GB2203057A - Game board - Google Patents

Abstract

A board for a game has a pair of solid planar board parts (10, 12) of rectangular outline coupled together by a hinge (14) mounted at the longer edges of the board parts. Each board part (10, 12) has an inner surface portion (10A, 12A) and an outer surface portion, the inner surface portions lying face to face when the parts are in their closed position, and the outer surface portions constituting a patterned playing surface when the parts are in their open position with the outer surface portions lying in a common plane. One of the board parts (10) has a plurality of lined recesses (18) extending into the thickness of the board part and opening out in the respective inner surface portion (10A) for receiving playing pieces. <IMAGE>

Description

A Board for a Game This invention relates to a board for a game and to the combination of a game board and playing pieces.

Conventional board games make use of a folding board, often of a paper-based material, with a pattern printed on the face which forms the playing surface.

PIaying pieces, if any, are generally kept in a separate container supplied with the board. Many examples of a travelling chess set are known, in which the playing surface forms an integral part of a box also having sockets for the playing pieces where they can be held befcre being used on the playing surface. A disadvantage cf this latter arrangement is that the box is often consicerably larger in area than the playing surface. t is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement which largely avoids this disadvantage yet at the same time dispenses with the need for a separate container for the playing pieces.

According to this invention, a board for a game comprises at least two planar board parts each having a respective inner surface portion and an oppositely facing outer surface portion, the board parts being coupled together by hinge means allowing the parts to be folded together in a closed position with their inner surface portions face to face, or to be laid in an open position in which the outer surface portions lie in a common plane and form a playing surface , wherein a recess or recesses are formed in the thickness of at least one of the board parts and open out on the respective inner surface portion thereof for receiving playing pieces, the recess or recesses being covered by the inner surface portion of the other board part or another of the board parts when in the closed position for retaining the playing pieces therein.Such a board doubles as a container for the playing pieces as well as a structure bearing a playing surface.

Preferably, the board comprises two rectangular panels of similar outline and thickness, coupled together by a hinge or hinges mounted at respective ones of the longer edges of the parts. A plurality of recesses for the playing pieces are formed in one panel only and are preferably lined with a soft material, the other panel having a flat, soft inner surface portion to prevent the pieces rattling against the said other panel when the board is closed.

Should the hinge be of a type that projects above the inner surface portions when the board is open, feet may be provided on the inner surface portions to lift the board above a supporting table surface or the like when the board is open with the playing surface uppermost. In this instance, correspondingly positioned recessed may be provIded to receive the feet when the board is closed.

The invention also includes the combination of a board as described above and a set of playing pieces fitted in the recess or recesses.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game board in accordance with the invention in a partly open position and showing inner surface portions of the board; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the board in a fully open position, showing outer surface portions of the board which forms a playing surface; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the board in a closed posItion; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of playing pieces which may be used with the board illustrated In Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a game board in accordance with the invention Is produced from a solid block of hardwood cut Into two halves forming a pair of rectangular board parts 10 and 12 of equal thickness and identical outline. A hinge 14 is secured to both board parts along respective longer edges so that the parts may be laid ii an open position with their major surfaces In common planes as shown in Figure 2, and folded together in a closed portion as shown In Figure 3, the hinge 14 being secured to inner surfaces portions 10A and 12A of the board parts. In the closed position the inner surface portions 10A, 12A lie face to face.

Ref erring to Figure 2, outer surface port Ions lOB and 12B of the board parts have a plurality of grooves 16 which form a contInuous grid when the board parts are in the open position, thereby forming a playing surface.

Different grids or other patterns may be cut in or printed on the outer surface portions depending on the particular game for which the board is intended.

Referring back to Figure 1, one of the inner surface portions 10A has a plurality of circular recesses formed by blind holes 18 lined with baize for receiving a plurality of playing pieces (not shown) of corresponding shape. The other inner surface portion 12B is covered by a piece of baize 20 which lies against the opposite inner surface portion in the closed position of the board, the pieces being retrained in the recesses 18 and prevented from rattling by the balze. Catches 22 keep the board In the closed posItion.

With the hinge 14 mounted as shown in Figure 1, placing the board in the open position on a table top Is likely to cause scratching. For this reason rubber feet 24 are screwed to the two inner surface portions lOA, 12A, and recesses 26 are drilled in corresponding locations on the opposite respective surface portions to receive the feet 24 when the board is closed.

A variety of playing pieces may be used depending on the game for which they are intended, and the recesses 18 are shaped accordingly. A typical playing piece is shown in Figure 4. This particular piece is a glazed ceramic counter with appropriate ornament on its upper, domed surface 28, and a felt pad 30 on its underside.

In storage the board is kept in its closed position with the pieces in the recesses 18. When the board is to be used, it is opened with the board part 12 flat on a table so that the pieces fall out of the recesses onto the baize covering 20. The pieces are removed and the board is then inverted and laid flat with the playing surface uppermost as shown In Figure 2. When playing Is finished, the board Is placed with its inner surface portions uppermost, the pieces are replaced in the recesses 18, and the par 12 closed down onto the part 10.

Alternative configurations are possible within the scope of the invention using different materials, different arrangements of board parts, different board shapes, and different recess arrangements. For instance, the recess or recesses may be In the form of a channels, the or each channel housing a number of playing pieces. Complementary recesses may be provided in the other inner surface portion to receive parts of the playing pieces, with the playing pieces each being housed in opposing recesses when the board Is closed.

The inner surface portion 10A, 12A need not be planar nor need they contact each other over the whole of their arears. Thus one board part may have an outer lip defining an inner cavity for receiving a raised central portion of the part when the board is closed.

Claims (10)

1. A board for a game comprising at least two planar board parts each having a respective inner surface portion and an oppositely facing outer surface portion, the board parts being coupled together by hinge means allowing the parts to be folded together in a closed position with their inner surface portions face to face, or to be laid in an open position in which the outer surface portions lie in a common plane and form a playing surface, wherein a recess or recesses are formed in the thickness of at least one of the board parts and open out on the respective inner surface portion thereof for receiving playing pieces, the recess or recesses being covered by the inner surface portion of the other board part or another of the board parts when in the closed position for retaining the playing pieces therein.

2. A board for a game according to claim 1, wherein the board parts comprise two rectangular panels of similar outline coupled together by a hinge or hinges mounted at respective ones of the longer edges of the panels

3. A board for a game according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of the board parts has a plurality of the said recesses, and wherein the other board part or at least one of the other board parts has a flat, soft inner surface portion which lies face to face over the inner surface portion of the board part containing the said plurality of recesses.

4. A board for a game according to any preceding claim, having a plurality of circular recesses for receiving playing pieces.

5. A board for a game according to any preceding claim, wherein the panels are of solid wood.

6. A board for a game according to claim 5, having a plurality of grooves cut into the outer surface portions of the board parts.

7. A board for a game according to any preceding claim having a plurality of feet which project from the inner surface portions of the board parts and a plurality of corresponding holes in the inner surface portions for receiving the feet when the board is in the closed position.

8. Game apparatus comprising a board according to any preceding claim and a plurality of drum-shaped playing pieces.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the playing pieces are of ceramic material.

10. A board for a game constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.