GB2320205A

GB2320205A - Game board

Info

Publication number: GB2320205A
Application number: GB9625918A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Hair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-12-13
Filing date: 1996-12-13
Publication date: 1998-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-12-13
Also published as: GB2320205B; GB9625918D0

Abstract

A game board comprises a plurality of play spaces arranged in ranks and files in which the files are arranged radially from a point at the centre of the playing surface. The playing surface may comprises stepped ranks so that one or more ranks are raised above other ranks or may comprise a wall-like structure round one rank. The board may be used to play games of the chess, draughts, halma, snakes and ladders or word game families.

Description

DESCRIPTION GAME APPARATUS The present invention relates to a playing surface of a game apparatus, for example, a board game apparatus.

Many games, for example, Chess, Draughts, Snakes and Ladders, SCRABBLEland Halma, to name but a few are played on a playing surface comprising a grid. In the case of Chess or Draughts the grid comprises sixty four playing spaces arranged as a series of eight ranks and eight files (Fig. 1). Each playing space on the grid can be identified by a grid reference comprising a letter and a number. Each rank comprises eight playing spaces arranged in a line in an east-west direction to the general direction of play, each playing space in each rank being denoted by a like number and each file comprises eight playing spaces arranged in a line in a north-south direction to the general direction of play, each playing space in each file being denoted by a like letter.

In a game, for example, Chess or Draughts, playing pieces move about the playing surface in accordance with set rules.

The playing pieces are, however, confined to the playing surface. On a playing surface where play is in a north-south direction playing pieces are constrained from moving across the terminal files A and H by the limits of the playing surface. Similarly in a game where play is in the east-west direction playing pieces are constrained from moving across the terminal ranks 1 and 8 by the limits of the playing surface.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a playing surface which will provide a more stimulating game such as, for example, Chess or Draughts.

This object has been achieved by providing a playing surface having the same number of playing spaces as a conventional playing surface, but which does not prematurely constrain the movement of playing pieces when they reach either the terminal files on the east or west of the playing surface or the terminal ranks on the north or south of the playing surface.

According to the present invention there is provided a playing surface for a game apparatus comprising a plurality of playing spaces arranged in ranks and files in which either the ranks or the files are arranged radially from a point at the centre of the playing surface and the board comprises the same number of ranks and files.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a playing surface for a game apparatus comprising a plurality of playing spaces arranged in ranks and files in which the files are arranged radially from a point at the centre of the playing surfaces.

A game apparatus may comprise in addition to a playing surface playing pieces, such as, for example, Chess or Draught pieces and playing instructions.

Preferably, each file will radiate from the centre of the playing surface such that the files are evenly spaced about the playing surface which is generally circular in configuration. By generally circular it is to be understood that the playing surface approximates to that of a circle and will include regular hexagons, octagons and the like whereby the points of the polygon can be joined to form a circle. Thus, for example, in the case where there are eight files each file is spaced from another by forty five degrees (450) (Fig.

2C).

Preferably, the playing spaces in each file are alternatively distinguished as "dark" spaces and "light" spaces in a conventional manner, and the playing spaces of the adjacent files are similarly distinguished so that corresponding ranks are alternatively distinguished as "dark" spaces and "light" spaces.

In one embodiment the game apparatus comprises a playing surface comprising sixtyfour playing spaces arranged in eight ranks of eight playing spaces and eight files of eight playing spaces. Each playing space is a frusto-conical side elevation or a trapezoid in shape and each rank is generally circular or annular. The respective "dark" and "light" spaces of the files are arranged such that the corners of each respective "dark" playing space touches those of another "dark" playing space in the next file. By arranging the playing spaces in this manner a traditional diagonal of "dark" or "light" spaces is replaced by a "spiral" of "dark" or "light" spaces which unlike in the case of the "diagonal" is not terminated by the end file A or H.

In a preferred embodiment the playing surface comprises, in addition to the playing spaces, directional indicator spaces which are positioned between the adjacent "dark" playing spaces of adjacent files. These directional indicator spaces in conjunction with their respective "dark" spaces enhance the appearance of the "spiral" movement. Preferably, therefore the directional indicator spaces are in a different colour to the "dark" or "light" playing spaces. More preferably still two different types of directional indicator spaces in different colours are provided, indicating respectively a clockwise and an anti-clockwise spiral movement.

A game apparatus comprising a playing surface according to the invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figs. in which: Fig. 1 is a planar view of a Chess board according to the prior art and shows the notation used in identifying playing spaces; Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C schematically illustrate the development of a game apparatus comprising or consisting a playing surface according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a planar view of one embodiment of a playing surface according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a planar view of a second embodiment of a playing surface according to the present invention; Fig. 5a is a planar view of the preferred embodiment of the playing surface of the present invention; and Fig. 5b is a side elevation of a playing surface of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 a Chess board has a playing surface 10 comprising sixtyfour playing spaces 12 (or squares) arranged in a grid. There are eight ranks of eight squares identified as ranks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and eight files of eight squares identified as file A,B,C,D,E,F,G and H. Thus, each square can be identified by a grid reference comprising a file letter and rank number. By convention the bottom left hand square Al is a dark square, usually black and alternate squares of the ranks and files emanating from Al are arranged "light" "dark", "light" "dark" etc. Thus, B1 is "light", C1 "dark" etc.

The invention lies in the circularisation of a traditional grid like playing surface and is exemplified with reference to a game apparatus for playing Chess such as a Chess board.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates how the object of the invention was achieved. A traditional board (Fig.1) was formed into a tube 16 (Fig. 2A) by joining the A file and H file. The playing surface was then cut between the files (Fig. 2B) and pressed down (Fig.

