EP0686414A1

EP0686414A1 - A device comprising a circular plate and a plurality of compartments positioned circumferentially on the plate, and a game comprising such a device

Info

Publication number: EP0686414A1
Application number: EP95201501A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yvonne Mathilde Bongartz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-09
Filing date: 1995-06-08
Publication date: 1995-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-08
Also published as: EP0686414B1; DE69508146D1; ATE177336T1; DE69508146T2; NL9400935A

Abstract

A device comprising a circular plate and a plurality of compartments positioned circumferentially around the plate, whereby several predetermined signs provided on the plate are associated with each compartment, which signs are all but one covered by a disc which is rotatable with respect to the plate, and, dependent on the position of the disc with respect to the plate, only one sign per compartment is visible.

A game comprising such a device, whereby the game furthermore comprises a playing table and a ball track concentrically surrounding said circular plate.

Description

A device comprising a circular plate and a plurality of compartments positioned circumferentially on the plate, and a game comprising such a device.
The invention relates to a device comprising a circular plate and a plurality of compartments positioned circumferentially around the plate, whereby a sign is provided near every compartment on the plate.
The invention furthermore relates to a game comprising such a device.
A known device of this type is used in a game, whereby the game furthermore comprises a playing table and a ball track concentrically surrounding the circular plate.
A ball is cast into the ball track and rolls around the circular plate a number of times before rolling into one of the compartments. While the ball is rolling around the plate the participants in the game try to estimate in which compartment the ball will end up and each player stakes chips or money on a sign associated with the compartment in question. If the ball ends up in the compartment selected by a player, the player will be rewarded.
A drawback of this game and the device associated therewith is that the player can also place his bet on a sign without making an estimate of the compartment in which the ball will end up. In that case the game is no longer a game of skill but has become a game of chance.
The object of the invention is to provide a device whereby it is necessary for the player to observe the device before being able to place his bet on a certain sign.
This objective is accomplished with a device according to the invention, in that each compartment has several predetermined signs provided on the plate associated therewith, which signs are all but one covered by a disc which is rotatable with respect to the plate, whereby, dependent on the position of the disc with respect to the plate, only one sign per compartment is visible.
The player may only place his bet on the visible signs. He is not allowed to bet on the other signs associated with a certain compartment. Betting becomes possible by rotating the disc after the ball has been introduced into the ball track and stopping the disc before the ball ends up in a compartment. Of course the disc must be stopped well before the ball ends up in a compartment. If the player does not observe the device, he will run the risk of placing his bet on a sign which is not visible, so that his bet is useless. The stake may be returned to the player or be withheld from him as punishment.
One embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that at least two concentrically extending rows of signs are provided on the plate and that the disc is provided with at least two concentric tracks, which coincide with said concentric rows, whereby each track is provided with at least one slot, said slots being provided in such a manner that only one sign per compartment is visible through the slots.
The signs on the plate are visible through the slots, whereby one sign per compartment is visible. A disc of this type is simple to manufacture.
It is noted that from US-A-2,246,383 and US-A-1,728,630 devices are known provided with a plate comprising at least two concentrically extending rows of signs and with a disc comprising at least two concentric tracks, which coincide with said concentric rows, whereby each track is provided with a least one slot, through which a single sign is visible. The devices are not provided with compartments positioned circumferentially on the plate however, whereby several predetermined signs on the plate are associated with each compartment, whereby only one sign per compartment is visible through the slots. A ball rolling in a ball track will come to a halt in one of the compartments.
Another embodiment of a device according to the invention is characterized in that the device comprises 26 compartments, the plate comprises two rows of 26 signs each and the disc is provided with two tracks, whereby 13 signs are visible through each track.
In total the device includes 52 signs, whereby only half of said signs are visible and betting is only possible on those signs that are visible.
Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the disc can be stopped in a plurality of positions with respect to the plate, whereby in every position only one sign per compartment is visible.
Thus it is ensured that the disc will not come to a halt at a compartment in a position in which a number of signs are partially visible and in which it is not clear on which signs the players can place their bets.
Yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the plate is provided with recesses and the disc is provided with a ball which is movable against spring force and which can be stopped in a recess.
While the disc is rotating with respect to the plate the ball is pushed out of the recesses. The moment the disc comes to a halt the ball will fall into one of the recesses, as a result of which the disc will come to a halt in a position in which only one sign per compartment is visible.
The invention will be explained hereafter with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a game according to the invention; and
Figure 2 is a plan view of the game shown in Figure 1.

