U.S. patent application number 12/291584 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for vehicle designer.
Invention is credited to James W. Grey, Alex Rhodes.
Application Number | 20100117298 12/291584 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42164477 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100117298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grey; James W. ; et
al. |
May 13, 2010 |
Vehicle designer
Abstract
A board game for developing skills in the functional and
ornamental design of a land vehicle and land vehicle systems
comprising an assortment of tiles magnetically retained to a board,
having images of portions of a vehicle, for creating alternate
vehicle designs that share common tiles, a board for assembling an
arrangement of some of the tiles to images of vehicles that share
common files and a design aid for creating a new ornamental and
functional vehicle design comprised of a reference underlay for
defining a minimum envelope for circumscribing a vehicle
design.
Inventors: |
Grey; James W.; (Holly,
MI) ; Rhodes; Alex; (West Bloomfield, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALEX RHODES;UNIT NO. 9
50168 PONTIAC TRAIL
WIXOM
MI
48393
US
|
Family ID: |
42164477 |
Appl. No.: |
12/291584 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/239 ;
273/276 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2009/0651 20130101;
A63F 9/0641 20130101; A63F 2003/0063 20130101; A63F 3/00694
20130101; A63F 9/06 20130101; A63F 2009/0695 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/239 ;
273/276 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. A board game for developing skills in the functional and
ornamental design of a land vehicle or land vehicle system,
comprising: an assortment of tiles, said tiles having images of
portions of a vehicle for creating alternate vehicle designs that
share common tiles; a board for mounting said tiles; and a means
for retaining said tiles on said board.
2. The board game recited in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle is a
passenger car.
3. The board game recited in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle is a
commercial vehicle.
4. The board game recited in claim 1 wherein said means is a
magnetic means.
5. The board game recited in claim 4 wherein said magnetic means is
comprised of magnetic tiles and a magnetic board.
6. The board game recited in claim 5 wherein each of said magnetic
tiles is comprised of an upper base layer and a lower magnetic
layer.
7. The board game recited in claim 5 wherein each of said magnetic
tiles is comprised of a base layer and a magnetic coating on a
bottom surface of said base layer.
8. The board game recited in claim 1 wherein said board is a
foldable board comprised of a first half portion for randomly
retaining said assortment of tiles and a second half portion for
assembling and retaining some of said tiles.
9. The board game recited in claim 8 further comprising a leg
having an end portion pivotally attached to a lower portion of said
second half portion for raising a rear portion of said second half
portion upwardly when said leg is rotated away from said second
half portion and a magnetic means for retaining said leg against
said second half portion when said leg is adjacent to said second
half portion.
10. The board game recited in claim 1 further comprising a
reference underlay for defining a minimum envelope that an
ornamental vehicle design must circumscribe.
11. The board game recited in claim 10 wherein said reference
underlay is a thin sheet and said board game further comprises a
board for supporting said reference underlay.
12. The board game recited in claim 11 wherein said board has a
frame for locating said reference underlay on said frame.
13. The board game recited in claim 11 wherein said reference
underlay is magnetically retained to said board.
14. The board game recited in claim 1 further comprising a set of
reference marks on said board for locating said tiles.
15. The board game recited in claim 14 wherein said reference marks
are comprised of a ground line and center marks for location
apertures in centers of front and rear vehicle wheels.
16. A board game for developing skills in the functional and
ornamental design of a land vehicle or land vehicle system,
comprising: an assortment of tiles, said tiles having images of
portions of a vehicle for creating alternate vehicle designs that
share common tiles; a folded board for mounting said tiles, said
board having a first half portion for retaining said tiles, said
first half portion having a leg for tilting the rear of said first
half portion upwardly and a second half portion joined to said
first half portion for assembling an arrangement of some of said
tiles to create an image, said second half portion having a set of
reference marks for locating said image of said vehicle; a magnetic
means for retaining said tiles to said first and second folded
board half portions.
17. The board game recited in claim 16 wherein said land vehicle is
a passenger vehicle.
