US2667353A

US2667353A - Chess game device

Info

Publication number: US2667353A
Application number: US194445A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore R Lanice
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-11-07
Filing date: 1950-11-07
Publication date: 1954-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-26

Description

Jan. 26, 1954 Filed Nov. 7, 1950 .T. R. LANICE 2,667,353

CHESS GAME DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zhwentor THEODORE R. LAN/CE Gttorneg Jan. 26, 1954 T. R. LANICE CHESS GAME DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 7, 1950 FIG. I

Zhwentor 77295 09035 LAN/C5 (Ittomeg Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STAT-Ed ATENT OFFICE CHESS GAME DEVICE Theodore R- Lanice, Freeport, N. Y. Application November 7, 1950,. Serial No. 194,445

2' Claims. 1

This invention relates to a game apparatus, and more particularly to a game apparatus including a game board which can be folded andotherwise manipulated to form a pouch of pocket size for containing the playing-pieces; the invention is particularly adapted to a game apparatus including a foldable game board for containing a set of chessmen or other figurines, checkers, or any other playing-pieces, which are movable upon the game board when it is unfolded and made ready to receive the figurines or other playing-pieces.

Foldable chess-kits of various kinds are well known. Some of them are convenient for travel. One well known form consists of a playing board which folds in the middle wherein each playing square is individually slotted to receive the tongue of a tapered piece of material having the symbol characteristic of the piece imprinted thereon, so that by inserting the tongues in the slotted squares, the symbolic pieces can be progressively moved upon the game board to" symbolize the movements of the chessmen. It is difiicult for the average player to play with playing-pieces of this type, so that the use thereof is accordingly limited to a relatively small number of ardent chess players.

The principal object of this invention is a game" apparatus which is self-contained, having a gameboard which is soft and pliable and can be readily manipulated to form a pouch for housing the playing-pieces, which pouch can be folded into' a compact package to form a portable playing kit which is relatively small and can be molded at will to fit either the coat pocket, or into a small space in an overnight bag or the like.

Another object is a compact playing setina cluding a flexible game board which folds tostore the playing-pieces, which set can be opened up to form a conventional game board for a conventional set of three dimensional pIaying piec'es comprising figurines of conventional size such as are customarily used inplaying the prescribed game.

Other objects will appear from the detaileddescription which follows:

In the drawings comprising three sheets of fifteen figures numbered Figs. 1 to 15 inclusive, several embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a foldable game board unfolded and in use as in the conduct of a game of chess;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the game board of Fig. 1 folded to partially develop a container 2 for the figurine playing-pieces showing how the figurines in this case a set of chessmen are contained withinthe fold;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the game board manipulated into position for final closing;

Fig. 4- is a perspective view of the game board when fully closed to form a pouch with the figurine playing-pieces inside the pouch.

Fig. 5 is an edge view partly in section and partly broken away taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of foldabl'e game board embodying the invention; 7 Fig. 7' is a perspective View of the game board of Fig. 6 folded to" partially develop a container or pouch for the figurine playing-pieces;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the game board showing the next step in foldingit to develop" the container orpouch;

tied to form a pouch with the figurine playingpieces contained within the pouch and ready for storing;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a fragment taken along the line Hl!il of Fig. 7 looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another modified form of foldablegame board;

Fig. 12 is a'perspecti-ve view of the game board of Fig. 11 manipulated to develop the first folding broken away taken along the line l5'-!'5 of Fig. 1

11 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like reference characters designate correspending parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The game board 2a is made of a substantially square blank of a; soft pliable or flexible durable material such as a textile fabric, suede or other soft and flexible lea-then or other soft pliable material, having a series. of playing squares orother indicia characteristic of. the subdivisions into which the game board is required? to: be subdivided, delineated. within the marginal edges of the blank. The blank may be made of relatively thin material and if not inherently water-- proof it may be. waterproofed in. any Well known manner to render the fabric moisture-repellent.

' For a chess board the playing. squares alter- Fig. 9 shows the game boardfully folded and nate in color as the black or red squares 2i and the white squares 22, to provide the conventional number of playing squares arranged in eight rows of eight squares each.

The marginal edges of the game board 20 are reinforced as by means of the strips of

binding tape

23, 24, 25 which are doubled over around the peripheral marginal edges of the blank and are then secured thereto by one or more lines of stitching 26 sewn back and forth through the marginal edges of the blank and through both plies of the folded over

binding tapes

23, 24, 25 (see Fig.