2C) to form a "spoked" playing surface comprising eight files radiating from a centre point or area 10. This basic design gives rise to a number of embodiments.

Fig. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of a playing surface according to the present invention. The playing surface comprises a central annulus 18 comprising eight playing spaces A8, B8, C8, D8, E8, F8, G8 and H8. Playing spaces B8, D8, F8 and H8 are coloured black and playing spaces A8, C8, E8 and G8 are coloured white. These eight playing spaces are equivalent to rank eight of a conventional Chess board.

Further ranks, another seven in all, each of which is annular, are arranged about the circumference of the previous rank. Each annular ring, which constitutes a rank, is divided into eight playing spaces and each playing space is a frusto-conical side elevation in shape. Again the playing spaces are alternatively black and white and each corner of each black playing space of ranks 2 to 7 touches a corner of another black playing space immediately adjacent to it on the ranks on either side.

Each of the sixtyfour playing spaces can be given a standard rank/file notation as illustrated.

Alternatively, the inner most circle can comprise eight substantially triangular playing spaces.

The embodiment of Fig. 4 is substantially identical to the Fig. 3 embodiment except rather than being a true circle the playing surface is generally circular, being based on a regular octagon derived from a circle. Consequently, each playing space becomes "trapezoid" in shape.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 is a variation of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 embodiments. Referring to Fig. SA it too comprises sixtyfour playing spaces arranged in ranks and files. However, in contrast to the Fig. 3 and 4 embodiments the playing spaces are separated from those playing spaces which would form the adjacent diagonals on a traditional playing surface by directional indicator spaces 24, 26. Two different types of directional indicator spaces are provided.

Indicator spaces 24 indicate a clockwise spiral movement e.g. Al, H2, G3 etc. and indicator space 26 show an anti-clockwise spiral movement e.g. Al, B2, C3 etc.

The playing surface can be planar or may comprise stepped ranks 28,30 as illustrated in Fig. Sb so that the second rank is raised above the first rank, the third rank is raised above the second rank and so on; the eighth rank being the most raised.

It is also preferred to mark a castle wall 32 around one of the ranks, preferably the 5th rank. In one embodiment the castle wall will be a raised structure 34 (Fig. Sb).

In a game of Chess played on a playing surface according to the invention playing pieces are moved in a conventional manner. However, due to the form of the playing surface, playing pieces are able to pass from the A to the H file and vice versa. Additionally the diagonal movement on a conventional playing surface is replaced by a spiral movement. By way of example, a bishop positioned on square E2 on a traditional playing surface can move diagonally to D1, F1, H5 or A6. At H5 or A6 the piece's progress is limited by the end of the board. In contrast a bishop positioned on square E2 on a playing surface according to the invention can move spirally to D1, F1, G8 or C8. It will be apparent to one familiar with the game of Chess how other pieces will move on a playing surface according to the invention.

Whilst the playing surface of the present invention has been illustrated with reference to a playing surface for playing Chess it will be apparent that a playing surface according to the invention can be used to replace any playing surface represented by a grid and will provide added stimulation to traditional games played on such playing surfaces.

Such playing surfaces may be produced on a board, games table or a screen by means of a computer programme.

Of course for games other than chess or draughts it would be possible to circularise the board in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2abc by joining the ranks as opposed to the files.

Claims

1. A playing surface for a game apparatus comprising a plurality of playing spaces arranged in ranks and files in which either the ranks or the files are arranged radially from a point at the centre of the playing surface and the playing surface comprises the same number of ranks and files.

2. A playing surface for a game apparatus comprising a plurality of playing spaces arranged in ranks and files in which the files are arranged radially from a point at the centre of the playing surface.

3. A playing surface as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the files are arranged radially from a point at the centre of the playing surface such that the files are evenly spaced about the playing surface.

4. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the playing surface is generally circular in configuration.

5. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ranks are generally circular or annular.

6. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the playing surface comprises stepped ranks so that one or more ranks are raised above other ranks.

7. A playing surface as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rank at the centre of the playing surface is raised above any other rank.

8. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a raised structure is provided around a rank.

9. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the playing spaces appear as frusto-conical side elevations, trapezoids, triangles or kites in shape.

10. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the playing spaces in each file are alternately distinguished by differential markings, such differential markings hereinafter being referred to as "dark" and "light" spaces, and the playing spaces of each adjacent file are similarly distinguished and arranged so that the playing spaces in each rank are alternately distinguished as "dark" spaces and "light" spaces.

11. A playing surface as claimed in claim 10, when dependent on claims 2 and 5, wherein the respective "dark" and "light" spaces of the files are arranged such that a corner or other portion of each respective "dark" playing space touches or is otherwise connected to a corner or other portion of an adjacent "dark" playing space in each adjacent file, thereby forming a generally spiral pattern on the playing surface.

12. A playing surface as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjacent "dark" playing spaces are connected by directional indicator spaces positioned therebetween.

13. A playing surface as claimed in claim 12, wherein the directional indicator spaces are differentially distinguished to the "dark" or "light" playing spaces.

14. A playing surface as claimed in claim 13, wherein there are provided two different types of directional indicator spaces indicating respectively a clockwise and an anti-clockwise generally spiral pattern.

15. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the playing spaces are marked with numbers and/or letters.

16. A playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising sixty-four playing spaces arranged in eight ranks of eight playing spaces and eight files of eight playing spaces.

17. A board or games table comprising a playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

18. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and playing pieces for use with the playing surface.

19. A game apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the playing pieces are pieces for chess, draughts, snakes and ladders, SCRABBLEtor Halma.

20. A computer programmed to display a playing surface as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

21. A playing surface for a game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to one or more of the figures.