Chess Or Checker Type Patents (Class 273/260)
  • Patent number: 6116602
    Abstract: A four handed chess-type board game played on a 228 square board consisting of a l0.times.10, 100 square central playing area with four 32 square extensions consisting of two 1.times.10 rows and one 1.times.12 row on the outermost edge. 88 playing pieces are used and include: the standard knight, bishop, rook, queen, an enhanced king and pawn, and four new pieces called the archbishop, chancellor, wizard, and dragon. In team play, the object is to pin one opposing king and to checkmate the other opposing king. In individual play, the object is to eliminate two of the opposing kings and to checkmate the last opposing king.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Mackie C McLoy
  • Patent number: 6095523
    Abstract: A method of playing a modified chess game provides a game board having alternating dark and light squares arrayed in a ten-row by ten-column configuration. The sixteen pieces of orthodox chess are all provided in each color, with the addition of ninth and tenth pawns and two new "dragon" pieces. Four dragon's lair squares are provided, two on each of the first and tenth rows. The dragon's lair squares provide a starting location for each dragon, and are located adjacent to starting position of the king and queen. A king may not move into the dragon's lair square of the opposing team; therefore a king caught between these squares may be checkmated by the opposing king with the assistance of only two knights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Michael Alan Lampman
  • Patent number: 6070871
    Abstract: A modified chess game for two or three players with a hexagonal game board having six sides and 169 hexagonal spaces. Each of the six sides including eight spaces adjacent to one another in an edge row such that the first space and the eighth space are shared with an adjacent edge row. The 169 spaces contain one of three distinctly different space indicia, and are arranged such that no two adjacent spaces have the same space indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wilson, Yancey B. Quinn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6062562
    Abstract: Provided herein is a novel method of game play utilizing a two-dimensional board having spaces arranged in orthogonal rows and columns in two alternating contrasting colors. Two dice are used as a chance element. Each player is assigned 12 ordinary pieces in one of the colors and a "King" piece. The "King" piece is bi-colored, so that when attacked or captured it may be converted to the other color by inverting it. The "King" counts as two pieces for the purposes of attack and stacking, and can move forward or backward. A path of play begins in a corner space of the player's color termed the "Start" and proceeds in a defined path from space to intersection to space alternately across the board to another corner space termed the "Finish". The path of play turns at a right angle at each space, so that the player always exits a space on the same side he entered it, and such a path change may be symbolized by a corner symbol on the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Scott Pardee
  • Patent number: 6000698
    Abstract: A set of pieces facilitates the playing of a modified form of chess in which the captor of a piece can return that piece to the board as the captor's own. The set comprises two subsets of pieces, each piece having an upright stem having a shape which denotes the piece's denomination and a direction indicator which denotes the ownership of the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Warren Woodward
  • Patent number: 5957455
    Abstract: A strategy game involving traditional chess skills, decision-making and memorization, comprising a playing surface of checkered squares and concealed game pieces. Each player moves the game pieces similar to the corresponding rules of the traditional chess games with the object to capture an opponent's concealed game pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Chester P. Aldridge
  • Patent number: 5913517
    Abstract: A chess board/box housing having a top wall of a chess board pattern with a prehistoric scene superimposed over 64 alternately colored white and dark green playing squares, arranged to selectively receive groupings of specific dinosaur chess pieces. The prehistoric scene includes continents and land masses as they are perceived to have existed (i.e. Jurassic or Triassic period). The underside of the playing board will have a raised and landscaped terrain with mountains, volcanoes, ponds, palm trees, etc., for the use in "imaginary" dinosaur play. The game is housed in a square (14".times.14"), 6"-8" deep box, with a 1/8" to 1/4" lip to store or house the game pieces when not in use, or for use when playing the Board Game side of Tyrannosaurs Chess. Conversely, the same "housing" apparatus may be used, if desired, to keep in place the terrain/landscaped inverted board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventors: Eileen Gaffney, Frederick Wayne Atzrodt, Erin Danielle Gaffney
  • Patent number: 5871212
    Abstract: A sectional chessboard includes a number of sections corresponding to blocks of a chessboard which are formed by injection molding or press work and each section of the chessboard has protrusions and grooves around all sides thereof to be respectively engaged with grooves and protrusions of other sections so that all adjoining sides of each section is jointed together for playing chess as a complete chessboard, wherein it becomes possible to reduce the bulk of the chessboard so that users may conveniently carry them anywhere to play chess and the manufacturing cost may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Inventor: Ki-suk Lee
