Chess game apparatus with changeable board

March 18, 1969

T. A. CASTELLANO

3,433,482

CHESS GAME APPARATUS WITH CHANGEABLE BOARD

Original Filed Feb. 18, 1964 -, .

Sheet / of 3

<img file="US3433482A_D0001.tif" />

INVENTOR.

Thomas £. Castellano

March 18, 1969

T. A. CASTELLANO

3,433,482

CHESS GAME APPARATUS WITH CHANGEABLE BOARD

Original Filed Feb. 18, 1964

Sheet 2 of 5

<img file="US3433482A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US3433482A_D0003.tif" />

March 18, 1969 τ. _A. castellano 3,433,482

CHESS GAME APPARATUS WITH CHANGEABLE BOARD

Original Filed Feb. 18, 1964 _Sheet j _{of 3}

<img file="US3433482A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US3433482A_D0005.tif" />

United States Patent Office 3,433,482 _______ Patented Mar. 18, 1969

3,433,482

CHESS GAME APPARATUS WITH CHANGEABLE BOARD

Thomas A. Castellano, 59 Beatrice Road, Dalkeith, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia

Substitute for abandoned application Ser. No. 345,745, ^{19641 This} application May 24, 1967, Ser. No.

657,436

U.S. Cl. 273—131

Int. Cl. A63f 3/02, 3/00

Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A chess game apparatus having a disk-shaped playing board with a central elevated platform, an overlay member with an open side superimposed on the platform, a sheet of transparent plastic material in the form of a cross on the board, the sheet having four radiating arms with blocks mounted on the free ends of the arms, leaving a central clear space for exposing the platform, and each block having a checkered player’s zone thereon visible through the sheet, the overlay member and the sheet of transparent material being anchored by the platform

This invention concerns a new chess game.

Several chess games currently widely known and played are European chess, Asiatic chess and three-dimensional chess. These chess games have existed in substantially the same form for very long periods of time. The present invention is directed at an improved chess game which employs a circular playing board. Two, three or four players may play the game simultaneously. The playing pieces have names and forms which derive from American history and the American system of government. Variations of play are possible which are not possible with any of the prior forms of chess known heretofore. In a modification of the invention, it is possible to vary the size of a playing field and the sizes of the territories or playing zones of the players. The game board includes zones where captured playing pieces can be placed after being taken out of play.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide m American game of chess which can be played by two, three or four players simultaneously. ’

A further object is to provide a circular chess game board with a playing field spaced from the players’ own zones or territories by free zones.

Another object is to provide a chess game board with zones for receiving captured playing pieces.

Still another object is to provide a chess game board with a square central playing field and with individual players’ zones, the sizes of the playing field and players’ zones being independently variable in size.

Another object is to provide a chess game in which playing pieces have names and forms derived from American history and the American form of government.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is an oblique plan view on a reduced scale of a chess board according to the invention.

FIGS. 2 through 7 are front views of playing pieces employed in the chess game.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a chess board assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9—9 of FIG. 8. ₇₀

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of parts of ‘ the chess board assembly of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 11—11, 12—12, 13—13, respectively, of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an overlay part of the assembly of FIGS. 8 and 10, shown in an inverted posig tion.

FIG. 15 is an oblique plan view of another overlay part which may be used in the game assembly.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another overlay playing field part which may be used in the game assembly. 10 . R^ef^erring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a circular disk-like chess game board 20. This board has on one surface a square checkered playing field 22 with alternate squares or boxes 23, 24 colored differently or light and dark respectively. Near the periphery of the board are 15 four checkered players’ zones 25 respectively disposed parallel to the four edges of the playing field 22. The zones 25 are spaced from the edges of the playing field by free zones 29 so designated by markings 30. The free zones are zones in which no playing pieces are positioned, 20 and when the playing pieces are moved during the game these zones are jumped. The four players’ zones 25 are equally spaced apart circumferentially of the board. The length of each of the players’ zones is equal to the width of the square playing field. Each of the zones 25 has two 25 adjacent rows Rl, R2 of checkered boxes 23', 24' alternately colored light and dark. The playing positions are designated IVhite, Red, Black and Green, reading clockwise around the board, by markings 32 appearing in spaces 33 between outer edges of the players’ zones and 30 the periphery of the game board.

