GB1568410A

GB1568410A - Toy apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1568410A
Application number: GB220477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TOY DEV Ltd
Current assignee: TOY DEV Ltd
Priority date: 1978-01-19
Filing date: 1978-01-19
Publication date: 1980-05-29

Description

(54) TOY APPARATUS (71) We, TOY DEVELOPMENT LIMITED, a British Company of Thatches, Broadwalk, Prestbury, Cheshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to toy apparatus, e.g. for use in playing a game.

According to the present invention there is provided toy apparatus comprising a vertically disposable panel with a facing surface representing a scene incorporating a plurality of openings in the panel, a closure member slidably mounted on the rear surface of said panel for movement between a raised position in which it uncovers said openings and a lowered position in which it at least partially covers said openings, and operating means for supporting the closure member in the raised position for a limited time period.

In an example of apparatus according to the invention the operating means comprises a support member which is movable into an operative position in which it supports the closure member in the raised position. An actuating element is movable under the control of a timer to deflect the support member into an inoperative position after a predetermined time period, thereby allowing the closure member to fall into the lowered position.

The timer may be a clockwork mechanism mounted on the rear surface of the vertical panel and having a driven spindle with projects through the panel for rotationally fast attachment to the actuating element which, in this example, is in the shape of a hand gun.

The support member is a lever rotatably mounted on said driven spindle at a position immediately behind the vertical panel and below the closure member. The level is movable through approximately 90" from a horizontal, inoperative position to a vertical, operative position in which the rounded upper end of the lever supports the closure member by its bottom edge. Intermediate its ends the support lever has a pin which projects forwardly through a semi-circular slot in the vertical panel. This slot is overlapped at either side of the projecting pin by the butt portion and the barrel portion of the hand gun shaped actuating element.

One or more guides are provided on the rear surface of the vertical panel for guiding the movement of the closure member between its raised and lowered positions.

Associated with each opening are target card holders mounted on the rear surface of the vertical panel and comprising a horizontal ledge defining the bottom of the opening and a vertical retaining strip extending upwardly from one end of said ledge. The design of the holders is such that the closure member can slide between the retaining strip and target card on the one hand and the rear surface of the vertical panel on the other hand. The bottom edge of the closure member or the top edge of one or more cut-outs therein engage said ledges when the closure member is in its lowered position. When the closure member is lifted the upward movement of these edges uncovers the openings in the vertical panel.

In the example there are six openings in the vertical panel. The two outermost openings are at the same level and the next outermost pair of openings is also level but set slightly lower. The two central openings are higher than the others and are at different levels from each other. Each opening has the appearance of a window opening in the front of a building depicted on the facing surface of the vertical panel. The front surface of the closure member is decorated in those areas which cover the window openings so as to simulate window blinds.

The apparatus is operated as follows: starting with the closure member in the lowered position, the gun-shaped actuating element is turned by hand so that the butt portion entrains the pin of the support lever thereby pivoting this lever into its operative position. As the rounded end of the support lever moves upwardly it slides along the bottom edge of the closure member which is thus forced upwardly into its raised position in which the window openings are uncovered.

Such rotation of the actuating element also sets the clockwork timing mechanism which starts to run as soon as the actuating element is released. The driven spindle of the clockwork mechanism then turns in the reverse direction and carries with it the actuating element which ultimately strikes with its barrel portion against the support lever pin thereby deflecting the support lever into an over-centre position in which it falls under its own weight into its inoperative position.

Simultaneously, the closure member falls into its lowered position covering the window openings.

It is envisaged that apparatus in accordance with the invention may be used for playing a variety of games. For example, a shooting game may involve shooting specified target cards out of the window openings during the limited time period when the closure member is raised.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view showing the various components of a game utilising one embodiment of toy apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a scrap view illustrating the mode of operation.

