PORTABLE CHESS SET THAT PRESERVES POSITIONS OF CHESS PIECES DURING A PAUSE IN GAME PLAY TO PERMIT TRANSPORTATION AND CONTINUATION OF A CHESS GAME

Abstract

A portable chess set able to preserve positions of chess pieces on a chess board during an interruption of game play, thereby permitting transportation of the chess set and then resuming game play. The chess set includes: a board having a surface partitioned into a plurality of square areas each having a square center, a plurality of ferro-magnetic elements, each square area having a ferro-magnetic element embedded under the playing surface at the square center. Also included is a plurality of chess pieces, each chess piece having a magnet embedded in a bottom center portion of the chess piece, and a chess piece position preserver that includes a planar member having a plurality of holes in a square array, each hole having a hole center, each hole center located to align over a square center when the chess piece position preserver is secured in place over the chess board.

Claims

1. A portable chess set able to preserve positions of chess pieces on a chess board during temporary interruption of game play, thereby permitting transportation of the chess board and then resuming game play, the portable chess set comprising: a chess board having a playing surface partitioned into a plurality of square areas, each square area having a square center; a plurality of ferro-magnetic elements, each square area having a ferro-magnetic element embedded under the playing surface at the square center; a plurality of chess pieces; a plurality of magnets, each chess piece having a magnet embedded in a bottom center portion of the chess piece; and a chess piece position preserver including a planar member having a plurality of holes arranged as a square array, each hole having a hole center, each hole center configured to substantially align with a square center when the chess piece position preserver is secured in place over the chess board.

2. The portable chess set of claim 1, each hole of the chess piece position preserver having a chamfered circumferential edge.

3. The portable chess set of claim 1, wherein the chess board is incorporated into a base assembly, and the chess piece position preserver is incorporated into a lid assembly, the base assembly and the lid assembly each having cooperative alignment features that are configured to engage so as to ensure that each hole center substantially aligns with a respective square center when the lid assembly is placed on top of the base assembly so as to engage the cooperative alignment features.

4. The portable chess set of claim 1, wherein the plurality of chess pieces are of different heights.

5. The portable chess set of claim 1, wherein the chess piece position preserver is made of a transparent material.

6. The portable chess set of claim 1, wherein cooperative alignment features of the base assembly and the lid assembly are also configured to engage so as to ensure that the lid assembly remains engaged with the base assembly until intentionally disengaged prior to resuming game play.

7. The portable chess set of claim 6, wherein each of the cooperative alignment features include either a magnet or a ferro-magnetic element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will be more fully understood from the following Detailed Description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable chess set according to the invention, showing a lid assembly resting on top of a base assembly, the lid assembly including a chess piece position preserver having an array of holes, the base assembly supporting a chess board with a full set of chess pieces, the tops of the chess pieces extending up through the holes.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a top view of the portable chess set of FIG. 1, showing the array of holes of the chess piece position preserver, some holes showing a top view of a chess piece, some holes showing the absence of a chess piece (the alternating square colors of the chess board are not shown).

