BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a book and game combination device that allows a user to transport an entire board game in a book form. The invention can also relate to a method for playing a game using a book and a game such as a board game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a book and game combination device that allows a user to transport an entire game in a book form. In one example, the device can comprise a book and a board for a board game coupled to the book. There can also be at least one container coupled to the book. There can also be a plurality of game pieces disposed in the container and being selectively removable from the container for use with the board in the board game. The game pieces can include at least one card, at least one interactive element such as clay or dough, at least one timer, at least one spinner, and at least one playing piece which can be used to identify a particular player.
There can also be a method for playing a game which can include opening a book, presenting a gaming surface coupled to the book, removing a playing piece from a container, and then starting the game. One optional step can include answering a question and then selectively moving the playing piece on the game board in response to the answer to the question. This optional step may involve answering the question by writing the answer on a writing surface or by manipulating a malleable element to create a three-dimensional figure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device;
FIG. 2 shows a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a side perspective view of the device with the board in a closed position;
FIG. 4 shows a front close up view of the receptacle of the device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line I-I;
FIG. 6A is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in its closed position;
FIG. 6B is a back view of the device shown in FIG. 1 in its closed position;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the device;
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the device which includes a side sliding board;
FIG. 9 shows a front perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 8 in a closed manner;
FIG. 10 shows a back view of the device shown in FIG. 8 in a closed position; and
FIG. 11 shows a front view of another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a device 10 which can be in the form of a book and game combination which can include a housing 12 shaped as a book, a playing surface such as a board 20 for a board game, and a plurality of game pieces 30, which can be stored inside of a container or receptacle 40. Other optional features can include an additional container or receptacle 50 which can be used to store a timer 37. There can also be a tabbed booklet 60, and a writing book 70 which can be stored inside of a pouch 72.
A closure 80, formed integrally with housing or book 12, can be used to selectively close the book so that it remains closed until opened.
Housing or book 12 can include a first cover a second cover and a spine wherein the first cover and the second cover are coupled to the spine. In this example, the first cover is shown as a front cover 14 and the second cover can be shown as a back cover 16 wherein front cover 14 is coupled to back cover 16 via a spine 18. Front cover 14 can include an inside face 14a and an outside face 14b (See FIG. 6A). Back cover 16 can also include an inside face 16a and an outside face 16b (See FIG. 6B) while spine 18 can include an inside face 18a, an outside face 18b (See FIG. 7) and also be coupled to front cover 14 and back cover 16 via hinges or creases 18c and 18d. (See FIG. 2) Hinges 18c and 18d can be in the form of a living hinge which allows a continuous cover that is foldable along an axis. However, these hinges can be formed in any known way as well.
Coupled to housing 12, is a game board 20 which can include a tab 22 and at least one game board section 24. There can be an additional game board section 26 which can be coupled to first section 24 via a hinge 28. Additional game board section 26 can fold over first game board section 24 via hinge 28 wherein this game board can be slidably insertable into a slot, housing or receptacle 29 which is coupled to housing 12 (See FIGS. 2 and 3). In this case, housing 29 can be in the form of. a three sided housing which has at least one open end to allow game board 20 to slide out therefrom. In this example, game board 20 can slide open from receptacle 29 in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of spine 18. However, the invention can be designed so that the game board 20 can also slide out from housing 12 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of spine 18 as shown in FIG. 2.
There are also a plurality of game pieces 30 which can be used to play on or with game board 20. Game pieces 30 may include one or more of the following elements: a spinner 32, at least one card 34, which can include a plurality of game cards positioned in different stacks, at least one writing instrument 36.which can include an erasable marker 36a and/or an optional pencil 36b, a timer 37, and at least one playing piece or game marker 38 which can include a plurality of playing pieces or game markers 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d. There can also be at least one interactive element 39 (See FIG. 2) which can be malleable, formable, or adaptable. For example, this interactive element 39 may be in the form of a putty, moldable clay, or dough like substance that may be moldable into different shapes.
There is also at least one receptacle, container or holder 40 which can be formed from any known material but could be formed from a plastic blister packaging type material which has a plurality of indents, which can be used to hold game pieces 30. Receptacle 40 can be coupled to inside face 14b of front cover 14 of housing 12. As shown in FIG. 4, receptacle 40 can include one or more of the following components: a spinner holder 42 for spinner 32, at least one card holder 44 which can include a plurality of card holders, 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d, for a plurality of cards 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d; at least one writing instrument holder 46 which can include instrument holders 46a and 46b which can be used to receive the associated writing instruments 36a and 36b.
A shown in FIG. 1, additional container 50 has a cover 52 which can be coupled to container 50 via a hinge 54. Hinge 54 can be in the form of a living hinge that allows cover 52 to rotate up and out from container 50. There can also be a cover 56 which is adapted to fit over receptacle 40 so that game pieces 30 can be secured therein. Cover .56 can include a tab 57 which can be used to allow a user to grasp and then lift cover 56 off of receptacle 40. Cover 56 can be used to help contain game pieces or game elements 30 so that these elements do not fall out.
Once the cover has been removed, the individual game pieces can be removed. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 each of these individual compartments have at least one recessed or indented section which allows a user to reach in and lift out these individual sections. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, spinner compartment 42 can contain a semicircular region 42a which allows a user to insert a finger inside of that region to lift out spinner 32. The other compartments can also include this feature as well. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the following compartments 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d each have a respective associated indent 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d and 49a which can be used to allow access to these pieces. In addition, compartments 44a, 44b, 44c, and 44d have associated indents 45a, 45b, 45c to allow a user access to cards 34.
