Patent Publication Number: US-6336634-B1

Title: Board game

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to board games and more particularly pertains to a new board game for providing entertainment and teaching strategy. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of board games is known in the prior art. More specifically, board 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. 5,839,729; U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,678; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 306,322; U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,387; U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,184; U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,820. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new board game. The inventive device includes a game board having plurality of discrete paths thereon and defining a quadrant. Each of the game paths is divided into a plurality of game spaces and each game path ends at an inner circle position in a central portion of the game board. Each of the game spaces is colored a color selected from the group consisting of green, orange, blue, red, yellow, brown and white. Each of a plurality of overlays is positionable on one of the game paths. Each of the overlays generally has the shape of one of the game paths such that each of the overlays may be positioned over one of the quadrants. Each of the overlays is substantially transparent. Each of the overlays has a plurality of symbols thereon. A first die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides has a different indicia thereon indicating a number 1 through 6. A second die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides has a different color indicia thereon indicating green, orange, blue, red, yellow or brown. A third die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides of the third die has a different symbol indicia thereon indicating one of the symbols on the overlays. 
     In these respects, the board game 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 providing entertainment and teaching strategy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of board games now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new board game construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing entertainment and teaching strategy. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new board game apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the board games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new board game which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art board games, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a game board having plurality of discrete paths thereon and defining a quadrant. Each of the game paths is divided into a plurality of game spaces and each game path ends at an inner circle position in a central portion of the game board. Each of the game spaces is colored a color selected from the group consisting of green, orange, blue, red, yellow, brown and white. Each of a plurality of overlays is positionable on one of the game paths. Each of the overlays generally has the shape of one of the game paths such that each of the overlays may be positioned over one of the quadrants. Each of the overlays is substantially transparent. Each of the overlays has a plurality of symbols thereon. A first die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides has a different indicia thereon indicating a number 1 through 6. A second die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides has a different color indicia thereon indicating green, orange, blue, red, yellow or brown. A third die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides of the third die has a different symbol indicia thereon indicating one of the symbols on the overlays. 
     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 board game apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the board games mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new board game which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art board games, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new board game which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new board game which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new board game 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 board game economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new board game 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 board game for providing entertainment and teaching strategy. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new board game which includes a game board having plurality of discrete paths thereon and defining a quadrant. Each of the game paths is divided into a plurality of game spaces and each game path ends at an inner circle position in a central portion of the game board. Each of the game spaces is colored a color selected from the group consisting of green, orange, blue, red, yellow, brown and white. Each of a plurality of overlays is positionable on one of the game paths. Each of the overlays generally has the shape of one of the game paths such that each of the overlays may be positioned over one of the quadrants. Each of the overlays is substantially transparent. Each of the overlays has a plurality of symbols thereon. A first die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides has a different indicia thereon indicating a number 1 through 6. A second die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides has a different color indicia thereon indicating green, orange, blue, red, yellow or brown. A third die is a six sided die, wherein each of the sides of the third die has a different symbol indicia thereon indicating one of the symbols on the overlays. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new board game that includes overlays which may be turned upside down and placed on a quadrant for varying the game. 
     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 schematic perspective view of a new board game according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the third die of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the second die of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the first die of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the game pieces of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new board game 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 7, the board game  10  generally includes a game board  12  having a plurality of concentric and adjacently positioned annular bands  14  thereon such that an inner circle  16  encompassed by the bands  14  is defined. A pair of lines orientated perpendicular to each other and extending through the inner circle divides each of the annular bands into four quadrants  18 . Each of the quadrants  18  contains a plurality of arcuate portions defined by sections of the annular bands. Each of the arcuate portions is divided into game spaces  20 . Each of the game spaces  20  is colored a color selected from the group consisting of green, orange, blue, red, yellow, brown and white. An outer-most arcuate portion of each of the quadrants has a starting space  22  positioned on a right edge of the respective quadrant  18 . The quadrants  18  each defines a game path beginning at a respective starting space  22  and ending at the inner circle  16  such that a player moves along each adjacent game space  20  in an arcuate portion and then to the next adjacent arcuate portion towards the inner circle  16 . Each of a plurality of base areas  24  is positioned on the game board  12 . Each of the base areas  24  is positioned adjacent to one of the starting spaces  22 . Each of four barriers  26  is integrally coupled to the game board  12  and extends along a dividing line between a pair of adjacent quadrants  18 . The outer arcuate portions each have a depression  30  therein. 
