FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to board games and more specifically to an apparatus for board games with lighting for aesthetics and for playing at night.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
It has been popular for many years to play backgammon, chess, and checkers upon boards of various kinds having a set of alternately differently colored squares, either printed, or of an inlaid nature, some of which are of a very elaborate and expensive nature. Boards of this type are used by employing external illumination provided either by daylight or an artificial source. A board game with internally illuminated playing board was attempted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,708.
A board game is needed that provides an even well lit board game with unique illumination for games and visual capability and visual effects.
SUMMARY
One embodiment includes a board game comprising an enclosure wherein one portion of the enclosure comprises a panel wherein the panel comprises a board game design on the panel; a means for black light illumination; and a means for providing substantially even illumination from the means for black light illumination for the panel with the board game design.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a black light board game;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a black light board game depicting an enclosure, tube lights, and a mirror with a translucent panel removed;
FIG. 3A is a top view of an embodiment of a black light board game with the translucent panel removed;
FIG. 3B is a top view with the translucent panel removed of another embodiment of a black light board game;
FIG. 3C is a top view with the translucent panel removed of yet another embodiment of a black light board game;
FIG. 3D is a top view with the translucent panel removed of still another embodiment of a black light board game;
FIG. 4 is a front view of a black light board game depicting a mirror shape of one embodiment; and
FIG. 5 is front view of one embodiment of game pieces for use in combination with a black light board game.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of board games and more specifically to an apparatus for board games with lighting for aesthetics and for playing at night. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Overview:
A board game 100 that can be played with illumination from its own light and be aesthetically attractive from its illumination lighting effects is depicted in FIGS. 1 through 5. The board game 100 comprises an enclosure 110 with a translucent panel 114 with a board game design 120 on the translucent panel 114. The board game 100 also includes an illumination source 140 that includes black or UV-A light along with a source for electrical power 148. The board game 100 further includes reflective material or at least one mirror 150 for providing substantially even illumination or illumination distributed more evenly from the illumination source 140 through the translucent panel 114 with the board game design 114. Use of the black light board game 100 is attractive for its aesthetic qualities and also functions to allow playing the game in very low illumination conditions.
Design Specifications:
The Enclosure 110:
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the enclosure 110 is generally of a square or rectangular shape with a top portion 116, bottom portion 117 and four side portions 118. The top portion 116 may be an aperture for attaching a panel 114. The panel 114 may be translucent, opaque, or transparent. The panel 114 may be manufactured as a portion of the enclosure 110; as a portion of a hollow board game; or the panel 114 may be a removable panel, or an interchangeable panel, that may be easily removed for access to the illumination source or the mirror for cleaning and maintenance purposes. The removable panel may be replaced by different board game panels 114. As shown in FIG. 3A, the enclosure 110 may have slots or grooves on opposing sides for inserting the panel 114 into the enclosure 110 or laying the panel 114 in place on the enclosure 110. The enclosure 110 may have small finger size notches 119 to aid in removing the panel from the enclosure 110. The enclosure 110, with the side portions 118, encloses the illumination source 140 and the reflective material 150 for even distribution of light with the translucent panel 114. The translucent panel 114 is normally on the upper or top portion 116 of the enclosure 110. The translucent panel 114 may be made of light weight plastic and the squares may be frosted or etched for a board game design 120. In one embodiment, the board game design 120 may be black in color with a glossy finish. The enclosure 110 may include legs 112 attached with the enclosure 110 such that the enclosure 110 may be an article of furniture such as a coffee table or an end table. As depicted in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the enclosure 110 may include an aperture for the power source supply line 148. The enclosure construction is preferably light weight plastic but may include and is not limited to wood, plastic, and metal. In addition, the translucent panel 114 may be fabricated from Plexiglas or acrylic sheets, glass, or clear or colored plastic and etched for aesthetic appeal and attractiveness.
