Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an inflatable game board including a game board, a storage drawer, an inflatable device, and game pieces to allow a person to play board games while immersed in water. The inflatable game board can be used in rough water due to the magnet attached to the game pieces and the magnetic surface of the game board.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to an inflatable game board including a game board, a storage drawer, an inflatable device, and game pieces to allow a person to play board games while immersed in water. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The object of this invention is to allow at least one person to play board games while immersed in water without having to use the side of the pool or hot tub as a playing surface for the board game. Another object of this invention is to allow at least one person to play board games without having to twist his/her body to reach the board game and game pieces on the side of the pool or hot tub. Another object of this invention is to allow at least one person to play board games even when the water in the pool or hot tub is rough. Further, an object of this invention is to allow a person to easily store and carry a board game. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention provides an inflatable game board, comprising a rectangular rigid game board comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a drawer, said top surface being layered with a first magnetic pole to receive and hold other magnetic objects, said drawer contained within an aperture housed within a side of said rectangular rigid game board, said drawer slidably removable from within said aperture by a handle, said handle fixedly attached to said drawer, a circular tubular inflatable device constructed from a plastic flexible material, said circular tubular inflatable device comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a plug, and a carrying handle, said top surface of said inflatable device fixedly attached to said bottom surface of said rectangular rigid game board, said plug releasably attached to said circular tubular inflatable device, said plug used to contain air within said circular tubular inflatable device, said circular tubular inflatable device is carried by said carrying handle fixedly attached to an outer surface of said circular tubular inflatable device when said inflatable device is fully deflated; and a set of game pieces, said set of game pieces comprising a bottom portion, a set of magnets, said set of magnets contained in said bottom portion of said games piece, said set of magnets containing a second magnetic pole, said game pieces magnetically attached to said game board when said first magnetic pole of said game board and said second magnetic pole of said game pieces attract to one another. 
         [0004]    Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of an inflatable board game according to the invention including a game board, a storage drawer, and an inflatable device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the inflatable board game of  FIG. 1  including a game board, a storage drawer, an inflatable device, and game pieces. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the inflatable board game of  FIG. 1  in a stored and deflated position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the game board and game piece of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the inflatable board game of  FIG. 1  showing the game pieces stored in the drawer. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of the inflatable board game of  FIG. 1  floating on water. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    The following is a listing of numbers corresponding to a particular element refer to herein: 
         [0012]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , inflatable board game  100  comprises game board  110  and inflatable device  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , game board  110  comprises top surface  112 , bottom surface  114 , drawer  116  and handle  118 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , bottom surface  114  is attached to the top surface of inflatable device  120  by conventional attachment means such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , drawer  116  is removably attached to the middle portion of game board  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , handle  118  is attached to the outside surface of drawer  116 . A person can pull on handle  118  to slide drawer  116  from within game board  110 . 
         [0013]    In certain embodiments, game board  110  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, game board  110  comprises a rectangular member having a length between about 9 inches and about 12 inches. In certain embodiments, game board  110  comprises a width between about 9 inches and about 12 inches, for example inches. In certain embodiments, game board  110  comprises a thickness between about 1½ inches and about 3 inches, for example inches. In certain embodiments, game board  110  comprises an aperture. In certain embodiments, drawer  116  fits within the aperture. 
         [0014]    In certain embodiments inflatable device  120  comprises a flexible plastic material. In certain embodiments, inflatable device  120  comprises a waterproof material. In certain embodiments, inflatable device  120  comprises a circular tube shaped member having a diameter between about 9 inches and about 12 inches, for example inches. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side view of inflatable board game  100  comprises game board  110 , inflatable device  120 , and game pieces  210 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , game board  110  comprises top surface  112 , bottom surface  114 , drawer  116 , and handle  118 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , bottom surface  114  is attached to the top surface of inflatable device  120  by conventional attachment means such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , drawer  116  is removably attached to the middle portion of game board  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , handle  118  is attached to the outside surface of drawer  116 . A person can pull on handle  118  to slide drawer  116  from within game board  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , inflatable device  120  comprises plug  212 . A person can blow air into inflatable device  120  to inflate inflatable device  120 . A person can seal the air within inflatable device  120  by pushing plug  212  into inflatable device  120 . A person can pull plug  212  from within inflatable device  120  to release the air within inflatable device  120 . When inflatable device  120  is fully inflated, a person can place inflatable board game  100  on water and inflatable board game  100  will float along the surface of the water. 
         [0016]    In certain embodiments, top surface  112  comprises a magnetic surface area. In certain embodiments, game pieces  210  comprises a magnet attached to the bottom surface of game pieces  210  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , inflatable board game  100  is shown in a stored and deflated position comprising game board  110  and inflatable device  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , game board  110  comprises top surface  112 , bottom surface  114 , and handle  118 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , inflatable device  120  comprises plug  212 . In certain embodiments, game pieces  210  are stored in drawer  116  (see  FIG. 2 ). In certain embodiments, game board  110  can be folded into two equal halves to seal top surface  112  from outside elements. In certain embodiments, game board  110  comprises a hinge along the center of game board  110  that allows game board  110  to be folded into two equal halves. In certain embodiments, inflatable device  120  can be used as a carrying handle when deflated. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a cross section view of inflatable board game  100  is shown comprising game board  110  and inflatable device  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , game board  110  comprises top surface  112 , bottom surface  114 , and top magnetic surface  412 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , game piece  210  comprises magnet  416 . In certain embodiments, magnet  416  comprises a standard magnet known to one skilled in the art. Magnet  416  and top magnetic surface  412  comprise a first magnetic and a second magnetic, respectively, that contain opposite poles allowing magnet  416  and top magnetic surface  412  to attract which holds game pieces  210  to top surface  112  of game board  110 . This allows a person to use game board  110  in a pool or hot tub when the water is rough. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a top view of inflatable board game  100  is shown comprising game board  110 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 , game pieces  210  are stored in drawer  116 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a person can pull drawer  116  from within game board  110  using handle  118 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 , game board  110  comprises playing surface  510 . Playing surface  510  comprises game surfaces and elements to play standard games known to one skilled in the art. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a side view of inflatable board game  100  comprises game board  110 , inflatable device  120 , and game pieces  210 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , game board  110  comprises top surface  112  and bottom surface  114 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , bottom surface  114  is attached to the top surface of inflatable device  120  by conventional attachment means such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , inflatable device  120  comprises plug  212 . A person can blow air into inflatable device  120  to inflate inflatable device  120 . A person can seal the air within inflatable device  120  by pushing plug  212  into inflatable device  120 . A person can pull plug  212  from within inflatable device  120  to release the air within inflatable device  120 . When inflatable device  120  is fully inflated, a person can place inflatable board game  100  on water  610  and inflatable board game  100  will float along the surface of the water. 
         [0021]    Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0022]    Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.