US20080023912A1

US20080023912A1 - Cup holder game playing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20080023912A1
Application number: US11/546,918
Authority: US
Inventors: Steve Gormally; Christine Andrews
Original assignee: Strottman International
Current assignee: Strottman International
Priority date: 2006-07-25
Filing date: 2006-10-13
Publication date: 2008-01-31

Abstract

The cup holder game playing apparatus is intended for use with a motorized vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein and includes a hollow cylindrical container and a lid. The hollow cylindrical container has a tapered bottom end and an open top end, the tapered bottom end being dimensioned to fit within the recessed cup holder. The lid is designed to be detachably removed from the open top end of the hollow cylindrical container and encompasses at least one game playing mechanism. The cup holder game playing apparatus is designed to allow playing of the game playing mechanism while the apparatus is maintained within the cup holder. The lid of each cup holder game playing apparatus may encompass a different game playing mechanism, including a randomizer, such as a spinner or a pop-o-matic dice mechanism, a revealer, or a scoring device, such as a trivia scoring device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/832,960, filed Jul. 25, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to game playing apparatuses, and more specifically to a game playing apparatus for use in the recessed cup holder of a motorized vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Riding in a vehicle, especially for long periods of time during long vacation trips and such, can often be boring and monotonous. This is especially true for children, who easily become restless if not constantly entertained while riding in the vehicle. As such, parents and other drivers are constantly searching for ways to entertain their children and other passengers while riding in the vehicle. Many different types of portable toys and games have been created in order to help entertain these sorts of passengers. However, many of these games present problems in that they have structures that make them difficult to balance and effectively play while riding in a moving automobile, as well as making them difficult to store while not in use. Also, many of these games come with small pieces that are easily thrown about or lost while inside a moving automobile.
What is needed is a game apparatus that is capable of fitting within recessed cup holders that are commonly found in most conventional passenger automobiles. It is desirable that these games be capable of being played while remaining positioned within a cup holder and that the game apparatus be capable itself of holding any accompanying playing pieces or cards that might be necessary to the playing of the game. Thus a cup holder game playing apparatus solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cup holder game playing apparatus of the present invention is intended for use with a motorized vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein and includes a hollow cylindrical container and a lid. The hollow cylindrical container has a tapered bottom end and an open top end, the tapered bottom end being dimensioned to fit within the recessed cup holder. The lid is designed to be detachably removed from the open top end of the hollow cylindrical container and encompasses at least one game playing mechanism.
The cup holder game playing apparatus is designed to allow playing of the game playing mechanism while the apparatus is maintained within the cup holder. The container portion may be used to store playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the playing of the game. The lid of each cup holder game playing apparatus may encompass a different game playing mechanism, including a randomizer, such as a spinner or a pop-o-matic dice mechanism, a revealer, or a scoring device, such as a trivia scoring device. These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, environmental perspective view of a first embodiment of a cup holder game playing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of a first embodiment of a cup holder game playing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cup holder game playing apparatus with an exploded game piece according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cup holder game playing apparatus with an associated game playing card according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a cup holder game playing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a series of playing cards for use with a cup holder game playing apparatus according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a cup holder game playing apparatus, for use with a motorized vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein, of which a first embodiment 10, a second embodiment 10A, a third embodiment 10B, and a fourth embodiment 10C are shown in the drawings.
Referring to FIGS. 1-2, cup holder game playing apparatus 10 is shown. Cup holder game playing apparatus 10 includes a hollow cylindrical container 12 and a lid 14. Hollow cylindrical container 12 has a tapered bottom end and an open top end. The tapered bottom end of hollow cylindrical container 12 is dimensioned to fit within a recessed cup holder C located within most conventional motorized vehicles. Lid 14 removably covers the open top end of hollow cylindrical container 12 and encompasses at least one game playing mechanism. Cup holder game playing apparatus 10 includes a randomizing spinner 16 as part of the game playing mechanism. Spinner or rotatable indicator 16 is adapted to fit within lid 14 such that it is free to rotate within lid 14. Indicator 16 can be adapted to list a series of categories that can be used in playing a word association type game.
Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be used to store playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the playing of the game mechanism associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10. The cup holder game playing apparatus 10 is designed to allow playing of the game playing mechanism while the apparatus is maintained within cup holder C.
FIG. 3 shows cup holder game playing apparatus 10A having hollow cylindrical container 12 and lid 14 a. Cup holder game playing apparatus 10A includes a playing piece 18 as part of the game playing mechanism. Lid 14 a is designed to receive a plurality of playing pieces 18 and playing piece 18 is adapted to fit onto lid 14 a such that it may indicate completion of a category when playing a trivia type game associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10A. Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be used to store playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the playing of the game mechanism associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10A.
FIG. 4 shows cup holder game playing apparatus 10B having hollow cylindrical container 12 and lid 14 b. Lid 14 b is designed to act as a revealer and is intended to be used with a game playing card 22 such that it may reveal encoded information on playing card 22 when playing a game requiring secret decoding with cup holder game playing apparatus 10B. Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be used to store playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the playing of the game mechanism associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10B.
FIG. 5 shows cup holder game playing apparatus 10C having hollow cylindrical container 12 and lid 14 c. Lid 14 c includes a dice member 20 contained within a plastic enclosure and is designed to be used as a pop-o-matic type game playing mechanism. Pressing and releasing the plastic enclosure allows dice member 20 to be rolled, aiding in the playing of a number of games of chance that may be associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10C. Hollow cylindrical container 12 may be used to store playing pieces or playing cards that are necessary for the playing of the game mechanism associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10C.
FIG. 6 shows a plurality of game playing cards 22 that are representative of circular game playing cards that may be used in conjunction with games associated with cup holder game playing apparatus 10, cup holder game playing apparatus 10A, cup holder game playing apparatus 10B, and cup holder game playing apparatus 10C.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A game playing apparatus for use with for use with a motorized vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein, the game playing apparatus comprising:

