GAME BOARD FOR A BOARD GAME

Abstract

The invention relates to a game board (1) for a board game, having a flat bottom part (2), which can be rolled up corresponding to a roll axis (A) into a transport position and has at least one first edge side (2.1) as well as a second edge side (2.2) opposite the latter, which extend skew to the roll axis (A), a first side part (3) connected along the first edge side (2.1) to the bottom part (2) as well as a second side part (4) connected along the second edge side (2.2) to the bottom part (2), which are designed strip-like and can be adjusted between a use position raised relative to the bottom part (2) and an intermediate position parallel to the latter and can be rolled up from the intermediate position together with the bottom part (2).
In order to make a travel board game available with improved functionality, it is provided according to the invention that the first (3) and second side part (4) in each case have a bistable spring band (7), which extends in a first stable state for stiffening the side part (3, 4) parallel to the adjacent edge side (2.1, 2.2).

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A game board for a board game, comprising: a flat bottom part that can be rolled up corresponding to a roll axis into a transport position and has at least one first edge side and a second edge side opposite the latter, which extend skew to the roll axis; a first side part connected along the first edge side to the bottom part and a second side part connected along the second edge side to the bottom part, which are designed strip-like and can be adjusted between a use position raised relative to the bottom part and an intermediate position substantially parallel to the latter and can be rolled up from the intermediate position together with the bottom part; wherein the first and second side part in each case have a bistable spring band, which extends in a first stable state for stiffening the side part substantially parallel to the adjacent edge side.

12. The game board according to claim 11, further comprising a third side part connected to the bottom part along a third edge side arranged between the first and second edge sides and being substantially parallel to the roll axis.

13. The game board according to claim 12, wherein the third side part has an interior for receiving game figures.

14. The game board according to claim 13, wherein the bottom part has a fourth edge side arranged opposite to the third edge side, along which a fourth side part is connected to the bottom part.

15. The game board according to claim 14, wherein the transport position corresponds to a second stable state of the spring band.

16. The game board according to claim 15, wherein the bottom part is designed rectangularly, wherein the first and second edge sides extend at right angles to a protection of the roll axis on the bottom part.

17. The game board according to claim 16, wherein the stiffening band is positively received in a casing of the respective side part.

18. The game board according to claim 17, further comprising first fastening means for fastening the first and second side parts on the fourth side part in the use position.

19. The game board according to claim 18, further comprising second fastening means for fastening the first and second side parts on the third side part in the use position.

20. The game board according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the first or second fastening means is designed as a snap fastener, magnetic closure, VELCRO fastener or hook closure.

Description

[0022] The details of the invention are elucidated below by means of an embodiment with reference to the figures. In this connection

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a game board according to the present invention in a transport position;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a perspective depiction of the game board from FIG. 1 in an intermediate position;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a perspective depiction of a game board from FIG. 1 in a use position;

[0026] FIGS. 4A-4D show side views of a spring band in different stages in the transition between two stable states; as well as

[0027] FIG. 4E shows a top view of the spring band from FIGS. 4A-4D.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective depiction of a game board 1 for a board game according to an embodiment of the present invention. The game board 1 has a flat, square bottom part 2, which consists of flexible material, for example, fabric or film. On the upper side visible in FIG. 1 different markings for the playing surface of the board game can be printed or sewn, for example, a checkerboard pattern or the like. The bottom part has four equally long edge sides or edges 2.1-2.4 standing in pairs at right angles to one another. On a first edge side 2.1 a strip-shaped first side part 3 is connected to the bottom part 2, for example, by sewing, adhesion or the like. Accordingly, a second side part 4 is connected to the bottom part 2 on an opposite second edge side 2.2. The two mentioned side parts 3, 4 in each case have a flexible casing 9, 10, which, can consist, for example, of fabric or film, as well as a bistable spring band 7 positively received therein. In the use position depicted in FIG. 1 the respective spring band 7 is located in a first stable state, in which it extends in each case parallel or substantially parallel to adjacent edge sides 2.1, 2.2. In this state the respective side part 3, 4 is stiffened by the spring band 7.

