Patent Publication Number: US-6991232-B1

Title: Portable board multi-game set

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the portable games, and more specifically to a portable (pocket-size) chess/checkers/backgammon set (apparatus). 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Chess, checker and backgammon are the games played using two sets of pieces on the boards. Chess and checker use a square form board with 64 spaces (smaller squares) of alternating colors, typically light and dark (mostly white and black). The backgammon game also uses the square form board and the game field usually with the dark color pattern (e.g. black) and, for example, white and red triangular form sections for pieces also known as stones (some players call them as draughts too). Typically, chess game include two sets of chessmen (also known as pawns and pieces), and the checker game (also known as draughtmen) and backgammon game use two sets of pieces (draughts). One set of the mentioned two sets has a light color and the another set has a dark color (usually white and black, but any other combination of colors may be used as well). The chessmen (pawns and pieces) and draughts will be conditionally referred to as pieces in this application hereinafter. The mentioned above two sets will be referred to as a set of pieces, and the set of pieces includes white piece set and black piece set. The white set of pieces includes only white pieces, and black set of pieces includes only black pieces. Also, hereinafter in this application a multi-game set will be considered to include the set of pieces and a game board. 
   Some chess/checker players record the moves made during a chess/checker game (match). Therefore, the chess/checker game board has the file and rank identification for each square. The files and ranks are mostly labeled in the different manner. White player always start the game (moves first). 
   A board may have the files and ranks marked (labeled) on only two contiguous sides, but mostly the board has the files and ranks marked (labeled) on all four sides. As disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,742, the black piece player reads the letters upside-down. If the numbers are not sideways, the problem of the player with the black pieces is compounded. One of the difficulties with this is that the board must be turned around before the next game with its customary color reversal. 
   The chessboard by U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,212 disclosing a sectional chessboard which includes a number of sections corresponding to blocks of a chessboard wherein each section of the chessboard has protrusions and grooves around all sides thereof to be respectively engaged with grooves and protrusions of other sections so that all adjoining sides of each section is jointed together for playing chess as a complete chessboard. 
   Such chess game set can not be conveniently used as a portable pocket-size game for car, bus, train or airplane tourists. Also, the mentioned set does not prevent the possible occasional disposition pieces on the board during a non-accurate or negligent player&#39;s manner to position piece near or even upon the borders of a square on the board, and/or at the moment of the unexpected tour-bus maneuver during the game. 
   Another U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,652 describes portable lawn playing checker apparatus including a board having a first and a second face; with a plurality of rectangles inscribed upon the first face and a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment attached to the second face of the rectangular base board on opposite ends of the base board for storing a plurality of movable rings, which are used as checkers. The board comprises the first and second holding compartments. The first holding means and a second holding means are attached to the first face of the board on opposite ends of the board. The first and second holding means are used for holding the movable rings (pieces) when playing the game to be played on the mentioned checker apparatus. The checker apparatus also comprises the special means for moving the movable rings from square to square. An example of the means for moving the movable rings is a device having a reaching member and a hook on one end of the reaching member. 
   This apparatus does not provide and suggests the multi-game possibility (for example, possibility also to play chess and/or backgammon), requires to use an additional special instrument such as piece mover, and also does not prevent the possible occasional disposition pieces on the board during a non-accurate or negligent player&#39;s manner to position piece near or even upon the borders of a square on the board. 
   As was mentioned above, the another inconvenience inherent when some players have a non-accurate or negligent manner to position piece near or even upon the borders of a square occasionally disposition opponent&#39;s piece on the board (one player knows where the piece is /should be or was/, but the another player /opponent/ can get thrown off by its off-center placement). 