In the Figures like parts are numbered alike.
Figures 1 and 2 show a device and a game according to the invention. The game 1 comprises a playing table (not shown), in which a bin 2 is provided. The bin 2 comprises a circular plate 3 and a ball track 4 extending concentrically around said plate 3. A continuous row of 26 compartments 5 is located between the ball track 4 and the plate 2. Each compartment 5 is bounded by radially extending edges 6 and a tangentially extending edge 7, which abuts against the circular plate 3. Each compartment 5 is open in the direction of the ball track 4. The ball track 4 is positioned higher than the compartments 5, so that a ball rolling in the ball track 4 will roll into one of the compartments 5 under the influence of gravity and decreasing speed. The plate 3 is provided with two concentrically extending rows 8', 8'' of 26 signs (not shown), so that two signs are associated with each compartment 5. The first row of signs comprises numerals 1 - 24 and signs 00 and XX, and the second row of signs comprises numerals 25 - 48 and signs 0 and X. The game 1 furthermore comprises a circular metal disc 9, which is rotatable in the direction of the arrows P about a pin 10, whose axis coincides with the centre of the disc 9 and the centre of the plate 3. The disc 9 is provided with two concentric tracks 11', 11'', which coincide with the concentric rows 8', 8'' . Each track 11', 11'' is provided with four slots 12, which are regularly distributed over track 11', 11''. Through the slots 12 the signs on the plate are visible, whereby three signs are visible through three slots 12 of track 11', 11'' and four signs are visible through one slot 12 of track 11', 11''. Thus half of the signs (13 signs) of each row 8', 8'' are visible. The other half of the signs is not visible. The disc 9 is provided with a knob 13, by which the disc 9 can be rotated.
The plate 3 is provided with a circular row of twenty-six recesses 14. The disc 9 is provided with three axially extending openings 15, which are positioned above the recesses 14. A ball 16 is present in each opening 15, which ball is pushed into one of the recesses 14 under the action of a spring 17. The spring 17 is retained in the opening 15 by means of a screw 18. Upon rotation of the disc 9 with respect to the plate 3 the ball 16 is placed in the opening 15 against spring force. When the disc 9 comes to a halt the balls 16 will move in the direction of the plate 3 under the influence of said spring force and will fall into the recesses 14, as a result of which the disc 9 will take up one of the 26 positions that are possible with respect to the plate 3 and one of the two signs will be visible at each compartment.
The operation of the device and the game 1 according to the invention is as follows. A ball (not shown) is cast into the ball track 4, in such a manner that the ball will make a number of revolutions in the ball track around the plate 3. Then disc 9 is rotated. The disc 9 will come to a halt of its own accord in one of the twenty-six positions to be occupied. At each compartment the players of the game will be able to see one of the two signs associated with that compartment and place their bets on one of the visible signs. When the speed of the ball decreases the ball is moved in the direction of the compartments 5 under the influence of gravity and will eventually end up in one of the compartments 5. The players who have placed their bets on the visible sign associated with the compartment in question will be rewarded.
The slots 12 may be provided with a transparent material, for example a plastic material. Instead of a slotted metal disc it will also be possible to use a transparent disc, whereby parts of the tracks on the disc are covered. Furthermore it is also conceivable to use stopping means other than the balls 16 that fall into recesses 14 of the plate 3, whereby the position of the disc 9 with respect to the plate 3 when the disc is stationary is always such that only one sign per compartment is visible, and that a situation whereby a number of signs are partially visible cannot occur. In that case it would be unclear on what sign the players can place their bets.
Of course the number of compartments and/or the number of tracks and rows can be changed as desired, as can the number of slots and the number of signs that are visible through a single slot.

Claims

A device comprising a circular plate and a plurality of compartments positioned circumferentially around the plate, whereby a sign is provided near every compartment on the plate, characterized in that each compartment has several predetermined signs provided on the plate associated therewith, which signs are all but one covered by a disc which is rotatable with respect to the plate, whereby, dependent on the position of the disc with respect to the plate, only one sign per compartment is visible.
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two concentrically extending rows of signs are provided on the plate and that the disc is provided with at least two concentric tracks, which coincide with said concentric rows, whereby each track is provided with at least one slot, said slots being provided in such a manner that only one sign per compartment is visible through the slots.
A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said device comprises 26 compartments, said plate comprises two rows of 26 signs each and said disc is provided with two tracks, whereby 13 signs are visible through each track.
A device according to claim 3, characterized in that each track is provided with four slots, whereby three slots show three signs therethrough and one slot shows four signs therethrough.
A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said disc can be stopped in a plurality of positions with respect to said plate, whereby in every position only one sign per compartment is visible.
A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said plate is provided with recesses and said disc is provided with a ball which is movable against spring force and which can be stopped in a recess.
A game comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby said game furthermore comprises a playing table and a ball track concentrically surrounding said circular plate.