Abstract:
The present invention permits the period of inactivity in a sporting event, particularly a televised sporting event, to be utilized productively according to the knowledge of the viewer of the a televised sporting event. According to the present invention a game is played during a sporting event utilizing a game board and several sets of cards.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention. 
     2. The present invention relates to a board game suitable for playing while watching a sporting event. It is known that some sporting events while ultimately exiting, have substantial periods of time of inactivity. The present invention permits the period of inactivity in a sporting event, particularly a televised sporting event, to be utilized productively according to the knowledge of the viewer of the a televised sporting event. 
     2. Description of the art practices. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,409 issued Dec. 10, 1996 to Mayorga et al. describes a baseball board game and more particularly pertains to simulating the sport of playing baseball to aid in the learning of all aspects of the sport of baseball. U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,204 issued to Meyer, III Apr. 18, 1995 describers a board game for simulating the game of baseball in which baseball trading cards are utilized as playing pieces. The game includes a board having a baseball diamond pictured thereon and a plurality of card holders into which baseball trading cards may be positioned. A deck of pitcher cards provides a random pitch to a player at bat, such as a strike, ball, or hit, and a deck of action cards provides a random result of the batter&#39;s action, such as a hit, out, or home run. The game pieces are then moved in accordance with the rules of conventional baseball. The game board and the card holders may be provided with illumination for enhancing appearance and facilitating nighttime play. 
     Dileva et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,292 issued Jun. 21, 1994 discloses a baseball board game including a plurality of tokens, each of which represent one of the players, a random number generator, a multiplicity of play money, and a game board having a baseball-like playing field and a multiplicity of playing spaces formed on the baseball-like playing field which cooperatively define a continuous closed path in the form of a baseball diamond along which the tokens are moveable in random increments. The multiplicity of spaces includes a starting corner space representing home plate and three additional corner spaces representing first base, second base and third base, respectively, a first group of spaces having monetary gains specified thereon associated with certain baseball-related events in a baseball player&#39;s life both on and off the field which have a positive pecuniary effect on a baseball player and a second group of space having monetary penalties specified thereon associated with certain baseball events on and off the field in a baseball player&#39;s life which have a negative pecuniary effect on a baseball player. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,793 issued Apr. 5, 1996 to Holte describes a commodities options trading game is provided in which the simulated market, which determines whether the value of the simulated commodities options rise or fall, is determined by a real event occurring outside the game being played. In a preferred embodiment, the event from which the simulated market is derived is a real-life sporting event, such as a professional basketball, football, or baseball game. Preferably a host calculator or computer generates the initial option prices and displays the information to a plurality of player stations. After play begins, the host computer updates the options prices using formula based on the current score, time remaining and a other empirically determined factors. The players buy and sell options in response to the momentum of the market. At the conclusion of the sporting event, the options are cashed in for their intrinsic value and the player with the most accumulated wealth is declared the winner. 
     D&#39;Aurora et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,042 issued Oct. 28, 1997 discloses a game board apparatus having multiple sets of playing space designators is disclosed. The playing space designators are adapted to be removably affixed to playing spaces of a playing board. Examples of sets would include profession baseball teams, computer and telecommunications firms, professional football teams, etc. When a set of designators is chosen, the players then affix individual designators to playing spaces on the playing board surface. Each playing space designator includes indicia representing one or more characteristics of the playing space designator. 
     Moran in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,590 issued Jun. 4, 1996 describes a baseball card game including one deck of cards, the deck including 27 “out” cards, 13 “on base” cards, and 1 wild pitch card, and 9 separate “incidence” cards. Each card discloses a particularly play event, illustrates the symbol identifying same, and describes what action is taken by any base runner who may be on base when the event occurs. The deck is shuffled before each half inning, and the cards are turned-up one at a time until three “out” cards are completed. A plurality of blank box score sheets are included, adaptable to having any preferred line-up of players listed thereon, and the appropriate symbols recorded thereon as the individual cards are turned up. 
     To the extent that the foregoing patents are relevant to the present invention they are herein incorporated by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An interactive board game is described comprising: 
     one or more game pieces, 
     a playing surface (board), for when said game is in use, receiving said game pieces on said playing surface (board), 
     a first set of cards (player), for when said game is in use by one or more participants, having at least one participant select a card from said first set of cards (player), 
     a second set of cards (batter), for when said game is in use by one or more participants, having at least one participant select a card second set of cards (batter), at the participants option, 
     and where said first set of cards (player) corresponds to an independently determined action in a sporting event, and said second set of cards (batter) corresponds to the independently determined action in the sporting event. 