   It is known, that the opponent sometimes has to say, “J&#39;adoube” (adjust) before he or she may touch your ill-placed piece and then place it in the center of the square. Doing so, however, deprives the opponent of time allocated him or her by previous agreement. Another tactic some players use is floating a piece to a position just above a square but not contacting the square. This is called hovering. The general rule is touch a piece, move that piece, touch a square, leave it there. Players like to hover because it allows them to see ahead an additional move. Sometimes a player will hover interminably over a square which represents the worst move possible. This can cause the opponent to anticipate one course of action. Then the player will move with lightning speed and occupy a square which represents the best move possible. This is a technique that causes disappointment, consternation, confusion and palpitations in that order. 
   The inconvenience of a sudden displacement (roaming, sliding, etc.) of the pieces on the board, for example, at the moment of the unexpected tour-bus maneuver during the game, may cause the arguments about the positions before the displacement and sometimes search for missing (e.g. fell down) pieces. 
   To avoid these deficiencies, the magnetic effect for the board and pieces is used in some known portable sets. 
   The U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,490,675; 5,413,352; 5,244,212; 5,197,742 and 4,371,168 use the magnetic attraction between board and pieces. For example, the chess game devices by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,490,675 and 5,413,352 include a steel sheet attached to the board, and the pieces have a magnets installed in the bottom part of the pieces. 
   Such devices do not provide and suggests the multi-game possibility (for example, possibility also to play checker and/or backgammon games), and also does not prevent the possible occasional disposition pieces on the board, for example, at the moment of the unexpected tour-bus maneuver during the game, that may cause the player&#39;s arguments about the positions before the displacement and sometimes search for missing pieces. Additionally, such set games often suffer from inadequate magnetic attraction/repulsion between adjacent pieces. 
   The chess game sets by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,212; 5,197,742 provide each square of the board and each piece with the magnet appropriately installed in the each board&#39;s square and in the bottom of each piece. 
   These game sets do not provide and suggests the multi-game possibility (for example, possibility to play checker and/or backgammon games), and also does not prevent the possible occasional disposition pieces on the board, for example, at the moment of the unexpected tour-bus maneuver during the game, that may cause the player&#39;s arguments about the positions before the displacement and sometimes search for the fell down pieces. Also, such set games often suffer from inadequate magnetic attraction/repulsion between adjacent pieces. 
   Another U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,168 describes the pocket-size chess set, which comprises two slidable para-magnetic checkerboard halves and the flat pieces provided with a magnetic element on the back and bottom surfaces of each piece. Thus, each piece (chessman) may be placed either horizontally for storage or vertically for play on the checkerboard. Each square has a recessed circular portion located at the center of the square, and their margins are also recessed for the placing a piece thereon. Each piece is relatively thin and is provided with a magnetic element having a back surface and a narrow bottom surface projecting slightly below its lower end. In both positions (vertical and horizontal), the magnetic element is in contact with the recessed portion, so that each piece is properly centered on its square. When a piece is laid horizontally on a square, it lies flat because the back surface of its magnetic element extends into the recess. 
   This chess game set does not provide and suggests the multi-game possibility (for example, possibility to play checker and/or backgammon games), and the recesses on the board create some difficulties to use regular pieces of another set with such board having recesses (for example, the pieces of the another set without extended magnetic portion at the bottom of the pieces and having incompatible diameter of the piece&#39;s bottom portion with the diameter of the recesses /e.g. slightly bigger than the diameter of the recess/). 
   While this device fulfill it respective, particular objectives and requirements, the mentioned above patents do not disclose, teach and/or suggest the portable (pocket-size) multi-game set preventing occasional/accidental piece disposition on the board (for example, at the moment of the unexpected tour-bus maneuver during the game, that may cause the player&#39;s arguments about the positions before the displacement and sometimes search for missing /e.g. fell down pieces/) and inadequate magnetic attraction/repulsion between adjacent pieces on the board. 
   Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and advantages of the improved portable (pocket-size) multi-game set may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. 
   Thus, the known prior art do not provide the comfortable and convenient portable (pocket-size) multi-game set (apparatus) and in theses respects, an improved portable (pocket-size) multi-game set according to the present invention substantially departs from the devices of the prior art. 
   OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide an improved portable board game set. 
   It is another object of the invention to increase convenience of the improved portable pocket-size board game. 
