Multi-level game board apparatus

A multi-level game board apparatus has a plurality of transparent, planar game boards each having a plurality of marker seats arranged in a pattern for receiving game markers, and a plurality of support shaft assemblies extending at spaced intervals through the peripheral edges of the game boards to secure the game boards together and hold them apart at a predetermined vertical spacing during game play. The apparatus is movable between an upright, deployed position in which each support shaft assembly is in a vertically extended position holding the game boards apart, and a collapsed, storage position in which each support shaft assembly is collapsed downwardly between each adjacent pair of boards to allow the boards to move closer together into a more compact, storage configuration. A locking device releasably secures the boards together in the collapsed, storage position. A biasing device biases each support shaft assembly into the vertically extended position so that the boards are automatically moved into the vertically spaced, deployed position on release of the locking device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 to 10 of the drawings illustrate a multi-level game board apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 10 basically comprises a series of spaced, transparent boards or plates 12 supported horizontally at a selected vertical spacing by a series of spacer rod assemblies 14 each extending through a respective corner 15 of the apparatus, and a storage base or pedestal 16 for supporting the boards 12 such that the lowermost board is spaced above a support surface for the apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, each board 12 is of generally square shape with an arcuate cut-out or indent 18 along each side edge, and has a series of openings or seats 20 arranged in a square array for alignment with corresponding openings 20 in the other boards 12 when the board is in the upright, deployed condition of FIGS. 1 to 4 . Each board 12 also has a mounting or support opening 22 at each corner through which the spacer rod assembly extends, as described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 . It will be understood that boards of other shapes may be used, such as rectangular, hexagonal, or other multi-sided shapes, or rounded shapes, and the spacer rod assemblies 14 may be provided at suitable spacings around the periphery of the boards and not necessarily at each corner. Also, the openings 20 may be arranged in different patterns, depending on the game to be played. In the illustrated embodiment, a series of five spaced game boards are provided, with each board having a five-by-five array of openings 20 . However, it will be understood that a greater or lesser number of boards may be provided in alternative embodiments, with the openings in each array being adjusted accordingly. The boards are of any suitable transparent, durable material such as transparent plastic material or the like. The storage base 16 basically comprises a box or container 24 for containing a plurality of spherical game pieces such as balls or marbles 25 , which will typically be provided in two different colors, and a multi-part lid 26 for the container. The lid 26 has a first, stationary part 28 with a rim for fitting over the box 24 , and an upper part 30 rotatably secured to part 28 to provide a turntable. The upper part 30 includes an enlarged base plate 32 of shape and dimensions matching those of the game boards 12 . Plate 32 has no game playing openings 20 , but has connector openings 34 at its corners for providing an anchor for the spacer rod assemblies 14 , as discussed in more detail below. The upper part 30 is rotatably mounted on the stationary part 28 of the lid via bearings 35 . Upper part 30 also has a threaded central opening 31 which is aligned with central openings 20 ′ in each of the game boards 12 and a central opening 33 in base plate 32 , which is secured to the upper, rotatable part of the lid by adhesive or the like. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 , 4 and 5 , each spacer rod assembly basically comprises a series of four aligned spacer rods 36 each having a through bore 38 and extending between a respective pair of game boards, a lower, shorter spacer rod 40 extending between the lowermost game board and the base plate 32 , and a resilient cable or cord 42 extending through the aligned rods 36 and 40 and aligned corner openings 22 and 34 and secured to a respective ball stop member 44 , 45 at its opposite ends. The cord 42 may be of any suitable material such as elastic or “bungee” type elasticated cord. The arrangement is such that the cord must be extended in order to be secured to the ball stop members, such that each ball stop member is biased inwardly against the respective uppermost game board 12 or the base plate 32 , respectively. It can be seen from FIG. 5 that each spacer rod 36 has a diameter greater than that of the respective corner opening 22 or 34 , so that each adjacent pair of plates or boards will be held apart at a spacing equal to the length of the spacer rod 36 . The lowermost spacer rod 40 is shorter, so that the lowermost game board 12 is spaced above base plate 32 by a short distance sufficient to permit game pieces or balls to be readily placed in the openings in the lower board. Each ball stop member 44 , 45 has a through bore 46 of stepped diameter, with a larger diameter upper portion 47 forming a seat for a knot 48 at the upper or lower end of the respective cord. Thus, in the extended or deployed condition of FIGS. 2 and 4 , the four spacer rod assemblies act to hold the five game boards or plates 12 and the base plate 32 horizontally at spaced vertical intervals determined by the length of the spacer rods 36 and 40 , respectively, with the elastic bungee-type cords 42 biasing the respective end stops 44 and 45 against the uppermost game board 12 and the base plate 32 to prevent separation of the boards and to hold the assembly in its deployed condition during playing of a game. The