Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FOUR-PART THREE-DIMENSIONAL GAME BOARD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a game board used for playing a
strategy game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The prior art includes a variety of game boards for playing strategy
games. A
conventional chess board having 64 square spaces arranged in an 8 x 8 grid in
a two-
dimensional plane has been used for centuries. Also known are three-
dimensional chess
boards having square spaces disposed at different elevations. Such boards may
have a one-
piece construction (see U.S. patent no. 6,412,778 (Alaimo; 2002-07-02)), a
base and inserts
.. defining the square planar spaces (see U.S. patent no. US 5,456,472
(Goodman; 1995-10-10);
U.S. patent publication no. US 2012/0098196 (Roberts; 2012-04-26);
International patent
publication no. WO 2006/051141 (Moreno; 2006-05-18); and International patent
publication
no. WO 2017/031576 (Baxter; 2017-03-02)), or a plurality of platforms mounted
at different
elevations on rotatable support members (see U.S. patent no. US 4,348,027
(Escamilla-Kelly;
15. 1982-09-07)). Also known is a game board for playing a tic-tac-toe
derivative strategy game,
having four rotatable blocks, each having a flat grid of holders for player
pieces (see U.S.
patent publication no. US 2007/0114719 (Floden; 2007-05-24)). Notwithstanding,
there
remains a need in the art for new game boards that enable play of different
strategy games. It
would also be desirable if such game boards could be conveniently stored when
not in use.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In one aspect, the present invention comprises a game board for use
with a plurality
of player pieces. The game board comprises a first part, a second, part, a
third part, and a
fourth part. Each part comprises an external surface. The external surface
comprises a
horizontally-oriented square lower surface. The external surface comprises a
nxn array of
horizontally-oriented square upper surfaces for supporting the player pieces,
wherein n is an
integer value greater than or equal to 4, wherein at least two of the upper
surfaces are disposed
at two different elevations levels above the lower surface. The external
surface comprises four
vertically-oriented side surfaces, wherein each of the side surfaces extends
from a different
edge of the square lower surface to the array of upper surfaces.
[0004] In one embodiment of the game board, the elevation levels of the first
and second
parts permit the first part to be vertically inverted and stacked on the
second part, with the
upper surfaces on a periphery of the array of the first part in abutting
contact with the upper
surfaces on a periphery of the array of the second part, and the lower
surfaces and side surfaces
of the first and second parts collectively defining an external surface of a
first rectangular
prism. The first rectangular prism may be a first cube.
[0005] In one embodiment of the game board, the elevation levels of the third
and fourth
parts permit the third part to be vertically inverted and stacked on the
fourth part, with the
upper surfaces on a periphery of the array of the third part in abutting
contact with the upper
surfaces on a periphery of the array of the fourth part, and the lower
surfaces and side surfaces
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of the third and fourth parts collectively defining an external surface of a
second rectangular
prism. The second rectangular prism may be a second cube.
[0006] In one embodiment of the game board, n is 4.
[0007] In one embodiment of the game board, for each part, at least four of
the upper
surfaces are disposed at four different elevations levels above the lower
surface. In
embodiments, at least two of the upper surfaces horizontally adjacent to each
other may be
vertically separated by at least two elevation levels, or at least three
elevation levels.
[0008] In one embodiment of the game board, each part comprises a plurality of
blocks, each
comprising one of the square upper surfaces, and attached together to form a
single unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the drawings shown in the specification, like elements may be
assigned like
reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, with the
emphasis instead
placed upon the principles of the present invention. Additionally, each of the
embodiments
depicted are but one of a number of possible arrangements utilizing the
fundamental concepts
of the present invention.
[0010] Figure 1 shows a top-front quarter perspective view of a first
embodiment of a game
board of the present invention, when the parts are separated from each other.
[0011] Figure 2A show a top-front perspective view of a first part of the game
board of
Figure 1.
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[0012] Figure 2B shows a show a top-rear perspective view of the first part of
Figure 2A.
