US1536672A

US1536672A - Game

Info

Publication number: US1536672A
Application number: US740939A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hobbs Ernest Haviland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-10-01
Filing date: 1924-10-01
Publication date: 1925-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 1942-05-05

Description

May 5, '1925.-

GAME

Filed Oct. J

sala, i nanars PRISON *im uono Youwnust throw A @met 'tu get out Then qu bACk To lo oon IB OOO IB oon x8 ooo x2 ooo E5 MANAGER SUPERIMTEND T DFFlCE MANAGER SALESMAN LEDGF. R C I E RK cDRwEsPoNDENcr. CLeRK )LLIN CLERK MESSENGER OF ICE.

He makes A a mier of E. H. HOBBS JOURNEYMAN INSANE ASYLU M. AWARD/uur turn. Yaumust throw a duuHe to get qui; The qu b'Ack ta Unempoy N016 back fo same job.

G R A V E Yau are dead. Sfay here wml game ls h'ninhed.

camisa enucm' UNEMPLOYED O U T Tu aman@ from hm. 15 er?. ma must he. :lu-nw n4 l Inventor: mwuawm UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST HAVILAND HOBBS, F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OI' COLUMBIA.

GAME.

Application led October 1, 1824. Serial No. 740,939.

To all 007mm it may concern: only one or two sections instead of three, 50

Be it knwn that I, ERNEST HAviLaND' would be desirable for some purposes. l'tlonns, a citizen of the United States` resid- The designations of the steps of the ladder ingr at Washington. District of Columbia, may be some or al1 of the following; 5 have invented a new and useful Gaine, 2 i 0 Wiiicii i ciiii Business Ladder, Together i 5m 0 Mdm* 5 with an Improvement in Game Pieces and in 520'000 I am Wreck? N'siigytiigspial' Dice` of which the following is a specifca- $20,000 Disiionesibond den? Ngstggrgf mign- G0011*- tion. reference being had to the accompany- $20,000 Embezzlement? Nessftiotg Court. i0 ing drawing, which forms a part thereof. $20000 Worms., es: Go i insaneeies'yium.

The object of my invention is to produce a No: Stay hefe' ,frame which is interesting, amusing and inwww 0 000 G0 t'fz'srzm striictive tothe young` and to reduce Wear mm Drinksnquof? Noz'stayiierap and noise on the, game board t() a minimum $18,000 Increases the Companys earningslg; Slpl. i0 The complete game. consists of a board $18,000 rriekery'z NSFt`fgrf0mig- G0 mt- (Fig. i), a number of game pieces or mem 018,000' Stockjuggun'., es.: Go 'to court. 65 (rigs. 0 and 7) and time di, two of which 000000 N- Stamm' are ordinary dice (not shown) so Well known esgfft'lgASYMm i g a as to need no description, and the third be- $15000 Getsdm h bm Nofstairhere. l l0 ing a special die (Figs. 2 and 3), later de- $15300 Dsmvefsabgleak? Nisi'sigfyiiio Vice President' scribed. or tWo ordinary dice and .a vspinner $15.000 improvesthebusinesspolicyigrisjggggt met 70 (Fig. 4. or Fig. 5) instead of the three dice. $15,000 Fraud? Nerggsclursd- G0 out The board (rig. 1),@fimy Suitable maie- 00000 BY m' gaat rial, is about two or three feet long and $12,000 Becomesastockholder? Can not advance until "Yes is secured. 5 about half as Wide, and has upon its sur $12000 Loses sleep? es: Go to Hospital.

face a diagram somewhat like a ladder 01 002000 100010000000070Ngrsiaaigciiiiied. G0 out. 7.5 Hight of steps or rectangular spaces such Nmstyhefe- 0 s es: Advance to Treasurer.

