US20090230625A1

US20090230625A1 - Inflatable board game

Info

Publication number: US20090230625A1
Application number: US12/048,833
Authority: US
Inventors: Christopher Clutterbuck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-03-14
Filing date: 2008-03-14
Publication date: 2009-09-17

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an inflatable game board including a game board, a storage drawer, an inflatable device, and game pieces to allow a person to play board games while immersed in water. The inflatable game board can be used in rough water due to the magnet attached to the game pieces and the magnetic surface of the game board.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an inflatable game board including a game board, a storage drawer, an inflatable device, and game pieces to allow a person to play board games while immersed in water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to allow at least one person to play board games while immersed in water without having to use the side of the pool or hot tub as a playing surface for the board game. Another object of this invention is to allow at least one person to play board games without having to twist his/her body to reach the board game and game pieces on the side of the pool or hot tub. Another object of this invention is to allow at least one person to play board games even when the water in the pool or hot tub is rough. Further, an object of this invention is to allow a person to easily store and carry a board game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an inflatable game board, comprising a rectangular rigid game board comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a drawer, said top surface being layered with a first magnetic pole to receive and hold other magnetic objects, said drawer contained within an aperture housed within a side of said rectangular rigid game board, said drawer slidably removable from within said aperture by a handle, said handle fixedly attached to said drawer, a circular tubular inflatable device constructed from a plastic flexible material, said circular tubular inflatable device comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a plug, and a carrying handle, said top surface of said inflatable device fixedly attached to said bottom surface of said rectangular rigid game board, said plug releasably attached to said circular tubular inflatable device, said plug used to contain air within said circular tubular inflatable device, said circular tubular inflatable device is carried by said carrying handle fixedly attached to an outer surface of said circular tubular inflatable device when said inflatable device is fully deflated; and a set of game pieces, said set of game pieces comprising a bottom portion, a set of magnets, said set of magnets contained in said bottom portion of said games piece, said set of magnets containing a second magnetic pole, said game pieces magnetically attached to said game board when said first magnetic pole of said game board and said second magnetic pole of said game pieces attract to one another.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an inflatable board game according to the invention including a game board, a storage drawer, and an inflatable device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the inflatable board game of FIG. 1 including a game board, a storage drawer, an inflatable device, and game pieces.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the inflatable board game of FIG. 1 in a stored and deflated position.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the game board and game piece of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the inflatable board game of FIG. 1 showing the game pieces stored in the drawer.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the inflatable board game of FIG. 1 floating on water.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following is a listing of numbers corresponding to a particular element refer to herein:
Referring now to FIG. 1, inflatable board game 100 comprises game board 110 and inflatable device 120. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, game board 110 comprises top surface 112, bottom surface 114, drawer 116 and handle 118. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, bottom surface 114 is attached to the top surface of inflatable device 120 by conventional attachment means such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, drawer 116 is removably attached to the middle portion of game board 110. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, handle 118 is attached to the outside surface of drawer 116. A person can pull on handle 118 to slide drawer 116 from within game board 110.
In certain embodiments, game board 110 comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, game board 110 comprises a rectangular member having a length between about 9 inches and about 12 inches. In certain embodiments, game board 110 comprises a width between about 9 inches and about 12 inches, for example inches. In certain embodiments, game board 110 comprises a thickness between about 1½ inches and about 3 inches, for example inches. In certain embodiments, game board 110 comprises an aperture. In certain embodiments, drawer 116 fits within the aperture.
