Abstract:
A board game that teaches the meanings of traffic signs in a manner which is interesting by incorporating the traffic signs and their meanings into a race game. The game includes a game board, a plurality of playing pieces, and a deck of cards. The game board has a path thereon. The plurality of playing pieces are movable along the path on the game board and represent the players of the game. The deck of cards has instruction indica thereon for instructing the movement of the plurality of playing pieces along the path on the game board. And, the path on the game board is divided into a plurality of spaces, each of which representing a street block and having a traffic sign with its meaning depicted thereon, so that as each player draws a card from the deck of cards and reads the instruction indicia thereon, the player moves its playing piece in accordance therewith and stops at a street block where the player learns the meaning of the traffic sign associated therewith.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a board game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a board game that teaches the meanings of traffic signs. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are known board games in which players sequentially move playing pieces around a simulated race course in a race to the finish. 
     Numerous innovations for board games have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,966 to MacRae teaches a game board apparatus based on possible experiences of a player consuming liquor in relation to a time span in liquor establishments which includes a game board having a series of locations thereon and forming a playing path about the board. The liquor establishments are adjacent some of the playing locations. Player tokens are provided for moving on the playing locations and the stop locations. A pair of dice is used to move the player tokens about the playing and stop locations. A series of cards each bearing indicia indicating a type of drink, its liquor content, a message to the player, the amount of liquor consumed and the time spent during the consumption is provided. A blood alcohol concentration level chart is provided which has time increments versus ounces of liquor for ascertaining a state of drunkenness. A display board is provided which includes a dial for recording elapsed time and a dial to record the amount of liquor consumed. The player token is provided with a removable rigid head to indicate sobriety which is replaced by a head which flexes to indicate drunkenness. A series of cards is provided on each of which is indicia stating possible consequences to a player who is drunk and lands on a road hazard playing location. A police car is also provided as a means of eliminating a drunken driver from the game. The police car is moved in either direction on the path by means of a pair of dice. 
     ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,841 to Mannry et al. teaches a racing board game apparatus for use by a plurality of players which comprises a game board having a simulated race course of depicted thereon, including a plurality of racing lanes, a plurality of playing pieces each representing a player for movement along the simulated race course, a random number generator for determining a sequential playing order to be followed by the players in turn, and cards for determining a plurality of potential movements of each playing piece at a given turn. Each of the racing lanes is divided into a plurality of discreet, sequential playing spaces and each racing lane is designated as one of the four suits in a standard deck of playing cards. The determining cards include at least one deck of standard playing cards to be distributed to and strategically discarded by the players throughout the course of a game for determining movements of the playing pieces along the simulated race course. A suite of each playing cards determines which lane a playing piece may be moved in, and a facial designation of each playing card determines a number of spaces by which a playing piece may be moved in a given lane. 
     STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,111 to Bilodeau teaches a maze type game board having a plurality of pathways divided into spaces. Preselected spaces having directional indicators thereon so that a playing piece moving along the spaces when finishing a turn on the directional indicators must begin the next turn by moving off in the direction of the indicator. The object of the game being to travel from the start point to the finish point of the game. The players having the option of choosing the move the playing piece down any pathway forming a part of an intersection through which the players piece is moving. 
     FINALLY, YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,630 to Dupuis, Jr. teaches a car race game apparatus, which includes a playing board, marked to provide a system of interconnected branch roads. The road system is sub-divided into multiple contiguous spaces, arranged between a START space and a FINISH space, such that each game player can move an individual token from space to space, in an effort to reach the FINISH space, before the other players. Selected spaces are marked, so that when a token lands on such spaces, the token has to be returned to a designated space near the START space. Also, a pack of direction cards is provided for directing a player to return his/her token back to a designated space, when the player&#39;s token passes through specially marked STOP spaces, located in immediate proximity to the branch road intersection points. The game is designed to introduce penalties into the play, so that even when a player&#39;s token is considerably behind the leading player&#39;s token, there is always a possibility that the leading player will be penalized, thereby enabling any of the other players to still win the game. 
     It is apparent that numerous innovations for board games have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Applicant has provided a board game that teaches the meanings of traffic signs in a manner which is interesting by incorporating these traffic signs into a race to the finish type of game. 
     ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a traffic sign learning game that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a traffic sign learning game that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a traffic sign learning game that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a board game that teaches the meanings of traffic signs in a manner which is interesting by incorporating the traffic signs and their meanings into a race game. The game includes a game board, a plurality of playing pieces, and a deck of cards. The game board has a path thereon. The plurality of playing pieces are movable along the path on the game board and represent the players of the game. The deck of cards has instruction indica thereon for instructing the movement of the plurality of playing pieces along the path on the game board. And, the path on the game board is divided into a plurality of spaces, each of which representing a street block and having a traffic sign with its meaning depicted thereon, so that as each player draws a card from the deck of cards and reads the instruction indicia thereon, the player moves its playing piece in accordance therewith and stops at a street block where the player learns the meaning of the traffic sign associated therewith. 
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The figures on the drawing are briefly described as follows: 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B are is a chart indicating the traffic signs utilized in the present invention and the codes associated therewith; 
     FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the left side portion of the game board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2B is a top plan view of the right side portion of the game board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the playing pieces of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the deck of cards of the present invention. 
     