[0013] Figure 2C shows a show a bottom-front perspective view of the first
part of Figure
2A.
[0014] Figure 3 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of Figure
1, when the
first part is stacked on the second part to form a first cube, and when the
third part is stacked
on the fourth part to form a second cube.
[0015] Figure 4 shows a map of normalized elevation values of the upper
surfaces of the
parts of the game board of Figure 1, relative to their lower surfaces.
[0016] Figure 5 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of Figure
1, when the
parts are arranged in a 2 x 2 array, and player pieces are disposed on the
upper surfaces to
initiate game play between two players.
[0017] Figure 6 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of Figure
1, when the
parts are arranged in a 2 x 2 array, and player pieces are disposed on the
upper surfaces to
initiate game play between four players.
.. [0018] Figure 7 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of
Figure 5, after the
player pieces have been moved to different upper surfaces as a result of game
play.
[0019] Figure 8 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of Figure
7, after the
fourth part has been rotated by 90 degrees counter-clockwise about a vertical
axis as a result
of game play.
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[0020] Figure 9 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of Figure
8, after the
second and fourth parts have been removed as a result of game play, leaving
only the first and
third parts.
[0021] Figure 10 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of
Figure 9, after the
third part has been translated horizontally in the direction of the Y-axis
into alignment with
the first part as a result of game play.
[0022] Figure 11 shows a top-front perspective view of the game board of
Figure 10, after
the third part has been removed as a result of game play, leaving only the
first part.
[0023] Figure 12 shows a top-front perspective view of a second embodiment of
a game
board of the present invention, when the parts are separated from each other.
[0024] Figure 13 shows a top-front perspective view of a third embodiment of a
game board
of the present invention, when the parts are separated from each other.
[0025] Figure 14 shows a top-front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of
a game
board of the present invention, when the parts are separated from each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The present invention relates to a game board for use with a plurality
of player pieces.
Any term or expression not expressly defined herein shall have its commonly
accepted
definition understood by a person skilled in the art. "Player piece", as used
herein, refers to
any object that may be placed on the game board by a user of the game board.
As non-limiting
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illustrative examples, player pieces may be conventional chess pieces (i.e., a
pawn, rook,
knight, bishop, queen or king piece), conventional checkers piece (i.e., a
cylindrical disc), or
figurines representing a real or imaginary person, animal, deity, machine, or
other object. In
the Figures, a set of mutually perpendicular axes is shown for spatial
reference, with the "X"
and "Y" axes being horizontally-oriented, and the "Z" axis being vertically-
oriented.
[0027] Figure 1 shows a top-front perspective view of a first embodiment of a
game board
(10) of the present invention. The game board includes four separate parts
(20, 40, 60, 80). In
embodiments, the parts (20, 40, 60, 80) may be substantially similar or
identical to each other.
As such, only the first part (20) is described in detail.
[0028] Figures 2A to 2C show a top-front, top-rear, and bottom-front
perspective views of
the embodiment of the first part (20).
[0029] The external surface of the first part (20) includes a horizontally-
oriented square
lower surface (102) that provides a base for resting on a supporting surface
such as a table
top. The lower surface (102) may comprise a relative soft material (e.g.,
foam, rubber, or felt
cloth) to protect the table top from damage, or to prevent slippage between
the lower surface
(102) and the table top.
