U.S. patent application number 10/907250 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for treasure hunt game.
Invention is credited to Goodwin, Elizabeth.
Application Number | 20050212212 10/907250 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34988862 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050212212 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goodwin, Elizabeth |
September 29, 2005 |
TREASURE HUNT GAME
Abstract
A treasure hunt game comprising at least one series of clue
cards, wherein the series includes at least a first card that
contains a rhyme indicating the location of a subsequent card in
the series, and a final card that contains a rhyme indicating the
location of an ultimate prize.
Inventors: |
Goodwin, Elizabeth; (Orange
Village, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAHN LOESER & PARKS, LLP
One GOJO Plaza
Suite 300
AKRON
OH
44311-1076
US
|
Family ID: |
34988862 |
Appl. No.: |
10/907250 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60556750 |
Mar 26, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20130101; A63F
2001/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A treasure hunt game comprising: at least one series of clue
cards, wherein the series includes at least a first card that
contains a rhyme indicating the location of a subsequent card in
the series, and a final card that contains a rhyme indicating the
location of an ultimate prize.
2. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein the at least one
series of clue cards comprises sequential clue cards.
3. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
rhymes expressly indicates the location of a subsequent card or the
ultimate prize.
4. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein at least one the
rhymes is in the form of a riddle that indicates the location of a
subsequent card or the ultimate prize.
5. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
clue cards is initially folded into a closed position.
6. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
rhymes indicating the location of a subsequent clue card also
indicates the location of an intermediate prize.
7. The treasure hunt game of claim 6, wherein the intermediate
prize is a clue complementary to the subsequent clue card.
8. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein each clue card within
at least one of the at least one series of clue cards includes a
series indicator, the indicator being a color or a marking
thereon.
9. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein each clue card within
the at least one series of clue cards includes an index
marking.
10. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, further comprising a summary
listing of all locations identified by each clue card within the at
least one series of clue cards.
11. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein at least one card of
the at least one series of clue cards identifies a personal
location.
12. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, further comprising a
theme.
13. The treasure hunt game of claim 12, wherein the theme is a
holiday theme or a user defined theme.
14. The treasure hunt game of claim 1, wherein the at least one
series of clue cards comprises a plurality of series of clue cards,
the plurality of series leading to a single ultimate prize.
15. The treasure hunt game of claim 14, wherein the locations
identified by the rhymes in the plurality of series of clue cards
are the same.
16. The treasure hunt game of claim 15, wherein the sequence of the
locations vary among the plurality of series of clue cards.
17. A treasure hunt game comprising: at least one series of clue
cards, the series including a sub-series of card-indicating clue
cards and a final ultimate prize-indicating clue card; wherein the
sub-series contains at least a first card that provides a rhyme
identifying the location of a subsequent clue card in the at least
one series of clue cards; and wherein the final ultimate
prize-indicating clue card is subsequent to the sub-series of
card-indicating clue cards and provides a rhyme identifying the
location of an ultimate prize.
18. The treasure hunt game of claim 17, wherein at least one the
rhymes is in the form of a riddle that indicates the location of a
subsequent card or the ultimate prize.
19. The treasure hunt game of claim 17, wherein the at least one
series of clue cards comprises a plurality of series of clue cards,
the plurality of series leading to a single ultimate prize.
20. A method of playing a treasure hunt game comprising: providing
an organizer and at least one player or team; providing a series of
clue cards for each player or team and an ultimate prize; placing
all clue cards, except for the first clue card, at the locations
identified by the rhyme included on the preceding clue card;
placing the ultimate prize at the location identified by the final
card; providing each player or team with the first card in the
associated series of clue cards; searching for the card subsequent
the first clue card based upon the rhyme included on the first clue
card; finding the clue card subsequent the first card; repeating
the prior two steps using the most recently located clue card until
locating the final clue card; searching for the ultimate prize
based upon the rhyme included on the final clue card; and finding
the ultimate prize.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application Ser. No. 60/556,750, filed Mar. 26, 2004, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a treasure hunt game, and
more particularly, to a treasure hunt game in which the clues are
rhymes or rhyming riddles. Other aspects of the invention relate to
a method for preparing such a treasure hunt game. In some aspects,
the method is used to provide a generalized game that may be
mass-distributed. In other aspects, the method used is to provide
an individualized game for a specific participant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Treasure hunt games are known in the prior art. In a typical
prior art "treasure hunt" game, a player (or one of a number of
players) is provided with a first clue. Reading and understanding
the first clue provides insight as to the location of a second
clue. If the player is correct in determining the location of the
second clue, then the second clue is ascertained, and the reading
and understanding of the second clue provides an insight as to the
location of a third clue. If a hypothetical treasure hunt game has
a plurality of n clues, then the player needs to successfully
locate (n-1) clues, since the first clue is given to the player.