  • Patent number: 5848788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic game comprising a game board having a playing surface with an array of first and second playing areas. The first playing area include at least one electro-magnet. A plurality of game pieces are adapted to be placed on the first or second playing areas and to flip in the air if the electro-magnet and the game piece magnet are of opposite polarity. Each game piece has a game piece magnet. The magnetic game further includes a light-emitting element positioned proximal the first playing area. The light-emitting element is configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply. A light-sensitive transducer is positioned proximal the second playing area. The light-sensitive transducer is configured to be placed in electrical communication with the power supply. The light-emitting element is illuminated when a shadow is cast over the light sensitive transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: H&S&K Enterprises
    Inventor: Richard Hess
  • Patent number: 5839727
    Abstract: The invented game includes a playing field with a pattern of defined areas adjacent to one another, sets of playing pieces for each player, and a single marking piece which is several times the height of a playing piece. The playing pieces are configured such that they are stackable on top of one another and such that a stack can be inverted. The game is played by a first player placing the marking piece on any defined area. The next player then places one of his playing pieces on any other defined area. The next player places one of his playing pieces on any unoccupied area or stacks his playing piece on the playing piece already on the playing field. Each player then, in turn, either places a playing piece on an unoccupied area, stacks a playing piece on top of another playing piece or on top of an existing stack of playing pieces, or inverts an existing stack of playing pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Douglas S. Stillinger
  • Patent number: 5791650
    Abstract: A novel board game utilizing a two-dimensional board having spaces arranged in orthogonal rows and columns in two alternating contrasting colors. Two dice are used as a chance element. Each player is assigned 12 ordinary pieces in one of the colors and a "king" piece. The "king" piece is bi-colored, so that when attacked or captured it may be converted to the other color by inverting it. The "King" counts as two pieces for the purposes of attack and stacking, and can move forward or backward. A path of play begins in a corner space of the player's color termed the "Start" and proceeds in a defined path from space to intersection to space alternately across the board to another corner space termed the "Finish". The path of play turns at a right angle at each space, so that the player always exits a space on the same side he entered it, and such a path change may be symbolized by a corner symbol on the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventor: Scott D. Pardee
  • Patent number: 5782351
    Abstract: A container is disclosed as including a top part releasably engageable with a bottom part having an upper surface, wherein the top part is engageable with the bottom part in a first position to form a substantially enclosed container, and the top part is engageable with the bottom part in a second position whereby at least one exposed storage area is formed between both the top part and bottom part. A container for a game is also disclosed as including a cover, and a base having a playing surface on which a plurality of playing pieces are movable, and the cover is releasably engageable with the base in a first position to form a substantially enclosed container, and the cover is engageable with the base in a second position whereby at least one exposed storage area is formed between both the cover and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Philip LeRoy Shoptaugh
  • Patent number: 5779239
    Abstract: A checkers type board game is provided where movement of playing pieces is determined by the role of the dice. The board is similar to a checkers board, but with 10 longitudinal rows and eight latitudinal rows, for a total of eighty squares. Each player initially places twelve pieces on the board, eight pieces occupying a back row and four pieces centered in the second row. When a player rolls the dice, he or she may move a playing piece diagonally in any direction equal to the number indicated by one or both of the dice. When a player's piece lands on an opposing player's piece, that piece is captured by the player. Once a player's piece has reached the far opposing row, it may not be moved or attacked. Play ends when a player has advanced eight pieces, or remaining pieces, to the opposing row from their starting position. The winner is determined by which player has captured the largest number of pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Fenwick E. Lind
  • Patent number: 5772207
    Abstract: A board game consisting of square, flat-playing pieces designed for two, three of four players to be played on a standard chess or checkerboard. These pieces move about the board in a forward or sideways direction one square at a time. The primary purpose is to capture all the opponents' pieces by landing on the opponents' square and then stacking your piece or pieces atop that piece or pieces. A piece may only move backward once it has captured another piece or it has reached the opposite end of the board and is therefore crowned with one additional piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Stephen J. Caseila
