U.S. patent application number 12/655801 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-14 for combination delivery box and board game.
Invention is credited to Harry P. Nouhan, JR..
Application Number | 20110169220 12/655801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44257936 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110169220 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nouhan, JR.; Harry P. |
July 14, 2011 |
Combination delivery box and board game
Abstract
A combination food delivery box and game board includes a
foldable cardboard delivery box, preferably a pizza delivery box,
having a box bottom and a box top pivotally attached to the box
bottom with both the bottom and the top having surfaces on which
are imprinted game boards for such board games as checkers, chess,
tic-tac-toe, and backgammon and the sides of the box bottom having
integrally formed thereon punch-out game playing pieces
corresponding to the particular game board imprinted on the
surface--inside or outside--of the box top or bottom whereupon
after the food is removed, the game playing pieces can be punched
out along their perforations and the delivery box can be laid open
so that the surface with the game board is exposed for commencing
play of the board game thereby enhancing an activity such as a
pizza party.
Inventors: |
Nouhan, JR.; Harry P.; (West
Branch, MI) |
Family ID: |
44257936 |
Appl. No.: |
12/655801 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/248 ;
273/260; 273/271 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/00895 20130101;
A63F 2003/00968 20130101; A63F 2003/00287 20130101; A63F 2003/00514
20130101; A63F 2003/00946 20130101; A63F 2003/00962 20130101; A63F
2009/0012 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/248 ;
273/260; 273/271 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/00 20060101
A63F003/00 |
Claims
1. A combination delivery box and board game apparatus, comprising:
a generally square-shaped delivery box; the delivery box including
a box top pivotally interconnected to a box bottom; the box bottom
including an inner bottom surface and an opposite exterior bottom
surface; a continuous upwardly projecting bottom lip surrounding
the inner bottom surface; the continuous upwardly projecting bottom
lip including a front bottom lip portion, a rear bottom lip
portion, and opposed side bottom lip portions; the box top
including an exterior top surface and an opposed inside top
surface; a continuous downwardly projecting top lip surrounding the
inside top surface; the continuous downwardly projecting top lip
including a front top lip portion, a rear top lip portion, and
opposed side top lip portions; a board game imprinted on at least
one surface that includes the inner bottom surface, the exterior
bottom surface, the exterior top surface, and the inside top
surface; a plurality of game playing pieces integrally formed on at
least one of the side bottom lip portions and capable of selective
detachment therefrom; and whereupon after the food item has been
removed from the delivery box the delivery box is disposed for
utilizing the game board and the game playing pieces are detachable
from the respective side bottom lip portions of the bottom lip for
commencing play of the board game.
2. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim 1
wherein the board game is tic-tac-toe.
3. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim 2
wherein the board game is chess.
4. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim 3
wherein the board game is checkers.
5. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim 4
wherein the board game is backgammon.
6. A combination delivery box and board game apparatus, comprising:
a generally square-shaped delivery box; the delivery box including
a box top pivotally interconnected to a box bottom; the box bottom
including an inner bottom surface and an opposite exterior bottom
surface; a continuous upwardly projecting bottom lip surrounding
the inner bottom surface; the box top including an exterior top
surface and an opposite inside top surface; a continuous downwardly
projecting top lip surrounding the inside top surface; a board game
imprinted on at least one surface that includes the inner bottom
surface, the exterior bottom surface, the exterior top surface and
the inside top surface; a plurality of game playing pieces
integrally formed on the continuous upwardly projecting bottom lip
and capable of selective detachment therefrom; and whereupon after
the food item has been removed from the delivery box the delivery
box can be disposed for utilizing the game board and the game
playing pieces can be detached from the upwardly projecting bottom
lip for commencing play of the board game.
7. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim 6
wherein the board game is tic-tac-toe.
8. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim 7
wherein the board game is checkers.
9. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim 8
wherein the board game is chess.
10. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim
9 wherein the board game is backgammon.
11. A combination delivery box and board game apparatus,
comprising: a delivery box having a box top pivotally
interconnected to a box bottom; the box bottom including an inner
bottom surface and an opposite exterior bottom surface; a
continuous upwardly projecting bottom lip surrounding the inner
bottom surface; the box top including an exterior top surface and
an opposite inside top surface; a continuous downwardly projecting
top lip surrounding the inside top surface; a plurality of game
playing pieces integrally formed on the continuous upwardly
projecting bottom lip and capable of selective detachment
therefrom; and whereupon after the food item has been removed from
the delivery box the delivery box can be disposed for utilizing the
game board and the game playing pieces can be detached from the
upwardly projecting bottom lip so that play of the board game can
commence.
12. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim
11 wherein each game playing piece includes a body portion having a
front side and a rear side.
13. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim
12 wherein a pair of foldable legs is pivotally attached to the
rear side of the body portion of the game playing piece.
14. The combination delivery box and board game apparatus of claim
13 wherein each game playing piece includes a stabilization member
pivotally secured to the rear side and which is pivoted for locking
the legs into the use position after the legs have been disposed
perpendicular to the body portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to boxes and board games, and
more particularly pertains to the incorporation of one or more
board games with the delivery box to enhance the dining
experience.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Take-out and curbside or home delivery of meals from
restaurants of all types is common with the delivery containers or
boxes being primarily manufactured from some type of plastic, as
Styrofoam, or from paperboard or cardboard. The boxes and
containers generally have imprinted on one surface, such as the
exterior top surface of the box top, the company name and logo,
phone number, and address; and after the food items have been
removed the boxes and containers are discarded. One of the most
frequently and commonly store purchased or delivered food items is
pizza, and pizzas--one or more--are delivered in low square-shaped
paperboard or cardboard boxes whose sides, top, and bottom are
interconnected along perforations to allow for easy and quick
closing and opening. Pizza is an ideal meal and is often ordered
for pizza parties that can include games, movies, and other forms
of entertainment. The games may include video games and board
games, but whatever forms or formats the games are embodied in they
are separate elements from the delivery box or container. Thus, in
order to enhance a weeknight or weekend party, it would be
desirable to combine or incorporate a board game, such as checkers,
tic-tac-toe, chess, or backgammon, with the delivery box.
[0003] The prior art thus discloses a variety of containers that
incorporate and are convertible or transformable into board games
and game playing pieces.
[0004] For example, the Frerebeau patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,604,558)
discloses an educational game wherein the box is divided into
compartments that contain various types of drawing materials such
as sheets of paper, designs, patterns, and glue.
[0005] The Mason patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,356) discloses a
cardboard container that is convertible from a fast-food carryout
tray into a hand puppet by manipulating preformed tear and fold
lines that extend along and about the sides, top, and bottom of the
container.
[0006] The Capo patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,928) discloses a
dual-purpose carton that after having served its original use, the
carton can be folded into several compartments to serve as a caddy
for snacks, writing materials, and artist's materials.
[0007] The Shin patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,548) discloses a
container that includes a plurality of decorative punch-out figures
formed on the surfaces of the container and which can be punched
out after the container's original purpose has been fulfilled.
[0008] The Gaffney et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,517)
discloses a chess game apparatus that includes a three-dimensional
prehistoric scene superimposed upon the housing for the game.
[0009] The Schultz patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,941) discloses a
generally rectangular-shaped package having cantilevered sections
that are secured to the package by foldable support tabs.
[0010] The McClung et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,711 B2)
discloses an activity box wherein at least one section of the box
is separable from the box to serve as a target apparatus or as an
object to be thrown at the target apparatus.