The Means for Black Light Illumination 140:
As partially illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 4, the means for black light illumination 140 may include many sources. The black light or Ultraviolet light source 140 may be any energy source that emits energy in the substantially UV energy range. This illumination source 140 may but is not limited to a tube emitting black light wherein the tube is elongated 144 in substantially one direction or a tube in a rectangular shape 145 to substantially follow the internal contour of the enclosure 110. The tube black lights 140 are normally attached with the side portion 118 of the enclosure 110. However, the tube black light 140 may also be attached with the bottom portion 117 or top portion 116 of the enclosure 110. The illumination source 140 may also be incandescent black light bulb emitting substantially infrared and UV-A light. The primary need for the black light illumination source 140 is that of emitting an energy source that will be visible with phosphorus and other materials that emit visible light in response to UV energy radiation. The black light illumination source 140 may also include an electrical supply line 148 that connects with a source of electrical energy or current to supply electrical power to the black light tube 144, 145 or bulbs. The source of electrical energy 148 for the illumination source 140 includes the normal wiring, connectors, plugs, rheostats, and on-off switches for electrical lighting.
The Means for Providing Substantially Even Illumination 150:
As shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the means for providing substantially even illumination 150 from the means for black light illumination 140 for the panel 114 with the board game design 120 may be provided in several ways. One embodiment includes a reflective material or a mirror 150 disposed within the enclosure 110 opposing the panel 114. The mirror 150 may be flat, slightly curved, or slightly inclined 151 to a peak in the central portion of the mirror. The mirror 150 may be the substantially the same dimension as the board game design 120 of the translucent panel 114. In some embodiments, the mirror 150 may be smaller or larger than the translucent panel 114. Further embodiments may include additional mirrors 154, 156 on the side portions 118 of the enclosure 110 for increased distribution of the black light energy. One embodiment may include: the plane shaped or flat mirror 152 approximately the same dimension as the board game design 120 with the flat mirror 152 disposed on the lower portion 117 of the enclosure 110 opposing the translucent panel 114; with two parallel tube type black lights 144 for illumination on opposing side portions 118 of the enclosure 110; and two smaller mirrors 154, 156 on the other two opposing side portions 118 of the enclosure 110 for additional black light distribution. Another embodiment may include: the plane shaped or flat mirror 152 approximately the same dimension as the board game design 120 with the flat mirror 152 disposed on the lower portion 117 of the enclosure 110 opposing the panel 114; with two parallel tube type black lights 144 for illumination on opposing side portions 118 of the enclosure 110; and two smaller curved reflective materials 154, 156 between the illumination source 140 and the side portions 118 of the enclosure 110 for additional black light distribution.
The Additional Combination of Game Pieces:
As depicted in FIG. 5, the black light board game 100 may be used in combination with game pieces 200. The game pieces 200 may be etched 210 for special lighting effects as well as attractiveness. The game pieces 200 may be painted 220 with a covering that will be visible when exposed to the black light illumination thus providing visible lighting effects. The paint may be a fluorescent reflective paint. In one embodiment, the game pieces 200 may be black with UV paint traced around the edges of each piece. The clear game pieces may be frosted and include UV paint traced along their edges and contours. Some pieces may be etched and other pieces may be painted. Other game pieces may include a combination of both etching and painting. Only predominate features or edges may be painted for certain effects. Game pieces 200 may include but are not limited to checkers pieces, chess pieces, and backgammon pieces.
The Method of Use of the Black Light Board Game:
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the black light board game may have the game pieces 200 set-up in their positions and the power source plugged 148 in with an electric current source. The user may turn the UV black light illumination source 140 on such that the black light energy will be emitted from the black light illumination source 140. The black light energy will reflect from the reflective material 150 and transverse the translucent frosted panel 114. As the black light energy reaches the game pieces 200 and activates the UV paint 220 on the game pieces 200, the game pieces 200 will be illuminated. This illumination from the reaction of the black light energy and the UV paint will produce a glow-in-the-dark three dimension effect producing a new feel for an ancient game.
Patent Application
20100001464
