CHECKERS OR DRAUGHTS TYPE BOARD GAME

Abstract: A board game (Fig. 11) of the checkers or draught type in which the playing pieces (Fig. 1) move over the board with the objective of capturing opponents playing pieces. The captured pieces are not removed from the board, remaining the entire game. The playing pieces (Fig. 1) are stackable and have two indicia of observable thickness.

Description: - 1 - CHECKERS OR DRAUGHTS TYPEBOARD GAME Background of the Invention This invention relates to a game which has certain similarities to the game of checkers but which is different from checkers in its basic objectives and, to a critical degree, in the manner in which it is played. Moreover, the nature of the playing piece and the manner of play permit a wider variety of strategic alternatives during the playing of the game in which all playing pieces remain on a playing area as single pieces or as columns of pieces. In general, games of the "checkers" or "chess" type are characterized as "war" games. These games involve the movement of pieces across the surface of a board to overtake or capture pieces of other players. The captured pieces are typically removed from the board and, in most instances, do not return to the game. This type of game has been known for many years, but a recent example is illustrated by ϋ. S, 3,964,747, issued June 22, 1976, to Balmforth. It is also conventional to mark playing pieces so that one side is distinguishable from the other, for example, by some marking or insignia. Thus, it is possible for the piece to have different significances during the playing of the game as determined by which side is visible. This is characteristic of games of the checker type in which the playing pieces, typically by an impression of a crown, illustrate that the piece is a "king" when the impression is visible. This is also illustrated by the playing pieces disclosed by U. S. 2,773,868 to Elander, et al. The use of multicolored pieces which show different colors as a result of inversion during play is illustrated by the commercial game "Othello". In this game, however, the pieces remain in one location during play. Also characteristic of many games involving playing pieces, is the requirement that the pieces interlock or interact in such a way that they may be stacked in columns which are sufficiently stable to permit movement of the column over a surface. This is illustrated by most conventional checkers and by the type of poker chips described in U. S. 2,429,020. - 2 - Many variations of the conventional board games have been available throughout the years. Nevertheless, the present invention is based upon a combination of playing techniques and playing pieces which are unique and offers a game of substantial playing challenge. Summary of the Invention The present invention comprises a game for a plurality of players having a game environment including at least one planar playing area or playing surface. Each playing area is characterized by a plurality of rows of playing spaces distinguished so that no two adjacent playing spaces are alike. The playing pieces are used in sets of a number equal to the number of players and each player has- a different set of pieces. Each playing piece has two parallel, generally planar surfaces of sufficient area to stabilize the piece on a playing area and to permit the pieces to be stacked in columns of two or more pieces. Each piece is further characterized by indicia to distinquish the piece in a configuration where one of the parallel surfaces is directed toward a playing area from a configuration in which the other parallel surface is directed toward the playing area. Moreover, the indicia should be of sufficient thickness to permit the configurations to be distinguished when the playing piece is observed from the side as well as from the top. The game itself is characterized by movement of playing pieces in a diagonal direction across a playing area in unit moves comprising movement from one playing space to an adjacent unoccupied playing space or, in the event that an adjacent laying space is occupied b a playing piece of an opposing player but the second diag¬ onally adjacent space is unoccupied, into that second diagonally adjacent space. As will be described in greater detail below, the moving piece or column of pieces will capture the opposing piece or uppermost piece of a column of pieces, place it under the passing or jumping piece and move with it onto the second diagonally adjacent placing space. Thus, it is the object of the game for one player to capture the playing pieces of opposing players in a unique method characterized by retention on, rather than removal from, the playing area of captured playing pieces. - 3 - At the start of play, all pieces of each player are located in proximity to one edge of a playing area and typically with the same index upwardly directed. During play, the pieces move towards an opposite edge if permitted by available open playing spaces and by failure of an opponent to capture the piece. Upon reaching the opposite side of a playing area, the piece is inverted to upwardly expose the second index and thus distinguish the pieces from others which have not reached the opposite side. Pieces having the second index upwardly exposed are able to execute the same type of moves as were possible prior to inversion but in any diagonal direction towards an edge of a playing area. Detailed Description of the Invention The game of the invention is played in a game environment comprising