Abstract:
A board game which combines traditional board game elements with an unrelated activity, that of preparing a meal. The board has three paths of serially arranged spaces along which player tokens travel. A chance device determines the number of spaces moved. Upon alighting on any particular space, a card is drawn, which card is color coordinated to the space just occupied. The card specifies an interactivity such as a question to be answered or a musical theme to be tapped, hummed or whistled. The player must interactively respond. Upon completion of the first path, players select, on a first-to-arrive basis, a task associated with meal preparation, serving, and cleanup. An example is mixing and serving of a beverage, or cooking the entree. One option is to be relieved of any task. Upon completion of the path by his or her token, each player receives an instructional card advising details of the associated task. The game is played in three phases, each utilizing one path and corresponding to three phases of a meal, such as appetizer, entree, and dessert. Optionally, invitations to a combined meal and game are sent prior to the event by postcard.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/373,608, filed Apr. 19, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to games, and more particularly to a game which combines traditional board game elements and an unrelated activity such as preparing a meal. Steps of the unrelated activity are melded into steps of playing the game. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Parlor games such as board games have become a favored way of passing time sociably with friends and acquaintances. Parlor games enable participants to pass time pleasurably while escaping from pressures and demands of day to day living. Sociable gatherings also frequently center about meals. Meals provide an enjoyable activity in which conversation usually plays a significant role. When the purpose of a meal is to foster social interaction as well as for mere nourishment, beverages, particularly alcoholic beverages are usually available. 
   The role of host in gatherings can be quite time consuming, especially where significant time must be devoted to preparation and serving of food and beverages. This can interfere with the host&#39;s attention to and interaction with guests. One approach to freeing a host to interact with the guests is to engage the services of others such as servants or persons engaged for one gathering. However, it is not always economically feasible and may not be desirable to introduce additional people into a household during a social event. It is desirable to accomplish the diverse tasks related to food and beverage preparation while enabling hosts to interact with guests. 
   It will further be appreciated that both parlor games and meals are significant elements of certain social gatherings. It would be desirable to combine these two disparate elements of a social gathering into one. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention addresses the need of combining entertaining activities, such as parlor games, with food and beverages typically provided at social gatherings. It also addresses the problem of accommodating the conflicting demands on the time and attention of hosts. 
   To these ends, there is set forth a board game which incorporates at least some of the tasks associated with a feast or other social gathering. Specifically, individual tasks in preparing food and beverages are apportioned among the players of the game as steps of the game. Tasks can thereby be relatively evenly divided among those present at the gathering, and may be performed in a social setting. 
   The novel game includes a board game, player tokens or pieces which are moved along spaces arranged in paths on the board, dice for determining progress of each player piece at each turn or move, and cards bearing instructions. Several categories of cards are provided. Activity cards which are color coordinated with spaces on the board require an action by each player landing on a space associated with the cards. For example, an activity card may bear a question requiring a response. A correct answer to a question appearing on an activity card entitles the player to proceed. Arrival at the end of each path determines, by order of finishing, which players perform which tasks associated with preparation of food and beverages. Instruction cards are provided to guide each player in accomplishing his or her tasks. Preferably, there are three paths which are to be negotiated by all players, with each path corresponding to one course of the feast. This affords the players to assume different roles in preparation of food and beverage as play progresses. It will be seen that participation in the game by both guests and hosts accomplishes the dual purposes of preparing and serving a meal while promoting social interaction among the participants. 
