CHILD'S GAME AND INTERACTIVE BOOK

Abstract

A matching game for a young child to play with a supervising adult. The game comprises a game board having a plurality of differently-sized and shaped recesses, each recess including a realistic or cartoon-like mother farm animal depiction and part of a sound switch pairing specific for the mother farm animal depiction with a plurality of differently sized and shaped baby farm animal game pieces, each having part of a sound switch pairing adapted for matching with the sound switch pairing for the mother farm animal depiction so that, when properly matched and joined together, will cause a sound indicative for the mother farm animal to be emitted. The game further includes means for storing the plurality of farm animal sounds from the game board and powering the sound playing means.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a comprehension game for very young children. Particularly, it relates to an interactive, comprehension development game (preferably gathered into book form) for children ranging from 12 months to 2 years, possibly up to 30 months, to play with their parent, grandparent and/or older siblings. An initial intent is to make and sell these games under the trademark brand: FIND YOUR MOMMY™.

An objective and primary purpose of this invention is to develop a child's cognitive skills by teaching hi to use a combination of senses, such as sight, hearing and touch, while obtaining and analyzing information and learning about the outside world and themselves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to children's board games, and more particularly to a matching game for teaching early cognitive skills to very young children. The game apparatus and method of game play are based on a farm theme, using actual (realistic) pictures of mother-and-baby farm animal pairings, or cartoon-like caricature versions of the same, to teach the very young child how to best match shapes (and experience preferred touch surfaces). When duly matched, the animal pairing will result in a sound most commonly associated with that animal, e.g. a cow mooing, duck quacking, etc.

For older children, electronic game apparatus are known to produce sounds or other signals when game pieces are placed in select locations on a game board. See, for example, Brennan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,369 and some of the earlier art referenced therein, including but not limited to: Schwartz U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,762, Lurito U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,550, Magara U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,650 and Kurita et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,983. The patents to Schwartz and Lurito each require a base with a plurality of differently shaped receptacles formed therein, and a plurality of game pieces having complementary shapes. The receptacles have switches in their interior that are connected to sound generating means. When the correct game piece is inserted into the corresponding receptacle on the base, the switch is closed and a sound generated. The patent to Magara discloses a board game wherein game pieces are provided with a plurality of bumps on their bottom surfaces. The electronic circuitry of these boards can determine the identity of a game piece by the arrangement of bumps on the game piece when placed in the receptacles. The patent to Kurita discloses a toy vehicle having a chassis and a plurality of body shells. The chassis includes a plurality of switches that cooperate with sound generating circuitry to produce different siren sounds. The body shells include different arrangements of bumps for actuating the switches when mounted onto the chassis. For example, an ambulance body shell includes an arrangement of bumps that will actuate the proper switches for producing an ambulance siren sound. While the above-noted apparatus are effective for their intended purposes, there is always a continuing need and consumer desire for new and amusing toys . . . and even more so for parents to use in the very early learning stages of a young child, 12 to 36 months old.

The instant invention provides a matching game (and/or book) wherein the very young child, when being supervised by a parent, grandparent, older sibling or the like, can pick up various game pieces and insert them into a durable game board for making a match combination then will generate an audible sound for signaling to the child that a successful game piece-to-board match has been made.

Preferably, the invention comprises a flat game board (or boards) with a plurality of fairly simple but distinctively curved shapes. Each of these shapes does not completely pass through the game board but rather sits in a recess with board backing behind, said recess defining an area into which a child may attempt to insert one or more playing game pieces to achieve the right combination (and right directional orientation) for having a chip on the game piece mate with its corresponding receptor to produce a rewarding game sound for the child to hear.

The game includes a plurality of primary game pieces each representative of a baby farm animal associated with a respective mother farm animal illustrated on or about an assigned recess in the game board proper. The game further includes an electronic sound generation device for producing a plurality of different sounds, each sound being associated with a respective combination of animals. For example, one associated for the mother cow and baby cow would be a mooing sound when the baby cow piece is properly situated in the mother cow recess. Each recess will include its own switch for coupling to an activator on the baby game piece component. Accordingly, the baby cow game piece includes a projection or projections for actuating when properly aligned into the mother cow recess to generate the cow sound.

