in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments , reference is made to the accompanying drawings , which form a part thereof , and within which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which the invention may be practiced . it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention . the present invention includes a novel design to the numbering system for dice and dominos . a system of grooves was invented to act as a numbering system for each of the six sides of the dice or two halves of a domino , creating a simple , clear , and new look for a game piece . a certain embodiment of the present invention serves as a gaming dice for any game requiring a six - sided die , or multiple six - sided dice , and has a specific emphasis on a modern and improved form of playing dice . another embodiment includes the groove system disposed on a set of dominos . each groove in the system represents a singular value . therefore , six grooves represent a value of six , five grooves represents a value of five , and so on . an object of the present invention is to provide a clear , easily identification of the numerical indicators visible on the gaming piece . a further object is to provide a user with a distinct tactile quality on the surface of each side of the die specifically through the use and handling of the gaming piece . the physicality of the grooves allow for the user to not only see , but also to feel the numbers , advancing the accessibility of the interpretation of game pieces . with easily identifiable grooves , game pieces allow visually impaired individuals to participate in activities using these gamin pieces . in a certain embodiment , the grooves may be vertical or horizontal . in another embodiment , the grooves may be angled , in which case the grooves may or may not be connected from one side to the next . the grooves may also be centered on the face or offset . the grooves themselves may be accented with a contrasting color to the body of the game piece , or remain unison . the colors may be introduced by a paint , epoxy , or other coating . there may be separate colors for the indicators on each side . the applied coatings may each include differing densities to help maintain the balance of the die . additionally , the dice may be constructed from laminated or composite layers of materials such that the grooves are one material and surface another . the materials may be wood , plastic , metal or any other material or combination thereof as is known to a person having ordinary skill in the art . the edges of the dice may be square , beveled , or chamfered , and the corners may be rounded . the width and / or depth of the grooves may be varied such that the cumulative volume of the grooves on each face is equal to maintain balance of the dice . the cross section of the grooves may be any geometry such as a square , rectangle , triangle , trapezoid , semicircle , etc . the grooves may be applied to dice with any number of sides . as shown in fig1 , a certain embodiment of the die , generally denoted by reference numeral 10 , includes grooves 10 disposed on surface 14 of die 10 . as illustrated , the embodiment includes certain grooves circumventing the die . for example , the top middle side ( vi ) of die 10 represents a value of six through six grooves 12 . rotating die 10 upward to reveal the face below it , side ( v ), reveals five grooves 12 representing a value of five . as illustrated in fig1 , five of the six grooves 12 from side ( vi ) were continued onto ( v ), starting with a leftmost groove 12 . this pattern of continuation applies to a single direction of rotation for this embodiment and includes three grooves 12 continuously circumventing die 10 through the rotation from side ( iii ) to side ( vi ). the values of one and two are indicated on the two adjacent sides ( i & amp ; ii ) through one and two grooves 12 , respectively . in this embodiment , those representative grooves 12 do not circumvent die 10 . fig2 a - 2c show a three - dimensional model of the embodiment , depicted in fig1 , shown from different perspectives . fig3 provides an exemplary embodiment , generally denoted by reference numeral 20 , of the numbered groove system applied to dominos . similar to the die embodiment , each groove 22 disposed on surface 24 is intended to represent a singular value . thus , the left domino includes a value of six on its upper half and a value of five on its lower half . likewise , the right domino includes a value of two on its upper half and five on its lower half . it is contemplated that the value of grooves 22 may vary depending on the use of the game pieces . similar to the die embodiment , grooves 22 may be vertical , horizontal , or angled ; they may be centered on surface 24 or offset ; may be accented with a contrasting color to surface 24 of the domino or remain unison ; and the cross section of grooves 22 may be any geometry known to a person having ordinary skill in the art . the present invention provides a unique and novel game piece design intended to modernize the game pieces while also enhancing the tactile perceptibility of the numbering system . the advantages set forth above , and those made apparent from the foregoing description , are efficiently attained . since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention , it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense . it is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described , and all statements of the scope of the invention that , as a matter of language , might be said to fall therebetween .
the present invention includes a novel and modern numbering system design modernizing the design of gaming pieces , such as dice and dominos , while maintaining the qualities of utility for which these pieces were built . the novel design adds not only a pleasing and improved visual quality , but also a tactile quality that enhances the handling of the gaming piece .