[0030] The external surface of the first part (20) also includes an n x n
array of horizontally-
oriented square upper surfaces (104), where n is any integer number greater
than or equal to
four. The value of n may be arbitrarily selected to make the array as simple
or complicated as
desired. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2A to 2C, n = 4, such that the
first part (20) has
sixteen upper surfaces (104). In this embodiment, the first part (20) may be
conveniently made
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of a sixteen rectangular prismatic wooden blocks, each forming one of the
upper surfaces
(104), which are attached (e.g., by glue) at their abutting surfaces to form a
single unitary
block. In other embodiments, the first part (20) may be made in a variety of
other ways (e.g.,
molding, or machine), using a variety of other materials (e.g., plastic, foam,
metal, or
cardboard) to achieve desired weight and aesthetic characteristics. Two of the
exemplary
upper surfaces (104) are labelled (104a, 104b). In other non-limiting
embodiments (not
shown), the value of n may be 5, 6, or greater. In one embodiment, the
horizontal dimensions
of the square upper surfaces (104) are constant within each part (20, 40, 60,
80), and among
the parts (20, 40, 60 80). As a non-limiting example, each square upper
surface (104) may
have horizontal dimensions of about 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm (1" x 1"). In embodiments,
the square
upper surfaces (20, 40, 60, 80) may be outlined, or finished in different
colors or surface
finishes to better delineate them from each other.
[0031] At least two of the upper surfaces (104a, 104b) are disposed at two
different discrete
elevations above the lower surface (102). Except for satisfying this
condition, the elevations
of the upper surfaces (104a, 104b) may be arbitrarily selected to produce a
desired "terrain"
of discrete elevation levels. The "terrain" of different parts (20, 40, 60,
80) may be the same
as each other, or different from each other. In embodiments, the upper
surfaces (104) occupy
at least three different discrete elevation levels. In the embodiment shown in
Figures 2A to
2C, the upper surfaces (104) occupy four different discrete elevation levels,
with pairs of
adjacent upper surfaces (104) vertically separated by one discrete elevation
level. Figures 11,
12, and 13, show alternative embodiments of game boards (10) of the present
invention where
each part (20, 40, 60, 80) has upper surfaces (104) that occupy four different
discrete elevation
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=
levels. Some pairs of adjacent upper surfaces (104) are vertically separated
by one, two or
three discrete elevation levels.
[0032] The external surface of the first part (20) also includes four
vertically-oriented side
surfaces (106a, 106b, 106c, 106d). Each side surface (106a, 106b, 106c, 106d)
extends from
a different edge of the square lower surface (102) to a different edge of the
array of upper
surfaces (104). The side surfaces (106a, 106b, 106c, 106d) permit the parts
(20, 40, 60, 80) to
be abutted against each other without any substantial horizontal gap between
them.
[0033] As shown in Figure 3, this embodiment of the first part (20) may be
vertically
inverted (by 180 degrees rotation about the Y-axis) and stacked on top of the
second part (40),
such that their peripheral upper surfaces (104) abut against each other, and
their lower surfaces
(102) and side surfaces (106) collectively define an external surface of a
first rectangular prism
(120), which may be a cube. Similarly, the third part (60) may be vertically
inverted (by 180
degrees rotation about the Y-axis) and stacked on top of the fourth part (80),
such that their
peripheral upper surfaces (104) abut against each other, and their lower
surfaces (102) and
side surfaces (106) collectively define an external surface of a second
rectangular prism (140),
which may be a cube. "Peripheral upper surface", as used herein, refers to an
upper surface
(104) that has at least one edge coinciding with any one of the side surfaces
(106). "Non-
peripheral upper surface", as used herein, refers to any upper surface (104)
that has no edge
coinciding with any one of the side surfaces (106). In this embodiment, each
part (20, 40, 60,
80) has 12 peripheral upper surfaces (104), and 4 non-peripheral upper
surfaces (104). In this
embodiment, both the first and second rectangular prisms (120, 140) are cubic,
but in other
embodiments, they may not be non-cubic rectangular prisms. This stacking of
parts (20, 40,
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60, 80) reduces the horizontal footprint occupied by the parts (20, 40, 60,
80) on a table top
or shelf, when the game board (10) is not in use, and may allow them to be
more conveniently
transported in a case or a bag. As well, the faces of the upper surfaces (104)
concealed so that
they do not collect dust. When two of the parts (20 and 40; 60 and 80) are
stacked as shown
in Figure 3, visual markings (not shown), which may be applied on, engraved
in, or otherwise
marked on the side surfaces (106) of the stacked parts (20 and 40; 60 and 80)
may come into
alignment so as to form a coherent whole (e.g., a text label, a logo, or other
design).