spaces containing Words or designations- $121000 Improvesmpany's nafyiifio: stay here. representing positions held and happenings $12,000 Gemmiiwmger 3() during a mans Working Career, and, eXCept- (gmiere dotvivn tl-{eGladdeii (i/pdes into thtreedladders orhsections,

ing the names of the Jobs themselves, con- Sii mi ostilgym ene amg ex e s across t e top of 80 C 77 C i 7 The first section of the ladder is supposed to represent the accounttalnlng the Words Yes and No and Wlth ing department ofthe business, and the steps of it contain the foilweach a'command to go to another location or ine designations: 00 0, remain, or, in some instances, a rule, such as $101000 Respected bY ofcals'ficgirtefdvan um! Yes is Cannot advance until Yes (or No) is se- $0,000 Broodsiroubiesi 13%: (gggyohfne Asmm' cured, which blocks further advance until $8,000 Bcolii'esparge stock- Nersgvgto Vice President 85 the special die or spinner produces the proper $7 000 Baper? 05: G0 ckiniiiiiig oierk. Word, Yesw or Non 0 No: Stayhere. l

The diagram of the ladder shown in Fig. 56000 i Cgwgan mm1 "Yer, is 40 l is in three sections part-Way up, repre- $500" Hasexecutwe bium Sewredsenting three departments (accounting, sales $4,800 05161958 0f health? No: sew here, 90

es: Goto Hospital.

and manufacturing) of a typical or con- $4,500 cuisine accountingcosts? Nsgrgt" Gen'Mgf- Ventional business concern, and it is single $40200 Becomes unreasonable? Nssgybg'reto Ledger Clerkthe rest of the way, representing the higher $40000 A0000,

0r executive positions -of the business, l and 0 $30000 B00001000 property owner? 00000000200012003000 omi/m.

contains 72 steps or spaces. While I believe es: Dischargem G0 out, 95 this to be the most interesting and instruc- 0 v Nof Stay here A000000 8 mp0- tve form of this game, yet an abridged 53'700 Imprwes the amntmg memmim'smyhm.

z i h G form, with a smaller number of steps and $3000 Spelm'f es Dsc "ged ut $3,800 In bad company? No: Stay here.

$3,500 Cashier Becomes careless? $3,000 Bookkeepa satisfied with present 101,110 n advance um Nf isseired. t C h es: vance o as ier. Displays unmPweStgo: Stay here.

es: avance steps. Mmies? No: Stay here.

52, 100. Ledger Clerk Y Can not advance until Yes is Studies accounting? secured Writes a worthless shortes: Go back to Billing Clerk.

hand system? No1:3 Stzly her. G t es: ise arge oou Diseloses iniormationfgo: Stay here.

es; Advance 3 steps. No: Stay here.

$1,900 Starts savings account? si, soo

Slenographic clerk Studies shorthand and Can not advance until Yes is bookkeeping? secured 251, 260 Billing clerk Can not advance until Ycs" is $1,100 Studies typewnmng?{ scemi y n es: Advance one step. 51,000 Is energetic? No: stay hmL $960 Causes loss oi meney?{%sz: Scfd' $800 Studies ilnancc and account 'es: Advance to Bookkeeper.

ing? G b kllobszayllsiere. es: o ac 0 ce oy. Becomes hay? No: Stay here.

Go out.

SADO

Messenger Studies shorthand and bookk es: Advance'to Steno. Clerk. eeping? No: xSdtay harte. B ui C] k A es: i vanee o i ng er Studies typewzltfing'i'ozhsmydhr t es: isc arge o ou Steals stampsflNdShay hmM es: i Vance o essenger. Courteous? No: Go back one step.