   It is further object of the invention to provide the multi-game portable (pocket-size) set. 
   It is still another object of the invention to increase convenience and comfortability of the improved portable board game set, providing the prevention of the possible occasional disposition pieces on the board during a non-accurate or negligent player&#39;s manner to position piece near or even upon the borders of a square on the board. 
   It is still further object of the invention to prevent the possible occasional disposition pieces on the board at the moment of the unexpected movements, for example, such as a tour-bus maneuver during the game. 
   It is also further object of the invention to prevent the possible inadequate magnetic attraction/repulsion between adjacent pieces on the game board. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In order that the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, of which: 
       FIGS. 1   a – 1   c  are the simplified representations of the unfolded (ready to play) game board of the improved portable (pocket-size) multi-game apparatus for chess/checker games. 
       FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  are the simplified representations of the unfolded game board of the improved portable (pocket-size) multi-game apparatus for backgammon. 
       FIGS. 3   a – 3   f  are the simplified cross-sectional view of the pieces of the improved portable (pocket-size) multi-game apparatus. 
       FIGS. 4   a – 4   c  are the simplified representations of the front and side views of the folded (closed) game board. 
       FIGS. 5   a – 5   d  are the simplified representations of the game board with the apertures for pieces central positioning on the squares of the board. 
       FIGS. 6   a – 6   e  are the simplified representations of the game board with the storage (drawers) for pieces. 
       FIGS. 7   a – 7   f  are the simplified representations of the front and side views of the unfolded (ready for game) game board with the drawers for pieces storage. 
       FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b  are the simplified representations of the board wall configuration. 
   

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known prior art, the present invention provides a new convenient portable (pocket-size) multi-game apparatus. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described hereinafter in greater details, is to provide a new portable (pocket-size) multi-game set, which has many of the advantages of the portable game apparatus mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in the pocket-size multi game with secure pieces possible misplacement on the board, which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested or even implied by any of prior art portable board game devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   To attain this, the present invention generally comprises the portable (pocket-size) multi-game apparatus (set) for playing chess, checker or backgammon games. An improved portable (pocket-size) multi-game set includes a game board comprising two half-boards coupled to each other by a folding means, the chess/checker and backgammon field layers, and the chess and checker/backgammon pieces each including the piece opening, inclosure and director, which is insertable into the apertures located in the game board and providing the central positioning of the pieces on the appropriate square of the chess/checker game field, thereby preventing misplacement of the piece. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1   a – 8   b  thereof, a new portable (pocket-size) multi-game apparatus (set) for playing chess, checker and/or backgammon games embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1   a , an improved pocket-size multi-game apparatus comprises a game board  1 , including a chess/checker game field  2  located on the outer side  42  (see  FIG. 1   c ) of the game board  1  and a backgammon game field  3  (shown in  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ) located on the opposite side (inner side  43 ) of the game board  1  as shown in  FIG. 1   c . The chess/checker field  2  comprises the squares  4  for the chess pieces  5  or checker pieces  6  (also used for backgammon game) shown in  FIGS. 3   a – 3   d . The chess/checker field  2  of the board  1  includes the file and rank identifications (horizontal and vertical respectively) for each square  4  of the chess/checker game field  2 . For the white piece player the left vertical side of the board (file identification) has the first numerical symbol field  7  with numbers “1” through “8” from the bottom of the board to it&#39;s top and the horizontal side of the board (rank identification) has the first alphabetical symbol field  8  with letters “A” through “H” from the left of the board to the right (so, the player playing the white pieces has square Al at his or her lower left-hand corner of the board). Appropriately for the black piece player convenience the left vertical side of the board has the second numerical symbol field  9  with numbers “8” through “1” from the bottom of the board to it&#39;s top and the horizontal side of the board has the second alphabetical symbol field  10  with letters “H” through “A” from the left of the board to the right (so, the player playing the black pieces has square “H8” at his or her lower left-hand corner of the board). The backgammon field  3  mostly have triangular areas for pieces  6 . 