         ______________________________________LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING______________________________________A         25 MPH maximum speed limit traffic signB         35 MPH maximum speed limit traffic signC         No entry traffic signD         No waiting traffic signE         Children playing traffic signF         Pedestrian crossing traffic signG         Road work traffic signH         No right turn traffic signI         No left turn traffic signJ         U turn traffic signK         Yield right of way traffic signL         Stop and give way traffic signM         Turn right traffic signN         Turn left traffic signO         Advance warning of no through road traffic signP         One-way street traffic signQ         Sharp deviation of route to right traffic signR         No left turn traffic signS         No parking traffic signT         25 MPH maximum speed limit traffic signU         Traffic signal traffic signV         35 MPH maximum speed limit traffic signW         Keep left traffic signX         Ahead only traffic signY         Do not enter traffic signZ         Finish sign10        game board12        path14        path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion16        path peripheral portion first section18        path peripheral portion start street block space20        path first branch portion22        path peripheral portion second section24        path second branch portion26        path third branch portion28        path peripheral portion third section30        path fourth branch portion31        path peripheral portion fourth section32        path fifth branch portion34        path peripheral portion fifth section36        path sixth branch portion______________________________________ 
    
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the traffic signs whose meanings are learned during the course of the game of the present invention and the codes associated therewith are shown, and further reflected in the following table 1. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________Reference Number         Traffic Sign Posted and Meaning______________________________________A             25 MPH Maximum Speed LimitB             35 MPH Maximum Speed LimitC             No EntryD             No WaitingE             Children PlayingF             Pedestrian CrossingG             Road WorkH             No Right TurnI             No Left TurnJ             U TurnK             Yield Right Of WayL             Stop And Give WayM             Turn RightN             Turn LeftO             Advance Warning Of No Through RoadP             One-Way StreetQ             Sharp Deviation Of Route To RightR             No Left TurnS             No ParkingT             25 MPH Maximum Speed LimitU             Traffic SignalV             35 MPH Maximum Speed LimitW             Keep LeftX             Ahead OnlyY             Do Not EnterZ             Finish______________________________________ 
    
