U.S. patent application number 12/130199 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-03 for sporting event game apparatus.
Invention is credited to Robert L. Fischer, Lawrence S. Needle.
Application Number | 20090295086 12/130199 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41378841 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090295086 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Needle; Lawrence S. ; et
al. |
December 3, 2009 |
SPORTING EVENT GAME APPARATUS
Abstract
A game apparatus for use in conjunction with a sporting event is
provided which allows players of the game to predict the outcome of
actions that occur during the sporting event, and which allows the
players to keep track of who has made the greater number of correct
predictions.
Inventors: |
Needle; Lawrence S.; (Merion
Station, PA) ; Fischer; Robert L.; (Southampton,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DANN, DORFMAN, HERRELL & SKILLMAN
1601 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2400
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-2307
US
|
Family ID: |
41378841 |
Appl. No.: |
12/130199 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/277 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/065 20130101;
A63F 3/0615 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/277 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. A game apparatus for use in conjunction with a sporting event,
comprising: a game board; a first outcome indicator disposed on the
game board having indicia relating to two or more possible actions
that may be performed by a first side participating in the sporting
event, the first outcome indicator configured to permit a player of
the game apparatus to select a possible action to record the
player's prediction of a future action of the first side in the
sporting event; and a second outcome indicator disposed on the game
board having indicia relating to two or more possible actions that
may be performed by a second side opposing the first side and
participating in the sporting event, the second outcome indicator
configured to permit the player of the game apparatus to select a
possible action to record the player's prediction of a future
action of the second side in the sporting event.
2. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a scoring
indicator disposed on the game board configured to record the score
of the player of the game apparatus.
3. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicia
of the first outcome indicator comprise plays that may be made by a
member of the first side participating in the sporting event to
permit the player of the game apparatus to select and predict a
possible upcoming play by the first side in the sporting event.
4. The gaming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sporting
event comprises baseball and the plays include one or more of a
single, double, triple, bunt, ground out, popout, line out, field
out, home run, walk, and strike out.
5. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicia
of the second outcome indicator comprise the identities of one or
more specific members of the second side participating in the
sporting event to permit the player of the game apparatus to select
and predict the member of the second side who will respond to the
upcoming action of the first side.
6. The gaming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sporting
event comprises baseball and the identities of the specific members
include one or more of a catcher, pitcher, first baseman, second
baseman, third baseman, shortstop, right fielder, centerfielder,
and left fielder.
7. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more
of the first and second outcome indicators comprise a slot and a
marker slidably disposed in the slot so that the marker may be
moved within the slot to point to one of the indicia associated
with the respective first and second outcome indicators.
8. The gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more
of the first and second outcome indicators comprises a marker
configured to be magnetically attached to the game board so that
the marker may be positioned on the game board to point to one of
the indicia associated with the respective first and second outcome
indicators.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a game apparatus
for use in conjunction with a sporting event, and more particularly
but not exclusively to a game board configured to permit players of
the game apparatus to predict actions that may occur during the
sporting event.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As any fan knows much of the excitement of watching a
sporting event comes from the suspense of not knowing the outcome
of the game or the various plays that occur during the game.
Invariably fans find themselves forming expectations about what a
team or player may do next or should do next. Indeed, fans often
pride themselves on knowing the sport well enough to be able to
predict what will be done. Consequently, there is a great appeal to
individuals viewing sporting events to be able to record their
predictions of actions during a sporting event and to receive
recognition for making correct predictions. Thus, there is a need
in the field of game equipment for a game apparatus that allows
spectators to record predictions of actions that may occur during a
sporting event and that recognizes the spectator who makes the
greatest number of correct predictions as the winner of the game
apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In one of its aspects, the present invention provides a game
apparatus for use in conjunction with a sporting event which allows
players of the game to predict the outcome of actions (e.g., plays)
that occur during the sporting event and which allows the players
to keep track of who has made the greater number of correct
predictions. In this regard, the game apparatus may include a game
board which includes a first outcome indicator disposed on the game
board. The first outcome indicator may include indicia relating to
two or more possible actions that may be performed by a first side
(e.g., a team) participating in the sporting event. In addition,
the first outcome indicator may be configured to permit a player of
the game apparatus to select a possible action to record the
player's prediction of a future action of the first side in the
sporting event. For example, the indicia of the first outcome
indicator may comprise plays that may be made by a member of the
first side participating in a sporting event. Thus, the player of
the game apparatus may select and predict a possible upcoming
action by the first side in the sporting event. For instance, the
sporting event may comprise baseball and the plays may include one
or more of a single, double, triple, bunt, ground out, popout, line
out, field out, home run, walk, and strike out.
