Game pieces and game

Abstract

Disclosed herein are two aspects of the present invention, firstly, a game piece and secondly, a game that may be played using such a game piece. Game pieces of the present invention are configured from material that is stable in two states that have different shapes so as to snap when transforming form one state to the other, and therefore may be referred to as “snaps”. A graphic image may be depicted on the game piece, such that game pieces may be collected and traded to acquire a variety of different graphic images. An object of the game is to throw a game piece onto a stack of a plurality of such game pieces in a attempt of cause a change in the stable state of as many game pieces as possible.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game piece comprising a substantially rectangular shaped piece of material having a length and a width, said material configured so as to be stable in a first state in which a cross-section taken along said length is straight, said material also being stable in a second state in which a cross-section taken along said length is arched, said material being elastically deformable such that said material may be elastically deformed so as to transform between said first and said second states.  
     
     
         2 . The game piece of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of width to length of said substantially rectangular piece of material is in a range from 1:1.5 to 1:6.  
     
     
         3 . The game piece of  claim 2 , wherein a thickness of said substantially rectangular piece of material is in a range of between 0.1 mm-1.0 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The game piece of  claim 1 , wherein said second state has a cross-section taken along said length that is arched such that said arch turns through an angle of no more than 180 degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The game piece of  claim 1 , wherein said first state has a cross-section taken along said width that is arched.  
     
     
         6 . The game piece of  claim 5 , wherein said second state has a cross-section taken along said width that is straight.  
     
     
         7 . The game piece of  claim 6 , wherein said substantially rectangular shaped piece of material is configured such that said transformation between said first and second states is accomplished by deforming an arched cross-section to a straight cross-section.  
     
     
         8 . The game piece of  claim 7 , wherein said substantially rectangular shaped piece of material is configured such that said transformation from said first state to said second state is initiated by said deforming of said material at substantially any point along said length of the game piece.  
     
     
         9 . The game piece of  claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of the game piece includes a visual image.  
     
     
         10 . The game piece of  claim 9 , wherein said visual image is applied directly to the game piece.  
     
     
         11 . The game piece of  claim 9 , wherein said visual image is applied to a material which is then affixed to the game piece.  
     
     
         12 . The game piece of  claim 1 , wherein said material is chosen from the group including steel and plastic.  
     
     
         13 . The game piece of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially rectangular shape further comprises at least one curved end section.  
     
     
         14 . A method of playing a game comprising; 
 (a) providing at least one game piece configured as a substantially rectangular shaped piece of material having a length and a width, said material configured so as to be stable in a first state in which a cross-section taken along said length is straight, said material also being stable in a second state in which a cross-section taken along said length is arched, said material being elastically deformable such that said material may be elastically deformed so as to transform between said first and said second states; and    (b) throwing said game piece while said game piece is in said first state, so as to impact a surface thereby causing said transformation from said first state to said second state.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including catching said game piece upon rebound.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one game piece is implemented as at least two game pieces for each of a plurality of game players.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising each of said game players contributing at least a first said game pieces so as to form a stack of said game pieces configured on a playing surface, all of said game piece deployed in said stack being deployed in said first state with a convex side facing upwards.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising each of the players taking a turn throwing a second game piece at said stack of game pieces.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising responding to said throw by one of a group of responses including: 
 (a) said second game piece striking at least a portion of said stack of game pieces, thereby causing a number of said game pieces in said stack to transform from said first state to said second state, said second game piece rebounding off said stack, said game player catching said second game piece, whereupon said game player claims said transformed game pieces;    (b) said second game piece striking at least a portion of said stack of game pieces, thereby causing a number of said game pieces in said stack to transform from said first state to said second state, said second game piece rebounding off said stack, said game player failing to catch said second game piece, thereupon returning transformed game pieces to said stack and adding said second game piece to said stack;    (c) said second game piece failing to cause said transformation of any said game pieces in said stack, said game player catching said second game piece upon rebound thereby keeping said second game piece; and    (d) said second game piece failing to cause said transformation of any said game pieces in said stack, said game player failing to catch said second game piece upon rebound, thereupon said second game piece being added to said stack.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising continuing play, each player using one of a list including: said second game piece, a third game piece, a forth game, and any number on new game pieces as is necessary to continue play.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining a winner by one of a group including: 
 (a) all said game pieces on said playing surface being claimed, the player having claimed the most said game pieces during play being declared the winner; and    (b) a number of said game pieces remaining in said stack, yet all the players agree to end play, thereupon each said game players retrieving any of said game player's own said games pieces contributed to said stack during play that still remain in said stack, the player having claimed the most said game pieces during play being declared the winner.