18. The board game recited in claim 16 wherein said land vehicle is
a commercial truck.
19. The board game recited in claim 16 wherein said image is an
image of a vehicle instrument panel.
20. A board game for developing skills in the functional and
ornamental design of a land vehicle or land vehicle system,
comprising: an assortment of tiles, said tiles having images of
portions of a vehicle for creating alternate vehicle designs that
share common tiles; a board for assembling an arrangement of some
of said tiles to create images of vehicles that share common files;
a means for retaining said tiles to said board; and a design aid
for creating a new ornamental and functional vehicle design, said
design aid comprised of a reference underlay for defining a minimum
envelope for circumscribing said vehicle design; a sheet of
semi-transparent or transparent paper over said reference underlay;
and a drawing implement to create said new ornamental and
functional design on said semi-transparent or transparent paper.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to board games and more particularly
to a board game for developing skills in creating functional and
ornamental land vehicle designs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Board games exist in which pieces form structures, such as
houses, on boards or simulate a process. They are games of chance
whose outcomes depend on throws of dice or rotations of spinners.
None develop skills in creating functional and ornamental vehicle
designs. Twining, U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,184 and Zelazny, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,179,128 are exemplary of the board games of chance.
[0003] Twining U.S. Pat. No. 2,506,184 discloses a board game in
which boards and pieces that have images of parts of homes and
garages are distributed to players. The pieces are placed on
individual boards until a pointer points to an image on a spinner
that cannot be played. The first player to place all of his pieces
on his board wins the game.
[0004] Zelazny U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,128 discloses a board game in
which players compete to maximize profits. A board is divided into
areas that correspond to phases of a project, such as an apartment
building or parking garage. The phases represent phases of
construction (excavation, structural steel work, etc.), define the
costs of the phases and determine profit and loss. Generic icons
are advanced on the board according to a throw of a dice. A game is
ended when all projects are completed or a time has expired. The
player with the most money at the end of a game wins. Neither
Twining nor Zelazny teach skills in the art of functional and
vehicle ornamental design.
[0005] A proficient vehicle designer must have knowledge of
subjects that are indirectly related to vehicle design. He must be
familiar with the attributes of vehicle systems including their
function, environmental effects, government regulations and
industry practices that affect vehicle design. In many cases, he
will be directed to modify an ornamental vehicle design or to
change its function by developing a derivative model, e.g., a
convertible, cross-over vehicle or mini van, that shares common
parts.
[0006] Vehicle manufacturers divide vehicles into systems and
sub-systems, for example, body, engine, transmission and suspension
systems and sub-systems such as instrument panels, underbodies,
hoods, fenders and roofs.
[0007] Vehicle systems and sub-systems must provide space for a
driver, passengers, engine, fuel tank and cargo. They must conform
to government standards, e.g. the bumper height standard; they must
not conflict with the environment, e.g. ground clearance; and must
meet a purchaser's requirements, e.g. comfort, cargo space,
unobstructed driver vision and vehicle ingress and egress. The
designer must be aware of vehicle systems and sub-systems and meet
these requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an
entertaining game for children and adults. Another object is to
inform how the ornamental and functional designs of a land vehicle
or land vehicle system are influenced by factors as the
environment, functional and government mandated requirements.
Another object is to provide a design aid for new and attractive
ornamental land vehicle designs and land vehicle systems.
[0009] With the foregoing objects in mind, a board game is provided
that is comprised of one or more game boards; an assortment of
tiles that contain images of portions of land vehicles or land
vehicle systems; a reference underlay that defines a minimum
envelope for an ornamental land vehicle design; a writing
instrument such as a soft pencil or fine tip marker; sheets of
semi-transparent paper and a releasable means for retaining the
tiles on the game board.
[0010] By assembling tiles on the game board, a player gains an
understanding of how derivative models, such as sedans, cross-over
vehicles and convertibles that share common parts can be derived
from a land vehicle. A reference underlay is provided for creating
entirely new ornamental and functional vehicle designs.
