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Board gameRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Board Games, Pieces, Or Boards Therefor, Piece Moves Over Board Having PatternBoard game description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060273509, Board game. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION. [0001] The present invention relates to a board game, and more specifically to a board game with a series of themes related to specific books, that serves the dual purpose of being both educational and entertaining for children, and for others. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Board games that are intended as learning tools for children have previously been described. U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,652, which issued to Ruff on Jan. 19, 1999, discloses a board game having a movement path along which players advance their game piece from a starting point to a finishing point. Each player may advance their game piece upon correctly answering a randomly selected question from a plurality of question cards. The board game is designed for young children, in that questions printed on the aforementioned question cards test the player's ability to recognize colors, shapes and letters of the alphabet. [0003] A similar method of play whereby players advance along a movement path upon correctly answering a randomly selected question from a plurality of question cards was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,666, which issued to Corle on Jun. 12, 1990. As described therein, the playing surface of the board itself is illustrated with a geographical map of the United States and questions printed on the aforementioned question cards relate to American history and geography. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,854, which issued to Weiss on Feb. 12, 1991, discloses a board game that similarly comprises a board having a continuous movement path and a plurality of question cards. The board game described therein is intended to improve children's language skills by testing a player's knowledge of figurative expressions commonly used in the English language. [0005] The prior art discloses board games that are each ideally suited to a narrow age range and intended to test a player's knowledge of a particular subject matter. Such games focus on the recollection of specific information without stimulating the development of other cognitive skills such as comprehension, application or analysis. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In view of the foregoing, the purpose of the present invention is to develop a board game that is adaptable to different age groups and functions as both a source of entertainment and a teaching tool for cognitive skills such as comprehension and critical thinking. [0007] Preferably the game has one or a series of themes that are related to specific books, and test the knowledge of the players, in relation to that book, or books. Many different books can be used as themes for parts of the game, as will become apparent below. The books can be works of fiction, plays, or even non fiction. The books will be known to, or have been studied by, the players, prior to playing the game. [0008] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an educational board game comprises a planar game board having printed thereon a contiguous series of numbered spaces. The movement path originates at a space designated as "Start Area," follows the numerical sequence of the spaces and ends at a space designated as "The Winner Area." A first group of spaces on the board bear a pattern of green-colored diagonal lines and are set to receive corresponding panels that contain instructions for movement of a game piece. A second group of spaces on the board bear a pink-colored grid pattern and are set to receive corresponding panels that also contain instructions for movement of a game piece. A third group of spaces on the board are blank and set to receive corresponding panels which are illustrated with scenes from a given book. A fourth group of spaces on the board are blue-colored and designated as "Take a Question Card" spaces. A fifth space on the board is designated as "Theme Area" and is set to receive a panel bearing the title of a given book. The "Start Area" and "The Winner Area" are also set to receive corresponding illustrated panels. [0009] The educational game further comprises random number selector such as dice, and calculator, or a simple spinner. The game also has game pieces, tokens and a "Theme Pack." A "Theme Pack" relates to a given book and is itself comprised of one "Theme Identification" panel, one "Start Area"panel, one "The Winner Area" panel, a plurality of instruction panels that correspond to the first and second group of spaces on the board, a plurality of illustrated panels that correspond to the third group of spaces on the board, a plurality of question cards and a plurality of character image panels which can be affixed to the aforementioned game pieces. [0010] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the board has a metallic material incorporated within it and all "Theme Pack" panels have a magnetic base so that they remain in position once placed onto the game board. [0011] The character image panels also have a magnetic base which allows them to be affixed to the metallic upper portion of the game pieces. [0012] The "Theme Pack" can be varied in order to change the book or subject matter of the game while keeping the rules of the game constant. Thus, the same game board can be used with different "Theme Packs", each of which relate to a different book, or subject. This advantageously allows the board game to be adaptable to different age groups and to be used as a learning tool for different cognitive skills, depending on the nature of the questions printed on the question cards provided with each "Theme Pack", and of course the subject matter of the book itself. Furthermore, once a player has learned the rules of the game, he or she can focus on the subject matter. A still further advantage lies in the reduced cost associated with the purchase of additional "Theme Packs" rather than a whole new board game for each additional book or subject matter, and the reduced storage space associated therewith. [0013] The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with more particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention. IN THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the board; [0015] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the spinner; [0016] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the "Theme Identification," "Start Area" and "The Winner Area" panels related to the book The Wonderful Wizard of OZ as an exemplary "Theme Pack;" [0017] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the instruction panels corresponding to green-colored and pink-colored spaces on the board, related to the book The Wonderful Wizard of OZ as an exemplary "Theme Pack;" [0018] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the illustrated panels corresponding to blank spaces on the board, related to the book The Wonderful Wizard of OZ as an exemplary "Theme Pack;" [0019] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the front side and back side of question cards related to the book The Wonderful Wizard of OZ as an exemplary "Theme Pack;" [0020] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the "Theme Identification," "Start Area" and "The Winner Area" panels related to the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a second exemplary "Theme Pack;" Continue reading about Board game... 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