Hangman game apparatus

Abstract

A game apparatus for playing hangman, the game apparatus includes a game body and a display that is coupled to the game body and operable to depict at least progress of the game while the game is being played. Further, a display element is provided in the display, wherein the display element is activated to indicate the progress of the game while the game is being played. Also, a counter is coupled to the game body and is operable to display a number of remaining turns for at least one player while the game is being played. Moreover, an activator is coupled to the body and operable to adjust the counter in response to the at least one player's progress in the game.

1 . A game apparatus for playing hangman, the game apparatus comprising:
 a game body;   a plurality of letter elements which are to be guessed, the letter elements being hidden from a player or exposed to a player's view;   a display coupled to the game body and operable to depict at least progress of the hangman game while being played;   a plurality of display elements in the display, wherein the display elements collectively represent a human figure in a gallows and the individual display elements are activated to indicate the progress of the hangman game while being played; and   a control for selectively activating the display elements as the game progresses and   further comprising a letter support for carrying the plurality of letter elements, wherein the letter elements are adjustable in the support to be hidden from a player and exposed to a player's view.   
   
   
       2 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a counter operable to track a number of remaining turns for at least one player while the game is being played. 
   
   
       3 . The game apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the counter is further operable to pre-set a number of wrong guesses that the at least one player may make. 
   
   
       4 . The game apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an activator coupled to the game body, wherein the activator is operable to adjust the counter in response to the at least one player's progress in the game, including to increase or decrease the number. 
   
   
       5 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one button element and an audio element coupled to the body, wherein the audio element is operable by the at least one button element to emit a sound in response to the at least one button element being pressed by a player. 
   
   
       6 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display elements include at least one from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, picture elements and light bulbs. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the letter elements comprising letter blocks provided with respective letters, and the letter support comprises a rack at the body, wherein the rack has cavities operable to receive the letter blocks in the cavities. 
   
   
       9 . The game apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the rack is detachable and reattachable to the body. 
   
   
       10 . The game apparatus of any  claim 8 , further comprising a recess in the body operable to hold the letter blocks. 
   
   
       11 . The game apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the letter blocks are supported in the rack to rotate therein between the hidden and exposed conditions. 
   
   
       12 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a score recorder coupled to the body and operable to record a player's score during the game. 
   
   
       13 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer coupled to the body and operable to time the length of a player's turn or the length of a game. 
   
   
       14 . The game apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the timer illuminates when activated, and flashes prior to expiration of the length of the player's turn or the length of the game. 
   
   
       15 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory and a keypad coupled to the memory and operable by a player to enter a word or enter a guess in the memory. 
   
   
       16 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory having a dictionary electronically stored therein, and the memory is operable to generate a word for use during play of the game. 
   
   
       17 . A method for playing a word guessing game between two players, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) selecting a word by a first player and keeping the word secret from a second player;   b) selecting letter elements, wherein each of the letter elements includes a respective letter that is included in the selected word;   d) guessing a letter by the second player;   e) repositioning each selected letter element that corresponds to the guessed letter to enable the second player to see each of the repositioned letter elements;   f) illuminating at least one of a plurality of display elements if the selected letter elements do not include the guessed letter; and   g) repeating steps d) through f) until either the second player has guessed all of the letters in the selected word, or until all of the plurality of display elements are activated.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each letter element comprises a letter block, and further comprising the steps of:
 h) prior to step d), inserting the letter blocks in a letter block rack while keeping the letters secret from the second player; and   i) after step h), positioning the letter blocks in the letter block rack so that all of the letter blocks are positioned to prevent the second player from seeing the letters included in the letter blocks.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 further comprising, after step b), c) positioning the selected letter elements to prevent the second player from seeing the letters included in the letter elements; and   in step e) the repositioning is of each selected letter block in the rack.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the positioning and repositioning of the letter blocks is by rotating the letter blocks in the rack. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising detaching the letter block rack from the game body prior to inserting the letter blocks in the letter block rack, and attaching the letter block rack to the game body after the letter blocks are inserted in the letter block rack. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 pressing a first button by the first player when the letter guessed by the second player is included in at least one of the letter blocks in the letter block rack;   causing a first audible sound to emit from an audio element in the game body when the first button is pressed;   pressing a second button by the first player when the letter guessed by the second player is not included in the letter blocks in the letter block rack; and   causing a second audible sound to emit from an audio element in the game body when the second button is pressed.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising setting a timer prior to step e) to define an amount of time for the second player to guess a letter, wherein the first player wins the game if the amount of time expires before the second player guesses a letter. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step e) of guessing a letter comprises entering a letter in an electronic keypad that is coupled to the game body. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, prior to step e), defining a maximum number of wrong guesses, wherein the first player wins the game if the maximum number of wrong guesses is made before the second player guesses the word.