PATENT ABSTRACT
Chess set comprising a housing that closes and creates a space to store game pieces. Shelves are rotatably attached to the side of the board to move from a close position inside the housing to an open position adjacent to the playing board. Game pieces are adhered to the shelves and to the board via a mechanical connection that is releasable such as a magnet, button, adhesive, or other suitable mechanism.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Prior art chess sets have had various problems. Among others, chess pieces can easily be lost; the large bulky game board can be difficult to store; and also difficult to transport. Other prior art chess sets have attempted to solve this problem by making smaller, portable game boards and game pieces. However, these sets have had their own problems. It can be difficult to keep playing pieces on the board and once a piece is off the board, it is difficult to store the piece and avoid loss. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the partially closed chess set of the subject invention;  
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the board with game pieces placed on hinged shelves;  
         [0004]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the board at the commencement of the game;  
         [0005]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the board during game play;  
         [0006]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the chess set with one shelf partially open;  
         [0007]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of one embodiment comprising a slanted shelf configuration;  
         [0008]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the subject invention utilizing a particular shelf configuration with feet; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 8  is schematic view of the hinge mechanism for folding the shelves from storage position to play position and vice versa.  
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In consequence of the background discussed above, and other factors that are known in the field, applicants recognized a need for an improved chess set that would allow players to easily play and maintain their chess board and pieces. Thus, the present invention relates to an improved chess set. More specifically the invention relates to a chess set in which the two halves of the playing board can be folded together to form an interior storage area. Hinged shelves are positioned at the periphery of the chess board. The shelves can swing out and reside on the sides (and/or ends) of the chess board when the board is set for play. When the game is stored, the shelves will swing in so that they can be stored in the interior of the chess board.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment, the shelves contain metal that attracts magnets located within the chess pieces. In another aspect of the invention the shelves contain magnets and the pieces have a magnet attracting metal. The board and pieces can be made from wood, metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. There can be a variety of configurations for the shelves and a variable number of shelves.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Turning now to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , wherein like numerals indicate like parts, there is shown a perspective view of the chess set  100  of the subject invention. The board can be folded in two to form an interior space out of the hollow region. Furthermore, the shelves can be designed so that they fold under the board and the chess pieces on the shelves can be stored in the interior space. Hinge mechanism  102  holds the two sides of the set together and allows for rotation from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. When closed, the chess set provides protection and storage for a plurality of game pieces  108 . Front shelves  112  and side shelves  110  can be rotated on a hinge to move from the closed position shown to a position appropriate for play. The top side of the board  106  (not shown) is the actual game play board. The board, shelves, and game pieces may be constructed of any number of materials including wood, metal, or plastic. Additionally, it is not necessary for all pieces to be constructed of the same material.  
         [0013]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , the chess set  200  of the subject invention is shown fully open with shelves in the open position. Game pieces  202  rest on the shelves that have been turned on hinges from their closed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , to this open position. The shelves may be configured to sit below the level of the playing board or level with the playing board. Game surface  208  contains either a single large magnet or metal element, or a plurality of magnet or metal elements to correspond to either magnet or metal elements in each of the game pieces  202 . If the game board is metal then the game pieces will contain magnet elements. If the game board comprises one or more magnets on its surface then the game pieces will comprise metal elements to allow them to be removably adhered to the board during play. These magnets can be hidden inside the body of the game piece or the board. This connection prevents loss of game pieces and difficulty in playing if game pieces were to shift. Any type of connection mechanism would be useful. Other examples include velcro, buttons, or a host of other male/female type releasable connections. Front shelves  206  and side shelves  204  hold any of the game pieces; although the illustration shows a particular placement of game pieces, any configuration would be possible. The game board, when unfolded, meets at point  210 . There may be some mechanical attachment such as a magnet to hold the two pieces in place.  
         [0014]     An alternative magnetized embodiment comprises a board that is magnetized to some degree and attracts a metal element in the game piece. At the center of each square on the game board, there is a hidden magnetized element that is greater in mass than the magnet covering the spaces between the centers of the squares. This feature causes the game pieces to “snap” into position and adds greater security. This may also be accomplished by creating a metal board of a given thickness and having a metal “plug” of a greater thickness under the center of each square. A magnet element in the game pieces will “snap” into position above these metal “plugs.” 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the chess set  300  of the subject invention. Side shelves  302  and front shelves  306  have been emptied and the game pieces are on the board in their appropriate places for the start of the game. Connection elements  304  may be a magnet to correspond to metal in the game pieces or metal to correspond to a magnet in the game pieces. The game pieces or shelves may also be constructed entirely of the magnetic or metal material. This connection does not have to be magnetic, alternatively, it may be any removable mechanical connection such as velcro, snap buttons, or a releasable male/female connector.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the chess set  400  of the subject invention during game play. As can be seen, the captured pieces can be replaced on side shelves  402  and front shelves  406  during play to allow all players to easily see which pieces are no longer in play. Mechanical connection mechanisms  404 , as described above, may be corresponding metal/magnet pairs, snap buttons, or any other releasable connection.  
         [0017]     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a side view of the chess set  500  of the subject invention is shown. The front edge of  506  is facing with front shelf  504  turned into place for play. Side shelf  502  is partially rotated between the closed position and the open position. Note that when open or closed, the shelves may be mechanically connected to the board by magnets, snaps, or other connection to hold them in place during play or storage. In this embodiment the shelves&#39; closed position comprises swings down and under the chess board so that pieces can be stored under the board facing horizontally and thus protected from damage by dropping or contact with hard objects.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a cutaway view of an alternative embodiment using a slanted shelf. Shelf  604  is rotated along hinge axis  602  between a closed and open position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment of the chess set  700 . This set is constructed entirely of metal and the game pieces would have magnet elements to cause them to adhere to the shelves and game playing surface. The board opens at point  702  using a hinge mechanism. Shelves  704  close to allow game pieces to be stored horizontally inside the chess set and open to allow for game play. This embodiment shows only two front shelves but there may be two front and two side shelves as shown above. The shelves each have optional feet  706  that cause the shelves to remain open when the open chess set is placed on a flat surface.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a side schematic view of the chess set illustrating the movement of a shelf from a closed position, through its rotation, to the open position with a game piece connected. The shelf rotates along hinge axis  802 . This hinge can be any appropriate hinge configuration that allows for free rotation. The game piece is magnetically attached in this embodiment at point  806 . Foot  808  operates as described above to hold the shelf stable when the board is placed on a flat surface.  
         [0021]     The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe the invention and some examples of its implementation. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible and would be envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above description and drawings.  
         [0022]     The various aspects were chosen and described in order to best explain principles of the invention and its practical applications. The preceding description is intended to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and aspects and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.