GB1599529A

GB1599529A - Apparatus for playing board games

Info

Publication number: GB1599529A
Application number: GB5001877A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-30
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-10-07

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR PLAYING BOARD GAMES (71) 1, DAVID LEON, a British Subject of 'Cotswold', Holmemoor Drive, Sonning, Berkshire RG4 OTE, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to apparatus for playing board games.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for playing board games, the apparatus including a stack of individual playing boards, a compartment in which the stack of playing boards is releasably housed, the compartment being in the form of a box having an upper transparent wall covering the uppermost playing board of the stack ofplaying boards the box also having one open side to enable the stack of playing boards to be introduced into or removed from the compartment, a plurality of playing pieces, the playing pieces and the upper wall having cooperating formations for releasably retaining each playing piece in any one of a plurality of predetermined locations on the surface of the upper wall.

Advantageously, the upper wall of the compartment may be spaced from the lower wall by an amount sufficient to enable the stack ofplaying boards to be slidably retained in the compartment by an interference fit.

Each playing board in the stack is different so that a variety of games may be played on the upper wall.

In order to retain playing pieces on the upper wall, the upper wall may be provided with a plurality of upstanding projections and the playing pieces provided with complementary recesses for receiving the projections, or alternatively, the upper wall may be provided with a series of apertures and the playing pieces provided with complementary projections for reception in the apertures.

Conveniently the upper wall is moulded from a suitable plastics material having transparent properties.

Advantageously, the apparatus may include a spinning wheel for obtaining random numbers for use in games of chance.

Also, the apparatus may include a receptacle in which the playing pieces may be stored.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken along section line II-II; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken along section line III-III; Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

The apparatus is generally shown at 10 and includes an upper wall 11 spaced from a lower wall 12 by side walls 13 to define a compartment 15. As seen in Figures 2 and 3 the lower wall 12 is provided with an upstanding rib 16 defining an end wall of the compartment 15.

The opposite end of the compartment 15 is open.

A stack 18 of playing boards is received in compartment 15, the spacing between the upper and lower walls of the compartment being such as to retain the stack 18 therein by interference. Each board has a different playing surface, e.g. a layout for playing ludo, chess or snakes and ladders etc. The upper wall 15 is made of a transparent material, e.g.

a suitable plastics material, so that the uppermost board in the stack 18 is visible.

The upper wall 15 is provided with a plurality of upstanding projections 20 arranged in columns and rows. The spacing between projections in a given column or row and the dimensions of grid markings defining playing areas (usually squares) on the playing boards are arranged so one projection is located directly above one playing area as exemplified in Figure 1 wherein a checker board 22 is illustrated.

The upper and lower walls 11, 12 are each provided with a recess 50 to enable an operative to grip the stack 18 received in the compartment for the purpose of removing the stack 18 from the compartment.

The apparatus 10 includes a spinning wheel 25 which comprises a disc 28 rotatably supported by a pair of axially spaced projections 30, 31 respectively.

The upper surface of disc 28 is provided with a series of indices, e.g. numerals, spaced about its periphery. These indices may either be printed onto the surface of the disc embossed in the disc e.g. during moulding. A window 34 is provided above the disc 2 & for identifying a selected indice.

A receptable 40 is also provided in which playing pieces may be stored. The receptacle is provided with a lid 41 hingedly connected thereto and is also provided with a partition 42.

A pair of playing pieces 44 and 45 are indicated in Figure 1 each ofwhich has a recess (not shown) formed in their base for reception of a projection 20. Additionally each playing piece has an upstanding projection 20a so that playing pieces may be stacked one on top of the other.

It is felt that the present apparatus is particularly suitable as a travelling compendium of games.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for playing board games, the apparatus including a stack of individual playing boards, a compartment in which the stack of playing boards is releasably housed, the compartment being in the form of a box having an upper transparent wall covering the uppermost playing board of the stack of playing boards the box also having one open side to enable the stack of playing boards to be introduced into or removed from the compartment, a plurality of playing pieces, the playing pieces and the upper wall having co-operating formations for releasably retaining each playing piece in any one of a plurality of predetermined locations on the surface of the upper wall.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the upper wall is spaced from the lower wall by an amount sufficient to enable the stack of playing boards to be slidably retained in the compartment by an interference fit.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each playing board in the stack is different so that a variety of games may be played on the upper wall.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said co-operating formations comprise a plurality of upstanding projections on the upper wall and complementary recesses in the playing pieces for receiving the projections.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said co-operating formations comprise a series of apertures in the upper wall and complementary projections on the playing pieces for reception in the apertures.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the upper wall is moulded from a suitable plastics material.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including a spinning wheel for obtaining random numbers for use in games of chance.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including a receptacle in which the playing pieces may be stored.

9. Apparatus for playing board games substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any ofthe accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. identifying a selected indice. A receptable 40 is also provided in which playing pieces may be stored. The receptacle is provided with a lid 41 hingedly connected thereto and is also provided with a partition 42. A pair of playing pieces 44 and 45 are indicated in Figure 1 each ofwhich has a recess (not shown) formed in their base for reception of a projection 20. Additionally each playing piece has an upstanding projection 20a so that playing pieces may be stacked one on top of the other. It is felt that the present apparatus is particularly suitable as a travelling compendium of games. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for playing board games, the apparatus including a stack of individual playing boards, a compartment in which the stack of playing boards is releasably housed, the compartment being in the form of a box having an upper transparent wall covering the uppermost playing board of the stack of playing boards the box also having one open side to enable the stack of playing boards to be introduced into or removed from the compartment, a plurality of playing pieces, the playing pieces and the upper wall having co-operating formations for releasably retaining each playing piece in any one of a plurality of predetermined locations on the surface of the upper wall.