Abstract:
A board game accessory for use in holding and displaying hexagonally shaped tile pieces is disclosed. The board game accessory comprises a hexagonally shaped frame defining interiorly shaped holding portions for use in the support and replacement of the tile pieces. Additionally, the game board accessory interiorly houses diametrically magnetized solid cylindrical two-pole magnets within each side of its frame such that board game accessory pieces may be magnetically connected and held in place when located adjacent to each other. In use, the board game accessory allows for easy initial set-up and storage while allowing for different game configurations then prior art board game accessories.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a board game accessory. More particularly, to a board game accessory for use in entertainment games having planar pathway indicia game pieces, which may during the course of the game, be arranged or otherwise configured in any suitable manner such that the visible pathway indicia collectively define one or more continuous pathways. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Multiplayer board games are well known that are made up of a plurality of modular parts from which the user can make up complex assemblies. These complex assemblies can be of very different types: They can be simple geometric shapes so as to make constructions by means of the simple superimposing of the parts, they can be assembled or clickable parts that once assembled have a certain resistance to dismantling, they can be puzzles, cube puzzles, etc. 
     The Settlers of Catan is one such multiplayer board game wherein players in the game represent settlers establishing colonies on the island of Catan. One of the objects of the game is for players to build using modular parts representing settlements, cities, and roads and to connect them as they settle the island. Referring to  FIG. 1 , The Settlers of Catan game board is shown representing an island wherein the modular parts are composed of hexagonal tiles (hexes) of different land types which are laid out randomly and placed adjacent to each other at the beginning of each game. Thereafter, during the course of the game one of the strategies in winning includes removing and replacing these tiles for obtaining certain game objectives and advantages. 
     However, the use of hexagonal tiles as modular parts in forming game boards on a horizontal space have difficulty providing structural support during initial assembly and staying assembled while in use or in storage. Previous attempts to add structural support for this game was to provide a frame around the entire game board layout, but not between each hexagonal tile of the game board. Therefore, a need exists for providing a support apparatus for each hexagonal tile individually which in use creates a modular game board system for playing “The Settlers of Catan” in a more enjoyable fashion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A board game accessory for use in holding and displaying hexagonally shaped tile pieces is disclosed. The board game accessory comprises a hexagonally shaped frame defining interiorly shaped holding portions for use in the support and replacement of the tile pieces. Additionally, the game board accessory interiorly houses diametrically magnetized solid cylindrical two-pole magnets within each side of its frame such that board game accessory pieces may be magnetically connected and held in place when located adjacent to each other. In use, the board game accessory allows for easy initial set-up and storage while allowing for different game configurations than prior art board game accessories. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the placement of hexagonal tile pieces that layout a game board for playing The Settlers Of Catan; 
         FIG. 2  is a top sided view of the board game accessory for supporting the hexagonal tiles in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom sided disassembled view illustrating the placement of magnets within the game board accessory used for holding the board game accessory pieces together; 
         FIG. 4  is another bottom sided disassembled view illustrating the placement of magnets within the game board accessory used for holding the board game accessory pieces together; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating how a hexagonal game tile may be removed and replaced with another hexagonal game tile using the board game accessory in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating how the board game accessory pieces may be stored after use by stacking the board game accessory pieces on top of each other. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , reference numeral  10  generally indicates a preferred embodiment of the board game accessory of the present invention in the form of a hexagonal frame  12 . The game board accessory  10  in one preferred embodiment is a unitary piece molded from plastic but may also be formed using wood, metal or the like. Turning once again to  FIG. 2 , along each inner side  14  of hexagonal frame  12  are defined generally rectangular shaped holding portions  16 . The interior circumference of the hexagonal frame  12  in combination with the size and placement of the holding portions  16  are dimensioned such that a hexagonally shaped tile game piece from the game, “The Settlers Of Catan” may be dropped in and supported for use during game play. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the bottom side of frame  12  of board game accessory  10  is shown illustrating the use of magnets  22  for holding the board game accessory pieces during game play as will be more fully described below. More particularly, the underside or bottom of frame  12  defines three cavities  20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c  respectively along each hexagonal side  14  of hexagonal frame  12 . The center cavity  20   b  is dimensioned to house a cylindrical magnet  22  as will be more fully described below. On each side of cavity  20   b  are cavities  20   a  and  20   c  each defining circular receptacle receiving portions  19   a  and  19   c  for receiving holding lid portions  18  used for permanently keeping cylindrical magnets  22  housed in place. 
