GB2144046A

GB2144046A - Board game

Info

Publication number: GB2144046A
Application number: GB08320682A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kingsley Royce Hopkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-08-01
Filing date: 1983-08-01
Publication date: 1985-02-27
Also published as: GB8320682D0; GB2144046B

Abstract

The apparatus comprises an open-topped rectangular box and a board 2. One side 10 of the box can be pivoted so that the board can slide in grooves 9 along the upper edges of two parallel side walls 5 of the box with the playing surface either exposed or underneath. The playing pieces are releasably secured on the board by bayonet spigots. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing chess or other board games The invention relates to an apparatus for playing chess or other board games in which playing pieces are moved between positions on a playing surface.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus for playing a board game, the apparatus comprising a board member providing a playing surface on which playing pieces can be positioned at selected predetermined locations, the pieces and the board member being arranged for releasable retention of the pieces at the selected predetermined locations, and a case, the board member and the case being arranged to be associated in either of two positions, in one of which the playing surface of the board member is exposed for play, and in the other of which the playing pieces on the playing surface are received within the interior of the case.

The board member can be received on or releasably secured to the case in either position in any appropriate way, but in one convenient embodiment of the invention, the board member has opposed parallel edges which can slide in grooves formed along the upper edges of two opposed side walls of the case, either with the playing pieces projecting outwardly of the case, or in the relatively inverted position, with the playing pieces projecting into the case interior. The board member and the case are conveniently rectangular, the case having the form of an open-topped box with one side movable between an open position allowing movement of the board member along the grooves and a closed position in which the board member can be retained in the selected orientation.The movable wall of the casing can conveniently be pivoted to an adjacent side wall or to the base wall of the casing and latch means are provided to retain it in the closed position when the case is to be moved.

The board member is preferably provided with a hole at the centre of each of the predetermined locations for the playing pieces and the playing pieces are provided with spigots for reception in these holes, The dimensions of the spigots and the holes can be such that the spigots make a snug push fit into the holes so the pieces are held in place by friction. Instead, or in addition, means may be provided for positive retention of the spigots and the holes. Each spigot can thus be provided with lateral projection which can be pushed through an extension portion of the hole after which the piece can be turned so that the lateral extension is received against the undersurface of the board member and the piece cannot be moved until it is turned back into a position of alignment of the lateral extension with the extension portion of the hole.

The invention thus provides an apparatus for playing chess or other board games which is simple to make and convenient to use and which reliably retains the position of the playing pieces when it is desired to interrupt play even when the apparatus is to be moved to a different location.

The invention will be more readily understood from the following illustrative description and from the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the inventjion for playing chess; Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a portion of a playing surface of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is an underneath view of a chess piece included in the apparatus.

The illustrated apparatus 1 comprises a board member 2 of appropriately rigid material, for example wood or plastics material, of which one major surface is marked with playing surfaces comprising the conventional sixty-four squares of the chess board. The edges of the playing surface are spaced from the edges of the board member.

The board member 2 is associated with a case 4 having in its normal position the general form of a rectangular open-topped box, which can be closed by the board member. The case 4 thus comprises a pair of parallel opposed rectangular sidewalls 5 having lower edges (as shown) secured to a base wall 6. An end wall 8 is secured to one edge of the base wall 6 and to the adjacent ends of the side walls 5 to form a rigid structure. The upper edges of the side walls 5 and the end wall 8 are provided internally with a rectangular groove 9 parallel to the upper edges and extending continuously around three sides of the case 4.

The case 4 is completed by another end wall 10, opposite the end wall 8, which is movable with respect to the remainder of the case. Thus the wall 10 is secured to the walls 5 for pivotation about an axis along the free edge of the base wall 6. This pivotal connection is effected by hinges 11 secured to the free ends of the side walls 5 and to rebated edge portions of the end wall 10. Like the side and other end walls, the wall 10 is provided with an internal rectangular groove 1 2 along its upper edge which matches and completes the rectangular groove 9 in the normal position of the case. Latch means (not shown) are provided to releasably latch the end wall 10 in engagement with the side walls 5, in this normal position of the case.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each square of the playing surface has a central aperture 1 5 of generally circular shape except for a pair of diametrically opposed extension slots 1 6. Each of the playing pieces of the chess set, of which a pawn 18 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, has a spigot 1 9 projecting axially down from its base 20, and a pin 21 extends diametrically through the spigot at a position spaced from the base by not less than the thickness of the board member 2.