Generally triangular areas or zones 34 are equally spaced apart circumferentially of the game board. These areas are located respectively between each two adjacent players’ positions. The areas are designated by markings 35 38 to indicate that these areas or zones are reserved for captured pieces captured by the player whose position is located directly clockwise or to the left of the particular captured piece area. Stated otherwise, the captured piece area for each player is at the right of the player’s position. 40 The playing field has eight columns of boxes in each of mutually perpendicular directions, each column being aligned with two differently colored boxes 23', 24' in the aligned columns of boxes in two opposed players’ zones. Four boxes 23 and four boxes 24 are provided in alterna₄- tion in each column of boxes in the playing field. Thus the playing field has in all sixty-four squares or boxes and the players’ zones each have sixteen squares or boxes with eight boxes in each of rows Rl and R2.

FIGS. 2—7 show playing pieces of the chess game as ₅θ follows:

Liberty Bell.—This piece 40 shown in FIG. 2 simulates the historic American Liberty Bell. The game has eight of these pieces in each of four different colors making thirty-two pieces in all. The Liberty Bell piece 40 moves 55 in a manner to some extent similar to a pawn in European chess. The eight Liberty Bell pieces are initially placed on inner row Rl of their designated player’s color. Each Liberty Bell piece moves only one box forward at a time. In its first move, the piece skips the free zone and may 60 move into either the first or second of boxes 23, 24 in its column on the playing field. Thereafter the piece can only move one box at a time either forwardly, to the right or to the left, but not rearwardly. When capturing a piece of another player, the Liberty Bell piece moves 65 only diagonally forward one box to the right or left.

The piece can advance forwardly or to the right or left off the playing field on to any adverse player’s zone to continue play there.

Supreme Court.—The Supreme Court piece 42 shown in FIG. 3 simulates the site of the highest court in the judicial branch of the American Government. The game

3,433,482 ίο has two of these pieces in each of the four different colors, making eight such pieces in all. The Supreme Court piece moves in a manner identical to the rook or castle in European chess. It moves forwardly or backwardly or to the right or left any number of boxes on the playing field or on any player’s zone. The Supreme Court pieces are initially placed on the two boxes of different color at the opposite ends of outer row R2.

Minuteman.—The Minuteman piece 44 shown in FIG. 4 simulates a rifleman on a horse and derives from the historic Minuteman of the American Revolutionary War. The game has two of these pieces in each of the four different game colors or eight pieces in all. The Minuteman piece 44 moves in a manner identical to the knight in European chess. The moves are over an L-shaped array of three squares or boxes from any box where the piece is standing. Initially the Minuteman pieces are located adjacent to the Supreme Court pieces in the second boxes from the ends of row R2.

Capitol.—The Capitol piece 46 shown in FIG. 5 simulates the site of the legislative branch of the American Government. The game has two of these pieces in each of the four different game colors or eight pieces in all. The Capitol piece 46 moves in a manner identical to the bishop in European chess. The moves are diagonally only over boxes of only light or dark color. Initially the two Capitol pieces are located in the third boxes from the ends of row R2 adjacent to the two Minuteman pieces 44.

Eagle .—The Eagle piece 48 shown in FIG. 6 simulates the spirit of the American heritage, Government and people. The game has one of these pieces in each of the four different game colors or four Eagle pieces in all. The Eagle piece moves like the king in European chess, one box at a time in any direction. If any player’s Eagle piece is captured, he is considered defeated and all his 35 pieces are removed from the playing board. This piece is initially located on a box of its own color next to a Capitol piece in row R2.

.ns? - JF»

Liberty in New York harbor. The game has one of these pieces in each of the four different game colors or four Liberty pieces in all. The Liberty piece moves like the queen in European chess any number of boxes in any direction. This piece is initially located between the Eagle ₄₃and Capitol pieces on a box of different color from its own in row R2.