   This and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the board apparatus. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the obverse of a first variety of an activity card which is part of the game apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the reverse of the activity card of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the obverse of a second variety of an activity card which is part of the game apparatus. 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of the reverse of the activity card of FIG.  4 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged detail view of a space seen at the right center of the board, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , seen in plan view. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged detail view of a space seen at the upper center of the board, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , seen in plan view. 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of the obverse of a first variety of an instructional card which is part of the game apparatus. 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view of the reverse of the instructional card of FIG.  8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view of the obverse of a postcard which is optionally utilized as an invitation for the novel game. 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of the reverse of the postcard of FIG.  10 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the game apparatus includes a board  10  which bears a plurality of position spaces arranged serially in three progressions or paths  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Tokens or player pieces (not shown) are to be moved along paths  12 ,  14 ,  16  by alighting upon and occupying a position space. The exact number of spaces of movement is determined by a number generating device, for example, a chance device such as a die or dice (not shown). A player piece may be, for example, a miniature figurine or any small object which is readily placed on and occupies any position space of paths  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Player pieces are well known in board games wherein a representative token for each player is to be moved along and occupy serially arranged spaces on a board, and hence will not be described in greater detail herein. Dice and other chance devices such as spinners are equally well known and hence will not be described. 
   Path  12  is seen to have an initial or starting space  17 , which for convenience in accommodating a plurality of player pieces may be divided into a plurality of sections  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c ,  17   d  (see FIG.  6 ). Division of space  17  into sections enables an intuitive grasp of how to prepare to play, and has no significance regarding progress along path  12  or regarding competitive advantage. The same holds true for that section shown in  FIG. 1  bearing the legend “Round  1 ”. Space  17  abuts a space  18 , which in turn abuts a space  20 . 
   It will be seen that path  14  has a starting space  24  and a final or finish space  26 , and that path  16  has a starting space  28  and a finish space  30 . The game is played in three phases, each phase corresponding to one path  12 ,  14 , or  16 . The goal of the game is to be the first player to advance from the starting space (e.g., space  17  of path  12 ) to the finish space (e.g., space  22  of path  12 ) in each of the three phases. 
   The embodiment depicted and described herein utilizes three paths  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and accommodates four player pieces. Each player piece represents either a single person or a group or team, such as a couple. Each player, or one representative from each team, operates the chance device, which in the preferred embodiment is dice, to determine order of play. When order of play is determined, the first player throws the dice and advances along path  12  starting from starting space  17  according to the count determined by the dice. The number of spaces (e.g., spaces  18  and  20  and succeeding spaces) corresponds to the throw of the dice. 
   It will be seen that space  18  bears brown coloring  32  and that space  20  bears green coloring  34 . Similarly, all succeeding spaces bear coloring (not indicated). Preferably, there are at least four colors provided. The spaces of paths  14  and  16  are similarly treated with coloring. Upon having his or her playing piece alight on any space as a result of a move or turn, the player who has made the move draws an activity card. The obverse of an exemplary activity card  36  is shown in FIG.  2 . It will be seen that activity card  36  bears coloring  38  which is coordinated with, preferably being identical to, one of the colors borne by spaces of path  12 . In the present example, coloring  38  is similar or identical to coloring  32  of space  18 . The player whose playing piece has alighted on space  18  must draw a card from a plurality of cards bearing similar coloring. 
   There are a plurality of varieties of activity cards, each variety being associated with a different type of activity and containing instructions to perform an activity such as providing a verbal response to an inquiry. Illustratively, activity card  36  is associated with toasting. To perform the activity associated with card  36 , the player who has drawn card  36  turns to the reverse side  40  of card  36 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , reverse side  40  bears indicia corresponding to an instruction to complete a toast, basic elements of which are suggested on card  36 . Completion of the activity specified on card  36  entitles the player to roll  1  die and move his or her playing piece along path  12 , accordingly. Alternatively, an activity card may require the player drawing the same to move his or her player piece by a specified number of spaces forwardly or backwardly. Some activity cards may not affect position of the player piece on the board. 
     FIG. 4  shows a second variety of activity card. Card  42  has an obverse side  44  bearing indicia corresponding to instructions. Reverse side  46  of card  42  (see  FIG. 5 ) poses a question which is to be answered by the player who has drawn card  42 . Card  42  bears coloring  48  corresponding to coloring  34  of space  20  of board  10 . A player whose playing piece alights upon space  20 , or any other space bearing similar coloring, must draw one card from a plurality of that variety of activity cards which bears similar coloring. The player must follow directions appearing upon the drawn card. 
