Articulated Gameboard

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application number 63/746,402, filed 01/17/2025, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The present subject disclosure relates to gameboards and, more particularly, to an articulated gameboard incorporating an array of articulated elements, wherein each articulated element is interconnected to adjacent articulated elements such that each articulated element is vertically moveable independent of said adjacent articulated elements, wherein a maximum range of motion is dependent and relative to its adjacent elements.

Most board games are played on flat, immutable surfaces, hence the name ‘board’. Thus, almost all board games are played on flat boards or substrates, wherein the playing surfaces provided by these boards or substrates have a fixed flat arrangement. These rigid “gameboards” afford no mechanism for re-arranging different sections of the playing surface so that the topography of the playing surface can be selectively varied among the sections. Chess is flat, Go is flat, Catan is flat although the field is mutable, and even though Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons might have elevations in their respective terrains, users are not enabled to selectively vary one section of the playing surface relative to an adjacent section of the playing surface along an interconnecting playing surface. In other words, the prior art does not provide a matrix arrangement or an array arrangement of addressable elements where each addressable element is physically connected to at least one adjacent addressable element to be vertically moveable relative to all adjacent addressable elements, whereby countless arrangements of the gameboard surface is possible.

2 3 Even in rare games that provide a variableD board orD landscape to interact with, none have a three-dimensionality to the extent of enabling selective variability among constitute elements of the game surface wherein all constituent elements are connected to adjacent elements.

As a result, a major drawback for traditional games is that the optimal initial sequences can easily be memorized due to their played-out two-dimensional, fixed playing surfaces, which arguably sacrifice creativity and dim some of the skill components of the underlying game. Likewise, because games are played on predetermined immutable terrains (e.g. chess board, Monopoly board, Candyland board, etc.) they become stale and predictable.

As can be seen, there is a need for an articulated playing surface embodying an array of articulated elements, wherein each articulated element provides a section of the playing surface and wherein each articulate element is directly interconnected to adjacent articulated elements such that each articulated element is vertically moveable independent of said adjacent articulated elements. Accordingly, the articulated playing surface invites, through countless re-configurations of the playing surface, users to strategize organically and not rely on standardized opening sequences, which in turn improves novelty – i.e., randomization adds novelty to starting conditions - reducing the need/benefit/advantage of memorization. As a result of the subject disclosure, users will likely augment the rules of existing games to adapt to a more variable playing surface as well as develop new games that are unique to having a changeable playing surface, providing novel challenges, activating their imagination, and stimulating a new level of enjoyment.

The subject disclosure enables games that are traditionally played on an immutably flat play surface, to be played on a topographically configurable playing surface whose constituent segments’ elevations are selectively adjustable. With the playing surface variable, section by section, region by region, the number of possibilities during gameplay goes up exponentially, improving the novelty and increasing the opportunity for strategic thinking and enjoyment, which is why people spend time playing games in the first place.

The subject disclosure embodies a variable three-dimensional playing surface for tabletop games, wherein the playing surface is defined by an array of addressable elements of said playing surface. Each portion or addressable element of the playing surface has an upper surface that is selectively movable relative to all other upper surface elements; thus, the entirety of the playing surface is vertically adjustable, section by section, relative to adjacent elements of the playing surface. The topography of the playing surface is therefore mutable so that segments or sections of the playing surface can be flat, while others are prominently elevated above or valleyed below other sections of playing surface, or anything in between. The subject disclosure enables countless configurable terrains and topography for the playing surface of old games traditionally played on an immutable flat surface as well as new games yet to be invented or defined but for the advent of the changeable play surface embodied in the subject disclosure.

Each block, section, or addressable element’s maximum allowable movement is constrained relative to the neighboring blocks. Each block/addressable element may have markings or indicia along their longitudinal face(s) indicating discrete height intervals.

In one aspect of the present subject disclosure, articulated playing surface includes the following; an array of addressable elements, each addressable element defining a prism wherein an upper base of each prism defines a portion of said articulated playing surface; and each addressable element physically connected to at least one adjacent addressable element so that the addressable elements are manually selectively movable relative to each other, repositioning an elevation of the respective portion of said articulated playing surface, and wherein in the absence of said manual repositioning, the adjacent addressable element maintains said elevation.

