Amusement devices: games – Card or tile games – cards or tiles therefor – Word – sentence – or equation forming
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-17
2001-05-22
Chapman, Jeanette (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Card or tile games, cards or tiles therefor
Word, sentence, or equation forming
C273S272000, C273S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234486
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to card games, specifically word card games.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Word forming games using individual letters of the alphabet are known in the prior art. “Scrabble” (trademark) is the most famous. In this game, players receive a number of tiles containing letters and point values. They attempt to use all of their tiles to make words which they place on a game board, each player building on the first and subsequent words that are formed by players so the result looks like a crossword puzzle. Players add up the points on each of the letter tiles they use in their words and they record the result. Players end up with a total of points for the game which they compare with each other's score. There are other word forming games that have features similar to those in Scrabble. Some of these games use playing cards instead of tiles and they do not use a game board.
Some word card games consist of a deck of cards and method of play, the cards of which contain a letter of the alphabet and point designation. Player attempts to use all of his or her cards to form a word or words before other players. They also add up the point value of letters in the words they make to determine a score for the game. Games currently on the market called “Letras” (trademark) and “Quiddler” (trademark) are examples of these. Both Letras and Quiddler include a method of play in which one game consists of several hands. In Letras, the dealer decides on the number of cards to be dealt in each of such hands, such number to be between three and eight. Hands are dealt and words formed until a player accumulates a certain predetermined number of points. In Quiddler, the number of cards dealt in each hand is fixed, with the first hand being three cards, the next four, and on up to a hand of ten cards. Then point scores are compared. Word card games including letters marked with numbers and steps of adding up points or deducting points are at a disadvantage if shoppers are looking for a fresh word card game that doesn't involve points and adding up or deducting points to determine a score. There is also a need for an alternative word card game in which one game doesn't consist of several hands.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,432 claims a basic deck of matched alphabet cards that don't include points and is targeted at young children's learning activities and games. Of five suggested games for such deck, four are for youngsters who are learning about the alphabet and how to form words. Steps of the fifth game include making words by putting down the appropriate letter cards face up on a surface and thereby allowing other players to add to or change the letters of such words. The first person to use up all his cards is the winner. This feature of putting down cards on a surface might not be attractive to shoppers who want a word card game that doesn't need a sizable amount of flat surface, or a game in which just any combination of words will win.
Some word card games use features and symbols of traditional cards. U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,656 claims a deck of cards which contain a letter of the alphabet, point designation, and suit markings of traditional playing cards (hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades), and also suggests games that can be played with the deck. The markings and similarities to traditional cards, while expanding the versatility of the deck may not be attractive to children or individuals who like word games but are neither familiar with traditional cards nor have an interest in them.
Known prior art therefore discloses and suggests word card games that, while possessing a common goal of forming words, suffer from the following disadvantages:
a) It includes cards marked both with letters of the alphabet and points, and combined game play includes steps of adding up and deducting such values to determine a score for game. There is a need for a new word card game in which cards do not include points and points are not a factor in the formation of words or determination of a score.
b) It includes steps of play in which one game consists of several different hands of cards and varying numbers of cards. There is a need for a word card game in which one game consists of one hand.
c) It includes cards marked with suit symbols of traditional cards. The symbols and games of traditional cards might not be attractive to shoppers who are looking for a word card game but have neither knowledge of nor interest in traditional playing cards.
d) It includes a deck including letters of the alphabet without point markings or traditional playing card suit symbols and suggests steps of a game that includes the spelling out of words on a flat surface and allowing other players to change or add to such words, with the first person to use up his or her cards the winner. This feature may be eliminated so that a sizable flat surface isn't needed for play and the first player to use up all his or her cards in any combination of words doesn't win a game.
SUMMARY
A deck of cards and method of play, in combination, comprising a word game that does not feature points, multiple hands, or the suit symbols of traditional playing cards, and in which players are dealt a number of cards containing letters of the alphabet which they use to form complete words within their dealt hands.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
a) to provide a novel word card game that does not include points and does not include symbols or methods of traditional card games;
b) to provide a word card game that is about words only, and excludes formation of sets or sequences of letters;
c) to provide an alternative word card game that is stimulating enough to appeal to players at all levels together;
d) to provide a word card game that is amusing, easy to learn, and not on the market today;
e) to provide a novel word card game that uses only a deck of cards and is therefore compact, inexpensive to produce, easy to store, easy to pack for travel, and more available to all economic levels of the buying public;
f) to provide a word card game to be packaged and marketed with a distinctive name that signals its theme.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4333656 (1982-06-01), Sommer
patent: 4428582 (1984-01-01), Smith
patent: 4773651 (1988-09-01), Papapavlou
patent: 4775157 (1988-10-01), Armstrong
patent: 4826175 (1989-05-01), Quatrino
patent: 4877255 (1989-10-01), von Braunhut
patent: 5014996 (1991-05-01), von Braunhut
patent: 5409237 (1995-04-01), Marcley et al.
patent: 5417432 (1995-05-01), Dwyer
patent: 5524899 (1996-06-01), Haqendorn
patent: 5906492 (1999-05-01), Putterman
Letras™ game 1998 Letras Grand Isle Games, Inc.
Quiddler™ game 1998 Quiddler Set Enterprises, Inc.
Chapman Jeanette
Eshete Zelalem
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