Christmas-Themed Search and Find Game

Abstract

A holiday search and find game is provided having a plurality of diversified, tangible and movable holiday thematic objects, a plurality of cards, a random chance device, and a timing device. The plurality of thematic objects is arranged for disbursement about a playing environment. The plurality of cards each have an indication of at least one of the thematic objects. The random chance device is provided for randomly selecting occurrence of a category of a next event comprising: a) selection of a card from at least one category of cards, and b) at least one of: 1) a number of players, and 2) an identity of one or more players participating in the next event. The timing device establishes a predetermined time period in which to locate and identify one of the thematic objects as indicated on a selected one of the plurality of cards. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. A holiday search and find game, comprising: a plurality of diversified, tangible and movable holiday thematic objects arranged for disbursement about a playing environment; a plurality of cards each having an indication of at least one of the thematic objects; a random chance device provided for randomly selecting occurrence of a category of a next event comprising: a) selection of a card from at least one category of cards, and b) at least one of: 1) a number of players, and 2) an identity of one or more players participating in the next event; and a timing device establishing a predetermined time period in which to locate and identify one of the thematic objects as indicated on a selected one of the plurality of cards.

2. The holiday search and find game of claim 1, wherein the occurrence of a category of a next event comprises positional identification of one or more players participating in the next event.

3. The holiday search and find game of claim 1, wherein the random chance device selects one of a plurality of predetermined time periods to be implemented for performing a next event.

4. The holiday search and find game of claim 1, wherein the movable holiday thematic objects include holiday miniature ornaments.

5. The holiday search and find game of claim 1, wherein the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards is an enlarged partial image segment indicative of a geometric feature of a respective one of the movable holiday thematic objects.

6. The holiday search and find game of claim 1, further comprising a points allocation scheme for assigning points to a player in response to at least one of: 1) a randomly selected occurrence of the random chance device, and 2) selection of a card from the plurality of cards indicating a points allocation for performance of a next event.

7. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the indications of at least one of the thematic objects comprises information used to identify at least one of the thematic objects comprising at least one of: a riddle, a clue, a name, a description, a word scramble, a photograph, and a zoomed-in photograph.

8. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the thematic objects comprise a Christmas tree ornament.

9. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the playing environment comprises a Christmas tree.

10. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards comprises a picture card having at least one of an image, a photograph, a caricature, and a pictorial representation.

11. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards comprises a zoom card having one of: a subset of an image, a cropped image, and a subset of the full image.

12. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards comprises a phrase card providing an indication of the thematic object.

13. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards comprises a stocking stuffer card having an indication of one of: 1) a game strategy reward, and 2) a game strategy demerit.

14. The holiday game of claim 1, wherein the random chance device comprises a spinner.

15. A holiday gaming apparatus for a plurality of players, comprising: a plurality of physically distinct holiday thematic objects arranged for disbursement about a playing environment; a plurality of uniquely different groups of playing cards, each card having an indication of at least one of the thematic objects; a random chance device provided for randomizing occurrence of an event comprising at least one of: a) selection of a card from one of the plurality of uniquely different groups of cards; and b) designation of a number of players participating in the event; and a timing device establishing a predetermined time period in which to locate and identify one of the thematic objects as indicated on a selected one of the plurality of cards.

16. The holiday gaming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the playing cards comprise virtual cards provided within a virtual gaming environment.

17. The holiday gaming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the playing cards are physical playing cards having one of an image, an image segment, and a phrase having a descriptor indicative of a correlated one of the thematic objects.

18. The holiday gaming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the playing cards comprise computer graphics images of a playing card rendered on a user interface of a personal electronic device.

