RU204006U1 - Board game device - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game device containing a three-dimensional playing field. The playing field is made of a strip of thin sheet elastic material, rolled into a Möbius strip, forming a three-dimensional one-sided curved closed playing surface, while the ends of the strip are connected to each other using a collapsible connecting element, and a fastening element is placed on the strip for hanging the playing field with the possibility of its rotation relative to the axis of the suspension, while on the playing surface there are playing tracks and markings. The device for a board game has options. The playing tracks are made of materials with magnetic properties, and the playing field is made of a strip of transparent sheet elastic material. 2 c.p. f-ly, 2 dwg.

Description

The claimed utility model relates to the field of board games for children and adults.

A significant number of types of board games with different thematic content are known, implemented on two-dimensional fields or three-dimensional game constructs with moving playing objects in contact with the playing surface.

Games differ in the performance of playing fields and constructs, the rules and conditions for the advancement of playing objects on them, the form of playing objects.

For games in its simplest form, flat game boards can be used. Known boards with a wavy relief (RF patent No. 2504416, published on January 20, 2014 "Game board complete with game chips"), as well as three-dimensional game designs (as an example, RF patent No. 2403946, published on November 20, 2010, "Three-dimensional table the game").

It goes without saying that three-dimensional playing fields with complex playing tracks allow you to create a great variety of playing tasks that increase interest in them. At the same time, as a rule, such playing fields are a rather complex mechanical structure.

It is well known that at the end of the 19th century German mathematicians August Ferdinand Möbius and Johann Listing made the discovery of a unique surface called a Möbius strip (loop, leaf, ring), which possesses the properties of three-dimensionality, one-sidedness, with one edge, non-orientability, and continuity. In this case, the surface can easily be formed from a strip of thin material rolled into a ring, while before connecting the ends of the strip to each other, one of them is twisted (rotated) by 180 ° (https://ru.wikipedia.org).

The Mobius strip remains one of the scientific mysteries to this day. There are hypotheses according to which the Universe is a huge Mobius loop (Einstein also adheres to this idea), and the shape of the DNA molecule and the Mobius strip are similar.

The surface under consideration "breaks" the stereotypical prevailing concept of space.

For the subject of the invention, it is important to understand the following properties:

from a strip of thin elastic material, length "L", having two sides and two edges along its long side, after rolling it into a Möbius strip, a one-sided closed, three-dimensional surface of length "2L" with one edge is obtained;

if you conditionally start moving along the surface parallel to the edge, moving from the starting point "A" in a swirling three-dimensional space, then after going through the path "2L" (or a full turn of the loop) you will return to point "A", and if you go through the path of length "L" (or half a turn of the loop - 180 °) you find yourself in the "Mirror" position relative to the starting point "A";

If you hang a Mobius strip made of an opaque material on a vertical connection, then for a stationary observer (in this case, a player sitting at a table), half of the twisted surface turns out to be hidden (unmanifest) for the eyes and appears only when the tape is rotated relative to the vertical suspension. In the case of using a transparent material for making a tape, the observer will see objects in the foreground of the surface in a normal form, and objects in the background of the surface in a mirror image (conventionally, some objects in the real world, and others in "Through the Looking Glass").

In this regard, given that the surface under consideration is one-sided, the concept of the front and back sides of the surface is unacceptable, therefore, for further description, we introduce the conditional concept: "manifested" (open) part of the surface and "mirror" (closed) part of the surface.

There are hundreds of patents in technology on the use of the properties of the Mobius strip, in particular, in belt conveyors in order to increase the resource of the belt from abrasion, filters, grinding abrasive belt, ink ribbon in matrix printers, cassettes for tape recorders, winding of magnetic cores, tape dials and many others. ...

As an example of the application of the Mobius strip in technology, we can cite patent RU No. 2347025 C2 IPC DO5V 25/00 "Sewing production system" dated 20.02.2009, author Suchilin V.A. other.

