Floating card game

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for playing cards that float and are water resistant for use in water environments. The playing cards comprise a foam layer and plastic layer laminated together, the foam layer for flotation purposes, and the plastic layer for ease of handling. The cards temporarily adhere to one another and to surfaces surrounding the water. The surface of the water itself may be used as a playing surface.

1 . A floating card game apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a playing card having a substantially planar surface having an image, the playing card comprising a material having a density less than a density of water, the playing card having a structural integrity sufficient to substantially maintain a shape of the playing card;   wherein the playing card floats on the surface of water.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprising the playing card has a thickness and a structural integrity sufficient to shuffle the playing card. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprising the playing card comprises a foam layer. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the material comprising the playing card further comprises a plastic layer. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plastic layer and the foam layer are glued and pressure laminated together. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the material comprising the playing card further comprises a second plastic layer disposed opposite the plastic layer, wherein the foam layer is positioned between the plastic layer and the second plastic layer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plastic layer is approximately 15/1,000ths of an inch thick, and the foam layer is approximately 60/1,000ths of an inch thick. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plastic layer is composed of polypropylene and the foam layer is composed of ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising an additional playing card, the additional playing card comprising a plastic layer and a foam layer, wherein the additional playing card floats on the surface of water, and wherein the plastic layer of the playing card is configured to temporarily adhere to the foam layer of the additional playing card when both cards are wet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of additional playing cards, each additional playing card comprising a material having a density less than a density of water, wherein each additional playing card floats on the surface of water. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the additional playing cards all have substantially planar surfaces having images such that they collectively comprise a standard card deck. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of additional playing cards, each additional playing card comprising a material having a density less than a density of water, wherein each additional playing card floats on the surface of water, and wherein the additional playing cards have substantially planar surfaces having images, the images on each card within a first group of the playing cards comprising a representation of the front portion of an animal and the first letters of the animal's name, and the images on each card within a second group of the playing cards comprising a representation of the rear portion of an animal and the last letters of the animal's name, and wherein each card of the first group is configured to join with any card of the second group to form a complete representation of a real or fanciful animal and the name of the real or fanciful animal. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the playing card is approximately 75/1,000ths of an inch thick. 
     
     
         14 . A floating card game apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a playing card having a substantially planar surface having an image, the playing card comprising a material having a density less than a density of water, the playing card having a structural integrity sufficient to substantially maintain a shape of the playing card;   wherein the material comprising the playing card has a thickness and a structural integrity sufficient to shuffle the playing card and wherein the playing card floats on the surface of water.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the material comprising the playing card comprises a foam layer and a plastic layer. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of additional playing cards, each additional playing card comprising a material having a density less than a density of water, wherein each additional playing card floats on the surface of water wherein the additional playing cards all have substantially planar surfaces having images such that they collectively comprise a standard card deck. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of additional playing cards, each additional playing card comprising a material having a density less than a density of water, wherein each additional playing card floats on the surface of water, and wherein the additional playing cards have substantially planar surfaces having images, the images on each card within a first group of the playing cards comprising a representation of the front portion of an animal and the first letters of the animal's name, and the images on each card within a second group of the playing cards comprising a representation of the rear portion of an animal and the last letters of the animal's name, and wherein each card of the first group is configured to join with any card of the second group to form a complete representation of a real or fanciful animal and the name of the real or fanciful animal. 
     
     
         18 . A floating card game system, the system comprising:
 a deck of floating, water-resistant playing cards, each playing card having a substantially planar surface having an image, each playing card comprising a material having a density less than a density of water, wherein the material comprising each playing card comprises a foam layer and a plastic layer, each playing card having a structural integrity sufficient to substantially maintain a shape of the playing card;   a container;   wherein the playing cards are contained within the container.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the material comprising each playing card has a thickness and a structural integrity sufficient to shuffle the playing card. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each card is approximately 75/1,000ths of an inch thick, wherein the plastic layer is approximately 15/1,000ths of an inch thick and composed of polypropylene, wherein the foam layer is approximately 60/1,000ths of an inch thick and composed of ethylene vinyl acetate, wherein the plastic layer and the foam layer are glued and pressure laminated together, and wherein the deck is 4-4.5 inches thick.