US3856307A

US3856307A - Electrically-operable game apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3856307A
Application number: US00449968A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Tinman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-03-11
Filing date: 1974-03-11
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24

Abstract

An electrically-operable game apparatus consisting of a playing board and a plurality of playing pieces which, when selectively placed on the playing board according to the dictates of a pair of dice, initiate by magnetic control means a signal which is indicative of either a game function to be performed by a player or a game result. Initial depression and release of a start plunger effects a dice throw through the medium of an electrically-driven, rotary cage-like device and also indexes a ratchet-controlled distributor mechanism which, in turn, effects a potential change in the magnetic control means whereby the next successive depression of the start plunger by an opposing player will afford a different signal resulting from a successive throw of the dice.

Description

United States Patent [191 Tinman- 41 ELECTRICALLY-OPERABLE GAME APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,171,694 /1959 France...........................; 273/130 A HughJ.Tinman, Rt.2,Box79, Lockport, II]. 60441 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant- Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed: Mar. 11, 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Norman l-I. Gerlach Appl. No.: 449,968

BIS fr omm woo 2. er n wwve p auuy .m gfiam m m mm P oWW Hm CaI6 V S .N.B m e d mom m a nr T WWM M cm C flad wfi A fi eanp muc g R W n 6 T w M b S a 0 Bk l mm b ea n ,A a mv wo ma uilm n 0. a m 0 wwwmm n ne m mmwm .nghg H. in wh m m r Wcoge n Mwat t [Aawamd 0 A 0 A S/A 1 43 5 3 3 /361 a BE ,EA 2 AAoo 7 3 E mwu 4 3 M AA 1 "14 N 0 7 ."7 1/ 2, m nn A WWAZ 4 n 3 "WM 1 -h n m 2 mwl 83 L .f C W d7 S. t d i U .mF 1 II 2 8 5 I [.1

a. game result. Initial depression and release of a start .8 T N m E H N plunger effects a dice throw through the medium of an electrically-driven, rotary cage like device and also indexes a ratchet-controlled distributor mechanism 273/141 A which, in turn, effects a potential change in the mag- 2 2 2 2 netic control means whereby the next successivede- 373/13 AB press on of the start plunger by an opposing player will 273/134-A afford a different signal resultlng from a successive 273 AB throw of the dice.

2 2 13 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures B A 0 3 H 3 7 2 2,460,770 2/1949 Shirey........ 2,902,283 9/1959 Chalfin 3,046,017 7/1962 Kazakevich 3,101,947 8/1963 Dzuris....,.......... 3,376,041 4/1968 Anderson...... 3,516,672 6/1970 Maurer.. 3,640,536 2/1972 Godmer..... 3,734,507 5/1973 Hillman 3 739,117 6/1973 PATENTEDUECZMQH sum 3 ur 3 mv v. aw

, 1 ELECTRICALLY-OPERABLE GAME APPARATUS The improved gameapparatus comprising the present invention is designed primarily as a war game whereby opposing players who are in possession of 5 playing pieces in the form of war-waging units such as soldiers, cannon or other artillery, tanks or other armored vehicles, effect strategic placement of such warwaging units on an opponents battlefield which is rep- .resented on a .playingor game board, in an effort to capture such battlefield, while at the same time preserving control of each players own battlefield. The invention-is, however, capable of other uses and, if desired,,it may, by suitable modification of the playing board and playing pieces, have other basic motifs, such, for example, as the winning of a financial empire by the acquisition or loss of money, stocks, and bonds, or

. other assets; the simulation of athletic games such as baseball, football, or the like where assets such as bases or runs are effected, or yards are gained or lost', touchdowns are accomplished, etc'.; or the simulation of card or other games'where,'in the case of poker or bridge, for example, cards are delt and held in competitive relationship and other appropriate game functions are indicated. irrespective, however, of the particular use to which the game apparatus may be put, the essential features thereof are at all times preserved.