     More specifically and turning once again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , lid portions  18  each define a pair of receptacle protrusions  18   a  and  18   c  located on each of the undersides of lids  18 . During assembly of the board game accessory  10  of the present invention, a magnet  22  is placed in cavity  20   b  wherein the lids  18  are permanently installed by inserting the pair of receptacle protrusions  18   a  and  18   c  into the circular receptacle receiving portions  19   a  and  19   c . It should be understood that the receptacle receiving portions  19   a  and  19   c  may be placed anywhere in their respective cavities  20   a  and  20   c  as long as the pair of receptacle protrusions  18   a  and  18   c  are placed in a matching location that allows for their insertion to fully complete the mating of lid  18  to frame  12 . The mating of the lids  18  to the underside of each side  14  of frame  12  may include the use of glue or any suitable adhesive to securely keep magnets  22  housed within their cavity  22   b  by keeping lid  18  permanently attached to frame  12 . In another preferred embodiment, the lids  18  may define a protrusion portion  18   d  that covers the holding portions  16 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The present invention utilizes a “straight through” diametrically magnetized solid cylindrical two-pole magnet  22  housed within cavity  22   b . More specifically, the dimension of cavity  22   b  allows the cylindrical magnet  22  to freely roll about its center axis. By housing a cylindrically shaped diametrically magnetized magnet interiorly into each side  14  of frame  12 , the placement of any board game accessory  10  next to and adjacent to any other board game accessory  10  connects the game board accessory to be held together since the magnets housed within each frame  12  will roll into a position that will magnetically connect them to each other. 
     By way of example, but not of limitation an example of on type of diametrically magnetized solid cylindrical two-pole magnet  22  are “neodymium cylinder magnets” sold by K &amp; J Magnets Inc., wherein the dimensions of these magnets are ⅛″×¼″ and are suitably sized for use with frame  12 . It should be understood that the cavities  20   b  are dimensioned that allowed the magnets  22  movement necessary for the board game accessory to function to create a game board in accordance with the present invention. If the magnets were to be held firmly in place then they have the possibility of repelling other pieces when assembling the board, which is why the diametric polarization is important. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown yet another preferred embodiment in using the board game accessory  10  of the present invention. More specifically, the dimensional shape and location of the holding portion  16  within frame  12  allows for a tile piece to be “flipped” or lifted out of board game accessory  10  by applying a slight pressure to any side of a game tile for revealing a tile in that location wherein by flipping it over it may be placed back into the board game accessory  10 . Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown still yet another embodiment in using the board game accessory  10  of the present invention. More specifically, another benefit using freely rolling diametrically magnetized magnets housed with the frame  12  allows the board game accessory to be stacked upon each other and held in place by the magnets  22  in addition to the side by side connection described above. This magnetic stacking allows for easy storage of a plurality of the board game accessory pieces when not in use. 
     In summary, use of the board game accessory  10  during the playing of the game “The Settlers Of Catan” keeps the game board to stay together wherein most players go through more than one game in an evening, so creating new layouts of the tiles in between each game is made much easier using the board game accessory  10  of the present invention. Additionally, the board game accessory  10  makes the initial setup of the game much easier and less time consuming. Lastly, the game tiles may be laid out in any formation the player&#39;s desire (i.e. it doesn&#39;t have to be a relatively symmetrical pattern) and the board game accessory  10  help to keep these layouts from falling apart during game play. 
     It is contemplated for embodiments of the invention to extend to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently of other concepts, ideas or system, as well as for embodiments to include combinations of elements recited anywhere in this application. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature.