Abstract:
A method, system, and apparatus of a foldable game board with an interior storage compartment are disclosed. A game system comprising a game-board element is disclosed. The game-board element comprises a first foldable surface with a first game-board pattern, a second foldable surface with a second game-board pattern, wherein the second foldable surface is affixed to the foldable first surface, and a storage cavity bounded by the first foldable surface and the foldable second surface. In addition, certain portions of the storage cavity may be used to store game pieces or game playing instructions. A wrap-around element may secure the game-board element in a folded position.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application No. 61/197,591, filed Oct. 28, 2008 under 35 USC 119(e). The provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to a gaming system, and, more particularly, to a system, an apparatus and a method of a foldable game board with an interior storage compartment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Generally, board games are played on a rigid board. A player may want to transport the rigid board. The rigid board may be too large to comfortably transport without folding. Designing the rigid board to fold in half may decrease the size of the rigid board. However, the rigid board may not be capable of multiple folds without stressing the rigid board&#39;s material. Additionally, placing a rigid board in a container for transport may be difficult. The rigid board does not conform to the shape and size of the carrying container. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A method, system, and apparatus of a foldable game board with an interior storage compartment are disclosed. In one aspect, a game system comprising a game-board element is disclosed. The game-board element comprises a first foldable surface with a first game-board pattern, a second foldable surface with a second game-board pattern, wherein the second foldable surface is affixed to the foldable first surface, and a storage cavity bounded by the first foldable surface and the foldable second surface. In addition, certain portions of the storage cavity may be used to store game pieces or game playing instructions. A wrap-around element may secure the game-board element in a folded position. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, a method of manufacturing a gaming system is disclosed. The method comprises providing a planar element generally rectangular and comprising at least two game-surface patterns. The method further comprises folding the planar element along an axis generally bisecting the planar element, wherein each outer surface of the folded planar element comprises a game-surface pattern. An operation of fastening two edges of the folded planar surface is included. In addition, the method comprises providing a storage compartment within a storage cavity of the folded planar element. 
         [0006]    In addition, the method may include providing a game piece capable of use with each game associated with the at least two game-surface patterns. The planar element may comprise a flexible material with space side edges and spaced end edges. The flexible material may comprise a woven fabric material. The two edges of the folded planar surface may be fastened with a seam. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect, a combination game and container system is disclosed. The system comprises a planar element generally rectangular in shape and at least two game-surface patterns. The planar element is folded along an axis generally bisecting the planar element. Each outer surface of the folded planar element comprises a game-surface pattern. In addition, a container compartment is located within a cavity of the folded planar element. A closure element fastens and unfastens an aperture of the container compartment. 
         [0008]    In addition, the system may include an elastic band operating to hold the planar element in a multiple-fold position. The planar element may comprise a non-rigid flexible material. 
         [0009]    The system, apparatus and method disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects, and may be executed in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view from an angle of inclination of a first side of a foldable game board in an opened position, according to one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view from a normal angle of a second side of the foldable game board in an opened position, according to one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a lateral perspective of a fixed coupling with a seam, according to one embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates another lateral perspective of an aperture and fastening device, according to one embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates several sequential views showing a series of steps to fold and secure the foldable game board, according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Disclosed are a several methods and a system of a foldable game board. Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various claims. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view from an angle of inclination of the first side of the foldable game board in an opened position, according to one embodiment. The foldable game board is generally designated with the number  10 . In this embodiment, the game board  10  comprises an assembly of two foldable substantially planar surfaces, a first planar surface  20  and a second planar surface  30  (see infra in description of  FIG. 2 ). The two planar surfaces  20 ,  30  coupled in a quadrilateral shape by a fixed coupling method (e.g. sewn seam, chemical adhesive, etc.). The two planar surfaces are also quadrilateral. The fixed coupling of the planar surfaces is performed along three of the four peripheral edges of the two planar surfaces such that a storage cavity is formed within the interior of the assembly of the two planar surfaces. The fixed coupling along the three edges is permanent. If the two planar surfaces are composed of a flexible fabric material, the fixed coupling may be a seam  40  sown along the three edges. In other example embodiments, the fixed coupling may be accomplished by a chemical compound that fixes the edges of the two planar surfaces together. 
         [0019]    In still yet another example embodiment, the two planar surfaces may comprise a unitary rectangular sheet folded substantially in half. Thus, one edge may then comprise a fold of the unitary rectangular sheet and the other two edges are fixed coupled by a seam. 
