US3309090A

US3309090A - Spring propelled magnetic disk game device

Info

Publication number: US3309090A
Application number: US357968A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edouard M Sire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-04-07
Filing date: 1964-04-07
Publication date: 1967-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-03-14

Description

arch i4, i967 E. M. SlRE 3,309,090

SPRING PROPELLED MAGNETIC DISK GAME DEVICE Filed April '7, 1964 MW lllllllll FIG. 3

FIG. 3A

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FIGJZ INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofice 3,309,090' Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,309,0 SPRING PRGPELLED MAGNETIC DISK GAME DEVICE Edouard M. Sire, 69 W. 9th St., New York, N.Y. 10011 Filed Apr. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 357,968 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-89) This invention relates to games and more particularly to a magnetic game element.

Many games or the like are based upon the use of a striker arm which is employed to propel a movable object such as a disk. In many cases the striker arm is cocked as by compressing a spring and is released so as to propel the disk. Such an action might be employed in various types of games. However, a serious defect of such action is that it is diicult to maintain effective control of the disk trajectory unless a seat is provided for the disk. Even so, the spring generally dissipates substantial energy before striking the disk and the consequent uncertainty of action likewise constitutes a defect.

With the foregoing in mind, and in the interest of further advantages as will be shown hereinafter, I have devised a propelling arm which eliminates the above objections and which further provides a most unusual action in that the disk or other propelled object is thrown or flung rather than being struck. Not only does this result in most effective control of the trajectory but it simulates throwing action as by the pitcher in a baseball game. It is understood, of course, that a pitcher in such a game does not strike the ball; he holds the ball, retracts his arm and then throws or dings the ball towards the batter.

I have provided the desired structure by forming a striker arm of ferrous spring material which can coact magnetically with a disk fabricated of permanent magnetic material. The propelling arm is preferably formed with a concave portion which serves to temporarily seat the disk in a pre-determined position relative to the propelling arm. The arm then may be flexed or bent against its spring action, the disk following such movement of the arm because of its magnetic adherence thereto. When the arm is released, the disk will be forcefully thrown or flung in a direction calculated by the player. v

A device of the above type may find particular usefulness in a game such as where the pitcher throws fan object to a catcher while a batter attempts to hit the object during its ight so as to achieve a score of some kind. However, the device will be found to be useful in many other types of games.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and figures in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a game board illustrating my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of a modified embodiment of the propelling arm, and;

FIGURE 3A is a side view of said modified embodiment.

The game shown in FIGURE 1 simulates a simplified baseball action, probably more in the nature of a warmup or bull-pen action rather than the complete game. The game comprises a board 10, the playing surface of which is flat or planar apart from receptacles or chambers 13 which are formed by respective depressions at opposite ends of the board 1i). It may here be explained that since the game as described is suitable for back-andforth operation by two opposing players, the playing areas or formations at one end of the board duplicate those on the other end, while a runway 11 connects the respective ends.

Referring now to end A of the board, an elevated plate 14 is provided which may be continuous with a wall 1S which wall extends along most of the entire side of the device, thus serving as a confining wall as will hereinafter be made clear.

Propelling arm 16 is of ferrous material, being fabricated of a fiat spring steel of a type used for the mainspring of large clocks. In the form shown it is about two or three inches long, with a width of about 1/2 inch and a thickness of about 1/32 inch, but these measurements are not important to the operation of the device. The spring arm or propelling arm 16 has the inner end thereof embedded in wall 15 while the outer end is slightly bent at 17 to provide a fingertip holding member.

Substantially centrally of propelling arm 16 is formed a concavity 18 which serves as a seat for the disk 19 which constitutes the playing disk or ball.

Disk 19 is a permanent magnet of conventional construction. For example, the ferrite type which is bonded by a ceramic may be employed in the interests of lightness. However, an Alnico magnet is also usable. Such a magnet is generally polarized on the opposite fiat faces thereof (as described in my prior Patent No. 3,090,622 dated May 21, 1963, although such particular polarization is not important in the present environment). In a satisfactorily operating embodiment, the disk 19 was about 3A of an inch in diameter, about 1A; of an inch thick and weighed about 1/2 ounce.

