US2919921A

US2919921A - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US2919921A
Application number: US625275A
Authority: US
Inventors: Berger Bernard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-11-30
Filing date: 1956-11-30
Publication date: 1960-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1977-01-05

Description

Jan.5, 1960 B. BERGER 2,919,921

' AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Ngv. 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

BYW/g M7134 B. BERGER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Jan. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1956 O-T-F 14 INVENTOR.

E am United States Patent() AMUSEMENT DEVICE y Bernard Berger, Detroit, Mich. Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,275 V2 Claims. (Cl. 273-145) The present invention relates to an improved amuse-A ment and recreation device for a household or public game or play room for the purpose of entertaining persons, young or old.

More particularly, the invention deals with a contest type of amusement device employing game pieces such as dice which are ordinarily cast manually by the participant onto a flat horizontal playing surface, the players score being noted or entered after each cast. lThe game of Indian Dicev is a typical pastime of this sort, although it is to be understood that the invention is not particularly limited as to Ithe character of the game pieces employed, and whether or not the rules of the game call for scoring. Thus, cubes having the faces thereof marked to depict playing card characters or pips may be employed in playing a simulated card game, or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide an amusement device of this character by which the players aots and the progress of play of the game are simplified and greatly expedited by provisions to automatically vibrate the dice or equivalent pieces after each play, and thus change the distribution and placement thereof on the playing surface. This is done by means of an electrically energized vibrator associated with a loosely mounted `playing table to shake the same with substantial frequency and amplitude each time a control push button is manually operated by the player.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an improved, manually controlled amusement device embodying a vibratory table member as described, preferably enclosed by a retaining wall of substantial height; an electromagnet coil with which this member is associated as an armature; a push button switch controlling the completion of a vibrating circuit through the coil, .thus causing the playing pieces to be quite violently vibrated, tossing them vertically and displacing them horizontally on the surface upon each such simulated cast; and, preferably in accordance with a further refinement of the invention, a suitable time delay means whereby the period of vibration may be maintained for any desired interval, cutting off automatically at the expiration of that interval.

Yet another object is to provide such an amusement device which may be relatively inexpensively produced in any desired size to accommodate any desired number of players, and which may be produced in any desired degree of richness and attractiveness of appearance. It is thus seen that a device is afforded which is suitable for use in a club game room, a household play or childs room, a commercial or public recreation hall, and the like.

Another and more specific object is to providev a device for the periodic agitation and bodily displacement of playing pieces, as described, in which dead spots on the playing surface, at which a playing piece or pieces might remain substantially undisplaced even under vibration, cannot occur. On the contrary, the provision of a cushion mounted playing table, loosely sustained within a confining wall, insures that all pieces are agitated with uniform and considerable violence upon each manipulation of the push button switch by the participant.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw' ings, wherein:

Fig. -1 is a perspective view of the device, showing a number of-dice-like play pieces on its playing surface;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device, with a. wall panel removed; Y

Fig. 3 is a top plan view partially broken away to show the electrical components and table mounting means; and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing essential vibratingv and control components and their operative connections.

The device of the invention, shown in a very simple unpretentious form, comprises a suitable open-topped casing or cabinet 10 provided with upstanding walls 11 arranged in a rectangular outline and secured to a base panel 12. This casing may be fabricated in any desired size or outline, and any desired degree of linene'ss of finish, depending upon the type of installation which is contemplated, the permissible selling price, etc.

The reference numeral 13 designates the playing panel or table of the device. 14 of ferrous, magnetically responsive material, faced on its top with 4felt or like fabric 15, suitable for the purpose, such as commonly surfaces billiard tables. Table 13 is of approximately the same size and outline as the playing space enclosed by walls 11 but has sulcient lateral clearance to be free of binding by the latter.

The height of the walls 11 is sufficient to provide an enclosure above the panel 13 of sufficient depth to pre` vent the playing pieces, represented by the dice 16, from bouncing out during their vibration. The corners within the walls are occupied by fixed rounded corner posts 17, and the walls and posts are faced with fabric in the same way as the table panel 14. It is seen particularly by reference to Fig. 2 that the posts 17 are spaced slightly above the table 13, affording corner niches receiving the corners of table 13. This permits a desired unimpeded vertical throw of the table throughout its area.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, opposed walls 11 are provided with horizontal shoulders or ledges 18 to support the table 13, and at each corner of the enclosure these shoulders carry cushions 19 of sponge or foam rubber or equivalent soft, readily compressible, sound deadening or damping elastic material. Upon these cushions the corners of the panel 13 rmt, loosely projecting beneath the corner posts 17, as described, and being free for vertical movement of substantial amplitude beneath the same. In order to permit access beneath the table, for servicing, it is desirable that one of the walls 11 or the base 12 be removable.

