Abstract:
A board game that uses conceptual trophy case holders for collecting Olympic-style medal awards. The board game utilizes a spinner apparatus and four sets of cards with directives for the collection and distribution of said medals. The game includes a playing board presenting four trophy cases. The object of the game is to fill the trophy cases with medals. The board contains a circular pattern of color-coded symbols and accommodates a central spinner used to select the symbols. The symbols determine the instant awarding of medals or the selection of one of the play action card sets. In addition to traditional gold, silver and bronze medals, the game includes qualifier medals and a set of game pieces called markers. Earning markers is a prerequisite to acquiring medals. These markers and matching medals are objects distributed, collected, traded and exchanged during the play of the game. The game introduces the use of options giving players&#39; choices between directives. Options provide unique competitive opportunities not afforded by typical board games. The first player to successfully fill all medal positions in a trophy case wins the game.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    [0001]                                                                                                       Olympic Medals Board Game                Laura Padgett   Clarence Padgett, Jr.           U.S. Citizen   U.S. Citizen           510 Draycott CT, SW   510 Draycott CT, SW           Atlanta, GA 30331   Atlanta, GA 30331                            CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS            U.S. Patent Documents                4,241,924   Dec., 1980   Arcara   273/277,409           4,346,899   Aug., 1982   Nuebling   273/244,290                        
     
    
     
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    This invention relates to board games for entertainment purposes and more particularly to a board game oriented around athletic events of the Olympic games. Numerous board games utilize chance determining means for playing and winning. Some games use chance determining means, such as dice, spinner and other means for moving game pieces around a board to simulate events or to control transactions for obtaining the objective of the game. Playing cards often provide game scoring opportunities. Board games typically simulate a specific activity such as economic situations or athletic sporting events.  
           [0005]    In the cited references the basis for the inventions is the simulation of actual Olympic sporting events by moving game pieces around the playing board. The focus of this invention, although using Olympic athletic events as a platform, is on the collecting of medal awards, Gold, Silver and Bronze, as a primary objective of the game and there is no movement of game pieces around the playing board.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is the object of the preferred embodiment of this invention to provide a board game for collecting Olympic-style medals related to various athletic sporting events. This board game adds to the element of chance the ability to influence the outcome of the game through trading and optional play choices presented by action cards giving specific plays or choices of plays.  
           [0007]    The objective of this invention is to provide a board game that does not involve the movement of game pieces around a playing board, but to provide a game that places primary emphasis on player interactions with one another. Some educational benefit may occur through the promotion of individual choice as a major determinant in the outcome of the game.  
           [0008]    Another object of the invention is to provide an environment for utilizing individual judgment through selective choices in obtaining the objective of the game. Said choices allow players to aggressively pursue the objective of the game by choosing among other players as the source of mandated game interactions or transactions.  
           [0009]    Briefly, the invention comprises a board game having a playing board that includes graphical representations of trophy cases designed to hold specific Olympic-style medals; a circular configuration of symbols as the spin target area of a detachable spinning mechanism; graphical representations of the backs of four card decks; a set of four card decks containing directives for the exchange of game objects among players; a collection of game pieces used as medals; a collection of game pieces used as markers; free-standing trophy case playing surfaces; and a bearing-based detachable spinner apparatus. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]    In the drawing,  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 illustrates the layout of the game board.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a detachable spinner.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 illustrates typical game components used for medals.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 illustrates typical game components used for markers.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 illustrates a free-standing trophy case.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 illustrates the action card decks. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    The object of the board game is the acquisition of Olympic-style medals  37 - 40  to fill the trophy case areas  16  of the game board  10  or free-standing trophy case cards. Options and qualifying Heats, unique to this invention, encourage competitive interactions among the players. Options give alternative actions based on player choices. Preliminary competitions or heats, simulated within the game, enable a multiple step process in the acquisition of medals. The first step requires the acquisition of markers  42 - 43  through action cards  50 - 53  simulating sporting events. The second step requires the acquisition of medals for the markers. Markers and medals make up game objects that have a sporting event attribute and a medal type attribute. The game includes Qualifier medals in addition to the traditional Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. The invention embodies the combination of luck in spins, strategic trading, and options selections. There are four decks of action cards in the current embodiment of the invention:  
         [0018]    Options &amp; Heats Action Cards  50 :  
         [0019]    The Options &amp; Heats (OHs) action card deck provides strategy for the game by giving choices between two actions. This deck also contains cards for qualifying heats to collect Qualifier objects. This card deck minimizes the lucky aspects of the game by giving players a measure of control that could improve the chance of winning.  
         [0020]    Gold Mine Action Cards  51 :  
         [0021]    The Gold Mine action card deck contains cards with directives primarily focused on gold objects.  
         [0022]    Silver Mine Action Cards  52 :  
         [0023]    The Silver Mine action card deck contains cards with directives primarily focused on silver objects.  
         [0024]    Bronze Mint Action Cards  53 :  
         [0025]    The Bronze Mint action card deck contains cards with directives primarily focused on bronze objects.  
         [0026]    Action cards identify the associated sport explicitly or implicitly refer to the players&#39; chosen sport. All action card sets contain general game directives for all supported sports.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 1, the game board  10  comprises a square configuration with a central symbol dialing area  11  with arrowhead symbols  13 - 15 ; magnetic strips  12  for affixing the spinner; trophy case graphics  16  with sports identification slots  17  and circular medal placement slots  18 - 21 ; and card back graphics  22 - 25  as place holders for the four action card decks. Imprinted card backs  22 - 25  on the board are place holders for the Gold Mine, the Silver Mine, the Bronze Mint and the Options &amp; Heats card decks, respectively. The symbol dialing area  11  contains color-coordinated board marks used to determine play. There are four instant award medal symbols  15 , twelve action cards draw symbols  13 , and sixteen spacer action cards draw symbols  14  on the dial. The color of these symbols and defining inner ring  33  indicates the type of medal or action card applicable to a spin. In the present embodiment of the invention the symbol and colors definitions are:  
         [0028]    Dial symbols            13  and            14 —indicate drawing a card from the action card stack represented by the color of the arrowhead.  
                                       Green arrowhead   Draw a card from the OH Stack 50       Gold colored arrowhead   Draw a card from the Gold Mine 51       Silver colored arrowhead   Draw a card from the Silver Mine 52       Bronze colored arrowhead   Draw a card from the Bronze Mint 53                  
 
         [0029]    Dial symbol            15 —the player has an opportunity to get an instant Gold, Silver, Bronze or Qualifier medal as indicated by the color of the arrowhead. The spin dial must point directly to the arrow&#39;s double line.  
         [0030]    The game board  10  construction uses various materials, such as bristle board, cardboard, hardboard, metal, plastic and others. The only qualification is that the board shall be capable of displaying the graphics and patterns shown in the drawing. Alternative methods of affixing the spinner will not compromise the invention. The use of Velcro or other types of adhesive material would be valid substitutions. It is desirable, but not mandatory to be able to fold the playing board for packaging considerations. The affixed magnetic strips  12  in the present embodiment accommodates this requirement.  