     As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the game of the present invention includes a game board 10 that has a path 12 thereon that is divided into 92 spaces each of which representing a street block and having a particular traffic sign associated therewith. 
     The particular traffic sign associated with each space of the 92 spaces of the path 12 on the game board 10 is represented by a corresponding reference number A through Z, as indicated in either FIGS. 1A and 1B, or table 1, supra. It is to be understood, however, that the use of the reference numbers A through Z is for explanation purposes only and that the actual game board 10 has the actual traffic signs and their meanings depicted thereon so as to allow the players to learn the meanings of the traffic signs associated with the street blocks as they traverse the path 12. 
     The path 12 includes a path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 that has a path peripheral portion first section 16 that originates with a path peripheral portion start street block space 18 from which the game begins and with 21 street block spaces extending clockwise therefrom which are numbered 1 to 21 only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path 12 further includes a path first branch portion 20 that extends inwardly from right to left from street block space 21 of the path peripheral portion first section 16 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 to street block space 9 of the path peripheral portion first section 16 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 8 street block spaces that are numbered 22 to 29 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 further includes a path peripheral portion second section 22 that extends clockwise from street block space 21 of the path peripheral portion first section 16 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 9 street block spaces that are numbered 30 to 38 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path 12 further includes a path second branch portion 24 that extends inwardly from front to back from street block space 38 of the path peripheral portion second section 22 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 to street block space 31 of the path peripheral portion second section 22 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 6 street block spaces that are numbered 39 to 44 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path 12 further includes a path third branch portion 26 that extends inwardly from right to left from street block space 41 of the path second branch portion 24 of the path 12 to street block space 27 of the path first branch portion 20 of the path 12, and is divided into 9 street block spaces that are numbered 45 to 53 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 further includes a path peripheral portion third section 28 that extends clockwise from street block space 38 of the path peripheral portion second section 22 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 8 street block spaces that are numbered 54 to 61 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 further includes a path peripheral portion fourth section 31 that extends clockwise from street block space 61 of the path peripheral portion third section 28 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 2 street block spaces that are numbered 69 to 70 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path 12 further includes a path fourth branch portion 30 that extends inwardly from left to right from street block space 61 of the path peripheral portion third section 28 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 to street block space 55 of the path peripheral portion third section 28 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 7 street block spaces that are numbered 62 to 68 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path 12 further includes a path fifth branch portion 32 that extends inwardly from left to right from street block space 70 of the path peripheral portion fourth section 31 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 to street block space 64 of the path fourth branch portion 30 of the path 12, and is divided into 9 street block spaces that are numbered 71 to 79 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     The path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path further includes a path peripheral portion fifth section 34 that extends clockwise from street block space 70 of the path peripheral portion fourth section 31 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12 to street block space 1 of the path peripheral portion first section 16 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 8 street block spaces that are numbered 80 to 92 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10, and with street block space 92 being the finish. 
     The path 12 further includes a path sixth branch portion 36 that extends inwardly from front to back from street block space 83 of the path peripheral portion fifth section 34 of the path elliptic-shaped peripheral portion 14 of the path 12, and is divided into 5 street block spaces that are numbered 84 to 88 again only for ease of explaining the configuration of the path 12 and again not actually depicted on the game board 10. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the game of the present invention further includes a plurality of playing pieces 40, each of which representing a player and being movable along the path 12 on the game board 10. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the game of the present invention further includes a deck of cards 42 constituting 80 cards, each of which having indica thereon for instructing the movement of the plurality of playing pieces 40 along the path 12 on the game board 12. The breakdown of the deck of cards 42 and the instruction indica thereon is reflected in the following table 2. 
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________Number of Cards        Instruction Indica______________________________________6            If in a 35 MPH speed zone, drive        two street blocks5            Drive to second 35 MPH Maximum        Speed Limit sign, if none drive one        street block4            Drive to third 35MPH Maximum Speed        Limit sign, if none drive two        street blocks4            If in a 35 MPH speed zone, stop at        first 25 MPH Maximum Speed Limit        sign2            If in a 35 MPH speed zone, drive        three street blocks1            Drive to second 35 MPH Maximum        Speed Limit sign, if none drive two        street blocks5            Drive to first 35 MPH Maximum Speed        Limit sign6            Drive to first 25 MPH Maximum Speed        Limit sign5            Drive to second 25 MPH Maximum        Speed Limit sign3            Drive to third 25 MPH Maximum Speed        Limit sign4            Drive to third 25 MPH Maximum Speed        Limit sign, if none drive two        street blocks2            If in a 25 MPH speed zone, drive        three street blocks5            Drive to third 25 MPH Maximum Speed        Limit sign, if none drive one        street block4            Drive to second 25 MPH Maximum        speed Limit sign, if none drive one        street block5            Drive three street blocks and stop2            If in a 25 MPH speed zone, drive        three street blocks3            If in a 25 MPH speed zone, drive        three street blocks and stop, else        drive two street blocks8            Drive one street block and stop6            Drive two street blocks and stop______________________________________ 
    
     As each player picks a card from the deck of cards 42, and moves the playing piece 40 according to the instruction indica thereon, certain rules apply which must be followed and which are reflected in the following table 3. 
     
                       TABLE 3______________________________________Rule Number Rule______________________________________1           if a playing piece stops at a street       block having a stop light associated       therewith, the player associated with       the playing piece misses two turns       unless all playing pieces are       simultaneously stopped there2           If a player picks a card indicating       drive two street blocks and the playing       piece lands on a street block space       having a school zone, pedestrian       crossing, or children playing sign       associated therewith, the playing piece       must go back to the previous street       block having a stop light associated       therewith3           If a playing piece lands on a street       block having a no parking or no waiting       sign associated therewith, the playing       piece must go back to start unless all       playing pieces have simultaneously       landed there4           If a playing piece lands on a street       block having a road work sign associated       therewith, the player associated with       the playing piece misses one turn unless       all playing pieces have simultaneously       landed there5           If a playing piece lands on a curve, the       player associated with the playing piece       must wait to pick a card indicating       drive one, two, or three street blocks       before moving the playing piece again6           If a playing piece passes through a       street block having a no through road       sign associated therewith, the playing       piece must move past the road sign,       stop, and turn around7           If a playing piece stops one street       block from the finish sign, the player       associated with the playing piece cannot       move the playing piece until picking a       card indicating drive one street block8           If a playing piece stops two street       blocks from the finish sign, the player       associated with the playing piece cannot       move the playing piece until picking a       card indicating drive two blocks9           If a playing piece stops on any turn       sign, the player associated with said       playing piece moves his playing piece in       accordance with directions on respective       turn sign______________________________________ 
    
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a traffic sign learning game, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.