[0034] Figure 4 shows a map of the elevation values of the upper surfaces
(104) of the
embodiment of the parts (20, 40, 60, 80) shown in Figure 1 that permit their
stacking as shown
in Figure 3. The elevations values are measured vertically upwards from the
lower surface
(102), and normalized relative to the unit horizontal dimension of the square
upper surfaces
(104). As a non-limiting example, if the square upper surfaces (104) have
horizontal
dimensions of about 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm (1" x 1"), then an elevation value of 0.8
indicates that
the upper surface/ (104) upper surface has an elevation value of 2 cm (0.8")
above the lower
surface (102). Having regard to Figure 4., in order for the lower surfaces
(102) and the side
surfaces (106) of two stackable parts (20 and 40;.. or 60 and 80) to
collectively define an
external surface of a rectangular prism, two conditions must be satisfied.
First, the elevation .
values of opposed pairs of peripheral upper surfaces (104) on stackable parts
(20 and 40; or
60 and 80) must sum to a constant value, m, along the entire periphery of the
arrays. For
example, in the embodiment of Figure 4, m = 4Ø Second, the elevation values
of any opposed
pairs of non-peripheral upper surfaces (104) on stackable parts (20 and 40; or
60 and 80) must
have a sum, which is less than or equal to m, so that they do not interfere
with abutting contact
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of the peripheral upper surfaces (104) on stackable parts (20 and 40; or 60
and 80). In the
embodiment of Figure 4, the elevation values of the four pairs of non-
peripheral upper surfaces
(104) on stackable parts (20 and 40; or 60 and 80) also have a sum equal to
4.0, so that they
also abut against each other, but this is not strictly necessary. In order for
the rectangular prism
to form a cube, a third condition must be satisfied that m = /2, where n is
the number of square
upper surfaces' along one side of the n x n array of upper surfaces (104).
Having regard to the
foregoing conditions, it will be apparent that numerous elevation maps may
permit stacking
of pairs of the parts (20 and 40; or 60 and 80) so that their lower surfaces
(102) and side
surfaces (106) collectively define an external surface of rectangular prisms,
and preferably
cubes. For example, Figures 12, 13, and 14 show alternative embodiments of
game boards
(10) of the present invention having first and second parts (20, 40) that are
stackable into a
first cube, and third and fourth parts (60, 80) that are stackable into a
second cube.
[0035] The game board (10) of the present invention may be used for playing a
strategy
game, which the inventor refers to as "Four Squared (42)1. The general method
of game play
is described below with reference to the embodiment of the game board (10)
shown in Figure
1.
[0036] Figure 5 shows the game board (10) of Figure 1 initiated for game play
between two
players. The parts (20, 40, 60, 80) are arranged in a 2 x 2 grid, such that
each part (20, 40, 60,
80) has a pair of side surfaces (106) in abutting relationship with the side
surfaces (106) of
two other parts (20, 40, 60, 80). The first player's four player pieces (160)
are placed on the
four upper surfaces (104) located at the four corners of the assembled game
board (10). The
second player's four player pieces (180) are placed on the four upper surfaces
(104) located at
CA 3058940 2019-10-16
the center of the assembled game board (10). In the embodiment shown, the
player pieces
(160) have a triangular prismatic shape, while the player pieces (180) have a
pentagonal
prismatic shape, so that they are visually distinct from each other. In other
embodiments they
may be visually distinct in other ways, such as one or a combination of shape,
color, pattern,
ornament.