[0011] Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices,
there remains a need for a food container and delivery box that
combines both the ability to hold food item(s) therein until they
reach their delivery destination and an integral game board and
playing pieces that can be disposed for use after the food item(s)
have been removed from the delivery box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention comprehends a combination food
delivery box and board game, with the preferred food delivery box
being a paperboard or cardboard pizza delivery box and the board
games incorporated therein including checkers, chess, tic-tac-toe,
and backgammon.
[0013] The paperboard or cardboard food delivery box is a low,
square-shaped box having an openable and closable box top pivotally
connected to the bottom of the box. The top of the box includes an
exterior top surface, an opposite inside top surface, and a
downwardly extending continuous top lip with the top lip having
side, rear, and front lip portions. The bottom of the delivery box
includes an inner bottom surface, an opposite exterior bottom
surface, and an upwardly projecting continuous bottom lip with the
bottom lip having rear, front, and side bottom lip portions.
[0014] On at least one of the surfaces a board game is imprinted
with two preferable surfaces being the inside top surface and the
exterior bottom surface. The game playing pieces are integrally
incorporated into the delivery box in the form of perforated or
punch-out game pieces arranged along either side bottom lip
portions of bottom of the delivery box. After the food item, such
as the pizza, has been removed from the box, the game playing
pieces can be punched out and removed from the particular side
bottom lip portion, and the surface on which the board game is
imprinted can be laid open for commencing play of the board
game.
[0015] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a
combination delivery box and game board wherein after the food
item(s) stored within the delivery box are removed therefrom, at
least one of the surfaces on the top of the box or the bottom of
the box can be utilized for playing a board game.
[0016] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a combination delivery box and game board wherein the storage of
food item(s) within the delivery box doesn't mar or impair the use
of one surface of the top or bottom of the delivery box for playing
the particular board game.
[0017] It is still another objective of the present invention to
provide a combination delivery box and game board wherein a
plurality of punch-out game pieces are integrally formed on the
sides of the delivery box and selectively removable therefrom.
[0018] It is still yet another objective of the present invention
to provide a combination delivery box and game board that when the
delivery box is utilized for delivery of a pizza the delivery of
the pizza enhances the pizza party by including a self-contained
board game.
[0019] It is still yet a further objective of the present invention
to provide a combination delivery box and game board that allows
space on one of the surfaces of the top of the box or the bottom of
the box for advertising and the restaurant name and logo.
[0020] These and other objects, features, and advantages will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the
following detailed description read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination delivery box
and board game of the present invention illustrating the punch-out
game pieces located on one long side of the delivery box;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combination delivery box
and board game of the present invention illustrating a board game
imprinted on one side of the delivery box;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the combination delivery box
and board game of the present invention illustrating the board game
of checkers imprinted on one side of the box with checker game
playing pieces disposed on some of the squares of the checker board
game;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the combination delivery box
and board game of the present invention illustrating the board game
of tic-tac-toe imprinted on the inside surface of the bottom of the
delivery box;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the combination
delivery box and board game of the present invention illustrating
the board game of chess imprinted on the inside surface of the box
top of the delivery box;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the combination
delivery box and board game of the present invention illustrating
representative game playing pieces having the various chess pieces
printed on at least one surface of each punch-out game playing
piece;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the combination
delivery box and board game of the present invention illustrating
several representative punch-out game pieces for use with the
checkers board game;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the combination
delivery box and board game of the present invention illustrating
the punch-out game pieces for the chess board game disposed along
one long side of the delivery box with the figures of the various
chess pieces shown on at least one side of the punch-out game
pieces;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the combination
delivery box and board game of the present invention illustrating
an alternative embodiment for the punch-out game pieces with the
alternative game piece including supporting elements disposed for
keeping the game piece upright on the game board;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the combination delivery box
and board game of the present invention illustrating the
alternative embodiment for the game piece first shown in FIG. 9
with the supporting and locking elements disposed to the use
position;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the combination
delivery box and board game of the present invention illustrating
the board game of backgammon imprinted on the bottom surface of the
box bottom of the delivery box; and
[0032] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the combination delivery
box and board game of the present invention illustrating several
game pieces and one die for use with the board game of backgammon
first shown in FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] Illustrated in FIGS. 1-12 is a combination delivery box and
game board apparatus 10 for enhancing a party by providing a
delivery box that is convertible into a board game so that the
delivery box has a dual use capability: storage of a food item(s)
for delivery to a residence or business, and conversion of the
empty box into a board game.
