Cuisine-IQ board game

Abstract

A cuisine-IQ board game has a board having spaces designated with respective cuisine types and playing tokens respectively for the players. A selection device is operated by the first player to select one of the cuisine types independently of the operation. A question device is operated by the second (therefore questioner) player to select a first question related to the one of the cuisine types independently of the operation. If the first player answers the first question correctly, the first player receives at least one point, but no point for not answering correctly. Award tokens are awarded to the first player upon accumulating a set number of points, a first of the players accumulating a set number of award tokens winning the board game. Thus, after the first player answers the first question correctly or not, the next player may operate the selection means and continue as the first player did, each player having a turn to answer a question to accumulate points and award tokens.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/503,184 filed Sep. 15, 2003, and incorporates the same by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board games such as Chess, for example, have been long known. Today, the board of such games may take a number of forms ranging from cloth to paste board to screens that implement a pattern of the board optically, fluidically, electronically or in some other way. As used herein, the board of a board game comprehends all these.

Board games are traditionally played by people. However, particularly when the board is implemented electronically, at least one game player may be electronic as when a person plays Chess against Deep Blue or some other digital computer device. Therefore, players as used herein comprehends both people and devices.

Julia Child was memorialized at her death as having led popular expansion of interest, appreciation and knowledge of food and, in particular, national, regional, ethnic, ingredient (e.g., mushroom) cuisine types. Such popular expansion is, in any event, generally acknowledged.

The board games and food interest have combined. For example, Brown U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,739 of Dec. 31, 2002, discloses a Restaurant Theme Board Game in which players traverse successive table patterns on the board five times within a predetermined period of time in relation to questions such a “Things you stuff” (e.g., turkey) for a dollar-denominated prize for doing so first. For another example, Jackson U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,418 of Jun. 29, 2004, discloses a What's For Dinner Board Game in which foods of categories like “veggies” (e.g., mashed potatoes) and “desserts” (e.g, Jello) and cooking times are spaced about a board square for a player to be the first to accumulate cooking times for foods selected by rolling a number cube.

While these and other efforts may have combined board games with food interest, they have not added appreciation or, beyond basics, knowledge as in the popular expansion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Toward this, the invention provides a cuisine-IQ board game for playing by at least a first player and at least one of second and next players. The cuisine-IQ board game has a board having spaces designated with respective cuisine types and playing tokens respectively for the players. A selection device is operated by the first player to select one of the cuisine types independently of the operation. A question device is operated by the second (therefore questioner) player to select a first question related to the one of the cuisine types independently of the operation. If the first player answers the first question correctly, the first player receives at least one point, but no point for not answering correctly. Award tokens are awarded to the first player upon accumulating a set number of points, a first of the players accumulating a set number of award tokens winning the board game. Thus, after the first player answers the first question correctly or not, the next player may operate the selection means and continue as the first player did, each player having a turn to answer a question to accumulate points and award tokens.

In preferred play with several players, the second (questioner) player is the player to the first player's right and the next player is the player to the first player's left, the first player taking the place of the second player when play has advanced to the next player. In this way, play continues clockwise from player to player about the preferably generally circular arrangement of the spaces on the board designating the cuisine types to which the questions are directed. Of course, when there are only two players, then the second and next player are the same, the second and next player being both to the right (counterclockwise) and left (clockwise) of the first player.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Preferred embodiments that illustrate but do not limit the invention will now be described with reference to an accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a board for a board game according to the invention together with playing tokens, selection device, award tokens and part of a box therefor, background portions not described not forming part of the invention;

FIG. 2 is another pictorial view of playing tokens, selection device, award tokens and box for the board game of FIG. 1 together with the back sides of question devices therefor;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the front side of a question device therefor;

FIG. 4 is a top/front perspective view of a box shown partially in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are plan views of back sides of cards; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of another embodiment of a “Fun Fruit” design on the box of FIG. 4

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A playing side of a preferred board 10 (as comprehended above) is shown in FIG. 1 with food-related motifs for board games according to the invention. The board has spaces 101, 103 that are designated with respective cuisine types Italy and Morocco. These and other, similar spaces 105, 107, 108, 109 extend generally circularly about the board for receiving cuisine-type designations like spaces 105, 108 or a start designation for playing the board game with all players starting in the same place. However, in other embodiments (not shown) the start-designated space 107 may be differently located, for example in the center of the board or omitted for each player to start from his own designated or un-designated place.