A series of studs 21 are permanently attached to the game board 28 at suitably spaced intervals preferably in the marginal edge of the blank outside the playing squares of thegame board. A suitable number of complementary sockets 28-23 are also attached to the opposite side of the game board in similarly spaced relation, so that when the game board 25 is folded across the middle, the male studs 27-21 will register with and snap into the female sockets 28-28 to fasten the opposite ends of the game board together as shown in part in Fig. 2, to partially form an envelope bag or container for housing the playing-pieces.

The complementary

interengageable elements

28 and 38 of a hookless or sliding fastener are sewn or otherwise attached to the marginal edges of the game board 20 at one end thereof. The

interengageable elements

29 and 30 are ordinarily mounted upon suitable tapes or ribbons, and the said'tapes or ribbons are in turn secured to the marginal edges of the game board as by means of the lines of stitches 3! (see Figs. 2 and 5) which are sewn through the body of the fabric of the tapes and of the game board, to secure the interengageable elements in position for correct registry.

The interengageable elements 29 and 3E] are attached to the marginal edges of the game board 2B in such a manner that they project laterally and outwardly therefrom sufliciently so that when the board is folded across the middle substantially as shown in Fig. 2, the infolded side edges and the opposite end edge of the folded figurine playing-pieces housed within the folds board nest inside the complementary elements 7 29 and 30 of a hookless or slide fastener, so that the said infolded side and end edges will not obstruct the proper operation of the

complementary elements

29 and 30 or freedom of the movement of the slide 34 of the slide fastener, when the container is folded again as shown in Fig. 3 to develop the pouch shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

One of the interengageable elements, as for example the element 29 terminates in a pin 32,

4 three dimensional figurines representing the kings 31, the rooks or castles 38, the knights 39, the bishops 40, the pawns 4|, and the queens 53 are placed in a prone position in one corner of the game board, and the game board is then folded over crosswise so as to bring the studs 21 into correct registry with the sockets 23. The studs 21 are then snapped into correct'registry with the V sockets 28. The studs 21 are then snapped in the sockets 28 to develop an envelope pocket which loosely houses the figurine playing-pieces substantially as shown in part in Fig. 2 of the drawings. After the pocket has been formed and fully secured it is again folded over across the middle at right angles to the first line of fold thus bringing the pin 32 into position to register with the opening in the slide as and with the socket 33 substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, whereupon the pull 35 is manipulated to cause the slide 3G to slide alon the complementary

interengageable elements

29 and 30 of the hookless fastener which are thus zipped together to completely contain the playing-pieces within the formed pouch (Figs. 4 and 5).

The stops 36-36 at the outer extremities of the interengageable elements 29 and as arrest the movement of the slide 34, and with the marginal edges thus zipped together the game board forms an enclosed pouch with the figurine playing-pieces securely but loosely enclosed upon the inside substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The game board when thus folded to form a sealed pouch loosely housing the playing-pieces may be conveniently molded, and is small enough to fit in the pocket of a conventional coat, or it can be molded to fit. a relatively small space in an overnight bag or travelling case, from which it can be readily removed and opened up to form a game board for a conventional set of three dimensional of the game board. The pieces can be quickly arranged in correct position for playing the game.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 6' to 10 inclusive, the game board 50 is made from a substantially square blank of soft pliable thin durable material such as a textile fabric, suede or other soft readily flexible leather, or other pliable material, as before, and the playing area may be subdivided as into the playing squares 5i and 52 of contrasting color arranged as in a conventional chess or checker board. The material may be waterproofed to make it waterrepellent. The marginal edges of the blank may i be suitably reinforced as by means of the bindwhile the other interengageable element 30 terminates in a socket 33 adapted to receive the pin 32. When the pin 32 is inserted through the channel of the slide 3!; into the socket 33 the

interengageable elements

25 and 30 are brought into position preparatory to correct registry, substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,

and by drawing the pull tab 35, the slide 34 moves along the complementary interengageable elements 29 and as of the hookless fastener causing them to interengage and thus secure the opposite side edges of the folded game board together to complete a pouch. or container substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.-

All of the various pieces ordinarily used in the game to be played upon the game board, which in the conventional game of chess include the 59 and 60 of a hookless or sliding fastener mounted upon suitable ribbon tapes are secured to the. H

ing'tapes

54, 55, and 5B which are folded around and secured to the marginal side edges of the game board in any suitable manner .as by lines of stitching 51-5! sewn through the body of the blank and the folded over tape (see Fig. 10)

