Amusement devices: games – Board games – pieces – or boards therefor – Collapsible board
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-03-06
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Board games, pieces, or boards therefor
Collapsible board
C273S287000, CD21S335000, C206S315100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196546
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the game of chess and, more particularly, to chess game boards that can be folded up when not in use.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The game of chess is very popular game and has been so for many years. Often persons like to transport the game to various locations where they would like to play the game. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to the portability of chess games, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: 538,380, 724,760, 4,781,384, 5,280,913, and 5,497,998. More specifically, each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 538,380 and 5,497,998 discloses a chess board that is capable of being rolled up for transportation. Of course when a chess game is transported, both the board and the pieces must be transported. However, neither U.S. Pat. No. 538,380 nor U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,998 discloses a provision for the transport of the chess pieces. In this respect, it would be desirable if a chess game apparatus were provided which facilitates transportation of both the chess board and the chess pieces.
Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 724,760 and 4,781,384 discloses a chess game which includes a game board that folds up for easy transport. In addition, each of these patents provides a single storage box container for housing the chess pieces when the game is being transported. However, when such a single chess piece retention container is employed, the chess pieces that are stored will bump up against one another during transport. Some chess pieces are from sets of highly crafted and expensive pieces. When such pieces bump up against one another during transport, some of those pieces may suffer damage. This being the case, it would be desirable if a chess game apparatus were provided that has a storage area for chess pieces that prevents chess pieces from bumping up against one another during transport.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,913 discloses a chess game apparatus that has a case that folds up for transport. In addition, individual storage locations are provided for individual chess pieces. It is noted, however, that the overall shape of the apparatus in the storage and transport mode is that of a rectangular box. Such a box-shaped device may not fit easily into a storage compartment that has dimensions that are more adapted to a cylindrical shape. In this respect, it would be desirable if a chess game apparatus were provided which stores individual chess pieces individually and has an overall cylindrical shape when the apparatus is in a storage mode.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use chess games that have folding boards in which chess pieces are stored for transport, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a chess game apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) facilitates transportation of both the chess board and the chess pieces together; (2) has a storage area for chess pieces that prevents chess pieces from bumping up against one another during transport; and (3) which stores individual chess pieces individually and has an overall cylindrical shape when the apparatus is in a storage mode. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique chess game apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a chess game apparatus in which a chess board is provided when the apparatus is in an unrolled condition and in which an octagonal storage device is provided when the apparatus is in a rolled up condition. The chess game apparatus includes a first end board/storage unit which includes a first outside surface which includes a set of eight alternating dark and light squares. The first end board/storage unit also includes four interior storage compartments. A first end hinge is connected to a rear portion of the first end board/storage unit. A set of six intermediate board/storage units are connected to the first end hinge. Five intermediate hinges are provided between rear portions of the six intermediate board/storage units. Each of the intermediate board/storage units includes an outside surface which includes a set of eight alternating dark and light squares. Also each of the intermediate board/storage units includes four interior storage compartments. A second end hinge is connected to a rear portion of one of the intermediate board/storage units. A second end board/storage unit is connected to the second end hinge. The second end board/storage unit includes a second outside surface which includes a set of eight alternating dark and light squares, and the second end board/storage unit includes four interior storage compartments. A locking device is connected between the first end board/storage unit and the second end board/storage unit. Each of said first end hinge, the intermediate hinges, and the second end hinge can be in a form of a living plastic hinge.
A set of thirty-two chess pieces can be stored in the thirty-two interior storage compartments of the first end board/storage unit, the six intermediate board/storage units, and the second end board/storage unit. The alternating dark and light squares of the first end board/storage unit, the six intermediate board/storage units, and the second end board/storage unit provide a sixty-four square chess board when the apparatus is in an unrolled condition.
The locking device includes a first locking device member connected to the first end board/storage unit, a second locking device member connected to the second end board/storage unit, and a locking latch connected between the first locking device member and the second locking device member when the apparatus is in a rolled up condition.
Each of the first end board/storage unit, the six intermediate board/storage units, and the second end board/storage unit includes trapezoidal end walls each of which includes a base edge, a pair of side edges extending upward from the base edge, and a top edge connected between the side edges. Each of the trapezoidal end walls has a trapezoidal height. For each trapezoidal end wall, a base-edge-to-side-edge angle is approximately sixty-seven and one half degrees and a side-edge-to-top-edge angle is approximately one hundred twelve and one half degrees. As a result, when the chess game apparatus is in a rolled up condition, the apparatus is rolled up into an eight-sided, octagonal structure.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining a preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructi
Bender S. Michael
Layno Benjamin H.
Mendiratta Vishu
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