US1528661A - Gaming device - Google Patents

Description

Mar. :3. 1925.

1,528,661 J. H. EWING GAMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mar. 3, 1925.

' 1,528,661 J. H. EWING GAMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1925 PATENT oFFleu.

JOSEPH n1; EWING, or MALTA, l 0310.

GAMING DEVICE,

i Application filed January 3, 1923. Serial 'No. 611,443.

Toall whom it may conoemr Be it'known that I, JOSEPH H1 EWING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malta, in the county of Morgan and State of Ohio,'have invented Certain new and useful Improvements in GamingDevices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvementsjn games.

The primary object of this inventionis the provision of a compact game device, which may be played by a plurality of persons in such manner as to test the skill of persons laying the same.

A further object'of the invention is the provision of a gaming device which may be used as a game of chance, embodying a novel arrangement for control of playing elements in such manner as to effectively place the winning playing element ina novel goal de vlce.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a gaming device which maybe played by a plurality of persons at gatherings, such as carnivals, fairs, picnics, etc, embodying means whereby the same may be selectively used as a game of skill or chance.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an amusement device, which 3 maybe used for advertising purposes, or as a trade stimulator.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

. In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the im- 4 proved gaming device.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view, taken through the improved gamingdevice, showing, the essential cooperating details thereo Figure 3 is a plan view of the improved gaming, device.

Figure 4 1s a perspective view of cooperat ing details of a novel target device embodied in the improved game- Figures-5 and 6 are transverse, cross" s'ec'-, 50

tional views taken substantially on theirrespective lines in Figure 2 of the drawings; Figure 7 is -a perspective view ofa goal arrangement used inconnection with the im proved gamingdevice. 4 5

Figure 8 1s a cross sectional view, taken substantia'llyon the line 8-8 ofFi'gur'e'5.

Figure 9 is a plan viewfof a novel baifle member used as a detail of the improved. gaming device. 7

Figure 10 is a transverse orosssectional view taken" substantially on the, line 10 -10 of the element illustrated in Figure 9.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown but the preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A generally designates the improved game; which'may include a housing ,10; battle ar rangement 11; mouth piece 12; target device 13; goal device 14; andplaying elements 15.

The improved game may be used in miniature form, or may be relatively large as when used at carnivals, fairs, picnics and thelike. VVhen'so used, the housing 10 is preferablyof cylindrical formation, and may be an ordinary barrel, including the bottom 20 and annular side walls 21. The side walls 21 adjacent the bottom 20* are provided with an opening 22, which may be polygonal or circular in outline; the dimension of which is preferably twice that of the width or diameter of a playing element l5. The top of the barrel or housing 10 is entirely open to receive themouth piece 12, as will be subsequently described.

Referring to the bafiie arrangement 11 over which the playing elements 15 are adapted to travel from the top opening of the housing 10 to the exit opening 22 at'the bottom of said housing, the same includes a throat piece 28; bottom baflle plate 29; and intermediate bafile plates 30.- The bottom baifle-plate-29 is circular in plan-view, and

V-shaped in cross section. Itis mountedwithin the compartment of the housinglO by brackets 32, so that the lowermost'end' thereof is disposed'adjacent the bottom edge of the exitopening 22, with the groove 33 provided by the V-shape of said baflie plate 29, extending upwardly in the compartment on an incline from said exit opening 22, to the opposite edge of said baflie plate 29.

The intermediate baffle plates 30 may be provided in any approved number. They are somewhat analogous to the lower baflie plate 29, and are circular in plan view and substantially V-shaped in formation providing a diametral groove 35, at one end of which groove the baffle plate 30 is recessed inwardly, as at 36, to provide an opening through which the playing elements 15 may pass when the bafile plates are mounted within the compartment of the housing 10. Suitable brackets 38 may be provided for mounting the baflie plates 30 in inclined rela tion within the compartment, it being preferred that the playing element passageway 36 of an upper baffle be at the lowermost part of said balile, and immediately above the elevated end of the next lower plate or runway, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The throat member 28 is positioned at the top of the compartment provided by the bar rel or housing 10 and is of funnel shaped construction, providing the restricted opening 40, which may be circular and of about twice the size of the diameter of a playing element 15. The surface provided by the throat member 28 converges downwardly into the compartment of the housing 10, so that playing elements may pass thereover onto the baffle plates within said housing compartment.