Accordingly, among the objects of the instant invention are: the provision of an electronic matching game wherein the object of the game is to match game pieces, either actual pictures or cartoony versions of same, to the proper game board recess and thus produce a “matching” sounds indicative of the animals (mother and baby) being paired. On a preferred basis, the baby game pieces are further provided with tactile coverings (e.g., soft cottony wool for the sheep, a soft cowhide, feathers, etc.) for further stimulating learning in the very young child playing this game with a parent or other adult. Still other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings that illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention:

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the game board 10 in a closed state;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the rear of the game board 10, opened face down;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the game board 10 from FIG. 1 opened face up to reveal its left and right sides, with five mother animal pairings P1-P10 per each game half;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the game board 10 from FIG. 2 with one of the ten baby animal game pieces BGP6 for the horse pairing P6 situated in front of (and over) its mother recess MR6 on the open board 10;

FIG. 4 is a close up sectional perspective showing a baby foal or horse game piece BGP6, from game board pairing P6 with its front pickup ledge L6 and with its sound activating chip PC situated over a section of game board 10 adjacent its corresponding mother recess MR6, the latter recess having its own matching sound activator component MC for causing the board to emit an animal sound when baby game piece BGP6 is properly situated (or fitted) into correct mother recess MR6; and

FIGS. 5 through 14 are representative pairs of mother-baby animals for use with one embodiment of this invention, particularly, FIG. 5 is a mother and baby cow (that will “moo” when properly joined), FIG. 6, a mother and baby sheep (for making a “baa” sound), FIG. 7 a mother and baby cat (for mewing), FIG. 8 a mother and baby chicken (for clucking), FIG. 9 a mother and baby horse (for whinnying), FIG. 10 a mother and baby dog (for barking), FIG. 11 a mother and baby pig (for squealing/oinking), FIG. 12 a mother and baby duck (for quacking), FIG. 13 a mother and baby goat (for bleating), and FIG. 14 a mother and baby bird (for making a chirp sound).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, the matching game board or book 10 is shown closed in FIG. 1A and opened, face down in FIG. 1B, with its two connected halves, left side L and right side R. Note the battery access portal BA and sound speaker SS in that view. In FIG. 2, a front plan view of the game 10, the reverse of FIG. 1B, is shown with its five (5) representative animal pairings P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 on the left side L and second set of five (5) pairings, P6, P7, P8, P9 and P10 on the opposite, or right side R.

The instant game 10 is utilized as a learning/bonding tool for a very young child (3 years old and younger, preferably 12-24 mos. old) to play with a supervising adult, the child's mother, father, aunt/uncle, grandparent, older sibling and/or a babysitter perhaps. The object of the game is to match different baby game pieces to same-animal mother recesses in the game 10 so as to generate an audible sound indicative to the young child that a proper match has been made.

It is preferred that at least one of the set have a tactile covering TC (e.g., soft cottony wool for sheep, a soft cowhide, silky cat fur, duck feathers, etc.) for further stimulating learning. Needless to say, such coverings must be safely secured to the respective piece(s) so as to not create a choking hazard.

In a first embodiment of this invention, the “electronic” components to this game include a sound pairing for each of the animal pairings used with a first master chip MC situated in each mother board recess MR, most likely the male switch end for matching (i.e., mating with) its corresponding female switch ends PC in protective spots on their geographically compatible sections of each baby game piece BGP.

FIGS. 5 through 14 depict ten representative sets of mother and baby animal pairings, either as actual realistic photographs/pictures, cartoon versions of same, or both pictures and cartoons in the same game board set. For the first embodiment of this invention, in the game board/book version, each mother component is a cartoon-like caricature about a desired, specially shaped recess into which the matching baby puzzle piece component, also cartoon-like will fit. It is to be understood, however, that more realistic photographs of actual animal pairings may be substituted for each and every “drawing” pair. For the second game version, FIGS. 15 through 16B, the mother card is a larger sized variation of the baby piece, possibly in a rectangular overall shape (for easier storage and battery charging).

In FIG. 5, there is shown a game board pairing of a mother cow MCW with her baby cow puzzle piece BCW. Though not shown in these master views, each paring will include a female sound switch (preferably in the baby puzzle piece for less teething temptation) that matches/mates with a corresponding male sound chip/clip or switch end preferably found in the mother card/recess. Similar partnerings/pairings will be found with the other representative animals, at FIGS. 6 through 14, respectively. Particularly, FIG. 6 includes mother sheep MSH and baby sheep BSH. FIG. 7 shows a mother cat MCT with a corresponding baby kitten or cat BCT. FIG. 8 depicts a mother chicken MCK and baby chicken BCK; FIG. 9 a mother horse MHR matching with foal or baby horse BHR; FIG. 10 a mother dog MDG and baby puppy or dog BDG, FIG. 11 a mother pig MPG and baby pig BPG; FIG. 12 a mother duck MDK combining with baby duck BDK; FIG. 13 a mother goat MGT with baby goat BGT, and FIG. 14 a mother bird MBD and her baby bird BBD.

