US-20260124522-A1 - Transforming Game Piece

US20260124522A1US 20260124522 A1US20260124522 A1US 20260124522A1US-20260124522-A1

Abstract

An automatically transforming game piece having a body portion coupled between a base portion and a crown portion is provided. An internal actuation assembly and transformation control assembly cooperate to automatically transform the game piece between at least a first configuration and a second configuration. The actuation assembly may include magnetic elements, gears, and biasing members that coordinate movement of portions of the game piece between configurations.

Inventors

Riley P. Kolbow

Assignees

Riley P. Kolbow

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251103

Claims (19)

1 . An automatically transforming game piece comprising: a body portion having an upper end and a lower end; a base portion coupled to the lower end of the body portion; a crown portion coupled to the upper end of the body portion; and an actuation assembly operatively positioned within at least one of the base portion or the body portion and configured to cause the game piece to automatically transform between at least a first configuration and a second configuration; wherein the actuation assembly includes a transformation control assembly extending through the body portion and operatively coupled to at least one movable element of the base portion and at least one movable element of the crown portion, such that activation of the actuation assembly causes coordinated movement of the movable elements to transform the game piece between the first and second configurations.
2 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises an inner housing and one or more outer base panels movably coupled to the inner housing, the one or more outer base panels being configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position during transformation.
3 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 2 , wherein each outer base panel includes an arm extending into the inner housing and engaging at least one gear of the actuation assembly, the at least one gear being rotatably configured to drive movement of the outer base panels.
4 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 3 , wherein the at least one gear includes one or more slots configured to receive pins positioned on the arms of the outer base panels, wherein rotation of the at least one gear moves the pins along the slots and causes the base panels to move radially outward or inward.
5 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the crown portion comprises at least one support member and one or more crown panel members movably coupled to the support member and configured to move relative thereto during transformation.
6 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 5 , further comprising a crown cap enclosing at least a portion of the support member and crown panel members, and an indicator member extending through the crown cap to visually indicate a transformed state.
7 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly comprises: a carrier comprising one or more magnetic members; and a retention member configured to retain the game piece in a first configuration until a magnetic field acts upon the magnetic members to release the retention member and initiate transformation.
8 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 7 , wherein the retention member comprises one or more arcuate arms configured to engage notches formed in an inner surface of the inner housing to maintain the first configuration.
9 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 7 , further comprising a game board having one or more magnetic portions, wherein placement of the game piece on the magnetic portion of the game board causes movement of the magnetic members, thereby releasing the retention member and triggering transformation.
10 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the transformation control assembly comprises: a base spline gear positioned within the base portion; an intermediary spline gear axially aligned with and coupled to the base spline gear; a base shaft extending through the spline gears; a crown shaft coupled to the base shaft; and a biasing member positioned between the base and intermediary spline gears and a coupling area between the base shaft and crown shaft, wherein the biasing member stores energy to drive expansion or contraction of the game piece during transformation.
11 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 10 , wherein the base spline gear and the inner housing are keyed together to rotate in unison.
12 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the transformation is initiated by mechanical pressure applied to the crown portion.
13 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the transformation changes at least one of: the height of the game piece; the diameter of the base portion; or the configuration of the crown portion.
14 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the transformation corresponds to a change in character or rank of the game piece in a game, such as transforming a pawn into a queen in a chess game.
15 . The automatically transforming game piece of claim 1 , wherein the actuation assembly and transformation control assembly are entirely self-contained within the game piece and require no external power source.
16 . A method of transforming a game piece between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, the method comprising: providing a game piece having a base portion, a body portion, a crown portion, and an internal actuation assembly; actuating the actuation assembly in response to one of (a) placement of the game piece on a magnetic location, or (b) application of mechanical pressure to the crown portion; releasing a retention member to permit a biasing member to expand; and causing coordinated movement of base panels and crown panels via a transformation control assembly to change the configuration of the game piece.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein actuating the actuation assembly includes magnetically attracting a carrier having one or more magnetic members to displace the retention member from engagement with the inner housing.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising returning the game piece to its first configuration by re-engaging the retention member within the inner housing.
19 . A game system comprising: a game board having at least one magnetically active location; and at least one automatically transforming game piece according to any of claims 1-15 ; wherein placement of the game piece on the magnetically active location of the game board triggers transformation of the game piece between configurations.

Description

PRIORITY This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/715,496 , filed Nov. 1, 2024, titled “Transforming Game Piece,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD The present invention relates generally to game pieces, systems, and methods, and more particularly, to game pieces that are able to automatically transform their shape or configuration to become another game piece. BACKGROUND The history of game pieces dates back thousands of years, with evidence of their use as early as 5000 BCE in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt. Historically, game pieces were associated with or part of board games that entailed players moving the game piece around the game board in order to win. The boards and game pieces were sometimes intricately carved pieces. Early game pieces, often made of stone, ivory, or wood, served not only as functional markers but also as symbols of cultural and social values. For example, in Egypt, gaming pieces were sometimes carved in the shape of gods and were included in tombs to serve as entertainment for the deceased in the afterlife. As civilizations progressed their game pieces began to transform from simple stones or crafted tokens to more complex pieces. Similarly, the rules of games and the symbolism of the game pieces began to change to represent armies, cities, and hierarchical roles. This period marked the beginning of game pieces as a means to represent more abstract concepts, such as power and control. During the Middle Ages, game pieces took on new meanings with the rise of chess in India, later spreading to Persia and Europe. Chess pieces—like the king, queen, knight, and pawn—were designed to represent societal roles and hierarchies, making the game a reflection of medieval social structure. Crafted from materials like wood, bone, and ivory, these pieces showed the skill of artisans and symbolized the players'social status. The medieval fascination with strategy games cemented the idea that game pieces could be used to engage in mental exercises that mimicked real-life power dynamics and responsibilities, transforming them into tools for strategic and tactical thinking. In the 19th and 20th centuries, industrialization allowed game pieces to be mass-produced, making board games accessible to more people. Classic games like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue featured unique tokens that reflected aspects of modern life, from wealth to words to mystery-solving. The standardization of game pieces meant that a broader range of people could learn and play, helping create a shared cultural experience. By now, game pieces had evolved to serve dual purposes: practical, standardized tools for gameplay and symbols reflecting the game's thematic goals, whether it be property acquisition, vocabulary building, or crime-solving. Game pieces continued to evolve with digital and hybrid games incorporating virtual tokens and avatars. Despite these technological advances, the fundamental role of game pieces remains largely the same: to provide a tangible or visual element that represents the player, acts as a marker of progress, and brings thematic immersion to the game. Whether physical or digital, game pieces serve as a bridge between players and the game world, making abstract rules more concrete and engaging. This evolution of game pieces reflects both a continuity in their purpose and an adaptation to changing social, cultural, and technological contexts. Today, there is a movement away from digital games back toward physical games, like chess. The desire for physical games has increased such that some companies and players are beginning to create physical games and their game pieces from games that were developed for computers. Another type of game play that is having a resurgence are role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. These role-playing games were traditionally played using dice, gameplay books, and the players'imagination. Today, however, players are developing physical maps and game pieces that represent their mythical powers or character traits. What is needed are game pieces that are capable of automatically converting or changing from one type of game piece to another type of game piece. The above is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature, or advantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferred embodiments for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It is understood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to be commented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specified combinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to ga