US2732211A - foster - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24, 1956 2,732,211

E. H. FOSTER MOVABLE CHECKERBOARD GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledAug. 21, 195,2v

EafZ'HFosZer BY z ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Jan. 24. 1956 FOSTER MOVABLE CHECKERBOARD GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1952 JuMY &M w m m OtN J Ea 7" Z HFO s a f ATTORNEYE United States Patent 2,732,211 MOVABLE CHECKERBOARD GAlVlE DEVICE Earl Hagin Foster, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 21, 1952, Serial No. 305,663 1 can. (or. 273*1'3'1 This invention relates to a movable checkerboard game, and has as its primary object the provision of a novel game similar to conventional checkers, but embodies movable or reversible squares whereby an improved and highly entertaining game of skill is provided.

A further object of the invention is the provision of square playing surface sections having different colored sides normally positioned on a conventional type checkerboard, and adapted to be reversed at the option of the player to alter the course of play.

A more specific object is the provision of such square playing surface sections provided with means to facilitate the reversal thereof by the fingers.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved gameboard construction which will add variety to the moves of a checker game, and which Will provide a novel game requiring a high degree of skill in the playing thereof.

Still other objects reside in a combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional checkerboard showing the square playing surface sections of the instant invention disposed thereon, certain of the members being omitted, in one of the positions which might be assumed during the play of the game,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated bythe arrows,

Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the square playing surface sections,

Figure 4 is a view showing the reverse side of the section of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the gameboard showing one arrangement of the playing surface sections,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing still another arrangement of the playing surface sections.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is disclosed at 10 a conventional checkerboard of any desired customary form, including the customary number of a1- ternate black and red squares, designated as 11 and 12 respectively. The board may be of the foldable type having a fold line 10a, and is preferably provided with a marginal flange or rim 10b. Adapted to be positioned on each individual square 11 and 12 is a substantially rectangular playing surface section 13, one side of which is preferably red as indicated at 13a in Figure 3, and the opposite side of which is black as indicated at 13b in Figure 4. The rim 10b serves to retain the playing surface sections 13 in desired position on the board. While the figures of the drawings are lined for red and black in accordance with the customary colors of a checker- 2,732,21 l Patefited Jan. 24, 1956 2 board, it will be understood that any other suitable contra ting colors may be emplo ed if desired.

Each of the playing surface sections 13 is provided in a proximately the center of each side thereof with a cutbut finger engaging portion 14, the arrangement being such that when two playing surface sections are in juxtaposed relation, as indicated in Figure 1, adjacent cutout portions 14 form a circular or ovoid recess or depression into which the finger may be inserted for the purpose of lifting and overturning a selected playing surface section '13'. v 7

Conventional black and red checkers 15 and 16 respectively are utilized as game pieces, although if desired other game pieces such as chess men may be employed.

Various rules of play may be utilized, but in the preferred embodiment the playing surface sections 13 are positioned on the board in alternate arrangement corresponding to the arrangement of the squares of the board 10 upon which they are positioned. The checkers 15 and 16 are then placed on the playing surface sections 13 in the conventional arrangement for the starting of a game of checkers, all the checkers being positioned on a playing surface section of the same color, as for example all checkers on black pieces or all checkers on red pieces.

One form of game played with this device may incorporate the following rules:

1. Proceed to play checkers in the usual manner with the following privileges.

2. One has the privilege of either moving one of his men or turning a square over. The square must be adjacent to at least one of his men.

3. The opponent cannot turn the square back to its original position without an intervening play having been made.

4. Players are privileged to jump side ways with a man but not backwards. Either King or man must jump in a straight line over the opponent, but can go in another direction after completing a jump if he is so lined up to jump another man as in checkers.

5. Kings have the usual privilege of going forward or backwards.

6. If the contending players are reduced to one man or King each, they both lose the privilege of turning over squares. In other words, the board is frozen as it is.

Obviously other selected rules may be employed, so long as the basic pattern is followed in that the reversal of a square playing surface section to change the color thereof constitutes a move and changes the pattern of play of the game.

Obviously various arrangements of playing surface sections 13 will result in a multiplicity of possible arrangements of the playing portion of the board, these different arrangements being illustrated in one form thereof by the diflerent arrangements of sections in Figures 1, 5 and 6. Obviously a vast variety of arrangements is possible, and a consequent multiplicity of moves and plays, all of which tend to provide a game of relatively high complexity and high entertainment value.

As various embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as various modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

In combination with a square checkerboard of the type having an upstanding peripheral flange surrounding a plurality of squares of one color and an equal plurality of squares of another color with the squares arranged with colors alternating in both a lateral and longitudinal direction, a plurality of flat reversible square playing surface sections equal in number to the squares of both colors of said checkerboard, said sections being supported on said checkerboard, each of said sections having one side colored to substantially match the first color of the squares on said checkerboard and the opposite side colored to substantially match the second color of the squares on said checkerboard, with each section positioned over a corresponding square on said checkerboard with the exposed color on each section initially corresponding to the color of the square supporting the section, each of said sections having finger-engaging cutout portions on each marginal edge thereof to facilitate reversal thereof with the cutout portions of adjacent sections being juxtaposed to form a recess therebetween of the size to permit insertion of a finger therein, a plurality of checkers and a second plurality of checkers having a color contrasting to that of said first plurality of colors, said first and sec- 15 0nd plurality of checkers being movably supported on said playing surface sections, said playing surface sections being individually reversible to produce a playing surface section pattern varying from the established starting pattern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,502 Hale Jan. 9, 1906 1,024,704 Snyder Apr. 30, 1912 1,165,688 Maris Dec. 28, 1915 1,615,077 Gouldin Ian. 18, 1927 2,585,268 Olsen Feb. 12, 1952 I FOREIGN PATENTS 435,718 Great Britain Sept. 26, 1935

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