US3779554A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Board game apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-27
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-10-27
Abstract
Abstract A board game apparatus comprising a transparent game board having intersecting lines thereon to define a plurality of game piece receiving areas. A plurality of game, or playing, pieces are provided which are formed with bottom surfaces to stand upon the transparent game board, which bottom surfaces are provided with indicia for identification of the individual game pieces. Mirrors are located beneath the transparent game board to expose different playing board areas to the view of different players. The indicia-bearing bottom surfaces of playing pieces positioned on the board within such reflected viewing areas are thereby viewable. The apparatus is adapted for use in playing various games including a modified form of chess in which the playing pieces are divided into two groups, with the pieces of one group being visually distinguishable from those of the other group as viewed from above as by use of different colors, shapes, or the like for the groups. Individual chessmen are identified by suitable indicia on the bottom surfaces of the playing pieces indirectly viewable by reflection in said mirrors.
Inventors
- 👤 J Brix
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:41
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00895; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/0613; A63F2009/0623; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A board game apparatus comprising: a game board for receiving thereon game pieces, at least a portion of said game board being transparent, light reflecting means beneath the game board for indirect viewing therein from a position above the board of at least a portion of the bottom surface of the transparent portion of the game board, said light reflecting means including at least one mirror inclined downwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface of the game board, and game pieces with indicia-bearing bottom surfaces supportable on said game board, with the indicia of those game pieces positioned on the transparent portion of the game board viewable in said light reflecting means being viewable therein, through said transparent portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A board game apparatus comprising: a game board for receiving thereon game pieces, at least a portion of said game board being transparent, light reflecting means beneath the game board for indirect viewing therein from a position above the board of at least a portion of the bottom surface of the transparent portion of the game board, said light reflecting means including at least one mirror inclined downwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface of the game board, and game pieces with indicia-bearing bottom surfaces supportable on said game board, with the indicia of those game pieces positioned on the transparent portion of the game board viewable in said light reflecting means being viewable therein, through said transparent portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The board game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said game pieces are divided into two groups, means for distinguishing the game pieces of one group from those of the other group as viewed from above, every game piece of a group being indistinguishable from every other game piece of that group as directly viewed from above.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The board game apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein, said game board is provided with a plurality of intersecting lines to define a checkerboard pattern thereon, and said indicia being indicia of chessmen for playing a modified form of chess game.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
103 words
A board game apparatus comprising: a game board having an upper surface for receiving thereon game pieces, the upper surface of the game board and all game pieces positioned thereon being directly viewable from above the game board by players at separate viewing locations about the game board, at least a portion of said game board being transparent, light reflecting means beneath the game board comprising a plurality of mirrors inclined downwardly and outwardly from the bottom of the game board within which mirrors separate territories of the game board are viewable by individual players at separate viewing locations about the game board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A board game apparatus comprising: a game board having an upper surface for receiving thereon game pieces, the upper surface of the game board and all game pieces positioned thereon being directly viewable from above the game board by players at separate viewing locations about the game board, at least a portion of said game board being transparent, light reflecting means beneath the game board comprising a plurality of mirrors inclined downwardly and outwardly from the bottom of the game board within which mirrors separate territories of the game board are viewable by individual players at separate viewing locations about the game board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The board game apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a pair of spaced side members, and means for mounting the game board and light reflecting means between said side members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
A board game apparatus comprising, a game board for receiving thereon playing pieces, at least a portion of said game board being transparent, light reflecting means beneath the game board for indirect viewing therein from a position above the board of at least a portion of the bottom surface of the transparent portion of the game board, said light reflecting means comprising a pair of mirrors having upper edges adjacent the bottom of the game board and extending transversely thereof, said mirrors being inclined outwardly and downwardly from the game board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
A board game apparatus comprising, a game board for receiving thereon playing pieces, at least a portion of said game board being transparent, light reflecting means beneath the game board for indirect viewing therein from a position above the board of at least a portion of the bottom surface of the transparent portion of the game board, said light reflecting means comprising a pair of mirrors having upper edges adjacent the bottom of the game board and extending transversely thereof, said mirrors being inclined outwardly and downwardly from the game board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The board game apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the upper edges of the mirrors are located adjacent the transverse center of the board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
153 words
A board game apparatus comprising, a game board for receiving thereon game pieces, said game board being made of transparent material having a plurality of game receiving areas defined by intersecting lines disposed on the game board including a transverse center line dividing the board into two separate territories, light reflecting means beneath the game board comprising first and second mirrors with upper edges extending parallel with the transverse center line of the board, said mirrors being inclined downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from the board for indirect viewing of bottom areas of the game board therein, a plurality of game pieces formed with bottom surfaces to stand upon the game board, indicia on said bottom surfaces concealed from direct view from a viewing level above the game board, said indicia being indirectly viewable in said mirrors when said pieces are positioned on the game board within viewing areas of said mirrors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
153 words
A board game apparatus comprising, a game board for receiving thereon game pieces, said game board being made of transparent material having a plurality of game receiving areas defined by intersecting lines disposed on the game board including a transverse center line dividing the board into two separate territories, light reflecting means beneath the game board comprising first and second mirrors with upper edges extending parallel with the transverse center line of the board, said mirrors being inclined downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions from the board for indirect viewing of bottom areas of the game board therein, a plurality of game pieces formed with bottom surfaces to stand upon the game board, indicia on said bottom surfaces concealed from direct view from a viewing level above the game board, said indicia being indirectly viewable in said mirrors when said pieces are positioned on the game board within viewing areas of said mirrors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
The board game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, said light reflecting means beneath the game board includes means for indirect viewing therein from at least two different positions above the board of at least two different portions of the bottom surface of the transparent portion of the game board, the indicia of game pieces positioned on one and another portions of said transparent portion of the game board being viewable in said light reflecting means from one and another of said two different positions above the board, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
The board game apparatus as defined in claim 4 including, a plurality of game pieces divided into two groups, means for distinguishing the game pieces of one group from those of the other group as viewed from above, every game piece of a group being indistinguishable from every other playing piece of that group as directly viewed from above, all of said game pieces being formed with bottom surfaces to stand upon the game board, and indicia on said bottom surfaces viewable in said light reflecting means at certain positions of the game pieces on the game board.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |