Patent Publication Number: US-2023149796-A1

Title: Game for Learning Bible Teachings

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/279,327, which was filed on Nov. 15, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of bingo style games. More specifically, the present invention relates to a unique bingo style game that can be played with friends and families for fun and entertainment while ensuring individuals remain engaged with learning about the books and scriptures of the Bible. The game includes custom designed bingo style cards with different book names of the Bible printed on them. The players match the announced book names designations with book names printed on their bingo style cards to form a winning combination to win the bingo style game session. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     By way of background, Bingo-type games are played with predefined bingo style cards that each include a number of bingo designations arranged in a desired manner, commonly in a grid. In traditional bingo-type games, the cards are made up of paper or some other suitable material printed with the desired arrangement of bingo designations such as numerals, letters, and more. For playing a bingo-game, a game designation from the available pool of game designations is selected at random by a game leader or a caller. The players playing the game have one or more bingo style cards and the players match the called designation or combination with the designations or combinations printed on their cards. The first player producing a predetermined pattern of matches between the randomly selected game designations or combinations and the printed card designations or combinations is considered the winner. 
     Generally, Bingo style games are used for fun and entertainment, but may include winning money as a prize. Religious individuals are looking for ways to spread awareness and preach about God and word of God. Generally, parents and elderly individuals want their children to learn about God and their teachings, however, presently, there is no fun way or game which exists that can provide the conventional fun and entertainment while also allowing individuals to learn about commands and teachings of God. A board game, similar to a Bingo style game which is loved by individuals of all ages and played by lot of individuals, can be used for motivating and inspiring individuals to learn about God. A simple and entertaining way of achieving this is by providing a Bingo style game that promotes Bible study and helps in spreading awareness about the Bible. This not only will provide fun but will instruct individuals about different books and scriptures of the Bible. 
     Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that enables individuals to learn about the Bible and its teachings in a fun and entertaining way. There is also a long felt need in the art for an improved Bingo style game that is played like a conventional Bingo style game while engaging individuals with learning about the Bible. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that can be used for entertainment in religious meetings. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that helps teach children and adults about Old Testaments and New Testaments of the Bible. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that provides customized bingo style cards and calling chips with Bible book names printed on them. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a unique bingo style game capable of being played by friends and family for providing entertainment and teachings about the Bible. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a Bible bingo style game system. The Bible bingo style game system is based around learning different books and scriptures of the Bible while offering fun and entertainment to individuals. The game system further comprising a plurality of custom designed Bingo style game cards usable by players while playing the Bingo style game, each Bingo style game card has Bible book names as Bingo designations printed thereon; a plurality of Bingo style word chips usable by a game leader or caller for calling out Bible book names; each word chip having a Bible book name and a column letter designation printed thereon; at least some of the Bible book names printed on the chips correspond to the Bible book names printed on the Bingo style game cards; a plurality of Bingo style chips usable by one or more players for daubing a book name printed on their Bingo style game card where the book name in a column matches or corresponds with the Book name and the letter announced by the caller. 
     In this manner, the Bible bingo style game of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides users with a bingo style game based around learning different books and scriptures of the Bible while offering fun and entertainment. The game is played in a conventional Bingo style game manner with book names being called by a leader and players matching the called book name with the book names printed on their customized bingo style cards. The game helps individuals to learn about Old Testament and New Testament. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a Bible bingo style game. The Bible bingo style game further comprising a plurality of Bingo style game cards usable by one or more players while playing the Bingo style game, each Bingo style game card has Bible book names as Bingo designations printed thereon; a plurality of Bingo style word chips usable by a game leader or caller for calling out Bible book names; each word chip having a Bible book name designation printed thereon; at least some of the Bible book names printed on the chips correspond to the Bible book names printed on the Bingo style game cards; a plurality of Bingo style chips usable by one or more players for placing on a book name printed on their Bingo style game card where the book name matches or corresponds with the Book name called out by the caller. 
     In yet another embodiment, the Bingo style game cards are made from plastic or paper. 
     In yet another embodiment, each Bingo style game card has at least one “Free space”. 
     In yet another embodiment, the Bingo style cards have a grid size selected from a group consisting of 5×5, 6×5, 4×4, 7×5 and 3×3. 
     In yet another embodiment, the word chips are spherical and have a column identifier printed thereon in addition to the book name designation. 
