U.S. patent application number 15/691902 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-28 for word-linking board game apparatus and method of use.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jim Harris. Invention is credited to Jim Harris.
Application Number | 20190060740 15/691902 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65436829 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190060740 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harris; Jim |
February 28, 2019 |
WORD-LINKING BOARD GAME APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE
Abstract
A multi-player word linking board game apparatus configured to
provide a turn style word-linking game wherein a winner is declared
by not reaching a pre-determined "final grid." The apparatus
includes a foldable game board have a plurality of successively
numbered grids and superimposed over a background containing a
variety of associating words. The apparatus further enables each
participating player to challenge another's word-link and if
successful forfeit a turn play.
Inventors: |
Harris; Jim; (St. Louis,
MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Harris; Jim |
St. Louis |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
65436829 |
Appl. No.: |
15/691902 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2003/00943
20130101; A63F 2250/1068 20130101; A63F 3/0023 20130101; A63F
2001/0458 20130101; A63F 2001/0408 20130101; A63F 2001/0491
20130101; A63F 2003/00182 20130101; A63F 2003/00233 20130101; A63F
3/00697 20130101; A63F 3/00895 20130101; A63F 1/04 20130101; A63F
3/00006 20130101; A63F 3/0423 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/04 20060101
A63F003/04; A63F 3/00 20060101 A63F003/00; A63F 1/04 20060101
A63F001/04 |
Claims
1. A word-linking board game apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a
game board including a plurality of consecutively labeled spaces
arranged thereon, the consecutively labeled spaces having a start
space and an end space; a plurality of distinguishable game pawns,
each game pawn being assigned to at least one player and
positionable in a space and moveable from one space to another as
the game progresses; a timer; a plurality of playing cards, each
playing card having at least one associating word on a first side;
and a set of instructions to guide the players to play in turn
according to at least the following steps: a first player attempts
to suggest a word-link associated with an associating word on a
card drawn by the first player or associated with a previous
word-link suggested by a previous player; responsive to the first
player failing to suggest a word-link before expiration of the
timer without a supported challenge, a game pawn of the first
player is advanced toward the end space and a next player takes a
turn to suggest a another word-link; and the above steps are
repeated until all but one player's game pawn has advanced to the
end space, at which time the player whose game pawn has not
advanced to the end space is declared the winner.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the board includes a
background containing a plurality of potential associating
words.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the board further includes a
specialty grid at a center of the board which is configured to
receive the plurality of playing cards.
4. (canceled)
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the square-shaped board game
includes an "out" grid.
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of game
pawns includes a unique design scheme.
10-16. (canceled)
17. A method of playing a word-linking board game, the method
comprising: providing a game board having a plurality of
sequentially labeled spaces thereon, the sequentially labeled
spaces having a first space and a last space; distributing at least
one playing pawn from a plurality of distinguishable playing pawns
to each of a plurality of players; providing a plurality of playing
cards, each of the plurality of playing cards containing an
associating word; each player in turn attempting to create a
word-link from one of an associating word drawn from the plurality
of playing cards and a word-link provided by a previous turn's
player, the attempting subject to a constraint of at least one of a
time limit and a successful challenge to the attempted word-link,
the challenge being made by another player whose turn it is not;
changing a position on the board of a pawn of the player whose turn
it is when the player whose turn it is fails to create a word-link
within the time limit or creates a word-link that is successfully
challenged by a player whose turn it is not; and declaring as the
winner the player whose playing pawn has not advanced to the last
space when all other player's pawns have advanced to the last
space.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein a challenge is considered
successful if joined by at least one other player.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein changing a position on the
board of a pawn of a player includes advancing the pawn toward the
last space.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein a player may choose to start a
timer at any time during another player's turn.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions provide that
a challenge is considered successful if joined by a player not
first asserting the challenge.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a winner is the one player
whose game pawn has not advanced to the end space when all other
player's game pawns have advanced to the end space.
23. A method of playing a word-link game by constraining player
behavior according to a set of rules of the game, the method
comprising: providing a game board with a plurality of consecutive
positions including a starting position and an ending position;
providing a plurality of game pawns, one for each of a plurality of
players, and positionable at the starting position to start the
game; and providing a deck of cards, each card having only a single
word that when drawn provides the starting word of a round of
word-linking by the players; advancing a game pawn of a player to a
next subsequent position toward the ending position when the player
fails to provide a word-link within a specified time and fails to
provide a word-link without a supported challenge by another
player; and declaring a winner when all game pawns but one have
advanced to the ending position.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein a challenge is supported when
supported by a player other than a player first asserting the
challenge.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein a player may choose to start a
timer at any time during another player's turn.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein for a challenge to be
supported, a player must support the challenge prior to the
expiration of the timer.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The embodiments presented provide a board game apparatus,
and in particular, a multi-player board game apparatus wherein each
player advances their playing pawn throughout the consecutively
numbered grids of the board game in response to an incorrect
linking of an associated word.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Board games challenges each player's memory, hand-to-eye
coordination, and provide valuable team building skills and
concepts such as creating strategies and tactics, social
interaction, communication, and complex problem-solving. Each game
has its own unique challenges and tactics while still providing an
opportunity for each individual player to challenge his/her own
imagination.
