Multi-level game board and its method of manufacture

Abstract

This invention relates to a multi-level game board apparatus for a game. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus may include a first board having a first marked surface forming a first plurality of game spaces, the first board also having a first positioning device. The apparatus has a second board having a second marked surface forming a second plurality of game spaces, the second board further having at least a second positioning device cooperable with the first positioning device. The second board may be selectably positionable relative to a portion of the first board. When the first marked surface is positioned relative to a portion of the second marked surface at least one of the second plurality of game spaces substantially underlies a section of the first board and the first positioning device cooperates with the second positioning device to form a model includable in the game.

1 . A multi-level game board apparatus for a game, the apparatus comprising:
 a first board having a first marked surface forming a first plurality of game spaces, the first board further comprising at least a first positioning device;   a second board having a second marked surface forming a second plurality of game spaces, the second board further comprising at least a second positioning device cooperable with the first positioning device to position the second board relative to the first board, the second board selectably positionable relative to a portion of the first board; and   wherein when the first marked surface is positioned relative to a portion of the second marked surface, at least one of the second plurality of game spaces substantially underlies a section of the first board and the first positioning device cooperates with the second positioning device to form a model representative of the concept of the game.   
   
   
       2 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the model represents a ship. 
   
   
       3 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a mast selectably connects to at least one structural member of the ship, the first board having at least one wall defining a hole passing through the first board, the mast cooperating with the hole when the ship is in an assembled condition, the mast selectably removable from the hole when the ship is at least partially disassembled. 
   
   
       4 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third board having a third marked surface forming a third plurality of game spaces. 
   
   
       5 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the third board selectably rotates in a plane approximately parallel to the first board or the second board. 
   
   
       6 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first board comprises a laser cuttable material. 
   
   
       7 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first marked surface includes a plurality of laser engraved polylines into the laser cuttable material. 
   
   
       8 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first marked surface includes a plurality of bas-relief game spaces. 
   
   
       9 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first marked surface includes 1 inch by 1 inch squares. 
   
   
       10 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of game spaces includes a plurality of colored areas or a grid having a plurality of adjacent game spaces. 
   
   
       11 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first board has an obverse marked surface, the obverse marked surface being opposed to the first marked surface. 
   
   
       12 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first board obverse marked surface when re-oriented to be visible to game players comprises a game value. 
   
   
       13 . A multi-level game board apparatus for a game, the apparatus comprising:
 a first game board having a first grid for positioning a first game piece;   a first outer frame adjacent to the first board, the first outer frame having a first positioning device;   a second game board having a second grid for positioning a second game piece;   a second outer frame adjacent to the second board, the second outer frame having a second positioning device, cooperable with the first positioning device, wherein the second board is selectably separable from the first board to facilitate playing the game, a first portion of the first grid selectably vertically overlies a second portion of the second grid when assembled; and   wherein the first outer frame and the second outer frame cooperate to form selectably a shape enhancing a game experience.   
   
   
       14 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 13 , the first or second board are formed from wood or plastic having a thickness of less than 1 inch. 
   
   
       15 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first board and the second board are selectably separable by a distance of greater than 25 mm. 
   
   
       16 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the shape is a ship, a galley, a castle, a tower, a spaceship, a cave, or a representation of a location. 
   
   
       17 . The multi-level game board apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first grid is vertically congruent with a portion of the second grid when the first outer frame and the second outer frame cooperate to form the shape. 
   
   
       18 . A method for making a multi-level game board apparatus for a game, the method comprising:
 shaping a first game board to form a first layer;   applying a first plurality of game spaces to the first game board;   modifying the first game board to have a first positioning device;   shaping a second game board to form a second layer, wherein the first layer aesthetically cooperates with the second layer;   applying a second plurality of game spaces to the second game board; and   modifying the second game board to have a second positioning device capable of cooperating with the first positioning device to orient the second game board in a first direction relative to the first game surface, the first game board being positionable to obscure selectably at least one of the second plurality of game spaces when viewed along an axis of the first direction, the first game board being further selectably separable from the portion of the second board to facilitate playing the game.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 connecting the first positioning device to the second positioning device; and   arranging the first game board and the second game board to form a shaped body.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the shaping of the first or second game board comprises laser cutting. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the applying of the first or second plurality of games spaces comprises laser engraving. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the laser engraving uses less than 15 Watts of continuous energy from a carbon dioxide laser with a feed rate of less than 50 inches per second. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 applying a third plurality of game spaces to an obverse game surface of the first or second game board.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first game board and the second game board is made by:
 providing a first laminate board;   cutting a plurality of apertures in the first laminate;   providing a second laminate board; and   bonding the second laminate to the first laminate to form a laminated game board.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 applying at least one first pigmented layer between a portion of the first laminate and a portion of the second laminate, the first pigmented layer underlying at least one of the plurality of apertures in the first laminate.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a first laminate board;   cutting a first plurality of apertures in the first laminate;   providing a second laminate board;   cutting a second plurality of apertures in the second laminate;   applying at least one pigmented layer, the pigmented layer contacting at least a portion of the first laminate cooperating with the plurality of apertures in the second laminate or at least a portion of the second laminate cooperating with the plurality of apertures in the first laminate;   connecting the second laminate to the first laminate to form a laminated game board;   including the laminated game board in the apparatus; and   wherein at least one of the first plurality of apertures is not vertically congruent with at least one of the second plurality of apertures.