   This principle is followed for all spaces of path  12 , wherein all spaces bear one of the colors associated with each variety of activity cards. Two further exemplary varieties of activity cards include one variety dedicated to music and one variety dedicated to questions relating to trivia. That variety dedicated to music requires the player drawing the card to select a melody from several presented on the card, and to hum, whistle, tap the beat of that melody, or otherwise reproduce aspects of the specified melody without uttering any words associated with the melody, so that other players can identify the melody. The player drawing the card and the first player to successfully identify the melody are permitted to advance along the board according to instructions borne on the card. 
   The variety of cards dedicated to trivia preferably relate to the theme of the present game, namely, food or beverages. The player drawing the card reads a question appearing upon the card and if successfully answering within a predetermined time interval, such as thirty seconds, is permitted to advance along the board. 
   Neither one of the further exemplary varieties is shown. These further varieties are provided as part of the game apparatus to increase the number of varieties of activities, so that ability of participants to satisfy demands of the activity cards does not favor any player or players who are particularly able in just one field of knowledge. The additional fields of knowledge and endeavor have a tendency to even out individual performances when responding to an activity card. It will be appreciated that the number of varieties of activity cards correlates to the number of different colors borne by the spaces of board  10 . 
   Optionally, reverse side  40  of card  36  may bear coloring  38  which is identical to that seen on the obverse side. This promotes ready organization of the cards prior to playing the game or thereafter. 
   Play proceeds with each player or team taking a turn to move according to the order established at the beginning of the game. The first player to arrive at finish space  22  of path  12  may select among the options shown in FIG.  7 . Arrival at finish space  22  signifies either alighting directly on finish space  22  or alternatively, passing finish space  22  as a result of the numerical value indicated by the number generator. In  FIG. 7 , it is seen that finish space  22  is subdivided into four sections, one section  22   a  being designated “Winner”, a second section  22   b  being designated “Wait Staff”, a third section  22   c  being designated “Beverage Manager”, and the final section being designated “Appetizer Chef”. Players arriving at finish space  22  after the first player to do so may select among the remaining options as they arrive at finish space  22 , and are thus deprived of options selected prior to their arrival. The last player to arrive at finish space  22  must move immediately, by default, without utilizing the chance device, to the space corresponding to the final available option. Of course, spaces other than finish space  22  could be designated as being associated with performing a step in preparing food or beverage or both, rather than or in addition to finish space  22  being so designated. 
   The legends designated on the various sections of finish space  22  relate to the role to be played by that player whose playing piece occupies the corresponding section  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c , or  22   d . The player designated “Winner” is relieved of the necessity to perform any chore related to preparing food or beverage or both. The others must assume responsibilities associated with their respective designated roles. As exemplified in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , each of the participants having responsibilities relating to preparation of food or beverage is given an instructional card. The instructional card directs the player drawing the same to perform a step in the preparation of food or beverage or both to be consumed during the gathering associated with the game, and further provides specific instructions regarding a particular item of food or beverage. As employed herein, preparation encompasses cleaning and other ordinary activities that would be performed by professional wait staff, including, for example, removing dishes, drinking glasses, and any waste associated with food and beverages generated during the game. 
   An exemplary card  50  bears instructions for the responsibility to be assumed by that player drawing card  50 . General instructions relating to the role appear on the obverse side of instructional card  50 . Specific instructions, in this example, relating to one of the predetermined comestibles to be prepared as part of the feast, are shown on the reverse side  52  of card  50 . Different instructions are provided for the roles of “Wait Staff” and “Beverage Manager”. 
   Once all of the participants have negotiated first path  12  and have completed the duties associated with their respective roles, the food and beverages that have been prepared are consumed. Play at board  10  then resumes, with the participants utilizing the spaces of path  14 . The rules of play for the second phase, that utilizing path  14 , are similar to those which apply to the first phase. At the conclusion of board play of the second phase, the entree is prepared by a protocol similar to that which applied to the appetizers prepared at the conclusion of the first phase of play. Roles and instructions appropriate to an entree of a meal must obviously differ from those for appetizers, but the same general principles prevail. 
