Patent Application
20070284823
The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Selected Alternate Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:
In describing the preferred and selected alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in
Referring now to
Credit debt cards 40 preferably comprise debt value 500, interest (rate) 520 and description of how debt was incurred (purchase) 530. Cash cards 50 preferably comprise cash value 510.
Players P, one of whom is selected as dealer D, preferably conduct a game utilizing credit debt cards 40 and cash cards 50. Cards 40, 50 are preferably extracted from box 20 and rules 30 are preferably consulted as required, wherein rules 30 are set forth hereinbelow as TABLE I.
Referring now more particularly to
Subsequent to step 110, players P preferably decide in step 120 whether to utilize calculators 80 for play. Dealer D then preferably deals via step 130 seven cards 90 to each player P, to include dealer D and preferably places the remaining cards 40, 50 faces down in draw pile 60 in step 140. If players P have chosen to utilize interest 520, path 160 is selected and interest 520 is calculated in step 180. Alternately, if players P have decided not to utilize interest, calculation of same is bypassed via path 170. Subsequently first player P to the left of dealer D preferably begins play in step 190.
Players P preferably determine whether there are adequate cards 40, 50 remaining in draw pile 60 via step 200. If there are adequate cards 40, 50, player P preferably selectively follows path 250 and draws card 40, 50 from draw pile 60 in step 240 or follows path 260 and draws card 40, 50 from discard pile 70 via step 270. Player P subsequently preferably selectively replaces card 40, 50 in hand 90 with drawn card 95 via step 280 and follows path 290, preferably discarding the replaced card 40, 50 in step 310, or alternately follows path 300 and preferably discards drawn card 95 via step 320 without replacement of any cards 40, 50 in hand 90.
At any time, any player P preferably adds cash cards 50 in hand 90 via step 330 and preferably compares the total to any credit debt card 40 in hand 90 via step 340. If player P has hand 90 comprising six (6) cash cards 50 that equal or exceed in amount a single (1) credit debt card 40 within grace range 600, then player P has the ability to win and player P preferably follows path 350 via step 370 to verify whether it is still player P's turn. If the totals differ by more than grace range 600, or if the total of cash cards 50 is less than credit card 40, the game preferably continues via path 360 and play preferably advances in step 380 to next player P, who returns to step 200.
If it is not still player P's turn, path 400 is preferably followed and player P must wait via step 410 until it is his/her turn. Once a player on their current turn has achieved the required total within grace range 600 or less, player P preferably follows path 390 and lays hand 90 down in step 420 declaring themselves as the winner.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, players can utilize calculator 80 to total their cash cards 50 for comparison to their credit debt card 40.
In a further alternate embodiment of the present invention as noted above in step 150, players can selectively total the value of their credit debt card 40, plus interest 520 depicted thereon, and then require that the result equal the sum of their cash cards 50 within grace range 600.
In yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention, more than one credit debt card 40 can be retained in player P's hand. In this alternate embodiment, two or more credit card debt cards 40 are totaled and compared to the total value of cash cards 50.
In still another alternate embodiment of the present invention, credit card debt management card game 10 could be rendered in computer form, and, as such, could also comprise a game for a solitary player, or alternately interactively between players located at different computers. In such fashion, credit card debt management card game 10 could be conducted cross-country or across countries. In the latter case, family member players could conduct games online to include a player stationed abroad with the military or other ex-patriot activities. Online game playing could also be utilized in a teaching mode, wherein players are part of a credit counseling group, wherein the players can play together online as part of their group activities.
In still a further alternate embodiment of the present invention, it is envisioned that credit card debt management card game 10 could be played as a competition, either against other players or against a computer.
The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.