     Each of a plurality of sets of a game pieces  28  contains four game pieces. Each of the sets is colored a different color. 
     Each of a plurality of overlays  32  is provided for positioning on the game board  12 . Each of the overlays  32  generally has the shape of one of the quadrants  18  such that each of the overlays  32  may be positioned over one of the quadrants  18 . The overlays  32  are substantially transparent and each has a plurality of symbols  34  randomly positioned thereon such that each overlay is different. Each of the symbols  34  is selected from the group consisting of a circle, a square, a dash, a diamond, a triangle, and a letter Z. Each of the symbols  34  is positioned such that each of the symbols is located in one of the game spaces  20  when each of the overlays  32  is positioned on one of the quadrants  18 . The overlays  32  each have a top surface and a bottom surface. A nub  36  is positioned on each of the top and bottom surfaces. Each of the nubs  36  is located such that each of the nubs  36  may be positioned in one of the depressions  30  in the game board  12  when the overlay  32  is positioned on a quadrant  18 . The plurality of overlays  32  is preferably four overlays, though multiple overlays may be used for varying the game. The nubs  36  and barriers  26  help to keep the overlays  32  in position on the quadrant  18 . Alternatively, a raised disc  38  may be positioned in the central area for placing and edge of an overlay  32  under. 
     A chance means is used for moving the game pieces about the game board. The chance means includes a first die  40 , a second die  42  and third die  44 . The first die  40  is a conventional six sided die. Each of the sides of the first die  40  has a different indicia thereon indicating a number 1 through 6. The second die  42  is a six sided die. Each of the sides of the second die  42  has a different color indicia thereon indicating green, orange, blue, red, yellow or brown. The third die  44  is also a six sided die. Each of the sides of the third die  44  has a different symbol indicia thereon indicating a circle, a square, a dash, triangle, diamond, or a letter Z. 
     Rules of the Game 
     Each of the players selects a quadrant  18 , an overlay  32  for positioning on the players&#39; selected quadrant  18 , and a set of game pieces  28  and positioning the game pieces  28  in the base area  24  adjacent to the players&#39; quadrant  18 . 
     The players each concurrently roll the first  40 , second  42 , and third  44  die in turn such that a first of the players rolls the dice followed by a second of the players in a clockwise order. 
     A game piece  28  is moved by a dice rolling player from the base area to the starting space  22  if the first die  40  indicates a one or a six. The dice rolling player may move one of the game pieces  28  a number of game spaces  20  indicated by the number indicia on the first die  40  if the game piece  28  being moved is positioned on the game path. The game piece  28  may be positioned in the inner circle  16  if the number indicated is greater than the number of game spaces  20  remaining between the game piece  28  and the inner circle  16 . 
     The dice rolling player moves one of their game pieces  28  on a particular one of the symbols  34  to the next occurrence of the same particular symbol  34  if the third die  44  indicates the particular symbol on which the dice rolling player&#39;s game piece  28  to be moved is positioned. The game piece  28  may be positioned in the inner circle  16  if no occurrences of the particular symbol remain between the game piece  28  and the inner circle  16 . The player must first move a game piece according the number indicated on the first die  40  before utilizing the third die  44 . 
     A dice rolling player selects another player&#39;s game piece  28  and moves the selected game piece to its base area  24  if the second die  42  rolled by the dice rolling player indicates a color on which the other player&#39;s game piece  28  is positioned. The dice rolling player may choose any of the other player&#39;s game pieces  28 . 
     The player who first positions all of their game pieces  28  in the inner circle  16  wins the game. 
     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.