[0004] In a similar manner, a second outcome indicator may be
disposed on the game board having indicia relating to two or more
possible actions that may be performed by a second side opposing
the first side and participating in the sporting event. The second
outcome indicator may be configured to permit the player of the
game apparatus to select a possible action to record the player's
prediction of a future action of the second side in the sporting
event. For example, the indicia of the second outcome indicator may
comprise the identities of two or more specific members of the
second side participating in the sporting event to permit the
player of the game apparatus to select and predict the member of
the second side who will respond to the upcoming action of the
first side. By way of example, the identities of the specific
members may include one or more of a catcher, pitcher, first
baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, right fielder,
centerfielder, and left fielder. In order to keep track of the
players' scores, the gaming apparatus may include a scoring
indicator disposed on the game board configured to record the score
of the players of the game apparatus.
[0005] In one of its exemplary configurations, one or more of the
first and second outcome indicators of the game apparatus may
comprise a slot and a marker slidably disposed in the slot so that
the marker may be moved within the slot to point to one of the
indicia associated with the respective first and second outcome
indicators. Alternatively, in another reconfiguration, one or more
of the first and second outcome indicators may comprise a marker
configured to be magnetically attached to the game board so that
the marker may be positioned on the game board to point to one of
the indicia associated with the respective first and second outcome
indicators.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The foregoing summary and the following detailed description
of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best
understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in
which:
[0007] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary configuration
of an upper playing surface of a game board in accordance with the
present invention; and
[0008] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exemplary configuration
of a lower surface of the game board of FIG. 1 in accordance with
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Referring now to the figures, wherein like elements are
numbered alike throughout, FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate
an exemplary configuration of a game apparatus, generally
designated 100, in accordance with the present invention. The game
apparatus 100 permits two players who are viewing a sporting event
to record predictions regarding an upcoming play in the sporting
event and to record the players' scores where points are awarded
for making correct predictions.
[0010] In this regard, for example, the game apparatus 100 may
comprise a game board 50 having an upper gaming surface 10 (FIG. 1)
and a lower surface 80 (FIG. 2). The upper surface 10 of the game
board 50 may include two substantially identical sections 12, 14
disposed side-by-side for use by each player of the game for
recording their respective predictions and scores. For instance,
the upper surface 10 may have a first player section 12 on the left
and a second player section 14 on the right, though other
configurations and layouts are possible in keeping with the
function of the game apparatus 100 to permit players to record
their predictions. In particular, to illustrate the present
invention, the exemplary game apparatus 100 depicted in the figures
is configured to permit players to make predictions of events that
occur during a baseball game. Accordingly, the terminology depicted
in FIGS. 1 and 2 is specific to that of a baseball game; however,
game apparatuses of the present invention are not limited to
baseball, but in keeping with the disclosure provided herein may be
configured to be usable with any sporting event for which
predictions can be made by spectators viewing the sporting event.
As will be appreciated the game apparatus 100 of the present
invention may be used at the venue of a sporting event or at a
remote location where the game may be viewed, live or recorded, on
a television or listened to on a radio.
[0011] Turning then to the structures of the game board 50 for
recording predictions, the upper playing surface 10 may include a
first outcome indicator 20 for recording actions that may be
performed by a first side participating in the sporting event. For
example, for a baseball game, the first outcome indicator 20 may
relate to an upcoming play for the team at bat. The fist outcome
indicator 20 may include indicia 22 listing two or more possible
actions that may be performed by the first side in the sporting
event. The indicia 22 may include a listing of possible plays, such
as single, double, triple, bunt, ground out, popout, line out,
field out, home run, walk, and strike out, in keeping with the
baseball game example. The first outcome indicator 20 may be
configured to permit the player of the game apparatus 100 to record
a selection from the list of indicia 22 to render a prediction of a
future action of the first side in a sporting event. In this
regard, the first outcome indicator 20 may comprise a slot 24
disposed alongside the indicia 22 with a particular region of the
slot 24 corresponding to a respective action listed in the indicia
22. A marker 26 may be provided in the slot 24 and may be
configured to slide within the slot 24 so that the marker 26 may be
positioned proximate a particular item in the list of indicia 22 to
record a prediction by the first player of an upcoming play in a
sporting event. For example, as illustrated, the marker 26 may be
positioned next to the word "double" indicating that the first
player has predicted that the next play by the team at bat will be
a "double."