After locating the nth clue, correct interpretation of the clue
leads the player to a prize. In summary, a treasure hunt game of n
clues has a starting point and n subsequent locations, (n-1) of
which are clue locations and one of which is an ultimate prize
location.
[0004] It is an unmet object of the prior art to provide a treasure
hunt game in which a plurality of rhyming or rhyming riddle
location clues are provided to lead a player from an initial
location to an ultimate prize location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one embodiment, a treasure hunt game comprises at least
one series of clue cards, wherein the series includes at least a
first card that contains a rhyme indicating the location of a
subsequent card in the series, and a final card that contains a
rhyme indicating the location of an ultimate prize.
[0006] In another embodiment, a treasure hunt game comprises at
least one series of clue cards, the series including a sub-series
of card-indicating clue cards and a final ultimate prize-indicating
clue card, wherein the sub-series contains at least a first card
that provides a rhyme identifying the location of a subsequent clue
card in the at least one series of clue cards, and wherein the
final ultimate prize-indicating clue card is subsequent to the
sub-series of card-indicating clue cards and provides a rhyme
identifying the location of an ultimate prize.
[0007] In still another embodiment, a method of playing a treasure
hunt game comprises: providing an organizer and at least one player
or team; providing a series of clue cards for each player or team
and an ultimate prize; placing all clue cards, except for the first
clue card, at the locations identified by the rhyme included on the
preceding clue card; placing the ultimate prize at the location
identified by the final card; providing each player or team with
the first card in the associated series of clue cards; searching
for the card subsequent the first clue card based upon the rhyme
included on the first clue card; finding the clue card subsequent
the first card; repeating the prior two steps using the most
recently located clue card until locating the final clue card;
searching for the ultimate prize based upon the rhyme included on
the final clue card; and finding the ultimate prize.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of a treasure hunt game
of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a typical clue card, used in the treasure hunt
game of the present invention, in an opened state;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a typical clue card, used in the treasure hunt
game of the present invention, in a closed state; and
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a summary listing of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In a first embodiment of the present invention, a set of n
clues is provided to a game organizer for each game player. In such
an embodiment, one clue is provided on each of n clue cards. The
clue printed on the first clue card is a rhyme or a rhyming riddle
that assists the game player in locating the second clue card, on
which is printed a rhyme or rhyming riddle that serves as a clue to
assist the game player in locating the third clue card and so
forth. At the end of the game, the nth clue card (or final clue
card) contains a rhyming or rhyming riddle clue that assists the
game player in finding an ultimate prize.
[0013] In a possible variation of the game, there is more than one
prize awarded during the game, so that the player is rewarded by
one or more intermediate prizes as the player progresses toward the
ultimate prize. In some versions of the game, these intermediate
prizes may either comprise a part of the ultimate prize or may, in
themselves, be complementary to the clue card and serve as a part
of the clue leading to the next clue location.
[0014] In another variation on the game of the present invention
involving more than one game player, each set of n clues will lead
each of the game players through different locations (or the same
locations in a different order), to ultimately reach the same
prize. This variation may best be utilized with older children or
adults, where a competition may be encouraged. In another variation
that is particularly useful with younger children, each set of n
clues will lead the game player to his or her own individual prize,
so that each player ultimately receives a prize.
[0015] When there is more than one game player, each set of the n
clue cards may be marked with a series identifying marking,
including printing each card within the series on a colored card
stock or the like, with a specific color assigned to each game
player or team. In this way, each game player is able to identify
the clue cards in his/her set of cards and does not disturb the
cards of the other players. Typically, a card stock of 20# or
greater is used for these clue cards. It is contemplated that
various markings, including letters, numbers, and illustrations,
may be used instead of or in conjunction with colors.
[0016] In order to permit the game to be produced and distributed
in a mass manner, the locations for hiding the clue cards (and,
consequently, the sites to which the clues are directed) should
either be fairly standardized locations in the environs of the game
player or be individualized or personalized to the game player in a
way known to the game organizer. An example of the first type would
direct a game player to a standardized site, like the kitchen sink.