' Briefly, in carrying out the invention, there is provided a box-like game apparatus is provided the upper surface of which defines a playing board andexhibits two side-by-sideor adjacent playing areas which, in the instance where the apparatus is based upon a war motif as previously indicated, represent opposing players battlefields. Numbered squares or other areas on such battlefields represent strategic locations for. the deployment or placement of war-waging units such as soldiers, cannon or other artillery, tanks or other armored vehicles and the like. A dice-manipulating or throwing device iseffective under the control of a plunger to render a numerical indication by means of which a player positions a magnetic playing piece in the form of a warwaging unit on the particular location of his opponents battlefield having the number corresponding to the total number of the thrown dice. Each battlefield location has associated therewith a magnetically-responsive circuit-making switch which becomes effective when a playing piece is positioned on the location potentially to close an electric circuit for a signal lamp, the illumination of which, according to the rules of the game, indicates that the selected location is mined and the player must lose his playing piece, or, alternatively, potentially to close an electric circuit for a different signal lamp, the illumination of which indicates that the player must draw a card from a stack of cards and follow directions which are printed on such card. The various cards represent messages from headquarters which may be of either a favorable or an unfavorable nature requiring a specific action or inaction on the part of the player. The various circuit-making switches are electri- 'essarily completed by such placement of playing pieces. It is only when the distributor mechanism and a given magnetically-operable circuit-making switch are arranged in series relationship with one of the signal lamps that the latter becomes illuminated/Failure of a V signal lamp to become energized or illuminated incident to placement of a playing piece on a particular battlefield location indicates that although the associated circuit-making switch has become closed, the distributor mechanism is not conditioned to complete the circuit through the signal lamp. in such an instance, the playing piece, by failure of an illuminated signal to up pear, is considered to be safe." Thedistributor mechanism is effective under the control of the aforementioned plunger which also effects the dice-manipulating device to alter the circuitry leading from the various magnetically-operable switches and distributor mechanism to the signal lamps in such a manner that each time the plunger is depressed and released a new circuit condition obtains and a strategic battlefield location which at one game inning may render an illuminated signal will not necessarily render such signal during the next succeeding game inning.

The invention is concerned essentially with the structural aspects of the game apparatus by means of which a game such as has briefly been suggested above. or by means of which similar games, not necessarily related to armed conflict, may be played. Principal among the features of novelty which are associated with and inherent in the present invention are the nature of the cage likedice-manipulating or throwing" device and of the distributor mechanism, as well as of their association with the actuating plunger which is" common thereto; the nature of the playing board and its two side-by-side playing-areas and of its association with the various magnetically-operable circuit-making switches; and the electrical circuitryby means of which all of these in- .strumentalities are coordinated for game-playing purother features which are associated with the manner in which a particular game may be played when utilizing such structural features, as, forexample, the aforementioned information-carrying cards, as wellas the information which may be printed thereon, are not disclosed herein since such information may be varied at will without affecting the essential electrical and mechanical features of the game apparatus which comprises the invention.

The provision of a game apparatus which affords the essential structural features which have briefly been outlined above, and by means of which a variety of competitive games may be played in the manner also briefly indicated, constitutes theprincipal object of the present invention.

The provision of a game apparatus which is relatively simple in its construction and, therefor; may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost; one which is comprised of a minimum number of parts, particularly moving parts and, therefore, is unlikelyto get out of order; one which is rugged and durable and, therefore, will withstand rough usage; one which is capable of ease of assembly and dismantlement for purposes of inspection, replacement, or repair of parts; one which is attractive in its appearance and pleasing in its design, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other objects of the invention and the various characteristics and advantages of the present electricallyoperable game apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

vThe inventionconsists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodimerit of the invention isshown.

' In these drawings:

FIG.] is a perspective viewof a game apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention, portions of the playing board and an underlying switchsupporting plate being broken away in order more clearly to reveal the nature of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

. FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the game apparatus with the playing board and underlying switch-supporting plates removed or omitted;

FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3; I FIG. '6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane indicated bythe line 6.6 of FIG. 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the vertical planeindicated by the line 7"7 of FIG. 1 and in direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of plunger-actuated contacts which are employed in connection with the invention, the view being taken in the vicinity of.the line 88 of FIG. 1 and in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of the game ap- 'paratus.

' rectangular rim. Preferably, but not necessarily, the

box-like structure 10 is formed of wood, although a plastic material or suitable sheet metal is contemplated. Extending across the upper open rim of the structure 10 midway between the two

end walls

18 and 20 is a horizontal, transversely-extending shelf 22.

The upper edges of the four

upstanding walls

14, 16,

g

18 and 20 have their inner marginal portions rabbeted so as to provide rabbles 24 throughout their entire lengths, thus establishing a flat, upwardly facing, narrow, upper ledge 26 which is continuous about the rim of the box-like structure 10. The lower marginal por tions of the opposite ends of the shelf 22 are rabbeted as indicated at 28 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for a complementary fit with the rabbetted inner marginal portions of the side walls 14' and 16 on which such ends of the shelf rest. For purposes of discussion herein, as well as for subsequent claim terminology, the relatively narrow 4 shelf 22 may be regarded as constituting a limited top wall portion for thebox-like structure 10.