The complementary interengageable elements peripheral marginal edges of the game board in any preferred manner as by means of the lines of stitching 5 l-6l which may be sewn through the material of the game board and through the ribbons or tapes which carry the

interengageable elements

59 and 60 of the hookless fastener (compare Figs. 7 and 10) The pin 62, formed at the inside end of the complementary element 59, registers when the game board 50 is folded crosswise with the socket I53 secured to the inner end of theother complementary element 90, and when the pin 92 has been inserted in the socket '63 the slide 64 may be manipulated by means of the pull tab 65 to zip the slide fastener and thus convert the game board 50 into an envelope with the figurine playing-pieces 61 enclosed therein as shown in part in Fig. 7 of the drawings. When the pull tab 65 is drawn to the outer extremities of the

complementary elements

59 and 90, the stops 66-69 arrest further movement of the slide 94, and the envelope thus formed may be folded or rolled over and over substantially as shown in Fig. 8 so that the

tie tapes

68 and 99 which are fastened to the marginal edge of the game board, as by means of a line of stitching '89 (Fig. 10), may be wrapped around the game board roll H and tied together in any suitabl manner as by means of a bow knot 12 (Fig. 9).

In the modified form shown in Figs. 11 to 15,

a blank piece of soft pliable durable thin material substantially twice as long as wide to define a double square of either a textile fabric, or of a soft suede, or other soft readily flexible leather, or other thin material, is provided with a series of subdivisions characteristic of the desired game board such as the playing squares 9|, 92, which subdivisions are delineated within the marginal edges of one square of the blank which may then be folded crosswise with the game board facing inwardly to bring its running side edges into registry preparatory to sewing seams along the running side edges of the blank. The fabric may be suitably treated to make it water-repellent. After the opposite side edges have been sewn or otherwise fastened together to form an open mouthed envelope the resulting envelope may be turned inside out to expose the playing squares 9i and 92 of the game board upon one outer face of the envelope.

Complementary

interengageable elements

93 and 94 of a hookless or sliding fastener are then secured to the opposite marginal edges of the mouth of the envelope in any suitable manner as by means of lines of stitching 95 (Figs. 11 and 15). The hookless fastener includes the usual slide element 99 which is manipulated as by means of a pull tab 97 to cause the complementary elements 93 and 94 (Figs. 11 and 15) to interengage when the pull tab is manipulated to close the mouth of the envelope. When the mouth of the envelope is open, the figurine playing-pieces 98 may be inserted therein so that when the hookless fastener is manipulated to close the mouth of the envelope, the playing-pieces are loosely housed or contained within the envelope.

After the hookless fastener has closed the mouth of the envelope, it is folded across the middle substantially as shown in Fig. 12, and is then rolled up or folded over and over substantially as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, and can then be secured in a rolled condition as by means of the tie tapes 99 and H10 which may be sewn to the seamed edge wall of the game board 99 (Fig. 15), or the tie tapes 99 and I00 may be placed between the folded-under running edges of the material before sewing the seam. The tie tapes 99 and 199 may be tied together in any suitable manner as by means of a bow knot 595 (Fig. 14).

Other modifications of my invention will be cbvious to those skilled in the art. While the invention has been illustrated as applied to a playing kit for playing the game of chess, it may of course be applied to any game which utilizes a game board and a set of playing-pieces.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination chessboard and pouch, comprising, a flat sheet of limp pliable material foldable transversely along a medial portion thereof to form two lateral pairs of adjacent edges connected by another pair of adjacent edges disposed oppositely said folded-over portion, complementary detachable fastening devices secured to said three pairs of edges and being interengageable, whereby said sheet is convertible into a pouch, said interengageable fastening devices constituting a closure for the pouch, said sheet having a representation of a chessboard playing area on a surface of said sheet extending across said medial portion, whereby when said sheet is in its unfolded condition the entire playing area Will be exposed, said fastening devices being located outside the said playing area, said sheet being so proportioned that when operatively folded over along said medial portion the said playing area will be completely covered up and each of said pairs of edges will be brought into cooperative alignment, the folded-over sheet in said pouch form being of pliable structure, whereby it will be subject to further folding.

2. In a foldable game board, the combination according to claim 1, the said fastening devices comprising two oppositely disposed interengageable slide fastener means along three peripheral edges of the sheet, said slide fastener means being separated in the region of said medial portion to permit the sheet to be operatively folded over thereat.

THEODORE R. LANICE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 509,316 Lapham Nov. 21, 1893 1,269,276 Harris June 11, 1918 1,420,334 Neuner June 20, 1922 1,565,389 Peacock Dec. 15, 1925 1,657,898 PleW Jan. 31, 1928 1,671,977 Brown June 5, 1928 1,793,256 Shulman Feb. 17, 1931 2,147,900 Houseknecht Feb. 21, 1939 2,275,363 Guhne Mar. 3, 1942 2,364,314 Plummer Dec. 12, 1944 2,491,894 Fox Dec. 20, 1949 2,523,724 Satz Sept. 26, 1950 2,575,118 Pattison Nov. 13, 1951 2,612,155 Mendez Sept. 30, 1952