  • Patent number: 5749583
    Abstract: A new Apparatus and Method of Playing An Expanded Chess Game for adding new challenges to the traditional game of chess and increasing the interest in the game of chess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventors: Tengiz Sadounichvili, Larisa Sadounichvili
  • Patent number: 5735523
    Abstract: A modified chess game (10) consists of a game board (26) having eight horizontal rows and two additional columns added between the bishop and knight. A new game piece, an earl, is added and located on bottom and top row in each new columns. The earl moves in moves from an origin, along a left earl first movement for two forward diagonals then moves one forward diagonal perpendicular to the left earl first movement first direction along a left earl first movement second direction. An alternative move is disclosed consisting of a move along a left earl second movement one forward diagonal then moves two forward diagonals perpendicular to a left earl second movement second direction. The left earl (12AA) captures an opponent's game piece if the opponent game piece is on a square which is the terminating square of the left earl first movement or left earl second movement. Intervening game pieces of either side are jumped. At the next turn for the left earl (12AA) the move sequence may be repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Patrick D. C. Fioriglio
  • Patent number: 5732947
    Abstract: The invention is a gameboard consisting of movable rows of squares of two alternating colors. The surface of the gameboard has the appearance of a checkerboard, with extra squares of each side of the playing field. Each player has the option of altering the playing surface between plays by moving a row of squares upon which playing pieces rest. The gameboard results in a completely different way of playing games such as checkers and chess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel J. Noack
  • Patent number: 5695191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new transportable konane game with a pouch that opens into a playable flat surface and new rules of play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Christopher Frost
  • Patent number: 5692752
    Abstract: A method for playing a game includes providing a game board with a checkerboard pattern disposed thereon, a first side defining a beginning position for a first player and an ending position for a second player, and a second side defining a beginning position for the second player and an ending position for the second player. A plurality of tokens are provided to each player for movement along the squares of the game board. In order to move his or her tokens from one square to a new position on another square of the checkerboard, the player must successfully answer a question. As the player attempts to move any given token to the ending position, he or she must be careful that the opposing party does not "jump" the token, thereby causing the token to be removed from the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Deanna Hanna
  • Patent number: 5690333
    Abstract: A board game apparatus and method of playing are disclosed. A game board has aligned vertical and horizontal rows of octagonal shaped playing spaces. A plurality of playing pieces are provided for placement in a predetermined starting configuration on playing spaces of the game board. After determining the order of play, the playing pieces are moved about the game board to unoccupied playing spaces in an effort to jump and thereby capture the playing piece of an opponent. Each playing piece is preferably formed of a shotglass containing a beverage therewithin. The capturing of the playing piece by one player requires the consumption of the beverage by an opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventors: David A. Danner, Jamie S. Verzal, Robert S. Zwickey
  • Patent number: 5690332
    Abstract: A board game including in a preferred embodiment, a standard checker board and game pieces, each characterized by a negative or concave image of a dragon footprint on one face of the game piece and a positive or convex dragon footprint image on the opposite face of the game piece. The game is played by two teams or players, and one player lines his or her game pieces up on his or her base line of the game board, with the positive or convex image facing upwardly and the opposite player lines his or her game pieces up on the opposite base line of the game board, with the negative or concave side of the game piece facing upwardly. Each player moves a game piece forward on the board, until a negative game piece and a positive game piece face each other, at which point either a block occurs or a negative game piece may jump over a positive game piece or vice-versa, in the forward diagonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Glenn M. Rechs
  • Patent number: 5683089