The upper marginal portions of the opposite side edges of the shelf 22 are rabbeted as indicated at 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 6), the depth of the rabbets being somewhat greater than the depth of the rabbets 24 in order that the rabbets 30 thus establish narrow transverse ledges 32 which lie a comparatively small distance below the level of the continuous upper ledge 26 on the side and end walls of the box-like structure. Horizontally extending wooden or other strips 34 are glued or otherwise secured to the side and end walls so that their-upper surfaces lie in the plane of the ledges 32, and thus, in combination with the deep rabbets 30 of the shelf 22, establish a pair of continuous, rectangular, lower ledges 36 immediately below the continuous upper ledge 26 which is formed by the aforementionedrabbets 24.

As best shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the uppermost continuous ledge 26 serves as a support for 'removably receiving a pair of flat

rectangular panels

38 and 40. These two panels, when considered collectively, constitute a divided composite game board on which a series of magnetic playing pieces 42, such as are shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, are adapted to be manually placed during playing of a game. Each of the two

panels

34 and 36 is divided into a predetermined number, say, twelve, placement locations for selective reception thereon of the playing pieces 42, such locations in the illustrated form of the invention being arrangedin checkerboard fashion or relationship and being numerically designated in similar fashion in ,FIG. 1. The

panels

34 and 36 are constructed of a relatively thin nonmagnetic material which conveniently may be plywood, laminated or pressed fiberboard, or any other relatively stiff material.

The lower continuous ledges 36 on opposite sides of the shelf 22 serve removably to support two additional rectangular panels 44 and 46.These panels may conveniently be in the form of Bakelite or other stiff plastic sheets the dimensionsof which are slightly less than those of the

panels

38 and 40. When in position in the box-like structure, the

panels

44 and 46, due to their particular thickness, underlie but are spaced slightly from the panels 38 and 40 (see FIG. 2). The

panels

44 and 46 constitute supporting means for a plurality of magnetically-responsive circuit-making and breaking devices 48 in the form of conventional contact units which will, in the interests of brevity, be hereinafter referred to simply as switches'As shown in FIG. 2, each switch 48 consists of commercially available unit in the form of a small glass or other nonamagnetic dielectric tube 49 within which there is disposed a pair of cooperating contact arms in the form of an upper, fixed, electrically-conductive arm 50 of non-magnetic material such' as silver, brass, or the like, and a lower,

vertically-movable, electrically-conductive arm 52 of a magnetic material such as iron or nickel. The two arms '50 and 52 extend lengthwise of the tube 49 and are arswitch has a magneticfield imposed thereon and such field attracts the lowermagnetic arm 52 in an upward a circuit through the switch.

It is to be noted at this point that the various switches 48 on the

panels

44 and 46 directly underlie the various numbered locations where it is intended that the playing pieces 42 shall be selectively positioned during game-playing operations. Thus, when one of the magnetic playing pieces'is positioned on a given location, the lower arm 52 of the associated subjacent switch 48 will be attracted upwardly toward such playing piece as shown in full lines in FIG. 2 and any potential circuit within which such switch is included will be completed. As will be described presently, effective closure of any given switch 48 will effect selective energization of a pair of signal lamps L1 and L2 which are mounted on the shelf 22 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5).

' [The particular magnetic playing pieces 42 which are used in connection with the game'apparatus will vary according to the nature of the game which is to be of a war between the players as in'the described form of game, the playing pieces may be in the form of soldiers, jeeps, or armored vehicles, artillery pieces and the like. The particular playing piece form which is illustrated in the drawings assumes the form of a chess pawn in the interests of drafting simplicity, but it will be understoodithat a wide variety of playing piece shapes may be resorted to if desired. Regardless of the particular shape or configuration of the playing piece j which is used with the game apparatus, such piece will invariably embody a body portion 57 (see FIG. 2), to

the underneath side of which there is fastened a disk placement of a playing piece 42 on the various placement locations on either of the

