U.S. patent application number 10/265504 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-08 for football card game.
Invention is credited to Spring, Ty.
Application Number | 20040066002 10/265504 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32042471 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040066002 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spring, Ty |
April 8, 2004 |
Football card game
Abstract
A football card game (10) employing a deck of cards (100) that
includes the following categories of cards: yardage cards (20),
offensive cards (30), defensive cards (40), kick off cards (50) and
scorecards (60) wherein, the rules of the game allow a player to
choose each time it is their turn to play a card whether to pursue
an offensive strategy against all other players or a defensive
strategy against a selected one of their opponents that are
eligible to pursue an offensive strategy wherein, the criteria that
establishes a player's eligibility to pursue an offensive strategy
requires that the player has previously played a kick off card (50)
followed by a yardage card (20).
Inventors: |
Spring, Ty; (Calgary,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STURM & FIX LLP
206 SIXTH AVENUE
SUITE 1213
DES MOINES
IA
50309-4076
US
|
Family ID: |
32042471 |
Appl. No.: |
10/265504 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/298 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20130101; A63F
3/00041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/298 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of playing a football card game wherein the game
comprises a deck of cards divided into the following categories of
cards: yardage cards, offensive cards including at least one
touchdown card, defensive cards, kick off cards and scorecards
involving the steps of: a) segregating the score cards from the
remainder of the deck of cards; b) shuffling the remainder of the
deck of cards in a random order; c) dealing a selected number of
cards to each person playing the game and placing the un-dealt
cards in a draw file; d) requiring that each player draw one card
from the draw pile and choose whether to play one of the cards in
their respective hands or deposit a selected card in a discard
pile; e) preventing a player from initiating either an offensive or
defensive strategy until they possess one of the kick off cards; f)
the first player to play a kick off card must employ a yardage card
on their next turn to determine how many yards they have advanced
from their own imaginary goal line; g) once a player has played a
yardage card, the remaining players, if they also have already
played a kick off card and a yardage card, have the option after
removing another card from the draw pile to either pursue their own
offensive strategy or to employ a defensive strategy against a
selected opponent.
2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: h)
once a player either plays a touchdown card or has accumulated
yardage cards that either meet or exceed 100 yards, that player is
awarded a scorecard having a value of 7 points which concludes the
first quarter.
3. The method as in claim 2; wherein, the defensive cards include
fumble, interception, and punt cards that can be employed against
any other player to interrupt their offensive strategy and lose the
accumulated yardage cards that they have played.
4. The method as in claim 3; wherein, the defensive cards also
include field goal cards that can be employed against any other
player during the four quarters of the game to interrupt the
selected players offensive strategy wherein, the selected player
forfeits their accumulated yardage cards while being awarded a
score card worth 3 points.
5. The method as in claim 4; wherein, once a player has been
awarded a scorecard, all of their played cards are placed in the
discard pile and the other players continue to pursue their
offensive strategy.
6. The method as in claim 5; wherein, a player that has been
awarded a scorecard must play another kick off card before they can
resume their offensive strategy.
7. The method as in claim 6; wherein, the offensive cards include
run cards and pass cards and an interception card can only be used
against another player immediately after that player has played a
pass card.
8. The method as in claim 7; wherein, each quarter ends when any
player is awarded a scorecard having a value of 7 points.
9. The method as in claim 8; wherein, at the end of the second
quarter, each player's played cards are placed in the discard pile
and the rules governing the play of the first quarter apply to the
play of the third quarter.
10. The method as in claim 9; wherein, if two or more players are
tied for the highest score at the end of the fourth quarter, those
players continue to play a sudden death overtime according to the
rules governing the play of the third quarter and the first player
of the tied players to be awarded a scorecard is declared the
winner of the game in the overtime period.
11. The method as in claim 10; wherein, during the overtime period,
a field goal card becomes an offensive card that can be used by the
player possessing the field goal card to win the game when the
first opportunity to play the field goal card arises.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of card games in
general and in particular to a card game used to simulate a
football game.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,145,173; 5,522,590; 5,755,441; and, 6,012,721, the prior art is
replete with myriad and diverse sports theme related card
games.
[0006] While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are
more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which
they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient
with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and
challenging simulated football game by employing a randomly
shuffled deck of cards.
[0007] As anyone who has played these prior art simulated games is
well aware, the basic concept behind these games is to have one
player or team of players being on the offensive side and the other
player or team of players being on the defensive side.
[0008] To date none of these card games has offered the option for
each individual player to decide to pursue either an offensive or a
defensive strategy each time it is their turn to play a card.
[0009] As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has
existed a longstanding need among football fans for a new and
improved card game that allows each player to contemplate both
their own individual offensive strategy or a number of defensive
strategies that can be employed against any one of the other
players involved in the game; and, the provision of such an
arrangement is the stated objective of the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Briefly stated, the football card game that forms the basis
of the present invention comprises a total of one hundred and ten
individual cards broadly grouped into the following categories:
yardage cards, offensive cards, defensive cards, kick off cards and
score cards.
[0011] As will be explained in greater detail further on in the
specification, the yardage cards include eight cards each with a
value of 10 yards and 20 yards respectively, seven cards with a
value of 30 yards, six cards each with a value of 45 yards and 60
yards respectively, and four cards with a value of 75 yards.
[0012] The offensive cards include a dozen run cards, a dozen pass
cards, and two touchdown cards whereas the defensive cards include
groups of three interception and fumble cards respectively, eight
penalty cards and three field goal cards which assume a defensive
role during the regulation four quarters of the simulated football
game, and which assume an offensive role if there is a tie score at
the end of the four quarters.