Referring now to the drawings, the toy apparatus comprises a vertical panel 1 with a facing surface 2 depicting a scene (not shown) and six rectangular openings 3, 4, 5, 6,7 and 8 therein. The panel 1 is supported in a vertical plane by floor stands 9, 10 and has channel section plastics edging strips 11 concealing each vertical edge of the panel. A closure member 12 is slidably mounted on the rear surface 13 of the panel 1 for movement between a raised position (Figure 2) in which it uncovers the openings 3-8 and a lowered position in which it fully or partially covers said openings. Operating means for supporting the closure member 12 in the raised position for a limited time period comprises a support member 14, an actuating element 15 and a timer 16.The remaining components of the game comprise a toy gun 17 which can be loaded with ten discs 18, eight targets 19 (only two shown) and three objective cards 20 (only one shown). The way in which the various components are used in playing the game is described later.

Each of the openings 3-8 has the appearance of a window opening in the front of a building depicted on the facing surface 2 of the panel 1. The front surface (not shown) of the closure member 12 is decorated in those areas which cover the window openings so as to simulate window blinds. The two outermost openings 3, 8 are at the same level slightly above the next outermost pair of openings. 4, 7 which is also level. The two central openings 5, 6 are higher than the others and at different levels from each other.

To the rear surface 13 of the panel 1 is fixed a guide 21 which engages in a vertical slot in the centre of the closure member 12.

The guide 21 serves to guide the movement of the closure member 12 between its raised and lowered positions. Associated with openings 3-8 are target card holders 22 mounted on the rear surface 13 of the panel 1 and each comprising a horizontal ledge 23 defining the bottom of the respective opening and a vertical retaining strip 24 extending upwardly from one end of the ledge 23. The design of the holders 22 is such that the closure member 12 can slide between the retaining strips 24 and target card 19 on the one hand and the rear surface 13 of the panel 1 on the other hand. The bottom edge 25 of a cut-out 27 therein engage the ledges 23 when the closure member 12 is in its lowered position.

The support member 14 of the operating means is a lever which is movable through approximately 90C from a horizontal, inoperative position (shown partly in full line in Figure 3) to a vertical operative position (shown in dotted line in Figure 3) in which the rounded outer end 14a of the lever supports the closure member 12 by its bottom edge 25. Intermediate its ends the support member 14 has a pin 28 which projects forwardly through a semi-circular slot 29 in the panel 1.

The support member 14 is rotatably mounted on a driven spindle 30 of the timer 16 which is a clockwork mechanism mounted on the rear surface of the panel 1. The spindle 30 projects through the panel 1 for rotationally fast attachment to the actuating element 15 which is in the shape of a hand gun.

In the rest position shown in Figure 3, the butt portion 15a and barrel portion 15b of the actuating element 15 overlap the slot 29 at either side of the pin 28 projecting therethrough from the support member 14. A locating finger 31 extends from the rear of the barrel portion 15b into the slot 29.

The apparatus is operated as follows: Starting with the closure member 12 in the lowered position, the gun-shaped actuating element 15 is turned by hand so that the butt portion 1 5a entrains the pin 28 of the support member 14 thereby pivoting this member into its operative position. As the rounded end 14a of the support member 14 moves upwardly it slides along the bottom edge 25 of the closure member 12 which is thus forced upwardly into its raised position in which the window openings 3-8 are uncovered. Such rotation of the actuating element 15 also sets the clockwork timing mechanism of the timer 16 which starts to run as soon as the actuating element 15 is released.The driven spindle 30 of the clockwork mechanism then turns in the reverse direction and carries with it the actuating element 15 which ultimately strikes with its barrel portion 15b against the support member pin 28 thereby deflecting the support member 14 into an over-centre position in which it falls under its own weight into its inoperative position.

Simultaneously, the closure member 12 falls into its lowered position covering the window openings 3-8.

The game played by two or more players as follows: One of the players shuffles the deck of eight target cards 19 and, without looking at them, he takes the top six cards and places one in each of the holders 22 at the back of the panel 1. Each target card carries a slightly different silhouette four of which are repeated in each objective card 20. The three objective cards 20 are then shuffled and one is selected unseen by the player next in turn.