The spigot 1 9 and pin 21 can be freely received through the board member apertures 15, with the pin aligned with the extensions 16, and if the playing piece is then turned through a small angle it is releasably retained with respect to the board member.

In use of the apparatus illustrated, the board member 2, is received in the slots 9 in the side walls 5 and the end wall 8, in the orientation shown in Fig. 1, that is, with the playing surface exposed. The end wall 10 is latched in the closed position to retain the board member in place. Where a piece is moved, its spigot 1 9 can simply be placed in the hole of the square to which it is moved without subsequent rotation, so that it can easily be withdrawn for the next move.If however it is desired to secure the pieces in place against inadvertent displacement, as during an interruption to the game, the pieces can be slightly turned to misalign the spigot pins 2 with the diametrically opposed extensions 16 of the holes 1 5 so that the pieces are retained inplace until subsequently turned to effect alignment preparatory to withdrawal of the spigots from the holes.

The pieces can be similarly retained in place at the end of play or if it is desired to interrupt the game and move the apparatus. To close the apparatus, the pivotally mounted end wall 10 is unlatched and pivoted down through the position illustrated in Fig. 1 to a limit position in substantial alignment with the base wall 6. The board member 2 can then be made to slide outwardly along the grooves 9 in the side walls 5, through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 1 until it is completely removed from the case. The board member 2 can then be inverted and replaced in this position into the case 4. The playing pieces are consequently now suspended from the board member 2 within the interior of the case 4. The pivotally mounted end wall can be brought back to its closed position and latched to securely retain the board member in this storage position.

It will be evident that the underside of the board member 2, with the playing piece spigots 1 9 projecting therethrough will then be exposed, as it forms the top of the apparatus.

For decorative purposes, this side of the board member may be provided with a decorative overlayer, spaced from the undersurface preferably by an amount such that the underlayer is substantially flush with the three edges of the end and side walls. Additionally or instead, the outer face of the main wall of the case can be decoratively finished so that the apparatus can be inverted when not in use. It will be evident that the apparatus can be stored in any orientation when out of use, because of the secure retention of the playing pieces on the board member.

The board member 2 is shown in Fig. 1 as being square in plan, so that the side and end walls of the case can be of equal length and either pair of opposed edges of the board member can be ereceived in the side wall slots. However, it may be preferred to make the board rectangular, in particular to provide at one or both sides of the playing area of a row of apertures of the same shape as the apertures of the playing surface, for the reception of pieces which are out of play. In the apparatus illustrated, the pieces that are out of play can be placed loosely within the interior of the casing, the pivotal end wall 10 being left in its open position during play for this purpose.

It will be understood that the invention can be embodied in a variety of ways other than as specifically described.

Claims

1. An apparatus for playing a board game, the apparatus comprising a board member providing a playing surface on which playing pieces can be positioned at selected predetermined locations, the pieces and the board member being arranged for releasable retention of the pieces at the selected predetermined locations, and a case, the board member being arranged to be engaged with the case in a playing condition, in which the playing surface of the board member is exposed for play, or in a closed position, in which the playing pieces on the playing surface are received within the interior of the case.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each playing piece can be releasably retained at a selected predetermined location by mechanical engagement thereof with the board member.

3. An apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein each playing piece has a spigot frictionally receivable in holes in the board member at the predetermined locations.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein each playing piece has a spigot with a lateral projection and each predetermined location has a hole for receiving the spigot and an extension portion for receiving the projection, the spigot being rotatable to bring the projection underneath the board member to releasably retain the piece.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the case comprises a base wall and side wall means upstanding from the base wall, the board member being engageable with side wall means in either condition so as to lie generally parallel to the base wall.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the board member has opposed parallel edges slidably receivable in grooves in opposed side walls of the side wall means.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 having opposed end walls at right angles to the opposed side walls, one of the end walls being pivotably movable to allow movement of the board member edges along the grooves.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the one end wall is pivoted to the base wall for pivotation on an axis along the join of the base wall and the one end wall.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the surface of the board member opposite the playing surface carries a decorative overlayer.

10. An apparatus for playing a board game substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.