The opposite end or area B of the board is provided with a substantially U-shaped wall 20, the wall 20 having one outwardly inclined arm to widen the U, the wall 20 being fixedly mounted on the board and serving as a catching enclosure for the propelled disk. Thus, it may be considered that wall 20 is the catcher in the garne. As `will be shown hereinafter, if the batter misses the ball it will come to rest in the catcher enclosure 20.

Wall 21 of U-shaped catcher enclosure 20 has embedded therein one end of a fiat spring 22. Spring arm 22 simulates the action of a bat. It may be fabricated of the same material as propelling arm 16 although its ferrous nature is not of importance since its magnetic coaction with the disk will 'be of no consequence. Spring arm 22 normally extends directly outwardly as shown by the full lines on FIGURE 1. It is cocked when a player draws back the free end thereof to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 1. It will be observed that wall 15 is curved outwardly to permit such cocking and is further formed with a limiting projection 23 to insure against the bat 22 being drawn too far rearwardly which might damage it.

The operation of the game will now be explained.

First, the player at end A will deposit permanent magnet disk in the concavity 18, where it will adhere and become seated byA virtue of magnetic attraction between the disk 19 and the steel spring propelling arm 16. The player will then draw rearwardly on the end 17 until the propelling arm 16 is approximately in the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 1. It will be understood that the seated disk 19 will follow the propelling `arrn as it is retracted. This is indeed a most unique action in that it simulates the action and function of :a live pitcher in a baseball game. In other words, a pitcher generally holds the ball, retracts his arm `and then ings or propels the ball forward. The same general action occurs in my game since the disk 19 is held by the striker arm, retracting with it, and is thereafter iiung forwardly when the striker ann is released.

Assume now that player at A has retracted and then released the propelling arm 16. Normally, the diametrical chord of concavity 18 is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongated board. Accordingly it will be found that the trajectory of the disk is directly forwardly in the path of the diametrical chord and is further adjacent to the central reach of wall V as indicated by arrows 25, the wall 15 confining but not touching or guiding the disk. The disk willtravel down one side ofrunway 11, toward the spring bat or arm 22. The player at end B has meanwhilev cocked thev bat 22 rearwardly. He awaits arrival of the disk 19 just :as would a batter in a baseball game. n

When the disk 19 arrives at the playing area B, the batter will release the b-at 22 at what he believes is the proper time. If he hits it, the disk 19 will move somewhat in the direction of arrows 25 and will come to rest in the depression or receptacle 13. lf he should miss or not swing at all, the disk may lbe caught in the U-Shaped catcher enclosure 20, although it may miss if the pitcher had directed the disk poorly. The` outwardly inclined arm of enclosure Wall is of importance since it widens the U as above set forth and accepts a poorly directed disk by diverting it toward the enclosure wall 20. The action may be repeated if desired, using either thek same disk or more disks.

The player at end B will go through the same pitching action, employing the propelling arm 27 while the A player. attempts to hit the disk by using the hat member 28. It will be observed that each player propels` the disk along opposite sides of runway 11, the respective bat members, 22 and 28 being diagonally opposite each other at the respective play areas A and B.

In AFIGURES 3 and 3A is disclosed an individualk pro-y -peiling device 30'which may be used such as are they mounted arms 16 and 27. Device 30 comprises a handle 31 which imay be of wood or plasticr and within which is embedded the ferrous spring propelling arm 32 which is fabricated of the same material as the arm 16 or 27.

Propelling arm 32 is formed with a concavity l33 designedv to seat a permanent magnet disk as above described.

The device shown in FIGURES 3 land 3A can be employed on any kind of a flat surface and in any game where a propelling arm may be employed, whether or not with a batter. For example, it may be employe-d in a game resembling marbles wherer one player attempts to strike another disk at a. distance, or attempts to direct the propelled disk in a game area, such as in the game of shuifle'board. The stiker arm may. be bodily oriented in any desired way in a game of this type.

