Game with textured playing positions

Abstract

The game with textured playing positions is a game in which the playing positions are textured with different textures. The players attempt to position themselves on a playing surface without falling by distinguishing the positions from one another by touch, rather than requiring sight and lighting to distinguish different colors. The textured playing positions of the present game facilitate the play of the game in water, as in a shallow wading pool or the like, by providing better traction and grip for the players on what would be an otherwise slippery surface. The playing surface may be formed integrally with such a pool, if so desired. The provision of different textures for different playing positions also enables play of the game in darkened conditions, if so desired. Alternative embodiments indicate the different positions using phosphorescent or fluorescent colors to allow play in the dark or by use of ultraviolet lighting.

1 . A game apparatus with textured playing positions, comprising: 
 a playing surface;    a plurality of playing positions disposed upon the playing surface, each of the playing positions having a textured surface, the playing positions being divided into a plurality of groups, each of the groups having a distinctive, textured surface, whereby the playing position in one group is distinguishable from the playing position in another one of the groups by touch;    whereby the playing surface is adapted for playing a game in which players position themselves upon the playing positions as assigned by determining the texture of the playing position by contact therewith.    
   
   
       2 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 a wading pool, comprising at least: 
 a side wall; and 
 a bottom comprising said playing surface with said textured playing positions thereon.  
 
   
   
   
       3 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a foot bath extending outwardly from said side wall of said wading pool.  
   
   
       4 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of colors disposed upon said playing positions and corresponding to said different textures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The game apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said colors are selected from the group consisting of phosphorescent colors and fluorescent colors.  
   
   
       6 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each one of said groups of said textured playing positions comprises a linear row.  
   
   
       7 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said textured playing positions of each of said groups are randomly distributed upon said playing surface.  
   
   
       8 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said textured playing positions form a rectangular matrix of rows and columns.  
   
   
       9 . The game apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said textured playing positions form a non-rectangular pattern.  
   
   
       10 . The game apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said non-rectangular pattern of said textured playing positions comprises a hexagonal matrix.  
   
   
       11 . A game apparatus with textured playing positions, comprising: 
 a wading pool, having at least: 
 a bottom wall defining a periphery; and  
 a side wall disposed about the periphery of the bottom wall, the bottom wall and side wall forming a pool adapted for containing water;  
   a playing surface disposed upon the bottom wall;    a plurality of playing positions disposed upon the playing surface, each of the playing positions having a textured surface, the playing positions being divided into a plurality of groups, each of the groups having a distinctive, textured surface, whereby the playing position in one group is distinguishable from the playing position in another one of the groups by touch;    whereby the playing surface is adapted for playing a game in which players position themselves upon the playing positions as assigned by determining the texture of the playing position by contact therewith.    
   
   
       12 . The game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said playing surface is formed integrally with said bottom of said wading pool.  
   
   
       13 . The game apparatus according to  claim 11 , further including a foot bath extending outwardly from said side wall of said wading pool.  
   
   
       14 . The game apparatus according to  claim 11 , further including a plurality of colors disposed upon said playing positions and corresponding to said different textures thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The game apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said colors are selected from the group consisting of phosphorescent colors and fluorescent colors.  
   
   
       16 . The game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each one of said groups of said textured playing positions comprises a linear row.  
   
   
       17 . The game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said textured playing positions of each of said groups are randomly distributed upon said playing surface.  
   
   
       18 . The game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said textured playing positions form a rectangular matrix of rows and columns.  
   
   
       19 . The game apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said textured playing positions form a non-rectangular pattern.  
   
   
       20 . The game apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said non-rectangular pattern of said textured playing positions comprises a hexagonal matrix.