Abstract:
A deck of cards includes eighty four playing cards. Each playing card has a front surface and a back surface. The front surface of all of the playing cards has the same design. The eighty four playing cards include four sets of twenty one playing cards. Each of the four sets corresponds to a branch of military service and each playing card within each of the four sets of twenty one playing cards corresponding to a rank within a respective branch of the military service

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the fields of entertainment and learning; and more particularly to a system, method, and apparatus for playing a game using cards having military-based backs. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are many types of cards and card games available. The best known type of cards is commonly referred to as “playing cards,” consisting of 52 unique cards having four suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) with 13 cards in each suit (Ace, 2-10, Jack, Queen, King). Although various sizes and styles of playing cards exist, they all share these similar characteristics. Using such playing cards, people pass the time playing various games such as poker, gin rummy, war, canasta, bridge, etc. 
         [0003]    Other types of cards with similar or different playing styles have been introduced, in particular those for playing old maid, or children&#39;s games of concentration, etc. One company markets a specific deck of cards having four colors instead of suits and special purpose cards that skip the next player, make the next player draw two cards, etc. 
         [0004]    All of these card sets and games have great entertainment value, but are mostly limited to entertainment, providing minimal educational opportunities. 
         [0005]    There are thousands of individuals joining the military every week. Many of these individuals have time that needs to be occupied and often, cards are a superior way of occupying such time, as they are portable and quite ubiquitous. Again, there is a lack of educational value, and these cards and games provide solely entertainment. 
         [0006]    At the same time, these thousands of military personnel, being new to the military, need to understand the various ranks of the military. Further, when approached by a military person from another branch of the military, it is also important for these military personnel to understand the ranks of the other branches and how they relate to the ranks within their own branch. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a gaming system that will provide entertainment value while teaching military personnel the ranks. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A deck of game playing cards is disclosed containing approximately 84 playing cards. Each card has a back side which is similar to each of the other playing cards such that the cards cannot be distinguished by observing the back side. A front side of each card contains an indication of military branch and rank, such that various card games are played using such indication to determine which card out-plays which other card. By having 84 playing cards, an equal number of cards is dealt to two players (42 playing cards to each player), three players (28 playing cards to each player), and four players (21 playing cards to each player). 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, a deck of cards is disclosed including a plurality of playing cards. Each playing card of the plurality of playing cards has a front surface and a back surface. The front surface of all of the playing cards of the plurality of playing cards has a same design. The back surface of each of the playing cards has indicia indicating a branch of military service and a rank within the military service. In this, each individual playing card of the of the plurality of playing cards is unique with respect to the other playing cards of the plurality of playing cards. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a deck of cards is disclosed including a first set of playing cards. Each playing card of the first set of playing cards has a front surface and a first back surface. The front surface of all of the playing cards of the first set of playing cards has a same design. The first back surface of each of the playing cards has indicia indicating a first branch of military service and a rank within the first branch of military service. In such, each individual playing card of the of the first set of playing cards is unique with respect to the other playing cards of the first set of playing cards. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a deck of cards is disclosed including eighty four playing cards. Each playing card has a front surface and a back surface. The front surface of all of the playing cards has the same design. The eighty four playing cards include four sets of twenty one playing cards. Each of the four sets corresponds to a branch of military service and each playing card within each of the four sets of twenty one playing cards corresponding to a rank within a respective branch of the military service. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIGS. 1-84  illustrate a schematic view of a front design of individual playing cards. 
           [0014]      FIG. 85  illustrates a chart of playing cards for the army and navy military branches. 
           [0015]      FIG. 86  illustrates a chart of playing cards for the air force and marine military branches. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0017]    Although specific emblems are shown for each rank and respective branch of military service, it is anticipated that in some embodiments, other emblems are utilized; depending upon the military structure of a particular country and, therefore, the style and configuration of each particular playing card will depict a specific branch and rank within that branch of such a military structure. 