panels

38 or 40 is adapted to be made under the dictates of a wheel-like dice-manipulating device 62 on which-there loosely rests a pair of dice 64. The device'62 is carried at the upper end of a vertically extending shaft 66 which is associated with and forms the driven or out put shaft of an electric motor M (see FIG. 5). Such motor is mounted on a supporting shelf'68 which is positioned in the box-likestructure 10 a short distance below the played in connection with use of the present game apparatus. Where the game is predicated upon the waging 6' The upper end of the plunger projects above the level of the shelf '22 while the lower end thereof is designed for engagement with a pair of normally open, upper and lower, switch contacts Cl for contact-closing'purposes at such time as the plunger is depressed. A button 84 (see FIG. 6) rests on the upper end of the tubular plunger and is provided with a depending pilot stem 86 which projects into and is suitably fixed within the plunger. A helical compression spring 88 surrounds the upper end of the plunger 80, is interposed between the button 84 and the upper surface of the shelf 22, and serves to retract the plunger after it has been depressed and then released. As best shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the lower end of the plunger 80 is notched so as to seat loosely on a protuberance 90 which rests on the distal or outer end of a horizontally extending spring upper arm 92, the latter being fixedly mounted at its proximal end and carrying the upper contact C1 at its other end. A horizontally extending, fixed lower arm 94 underlies the upper arm 92, carries the lower contact Cl at one end thereof in alignment with the upper contact Cl, and has its other end supported on a bracket extension 96 (see FlG. 4) which is formed on one of the lower corners of a rectangular, vertically ex-v tending distributor-supporting plate 98. The latter extends under and lengthwise of the transverse shelf '22- and has its outer side margin bent at right angles and secured by screws 99 to the central portion of the inner face of the side wall 14 of the box-like structurev 1,0. The gravitational weight ofthe plunger 80 and the flexibility of the-upper arm 92 of the contacts C1 are such that normally the arm, together with the spring 88, suptransverse shelf 22, the shelf 68 being supported by means of

vertical columns

70 and 72 which extend up wardly from the bottom wall 12 of said box-like struc ture. In order to retain or capture the dice 64 and maintain the same at all times in rolling or tumbling contact with the dice 62 when the latter is being rotated by the motor M; there is provided a transparent glass or plastic dome 74 which encompasses the device 62 and the dice thereon and has its lower rim glued or otherwise securedto the subjacent portion of the upper surface of the shelf .22. 1

Energization of the electric motor M is effected under the control of a vertically extending depressible plunger'80 which is preferably of tubular construction and slides vertically within a vertically extending encompassing guide sleeve 82 (see FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6).

ports the plunger in an elevated position while the contacts Cl remain open. However, when the button 84 is depressed manually, the entire plunger moves downwardly, thus flexing the upper arm 92 to a contact-closing position. The two contacts C1 constitute a switch for controlling the motor M.

Depression of the plunger 80, in addition to effecting closing of the contacts Cl and consequent energization of the motor M and rotation of the dice-manipulating or throwing" device, also effects actuation of a rotary distributor mechanism 100 which is capable of being indexed in step-by-step fashion and by means of which varying circuits which are associated with the aforementioned signal lamps L1 and L2 are established. Ac-

cordingly, as bestshown in FlGS. 1, 4' and 5 of the drawings, the distributor mechanism 100 involves in its general organization a circular fixed distributor plate 102 which is secured by horizontal fastening bolts 104 to the aforementioned distributor-supporting plate Y98 and carries a multiplicity of circumferentially-spaced contacts C2 in the peripheral regions thereof. These contacts C2 are designed for successive engagement with the outer ends of a series of wiper arms 106 which extend radially outwardly from a rotatable hub 108. The hub and its wiper arms are pressed against the distributor plate 102 by a

