Abstract:
A game assembly involving the arrangement of game pieces on a game board and permitting storage and transportation of the game pieces arranged on the game board in an intermediate stage of game play. The game assembly comprises a case having a plurality of hinged case segments which are foldable from open configuration exposing a game area to a closed configuration enclosing the game area. The hinged case segments includes lateral case segments hingedly joined to opposing edges of an internal case segment. The game area is formed from lateral and internal game elements. The lateral game elements are disposed on the lateral case segments. The internal game element are hingedly connected to one of the lateral game elements and rotatably moveable between being disposed on the internal case segment and being disposed on the one of the lateral game elements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to game assemblies and, more particularly, to a game assembly for containing and playing a game, such as a board game, which is configurable between an open configuration exposing a game area and a closed configuration enclosing the game area for storage or travel. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are numerous board games which require players to take turns arranging a plurality of game pieces on a game board. One example is Scrabble®, where users take turns arranging lettered tiles on a board to form interconnecting words. Such games often involve intricate arrangements of numerous pieces on a game board and are typically played over a prolonged period of time. While it is often desirable to play such games at different times or at different locations, it is often difficult to store or transport a game in progress while preserving the arrangement of the game pieces in play on the board. 
         [0003]    It is therefore desirable to provide games which are configurable for play and for storage and transportation. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The game assemblies disclosed herein include a game case that is configurable between an open configuration exposing a game area and a closed configuration enclosing the game area. In a preferred embodiment, the game assembly involves the arrangement of a plurality of game pieces on a game board and the arrangement of the game pieces may be preserved for later play and transportation when the game case is in the closed configuration. 
         [0005]    In one preferred embodiment, a game assembly includes a case comprising a plurality of hinged case segments having an internal surface and an external surface. The case segments are configurable between an open configuration exposing a game area on the internal surface and a closed configuration enclosing the game area. The case segments comprise lateral case segments hingedly coupled to opposing edges of a middle case segment. A game panel is pivotally movable about an axis along one of its lengthwise edges of the game panel. The game  panel is disposed on top of the internal surface of the middle case segment when the case segments are in the open configuration to expose the game area. The game panel is disposed on top of the internal surface of one of the lateral case segments when the case segments are in the closed configuration. 
         [0006]    In another preferred embodiment, the game assembly comprises a case having a plurality of hinged case segments which are foldable from an open configuration exposing a game area to a closed configuration enclosing the game area. The hinged case segments comprise lateral case segments hingedly joined to opposing edges of an internal case segment. Lateral and internal game elements form at least a portion of the game area. The lateral game elements are disposed on the lateral case segments. The internal game element is hingedly connected to one of the lateral game elements and rotatably moveable between being disposed on the internal case segment and being disposed on the one of the lateral game elements. 
         [0007]    In a further preferred embodiment, the game assembly comprises a case having a plurality of case segments configurable between an open configuration exposing a game area and a closed configuration enclosing the game area. The case segments comprise lateral case segments and an internal case segment. The lateral case segments are pivotally coupled to opposing edges of the internal case segment along a length of the internal case segment. A plurality of recesses are disposed on at least a portion of the game area, the recesses being shaped to receive correspondingly-shaped game pieces. The game area comprises lateral and internal game panels. The lateral game panels are disposed on the lateral case segments. The internal game panel is pivotally movable between being disposed on the internal case segment and being disposed on top of one of the lateral game panels. A game panel hinge pivotally couples the internal game panel to the one of the lateral game panels. The game panel hinge is configured to space apart facing surfaces of the internal game panel and the one of the lateral game panels at a distance to permit the storage of game pieces disposed in the recesses on both the internal game panel and the one of the lateral game panels when the internal game panel is disposed on top of the one of the lateral game panels and the case segments are in the closed configuration. The lateral game panels abut or are closely spaced apart from opposing edges of the internal game panel when the internal game panel is disposed on top of the internal case segment.  
