Abstract:
A game board is disclosed for playing tic-tac-toe. The game board comprises a substantially concave playing surface, having a plurality of depressions at a lower region thereof. In use, the game playing members are launched onto the playing surface and spiral down the concave surface before locating within one of the depressions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a game board and particularly, but not exclusively, to a game board for playing tic-tac-toe. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Tic-tac-toe, also known as noughts-and-crosses and hugs-and-kisses, is a game traditionally played on paper between two players, wherein one player aims to place three X&#39;s in a straight line on a 3×3 grid while the other player attempts to place three O&#39;s in a straight line on the same grid. 
     Variations to the game comprise the use of a game board wherein the board comprises a pre-printed 3×3 grid onto which the players place white and black chequers, for example, as apposed to writing O&#39;s and X&#39;s. Alternatively, the board may comprise a series of depressions arranged in a 3×3 grid format for holding black and white marbles, for example. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,699 discloses a game board for playing poker or bingo and even tic-tac-toe. The board comprises a substantially planar surface with a series of 25 depressions formed therein, arranged to a substantially square 5×5 grid. The board further comprises an impact transfer device for launching marbles, or similar, onto of the board. The board comprises a peripherally extending trough for capturing the marbles if they pass over the edge of the playing surface. However, it has been found that the trough only captures slowly moving marbles; quickly moving marbles are found to simply pass over the trough and are thus easily lost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     I have now devised a game board for playing tic-tac-toe which alleviates the above-mentioned problem. 
     In accordance with the present invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a game board for playing tic-tac-toe, the game board comprising a substantially concave playing surface, the playing surface comprising a plurality of depressions at a lower region thereof for locating at least one game playing member. 
     Preferably, the plurality of depressions are arranged to a substantially square grid comprising rows and columns. The playing surface preferably comprises nine depressions arranged in three rows and three columns. 
     Preferably, the game board further comprises holding means arranged substantially around the periphery of the playing surface for holding the at least one game playing member. Alternatively, the holding means may be positioned substantially underneath the playing surface. 
     The game board preferably further comprises a base section which may be mounted to the underside of the playing surface via extendable means, such that the playing surface can be raised or lowered with respect to the base section. The playing surface preferably further comprises side walls which extend substantially downwardly from the periphery of the playing surface, such that when the game board is not in use, the members may be placed on the base section and the playing surface can be lowered until the side walls abut the base section to house the members therein. 
     The playing surface preferably further comprises at least two further depressions arranged substantially opposite each other, near to the periphery of the playing surface. 
     Preferably, the game board further comprises means for launching the at least one game playing member around the playing surface. The launching means preferably launches the at least one game playing member along a substantially circular trajectory such that the at least one game playing member spirals around the playing surface before passing onto the depressions arranged at the lower region of the playing surface. 
     Preferably, the launching means is movably mounted along the periphery of the upper edge of the playing surface so that it can be repositioned substantially opposite a player. 
     The game board preferably further comprises at least one deflector for deflecting the at least one game playing member from a substantially circular trajectory onto the plurality of depressions arranged at the lower region of the playing surface. Preferably, the at least one deflector is slidably mounted to the periphery of the playing surface and can rotate between a first position in which the deflector extends onto the playing surface and a second position in which the deflector does not extend onto the playing surface. 
     Preferably, the at least one game playing member comprises a substantially spherical member, such as a marble. 
     Preferably, the playing surface is covered with a material such as velvet. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the game board in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the depressions arranged at the lower regions of the playing surface illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a magnified view of the deflector illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a magnified view of an alternative embodiment of the deflector illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the game board in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the game board in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the game board in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the game board in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention with a cover in place. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and initially  FIGS. 1 to 3 , there is shown a game board  10  for playing tic-tac-toe, in accordance with the present invention. The board comprises a substantially circular, concave playing surface  11 , which may be covered with a velvet material, for example, and which is mounted to a base section  12 . The playing surface comprises nine substantially concave depressions  13  formed at the lower region of the playing surface  11  for locating the playing pieces, which comprise marbles  14  or similar that are rolled or launched onto the surface. The depressions  13  are arranged to a substantially square grid comprising three rows and three columns as shown in  FIG. 2 , as is typical for playing the game of tic-tac-toe. 
