CA1299597C

CA1299597C - Interlocking game board piece

Info

Publication number: CA1299597C
Application number: CA000551182A
Authority: CA
Inventors: George D. Hathaway; Peter A. Victor
Original assignee: CHOISS GAME Corp (THE)
Current assignee: CHOISS GAME Corp (THE)
Priority date: 1987-11-05
Filing date: 1987-11-05
Publication date: 1992-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-28
Also published as: GB2211749A; GB8825822D0; AU2452688A

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A game board piece for assembling a game board, in the course of playing a game, including a novel variation of Chess, is disclosed. The game board piece, is provided with means for interlocking it to other gameboard pieces.

Description

5g'7 GAME BOARDS

This invention relates to a game apparatus, and in particular to game board pieces which can interlock to form a vir~ually in~inite variety o~ game board configurations. This invention also relates to a game apparatus that can be used to play variations of the game of chess.
Board games in which a square or rectangular game board with a cross-lined pattern of small squares or at least two colours is utilised are well known, as for example in the games of checkers and chess. The object of such well known games is to win by moving mar}cers, such as chessmen or checkers, over the board in accordance with the rules of play.
It is not, however, well known to include as part of the game the construction of a game board itself by assembly of pieces, player by player, in turn.
However, if this is done, utilising the present invention, the assembled game board can assume a virtually infinite variety of configurations and thereby add a further dimension to a known game, as certain configurations may be either advantageous or dlsadvantageous to individual players.
The invention has for its object the provision of game board pieces which can be securely interlocked to each other in the course of a game, to provide an almost infinite variety of game board shpes.
This invention has for a further object the provision of board pieces which when assembled can provide a game board of any shape, including the standard game board, and when disassembled are easily portable and occupy a minimum amount of space.

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This invention has for a further object the provision of a novel version of the game of chess whereby the players assemble the game board, piece by piece in accordance with defined rules, prior to playing a game substantially in accordance with the rules of play of the traditional game of chess.

In a broad aspect, the present invention rélates to a game board piece for assembling a game board, said piece being provided with means for interlocking it with similar pieces, characterized in that said interlocking means comprises a laterally resilient member with laterally extending barbs, which projects from at least one side of said piece and at least one aperture in at least one other side of said piece, such that the resilient member of a first piece is adapted to slide through the aperture of a second piece, whereupon the barbs of the first piece engage an inner surface of the side of said second piece.

Further features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain specific embodiments which is given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of this embodiment;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of this invention;

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Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a dowel piece used in the second embodiment;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a dowel piece used in the third embodiment;
Figure 9 is a top plan view of one possible configuration of an assembled game board in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of a second possible configuration of an assembled board in accordance with the present invention;
~'igure 11 is a top plan view of a configuration o~
an assembled game board with an odd number oE ranks, showing -the positioning of a "no-man's land" marker;
Figure 12 is a top plan view of a configuration of an assembled game board with an even number of ranks, showing the positioning of a "no-man's land" marker.
Reerring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 the game board piece illustrated generally at 1 comprises a planar top surface 2 integral with sidewalls 3,~,5 and 6. The game board piece may be of any suitable configuration (e.g. triangular, octagonal), but in the form shown is a thin, flat, square. Each of sidewalls 3y~ and 5 is provided with an aperture 7. Sidewall 6 is provided with an arrow-shaped projection 8 which has a throat 8a widening into laterally extending barbs 9.
The projection is adapted to slide through the aperture 7 of an adjoining piece, whereupon the barbs, which compress inwardly as the projection is pushed through the aperture 7, engage the inner surface of the ,t,~f''~

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adjacent sidewall 6, -thereby locking together a pair of pieces. Alterna-tively, two game pieces may be interconnected by simply lowering the aperture 7 of the sidewall 6 of a first piece over the throat 8a portion of the projection 8 of a second piece, such that the barb 9 of the second piece engages the inner surface of the adjacent sidewall 6 thereby locking the pieces together. The interlocked pieces are adapted to withstand coplanar forces applied thereto. The pieces are released from each other by the simultaneous application of vertically opposed forces perpendicular to the plane of the pieces.
In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, there is provided a game board piece indicated lS generally at 10 adapted to interlock with another piece 10 by means of a dovetail pin 11. The game board piece 10 is provided with a generally planar top surface 12, four sidewalls 13 with dovetail apertures 14 and a slotted bottom surface 15. A portion of a dovetail pin 11 fits within any one of the apertures 14 of adjacent board pieces thereby locking together a pair of pieces.
In the third embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the game piece indicated generally at 20 comprises a flat solid rectangle. Located centrally in each sidewall is a circular aperture 21 adapted to receive a portion of a cylindrical dowel 22 and thereby keep two adjacent pieces in proper relative position.
Referring next to Figures 9 and 10 two possible configurations of an assembled game board comprising sixty-four interlocked game board pieces in accordance with the present invention are shown.
The method of playing the novel version of the game of chess commences with the assembly of the game board in accordance with the following steps-lo Build a square "core" of 2 white and 2 black squares, with a white square in the lower right-hand corner. Place the core in the centre of the table or playing surface.
White begins the game by connecting a white square to any side of either of the black squares in the core.
Black follows by connecting a black square to the side of any of the white squares. The players continue, in turn, until all of the 64 squares have been joined together.
Squares may be joined by either player to any opposite colour square that forms the board. Gaps or open spaces in the board are allowed. Tlle board may be built in any pattern or conflguration; squares are placed to suit the strategy of each player in putting the opponent at a disadvantage.