         [0008]    Other objects, features and advantages of the described preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the game assembly with the game board case in an open configuration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the game assembly, showing the folding of the internal game panel about a game panel hinge. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the game assembly, showing the folding of the lateral case segments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the game assembly in a closed configuration for storage or transportation. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Specific, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of embodiments within the scope of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
         [0016]    The preferred embodiments of the game assemblies disclosed herein are suitable for board games and, more particularly, for board games involving a multitude of game pieces which may be stored and transported as desired. The preferred embodiments of the game  assemblies are configurable between an open configuration exposing a game area and a closed configuration enclosing the game area. Where the game assembly is a game that involves the arrangement of game pieces on the game board, the game assembly is preferably configured to maintain and preserve the arrangement of the game pieces on the game board in both the open and closed configurations. Thus, it is not required to remove the game pieces from the game board prior to arranging the game assembly to the closed configuration. This advantageously permits the storage and transport of an ongoing game for continued play at a later time. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-4  depict a nonexclusive illustrative preferred embodiment of a game assembly  100 . Taken together,  FIGS. 1-4  depict the sequence of configuring or folding the game assembly  100  from an open configuration adapted for game play to a closed configuration adapted for later play, storage or transportation. While  FIGS. 1-4  depicts a multi-player board game in which each player takes turns arranging words using game tiles  10 , it is understood that the game assembly  100  may be adapted to any variety of games, board games, and the like. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts the game assembly  100  in an open configuration exposing a game area  101 . The game area  101  is supported on a plurality of case segments that include lateral case segments  110 ,  130  coupled to opposing edges of an internal or middle case segment  120 . To permit folding of the case segments from an open to a closed configuration and back to the open configuration, the lateral case segments  110 ,  130  are coupled to the internal case segment  120  via hinges  115 ,  125 , respectively, along opposing edges of the internal case segment  120 . A game area  101  is disposed on top of the internal surface of the lateral  110 ,  130  and internal  120  case segments. 
         [0019]    The game area  101  may be provided by a plurality of separate game elements or panels  114 ,  124  and  134  that are disposed on or adjacent to the internal surface of corresponding case segments  110 ,  120  and  130 . Alternatively, the game area  101  may be provided by the internal surface of the lateral case segments  120  and  130 , with only the internal or middle game panel  124  being provided separately from the case segments. The internal game panel  124  is pivotally moveable about an axis A-A along one of its lengthwise edges ( FIG. 2 ) and, where lateral game panels  114 ,  134  are additionally provided, the internal game panel  124  is preferably coupled to one of the lateral game panels  114 ,  134  via a game panel hinge  129 . In both embodiments, the game area  101  is preferably a contiguous and substantially planar game  surface when the game assembly  100  is in the open configuration. To that end, the game area  101  is preferably disposed on top of the hinges  115 ,  125  coupling the case segments. 
         [0020]    Side walls  112 ,  132  may be provided along a periphery or free edge of lateral case segments  110 ,  130 , respectively. The side walls  112 ,  132  extend from the lateral case segments  110 ,  130  at heights h 1 , h 2 , (see  FIG. 2 ) to preferably provide a complete enclosure when the case segments  110 ,  120  and  130  are arranged in the closed configuration, as depicted in  FIG. 4 . The side walls  112 ,  132  abut one another and together maintain a distance between the lateral case segments  110 ,  130  at about a width (w) of the internal case segment  120 . The internal case segment  120  preferably does not have side walls, as the side walls  112 ,  132  of the adjacent lateral segments  110 ,  130  abut one another to about the width (w) of the internal case segment  120  to provide the enclosure. While the side walls  112 ,  132  are depicted in  FIGS. 1-4  as having substantially equal heights (h 1  and h 2 ), it is understood that they may also have differing relative heights so long as their combined heights (h 1 +h 2 ) is equal or substantially equal to the width (w) of the internal case segment  120 . 
