US1074816A - Puzzle. - Google Patents

Description

H. G. RANDALL.

PUZZLE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.13, 1911.

Patented 0011.7,1913.

VII/Ill a :eilziaom)e. Hermann, or reactivate, VERMONT.

PUZZLE.

Specification of teat-irritate.

*Fatented ea. a, rare.

Application filed April 13,1911. Serial No. 620,762.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD G. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Felchvill-e, in the county of Windsor, State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do hereby 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.

This invention relates to a new and novel puzzle and has for its object to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and may be cheaply manufactured.

A further object of the same is to so construct an article of this character that the same will be intricate to operate, but at the same time amusing.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out and claimed. The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device with the transparent cover removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

In constructing the device, a rectangular casing l is provided and may be formed from any suitable material. The casing 1 is divided into upper and lower compartments by a partition 2, the partition being formed from wood, said partition being also rectangular in shape and fitted within the casing 1. Partition 2 is supported within the casing 1 by screws or the like placed at the points wherein the edges of the same contact with the walls of the casing.

The upper surface of the partition is provided with a series of concentric grooves 3, and into which are secured a corresponding number of concentrically arranged annular walls 4, said walls being formed from light sheet metal, but it will of course be understood that any other material may be used for this purpose.

The outermost wall is provided with an entrance gateway 5, and through which a ball 6 is started upon its travel, said ball in its normal position being housed in a corner of the casing nearest the gateway 5. Each alternate wall 4: is provided with gateways 7 but none of said gateways being in registered relation, therefore compelling the ball to travel in a semi-circular channel until a gateway is reached.

Arranged opposite certain of the gateways formed in the walls 4 are openings 8, said openings extending through the partition 2 and have their lower outlets opening into the lower compartment or bottom of the casing. The openings 8 are so arranged in relation to the walls that they occupy approximately half of each channel wherein located. The terminus or central wall incloses the re cess 9, said recess being the destination of the ball When the puzzle has been properly manipulated. It will be noted that some of the points 8 are provided adjacent the walls a opposite to the gateways.

A glass covering 10 is provided, said covering being suitably secured to the side walls of the casing 1 and has its under surface resting upon the upper edges of the walls, thereby preventing the ball from jumping said Walls. It will be noted that the openings 8 are substantially semi circular in cross-section, and present their inner curved wall to each gateway opposite which they are located.

In operating the puzzle the casing is tilted so that the ball 6 passes through the gateway 5 and thence travels around the channel into which said gateway leads until it reaches the gateway in the next inner wall, and passes into the next inner channel if said ball is successfully manipulated past the openings arranged opposite said gateway. This operation is continued until the ball has traveled from one wall to the other until the same has reached the recess 9 located within the terminus wall. If during the operation the ball should drop through any one of the o enings the operator is compelled to manipulate the frame until the ball reaches the corner wherein the opening 11 is provided in the partition. The casing is then reversed until the ball passes from the lower compartment through said opening 11 and to a point near the gateway 5, when the ball is again started upon its travel to complete the operation of the puzzle.

What is claimed is A puzzle comprising a casing, a horizontal partition in said casing dividing the latter into lower and upper compartments, concentric rings arranged in and dividing the upper compartment into a series of endless passages, said rings having staggered gateways through which adjacent passages com- I tween the lower compartment and said pasmunicate, and said partition being provided In testimony whereof, I affiX my signa- With openings affording communication beture, in presence of two Witnesses.

A D RANDALL. sages, said openings being located 1n palrs L wlth the openlngs of each pair disposed on Wltnessesz V opposite sides of the respective gate-Ways CLARENCE N. HooK, and in ad acent passages respectively. GEO. D. BURNHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

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