U.S. patent application number 11/546918 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for cup holder game playing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Christine Andrews, Steve Gormally.
Application Number | 20080023912 11/546918 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39000675 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080023912 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gormally; Steve ; et
al. |
January 31, 2008 |
Cup holder game playing apparatus
Abstract
The cup holder game playing apparatus is intended for use with a
motorized vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein
and includes a hollow cylindrical container and a lid. The hollow
cylindrical container has a tapered bottom end and an open top end,
the tapered bottom end being dimensioned to fit within the recessed
cup holder. The lid is designed to be detachably removed from the
open top end of the hollow cylindrical container and encompasses at
least one game playing mechanism. The cup holder game playing
apparatus is designed to allow playing of the game playing
mechanism while the apparatus is maintained within the cup holder.
The lid of each cup holder game playing apparatus may encompass a
different game playing mechanism, including a randomizer, such as a
spinner or a pop-o-matic dice mechanism, a revealer, or a scoring
device, such as a trivia scoring device.
Inventors: |
Gormally; Steve; (Acworth,
GA) ; Andrews; Christine; (Roswell, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. BOX 15035, CRYSTAL CITY STATION
ARLINGTON
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
39000675 |
Appl. No.: |
11/546918 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60832960 |
Jul 25, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20130101; A63F
2250/48 20130101; A63F 11/0011 20130101; A63F 2011/0016 20130101;
A63F 9/001 20130101; A63F 2009/0053 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/146 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/04 20060101
A63F009/04 |
Claims
1. A game playing apparatus for use with for use with a motorized
vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein, the game
playing apparatus comprising: a hollow cylindrical container having
a tapered bottom end and an open top end, the tapered bottom end
being configured and dimensioned to fit within the recessed cup
holder; and a lid for removably covering the open top end of the
hollow cylindrical container, wherein the lid encompasses at least
one game playing mechanism.
2. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
container is dimensioned and configured to fit virtually entirely
within the recessed cup holder, with said lid positioned above and
outside of the recessed cup holder, such that a game may be played
without removal of either said container or said lid from the
recessed cup holder.
3. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
lid includes means defining a circular opening therethrough, and a
rotatable indicator fitted within said opening, which is rotated to
indicate predetermined game situations.
4. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said
rotatable indicator includes a central, upstanding graspable member
for facilitating rotation of said rotatable indicator.
5. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
lid further comprises a flat upper surface, and raised gate means
thereon for selectively containing game pieces of a predetermined,
fittable configuration.
6. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
lid includes a semi-transparent, colored surface thereon, arranged
such that game pieces slid therebeneath bear indicia easily
deciphered when viewed through said semi-transparent surface.
7. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said
lid further comprises means defining a slot through a periphery
thereof, for insertion of a game piece having indicia
thereinto.
8. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said
lid further comprises a transparent dome centered thereon, with at
least one die confined therein.
9. A game playing apparatus for use with for use with a motorized
vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein, the game
playing apparatus comprising: a hollow cylindrical container having
a tapered bottom end and an open top end, the tapered bottom end
being configured and dimensioned to fit within the recessed cup
holder; and a lid for removably covering the open top end of the
hollow cylindrical container, wherein the lid encompasses at least
one game playing mechanism, said container being dimensioned and
configured to fit virtually entirely within the recessed cup
holder, with said lid positioned above and outside of the recessed
cup holder, such that a game may be played without removal of
either said container or said lid from the recessed cup holder.
10. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said
game apparatus includes a predetermined series of playing
cards.
11. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said
lid has a top, upper surface configured to include structure for
playing a certain game according to predetermined rules.
12. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said
lid has a top, upper surface configured to include structure for
playing a certain game according to predetermined rules.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/832,960, filed Jul. 25, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to game playing apparatuses,
and more specifically to a game playing apparatus for use in the
recessed cup holder of a motorized vehicle.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Riding in a vehicle, especially for long periods of time
during long vacation trips and such, can often be boring and
monotonous. This is especially true for children, who easily become
restless if not constantly entertained while riding in the vehicle.
As such, parents and other drivers are constantly searching for
ways to entertain their children and other passengers while riding
in the vehicle. Many different types of portable toys and games
have been created in order to help entertain these sorts of
passengers. However, many of these games present problems in that
they have structures that make them difficult to balance and
effectively play while riding in a moving automobile, as well as
making them difficult to store while not in use. Also, many of
these games come with small pieces that are easily thrown about or
lost while inside a moving automobile.