2. The following rules apply:
(i) A player may connect only one square at a time to a square of the opposite colour.
(ii) Once a square has been connected legally, and the player's hand removed from that square, the square may not be detached and placed somewhere else~
(iii) If it is discovered, at any time, that a square has been connected illegally (white to white, black to black), that square must be removed. All other squares connected after the illegal square was connected must also be removed along with any chess pieces placed on the board. The game continues with the square that was connected illegally being placed in a legal position.

3. Whan the board is complete, count the number of horizontal rows. If -the total is an odd number, the middle row is declared "no-man's land"~ A "no-man's land" marker is placed next to the middle row, off the board, in a horizontal position (see Figure 11).
If the total number of rows is even, the middle two rows are declared "no-man's land". The "no-man's land" marker is placed next to the middle rows, off the board, in a vertical position (see Figure 12).
"No-man's land" divides the board into two sides.
In the nex-t stage of the game, players position their chess pieces on their side of "no-man's land".
Once the game has been assembled, players position their chess pieces one at a time, and in turn, on the side of the board closest to them. Pieces must be posltioned on the squares that form the playing board, and not in the open spaces or gaps, or in "no man's land". Whlte positions the Eirst piece.
The initial positioning of the pieces is in accordance with the followlng rules:
(i) A piece may not be positioned in "no-man's land".
(ii) The king may be positioned at any time. All other pieces must be positioned in the following order:
pawns, bishops and knights (in any order); rooks (castles); and queen.
(iii) A player may position pieces on any unoccupied square of either colour (in his or her respective side of the board), with the following exceptions:
- no piece may be positioned so that it can capture, or be captured by, an piece already on the board ~ no piece may be positioned so that it would put the opposing king in check ",.~., _.

5~7 - the king may not be posi-tioned so that it would be placed in check.
(iv) Players may position both oE their bishops on squares of the same colour.
(v) If a player has fewer than 16 squares on his or her side of 'Ino-man's land", that player must forfeit 1 piece for each square under 16, in the - following order: pawns; knights and bishops (in any order); rooks; and queen. (For example, a player with only 15 squares on his or her side of "no-man's land"
must forfelt 1 of his 8 pawns. If a player has only 7 squares on his or her side of "no-man's land", not only must all 8 pawns be forfeited, but the player must also give up a knight or bishop). Once the player h~s lS decided which p:Lece~s) to foreeit, the rema:Lnirlg pieces must be positioned, in turn, according to rules 1 to 4.
Once these have all been positioned, the player misses one or more turns until all oE the opponent's pieces are on the board.
(vi) If a player cannot position the required piece without breaking one or more of the above rules, the player forfeits that piece and misses a turn.
~vii) If a player fails to position the king during this stage of the game, that player loses the game.
(viii) If it is discovered, at any time, that a piece has been positioned illegally, the pieces from both sides (white and black) must be repositioned as they were before that piece was illegally placed. The game continues with the illegally-positioned piece being placed in a legal position.
(ix) If a pIayer removes his or her hand from a piece that has been positioned legally, that piece cannot be removed and placed in another location.

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~5~'7 Pieces are moved according to the rules of chess, with three exceptions:
(i) Pawns may only move one square on their first move.
(ii) Castling is not allowed.
(lii) Pawns may be promoted to other pieces (other than the king) when they are moved to the opponent's end of the board providing that the square to which a pawn is moved is in the last two rows and form the edge of the board nearest the opponent.
Gaps in the yame board may be crossed by knights only. White plays firs-t~
The pieces are played in accordance with the following rules:
(i) If a player touches a piece, it must be moved, providing a legal move is possible.
(ii) If a player removes his or her hand from a piece after it has been moved to a legal position, the move is complete and may not be retracted.
(iii) If a player touches onr of his or her opponent's pieces, the piece must be captured, if possible, with any legal move.
(iv) If a player wishes to adjust a piece on a square (either their own piece or one of the opponentls), to place it in the cemtre of a square for instance, the player must tell the opponent before doing so.
(v) If it is discovered, at any time, that an illegal move was made, the pieces from both sides must be repositioned as they were before the illegal move.
The game continues with a legal move of the piece that was played illegally. If this is not possible, than any other legal move is permitted.