In another aspect of the subject disclosure, an articulated playing surface includes the following: an array of addressable elements, each addressable element defining a prism wherein an upper base of each prism defines a portion of said articulated playing surface; and each addressable element has a mechanical communication with at least one adjacent addressable element so that each of the array of addressable elements are manually selectively movable relative to each other, repositioning an elevation of the respective portion of said articulated playing surface, and wherein in the absence of said manual repositioning, the adjacent addressable element maintains said elevation, wherein the array is a matrix, wherein each addressable has at least one first connector and at least one second connector on orthogonal longitudinal faces of the prism, and wherein each first connector is operatively associable with an adjacent second connector to form the mechanical connection, wherein the first connector and the second connector are dimensioned and shaped to provide sufficient frictional engagement to form a locked engagement with each other when operatively associated so that when not subject to an external force, wherein a majority of the array of addressable elements forms the mechanical communication with two adjacent addressable elements, wherein the first connector is a tenon and the second connector a groove, and wherein each tenon and each groove define a seven-sided T-shape.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present subject disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the subject disclosure, since the scope of the subject disclosure is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present subject disclosure provides an articulated gameboard is provided. The articulated gameboard is defined by an array of addressable elements, wherein each addressable element is defined by a prism having upper base that defines a portion of a playing surface of the articulated gameboard. Furthermore, each addressable element is in parallel alignment with and directly physically connected or mechanically communicating to adjacent addressable elements. Each addressable element has at least one first connector and one second connector so that adjacent faces of two adjacent addressable elements physically and directly connect so that each addressable element is vertically movable relative to the adjacent addressable element and wherein a selected elevation of the upper surface, by way of this vertical movement, forms a locked engagement so the relative height of one addressable element is maintained throughout game play of the articulated gameboard.

1 6 FIGS.through 100 10 18 10 18 30 Referring to, the subject disclosure provides an articulated gameboardcomprising an array or matrix of addressable elementsorinterconnected such that each addressable element is vertically movable relative to each adjacent addressable elementsoralong said array or matrix. Each addressable element provides an upper surfacedefining a vertically movable portion of a playing surface.

10 18 40 10 18 10 18 30 100 Each addressable element,, or the like may be a prism of any material enabling a polyhedron comprising an n-sided polygon base 30, a second base which is a translated copy (rigidly moved without rotation) of the first, and n other faces, necessarily all parallelograms, joining corresponding sides of the two bases; thus it is understood that addressable elements may include cuboid prisms, hexagonal prismsand other prisms not shown in the Figures. Each addressable element,, or the like (sometimes referred to as a “block”) has one basethat defines a portion of the upper surface of a playing surface of the articulated gameboard.

10 18 16 12 12 Each addressable element,, or the like has complementary first connectorsand second connectorsto mechanically communicate with adjacent addressable elements so that they are vertically movable relative to each other over a maximum range of motion defined by a length of the complementary second connector. It is understood that the term “addressable element” used herein is intended to be defined by at least this paragraph.

50 50 Each section of playing surface may be dimensioned and sized to support a relevant game piece. Note, the illustrated game piecesin the Figures, though shown as generic geometrical shapes, may be chess pieces, checker pieces, or any other known or later-developed movable pieces in a game now known or later developed.

10 18 40 10 18 40 16 24 40 12 20 16 24 12 20 16 24 12 20 40 16 24 12 20 16 24 12 20 14 6 FIG. Each addressable element,, or the like has n-facesthat can define a parallel engagement with an adjacent addressable element,or the like, as shown. One or more facesof said addressable element has a first connectororwhile one or more other faceshave a second connectororwherein the first and second connectorsorandorare dimensioned and adapted to operatively associate with each other. More specifically, the first and second connectorsorandorare provided on orthogonal facesso that when two adjacent addressable elements have respective faces in parallel alignment, the first and second connectorsorandoroperatively associate so that said two adjacent addressable elements are physically, directly connected or mechanically communicating by way of the first and second connectorsorandorand wherein this physical, direct connection enables one addressable element to slide relative to the other while maintaining their parallel alignment. The faces 10 may also have some form of height demarcation, including but not limited to the narrow cutoutsshown in the Figures(other indicia may be used to mark the elevation).