at least one planar playing area or playing surface. Although in the preferred embodiment, the game is played on a single planar playing surface, e.g., a game board, in a broader modification the game is played on a plurality of parallel playing areas to provide for three-dimensional play. When more than one playing area is employed, best results are obtained if the playing areas are composed of a transparent material to facilitate an understanding of the rela¬ tive alignment of the playing spaces on one playing area with the spaces on adjacent playing area(s). Each playing area is divided into a number of rows of playing spaces of varying color, geometric shape, surface texture or other characteristic so that one playing space can be easily differentiated from those playing spaces adjacent thereto. Regardless of the shape of the playing spaces, it is preferred that the spaces be of substan¬ tially similar size so that they can be arranged in rows parallel to the edge of one playing area, perpendicular to that edge and diagonal to the edge. The playing spaces are of any convenient shape and are suitably circular or eliptical but are preferably polygonal of four or six or more sides, The sides of polygonal playing spaces are preferably of equal length so that the playing spaces are easily arranged uniformly in a pattern and play of the game from one space to another can easily be followed. In the modifications where a plurality of playing areas is employed, the game is most easily followed if the size, shape and arrangement of playing spaces is the same on each playing area. The number of rows and the number of spaces in each row are not critical and may in part be influenced by the shape of the indi¬ vidual spaces. It is also not critical that the number of spaces be the same in all rows although the playing area is most efficiently used if the rows have substantially similar number of spaces per row. Polygonal playing spaces of four sides are particularly prefer¬ red, and in this -modification it is useful to employ a playing area where the number of rows equals the number of playing spaces in a row. In the modification where the playing spaces are hexagonal, the number of playing spaces per row may be varied so that the overall playing surface is also hexagonal, although this is not critical. In general, however, it is not useful for the playing spaces to have too many sides as a large number of sides could result in a large number of directly adjacent playing spaces and make more difficult the differentiation of one space from the directly adjacent spaces. In the preferred modification where the playing spaces are square, the differentiation is most easily accomplished by alternating the color of playing spaces in each row and from row to row. When the playing area consists of eight rows of eight spaces of alternating color per row, the playing area resembles a common checkerboard and indeed the game of this invention can be played on the commonly available board employed for checkers or chess. Each player will control one set of playing pieces. The playing pieces employed in the present invention have parallel, generally planar surfaces of sufficient area to support the piece upon a playing area in a stable configuration. The pieces are of particular sizes and shapes or are in abstract shapes of even or uneven size. The only critical spatial requirements are that the pieces be of suitable size to fit within the playing spaces and that the parallel surface areas be sufficient to support the pieces on the playing area in a stable manner and enable one or more pieces - 5 - to be situated on top of another playing piece on a stable column of pieces. Better stability for the columns of pieces that will be formed during the game is obtained if the dimensions of the parallel surfaces of each playing piece, which dimensions are the same or are different, are relatively large compared to the distance between the parallel surface, i.e., the thickness. In a preferred modification, the playing pieces are of substantially uniform size and thickness and that the outside dimensions of the playing pieces be substantially equal to the dimensions of the parallel surfaces. The shape of the pieces in the plane parallel to the playing area may be triangular, square, hexagonal or have another number of sides or may be circular or oval or have some other shape which is generally similar to or is different from the shape of the playing spaces. In the most preferred modification, the shape of the piece is circular in the plane parallel the playing area and the piece itself is a cylinder. In this regard it resembles the common checker in overall shape but it is distinguished by possessing indicia of observable thickness. Such a piece is illustrated by Figure I. Figure IA represents a view of a piece of preferred configuration when viewed from an angle perpendicular to the playing surface. The dimensions provided in Figure IA are to be considered as illustrative only and are not to be construed as limiting. The indicia of observable thickness are displayed such that one index is displayed in an outwardly prominent manner when one of the parallel surfaces is directed toward a playing area and the other index is displayed in an outwardly prominent manner when the second parallel surface is directed toward that playing area. More¬ over, the thickness of the indicia enables the determination of the relationship of the two surfaces even when the pieces are stacked in a column of pieces. That