US 5,413,352 A · Self-setting game board device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a game board device, more specifically to a chessboard game device having self-setting capability for its game pieces. Disclosed are five different embodiments of chessboard game devices having the capability of automatically setting-up chess pieces on their chessboards. The third preferred embodiment has a chessboard with a magnetically attractive surface covered by a chessboard sticker, and two holders on either side of a game box, with 16 compartments arranged in two rows of eight in each holder. Each holder contains either black or white chess pieces in its compartments in an inverted position and each chess piece has a magnet disposed in its base. The compartments are arranged to match the starting positions on the chessboard, so that when the chessboard is placed upside-down over the holders, the magnetic bases of the inverted chess pieces make contact with the appropriate squares on the chessboard, and are magnetically attached. When the chessboard is raised, the chess pieces are lifted together with the chessboard out the their compartments. The chessboard is then rotated 180 degrees by hand into its upright position and placed on a tabletop. During play, captured chess pieces are immediately deposited upside-down Into their appropriately labeled compartments as a process for preparing the chessboard to be reset for the next game. The first and second embodiments utilize a split chessboard design where each chessboard half lifts inverted magnetic chess pieces by pivoting action. The fourth and fifth embodiments do not require magnetic attachment means.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A game apparatus adapted for positioning a predetermined number of game pieces on a game board, comprising:

a single housing having a plurality of compartments for receiving all of said game pieces therein, said compartments can be gradually filled as said game pieces are gradually removed from said game board during game play, so that when said compartments are filled with said game pieces, including said game pieces that remain on said game board after a game, said housing can be positioned against said game board for simultaneously positioning all of said game pieces thereon.

A self-setting game board apparatus, comprising:

a base,
a game board adapted for supporting a plurality of game pieces thereon, said game pieces and said game board each having an upright orientation during game play,
pivot and rail means mounting the game board on the base for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and for sliding movement relative to the base,
a game piece holder having a plurality Of compartments for receiving said game pieces, and
attaching means for attaching said game pieces to said game board, whereby when said game piece holder is filled with said game pieces and said game board is pivoted upside down over said game piece holder, said attaching means will attach said game pieces to the upside down game board, and when said game board is pivoted rightside up and slid in relation to the base, said game pieces will be attached upright on said game board.

2 more elements

A self-setting game board apparatus, comprising:

a game board adapted for supporting a plurality of game pieces thereon,
attaching means for attaching said game pieces to said game board,
means mounting the game board for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a playing position and an inverted position,
a game piece holder having a plurality of compartments for receiving said game pieces, and
means mounting the game piece holder for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a holding .position immediately beneath the inverted game board with the holder in holding engagement with game pieces on the under side of the board and a lowered position in which the holder is disengaged from the game pieces On the under side of the inverted board.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-setting game board device

Life of this patent

Self-setting game board device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32