US1468984A

US1468984A - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US1468984A
Application number: US593685A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Weaver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-10-11
Filing date: 1922-10-11
Publication date: 1923-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1940-09-25

Description

' Sept. 25 1923. 1,468,984

J. w. WEAVER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 11. 1922 Hu l.

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Application fllcd mm 11, 1922. Serial no. mass.

' clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to games or amusement devices and particularly to one adapted to have an educational value and to be played by one or more persons.

1 An object of the invention is the provision of a device of the characterdescribed which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, easy and unique in 1ts manipulation, and adapted to afford amusement to old as well as young.

- ,The invention,- is full described in the.

following specification, and while, in its broaderaspect it is capable of embodlment in numerous forms, a preferred embod1- ment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention. .Fig. 2 15 an enlarged section of the ball distributmg means of the device taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ball dis- I tributing means with. the cover thereof removed and with the balls shown in the position which they assume when the distributing means is rotated, and Fig. 4 isan enlarged fragmentary section on the line 44 in Fig. "1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a table, board or platform of circular disc form with the top thereof preferably sloplng slightly outwardly and downwardly in all directions from its center so that balls or marble-like members deposited thereon will havea tendency to roll towards the periphery thereof. This table is provided with an annular series of shallow pockets 2 on its top surface at its outer marginal edge portion, the pockets being open at their inner sides to the surface of the table and being closed at their outer sides by a band 3 which extends around the periphery of the table term and projects above the edge thereof to form I a flange, as best shown in Fig. 4. An annular "series of arbitrary numbers 4 is provided on the to of the table, preferably 1n inwardly space relation to the pockets 2, one number being provided for each pocket and bein dis osed in radial register therewith. e ta le is also provided on its top with an annular series of arbitrary'numbers 5, one for each pocket 2 and in radial register therewith. Associated with each number of the series 5, in the resent. instance, at their inner side thereof is either a minus, plus or multiple mark which indicates what is to be done with the particular number with respect to another number, as hereinafter more fully described.

The table 1 at its center is provided with a bearing member 6 in the present instance, of post form, which projects above the table top and has its upper end socketed to form a bearin ,for receiving the lower end of a shaft This shaft carries a cup-shaped ball distributin member 8 with a cover 9 for removably c osing its top, and the upper end of the shaft is provided with a knob or hand grip 10 tofacilitate a turning of the member. The member 8 is provided with a substantially flalt bottom portion with a. flange or side wall 8 rising from its margi nal edge, and is provided near its center with an annular series of depressions or ball receiving seats 11, in the present instance four in number, which are equidistantly distributed around the shaft axis. The bottom of the member without the seats 11 preferably in inwardly spaced relation to the outer wall 8 is provided with a series ofdischarge openings 12 arranged in substantially equidistantly spaced relation concentric to the member axis. The member is also provided with a number of radial partitions 13 corresponding to the number of seats 11 to divide the outer portion of the member into a plurality of radial pockets or chambers with one disposed without each seat. The cover 9 of the distributing member closes the to thereof except for the provision of an in ct opening 13 in the cover over each seat 11 so that a ball 14 may be dropped through each opening into a regisseat.

It 15 apparent that a rapid turning of the member 8 when a set of balls 14 are resting in the seats 11 thereof will cause an outward throwing of the balls b centrifugaliforce them against the outer wall of the member,

they will roll inwardly and drop from the member through one of the discharge openings 12 therein, and onto the top of the table 1, and then passing outward into different pockets 2 of the table. To facilitate the distributing action of the balls from the member 8 the outer portion of the member bottom is slightly outwardly and upwardly inclined, thus causing the balls to roll by gravity into registermg openings 12 when the rotation of the member is redu ed sufficiently to relieve the balls of the cent '.fugal holding force. It is apparent that the distributing member 8 may either be turned by hand or by winding a string on the handle 10 and then rapidly pulling the sameto effect a rotation of the member.

One method of playing the game is as follows: A number of persons up to four, in

. the present instance, each takes a ball 14 of a distinctive or identifying color or marking, and deposits it through an opening 13 in the distributin member into a receiving seat 11 thereof. c then imparts a quick rapid whirling movement to the distributing member 8, which causes an outward throwing of the balls 14 from the seats 11 into radially registering chambers between the flanges 13 where the balls are held by centrifugal force against the outer wall of the distributing members until the speed of turning has been reduced sufficiently to permit the balls to move inward and drop through the openings 12 onto the table, the balls then moving outward each into a different pocket 2 of the table. A record is then made for each player of the number in the series 4 with which his ball radially registers. The balls are then again dropped into the distributing member 8 and the member whirls as before to throw the balls to the outer side thereof and to permitthem to be distributed to the table when the whirling is stopped. The numbers in theseries 5 and the plus, minus or multiplicatio marks in connection therewith are now considered and the amount in register with each ball is then either added to, subtracted from or used essee-a as a multiplier for the numbers a desired number of operations and the person who at the end has the largest amount to his credit wins the game. It is evident that this amusement device is of particular educational value as the laying of the same re uires either the ad ition, subtraction or. mu tiplication of various numbers.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as 1t is capable of embodiment in numerous forms without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of playing balls, a table havin various ball receiving positions thereon, an a hollow rotatable distributing member adapted to hold the balls in initial position and when rotated to throw the balls to outer positions in the member and having inclined portions to then permit an inward gravity movement of the balls to and through registering openings in the member bottom onto the table top, the member being provided with ihterior portions which maintain the balls in predetermined circularly spaced relation when in their outer positions within the member.

2. In a device of the class described, a plurality of playing balls, a table having various receiving positions for the balls, a cuplike member rotatably mounted over the table and having provision for the introduction of the balls therein and provided internally with an initial seating portion for the balls with a plurality of flanges radiating from such portions to annularly divide the outer portion of the member into chambers and having discharge openings in its bottom in inwardly spaced relation to the outer wall of the member and inclines without the openings leading thereto, the balls being adapted to be thrown by centrifugal action from the initial seating positions thereof outward across the bottom openings and against the outer confining wall of the member on the bottom inclines when the member is rapidly rotated and to move inward by gravity to and through the discharge openings and onto the table when the balls are relieved of the centrifugal force.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

JoHN w. WEAVER.