'Ihe reference numeral 20 generally designates an electromagnet coil mounted on a three pole core 21, with the center pole piece 21 of the core facing upwardly and spaced somewhat beneath the lower metal base panel 14 of the table 13. The top of the pole piece 21 is provided with a foam rubber cushion or bumper 22 which lies somewhat beneath the metal panel 14, and it is evident that, upon energization of the coil 20 by an alternating current voltage, the table 13 will be attracted toward and released from the pole piece 22, the panel 14 acting as an armature.

In order to emphasize the vibratory effect, a selenium rectifier 23 is included in the circuit (Fig. 4), acting to cut olf half the current sine wave peaks. The current ow is unidirectional, with spaced surges impart- Patented Jan. 5,1960?` It comprises a thin base sheetv E ing an. emphatic vibration to table 13. lt may be desirable in some instances to employ two rectiers, one each in series with the coil 20 and relay 25, in substitution for the single rectiiier 23.

The reference numeral 24 designates a conventional push button switch controlled by the player from the exterior of the casing; while the reference numeral Z designates a conventional time delay relay acting to control a contactor 26, by which the duration of flow of current through the coil 20 is determined. This relay is an entirely conventional type, provided with means (not shown) by which the delay period may be adjusted as desired, say, for two or three seconds. The electrical circuitry of Fig. 4 is simple and self-explanatory.

The operation of the device should be clear from the foregoing description. With the dice or like playing pieces 16 resting on the top of table 13, a closure of the bush button switch causes the electromagnet coil 20 to produce a high frequency vibration of the panel 13, in an amplitude sufiicient to cause the cushions 19 to be vertically compressed, then released, and the pieces 16 to be tossed and thoroughly redistributed as to their position and exposure of their marked surfaces. Relay 25 holds the circuit for the desired interval.

The players score Will be entered upon an appropriate scoring sheet after each play or simulated cast following a depression of the switch 24. The speed at which the game can be played is therefore seen to be limited practically only by the amount of time taken to enter successive scores, should the rules followed so prescribe. Obviously, play of the game may be carried out at a pace far in excess of that required when the individual pieces are picked up after each play, placed into a dice cup or the like, and again cast.

The provision of a cushioned mount 19 for the vibratory table 13 at each of its corners and cushioning of the coil core at 21', allowing an unrestrained vertical movement and return spring of the table in each such zone, eliminates the possibility of dead spots, at which the panel is vibrated not at all, or in an amplitude insuicient to properly toss and displace the pieces 16.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An amusement device comprising an open-topped box-like enclosure including an upstanding peripheral Wall, and a thin game piece supporting panel disposed l within said wall and confined thereby with substantial lateral clearance to permit looseness of action of the panel at its margin, cushion means of vertically yieldable, rubber-like, sound damping material within said enclosure upon which said panel rests and is resiliently sustained at said margin thereof, said enclosure wall having means substantially spaced above said panel at said margin for vertically restraining the panel while permitting appreciable vertical toss at said margin, and an electrically energizable device beneath said panel acting when energized to eiect such toss.

2. An amusement device comprising an open-topped box-like enclosure including an upstanding peripheral wall, a thin game piece supporting panel of magnetically responsive material disposed within said wall and conned thereby with substantial lateral clearance to permit looseness of action of the panel at its margin, cushion means of vertically yieldable, rubber-like, sound damping material within said enclosure upon which said panel rests and is resiliently sustained at said margin thereof, said enclosure wall having means substantially spaced above said panel at said margin for vertically restraining the panel while permitting appreciable vertical toss at said margin, an electrically energizable magnet unit disposed beneath the central zone of said panel in closely spaced vertical relation thereto, and an electrical circuit to energize said magnet unit and vibrate the panel, including a manual switch and an electrical time delay unit wired with said magnet unit to energize the latter upon actuation of said switch for a predetermined period determined by said time delay unit.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,290,689 Ward Jan. 7, 1919 1,330,284 Shafer Feb. 10, 1920 2,043,166 Hart et al. June 2, 1936 2,073,205 Grunig Mar. 9, 1937 2,104,314 `Wood Jan. 4, 1938 2,121,838 Stewart June 28, 1938 2,481,680 Mills Sept. 13, 1949 2,618,888 Hoff Nov. 25, 1952 2,717,158 Dieterich Sept. 6, 1955