[0011] One feature of the invention is that it applies to
commercial as well as passenger land vehicles and land vehicle
systems such as engines, transmissions and suspensions.
[0012] In employing the teaching of the present invention, a
plurality of alternate constructions can be provided to achieve the
desired results and capabilities. In this disclosure, only several
embodiments are presented for the purpose of disclosing our
invention. However, these embodiments are intended as examples only
and should not be considered as limiting the scope of our
invention.
[0013] The foregoing features, benefits, objects and best mode of
practicing the invention as well as additional benefits and objects
will become apparent from the ensuing detailed description of a
preferred embodiment and the subject matter in which exclusive
property rights are claimed is set forth in the numbered claims
which are appended to the detailed description of the preferred
embodiment.
[0014] Further features and benefits will become apparent by
reference to the drawings and ensuing detailed description of a
preferred embodiment that discloses the best mode contemplated in
carrying out the invention. The exclusive rights that are claimed
are set forth in each of the numbered claims following the detailed
description of the preferred embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will be better understood and further objects,
characterizing features, details and advantages thereof will appear
more clearly with reference to the diagrammatic drawings
illustrating a presently preferred specific embodiment of the
invention by way of non-limiting example only.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a game board and a group of tiles
mounted on the board.
[0017] FIG. 2 is-a left side view of the FIG. 1 board and
tiles.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a tilted left hand view of the FIG. 1 board and
tiles.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the
tiles taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an alternate
embodiment of the tile taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the board shown in FIG. 1 without
the tiles.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a left side view of the FIG. 6 board.
[0023] FIG. 8 shows the FIG. 6 board in a tilted position with a
vehicle assembled with the tiles of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a left side view of the FIG. 8 board and
vehicle.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a reference underlay for an ornamental and
functional design of a vehicle.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a left side view of the reference underlay.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a board for creating a new vehicle
design.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a left side view of the FIG. 12 board.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a front view of a foldable game board.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the FIG. 14 game board.
[0031] FIG. 16 shows a half portion of the FIG. 14 game board
tilted upwardly.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a plan view of a second folded game board.
[0033] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 18-18 in
FIG. 17.
[0034] FIG. 19 is an alternate embodiment of a game board according
to the invention.
[0035] FIG. 20 is a left side view of a pick-up truck.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a left side view of an extended cab derivative of
the pick-up truck of FIG. 20.
[0037] FIG. 22 is a left side view of a panel delivery truck
derivative of the pick-up truck of FIG. 20.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a board and tiles for developing skills for an
ornamental and functional design of a vehicle instrument and
control system.
[0039] FIG. 24 is a left side view of the FIG. 23 board and
tiles.
[0040] FIG. 25 is a reference underlay for designing a vehicle
instrument and control system.
[0041] FIG. 26 is a left end view of the FIG. 25 reference
underlay.
[0042] FIG. 27 is a board and arrangement of tiles for a vehicle
instrument and control system.
[0043] FIG. 28 is a left side view of the FIG. 27 board and
arrangement of tiles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0044] Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals
designate like and corresponding parts throughout the several
views, in FIG. 1 a board game 30 is shown comprised of a random
assortment of tiles 31 that have images of portions of vehicles and
a game board 32. Although only a small number of tiles 31 are shown
for the purpose of describing our invention, it is our intention to
provide a small number of tiles in board games for young children
and larger number of tiles in board games for adults and older
children. One feature of the invention 30 is that the tiles 31 can
be combined in various ways to create ornamental vehicle designs
and models that share common tiles. Another feature of the tiles 31
is that they may differ in color as well as image.
[0045] Another feature of our invention is that the tiles 31 are
releasably retained to the board 32. Several ways are available for
releasably retaining the tiles 31 to the board 32. A preferred way
is to magnetically retain the tiles 31. Another way is to retain
them with a releasable adhesive. Several ways are available for
magnetically retaining the tiles 31 to the board 32. One way is to
make the board 32 and tiles 31 from a material with finely
dispersed magnetic particles.