    Abstract: A board game for two players includes a board with a rectangular grid of discrete playing positions denoted thereon to form a central playing zone, and a line of discrete scoring positions denoted thereon to form a scoring zone on each end and each side of the playing zone. Each scoring position is marked with a number denoting its value. A set of game pieces is provided for each player, and the pieces are marked with numbers to denote values corresponding to scoring position values. The opposing end scoring zones comprise starting zones, and the pieces are initially placed on like-valued positions within each starting zone. The allowed movement of a piece on each turn is dictated by its value, with the object being to place each piece in a like-valued scoring position in a side zone or in the scoring zone opposite the starting zone. A game ends when one player has all his pieces so positioned, and a point score is awarded each player in relation to the value of each piece in a scoring position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventor: William H. Clark
  • Patent number: 5662326
    Abstract: An improvement for a chess set comprising an eight-row by eight-column pattern of sixty four playing squares on a playing surface of a chess game playing board and two sets of visually distinct playing pieces each having eight pawns, two knights, two bishops, two rooks/castles, one queen and one king. A first set of one or more magnets having a North pole and a South pole is arranged in the board underlying the light squares such that the North pole is oriented toward the playing surface. A second set of one or more magnets having a North pole and a South pole is arranged in the board underlying the dark squares such that the South pole is oriented toward the playing surface. A first one of the bishops of each set movable only on the light squares includes a magnet having a North pole and a South pole arranged in conjunction therewith such that the South pole is odented toward the playing surface whereby the first bishops attract to the light squares and are repelled from the dark squares.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Educational Chess Enterprises
    Inventor: Nagib Gebran
  • Patent number: 5642885
    Abstract: A chess-type board game including sixty chess-type pieces and a checkered game board of fifteen columns and eight rows. A method for playing the game involving nearly two sets of standard chess pieces on either side, a player needing to capture one of his opponent's kings and checkmate his opponent's second king in order to win the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventor: John Bruce Gustin
  • Patent number: 5636841
    Abstract: This invention relates to a checkers type game that incorporates the use of cube shaped checker pieces having individual identifying numbers from one to six on each of its side faces which enables the player on a given turn to reposition a selected checker piece to a higher and more authoritative number which adds a new dimension of play to the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Robert C. Burroughs
  • Patent number: 5601289
    Abstract: A chess piece for a three-dimensional vertical stacking chess game includes a body having a plurality of faces for abutting stacking engagement with a face of another chess piece. Indicia appears on each of the plurality of faces representing a single chess piece. Indicia further appears on each of the plurality of faces representing a vertical level of game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Inventor: Lloyd E. Hollister
  • Patent number: 5577730
    Abstract: This invention consists of a flexible vinyl chess mat having two handles on opposite sides, both disposed in opposing positions to each other and centered on the perimeter of the square shaped chess mat, so that when the chess mat is folded in half, both handles line up with each other, making a doubled carrying handle. On one side of the chess mat a typical chess board is printed on the rubberized vinyl side. On the reverse side of the chess mat, when turned over, to expose the cloth backing side, a fastening means is positioned around the perimeter of the chess mat, and permanently attached, creating, when folded in half and fastened, an inside pocket area in which chess pieces and accessories may be carried and stored. The chess mat, when unfastened and emptied, and laid flat on a flat surface, is ready for chess play. The same mat can then be converted into a carrying case for convenient transportation and storage of chess pieces and accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Michael A. Vannozzi, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5566944
    Abstract: A game apparatus comprising a board having a pattern of regularly shaped areas marked thereon. The areas are denoted by coding such that there is one set of areas distinguishable from at least another set of areas. The game apparatus further includes sets of playing pieces there being a set of playing pieces for each set of areas. The playing pieces are multi-faceted and are of various shapes with the faces of the playing pieces being each of a shape which is commensurate with the shape of an area. Accordingly when a playing piece is located on the board it covers two or more of the areas with the playing pieces being able to stack upon each other on the board with at least some of the playing pieces in each set having a multi-faceted projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Richard M. K. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5558324