[0037] Figure 6 shows the game board (10) of Figure 1 initiated for game play
between four
players. The four player pieces (160) are divided among the first and second
players, while
the four player pieces (180) are divided equally among the third and fourth
players;
accordingly, each player has two player pieces (160 or 180). In order to
visually distinguish
the player pieces (160) of the first and second players, the first player's
player pieces (160) are
removably attached to first bases (200) having a square shape, while the
second player's player
pieces are removably attached to second bases (220) having an octagonal shape.
Likewise, in
order to visually distinguish the player pieces (180) of the second and third
players, the third
player's player pieces (180) are removably attached to the first bases (200)
having the square
shape, while the fourth player's player pieces are removably attached to the
second bases (220)
having the octagonal shape. The removable attachment of the player pieces
(160, 180) and the
bases (200, 220) may be effected by a variety of means such as friction-fit or
snap-fit between
complementary parts, hook-and-loop fasteners, or any other type of non-
permanent fastener.
Thus, four visually distinct player piece assemblies can be formed with the
use of two visually
distinct first parts (e.g., player pieces (160, 180)), each of which are
removably attachable to
two visually distinct second parts (e.g., bases (200, 220)). In other
embodiments, the second
parts may be visually distinct in other ways, such as one or a combination of
shape, color,
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pattern, ornament. In other embodiments, the second parts may be removably
attachable to
any portion of the first part. To initiate game play, each player's player
piece assemblies are
positioned at the four corners of the game board (10) as shown in Figure 6.
The game board
(10) can also be initiated for game play between three players in a similar
manner, using only
six of the player piece assemblies.
[0038] The players sequentially take turns to make four moves. A move of a
player piece
from one upper surface (104) to an adjacent upper surface (104) is considered
to be a single
move. For example, Figure 7 shows the game board (10) of Figure 5 after the
player pieces
(160, 180) have been moved during game play. However, a player cannot be moved
in the
following ways: diagonally; to an adjacent upper surface (104) having an
elevation difference
of more than one elevation level; into the path of another player's player
piece; or, into an
upper surface (104) that was previously occupied by the player piece during
the same turn.
[0039] Rotation of a game board part (20, 40, 60, 80) by either 90 degrees
clockwise or 90
degrees counter-clockwise about a vertical axis to change the configuration of
the board (10)
is also considered to be a single move. For example, Figure 8 shows the game
board (10) of
Figure 7 after the fourth part (80) has been rotated by 90 degrees counter-
clockwise about a
vertical axis. However, players are permitted to rotate a part (20, 40, 60,
80) only if it is
occupied by the player's own player piece. Also, players are not permitted to
reverse a rotation
of a part (20, 40, 60, 80), which was executed by the opposing player in an
immediately
preceding turn.
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[0040] For example, subject to the above limitations, any of the following
combination of
four moves will complete a turn: moving a player piece by four adjacent upper
surfaces (104);
moving each of two different player pieces by two adjacent upper surfaces
(104); moving each
of four different player pieces by one adjacent upper surface (104); or moving
each of three
player pieces by one adjacent upper surfaces (104), and rotating one of the
parts (20, 40, 60,
80) by 90 degrees clockwise about a vertical axis.
[0041] The player's object is for its player pieces (160) to capture the
opposing player pieces
(180). A player piece (160) can capture an opposing player piece (180) by
jumping down on
the opposing player piece (180) from an adjacent upper surface (104) that is
one elevation
level higher than the upper surface (104) occupied by the opposing player
piece (108). A
player piece (160) can also capture an opposing player piece (180) by pushing
the opposing
player piece (180) off of the game board (10), or off of an upper surface
(104) that is two or
more elevation levels above an adjacent upper surface (104). The player piece
(160) may push
in any direction. However, the player piece (160) must push from an upper
surface (104) that
is at an elevation level that is the same as or higher than the upper surface
(104) occupied by
the opposing player piece (180). Further, the player piece (160) can only push
the opposing
player piece (180) by one adjacent upper surface (104), and that pushing
terminates the
movement of that player piece (160).
