Abstract:
A educational board game for learning to drive safely for teaching proper safe driving rules and educating a person to the requirements of a driving test. The educational board game for learning to drive safely includes a game board having a playing surface, the playing surface having a start space and a plurality of playing spaces, a plurality of playing pieces, a plurality of vehicle models, each vehicle model having a plurality of vehicle parts couplable to form the vehicle model, a plurality of game cards, and a pair of dice.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to educational games and more particularly pertains to a new educational board game for learning to drive safely for teaching proper safe driving rules and educating a person to the requirements of a driving test. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of educational games is known in the prior art. More specifically, educational games heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,283; U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,580; U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,623; U.S. Pat. No. 2,239,779; U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,388; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 273,402. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new educational board game for learning to drive safely. The inventive device includes a game board having a playing surface, the playing surface having a start space and a plurality of playing spaces, a plurality of playing pieces, a plurality of vehicle models, each vehicle model having a plurality of vehicle parts couplable to form the vehicle model, a plurality of game cards, and a pair of dice. 
     In these respects, the educational board game for learning to drive safely according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of teaching proper safe driving rules and educating a person to the requirements of a driving test. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of educational games now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new educational board game for learning to drive safely construction wherein the same can be utilized for teaching proper safe driving rules and educating a person to the requirements of a driving test. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the educational games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new educational board game for learning to drive safely which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art educational games, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a game board having a playing surface, the playing surface having a start space and a plurality of playing spaces, a plurality of playing pieces, a plurality of vehicle models, each vehicle model having a plurality of vehicle parts couplable to form the vehicle model, a plurality of game cards, and a pair of dice. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the educational games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new educational board game for learning to drive safely which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art educational games, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely that is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such educational board game for learning to drive safely economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely for teaching proper safe driving rules and educating a person to the requirements of a driving test. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely which includes a game board having a playing surface, the playing surface having a start space and a plurality of playing spaces, a plurality of playing pieces, a plurality of vehicle models, each vehicle model having a plurality of vehicle parts couplable to form the vehicle model, a plurality of game cards, and a pair of dice. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely that requires a player to answer questions relating to highway rules and regulations in order to advance in the game. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new educational board game for learning to drive safely that provides consequences related to driving activities in order to teach potential vehicle drivers the responsibilities and the potential consequences associated with driving privileges. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of a game board of a new educational board game for learning to drive safely according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the playing pieces, question cards, dice and play money for the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle portions of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new educational board game for learning to drive safely embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the educational board game for learning to drive safely  10  generally comprises a game board  20 , playing pieces  22 , dice  24 , playing cards  26 , play money  28  and a plurality of vehicle models  30 . The game board has a playing surface  32 . The playing surface has an outer path  34 , an interior portion  36  and a plurality of playing spaces  38 . The playing spaces are divided into motorway spaces  40 , motorway enter/exit spaces  42 , accident spaces  44 , card draw spaces  46 , part acquisition spaces  48 , corner spaces  50 , and lose turn spaces  52 . The lose turn spaces may be called zebra spaces due to the resemblance of a cross-walk to a striped zebra and the association of the lost turn due to waiting for pedestrians to cross the street. One of the corner spaces further serves as a start space from which all the players begin movement of their respective game piece. 
     The motorway spaces have a rectangular arrangement to define a inner path track  54  positioned in the interior portion of the game board. The motorway enter/exit spaces extend between the outer path of the game board and the inner path to link the motorway spaces to the other playing spaces on the board. 
     The plurality of playing cards are divided into a first group of question cards  56  called highway cards and a second group of question cards  58  called garage cards. Each of the first group of question cards has a vehicle law related question printed thereon and each of the second group of question cards has a driving code related question and a penalty amount indicator printed on the card. The vehicle law related questions may comprise questions about common rules of the road as well as rule of thumb type safe driving tips. The driving code related questions may comprise questions about codified laws relating to driving a vehicle. 
     The plurality of vehicle models are each made of separable vehicle portions  72 , including a bonnet or car hood  60 , tires  62 , engine  64 , doors  66 , body  68 , and a trunk or boot hood  70 . 
     In an embodiment, the rules of the game are as follows: 
     1. Contents: 
     One game board and two dice 
     One box of highway code questions 
     One box of garage questions 
     Four pieces to move around board 
     Four scale model cars each consisting of: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 ONE BODY 
                 price 
                 $ 300.00 
               
               
                   
                 ONE BONNET 
                 price 
                 $ 100.00 
               
               
                   
                 ONE BOOT 
                 price 
                 $ 100.00 
               
               
                   
                 ONE ENGINE 
                 price 
                 $ 150.00 
               
               
                   
                 TWO DOORS 
                 price 
                 $ 75.00/door 
               
               
                   
                 FOUR WHEELS 
                 price 
                 $ 50.00/wheel 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Money to purchase parts 
     2. Object: 
     For each player to totally rebuild his scale vehicle model by moving around the board building up their cash and landing on the parts acquisition spaces. The first player to totally rebuild his model car with all the correct parts is declared the winner. No player may start rebuilding until the main body part has been purchased. 
     3. Preparation for play: 
     Each player must choose their coloured game piece and begin their journey on the ‘start’ square. Each player starts off with $500.00. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 4 × $100.00 
               