    Abstract: The ball delivery device includes an enclosed non-transparent delivery conduit extending outwardly from a substantially vertical support structure. The enclosed non-transparent delivery conduit includes a ball receiving portion at one end and a ball discharging portion terminating at a discharge opening at an opposite end. The entire length of the ball delivery conduit including the ball discharge portion is enclosed and made from a non-transparent material to prevent the player from viewing the ball until it is discharged for the opening. The delivery conduit may be pivotally connected to the support structure so that an adjustable positioning rod positioned between the support structure and the conduit can be adjusted to vary the angular position of the conduit. Alternatively, the delivery conduit may be stationary with respect to the support structure at an angle just sufficient to cause the ball to travel therethrough by the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Larry Jourdan
  • Patent number: 5542678
    Abstract: A promotional game, sold as a kit, permits the player to selectively assemble his or her own chess or checkers set. The kit comprises a case of fruit juice bottles further including a green and white checker/chessboard, an instructional book, and two sets of adhesive backed stickers. The first set comprises a set of checker stickers in which the checkers pieces include indicia in the form of fruit, preferably apples or pears, and in colors consistent with that fruit, for example, red and a dark color. The second set of stickers comprises adhesive backed indicia in the form of chess pieces also having a fruit theme where, for example, the pawns might be apples. The board and sticker indicia are preferably packaged on top of the bottles and shrink wrapped into position so that they are visible to the potential purchaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: M. Josephine Woodbridge
  • Patent number: 5536014
    Abstract: A technique for playing a modified chess game on a modified board, having a foremost playing area of eight square by eight square rows and plurality of marks printed on top of the board. The board possesses alternately colored red and white squares comprising a plurality of strategically placed green diamonds. The game having two sets of conventional chess pieces, differentiated by color. Each set comprising of 16 pieces, one set red the other white. The pieces are set up and move in a traditional chess manner. In addition when any royalty step on one of the squares marked with green diamond the player has to convert the royalties traditional movement to a specified move. As for the Queen and Knights the specified move is a single move, while for the King, Bishops, and Rooks is plural. In the case of a plurality the decision are always optional to the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Andras Serfozo
  • Patent number: 5511793
    Abstract: Five related strategy type board games which are variations of conventional chess. Two are generic versions which can be played on sixteen square to sixty-four square boards using only simplex pieces: rooks, bishops, and knights; and duplex pieces: princess, crown-prince, and archbishop which are composites of two different simplex components and possess their dual powers. A third version played on a one hundred square board, includes three pairs of simplex playing pieces: rooks, bishops, and knights; three different types of duplex playing pieces: archbishop, crown-prince and queen, are all composites of two different simplex components; plus a king and ten pawns. Pawns have increased powers of movement, cannot be converted to queens, but can liberate captured pieces and possibly be knighted in the process. The crown-prince may succeed to the throne when the king has been annihilated, permitting the contest to continue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Quantum Development, Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Watt
  • Patent number: 5509662
    Abstract: Black Hole Chess is a game of tactics and strategy, played on a special board, which is larger than that of conventional chess and having vertical and horizontal grid lines as opposed to columns of alternating colored squares as in conventional chess. There are seventeen pieces representing futuristic, space-age figures on each of two opposing sides. Two players, one for each side, face each other across the board. The object of the game is to maneuver one's pieces, according to prescribed rules, in such a way as to put the opponent's President in a condition of "checkmate" or "stalemate," that is, a situation in which he is threatened with capture and cannot move out of vulnerability in any direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Blaise F. Santianni
  • Patent number: 5503400
    Abstract: A chess set construction permitting chess to be played with the chess board in a vertical position, removably mounted in a frame on a wall, and in a horizontal position, as on a table. Each chess piece is bisected, being rejoinable by a tongue and groove. At least one of the halves of each chess-piece has a magnet, and the chess board is a magnetic receptor, such that each such magnet half piece may be held in playing position on the chess board when the chess board is vertical on a wall, with each half piece being viewed in normal upright profile. Display storage provisions are made for the halves of each playing piece not in play. The chess board is removable from the wall frame with the half-pieces remaining in position for continuation of play on a horizontal table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Inventor: Anselmo Silva
  • Patent number: 5490675
