Device for handling game pieces

A device for handling game pieces is assembled from four uniform elements and when assembled includes a base portion that will fit over a game board and a chimney portion of sufficiently large internal size to permit passage by gravity of game pieces therethrough from the game board and into a bag that is placeable over the chimney portion. The device in one form is of plastic and in another form is of cardboard and is such that it is flat when disassembled to be packageable with a particular game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The device of this invention may broadly be useable to assist in the 
removal and return of any board game pieces from the playing board to 
their storage container. However, its dimensions and shape are such that 
its primary use is for game boards wherein the playing pieces fit into 
indents in the game board surface; thus the pieces cannot be swept or 
brushed from the game board surface but must be individually picked up to 
be removed from the game board. Alternatively, the game board could be 
inverted over for example a table spilling the playing pieces onto the 
table, then swept or brushed into their storage container. This 
alternative almost invariably results in lost playing pieces and chaos for 
those next playing the game. One such game is sold under the registered 
Trademark SCRABBLE wherein there are many alphabetic playing pieces and a 
playing board with indents (deluxe version) into which the playing pieces 
are placed during play. The time to individually pick up the pieces after 
a game may seem minor but in fact is an irritant to dedicated players, 
particularly in tournament play. This invention facilitates the collective 
removal of alphabetic playing pieces from the Scrabble board and return of 
the same to their storage container. preliminary search for patentability 
revealed the following U.S. patents: 
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U.S. Pat. No. Date Inventor 
______________________________________ 
1,578,554 March 30, 1926 Seligman 
2,699,336 January 11, 1955 
Keim 
2,814,493 November 26, 1957 
Keim 
4,479,651 October 30, 1984 
LaFleur 
4,552,361 November 12, 1985 
LaFleur 
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The patents found in the search relate to various means for handling game 
pieces or tiles. However, none of the patents appears to teach or suggest 
the structure or manner of use of the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
4,919,426 April 24, 1990 
Vieira 
______________________________________ 
Vieira discloses a one piece dust cover for a game board which provides a 
corner opening in its top through which the game pieces are removed when 
the game board and cover are joined and inverted. 
In addition to the above, examination of the original U.S. application Ser. 
No. 07/532,8867, filed on Jun. 4, 1990, revealed the following Patents: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. 435,638 
September 1890 Barnes 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,073,914 
March 16, 1937 Wilfley 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,100,888 
November 30, 1937 
Vine 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,722 
August 7, 1973 Nowak 
UK 149,574 August 19, 1920 
Smith 
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The above named patents deal with industrial funnels of one type or 
another, none of which singularly disclose the use or combination of 
features of the instant invention. 
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device which 
saves time in handling game pieces at the conclusion of play, to increase 
playing time. 
Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which is low 
cost and easily used and stored. 
A further object of the invention is to provide such a device that is 
readily assembled into its useful form. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide such a device that 
when disassembled is capable of being efficiently packaged with a game or 
separately in a flat package. 
The manner in which the invention attains the foregoing objects and 
advantages will appear hereinafter. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A device for handling game pieces is assembled by interrelating four 
uniform elements. It includes a rectangular or square prism base portion 
that fits over a game board and a acute truncated pyramid chimney portion 
of sufficiently large internal size to permit passage by gravity of game 
pieces therethrough from the game board and into a bag or other container 
that is placeable over the chimney portion. The device in one form is of 
plastic and is intended for almost limitless multiple 
assembling/disassembling and in another lower cost form is of cardboard 
with a limited capability for multiple assembly/disassembly and may be 
considered as a promotional item.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The drawing shows in multiple views a hollow game piece handling device 10 
that in one multiple assembly/disassembly form may be of injection molded 
of suitable semirigid modestly flexible plastic such as polypropylene, 
polyethylene, compounded PVC, elastomer modified polystyrene and the like. 
Alternatively hollow game piece handling device 10 in a limited 
assembly/disassembly form may be of steel die died cardboard. 
Device 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is assembled by interrelating four elements 20. 
As assembled, device includes at one axial end a base portion 12 and at 
the other axial end a square truncated pyramid chimney 14. The square 
defined by chimney portion 14 is substantially smaller than that defined 
by base portion 12. Base portion 12 and chimney portion 14 are joined by a 
central portion 16 in the form of a second truncated four-sided pyramid, 
the four sides of which are identical, being inclined at an obtuse angle 
with respect to base portion 12. Portions 12, 14 and 16 are coaxial. 
