Patent no. 4062180: Electronic Chess Clock

Abstract: 'A chess clock is provided which is electronic in operation and digital in display having three modes of operation. In the first mode, the tournament mode, the display has two digital clock displays in minutes and seconds which indicate the time remaining in any given period for each player, together with the total number of required moves remaining. The total time allotted in each period, and the number of moves are programmable into the clock. The subsequent periods to the primary first period are also programmable into the clock with time remaining in preceding periods automatically added on to subsequent periods.'

Patent no. 4362393: Chess Clock

Abstract: 'A casing with common padded first and second cavities holds two self-contained, battery-operated, commercial, digital-electronic pocket-calculators in a removable fashion. The "equal/repeat" keys of both calculators are brought out to calculator-embedded contacts by the manufacturer. The casing further includes a rocking rod, two micro switches, a battery and a control circuit. The control circuit develops "shorts" spaced by one second time intervals. The calculators are used as time-pre-programmed, decrementing, by seconds, time, scorekeepers as the shorting pulses are applied to the one calculator whose owner's move it is in a game of speed chess. The calculators and other parts are consumer-replaceable.'

Patent no. 4369975: Display Tile for Electronic Chess Game

Abstract: 'A display tile for use in a chess game matrix has optical display segments which may be actuated to simultaneously display chess men and the allowed direction of movement of the chess men during the game of chess.'

Patent no. 4371168: Pocket-size Chess Game

Abstract: 'A pocket-size chess set is disclosed, comprising a pair of identical panels pivotally secured at their inner edges to a narrow third intermediate panel, whereby the first two panels may be folded together to form a case with the third panel acting as a spine. Two slidable para-magnetic checkerboard halves are provided, on the top surface of each of the first two panels. Thirty-two chessmen are also provided. Each of the latter is provided with a magnetic element on its back and bottom surfaces. Thus, each chessman may be placed either horizontally or vertically on the checkerboard halves. The squares of the latter have a recessed portion and their margins are also recessed for the placing of captured chessmen thereon. The case is kept in closed position by the magnetic attraction of the chessmen for one another.'

Patent no. 4398720: Robot Computer Chess Game

Abstract: 'The computer robot arm chess game assembly is provided with a chess board, magnetized chess pieces, auxiliary parking locations for the chess pieces, and an articulated radially moving robot arm. The robot arm can perform all the functions of an opponent including setting up the chess board, captures, promotions, castling, etc. The chess board and parking locations include magnetic members to not only activate resilient switches but further to spatially position the chess pieces for accurate location to assist the robot arm. Among the other interesting features, the robot arm can show emotional characteristics which can be accompanied by appropriate sounds and lights contemporaneous with a significant occurrence during the progress of the chess game.'

Patent no. 4504060: Chess-like Game with Two Vertically Spaced Boards

Abstract: 'A chess-like board game apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first game board having forty-two playing positions arranged in six file rows and seven rank rows. Two of the positions include obstructions thereon such that they are not available for occupancy by a playing piece. The two obstructions also act as supports for a second game board held in spaced relationship above the first game board. The game is played by two opponent's, each using four playing pieces corresponding to the king, knight, rook and bishop of the conventional game of chess. A die is utilized to introduce the element of chance.'

Patent no. 4513974: Chess Box

Abstract: 'A novel chess box comprising a main body portion having a magnet at its center, a lid hinged on the main body portion, a pair of containers each pivoted on the main body portion and provided with a sheet iron, a positioning plate removably mounted on the main body portion, a number of boards for various kinds of board games, and a plurality of playing pieces for playing with the board games.'

Patent no. 4515371: Instructional Chess Game

Abstract: 'Basal configurations of each of the play pieces permit each and any of the play pieces to rest in the appropriate play squares and face only such directions as are allowed in accordance with the rules of the game of chess, whereby in such attitudes when the play pieces are correctly aligned and resting in the play squares such play pieces are actuated to display and execute an aggressive action appropriate to the character of each particular play piece; the pawns may swing an axe, the kings may swing a sword, the rook-castles, the bishops and queens may propel a projectile whilst the knights may swing a lance, all such representational actions and weapons are to physically attack and strike the opponent playpieces as a prelude to the "taking" of the pieces so attacked.'

Patent no. 4553756: Circular Chess

Abstract: 'A circular game area is defined on a substantially planar game surface and includes fourteen generally straight, elongated radial zones spaced about and extending outward from a central zone. Each of the radial zones includes eight discrete spaces of two alternating colors spaced therealong and each set of corresponding spaces of the zones are disposed in an annular path extending about the central zone and the colors of each set of annular path spaces alternate thereabout. The fourteen zones include a pair of home zones arranged diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of the central zone and with six of the radial zones disposed between the home zones in each direction extending about the central zone.'

Patent no. 4653759: Three-person Chess Game Board

Abstract: 'The disclosure is of a three-person chess game and board having a central playing area in the form of an equilateral triangle bordered at each of its three sides by a rectangular playing field or area having at least two rows of eight squares each according to at least part of the conventional chess or checker board. Each rectangular field is contiguous with its side of the triangle and moves are made from the rectangle into the triangle and subsequently into either of the other rectangles according to prescribed rules. At least some of the moves are dictated by an element of chance, such as the roll of one die. The rectangles are identical and three conventional chess sets are used, albeit these may be of contrasting colors as may be the markings of the chess board squares as well as the smaller triangles into which the basic central triangle is subdivided.'

Patent no. 4708349: Chess for Play by Two, Three or Four Persons

Abstract: 'A chess game is provided for play by two, three or four persons played according to the conventional rules of chess as to movement and capturing of pieces, castling, check and checkmate. As in conventional chess, each player possesses an initial force of a king, a queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks and eight pawns. The game is played on a checkerboard having two hundred eight playing squares arranged in a central playing array of twelve bilaterally arranged rows having twelve squares per row and bordered by four smaller staging arrays, each of the staging arrays having eight bilaterally arranged rows of two squares per row. One of each of the four staging arrays is longitudinally centered on and contiguous with each of the four sides of the central playing array. Two of the four staging arrays have squares of different colors from each other. The players may play as individuals, or they may play as partners, including two playing as partners against a third or four playing as two sets of partners against one another.'

Patent no. 4778187: Modified Chess Game Method of Play

Abstract: 'A method for playing a modified chess game, on a modified chess board having a main playing area of eight squares by eight squares with each side extending four rows to form a plus-type design having a total of 128 alternating black and white squares, uses two to four sets of conventional chess pieces, each set being a different color. At least two of the sets are arranged so that all queens occupy the same colored squares. Then all pieces move in the conventional manner. In addition, when a pawn takes an opposing piece and enters into one of the four extended rows, it continues on a straight path toward the furthest row of that extended area.'

Patent no. 4804191: Method of Playing Quad-radial Chess

Abstract: 'A chess game having a circular chess game board and 32 chess pieces. The game board is subdivided into four equally sized quadrants where each quadrant represents an 8.times.8 chess game board. The quadrants form a pattern of eight concentric rings of spaces. Each group of 16 chess pieces, one group for each player, is initially positioned to occupy the spaces on the two outermost concentric rings. A first group occupies two quadrants and a second group occupies the two other quadrants. The game provides 3 modes of play. Each mode of play requires a different limitation of the movement of chess pieces within the quadrants.'

Patent no. 4842133: Chess Equipment Carrying Bag

Abstract: 'A fabric bag for carrying and storing chess equipment comprising of two external strap carrying handles, a single external zipper longitudinally enabling the bag to be completely closed or when open to lie flat on a surface, two internal zippered pockets attached to one side at opposite ends for the storage of game pieces, two internal hook and loop straps attached to one side above the pockets for the securing of a rolled flexible playing board, two internal hook and loop straps attached to one side between the zippered pockets for the securing of a tournament chess clock and having all non-zippered sides internally padded.'

Patent no. 4856789: Chess Games

Abstract: 'An improved chess set, for play by opposing two-man teams, comprises a game board fifteen squares wide and twelve squares deep. Each team has a playing piece set comprising a common king and a player set for each of the team players. Each player set, color coded for identification, comprises two rooks, two knights, two bishops and a queen disposed on the outside rows of the game board. Each player set further comprises seven pawns, disposed on the squares immediately in front of the seven principal pieces. Each team set of playing pieces further includes a warder, for common play by either team member. The warder is initially disposed on the square in advance of the king and may be moved to any of the squares within a designated "castle area". The warder may be captured only by a knight or pawn. Each team member is limited to moving the pieces of his assigned player set, plus his team's king and warder. Excepting the provisions relating to the warder, the movement of playing pieces and their capture may be the same as in the well recognized rules of the game of chess.'

Patent no. 4884255: Digital Chess ('Fischer') Clock

Abstract: 'A game timing apparatus and method for simultaneously timing events for two players is disclosed. The method involves presetting a pair of clocks for respective initial time periods, starting one of the clocks to time a first player's move, simultaneously stopping one clock and starting the other, and incrementing or decrementing each of the clocks by a time interval once for each move or a group of moves. The apparatus includes a pair of clock means, a pair of start switches for starting and stopping the clock means, and a compensation means for incrementing or decrementing each clock means by a time interval.'