         [0021]    The complete enclosure provided by the side walls  112 ,  132  permit the game assembly  100  to securely store the game pieces  10  and other game accessories, such as the trays  140 . To that end, the game assembly  100  may further comprise a storage area  136  within an internal area of one of the lateral case segments  110 ,  130 , and separate from the game area  101 . Additionally, the side walls  112 ,  132  may further include closure means to maintain side walls  112 ,  132  in abutting relation to keep the game assembly  100  in the closed configuration and to securely store the game pieces  10  and trays  140  within the game assembly. Such closure means may include one or more deflectable tabs  102  and one or more sets of cooperating keepers  104  on side walls  112 ,  132 , respectively. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  depicts a game that is in the intermediate stages of game play, in which the game pieces or lettered tiles  10  are arranged on the game area  101  and secured in recesses  106  on the game area  101 . In a preferred embodiment, the game pieces  10  and corresponding recesses  106  are shaped and sized to provide an engaging fit so that the game pieces  10  are not easily dislodged from the recesses  106  as the game area is oriented vertically or downwardly (see  FIGS. 2-3 ). This permits the storage of a game in the intermediate stages of play when the game assembly  100  is in the closed configuration ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0023]      FIGS. 2 and 3  depicts the internal or middle game panel  124  being pivotally moved from being disposed on top of the internal case segment  120  to being disposed on top of the lateral game panel  134 . The portion of the game area  101  provided on the internal game panel  124  is shown in  FIG. 3  as being in facing relation to the game area  101  provided on the lateral game panel  134 . 
         [0024]    In order to permit the internal game panel  124  to lie substantially flat across the lateral game panel  134 , the game panel hinge  129  coupling the internal game panel  124  and the lateral game panel  134  is preferably dimensioned to space apart the facing surfaces at a distance to permit the storage of the game pieces disposed in both internal and lateral game panels  124 ,  134 . In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the game panel hinge  129  extends beyond the surface of lateral game panel  134  at a height to provide the required distance, preferably a height that is equal to the height of two stacked game pieces  10 . An optional tab  126  may be provided on the internal game panel  124  on the side of the game area  101  opposing where the internal game panel  124  is hingedly connected to the lateral game panel  134 . The tab  126  rests on top of the lateral game panel  134  to maintain the desired distance between the facing internal and lateral game panels  124 ,  134 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , once the internal game panel  124  is positioned on top of the lateral game panel  134 , the case segments  110 ,  120  and  130  are freed to fold about hinges  115 ,  125  towards the closed configuration. Preferably, the game area  101  is disposed on top of the hinges  115 ,  125  to restrict the pivotal movement of the case segments  110 ,  120  and  130  when the internal game panel  124  is positioned on top of the internal case segment  120 . Additionally, adjacent lateral and internal game panels are preferably in abutting or closely spaced relation when the internal game panel  124  is disposed on the internal case segment  120  so as to provide further restrictions on the pivotal movement of the case segments  110 ,  120  and  130 . In one preferred embodiment, the adjacent lateral and internal game panels are closely spaced apart at a distance of 5 mm or less, preferably 2.5 mm or less, and more preferably 1 mm or less. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  depicts the game assembly  100  in the closed configuration, fully enclosing the game area  101 , the game pieces  10  disposed thereon and the in the storage area  136 . The internal surfaces of the lateral case segment  110 ,  130  are in facing relation to one another and the internal case segment  120  is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the lateral case segments   110 ,  130 . In the closed configuration, opposing surfaces of the internal game panel  120  are in spaced facing relation with the lateral game panels  110 ,  130  and the distance between the internal  124  and lateral game  114 ,  134  panels permits each of the respective panels to maintain game pieces within corresponding recesses in the closed configuration. This distance is provided both by providing a sufficient width for the internal case segment  120  and also by the height of the game panel hinge  129 . 
         [0027]    The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific preferred embodiments disclosed herein, as these embodiments are intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.