[0013] In addition, there are fourteen kick off cards employed
wherein each player must possess at least one kickoff card to
initiate an offensive series and there are ten score cards divided
into five score cards having a value of 7 points and five score
cards having a value of 3 points wherein, the rules of the game
govern the order of play and each player chooses whether to employ
an offensive strategy against all of the other players or a
defensive strategy against a selected opponent during the course of
the card game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] These and other attributes of the invention will become more
clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the
best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when
reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the card game and a listing
of the contents of all of the cards; and,
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the card faces in each of the
categories of card groupings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in
particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the football card game that forms the
basis of the present invention is designated generally by the
reference number 10. The card game 10 comprises in general a deck
of cards 100 divided into the following category of cards: yardage
cards 20, offensive cards 30, defensive cards 40, kick off cards
50, and score cards 60, which will be described in seriatim
fashion.
[0018] As mentioned previously, there are a total of 39 yardage
cards 20 including eight 10 yard cards 21 eight 20 yard cards,
seven 30 yard cards 22, six 45 yard cards 23 six 60 yard cards and
four 75 yard cards 24 the purpose and function of which will be
described in greater detail further on in the specification.
[0019] In addition, there are twenty six offensive cards 30
including a dozen pass cards 31, a dozen run cards 32, and a pair
of touchdown cards 33 whereas, there are twenty one defensive cards
40 including three interception cards 41, three fumble cards 42,
four punt cards 43, eight penalty cards 44, and three field goal
cards 45 which assume a defensive role during regular play and
assume an offensive role when the score is tied at a the normal
conclusion of the game 10 as will be explained further on in the
specification.
[0020] As can also be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,
the deck of cards 100 also includes ten score cards 60 having five
7 point cards 61 and five 3 point cards 62, and a total of fourteen
kick off cards 70 wherein, a player must possess at least one kick
off card 70 in order to initiate an offensive strategy.
[0021] The heart of this game involves the rules that allow a given
player to employ either an offensive strategy against all other
players or a defensive strategy against a selected player if more
than two players are participating in the game.
[0022] Object of the game: To be the player with the highest total
of points at the end of the game.
[0023] Game Preparation: Remove the SCORE cards from the deck: 5
7's and 5 3's, and place them face up to the side of the playing
area. Select a player to shuffle the remaining cards and deal 7
cards to each player. The rest of the cards are placed faced down
in the center of the playing area to form a draw pile. Play starts
to the left of the dealer. Each player's turn begins by drawing a
card from the draw pile. A player must play a card or discard a
card to the discard pile to end their turn. A player can play an
offensive card or a defensive card but NOT BOTH on their turn.
[0024] Game Play
[0025] First Quarter:
[0026] To score a touchdown If a player has a KICK OFF card, they
play it face up to the right of their playing area. If a player
does not, they must continue to draw and discard on subsequent
turns until they can play one. Once a KICK OFF card has been
played, then a player can play a YARD card of any value on their
next turn to represent a kick off return. This is played face up to
the left of the KICK OFF card. A PASS or RUN card must then be
played, face up to the left of a player's YARD card, in order for a
player to add more YARD cards to reach 100 or greater. This results
in a touchdown and the player is awarded a 7 point SCORE card to
display to the right of the KICK OFF card. A touchdown may also be
scored by playing a TOUCHDOWN card which can be played any time
after a player plays a KICK OFF card. Once a touchdown has been
scored the first quarter is over.
[0027] To stop another player from scoring a touchdown Defensive
cards can be played on an opponent only after an opponent has
played a PASS or RUN card. No defensive cards can be played on an
opponent's kick off return. Playing a FUMBLE, INTERCEPTION, or PUNT
card causes an opponent to discard all of the cards in their
playing area except for their KICK OFF card and begin a new scoring
drive by playing a PASS or RUN and then YARD cards. A penalty card
is played face up on an opponent's YARD card pile and is deducted
from a player's total, e.g., 10+20+45 YARD cards minus a PENALTY
card=65 yards. A FIELD GOAL card is a defensive card played face up
on an opponent's YARD card pile and causes them to score three
points instead of a possible touchdown for 7 points but must be
played before an opponent reaches 100 yards. A 3 point SCORE card
is given to the player and this score also ends the first
quarter.
[0028] Second Quarter After a player has scored they must discard
all cards except for their KICK OFF card and the cards in their
hand. They must begin a new scoring drive by first playing a PASS
or RUN card and YARD cards. All other players begin the second
quarter by continuing to finish their scoring drives from the first
quarter. No cards are discarded either from their hand or playing
area. Play continues until another touchdown or field goal is
scored which ends the second quarter.
[0029] Third Quarter Play begins by all players discarding all
cards on their playing areas except any SCORE cards and cards in
their hand. All players must play another KICK OFF card to begin,
followed by a YARD card on their next turn for their kick-off
return. A PASS or RUN card followed by YARD cards are then played
on subsequent turns to begin another scoring drive with opponents
trying to stop you. Any player scoring a touchdown or field goal
ends the second quarter.
[0030] Fourth Quarter Play begins the same as the second
quarter.
[0031] Overtime If any players are tied in points after the fourth
quarter, they go to sudden death overtime. All other players are
spectators. Play begins the same as the first or third quarter. In
overtime, the FIELD GOAL card changes from a defensive card to an
offensive card, played on a player's own yard card pile to score 3
points. The FIELD GOAL card can only be played after a player has
played a KICK OFF card and a YARD card for a kick off return. The
player who scores either a touchdown or field goal is declared the
winner.
[0032] Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has
been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of
this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to
be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the
following claims.
[0033] Having thereby described the subject matter of the present
invention, it should be apparent that many substitutions,
modifications, and variations of the invention are possible in
light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that
the invention as taught and described herein is only to be limited
to the extent of the breadth and scope of the appended claims.
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