Abstract:
A game board and seating system is used for playing chess and providing comfortable seating for users. The system includes a board frame, a first seat assembly, a second seat assembly, and an inclined game board. The board frame supports the inclined game board, the first seat assembly, and the second seat assembly. The inclined game board is used to play chess and attaches onto the board frame. The first seat assembly and a second seat assembly are used to comfortably seat users while playing. The first seat assembly and the second seat assembly are both mounted to board frame. The system also includes a plurality of game pieces and at least two piece-adjusting arms. Similar to a traditional chessboard, the game pieces are used to play chess. The at least two piece-adjusting arms are used to move hard to reach game pieces on the inclined game board.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/173,794 filed on Jun. 10, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to game boards and game equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to an inclined game board with integrated seating for players of the game. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Chess is a game that has been around for many years and is one of the most popular games ever created. Surprisingly throughout the years, the design of the chessboard has not seen much change at all. The most commonly used designs involve making chessboards out of wood, glass, or stone. Occasionally, one might also see a larger design, where the game pieces may require both hands to lift, but all of these designs are two-dimensional. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a present need for a new chessboard design which can make the game of chess more interesting to play. The present invention is a multi-dimensional chessboard that is designed to give users a unique chess-playing experience. The present invention includes adjustable seating that is integrated into the board, allowing users to play comfortably. The present invention features a large and inclined game board along with larger than normal game pieces which are used to enhance the game of chess. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a right perspective view of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a right perspective view of the present invention with the game pieces being removed. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a right perspective view of the present invention with the game board and the right lateral panel being removed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a left perspective view of the present invention with the game board and the right lateral panel being removed. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a right perspective view of the present invention with the game board, the second end panel, and the right lateral panel being removed. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded front view of the present invention showing how the inclined game board attaches to the board frame and how the seat attaches to the seat pivot bracket. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the base panel, the first seat assembly, and the second seat assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view showing a piece-adjusting arm holding a game piece. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , the present invention is a game board and seating system. The present invention is designed to provide a unique means of playing chess through the use of an inclined game board  10 . Further, the present invention includes seating for the users playing chess. The present invention comprises a board frame  1 , an inclined game board  10 , a first seat assembly  14 , and a second seat assembly  15 . The board frame  1  is used to support the inclined game board  10  and conceal portions of the first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15 . The board frame  1  comprises a base panel  2 , a first end panel  3 , a second end panel  4 , a left lateral panel  5 , and a right lateral panel  6 . The base panel  2  is used as a stable foundation for the rest of the board frame  1  and the inclined game board  10 . The first end panel  3 , the second end panel  4 , the left lateral panel  5 , and the right lateral panel  6  are perimetrically attached to the base panel  2 . The first end panel  3 , the second end panel  4 , the left lateral panel  5 , and the right lateral panel  6  are all used to structurally support the inclined game board  10 . The inclined game board  10  is used to support a plurality of game pieces  29  which are used to play chess. The inclined game board  10  is perimetrically attached adjacent to the board frame  1 . As a result, the inclined game board  10  is positioned opposite to the base panel  2  providing a unique playing surface which is designed to be new and intriguing for users to play on. The first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15  are mounted onto the base panel  2 . The first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15  provide seating for two users playing the game. To position the users at opposite ends of the inclined game board  10 , the first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15  are oriented opposite to each other across the board frame  1 . This mimics the positioning of opposing users playing with a traditional chessboard. 
         [0015]    In reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , the first end panel  3  and the second end panel  4  are each mounted perpendicular to the base panel  2 . The first end panel  3  and the second end panel  4  are positioned opposite to each other across the base panel  2 . When playing chess, one user sits upon the first seat assembly  14 , adjacent to the first end panel  3 . The other user sits upon the second seat assembly  15 , adjacent to the second end panel  4 . The left lateral panel  5  is mounted to the base panel  2 , the first end panel  3 , and the second end panel  4 . The right lateral panel  6  is mounted to the base panel  2 , the first end panel  3 , and the second end panel  4 . The left lateral panel  5  and the right lateral panel  6  are designed as step-shaped so that the inclined game board  10  traverses from the first end panel  3  to the second end panel  4  in a shape that resembles a mirrored staircase. The left lateral panel  5  and the right lateral panel  6  are positioned opposite to each other across the base panel  2 . This arrangement allows the inclined game board  10  to span the entire width of the board frame  1 . 
