US20190374848A1

US20190374848A1 - Board Game Cover

Info

Publication number: US20190374848A1
Application number: US16/435,625
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey A. Guldin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-06-08
Filing date: 2019-06-10
Publication date: 2019-12-12

Abstract

A board game cover. The board game cover includes a planar base and a plurality of sidewalls which extends upwardly from the planar base thereby defining an interior volume. The planar base is adapted to receive a board of a board game thereon. The board game cover further includes a removably securable lid dimensioned to correspond to a perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls. The lid is removably securable to the perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls via corresponding fasteners disposed around the perimeters of the plurality of sidewalls and the perimeter of the lid.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/682,236 filed on Jun. 8, 2018. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to board game covers. More particularly, the present invention provides for a board game cover adapted to secure the board and pieces of a board game in a container with a removably securable lid.
Many people play board games with some games taking hours or even days to complete. Board games typically involve many pieces, the orientation of which is essential to the play of the game, and the change of which can drastically change the outcome of the game. Stepping away from the game for a break can be a risky proposition, especially when pets, children or inebriated friends are nearby. Leaving a board game unattended and uncovered can invite disaster where the pieces may be knocked out of position, off of the board, or even onto the floor. In such a situation the progress of the game may be irrecoverable, and the hours and days invested in the game may be irretrievably lost. Accordingly, a device that provides a board game cover, adapted to secure the board and pieces of a board game in a container with a removably securable lid is desired.
Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to board game covers. These include devices that have been patented and disclosed in patent application publications. However, the devices in the known art have several drawbacks. Some board game devices are designed to allow the pieces freely flow through a spout such that the pieces can be cleaned up swiftly. Those devices do not aid an individual in maintaining the set positions of the pieces, or state of the game. Other devices secure game pieces in place via friction or compressing a material against the pieces. These devices are not suited for board games that employ pieces that do not lie flat against a surface.
The present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing board game covers. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of board game covers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a board game cover with a removably securable lid wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when securing the board and pieces.
The present board game cover includes a planar base and a plurality of sidewalls which extends upwardly from the planar base thereby defining an interior volume. The planar base is adapted to receive a board of a board game thereon. The board game cover further includes a removably securable lid dimensioned to correspond to a perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls. The lid is removably securable to the perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls via corresponding fasteners disposed around the perimeters of the plurality of sidewalls and the perimeter of the lid.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of an embodiment of the board game cover.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the board game disassembled.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the board game cover, with a focus on multiple board game covers interconnecting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the board game cover. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for the board game cover. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a frontal view of an embodiment of the board game cover. The board game cover comprises a planar base 110 and a plurality of sidewalls 120 which extends upwardly from the planar base 110 thereby defining an interior volume 130. The planar base 110 is adapted to receive a board 150 of a board game thereon. In one embodiment, the planar base 110 includes a lip 140 around a circumference of the planar base 110. The lip 140 aids in ensuring that where a board 150 for a board game is placed on the planar base 110, the board 150 is prevented from sliding off of the planar base 110 by the lip 140 acting as a barrier.
In the shown embodiment, the plurality of sidewalls 120 further comprise handles 160. The handles 160 are disposed on an exterior surface of the plurality of sidewalls 120 and provide a user with a place to grip and hold the board game cover to facilitate transport thereof. In one embodiment, the handles 160 are protuberances that extend from the plurality of sidewalls 120. In another embodiment, the handles 160 define an arcuate shape, such as a D-shaped ring, which enables a user to move easily grasp the handles 160.
A removably securable lid 170 is dimensioned to correspond to a perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls 120. In the shown embodiment, a carrying handle 180 is disposed on an exterior surface of the removably securable lid 170. In various embodiments, the handles 160, and the carrying handle 180, are configured to rotate about a brace 190, and in such a manner can lie flush with the removably securable lid 170 and/or the plurality of sidewalls 120. The ability of the handles 160 and the carrying handle 180 to lie flush reduces the amount of space utilized by the board game cover and provides a storage configuration. By rotation of the handles 160, 180 about the brace 190, the handles 160, 180 can be orientated to provide a ring which enables a user to grasp the handles 160, 180 and carry the board game cover.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an exploded view of an embodiment of the board game disassembled. The removably securable lid 170 is removably securable to the perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls via corresponding fasteners 200 disposed around the perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls and a perimeter of the removably securable lid 170. In the shown embodiment, the fasteners 200 comprise interlocking buttons disposed on a top portion 210 of the plurality of sidewalls 120 and a bottom portion 220 of the removably securable lid 170. By selective mating and de-mating of the fasteners 200, a user can selective attach and remove the removably securable lid 170. Similarly, in various embodiments, the plurality of sidewalls 120 are removably securable to the planar base 110. In the shown embodiment, a clasp 230 is disposed at opposing ends of the planar base 110, configured to receive and secure the plurality of sidewalls 120 via friction fit. It is contemplated by this disclosure that a variety of fasteners 200 and clasps 230 can be utilized to secure the lid 170 to the plurality of sidewalls 120, and the plurality of sidewalls 120 to the planar base 110. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3, for example, depicts clasps 230 utilized to secure the lid 170 to the plurality of sidewalls 120, and the plurality of sidewalls 120 to the planar base 110.
In one embodiment, a plurality of internal walls 240 are disposed in the interior volume which define individual compartments therein. In the shown embodiment, the plurality of internal walls 240 are disposed adjacent to the board 150 of a board game, such that where the board 150 of the board game is placed on the planar base 110, the board 150 is secured in place by the internal walls 240. The internal walls 240 can also be disposed to define compartments in which a player may store game pieces that are not in use on the game board.
In another embodiment, a plurality of drawers 250 are slidably connected to a bottom portion of the plurality of sidewalls 120. In another embodiment the plurality of drawers 250 are removably secured to the bottom portion of the plurality of sidewalls 120. In the shown embodiment, the drawers 250 are dimensioned to slide between the internal walls 240 and the plurality of sidewalls 120. Similar to the individual compartments, the drawers 250 provide a user with a space in which a player may store game pieces that are not in use on the game board. The ability to slide, in some embodiments, and remove in other embodiments, the drawers from the plurality of sidewalls 120 provide a user with access to the contents of the drawer 250 without removing the lid 170.
In various embodiments, a depression 260 is disposed within an upper surface of the planar base 110. The depression 260 is configured to receive a board 150 of a board game therein. In a further embodiment, the depressions 260 is dimensioned such that when a board 150 is placed therein, a top surface of the board 150 is flush with the planar base 110. In such a manner, the board 150 can be secured in place, and will not slide around along the planar base 110. In various embodiments, the depression 260 is dimensioned and shaped to receive specific contours of a board 150 for a board game. In such a manner, the board game cover can be tailored to match the various sizes and dimensions of a multitude of board games.
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the board game cover, with a focus on multiple board game covers interconnecting. In various embodiments, a substantially planar weighted member 300 is disposed on an underside of the planar base 110. In the shown embodiment, the weighted member 300 is disposed around a circumference of the underside of the planar base 110. In further embodiments, the weighted member 300 comprises a coefficient of friction greater than one. In such a manner, when the board game cover is placed on a surface, the weighted member 300 reduces the possibility that the board game cover will slide across the surface. In one embodiment, the weighted member 300 comprises a rubber material.
In various embodiments, the planar base 110 and the removably securable lid 170 are configured to interlock. In such embodiments, one board game cover can be securely stacked upon another, to provide secure and stable storage configurations for multiple board game covers. In the shown embodiment, complimentary pegs 310 and grooves 320 are disposed on the bottom surface of the planar base 110 and the upper surface of the removably securable lid 170. Through selective mating of the pegs 310 and grooves 320, a user is able to secure one board game cover to another.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1) A board game cover, comprising:

