FOLDABLE GAME BOARD APPARATUS

Abstract

A foldable game board apparatus includes at least two game boards, and each game board is positioned opposite relative to the other. The apparatus includes side walls and end walls, and at least a portion of the at least one game board and the at least other game board are connected thereto. At least one medial wall is formed on at least one game board, and the medial wall carries a pivot member such that the at least two game boards pivot from an expanded position into a closed position to form a storage space for at least game elements and game pieces.

Claims

1. A foldable game board apparatus, comprising: at least two game boards, at least one surface forming a game board, and at least one other surface forming a game board, each game board positioned opposite of each other, and each game board in an expanded position is planar relative to the other; at least two spaced-apart end walls connected to at least two spaced-apart sidewalls, at least a portion of the at least one surface and at the least other surface connected to at least one of the at least two end walls and the at least two sidewalls; and at least one inner wall, provided by at least one of the at least two game boards and connected to at least two of the spaced-apart sidewalls, the at least one inner wall carrying a pivotal member which permits the at least two game boards to pivot from an expanded position into a closed position to form a storage space.

2. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sidewall of the at least two spaced-apart sidewalls further comprises two sidewalls aligned to form a continuous sidewall when the foldable game board is in an expanded position.

3. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 2, wherein each end wall of the at least two end walls and each sidewall of the at least two sidewalls include opposing edges.

4. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 3, wherein each opposing edge includes more than one opening.

5. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 4, wherein a portion of a leg is positioned into one or more openings to connect the leg to the foldable game board apparatus.

6. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the at least two end walls and each of the at least two sidewalls include an inner surface, and wherein each of the at least two surfaces and the at least two game boards are positioned in a medial position between opposing edges of the at least two end walls and the at least two sidewalls relative to the inner surface.

7. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner wall includes a pair of inner walls extending between the at least two sidewalls, and each of the pair of inner walls include at least one opening formed therethrough.

8. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 7, wherein the opening in the pair of inner walls permits communication of game pieces between a first area and a second area of at least one game board.

9. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two game boards include game pieces and game elements.

10. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 9, wherein in the folded positioned, the storage space is configured for holding one or more game elements, game pieces, and legs.

11. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least two game boards include game elements, and wherein each game element is one of fixed and moveable.

12. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one game board of the at least two game boards use game pieces having magnets.

13. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least a first game piece having a magnet thereon is positioned on at least one of the at least two game boards, and at least a second game piece having a magnet thereon is positioned below the one game board on at least another game board, and wherein when a player moves the at least second game piece in order to move the at least first game piece in order to play the game on the at least one game board.

14. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 13, further comprising at least one leg connectable to a portion of the foldable game board apparatus in order to raise the foldable game board apparatus above and away from a surface.

15. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one leg comprises at least two legs, and each leg formed to connect to an edge of the foldable game board apparatus.

16. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least two legs include a cross piece which interconnects the at least two legs.

17. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 16, wherein the pair of legs and the cross piece are configured to be removed and held within the storage space when the foldable game board apparatus is in the closed, folded position.

18. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 17, wherein one game board of the at least two game boards forms an inner surface defining the storage space, and the at least the other of the at least two game boards forms an outer when the foldable game board apparatus is positioned in the folded position.

19. A foldable game board apparatus, comprising: at least two game boards, at least one surface forming a game board, and at least one other surface forming a game board, each game board positioned opposite of each other, and each game board in an expanded position is planar relative to the other; at least two spaced-apart end walls connected to at least two spaced-apart sidewalls, at least a portion of the at least one surface and at the least other surface connected to at least one of the at least two end walls and the at least two sidewalls; at least one inner wall, provided by at least one of the at least two game boards and connected to at least two of the spaced-apart sidewalls, the at least one inner wall carrying a pivotal member which permits the at least two game boards to pivot from an expanded position into a closed position to form a storage space; and at least one leg connectable to a portion of the foldable game board apparatus, wherein the storage space is configured to hold one or more game elements, game pieces, and legs.

20. The foldable game board apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one game board of the at least two game boards include game pieces having magnets, and wherein at least a first game piece having a magnet thereon is positioned on at least one of the at least two game boards, and at least a second game piece having a magnet thereon is positioned opposite and below the one game board on at least another game board, and wherein when a player moves the at least second game piece in order to move the at least first game piece to play the game on the at least one game board.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are intended to be schematic, illustrative, and not limiting:

[0014] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a first game board of a foldable game board apparatus in the expanded position, according to the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is an upper plan view of the foldable game board apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of a second game board of the foldable game board apparatus in the expanded position, according to the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 4 is an upper plan view of the foldable game board apparatus of FIG. 3;

[0018] FIG. 5 is an end plan view relevant to both FIGS. 1 and 3, showing a pair of latch elements connected to an end wall thereof;