   The game board  1  is a foldable board forming a box in the closed (initial) position. The game board  1  comprises two halves: a first half-board  11  and a second half-board  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1   a – 2   b ,  4   a – 7   f.  The halves  11  and  12  coupled to each other, for example, by folding means  46  (in  FIGS. 1   a ,  2   a ,  4   a  are conditionally shown the folding means  46  consisting of three hinging means: a first hinging means  13 , a second hinging means  14  and a third hinging means  15 , in  FIG. 2   b  are conditionally shown two hinging means: a first hinging means  13 , and a third hinging means  15 , but any types and configuration of folding/hinging means, for instance, singular long hinge /not shown/, two side-hinges /not shown/ and the others can be used (the reliable solid /molded/ foldable material can be used as the hinging means too, etc.). The hinging means provides folding of the rectangular game board in half and can be installed in such manner that there are, for example, no gap between two halves of the unfolded (open and ready to play) board, as it is shown in  FIGS. 1   b ,  7   d , or the small (narrow) gap between two halves of the unfolded board can be in presence, as it is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1   a ,  7   c . Also, the foldable material (e.g. such as a reliable foldable plastic, etc) can be used too instead of the hinges. 
   The game board  1  also can include the chess/checker field layer  16 , the backgammon field layer  17  and the main layer  18  (see  FIGS. 4   c ,  5   c ). The magnetic effect (magnetic attraction) for the board and pieces is used in this improved pocket-size multi-game apparatus (set). The main layer  18  can be of magnetic material (e.g. such as paramagnetic material) or of non-magnetic metallic material. If the field layer  16  or  17  or both of them are of magnetic material, the game board  1  might not need (might not include) the main layer  18  (see  FIGS. 4   c ,  5   c ). The layers  16  and  18  are of two appropriate halves. The layer  16  can be located on the appropriate halves of the main layer  18 , which are attached to the outer side  42  of the first half-board  11  and second half-board  12  respectively, if the main layer  18  is used. The backgammon field layer  17  is also of two appropriate halves located on the inner side  43  of the first half-board  11  and second half-board  12  respectively. If the main layer  18  is attached to the inner side  43  of the game board  1  (not shown), then the backgammon field layer  17  is attached to the main layer  18 , and the layer  16  is attached to the outer side  42  of the first half-board  11  and second half-board  12  respectively. All layers are fixedly attached to the game board  1 . If the main layer  18  includes the pre-printed chess/checker game field or the backgammon game field, the appropriate layer (chess/checker layer  16  or backgammon layer  17 ) is not needed, as illustrated, for example in  FIGS. 1   c ,  5   b  (the pre-print of the chess/checker game field is not shown). The inner sides  44  and  45  respectively of the field layers  16  and/or  17  can be self-adhesive. The side of the main layer  18 , which is intended to be attached to the game board  1 , can be self-adhesive too. The layers  18  and  16  can be installed in the not deep recess provided in the outer side  42  of the half-boards  11  and  12 , thereby creating the game field margin and peripheral rim, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1   c ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  5   a – 5   c.    