The game ls won when a player checkmates his or her opponent.
The novel variation of the game of chess may be drawn by:
- agreement - stalemate (when a player is unable to make a legal move) - perpetual check (where one player continues to check the opponent's king indefinitely) - repetition ~where the identical position is repeate~ three times, and not necessarily in succession) - the 50-move rule twhere no pawn is moved or piece taken, other than a pawn, in 50 moves).
The present lnvention admits of many novel variations of the traditional game of chess, several of which are further described hereafter:
Quick Game Each player has 16 squares and 8 pieces (3 pawns, 20 1 rook, 1 knight, 1 bishop, 1 queen and 1 king). Rules of play are the same as in standard game.
Maior Game Players require 123 game board squares. Each player has 64 squares and 31 pieces (16 pawns, 4 rooks, 4 knights, 4 bishops, 2 queens and 1 king). Rules of play are the same as in s-tandard game.
Fr~e Game Played with a core. To start the game, white places the first square on the table with black proceeding in the normal way. Rules of play (for positioning and playing the pieces) are the same as in standard game.

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Fixed Game Players agree on the design of the board and build lt accordingly. Rules of play (for positioning and playing -the pieces) are the same as in standard game.
Core Game Players do not use the standard 4-square core but any other agreed-upon core design. Rules of play ~for positioning and playing the pieces) are khe same as in standard game.
Limited Game Pieces are assigned points (queen 9, rook 5, bishop 3, knight 3, pawn 1). Players position p:ieces of their own choice on the board to a maximum of 30 points. Rules of play (for positioning and playing the pieces) are the same as in standard game.
Promotional Game Players agree in which rows pawn promotion will be allowed. Players may also agree to no pawn promotion at all. The other rules of play are the same as in standard game.
Expert Game Once the king is on the board, players have the option of moving a piece already on the board rather than positioning a new piece. The other rules are the same as in standard game.
Territorial Game Players may place squares on top of one of their existing s~uares to form a "hill", with the following effec-ts:
- The passage of bishops, rooks and queens is blocked.
These pieces may not move beyond a hill in one move.

'~, ' They must be brought to rest on the hilltop and may only proceed further on subsequent turns. If two hills are adjacent, pieces may only move from one hilltop to another on single turns~
- Knights may move around hills bu-t ~ay not land on a hilltop.
- Pawns may be moved onto a hilltop, as they would on any other square. However, a pawn that is on a hilltop may take a piece of cause check on one or two squares along the diagonals leading from the hilltop, or simply move one or two squares forward from the hilltop.
Players may agree to limit the number of hills each of them ma~ build.
Blind Game ~ ules of play (in building the board and playing of the pieces) are the same as in standard game.
However, the positioning of the pieces is done "blind", such that each player does not discover the location of the opponent's pieces until all of the pieces are on the board.
Three sets of game board squares are required as well as a third person to act as judge. Players build one board following the rules of standard game. Two other identical boards are built. Both players and the judge get one board each~ These should be arranged so -that each player sees only one board, but the judge sees all three.
Players then proceed to position their pieces on their separate boards according to the standard rules.
The judge monitors the positioning of the pieces on his or her board, and notifies a player when a piece is positioned illegally. When this happens, the player ~, .
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must immediately reposition the piece legally, according to the judge's ruling. When all the pieces have been positioned, the game continues with both players playing on the judge's board.
S Multiple Game Combine two or more of the variations hereinbefore described.
Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above but it will be obvious -to persons skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims~

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Claims

1. A game board piece for assembling a game board, said piece being provided with means for interlocking it with similar pieces, characterized in that said interlocking means comprises a laterally resilient member with laterally extending barbs, which projects from at least one side of said piece and at least one aperture in at least one other side of said piece, such that the resilient member of a first piece is adapted to slide through the aperture of a second piece, whereupon the barbs of the first piece engage an inner surface of the side of said second piece.

2. A game board piece in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a barbed, arrow-shaped member which projects from at least one side of said piece, and at least one aperture in at least one side of a said piece, such that the aperture of one piece is adapted to slip over the arrow-shaped member of a second piece such that an inner surface of the apertured sidewall engages the barbs.

3. A kit for a game board comprising a plurality of identical game board pieces as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein each said game board piece bears one of two colours.