GB2527106A

GB2527106A - Magnetic chequerboard and playing pieces

Info

Publication number: GB2527106A
Application number: GB1410469.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Towle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-06-12
Filing date: 2014-06-12
Publication date: 2015-12-16
Also published as: GB201410469D0

Abstract

A magnetic chequerboard 100 for playing chess, draughts or similar games comprises a non-magnetic chequerboard surface backed by a plurality of magnetic washers individually aligned behind the squares of the chequerboard. Magnetic playing pieces placed on the surface are attracted to an individual washer and are less prone to being knocked or sliding out of position. An alternative to this may preferably have horizontal strips of magnetic material used instead of washers to prevent playing pieces sliding down the board when it is stored or displayed on its edge. Multiple chequer boards may be stacked for easy storage by virtue of corner studs 130 on the top surface of the board fitting into a cavity underneath the backboard 120. A magnetic playing piece for use with the chequerboard comprises a thin disc having a magnet fixed to its bottom surface which spaces the disc away from the playing surface to enable easy lifting of the playing piece.

Description

MAGNETIC CHEQUERBOARD AND PLAYING PIECES

The present invention relates to magnetic chequerboards, particular as used for playing chess or draughts, and magnetic playing pieces for use with the chequerboard.

Magnetic boards for playing chess, draughts or other games having a chequerboard made from a magnetic surface are well known but suffer from several problems. If the players wish to pause mid-game and tidy the board away one option is to store *the board vertically to clear table space. However, gravity can gradually pull pieces down towards the bottom edge of the board resulting in the positions of the pieces changing. If the board is knocked, this may also move pieces into a different position on the board. In games clubs or schools, there may be a need to store multiple boards with unfinished games which is difficult with conventional magnetic chequerboards. Also, magnetic playing pieces, particularly for "travel" game sets, are often simply flat magnets that are laid on the magnetic board. These can be small and difficult to lift as a player must prise them up from the board surface.

According to the present invention, there is provided a magnetic chequerboard comprising: a backboard; a plurality of spaced apart elements made from a magnetic material placed on top of the backboard; and a chequerboard playing surface made from a non-magnetic material placed on top of the backboard and the magnetic elements, wherein the spaced apart magnetic elements are each aligned with one or more playing positions on the chequerboard playing surface where a magnetic playing piece can be placed in use, thereby creating a plurality of spaced apart magnetic areas aligned with the playing positions.

In this way, embodiments of the present invention provide a chequerboard where magnetic playing pieces each form a magnetic connection with a separate magnetic element beneath the playing surface and are therefore less likely to be S knocked/slide out of position.

In one embodiment, the plurality of magnetic elements comprise a plurality of discs and each disc is individually aligned with a separate playing position on the chequerboard playing surface. In this way, each playing position has its own individual magnetic element to minimise the chances of a pieces being knocked out of position.

In another embodiment, the plurality of magnetic elements comprise a plurality of thin strips wherein the strips are arranged in rows, each row aligned with a row of playing positions on the chequerboard playing surface. In this way, although playing pieces might be knocked or slide horizontally along the rows, when storing or displaying a chequerboard vertically on its bottom edge the playing pieces will not slide down the board under gravity.

Preferably, the underneath of the backboard has a cavity and the top surface of the backboard is provided with a plurality of studs such that, when a second magnetic chequerboard is stacked on top of a first magnetic chequerboard, the plurality of studs on the first chequerboard engage with stud receiving holes within the cavity of the second chequerboard to secure the second chequerboard in place and playing pieces located on the first chequerboard are covered by the second chequerboard within the cavity of the second chequerboard. In this way, chequerboards embodying the present invention may be stacked and tidied away mid-game without disturbing the playing positions.

Preferably, a magnetic playing piece suitable for use with a magnetic chequerboard comprises a thin disc having markings on an upper surface to identify the playing piece; and a magnet fixed to the centre of a bottom surface of the disc, the magnet being smaller than a radius of the disc and extending down below the bottom surface of the disc, wherein, in use, the playing piece is placed on a playing surface with the magnet underneath to space the bottom surface of the disc away from the playing surface to enable easy lifting of the playing piece. using such playing pieces, a magnetic chequerboard can be tidied away easily with the pieces still in place and the pieces fit into the cavity underneath another chequerboard.