is, the indicia can be identified by viewing a column of playing pieces from the side as well as from the top. The indicia may be present in any of a variety of forms. In one modification, the playing pieces are composed of two different materials of construction of differing physical appearance so that the piece will be observedly different when one or the other of the - 6 - parallel surfaces is directed toward a playing area. In a second modification, the texture of one parallel surface and a portion of the side of each piece is different from the other surface and a portion of the side so that the parallel surfaces can be distinguish¬ ed when each piece is viewed separately or when several pieces are located in a column of pieces. In one of the simplest and generally preferred embodiments, the two portions of the pieces are of differ¬ ing coloration, i,e,, one portion of each piece is of one color and at least a second portion of each piece is of a different color. In 10 this embodiment of one of the parallel surfaces and a portion of the adjacent sides of the piece extending between the parallel surfaces is of a color different from that of the second parallel surface and at least a portion of the adjacent sides extending between the parallel surfaces, The use of color as the distinguishing indicia 1-5 is illustrated by Figure IB which is a side view of the piece whose top view is illustrated by IA. In the preferred modification, the piece is separated into two distinct areas by providing a top portion of one color and a lower portion of a different color. The dimensions provided are to be considered as illustrative only and are not to 20 be construed as limiting. More than one type of indicia may be used to distinguish the pieces of one player from the pieces of another player or to distinguish some of the pieces of one player for other pieces of that player. Different typies of indicia may be used singly or in *" combination with other types. In preferred modifications, each piece of a particular player is similar to the other pieces of that player in the type of indicia employed and generally the pieces of each player are similar in the type of indicia used. During the playing of the game of this invention, columns 30 of pieces will be formed and reformed and moved from one playing space to others. Accordingly, it is preferred that each of the parallel surfaces of each playing piece be of a configuration to interact with the parallel surfaces of other playing pieces to provide stability against horizontal displacement when columns of 35 pieces are formed by placing one or more playing pieces upon a piece directly in contact with a playing area. In general, such a configuration is achieved by a variety of methods which serve to increase the forces of friction between pieces. In one modifi¬ cation, the surfaces of the parallel surfaces of each playing piece are coated with a rough or granular material to give the pieces a "sandpaper-like" appearance and feel. In another modifi¬ cation, the parallel surfaces are provided with projections which interact with depressions on the surfaces of other pieces when in direct contact. The projections may consist of cyclinder-like projections, e,g. pegs, which fit into holes of similar dimensions on th surface of other pieces. If the number of projections and depressions and the geometric relationship of the projections and depressions are properly chosen, the parallel surfaces of any one piece will "reversably interlock" or interact with the parallel surfaces of the other pieces of the player or of opposing players. In this and other modifications, the parallel surfaces may be some¬ what irregular, but are considered to be generally planar. The generally preferred configuration comprises a plurality of alternat¬ ing projections and depressions extending radially in at least one band around the parallel surface. The width, length and depth of the projections and depressions are such that the projections of a band on either of the parallel surfaces of any one piece will align with, the depressions of a band on either of the parallel surfaces of any other playing piece, Thus, radial displacement of the playing pieces is retarded and the individual pieces of a column of pieces are held in vertical alignment. This type of preferred configura¬ tion is illustrated by many conventional plastic checkers and poker chips. The game of the invention is played by the players alternately moving their playing pieces or, as will develop during the play of the game, columns of playing pieces, in at least one diagonal direc¬ tion from one edge of one playing area to a distant edge of the same or a different playing area in unit movements. Typically, one type of unit movement is made in a diagonal direction from one playing space to another. In instances where the diagonally adjacent playing space is unoccupied by a playing piece of an opposing player, the unit movement is merely from one playing space r • to another directly adjacent space. This unit movement is illustrat¬ ed by Figure II which illustrates a preferred embodiment of a playing area with pieces of two players arranged at the start of the game. The arrow indicates this type of unit movement from one playing space into an unoccupied, diagonally adjacent playing space. If,ho'w≥ver, the diagonally adjacent space is occupied by a playing piece of an opposing player but the next adjacent space in the same diagonal direction is unoccupied, the unit movement is to pass over