The game can be played by as many as four players who will assemble their pieces as explained above on their own playing zones in rows Rl, R2. The White 50 player moves first. Then all other players follow in rotation in clockwise direction. Thus the order of play is White, Red, Black and Green. Each piece in moving from a player’s zone to the playing field jumps over the free zone which does not count as a playing box. Pieces move 55 as indicated above. The rules of European chess generally apply. However, many variations are possible when three or four players are in the game.

Any two or more players can act in collaboration.

When a player’s Eagle is captured all his pieces are re- 60 moved and he is out of the game. The last player left in the game is the winner. Pieces captured by any. player are placed in the capture zone at the player’s right. If desired, captured pieces can be placed in the capture zone adjacent to their original designated color. This saves 65 time in setting up the game for play again since the captured pieces will not have to be sorted by color.

FIGS. 8-14, to which reference is now made, show a construction of the chess game which makes it possible to vary the size of the players’ zones and the size of the 70 playing field. A game board assembly 20α is shown which includes a circular base board 60. The board has a central elevated square portion or platform 61 projecting upward from the flat surface S of the board. At four equally spaced positions on the surface S are generally triangular 75 areas fenced-in by endless ridge structures 62. Each of these ridge structures has two straight ridges or walls 66 disposed perpendicular to each other and terminating at a right angle apex or corner 67 spaced slightly from one of the four corners 68 of platform 61. Each of the ridges 66 is parallel to one of adjacent edges 70' of the platform and perpendicular to another adjacent edge at each platform corner. Each ridge structure has an outer curved wall 72 connecting the outer ends of walls 66 and defining a fenced-in area or zone 74 which serves to receive captured pieces as indicated on surface S.

A playing field overlay member 80 is provided for the game. This member has a square top 81 on which is marked off playing field 22' identical to playing field 22 of game 20. Member 80 has four depending flanges 82 to define an inverted shallow box with an open bottom which fits snugly over the platform 61 as shown in FIG. 9.

A players’ zone overlay member 85 is further provided for the game. This overlay as shown in FIGS. 10 and 14 has four generally rectangular blocks 86 on upper surfaces of which are marked out players’ zones 25' and free zones 29' in the same manner as on game 20. A transparent plastic sheet 90 covers the upper surfaces of the blocks so that the marked players’ zones and free zones show through. The blocks are secured to the sheet by a transparent adhesive. Sheet 90 is arranged as a rectangular 90° cross with the blocks located at the outer ends of the four arms of the cross. This leaves a clear central square area 92 which overlies the member 80 to hold it in place on platform 61 and through which the playing field 22' shows. The smooth outer surface of sheet 90 serves as a playing surface which resists scratching and marking, facilitates movement of pieces, and prolongs the useful life of the game parts.

FIG. 14 clearly shows the relative edge to edge arrangement of the four blocks 86 with the opening therebetween which is covered by the area 92 of transparent sheet 90.

An overlay member 85' similar to overlay member 85 are identically numbered. The players’ zones 25 marked on four blocks 86' are reduced in length so that there are two rows Rl' and R2' of only six boxes or squares each. This overlay member introduces interesting variations in the game since some of the playing pieces used in game assembly 20α are necessarily omitted. Transparent sheet 90' overlies the blocks. A clear area 92' is centrally located.

FIG. 16 shows another overlay member 80' which can ! be used to replace member 80 on platform 61. On top 81' of member 80' the checkered playing field 22 is square but has a lesser number of boxes or squares 23, 24, thirty-six in this instance, since there are six columns of boxes of two different colors intersecting six other • columns of boxes of two different colors. Overlay mem’ bers 80' can be used with overlay member 85' on base board 60, to introduce still other variations into the game.

If desired, other overlay members with less than twelve boxes or squares in the players’ zones and less than thirty-six boxes or squares in the playing field may be provided to introduce still other variations into the game. All games may be played by two, three or four players. As an interesting variation, if only two players start a game, they can be seated next to each other instead of across the board from each other, for example, one player takes the White position and the other player takes the Red position. Many other variations will readily occur to players as their experience with the game grows. _

The game as devised has educational and patriotic characteristics which are supplementary benefits derived therefrom, so that the game is uniquely and properly characterized as American chess.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that

I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein

3,433,482 disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.