[0042] Once a part (20, 40, 60, 80) is no longer occupied by any of the player
pieces (160,
180), the part (20, 40, 60, 80) is removed from game play. For example, Figure
9 shows the
game board (10) when only the first and third parts (20 and 60) are left in
play. In the event
that the two parts are disposed diagonally to each other such as shown in
Figure 9, the player
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whose player piece moved off the last-removed part gets to select how to abut
the side faces
(106) of remaining parts. For example, Figure 10, shows that the player has
selected to abut
the side faces (106) of the first and third parts (20 and 60) that are
parallel with the Y-axis,
rather than the side faces that are parallel with the X-axis.
[0043] Game play continues until there are only two player pieces (160, 180)
on one of the
parts (20, 40, 60, 80) left in play, such as shown in Figure 11. A player wins
if its player piece
is the "last man standing" or if it occupies one of the four non-peripheral
upper spaces (104)
for more than two consecutive turns.
[0044] When game play is completed, the players may remove any player pieces
(160, 180)
remaining on the parts (20, 40, 60, 80). The first part (20) may be inverted
and stacked on the
second part (40) to form a first rectangular prism (120), while the third part
(60) may be
inverted and stacked on the fourth part (80) to form a second rectangular
prism (140). The
first rectangular prism (120) and the fourth rectangular prism (140) may be
conveniently
placed on a table top or a shelf, or placed into a case or bag, until they are
to be used again.
[0045] Interpretation.
[0046] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all
means or steps
plus function elements in the claims appended to this specification are
intended to include any
structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with
other claimed
elements as specifically claimed.
[0047] References in the specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment",
etc., indicate
that the embodiment described may include a particular aspect, feature,
structure, or
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characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that aspect,
feature, structure,
or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases may, but do not necessarily, refer
to the same
embodiment referred to in other portions of the specification. Further, when a
particular
aspect, feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with
an embodiment, it
is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect or connect such
module, aspect,
feature, structure, or characteristic with other embodiments, whether or not
explicitly
described. In other words, any module, element or feature may be combined with
any other
element or feature in different embodiments, unless there is an obvious or
inherent
incompatibility, or it is specifically excluded.
[0048] It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any
optional element. As
such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for the use of
exclusive
terminology, such as "solely," "only," and the like, in connection with the
recitation of claim
elements or use of a "negative" limitation. The terms "preferably,"
"preferred," "prefer,"
"optionally," "may," and similar terms are used to indicate that an item,
condition or step being
referred to is an optional (not required) feature of the invention.
[0049] The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural reference
unless the context
clearly dictates otherwise. The term "and/or" means any one of the items, any
combination of
the items, or all of the items with which this term is associated. The phrase
"one or more" is
readily understood by one of skill in the art, particularly when read in
context of its usage.
[0050] The term "about" can refer to a variation of 5%, 10%, 20%, or
25% of the
value specified. For example, "about 50" percent can in some embodiments carry
a variation
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from 45 to 55 percent. For integer ranges, the term "about" can include one or
two integers
greater than and/or less than a recited integer at each end of the range.
Unless indicated
otherwise herein, the term "about" is intended to include values and ranges
proximate to the
recited range that are equivalent in terms of the functionality of the
composition, or the
embodiment.
[0051] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all
purposes, particularly
in terms of providing a written description, all ranges recited herein also
encompass any and
all possible sub-ranges and combinations of sub-ranges thereof, as well as the
individual
values making up the range, particularly integer values. A recited range
includes each specific
value, integer, decimal, or identity within the range. Any listed range can be
easily recognized
as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into
at least equal
halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, or tenths. As a non-limiting example, each
range discussed
herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper
third, etc.
[0052] As will also be understood by one skilled in the art, all language such
as "up to", "at
least", "greater than", "less than", "more than", "or more", and the like,
include the number
recited and such terms refer to ranges that can be subsequently broken down
into sub-ranges
as discussed above. In the same manner, all ratios recited herein also include
all sub-ratios
falling within the broader ratio.
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