Game board and method of manufacture

A cribbage board, comprising:

• a rectangular front panel and a complementary sized rectangular back panel designed for mating and forming, when mated, a housing for the cribbage board, the housing being further defined as having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, a portion of a periphery of the front and back panels being beveled such that when mated the bottom edge and the side edges form keys for engagement with three edge pieces having complementary keyways, the top edge of the housing being provided with a hinged, hidden door, and the front panel further having a first, a second, and a third cut-out region, the front panel and the back panel being mated in a manner such that the grain of the front panel runs parallel to that of the back panel, while the cross grain pattern of the front panel is the mirror image of the cross grain pattern of the back panel;
• a playing surface component overlaid and secured by the front panel such that an upper portion of the playing surface component occupies the first cut-out region;
• a plurality of score counters mounted in a plurality of cavities between the front panel and the back panel near the bottom edge, the score counters having a knurled wheel accessible through the second cut-out region so as to be manipulated by a user;
• a playing card compartment formed as a first channel between the front panel and the back panel beneath the top edge for storing a deck of playing cards, the compartment being accessible to the user by opening the hidden door;
• and
• a peg holder and dispenser placed in a second channel between the front panel and the back panel beneath the top edge, the peg holder and dispenser comprising a compartmented slide retainer and a plurality of slide mechanisms, the slide mechanisms having a knurled tab accessible through the third cut-out region so as to be manipulated by a user to eject a peg from the slide retainer when the hidden door is open.

A backgammon board, comprising:

• a rectangular front panel and a complementary sized and shaped back panel designed for mating and forming, when mated, a housing for the backgammon board, the front panel and the back panel being mated in a manner such that the grain of the front panel runs parallel to that of the back panel, while the cross grain pattern of the front panel is the mirror image of the cross grain pattern of the back panel, the housing being further defined as having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, a periphery of the front and back panels being beveled such that when mated the edges form keys for engagement with four edge pieces, the front panel further having a first cut-out region for receiving a playing surface component, the playing surface component being overlaid and secured by the front panel such that an upper portion of the playing surface component occupies the first cut-out region, and a second cut-out region positioned above a cavity formed between the front panel and the back panel when the panels are mated, such that game pieces residing in the cavity may be manipulated by a user;
• and
• a retention plank positioned in the cavity between the front panel and the back panel, the retention plank being supported above the back panel by at least one support spring and defining an accessory space between the plank and the front panel, such that the game pieces may be loaded or unloaded by a user into the accessory space through the second cut-out region, the game pieces, when loaded, being secured between the plank and the front panel.

A checker board, comprising:

• a square front panel and a complementary sized and shaped back panel designed for mating and forming, when mated, a housing for the checker board, the front panel and the back panel being mated in a manner such that the grain of the front panel runs parallel to that of the back panel, while the cross grain pattern of the front panel is the mirror image of the cross grain pattern of the back panel, the housing being further defined as having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges, a periphery of the front and back panels being beveled such that when mated the edges form keys for engagement with four edge pieces, the front panel further having a first cut-out region for receiving a playing surface component, the playing surface component being overlaid and secured by the front panel such that an upper portion of the playing surface component occupies the first cut-out region, and a second cut-out region positioned above a cavity formed between the front panel and the back panel when the panels are mated, such that game pieces residing in the cavity may be manipulated by a user;
• and
• a retention plank positioned in the cavity between the front panel and the back panel, the retention plank being supported above the back panel by at least one support spring and defining an accessory space between the plank and the front panel, such that the game pieces may be loaded or unloaded by a user into the accessory space through the second cut-out region, the game pieces, when loaded, being secured between the plank and the front panel.

A two-panel game board having an internal cavity or channel, the game board having the appearance of a single, solid piece of material and otherwise appearing aesthetically pleasing, comprising:

• (a) a front panel formed from a first portion of the material;
• (b) a back panel formed from a second portion of the material;
• (c) a playing surface component;
• the front panel having a cut-out region corresponding to the shape of the playing surface component such that when the front panel is mated with the back panel the playing surface component is snugly retained in the cut-out region;
• (d) at least one cavity or channel formed between the front and back panels when the panels are mated;
• and
• (e) the front and back panels having a periphery, the panels being mated about the periphery by edge pieces, whereby the edge pieces hide seams and eliminate end checking of the material around the periphery of the game board.

A method of manufacturing a multi-panel wooden game board having a cut-out area and an internal cavity or channel from a single wood piece so that the assembled game board resists warpage, has the appearance of a single, solid piece of wood and is otherwise aesthetically pleasing, comprising:

• (a) selecting a single wood piece, the wood piece having a grain pattern and a most attractive grain side;
• (b) securing the wood piece on a machining table so that the most attractive grain side faces down;
• (c) moving a router bit width-wise across the grain through the center of the wood piece on the side opposite the most attractive grain side to demarcate what will be a front panel and a back panel, the wood piece not being completely penetrated by the router bit, but rather a thin skin being left on the most attractive grain side;
• (d) machining the side opposite the most attractive grain side with the router bit to form what will become the cut-out area and interior cavity or channel when the game board is assembled, a thin skin also being left on the most attractive grain side in what will be the cut-out areas;
• (e) after all machining has been performed, sanding the most attractive grain side so as to remove the thin skin thereby releasing the front panel, the back panel and any cut-out pieces;
• and
• (f) mating the front and back panels to form the game board by folding and securing the panels together such that the longitudinal grain pattern of the panels match while the cross grain pattern of the panels are opposing, whereby the game board resists warpage and has the appearance of single, solid piece of wood.