Patent ID: 6123334
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
Board game apparatus adapted for playing a simple, easy-to-learn, fast moving game simulating airplane travel during which each in a group of players can periodically lose and retrieve luggage and wherein such loss and retrieval becomes a focal point of said game, and further wherein the winner is the first of said players to complete a simulated airplane trip consisting of a pre-determined number of flight segments by exact count and accompanied by original luggage, said board game apparatus comprising:a plurality of first game pieces each configured to resemble a human airline traveler, each of said first game pieces also having means adapted for differentiation from the remainder of said first game pieces, each of said first game pieces also having an upper body configuration adapted for connection to hand-supported and shoulder-supported pieces of luggage;a plurality of second game pieces identical in number to said first game pieces, said second game pieces being configured to resemble hand-supported and shoulder-supported pieces of luggage used for airplane travel, each of said second game pieces also being adapted for rapid and easy connection to and separation from a distinct one of said first game pieces and also being proportioned in size relative to said distinct one of said first game pieces for easy transport thereby during game play;a game board having an upper surface with a plurality of decorative markings relating to airports, a circuitous perimeter travel path marked on said upper surface and divided into a plurality of consecutively positioned landing sites, each of said landing sites having a surface area dimension adapted for positioning a minimum of two of said first game pieces and two of said second game pieces, each of said landing sites displaying at least one instructional message relating to the pleasures and pitfalls associated with actual airplane travel and adapted for advancing and delaying movement of said first game pieces around said travel path, also at least one of said instructional messages being adapted for causing the one of said first same pieces landing thereon to lose luggage, an enlarged start/finish square adapted to represent an airport being connected between two of said landing sites and having a surface area dimension larger than the largest one of said landing sites, one full circuit of said travel path from said start/finish square and returning to said start/finish square representing one flight segment during game play, an airline ticket card holding area marked on said upper surface of said game board, and a lost luggage holding area also marked on said upper surface of said game board and having a surface area dimension adapted for containment of said second game pieces when temporarily separated from said first game pieces;a plurality of instructional airline ticket cards, each of said airline ticket cards having a substantially planar configuration adapted for being stacked upon one another in said airline ticket holding area, each of said airline ticket cards having opposing sides and at least one player instruction relating to actual airplane travel displayed on one of said opposing sides, said player instructions being adapted for advancing movement of said first game pieces around said circuitous travel path, delaying movement of said first game pieces around said circuitous travel path, canceling action required by said instructional messages on said landing sites, and directing retrieval of lost luggage, the other of said opposing sides displaying markings relating to actual airline tickets; anda random number generating means adapted for use in identifying the number of landing sites to be advanced consecutively by each of said first game pieces during game play, said random number generating means also being adapted for use in identifying the need for player selection of one of said airline ticket cards during game play.