spacer rods may be of a similar, transparent plastic material to the boards 12 and plate 32 , or of any other suitably rigid material which may be transparent or opaque. The ball stops 44 , 45 may also be of any suitable material such as wood, metal, plastic or the like. Optionally, an outer storage container or box may also be provided for holding the game board apparatus 10 when not in use. This comprises a base tray 50 of rectangular shape having a central, circular opening 52 in which the marble container 24 may be seated, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 6 , and a rectangular lid 54 for fitting over the base tray 50 when the apparatus is collapsed for storage purposes, as described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 7 to 10 . If desired, the lid 26 may be placed over the container 24 while it is seated in the base tray, after first removing the playing pieces or marbles and placing them in the tray 50 , as indicated in FIG. 2 , and the game may then be played. Alternatively, the marbles 25 may be left in the container 24 , and the lid 26 may be placed on a suitable support surface such as a table, as indicated in FIG. 4 , in order to play the game. The tray may have openings 55 at its corners for placing a suitable marker to indicate the current player's turn. The outer container may be of cardboard or the like. When play is complete, the apparatus can be readily collapsed for storage purposes, after first returning the marbles or game pieces 25 to the container 24 . The apparatus is collapsed simply by holding the base and pressing the uppermost game board 12 downwardly towards the base plate and at the same time rotating the board 12 in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8 . This will cause the underlying posts or spacer rods 36 to start to collapse or tilt sideways, as indicated in FIG. 7 , until eventually all four rods lie horizontally between the two uppermost boards 12 , which are now at a spacing equal to the diameter or width of each spacer rod 36 . The uppermost boards 12 will also be skewed at an angle relative to one another, as seen in FIG. 8 . At this point, continued rotation of the upper two boards 12 will cause the next set of rods 36 to collapse in the same way, and the process continues until all spacer rods 36 have collapsed downwardly. At the same time, each of the elastic or resilient cords or cables 42 will be extended and moved into a non-straight, stepped path through the respective horizontal and tilted spacer rods and the various, now offset, board openings 22 , in order to accommodate the tilting of the posts 42 . Once all of the boards 12 have been collapsed, a threaded peg or bolt 56 is inserted through the aligned central openings 20 ′ in each of the game boards 12 , the aligned central opening 33 in base plate 32 , and into the threaded hole or nut 31 in the upper part 30 of the lid. The bolt 56 is tightened as far as possible, and locks the apparatus in the collapsed storage position illustrated in FIG. 9 . The container lid 54 may then be placed over the tray in order to enclose the collapsed apparatus. The apparatus can be readily returned to its upright, deployed condition ready for playing a game, simply by removing the bolt 56 from the nut 31 and game boards. As soon as the bolt is removed, due to the spring tension in the extended bungee cord 42 , the posts or spacer rods 36 will all be biased upwardly into their vertical orientation, simultaneously forcing the game boards 12 apart, and returning the cord 42 to its vertical, less stretched condition. Although the support assembly connecting the boards together in the exemplary embodiment comprises a series of spacer rods interconnected by a resilient or elastic cable such as a bungee-type cord, it may alternatively comprise a series of springs extending between the corners of each adjacent pair of plates. The springs would be of sufficient strength to hold the plates apart during game play, and would be compressed for storage, with the same locking bolt securing the plates and springs together in the compressed condition. Many different possible games may be played using this apparatus. One possibility is a simple tic-tac-toe game, in which each player takes a turn placing a marble in any of the available game piece openings 20 , as indicated in FIG. 2 . The center openings 20 ′ may be used in the game or may be left as free spaces. The winner is the first person to arrange five marbles in a straight line, either horizontally or diagonally across any board, vertically through all five boards, or diagonally through all five boards. The turntable base allows players to rotate the apparatus to view the current game status readily from all directions, and also to move the apparatus into the most convenient position for placing the next marble at a selected opening. The arcuate indents or cut outs 18 on the side edges of the board make it easier for the player to access the innermost openings 20 on each level of the apparatus. The multi-level game board apparatus of this invention is readily movable between an upright deployed position in which the game boards are spaced apart for playing, and a collapsed condition in which the game boards are moved adjacent one another for storage or transportation purposes. Only one part needs to be inserted or removed to lock the apparatus in its storage position, or to allow the apparatus to extend automatically into its deployed condition. Thus, unlike prior art multi-level game board devices, the apparatus of this invention may be readily collapsed for storage, so that it does not take up excessive amounts of space, and does not involve multiple separable parts which would make assembly or disassembly difficult and inconvenient. The turntable base also makes play much easier, permitting a player to rotate the apparatus to more easily determine the best position for the next game piece or marble, and to place the apparatus in the optimum location for reaching the desired opening. Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.