Portable, adaptable drawing surface for strategy games

Abstract

A portable, adaptable gaming surface for use in strategy games and planning boards is disclosed which comprises tiles the surfaces of which are printed with grids and are compatible with the use of dry-erase markers for drawing upon such tile surfaces. Tiles comprise means of interconnecting with other like tiles, preferably using jigsaw-puzzle-like tabs extending from at least two edges of such tile, and cut-outs, configured to receive such tabs receding into two opposing edges of such tile.

1 . A portable, adaptable gaming plane, said gaming plane providing an area upon which to draw erasable maps for strategy games comprising a plurality of interconnecting tiles, each of said tiles being a substantially non-flexible tile and comprising: 
 a. at least three edges comprising means for interconnecting;    b. a surface compatible with the use of a dry-erase marker such that marks upon said surface made using said dry-erase marker are easily erased; and    c. a grid perceptible on said surface, said grid formed by delineations such that said delineations align with delineations forming like grids perceptible on like tiles interconnected with said tile.    
   
   
       2 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 1 , wherein said means for interconnecting comprises: 
 a. shaped projections extending centrifugally from adjacent edges of said tile; and    b. mouths recessing centripetally from edges of said tile opposite said adjacent edges, said mouths configured to lockingly receive shaped projections extending from said other like tiles.    
   
   
       3 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 2 , wherein said tile comprises a substrate upon which is disposed said grid and wherein said surface is achieved by overlaying a dry-erase cladding upon said substrate such that said grid is perceptible through said dry-erase cladding.  
   
   
       4 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 1 , wherein said grid comprises one of a Cartesian grid and a honeycomb grid formed by said delineations.  
   
   
       5 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 4 , wherein said tile comprises a substrate upon which is disposed said grid and wherein said surface is achieved by overlaying a dry-erase cladding upon said substrate such that said grid is perceptible through said dry-erase cladding.  
   
   
       6 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 5 , wherein said means for interconnecting comprises: 
 a. shaped projections extending centrifugally from adjacent edges of said tile; and    b. mouths recessing centripetally from edges of said tile opposite said adjacent edges, said mouths configured to lockingly receive shaped projections extending from said other like tiles.    
   
   
       7 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 5 , wherein said means for interconnecting comprises: 
 a. at least one peg extending centrifugally from at least one edge of said tile; and    b. at least one aperture recessing centripetally from at least one edge of said tile, said at least one aperture configured to lockingly receive a similarly configured peg extending from said other like tiles.    
   
   
       8 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one peg further comprises a ball located at an end of said at least one peg distally from said tile center.  
   
   
       9 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 5 , wherein said means for interconnecting comprises 
 a. tongues extending centrifugally from adjacent edges of said tile; and    b. grooves recessing centripetally from edges of said tile opposite said adjacent edges, said grooves configured to lockingly receive tongues extending from said other like tiles.    
   
   
       10 . The portable, adaptable gaming plane of  claim 5 , wherein said means for interconnecting comprises: 
 a. a first magnetic material having a polarity disposed on an at least one edge of said tile; and    b. second magnetic material having an opposite polarity to that of said first magnetic material disposed on an at least one edge of said tile.    
   
   
       11 . A tile for use in assembling a portable, adaptable gaming plane, said tile being a substantially non-flexible tile, said gaming plane providing an area upon which to draw erasable maps for strategy games, said tile comprising: 
 a. at least three edges comprising means for interconnecting a plurality of like tiles therewith;    b. a surface compatible with the use of a dry-erase marker such that marks upon said surface made using said dry-erase marker are easily erased; and    c. a grid perceptible on said surface, said grid formed by delineations such that said delineations align with delineations forming like grids perceptible on said like tiles interconnected with said tile irrespective of relative orientations of said tile and said like tiles.    
   
   
       12 . The tile of  claim 11 , wherein said means for interconnecting other like tiles therewith comprises: 
 a. shaped projections extending centrifugally from adjacent edges of said tile; and    b. mouths recessing centripetally from edges of said tile opposite said adjacent edges, said mouths configured to lockingly receive shaped projections extending from said plurality of like tiles.    
   
   
       13 . The tile of  claim 12 , wherein said tile comprises a substrate upon which is disposed said grid and wherein said surface is achieved by overlaying a dry-erase cladding upon said substrate such that said grid is perceptible through said dry-erase cladding.  
   
   
       14 . The tile of  claim 11 , wherein said grid comprises one of a Cartesian grid and a honeycomb grid formed by said delineations.  
   
   
       15 . The tile of  claim 14 , wherein said tile comprises a substrate upon which is disposed said grid and wherein said surface is achieved by overlaying a dry-erase cladding upon said substrate such that said grid is perceptible through said dry-erase cladding.  
   
   
       16 . The tile of  claim 15 , wherein said means for interconnecting said plurality of like tiles therewith comprises: 
 a. shaped projections extending centrifugally from adjacent edges of said tile; and    b. mouths recessing centripetally from edges of said tile opposite said adjacent edges, said mouths configured to lockingly receive shaped projections extending from said other like tiles.    
   
   
       17 . The tile of  claim 15 , wherein said means for interconnecting said plurality of like tiles therewith comprises: 
 a. at least one peg extending centrifugally from at least one edge of said tile; and    b. at least one aperture recessing centripetally from at least one edge of said tile, said at least one aperture configured to lockingly receive a similarly configured peg extending from said other like tiles.    
   
   
       18 . The tile of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one peg further comprises a ball located at an end of said at least one peg distally from said tile center.  
   
   
       19 . The tile of  claim 15 , wherein said means for interconnecting said plurality of like tiles therewith comprises 
 a. tongues extending centrifugally from adjacent edges of said tile; and    b. grooves recessing centripetally from edges of said tile opposite said adjacent edges, said grooves configured to lockingly receive tongues extending from said other like tiles.    
   
   
       20 . The tile of  claim 15 , wherein said means for interconnecting said plurality of like tiles therewith comprises: 
 a. a first magnetic material having a polarity disposed on an at least one edge of said tile; and    b. second magnetic material having an opposite polarity to that of said first magnetic material disposed on an at least one edge of said tile.