washer

109 and 110. The hub 108 is mounted on and secured to a horizontal shaft 111 which is rotatably journalled in the distributorsupporting plate 98 and also carries a ratchet wheel 112 (see FIG. 4). The latter cooperates with a vertically extending pawl arm 114 which is pivoted at its lower end to the medial region of an elongated, horizontally extending rocker arm 116. The medial region of the'rocker arm 116 is pivoted on a horizontal pin 118 which is carried by the distributor-supporting plate 98 and the left-hand end region of the rocker arm, viewed in FIG. 4, slants slightly downwards and is connected to the aforementioned protuberance 90. From the above description, it will be apparent that at such time as the plunger 80 is depressed, not only do the contacts Cl become closed, but also the rocker arm 116 will be swung in a counterclockwise direction, thus lowering the pawl arm and moving the same out of en'- gagement with one tooth on the ratchet wheel 112 and into effective engagement with the next succeeding or following tooth. A helical tension spring 122 which has one end, attached to the pivot. pin 118 and its other end connected to the pawl arm .114 yieldingly biases said parl arm against the ratchet wheel 112, while a second helical tension spring 124 yieldingly biases the rocker arm 116 in a clockwise direction. A laterally extending ear 126 on the outer lower corner of the distributingsupporting plate 98 underlies the extreme right-hand end of the rocker arm 116 and serves as a limit stop for such arm. A holding pawl 130 is centrally pivoted on a horizontal pin l32'on the plate 98 and prevents reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel 112 at such time as the pawl arm 114 moves upwardly under the influence of the'spring' 124. When the pawl arm moves upwards as the result of retraction of the plunger 80, the ratchet wheel 112 is rotated one step in a clockwise direction .as viewed in H6. 4 and causescorrespondin'g rotary movement of the wiper arms 106 to the end that the outer ends of the arms move into contact with the next preceding contacts C2. A pair of terminal strips 140 (see FIGS 1 and 3) is mounted on the bottom wall 12 on one side of the shelf 22, and a similar pair of such strips 142 is mounted on said bottom wall on the other side of the shelf 22. These terminal-strips provide anchor or solder terminals for various circuit wires which are employed in connection with the electrical components of the present invention and the nature of which will be made clear subsequently when the operation of the apparatus is set forth. The game apparatus is electrically-powered by means of a battery pack B which is conveniently disposed within the box-like structure as shown in FIG. 3 and is'hereinafter referred toas the battery." As previously indicated, the game apparatus constituting the present invention is capable of being used'in various ways. according to the rules and regulations which govern the playing 'of any given game. In a game where the drawing of cards from a stack is involved, obviously. the information cons tainedon anydrawn card will dictate certain procedure which that player or his opponent must follow in order tocontinue the game. The operation of the present game apparatus may best be set forth by considering the manner in which a war game is played by two opposing players.

Accordingly, commencement of a game is inititated by depression of the plunger 80 by one player and release thereof. As previously stated. such depression of g the plunger 80 will establish'an electrical circuit through the motor M which operates the wheel-like dice-manipulating or throwing device 62, such cirthe first play of the game. It is to be noted that during this initial determination of which player is to precede the other player in commencing the actual playing of the game apparatus, the rocker arm 116 which becomes displaced during downward movement of the plunger 80 effects a shifting of the position of the hub 108and its radial wiper arms 106, thus altering potential circuit conditions as previously described. However, such circuit alteration is without effect except insofar as it establishes a particular potential circuit condition which remains effective at the time the first play of the game is made. I It will be understood that for the playing of the war game, each player will be furnished with a predetermined number of playing pieces 42. These pieces may assume the form of war-waging units such as soldiers, tanks, jeeps, cannon or other artillery. Additionally, a stack of information-containing"cards (not shown) will be provided. I I

The first player will again depress the plunger 80 and thus obtain a second dice reading which, for purposes of discussion, will be assumed to be'the number 98. Such player will then place one of his playing pieces 42 on his opponents game board panel in the location bearing the numerical designation 8 in such a manner that the magnet which is associated with the playing piece directly overlies the particular subjacent switch 48, thus closing such switch in the manner previously described. At this time, depending upon the position of the hub 108 and the wiper arms 106, a circuit through one of the signal lamps L1 or L2 may or may not be completed. Assuming, however, that a circuit through the signal lamp L1 is completed, such circuit will extend from one side of the battery B, through leads 19, 21, the switch 48 beneath the location bearing the numerical designation 8, leads 23, 25, 27, the lamp L, leads 29, 31, No. 8 connection of the terminal strip 140, a lead 33, the 8 contact C2 on the circular rotary distributor plate 102, the wiper arm 106, the hub- The lamps L1 and L2 are differently colored and for purposes of discussion it may be assumed that the lamp L1 is colored yellow, while the lamp L2 is colored red. According to the prescribed rules of the game, illumination of the yellow lamp L1 dictates that the player plate 102 has been described herein. It will be understood that a similar circuit will exist for each of the remaining switches 48, both on the panel 38 and the panel 40, and that one-halfof these circuits will extend through the lamp Ll while the other half will extend through the lamp L2.

Assuming now that the first player had obtained a different reading of the dice 64, such reading necessitating his placing a playing piece on a panel location 40 in which the underlying switch 48 is disposed in a circuit which is potentially open due to lack of contact be- 108, andleads 17, back to the other side of the battery tween'one of the radial wiper arms 106 of the distributor 100 and the corresponding contact C2. in such an instance, no illuminated signal will be rendered and the player may regard such location as being safe and he may leave the playing piece 42 on the location which was'originally indicated by the players throw of the dice 64.

Assuming otherwise that the first player has obtained a dice reading which causes the red-colored lamp L2 to become illuminated, this, according to the rules of the game, may signify that the location is mined and, accordingly, the player will forfeit his playing piece.

After the first player has completed his turn, the second player will depress the plunger 80 and, as determined by the reading of the dice 64, follow the procedure outlined above .in connection with the first players turn, utilizing for playing piece placement purposes, however, his opponents game board panel instead of his own game panel.

It is to be noted that at the time the second player commences his turn by depressing the plunger 80, a i

new circuit condition will exist inasmuch as after the plunger 80 has been released, the operation of the pawl arm will be such that it advances the wiper arms 106 collectively to a new position with respect to the various contacts C2 on the peripheral regions of the circular rotary distributor plate 102.

The outcome of the game will, of course, be largely dependent upon the predetermined game rules, as well as by the information or directions which are printed onthe cards that are drawn from the stack of cards. For example, one card may have the words D-Day printed thereon and this may signify that the player drawing such card has won the war. The game may also be won by one player placing one of his playing pieces on a particular location of the opposing players game panel, say, for example, the No. 12 location. This may occur by the one player having a dice throw of twelve or drawing a card which directs the one player to move his'pla'ying piece to the No. 12 location. The game may also be won by one of the players as theresult of the opposing player losing all his playing pieces by locating them on locations which are mined as determined by lighting of the red signal lamp L2. The latter is by reason of the factthat the playing pieces 42, which are used in connection with playing of the game, are subject to loss at any time either by the appearance of a red signal from the lamp L2 or by information printed on changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention..For example, although the playing of the game has been described as being predicated upon the use of a particular digital indicator in the form of a pair of dice which are tumbled or rolled under the control of a wheel-like rotary device, it is within the purview of theinvention to employ a tumbling cage for the dice or, alternatively, to eliminate the use of dice altogether and instead employ a rotary pointer and numbered disk I or dial arrangement if desired. Additionally, whereas in the illustrated form of the invention, the game board is of a divided nature and consists of two playing sectors embodying the panels'38 and 40, if desired a single undivided game board may be employed, in which case the shelf 22 will be positioned at one end or alongside the game board. Therefore, only insofar as the invention is particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A game apparatus comprising a playing board having designated locations thereon, a playing piece embodying a magnet and adapted for selective positioning on said locations, a normally open, magneticallyresponsive, circuit-making and breaking switch disposed beneath each of said locations and effective when the playing piece is positioned on the superjacent location to become closed, an electricallyenergizeable signal device connected to all of said switches, an indexable distributor mechanism having a series of contacts, one for each switch, said contacts being electrically connected to said signal device, said distributor mechanism further including a movable wiper arm adapted to traverse said contacts successively upon indexing-of the distributor mechanism, a pair of electric-leads adapted for connection to a source of electric current, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches, the other lead being connected to said wiper arm, and manually-operable means for indexing said distributor mechanism.

2, A game apparatus comprising a playing board having numerically-designated locations thereon, a playing piece embodying a magnet and adapted for selective positioning on said locations, a normally open, magnetically-responsive, circuit-making and breaking switch disposed beneath each of said locations and eftor mechanism having a series of contacts, one for each switch, certain of said contacts being electrically connected to one of said signal devices and the remainder of said contacts being electrically connected to the other signal device, said distributor mechanism further including a movable wiper arm adapted to traverse said contacts successively upon indexing of the distributor mechanism, a pair of electric leads adapted for connection to a source of electric current, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches, the other lead being connected to said wiper arm, and manuallyoperable means for indexing said distributor mechanism.

. 3 1}: game apparatus as set forth in claim'2 and wherein said playing board is divided into two sections having numerically-designated locations thereon which are identical in number andrelative disposition thus affording a playing terrritory for each of two players.

4. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and wherein said indexable distributor mechanism embodies a fixed distributor plate on which said contacts are arranged in a circular series in circumferentiallyspaced relationship, the wiper arm extends radially of said series so that its distal end traverses the series and moves from one contact to another during each indexing operation of the mechanism, and said manuallyoperable means for indexing the distributor mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel connected to the wiper arm,.

a pawl for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel, and a spring-biased plunger effective upon depression and release therof to actuate said pawl.

5. 'A game, apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and including, additionally, an electrically-operable mechanism ,effectiveupon energization thereof to render a numerical indication corresponding to the numerical designations of said locations on the playing board, and means effective upon depression of the plunger to ener-. gize said indicating mechanism.

6. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and wherein said electrically-operable mechanism embodies a pair-of dice having number-representing indicia thereon, a movable dice-tumbling support for said dies, a motor for moving said support, an electric circuit including a pair of normally open contacts for said motor,

- and means effective upon depression of said plunger for closing said contacts to. establish the motor circuit.

location to become closed, an indexable distributorv mechanismdisposed within said box-like structure and including a. fixed distributor plate having a circular series of circumferentially-spaced contacts thereon, one for each switch, a shaft projecting through said plate at I a point constituting the center of the circular series, a plurality of radially extending wiper arms mounted on said shaft and designed or circumferential sweeping movement in traversing relationship over said circular series of contacts in step-by-step fashion upon successive indexing of the distributor mechanism, a signal lamp mounted on said shelf, all of said contacts being electrically connected to said signal lamp, a source of current supply. .a pair of electric leads connected to said source, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches and the other lead being connected to said wiper arms, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel, and a spring-biased plunger projecting through said shelf and effective upon depression and release thereof to actuate said pawl. I

8. In a game apparatus, in combination, a box-like structure embodying a bottom wall, opposed upstanding side and end walls, and an open upper rectangular rim having extending thereacross a shelf which establishes a partial top wall, a playing board supported on said rim, forming the remainder of said top wall and having numerically designated locations thereon, a

and breaking switch disposed'beneath each of said 10- cations and effective when a playing piece is positioned on the superjacent location to become closed, an indexable distributor mechanism; disposed within said box-like structure and including a fixed distributor plate having a circular series of circumferentiallyspaced contacts thereon, one for each switch, a shaft projecting through said plate at a point constituting the center of the circular series, a plurality of radially extending wiper arms mounted on said shaft and designed for circumferential sweeping movement in traversing relationship over said circular series of contacts in stepby-step fashion upon successive indexing of the distributor mechanism, a pair of signal lamps mounted on said shelf, certain of said contacts being electrically connected to one of said signal devices and the remainder of said contacts being electrically connected to the other signal lamp, a source of current supply, a pair of electric leads connected to said source, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches and the other lead being connected to said wiper arms, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel, and a spring-biased plunger projecting through saidshelf and effective upon depression and release thereof to actuate said pawl.

9. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and including, additionally, an electrically-operable indicating mechanism having numerical display means overlying said shelf and effective upon energization thereof to render a numerical indication corresponding to the numerical designations of said locations on said playing board, and means effective upon depression of said plunger for energizing said indicating mechanism.

10. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and wherein said electrically-operable indicating mechanism embodies a pair of dice having numberrepresenting indicia thereon, a movable dice-tumbling support for said dies overlying said shelf, an electric motor beneath said top wall, a driving connection extending between said motor and dice-tumbling support and projecting through said top wall, an electric circuit including a pair of normally open contacts for said motor, and means effective upon depression of said plunger for closing said contacts to establish the motor circuit.

11. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 10 and wherein said dice-tumbling support is in the form of a playing piece embodying a magnet and adapted for selective positioning on said designated locations, a normally open. magnetically-responsive, circuit-making rotary circular dice-supporting wheel, said driving connection is in the form of a shaft which projects through an opening in the shelf, and an inverted transparent plastic dome encloses said dice and wheel and has its rim secured to said shelf.

12. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and wherein said shelf is relatively narrow'and projects transversely across said playing board medially thereof and divides the latter into two playing areas, one on I each side of the shelf.

Claims

1. A game apparatus comprising a playing board having designated locations thereon, a playing piece embodying a magnet and adapted for selective positioning on said locations, a normally open, magnetically-responsive, circuit-making and breaking switch disposed beneath each of said locations and effective when the playing piece is positioned on the super-jacent location to become closed, an electrically-energizeable signal device connected to all of said switches, an indexable distributor mechanism having a series of contacts, one for each switch, said contacts being electrically connected to said signal device, said distributor mechanism further including a movable wiper arm adapted to traverse said contacts successively upon indexing of the distributor mechanism, a pair of electric leads adapted for connection to a source of electric current, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches, the other lead being connected to said wiper arm, and manually-operable means for indexing said distributor mechanism.

2. A game apparatus comprising a playing board having numerically-designated locations thereon, a playing piece embodying a magnet and adapted for selective positioning on said locations, a normally open, magnetically-responsive, circuit-making and breaking switch disposed beneath each of said locations and effective when the playing piece is positioned on the superjacent location to become closed, a pair of electrically-energizeable signal devices each of which is connected to all of said switches, an indexable distributor mechanism having a series of contacts, one for each switch, certain of said contacts being electrically connected to one of said signal devices and the remainder of said contacts being electrically connected to the other signal device, said distributor mechanism further including a movable wiper arm adapted to traverse said contacts successively upon indexing of the distributor mechanism, a pair of electric leads adapted for connection to a source of electric current, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches, the other lead being connected to said wiper arm, and manually-operable means for indexing said distributor mechanism.

