US20110127720A1

US20110127720A1 - tower: 3d chess platform

Info

Publication number: US20110127720A1
Application number: US12/475,686
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth Fourcell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-01
Filing date: 2009-06-01
Publication date: 2011-06-02

Abstract

Whereas prior art inventions had sets with widely spaced and fixed boards, this invention—for playing chess and its variants in the third dimension; has seventeen interlocking, interchangeable, rotating, revolving parts. When fully constructed the several parts forms a tower with eight interlocking, rotating, revolving tiers no more than three and a half to four feet in height, each tier is design to hold a custom design clear acrylic chessboard with alternating raised squares of varying styles and design measuring up to 20.″×20.″×0.25; moreover, the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of toys & games. It is an apparatus for playing chess and its variants in the third dimension, more over; figurines, knick-knacks, curios, and music boxes can also be display on this apparatus.
Three-dimensional chess is not a new concept, for instance, Raumschach (German for space chess) is one of the oldest three-dimensional chess variants and has survived until present times. Herr Doktor Ferdinand Maack invented Raumschach in 1907. Maack first experimented with an 8×8×8 array but later determined that a 5×5×5 array yields a better game. Maack founded a Raumschach club in Hamburg in 1919, which remained active until the Second World War.
Probably the most familiar 3D chess variants is tri-dimensional chess, which was popularized by the star, trek TV series.
There are many 3D chess variants, but the majority of these games and ideas exist solely for the internet, today there is no tabletop apparatus available for playing true 3D.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Because there is no tabletop apparatus for playing 3D chess, I decided to create one. Unlike prior art devices—with their fixed levels, widely spaced tiers, and lacks versatility or variety; my invention stands a mere three and a half feet tall, has eight revolving, rotating tiers—which swings a mere millimeters above the tallest game pieces; moreover, each of the eight tiers accommodates a variety of chessboards measuring up to 20.″×20.″×0.25″. Therefore, you can play more than one variant of 3D chess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1:

This is the completed set with boards and pieces.

FIG. 2:

This is the completed set, without boards and pieces.

FIG. 3:

This is an exploded view of the set.

FIG. 4:

This is a close up of the four primary parts of the invention.

- A) This is the base
- b) This is the arm
- c) This is the platform
- d) This is any size chessboard up and including 0.25″×20″×20″
- e) Shows range of motion of the arm
- f) Shows range of motion of the platform
- g) This is a close up view of the hub end of the arm
  - 1) This is the hubs' socket end
  - 2) This is the hubs' dowel

FIG. 5:

This view shows the underside of the platform

- a) This view shows a close up of the platforms' dais and dowel
  - 1) This view shows the platforms' dais
  - 2) This view shows the platforms' dowel
- b) This view shows the arms' opposite side socket
- c) His view shows the bases' socket

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

An apparatus for holding a number of chess boards in a vertical stacked array simulating a three dimensional playing environment, this apparatus has seventeen interlocking, interchangeable, rotating and revolving parts: consisting of one (1) base, (see FIG. 4 a), eight (8) arms (see FIG. 4 b), and eight (8) platforms (see FIG. 4 c). Each of these sixteen parts socket together (see FIG. 3). When fully assembled the apparatus will form a tower three and a half to four feet tall, with eight rotating and revolving platform, (see FIG. 2) each of these eight platforms will hold a chessboard (see FIG. 4 d)of varying designs and sizes (including a custom design clear acrylic chessboard with alternating raised squares) up to 0.25″×20.″×20.″
Assembly of the device is simple and requires no tools or skill: first find a flat solid surface on which to place the base on, (see FIG. 4 a) find one of the eight (8) arms (see FIG. 4 b). Insert the hub end “dowel side” of the arm (see FIG. G/g2) into the bases' socket (see FIG. 5 c). Now, find one the eight platforms (see FIG. 4 c) and place the dowel side of the platform (see FIG. 5, a2) into the arms' single socket end (see FIG. 5 b). Repeat this process until you have assembled the entire device. The completed set should look like (see FIG. 2).
Use “the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess” as a guideline rather than the rule.