In certain embodiments inflatable device 120 comprises a flexible plastic material. In certain embodiments, inflatable device 120 comprises a waterproof material. In certain embodiments, inflatable device 120 comprises a circular tube shaped member having a diameter between about 9 inches and about 12 inches, for example inches.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a side view of inflatable board game 100 comprises game board 110, inflatable device 120, and game pieces 210. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, game board 110 comprises top surface 112, bottom surface 114, drawer 116, and handle 118. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, bottom surface 114 is attached to the top surface of inflatable device 120 by conventional attachment means such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, drawer 116 is removably attached to the middle portion of game board 110. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, handle 118 is attached to the outside surface of drawer 116. A person can pull on handle 118 to slide drawer 116 from within game board 110. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, inflatable device 120 comprises plug 212. A person can blow air into inflatable device 120 to inflate inflatable device 120. A person can seal the air within inflatable device 120 by pushing plug 212 into inflatable device 120. A person can pull plug 212 from within inflatable device 120 to release the air within inflatable device 120. When inflatable device 120 is fully inflated, a person can place inflatable board game 100 on water and inflatable board game 100 will float along the surface of the water.
In certain embodiments, top surface 112 comprises a magnetic surface area. In certain embodiments, game pieces 210 comprises a magnet attached to the bottom surface of game pieces 210 (see FIG. 4).
Referring now to FIG. 3, inflatable board game 100 is shown in a stored and deflated position comprising game board 110 and inflatable device 120. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, game board 110 comprises top surface 112, bottom surface 114, and handle 118. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, inflatable device 120 comprises plug 212. In certain embodiments, game pieces 210 are stored in drawer 116 (see FIG. 2). In certain embodiments, game board 110 can be folded into two equal halves to seal top surface 112 from outside elements. In certain embodiments, game board 110 comprises a hinge along the center of game board 110 that allows game board 110 to be folded into two equal halves. In certain embodiments, inflatable device 120 can be used as a carrying handle when deflated.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a cross section view of inflatable board game 100 is shown comprising game board 110 and inflatable device 120. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, game board 110 comprises top surface 112, bottom surface 114, and top magnetic surface 412. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, game piece 210 comprises magnet 416. In certain embodiments, magnet 416 comprises a standard magnet known to one skilled in the art. Magnet 416 and top magnetic surface 412 comprise a first magnetic and a second magnetic, respectively, that contain opposite poles allowing magnet 416 and top magnetic surface 412 to attract which holds game pieces 210 to top surface 112 of game board 110. This allows a person to use game board 110 in a pool or hot tub when the water is rough.
Referring now to FIG. 5, a top view of inflatable board game 100 is shown comprising game board 110. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, game pieces 210 are stored in drawer 116. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, a person can pull drawer 116 from within game board 110 using handle 118. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, game board 110 comprises playing surface 510. Playing surface 510 comprises game surfaces and elements to play standard games known to one skilled in the art.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a side view of inflatable board game 100 comprises game board 110, inflatable device 120, and game pieces 210. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, game board 110 comprises top surface 112 and bottom surface 114. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, bottom surface 114 is attached to the top surface of inflatable device 120 by conventional attachment means such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, inflatable device 120 comprises plug 212. A person can blow air into inflatable device 120 to inflate inflatable device 120. A person can seal the air within inflatable device 120 by pushing plug 212 into inflatable device 120. A person can pull plug 212 from within inflatable device 120 to release the air within inflatable device 120. When inflatable device 120 is fully inflated, a person can place inflatable board game 100 on water 610 and inflatable board game 100 will float along the surface of the water.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Claims

1. An inflatable game board, comprising:

a rectangular rigid game board comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a drawer, said top surface being layered with a first magnetic pole to receive and hold other magnetic objects, said drawer contained within an aperture housed within a side of said rectangular rigid game board, said drawer slidably removable from within said aperture by a handle, said handle fixedly attached to said drawer,

a circular tubular inflatable device constructed from a plastic flexible material, said circular tubular inflatable device comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a plug, and a carrying handle, said top surface of said inflatable device fixedly attached to said bottom surface of said rectangular rigid game board, said plug releasably attached to said circular tubular inflatable device, said plug used to contain air within said circular tubular inflatable device, said circular tubular inflatable device is carried by said carrying handle fixedly attached to an outer surface of said circular tubular inflatable device when said inflatable device is fully deflated; and

a set of game pieces, said set of game pieces comprising a bottom portion, a set of magnets, said set of magnets contained in said bottom portion of said games piece, said set of magnets containing a second magnetic pole, said game pieces magnetically attached to said game board when said first magnetic pole of said game board and said second magnetic pole of said game pieces attract to one another.