     The game board  10  is preferably further provided with a deflector  15  which is slidably mounted to the periphery  16  of the playing surface  11 , such that it can move around the playing surface  11  to reside substantially opposite a player. The deflector  15  is formed as part of a rim  17  which extends around the periphery  16  of the playing surface  11 . The deflector  15  is substantially L-shaped and comprises a first arm  15   a  and a second arm  15   b , arranged substantially perpendicularly to each other. 
     At the intersection of the two arms  15   a ,  15   b  as shown in  FIG. 3   a  there is provided a pivot  18  so that the deflector  15  can rotate between a first and second position. In the first position, the first arm  15   a  of the deflector  15  extends onto the playing surface  11  while the second arm  15   b  extends substantially upwardly away from the surface. To move the deflector  15  from the first position to the second position, the second arm  15   b  is pivoted away from the playing surface  11  so as to lift the first arm  15   a  off the playing surface  11 . When the second arm  15   b  has been fully rotated, the underside of the first arm  15   a  provides a surface which extends substantially flush with the inner surface of the rim  17 . In an alternative configuration as shown in  FIG. 3   b , the deflector  15  may be arranged to rotate about the first arm  15   a  so as to rotate the first arm  15   a  in and out of the playing area  11 . 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 4  the board  10  further comprises a channel  19  that extends substantially around the periphery  16  of the playing surface  11 , and which is used for holding the playing pieces  14  when not in use. The channel  19  may be compartmentalised to differentiate between player playing pieces  14   a ,  14   b , between scoring and non-scoring pieces, or between “live” and “dead” playing pieces etc. 
     In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 5  the board comprises a series of pockets  20  for holding the playing pieces, arranged around the periphery of the playing surface  11 . 
     In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 6  the separation of the playing surface  11  from the base may be extended or retracted so as to enable the playing surface  11  to be raised or lowered with respect to the base  12 . In addition, the playing surface  11  further comprises side walls  21  which extend downwardly from the periphery  16  of the playing surface  11 , such that when the playing surface  11  has been fully retracted onto the base  12 , the side walls  21  abut the base  12  substantially along the periphery thereof, to create a storage compartment for the playing pieces  14  situated between the underside of the playing surface  11  and the upper surface of the base  12 . 
     It is further preferred that the board  10  comprises a cover  22 , substantially in the form of an intersecting O and X, as shown in  FIG. 7 , for covering the board  10  to help prevent any dust and dirt from settling onto the playing surface. The playing surface of each embodiment preferably further comprises a pair of substantially concave depressions (not shown) arranged substantially opposite each other at a position near the periphery of the playing surface. 
     In use, a player places a marble  14  or similar within one of the depressions (not shown) arranged near the periphery  16  of the playing surface  11  and “flicks” the marble  14  in a direction which causes the marble  14  to move around the playing surface  11 . Alternatively, a player may simply roll a marble  14  onto the playing surface  11 . As the rules of the game so permit, the deflector  15  may be rotated onto the playing surface  11  so as to deflect the marble  14  onto the depressions  13  arranged at the lower region of the playing surface  11  in an attempt to locate the marble  14  within a particular depression. Alternatively, the marble  14  may be allowed to simply spiral downwardly toward the depressions  13  and come to rest in a vacant depression  13 . 
     In yet a further embodiment the game board  10  may comprise launching means (not shown) for example, a spring biased arm. The arm (not shown) may be pivoted against the bias of the spring and then released to impact the marble  14  or similar and thus launch the marble  14  onto the playing surface  11  and in a direction which causes the marble  14  to spiral downwardly onto the depressions  13  arranged at the lower region of the playing surface  11 . In this manner, the concave form of the playing surface  11  causes the marble  14  to collect at the depressions  13  at the lower region of the playing surface  11  and thus prevents the marbles  14  from rolling off the playing surface  11 . 
     From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that game board of the present invention provides for a more compact and convenient way of playing tic-tac-toe.