The Basic Rules of Three Dimensional/Multilevel Chess

Three dimensional/multilevel chess is a game for advance chess players. It is a game for those who wish to take the game of chess to the next level. If you are well versed in the rules of chess then you should have no trouble understanding the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess. Nonetheless, there are some fundamental differences between the rules for chess and the rules for 3D chess. The difference in the rule is design to take advantage of the three dimensional concept of the game of 3D chess. The basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess are design as a guideline rather than the rule.
Chess has always presupposed a conflict between two warring armies so in that tradition 3D chess will do the same. Whereas, in chess the conflict took place upon a flat open plan, 3D chess will take place within a multiple levels structure, a castle; thus presupposing a castle siege, with one army attacking and one army defending.
The Initial Set Up for 3D Chess is as Follows:
The set up for three dimensional/multilevel chess requires eight standard size chessboards, these boards can be stacked one above the other, or arrayed over a flat surface, like a table or the floor. The 1^st, or lowest chessboard is designated (i) and the last, or top chessboard is designated (viii).
The light pieces sets up on the first row of the first (i) and the second (ii) board, with major pieces setting up on the first board the pawns setting up on the second. The dark pieces set up on the eight rows of the seventh (vii) and eighth (viii) board with the major pieces setting up on the eighth board and the pawns on the seventh board.
This arrangement of the pawns is design to protect the king and the major pieces because a preemptive attack from above and below is more viable in 3D chess.

Game Play

The Opening
Game play begins, as in standard chess, with the light pieces attacking and the dark pieces defending. The light pieces moves first and then it is the dark pieces turn. Both sides advance forward, developing their pieces off their original squares, and across their respective boards. Once you have developed your pieces off their original squares—to your satisfaction, the middle game begins.
The Middle Game
As game play continues, with each side advancing forward across their respective board and then the light pieces ascend (upwards) towards the dark side and the dark pieces descend (downward) towards the light.
As in standard chess, control of the center is vital, and it is no less vital in 3D chess. Boards iv and v marks the center of the 3D array—because these boards affords either side the greatest advantage and the widest range of movement.
Control the center and control the game.
The End Game
The goal of 3D chess is the same as in standard chess—mate the king! However, this is easier to say than to do. Nevertheless, to mate the king will require great courage and skill; brute force may not be enough! Plan and execute carefully. Eliminate as many of your opponents pieces as possible, promote and replenish the ranks, separate the king from its escorts. Moreover, sacrifice wisely.

Pawn and Pawn Promotion

To win you need reinforcements; which means pawn promotion. For pawn promotion to occur in 3D chess the pawns must reach, respectfully, the first row of the first board (the dark pawns) or the last row of the last board (the light pawns).
The light pawns must advance upward, board by board until it reaches the eighth row of the eighth board; and the dark pawns must advance downward, board by board until it reaches the first row of the first board. Pawn promotion occurs at these two locations only, and nowhere else.
Good luck!

Claims

1. I claim a tabletop apparatus; with twenty-four interlocking, interchangeable, rotating, and revolving parts design to socket together and hold a variety of game boards of varying sizes and design in a vertical stacked array simulating a 3D gaming environment:

I claim the table top apparatus of the above mentioned claim, and the custom design clear Lucite chess board with alternately raised squares of varying styles, designs, and sizes up to and including 0.25″×20.″×20.″

I claim the tabletop apparatus of the above-mentioned claim, and the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess, in which.

I claim the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess, of the above-mentioned claim, and the numbering system used to identify, record and catalogue squares and moves in the game of 3D chess.

I claim the basic rules of three dimensional/multilevel chess, of the above-mentioned claim, and the rules for the initial set up of the game pieces.