Abstract:
A matching game for use in a swimming pool. Game pieces are provided which have various icons and point values on their faces and which are adapted to sink to the pool bottom and rest automatically in a face-down position on the pool floor. In alternating turns, players gather pairs of game pieces attempting to find matching pairs and accumulate scores according to the point values of matching pairs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an amusement game that relies on and challenges both the memory skills and physical capabilities of its players. More specifically, it is an underwater game that requires the players to dive one at a time into the water to locate and retrieve matching came pieces, and to thereby accumulate points. Players are rewarded according to their ability to maneuver and remain underwater, and according to their ability to remember the identity of the various game pieces located about the swimming pool floor. 
   BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   Matching games are well known. In a traditional card game named “Concentration”, numerous playing cards, two of each denomination, are spread out face down on a tabletop. Two or more users take turns over turning two cards per turn. If the denomination of the second card selected in a turn matches the denomination of the first, a “match” is made and that player takes that matching pair, and gets an additional turn. When a turn does not result in a match, the cards are turned back face-down in their same locations and the next player gets a turn, but has the advantage of knowing the denominations and locations of the previous players&#39; cards, if he can remember them. The player who accumulates the most pairs at the end of the game wins. 
   Various iterations of Concentration have been created over the years using various types of game pieces. At http://www.blackdog.net/games/misc/concentration, an Internet version of the Concentration game is found where electronic “cards” can be selected to reveal various icons in an attempt to obtain “matches”. The icons include images of various cartoon animals and figures. This version of the game is played by a lone player who is rewarded once all of the pairs of icons have been matched by getting to see a hidden image underlying the game board. 
   At http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/mouse concentration.htm another Internet version of this traditional game is found which includes a time clock. In this version, icons of variously colored computer mice are unveiled when selected and a single player competed against his previous times taken to match all pairs. 
   The Primary object of the present invention is to adapt the basic principals of the traditional Concentration game to underwater fun. 
   Another object of the present invention is to incorporate swimming skills into the game. 
   Another object of the game is to incorporate the abilities of each player to hold his breath and remain under water for extended periods into the game. 
   Another object is to provide a game piece which can be used underwater and which will rest on the swimming pool floor. 
   Another object is to provide such a game piece that will sink to the bottom of the pool when cast into the water and, regardless of the position it has when it alights, will automatically settle into a face-down position on the floor of the pool. 
   Another object is to provide such a game piece that will return to its face-down position when it is released by a player after an unsuccessful turn. 
   Another object is to provide an improved scoring system which further rewards the player with the best memory by assigning various point values to various game pieces, so that players can obtain higher scores if they can remember not only where matching game pieces lie, but also where the more valuable game pieces lie. 
   Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in view of the following description and explanation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a variation of the Concentration game for use in a swimming pool. Specifically, game pieces are provided which have indicia in the form of various icons and point values on their faces and which are adapted to sink to the pool bottom and rest automatically in a face-down position on the pool floor. 
   The pieces are initially cast about the pool and come to rest with the icons hidden from view. Two or more players take turns diving to the pool bottom and gathering a pair of game pieces. The pieces may either be viewed while underwater or are preferably brought to the water surface for viewing by all contestants to see if the icons on both pieces are the same and if a “match” is thereby made. 
   If a match has been made, the selecting player receives a score equal to the point value associated with that pair of pieces. Additionally, if a match is made, the selecting player gets an additional turn. 
   Continuing additional turns are received so long as the selecting player continues to make matches. 
   Both the selecting and waiting players are given a view of all selected pieces, and are therefore given an opportunity to know where those non-matching pieces lie when they are returned to the pool floor. So players with the best memories are rewarded with an advantage over players with lesser memories. 
   Also, as matching pieces might be found anywhere about the rather long and wide pool bottom, players with the most ability to remain underwater longer, and with the best underwater swimming skills, take additional advantage over those of lesser skill. 
   Alternatively, a lone player may compete against time to test and improve his memory and diving skills. 
   The sinking game pieces include both buoyant and ballast means which are positioned within a hollow housing such that an inherent imbalance is created that causes the pieces to be unstable whenever they alight face-up on the pool floor. This instability causes the pieces to immediately roll over into their stable-face-down position, hiding the icons on their faces from the players&#39; view and making all of the game pieces appear identical to the players. 
