Game, method of playing the same, and collapsible game board
A collapsible three-dimensional game board having platforms separated by pillars, there being elastic cords which allow the game board to be held in an erect or collapsed position. The board may be used to play a game in which tokens, which may carry numbers or letters or be in the shape of numbers or letters, are placed into empty spaces of the platforms to achieve a desired effect.
The present invention relates to a collapsible 3D (three-dimensional) game board for use with a game described in my Provisional Patent Applications No. 61/272,782 filed Nov. 2, 2009, No. 61/344,821 filed Oct. 18, 2012, and No. 61/457,465 filed Apr. 4, 2011. This application claims the benefit of the filing dates of my Provisional Applications No. 61/743,728 filed Sep. 11, 2012, which claims the benefit of my Provisional Patent Application No. 61/630,098 filed Dec. 5, 2011.
The game board comprises three horizontal platforms made of clear of translucent material and each is supported by pillars in the form of hollow tubes with one or more elastic cords threaded through the tubes and platforms that are secured above and below the pillars. The game board is thus able to be compressed or collapsed by applying a downward pressure while moving the middle platform laterally in relation to the bottom platform and the upper platform laterally in relation to the middle platform. The thus compressed or collapsed game board is able to be packaged in a small space for shipping and travel. The elastic cord or cords allow the compressed or collapsed game board to be easily uncompressed or fully opened so that it can be used to play a game.
Each set of hollow tubes that are in alignment to form a single pillar may be secured with a separate segment of elastic cord secured above and below. Alternatively, the hollow tubes may be secured with a single loop or multiple loops of elastic cord. The use of two or more loops of elastic cord, each of which traverses some or all of the pillars at least once, allows for redundancy if any one elastic cord breaks.
Each of the spaces of the 3D game board has a small piece of ferrous material or an opaque or clear magnet embedded in the platform. The games pieces are also made of, or may have embedded in them, ferrous metal or a magnet to allow them to be held in place on a specific game space. The option of a clear magnet embedded in a clear platform allows players to see through the game board space to view the other spaces or game pieces positioned behind or below. The game pieces themselves are shaped as numbers and/or letters or, if desired, in another shape that is then marked sequentially, to allow easier identification by players with visual impairment, as shown in my now abandoned patent application Ser. No. 13/317,103 filed Oct. 11, 2011 and published Oct. 4, 2012.
The invention is further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 3D is a side view showing all of the structure of
The game board may be used to play different games, one example of such game being one in which sequentially marked tokens are placed in empty spaces of the board to achieve an in-line arrangement of at least three tokens. Such a game may also be played by using the above-described game board as a matrix game board so that the placing of the tokens can be effected holographically, and such placing may be effected electronically or optically.
The invention is capable of various modifications, all of which are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A collapsible game board comprising three horizontal platforms each providing a plurality of spaces onto which there may be placed a game piece, each platform being made of a clear or translucent material; a plurality of hollow tubular pillars arranged between said platforms for supporting the same; at least one elastic cord threaded through said pillars and platforms and secured above and below the same thereby rending the game board compressible or collapsible by applying a downward pressure while the middle platform laterally in relation to the bottom platform and the upper platform laterally in relation to the middle platform.
2. A collapsible game board as defined in claim 1 wherein each space on the game board is provided with piece of ferrous material.
3. In combination with a collapsible game board as defined in claim 2, a plurality of game pieces made of or having embedded therein a magnet to enable said game pieces to be held magnetically in a respective one of said spaces.
4. A collapsible game board as defined in claim 1 wherein each space on the game board is provided with an opaque or clear magnet embedded in each space of said platforms.
5. In combination with a collapsible game board as defined in claim 4, a plurality of game pieces made of or having embedded therein a magnet to enable said game pieces to be held magnetically in a respective one of said spaces.
6. In combination with a collapsible game board as defined in claim 1, a plurality of game pieces shaped as numbers.
7. In combination with a collapsible game board as defined in claim 1, a plurality of game pieces shaped as letters.
8. A collapsible game board as defined in claim 1 wherein each set of hollow tubes that are in alignment to form a single pillar are secured with a separate segment of elastic cord secured above and below.
9. A collapsible game board as defined in claim 1 comprising a single loop of elastic cord for securing all of the tubes that form the multiple aligned pillar sets.
10. A collapsible game board as defined in claim 1 comprising a plurality of independent loops of elastic cords for securing the tubes that form the multiple aligned pillar sets.
11. A method of playing a board game comprising the steps of placing sequentially marked tokens into empty spaces in a multiple platform game board to achieve an in-line arrangement of at least three of the token.
12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said placing is effected holographically.
13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein said holographic placing is effected electronically.
14. A method as defied in claim 12 wherein said holographic placing is effected optically.
15. The invention substantially as described and/or illustrated.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 13, 2014
Inventor: Robert F. SPENCER (Concord, NH)
Application Number: 13/987,757
International Classification: A63F 3/00 (20060101);