[0003] Traditionally many board games were designed to be played in
a structured environment on pre-defined boards with strict rules of
procedure and order, usually contained within the game's rulebook.
These games required each player to follow the same repetitive
steps until one player is declared a winner, leaving little room
for individual ingenuity and tactical prowess. The resultant play
became predictive, one-dimensional, and obsolete.
[0004] Conversely, in the past few years many board games have
incorporated fantasy with reality which allows players to develop
their own play pattern and leads to mixed results and games with no
defined beginning or end. These freeform style games are typically
controlled by arbitrary or player invented rules and are controlled
or monitored by a single player which results in gameplay that is
unpredictable, time-consuming, and difficult to construct. These
obstacles make it difficult for players new to the group and
especially those players new to the game to join an established
game group without a substantial period required to learn and
understand the house rules, playstyle, and interactive
dynamics.
[0005] In response to the growing need for interactive play games
and devices which require a level of personal creativity yet retain
consistent gameplay and predictability for players, there has been
a growing market for board games that incorporate both set
components and player provided accompaniments. Often, these
accompaniments are meant to build off of the set components of the
game and permit the gameplay to remain consistent while the content
develops and differs in each played game. By their nature, these
player provided variables may be tethered to set components of the
game without being limited to a finite number of potential
expressions.
[0006] Though there are several game board systems and designs
known in the art such as U.S. Design Pat. No. 389872 to Rhea; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,938,898 to Merritt; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,571 to
McWilliams; there is no single reference which discloses every
feature of the embodiments shown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The embodiments provided describe a multi-player
word-linking board game apparatus configured wherein participants
are required to word-link from an associated word provided from a
drawn card or fellow player. The apparatus includes a planar board
game having ten equilaterally spaced positions arranged around the
perimeter of a first side with a variety of colors and word
combinations blended into the background. The apparatus further
includes a stack of playing cards, hourglass timer, and a plurality
of game pawns. During use, the pre-determined first player draws a
card from the stack of cards located at the center of the playing
board while any player may simultaneously initiate the timer by
turning over the hourglass timer. Each of the cards contains an
"associating word" with which the subsequent player must correctly
link to in order to advance gameplay to the next player in the
round. Thereafter, each following subsequent player must link to
the word provided by the player immediately preceding the turn.
[0008] The embodiments further illustrate a method of use (i.e.,
play) in which a winner is achieved by remaining in the game while
other participating players advance through the successively
numbered grids until they reach a final grid. The game is first
prepared by gathering all related components of the apparatus,
including the hourglass which is kept to the side and the stack of
cards which are placed in a separate, designated grid in the center
of the board. Gameplay is then initiated, beginning with organizing
each of the players in successive order around the square-shaped
board game for turn style gameplay. Once the players and apparatus
components are properly arranged, the game pawns are distributed
amongst players and placed at a starting position (i.e., a "0" grid
or unnumbered non-grid position) in anticipation of a new round of
play. The turn player first draws a card from the stack of playing
cards located at the center of the game board and ends his turn,
simultaneously any participating player may initiate the timer.
Under this pre-determined timed condition, the next turn player
must provide a new word link with the "associated word" drawn from
the stack cards. If the turn player is able to "word link" within
the allotted time, the turn ends and passes to the next player, or
the word link may be challenged by any participating player. Each
subsequent turn player must provide a word link for the word
provided by the player immediately preceding the turn in the same
manner as the player who first provides a word link to the work on
the playing card that was drawn at the outset of the round. Each
round continues with this turn style play until one turn player
fails to successfully word link and the round ends. If the word
link fails as a result of either a successful challenge or the turn
player's failure to provide a word link within the allotted time,
the round ends and the player will advance his playing pawn to the
next successively numbered grid on the game board or to the first
numbered grid if the pawn was still in a starting position. If the
turn player has reached a pre-determined final grid, the player is
out and no longer participates for the remainder of the game, and
the game continues with a new round of play excluding that player.
A winner is declared when all other players' pawns have reached the
final grid, and the winning player's pawn is the last remaining on
the board, not in the final grid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A more complete understanding of the present invention, and
the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a word-linking board game
apparatus;
[0011] FIG. 2 is view of the playing components of the apparatus;
and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of play.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of
embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any
specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration
purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to
be understood therefrom. Furthermore, as used herein, relational
terms, such as "first" and "second," "top" and "bottom," and the
like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from
another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying
any physical or logical relationship, or order between such
entities or elements.