         [0018]    Throughout the description, the playing card backs are shown including ranks and branch of service. As it is well known, the playing card fronts are typically homogeneous such that it is difficult to impossible to tell one playing card from another playing card by looking at the card fronts, therefore allowing users to play games in which they do not know what subset of the playing cards is possessed by their opponents. Generally, such playing cards are thin, cardboard or plastic stock with the ranks and military branches on the card backs and a decorative pattern on the card fronts. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-84 , the card backs of a sample set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  are shown. The indicia on each card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  represents a particular rank and branch of military service. In some embodiments, the indicia include an insignia for the particular rank and branch of military service. For example, in  FIG. 2 , the indicia of the second playing card  101  indicate an Airman E- 2  in the air force of a particular country such as the United States of America. In contrast, in  FIG. 6 , the indicia of the sixth playing card  105  indicate a Technical Sergeant E- 6  in the air force of that particular country. 
         [0020]    When using the playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420 , in general, the higher the rank, the more powerful or useful the card. As an example, playing a war-like game, the Technical Sergeant E- 6  playing card  105  would take/capture (overpower) the Airman E- 2  playing card  101 . Further, to differentiate suits, each branch of the military service corresponds to a particular suit for playing games that differentiate between suits (e.g., Pinochle, Bridge, Euchre, etc.), similar to that of clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades would be air force, army, marines, and navy, etc. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 85 and 86 , the overall ordering of all playing cards is listed, the playing card at the top of the list typically has the lowest value and the playing card at the bottom of the list typically has the highest value. Such typical value is determined by the game that is being played. For example, in a standard game of “war,” the general will overtake the private, but in other games such as Euchre and Pinochle, there are roles for certain cards (e.g. a card that matches a Jack in Euchre or a military branch that is declared triumph in Pinochle). The ranks mimic card numbers in a standard 52 card deck while the military branch mimics a suit in a standard 52 card deck, though the number of cards is different as well as the design to promote learning of military ranks and branches. 
         [0022]    Although four military branches are disclosed (air force, army, marines, navy), more or less branches are anticipated depending upon the military structure of a country. For example, it is anticipated that a fifth branch is added for a national guard, or in some land-locked countries, there is no navy, etc. 
         [0023]    The disclosed set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  are suitable for playing many different games while identifying the grade/rank/title/insignia of members of the military. In one example, the military is divided into four branches as in the United States: US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, and US Marine Corps. In the examples and a preferred embodiment, the playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  are suited based upon each of the four branches, a first suit being the air force cards  100 - 120 , the second suit being the army cards  200 - 220 , the third suit being the navy cards  300 - 320 , and the fourth suit being the marine cards  400 - 420 . 
         [0024]    Pay grades are used by the uniformed military services of the United States to determine wages and benefits based on the corresponding military rank of a member of the services. The pay grades of the uniformed military services of the United States are uniform and equivalent between all the branches. In the uniformed military services of the United States, the pay grades are used to quickly determine seniority among a group of members from the different service branches. 
         [0025]    The pay grades translate to equivalent ranks that are used by the uniformed military services of the United States to distinguish between the different rank levels, and set hierarchy in the chain of command. The ranks have corresponding titles and insignia assigned to them to identify a member&#39;s standing, and establish responsibilities and duties in their organization, and also their corresponding form of address. The disclosed set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  include the pay grades and corresponding insignia to familiarize users of such as to the pay grades and insignia of that user&#39;s branch as well as the other branches of the military. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the disclosed set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  is used as flashcards to learn to identify military grades/ranks/titles/insignia. In some embodiments, the disclosed set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  is used to play various card games. One anticipated card game is “war,” similar to the game played with a standard deck of cards. Another anticipated card game is crazy Colonels/crazy Chiefs (similar to crazy  8 s). Another anticipated card game is Solitaire. Poker games and such are anticipate. In some such games, there are times that certain cards are removed from the set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420 , for example, removing the General cards  120 / 220 / 320 / 420  to change the set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  to better simulate a standard deck of cards. 