   Referring to  FIGS. 1   c ,  4   a – 6   b ,  6   e ,  7   b – 7   d  the closed (unfolded) game board  1 , having the configuration of the box, provides an inside piece storage compartment  19  where the pieces  5 ,  6  can be stored. For example, the pieces  5 ,  6  can be placed in the bag(s)/not shown/ and stored in the storage compartment  19 . The game board  1  can comprise the drawer(s) for storage of the pieces  5  and  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 6   a – 7   f  Referring to  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b , the game board  1  comprises one drawer in each half of the board  1 , for instance, the first drawer  20  with white pieces is for white piece player and another second drawer  21  with black pieces is for black piece player. In  FIG. 6   c  is shown the example of the drawer (e.g. drawers  20 ,  21 ) without compartment wall  22 , but the drawer(s) can include, for example, the compartment wall  22  (see  FIG. 6   d ) to separate the drawer for two compartments: a first compartment  26  for the chess pieces  5  and a second compartment  27  for the checker/backgammon pieces  6 . The first opening  23 , second opening  24  and sliding means  25  are provided. The first  23  and second  24  openings are located in the appropriate halves  11 ,  12  of the game board  1 . The game board  1  can comprise, for example, two drawers (see  FIGS. 6   a – 6   e ,  7   a – 7   d ), each of which is located on the opposite sides of the board  1 , four drawers, each pair of which is located on the opposite sides of the board  1 , as shown in  FIG. 7   e , etc. The drawers and appropriate openings can be of any, size, form and configurations (e.g. the oval, trapezoidal form, etc), quantity and location (e.g. three drawers, as shown in  FIG. 7   f ). The sliding means  25  can include the drawer corbel  34 , which is slid into board wall slot  35  located into the board wall  38 , as shown in  FIG. 6   e , or the sliding means  25  can include drawer outer wall slot  36  and the board corbel  37 , as shown in  FIGS. 6   a ,  6   c . The sliding means  25  can be of any reasonable form, configuration and size, and in compliance with any reasonable principles for sliding mechanisms (e.g. the drawer wall corbel /not  34  sliding between two board wall corbels /not shown/, or roller principles, etc). Also, the drawer(s) can include the lid(s)  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 7   a – 7   d . The drawer lid  28  is slid into the drawer inner wall slot  32  located on the inner side of the drawer wall  33 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b . The drawer(s) can include the drawer handle means  47 , as shown in  FIGS. 6   a – 6   d ,  7   c – 7   f.    
   The board  1  includes the holes (apertures)  29  providing the central positioning of the piece on the squares  4  of the chess/checker field  2 . The diameter “D” of the holes  29  in the squares  4  of the board  1  is slightly bigger than the diameter “d” of the director  31  of the pieces  5 ,  6  (D&gt;d) in order to provide the passage of the director  31  (see  FIG. 3   c ) into the apertures  29  (see  FIGS. 5   d ,  8   a ). If the chess/checker game field pattern is not printed on the main layer  18 , the same holes are appropriately can be provided into chess/checker game field layer  16 . The holes  29  can have any reasonable length, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 4   b ,  4   c ,  5   a – 6   b ,  6   e.    
   The checker players can during the game use the checker/backgammon pieces  6  in the normal position (director  31  down) or upside-down (director  31  up). The piece&#39;s upside-down position also can be used for recognition of the “king” piece (in order to increase visual perception of the “king” piece, the director  31  of all pieces  6  can have a different bright color appropriately for white and black pieces). 
   The backgammon players during the game use the checker/backgammon pieces  6  in the convenient upside-down position (director  31  up), but the triangular sections of the backgammon field layer  17  can include the apertures  29 /not shown/ or the slot /not shown/ along the bisector of the triangular sections for the director  31  if the players use the pieces  6  in the normal position (director  31  down). The appropriate space into the inner side  43  of the board game  1 ; and if needed into main layer  18  located between the layer  17  and inner side  43  can be provided too. Each piece (chess piece  5  and checker/backgammon piece  6 ) can include the director  31  located in the piece opening  39 , as shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   c ,  3   e . Referring to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   c ,  3   e , each piece includes the piece inclosure  40 , which can be, for example, of a non-magnetic metallic material (e.g. a metallic washer), if the board  1  includes the main layer  18  which is of a magnetic material or includes the field layers  16  and/or  17  which are of a magnetic material. If the main layer  18  or field layers  16  and  17  are not of a magnetic material (e.g. of metallic material), the piece inclosure  40  is of a magnetic material. Also, each piece can include the piece opening caver  41 , as shown in  FIGS. 3   a – 3   f  Also, layer(s) or board and piece&#39;s inclosure  40  can be of magnetic material with the magnetic attraction effect. According to  FIGS. 3   b ,  3   d ,  3   f  each piece can comprise a piece opening cover  41 , which includes the director  31 . Additionally, the checker piece  6  can include a recess hole  30  (see  FIGS. 3   c ,  3   d ) in order to provide a recognition of the player&#39;s “king piece” by installing the second checker piece over (onto) the first checker piece (the director  31  of the second checker piece is inserted into recess hole  30  of the first checker piece). The diameter “D 1 ” of the recess hole  30  (see  FIG. 3   c ) can for example be adequate to the diameter “D” of the aperture  29  in the squares  4  of the board  1  (e.g. D 1 =D), and “D 1 ” is slightly bigger than the diameter “d” of the director  31  of the pieces  5 ,  6  (D 1 &gt;d) to provide the passage of the director  31  into the recess hole  30 . 
