TECHNICAL ^" FIELD

This invention relates to apparatus for a board game, for instance a chess set, the parts of which can be rearranged into a compact configuration for storage.

BACKGROUND ART

A number of arrangements have been proposed for the compact storage of the apparatus for a board game such as chess most of which involve the board being folded, wrapped or forming a box around playing pieces which fit closely together.

A further arrangement comprises a board which may be divided into strips and the playing pieces mounted in recesses in the back of the strips. The strips may then be stacked on top of one another and secured together.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to this invention, there is provided apparatus for a board game comprising: a playing board which may be laid flat in use and re-arranged into a stack of board pieces for storage; a plurality of playing pieces which may be re-arranged to form one or more sides of a container for containing the stack of board pieces and means for holding the the assembly together in this configuration.

Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the subsidiary claims of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

j ₍ Figure 1 is a perspective view of the playing board of a preferred embodiment of the invention folded into a stack of pieces for storage;

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Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the stack of pieces shown in Figure 1 is unfolded to form a flat playing board;

Figure 3 shows the playing board when laid flat with rods inserted to increase its rigidity;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a bottom side (part dismantled) of a box constructed from components of the playing pieces according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a side of the box constructed from components of the playing pieces, the other side (not shown) being of similar construction;

Figures 6A and B are plan views of two components which form a top side of the box;

Figure 7, 8, 9A and 9B correspond to Figures 4, 5, 6A and 6B, respectively, and show further details of the sides of the box;

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating how the stack of board pieces shown in Figure 1 may be contained within a box formed from the parts shown in Figures 4-6 or 7-9;

Figures 11A and B show plan and side views of an end component of the box shown-4n Figure 10;

Figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the box shown in Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the box shown in the preceding Figures when assembled; and

Figures 14A-14C illustrate how playing pieces are assembled from the components forming the sides of the box shown in the preceding Figures.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The apparatus shown in the drawings is for playing the game of chess although similar apparatus could be provided for playing other board games.

The playing board 1 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises sixty- our squares coloured alternatively black and white (or other colours) as in a conventional chess board. The individual squares are, however, connected together so that the board may be folded up for storage into a stack or column of sixty- our single ^" squares as shown in Figure 1.

There are a variety of different ways of connecting the squares to achieve this. In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the squares unfold in a spiral pattern from the outside of the board to the innermost squares. Alternatively, the squares may be connected together so that they unfold along one line of eight squares, back along the adjacent line of eight squares and so on in a zig-zag manner. Other folding arrangements are also possible.

The squares may be made of plastics or wood or any other suitable material.

One possible way of joining the squares so they may be folded into a stack is to overlay the board in its flat position with an adhesive plastics sheet. The sheet is then cut in the appropriate pattern along the lines joining the squares except along the edges of the adjacent squares which are to be hinged together by the plastics sheet.

Through holes* 2 are provided through each of the squares, within the plane

-4 of the board 1, so that eight rods 3 can be passed through the squares, one rod along each row, to hold them in the flat position as shown in Figure 3. Once the rods 3 have been inserted, the board 1 is sufficiently rigid to be moved and carried in the flat position.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the sides of a container or box for containing the stack of squares shown in Figure 1. Three sides of the box are constructed from components of chess pieces which are to be used on the board 1. The bottom side 4 is constructed as shown in Figure 4. The bottom side 4 comprises a double layer of sixteen components 5A-5P (shown alternately in black and white) and two end plates 6A and 6B. The components 5A-5P and end plates 6A and 6B are shaped such that they fit together side by side as shown in Figure 4 to form a rectangular base for the box.

The sides 7 of the box are formed by further double layers, ^• in this case of nine components 8A-8I ⁽ again shown alternately in black and white) and two end plates 9A and 9B, as shown in Figure 5.

The top side 10 of the box shown in Figure 6A is formed by a rectangular - component which is used as a timing unit. In the preferred arrangement shown, the topside of the box is formed from two components 10A and 10B which fit together to house further playing pieces 19, in the form of counters. The top side 10 of the box will be described further below.

The sides 4 and 7 of the box comprise components which can be re-assembled into chess pieces as detailed below.—

Bottom side 4: components 5A-5P are identical and form 16 pawns.

Each side 7: components 8A and 81 form two bishops components 8B and 8K form two knights components 8C and 8G form two castles components 8D and 8F form a king and a spare king components 8E form a queen

Each of the chess pieces is formed from two components which fit together at right angles by means of complementary slots 11 as shown in Figure 14. The two components are first separated (Figure 14A), then joined together by means of the slots 11 (Figure 14B) to form an assembled playing piece (Figure 14C). In each case, the two components have an outline of identical shape (apart from the slots 11) and, except for the components 8B and 8K of the knight, each component is symmetrical.