or jump the opposing piece and move to the second diagonally adjacent playing space. In contrast with many conventional games, however, the piece being passed over or jumped is not removed from the playing area. In the instance where a single piece is passed over or jumped, such piece is placed under the passing or jumping piece on the second diagonally adjacent playing space. This passing over or jumping a single space is illustrated by Figure III in which Figure IIIA represents the position of opposing pieces before a jump and Figure IIIB represents the position of the pieces after the jump. It is apparent that after the jump the piece being jumped is located under the piece which is jumping. In the case where the passing or jumping piece or column of pieces moves over a column of two or more playing pieces, only the uppermost playing piece form¬ ing the top of the column is removed and placed under the passing or jumping piece. This passing over or jumping is illustrated by Figure IV in which Figure IVA represents the position of opposing pieces before a jump and Figure IVB represents the position of the pieces after the jump. It is apparent that the uppermost piece of the column of two pieces being jumped has been removed and placed under the column of three pieces making the jump thereby forming a new column of four playing pieces and leaving a single piece. Thus, a new column or single piece is formed from the residue of the column being jumped or passed over, which column or single piece may be the same but may be different in character from the column prior to being passed over or jumped. Because this passing over or jumping results in the placement of a playing piece of an opposing player under the playing piece or column of pieces of the / player making the pass or jump, it is • convenient to refer to this unit movement as a capture. In the event that, upon capture of a playing piece of an opponent, the capturing column of pieces is again located diagmonally adjacent to a playing piece or column of pieces of the same or another opposing player and the second diagonally adjacent playing space is unoccupied, the unit movement may continue over the second piece or column of pieces and again capture the single piece or uppermost piece of a column of pieces as the capturing column moves to the next unoccupied diagonally adjacent playing space. The unit movement may continue so long as the moving column of pieces may continue to capture playing pieces of other players. This type of unit movement bears a certain similarity to double, triple or multiple jumps in the game of checkers, except that single pieces or the uppermost pieces of columns of pieces are captured under the jumping piece or column of pieces rather than being removed from the playing area. It is apparent that during the play of the game columns of pieces are continuously formed and reformed. The columns may be predominatly of playing pieces of one player but they may also con- sist of a mixture of playing pieces of a number of players depending on the method of their formation. However, when playing pieces are arranged in a column, the character of the uppermost playing piece will control the movement of the entire column. Thus, capture of the uppermost playing piece of a column of pieces may change the character of the remaining playing piece or column of playing pieces and, in fact, may change the control of the remaining playing piece or column of pieces from the control of one player to the control of another player if the next uppermost playing piece is one under the control of a player not controlling the former uppermost piece. The players continue to alternately move playing pieces or columns of playing pieces toward a distant edge of a playing area. During the initial movement from one edge to another, the playing pieces are only permitted to move in a direction toward a distant edge and only when the playing piece may move diagonally into an unoccupied playing space or by capturing at least one opposing play¬ ing piece. Once any playing piece of any player has reached the - 10 - distant edge toward which the initial movement was directed, the piece is inverted to upwardly show the second index and thereby distinguish that piece from other pieces of the same player which have not yet reached the distant edge. This inversion is shown by Figure V which illustrates a column of pieces before and after movement into a playing space on the distant edge of a play¬ ing area. It is apparent that the uppermost piece of the column of three pieces has been inverted upon movement into such playing space. Pieces of any player exhibiting the second index of that player have greater mobility and are permitted to move diagonally in any direction by moving into unoccupied spaces or by capturing opposing pieces. In no case, however, may a playing piece or column of pieces move into a playing space that is occupied by a playing piece of the same or another player and in no case may a piece of an opposing player be captured if the next diagonally adjacent playing space is occupied by the playing piece of any player. In one modification of the game of the invention, a player having the opportunity to capture a playing piece of an opposing player with a playing piece of that player may accept the opportunity and capture the opposing playing piece but may also reject the opportunity as by moving the potentially capturing playing piece into an unoccupied playing space or by not moving the potentially captur-- ing