a planar base;

a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the planar base thereby defining an interior volume;

the planar base adapted to receive a board of a board game thereon;

a removably securable lid which is dimensioned to correspond to a perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls; and

wherein the lid is removably securable to the perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls via a first group of fasteners disposed around the perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls and a second group of corresponding fasteners disposed around a perimeter of the lid.

2) The board game cover of claim 1, further comprising a substantially planar weighted member disposed on the underside of the base.

3) The board game cover of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sidewalls is removably securable to the planar base.

4) The board game cover of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of internal walls which define individual compartments in the interior volume.

5) The board game cover of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle disposed on an exterior surface of one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.

6) The board game cover of claim 1, further comprising a carrying handle disposed on an exterior surface of the removably securable lid.

7) The board game cover of claim 1, wherein the planar base and the removably securable lid are configured to interlock, such that multiple board game covers may be securely stacked upon each other.

8) The board game cover of claim 1, further comprising a depression disposed within an upper surface of the planar base, wherein the depression is configured to receive a game board therein.

9) The board game cover of claim 2, wherein the weighted member comprises an external surface having a coefficient of friction greater than one.

10) The board game cover of claim 2, wherein the weighted member comprises a rubber material.

11) A board game cover, comprising:

a planar base adapted to receive a board of a board game thereon;

a plurality of drawers slidably connected to a bottom portion of the plurality of sidewalls;

a removably securable lid which is dimensioned to correspond to a perimeter of the plurality of sidewalls;

12) The board game cover of claim 11, further comprising a weighted member disposed on the underside of the base.

13) The board game cover of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sidewalls is removably securable to the planar base.

14) The board game cover of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of internal walls which define individual compartments in the interior volume.

15) The board game cover of claim 11, further comprising at least one handle disposed on an exterior surface of one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.

16) The board game cover of claim 11, further comprising a carrying handle disposed on an exterior surface of the removably securable lid.

17) The board game cover of claim 11, wherein the planar base and removably securable lid are configured to interlock, such that multiple board game covers may be securely stacked upon each other.

18) The board game cover of claim 11, further comprising a depression disposed within an upper surface of the planar base, wherein the depression is configured to receive a game board therein.

19) The board game cover of claim 12, wherein an exterior surface of the weighted member comprises a coefficient of friction greater than one.

20) The board game cover of claim 12, wherein the weighted member comprises a rubber material.