Portable backgammon board

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an improved portable and lightweight backgammon board that can be “rolled up” for carrying purposes, but which also provides a relatively rigid and flat playing surface when it is assembled, and which also provides a raised full perimeter frame around the board and a raised “bar” in the middle thereof.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention is for a backgammon board made out of vinyl, leather or similar material, with a partially detachable rigid frame, where the board can be rolled into a substantially cylindrical type shape for portability, and later unrolled and assembled with the rigid frame to constitute a relatively rigid and flat playing surface that has a full perimeter raised frame and a raised solid “bar” of the type found on traditional backgammon boards.

2. Background of the Invention

Backgammon is a popular board game that uses ordinary six sided dice and circular checkers (neither of which are illustrated for purposes of clarity). The board consists of a rectangular playing surface which is ideally surrounded by a perimeter frame raised above the board surface.

The raised perimeter frame of the board serves three purposes. First, it acts as a “stop barrier” so that dice do not roll off the board. Second, it acts as a guide that checkers can be slid against. And third, it allows checkers to be physically “smacked” into position when they are being placed in one of the board's corners or against its sides.

Experienced players sometimes move their checkers with some degree of flair, and the perimeter frame enables them to “smack” checkers into place.

The board is bisected by a middle “bar”, which is traditionally a raised strip of wood. During play, a checker that has been “hit” by an opponent is placed “On the Bar”. That checker remains on display there and cannot come “Off the Bar” unless certain rules are followed. Hence, the “Bar” is a central feature of the game.

Backgammon boards traditionally take two forms. One form consists of a planar flat surface, frequently made of wood, with a perimeter frame and a middle bar permanently attached to the board.

The other form takes the shape of an attache case with two hinged halves. When the attache case is opened, the frame of the case acts as the perimeter of the board, and the hinged mid-point of the case acts as the middle “bar”.

Both of these forms of boards are somewhat bulky. Single piece flat boards are often two feet wide, about two feet deep, and about two inches high. Attache case boards are about half as wide and deep, but when they are folded up in the middle they are twice as high. Neither is conveniently portable.

Portable leather or vinyl “roll up” boards also exist, but they are not rigid and flat, and they do not have a perimeter frame. Also, they do not have a raised wooden bar in the middle of the board.

The current invention solves the problems “roll up” boards suffer from by providing a highly portable roll up type board that also has a full raised perimeter frame and a raised middle “bar”. The board also has some degree of rigidity and provides a substantially flat planar playing surface.

DISADVANTAGES COMMON TO THE PRIOR ART

Flat, one piece backgammon boards are bulky and frequently heavy. They are not highly portable. Attache case boards are more easily carried, since they have a handle, but they are still bulky. Leather or vinyl “roll up” type boards are light and highly portable, but they do not have a perimeter frame and a wooden “bar” in the middle of the board. The current invention solves these disadvantages.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The objects and advantages of the invention described herein are to provide a highly portable, light backgammon board that can be “rolled up” for carrying purposes, but which also provides a relatively rigid and flat playing surface when it is assembled, along with a full perimeter frame and a raised “bar” in the middle of the board.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a highly portable, relatively lightweight improved portable backgammon board that can be “rolled up” for carrying purposes, but which also provides a relatively rigid and flat playing surface when it is assembled, and which also provides a full raised perimeter frame around the board and a raised “bar” in the middle of the board.

DRAWING—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the improved portable backgammon board leather or vinyl type playing surface lying flat, with the middle bar as well as the left and right sections of the perimeter frame permanently attached to the playing surface. The top and bottom sections of the perimeter frame are off of the playing surface. The holding pins that hold these components together are shown removed from their female receptacles.

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the improved portable backgammon board leather or vinyl type board lying flat, with the top and bottom pieces of the perimeter frame in place and six holding pins in their female receptacles, thereby holding the top and bottom pieces of the perimeter frame in place.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the improved portable backgammon board leather or vinyl type playing surface rolled up, with the top and bottom pieces of the perimeter frame to the right of the rolled up board and six holding pins to the left of the board.

DRAWING—REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 10 Roll up backgammon board set with perimeter frame and bar
  • 12 a-f Holding pins
  • 14 a-b Top and bottom removable perimeter frame sections
  • 16 a-b Right and left perimeter frame sections permanently attached to board
  • 18 Middle “Bar” permanently attached to board
  • 20 Leather or vinyl placing surface
  • 22 a-f Passageways for holding pins
  • 24 a-c Female terminals for holding pins

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 1 shows the improved portable backgammon board 10 with the vinyl or leather playing surface 20 unrolled and lying flat. The right and left sections of the perimeter frame 16a-b are permanently attached to the playing surface 20. The middle bar 18 is also permanently attached to the playing surface 20. The removable top and bottom perimeter frame sections 14a-b are detachable and are shown removed from the playing surface 20. The holding pins 12a-f are shown removed from their respective passageways 22a-f and female receptacles 24a-c. (While pins are discussed herein, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that a number of fastening means, e.g., screws, dowels, pegs, etc., may be used in lieu of, or in addition to, pins.)

FIG. 2 shows the improved portable backgammon board 10 fully assembled. To assemble the set 10 the top and bottom perimeter frame sections 14a-b are placed in the position shown in FIG. 2. The six holding pins 12a-f are then inserted through their respective passageways 22a-f and into their female receptacles 24a-c.

FIG. 3 shows the improved portable backgammon board 10 disassembled and the playing surface 20 rolled up. It also shows the top and bottom sections of the perimeter frame 14a-b next to the rolled up playing surface 20, as well as the six holding pins 12a-f.

Operation

To assemble the set 10 in accordance with the present embodiment the playing surface 20 is unrolled and the top and bottom perimeter frame sections 14a-b are placed in the position shown in FIG. 2. The six holding pins 12a-f are then inserted through their respective passageways 22a-f and into their female receptacles 24a-c.

Thus assembled, perimeter frame sections 14a-b and 16a-b holds the playing surface 20 flat and taut, similar to how a drum frame holds the skin of the drum taut.

Advantages of the Present Invention

From the description above, a number of advantages of the present invention become evident:

• • (a) the invention provides an improved portable backgammon board that is lightweight and can be rolled into a cylindrical type shape, which can also be unrolled and assembled to provide a raised full perimeter frame and a raised “bar” of the type found on traditional backgammon boards.
  • (b) the invention provides an improved portable backgammon board that is lightweight and can be rolled into a cylindrical type shape, which can also be unrolled and assembled to provide a playing surface that has a some degree of rigidity and is flat, which also has a raised full perimeter frame and a raised “bar” of the type found on traditional backgammon boards.
  • (c) the invention provides an improved portable backgammon board that is lightweight and can be rolled into a cylindrical type shape, which can also be unrolled and assembled to provide a playing surface that has a some degree of rigidity and is flat, which also has a raised full perimeter frame and a raised “bar” of the type found on traditional backgammon boards, which portable backgammon board may be transported in a tube.

Claims

1. A highly portable rectangular backgammon board comprising: a flexible playing surface, and a middle bar and two sections of a four piece perimeter frame, said middle bar and said two sections being permanently attached to the said playing surface, and further comprising two removable sections of the perimeter frame, and means for holding said two removable sections of the perimeter frame to the rest of the board.