I have shown what'are now considered preferred yernbodiments of Imy invention but it is obvious that numerous omissions and changes may be made therein without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. A game comprising a propelling arm, said arm being fabricated of a ferrous, flat, spring material and being formed vwith a concave portion, a disk fabricated of permanent magnet material and being of a size whereby said concave portion may receive and seat said disk by magnetic attraction, said arm being bendable and adapted to forcefully ing said disk away fromits said seat when said arm is bent and is thereafter released 4 from its bent position, a flat board on which said propelling arm is mounted, atrunway formed on said iiat board and along which the lung disk is adapted to travel, a batting arm for hitting saiddisk while it is travelling down said runway, said batting arm comprising a spring mem-ber one end of which is xedly mounted in lrespect to said board, said game including a U-shaped catching enclosure following saidbattiug arm at one end of said runway whereby if said travelling disk is not `hit by said batting arm, the disk will continue to travel and be caught in said catching enclosure, said U-shaped catch.- ing enclosure being fixedly mounted on said board, 'said one end of said batting arm being mounted in one rarm of said U-shaped catching enclosure, and a receptacle formed on saidboard opposite said batting arm for receiving a disk after it is hit 'by said batting arm.

2. A game comprising a substantially ilat, elongated board, a playing area at each end of said board and an elongated runwayconnecting the areas, a propelling yarm mounted in each area so as-to be respectively diagonally opposite each other, each of said propelling arms being fabricated of a ferrous, flat spring material and being` formed with a substantially central concave portion, a disk `fabricated of permanent magnet material and being of asize whereby said concave portion may receive and seat said disk .by magnetic attraction, said propellingarm ybeing bendable and adapted to forcefully iling vrsaid disk along a trajectory straight forwardly along one side of j said runway when said propelling arm is bent and is,

thereafter released fromits bent position, and a batting arm at each er1-d of said hoard, each kof said batting arms comprising a spring member one end offwhich is i'ixedly mounted in respect to said boa-rd, and a U-shaped catching enclosure at each end of said board for receiving a propelled disk if it is not struck by vsaid batting arm and diverted from its trajectory, the respective trajectories of said disk when propelled by the diagonally opposite propelling arms beingalong opposite sides of said runway, Iand saidy batting arms being diagonally opposite each other at the respective ends of the board.

3. A game according to claim2 and wherein one armV of said U-shaped catching enclosure is inclined outwardly for diverting a propelled disk-toward said enclosure when it strikes said outwardly inclined arm.-

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,549 11/1899 Engel et al. 273-89 1,013,350 1/1912 Wilson 124--7 1,115,148 10/1914 Zimmerman 124-7 1,852,401 8/1932' De Camps. 1,942,429 1/1934 Jacobs 273-89 2,003,145 5/1935 Grauer 273-89 2,903,264 9/1959 Munro et al. 273--85 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

2. A GAME COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT, ELONGATED BOARD, A PLAYING AREA AT EACH END OF SAID BOARD AND AN ELONGATED RUNWAY CONNECTING THE AREAS, A PROPELLING ARM MOUNTED IN EACH AREA SO AS TO BE RESPECTIVELY DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID PROPELLING ARMS BEING FABRICATED OF A FERROUS, FLAT SPRING MATERIAL AND BEING FORMED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRAL CONCAVE PORTION, A DISK FABRICATED OF PERMANENT MAGNET MATERIAL AND BEING OF A SIZE WHEREBY SAID CONCAVE PORTION MAY RECEIVE AND SEAT SAID DISK BY MAGNETIC ATTRACTION, SAID PROPELLING ARM BEING BENDABLE AND ADAPTED TO FORCEFULLY FLING SAID DISK ALONG A TRAJECTORY STRAIGHT FORWARDLY ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID RUNWAY WHEN SAID PROPELLING ARM IS BENT AND IS THEREAFTER RELEASED FROM ITS BENT POSITION, AND A BATTING ARM AT EACH END OF SAID BOARD, EACH OF SAID BATTING ARMS COMPRISING A SPRING MEMBER ONE END OF WHICH IS FIXEDLY MOUNTED IN RESPECT TO SAID BOARD, AND A U-SHAPED CATCHING ENCLOSURE AT EACH END OF SAID BOARD FOR RECEIVING A PROPELLED DISK IF IT IS NOT STRUCK BY SAID BATTING ARM AND DIVERTED FROM ITS TRAJECTORY, THE RESPECTIVE TRAJECTORIES OF SAID DISK WHEN PROPELLED BY THE DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE PROPELLING ARMS BEING ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID RUNWAY, AND SAID BATTING ARMS BEING DIAGONALLY OPPOSITE EACH OTHER AT THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE BOARD.