Patent Abstract:
An educational board game includes a playing board, a plurality of cards, a die and a die launcher. The playing cards are separated into categories and the die has a plurality of colored faces, each color corresponding to a particular category. The die is placed on the launcher and a bellows-type pedal is depressed, thereby launching the die. The color displayed by the die represents the category of card to be taken. Each card has a challenge question or task disposed thereon which a user has to answer or perform. If the user answers the question correctly a game piece is moved on the playing board. The first game piece to advance through the playing board is the winner.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an educational multi-player board-based game especially suited to preschool children players that utilizes a playing board, a plurality of cards, a die and a die launcher. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the educational process of a child, it is often necessary to determine how a child is performing in relation to his or her peers, and/or to determine if he or she is ready for school, or the next step in their educational process. Such benchmarking processes are often a one on one process with an adult/teacher which can be scary for the child, causing inaccurate results. While games can be adapted to determine such benchmarking levels, the randomness of the game can also cause errors. Additionally, children may react better in a group environment rather than individually, which most typical games do not excel at. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which a child&#39;s game can be developed which is not only fun to play, but aids in determining learning benchmarks as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing an educational multi-player board-based game especially suited to preschool children players comprises a playing board, a plurality of cards, a die and a die launcher. The game can also be used to establish general knowledge benchmarks of the players. The game utilizes a game board assembly that facilitates a question and answer process within various subjects. The die is placed on the launcher and a pedal is depressed launching the die. The color displayed by the die represents the category of card to choose from. Each card has a question disposed thereon which a user has to answer. If the user answers the question correctly a game piece is moved on the playing board. The first game piece to advance through the playing board is the winner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a top view of a first language card portion  40   a  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a top view of a second language card portion  40   b  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   a  is a top view of a first letter identification card portion  42   a  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4   b  is a top view of a second letter identification card portion  42   b  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a top view of a first logic card portion  44   a  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5   b  is a top view of a second logic card portion  44   b  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6   a  is a top view of a first physical card portion  46   a  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6   b  is a top view of a second physical card portion  46   b  of the educational board game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
           10  educational board game 
           20  game board assembly 
           22  board 
           24  playing surface 
           25  game path 
           26  game steps 
           28  starting point 
           30  ending point 
           35  card deck 
           36  challenge question cards 
           40  language card set 
           40   a  first language card 
           40   b  second language card 
           42  letter identification card set 
           42   a  first letter identification card 
           42   b  second letter identification card 
           44  logic card set 
           44   a  first logic card 
           44   b  second logic card 
           46  physical card set 
           46   a  first physical card 
           46   b  second physical card 
           50  game token set 
           70  path advance device 
           72  base 
           73  mounting tube 
           74  bellows 
           75  air hose 
           76  die 
           78  aperture 
           100  player 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6   b . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes an educational board game (herein described as the “game”)  10 , which provides an educational multi-player board-based game especially suited to preschool children players  100 . It is envisioned that the game  10  can also be used to establish general knowledge benchmarks of the players  100 . The game  10  utilizes a game board assembly  20  which facilitates a question and answer process of various subjects. Generally speaking, the player  100  moves a token forward along the game increments or steps, lands on a step with a correspondingly categorized challenge question card, advances with a correct answer, and competes with the other players to finish first. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an exploded view of the game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The game  10  comprises a game board assembly  20 , a card deck  35  that includes a plurality of question or challenge cards  36  that are organized into different categories or sets  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 , a set of player tokens  50 , and a path advance device  70 . The game board assembly  20  comprises a conventional rectangular pressed paper game board  22 , being printed upon one (1) side with a serpentine path of a plurality of geometric game increments or steps  26  having a starting point  28  and an ending point  30 . The game steps  26  are envisioned to comprise sequentially arranged geometric shapes such as diamonds, squares, and the like, which form a route from the starting point  28  to an ending point  30 . The geometric shapes of the steps  26  additionally have a specific color assigned to them that relates to the categories of the challenge cards  36 . It is envisioned that the game path  25  is arranged in a serpentine pattern over the board  22  with sufficient space along the path of game steps  26  for placement of stacks of the card sets  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . It is further envisioned that the board  22  provides at least one (1) folding feature allowing for folding for compact storage. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the deck  35  of challenge question cards  36  present various questions to the players  100  and are organized and separated into four (4) different categories or subjects  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . It should be appreciated that the categories are not limited to only four (4) and may be of any number based on the desired complexity and difficulty desired by the game producer. Of the deck  35  illustrated herein, a question or challenge is printed upon the obverse or face side of the card  36  and a solid color corresponding to the categories established is printed upon the reverse side. The game  10  is illustrated here having four (4) categories of card sets  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  within the deck  35 . As an example, a language card set  40  (see  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ) is designated by the color blue, a letter identification card set  42  (see  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ) is designated by the color white, a logic card set  44  (see  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b ) designated as red, and a physical card set  46  (see  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b ) designated as yellow. Again, it should be understood that the game  10  may comprise various types and numbers of categories and corresponding question cards without deviating from the teachings of the invention  10 , and as such this example should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the game  10 . 