[0019] FIG. 6 is an end plan view opposite to the end plan view of FIG. 5, showing a pair of latching elements cooperative to those of FIG. 5;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a side view of the foldable game board apparatus relevant to FIGS. 1 and 3, showing an elongated sidewall;

[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of FIGS. 1-4, showing the foldable game board apparatus in the closed position with phantom lines illustrating the storage space;

[0022] FIG. 9 is an upper plan view of FIG. 8, showing the foldable game board apparatus in the closed position;

[0023] FIG. 10 is an end plan view of FIGS. 8 and 9 in the closed position, showing the latching elements latched;

[0024] FIG. 11 is an end plan view opposite to the end plan view of FIG. 8 with the foldable game board apparatus in the closed position, showing a pair of openings and a pair of hinges provided on each wall of the pair of medial walls;

[0025] FIG. 12 is a side view of the of FIGS. 8 and 9, showing the foldable game board apparatus in the closed position;

[0026] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an upper game element used with the game board of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0027] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a lower game element used with the game board of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the description that follows, numerous details are outlined to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention.

[0029] Exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention should be interpreted as example(s) and non-limiting. The relationship between various components, where they are located, their composition(s), their operation, and sometimes their sizes relative to the desired operation of the invention are significant.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a foldable game board 10 is provided and illustrated in an expanded position. In this first embodiment as well as an alternative second embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4), at least one side of the foldable game board apparatus 10 comprises two opposing end walls 12, 14 which are connected to two opposing sidewalls 16, 18. Each sidewall 16, 18, includes a first wall 20 and a second wall 22 positioned in alignment with each other. Each end wall 12, 14 and each sidewall 16, 18 of the foldable game board apparatus 10 includes opposing edges 24, 26 (FIGS. 1-2 and FIGS. 3-4, respectively). Desirably positioned against the end walls 12, 14, and the sidewalls, 16, 18, and between the opposing edges 24, 26, on an inner surface 27 thereof, is one side at least game board surface 28 comprising at least one game board 30, as shown in FIGS. 1-2. On an opposing surface 29 of the foldable game board apparatus is game board 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4.

[0031] The game board surface 28 and the game board 30, in the expanded position 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5-7, permits play on the surface 28 carrying game board 30. The foldable game board apparatus 10 is movable into a folded position 34 as well, as shown in FIGS. 8-12. While in the expanded position 32, the surface 28 carrying the game board 30 is desirably planner and flat.

[0032] A pair of latches 36 having separate latch elements 36a and 36b which permit connection and release may be positioned on an outer surface 37 of each of the opposing end walls 12, 14, to move the foldable game board apparatus 10 from the expanded position 34 to the closed, folded position 34. It will be understood that other suitable connecting components known and commercially available may be used instead. In addition, one or more openings or slits 38 may be provided on opposing positions on the opposing edges 24, 26. Such openings 38 may be formed within one or more edges 24, 26. And, for example, but not by way of limitation, the openings 38 may take any form or shape, such as the plurality of openings/slits 38 provided on the opposing edges 24, 26.

[0033] The foldable game board apparatus 10 may include various game elements and/or game pieces, each of which may be fixed or movable on the surfaces 28, 29 of the game boards 30, 31. The surfaces 28, 29 and/or the game boards 30, 31 may also include one or more openings 40 therein. The game elements and game pieces will be described in further detail below.

[0034] The foldable game board apparatus 10 may desirably include one or more legs 42 which positions the foldable game board apparatus 10 above a holding surface such as, for example only, a table, a floor, a desktop, and the like. In the present embodiment, a pair of legs 42 may be spaced-apart and connected to a cross piece 43 to stabilize the pair of legs 42 and the game boards 30, 31. Each leg of the pair of legs 42 desirably includes at least one portion 44 on each leg. One of at least one portion 44 may be positioned into one opening 38, respectively, of the plurality of openings 38 in the edges 24, 26 of the sidewalls 16, 18, as illustrated in FIG. 7. It will be appreciated that the one or more legs 42 may include any number of legs connected in any manner or may include no legs whatsoever. In this alternative, the foldable game board apparatus 10 is positioned directly on the holding surface.

[0035] In the first embodiment, game elements 46 may include markings or other elements laid upon the game board 30 as well as one or more openings 40. Game pieces 48 may include those pieces that are moved by a player above the game board 30 and pieces that may be moved by a player below the game board 30.