$300 Of'ce bou (The remaining iour steps extend across all three sections oi the iadderand are designated as followsz) Has he had special education or training? (Sec note below) Yes: Throw dice to indicate what, and advance to that position. No: Remain here until five is thrown, then advance one step. Interview. He makes a favorable impression? Yes: Advance one step. No: Go back to Unemployed. Outer oihce. Personal appearance neat and clean? Yes: Advance to Interview. No: Go back to Unemployed. Applies for osition. Writes a good letter of application? Yes: A vanee to Interview. No: Stay here. (This is the lowest rung or bottom oi the ladder.) Note-(See fourth step above). Special education or training. Throw the dice. College education is represented by doublets which advance a man to higher positions, as follows:

Double l-Chiei Engineer. Double li-Advertising Manager. Double 4-Auditor. Double 3-Cashier.

Double 2-Oice Manager. Double 1-Foremal1. Other training: 11-Bookkeeper -lourneyman. Ilo-Salesman. 5-Stenographic Clerk.

9-Toolmaker. 4-Ste1z1apher.

Ledger Clerk. 3-Ma e Hand.

` Becomes diseourtcous?{ Displays initiative? The second section o! the ladder below general manager is supposed to represent the sales department of the business, and the steps of it contain the following designations: Y

Brings in big trado Mean disposition? Sales manager Has managerial ability? GCaring: advlnce until Yes is Secured.

es: o to ospi Careless oi habits? No: Stay here.

Yes: Go back to Corresp. Clerk.

No: Stay here.

Adumising manager Omce 'manager Yes: Advance t0 Sules Manager. NozYGo licllrl tokSalc (llerr. k

es: o a'cto "icCcr'. Becomes mmdy" No: Advance to Oicc Manager,

Yes: Advance 3 steps.

No: Stay here.

Yes: Go to Court.

No: Stay here.

Displays zeal? Forgery? Salesman cs: Go to Court. Records stolen? No: Stay here Refuges added respunsibinfv? Canuo advance um NV' is Se' cure es: Advance to Ollicc Mgr. No: Stay here. Yes: Advance 3 steps. No: Stay here.

Displays unusual ability? .loins church? Correspondence Clerk Mattias? No: Stay here.

Slenographer Starts savings account?{NO; Stay here.

Yes: Advance 4 steps. No: Stay here.

Sales Clfrl:

Unusually polite? File Clerk Studies shorthand and typewrting? Pfo stenographer' es Advance to Sales Clerk. Studles anthmetidgo: Stay here. Lies? es: Discharged. Go out.

No: Stalerc. t Fil C1 L es: vance o e er.

Willing? No: Go back one step.

Errand Boy (This is the lowest rung or step oi the middle or sales departmeut section of the ladder, and immediately below is Bas he had Special Education or training" and the other three steps de- Bcbed above.)

The third section of the ladder below general manager is supposed to represent the manufacturing department of Eii'ects great savings?{No: Stay here. Unkind? Yes: Go back t Assembler. No: Stay here.

Superintendent Has supervising abllit i Cannot advance until Yes is secured Careless oi danger? Sgytgggspital' Cuts the manufacturing costsq: Sggllgg'to Gen' Mg" Yes: Go beck to Journeyman. 3mm mbbid'flNo: Stay here. Only one on each iob from here up.

Chief engineer Foreman es: Advance to Superintendent. No: Go back to Assembler'.

Displays iirmness? es: Go back to Supply Clerk.

Becomes 510mm N0:Advance toremarsi. t Displays great knowledge? Nstasyg :s eps es: Go to Court. Lemmy? No: Stay here.

Tool maken Yes: Goto Court.

No: Stay here. p n n i Satisfied with present earningsgualft advance mit No s se Displays unusual loyalty? SAggt Foreman' Yes: Advance 3 steps.

No: Stay here.

. Journeyman Starts savings account? Studies machine construction? Cnnot advance um "Yes, is se incompetentfg Sfgybgto Assembler. Yes: Discharged. Go out, Disloyal? No: Stayre 3 t es: vence s e s. Joins church? No: Stay here. p

Machine hand Studies drafting and mechanicsic'dvan until Yes, is

es: Discharged. o out. Unreliable'ZYN-o: tag hir? H l es: vence s eps. Mamas? No: Stay here. Unusually careiul?{s:' 311222?, steps' Assembler Cannot advance until- "Yes is secured. Yes: Advance one step. No: Stirly he. h d G esz isc arge oout. Causes loss ofsupplres? No: Stay new A y Yes: Advance to Tool Maker. No: Stay here. es: 'Go back to Helper. No: Stay here.

