Amusement devices: games – Board games – pieces – or boards therefor – Having three-dimensional pattern
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-07-10
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Board games, pieces, or boards therefor
Having three-dimensional pattern
C273S260000, C273S287000, C273S281000, C273S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257575
ABSTRACT:
PRIOR ART
A patent search was conducted on the above identified invention and revealed the following United States patents:
PATENT NO.
INVENTION
INVENTOR
Des. 236,993
CHESS BOARD OR THE LIKE
Howard C. Davis
3,434,719
CHECKER-TYPE BOARD
Robert V. Fyanes
GAME APPARATUS
3,531,123
CHECKERBOARD WITH
David M. Peebles
RECESSED SQUARES AND
PIECES DISPOSABLE
THEREIN
3,767,201
MULTI-LEVEL GAME BOARD
Harper et al
STRUCTURE FOR THREE-
DIMENSIONAL CHESS AND
CHECKER GAMES
3,843,133
GAME APPARATUS FOR
Paul D. Brown
PLAYING AND RECORDING
SUCCESSIVE PLAYS IN A
GAME
3,871,657
MULTILEVEL CHESS OR
Lorenz et al
CHECKER BOARD
4,179,127
THREE DIMENSIONAL
Vernon T. Goodman
CHESS GAME APPARATUS
4,348,027
MULTI-LEVEL GAME BOARD
Ricardo Escamilla-
APPARATUS
Kelly
4,411,433
BOARD GAME APPARATUS
William M. Flynn
5,031,917
THREE DIMENSIONAL
Leonard M. Greene
CHESS GAME
5,662,329
CHESS-TYPE GAME
Richard L. Nason
The only pertinent reference is Lorenz et al which discloses a multilevel chess or checker board enabling participants of the conventional games of chess and checkers to vary the topography of the board prior to the commencement of the game. However, the various supporting pieces 7 are of a fixed height and not independently adjustable.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, vertically adjustable squares on a game board assembly are utilized with a plurality of independent squares (a total of 64 squares) on which respective game pieces are placed thereon, such in a game of checkers, chess, or the like. In a standard game board assembly, we have shown herein a total of 64 independently adjustable squares, each having a top surface respectively to receive a game piece thereon.
More particularly, the vertically adjustable squares on a game board assembly of this invention includes 1) a game board frame assembly; and 2) an actuator square assembly, being a plurality thereof, mounted on the game board frame assembly and each one being vertically adjustable in height independently.
The game board frame assembly includes a support base assembly supported on a frame support assembly on a support surface, such as a card table or the like.
The support base assembly includes a bottom wall section having connected to an outer periphery thereof, a plurality of side wall sections so as to present a square frame having an upper area surrounded by the side wall sections forming a cavity to receive and confine adjacent and abutting actuator square assemblies therein.
The bottom wall section is generally constructed of a wood material but could be marble and has a plurality of actuator support openings or holes to receive a portion of the respective ones of the actuator square assemblies therein as will be noted.
The frame support assembly includes a support block mounted to an undersurface in each corner of the bottom wall section and having thereon a support ball used to contact a supporting surface to achieve an attractive appearance.
Each of the actuator square assemblies, being a total of 64 thereof, includes 1) a stationary block support assembly anchored to respective ones of the actuator support holes or openings in the bottom wall section of the support base assembly; 2) a movable support tube assembly connected to the respective stationary support block assemblies and vertically movable thereon; and 3) a movable game square member which is mounted about and movable with the movable support tube assembly.
Each stationary block support assembly includes a stationary tube member having 1) a top flared section; 2) a mid support section; and 3) a lower connector section.
The stationary tube member is of a cylindrical shape having a top flared section with an outer contact edge thereon for contacting a portion of the movable support tube assembly as will be noted.
The lower connector section includes an outer groove and an upper groove. The outer groove is adapted to receive a snap ring member therein to hold a washer member against a lower outer surface of the bottom wall section of the support base assembly.
The upper groove is operable to receive an anchor snap ring member therein and to be placed against an upper surface of the bottom wall section of the support frame assembly so as to hold the entire stationary tube member in a rigid clamped condition about opposite surfaces of the bottom wall section.
The movable support tube assembly includes a generally cylindrical movable tube member having an interior diameter slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the outer contact edge of the top flared section of the stationary tube member of the stationary block support assembly.
The movable support tube assembly includes 1) the movable tube member; 2) an upper washer member; and 3) an O-ring member.
The movable tube member has an upper flange and a lower flange with both flanges extended inwardly. The upper washer member is mounted against and connected to the upper flange when in the assembled condition.
As noted in
FIG. 4
, the O-ring member is mounted against an upper surface of the lower flange and provides a friction type seal between the stationary tube member and an inner surface of the movable tube member. The O-ring member insures that the movable tube member moves in a controlled and aligned manner about the stationary tube member in a common longitudinal axis.
The movable game square member can be constructed of an attractive hard wood material such as oak or walnut or may be constructed of a marble material.
Each movable game square member includes a main block member of square shape having a top wall, outer side walls, a central support opening, and a bottom entrance opening.
The inside central support opening is of a size to snugly fit over, enclose, and receive the movable tube member of the movable support tube assembly therein and is conjointly vertically movable therewith.
As noted in
FIG. 5
, the bottom wall section is provided with a plurality of the actuator support openings to receive a respective one of the actuator square assemblies therein.
The movable support tube assembly and the movable game square member could be a one-piece construction known as a movable game piece support assembly.
Also, as noted in
FIG. 3
, the movable game square members are in snug, adjacent relationship with a respective adjacent one of the movable game square members and are independently movable vertically as noted in
FIG. 3
to a height that the user would desire.
It is noted that a pencil or an actuator rod can be inserted through a control opening into the lower connector section of the stationary tube member so as to be pressed against an inner surface of the upper washer member of the movable support tube assembly to get the desired vertical positioning and height thereof. Of course, a mere depression on a top game piece support surface of the main block member of the respective movable game square members can move the same downwardly to any desired height.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of this invention is to provide for vertically adjustable squares on a game board assembly to create added versatility and excitement while playing a game of checkers or chess or any other such game requiring a plurality, such as a total of 64, of independently vertically adjustable squares.
Another object of this invention is to provide for vertically adjustable squares on a game board assembly being of quality construction; attractive in appearance; and providing means thereon for independently adjusting the height of the game board squares, such as from a lowered flat flush surface to a “maximum” raised height of two and one quarter inches but this could height could be varied.
One other object of this invention is to provide for vertically adjustable squares on a game board assembly having a game board frame assembly with a bottom wall section and upwardly extended side wall sections to form a central cavity area operable to receive a plurality of actuator square assemblies, each having a movable game square member that can be independently vertically adjus
Layno Benjamin H.
Rein Phillip A.
LandOfFree
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