Travel game and method of play

• US 5,984,311 A
• Filed: 03/07/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank John Stefanik, Stefanik, Michael
• Original Assignee: Frank John Stefanik, Stefanik, Michael
• Inventors: Stefanik, Michael, Stefanik, Frank John
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/036,630
• Time in Patent Office: 619 Days
• Field of Search: 273/459, 273/430
• US Class Current: 273/459
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00088 Board games concerning traffic or travelling trading A63F3/00063; racing A63F3/00082; teaching the highway code A63F3/0494
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/00 Games not otherwise provided for aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00 ; miscellaneous sporting games A63B67/00

Abstract

A license plate observation game is played by passengers traveling in an automobile by reading information on official bureaus of motor vehicle license plates, recording that information and scoring points directly from the recorded information or derivatives thereof. Points are scored by attributing values to the alphanumeric characters and pictures or images on the license plates and to the origin of the license plate. Each number on the license plate is worth its numerical value. Each alphabetic character on the license plate is attributed one point. Additional points may be gained by correlating specific alphanumeric combinations, abbreviations or variations to proper names and words from both the alphabetic and numeric characters. Players enhance their scores by making the most favorable alphanumeric correlations possibly discernable from the license plates.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

a) observing a license plate on a vehicle;

b) recording information from the license plate on a medium;

c) attributing points to the recorded information by attributing one point for each alphabetic character recorded and attributing the numerical value of each number recorded;

d) repeating steps a) through c) until the end of the game; and

e) adding all the attributed points at the end of the game.

2. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 1, wherein step c) comprises maximizing the points attributable to the alphanumeric characters on the license plate, by deriving formal, informal and phonetically spelled words, names, persons, places, things, abbreviations, expressions or phrases from the alphanumeric characters.

3. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 1, wherein step b) comprises recording the description of pictures or images observed on the plate.

4. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 1, wherein step b) comprises recording the information on a medium having sections for numbers and alphabetic characters.

5. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 4, wherein the medium further comprises a section for license plate origin.

6. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 4, wherein the game ends when all of the sections are completed.

7. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 1, wherein the game ends after a predetermined time limit.

8. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 1, wherein step b) comprises recording the origin of plate.

9. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 1, wherein each license plate may be only used once for information.

10. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 1, wherein the game is comprised of a keyboard, a display and a controller.

11. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

a) observing data on vehicle license plates; and

b) attributing points for the license plates based on the observed data by attributing points for the alphabetic characters and the numbers observed; and

c) adding all the attributed points at the end of the game.

12. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 11, wherein step b) comprises maximizing the points attributable to alphanumeric characters observed on the license plate by deriving formal, informal and phonetically spelled words, names, persons, places, things, abbreviations, expressions or phrases from the alphanumeric characters.

13. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 11, wherein step b) comprises attributing points for the description of pictures or images observed on the plate.

14. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 11, wherein step b) comprises recording the information on a medium having sections for numbers and alphabetic characters.

15. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 14, wherein the medium further comprises a section for license plate origin.

16. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 14, wherein the game ends when all of the sections are completed.

17. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 11, wherein the game ends after a predetermined time limit.

18. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 11, wherein each license plate may be only used once for information.

19. A method of playing a game in accordance with claim 11, wherein the game is comprised of a keyboard, a display and a controller.