The board is divided into segments 111, 113 by a line 115. When the line 115 is a fold line, the playing side of the board may be protected by folding the board and storage space for the board as in box 18 (FIGS. 2 and 4) may be reduced. When the line 115 is a separation line, one or both of the segments may be replaced with other board segments (not shown) having spaces designating other cuisine types, whereby the board game can be enhanced, varied or updated. Replacing segments of the board is facilitated by having the spaces separate at the line 115 like the spaces 101, 103.

The cuisine-type designations of the spaces of the board may be printed or otherwise fixed to the board. Such fixing cooperates with enhancing, varying or updating the board game with replacement board sections as described above. However, in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the cuisine-type designations are pieces replaceably on the board spaces, whereby the board game can be enhanced, varied or updated by replacing the cuisine-type designations of the spaces of the board.

Playing tokens are shown at 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown for this preferred embodiment, the playing tokens are food related and, specifically, kitchen-implement-, kettel-, pot- and/or pan-shaped. Although five playing tokens are shown, there should be as many tokens as players for each player to have a respective playing token.

A selection device 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a number cube or die with respective numbers on each face. However, in another embodiment (not shown), faces of the die have cuisine-type designations corresponding to the cuisine-type designations of the spaces of the board. In either case, other selection devices such as spinning pointers or fluidic or electronic number or name generators may be used to provide a number or cuisine-type designation. These known selection devices are operated by a player to select one of the cuisine types designated on the spaces of the board independently of the player's operation of the device.

Thus, when a first player has a playing token 12 at the start space 101 and throws the selection device die 14 to have the up-facing number 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the player may move the playing token 12 from the start space 101 four cuisine-designated spaces preferably clockwise to, in this case, the France cuisine-type designated space 109 on the board. However, when the selection device indicates cuisine types, then the first player would move the playing token directly to the cuisine type selected by the operation of the selection device, whereby the start-designated space on the board may be eliminated, if desired.

When the first player has selected a cuisine type, another, second (questioner) player operates a question device 13 (FIG. 2) that provides a question related to the cuisine-type for the first player selected by the selection device as described above for France. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, the question device is packs of cards having back sides 131, 133 (only two shown) with a motif related to the cuisine types designated on the spaces which, in this case, is the word France for the back side 131 corresponding to the cuisine type word designation of the space 109 of the board. However, in the embodiments of FIGS. 5-10, the motif on the back side related to the cuisine types also includes an artistic representation and this is the best mode now contemplated. Other examples (not shown) of such artistic motifs might be colorful representations of the cuisine type, for example the Eiffel Tower for the France card 109 or the Statue of Liberty for a the back side of a card (not shown) for correspondence with the United States designated space 105 of the board. Still other examples (not shown) of artistic motifs may be of one or more famous restaurants of the designated cuisine type, whereby the board game may be commercially sponsored, if desired.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, the second or next player operates the question device by selecting a card from the pack having the back side motif corresponding to the cuisine-type designation of the first player's token, which is card back of motif France 131 in the example described above. In other embodiments (not shown) the selection may be any card of the pack, because the question selected is on the front side of the pack, which is not seen. Thus, the selection of the question for the first player is independent of the operation of the card pack by the second or next player. Therefore, question devices other than cards, such as visual or aural electronic devices or slot machine type devices, are known.

The card selection provides a first question at 137 from the front side of the card like the front side 135 of a card for United States cuisine type shown in FIG. 3. The second or next player asks the question to the first player who may answer correctly according to the answer also indicated parenthetically at 139 on the front side of the card below the question. Other embodiments (not shown) may otherwise indicate the questions and answers.

If the first player correctly answers the first question, the first player is awarded at least one point. The number of points is a fixed 1 in the preferred embodiment but may be related to the question, for example by difficulty, and indicated on the front or back side of the card in other embodiments (not shown). If the first question is correctly answered a second, bonus question at 137a is asked and, if correctly answered according to the answer at 139a, another point is awarded the first player or, in other embodiments (not shown) question-related points may be awarded. The number of points is, of course, arbitrary and may be 1.1, 10 or 100 or other increments in other embodiments (not shown). No points are awarded for an incorrect answer and, in other embodiments (not shown), points or player turns may be deducted for incorrect answers.