         [0016]    In reference to  FIG. 3 , the present invention further comprises a plurality of corner fasteners  24 . The plurality of corner fasteners  24  is used to hold the board frame  1  together. The first end panel  3  is attached to the left lateral panel  5  by at least one of the plurality of corner fasteners  24 . Similarly, the first end panel  3  is attached to the right lateral panel  6  by at least one of the plurality of corner fasteners  24 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two corner fasteners attach the first end panel  3  to the left lateral panel  5  and two more corner fasteners attach the first end panel  3  to the right lateral panel  6 . Across the base panel  2 , the second end panel  4  is attached to the left lateral panel  5  by at least one of the plurality of corner fasteners  24 . The second end panel  4  is also attached to the right lateral panel  6  by at least one of the plurality of corner fasteners  24 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two corner fasteners attach the second end panel  4  to the left lateral panel  5  and two more corner fasteners attach the second end panel  4  to the right lateral panel  6 . 
         [0017]    In reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6 , the inclined game board  10  comprises a central platform panel  11 , a first plurality of angled panels  12 , and a second plurality of angled panels  13 . The left lateral panel  5  and the right lateral panel  6  each comprise an intermediate section  7 , a first stringer section  8 , and a second stringer section  9 . Together, the intermediate section  7 , the first stringer section  8 , and the second stringer section  9  support the various components of the inclined game board  10 . The first stringer section  8  is positioned adjacent to the first end panel  3 , while the second stringer section  9  is positioned adjacent to the second end panel  4 . The intermediate section  7  is positioned in between the first stringer section  8  and the second stringer section  9 . This arrangement is used to support the mirrored staircase shape of the inclined game board  10 . The central platform panel  11  is attached to the intermediate section  7  of the left lateral panel  5  and the right lateral panel  6 , opposite to the base panel  2 . The staircase shape is mirrored across the central platform panel  11 , making the central platform panel  11  the middle of the inclined game board  10 . The first plurality of angled panels  12  is attached to the first stringer section  8  of the left lateral panel  5  and the right lateral panel  6 . The second plurality of angled panels  13  is attached to the first stringer section  8  of the left lateral panel  5  and the right lateral panel  6 . Together, the central platform panel  11 , the first plurality of angled panels  12 , and the second plurality of angled panels  13  create a continuous playing surface upon which chess may be played. A checkerboard pattern  25  is layered onto the central platform panel  11 , the first plurality of angled panels  12  and the second plurality of angled panels  13 . This is done to mark the inclined game board  10  to mimic the design of a common chessboard playing surface. Though the shape of the inclined game board  10  is different from a traditional chess board, the checkerboard pattern  25  allows the game to be played in a traditional manner. 
         [0018]    In reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , the present invention further comprises a pivot track  26 . The pivot track  26  is used to secure the first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15  to the base panel  2 . The pivot track  26  is centrally mounted onto the base panel  2 . This allows the first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15  to move symmetrically about the center of the base panel  2 . The first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15  each comprise a seat  16 , a seat pivot bracket  17 , and a seat slot  23 . The seat slot  23  permits the seat pivot bracket  17  to extend outward from the board frame  1  and slide relative to the board frame  1 . The seat slot  23  of the first seat assembly  14  traverses through the first end panel  3 , while the seat slot  23  of the second seat assembly  15  traverses through the second end panel  4 . The seat pivot bracket  17  is slidably and rotatably engaged with the pivot track  26  so the seat  16  may be positioned as needed by the user. The seat pivot bracket  17  of the first seat assembly  14  traverses through the seat slot  23  of the first seat assembly  14 . Similarly, the seat pivot bracket  17  of the second seat assembly  15  traverses through the seat slot  23  of the second seat assembly  15 . These arrangements allow the seat  16  of the first seat assembly  14  and the seat  16  of the second seat assembly  15  to be externally positioned at opposite ends of the board frame  1 . The seat  16  is used to support the weight of a user and position the user so that the user is able to play the game. The seat  16  is attached adjacent to the seat pivot bracket  17 , opposite to the pivot track  26 . The seat  16  may be adjusted to meet the needs of each individual user and may be detached from the seat pivot bracket  17  for storage. 