19. A method for identifying a holiday thematic object arranged on a playing environment using a unique deck of playing cards, comprising: providing a plurality of diversified, tangible, physically distinct, and movable holiday thematic objects disbursed about a physical playing environment and a random chance device configured to select at least one of 1) a number of player, 2) an identity of one or more players participating in the next event, and 3) a length of time allotted for completion of the next event; determining a player from a plurality of players for a next event; determining a time allotment for finding a next thematic object; receiving a clue to identify a specific one of the thematic objects; and locating the thematic object on the playing environment.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, providing a random chance device, and randomly selecting occurrence of a category of a next event comprising: a) selection of a card from at least one category of cards, and b) at least one of: 1) a number of players, 2) an identity of one or more players participating in the next event, and a length of time allotted for completion of the next event.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining the time allotment based on one or more of: A) a player's age; and B) a player's knowledge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one version of a holiday search and find game having a Christmas tree ornament implementation illustrating two players engaged in playing the game in a specifically themed playing environment according to one embodiment.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above illustrating a game player implementing a next event comprising searching for a Christmas tree ornament thematic object on a playing environment comprising a Christmas tree.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a plan view from above of a random chance device comprising a spinner board for randomly selecting occurrence of a category of a next event including selection of a card from at least one category of cards and at least one of: a number of players, and an identity of one or more players participating in the next event, as well as a time allotment for accomplishing a next event.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a plan view of top and bottom sides of exemplary PICTURE, ZOOM and PHRASE playing cards.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a plan view of bottom sides of a plurality of exemplary PHRASE playing cards.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a plan view of top and bottom sides of exemplary STOCKING STUFFER playing cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a holiday search and find game 10 in the form of a Christmas tree decoration search and find game, according to one implementation. A plurality of diversified, tangible and movable holiday thematic objects 12 are arranged for disbursement about a playing environment 14. Individual players 16 and 18 engage with game 10 to locate specific ones of holiday thematic objects 12. A plurality of playing cards 20 are provided, with each playing card having an indication 22 of at least one of the thematic objects 12. A random chance device 24 is provided for randomly selecting occurrence of a category 26-32 and 129-131 of a next event 34. Categories 26-32 and 129-131 also provide an indication of whether a player must perform a game event, such as locating an indicated holiday thematic object. Categories 29, 130 and 31 are performed with a relatively slow period of time (using one of timers 36, 38 and 40) and categories 129, 30, and 131 are performed with a relatively fast period of time. In one case, the occurrence of a category is randomly selected through selection of a card from at least one category of cards, such as a zoom card category 29, a phrase card category 30, a picture card category 31, and a stocking stuffer card category 32. In other cases, the occurrence of a category is randomly selected through identification of a number of players and/or an identity of one or more players participating in the next event, such as a left of player category 26, an across from player category 27, and a right of player category 28. One or more timing devices 36, 38 and 40 are provided to establish a predetermined time period in which to locate and identify one of the thematic objects 12 as indicated on a selected one of the plurality of cards 20. Random chance device 24 selects one of a plurality of predetermined time periods to be implemented for performing a next event based on whether slow or fast categories 29-31 and 129-131 are selected.

[0014] According to FIG. 1, timing devices 36, 38 and 40 each comprise an electronic timer, such as a software application, or clock, provided on a personal electronic device, such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, or watch. Such device can have multiple timers on one or more devices that can be preset to different, unique periods of time. In the case of a portable electronic device, the device has a microprocessor with processing circuitry, memory, an operating system, and an application program, such as a stop watch application program having a clock function. The timer can be started by clicking on a specific timer button, and it can be reset to a preset time if the timer is clicked on again, or when a selected or designated period of time runs out. The timer either plays Christmas themed music, or some other comparable holiday-themed music, while the timer is running with the music stopping after time is up, or it plays such music as an indication that the selected or designated period of time is up. The different timers could be set to any time increment, but would usually be 30 seconds or less in duration.