     The present invention also describes a method of playing an interactive board game comprising moving one or more game pieces about a playing surface (board), said playing surface having a plurality of segments corresponding to an independently determined action in a sporting event, including moving one or more game pieces on said playing surface (board), having at least one participant select a card from a first set of cards (player) where said first set of cards (player) corresponds to an independently determined action in said sporting event, and optionally having at least one participant select a card from a second set of cards (batter), at the participants option, said second set of cards (batter) corresponds to the independently determined action in the sporting event, the participant selecting said first card and optionally said second card prior to the occurrence of the independently determined action in said sporting event based upon the participants belief that the independently determined action in said sporting event will occur, and upon the occurrence of the independently determined action in said sporting event, the participant moving the participants game piece if the independently determined action in said sporting event is correctly predicted in said sporting event according to a value assigned to the first card and the second card if played. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows the basic design of an interactive board game. 
     With more particular reference to the drawings the following is set forth. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A interactive board game  10  is shown in FIG.  1 . The game board  10  has a playing surface  20 . The playing surface  20  of the interactive board game  10  has, for the purpose of exemplification, the general configuration of a baseball diamond. 
     One or more game pieces  30  (not shown), for when said game is in use, are adaptable for placement and moving about the playing surface  20 . A first set of cards  50  (player not shown), for when said game is in use by one or more participants is provided. The second set of cards has a value. 
     A second set of cards  70  (batter not shown), for when said game is in use by one or more participants is provided. In a preferred embodiment the interactive board game  10  has a third set of cards  80  (Red Bonus not shown). The third set of cards has a value. The value of the third set of cards, have a value which is a multiple of, and used as a substitute for, a card from the second set of card. In a preferred embodiment the interactive board game  10  has a fourth set of cards  90  (Stolen Base). 
     The playing surface  20  of the interactive board game  10  has a series of card spaces  100 . For purpose of exemplification, a first card space  10  is provided for the first set of cards  50 . When in use, a participant places one of the cards from the first set of cards  50 , on the card space  110 . 
     The playing surface  20  of the interactive board game  10  has a second card space  120  for the second set of cards  70 . When in use, a participant places one of the cards from the second set of cards  70 , on the card space  110 . 
     The playing surface  20  of the interactive board game  10  has a third card space  130  to discard the second set of cards  70 . The playing surface  20  of the interactive board game  10  has a fourth card space  140  for any unused portion of the second set of cards  70 . 
     The playing surface  20  of the interactive board game  10  has a base path  200 . At each intersection of the baselines  200  is a base. The bases are home plate  220 , first base  240 , second base  260 , and third base  280 . 
     Located along the base path  200  between home plate  220  and first base  240  are a plurality of segments  300 . The segments  300  are generally identified as various occurrences in the sporting event. For instance, in a baseball game the occurrences will be a strike out  302 , a home run  304 , a fly out  306 , a ground out  310 , a single  312 , and a double  314 . 
     Also located between home plate  220  and first base  240  are segments including a second strike out  316 , a second home run  318 , a pop out  320 , and a walk  322 . First base  240  is as a designed segment is a second single. 
     Located along the base path  200  between first base  240  and second base  260  are a second plurality of segments  400 . The segments  400  are generally identified as various occurrences in the sporting event. For instance, in a baseball game the occurrences between first base  240  and second base  260  include a walk  402 , a ground out  404 , a pop out  406 , a home run  408  and a fly out  410 . 
     Also located along the base path  200  between second base  240  and third base  260  are a single  412 , a ground out  414 , a fly out,  416 , a double  418  and a strike out  420 . Second base  260  as a designed segment is a ground out. 
     Located along the base path  200  between second base  260  and third base  280  are a third plurality of segments  500 . The segments  500  are generally identified as various occurrences in the sporting event. For instance, in a baseball game the occurrences between second base  260  and third base  280  include a strike out  502 , a home run  504 , a ground out  506 , a double  508 , a single  510 , and a fly out  512 , Also located between second base  260  and third base  280  include a pop out  514 , a single  516 , a home run  518 , and a strike out  520 . Third base  280  as a designed segment is a fly out. 
     Located along the base path  200  between third base  280  and home plate  220  are a fourth plurality of segments  600 . The segments  600  are generally identified as various occurrences in the sporting event. For instance, in a baseball game the occurrences between third base  280  and home plate  220  include a strike out  602 , a single  604 , a pop out  606 , a fly out  608 , and a home run  610 . Also located between third base  280  and home plate  220  are a walk  612 , a ground out  614 , a home run  616 , a double  618  and a strike out  620 . Home plate  220  is designated as a ground out. 
     While the method of playing the game is baseball it could be any sport which allow the participants sufficient time to make decisions on the course of action to take given a specific situation. Thus any of several sports including American football may be the subject of the interactive board game  10 . 
     The interactive board game  10  is played while watching a sporting event over which the participant has no control other than the participant&#39;s knowledge of the sport, the likely choice of action of the coach, and the participant&#39;s knowledge of the sporting event player&#39;s ability which results in the independently determined action of the sporting event. 