a hollow cylindrical container having a tapered bottom end and an open top end, the tapered bottom end being configured and dimensioned to fit within the recessed cup holder; and

a lid for removably covering the open top end of the hollow cylindrical container,

wherein the lid encompasses at least one game playing mechanism.

2. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said container is dimensioned and configured to fit virtually entirely within the recessed cup holder, with said lid positioned above and outside of the recessed cup holder, such that a game may be played without removal of either said container or said lid from the recessed cup holder.

3. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid includes means defining a circular opening therethrough, and a rotatable indicator fitted within said opening, which is rotated to indicate predetermined game situations.

4. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said rotatable indicator includes a central, upstanding graspable member for facilitating rotation of said rotatable indicator.

5. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid further comprises a flat upper surface, and raised gate means thereon for selectively containing game pieces of a predetermined, fittable configuration.

6. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid includes a semi-transparent, colored surface thereon, arranged such that game pieces slid therebeneath bear indicia easily deciphered when viewed through said semi-transparent surface.

7. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said lid further comprises means defining a slot through a periphery thereof, for insertion of a game piece having indicia thereinto.

8. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said lid further comprises a transparent dome centered thereon, with at least one die confined therein.

9. A game playing apparatus for use with for use with a motorized vehicle having at least one recessed cup holder therein, the game playing apparatus comprising:

wherein the lid encompasses at least one game playing mechanism, said container being dimensioned and configured to fit virtually entirely within the recessed cup holder, with said lid positioned above and outside of the recessed cup holder, such that a game may be played without removal of either said container or said lid from the recessed cup holder.

10. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said game apparatus includes a predetermined series of playing cards.

11. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said lid has a top, upper surface configured to include structure for playing a certain game according to predetermined rules.

12. The game playing apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said lid has a top, upper surface configured to include structure for playing a certain game according to predetermined rules.