               
                   
                 1 × $ 50.00 
               
               
                   
                 1 × $ 20.00 
               
               
                   
                 2 × $ 10.00 
               
               
                   
                 2 × $  5.00 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     4. Rules of the game: 
     a) Street wise is a game for 2-4 players 
     b) Each player in turn must throw the dice 
     c) The first to start being the one with the highest score 
     d) The person with the lowest score must take on the job of mechanic. He will control the money and car parts. 
     e) Each person in turn must move their coloured piece around the board landing on a number of different spaces as described above, each containing different rules. 
     f) Players must aim to land on ‘cash’ and ‘part acquisition’ spaces that are needed. 
     g) Players may only purchase one part to his model car at any one time. This applies to the purchase of wheels and doors. 
     5. Rules of the Playing Spaces: 
     a) Start Space: 
     Each player begins their journey on this space. If during the game a player ends their movement of their coloured piece on the ‘start’ space, he or she, will receive a $300.00 cash bonus. This also applies to the other three corners of the board. If a player ends their movement of their coloured piece on cash corners they receive the money stated on that corner. 
     b) Part Acquisition Spaces: 
     If a player lands on a ‘part’ space they must first answer a Highway Code Question. If answered correctly and the player having enough money, they may purchase this part from the mechanic. Whether the player needs the part or not they must answer the question correctly to continue their journey. If answered incorrectly the player loses their turn and is unable to purchase the part from the mechanic. A player may sell any body part back to the mechanic at any time if in need of money for (cash for cost price). 
     c) Cash Bonus Spaces: 
     If a player lands on a cash bonus space they have one of two choices. 
     (1) To keep the money stated on the space and continue on their journey. 
     (2) Gamble and answer a Highway Code Question. If correct player doubles cash bonus and carries on. If answered incorrectly player loses all of cash bonus and loses their turn. As stated before there are four cash corners on the board. A player must ends their movement of their coloured piece on corner to receive the cash stated. 
     d) Zebra Spaces: 
     If a player lands on a ‘zebra crossing space’ then must allow people to cross, thus miss a turn. 
     e) Accident Spaces: 
     If a player lands on an accident space they must obey the instructions on this space. If the space contains a Q they must answer a question on the card. If correct the player continues the turn. If incorrect, the player loses their turn and if it is a garage question answered incorrectly, the player must also pay the amount stated on the garage card. 
     f) Start and End of Motorway Spaces: 
     If a player lands on this space they must answer a garage question. If answered correctly, the player avoids the motorway track, receives a cash bonus stated on the garage card and continues the turn. If answered incorrectly, the player must move to the motorway track and proceed on the motorway track on the next turn. 
     6. Rules of Inner Path: 
     Once a player has moved on to the inner path they must be very careful because driving may become mayhem as the number of spaces having undesired results is greatly increased. There are lots of forfeits and no ‘part’ spaces on the motorway so players should aim to come off the motorway as soon as possible. Players can EXIT the motorway by landing exactly on a ‘Motorway Exit Space’ and answering a ‘Highway Code Question’. If answered correctly, the player may exit to the outer path. If answered incorrectly, the player must stay on the inner path and miss a turn. They must then try to land on another ‘exit space’ on their next turn. Only being allowed to exit if a Highway Code Question is answered correctly. 
     7. Rules of Motorway Spaces: 
     a) Accident Motorway Spaces: 
     If a player lands on the ‘accident space’ while on the inner path they must immediately pay the penalty stated on the space. The player also loses their turn. 
     b) Inner Path question spaces: 
     If a player lands on a ‘question space’ while on the inner path, they must answer a question from the type of card stated on the space. If answered from the highway cards and the answer is correct, the player may throw again and continue the turn. If incorrect, the player simply loses their turn. If answered from the garage cards and the answer is correct, the player may continue the turn and also collect the amount stated on card. If answered incorrectly, as at all times with garage cards, the player loses their turn and must pay the amount stated on card. 
     c) Inner Path Cash Bonus Spaces: 
     Like all ‘cash bonus spaces’ the player has to choose one of the following. 
     1) Keep the cash and continue. 
     2) Gamble and double their money by answering a garage question correctly. Remember that on the motorway it is a garage question and if answered incorrectly the player must pay the amount on the card and lose a turn. 
     8. Money: 
     If a player is short of money they may sell any vehicle portion, at any time, back to the mechanic for the same price at which it was purchased. Players can only sell back vehicle portions if they have fines or penalties to pay. 
     9. Game over: 
     A players game is declared over when they have totally run out of cash and they have no body parts left to sell back to the mechanic. 
     10.Quick Game: 
     Each player may choose any three parts of the model car before game begins. They still keep their $500.00 to begin the game. 
     11. Winning the Game 
     The winner of the game is determined by the first player to fully assembly the vehicle model. Alternately, the last player to run out of money and vehicle portions to sell may be declared the winner by default. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.