Base portion 12 (FIG. 3) plan view of one of four elements 20 which when 
interrelated form device 10 and terminates in a plane 18 perpendicular to 
the axis of single element 20. Chimney portion 14 terminates in plane 22 
perpendicular to the axis of single element 20. When four single elements 
20 are interrelated each element relates to the others so that the planes 
of base 12 and of chimney 14 are in the same relationship. Base portion 12 
and chimney portion of single element (FIG. 3) and when assembled (FIGS. 1 
and 2) are slightly tapered in the direction such that they become closer 
to the axis as one proceeds from plane 18 towards plane 22. 
Individual element 20 having a rectangular base 12 (FIG. 3), at one end 26 
a locking clip, having at its opposing end a clipway 24 into which locking 
clip 26 of an adjacent second element is interrelated. Base 12 also has a 
number of bosses 28 extending above its surface which when assembled to 
form device 10 act as a standoff to support a game board and prevent it 
from falling into device 10. The upper border 30 of base 12 is undercut 
and forms a well known living hinge to permit unlimited flexing from the 
flat when folded to an obtuse angle in relationship to central portion 17 
when assembled. Portion 18 of single element 20 has at one side 17 of the 
truncated triangle or obtuse trapezoid formed by upper border 30, sides 
17a and 17b and lower border 32. Two locking clips 26 and at its other 
side 17b. Two locking clipways to accept locking clips 26 during assembly. 
Clipway 24 is shown in detail in FIG. 6 illustrating that clipway 24 is 
formed on the underside of single element 20. Locking clips 26 have an 
undercut at their respective bases 34. AS shown in side view of one 
component of locking clip 26 in FIG. 4 forming a living hinge. 
Truncated triangle or acute trapezoid 15 forming one side of chimney 14 
when assembled has as its base undercut 32 to form a living hinge to 
permit the flexing of side 15 in relationship to side 17 when being 
assembled into device 10. Sides 15a and 15b form the sides of triangle 15 
and terminate in line 22. Two locking clips 26 extend from side 15a. Two 
locking clipways 24 are extended from the underside of side 15b. The 
clipways and locking clips engaging another single element 20 in the 
assembly of device 10. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the location of clipways 24 along line 5--5 of FIG. 1. 
Clipway 24 extend on the upper or inner side while clipway 25 extends on 
the underside of single element 20. 
Locking clipways 25 and locking clips 26 when interrelated and locked by 
deflecting both barbs 27 of locking clips toward each other, passing the 
deflected locking clips through locking clipways, releasing both clips so 
that barbs 27 extend beyond land 29 of locking clipway. Separation of 
locked clipways and locking clips is accomplished by deflecting barbs 27 
toward each other so that they no longer extend beyond land 29 and passing 
the deflected clips through the clipways in the reverse direction. All 
assembled and locked clipways and clips 33 are located on the outside of 
device 10 so as not to block the flow of the game pieces from the playing 
board. 
Cardboard version of device 10 is made up of four uniform elements 40 as 
shown in FIG. 8 is died or stamped from a cardboard sheet. The 
relationship of each individual element 40 is the same as plastic single 
element 20 which interrelate to form the same configuration of device 10. 
The major difference is that rectangular locking clipways 42 are stamped 
into one end of base 44 and truncated triangles 46 and 48. Standoffs 41 
are formed by cutting on three sides and adding crease lines 43 forming a 
tab which can be bent into a triangle the FIG. 9, 9a top side of which 
remains attached to base 44 the bottom of the box extending through and 
locking into base 44 with tabs 49 locking into cutouts 57. Locking clips 
45 have barbs 47, crease lines are stamped into locking clips 45 at the 
base so that they will readily bend when interlocked during assembly into 
device 10. Crease lines 52 are also stamped in at base 44 and at the 
junction of truncated triangle 46 and 48. When folded and flexed into 
interrelating relationship with three other single elements 40 and locked 
with locking clips 45 passing through rectangular locking clipways 42 
device 10 is formed. 
Cutaway FIG. 10 shows a bag 60 having its open end secured over chimney 
portion of device 10 with game pieces 66 in the process of falling from 
game board 62 into bag 60 for storage or dispensing for another game. 
It is apparent that the invention well attains the stated objects and 
advantages among others. 
The disclosed details are exemplary only and are not to be taken as 
limitations on the invention except as those details may be included in 
the appended claims.