[0034] Thus, illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 is a portable, preferably
cardboard delivery box 12 designed and adapted to temporarily hold
food items, such as pizzas, for sale and delivery to off-site
destinations such as homes and businesses. The delivery box 12 is
generally square-shaped and has a low profile. The delivery box 12
includes a box bottom 14 having an inner bottom surface 16 and an
opposite exterior bottom surface 18. The food item, such as the
pizza, would set or be laid upon the inner bottom surface 16 of the
box bottom 14. In addition, the box bottom 14 includes a continuous
upwardly projecting bottom lip 20 that surrounds the inner bottom
surface 16. The bottom lip 20 is further delineated by having front
22, rear 24, and side bottom lip portions 26.
[0035] Pivotally interconnected to the box bottom 14, and
specifically interconnected to the rear bottom lip portion 24 of
the bottom lip 20, is a box top 28. The box top 28 includes an
exterior top surface 30 and an opposite inside top surface 32. In
addition, the box top 28 includes a downwardly projecting
continuous top lip 34, with the top lip 34 further delineated by
having front 36, rear 38, and side top lip portions 40. As will be
hereinafter further described, various types or kinds of game
boards for various types of board games are imprinted on at least
one of the four surfaces: the inner bottom surface 16 and the
exterior bottom surface 18 of the box bottom 14, and the inside top
surface 32 and the exterior top surface 30 of the box top 28.
[0036] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 6-12, the combination
delivery box and game board apparatus 10 includes game playing
pieces for each respective board game with the game playing pieces
integrally adjoined to the delivery box 12 and selectively
detachable therefrom. Specifically, the plurality of game playing
pieces are integrally formed in and along one or both of the side
bottom lip portions 40 of the box bottom 14 as preferably
cylindrical punch-out game playing pieces that are punched out
along perforations for removal and use. The game playing pieces can
also be integrally formed on and along the front bottom lip portion
26. The perforations allow for the easy detachment of the game
playing pieces from the side bottom lip portions 40. The game
playing pieces have imprinted on one or both surfaces figures or
shapes denotative of the particular board game that is incorporated
with that respective combo delivery box and game board apparatus
10.
[0037] Illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, 7, and 11 are various
representative game boards imprinted on at least one of the
aforementioned surfaces 16, 18. 30, and 32 for playing various
types or kinds of board games. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
checkers board game 42 is imprinted on the exterior bottom surface
18 of the box bottom 14 (the delivery box 12 is shown upside down
in FIGS. 2 and 3). The checkers board game 42 is divided up into an
array of squares for placement and movement thereon of the
appropriate game playing pieces. FIG. 4 illustrates the tic-tac-toe
board game 44 imprinted on the inner bottom surface 16 of the box
bottom 14 with the appropriate playing grid imprinted on the inner
bottom surface 16.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates the chess board game 46 imprinted on the
inside top surface 32 of the box top 28 with the discrete squares
of the chess board game 46 laid out in the conventional eight by
eight grid. Finally, FIG. 11 illustrates the backgammon board game
48 imprinted on the exterior bottom surface 18 of the delivery box
12.
[0039] As was earlier noted, a plurality of game playing pieces are
required for each board game, such as board games 42, 44, 46, and
48. The game playing pieces are integrally formed or incorporated
on one or both side bottom lip portions 26 and generally comprise
cylindrical paperboard or cardboard members linearly arranged along
on one or both side bottom lip portions 26. Thus, FIG. 2 shows a
plurality of checker game playing pieces 50 for the board game of
checkers 42 arranged along one side bottom lip portion 26, and FIG.