Nevertheless, the pieces are still easy to lift of f from the playing surface.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of an example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig-ure 1 illustrates a chequerboard surface embodying the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a magnetic backing to a chequerboard comprising multiple individual magnetic washers; Figure 3 illustrates a magnetic backing to a chequerboard comprising multiple strips of magnetic material; Figure 4 illustrates a magnetic playing piece embodying the present invention; and Figure 5 illustrates a stackable chequerboard embodying the present invention.

A chequerboard S embodying the present invention comprising a chequerboard surface 10 and a backboard 15 is illustrated in Figure 1. A central region of the chequerboard surface 10 contains the standard playing area of 64 squares in an 8 by 8 arrangement of alternating colours. Two storage regions either side of the playing area comprise 16 additional squares for storing playing pieces removed from the playing area. Below the storage regions are further marker spaces where a marker may be placed to indicate which player's turn it is and whether a player is in check or checkmate if the board is being used to play chess. These marker spaces are useful when a game is interrupted and the players want to return to it later. The preferred chequerboard surface 10 therefore has a total of 102 different places where a playing piece or other marker may be placed.

In contrast to existing magnetic chequerboards, the chequerboard surface 10 is not made from a magnetic material.

Instead, it is made from a non-magnetic material such as aluminium. In preferred embodiments, the chequerboard surface is made from approximately 1mm thick aluminium sheet printed with the desired pattern such as the one shown in Figure 1 and is approximately 15 inches (38cm) wide and 12 inches (30cm) high.

To make the chequerboard magnetic, a plurality of small, spaced apart metal discs or washers 20 made from a magnetic material such as steel are located behind the non-magnetic surface 10. In preferred embodiments, these discs have a diameter of approximately 5mm and are approximately 1mm thick.

For the preferred chequerboard surface 10 shown in Figure 1, 102 steel washers 20 are used and are individually aligned behind each of the 102 different places where a playing piece or other marker may be placed. This preferred arrangement of washers is illustrated in Figure 2.

Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 3, spaced apart strips of a magnetic material (eg steel) can be located behind the non-magnetic chequerboard surface 10. These strips are preferably approximately 5mm wide and, as shown, run the width

S

of the board aligned with the rows of squares and other places where a playing piece or other marker may be placed. For the preferred chequerboard surface shown in Figure 1, 9 rows of steel strips 30 are used.

Figure 4 illustrates a magnetic playing piece 40 suitable for use with the chequerboard of Figures 1 to 3. The playing piece comprises a disc 50 suitably marked on its top surface to indicate which piece it represents. Preferably, the disc 50 is approximately 20mm in diameter and 3mm thick. A small permanent magnet 60, preferably a neodymium magnet, is attached to the centre of the back of the disc 50. Preferably, the magnet 60 is approximately 5mm wide and 3mm high.

In use, a playing piece 40 is placed on the magnetic chequerboard such that the permanent magnet 60 contacts the chequerboard surface 10 and the disc 50 is supported above it but is not in direct contact with the chequerboard surface 10.

This ensures a good magnetic contact between the playing piece 40 and the chequerboard surface 10 via the magnetic washers 20 or strips 30 located behind the chequerboard surface 10. It also makes it easy to pick up and move the playing piece 40 during play. Specifically, to lift the playing piece 40, one edge of the disc 50 is pushed downwards towards the chequerboard which causes the opposite edge of the disc 50 to tilt upwards, pivoting around the central magnet 60, such that a player can get their finger underneath the opposite edge to lift the piece from the board.

Turning back to the chequerboard, with either the embodiment using washers 20 or the one using strips 30, there is a void around each piece of magnetic material containing no magnetic material, Consequently, when a magnetic playing piece 40 is placed on top of the chequerboard surface 10 it is attracted to one specific washer 20 or strip 30 and is less likely to be knocked or to slide out of position. Furthermore, the chequerboard can be placed on its side, for storage or display purposes, and the spaced apart washers 20 or the rows of strips 30 stop a magnetic playing piece 40 from sliding down the chequerboard surface 10 under the force of gravity. These individually aligned magnetic washers 20 or strips 30 behind a non-magnetic chequerboard surface are therefore an improvement over known arrangements where the entire chequerboard surface is made from steel or some other magnetic material.