Supply clerk Studies special instructions?{ Works overtime? Studies engineering? Forgets? Studies drafting and rnechanics: ggal': to Machine Hand Yes: Advance to ssernbler. No: Stay here. Yes: Discharged. Go out. No: Stayiere. t S l Cl k es: Vance o UIJDY er obedient? No: Go back one step. p

Helper (This is the lowest rung or step oi the third or manufacturing department section o! the ladder, and immediately below is Has Studies special instructions? Sweats? he had s education or training and the other three steps above.)

0n the same board, in addition to the ladder, there are six "insti` tutions in the form o! rectangles or otherwise-shaped spaces, conyenrently placed, and containing the following designations and inst ions:

1 Prison Await your turn. You must throw a doublet td get out. Then go back to Unemployed.

You are dead. Stay here until game is finished.

6 I Unemployed. (Out) To advance from here, a 5 or 3 and 2 must be thrown.

ln the form of the game shown in Fig.

l, beside each step or space of the ladder is a number representing the salary, in dollars a year, earned at that station in a mans career; also beside the $4,000 a year jobs is a note stating Only one on each job from here up. This hoard is novel and differs from all others in its general form, arrangement, naines and designations and in the Yes-No principle herein described, as applied to a. game.

To make operative the Yes-N0 directions of the. board, a qualifying chance means in the form of o special Yes-No die or spinner is used.

The special YeswNO die is simply a cubo or other solid geometrical block having the Words Yes and No on opposite sides thereof, or the Word Yesron each of half its sides and No on each of the other half; or, if the gamebe produced in a language other. than English, then ailirmative and negative Words in that language will be used instead :of the English Words Yes and No Figs. 2 andr'S illustrate such a die.

This die is novel and differs from all others in bearing upon its faces alirmative and negative Words and such Words only, and thus answering, by throwing it, arbitrarily and by' chance, truthfully or untruthfully, any questionV requiring an affirmative or negative answer.

The Yes-No spinner is for the same purpose as the Yes-No. die, and hence can be used as a substitute for it. Fig. 4 is a top View, looking down upon one form of spinner which consists of a cardboard (or other material) square on which is mounted a pivoted arrow (to be spun by the. hand) turning upon a circle divided vso selves are not novel.

into equal sections, half of such sections bearing the word Yes and the other half the word No, the Yes and No alternating. Fig. 5 is a view looking downward upon a spinner in the form of a top consisting of a flat piece of material in the sha e of a hexagon (it could as well be a diftldrent polygon) divided into alternate sections bearing the words Yes and No, respectively, and penetrated in the center by a pivot or spindle on which to spin and to be twirled by the fingers. By falling upon one of its sides, it indicates the atrmative or negative. Of course the spinners them- Tbe Yes-No feature in combination therewith constitutes the novel feature. Aihrmative and negative words in any language may be used, the same as upon the die already described.

This game can be played with men or pieces of any shape or color (for example, plain discs or buttons) so theyV dlii'er enough from each other to enable each player to choose and readily recognize his man However, l contemplate using an improved form of game piece, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the improvement consisting of a thick felt washer atxed to the lbase, not by an adhesive, such as lue, but by fitting it snugly over a slight y iiaring projection or lug upon the base of the game piece, the felt washer being thicker than the depth of the lug. Fig. 6 is an ordinary form of game piece somewhat like a pawn with my improvement, and Fig. 7 is a selfrighting game piece so shaped and weighted as to rise again after being upset, tted with my improvement. The only novel feature of these game pieces is in their combination with the thick felt washer attached as aforesaid. The advantages of this improvement consist of the absence of glue or,

other adhesive, so that if a washer becomes detached it is not dicult to replace it, 'and the washers are so thick as to have an unusual cushioning eiiect and as to be plainly visible and by being of dierent colors, to enable the pieces to be readily distinguishable from each other by the colors of the washers alone.