[0024] FIG. 3 is a cut-away side view of the portable chess set of FIG. 1, showing the lid assembly resting on top of the base assembly, a line of chess pieces extending up through a line of corresponding holes in the chess piece position preserver, and showing each chess piece having a magnet in its base that is attracted to a ball bearing of ferro-magnetic material embedded in the center area of each square of the chess board.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a close-up cut-away side view showing a single chess piece extending up through a hole in the chess piece position preserver, and showing the chess piece having a magnet in its base that is attracted to a ball bearing of ferro-magnetic material embedded in the center area of the underlying square of the chess board.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base assembly, showing an array of squares of the chess board (omitting the alternating colors of the squares), also showing in dotted line an embedded sphere (or cylinder) of ferro-magnetic material in the center area of each square under the playing surface of the chess board.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of the base assembly of FIG. 5, showing an embedded sphere (or cylinder) of ferro-magnetic material in the center area of each square under the playing surface of the chess board.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a side view with a partial cut-away side view of the base assembly of FIG. 5, again showing an embedded sphere (or cylinder) of ferro-magnetic material in the center area of each square under the playing surface of the chess board, also showing a plurality of chess pieces, each chess piece having a magnet centrally located towards the bottom of each chess piece.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the portable chess set of FIG. 1, showing chess pieces arranged after some game play, just before the lid assembly is placed on top of the base assembly so that the chess piece position preserver can preserve the positions of chess pieces during a pause in game play to permit transportation and continuation of the chess game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment 100 of a portable chess set according to the invention, showing a lid assembly 102 resting on top of a base assembly 104, the lid assembly 102 including a chess piece position preserver 106 having an array of holes 108, the base assembly 104 supporting a chess board 110 along with a full set of chess pieces 112, the tops of the chess pieces 112 extending up through the holes 108. Also shown are snap elements 114 that engage so as to removably attach the lid assembly 102 to the base assembly 104. In other embodiments, a pair of magnets is used instead of the snap elements 114, each magnet of the pair of magnets being attracted to the other magnet.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, the array of holes 108 of the chess piece position preserver 106, some holes 108′ showing a top view of a chess piece, some holes 108 showing the absence of a chess piece (the alternating square colors of the chess board 110 are not shown).

[0032] With reference to FIG. 3, the lid assembly 102 rests on top of the base assembly 104, a line of chess pieces 112 extends up through a line of corresponding holes 108 in the chess piece position preserver 106. Also shown here is the magnet 300 in the base of each chess piece 112. The magnet 300 is attracted to a ball bearing 302 made from a ferro-magnetic material that is embedded in the center area of each square (not shown) of the playing surface 304 of the chess board 110 of the base assembly 104.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, a single chess piece 112 extends up through a hole 108 in the chess piece position preserver 106. The chess piece 112 has a magnet 300 in its base that is attracted to a ball bearing 302 of ferro-magnetic material embedded in the center area of the underlying square of the playing surface 304 of the chess board 110 of the base assembly 104. This provides a “snap-to-center” feature, which ensures that each chess piece 112 stays in the center of any given square 500 of the chess board 110. This “snap-to-center” feature provides two benefits: it keeps the pieces 112 on the chess board 110 looking neat and orderly, and it ensures that the chess pieces 112 can all easily be “captured” by the chess piece position preserver 106 when it is put in place so as to preserve the positions of the chess pieces 112 during a pause in game play to permit transportation and continuation of the chess game.

[0034] Notice that the hole 108 shows a rounded or chamfered edge 400 so as to more easily fit over chess pieces 112 that may not be perfectly centered when the chess piece position preserver 106 is lowered over all of the chess pieces 112 on the chess board 110 when game play is to be paused prior to transport of the chess set 100.

[0035] With reference to FIG. 5, the base assembly 104 is shown having an array of squares 500 of the chess board 110 (omitting the alternating colors of the squares), also showing in dotted line an embedded sphere 302 (or cylinder) of ferro-magnetic material in the center area of each square 500 under the playing surface 304 of the chess board 110 (which is just the aggregate of all the squares 500).

[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, an array of embedded spheres 302 (or cylinder) of ferro-magnetic material in the center area of each square (not shown) under the playing surface 304 of the chess board 110 is shown.

[0037] With reference to FIG. 7, the base assembly 104 is shown with a plurality of chess pieces 112 resting on the playing surface 304 of the chess board 110, again showing an embedded sphere 302 (or cylinder) of ferro-magnetic material in the center area of each square 500 under the playing surface 304 of the chess board 110, also showing a plurality of chess pieces, each chess piece having a magnet 300 centrally located towards the bottom of each chess piece. It is the attraction of the magnet 300 to the embedded sphere 302 that keeps the chess piece 112 securely on the board, while also keeping the chess piece 112 substantially centered within the square 500. This will make placing the chess piece position preserver 106 over all of the chess pieces on the chess board 110 easier, such that the top portion of each chess piece 112 projects upward and through each hole 108 of the chess piece position preserver 106.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 8, the chess pieces 112 are arranged after some game play, just before the lid assembly 102 is placed on top of the base assembly 104 so that the chess piece position preserver 106 can preserve the positions of chess pieces 112 during a pause in game play to permit transportation and continuation of the chess game. Note that snap elements 114 are shown before engaging so as to removably attach the lid assembly 102 to the base assembly 104.