         [0020]    Portions of the fourth peripheral edge are not permanently coupled. Instead, a portion the fourth peripheral edge comprises a fastening device  50  (e.g. a hook-and-loop fastener, a Velcro™ device, a zipper, magnetic fastening device, etc.). The fastening device  50  is attached to the peripheral edges of the two planar surfaces  20 ,  30  along a portion of the fourth edge. The fastening device  50  may be unfastened to present an aperture to the storage cavity. Game pieces and game instructions may be placed within the storage cavity. The fastening device may also be fastened to close the aperture for storage purposes. The portion of the fourth edge not comprising the fastening device may be adhesively coupled in the same manner of the other edges. In another example embodiment, this portion may also include another fastening device and another storage compartment. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the storage cavity may be segmented by another fixed coupling  60  to create a region  70  comprising an interior compartment for storage (e.g. storing game piece or game instructions). In one embodiment, all or a portion of the fixed coupling  60  of the region may be substantially located along the axes of symmetry  80 ,  90  to guide a folding operation of the foldable game board  10 . 
         [0022]    The first planar surface  20  is marked with a game-board pattern  100 . Example methods of marking the surfaces include adhering patterned pieces with a fixed coupling process (e.g. gluing, stitching, heat sealing), weaving various threaded materials into the first planar surface  20  and printing techniques (or any combination thereof). In one embodiment, the game-board pattern  100  may be marked on the fabric of the first planar surface  20  with a silk-screening process. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the game-board pattern  100  may be a backgammon pattern. The backgammon pattern may include circle elements  110 . The circle elements  110  may assist a player with placement of game pieces at the start of a backgammon game. 
         [0024]    The band  120  may be configured as a loop with both terminal ends attached to one edge of the foldable game board assembly. The band  120  may be comprised from an elastic material. For example, the band  120  may be sewn into the seam. The band  120  secures the game board  10  in a folded position. In other example embodiments, the band  120  may be replaced by a pair of ties sewn into the seam. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view from a normal angle of the second side of the game board  10  in an opened position, according to one embodiment. From this perspective, the second planar surface  30  is visible. The second planar surface  30  is marked with a game-board pattern  130 . Example methods of marking the surfaces include adhering patterned pieces with a fixed coupling process (e.g. gluing, stitching, heat sealing), weaving various threaded materials into the first planar surface  30  and printing techniques (or any combination thereof). In one embodiment, the game-board pattern  130  may be marked on the fabric of the second planar surface  30  with a silk-screening process. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the game-board pattern  130  may be a chessboard pattern upon which both chess and checkers may be played. The game pieces may be two-sided. There may be two colors of game pieces. One side may comprise a schematic image of a chess piece such that a complete chess set is represented. The other side of the game piece may be undecorated and capable of use for checkers or backgammon. The game piece may be sized such that the entire set of game pieces is conveniently stored in the storage compartment and the game board  10  remains foldable. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a lateral perspective of a fixed coupling of the two planar surfaces  20 ,  30  with a seam, according to one embodiment. The seam  40  may include a hem structure to protect the edge of the planar surfaces  20 ,  30 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates another lateral perspective presenting the fastening device  50 , according to one embodiment. The fastening device  50  secures access to the storage compartment. The storage compartment is located between the two planar surfaces  20 ,  30 . In one embodiment, the fastening device comprises substantially half of the side of the foldable game board  10 . When the fastening device is open, an aperture to the storage department is presented. Game pieces and/or game instructions may be placed within the storage compartment. In other embodiments, a second fastening device may be located along the other half of the side of the foldable game board  10 . The fastening device  50  may be any device capable of temporarily joining two edges of the two planar surfaces  20 ,  30 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates several sequential views showing a series of steps to fold and secure the game board  10 , according to one embodiment.  FIG. 5  initially shows the game board  10  in an open position ready for play. In step A, the game board  10  may be folded in half along an axis  80 . In steps B-D the game board  10  may then be sequentially folded in thirds. In step E, the band  120  secures the folded game board  10  in the multiple fold position. It is important to note that an extra folding step in order to incorporate the storage compartment into the folding game board is not necessary as the storage compartment is located within the region  70 . 
         [0030]    In other example embodiments, the game board  10  may be in the shape of a non-quadrilateral polygon (e.g. a circle). For example, if the game board  10  may have a circular shape. The circular game board  10  may comprise a single-peripheral edge. A portion of the single-peripheral edge may include the fastening device  50 . The circular game board  10  may be folded and fastened by the band  120 . 
         [0031]    Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. For example, the various elements, devices etc., described herein may be enabled and operated using a variety of materials and affixation techniques. 
         [0032]    In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations, processes, and methods disclosed herein may be performed in any order. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.