     At beginning of play, the players  100  start with their tokens  50  on the starting point  28  and move, in turn, along the serpentine game path  25 . The move of the token  50  is to the next colored step  26  along the path  25  that corresponds to the color revealed by the path advance device  70 . In landing on a game step  26 , it is determined which card category that particular step  26  represents, and the player  100  draws a corresponding card  36  from the respective stack of categorized cards  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . The player  100  then attempts to correctly answer the question or performs the task printed upon the card  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . If successful, the player advances their game token  50  to the next game step  26  of that color. If unsuccessful, the turn is over and play proceeds to the next player  100 . The player  100  that first reaches the ending point  30  wins. In addition to the educational enhancement and game playing skills developed in the use of the present invention, it is also envisioned to provide a means to benchmark a child&#39;s individual skill level. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an environmental view of the game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. During game play, a specific path advance device  70  is utilized to provide the players  100  with entertaining manner of determining to which game steps  26  the players  100  are allowed to move in turn. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the path advance device  70  is a pneumatic launcher that comprises a large scale, lightweight cube-shaped die  76  that is launched into the air. The pneumatic launcher  70  is envisioned to be similar to products sold by the SPIN MASTER CO.® comprising a base  72  having an integral upwardly directed mounting tube  73  and a foot-actuated bellows  74 . An air hose  75  connects the bellows  74  to the base  72  and provides pneumatic communication between the two (2). The path advance device  70  includes a die  76 . Rather than convention pips on the side of the die  76  representing numbers, the die of the present invention has colored sides that relate to the categories determined in the card deck  35 . The randomly colored cubical die  76  is launched as a projectile by player  100  who steps upon the bellows portion  74  which in turn provides a flow of air through the air hose  75  and mounting tube  73  portions. Formed into one (1) side of the die  76  is an aperture and bore  78  that corresponds to the upwardly directed mounting tube  73  of the launcher  70 . To prepare the die  76  for launch, its aperture  78  is placed down upon the mounting tube  73  of the launcher  70 . The a blast of air from the bellows  74  propels the die  76  upwardly from the mounting tube  73  causing it to become airborne and subsequently return to the floor surface where it rolls and comes to rest. Based upon the resulting color displayed upon the upper surface of the die  76 , a player  100  moves the token  50  to the selects and responds to a correspondingly colored card  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . 
     It should be noted, in the present example, the cube-shaped die  76  has six (6) sides and only four (4) categories of challenge question are used for illustration. In this case, the two (2) sides of the cube that are available beyond the four (4) used to specifically color relate to the challenge categories, may be used as a “wild card” or “free space” in which the player is allowed to choose the next game step and corresponding challenge category. Likewise, if it is desirable to have more than six (6) challenge categories, another geometric shape having greater than six (6) sides may be substituted for the cube shaped die  76 . 
     The game token set  50  comprises a plurality of unique game pieces being illustrated here as molded plastic or metal disc-shaped poker chip-like pieces having different colors to be used by respective players  100  to mark their progress during participation in the game  10 . However, it should be understood that the game token set  50  may be introduced having various other visual appearances including themes such as animals, pets, miscellaneous household objects, and the like, with equal benefit and, as such, should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the game  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a  through  6   b , the challenge question cards  36  are disclosed. The categories of challenge may include physical acts, mental calculations, logical analysis, and factual recall or the like. In the preferred embodiment, they are defined by language, letter identification, logic, and physical challenges. As shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , top views of first language card  40   a  and second language card  40   b  portions of the game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The first language card  40   a  and second language card  40   b  depict examples of language questions by utilizing pictures, text, and the like to communicate the question and answer process; however, it is understood that any number of language questions may be introduced being illustrated in a similar manner to these examples to improve a player&#39;s  100  language skills while playing the game  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , top views of first letter identification card  42   a  and second letter identification card  42   b  portions of the game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The first letter identification card  42   a  and second letter identification card  42   b  depict examples of letter identification questions by utilizing pictures, text, and the like; however, it is understood that any number of letter identification questions may be introduced being illustrated in a similar manner to these examples improve a player&#39;s  100  letter identification skills while playing the game  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , top views of first logic card  44   a  and second logic card  44   b  portions of the game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The first logic card  44   a  and second logic card  44   b  depict examples of logic questions by utilizing pictures, text, and the like; however, it is understood that any number of logic questions may be introduced being illustrated in a similar manner to these examples to improve a player&#39;s  100  logic skills while playing the game  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , top views of first physical card  46   a  and second physical card  46   b  portions of the game  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The first physical card  46   a  and second physical card  46   b  depict examples of physical questions by utilizing pictures, text, and the like; however, it is understood that any number of physical questions may be introduced being illustrated in a similar manner to these examples to improve a player&#39;s  100  physical skills while playing the game  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the game  10 , it would be installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The method of utilizing the game  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the game  10  comprising desired numbers of and types of categories; unfolding and placing the board  22  onto a flat surface such as a table; placing the card sets  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  upon the board  22  at appropriate locations; placing the game tokens  50  at a starting point portion  28  of the board  22 ; selecting a player  100  to roll the die  76  by stepping upon the bellows portion  74  of the pneumatic launcher  70  to motion the die  76 ; observing a color of an upwardly-facing side of the die  76  upon coming to rest; selecting a card from a correspondingly colored card set  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 . reading the question printed upon the card  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ; correctly answering the question or performing the task printed upon the card  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ; advancing the player&#39;s  100  game token  50  to the next game step  26  having that color; repeating the above steps for the remaining players  100 ; continuing the rolling of the die  76  and moving of the game tokens  50  for all players  100  until a player  100  reaches the ending point  30  to win the game  10 . The game  10  provides a fun and entertaining board game for groups of children players  100 , but also allows for easy benchmarking of the child&#39;s individual skill level. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0