WO2006041665A2

WO2006041665A2 - Attachable and detachable playing piece for board games

Info

Publication number: WO2006041665A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/034426
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sau A.K.A Lee Andy Sau Tin Lee
Original assignee: Bell Trading Inc.
Priority date: 2004-10-05
Filing date: 2005-09-23
Publication date: 2006-04-20
Also published as: WO2006041665A3

Abstract

An attachable and detachable playing piece for a board game connectable with and removable from another board game playing piece, wherein the attachable and detachable playing piece has a body elevated above a base, an arm protruding from the body and structure for removably connecting the attachable and detachable playing piece to the other board game playing piece.

Description

ATTACHABLE AM) DETACHABLE PLAYING PIECE FOR BOARD GAMES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

STATEMENTREGARDINGFEDERALLYSPONSOREDRESEARCHOR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE USTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDDC

Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention rotates generally to the field of amusement devices and more particularly to the field of games in which playing pieces that represent different players may be attached to and detached from each other.

Many of the games available today are games in which each individual player plays by himself or herself as a single entity from start to finish. Games that require or allow for the partnering of players are rarely available. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a playing piece that is easily attachable and detachable from each other.

A further object is to provide a playing piece constructed in such a way that eachplayer is represented equally when attached together. That is, the attachment of one playing piece to another does not elevate one player to be seemingly dominant over another as may be the case when one playing piece is stacked on top of another when attached. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within die scope of the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, the attachable and detachable playing piece.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof. The rear elevational view is a mirror image of the front.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view thereof. The tight side elevational view is a mirror image of the left side.

FIG.4 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a similarly constructed playing piece in a modified form.

FIG. 6 shows two playing pieces attached together as partners. FIG. 7, S and 9, 10 show the sequential steps involved in attaching and detaching the playing pieces.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of i game board using some playing pieces, setup and in play.

- FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of just one typical square on the game board. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The playing piece that comprise this invention may be made out of any suitable material, e.g. any suitable thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic materiel or any metal or alloy materials. The construction of each playing piece 1 to 7 of FIG. 11 may best be understood with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG.1 to 4, the left and right side of each playing piece is constructed hi such a way that has an arm 11 protruding outward with a small bulge 12 on it, while next to each protruding arm there is a hollow space 13 with a dimple 14 inside of it. The functions of the arm 11, the bulge 12, the hollow space 13, and the dimple 14 work together to allow for easy attachment and detachment of the playing piece from each other. When attached, the aim 11 that is inserted into the hollow space 13 will have its bulge 12 clicked lightly into the dimple 14, making it a secured attachment.

FIG.5 shows a playing piece in a modified form. It is crowned with a different top 31. But the construction of the body 41 is the same as that of the playing piece shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 so as to .allow for attachment to each other. FIG.6 shows two playing pieces attached to each other. FIG. 7 and 8 shows the sequential steps in attaching two playing pieces of the same top 21 and 21 together.

FIG. 9 and 10 shows the sequential steps in attaching two playing pieces of different tops 21 and 31 together.

It is important to note that, as one of its objectives, the present invention aims to provide an attachable playing piece constructed in such a way that each player is represented equally when the playing pieces are attached together. That is, the attachment of one playing piece to another does not elevate one player to be seemingly dominant over another as may be the case when one playing piece is stacked on top of another when attached. This equality of status is made possible by constructing playing pieces that attach to each other side by side. In FIG.11, seven playing pieces typified by 1 to 7 inclusive are shown placed upon a typical playing board 50. The size of the playing board SO is scaled tύ match the size of the playing pieces typified by 1 to 7, inclusive. For example, if a game requires the subdivision of larger squares into a matrix of smaller squares, this may be. accomplished as illustrated by a detailed examination of typically subdivided square 51, which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 12.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention..

Claims

I claim:

1. A board game playing piece connectable with one other board game playing piece comprising: a base; a body attached to and elevated above said base;

a left arm protruding from one side of said body; a right arm protruding from a second side of said body; means for attaching said other board playing piece on said one side of said body; and

means for attaching said other board playing piece on said second side of said body.

2. The board game playing piece of Claim 1 , wherein the board game playing piece is fabricated from plastic in one piece.

3. The board game playing piece of Claim 1, wherein said base is rectangular.

4. The board game playing piece of Claim 3, wherein said base has grasping means spaced apart from said base adapted for moving said playing piece.

5. The board game playing piece of Claim 1 , wherein said pieces are removably snap engaged into one another.

6. The board game playing piece of Claim 1 , wherein said body has a cone shaped top.

7. The board game playing piece of Claim 1, wherein said body has a sphere shaped top

8. A board game playing piece connectable with a second board game playing piece

comprising: a base; a body extending from the top of said base; arm means on said body remote from said base; and

means for attaching said second board playing piece to said arm means.

9. The board game playing piece recited in Claim 8, wherein said body has a recess for receiving said attaching means.

10. The board game playing piece recited in Claim 9, wherein said body recess has a recessed bulge for removably securing said other board playing piece therein

11. The board game playing piece of Claim 8, wherein said arm means is adapted for selective

removable attachment to said second board playing piece.

12. The board game playing piece recited in Claim 11, wherein said arm means has a bulge adapted for selective attachment to said second board playing piece.

13. The board game playing piece recited in Claim 8, wherein said attachment means comprises corresponding side by side protrusion and recess means on said playing piece and said second playing piece.

14. The board game playing piece recited in Claim 8, wherein the body of said playing piece and

the body of said second playing piece are arranged mating side by side when attached to one another.

15. The board game playing piece recited in Claim 8, wherein said playing piece is molded as

a singular piece of molded material.

16. The board game playing piece recited in Claim 8, wherein said board playing piece and said other board playing piece have substantially identical arm and attaching means.

17. A board game playing piece connectable with another board game playing piece comprising:

a base; a body attached to and elevated above said base; an arm protruding from one side of said body;

and means for removably attaching said other board playing piece on said one side of said

body.

18. A method for removably attaching board game playing pieces together, said playing pieces each have a body extending from a base, said method comprising the steps of: aligning a first board game playing piece side by side with a second board game playing piece so that an arm extending from the body of said first board game playing piece lines up with a corresponding receiving space on said second board game playing piece, pushing said first board game playing piece together with the second board game playing piece so that said arm of said first playing piece body engages said second playing

piece space, and pressing said board game playing pieces together until said playing pieces are engaged with one another.

19. In the method recited in Claim 18, wherein said arm and space have a corresponding bulge

and recess, further comprising the step of pressing said pieces together until said bulge and recess are removably secured in one another.

20. In the method recited in Claim 18, comprising the step of disconnecting said first board game playing piece from said second board game playing piece.