Coupled to housing 12 is a plurality of pages forming a book or booklet 60 which can be coupled to inside face 16a of cover 16 in any known manner. For example, there can be a spiral binding 66 which is coupled to inside face 16b and also couples pages 64 to inside face 16a. To differentiate between the different sections in this book 60, there are a plurality of tabs 62 which allow a user to pick different sections. This book can be used to supply game rules or a story, as well as provide an interactive interface for a user so that the user can write in the book with either of the two writing instruments. For example, pages 64 can be laminate pages which allow a user to write on these pages with erasable marker 36a. Erasable marker 36a can also include an eraser 36c which allows a user to erase any of the erasable marker writing in this book.
There is also an additional writing surface or book 70 which can be in the form of a book which allows a user to sign-in and write with either one of the writing instruments such as with writing instrument or erasable marker 36a or with instrument or pencil 36b. Writing surface or book 70 can be stored inside of a container 72 which can be in the form of a pouch made from any known material such as plastic.
Book 70 slides in and out of pouch 72 via an opening in pouch 72. As shown in FIG. 2 this book 70 can be accessible from the pouch such that a semicircular cut out can be formed in pouch 72 so that it is easier to slide a book outside of this pouch 72.
FIG. 5 shows a top cross sectional view through line I-I (See FIG. 1) of housing 12 in its closed form. This view shows that additional cover 50 can be disposed or embedded in a cut out 57 of spine 18 via arms 58 such that at least a portion of cover 50 is viewable from an outside region such as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, FIG. 5 also shows that front cover 14 has at least one cut out section 59 which allows spinner 32 to be seen from an outside region as shown in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 5 also shows how closure 80 works with the book in its closed form. Closure 80 is shown in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIG. 3. For example, closure 80 can include a first closure element 82 and a second closure element 84, wherein first closure element 82 can be in the form of a foldable section of front cover 14 along crease or hinge 85, while second closure element 84 can be in the form of a foldable section of back cover 16 along crease or hinge 87. A magnet or magnetic material 86 can be disposed inside of first closure element 82 while a second magnet or magnetic material 88 can be disposed inside of second closure element 84. Once housing 12 is closed, these closure elements 82 and 84 can be folded up adjacent to each other so that the magnetic properties of elements 86 and 88 react to form a magnetic connection, thus selectively closing the book. Once closed, the magnetic connection can be weak enough to allow most users to easily move one closing element away from an adjacent closing element to open the book.
FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show another embodiment of the invention 100 which can include a book 110, a side sliding game board 120, with a receptacle or container 140 attached to the board. For example, FIG. 8 shows the device in its open form, FIG. 9 shows a front view of the device in the closed form while FIG. 10 shows a back view in this closed form. This container or receptacle 140 can be used to hold a plurality of game pieces 130. To cover container 140, there can be a cover 142 which can be slidably coupled to container 140 or coupled to the container via a hinge. With this design, board 120 can slide out from a side edge 116c of a back cover of a book, wherein this side edge 116c extends parallel to a spine 118 of the book.
Container or receptacle 140 can be formed integral with game board 120 so that it always remains attached to board 120. Conversely, container 140 can also be attachable to or detachable from board 120 as well.
In use, the device 100 can be used so that book 110 can be opened so that associated pages 116 are exposed. In this case, board 120 can slide out to present a board for a board game. Receptacle 140 can be opened so that game pieces or manipulative elements are removed and then used to play a game.
For example, in a first embodiment, a user can open book or housing 12, lay it flat in an open position, and then using tab 22, pull out a game board 20 from book or housing 12. The user can then unfold game board 20 by rotating section 26 via hinge 28 so that both sections 24 and 26 are exposed. Next, the user can open container 40 by removing cover 56 by pulling on tab 57 and then detaching cover 56. The user can then remove spinner 32 from its section or holder 42, remove one or more sets of cards 34, and remove one or more game pieces 38. The user can open additional container 50 and remove timer 37. At this point, the users can also remove at least one writing instrument 36 and manipulative element 39 (See FIG. 2). Each user can select a playing piece 38 to represent that player. Once all players are represented, at least one of the users spins the spinner 32, wherein a player is selected to proceed with play. Based upon the results of the spin, that player can choose a card 34 and then answer a question. The answer to the question can be presented either via spoken voice, writing using a writing instrument 36, or by molding or shaping moldable or manipulatable element 39. The writing can occur on a separate sheet of paper or on page 64 of book or booklet 60. In addition, the writing can be on the spinner such as the back surface of the spinner as well.
The game can then proceed until based upon the rules, a desired result is achieved. For example, after successfully answering a question, a user can proceed to move his or her playing piece to a different location on a game board.
With the second embodiment, the user can open a book 110, slide out a game board 120 from book 110, and then remove at least one game piece 130 from a container 140 coupled to game board 120 to proceed with the game.
FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention. This design is similar to the design shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, this design also includes additional writing instruments such as pencils 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d and an eraser 137 stored adjacent to spinner 32. This design can also include a puzzle 170, which can be magnetic, stored in pouch 72, and a sheet of stickers 180 also stored in pouch 72. This design also includes additional writing instruments such as pencils 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d and an eraser 137. These additional optional elements can be used to enhance the interactivity of a game.
Thus, the invention and its above-identified embodiments can provide-a book and a game combination device which can be easily portable and used for game play.
Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070029729