Inside the game board 10 of the first version, OR inside the respective mother cards of the second version (without any main game board), there would be produced a plurality of different pre-programmed sounds, each sound associated with a respective mother-baby animal pairing. In one version of game board 10, a plurality of sound circuits (not shown) run inside the board with said combination of circuits being powered by one or more replaceable batteries (also not shown). Output signals produced by these sound circuits would transmit through a speaker via internal wiring when the respective mother AND baby switches are duly and properly aligned. The general and specific technologies relating to electronic sound generation circuitry, and software required to run such devices, are well known to those skilled in the electronic and software arts. Hence, specific details of the digital processing and memory portions of such circuitry, and the specific details of any software required for this specific application will not be described further herein.

It can be seen that the present invention provides a unique and amusing matching game which can provide hours of entertainment AND learning for very young children. The matching pairs of farm animals provides amusing game pieces which young children can easily identify, while the device for generating matching sounds for the game pieces provides the game apparatus with educational value for the children.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A matching game for a young child to play with a supervising adult, said matching game comprising: (a) a game board having a plurality of differently-sized and shaped recesses, each recess including a mother farm animal depiction and part of a sound switch pairing specific for the mother farm animal depiction;(b) a plurality of differently sized and shaped game pieces, each game piece including a baby farm animal depiction and part of a sound switch pairing adapted for matching with the sound switch pairing for the mother farm animal depiction that, when properly matched up and joined together on the game board will cause a sound to be emitted, said sound being indicative for the mother farm animal depiction; and(c) means for storing a plurality of sounds for the plurality of farm animals and emitting from the game board the sound for the mother farm animal depiction when the baby farm animal game piece is properly situated in the matching mother farm animal recess.

2. The matching game of claim 1, which further includes battery powered means for activating the game board to play the stored sound for the mother farm animal and baby farm animal pairing when the sound switch pairing for the baby farm animal game piece is properly positioned in the matching mother farm animal recess.

3. The matching game of claim 1 wherein one or more of the baby farm animal game pieces are provided with a section of outer surface at least partially covered with a tactile material indicative of the farm animal being depicted.

4. The matching game of claim 3 wherein the baby farm animal is a mammal selected from the group consisting of a horse, a sheep, a cow, a cat, a dog, a goat and a pig, and the tactile material on the section of outer surface of the baby farm animal game piece is a fur typically associated with the farm animal.

5. The matching game of claim 3 wherein the baby farm animal is a bird selected from the group consisting of a chicken, a bird and a duck and the tactile material on the section of the outer surface of the baby farm animal game piece is a feather-based covering.

6. The matching game of claim 1 wherein the mother farm animal depiction and the baby farm animal depiction are realistic renderings of actual farm animals.

7. The matching game of claim 1 wherein the mother farm animal depiction and the baby farm animal depiction are cartoon-like caricatures of actual farm animals.

8. The matching game of claim 1 wherein the stored sound is selected from the group consisting of: a cat's mew, a dog's bark, a horse's whinney, a cow's moo, a sheep's baa, a goat's bleat, a pig's oink, a duck's quack, a chicken's cluck and a bird's chirp.

9. The matching game of claim 1 wherein the mother farm animal depiction extends at least partially into the recess in the game board.

10. The matching game of claim 1 wherein the young child is about 30 months old or less.

11. A matching game for a young child to play with a supervising adult, said matching game comprising: (a) a plurality of differently-sized and shaped mother animal recesses in a master game board that can be folded to close, said master game board including electronics for playing a precise animal sound when game pieces are properly combined therein, each mother animal recess including a depiction of a mother farm animal and part of a sound switch pairing specific for the mother farm animal depicted thereon;(b) a plurality of differently sized and shaped baby animal game pieces, each baby game piece including a baby farm animal depiction and part of a sound switch pairing adapted for matching with the sound switch pairing for the mother animal card that, when properly matched up and joined together in a correct orientation will cause a sound to be emitted, said sound being indicative for the mother and baby farm animal depicted;(c) means for storing a plurality of sounds for the plurality of mother and baby farm animals with powering means to effect a sound emission when the proper mother animal recess and the proper baby animal game piece are matched and connected.

12. The matching game of claim 11 wherein one or more of the baby animal game pieces are provided with a section of outer surface at least partially covered with a material indicative of an outer skin for the baby animal being depicted.

13. The matching game of claim 12 wherein the outer skin material is artificial.

14. The matching game of claim 11 wherein the mother animal card depicted is selected from the group consisting of a horse, a sheep, a cow, a cat, a dog, a goat, a pig, a bird, a chicken and a duck.

15. The matching game of claim 11 wherein the mother farm animal depiction and the baby farm animal depiction are realistic renderings of actual farm animals.

16. The matching game of claim 11 wherein the mother farm animal depiction and the baby farm animal depiction are cartoon-like caricatures of actual farm animals.