[0015] Optionally, a plurality of sand timers can be used in place of timing devices 36, 38 and 40. More particularly, a sand timer would provide a relatively low cost solution for small scale manufacturing, as they are fungible products that can be readily available. The present search and find game requires multiple time increments. For example, there is 30 seconds of time allowed for a blizzard. There is also a Fast time and the Slow time allotments, which are determined by the players prior to starting a game. These time allotments may range from 5-30 seconds. It would be ideal to have a sand timer that could measure time intervals of 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds and 30 seconds. Lines could be placed on the glass or plastic body of a 30 second sand timer at the level the sand reaches after it has been running for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, and 20 seconds. If the timer runs all the way out then it would be 30 seconds. This implementation would require a player who is not participating in the event to watch the timer and judge when it has reached the level and when time is up. There would be lines placed on both sides of the sand timer so that it can be viewed in both directions. The time is judged on the upper part of the timer when the level of sand has dropped to the appropriate mark. The marking could be a line or there could be a shaded area for each time increment.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, playing cards 20 take the form of a stocking stuffer card 42, a zoom card 44, a phrase card 46, and a picture card 48. Cards 42, 44, 46 and 48 are provided in respective decks, or stacks 52, 54, 56 and 58. A top surface of each card 42, 44, 46 and 48 contains a descriptor and/or indicia that identifies each type of card as being a member of a respective one of stacks 52, 54, 56 and 58. A bottom surface of each card 42, 44, 46 and 48 contains an indication that identifies a next event.

[0017] In one form, random chance device 24 of FIG. 1 is a spinner with an arrow indicator affixed for rotation onto a board having demarcations for specific categories 26-32 spaced apart circumferentially about the board. Optionally, the random chance device can be a set of dice (or die), or an electronic device that randomly generates selection of one of categories 26-32, or any other suitable means of randomly or pseudo-randomly generating ones of categories 26-32 and 126-132 for a player that is playing game 10.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a game player 17 implementing a next event for holiday search and find game 10 comprising searching for a Christmas tree ornament thematic object 12 on playing environment 14 comprising a Christmas tree 62. Player 17 is searching for a Santa Claus ornament 60 that has been hung on Christmas tree 62 using hints provided by a zoom playing card 44 that has been selected from zoom stack 54 in response to random selection of a player turn indicating a slow zoom category 29 on random chance device, or spinner 24. Player 18 looks on while player 17 attempts under a time limit defined by a timer 40 to find ornament 60 responsive to an indicia, indication, or clue provided pictorially on zoom card 44. Optionally or additionally, a picture card 48 from a picture card stack 58 includes indicia, an indication, or a clue relevant to identifying and locating ornament 60 on tree 62.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, Santa Claus ornament 60 is a movable holiday thematic object 12 in the form of a holiday miniature ornament that is thematically a Christmas tree ornament. However, it is understood that a thematic ornament can be provided for other holiday themes, such as Hanukkah, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween or Independence Day.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a plan view from above of a random chance device comprising a spinner board 24 for randomly selecting occurrence of a category of a next event including selection of a card from at least one category of cards and at least one of: a number of players, an identity of one or more players participating in the next event, and a time period allotted for performing the next event. More particularly, board 24 includes an arrow, or pointer 25 carried for rotation on board 24 at a balanced center point. A player spins arrow 25 and waits for arrow 25 to come to a random stop atop one of the pie-shaped categories demarcated atop board 24, thereby randomly selecting the category. Individual arcuate segments on board 24 include six unique Holiday Rush categories where two players play the next event: the spinning player and a designated player; namely, a player to the spinner's left (L) category 26, a player across the board circle from the spinning player (A) category 27, and a player to the spinner's right (R) category 28. Each category 26-28 occurs twice on board 24. The occurrence of categories 26-28 indicates a next event including a number of players participating in the next event and an identity of one or more players participating in the next event.