         [0031]    The trophy case  16  on the game board and free-standing trophy case medal positions are Gold  18 , Silver  19 , Bronze  20  and Qualifier  21 . Sport identification tag slots  17  accommodate the placement of a sport name identifying the player&#39;s selected trophy sport. The trophy case graphics are either imprints on the board or mounts on the board using many types of available adhesives. The present embodiment of the invention has the board trophy cases mounted on magnetic strips. Free-standing trophy case construction uses the same or similar materials as the game board. These constructions are alterable, e.g., depressed slots in the trophy cases as opposed to magnetic strips or the use of smooth surface trophy cases without departing from the invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the detachable spinner  28  wherein a bearing  31  has magnetic strips  30  attached to the bottom surface and a game circular ornamental comprising an arrowhead pointer  29 , a turning knob  32 , game name  27  and medal rings graphic  26  mounted on the top surface of the bearing. The magnetic strips at the bottom of the spinner  28  attach to the game board&#39;s magnetic strips  12 . The turning knob  32  starts the motion of the spinner. Many other spinner configurations are possible. The only requirement is the attachment to the game board at the center of the circular dialing area. The game name  27 , OHlympics, appears on the spinner and on a subset of the action cards as a generic sports name.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 3 shows a typical set of the game pieces representing medals  37 - 40 . The present embodiment of the invention uses magnets that adhere to the trophy cases. The medal magnets are graphical representations of Olympic medals printed on magnetic sheets for Ink Jet printing. This configuration is alterable, e.g., the use of non-magnetic or plastic material for the medals without departing from the invention. Gold  37 , Silver  38 , and Bronze  39  medals have sport name labels  41 . Qualifier medals  40  are generic, apply to all sports and use Ohlympics Qualifier as the sport name. The game has Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for all of the supported sports. The drawing shows a sample medal of each medal type.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 shows a typical sports marker  42  and a Qualifier marker  43 . The markers are small cards imprinted with a graphic  44  of the medal type required for exchanges. Sports markers  42  have imprints of the name of the sport  45  and graphical representation(s)  46  of an associated sporting event. The qualifier marker  43  has graphics for several sports  48 . All markers have color coordinated borders  47  for ease in identification. Marker construction may use 80# or heavier paper or plastic.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 shows a free-standing trophy case  16  as described for the on-board trophy case.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 shows a detailed listing of the Options &amp; Heats  50 , Gold Mine  51 , Silver Mine  52 , and Bronze Mint  53  action card sets.  
       Methodology  
       [0037]    Players select a specific sport as their trophy sport. Two players may choose the same sport. The present embodiment of the invention includes the following sports:  
                                                       BOXING   SWIMMING           DIVING   TEAM BALL GAMES           EQUESTRIAN   TRACK &amp; FIELD           GYMNASTICS   WRESTLING           ROWING                      
 
         [0038]    Separately packaged card decks may include sports associated with the winter Olympics. Sporting event name tags on the trophy cases identify the trophy sport. Trophy case Gold, Silver and Bronze medals must be for the trophy sport. Qualifier medals apply to all sports. Players receive a starter set of markers at the beginning of the game. The game board of the current invention has four trophy cases allowing up to four players to play the game directly on the board. Separate trophy case configurations accommodate up to eight additional players for a maximum of ten players. When there are ten players at least two of the players must choose the same trophy sport.  
         [0039]    Playing the game consists of spinning the dial on the board. If the spinner stops on an instant medal award the player collects the medal using a matching marker. The player draws a card from one of the action card sets if the spinner&#39;s dial points to one of the draw symbols. Medal collection occurs as earned. However, all Qualifier medals must be in the trophy case prior to the placement of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. The placement of these medals into trophy cases proceeds in any order once all Qualifier medals are in place. The placement of Qualifiers first is a one time eligibility requirement. There are no restrictions applicable to receiving objects except for the matching marker requirement for medal exchanges.  
         [0040]    Players may trade objects after completing a spin and taking any associated action. Medals require matching markers for trading. Marker trades do not have restrictions. The purpose of trading is to obtain objects in the trophy sport. For example, a player entered into the Swimming competition may have a marker for a Track &amp; Field medal that he cannot use. The player would attempt a trade of the Track &amp; Field marker for a Swimming marker. Multiple trades may take place during a turn. There are no restrictions on the number of markers or medals offered in a trade.  
         [0041]    In the current embodiment of the invention the trophy cases will contain the following medals:  
         [0042]    One trophy sport Gold medal  37 ,  
         [0043]    Two Silver medals  38  in the trophy sport,  
         [0044]    Three Bronze medals  39  in the trophy sport and  
         [0045]    Six Qualifier medals  40   
         [0046]    The first player who fills a trophy case wins the game.  
       Managing the Object Pool  
       [0047]    One player serves as the game&#39;s Judge or a non-player may act as an independent Judge. The Judge&#39;s primary responsibility is to manage the object pool as described.  
         [0048]    Action card awards that do not refer to a particular sport or sporting event apply to the trophy sport. When a spin or action card awards an object from the pool, the Judge determines the applicable sport and proceeds as follows:  
         [0049]    Awarded marker is in the object pool—the Judge gives the player the marker.  