     The interactive board game  10  equipment comprises  10  batter cards  70 , 1 special red bonus card  80 , 1 special blue stolen base card  90 , one set of 9 player cards  50 , the board and an appropriate number of game pieces  30 , i.e. one for each participant. 
     The interactive board game, as applied to baseball begins before the underlying sporting event. Each participant is randomly dealt 10 cards  70  (Batter) from a shuffled deck of the cards  70  (Batter). Typically, the deck of cards  70  (Batter) will have 60 cards corresponding to the segment  300 , segment  400 , segment  500  and segment  600 . Each participant is also given 1 card  80  (bonus card) and 1 card  90  (Stolen Base Card). 
     The object of the interactive board game  10  is to be the first participant to score and win the game by going around the segments to first base  240 , second base  260 , and third base  280 , and ultimately reaching home plate  220 , Play of the interactive board game  10  commences with the participant(s) placing one of the 9 player cards  50  in play in front of the participant(s). Each participant(s) may also set one of the participant(s) batter cards  70  in the in play in front of the participant(s). The selection of the player cards  50  and the batter cards  70  each participant attempts to move off home plate  220  toward first base  240  by “predicting” or “guessing” what each batter will do (the independently determined action of the sporting event). 
     If the participant correctly determines what the batter does (the independently determined action of the sporting event) the participant moves the participant&#39;s game piece  30  according to the value assigned to the player cards  50  and the batter cards  70  along the segments  300 , If the participant correctly determines what the batter does (the independently determined action of the sporting event) the batter card  70  is retained, if not the batter card  70  is surrendered and is out of play for the rest of the game. The player card  50  is retained by the participant for the entire game regardless of whether the independently determined action of the sporting event is correctly predicted. 
     As an example of scoring for example, a participant may play the batter  70  as a single by putting the participant&#39;s player card bearing the designation single in play. If the batter in the sporting event singles, that participant moves ahead 1 space. If the same participant had also played a batter card  70  bearing the designation single that participant would be entitled to additional 2 spaces. 
     As an additional feature of the invention, when a participant&#39;s game piece  30  lands on certain of segments  300 , segments  400 , segments  500 , or segments  600  including, but not limited to first base  240 , second base  260 , third base  280  that participant is entitled to pick up one batter card  70  from the remaining batter cards  70  in the pile. 
     As an additional feature of the invention, when a participant&#39;s game piece  30  is one on of the one of the segments  300 , segments  400 , segments  500 , or segments  600 , for example ground out  310 , and the participant moves ahead one segment to single  312  regardless of whether the player card  50  and the batter card  70  are correctly played if the player card  50  and the batter card  70  are correctly played then the corrects situation results in the moving of the game piece  30  as previously described. 
     All player cards  50  are worth one space except double cards and home run cards, which are each worth two spaces, and triple cards which is worth 3 spaces. Batter cards  70  values are double the value of the corresponding player cards  50 . For example, if a participant is on a segment marked home run (value=2 segments), the participant plays a home run player card  50  (value=2 segments), and the participant also plays a home run batter card  70  (value=4 segments) and the batter hits a home run, that participant would move ahead a total of  8  segments. A fly out is a fly ball caught by an outfielder. A pop out is any ball caught by an infielder. A hit batter is a walk. If an error is made the play is what should have happened. In other words, if an outfielder drops a fly ball and it is declared an error, it is counted as a fly out. 
     A stolen base card  90  can be used in place of a batter card and is worth 3 spaces. As soon as the runner steals, is caught stealing or the batters at bat is over, the blue stolen base card  90  is retired for that game, while a white stolen base card  90  is put in the discard pile, regardless of the outcome. 
     The bonus cards  80  may be used in place of a batter card  70  and are worth two value segments, except when used on first base  240 , second base  260 , third base  280  in which case they are worth four segments. A bonus card  80 , regardless of what the batter does, moves your player ahead two or four segments. As with the stolen base cards  90 , the red bonus cards  80  are, once used, retired for the game, while the white bonus cards  80  are put in the discard pile. 
     The game can be started or ended at any point of the real baseball game. Suggestions for a shorter game are for three or six innings, with who ever being furthest along the board declared the winner. The first participant to reach or cross home plate is the winner. If no participant reaches home by the time the game is over, the participant furthest around the board is the winner. If more than one participant reaches or crosses home at the same time, the person with the most batter cards  70  left wins. Otherwise, the game is a tie. 
     By way of strategy a participant should try to use the batter cards  70  sparingly, as you can run out of them fairly quickly. If the participant plays the cards right you could have a few batter cards  70  to play near the end to finish strong. The participant is wise to use a bonus card  80  to get started and/or save the bonus card  80  for those bases, where they are worth double.