This player is then given a brief period of time in which to memorise the objective card which is then removed. The closure member 12 is then lifted by turning the actuating element 15 by thereby revealing the target cards 19 and setting the timer 16. Using the toy gun 17 the player then tries to shoot out of the windows 3-8 those target cards 19 carrying silhouettes corresponding to those he remembers from the objective card. After a predetermined time the closure member 12 automatically falls to conceal the remaining target cards. Points are then awarded for target cards correctly shot out and deducted for cards incorrectly shot out.

It will be appreciated that apparatus according to the invention may be used in different games from that described above.

For example, the various components may be replaced by others having a similar function or, alternatively, the game may be changed fundamentally while preserving the principle of uncovering the openings in the apparatus for a limited time period. In a further modification, the closure member may be arranged to descend slowly during operation of the timer rather than abruptly as described above.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Toy apparatus comprising a vertically disposable panel with a facing surface representing a scene incorporating a plurality of openings in the panel, a closure member slidably mounted on the rear surface of said panel for movement between a raised position in which it uncovers said openings and a lowered position in which it at least partially covers said openings, and operating means for supporting the closure member in the raised position for a limited time period.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating means comprises a support member which is movable into an operative position in which it supports the closure member in the raised position, a timer, and an actuating element movable under the control of the timer to deflect the support member into an inoperative position after a predetermined time period, thereby allowing the closure member to fall into the lowered position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the timer is a clockwork mechanism mounted on the rear surface of the vertical panel and having a driven spindle which projects through the panel for rotationally fast attachment to the actuating element.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support member is a lever rotatably mounted on said driven spindle at a position immediately behind the vertical panel and below the closure member.

5. Toy apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. portion 1 5a entrains the pin 28 of the support member 14 thereby pivoting this member into its operative position. As the rounded end 14a of the support member 14 moves upwardly it slides along the bottom edge 25 of the closure member 12 which is thus forced upwardly into its raised position in which the window openings 3-8 are uncovered. Such rotation of the actuating element 15 also sets the clockwork timing mechanism of the timer 16 which starts to run as soon as the actuating element 15 is released.The driven spindle 30 of the clockwork mechanism then turns in the reverse direction and carries with it the actuating element 15 which ultimately strikes with its barrel portion 15b against the support member pin 28 thereby deflecting the support member 14 into an over-centre position in which it falls under its own weight into its inoperative position. Simultaneously, the closure member 12 falls into its lowered position covering the window openings 3-8. The game played by two or more players as follows: One of the players shuffles the deck of eight target cards 19 and, without looking at them, he takes the top six cards and places one in each of the holders 22 at the back of the panel 1. Each target card carries a slightly different silhouette four of which are repeated in each objective card 20. The three objective cards 20 are then shuffled and one is selected unseen by the player next in turn. This player is then given a brief period of time in which to memorise the objective card which is then removed. The closure member 12 is then lifted by turning the actuating element 15 by thereby revealing the target cards 19 and setting the timer 16. Using the toy gun 17 the player then tries to shoot out of the windows 3-8 those target cards 19 carrying silhouettes corresponding to those he remembers from the objective card. After a predetermined time the closure member 12 automatically falls to conceal the remaining target cards. Points are then awarded for target cards correctly shot out and deducted for cards incorrectly shot out. It will be appreciated that apparatus according to the invention may be used in different games from that described above. For example, the various components may be replaced by others having a similar function or, alternatively, the game may be changed fundamentally while preserving the principle of uncovering the openings in the apparatus for a limited time period. In a further modification, the closure member may be arranged to descend slowly during operation of the timer rather than abruptly as described above. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Toy apparatus comprising a vertically disposable panel with a facing surface representing a scene incorporating a plurality of openings in the panel, a closure member slidably mounted on the rear surface of said panel for movement between a raised position in which it uncovers said openings and a lowered position in which it at least partially covers said openings, and operating means for supporting the closure member in the raised position for a limited time period.