3. A game apparatus as set orth in claim 2 and wherein said playing board is divided into two sections having numerically-designated locations thereon which are identical in Number and relative disposition thus affording a playing terrritory for each of two players.

4. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and wherein said indexable distributor mechanism embodies a fixed distributor plate on which said contacts are arranged in a circular series in circumferentially-spaced relationship, the wiper arm extends radially of said series so that its distal end traverses the series and moves from one contact to another during each indexing operation of the mechanism, and said manually-operable means for indexing the distributor mechanism comprises a ratchet wheel connected to the wiper arm, a pawl for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel, and a spring-biased plunger effective upon depression and release therof to actuate said pawl.

5. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and including, additionally, an electrically-operable mechanism effective upon energization thereof to render a numerical indication corresponding to the numerical designations of said locations on the playing board, and means effective upon depression of the plunger to energize said indicating mechanism.

6. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and wherein said electrically-operable mechanism embodies a pair of dice having number-representing indicia thereon, a movable dice-tumbling support for said dies, a motor for moving said support, an electric circuit including a pair of normally open contacts for said motor, and means effective upon depression of said plunger for closing said contacts to establish the motor circuit.

7. A game comprising a box-like structure embodying a bottom wall, opposed upstanding side and end walls, and an open upper rectangular rim having extending thereacross a shelf which establishes a partial top wall, a playing board supported on said rim, forming the remainder of said top wall and having designated locations thereon, a playing piece embodying a magnet and adapted for selective positioning on said designated locations, a normally open, magnetically-responsive, circuit-making and breaking switch disposed beneath each of said locations and effective when a playing piece is positioned on the superjacent location to become closed, an indexable distributor mechanism disposed within said box-like structure and including a fixed distributor plate having a circular series of circumferentially-spaced contacts thereon, one for each switch, a shaft projecting through said plate at a point constituting the center of the circular series, a plurality of radially extending wiper arms mounted on said shaft and designed or circumferential sweeping movement in traversing relationship over said circular series of contacts in step-by-step fashion upon successive indexing of the distributor mechanism, a signal lamp mounted on said shelf, all of said contacts being electrically connected to said signal lamp, a source of current supply, a pair of electric leads connected to said source, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches and the other lead being connected to said wiper arms, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel, and a spring-biased plunger projecting through said shelf and effective upon depression and release thereof to actuate said pawl.

8. In a game apparatus, in combination, a box-like structure embodying a bottom wall, opposed upstanding side and end walls, and an open upper rectangular rim having extending thereacross a shelf which establishes a partial top wall, a playing board supported on said rim, forming the remainder of said top wall and having numerically designated locations thereon, a playing piece embodying a magnet and adapted for selective positioning on said designated locations, a normally open, magnetically-responsive, circuit-making and breaking switch disposed beneath each of said locations and effective when a playing piece is positioned on the superjacent location to become closed, an indexable distributor mechanism disposed within said box-like structuRe and including a fixed distributor plate having a circular series of circumferentially-spaced contacts thereon, one for each switch, a shaft projecting through said plate at a point constituting the center of the circular series, a plurality of radially extending wiper arms mounted on said shaft and designed for circumferential sweeping movement in traversing relationship over said circular series of contacts in step-by-step fashion upon successive indexing of the distributor mechanism, a pair of signal lamps mounted on said shelf, certain of said contacts being electrically connected to one of said signal devices and the remainder of said contacts being electrically connected to the other signal lamp, a source of current supply, a pair of electric leads connected to said source, one of said leads being connected to all of said switches and the other lead being connected to said wiper arms, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel, and a spring-biased plunger projecting through said shelf and effective upon depression and release thereof to actuate said pawl.

10. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and wherein said electrically-operable indicating mechanism embodies a pair of dice having number-representing indicia thereon, a movable dice-tumbling support for said dies overlying said shelf, an electric motor beneath said top wall, a driving connection extending between said motor and dice-tumbling support and projecting through said top wall, an electric circuit including a pair of normally open contacts for said motor, and means effective upon depression of said plunger for closing said contacts to establish the motor circuit.

11. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 10 and wherein said dice-tumbling support is in the form of a rotary circular dice-supporting wheel, said driving connection is in the form of a shaft which projects through an opening in the shelf, and an inverted transparent plastic dome encloses said dice and wheel and has its rim secured to said shelf.

12. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and wherein said shelf is relatively narrow and projects transversely across said playing board medially thereof and divides the latter into two playing areas, one on each side of the shelf.