[0021] Each unique ornament has three Holiday Rush cards, a zoom card, a phrase card, and a picture card that provide indicators of the identity of a corresponding ornament that is to be found during a timed event. As shown in FIG. 3, individual arcuate segments are provided on board 24 corresponding with the categories, with each category having a slow version and a fast version that define the time period available to find the identified ornament. Accordingly, there are pie-shaped segments for: a slow zoom category 29, a fast phrase category 30, a slow picture category 31, a fast zoom category 129, a slow phrase category 130, and a fast picture category 131. Finally, there are two unique pie-shaped segments for a Stocking Stuffer category 32.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a plan view of top and bottom sides of exemplary PICTURE, ZOOM and PHRASE playing cards 48, 44 and 46, respectively. As shown in an upper row of FIG. 4, top sides of PICTURE card 48, ZOOM card 44, and PHRASE card 46 identify the category of card as identified by spinner 24 of FIG. 3 from which a player is to select a top card. Lower row of FIG. 4 shows the indication 22 on each respective card shown in the top row; namely, PICTURE card 48 shows an indication 22 as a full image of a corresponding ornament, ZOOM card 44 shows an indication 22 as a zoomed-in partial image of a corresponding ornament, and PHRASE card 46 shows an indication 22 as a text phrase identifying details or indicia of the ornament to be found. The indication on such ZOOM card 44 is an enlarged partial image segment indicative of a geometric feature of a respective one of the movable holiday thematic objects.

[0023] For the case of a PICTURE card 48, the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards includes at least one of an image, a photograph, a caricature, and a pictorial representation. For the case of a ZOOM card 44, the indication on at least one of the plurality of cards includes one of a subset of an image, a cropped image, and a subset of the full image. For the case of a ZOOM card 44, a PHRASE card 46, and a PICTURE card 48, the indications of at least one of the thematic objects comprises information used to identify at least one of the thematic objects comprising at least one of: a riddle, a clue, a name, a description, a word scramble, a photograph, and a zoomed-in photograph (or image).

[0024] FIG. 5 is a plan view of bottom sides of a plurality of exemplary PHRASE playing cards 46. Each phrase card 46 includes on a bottom side an indication comprising a phrase or scrambled word that provides an indication or indicia of a corresponding ornament to be found under a defined search and find time constraint as defined by a timing device, or timer. Exemplary indication 70 requests a player to unscramble the letters bltesalbka to form a word clue. Exemplary indication 71 is a word phrase Yummy Treat. Exemplary indication 72 is a word phrase Shakable. Exemplary indication 73 is a word phrase Shepard's Staff. Exemplary indication 74 is a word phrase Cherry on Top. Exemplary indication 75 is a word phrase For our Feathered Friends.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a plan view of top and bottom sides of exemplary STOCKING STUFFER playing cards 42. Upper row of FIG. 6 shows top sides of STOCKING STUFFER cards 42 and the lower row shows the corresponding exemplary indications on each card; namely, a Bah Humbug! indication 76, a Gift Card indication 77, an Extra Time indication 78, a Lump of Coal indication 79, and a Blizzard indication 80.

[0026] According to one implementation, the holiday search and find game of FIGS. 1-6 has the following purpose, components, set of rules, and instructions.

[0027] Purpose of the Game:

[0028] Holiday Rush is a search and find game where your Christmas Tree is the game board and ornaments are the game pieces. Find the ornament you are searching for to be the first to collect enough points to win the game.

[0029] Included with the Game:

[0030] 25 ornaments

[0031] Holiday Rush Spinner

[0032] Holiday Rush Timer

[0033] Rules and Instructions

[0034] 3 Holiday Rush Cards per Ornament: 1 Picture Card, 1 Zoom Card, 1 Phrase Card

[0035] Picture Card (Blue back): Has a full picture of the specific ornament to find.

[0036] Zoom Card (Red back): Has a zoomed-in picture of the specific ornament.

[0037] Phrase Card (Green back): Has a riddle, description, or word scramble that describes an ornament. These cards may apply to more than one ornament.

