indicia specific to the connected game figure and wherein the retainer includes an index indicator for designating one of the plurality of game related indicia.