Abstract:
A foldable portable game board including a platform for playing board and card games outdoors where adverse conditions might displace the location of game elements and subsequently interrupt the game. One surface of the platform supports a plurality of card engaging members such as elastic bands. The bands may be placed in any orientation on the playing surface of the platform to accommodate a number of cards at selected locations. Another surface of the platform may be magnetized to prevent the dislocation of game elements from adverse conditions that would interrupt the game. The platform may also be fitted with attachable legs, allowing conversion of the game board to a table.

Description:
RELATED DOCUMENTS  
       [0001]     This nonprovisional application claims priority to and incorporates herein by reference the contents of Provisional Application No. 60/671,196 filed Apr. 14, 2005, to the extent allowed by law. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a convertible portable planar game board for playing various games, where the board can be configured into a table. Game boards require ideal environmental conditions to ensure that a game can be played. Physical location of the game elements on the game board are critical and can be easily disturbed by changes in the environment, such as wind gusts or when traveling under unsteady conditions. These limitations prevent people from using games in an outdoor environment. Game boards are also usually only used for their one intended purpose and have not been adapted to serve additional purposes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In one embodiment, a convertible game board and table is provided that includes a platform having a generally planar horizontal upper surface. The platform includes first and second side portions and a center portion. The center portion may be slightly larger than the first and second side portions, and the first and second side portions may be folded to cover at least a portion of the center portion.  
         [0004]     The game board platform also includes a plurality of removable and movable elastic bands overlying and covering at least a portion of the upper surface for holding one or many cards or other game elements in position on the platform. The bands may be releasably or permanently attached to the upper surface of the platform at a variety of locations and orientations.  
         [0005]     The board may also include a magnetized lower surface. The lower surface may be configured to permit the playing of board games that do not use playing cards as the playing implement. Such games may include, but are not limited to, chess, checkers and backgammon. The upper surface and the lower surface of the platform may also include a plurality of sockets for receiving attachable legs, whereby the platform may be converted to a table. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the upper surface of the game board of the present invention in its open operative position, illustrating sockets adapted to receive detachable legs to support the game board in an elevated horizontal position;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the game board of  FIG. 1 , showing the bottom surface of the game board, which is configured to play a board game that requires a checkerboard-type surface, illustrating sockets for receiving attachable legs.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a carry bag for holding the game board, game pieces, cards, and the attachable legs.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the elastic bands for releasably holding one or more cards in place on the platform.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one of the attachable legs. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     The present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , provides a game platform  10  having a planar surface. The platform  10  defines an upper surface  12  and a lower surface  14 , whereby the platform  10  can be folded for storage or transporting, and opened to provide an upper relatively flat planar surface on which any number of games with lightweight game elements may be played. The platform  10  is preferably lightweight and may be made of plywood, plastic, composite board or other suitable material. The surfaces  12 ,  14  of the platform  10  may be coated with a waterproof material.  
         [0012]     To prevent lightweight game elements such as playing cards from blowing away under adverse conditions, a plurality of elastic bands  16  are provided which can be releasably secured to substantially any location on the upper surface. For example, the elastic bands  16  may be secured at any location and at any desired angular orientation relative to the edges of the upper surface to accommodate configuration and set-up for specific card or other games. The bands  16  may be secured to the upper surface using methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art such as hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, rivets or other similar devices and methods.  
         [0013]     In an illustrative embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , loop portions of Velcro™ type hook-and-loop strips  18  are respectively coupled to the upper surface  12  of platform  10 , and to selected portions of the bottom surface  14  of the platform. Hook elements  20  ( FIG. 4 ) are suitably attached to the underside of elastic bands  16  to permit the releasable securing of the elastic bands to the upper or lower surfaces  12 ,  14 . The Velcro™ type strips  18  may be secured to the upper surface  12  of the platform  10 , and to selected portions  20  ( FIG. 4 ) of the bottom surface of the elastic bands  16  using an adhesive. In another illustrative embodiment, the elastic bands  16  may be secured directly to the platform  10  using an adhesive or a rivet, using techniques known in the industry.  