[0038] 20 Stocking Stuffer Cards (Yellow Back):

[0039] Four each of the following cards:

[0040] Lump of Coal Blizzard Gift Card Extra Time Bah! Humbug!

[0041] Prepare to Play:

[0042] As a part of your family tradition, decorate your Christmas tree with your ornaments and with Holiday Rush ornaments. Near the tree arrange the players in a circle around the Holiday Rush Spinner and Game Cards. You will need room around the tree for players to search for ornaments on their turn.

[0043] Prior to starting the game, determine what the winning point total will be and how many seconds will be given to search during the Fast time and the Slow time. Suggested point totals are 50 points for a shorter game and 100 points for a longer game. Suggested times for the first few games are 10 seconds for Fast and 20 seconds for Slow. The times can be shortened as players become more familiar with the ornaments and cards. Advanced players will enjoy 5 second Fast and 10 second Slow times. Longer times can be used for younger children. Inexperienced players can be given a head start on Holiday Rush Plays.

[0044] Play can start with the youngest player or can be determined by spinning the spinner. Play then proceeds in a clockwise direction.

[0045] Taking a Turn:

[0046] The player starts by spinning the spinner.

[0047] Individual PlayIf the spinner lands on one of the six individual play spaces, then the space will indicate which deck to draw a card from as well as how much time (Fast or Slow) the player will have to find the ornament. Time starts when the player draws the Holiday Rush Card. The player can then attempt to find the ornament indicated by the card before time runs out. If the player finds the ornament they must point at it and say Rush!. If the ornament was found before time runs out, then the player is awarded 5 points for ornaments found using the Slow time and 10 points for the Fast time. Place the used cards in a discard pile next to the deck from which the card was drawn.

[0048] Holiday Rush PlayA Holiday Rush Play takes place when the spinner lands on one of the six Holiday Rush spaces. In a Holiday Rush Play, two players are competing to be the first to find an ornament before time runs out. The play will include the spinning player and the extra player indicated on the spinner by the R, L, or A spaces.

[0049] R spaceplayer to the spinning player's right R participates in the play

[0050] L spaceplayer to the spinning player's left L participates

[0051] A spaceplayer across the circle from the spinning player participates

[0052] The spinning player, prior to drawing a card, chooses whether the turn will be done in the Slow or Fast time. The Slow time is worth 5 points and the Fast time is worth 10 points. The spinning player will draw a Picture Card while the extra player will draw a Zoom Card. The turn and time start when the spinning player draws their Picture Card. The extra player may not draw their Zoom Card before the spinning player draws. When cards are drawn, the first player to find their ornament within the chosen time, and say Rush!, is awarded the points. If there is a tie, then a Rush Off will be held with each player drawing a phrase card. The first player to find their ornament, before time runs out, wins the points.

[0053] Stocking StufferIf the spinner lands on Stocking Stuffer, then the player draws one Stocking Stuffer Card. The following are the actions for each Stocking Stuffer Card.

[0054] Lump of CoalLose your turn.

[0055] Blizzard30 seconds is allowed for all players to move 2 ornaments to a different part of the tree. The spinning player spins again after the Blizzard is over.

[0056] If you do not want ornaments being moved during game play, then remove the Blizzard Cards from the Stocking Stuffer deck prior to playing Holiday Rush.

[0057] Gift CardThe player is awarded a free 10 points. The spinning player does not spin again after drawing a Gift Card.

[0058] Extra TimeThe player can save the card to use on a future turn to double the amount of time they have to search on an Individual Play or to receive a head start equal to the chosen search time on a Holiday Rush Play. The player must announce the use of Extra Time after spinning and prior to drawing a card. Extra time can only be used on the player's own turn not when they are an extra player in a Holiday Rush Play. The spinning player spins again after drawing an Extra Time card.