When the first player has correctly or incorrectly answered the question(s) as described above, a next player preferably rotating about the board from player to player clockwise, comes into the status of the first player, the second (questioner) player being preferably the player to the first player's right thus also advancing clockwise about the players. The terms first, second and next player thus successively describe each player of the board game, the second and next players being the same when there only two players, it being recalled as well that one of the first and second or next players may be electronically or otherwise implemented in known ways contemplated within the scope of the invention.

When the first player has accumulated a set number of points by turns of play as above, the first player is awarded an award token preferably in a food-related shape such as chef's toque 16 in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the preferred embodiment 10 points are required for the award of a chefs toque. Being awarded a set number, preferably three, award tokens in this way wins the game.

Various embodiments and manners of play have been described for the board game. These in any and all combinations and still other variations as will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. In a board game for playing by at least a first player and at least one of second and next players, the improvements comprising:

a board having spaces designated with respective cuisine types;

playing tokens respectively for the players;

selection means for operation by the first player to select one of the cuisine types independently of the operation, whereby the first player's one of the playing tokens is associated with the one of the spaces designated with the one of the cuisine types selected;

question means for operation by the second player to select a first question related to the one of the cuisine types independently of the operation and the first player to answer, the first player receiving at least one of points for answering the first question correctly and none of the points for not;

award tokens for award to the first player upon accumulating a set number of the points, a first of the players accumulating a set number of award tokens winning the board game,

whereby the next player operates the selection means after the first player has answered to continue the board game from player to player.

2. The board game according to claim 1, wherein the spaces are designated with respective country cuisine types.

3. The board game according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the playing and award tokens are food related.

4. The board game according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the playing and award tokens are food related.

5. The board game according to claim 3, wherein the playing tokens are one or more of kitchen-implement-, kettle-, pot- and pan-shaped.

6. The board game according to claim 3, wherein the award tokens are chefs toque-shape.

7. The board game according to claim 1, wherein the spaces are arranged generally circularly.

8. The board game according to claim 4, wherein the spaces are arranged generally circularly.

9. The board game according to claim 1, wherein the board has sections, each of the sections having at least one of the spaces, whereby one of the sections of the board may be replaced with another section having the at least one of the spaces with a different cuisine-type designation.

10. The board game according to claim 8, wherein the board has sections, each of the sections having at least one of the spaces, whereby one of the sections of the board may be replaced with another section having the at least one of the spaces with a different cuisine-type designation.

11. The board game according to claim 1, and further comprising cuisine-type designation pieces for changing the designations of the spaces.

12. The board game according to claim 8, and further comprising cuisine-type designation pieces for changing the designations of the spaces.

13. The board game according to claim 1, wherein the selection means comprises one of a die having sequential numbers on respective faces, a die having cuisine-type designations corresponding to the designations of the spaces on respective faces, and a spinner to point at respective cuisine-type designations corresponding to the designations of the spaces.

14. The board game according to claim 10, wherein the selection means comprises one of a die having sequential numbers on respective faces, a die having cuisine-type designations corresponding to the designations of the spaces on respective faces, and a spinner to point at respective cuisine-type designations corresponding to the designations of the spaces.

15. The board game according to claim 12, wherein the selection means comprises one of a die having sequential numbers on respective faces, a die having cuisine-type designations corresponding to the designations of the spaces on respective faces, and a spinner to point at respective cuisine-type designations corresponding to the designations of the spaces.

16. The board game according to claim 1, wherein the question means comprises cards having the first question and answer thereto on a front side and a motif related to the one of the cuisine types on a back side.

17. The board game according to claim 14, wherein the question means comprises cards having the first question and answer thereto on a front side identification of the one of the cuisine types on a back side.

18. The board game according to claim 15, wherein the question means comprises cards having the first question and answer thereto on a front side and identification of the one of the cuisine types on a back side.

19. The board game according to claim 1, wherein the question means further comprises a bonus question for the first player to be answered only after answering the first question correctly, the first player receiving at least one point for answering the bonus question correctly.

20. The board game according to claim 17, wherein the back side of the question means further comprises a bonus question for the first player to be answered only after answering the first question correctly, the first player receiving at least one point for answering the bonus question correctly.

21. The board game according to claim 18, wherein the back side of question means further comprises a bonus question for the first player to be answered only after answering the first question correctly, the first player receiving at least one point for answering the bonus question correctly.