[0012] In addition, the upper playing surface 10 may also include a
second outcome indicator 30 for recording actions that may be
performed by the second side participating in a sporting event.
Like the first outcome indicator 20, the second outcome indicator
30 may include indicia 32 listing two or more possible actions that
may be performed by the second side participating in a sporting
event. In particular, the "action" of the second side may be
indicated in shorthand notation by the identity of the player on
the second side that responds to the upcoming play of the first
side. For instance, in the baseball context, the "action" of the
second side to be predicted may in fact be denoted by the name of
the fielder on the second team who will first catch or otherwise
retrieve the baseball. That is, the indicia 32 may include a
listing of possible fielders, such as catcher, pitcher, first
baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, right fielder,
centerfielder, and left fielder.
[0013] The second outcome indicator 30 may be configured to permit
the player of the game apparatus 100 to record a selection from the
list of indicia 32 to render a prediction of a future action of the
second side in the sporting event. Like the first outcome indicator
20, the second outcome indicator 30 may comprise a slot 34 disposed
alongside the indicia 32 with a particular region of the slot 34
corresponding to a respective item listed in the indicia 32. A
marker 36 may also be provided in the slot 34 and may be configured
to slide within the slot 34 in a manner similar to that of the
marker 26. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a player of the
game apparatus 100 may slide the marker 36 to a position near the
words "2nd base" to indicate that the second baseman will catch or
otherwise be the first person on the second team to retrieve the
baseball. As already mentioned, the second player section 14 of the
game board 50 may be substantially identical to that of the first
player, and thus comprises analogous structures to the first and
second outcome indicators 20, 30 to permit the second player of the
game to record their predictions regarding the upcoming actions of
the first and second sides of the sporting event.
[0014] Once the predictions have been made by each player of the
game apparatus 100 and the next play has been made in the sporting
event to which the predictions pertain, points may be attributed to
each of the players in accordance with the accuracy of their
recorded predictions. In this regard, the game board 50 may include
a scoring indicator 40 to record the score. As with the outcome
indicators 20, 30, the scoring indicator 40 may be provided in the
form of a slot 44 with a marker 46 slidably disposed therein. As
points are accumulated, the marker 46 is moved along the slot to be
positioned proximate the numerical value that indicates the current
score of the player of the game apparatus. For example, with
reference to FIG. 2, the second surface 80 of the game apparatus
100 may include both simplified instructions for playing the game
as well as point values for correct predictions. Specifically, by
way of example, players of the game apparatus 100 may receive one
point for calling the play correctly (i.e., making a correct
prediction on the first outcome indicator 20) and may receive one
point for predicting the fielder correctly (i.e., making a correct
prediction on the second outcome indicator 30). Additionally, bonus
points may be awarded such as two points for predicting a home run
correctly, or a three-point bonus for correctly naming both the
play and the fielder. A winner may be declared when a set number of
points are reached, for example 10 points, or a winner may be
declared as the person having the most number of points by the end
of the sporting event. Naturally, other scoring variations are
possible for use with the game apparatus 100 in accordance with the
present invention. For example, a scoring system may be implemented
in which negative points are awarded for incorrect predictions.
[0015] These and other advantages of the present invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing
specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled
in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the
above-described embodiments without departing from the broad
inventive concepts of the invention. For example, while the outcome
indicators 20, 30 have been illustrated as slots with slidable
markers disposed therein, other structures may also be used such as
dials, magnets, or other suitable structures. It should therefore
be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular
embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all
changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of
the invention as set forth in the claims.
* * * * *