An example of the second type would direct a game player to an
individualized or personalized site, such as under his/her pillow,
or under his/her chair at the table. To assist the game organizer,
the set of clue cards may be provided with a summary list of hiding
locations for the particular clue cards. In such a case, each of
the n clue cards may be imprinted with an identifying or index
marking (indicium), so that the organizer (and game player) can
correctly identify each clue. If only one set of n clue cards is
provided, each clue card may be identified by a distinct color
instead of a numeric indicium. This identifying or index marking
may also identify a sequential card arrangement within a series of
clue cards.
[0017] Clue cards may be provided for a variety of occasions, such
as for Easter egg hunts, Christmas, birthdays, baby showers or the
like, so that the treasure hunt game may be particularized to the
event. This includes providing cards having various designs which
may include certain messages, colors, and markings, such as
illustrations.
[0018] While the characteristic clues of the present invention are
rhyming in nature, the rhyme may also be a riddle, with there being
a clear distinction between rhyming clues and rhyming riddle clues.
Rhyming riddle clues tend to be used more commonly with adults. An
example of a rhyming clue for a treasure hunt game for children of
the present invention may read as follows:
[0019] "As you begin this treasure hunt
[0020] You'll find the clues are sweet.
[0021] The first clue that you're looking for
[0022] Is right here at your feet."
[0023] The preferred clues for children tell them exactly where to
go. Another example reads:
[0024] "Clue number four is some place wet
[0025] But not where you might think.
[0026] It won't be in the bathroom, but
[0027] It is beneath a sink."
[0028] On the other hand, an example of a rhyming riddle clue for a
treasure hunt game for adults of the present invention may read as
follows:
[0029] "Is it better to illuminate the spirit or the mind?
[0030] Illumination's simpler at the next clue that you find."
[0031] Clues for adult games require that the adult ascertain the
meaning of the riddle. Another example reads:
[0032] "A word can wound, a word can heal.
[0033] If not spoken aloud, how to make it real?"
[0034] A typical layout of a treasure hunt using the game 10 of the
present invention is depicted schematically in FIG. 1. The
embodiment illustrated is a four-clue game. In such a game, a
player or team at a first location 12 is provided with a first clue
card 30 from a series 20, as is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and
3. This clue card 30 has a rhyming or rhyming riddle clue 32
imprinted on one side of the card. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.
2 and 3, the card may be folded along a crease line 34 to be
initially in a closed state, as shown in FIG. 3. It is contemplated
that no crease line 34 may exist, and that the card may not be
folded. When opened, the clue 32 is available to the player or
team. In the embodiment shown, an index marking or indicium 36 may
be used to identify the clue, sequentially or non-sequentially,
while a series indicator 38 may be used to identify the series.
Index marking 36 and series indicator 38 may exist on any face of
card 30. If the card 30 is folded, the markings may be on an
exterior face of the card 30, opposite the clue 32. In the
embodiment shown, the index marking 36 is a letter of the alphabet,
but a number or a color may also be used. Further, the series
indicator 38, as shown, is a number; however, any marking or color
may be used as specified above. As stated above, any markings
include illustrations. In FIG. 1, only a single series 20 is shown;
however, game 10 may comprise multiple series 20, wherein each
player or team is associated with a different series 20.
[0035] When a player reads the clue 32 on card 30, the clue directs
the player, either directly or through inference based upon the
riddle, to the second location 14, where a second clue card 40 is
located. This clue card 40 is of the same nature as clue card 30,
but directs the player to third location 16. At the third location
16, a third clue card 50 directs the player to fourth location 18,
and a fourth clue card 60 at the fourth location directs the player
to a fifth location 19, where the player finds no further clue
cards, but instead finds ultimate prize 70.
[0036] In some variations of the same as depicted in FIG. 1, there
may be intermediate prizes at intermediate locations. For example,
an intermediate prize 80 is shown at third location 16. As an
example, an Easter hunt game according to the invention could
provide small chocolate eggs as intermediate prizes at one or more
intermediate locations.
[0037] Finally, a summary listing 90 may be provided that
summarizes the locations identified by each card 30. The summary
list 90 may summarize all cards 30 within a single card series 20
or within all the card series 20 for a game 10. This is especially
helpful to a game organizer, when setting up game 10.
[0038] Although the invention has been described herein with
reference to the present embodiments, it will become apparent to
those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present
embodiments of the invention as described herein can be made
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *