IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,220,646
Granted Patent B1
US 12,220,646 · App. 18/675,222 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Folding connect four

Inventor: Penghang Zhuang (Zhejiang, CN)
A63F3/00006A63F3/00261A63F2003/0041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,220,646
App. No.
18/675,222
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

The present invention discloses a folding Four In A Row, including a game board, where chess piece channels opened in bottoms and tops are formed in the game board; and a storage trough located right below the chess piece channels, where a chess piece tray capable of being folded is rotationally connected in the storage trough; in a case that the chess piece tray rotates in a folded state, the chess piece tray is located in the storage trough; a sealing member for sealing the bottoms of the chess piece channels is movably mounted between the chess piece tray and the chess piece channels; in a case that the sealing member releases sealing to the chess piece channels, the chess piece channels are connected to the storage trough; and supporting legs are detachably connected to a bottom of the game board, and a suspension member is arranged on the game board.

Claims (33)

1. A folding four in a row, comprising

a game board, wherein game piece channels opened in bottoms and tops are formed in the game board; and

a storage trough located right below the game piece channels, wherein the storage trough comprises a game piece tray rotationally connected in the storage trough such that the game piece tray can be folded;

wherein:

in a case that the game piece tray rotates in a folded state, the game piece tray is located in the storage trough;

supporting legs are detachably connected to a bottom of the game board, and a suspension member is arranged on the game board;

the game board is provided with a locking mechanism;

the locking mechanism comprises a rotating bar and a connector;

the rotating bar is rotationally mounted on a surface of the game board; and

the connector is mounted at the bottom of the game piece tray.

2. The folding four in a row according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of game piece show holes are formed in at least one side surface of each of the game piece channels.

3. The folding four in a row according to claim 1 , wherein a sealing member is arranged at the bottom of each of the game piece channels and is movably mounted between the game piece tray and the game board for sealing the bottom of the game piece channels.

4. The folding four in a row according to claim 3 , wherein in a case that the sealing member releases sealing to the game piece channels, the game piece channels are connected to the storage trough.

5. The folding four in a row according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension member comprises at least one hanging ring, and the at least one hanging ring is mounted outside the game board.

6. The folding four in a row according to claim 1 , wherein a slot located above the game piece tray is formed in the storage trough, and a sealing member is inserted into the slot.

7. The folding four in a row according to claim 1 , wherein a plug is arranged at an outer end of the rotating bar, and a plug hole formed corresponding to the plug is formed in the connector.

8. The folding four in a row according to claim 7 , wherein in a case that the game piece tray is located in the storage trough, the plug is inserted into the plug hole.

9. The folding four in a row according to claim 1 , wherein a second groove is formed in a side, facing the game board, of each of the supporting legs; a first groove formed corresponding to the second groove is formed in a bottom of each of the supporting legs; and the second groove and the first groove are plugged with each other.

10. A folding four in a row, comprising a game board, wherein

game piece channels opened in bottoms and tops are formed in the game board; and a storage trough located right below the game piece channels, wherein a game piece tray capable of being folded is rotationally connected in the storage trough;

a sealing member for sealing the bottoms of the game piece channels is movably mounted between the game piece tray and the game piece channels;

supporting legs are detachably connected to a bottom of the game board, and a suspension member is arranged on the game board; and

a limiting mechanism is at least arranged on one side between the game piece tray and the storage trough; and the limiting mechanism comprises a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod, wherein the first connecting rod is rotationally connected to an inner side surface of the storage trough, the second connecting rod is rotationally connected to an outer side surface of the storage trough, and ends of the first connecting rod and the second connecting rod close to each other are rotationally connected.

11. A method for storing a four in a row, comprising use of a folding four in a row, wherein the folding four in a row comprises a game board, game piece channels opened in bottoms and tops are formed in the game board; and a storage trough located right below the game piece channels, wherein a game piece tray capable of being folded is rotationally connected in the storage trough; a sealing member for sealing the bottoms of the game piece channels is movably mounted between the game piece tray and the game piece channels; supporting legs are detachably connected to both ends of the bottom of the game board, a suspension member is arranged on the game board; the suspension member comprises at least one hanging ring, and a slot located above the game piece tray is formed in the storage trough, the game board is provided with a locking mechanism; the locking mechanism comprises a rotating bar and a connector, a plug is arranged at an outer end of the rotating bar, and a plug hole formed corresponding to the plug is formed in the connector; the method comprises the following steps:

S1: taking out game pieces form the game piece channels, and storing the game pieces;

S2: turning the game piece tray to make the game piece tray be in a vertical state and located in the storage trough;

S3: in a case that the game piece tray is stored, locking the game piece tray in the storage trough by using a locking mechanism;

S4: pulling out the supporting legs form the bottom of the game board and storing the supporting legs; and

S5: hanging the at least one hanging ring on a hook, so as to hang, transport or store the game board.

12. The method for storing a four in a row according to claim 11 , wherein in a case that the game pieces are taken out, the sealing member is pulled out from the slot first, then the bottoms of the game piece channels are opened, the game pieces fall into the game piece tray to be collected, and then the game pieces are collected and stored.

13. The method for storing a four in a row according to claim 12 , wherein in a case that the game piece tray is stored in the storage trough, the sealing member is inserted into the slot again for storage.

14. The method for storing a four in a row according to claim 11 , wherein in a case that the game piece tray is locked, the game piece tray is pushed to rotate toward the connector, and the rotating bar that rotates inserts the plug into the plug hole of the connector, so that the game piece tray is stored in the storage trough.

15. The method for storing a four in a row according to claim 14 , wherein in a case that the game piece tray is locked, the rotating bar is located in front of the sealing member, so that the sealing member is also limited.

References Cited (5)
US 4131283A · Havlik · 1978 [cited by examiner]
US 4645209A · Goulter · 1987 [cited by examiner]
US 7810814B1 · Chapman · 2010 [cited by examiner]
Merlin article titled “DIY: create a wooden game for children” by Leroy Merlin, published Jan. 3, 2020 at https://www.leroymerlin.fr/tutos/tutos-creatifs-et-diy/diy-creer-un-jeu-en-bois-pour-enfants.html?utm_source=pint… [cited by examiner]
“NEW giant connect 4 game set” YouTube video uploaded on Jun. 24, 22 by sporting goods factoy—xinxing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAjRiH6KoRg) (Year: 2022). [cited by examiner]
Cited By (6)
US 1,096,955 US 1,117,482 US 1,136,028 US 1,137,415 US 1,144,600 US 12,434,130