         [0019]    In reference to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , the seat pivot bracket  17  comprises a pivot section  18 , a height section  19 , a proximal extension section  20 , a distal extension section  21 , and at least two caster wheels  22 . The pivot section  18  is used to connect the seat pivot bracket  17  to the pivot track  26 . The pivot section  18  is slidably and rotatably engaged with the pivot track  26 . This allows the seat  16  to be moved to multiple angles and positions relative to the inclined game board  10 . The proximal extension section  20  is perpendicularly connected to the pivot section  18 , and the at least two caster wheels  22  are mounted onto the proximal extension section  20 . Together, the proximal extension section  20  and the at least two caster wheels  22  allow the seat pivot bracket  17  to move within the board frame  1  with little resistance. The height section  19  is perpendicularly connected to the proximal extension section  20 , opposite to the pivot section  18 . The height section  19  is used to offset the distal extension section  21  from the base panel  2  so that the distal extension section  21  can be connected to the seat  16 . The distal extension section  21  is perpendicularly connected to the height section  19 . The proximal extension section  20  and the distal extension section  21  are positioned opposite to each other about the height section  19 . This arrangement allows the distal extension section  21  to traverse through the board frame  1 . The seat  16  is attached adjacent to the distal extension section  21 , opposite to the height section  19 . Due to the aforementioned arrangement, the seat  16  may be easily adjusted to meet the needs of the user. 
         [0020]    In reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the present invention further comprises a first retaining bar  27  and a second retaining bar  28 . The first retaining bar  27  and the second retaining bar  28  are used to limit the motions of the first seat assembly  14  and the second seat assembly  15  to prevent damage to the first end panel  3  and the second end panel  4 . 
         [0021]    The first retaining bar  27  is connected adjacent to the first end panel  3 , while the second retaining bar  28  is connected adjacent to the second end panel  4 . The first retaining bar  27  and the second retaining bar  28  are oriented towards each other. This arrangement allows the first retaining bar  27  and the second retaining bar  28  to act as buffers for the first end panel  3  and the second end panel  4  respectively. The seat pivot bracket  17  of the first seat assembly  14  is engaged with the first retaining bar  27  so that the seat pivot bracket  17  of the first seat assembly  14  is unable to contact the first end panel  3 . Similarly, the seat pivot bracket  17  of the second seat assembly  15  is engaged with the second retaining bar  28  so that the seat pivot bracket  17  of the second seat assembly  15  is unable to contact the second end panel  4 . 
         [0022]    In reference to  FIG. 1 , the present invention further comprises a plurality of game pieces  29 . The plurality of game pieces  29  is used to play the game. Though the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used to play chess, checkers or any other type of board game may be played using the present invention. The plurality of game pieces  29  is selectively positioned atop the inclined game board  10  by the users. The positioning of each game piece  29  is determined by the rules of the game and may also be dependent on moves made by each user. 
         [0023]    In reference to  FIG. 8 , the present invention further comprises at least two piece-adjusting arms  30 . The at least two piece-adjusting arms  30  are used to adjust the positioning of each of the plurality of game pieces  29  on the inclined game board  10 . The at least two piece-adjusting arms  30  each comprise a handle  31  and a fork  32 . The handle  31  is designed to be held by the user and acts as an extension of the user&#39;s arm. The fork  32  is connected adjacent to the handle  31  and is used to pick up and move individual game pieces. When moving game pieces, the fork  32  engages about a selected piece from the plurality of game pieces  29 . 
         [0024]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.