[0059] Bah! Humbug!The player takes 10 points from the person in the lead. If no one has points yet, then no points are awarded. If there is a tie for the lead, then 5 points are taken from each leader. If 3 or more players are tied for the lead then the spinning player can pick two of those players from which to take 5 points. If the player that drew the card is in the lead or tied for the lead, then no points are awarded. The spinning player does not spin again after drawing a Bah! Humbug! card.

[0060] Winning the Game:

[0061] Play proceeds until someone reaches or exceeds the predetermined point total and wins the game. The final 5 or 10 points that would give a player the winning score cannot be won on an Individual Play. Points that will result in a winning score can only be won during a Holiday Rush Play or by drawing a Stocking Stuffer card that awards points. The spinning player loses their turn if the spinner lands on an Individual Play space, and the play would result in a winning score.

[0062] A Final Rush Off will be held in the rare event of two players being tied at a winning score by tying on a final Holiday Rush Play. The Final Rush Off will involve both players drawing one card each from the Picture, Zoom, and Phrase Card decks. After finding the Picture Card ornament, the player then draws a Zoom Card, and finally a Phrase Card. The first to find all three ornaments is the winner. There is no time limit in a Final Rush Off.

[0063] Additional Rules:

[0064] It is against the rules to study the tree between turns or after time has run out on a turn.

[0065] No pouting or fighting! You don't want to be put on the naughty list!

[0066] Variations of Play:

[0067] Small Children can play by taking turns selecting a picture and/or zoom card and searching for that ornament. If they find the ornament they keep the card. The first child to a predetermined total of 5 or 10 cards is the winner.

[0068] Team Play:

[0069] Large families or groups can pair up in teams. Team members will alternate taking turns searching for ornaments or being involved in Holiday Rush Play. Team members can work together to solve a phrase card, followed by one team member then searching for the ornament.

[0070] Time Limit: Instead of playing to a predetermined point total, the game can be played for a set amount of time. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of that time limit. If there is a tie then a Final Rush Off can be held.

[0071] Although FIGS. 1-6 detail a search and find game that is realized as a physical game in the form of cards, hard goods in the form of Christmas tree ornaments, a spinner and one or more timers, it is understood that at least a portion and maybe all of such search and find game can be implemented as an application on a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet, and/or a personal computing device. More particularly, such a portable electronic device, or computer, has a microprocessor with processing circuitry, memory, and operating system, an application program, and a user interface (including a display screen). The application program would realize in a virtual environment the various game components including the cards, the spinner and the timer. The Christmas tree ornaments could still be hard goods, or they could be realized as virtual Christmas tree ornaments and the playing environment could be a virtual Christmas tree presented on the user interface. It is also understood that an individual can incorporate their own personal ornaments within the search and find game 10.

[0072] For the case of the application program implementation, the application would have a randomized generator that would randomly generate the different events on the spinner based on their frequency of occurrence determined by their area on the spinner. The digital spinner, or digital randomization device, would be activated by a swipe of the finger on the touch screen surface. The application would allow for input of the players and their order of play. The times for Fast and Slow could be entered into data fields and could be the same for each player or could be input with different times for each player depending on their age or familiarity with the holiday thematic objects. The predetermined winning point total would also be entered into a data field. When an event is generated by the spinner, the application would then display the appropriate card stack. A swipe of the touch screen surface would trigger a random generation of the card revealing the indication of the holiday thematic object. The appropriate timer would start when the card is revealed. The timer would be integrated into the application. If a stocking stuffer event was generated by the spinner, then the swipe of the touch screen would reveal which stocking stuffer card was randomly generated. After an event, there would be digital buttons (usually capacitive switches) that could be clicked to indicate which player successfully completed the event. This would then apply the appropriate points to that player's point total. The total scores could be constantly displayed in a strip at the top, bottom, or side of the screen. There would also be a game summary page where the player's scores and a detailed breakdown of the score for each event could be viewed.

[0073] In compliance with the statute, the subject matter disclosed herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise example embodiments. The claims are thus to be afforded full scope as literally worded, and to be appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.