[0039] The portable chess set of the invention includes a standard number of chess pieces and a chess board. The portable chess set includes two pluralities of chess pieces, one plurality for each player, such as a plurality of white pieces and a plurality of black pieces. When the lid assembly 102 engages with the base assembly 104, a piece position preserver 106 having a plurality of circular openings 108, one opening 108 for each space on the chess board 110, fits over any pieces 112 in play on the chess board 110, and keeps them securely in place during transport.

[0040] One advantage of the portable chess set 100 of the invention is that it is self-contained and can be easily converted between a playable and transport configuration. It also provides an aesthetically pleasing product with no unsightly hinges or folds interrupting the play surface 304 of the chess board 110. When in a playable configuration, the chess set 100 provides a stable surface for game play.

[0041] Each chess piece 112 has a magnet 300 incorporated within its base with, such as a bar magnet or cylindrical magnet vertically oriented. Each square 500 on the chess board 110 includes a ferromagnetic metal element 302 centered in the square 500, such as a steel or iron ball bearing, or a cylinder with a height and diameter substantially equal. The attraction between the magnet 300 in the chess piece 112 and the ferro-magnetic metal sphere 302 ensures that each chess piece 112 can be securely but removably fastened to the square 500, and ensures that each chess piece placed on a square 500 will be centered on that square 500.

[0042] In other embodiments, a magnet oriented so as to attract the magnet in each chess piece can be embedded in the center area of each square of the chess board. This embodiment would provide stronger attraction between each chess piece and the squares of the chess board, thereby reducing movement or dislodgement of the chess pieces during storage or transport of the chess set.

[0043] A cover is provided with two planar components and four sides. The top planar component is a clear piece of plastic or glass that forms a protective barrier for the board and pieces. The inner planar component 106 has an array of holes 108 such that a center of each hole 108 aligns over the center of each square 500 of the chess board 110 when the cover is attached. The holes 108 are of sufficient diameter to allow each piece 112, located at any square 500, to pass through. Nevertheless, the holes 108 are small enough to constrain the lateral movement of each of the chess pieces 112 so as to prevent accidental dislodgment or movement during transport or storage. Thus, each hole 108 surrounds each chess piece 112 on the board 110 so as to prevent each chess piece 112 from moving laterally along the chess board 110, while the magnetic attraction of each chess piece 112 on the board 110 to a magnet or ferromagnetic object 302 embedded in the board 110 substantially prevents vertical movement away from the chess board 110.

[0044] The piece position preserver 106 has a plurality of circular openings 108. The openings 108 preserve piece positions while allowing the typical variations in piece height, since the piece position preserver 106 retains the pieces from “waist level” of each chess piece. Accordingly, the upper portions of each chess piece must all fit within the diameter of the holes 108 in the piece position preserver 106. Consequently, the shape of the Knight chess piece needs to be modified from what is conventional. Specifically, the head of the horse of the Knight (specifically the snout portion), extends outward asymmetrically from the central axis of the Knight. The snout must be shortened so as to fit through each of the holes 108, while still retaining a sense of the classic “horse head” design of the Knight chess piece.

[0045] The portable chess set can be constructed of machined aluminum, machined acrylic sheet, polycarbonate back-printed label (for the playing surface) and various stainless steel fasteners.

[0046] In an embodiment of the present invention, injection molding is used to make some or all the components out of plastic. This would provide a lower cost and possibly faster method of manufacture as well as provide a lighter embodiment.

[0047] Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention, except as indicated in the following claims.