         [0050]    Awarded medal is in the object pool—if the player has a matching marker, the Judge gives the player the medal in exchange for the marker. If the player does not have a matching marker and there are markers left in that sport, the Judge will give the player a marker instead of a medal. The Judge will give the player a marker matching the awarded medal if possible. Substitution order is as follows:  
                                   Sport Medal Award Type   from Left to Right                   Gold Medal   Gold, Silver, Bronze, Qualifier Marker       Silver Medal   Silver, Bronze, Qualifier Marker       Bronze Medal   Bronze, Qualifier Marker       Qualifier Medal   Qualifier, Bronze, Silver, Gold Marker                  
 
         [0051]    Example: A player wins a Swimming Gold medal, the player does not have a Swimming Gold marker to redeem the medal and the pool does not have a Swimming Gold marker—the player will receive a Swimming Silver marker (or Bronze if there is no Silver marker, or Qualifier if there is no Bronze marker).  
         [0052]    Awarded marker is not in the object pool—the player can take a qualifier marker, another marker in that sport or a marker in the trophy sport. Players return all non-trophy sport markers to the pool if there are no markers in the pool for active sports. Players do not return Qualifier markers to the pool. Active sports are the sports in use as trophy sports.  
         [0053]    Awarded medal is not in the object pool—the player can trade the matching marker for a qualifier marker, another marker in that sport or a marker in the trophy sport. The player may immediately trade that marker or any other marker for a medal. Players must return all sports medals not in trophy cases to the pool if the pool is out of medals  
         [0054]    Players returned objects to the pool—the Judge then either gives the player the awarded object or substitutes another marker for a marker award or another medal for a medal award as follows:  
                                                   Award Type   Matching Marker Required for Medals                           Gold   Silver, Bronze, Qualifier           Silver   Bronze, Qualifier           Bronze   Qualifier           Qualifier   Bronze, Silver, Gold                      
 
       General Rules  
       [0055]    The requirement for players to have matching markers before winning the corresponding medals applies to collecting an instant medal, receiving a medal in a trade or receiving a medal from an action card.  
         [0056]    Players may place previously acquired medals into the trophy case after all Qualifier medals are in place. This restriction no longer applies after meeting this requirement even if the player loses Qualifier medals during the game.  
         [0057]    Players eliminate cards for inactive sports during the first pass through the card decks. Reshuffling the decks exclude the inactive sports cards for subsequent passes.  
         [0058]    When receiving a medal from another player, the marker goes to the Judge, not to the trading player. If an action card requires giving up an object to the Judge the player must yield one in the trophy sport. If the player does not have an object in the trophy sport, the player may give one in any sport. If the player does not have any object to give to the Judge the player simply replaces the action card.  
         [0059]    If players have an object in another sport they do not have to give up a trophy sport object to another player. See OPTIONS RULES for a description of the action taken when a player does not have a required object.  
         [0060]    A player may collect objects for any active sport. However these objects are for exchanging or trading purposes. Players cannot place these medals in the trophy case.  
         [0061]    Action cards that indicate skipping a turn go on top of the trophy case until after the skip. A card giving an object plus a skip requires the skip even if the player does not have the object to give to the Judge or to another player.  
         [0062]    Transactions made out of turn are invalid.  
       Options Rules  
       [0063]    Options require players to select another player as the target player for a transaction. The target or selected players are usually players to the left or right of the spinning player. OH Options name the exact object when giving the player a choice between the left or right player. There is no substitution of objects specified by an Options&#39; directive. Options typically direct the spinning player to give or take objects to or from the player on the left or right.  
         [0064]    a) Taking an Object from the Left or Right Player  
         [0065]    The spinning player returns the action card to the deck if he/she does not have a matching marker for a medal award. Otherwise:  
         [0066]    Both target players (left and right) have the object—a choice is made, the spinning player collects the object and returns the action card to the card stack.  
         [0067]    Only one of the target players has the object—the spinning player must take the object from that player.  
         [0068]    Neither target player has the object—if the object is a marker no action takes place.  
         [0069]    For a medal award the spinning player must choose a player and follow the  
         [0070]    Delayed Medal Take Procedure:  
         [0071]    Action card placement on the right or left identifies the target player for a take.  