The mouth piece 12 is of funnel shaped construction, including the flaring side walls 42 converging to provide a restricted opening 43 at the lower end of said mouth piece, about which the annular flange 44 is provided, adapted for extension into the top opening of the housing 10 and for attachment therein in any preferred manner. Thus, the mouth piece 42 extends outwardly of the housing 10 in upwardly flaring manner.

The target arrangement 13 is adapted for disposition within the flaring top portion 42 of the mouth piece 12, so that the top walls of the same extend upwardly above the top marginal edge 48 of the mouth piece 42. This target 13 is of novel construction and preferably includes a pair of flat pieces 49 and 50, of any approved material, which may be suitably recessed, as at 52, whereby the same may interengage in intersecting planes, so to speak, providing a plurality of walls. It is preferred that the lower corners 53 of the pieces 49 and of the target 13 be bevelled, so that the same may rest upon the inner flaring surface of the mouth piece 12.

The goal device 14 is of novel construction, and includes a main receptacle open suitable at its top, and providing the blocks 61 therein having the straight surfaces thereof downwardly converging in V-shaped relation to provide a groove or passageway for the playing elements 15. The front wall 62 of the receptacle 60 is provided with an opening 63, which leads into a small receptacle 64 providing a compartment 65, within which the winning playing element is adapt ed to pass from the opening 63 to the exclusion of all other playing elements. The V- shaped groove provided by the blocks 61 is entirely open at the rear of the ball recep tacle 60, and at this end of the receptacle 60, a transverse cleat 68 is provided at the bottom of the goal, so that the groove provided by the block 61 may have an incline toward the winning compartment 65. The goal device 14 is proximately disposed with respect to the opening 22 of the frame housing 10, so that a playing element passing from the opening 22 may readily enter the V-sha-ped groove or passageway provided by the goal device 14.

The playing elements 15 are preferably spherical in formation, and may be numbered, colored, or marked in any approved manner to readily distinguish them from each other.

lVhen the improved game is used as one of skill, any number of balls or playing elements are provided, equal to the number of players participating. Appropriate paddles, tokens, or markers may be provided to designate the particular playing elements which the players use. In case the numerical system of marking is used, it is of course. understood that the marker which a person holds bears a duplicate number of that num ber appearing upon the playing element which that person uses. The object, when the game is used as one of skill is to be on the alert to act quickly after a. given signal is given, such as the firing of a pistol, to get his or her ball into the mouth piece of the improved game as accurately as possible. The players may be arranged circumferem tially in spaced relation about the improved game, and may throw the playing elements at the target 13, so that the same will enter the mouth piece and baiile arrangen'ient. The first playing element entering the goal compartment 65 wins, and the person holding the marker designating that playing element is the winner.

hen the improved game is used as one of chance, the target. device 13 need not be used. Playing elements 15 and appropriate markers (not shown) are also used when the improved game is used as one of chance. However, the playing elements or balls 15, instead of being thrown at targets, are placed in a basket or appropriate receptacle and dumped into the mouth piece 12. The first playing element or ball entering the pocketfor compartment 65 is the winner, and the rize should be awardedzto the person holding the marker represent-ing such 'play- From the foregoing description of this in vention, it is apparent that 'a'compact' game apparatus 'has been provided, which may be played by a plurality of persons, and which will afford considerable amusement. The game may be selectively played as one of chance or skill, and may be used for advertising purposes, or as a stimulant for trade, in the disposition of articles of merchandise as prizes.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim 1. A game comprising a cylindrical shaped housing having an opening at the lower end thereof, a baffie plate substantially V-shaped in cross section disposed within said housing and in inclined relation and providing a groove which inclines downwardly from one side of said housing to the opening at the other side of said housing, and a plurality of baffle plates relatively inclined and mounted within said housing upwardly of said first mentioned baffle plate, said last mentioned baflie plates providing grooves having communicating passageways transversely through said plates at the lower ends of said grooves, and playing elements adapted for disposition within said housing for successive travel over said baffle plates and onto the lowermost bafile plate and through the opening at the lower end of said housing.

