ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,551,779, issued on Feb. 17.
"Adaptive checker game piece with gripping leaf" was invented by Michael F. Russo Sr. (Everett, Mass.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An adaptive checker piece for facilitating gripping and manipulation of the checker piece comprising a round main body and a gripping leaf extending therefrom. The gripping leaf forms a segment of a cone spanning an angular range Alpha, and the gripping leaf is angled outwardly relative to a central axis of the main body at an angle Beta. A round upper platform projects concentrically from the main body but with a smaller diameter whereby an upper raceway is formed. The gripping ...