16 24 12 20 16 24 12 20 16 24 12 20 16 24 12 It should be understood that even though the Figures show the first and second connectorsorandoras tenonsorand groovesor, respectively, other types of first and second connectorsorandorare contemplated if they enable this direct physical connection/mechanical communication that maintains the parallel alignment of their respective addressable elements as one move vertically relative to the other. In the case where the first and second connectorsorandare tenons and grooves, the tenons ride along the operatively associated groove to facilitate this direct physical vertically slidable connection that maintains parallel alignment.

16 24 12 20 100 16 24 12 20 50 30 10 18 10 12 16 12 10 18 10 18 100 Additionally, either the first and second connectorsorandoror additional elements are configured to form a locked engagement so that when one addressable element is moved to a desired height or elevation (relative to all other addressable elements in the array of the articulated gameboard) that position is maintained in the absence of an external force greater than the force of gravity. Here, in the illustrated embodiment, the tenonorand groovesormay be dimensioned and shaped so that sufficient frictional engagement exists such that when in the absence of an external force greater than that of gravity (say the gravitational force, as understood through Newtonian physics, acting of the addressable element itself and any game pieceit supports) that moved addressable element remains in its selective relative position (by way of a user applying the external force of physical manipulation with, say, their fingers). Thus, users may selectively adjust the height of the upper surfaceof each addressable elementorrelative to the remaining addressable elementsor 18. By way of non-limiting example, the T-shape of the tenon 16 provides frictional engagement with a similarly T-shaped groove, whereby each surface (of the seven surfaces) of the T-shaped tenonsufficiently frictionally engages a complementary surface of the grooveto enable this locked engagement. Alternatively, some embodiments, the array/matrix arrangement, the addressable elementsormay be adjusted and held in portion (e.g., through clamps, magnets, etc., not shown) so that the addressable elementsorare locked and will not move or change height during gameplay. Additionally, the variable height articulated gameboardmay have a mechanism to prevent rattling once the game play commences.

10 100 100 100 In an alternative embodiment, in an absence of a locking mechanism (such as frictional engagement) addressable elementsslide to their lowest height via gravity until they hit the table or whatever articulated gameboardis placed on. Therefore, user 90 may put the articulated gameboardon a table and then insert objects between the table and the articulated gameboardto support the blocks at different elevations and adjust the game surface.

100 The variable height block array or articulated gameboardenables games played on its playing surface the variability and randomness that transforms the gameplay via an inventive and unpredictable manner. Accordingly, a board game previously limited to a static playing service can be transformed by those seeking to maximize randomness, e.g., a user can ensure that with this device they will never play a game on the same surface twice. The number of surface permutations are so great that even with minimal adjusting the chance that two games are played on the exact same surface is very small.

Many methods can be taken to produce the subject disclosure. The articulated gameboard can be built out of wood, manufactured with a 3D printer, or even coded in a video game design engine. In physical versions the addressable elements or blocks must have a mechanism to keep them connected to each other while being able to slide up and down relative to each other. This can be achieved with mortise/tenon joinery, sliding dovetail, linear guide rail, drawer slide, etc.

In a digital version, the heights of the blocks can just be arbitrarily picked and since they are not physical and thus do not require any connection mechanism. However virtual versions should require similar height constraints, so that the surface, despite all the variations possible, is always approximately "smooth and continuous" mathematically. This constraint exists naturally in the physical version because the upper and lower bounds of any given block's height are determined by the heights of its neighboring blocks. Additionally, the blocks may have some form of height demarcation on them. This could be notches, color changes, writing, inlays, etc. that can signify that the height difference between two blocks is measurable in some number of units that are used in gameplay. In physical versions, it may be possible to replace individual blocks if they are broken. This depends on the construction of the array. If replaced with a similar block the functionality should not be affected. This need not apply to virtual version.

By using this device anyone can play a game that has a much more variable and 3D game surface. It removes the advantage players gain from opening theory, which dominates games like chess, which is arguably more memorization than strategy in the beginning stages of the game. Additionally, the subject disclosure could just be a toy on its own or a kinetic sculpture, or even if sized up to a much larger scale a dynamic rock-climbing wall, for instance. The subject disclosure could be represented on a user interface, wherein a virtual array could simply be a randomizer function.

As used in this application, the term "about" or "approximately" refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein is not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure as set forth in the following claims.