         [0014]     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the bands  16  may be elongated strips of an elastic material that extend along the upper surface  12  or lower surface  14  in various orientations. The bands  16 , in one embodiment, may have a flat bottom surface. The bands  16  are secured to the platform  10  in a manner that permits playing cards or other game implements to be slid under a band and held in position as best seen in  FIG. 1 . Various card games can be played using the platform  10 , such as, but not limited to, poker, bridge, gin rummy, solitaire, by sliding cards under the elastic bands  16  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the platform  10  may be hinged or scored for folding. For example, the left portion  22  and right portion  24  of the platform  10  may be folded over at least a portion of the center portion  26 . The platform  10  may be foldable so that the left and right side portions  22 ,  24  may be moved from a folded position to a partially or fully open locked position. For example, both the left and right side portions  22 ,  24  may be folded open and locked into position such that the side portions  22 ,  24  are substantially coplanar with the center portion  26 . The board space needed or desired by the players will determine whether one or both of the side portions  22 ,  24  are folded open.  
         [0016]     The side portions  22 ,  24  are adapted to be locked in place relative to center portion  26  of platform  10  when in the fully opened position as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , by suitable locking mechanisms as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. By way of example, a sliding latch (not shown) on the platform center portion  26  would engage a bracket (not shown) on a side portion  22  or  24  to hold the side portions open or parallel to the surface  12  of center portion  26 . When a user desires to fold side portions  22 ,  24  over, or relative to, center portion  26 , the sliding latch is removed from its corresponding bracket on side portion  22  or  24 , and the side portions are pivoted to their desired position.  
         [0017]     The platform  10  may also be reversible, permitting the lower surface  14  of the platform to be used to play board games that do not require playing cards. The lower surface  14  of the platform  10  may also contain a printed pattern  28  to accommodate a plurality of game playing fields. For example, as best seen in  FIG. 2 , the lower surface  14  of the platform  10  may contain a checkered pattern  28  for playing games such as chess, checkers, or other similar games. Yet another pattern for a board game, such as Backgammon or Monopoly™, may be printed around the checkered pattern. The lower surface may be magnetized to a first polarity, and may be used with magnetized game elements  30  that are magnetized to an opposite polarity, such as but not limited to, implements for playing checkers, chess, and backgammon, wherein a magnetic force is used to hold the magnetized game elements  30  in position on the platform  10 .  
         [0018]     The lower surface  14  of platform  10  may be magnetized using techniques known in the art. For example, a magnetic material may be applied as a coating to the lower surface using known techniques, or a layer of magnetic material, such as for example a metal or a metal-plastic composite, may cover or form at least a portion of the lower surface. The magnetized game elements  30  may support a magnetic material having a polarity opposite that supported by the lower surface. It will be appreciated that known techniques may be used to secure the magnetic material to the game playing implements. For example, a magnetic material may be secured to the game playing implements using an appropriate adhesive.  
         [0019]     The upper surface  12  and the lower surface  14  of the platform  10  also support a plurality of sockets  30 , as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each socket adapted to receive an attachable and detachable leg  34  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). One attachable leg  34  is received in each socket  32 . With the legs  34  attached to the platform  10 , the platform becomes a table that is supported by the legs at an elevated position. The legs  34  and the sockets  32  may be sized such that friction holds the legs in position in the socket. Alternatively, the sockets may support a magnetic material of one polarity configured to attract a magnetic material of opposite polarity supported by one of the ends of the legs. Known techniques may be used to apply the magnetic materials to the sockets and the legs, or to releasably lock the legs into the sockets. It will be appreciated that the platform may be used without the legs as a tabletop or laptop game board. Although  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the sockets  32  attached to, or formed in, side portions  22 ,  24 , it is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that sockets  32  may be located adjacent the four corners of central portion  26 , on either or both the upper surface  12  and/or the lower surface  14  of platform  10 .  
         [0020]     The platform  10  and the attachable legs  34  may be stored or transported as a kit in a carry bag  36 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the carry bag  36  includes an inner compartment  38  designed to receive the folded platform  10 . The carry bag  36  also includes a plurality of pockets  38  for receiving and holding the legs  34 , and for holding accessory items such as, but not limited to, picnic utensils, and magnetized game implements or elements  30  such as poker chips, score pads and playing cards. The carry bag also may include a compartment for storing plates, cups, napkins, etc. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the carry bag also includes at least one shoulder strap  40 . The carry bag  36  may be constructed in accordance with known techniques using materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0021]     The foregoing description of an illustrated embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The described embodiment was selected to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application of these principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below.