[0006] What is needed is a game apparatus that is capable of
fitting within recessed cup holders that are commonly found in most
conventional passenger automobiles. It is desirable that these
games be capable of being played while remaining positioned within
a cup holder and that the game apparatus be capable itself of
holding any accompanying playing pieces or cards that might be
necessary to the playing of the game. Thus a cup holder game
playing apparatus solving the aforementioned problems is
desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The cup holder game playing apparatus of the present
invention is intended for use with a motorized vehicle having at
least one recessed cup holder therein and includes a hollow
cylindrical container and a lid. The hollow cylindrical container
has a tapered bottom end and an open top end, the tapered bottom
end being dimensioned to fit within the recessed cup holder. The
lid is designed to be detachably removed from the open top end of
the hollow cylindrical container and encompasses at least one game
playing mechanism.
[0008] The cup holder game playing apparatus is designed to allow
playing of the game playing mechanism while the apparatus is
maintained within the cup holder. The container portion may be used
to store playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the
playing of the game. The lid of each cup holder game playing
apparatus may encompass a different game playing mechanism,
including a randomizer, such as a spinner or a pop-o-matic dice
mechanism, a revealer, or a scoring device, such as a trivia
scoring device. These and other features of the present invention
will become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded, environmental perspective view of a
first embodiment of a cup holder game playing apparatus according
to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of a first
embodiment of a cup holder game playing apparatus according to the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cup
holder game playing apparatus with an exploded game piece according
to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cup
holder game playing apparatus with an associated game playing card
according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 is perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a cup
holder game playing apparatus according to the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front view of a series of playing cards for use
with a cup holder game playing apparatus according to the present
invention.
[0015] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The present invention is a cup holder game playing
apparatus, for use with a motorized vehicle having at least one
recessed cup holder therein, of which a first embodiment 10, a
second embodiment 10A, a third embodiment 10B, and a fourth
embodiment 10C are shown in the drawings.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, cup holder game playing apparatus 10
is shown. Cup holder game playing apparatus 10 includes a hollow
cylindrical container 12 and a lid 14. Hollow cylindrical container
12 has a tapered bottom end and an open top end. The tapered bottom
end of hollow cylindrical container 12 is dimensioned to fit within
a recessed cup holder C located within most conventional motorized
vehicles. Lid 14 removably covers the open top end of hollow
cylindrical container 12 and encompasses at least one game playing
mechanism. Cup holder game playing apparatus 10 includes a
randomizing spinner 16 as part of the game playing mechanism.
Spinner or rotatable indicator 16 is adapted to fit within lid 14
such that it is free to rotate within lid 14. Indicator 16 can be
adapted to list a series of categories that can be used in playing
a word association type game.
[0018] Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be used to store playing
pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the playing of the
game mechanism associated with cup holder game playing apparatus
10. The cup holder game playing apparatus 10 is designed to allow
playing of the game playing mechanism while the apparatus is
maintained within cup holder C.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows cup holder game playing apparatus 10A having
hollow cylindrical container 12 and lid 14a. Cup holder game
playing apparatus 10A includes a playing piece 18 as part of the
game playing mechanism. Lid 14a is designed to receive a plurality
of playing pieces 18 and playing piece 18 is adapted to fit onto
lid 14a such that it may indicate completion of a category when
playing a trivia type game associated with cup holder game playing
apparatus 10A. Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be used to store
playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the playing
of the game mechanism associated with cup holder game playing
apparatus 10A.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows cup holder game playing apparatus 10B having
hollow cylindrical container 12 and lid 14b. Lid 14b is designed to
act as a revealer and is intended to be used with a game playing
card 22 such that it may reveal encoded information on playing card
22 when playing a game requiring secret decoding with cup holder
game playing apparatus 10B. Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be
used to store playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary
for the playing of the game mechanism associated with cup holder
game playing apparatus 10B.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows cup holder game playing apparatus 10C having
hollow cylindrical container 12 and lid 14c. Lid 14c includes a
dice member 20 contained within a plastic enclosure and is designed
to be used as a pop-o-matic type game playing mechanism. Pressing
and releasing the plastic enclosure allows dice member 20 to be
rolled, aiding in the playing of a number of games of chance that
may be associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10C.
Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be used to store playing pieces
or playing cards that are necessary for the playing of the game
mechanism associated with cup holder game playing apparatus
10C.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a plurality of game playing cards 22 that are
representative of circular game playing cards that may be used in
conjunction with games associated with cup holder game playing
apparatus 10, cup holder game playing apparatus 10A, cup holder
game playing apparatus 10B, and cup holder game playing apparatus
10C.
[0023] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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