US1021281A - Puzzle. - Google Patents

Description

lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE C. VESSELS, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. A.

KURT, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE C. VEssELs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to puzzles and has for its object to provide a puzzle comprising an opaque body having a channeled or cutout interior, so arranged that an object contained therein may, by proper manipulation, be delivered from the body. In accomplishing this object I have provided the 'improved details of construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,-

Figure I is a view of a puzzle constructed according to my invention. Fig. II is a central section of same. Fig. III is a cross section of the device on the line A-A, Fig. II, looking in the direction of the arrow A. Fig. IV is an inverted cross section looking in the direction of the arrow B.

In making the puzzle, I construct the interior channels and hollowed parts of a material which may be bent or shaped to the desired configuration; glass being preferably used as it may be blown tubular and shaped in the making so that it may be arranged tortuously. While I do not wish to be limited to that material, I will describe the manufacture of the interior parts as of that material, in order to give a clear understanding of the method of making and the use of the device.

I first form a bulb 1, which is preferably oval or egg shaped, and forms a center or connecting chamber. I then make tubes 2-2 having flaring mouths 3 and inner ends 4L, which latter are projected througlh the bulb 1 to about the center thereof, t e inner ends of the opposite tubes terminating close to each other and being oset so that but small portions of their channels are in line. Near the outer ends of the tubes 2 2 are elbows 5 for providing an irregular passage for an object passed into the mouths, such elbow comprising the ears G which project into the general path of the tubes so that should the object be returned through the tubes, it will strike the ear and be slightly deflected.

Opening into the tube 2', just inwardly from the ear 6 is a tube 7, which extends lat-l erally from the tube, is curved toward the bulb 1, turned backwardly and laterally and extended past the tube 2', and looped, the end terminating in the bulb, the last opening being in substantial alinement with the inner open end of the tubes 2, so that when the device is held in position for delivering an object from the tube 7 into the chamber 1, it can pass through a part of the chamber and fall into the inner end of the opposite tube, 2. In the other end of the device is a tube 8, which opens from the tube 2 just inwardly from the ear 6 and is looped, as shown, the end of the tube entering the bulb 1, in substantial alinement with the tube 2, at the side of such tube opposite the entrance of the tube 7.

Inclosing the bulb and tubes just described, is an opaque body 9 which may be formed of clay, or the like, properly colored or ornamented, such body being preferably oval or egg shaped in contour and formed around the mouths of the tubes 2-2, so that the surface will be smooth.

In using the puzzlefa small ball may be dropped into the mouth of tube 2 and will pass therefrom into the bulb 1, on through the bulb into the opposite tube 7 or 8. After the ball has entered the puzzle, it is passed around through the tube and bulb in an effort to secure its removal; should it be passed into the tube 7 through the bulb 1 and carried through the double reverse curve to the mouth of the tube 2 it will be returned into the bulb as before, owing to the outwardly curved arrangement of said tube 7 adjacent to its connection with said tube 2, as it is readily seen that the ball could not enter said tube 2, unless the device were held in such position as to cause the fall of the ball toward the bulb. The same is true of the opposite tube 8.

In order to remove the ball from the puzzle, it should be passed into either of the tubes 7 or 8 and the body tipped so that the ball will drop through the inner portion of Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

said tube and fall through a part of the bulb 1 into the open mouth of one of the tubes 2-2. It is apparent through, that the ball might be removed by throwing same from the bulb l into the mouth of one of the tubes 2 2 or it might vbe removed by delivering same from the tube 7 or 8 into the connecting tube 2 2 and then turning the body quickly to throw the ball out through the relative mouth 3.

In order that one familiar with the device map operate same, I prefer to place a key word or mark such as the inventors name on the exterior of the body, so that by grasping the body in a certain position relative to the key word the proper manipulation may be made to insure the withdrawal of the ball.

In order to demonstrate that there is an opening entirely through the body, I prefer to arrange the tubes 2 2 so that a wire or the like may be passed entirely therethrough, and for this purpose, prefer to overlap the inner ends of the tubes 2 -2 slightly, as illustrated in the sectional figure kin the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is Claims.

1. A puzzle comprising a body having an v interior chamber, tubes opening through said body and terminating within said chamber, and tortuously arranged tubes connected with said first named tubes and with said chamber.

2. .A puzzle comprising a chamber, tubes terminating in off-set relation within said chamber, other tubes connected with said first named tubes and opening into said chamber in substantial alinement with the inner ends of said irst named tubes, and a body inclosing said chamber and tubes, eX- cept their outer mouths of the first named tubes, substantially as described.

3. A puzzle comprising a body, a chamber located within said body, tubes opening through said body and terminating in 0H"- set relation within said chamber, said tubes having elbows therein, other tubes opening from said first named tubes, inwardly from and near said elbowed portion and terminating in the chamber in substantial alinement with the mouths of said first named tubes, for the purpose set forth.

4. In a puzzle, an opaque body, tortuously arranged tubes located within the body and having indirect communication therein, and a key word or the like on the exterior of the opaque body, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE C. VESSELS.

Witnesses:

MYRTLE M. JACKSON, ARTHUR W. CAPs.

Copies of this patent lmay be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C.

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