At the same time, in the industry of entertaining, logical, educational and other board games, examples of the use of the Mobius strip are not known.

The task of the proposed technical solution is to create a simple, inexpensive device for board games of increased complexity, aimed at increasing amusement, developing spatial vision, visual memory, logical thinking, expanding horizons and modern understanding of three-dimensional curved surfaces of the physical world.

The proposed utility model refers to a new type of three-dimensional playing field and is suitable for various variants, models and strategies of games using moving playing objects.

The proposed device for a board game consists of a playing field made of a strip of thin sheet elastic material rolled into a Mobius strip, forming a three-dimensional one-sided curved closed surface, while the ends of the strip are connected to each other using a collapsible connecting element, in addition, a fastening element is placed on the strip for hanging the playing field with the possibility of its rotation relative to the suspension axis, while playing tracks and markings are made on the playing field.

As embodiments of the device, the playing tracks can be made of materials with magnetic properties, and the playing field can be made of a strip of transparent sheet elastic material.

The technical result of the proposed solution is the creation of a new three-dimensional, closed, curvilinear, one-sided playing surface for board games of increased complexity, easy to manufacture even at home, a folding design, convenient for storage, allowing you to design on it various options for board games, by placing various types of game tracks and markings. The unique properties of the surface increase the level of difficulty of possible games, while games can begin with the assembly of the playing field, which creates additional interest in exploring an amazing, mysterious, twisted, closed surface. The area of the resulting playing surface is twice the area of one side of the original strip of sheet material, while the edge of the surface can also be used for games, as an option to designate the playing lines, places of maneuver (transition) into the zone of the conditional "Through the Looking Glass" and so on.

When using the proposed device, it is possible to use certain well-known techniques and rules for playing games on two-dimensional surfaces.

The present utility model is not limited to the described implementation options and can be made in various modifications within the proposed shape of the playing surface, in particular: the playing tracks on the surface can be performed using perforations; the methods of suspension of the playing field may vary; methods of installing playing objects on the surface, using an adjustable drive to rotate the playing field, lighting, etc.

The technical features of the claimed utility model can be realized with the help of materials and tools used in technology and artistic creation.

The distinctive features reflected in the formula of a utility model are necessary for its implementation and are sufficient, since they provide a solution to the task at hand.

In the future, the claimed utility model is illustrated by an example of its implementation, schematically shown in the figures:

fig. 1 is a diagram of a device for a board game and a diagram of a variant of playing tracks on the surface:

fig. 2 - photo of the layout of the playing field.

The device is shown schematically in Fig. 1, where the playing field is depicted in a suspended state for a more visual description of it. It should be noted that the presented image on a plane cannot convey its real shape, since the strip, after folding, acquires the curvature of the surface in any section, as well as three-dimensionality.

The device consists of a playing field 1 in the form of a strip of thin sheet elastic material rolled into a Mobius strip and connected at the end edges with a collapsible connecting element 2, a known design in mechanical engineering (not conventionally shown). On the surface of the strip, images are applied on both sides, or playing tracks and markings 1.1 are made in another way, depending on the adopted game model. A fastening element 3 is also mounted on the strip for its suspension and rotation. The fastening element can also be installed on the connecting element 2.

For the game, the playing field can be suspended, as an option, on a special portable supporting structure (not subject to patent). In the simplest version, the supporting structure 4 consists of a base 4.1, a rack 4.2, and a horizontal console 4.3. The rack 4.2 and the console 4.3 can be equipped with telescopic elements 4.5 for adjusting the height of the rack and the side departure of the console for ease of play. The playing field can be suspended from the rack by means of flexible connection 5 and articulated connection 6, which provide rotation of the playing field about the vertical axis.

Alternatively, the playing field can be suspended vertically from an independent suspension located on the ceiling of the room, on a long flexible connection, in this case the supporting structure is not required.