Patent no. 4940241: Three Player Chess-type Game

Abstract: 'A three player chess-like game comprising a game board including an equilateral triangle-shaped playing surface having an array of equilateral-triangle shaped playing spaces demarcated thereon, with home area playing surfaces at each side of the equilateral triangle-shaped playing surface, and a set of corresponding game pieces for each of three players. Each set of game pieces may include six pawns, two rooks, two bishops, one king, and one queen, each of which is governed as to its mobility in play by rules which are specific to the game board geometric configuration.'

Patent no. 4984808: Color Crayons and Boardgames Combination Set

Abstract: 'A color-crayons and board games combination set, which comprises a case formed of two pivoted parts for receiving different chessboards and pieces. The two pivoted parts have each a track on its back side around its periphery so that different chessboards can be drawn out and then pushed back into place. The case defines therein a trough covered with a sliding cover board for receiving a variety of writing materials, and a plurality of raised grooves for receiving different pieces which are simultaneously used as color-crayons and chessmen.'

Patent no. 4991856: Circular Chess Game Board

Abstract: 'Circular game boards for play of a game of a variety of chess by two or more players, each of the boards having a plurality of playing spaces arranged in circular ranks and radial files, a plurality of non-playing spaces disposed between adjacent playing spaces on a diagonal, and a neutral central non-playing area, the neutral central area being provided with a center graphic which facilitates movement of the pieces across the central area.'

Patent no. 5031917: Three Dimensional Chess Game

Abstract: 'A Chess game has eight similar conventional 64 square chess boards. The boards can be stacked vertically, one above the other or can be laid out flat, one adjacent to the other. One set of chessmen is initially arranged in normal fashion on one side of the topmost board while the other set of chessman is arranged in normal fashion on the lowermost board on the side thereof opposite to that one which the first set is arranged. A second row of pawns is provided for each set, one of which is arranged in the first row of the board directly below the topmost board and the other of which is arranged in the first row of the board directly above the lowermost board. The pieces are moved as in a regular game of chess except that moves can be made both vertically and horizontally with the proviso that a piece cannot be moved both fore or aft and up or down in the same move.'

Patent no. 5050740: Hard Case for Chess Equipment

Abstract: 'A hard case for chess equipment is provided and consists of a housing having three front compartments and a rear compartment. A lid is hinged to the housing over the three front compartments while a door is hinged to the end wall of the housing at the rear compartment. A removable padded receptacle is for protecting and storing chess pieces within the first and third front compartments. A removable tray is for protecting and storing a chess clock within the second front compartment. An elongated tube is for protecting and storing a roll up type chess board within the rear compartment. A handle is attached to one side wall of the housing for carrying the hard case from place to place. In another embodiment the housing has an enlarged compartment directly behind the other compartments with a second lid hinged thereto so that books and the like can be stored therein. A pocket is affixed to the underside of the second lid for holding various papers and the like.'

Patent no. 5112056: Method of Playing a Three Dimensional Pyramidal Chess Game

Abstract: 'A multi-tier checkered gameboard having rows and columns, is disclosed. The multi-tier checkered gameboard includes a first tier which includes 8 rows and 8 columns of 64 equal sized squares. The 64 equal sized squares alternate in color from clear to tinted. A second tier having a center with a hole and is displaced a distance above the first tier, and includes 4 rows and 4 columns of 16 equal sized squares, the 16 equal sized squares alternates in the color from the clear to the tinted. A third tier having the center with the hole and is displaced the distance above the second tier, and includes 2 rows and 2 columns of 4 equal sized squares, the 4 equal sized squares alternate in the color from the clear to the tinted. A fourth tier displaced a distance above the third tier, and including 1 square, the square being the color of clear.'

Patent no. 5171018: Math-chess and the Method of Playing

Abstract: 'The present invention relates to a math-chess and the method of playing it. The math-chess comprises one checkerboard and 32 pieces. The checkerboard is like that used in the ordinary chess. The pieces are in two colors, sixteen pieces each, they are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, +, -, *, .div., X and Y. X and Y can be used to represent any number. The said math-chess is for two players. A game of the math-chess has four stages: disposing, disclosing, moving and concluding. The position is made secretly. The rules of playing are like those used in Chinese checkers. The aim of moving is to form an algebraic expression with the pieces of one's own side so that it can constitute an equation with the opponent's pieces and take them.'

Patent no. Apparatus and Method of Playing Double Chess Game

Abstract: 'A modified chess game for play by two opposing players comprises a game board eight squares wide and sixteen squares deep, foldable at its midsection to create a carrying case for the pieces. Each player has a playing pieces set consisting of two kings, two queens, four rooks, four knights, four bishops and sixteen pawns. The pieces are positioned as in conventional chess, except that each row is doubled. Playing pieces are moved pursuant to conventional movements and rules of capture, except that pawns may advance two spaces at a time as long as they are in their own territory, and must reach the sixteenth row to be exchanged for any playing piece but the king. The game may be played so that a player wins by capturing both of his opponent's kings, or by capturing only one.'