2. A game comprising a housing, inclined runways in the housing positioned one above another and inclined in opposite directions, the upper runways having their lower ends provided with passageways and the housing having a passageway at the lower end of the lower runway, a goal at the lower end of the housing and in operative relation to the outlet, a mouth piece supported by said housing upwardly thereof, a target carried by the mouth piece and exposed outwardly of said mouth iece, and projectable playing elements, to e projected toward said target so that they may fall into the mouth piece when striking the target and of a size to pass over said runways and through the passageways to the goal at the lower end of said housing to indicate a score obtained by a player.

3. A game comprising a housing having its upper end portion provided with an inlet and its lower end portion provided with an outlet, baffle plates carried within said housing for controlling movement of a projectile through the housing from the inlet to the outlet, a goal at the lower end of said housing in operative relation to the outlet, a funel shaped mouth piece. carried at the upper end of said; housing and flaring outwardly therefrom and open at its upp'erand lower ends, a target carried within the funnel shaped mouth piece including a plurality of walls in intersecting planes, said walls extending upwardly from said mouth piece, and playing elements to be projected by players toward the walls of said target and fall into the mouthpiece after striking said target, the playing pieces being of proper size for passing and onto the baffle plates within said housing and after traveling thereover passing through the outlet to the goal at the lower end of said housing to indicate the score ob tained by a player.

4. A game comprising a housing of cylindrical formation having an outlet opening at the lower end thereof, a goal in operative relation to the outlet, a plurality of baffle plates carried within the compartment of said housing for directing a projectile through the housing and positioned in in clined relation one above the other and having passageways whereby communication intermediate the various baflie plates is established, a throat member of funnel shaped formation carried within said compartment at the upper end of said housing and providing a restricted opening entering into said compartment for directing a playing element onto the first baffle plate, a funnel shaped mouth piece carried upwardly of said housing at the large end of said throat member extending outwardly of the housing in flaring relation, a target carried by said mouth piece extending upwardly thereof, and playing elements to be projected towards the target and upon striking the target drop down through the mouth piece an throat for movement over the battle plates within the compartment of said housing and through the outlet opening i at the lower end of said housing into the goal to indicate the score obtained by the player.

5. A game comprising a housing having an outlet in its lower end portion, a plurality of battle plates arranged within said housing in inclined relation one above the other for directing a playing element through the housing to the outlet, a throat piece providing a restricted opening at the upper end of said housing and positioned for directing a playing element onto the upper baflle plate, a mouth piece extending outwardly above said housing in flaring relation for receiving the playing element and directing the same into the mouth piece, a target carried upwardly by said mouth piece, a goal member positioned externally of said housing in operative relation to the outlet and playing elements to be projected towards the target and upon striking the target drop into the through said mouth piece.

mouth piece and pass through said mouth in plan view and providing relatively fiatpiece and drop onto the upper baflie plate converging side portions arranged in V- and move along the baffle plates and through shaped relation to provide a diametral 10 the outlet into the goal to indicate the score groove, said bafiie plate having a recess ex- U obtained by the player. tending inwardly of a marginal edge thereof 6. As an article of manufacture, a baflle at one end of said groove. plate for game devices substantially circular JOSEPH H. EWING.

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