In preferred embodiments, the chequerboard surface 10 and magnetic washers 20 or strips 30 are mounted on a backboard 15. The backboard may be any suitable material, but is preferably plastic foam board that is approximately 5mm thick.

The foam board is preferably creased along each of its four edges and the corners cut out so that the edges can be folded down and attached to one another to create a sturdy, rectangular prism shape. One simple construction method for a chequerboard 5 is to lay out a sheet of double-sided adhesive on the backboard 15, then to individually align the magnetic washers 20 or strips 30 on top of the adhesive before laying the non-magnetic chequerboard surface 10 on top to securely fix all the layers together.

A stackable chequerboard 100 is illustrated in Figure 5 and comprises a chequerboard surface 110 fixed to a backboard 120 as described above. Additionally, a cylindrical stud 130 is located at each corner of the backboard 120. The backboard 120, constructed as described above as a rectangular prism with folded down edges, has a cavity underneath it and the corners of the cavity are provided with stud receiving holes.

The cylindrical studs 130 of a first stackable chequerboard fit into the stud receiving holes of an identical second stackable chequerboard 100 located above it. This prevents lateral movement of the two boards relative to one another when they are stacked. Playing pieces on the first board are also safely contained within the cavity under the second board. A plurality of such stackable magnetic chequerboards are of great advantage to a games/chess club or school as they permit a large number of chequerboards to be safely packed away in a small space even if games are unfinished.

Claims

CLAtMS: 1. A magnetic chequerboard comprising: a backboard; S a plurality of spaced apart elements made from a magnetic material placed on top of the backboard; and a chequerboard playing surface made from a non-magnetic material placed on top of the backboard and the magnetic elements, wherein the spaced apart magnetic elements are each aligned with one or more playing positions on the chequerboard playing surface where a magnetic playing piece can be placed in use, thereby creating a plurality of spaced apart magnetic areas aligned with the playing positions.
2. The magnetic chequerboard of claim 1 wherein the magnetic elements are made from steel.
3. The magnetic chequerboard of claim 1 or 2 wherein the non-magnetic chequerboard playing surface is made from aluminium.
4. The magnetic chequerboard of any preceding claim wherein the backboard, the plurality of magnetic elements and the cheguerboard playing surface are fixed together with an adhesive layer placed on top of the backboard.
5. The magnetic chequerboard of any preceding claim wherein the plurality of magnetic elements comprise a plurality of discs and wherein each disc is individually aligned with a separate playing position on the chequerboard playing surface.
6. The magnetic chequerboard of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the plurality of magnetic elements comprise a plurality of strips and wherein the strips are arranged in spaced apart rows, each row aligned with a row of playing positions on the chequerboard playing surface.
7. The magnetic chequerboard of any preceding claim wherein the underneath of the backboard has a cavity and the top surface of the backboard is provided with a plurality of studs such that, when a second magnetic chequerboard is stacked on top of a first magnetic chequerboard, the plurality of studs on the first chequerboard engage with stud receiving holes within the cavity of the second chequerboard to secure the second chequerboard in place and playing pieces located on the first chequerboard are covered by the second chequerboard within the cavity of the second chequerboard.
8. A magnetic playing piece for use with the magnetic chequerboard of any preceding claim comprising: a disc having markings on an upper surface to identify the playing piece; and a magnet fixed to the centre of a bottom surface of the disc, the magnet being smaller than a radius of the disc and extending down below the bottom surface of the disc, wherein, in use, the playing piece is placed on a playing surface with the magnet underneath to space the bottom surface of the disc away from the playing surface to enable easy lifting of the playing piece.
9. A magnetic playing piece according to claim 8 for use with a magnetic chequerboard according to claim 7 wherein each playing piece is sized such that a playing piece located on the first chequerboard fits within the cavity of the second chequerboard.