         [0072]    When the selected player receives the medal the taking player may collect it during his/her next turn. If the taking player fails to claim the medal on the very next turn, the selected player may declare a forfeit. After a forfeit the taking player returns the card to the deck. Forfeits are not automatic and if the selected player does not call it, the claim remains outstanding.  
         [0073]    b) Giving an Object to the Left or Right Player  
         [0074]    The spinning player returns the action card to the deck if the possible target players do not have a matching marker for a medal exchange. Otherwise:  
         [0075]    The spinning player chooses between the left or right player. If only one player has a matching marker for a medal exchange the spinning player must select the player with the marker.  
         [0076]    The spinning player has the object—the spinning player gives the object to the selected player and returns the action card to the stack.  
         [0077]    The spinning player does not have the object—if the object is a marker no further action takes place. For medals follow the  
         [0078]    Delayed Medal Give Procedure:  
         [0079]    The spinning player places the action card to the right or left to identify the player to give the medal to. When the spinning player receives the medal the selected player may collect it during his/her next turn. If the selected player fails to claim the medal in turn, the giving player may declare a forfeit. The claim remains outstanding until settling or a forfeit occurs.  
         [0080]    Options may indicate choosing between the Judge and a player instead of between two players. In this case,  
         [0081]    a. Taking Objects from the Judge or a Player to the Left or Right  
         [0082]    The spinning player returns the action card to the deck if he/she does not have a matching marker for a medal award. Otherwise:  
         [0083]    The target player has the object in the spinning player&#39;s trophy sport—the spinning player must take the object from the player versus the Judge.  
         [0084]    The target player has the object in another sport—the spinning player may elect to take that object from the player or take a trophy sport object from the Judge.  
         [0085]    The target player does not have the object in any sport—choosing the Judge is not an option. Instead the spinning player must place the action card to the right or left depending upon the position of the target player and follows the delayed Medal Take procedure for a medal award. For markers no further action takes place.  
         [0086]    b) Giving objects to the Judge or to a Player on the Left or Right  
         [0087]    The spinning player returns the action card to the deck If the target player does not have a matching marker for a medal exchange. Otherwise:  
         [0088]    The spinning player has the object in another sport only—the spinning player may give that object to the target player.  
         [0089]    The spinning player has the object in his/her trophy sport only—the spinning player gives the object to the Judge.  
         [0090]    The spinning player has the object in the trophy sport and another sport—the spinning player makes a choice between giving the object to the Judge or to the target player.  
         [0091]    The spinning player does not have the object—the player follows the delayed Medal Give procedure for a medal award or no action for a marker award.  
       Give Versus Take Option  
       [0092]    When an option offers a choice between giving an object or taking an object, the rule of choice is the “take” option if the targeted player has the object. If the object is a medal and the target player does not have a matching marker, the choice must be the “give” option. The give option requires either giving the object or following the delayed Medal Give procedure for medal objects. There cannot be a delayed take for a Give or Take option.  
       Progressive Play Rule  
       [0093]    The types of game objects in play changes as play progresses and trophy cases fill. Medal types become inactive after all players&#39; trophy cases have all medals of that type. When an action card refers to an inactive object type the player draws additional cards until drawing a card relating to an active object type. If the player spins to an inactive object&#39;s symbol, the player takes another spin. When an object type becomes inactive outstanding delayed exchanges for objects of that type are no longer valid.  
         [0094]    Summary of Progressive Play for the Present Invention  
         [0095]    All players have 6 qualifier medals in the trophy case—Qualifier objects become inactive  
         [0096]    All players have 1 gold medal in the trophy case—Gold objects become inactive  
         [0097]    All players have 2 silver medals in the trophy case—Silver objects become inactive  
         [0098]    All players have 3 bronze medals in the trophy case—Bronze objects become inactive  
         [0099]    Since qualifier medals go into the trophy cases before the other medals, qualifier objects are the first to become inactive.  
       Game Variation  
       [0100]    A variant of the game is to play open sports as opposed to choosing a specific sport. This variant allows the placement of medals for all sports into the trophy cases.  
         [0101]    The present embodiment of the invention has been described. It is to be understood that variations will not depart from the invention as disclosed and specified herein.