[0029] On a third edge side 2.3 arranged between the first edge side 2.1 and the second edgte side 2.2 a third side part 5 is connected to the bottom part 2, which is designed cylindrically in contrast to the first and second side part 3, 4 and has an interior, which can be closed by a slide fastener 8. In the interior game figures, dice or the like can be stowed. Due to its cylindrical form the third side part 5 has a structurally-caused stiffness, even though it is made from an inherently flexible material like fabric or film. On a fourth edge side 2.4 opposite the third edge side 2.3 a fourth side part 6 is connected to the bottom part 2. This can in itself be designed to be flexible and consist of the same material as the casings 9, 10 of the first two side parts 3, 4.

[0030] In the use position depicted in FIG. 1 the first, second and fourth side part 3, 4, 6 is raised relative to the bottom part, approximately at a right angle. In order to prevent undesired falling over of the side parts 3, 4, 6, the first and second side part 3, 4 are fastened via first snap fasteners 11 on the fourth side part 6 and via second snap fasteners 12 on the third side part 5. As a result, the position of the fourth side part 6 is also substantially secured, even if this consists exclusively of flexible material.

[0031] If the game board 1 is to be transported, a user releases the snap fasteners 11, 12 and brings the first, second and fourth side part 3, 4, 6 into an intermediate position parallel to the bottom part 2 or into an intermediate position substantially parallel to the bottom part 2 or after the release of the snap fasteners 11, 12 the user brings the first, second and fourth side part 3, 4, 6 into an intermediate position in the plane of the bottom part 2. This intermediate position is depicted in FIG. 2. The adjustment of the side parts 3, 4, 6 into the intermediate position can be viewed as a pivot process about the respective edge sides 2.1, 2.2, 2.4.

[0032] In a next step the bottom part 2 is rolled up together with the first, second and fourth side part 3, 4, 6 about a roll axis A, which corresponds to a central axis of the third part 5 and extends parallel or substantially parallel to the third edge side 2.3, wherein the first edge side 2.1 and the second edge side 2.2 extend skew to the roll axis A. In order to achieve this, the user presses with a finger 20 on the casing 9 of the first side part 3 at a point, which corresponds to any part of the spring band 7. As a result, the first stable state (which is also depicted in FIG. 4D) is cancelled and the spring band 7 moves towards a second stable state, in which it is rolled up spirally (depicted in FIG. 4A). In a corresponding manner the first stable state of the spring band 7 in the second side part 4 can be cancelled, whereby the desired roll-up takes place partially driven by the spring tension of the spring bands 7 and, if necessary, assisted manually by the user.

[0033] After the roll-up the game board 1 is located in the transport position depicted in FIG. 3, in which it is rolled up compactly. The spring bands 7 are thereby located at least approximately in the second stable state, whereby the transport position is stabilized. Optionally an additional stabilization could be achieved in that the first snap fasteners 11 interact with corresponding counterparts on the lower side of the first and second side part 3, 4.

[0034] FIGS. 4A to 4D show in side view a movement sequence of the spring band 7 from the second stable state (in FIG. 4A) into the first stable state (in FIG. 4D). In the second stable state the spring band 7 is rolled up compactly about the roll axis A, wherein its cross section corresponds substantially to a straight line. When rolling out, which is depicted in FIGS. 4B and 4C, increasing proportions of the spring band 7 pass into a stretched position, wherein the straight cross section changes into a state convexly curved towards a first side 7.1. In the first stable state depicted in FIG. 4D and in top view in FIG. 4E the spring band 7 is curved over its entire length towards the first side 7.1 and stabilized by the curvature. As indicated in FIG. 4D, the user can press with the finger 20 at any point (for example, an end) on the first side 7.1 of the spring band 7, whereby the first stable state is cancelled and the spring band 7 following the spring tension returns to the second stable state from FIG. 4A. It is understood that these processes can also function if the spring band 7 is located in a flexible casing 9, 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 game board [0036] 2 bottom part [0037] 2.1 first edge side [0038] 2.2 second edge side [0039] 2.3 third edge side [0040] 2.4 fourth edge side [0041] 3 first side part [0042] 4 second side part [0043] 5 third side part [0044] 6 fourth side part [0045] 7 spring band [0046] 7.1 first side [0047] 8 slide fastener [0048] 9, 10 casing [0049] 11, 12 snap fastener [0050] 20 finger [0051] A roll axis