When the sides 4 and 6 of the box are assembled together as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the individual components are held together by six of the rods 3 which are inserted into holes 12 passing through each of the components (as shown by the dotted lines in Figures 4 and 5 ⁾ . These holes 12 may pass through the outermost layers of components or be formed by adjoining slots in the two layers of components. In the latter case, it will be necessary to provide further means for holding the outermost layer

of components against the innermost layer, eg magnetic strips 20 (which may be coloured blak or white ⁾ on each component. These are shown in Figures 7 and 8 which illustrate single layers of the components 5A-5P and 8A-8I together with the associated end pieces. These Figures also show the slots 21 which form the through ^" holes 12 when the two layers of components are placed together.

The top side 10A of the box is provided with four LCD (liquid crstal display) digital timers 13 and two reset buttons 14 for resetting the timers 13 to zero. The timers 13 may be used for timing each player's turn. Four timers 13 are provided so that each player can see his own time and that of his opponent. The top side 10A is also provided with cross- shaped recesses 15A and 15B for receiving the spare playing pieces formed from components 8D and 8F. These may be used to indicate the colour of the respective player's pieces, eg black or white.

As indicated above, the top side 10 of the box is preferably formed of two components 10A and 10B (as shown in Figures 6A and 6B and 9A and 9B). The two components 10A and 10B fit together by mutually engaging rebates 24 on the component 10A and slots 25 in the component 10B (see Figs 9A and B). The component 10B is hollow so it can house the counters 19.

In another arrangement (not shown), the counters 19 may be housed within

- _* cut-outs provided in the end plates 6A, 6B, 9A and 9B.

Holes 16 may also be provided in the top side 10A of the box for receiving the two rods 3 which are not used for holding the components of the other sides of the box together.

The top side 10A of the box may also be provided with a series of holes (not shown) and a plurality of pegs (not shown) for use in scoring.

Figure 10 shows how the stack of squares shown in Figure 1 may be contained within a box formed from the components illustrated in the preceding Figures. As described above, the rectangular bottom 4 and two sides 7 of the box are formed from the components of the chess pieces and

respective end plates 6A, 6B, 9A and 9B. These, together with with the top side 10 of the box, are assembled about the four sides of the stack of squares and two end caps 17A and 17B are fitted onto protruding ends of the eight rods 3 to hold the assembly together. One of the end caps 17A is provided with a recess 22 ^" for housing a set of dice 23. The other end cap 17B may be provided with slots 18 for receiving the end plates 6A, 6B, 9A and 9B when the game is being played and these parts are not required.

The thickness of the squares forming the playing board 1 is preferably selected so that the stack of sixty four squares is the appropriate length to fit within the box formed by the components of the playing pieces. Otherwise, if the stack of pieces is significantly shorter than the sides of the box, padding material or other components may be required to prevent the stack of squares from moving within the box.

The end cap 17A is shown in greater detail in Figures 11A and B. The recess 22 houses a set of dice 23 and a betting die 24. The end cap 17A also has eight holes 25 for receiving the ends of the eight rods 3.

Figure 12 is a cross-section of the assembled box and shows the two layers of components forming the bottom 4 and the two sides 7 of the box and the counters 19 contained within the top side 10 of the box. The through holes 12 formed between the adjacent layers of components are also illustrated.

In a preferred embodiment, the two sides of the board may be marked with different patterns, eg a conventional chequer pattern on one side for chess or draughts and a pattern for a backgammon board on the other side (not shown). The apparatus may thus be used for .playing chess using the chequer pattern on one side of the board 1 and the components assembled from the side- of the box as described above, for playing draughts using the chequer pattern and the counters 19 or for playing backgammon using the backgammon pattern on the other side of the board 1, the counters 19 and the dice 23 and 24.

As well as providing a novel and compact arrangement for storing a chess set together with its board, the apparatus described above provides a

visually attractive unit. The components forming the sides of the box may be arranged so that each side is all one colour, eg black or white, or so that alternate components in the sides of the box are black and white to give the unit an eye-catching appearance. Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the box assembled in this manner.

Similar apparatus can be provided for other board games with the appropriate pattern marked on the squares of the board and the appropriate shape and number of components or playing pieces being used to form one or more sides of a box for containing the board when it is folded into a stack of squares or pieces.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The apparatus described may be manufactured and sold as a game or executive toy.