Hard Case for Chess Equipment

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates generally to carrying cases and more specifically it relates to a hard case for chess equipment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous carrying cases have been provided in prior art that are adapted to store various items therein so that these items can be carried from place to place conveniently. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hard case for chess equipment that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Another object is to provide a hard case for chess equipment that is a compact and perfectly balanced case for safely storing and transporting all necessary chess equipment.

An additional object is to provide a hard case for chess equipment that will give maximum protection and prevent valuable chess equipment, such as chess clocks and good quality chess pieces, from being damaged while being carried.

A further object is to provide a hard case for chess equipment that is simple and easy to use, wherein it can perfectly fit and house everything needed for official chess tournaments, chess matches, all chess club meets and the like.

A still further object is to provide a hard case for chess equipment that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the instant invention in a closed position.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the instant invention in an open position with parts broken away and in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the padded receptacles.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a portion of the housing with parts broken away showing a first configuration of the tray therein with a button operated chess clock removed therefrom.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a portion of the housing with parts broken away showing a second configuration of the tray therein.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a portion of the housing with parts broken away showing a third configuration of the tray therein.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a portion of the housing with parts broken away showing the third configuration of the tray therein with the button operated chess clock placed within the tray.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a lever operated chess clock.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a fourth configuration of the tray with the lever operated chess clock placed therein, with parts broken away and in phantom.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the fourth configuration of the tray with the lever operated chess clock placed therein, taken in direction of arrow 9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken through the chess clock compartment with the lid in a closed position.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a chess clock with an extended base all the way around.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a fifth configuration of the tray showing the chess clock of FIG. 11 in phantom placed therein.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the instant invention in a closed position.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the instant invention with the second lid in an open position.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a corner broken away with the second lid in a closed position showing an overlap therein, typical for both lids.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the instant invention is a hard case 10 for chess equipment and consists of a housing 12 having three front compartments 14, 16 and 18 separated by two partitions 15 and 17, and a rear compartment 20. A lid 22 is hinged at 24 to the housing 12 over the three front compartments 14, 16 and 18. A door 26 is hinged at 28 to one end wall 29 of the housing 12 at the rear compartment 20.

Two removable padded receptacles 30 are each sized to hold, protect and store chess pieces 32 therein and are insertable into the first and third front compartments 14 and 18 in the housing 12. When each receptacle 30 is removed therefrom all the chess pieces 32 are taken out at once to allow for a quick set up of the chess pieces 32. A removable tray 34 is sized to hold, protect and store a chess clock 36 therein and is insertable into the second front compartment 16 in the housing 12. The tray 34 will hold the chess clock 36 firmly in place to prevent the chess clock 36 from moving about within the tray 34 even while the case 10 is being carried. An elongated tube 38 is sized to hold, protect and store a roll up type chess board therein and is secured within the rear compartment 20 in the housing 12. A handle 40 is attached to one side wall 41 of the housing 12 to be gripped by the hand of a person for carrying the hard case 10 from place to place.

A first latch mechanism 42 is located between the housing 12 and the lid 22 for keeping the lid 22 in a closed position when the hard case 10 is being carried. A second latch mechanism 44 which can be magnetic, is located between the end wall 29 of the housing 12 and the door 26 for keeping the door 26 in a closed position when the hard case 10 is being carried.

A second embodiment 10a is shown in FIGS. 13 to 14. The housing 12 has an enlarged compartment 46 directly behind the three front compartments 14, 16 and 18 and the rear compartment 20. A second lid 48 is hinged at 50 to the housing 12 over the enlarged compartment 46 so that books 52 and the like can be stored therein. A pocket 54 is affixed to the underside of the second lid 48 for holding various papers and the like. A third latch mechanism 56 is located between the housing 12 and the second lid 48 for keeping the second lid 48 in a closed position when the hard case 10a is being carried.

The tray 34 can come in various configurations to accommodate various types of chess clocks 36. Removable external spacers 58, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 3, 4, and 10 can be placed under the tray 34 in the second compartment 16 so that miscellaneous items can be stored under the tray 34. Removable internal spacers 59, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12, can be placed within the tray 34 to protect and prevent damage to the chess clock 36. Padding 60 can be detachably secured to the underside of the lid 22 directly above the first, second and third front compartments 14, 16 and 18. The padding 60 above the second front compartment 16 can contact the top of the chess clock 36 to protect the lenses 62 of the chess clock 36, while the padding 60 above the first and second front compartments 14 and 18 can fill part of the empty space in the receptacles 30 to reduce sound and the movement of the chess pieces 32 therein. A small groove 64 is placed into the end wall 29 of the housing 12 next to the door 26 so that the door 26 can be opened therefrom to overcome the magnetic second latch mechanism 44.

The hard case 10 or 10a can also include, but not shown in the drawings, a compartment in the end wall 29 of the housing 12 for holding a folding chess board. A side compartment can be utilized in place of the second lid 48 for holding the folding chess board. A miscellaneous compartment can be utilized in place of the second lid 48 for holding a score book. The side compartment and the miscellaneous compartment can be combined together for holding the folding chess board and the score book. The miscellaneous compartment for holding the score book can also be attached to the underside of the first lid 22 in place of the padding 60 above the second front compartment 16.

The removable tray 34 can be eliminated and replaced by special spacers which will be inserted into the second front compartment 16 to protect and prevent damage to the chess clock 36 installed within the second front compartment.

10 hard case

10a modified hard case

12 housing

14 first front compartment in 12

15 first partition in 12

16 second front compartment in 12

17 second partition in 12

18 third front compartment in 12

20 rear compartment in 12

22 first lid

24 first lid hinge

26 door

28 door hinge

29 end wall of 12

30 removable padded receptacle

32 chess piece

34 removable tray

36 chess clock

38 elongated tube

40 handle

41 side wall of 12

42 first latch mechanism

44 second latch mechanism

46 enlarged compartment in 12

48 second lid

50 second lid hinge

52 book

54 pocket

56 third latch mechanism

58 removable external spacer

59 removable internal spacer

60 padding

62 lens of 36

64 small groove in 29

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.