Patent Publication Number: US-2015069703-A1

Title: Outdoor game

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/875,744, filed Sep. 10, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to board games and, more particularly, to an outdoor board game with premade playing cards. 
     Currently, most board games keep children indoors. There are usually specific instructions for every phase of the game. This rigid structure does not allow for the creativity of the child or parents to flourish. Most children love board games, but are usually restricted by rules, design and where the game can be played. Most board games restrict a player to a sitting position. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an outdoor game which may allow children to use their imagination to create an endless set of games outdoors being active participants. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, an outdoor game comprises: a game board comprising a plurality of spaces connected to each other, wherein the game board is created on an outdoor playing surface; and a plurality of playing cards each playing card having a cover side and an instruction side. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a game outdoors comprises: creating a game board on an outdoor playing surface, wherein the game board comprises a plurality of spaces connected to each other; confirming the rules of a round of game play; playing by picking at least one playing card having a cover side and an instruction side, and following the instructions on the instruction side of the playing card; performing like a game piece, wherein each player moves from space to space depending on the instructions of the playing card that was picked; alternating play from player to player; and ending a round of play by declaring a winner based on the rules confirmed prior to the beginning of the round of play. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of game materials in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of exemplary playing cards of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an outdoor game that may include a game board having a plurality of spaces connected to each other. The game board may be created on an outdoor playing surface. A plurality of playing cards, each playing card having a cover side and an instruction side, may be used to move the outdoor game forward. Player created playing cards may be added to expand the play. 
     As is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , an outside game may include a game board  30  and a plurality of playing cards  10 . Each playing card  10  may have a cover side  14  that has a logo or image displayed. Each playing card  10  may also have an instruction side. Various exemplary embodiments of instruction sides  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  are shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In certain embodiments, at least one piece of chalk  12  or the like may be used to create the game board  30 . The game board  30  may be changed and adjusted depending on the game that is being played. The game board  30  may be a plurality of spaces  36  outlined by the chalk  12 . The game board  30  may be created on a playing surface  32  that is outdoors. The playing surface  32  may be a driveway, patio, sidewalk, or the like. The game board  30  may include a “Start” space and a “Finish” space. The chalk  12  may be of different colors. The chalk  12  may be used to create individual shapes that may be connected to create the spaces  36  of the game board  30 . The spaces  36  may be shapes such as squares, circles or the like. The instructions on the plurality of playing cards  10  may tell a player  34  where to move, to perform an activity, or the like. The playing cards  10  may have different shapes and colors to designate where the player  34  may move next. 
     A method of using the outdoor game may include the following. The player  34  may create a game board  30  of any desired size with any desired number of spaces  36  including a Start space and a Finish space. At least one player  34  may take turns drawings playing cards  10  and following the instructions on the playing cards  10 . The players  34  may act as game pieces by acting out the instructions on the playing cards  10 . Player created playing cards may be added to the game to expand the play. The players  34  may be encouraged to creatively add to or change the game rules within a round of play. The changes may be altering how the playing cards  10  may be drawn, what playing cards  10  may be drawn, the layout of the game board  30 , and the like. In order to win the game, the player  34  who reaches the Finish space first by following the rules and game board created for that particular round of play, may be the winner. 
     In certain embodiments, the instructions on the playing cards  10  may be, but not limited to, move one space, move two spaces, move three spaces, move back one space, switch places with the player in last place. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.