Games and associated device and methods

Abstract

A game-piece dispenser includes a base having a depressions in a top face located closer to a front edge than to a rear edge of the base. The depression has a depth dimensioned to hold a unitary game piece having an indicium thereon. A game-piece holder having a receptacle with a bottom opening is affixed in sliding relation atop the base and is movable between a rear position wherein the receptacle openings are in spaced relation from the depression and a forward position wherein the receptacle opening is in covering relation to at least a portion of the depression for depositing a game piece into the depression.

1 . A game piece dispenser comprising: 
 a base having a depression in a top face thereof, the depression closer to a front edge than to a rear edge of the base and having a depth dimensioned to hold a unitary game piece therein; and    a game-piece holder comprising a receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of stackable, substantially planar game pieces and having an opening at a bottom end thereof, the game-piece holder slidably affixed atop the base and movable between a rear position wherein the receptacle opening is in spaced relation from the depression, and a forward position wherein the receptacle opening is in covering relation to the depression.    
   
   
       2 . The dispenser recited in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the base has a slot therein extending generally perpendicular to the front edge;    the game-piece holder has a slide member extending therebeneath, the slide member having a top portion dimensioned to slide within the slot and a bottom portion positioned beneath the slot and dimensioned larger than the slot.    
   
   
       3 . The dispenser recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base further has a pair of laterally extending wings adjacent the rear edge for permitting a user to grasp a one of the wings with a first hand while sliding the game-piece holder with a second hand.  
   
   
       4 . The dispenser recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cover dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the game-piece holder for concealing game pieces residing within the receptacle when in use.  
   
   
       5 . The dispenser recited in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle has an asymmetric shape, for holding an asymmetrically shaped game piece therein.  
   
   
       6 . A game apparatus comprising: 
 a game piece dispenser comprising: 
 a base having a depression in a top face thereof, the depression closer to a front edge than to a rear edge of the base; and  
 a game-piece holder comprising a receptacle having an opening at a bottom end thereof, the game-piece holder slidably affixed atop the base and movable between a rear position wherein the receptacle opening is in spaced relation from the depression, and a forward position wherein the receptacle opening is in covering relation to the depression;  
   a plurality of game pieces adapted to be held in a stacked configuration within the receptacle, each game piece dimensioned to reside entirely within the depression, the depression having a depth insufficient to contain more than one game piece, each game piece having an indicium on at least one face thereof.    
   
   
       7 . The game apparatus recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a removable cover dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the game-piece holder for concealing the indicia of game pieces residing within the receptacle when in use.  
   
   
       8 . The game apparatus recited in  claim 6 , wherein the receptacle has an asymmetric shape in horizontal cross-section, and each of the plurality of game pieces has an asymmetric shape adapted for insertion into the receptacle, for preserving directionality of insertion thereinto.  
   
   
       9 . A method of playing a game comprising the steps of: 
 dispensing a game piece having an indicium thereon for display to a plurality of players from a game-piece dispenser, the dispenser comprising: 
 a base having a depression in a top face thereof, the depression closer to a front edge than to a rear edge of the base and having a depth dimensioned to hold a unitary game piece therein; and  
 a game-piece holder comprising a receptacle adapted to hold a plurality of stackable, substantially planar game pieces and having an opening at a bottom end thereof, the game-piece holder slidably affixed atop the base and movable between a rear position wherein the receptacle opening is in spaced relation from the depression, and a forward position wherein the receptacle opening is in covering relation to the depression; and  
   permitting the plurality of players to perform a game move utilizing the indicium on the game piece, the game move governed by an established rule set.    
   
   
       10 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the dispensing step comprises sliding the game-piece holder from the rear position to the forward position and then back to the rear position in order to deposit a game piece into the depression.  
   
   
       11 . The method recited in  claim 9 , further comprising the step, prior to the dispensing step, of loading a plurality of game pieces into the receptacle, a face bearing the indicium on each game piece facing upward.  
   
   
       12 . The method recited in  claim 11 , wherein the dispenser further comprises a removable cover and further comprising the step, following the loading step, of placing the cover over the game-piece holder to conceal the game-piece indicia from the players.  
   
   
       13 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the base further has a pair of laterally extending wings adjacent the rear edge, and wherein the dispensing step comprises grasping a one of the wings with a first hand while sliding the game-piece holder between the rear position and the forward position with a second hand.  
   
   
       14 . The method recited in  claim 9 , wherein the game move comprises covering an indicium of a game card matrix with a marker, and wherein the rule set comprises permitting a marker to be placed on an indicium of the game card matrix when the indicium correlates with the indicium on the game piece dispensed into the depression.  
   
   
       15 . A method for fabricating a game apparatus comprising the steps of: 
 fabricating a game piece dispenser comprising: 
 a base having a depression in a top face thereof, the depression closer to a front edge than to a rear edge of the base; and  
 a game-piece holder comprising a receptacle having an opening at a bottom end thereof, the game-piece holder slidably affixed atop the base and movable between a rear position wherein the receptacle opening is in spaced relation from the depression, and a forward position wherein the receptacle opening is in covering relation to the depression;  
   fabricating a plurality of game pieces adapted to be held in a stacked configuration within the receptacle, each game piece dimensioned to reside entirely within the depression, the depression having a depth insufficient to contain more than one game piece, each game piece having an indicium on at least one face thereof;    printing a rule set for the game; and    packaging the dispenser, the game pieces, and the printed rule set together.    
   
   
       16 . The method recited in  claim 15 , further comprising the step of fabricating a removable cover dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the game-piece holder for concealing the indicia of the game pieces residing within the receptacle when in use.