   The overall principles are again repeated for the third phase of play, that employing the spaces of path  16  and culminating in preparation of dessert. Again, roles and instructions for dessert differ from those appropriate for appetizers and entrees. 
   Preferably, a pamphlet of instructions (not shown) is provided for explaining the game. Because preparation of a full meal may prove a considerable undertaking, the instructions preferably list all ingredients which may be required in order to follow preparation instructions, estimate time required to complete preparation of portions of the meal, and may provide directions advising the host as to what must be done to maintain expeditious progress throughout the game, as well as stating the rules of play. 
   It will be apparent that different meals may be prepared utilizing the same board, which is generic with regard to types of food. To this end, alternative sets of activity cards and instructional cards may be provided or made available. The alternative sets of cards differ in the recipes, types of food, and to some extent, roles, but will follow the same method of play as that set forth above. 
   Optionally, the game apparatus includes a plurality of postcards, a representative postcard  54  being illustrated in FIG.  10 . Postcards are provided as invitations which may be mailed to prospective guests. Apart from the conventional return address lines, destination address lines, and indication of a preferred location for affixing for postage, all shown on the obverse side  56  of postcard  54 , there is indicia  58  corresponding to the actual invitation, including for example announcement of a social gathering and playing of an associated board game, and blank lines  60  for entering specific supplies which may be requested of the various guests. Requesting guests each to bring some of the required supplies reduces burden on the host, although the latter may be willing to provide all necessities if desired. Although it is most practical that invitations be configured as postcards, as depicted in  FIG. 10 , they may take any form configured as mail. 
   Certain aspects of the preferred embodiments may be modified without departing from the inventive concept. For example, color coordinating cards and spaces can be modified to employ any visual similarity other than color. For example, spaces and cards may bear similar pictorial devices, border decoration, or other visually distinguishable characteristics readily enabling activity cards to be visually associated with their respective position spaces. 
   The number of players and phases, where the latter refers to courses and paths of serially arranged playing spaces, may be varied to suit. 
   The game apparatus need not literally comprise a board. Conventional game boards are formed from paper or cardboard stock, and are imprinted with an image containing position spaces, instructions, and other indicia necessary or desirable to the play of the game. While a conventional game board is seen as the preferred embodiment, the novel game may be played utilizing any surface provided with an image of at least one path comprising sequentially disposed position spaces. The image could be painted or otherwise inscribed upon the surface of furniture, countertops, a flaccid material such as a blanket or section of plastic sheet, or any other object. Alternatively, the image could be projected onto a screen, a wall, or other surface, or could be provided as a dynamic display, such as a cathode ray tube, a flat screen display, other apparatus enabling visible reproduction of images, or a combination of these. To play the game, it is merely necessary to make an image of the path of position spaces visible to the participants. Similarly, the player pieces may take any form appropriate to the medium displaying the image of the path or paths. 
   Arrangements other than a chance device may be employed for determining the number of spaces to be negotiated during a move. For example, cards (not shown) bearing numerical values may be drawn in lieu of dice being thrown or a spinner being operated. Mental calculations and operations may be substituted for mechanical apparatus determining a number. For example, the digits of the year of one&#39;s birth, one&#39;s Social Security number, address, or of other significance to a player may be summed until one digit remains, that digit determining magnitude of a move of a player piece. This may be done by moving the piece by the exact numerical value shown, or by using the numerical value in some other way, as long as the number generator ultimately determines magnitude of each move of a player piece along the board. 
   An automatic device such as a digital random number generator may be employed, particularly where the game is rendered in digital fashion, with the image being provided on a cathode ray tube or other display. The method of generating numbers for moving player pieces is not critical to the game. 
   It will be appreciated that activity cards and instructional cards bearing instructions may be replaced or supplemented by any suitable medium for conveying the subject matter. Therefore, any indicia bearing member, including dynamic displays or even audible devices, will be regarded as equivalent to paperboard cards. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.