   A better understanding of the invention will be realized upon a review of the following description of the invention&#39;s preferred embodiment, with accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view of a selecting player gathering game pieces from the swimming pool floor, 
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a game piece according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in its stable face-down position on a swimming pool floor, 
       FIG. 3  is a view of a game piece being turned over by a selecting player to reveal the icon and score value on the piece&#39;s face, 
       FIG. 4  is a progressive cross-sectional series view of a game piece tolling over automatically on the pool floor to a face-down position after initially alighting face-up, and 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a game piece of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The matching game according to the preferred embodiment of the invention and its game pieces are depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , game piece  102  has a frusto-spherical upper surface  104  and a flat lower face  106 , on which is printed one of a variety of icons  108  and corresponding numerical values  110 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , game piece  102  is comprised of an upper housing  114 , including the frusto-spherical upper surface  104 , and a lower housing  116 , including the flat lower face  106 . 
   Lower housing  116  includes cavity  118  for receiving ballast  120 . After insertion of ballast  120  into cavity  118 , cover  124  is permanently affixed to the top of the cavity wall  126  to capture the ballast  120  within. 
   Upper housing  114  includes depending post  128  for receiving cylindrical float  130  thereon. 
   Upper housing  114  also includes vents  134  spaced evenly about its lower edge  136 . 
   Upper and lower housings  114  and  116  are permanently affixed, as seen in  FIG. 2 , to capture float  130 , and to create passages  138  through which air and water may pass. 
   Upper and lower housings  114  and  116 , and cover  124  are made of a polymer material, preferably a styrene based polymer such as polystyrene or ABS, which is most suitable for solvent gluing, so that the affixation of these parts together forms a permanent and solid unit. Alternatively, these parts may be sonic-welded together or adapted for snap-fitting or attachment together with hardware. 
   The material of ballast  120  may be any dense material, and the ballast itself may either be a separate solid part that is inserted into the cavity  118  or may be poured into the cavity in a liquid state as say a molten polymer or a curable liquid, such as an epoxy, and hardened within the cavity. 
   The material of the float  130  is preferably a closed-cell polyethylene or EVA foam. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , it is shown how the frusto-spherical upper surface  104 , float  130 , ballast  120 , and passages  138  cooperate to cause the game piece to turn-over and ensure that it always positions itself face-down on the pool floor  140 . 
   When game piece  102  is cast into the water  142  of a pool  144 , air from within the hollow interior  146  of the game piece  102  escapes through passages  138  and water  142  enters though the passages  138 . Once the hollow interior  146  is water-filled, the game piece  102  becomes negatively buoyant and sinks to the bottom of the pool. 
   If the game piece  102  alights on the pool floor  140  in the face down position shown at the right in  FIG. 4 , it will remain in this stable face-down position. 
   If the game piece alights on the floor of the pool in the face-up position shown at the left in FIG.  4 &#39;s the off-center location ballast  120  relative to the frusto-spherical surface  104  causes the game piece  102  to roll towards the ballast  120 . As it does so, float  130  become off-center relative to the frusto-spherical surface, causing the game piece to roll even further in the same direction until the ballast  120  passes over the upper housing&#39;s lower edge  136 , at which point the weight of the ballast causes the game piece to fall into the face-down position shown at the right in  FIG. 4 . 
   Any intervening position at which the game piece may initially alight on the pool floor will similarly result in the same final face-down position, by the same process. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , to play the game with two or more players, the game pieces  102  are initially cast into the pool and sink to face-down positions about the pool floor  140 . One of the players  150  is selected to take the first turn and dives into the water to retrieve two game pieces. The selecting player must gather both pieces on a single dive, that being on a single breath of air. So the player having the ability to hold his breath longer has an advantage in the game. 
   The player brings the selected game pieces to the surface where both he and the other players can confirm whether or not the icons  108  on the two selected pieces match. If they do not match, the pieces are returned to the same approximate location on the pool floor, with all players having equal knowledge of the location and icon of those non-matching game pieces. 
   If those selected game pieces did match each other, the selecting player keeps them and receives a score equal to the numerical value  110  of the pieces, and the player continues his turn until he selected two non-matching pieces. 
   Over the course of the game, the number of non-matching selections accumulates and it becomes harder and harder for the players to remember what icons are in what locations around the pool. So the ability of one player to better remember provides an advantage in the game. 
   Also as the game progresses, fewer and fewer pieces are left on the pool bottom and they will likely be spread further and further apart, so the player who is most skilled at underwater swimming has an advantage in the game. 
   As can be appreciated, this game calls upon one&#39;s ability to remember where many game pieces of known identity are located, one&#39;s ability to hold one&#39;s breath for extended periods, and ones ability to maneuver underwater to succeed. 
   Alternatively, this game may be played in a bathtub. 
   The present invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiment; however, other changes and modifications to the invention may be made which are still within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should only be limited by the following claims.