Patent Publication Number: US-2009230622-A1

Title: Lamp chess module

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 097108970, filed Mar. 14, 2008. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a chess module, especially to a lamp chess module that has a lamp chess piece embedded with a light unit which can be lit up when the chess piece is placed in position on a chess board. 
     BACKGROUND 
     None of the traditional chess piece, Chinese chess piece, grandmaster, Chinese checker . . . etc., is able to shine when it is placed in position. A light up chess piece shall create more fun to enhance amusement. Sound effect can be further added to enhance audio fun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention discloses a lamp chess piece embedded with a light emitting device to be lit up when the chess piece is placed in position on a chess board; and the light emitting device shall be turned off when the chess piece leaves the seat. The light emitting feature provides visual effects to create visual fun to the chess player during playing. Sound effect can be further added to the system to create audio fun. A first object of this invention is to create a light up chess module to enhance visual effect during chess playing. A second object of this invention is to create a sound effect chess module to enhance audio effect during chess playing. A third object of this invention is to create a chess module which can be played even under insufficient light. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a lamp chess piece of this invention 
         FIG. 1B  shows a section view of  FIG. 1A   
         FIG. 2A  shows a chess board used in the first embodiment 
         FIG. 2B  shows a section view of  FIG. 2A   
         FIG. 3  shows a lamp chess piece anchors in position for a first embodiment 
         FIG. 4  shows a lamp chess piece anchors in position for a second embodiment 
         FIG. 5  shows a lamp chess piece anchors in position for a third embodiment 
         FIG. 6A  a chess piece model for the present invention 
         FIG. 6B  additional chess piece models for the present invention 
         FIG. 7  shows a circuit board as the chess board. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1A  Shows a Lamp Chess Piece of this Invention 
       FIG. 1A  shows a transparent chess body  12  embedded with a LED  10 , wherein a central lead  14  and a peripheral lead  16  are formed under the chess body  12 . The LED  10  has two electrodes (not shown in the figure) electrically coupling to the central lead  14  and the peripheral lead  16  respectively. The LED  10  shall light up when the electrodes are energized. 
       FIG. 1B  Shows a Section View of  FIG. 1A   
       FIG. 1B  shows a central lead  14  is made in the bottom center of the chess body  12 . A peripheral lead  16  is made in the bottom peripheral of the chess body  12  encircling the central lead  14  to form coaxial leads. 
       FIG. 2A  Shows a Chess Board Used in the First Embodiment 
     A chess board comprises a top electrode plate  21  and a bottom electrode plate  22 . The top electrode plate  21  has a plurality of through holes  23  each for anchoring one central lead  14  of the chess body  12 . Insulation material  24  is formed around the wall of the through hole  23 . The chess board is electrically coupling to a power (not shown) to energize the LED  10  through coupling to its two leads when the LED  10  is placed in position. 
       FIG. 2B  Shows a Section View of  FIG. 2A   
     The top electrode plate  21  couples to a first electrode of a power (not shown in the figure) and the bottom electrode plate  22  couples to a second electrode of the power. The bottom electrode plate  22  exposes in the bottom of the through hole  23  so that when the chess body  12  is placed in position, the central lead  14  touches the bottom electrode plate  22  through the hole  23 ; and the peripheral lead  14  touches the top electrode plate  21 . 
       FIG. 3  Shows a Lamp Chess Piece Anchors in Position for a First Embodiment 
       FIG. 3  shows a section view of a lamp chess piece  12  is placed in position, the central lead  14  touches the bottom electrode plate  22  in the hole; and the peripheral lead  16  touches the top electrode plate  21 . When the chess body  12  is placed in position, the central lead  14  is electrically insulated from the top electrode plate  21  by the insulation material  24 . In the mean while, the peripheral lead  16  touches the top electrode plate  21 . At this moment, the LED  10  embedded in the chess body  12  is lit up when the top electrode plate  21  and bottom electrode plated  22  are energized. The LED  10  shall be turned off when the chess body  12  leaves the seat. 
       FIG. 4  Shows a Lamp Chess Piece Anchors in Position for a Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 4  shows the bottom surface of the central lead  14  is made coplanar with that of the peripheral lead  16 . The top electrode plate  21  and the bottom electrode plate  22  are made correspondingly coplanar in the contact areas.  FIG. 4  shows a bump is made in the center of the through hole  23  from the bottom electrode plate  22 , so that the central lead  14  shall be able to touch the bottom electrode plate  22  and the peripheral lead  16  shall be able to touch the top electrode plate  21  when the chess body  12  is placed in position on the chess board. 
       FIG. 5  Shows a Lamp Chess Piece Anchors in Position for a Third Embodiment 
       FIG. 5  shows the bottom surface of the central lead  14  is made shorter than the peripheral lead  16 . A corresponding bump is made in the center of the through hole  23  in the bottom electrode plate  22 , so that the central lead  14  shall be able to touch the bottom electrode plate  22  and the peripheral lead  16  shall be able to touch the top electrode plate  21  when the lamp chess piece is placed in position on the chess board. 
       FIG. 6A  a Chess Piece Model for the Present Invention 
       FIG. 6A  shows the chess body  12  is made a model similar to a traditional Chinese chess piece  61 . 
       FIG. 6B  Additional Chess Piece Models for the Present Invention 
       FIG. 6B  shows the chess body  12  can be made a model of a tree body  62 , the LED embedded in the tree body  62  shall be lit up when the tree body  62  is placed in position. Additional models can be made one selected from a group consisted of: Chinese chess piece, grandmaster, Chinese checker, doll, figure, natural scenery, flower, tree, article, animal and plant. 
       FIG. 7  Shows a Circuit Board as the Chess Board. 
     The top electrode plate  21  and the bottom electrode plate  22  can be metal plates. Alternatively, a circuit board can be used either.  FIG. 7  shows a top circuit board  71  having conductive metals  711  and a bottom circuit board  72  having conductive metals  721  can be used to replace the two metal plates as the chess board. 
     Further, either one or two of the leads of the chess body  12  can be made magnetic to attract itself to the chess board to enhance the stability when the chess piece is placed in position. Either one or two of the electrode plates  21 ,  22  can be made magnetic to further enhance the attractive force between the chess body  12  and the chess board. 
     The lamp chess module can be placed and operated vertically to become a teaching board of chess playing, light emitting bulletin, or a light emitting decoration board . . . etc. 
     Sound device can be added to the electric system to enhance audio fun during chess playing. 
     While the preferred several embodiments have been described by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications are all within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.