    Abstract: Game set and storage system in which game pieces are stored in a preset arrangement relative to their starting positions on the game board. The set includes a game piece holder which has a plurality of compartments for holding the game pieces in an inverted position. The board is placed on the holder in an inverted position with its playing surface facing down and the board serving as a cover for the holder. To set up the game the holder is inverted with the now upright board on the under side thereof, and the board is dislodged from the holder, by pressing against the upper surface of the board with a finger inserted through a hole provided in the holder for that purpose. When the holder is lifted away, the game pieces are left in their proper starting positions on the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Inventors: Andre M. Persidsky, Maxim D. Persidsky
  • Patent number: 5486004
    Abstract: A chess set in which each statuesque chess piece is respectively structured to be authentically relevant to the entitle directional mobility permitted the piece. Precise angular position of indicators radially diverging about a horizontal axis and structurally aligned in a vertical plane prominently project at respective angles to indicate the corresponding relevant angular rows and columns of a chess board along which the piece is entitled to linearly move from its present position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Charles P. Fogarty
  • Patent number: 5484157
    Abstract: This invention is a board game wherein the board has the same number of squares as a chess board and each player has sixteen movable pieces, as in chess. The movable pieces are military pieces simulating military personnel, armament, and a headquarters. The rules of chess apply except that the military pieces are enabled to move in a manner simulating movement of military equipment, which enables the players to combine military strategy with chess-like logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Inventor: Michael H. King
  • Patent number: 5472208
    Abstract: A game board, similar to a checkerboard, includes 10 squares on edge, and two sets of playing pieces, including 10 in each set moved by opposing players on opposite sides of the board. The players move the pieces toward each other, and perform capturing steps. The playing pieces are rings and pegs, and in the capturing steps, the rings and pegs are interfitted to form a stack. The pieces are so shaped that they can be stacked to indeterminate heights, including as many as 20 in a single stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: William J. Berry
  • Patent number: 5462281
    Abstract: A board game defines a plurality of playing positions in the form of a gridwork including a plurality of discrete, electrically isolated, metal frames, each frame enclosing one of the playing positions and supporting a translucent coextensive window. Playing pieces, some being of different types, are movable between playing positions in accordance with a predetermined pattern dependent upon their type and influenced by the locations of other playing pieces. A regulating system selectively alters a sensible characteristic at each of the playing positions to thereby alter an attribute of a playing piece which lands on a certain one of the playing positions. This is done by successively illuminating each of the playing positions by means of one or more colored electric lamps or by providing no illumination at all.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventors: Andre A. Gaito, Donald C. Portofee
  • Patent number: 5456472
    Abstract: A game apparatus having a game board with a plurality of sides and with multi-planar levels which are modifiable by the placing or removing of fill squares onto or from any one or more of a plurality of vertical spaces on the game board. The spaces are arranged in an edge-to-edge array across the game board. The game is played between two players with each player having an identical set of playing pieces representing characters or things in the game. The playing pieces are permitted to move along predetermined paths and capture opposing playing pieces, the movement being restricted by obstacles and different levels of the multi-planar game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Inventor: Benjamin I. Goodman
  • Patent number: 5449178
    Abstract: An improved game of chess is disclosed in which capture as a strategy is weakened and major pieces are subsequently kept on the board to enhance strategic play. Captured major pieces are replaced with pawns, the game starts with each player having only four pawns on the board, each player is limited to one pawn per file, and pawns promote at the fifth rank, but only from captured major pieces. A protected pawn cannot be captured by a major piece. A chess board is disclosed for enhancing playability of the game. The board is divided into two halves representing the player's representative sides of the board, by a colored dividing line and differently colored light squares representing the two halves. In the initial setup, each player has pawns on Rook 4, Queen 4 and King 3, and these squares are marked on the board to facilitate correct initial positioning of the pawns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventor: Michael J. Castronova
  • Patent number: 5413352
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventors: Andre M. Persidsky, Maxim D. Persidsky
  • Patent number: 5351965