It is recommended to take the ratio of the length of the strip to its width from 6: 1 to 10: 1, depending on the thickness of the strip and the material, which is determined experimentally. At lower values of the ratios, surface fractures on curved sections are possible (edges appear on the surface), and the installation of game elements on the playing field and their movement becomes more complicated. At large values of the ratios, the aesthetic perception of the curved spatial surface deteriorates, and the rigidity of the playing field is also lost.

Playing items can be made in any shape, depending on the chosen game model. In its simplest form, these are cylindrical pieces of various colors for the players, as well as dice for determining the number of moves by the players.

For fixing the game items on the playing field, it is possible to use various known technical solutions, including: making the playing field and playing elements from materials with magnetic properties; performing perforation on the surface of the playing field; installation on the surface of special "nests" for the installation of play items, etc.

To make markings on the playing surface, the edge of the strip can also be used, on which, as an option, line markers, etc., can be attached.

FIG. 1 also shows a conditional scan of the playing field with an example of a possible execution of playing tracks and markings (positions of chips) in the variant when they are applied with paint on two sides of the original strip of a thin elastic material. When marking the playing tracks, the image on the back side of the strip should be a mirror image of the image on the front side of the strip, which will allow, after rolling the strip into the Mobius strip, to obtain continuous closed playing tracks. In this case, each position on the "developed" part of the surface will correspond to a position on the "mirror" part. For the convenience of the players' orientation on the curved playing field, the "developed" and "mirror" parts can be painted in different colors. The junction of the ends of the strip is the boundary of the mutual transition of the front and rear parts of the strip into each other, a kind of "portal" that erases the concepts of "front" and "back" sides for the resulting closed one-sided surface, which is a factor complicating the game on this playing field.

An example of a board game on a device.

The layout of the playing field in various angles is shown in the photo (Fig. 2). On the layout, the "developed" and "mirror" parts of the playing field are highlighted in white and black, respectively.

The device, in the case of using a portable supporting structure 4, is installed on the table. Consider the case of a game of two players who sit opposite each other. Each player takes chips of his color (conventionally 4 pieces) and his own dice. On the playing field (see Fig. 1), the positions of the pieces 7 are marked, two lines - start / finish 8 and the “portal” line 9.

The objective of the game is to "capture" the opponent's pieces, which happens when the Player's piece hits the opponent's playing position. At the beginning of the game, the opponents set, each at their own turn, one chip, begin to alternately throw dice and make moves along any of the three paths. After completing the circle and returning to the start / finish line, the Player has the right to place his additional chip.

You can pick up an opponent's counter in 2 cases:

if the Player catches up with the opponent's counter;

if he "intercepts" the opponent's piece, which is in the position of the "mirror" reflection of the Player's piece.

When moving across the playing field, in case of hitting the "portal", the Player can move from his path to any other, including the path on the "mirror" part of the surface.

Before the start of the next turn, the Players have the right to rotate the playing field to view the “undeveloped” (“mirror”) part of it in order to study the enemy's disposition and choose a path for a more likely “capture” of the Opponent.

Movement on the playing field is possible only in one direction indicated on the markings.

The game can be further complicated if we introduce a restriction on the allowed angle of rotation of the playing field, which can be set using a special lock installed on the supporting structure, which allows discrete rotation at a given angle - 45 °, 90 °, 120 ° (in the diagram, it is conventionally not shown).

As a result, a new game three-dimensional one-sided closed surface for board games and an embodiment of a game on it using movable playing objects in contact with the surface are proposed.

Claims (3)

1. A device for a board game containing a three-dimensional playing field, characterized in that the playing field is made of a strip of thin sheet elastic material rolled into a Mobius strip, forming a three-dimensional one-sided curved closed playing surface, while the ends of the strip are connected to each other using a collapsible connecting element, in addition, a fastening element is placed on the strip for hanging the playing field and rotating it, while playing tracks and markings are made on the playing surface. 2. The device for a board game according to claim 1, characterized in that the playing tracks are made of a material with magnetic properties. 3. The device for a board game according to claim. 1, characterized in that the playing field is made of a strip of transparent sheet elastic material.

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