         [0027]    Using the set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420 , a new form of the old game of war is anticipated, called here within, “warr.” The game strategy is similar and promotes recognition of which of two cards is higher in grade/rank. 
         [0028]    In the basic game of “warr,” there are two players and the full set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  is used. The set of playing cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  is divided evenly among players, so, for example, if there are two players, each player receives  42  cards. Players do not look at their cards, but keep them in a stack face down. The object of the game is to win all the cards. 
         [0029]    Play progresses as in the original game of “war,” with the E- 1  card  100 / 200 / 300 / 400  being the lowest value and the  5 -star card  120 / 220 / 320 / 420  being the highest. Each player turns up one card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  at a time and whichever player has the highest value card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  captures all the other cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420 . 
         [0030]    Suits are ignored in the game of “warr.” 
         [0031]    If any of the cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  that are turned up have an equal rank, a war is declared. To determine a winner, the players set aside the next three cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  of their pile face down and turn up a fourth card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420 . Whoever has the higher rank of the fourth card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  wins the war and adds the cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  to their stack. If the fourth card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  are of equal rank, the war continues, repeating the above steps. 
         [0032]    The game continues until one player has all the cards and wins the “WARR.” If a player runs out of cards during a war, their last card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  is turned face up and is used for all battles in that war series. The wars continues until the player with no cards loses the last war, and thus all their cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420 , or they win the war to collect the played card fourth card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  and play then continues. 
         [0033]    In a variation possible with the disclosed set of cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420 , when a player turns up a 5-STAR card  120 / 220 / 320 / 420 , another has a chance to overcome it. The other player turns up two more cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  face up to declare a nuclear option. To defeat or “nuke” the first player&#39;s 5-STAR card  120 / 220 / 320 / 420 , the 3 up-turned cards taken together must include more than 5 stars. For example, the 3 up-turned cards include a 4-STAR card  118 / 218 / 318 / 418  and a 2-STAR card  116 / 216 / 316 / 416 , or in another example, the 3 up-turned cards include a 4-STAR card  118 / 218 / 318 / 418  and two 1-STAR cards  115 / 215 / 315 / 415 . Any combination that includes more than 5 stars allows the other player to beat (and take) the first player&#39;s 5-STAR card  120 / 220 / 320 / 420 . If one of the cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  turned up by the other player is a 5-STAR card  120 / 220 / 320 / 420 , a war is declared (as above). 
         [0034]    When more than two players are involved, each simultaneously turns over a card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  and the highest card  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  wins all cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  that are tuned up. If two or more cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  have the highest rank and match in rank, there is a war. In some variations of the game, all players will take part in this war, not only the ones who had the highest cards. 
         [0035]    The Nuclear Option to defeat a 5-STAR card  120 / 220 / 320 / 420  also applies, and like a war, in some variations of the game, all players will take part. In such, it is anticipated that getting six or more stars be accomplished by the two or more opponent players. For example, there&#39;s a tie between two players with seven stars total for each. One player has a 4-STAR card  118 / 218 / 318 / 418  and a 3-STAR card  117 / 217 / 317 / 417 , while the other player has a 4-STAR card  118 / 218 / 318 / 418 , a 2-STAR card  116 / 216 / 316 / 416 , and a 1-STAR card  115 / 215 / 315 / 415 . In this example, the player with the 4-STAR card  118 / 218 / 318 / 418  and the 3-STAR card  117 / 217 / 317 / 417  wins the war, since their 3-STAR card  117 / 217 / 317 / 417  outranks the other player&#39;s 2-STAR card  116 / 216 / 316 / 416  and 1-STAR card  115 / 215 / 315 / 415 . The higher ranked cards take precedence. Only if the 5-STAR cards  120 / 220 / 320 / 420  matched, a war is fought out, with all the players then participating until a clear winner emerges, and wins all the cards  100 - 120 / 200 - 220 / 300 - 320 / 400 - 420  played. 
         [0036]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0037]    It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.