7 illustrates three individual checkers game playing pieces 50 with
two pieces 50 denoting one color (red or black) and one checker
game playing piece 50 denoting the other color (either red or
black). FIG. 3 illustrates the apertures 52 in which the game
playing pieces 50 are seated and that remain when all the checker
game playing pieces 50 have been punched out from their
perforations and detached from the delivery box 12.
[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates the tic-tac-toe game playing pieces 54
for the board game of tic-tac-toe 44 with the tic-tac-toe game
playing pieces 54 having the appropriate "+" and "O" indicia or
markings 56 and 58 imprinted on one or both surfaces of the game
playing pieces 54. FIG. 4 shows four of the tic-tac-toe game
playing pieces 54 punched out of their apertures 52 while the other
tic-tac-toe game playing pieces 54 remain within their apertures
52.
[0041] FIGS. 6 and 8 illustrate the representative game playing
pieces 60 for the chess board game 46 with the indicia or markings
of the particular chess figures imprinted on both sides of the
chess game playing pieces 60 (outlines of representative chess
figures are shown on only one side of the chess game playing pieces
60). Thus, one chess game playing piece 60 includes an outline or
figure of a pawn 62, one chess game playing piece 60 includes an
outline or figure of a rook 64, one chess game playing piece 60
includes an outline or figure of a knight 66, one chess game
playing piece 60 includes an outline or figure of a bishop 68, one
chess game playing piece 60 includes an outline or figure of a
queen 70, and finally one chess game playing piece 60 includes an
outline or figure of a king 72. In FIG. 8 all the chess game
playing pieces 60 for one color (either black or white) are shown
still in the attached disposition within the apertures 52 formed
along one bottom lip side portion 26 of the box bottom 14. It
should noted that the FIGS. 62-72 imprinted on at least one side of
the chess game playing pieces 60 can be combined with the colored
indicia denotative of the checker game playing pieces 50 so that
each game playing piece can include indicia or markings for two
different board games such as checkers and chess on their opposite
sides.
[0042] FIG. 12 illustrates the game playing pieces for the
backgammon board game 48 and which include two checkers playing
pieces 74 and one die 76. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternative
embodiment for the game playing pieces 50, 54, 60, 74, and 76 shown
in FIGS. 1-4, 6-8, and 12. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10
include a square-shaped game playing piece 78 having a body portion
80 with the body portion 80 having a front side 82, a rear side 84,
and a pair of foldable legs 86 pivotally mounted to the rear side
84 at the lower end thereof. The legs 86 are separated by a slot
88, and mounted to the rear side 84 and vertically extending
therealong is a stabilization member 90. The stabilization member
90 is pivotally mounted to the rear side 84 so that after the legs
86 have been folded downward and perpendicular to the body portion
80, as shown in FIG. 9, the stabilization member 90 can be slightly
pivoted to one side or the other to lock the legs 86 in place and
to prevent them from folding back up adjacent to the rear side 84
of the body portion 80 of the game playing piece 78. Thus, the legs
86 and the stabilization member 90 allow the game playing piece 78
of FIGS. 9 and 10 to be disposed upright on the respective surfaces
16, 18, 30, and 32 of the delivery box 12 on which the particular
game 42, 44, 46, or 48 is imprinted. The front side 82 of the body
portion 80 will have the desired game piece indicia or markings
imprinted thereon comparable to the indicia or markings imprinted
on the game playing pieces 50, 54, and 60 shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and
8.
[0043] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that numerous alterations, modifications, variations, and changes
may be made without departing from the invention in its broader
aspects, and the aim, purpose, intent, and goal of the appended
claims is to cover and encompass all such modifications,
alterations, variations, and changes as fall within the true and
authentic spirit, scope, and ambit of the invention.
* * * * *