playing piece at all. In a generally preferred modification, a player having an opportunity to capture a playing piece of an opposing player must do so. As will sometimes occur during the play of the game, a player about to make a unit movement may have the opportunity to capture different playing pieces of the same or different opposing players. In such an instance, the player may choose which capture will be made, and in many instances the choice will be dictated, when one choice involves a column of pieces, by the character of the piece that will be uncovered when the upper¬ most piece is captured. It is because of this that the character of the pieces should be determinable when the column is viewed from the side through the indicia of observable thickness. In --. - li ¬ the preferred modification, the unit movement must capture at least one opposing playing piece. The object of the game of the invention is simply for one player to capture the playing pieces of opposing players. However, it must be recognized that capture of the uppermost playing piece of a column of playing pieces may result in the formation of a new playing piece or column of playing pieces of a character possibly different from the column prior to its uppermost piece being removed. Thus, a playing piece of one player which is captured by a second player may be "set free" or "liberated" if the first player is able to capture the uppermost piece of the resulting column of playing pieces. It is the ability to constantly change the relative positions of strength of opposing players by change of the number and character of the pieces or columns of pieces under control of the players that in part distinguishes the game of the invention from other more conventional games such as chess and checkers where pieces, once captured, leave the playing area and most frequently do not return to the play of the game. The game ends when all single playing pieces and the uppermost playing piece of all columns of playing pieces are under control of the same player. Familiarity with the play of the game will dictate variations in strategy to be employed. It is, of course, desirable for each player to capture the playing pieces of other players without permitting recapture by other players. In general, it is desirable to move pieces or columns of pieces to distant edges whereby the second index becomes exposed and the piece or column of pieces gains additional mobility. It is desirable from a strategic standpoint to capture the more mobile pieces of opposing players when possible. It is also possible for a losing player to sacrifice pieces or columns of pieces to bring about a stalemate, in which the remaining pieces are unable to move, and cause the game to result in a tie. It is also useful, on occasion, to "handi¬ cap" a game between players of differing skill as by permitting the - 12 - inferior player to begin the game with one or more pieces exhibiting the second index and having the accompanying greater mobility. Other variations will become apparent as knowledge and understanding of the game becomes greater.

Claims: I CLAIM AS MY INVENTION; 1, A game for a plurality of players comprising (1) a game environment including at least one planar playing area characterized by a plurality of rows of playing spaces, no two of which adjacent spaces are alike, (2) a plurality of sets of playing pieces, each of which playing pieces having (a) parallel planar surfaces of sufficient area to support the piece upon a playing area in a stable configuration, and (b) at least two distinct indicia of observable thickness disposed upon the external surface of the piece to out- 0 wardly prominently display one index when one of the parallel surfaces is directed toward a playing area and a second index is outwardly prominately displayed when the second parallel surface is directed toward the playing area; said game being characterized by a series of unit movements of said playing pieces or columns of said playing 5 pieces from one playing space to another and by the presence of all playing pieces upon a playing area as single playing pieces or as columns of playing pieces at the conclusion of each unit movement throughout the play of the game, 2, The game of claim 1 wherein the game environment comprises 0 a single planar playing area. 3, The game of claim 2 wherein the playing spaces are polygonal of four or six sides of equal length. " 4. The game of claim 2 in which the playing spaces are of four sides and the playing area has a number of rows of said playing 5 spaces equal to the number of said playing spaces in a row. 5. The game of claim 2 wherein the playing pieces are of substantially uniform size and thickness and the dimensions of the parallel surfaces are relatively large compared to the thickness. 6. The game of claim 5 wherein the playing pieces are circular Q in the plane parallel the playing area, 7. The game of claim 6 wherein one of the parallel surfaces and a portion of the adjacent sides of each playing piece is of a color different from that of the second parallel surface and at least a portion of the adjacent sides extending between the parallel sur- 5 faces. 8. The game of claim 7 wherein the number of sets of playing pieces is two. 9. The game of claim 8 wherein the number of playing spaces in a row is eight. 10. The game of claim 9 wherein each set of playing pieces contains twelve pieces.

Inventors: KLEIN H
Applicants: KLEIN H
Application year: 1980
Main classification: A63F3
IPC codes: A63F3