Device and method for magnetic element stacking game

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-player magnetic element stacking game played on one or more shafts attached to a base and exploiting the phenomena of magnetic attraction or repulsion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game for one or more players comprising:
 a plurality of shafts;   a plurality of magnetized playing pieces, wherein the playing pieces have faces of opposite magnetic polarity and a channel through the pieces dimensioned to to receive one of the shafts;   wherein when two or more playing pieces are placed on a shaft by disposing the shaft in the channel and permitting the pieces to slide downwardly on the shaft, one or more of the pieces will attract or repel one or more of the other pieces in accordance with the magnetic polarity of the pieces.   
     
     
         2 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the playing pieces are discs and the channel of the playing pieces is annular. 
     
     
         3 . The game of  claim 1 , further comprising a game-play command generator that generates a plurality of game-play directions for the players. 
     
     
         4 . The game of  claim 3  wherein the game-play command generator comprises a polyhedral die. 
     
     
         5 . The game of  claim 3  wherein the game-play command generator comprises cards. 
     
     
         6 . The game of  claim 3  wherein the game-play command generator comprises a spinner. 
     
     
         7 . The game of  claim 3  wherein the playing pieces are discs and the channel of the playing pieces is annular. 
     
     
         8 . The playing pieces of  claim 3  wherein said magnetic playing pieces each have one of a plurality of colors on at least one surface 
     
     
         9 . The game of  claim 3  wherein the playing pieces each have one of a plurality of logos printed on at least one surface. 
     
     
         10 . The game of  claim 3  wherein the playing pieces each have one of a plurality of images printed on at least one surface. 
     
     
         11 . The game of  claim 3  wherein the playing pieces each have one of a plurality of symbols printed on at least one surface 
     
     
         12 . The game of  claim 1  further comprising a base, the base adapted for receiving the shafts. 
     
     
         13 . The game of  claim 12 , further comprising a game-play command generator that generates a plurality of game-play directions for the players. 
     
     
         14 . The game of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises regions of differing magnetic polarity, such regions being associated with one or more shafts. 
     
     
         15 . The game of  claim 14 , further comprising a game-play command generator that generates a plurality of game-play directions for the players. 
     
     
         16 . A method of game play for multiple players comprising the steps of
 (a) providing each player with a shaft;   (b) providing a plurality of unplayed magnetized playing pieces, wherein the playing pieces have faces of opposite magnetic polarity and a channel through the pieces dimensioned to to receive one of the shafts;   (c) each player (i) selecting one unplayed playing piece; (ii) dropping it onto her shaft; and (iii) either removing the dropped playing piece from the shaft or leaving the dropped playing piece on the shaft depending on whether the dropped playing piece is magnetically attracted to or repelled from a previously dropped playing piece in accordance with a predefined rule.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of repeating step (c) until a shaft of a player contains a particular number of pieces in accordance with a predefined rule. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the unplayed magnetized pieces each have one of a plurality of colors on at least one surface, further comprising the steps of repeating step (c) until a shaft of a player contains a particular color pattern of pieces in accordance with a predefined rule. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of:
 (d) each player: (i) generating a game-play command from a predefined set of game-play commands using a game-play command generator; and (ii) effectuating the game-play command,   wherein the set of predefined game-play commands includes at least a command for selecting one unplayed playing piece and dropping it onto a player's shaft;   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of repeating step (d) until a shaft of a player contains a particular number of pieces in accordance with a predefined rule. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the unplayed magnetized pieces each have one of a plurality of colors on at least one surface, further comprising the steps of repeating step (d) until a shaft of a player contains a particular color pattern of pieces in accordance with a predefined rule.