[0014] There is shown in the embodiments a word-linking board game
apparatus designed for multiple players to challenge individual
creativity, terminology, and cognitive development by requiring
each participant to create and link a newly created "word-link"
from an "associated word" drawn from the stack of playing cards or
alternatively created from the last word of a previously created
word-link. The game may be played under timed conditions by
flipping an hourglass timer between turns. When a player fails to
create a word-link, allows the allotted time to lapse within the
hourglass timer, or is successfully challenged based on the answer
provided, the player must advance his/her playing pawn one
successively numbered grid space on the game board. Play will
continue in the same manner until a lone player has not reached the
predetermined final grid. The last participating player remaining
in the "round" is declared the winner, and a new round begins.
[0015] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a word-linking board game apparatus
10 which further contains a foldable game board 12 that is divided
into a plurality of playing grids 14 super imposed on a background
16 containing a variety of printed words and "word-links." As
illustrated, each of the playing grids 14 are successively numbered
between "1" and "10" and evenly spaced throughout the game board
12. During play, a player will begin at play grid "1," and advance
throughout the successively numbered playing grids 14 until a
player reaches "10," or a different numbered is selected as the
"final grid." For example, the players may agree that to shorten
the duration of the game, and number "7" may serve as the "end
playing grid." Further illustrated on the game board 12 is the
"out" grid 17 where a player is to place their playing pawn 18
(further illustrated in FIG. 2) when they have reached the
pre-determined "final grid" until a next round is started. Located
at the center of the game board 20 is a parallelogram-shaped
specialty grid 22 which is used as the placeholder for the stack of
playing cards 24 for use between draws by the plurality of
participating players.
[0016] Shown in FIG. 2 is a view of the playing components 26 which
are used in conjunction with the game board 12 during play. The
stack of playing cards may be stored within a playing card box
dimensioned to fit the numbered stack for portability or storage.
Each playing card 24 within the deck included is printed with an
"associating word." One example of an "associating word" found on a
playing card 24 is "Drop" which the player will display to the
other participating players. A player may then flip the hourglass
timer 28 to created timed conditions. This turn player is now
responsible for creating a "word link" with the "associating word"
shown on a first side of the playing cards. If a "word-link" is
achieved, play resumes and the turn passes to the next
participating player who is required to create a "word-link" with
the last word of the successful word-link. If a participating
player is unable to achieve a word link, he/she must move his/her
playing pawn 18 to the next successively numbered playing grid
14.
[0017] Shown in FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of use
310. A game is first prepared by gathering all related components
including the playing cards 24, hourglass timer 28, and playing
pawns 18 and placing the playing cards within the
parallelogram-shaped specialty grid 22. Each of the playing pawns
may be customized with a specific design scheme pre-selected by a
participating player before a round has begun.
[0018] A new round of "Word-Link" is then started 312, beginning
with organizing each of the players in successive order around the
square-shaped board game for turn style gameplay. Once the players
and apparatus components are properly arranged, the game pawns are
distributed amongst players and placed at a starting position 314
(i.e., a "0" grid or unnumbered non-grid position) to begin the
first round 316. The turn player first draws a card from the stack
of playing cards 318 located at the center of the game board and
ends his/her turn, simultaneously any participating player may
initiate the timer 320 and place pressure on the player by creating
timed conditions. Under this pre-determined timed condition, the
next turn player must provide a new word link with the "associated
word" drawn from the stack cards 322. If this turn player is able
to "word link" within the allotted time remaining in the hourglass
timer 28, the turn ends and passes to the next player 326, or the
word link may be challenged by any participating player 328 who may
believe the word-link provided is not valid. If the word is found
to be invalid by a challenge from a second participating player
330, the turn player is required to advance his/her playing pawn
one successively numbered grid 332. If the participating player has
reached the pre-determined "final grid" or the play grid numbered
"10", the player is out of the current round and forfeits his/her
turn for the remainder of the game.
[0019] The flow of the game is a condition of each player's ability
to provide a "word-link" with the last word of the previous "word
link" created or the "associating word" shown on the first side of
a playing card. If the turn player has reached a pre-determined
"final grid", the player is out and no longer participates for the
remainder of the game and the game continues with a new round of
play excluding that player 338. A winner 340 is achieved when all
other players' pawns have reached the final grid and the winning
player's pawn is the last remaining on the board, not in the final
grid. A new game may then be started according to the methods
discussed above 342.
[0020] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly
shown and described hereinabove. In addition, unless mention was
made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the
accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications
and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without
departing from the following claims.
* * * * *