     In yet another embodiment, the Bible bingo style game includes 10 unique Bingo style game cards, five for the Old Testament and five for the New Testament, when up to 10 individuals can play the game. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of playing a Bingo style game for learning and teaching book names of the Bible is described. The method includes the steps of providing one or more custom designed bingo style cards to players playing the game, each bingo style card has a plurality of Bible book names printed thereon in individual cells wherein each cell is defined by a combination of column name and book name; providing said players with bingo style chips for marking or daubing book names on said playing cards; providing a plurality of word chips for a leader or caller, each word chip has a column letter and a book name printed thereon; randomly selecting a word chip by the caller for announcing the column letter and the book name; instructing said players to examine their bingo style cards to match the announced combination of the column letter and the book name on their cards; instructing said players to daub the matched book name by placing the bingo style chips thereon; and instructing the players to vocalize BINGO when a winning combination is formed on their cards by a designated pattern daubing book names. 
     Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of a Bible bingo style kit of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a method of playing the Bible bingo style game according to the present invention for learning about Bible books and for providing fun and entertainment; and 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a schematic view of an electronic version of a Bible bingo style game of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. 
     As noted above, there exists a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that enables individuals to learn about the Bible and its teachings in a fun and entertaining way. There is also a long felt need in the art for an improved Bingo style game that is played like a conventional Bingo style game while engaging individuals with learning about the Bible. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that can be used for entertainment in religious meetings. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that helps teach children and adults about Old Testaments and New Testaments of the Bible. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a Bingo style game that provides customized bingo style cards and calling chips with Bible book names printed on them. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a unique bingo style game capable of being played by friends and family for providing entertainment and teachings about the Bible. 
     The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel bingo style game capable of being played by friends and family. The game includes an ornamental design for a bingo style card wherein the spaces of the card relate to 66 ancient books of the Bible. Written under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit by laymen and scholars, commoners and nobility, the Bible is as unique as it is profound, containing the 66 ancient books (i.e. book names) that have shaped laws, influenced culture and inspired billions to faith over three millennia. The game further includes word chips having book names that are called out for players to match with book names printed on their bingo style cards and daubing or marking by placing bingo style chip thereon. A player forming a winning combination and vocalizing BINGO is declared as winner of the game. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of the Bible bingo style kit of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The Bible bingo style kit  100  of the present invention is a unique bingo style game based around learning different books and scriptures of the Bible while providing fun and entertainment to individuals. The bingo style game kit  100  includes a plurality of customized bingo style cards  102   a - n . Each bingo style card has different book names  104   a - n  printed thereon wherein the book names can be from either Old Testament, New Testament, or both. Specifically, each cell of each bingo style card has a unique book name printed thereon. One or more Bible bingo style cards are provided to each player of the Bible bingo style game for playing the Bible game. Book names correspond to prophets, for example, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.  FIG.  1    includes more listings of book names (i.e. prophets). 
     Each bingo style card has at least one free space  106  wherein the free space  106  counts towards winning a bingo style game. The free spaces  106  of each bingo style card are considered “wild” and can be used with other dabbed spaces to create other winning patterns. The bingo style cards included in the kit can have any number of rows and columns to form unique cells in the bingo style cards. Each cell is identified with a particular row and column references. One exemplary grid size of the bingo style cards is 5×5 and is divided into columns designated as A, B, C, D, E (column identifier  122 ) and having a number of rows forming cells defined by a row and a column. Each bingo style card has a testament identification  108  positioned on the top of the card for indicating the testament of the book names written on the card. In one embodiment, each card can have all of the 66 book names of the Bible listed thereon. 
     For marking or daubing the book names on the bingo style cards, a plurality of transparent bingo style chips  110   a - n  is provided in the kit  100 . A bingo style chip  110   a - n  is placed on a book name in a respective cell by a user when a called book name and column letter combination is found on the bingo style card. The bingo style chips  110   a - n  can be available in a plurality of colors and sizes and can be easily placed on the cells with ‘called out’ book name and column combinations. 
     For calling out book names by a game leader or a caller, a plurality of word chips is included in the kit. The word chips include a plurality of New Testament word chips  112   a - n  and a plurality of Old Testament word chips  114   a - n . Each word chip includes a book name  116  and a letter  118  embossed thereon which are called out by the leader to players participating in the game. During play, the players with the ‘called out’ combination of the letter and book name on their Bible bingo style cards place the bingo style chip thereon to proceed towards a winning combination or pattern. 