[0036] In one non-limiting example, one or both game boards 30, 31 may include one or more balls, disks, and the like, collectively identified by numeral 50, which are moved by an upper game piece 48 or game element 46. When game board 30 is used, game pieces 48 may include upper game pieces 52 which move over the surface 28 of the game board 30 without any direct touch by a player. Such movement is permitted by manipulation by a player using a lower game piece 52 on the opposite surface 29 of the foldable game board apparatus 10, which is desirably positioned immediately below the surface 28. The upper and lower game pieces 52, 54 each carry a magnet 56, and each magnet 56 of the upper game piece 48 is magnetically attracted to the magnet 56 of the lower game piece 52. A player must move the lower game piece 52 in order to move the upper game piece 48 through the magnet attraction of each. Each magnet 56 is covered by a cap 57 which protects and assists in holding the magnet in the desired position. This permits a player to manipulate the lower game piece 52 to move the upper game piece 48 toward one or more disks/balls 50 in order to score points on the game board 30.

[0037] In an alternative second embodiment, the foldable game board apparatus 10 may be reversed, to provide a different surface 29 and game board 31 when in the expanded position 32. In this second embodiment, the game board 31 provides additional sidewalls, namely, the first and second medial walls 58, 60, each of which are spaced apart from the first and second opposing end walls 12, 14 and each of which is connected to opposing sidewalls 16, 18. In this second embodiment, the first and second medial walls 58, 60 may be positioned against each other and they are held desirably in an abutted position by, for example only, a pair of spaced-apart hinges 61, each of which connects to both of the first and second medial walls, and which permits the foldable game board apparatus 10 to pivot into a folded, closed position 34 as well as into the expanded position 32.

[0038] In this embodiment, the medial walls 58, 60 for example, but not by way of limitation, may separate the game board 31 into two separate areas, namely a first area 62 and a second area 64. Each of these areas 62, 64 are connected, however, by a pair of openings or a pair of slots 66 which may be positioned through each of the first and second medial walls 58, 60, to permit communication of game pieces 50 between the first area 62 and the second area 64 of the game board 31.

[0039] It will be appreciated that game pieces 48, and particularly game pieces 50 may be sized and configured to move through such slots 66 as part of the game played on the game board 31. In addition, game elements such as, for example, but not by way of limitation, may include markings (not shown) or obstacles above and/or below the game board 31 (not shown) which are carried by the game board 31 or connected to one or more sidewalls 16, 18, such as an elastic band 68 made from rubber, plastic, or any known material or combination of materials available commercially. A player desirably uses the elastic band 68 to propel a game piece 48, 50 through the opening/slots in the first and second medial walls 58, 60 from, for example only, the player's first area 62 to another player's second area 64 in order to score points in the game.

[0040] Game elements 46 may be permanently or temporarily connected to game boards 30, 31, or other areas of the foldable game board apparatus 10. Game pieces 48 and/or game elements 46, such as those described previously herein, may be used by a player with the goal of scoring points on the game boards 30, 31.

[0041] Also similar to the first embodiment, the one or more legs 42, as previously described in detail and illustrated herein, may be utilized to position game board 31 when the game board is in the expanded position 32, above a holding surface. Alternatively, the one or more legs 42 may not be used, and game board 31, desirably carried by the and part of the foldable game board apparatus 10 may be positioned directly on a holding surface.

[0042] In this alternative second embodiment, it will be understood that the size and configuration of the foldable game board apparatus 10 may change, to permit, for example, different games to be played simultaneously on the same surface and/or adjacent surfaces. For example, but not by way of limitation, chess and/or checkers could be played side-by-side simultaneously on one game surface. Other games are also possible.

[0043] The rectangular shape of the foldable game board apparatus 10 is only one suggested shape. Any shape and/or size may be utilized, so long as the foldable game board apparatus 10 is operable as described in detail and illustrated by the non-limiting illustrations herein.

[0044] When moving the foldable game board apparatus 10 into the folded position 34, it will be understood that game elements 46, game pieces 48, and all portions of the one or more legs 42 may be positioned between the portions of the game board folded inward. Further, additional game boards, and the like, may be held securely within the apparatus 10 when in the folded position. As shown in FIGS. 8-12, but not by way of limitation, surface 29 and game board 31 move or pivot toward each other via hinges 61. That is, edges 26 of end walls 12, 14, sidewalls 16, 18, and edges 72 of the internal medial walls 58, 60 move toward each other and contact each other to form a closed storage space 74, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 via phantom lines. It will be appreciated that the surface 28 and game board 30 form at least a portion of an outer surface 76 of the foldable game board apparatus 10 when in the folded position 34. The latch elements 36a and 36b desirably connect to hold the apparatus 10 in the folded position 34.

[0045] The foldable game board apparatus 10, and its game elements 46 and/or game pieces 48, are desirably made from wood, metal, plastic, cardboard, magnets, elastic, and/or any material or combination of materials known in the art which permit the foldable game board apparatus 10 to function as shown and described in detail herein. The foldable game board apparatus 10 may also include one or more handles (not shown).

[0046] Although the invention has been shown and described concerning a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, certain equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above-described components (assemblies, devices, etc.) the terms (including a reference to a means) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed concerning only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.