Title:

Attachable and detachable playing piece for board games

United States Patent Application 20040262840

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

The present invention is an attachable and detachable playing piece used primarily for representing a player in a game. The feature of being able to easily attach and detach itself from another similarly constructed playing pieces is for the purpose of allowing the playing piece to be used for games that allow for or require players to partner-up. When partnered, for example, players may attach their playing pieces together, thereby allowing them to move together in the course of the game. And if the game requires subsequent splitting-up of the partnership, the playing pieces may easily detach themselves from each other.

Inventors:

Lee, Sau (Hong Kong, CN)

Application Number:

10/607413

Publication Date:

12/30/2004

Filing Date:

06/27/2003

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

LEE SAU

Primary Class:

273/288

International Classes:

A63F3/02; (IPC1-7): A63F3/00

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20040262840

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Primary Examiner:

MENDIRATTA, VISHU K

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

SAU LEE (HONG KONG, CN)

Claims:

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A playing piece for games constructed in such a way that each playing piece has a means of allowing it to be easily attached to and detached from each other.

2. A playing piece, as recited in claim 1, wherein pieces representing different players are attached side by side to each other so that players are represented equally when their playing pieces are attached together.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates 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.

[0002] 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

[0003] It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a playing piece that is easily attachable and detachable from each other.

[0004] A further object is to provide a playing piece constructed in such a way that each player 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.

[0005] 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 the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention, the attachable and detachable playing piece.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof. The rear elevational view is a mirror image of the front.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view thereof. The right side elevational view is a mirror image of the left side.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a similarly constructed playing piece in a modified form.

[0011] FIG. 6 shows two playing pieces attached together as partners.

[0012] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, 10 show the sequential steps involved in attaching and detaching the playing pieces.

[0013] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a game board using some playing pieces, setup and in play.

[0014] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of just one typical square on the game board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The playing piece that comprise this invention may be made out of any suitable material, e.g. any suitable thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic material or any metal or alloy materials.

[0016] 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 in 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 arm 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] FIG. 6 shows two playing pieces attached to each other.

[0019] FIGS. 7 and 8 shows the sequential steps in attaching two playing pieces of the same top 21 and 21 together.

[0020] FIGS. 9 and 10 shows the sequential steps in attaching two playing pieces of different tops 21 and 31 together.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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 50 is scaled to 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.

[0023] 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.

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