     In addition to the word chips, the kit includes a plurality of Bible bingo style calling cards  120   a - n  that are individually and selectively used by the game leader for calling the book names. Each calling card has a book name and letter printed thereon which can be called for players to mark on their bingo style cards. In addition, each calling card can include an exemplary scripture from the identified book and can be read by the game leader to instruct the game players as to exemplary scriptures associated with particular book prophets or readings. It is to be appreciated that the Bible bingo style calling cards  120   a - n , including scriptures read therefrom, can intermittently be used with the plurality of word chips  112   a - n ,  114   a - n  during play of the Bible bingo style game. The duration of time to play the Bible game will be extended if a greater percentage of Bible bingo style calling cards (and reading of scriptures) are used relative to the Bingo style word chips. 
     It should be noted that the underlying Bible bingo style game remains a standard bingo style game played in the traditional sequence of play for bingo style games while providing education and awareness about books of Bible. That is, each player obtains or is assigned one or more customized bingo style cards, and a player with a first card in the game to match a winning designated pattern(s) wins the Bible bingo style game. Additional prizes may be awarded for other patterns that may be produced in the course of the bingo style game. 
     Having described the components of the Bible bingo style game  100 ,  FIG.  2    illustrates a method of playing the Bible bingo style game according to the present invention. To play the Bible bingo style game, at least two players must purchase at least a Bingo style card each (Step  202 ). The Bingo style cards are used by each player to participate in the Bible bingo style game. As described earlier, the bingo style cards have Bible book names written in the individual cells of the Bingo style cards. When a dealer or caller is satisfied that all the players have purchased/accessed/acquired all of the Bingo style cards desired, a word chip is randomly selected by the dealer and a book name and a letter (such A, B, C, D, E) designated on the word chip is called out by the dealer (Step  204 ). 
     Each player playing the bingo style game examines their bingo style cards to locate the announced combination of the book name and the column letter (Step  206 ). The players place a bingo style chip on the book name designation that matches or corresponds the designation announced by the caller (Step  208 ). For instance, if “A-Exodus” is announced and a player has book name Exodus in column “A” of the bingo style card, then, the Exodus book name is daubed by placing a bingo style chip thereon. 
     A player that forms a winning combination such as combinations of five in a row, complete row, complete column, blackout or any horizontal, vertical, diagonal row, or identifiable designated pattern can vocalize such act by using a word such as “Bingo!” The player who announces BINGO is declared as the winner of the Bible bingo style game (Step  210 ). The winner is awarded any award desired, for example, a Bible. 
     During play, any other or interim combinations can also be allowed for winning the game. Further, the Bible bingo style game can include book names and scriptures of only the New Testament, the Old Testament, or a mix of both New Testament and Old Testament. The game is continued with a caller picking out word chips randomly to announce designations for matching and daubing by players until at least one winner is declared. 
     A winner of the bingo style game ends the Bingo Session, and a new Bible bingo style game session starts with two or more players purchasing/using Bible Bingo style game cards, and so on. The Bible bingo style game helps teach and instruct children and adults which books of the Bible are in the Old Testament or New Testament while playing the game in a conventional Bingo style game. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a schematic view of electronic version of Bible bingo style game of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. In the present embodiment, the Bible bingo style game can be played online over the internet by a plurality of players. A server  302  is configured to provide at least one digital bingo style card to each player wherein the players  304   a - n  can access the digital bingo style cards on a computing machine through a computer implemented application. The bingo style cards have Bible book names and at least one free space as described in  FIG.  1   . 
     An administrator  306  which can be a person logged into the server  302 , or a virtual assistant, announces a bingo style card designation that is examined by players to match with a book name in a specific column in their digital bingo style cards. Similar to the playing process described in  FIG.  2   , a winner is declared from the players  304   a - n  who forms a winning combination on their digital bingo style card and is verified by the server  302 . 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “Bible bingo style game system”, “Bible bingo style game kit”, “Bible bingo style game”, and “bingo style game system” are interchangeable and refer to the Bible bingo style game system  100  of the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Bible bingo style game system  100  of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the Bible bingo style game system  100  as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the Bible bingo style game system  100  are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the Bible bingo style game system  100  include important design parameters for user convenience, the Bible bingo style game system  100  may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user&#39;s needs and/or preferences. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.