   The game board, pieces, layers and the mentioned above means can have any reasonable form, configuration and size, and made of any reasonable and applicable material (e.g. such as wood, glass, plastic, metal, para-magnetic material, etc). For example, the outer side of the board wall  38  can have the shape, as shown in  FIG. 8   a , and the inner side of the board wall  38  can have the shape, as shown in  FIG. 8   b . The foldable para-magnetic material for the game board  1  can be used too. The game board  1  can include the locking means (not shown) to secure the board  1  closed (folded) position (e.g. shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  6   b ) and/or locking means (not shown) to secure the board  1  open (ready to play, unfolded) position (e.g. shown in  FIGS. 1   a ,  2   a ). The game board  1  can be done of the magnetic material with the appropriately printed chess/checker game field and backgammon game field (not shown). In this case, the game board  1  includes the apertures  29 , and does not need to include the layers  16 ,  17 ,  18 . 
   CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION AND SCOPE 
   Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the invention, I have provided a convenient portable board multi-game set. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention. In this respect, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the description and/or drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   While the above description contains many specificities, these should not construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as exemplification of the presently-preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications are possible within the teaching to the invention. For example, an improved portable board multi-game set can be successfully used by tourists and/or elderly people, having general physical limitations to carry regular size and heavy sets made of wooden material. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, for carrying out the several purpose of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   THE DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   
       
         1 .—a game board; 
         2 .—a chess/checker game field; 
         3 .—a backgammon game field; 
         4 .—a square; 
         5 .—a chess piece; 
         6 .—a checker/backgammon piece; 
         7 .—a first numerical symbol field; 
         8 .—a first alphabetical symbol field; 
         9 .—a second numerical symbol field, 
         10 .—a second alphabetical symbol field; 
         11 .—a first half—board; 
         12 .—a second half—board; 
         13 .—a first hinging means; 
         14 .—a second hinging means; 
         15 .—a third hinging means; 
         16 .—a chess/checker field layer; 
         17 .—a backgammon field layer; 
         18 .—a main layer; 
         19 .—a piece storage compartment; 
         20 .—a first drawer; 
         21 .—a second drawer; 
         22 .—a compartment wall; 
         23 .—a first opening; 
         24 .—a second opening; 
         25 .—a sliding means; 
         26 .—a first compartment for chess pieces; 
         27 .—a second compartment for checker/backgammon pieces; 
         28 .—a drawer lid; 
         29 .—an aperture; 
         30 .—a recess hole of the piece; 
         31 .—a director; 
         32 .—a drawer inner wall slot; 
         33 .—a drawer wall; 
         34 .—a drawer corbel; 
         35 .—a board wall slot; 
         36 .—a drawer outer wall slot; 
         37 .—a board corbel; 
         38 .—aboard wall; 
         39 .—a piece opening; 
         40 .—a piece inclosure; 
         41 .—a piece opening cover; 
         42 .—an outer side of the game board  1 ; 
         43 .—an inner side of the game board  1 ; 
         44 .—an inner side of the chess/checker field layer; 
         45 .—an inner side of the backgammon field layer; 
         46 .—a folding means; 
         47 .—a drawer handle means; 
         48 — 48 ,  49 — 49 ,  50 — 50  and  51 — 51  are the cross—sectional views.