INTERACTIVE PLAYTHROUGH POP-UP GAMESPACE APPARATUS

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dating back to ancient times, numerous embodiments of board games have been used as popular means of entertainment and socialization, typically employing two-dimensional or flatter three-dimensional boards or bases along with at least one collection of monochromatic movable pieces. In the modern era of gaming, many varieties of board game, playset, and collapsible game devices exist for closed world types of physical gaming, however, there are few interactive collapsible tabletop gamespaces that allow their audiences to create, combine, alter, and play through their own imagined world throughout the various adventures and quests that make up a role-playing campaign. Traditionally, groups of players would use two-dimensional grid maps alongside miniatures or figurines to track the progress of their adventure or campaign over the course of a multitude of days. However, this led to issues of space management and the need for detailed tracking between sessions to guarantee continuity, such as by photographs or hand-drawn maps. Alternative disclosed tabletop gamespaces may allow for quickly erected environments, but at the cost of the ability to freely add components in keeping with the open-world creative capabilities at the core of tabletop role-playing games wherein players' movements and actions should be limited only by their own imagination and not the physical capabilities of the products upon which their adventures may transpire. While these gamespaces may offer environments for play, they are predominantly unchanging and do not allow for through play wherein one environment naturally leads into an entirely different environment, nor are said prior gamespaces typically capable of alteration, customizability, non-permanent personalization, or much variation beyond the product as sold.

What is needed in the field is an interactive playthrough pop-up gamespace apparatus that quickly, easily, and reliably pops up and collapses while offering a multitude of stable and simply formed environments capable of supporting the use of gameplay components (such as miniatures and figurines) throughout the gamespace. What is further needed in the field are additional components, environmental features, and the like that may also be quickly, easily, and reliably removably attached to said gamespace apparatus thereby allowing for user customizability and personalization while individual portions of the gamespace itself may removably attach and secure to one another.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed invention relates to gamespaces used for role playing games. More particularly, it relates to an interactive tabletop playthrough gamespace apparatus configurable from a relatively flat storable position into a three-dimensional playable position capable of supporting additional components and combinably configurable by a user to the specific needs of the players.

SUMMARY

The interactive playthrough pop-up gamespace apparatus described herein provides players an environment in which to conduct their adventure, campaign, or gameplay that is expeditiously raisable and collapsible as well as sturdy enough to retain its shape once additional components, such as environmental elements and figurines/miniatures, have been placed atop its platforms. Capable of depicting a plethora of different environments (e.g., dungeon, ice mountain, village, cathedral), the gamespace apparatus's primary member includes a plurality of pop-up levels positioned at pre-set elevations and depths wherein it is possible for players to venture up, down, and through each interactive pop-up environment.

Additionally, it is contemplated herein that individual gamespace members are removably attachable to one another such that members may be connected to each primary member via stacking, side-by-side attachment, or back-to-back attachment wherein players who have traversed up, down, or through one member may immediately enter another thereby allowing for continuous gameplay. Additionally, securably removable components are contemplated as being magnetically attachable to each primary member and/or being addable to each gamespace via interlockable parts allowing for sustained upright orientation. One example may include a party traversing throughout multiple ice mountain environments having interlockable and standing ice crystals or ladders, and/or removably attachable magnetic doors or ice walls until a cave shaped aperture or door-covered aperture is reached and traversed through, thereby leading the players into a dungeon gamespace member removably attached back-to-back to said ice mountain gamespace member. Another example embodiment may be a deck of a ship wherein a securably removable component may be the mast and/or sails that interlock with both the gamespace's affixed components.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that each gamespace member, side portion, and any component additional thereto may be securably removably attachable to each individual gamespace member via magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners, insertable tabular members, snaps, latches, clasps, as well as other fasteners or equivalents thereof known in the art. These contemplated additional components may include bridges, stairs, trees, ladders, portals, doors, boxes, tables, as well as a myriad of alternative unenumerated items, objects, and environmental portrayals capable of being imagined and/or placed in each environment. It is contemplated that these items, objects, or general components in addition to, or in lieu of, being securably removable to the individual members may also be free-standing, which may be possible due to the interlockability of their individual parts, unfolding pop-up portions, and/or formation in an upright orientation. It is further contemplated that a portion of these items, objects, or components, whether securably removable or free-standing may be capable of adding lighting, visuals, or sounds associated with gameplay upon and within the gamespaces such that at least one component may emit light, other visual displays, or sound wherein it is additionally contemplated that these components may be customizable and/or remotely controllable.

Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the interactive playthrough pop-up gamespace apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Objects of the interactive playthrough pop-up gamespace apparatus, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the interactive playthrough pop-up gamespace apparatus, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, please refer to the accompanying drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures

FIG. 1A depicts an isometric front view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment having two stacked primary members oriented in a playable position.

FIG. 1B depicts a back view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment having two stacked primary members oriented in a playable position.

FIG. 1C depicts an isometric side view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment having two back-to-back removably attached primary members oriented in a playable position wherein one side boundary member is removed.

FIG. 2 depicts an isometric side view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment's primary member absent a side boundary member.

FIG. 3 depicts an isometric side view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment having two stacked primary members oriented in a playable position.

FIG. 4 depicts an isometric side view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment transitioning between a storable and a playable position.

FIG. 5 depicts an isometric side view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment's primary and side boundary member in a storable position.

FIG. 6A depicts an isometric side view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment's primary member in a storable position.

FIG. 6B depicts an isometric side view of an interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus embodiment's side boundary member having insertable tabular members.

FIG. 7 depicts an isometric view of a removably attachable light-emitting or visually alterable component.

FIG. 8 depicts an isometric view of a removably attachable light-emitting or visually alterable component.

FIG. 9 depicts a front view of a remote for the wireless control of components shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 depicts an isometric view of removably attachable walls and doors.

FIGS. 11A and 11B depict an isometric view and an exploded view, respectively, of removably attachable stairs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1A through 11B thereof, example embodiments of the interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus employing the principles and concepts of the interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described. The system, components, and elements depicted in the illustrated embodiments and described herein as well as those otherwise discussed are not meant to be limiting. It is readily understood that aspects, components, and elements of interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus can be arranged in a variety of different configurations, combinations, and amalgamations, all of which are contemplated herein. While figures depicted herein may include or exclude various aspects, components, or elements, it is understood herein that embodiments may include fewer or more features than are depicted, discussed, or otherwise disclosed in any manner herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1C, example embodiments of interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10 are depicted wherein two collapsible primary members 20 having at least one side boundary member 30 are disposed in a playable position and removably attached to one another in a stacked orientation (FIGS. 1A and 1B) and a back-to-back orientation (FIG. 1C). Each primary member 20 contains numerous collapsible components 40 affixed either directly or indirectly-in-series to both first and second boundary members 22, 24 creating a variety of different platforms, stairs, walkways, pits, arches, and other architectural features having differing elevations and depths when in a playable position. Each primary member 20 is depicted herein as possessing at least one play-throughable aperture 28 wherein users can play through one primary member 20 into another when they are removably attached in a back-to-back orientation as in FIG. 1C. Additionally contemplated embodiments may include removably attachable doors, walls, portals, and other stationary components that may block, cover, or otherwise curtail play-throughability of a given play-throughable aperture 28 based on the needs of the campaign, adventure, or quest. These contemplated stationary components may also be formed of interlockable components that interact with one another (as shown in FIG. 7), primary member 20, a component thereof, or a combination thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1C, interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10 is illustrated as having two primary members 20 depicted in back-to-back orientation wherein each is missing side boundary member 30, but both are able to retain their playable position although some collapsible components 40 appear less than level. As depicted, the larger primary member 20 includes first and second boundary members 22, 24 connected at each member's proximal edge by spine 26 and having foldable portion 23 proximal the distal edge of first boundary member 22 laying parallel to second boundary member 24. The smaller primary member 20, as depicted in the stacked orientation of FIGS. 1A and 1B, removably attaches to foldable portion 23 of first boundary member 22. It is further contemplated that said smaller primary member 20 may also possess foldable portion 23 about the distal edge of its first boundary member 22 wherein another primary member 20 may then be stacked thereon. Additionally, it is contemplated herein that in future embodiments, each primary member 20 may have at least one aligning play-throughable aperture in its second boundary member 24 and foldable portion 23.

Referring to FIG. 2, similar to FIG. 1A, two primary members 20 of interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10 are depicted in a stacked orientation with each possessing two side boundary members 30 placing them in a playable position. As illustrated herein, side boundary members 30 may operationally engage with primary member 20 either at or proximal to the side edges of first and second boundary members 22, 24. It is further contemplated that side boundary members 30 may include an aperture 32 and/or overhanging material (relative to collapsible component 40) to allow for expeditious set-up and removal of interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, one primary member 20 of interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10 having no side boundary members 30 is depicted wherein collapsible components 40 are in the process of folding down into a storable position. After the removal of side boundary members 30 from primary member 20, first boundary member 22 is able to fold down without separation from second boundary member 24 via spine 26 while foldable portion 23 will convert from a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to first boundary member 22 to a substantially parallel orientation.

Referring to FIGS. 5 through 6B, interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10 is depicted in its substantially flat and storable position. As illustrated, spine 26 allows first boundary member 22 (and foldable portion 23 thereof) and second boundary member 24 to lie substantially parallel to one another wherein all collapsible components 40 are capable of being folded down and substantially flattened, thereby allowing a user to store interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10 nearly anywhere. At least one side boundary member 30 having operationally engageable members 34 is illustrated wherein said operationally engageable members 34 comprise tabular members capable of being folded into a perpendicular alignment (relative to side boundary member 30) and being inserted into primary member 20 about its first and second boundary members 22, 24. Additionally contemplated embodiments of side boundary member 30 may include magnets, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, latches, insertable tabular members, as well as equivalent structures or combinations thereof known in the art. Said additionally contemplated elements may be included in the body of each side boundary member 30 and/or specifically in the body of each member's operationally engageable member(s) 34.

Referring to FIGS. 7 through 9, examples of removably attachable components 50 having remote 52 for wireless control thereof are illustrated wherein base 56 thereof may include magnets or other aforementioned structures allowing for attachability to interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10. FIGS. 7 and 8 depict at least one interlockable component 58 wherein housing 54 may be removed from base 56 to reveal and allow for replacement of any light-emitting technological component therein (such as a battery). Additionally, FIG. 7 is depicted as including at least one interlockable component 58 thereby allowing it to stand taller than its FIG. 8 counterpart. It is further contemplated that these interlockable components 58 may removably attach to each base 56, boundary member 22, 24, 30, or removably attachable component 50 via magnets, latches, hooks, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, as well as other structures known in the art or combinations thereof offering equivalent functionality.

While both FIGS. 7 and 8 depict removably attachable components 50 having interlockable components 58, it is contemplated herein that these and other removably attachable components 50 may alternative means of recharging or replacing internal electronic components. Additionally contemplated herein are interlockable components 58 creating removably attachable components 50 that resemble trees, bridges, ladders, platforms, crystals, fire, and all manner of accouterment, equipment, spells, or items that may be created, used, or encountered by a player using interactive pop-up playthrough gamespace apparatus 10. FIG. 9 depicts an example embodiment for remote 52 usable with light-emitting or visually alterable components. While depicted herein as connectible to all manner of components, it is contemplated herein that a single remote 52 may be used with each type of component.

Referring lastly to FIGS. 10, 11A, and 11B, examples of additional removably attachable components 50 are depicted. In FIG. 10, a potential embodiment of a portion of primary member 20 is shown with a plurality of removably attachable doors and walls creating a labyrinth, maze, or otherwise playthroughable expanse wherein a user may maneuver their character(s) through customizable hallways, open and pass through doorways therein, and meet enemies to battle. In FIGS. 11A and 11B, another example of additional removably attachable component 50 is depicted wherein stairs are formed from the magnetic combination of three separable portions, which are also contemplated herein as being combinable via interlockable parts. As previously discussed, these removably attachable components 50 are depicted herein as magnetically attachable to the portion of the primary member 20, however it is contemplated herein that alternative or additional fastenable elements may be used.