[0046] The tiles 31 may be made entirely from magnetic material
such as a single magnetic layer 33, as shown in FIG. 4 or a lower
magnetic layer 34 joined to a non-magnetic upper base layer 35, as
shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 2, for the board a magnetic layer
36 is an upper layer and a non-magnetic layer 37 is a base layer.
Magnetic coatings are available which can be used instead of a
magnetic sheet material.
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of legs 38 is pivotally
mounted to corners of the board 32. The legs 38, which are
optional, are used to tilt the board 32 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 6, reference marks 39 may be provided
on the board 32 to locate a vehicle on the board 32. The reference
marks 39 consist of a horizontal ground line 40 and centerlines 41
for locating apertures 42 in front 43 and rear 44 wheels. In FIG. 8
a 4-door sedan 45 is shown which has been assembled on the board 32
from the tiles 31 of FIG. 1. The ornamental design of the vehicle
45 can be changed by replacing the roof 46, front fenders 47, rear
fenders 48, and/or the wheels 49 with the roof 50, front fenders
51, rear fenders 52 and wheels 53 of FIG. 1.
[0049] Referring now to FIGS. 10 through 14, a design aid 54 is
shown for creating new ornamental and functional designs. The
design aid 54 is comprised of a reference underlay 55 which defines
a minimum envelope 56 for an ornamental design, a drawing board 57,
a usual writing instrument such as a soft pencil or fine tip marker
(not shown), and usual transparent or semi-transparent paper,
commonly referred to as vellum (not shown). The reference underlay
55 is preferably a sheet of paper that is retained in a frame 59 of
the drawing board 57. The frame 59 also locates the transparent
paper on the board 57. The reference underlay 55 may also be on a
sheet of magnetic paper retained to a magnetic drawing board 57.
New ornamental designs are created by placing the transparent or
semi-transparent sheet over the reference underlay 55 and covering
the reference underlay 55 with the new design.
[0050] With reference to FIGS. 14 through 16, an embodiment 60 is
shown in which two half boards 61, 62 are joined together to form a
foldable board. At the center of one of the half boards 61, a leg
63 is pivotally attached to the underside of the half board 61. As
shown in FIG. 16, when the leg 63 is rotated away from the half
board 61, a free edge 64 of the half board 61 is raised to tilt the
half board 61 about an axis 65 that lays in the junction of the
half boards 61, 62. When the half board 61 is not tilted, the leg
63 is stored against the half board 61 and retained with a pair of
facing magnets 62 on the leg 63 and half board 61.
[0051] In FIGS. 17 and 18, a folded board 67 is shown that is
comprised of a half board 68 magnetically retaining a random
assortment of tiles joined to half board 70 for forming a vehicle
image with an assembly of some of the tiles and for retaining a
reference underlay.
[0052] In FIG. 19 a board game 71 is shown that is comprised of a
foldable board 72, an assortment of tiles 73 mounted on a first
half portion 74 of the foldable board 72 and an image of a truck 75
on a second half portion 76 of the foldable board 72 from an
arrangement of the tiles 73, according to the present invention.
FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 are exemplary of three commercial vehicles,
i.e. a standard pick-up truck 77, extended cab pick-up truck 78,
and panel delivery pick-up truck 79 that share common parts.
[0053] With reference to FIGS. 23 through 28, a board game 80 and
an assortment of tiles 81 are shown for developing skills in
creating functional and ornamental designs of a vehicle instrument
and control system. In FIGS. 25 and 26 a reference underlay 83 is
shown for positioning the instruments and controls. The reference
underlay 83 establishes a maximum envelope for locating the
instruments and controls. In FIGS. 27 and 28 are shown a board 84
and a design 85 which was created with the assistance of the
reference underlay of FIGS. 23 and 24.
[0054] Although only several embodiments of our invention have been
illustrated and described, it is obvious that other embodiments can
be provided by changes that are obvious to persons skilled in the
art such as changes or substitutions of material and shape without
departing from the spirit thereof.
* * * * *