    Abstract: Apparatus for playing a game comprises a board bearing a two-dimensional grid of fixed playing areas, there being equal number of fixed playing areas of first and second colors; two equal sets of movable playing areas differing in color but having an equal number of movable playing areas therein, each of these movable playing areas being capable of resting upon one of the fixed playing areas; and two equal sets of playing pieces with at least three different types of playing pieces in each set, each playing piece having a first characteristic identifying the set to which it belongs, and a second characteristic identifying the type of playing piece within that set, each playing piece being capable of resting upon one of the fixed playing areas, or upon one of the movable playing areas which is itself resting in a fixed position upon one of the fixed playing areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Inventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Michael J. Zuraw
  • Patent number: 5346224
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a checker board game which introduces an element of chance whereby at predetermined times during play of the game, playing pieces on predetermined playing spaces must be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Karl G. Remus
  • Patent number: 5344154
    Abstract: A board game includes an enclosure having a playing surface containing a plurality of squares in an array, wherein each of said squares is a trap door. The squares on each half of a centerline across the surface are controlled by control panels on opposite sides of the enclosure. Each control panel has a plurality of switch mechanisms connected one each to a square for moving the square out of the plane of the playing surface. The switch mechanisms are actuated by removable buttons fitting within an array of holes in the control panel. The array of holes corresponds to the array of squares on one half of the playing surface. Not all of the holes receive buttons, i.e. the number and location of the buttons is determined by the rules for play, and the buttons can be arranged asymmetrically with respect to the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Steven W. Langstroth
  • Patent number: 5340114
    Abstract: The game of the present invention includes a traditional checkerboard (44) and two sets of checkers. Each set includes 15 dark (12) checkers and 15 light (16) checkers. Each set includes 5 single indicator bottoms (4), 5 dual indicator bottoms (28), and 5 triple indicator bottoms (40). Movement of checkers depends on type of indicator bottom: single indicator bottom (4) means lose your turn, dual indicator bottom (28) means play normally, and triple indicator bottom (40) means remove jumping checker from checkerboard (44). Alternate turns are taken by both players advancing diagonally forward one square at a time, trying to avoid capture by the opponent until reaching the opposite end of the checkerboard (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventor: Dan Wester
  • Patent number: 5338041
    Abstract: A housing having a top wall of a chess board pattern is arranged to selectively receive groupings of chess pieces configured in representative relationship to a respective category of sports to include football, hockey, baseball, and basketball. A transparent laminate web is arranged for selective mounting and frictional adhering to the top wall to indicate relative to each representative group of chess pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventors: David R. Jones, Garry L. Winterland, David A. Cripe
  • Patent number: 5328187
    Abstract: A plurality of individual chess boards are arranged in adjacency relative to one another, with the chess board having a first end spaced from a second end, with each chess board associated with each player, and each chess board including an individual set of chess game tokens that are operative to effect combat per conventional chess rules relative to the other game boards by permitting movement from a first end of one of the boards to a further first end of a further of the boards, and each second end of one of the boards is arranged for movement of tokens therefrom to a second end of the further boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Laura S. De Marchi
  • Patent number: 5314189
    Abstract: A chess set is provided which has a plurality of playable pieces and a dimensional chess board. These pieces consist of, chess men and the pawns each having a structure comprising of channel like lines at the base and a geometric band inscribed on the front of each piece. The geometric bands identify the pieces into groups with matching bands. The channel like lines that extend around all sides of the playable pieces indicate the point value of each chess piece and pawn. The structure of the chess pieces also includes a cavity at the base with an opening that a particular pawn fits exactly inside of identifying a visual relationship between them with the chess piece becoming the parent piece of the pawn. A pawn that reaches the eighth rank becomes a replication of its parent piece with the exception of the king's pawn which can become any piece except another king. The chess pieces have geometrically shaped tops that indicate the movement potential of each piece when it is engaged in play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: David W. Kerivan
  • Patent number: 5312110
    Abstract: A board game apparatus is arranged to include a game board having an equal predetermined number of rows and columns of squares, wherein opposing groups relative to simulated assemblies of tokens are positioned on opposed end portions of the game board to simulate soldiers, knights, a giant, and a captured king, wherein by elimination of opposing player tokens, a captured king is reclaimed by a moving player from an opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Mark D. Youwanes