This gaine, in the form heretofore described, can be played by two or more persons, up to as many as there are pieces provided, say eight or ten. Each player takes a piece or man and places him in the space marked Unemployed The players I take turns throwing the dice and playing.

Doublets are counted twice and always allow another throw, even when used to get out of prison. For example, double six counts 24 and another throw. Double tive counts 20 and another throw. Double one counts 4 and another throw. p

A five, or a two and a three, which makes tive, must be thrown to get out of Unemman to the first rung ployed. If a player, in starting the game or later, does not throw five, his turn passes to the next player, unless he throws a doublet, which gives him another throw.

When live is thrown, it sends the players or step of the ladder, and the Yes-No die or spinner tells him whether or not to advance to Interview, after which, if an unplayed number remains, it may be played, and the Yes-No die or spinner again be thrown or spun and played, if applicable.

A number, once thrown, must be played wherever possible. The number shown by the dice may be played as a whole without stop, or each die may be played separately, at the option of the player, and thus the chance is partly controlled by the judgment of the player. In the latter case, the YesQNo die or spinner may have to be thrown or operated two or more times before one players turn is completed. if a die cannot be played entirely, it cannot be played at all. For example, suppose a man has succeeded in remaining on the third step below Presidenh and the player throws a iive and a six. He cannot use either of them and he loses his turn; but

1f he throws a two and a one he can play he whole three at once and becomes Presient.

rlhe positions from $4,000 a year up '$3,900 man who has thrown a twoand a one; but does not block him if he has thrown a six, which would advance him six steps to Superintendent Go out means go back to Unemployed On reaching Oiiice Boy, Errand Boy, or Helper,"

the player shouldchoose which department of the business he will adopt, whether the Accounting Department, the Sales Depart'- ment or the Manufacturing Department. Each play is made by advancing a man as many spaces as the number of spots on the ordinary dice or either of them separately and obeying the instructions furnished by the wording in the space reached and the Yes-No die or spinner. Disputes regarding rules should be settled in favor of the more rapid advance. To avoid confusion, the dice should be left on the board until played, or returned to the cup one at a time as soon as played.

In the following illustration of the plays made by one player during his respective turns inone game, the Yes-ANO die willv be used. It will be supposed that I am the player. When my irst turn comes, I throw 2 and .6; cannot play. Second turn, 5 and 4. The lands m man on A lies for position. Yes` o die says o so I play the 4 which lands me on Office Bo Errand Bo or Helpen I choose fce Boy. hird turn throws double sixes, which count 24 (not 12) and another turn. I decidel to take a chance and play each six separately. Six steps to Becomes lazy. Yes-No die says .No. Next six carries to Unusually uick; Yes-No die says Yes,` which ta es me to $1,700 a year.`

Yes-No diesays Yes, so I can lay the other two sixes. If it had said No, I could not have played them.

The next six takes me to Ledger Clerk and the next to Bribery Yes-No die says Yes, so I go to Court.l This would have been the end of my turn if I had not thrown a doublet, but the doublet gives meanother back to my $3,100 job. l throw a four and a six. 'lf I play them both at once, or ten, it will land me on a danger spot. l decide Y' to play the 6 rst. Good luck -is with me i on Improves the business policy, and, by

virtue of another Yesf l become rlreasurer at $20,000 a year.

The seventh turn throws double sixes a ain, but as l must get a ve to reach residentf l cannot'play them. However,

- they give me another throw, which turns out to be a three and a two, and you may be sure that l play them both without stopping on either of those dangerous steps, and by becoming President first, at $25,000 a year, l win the game; andseeing my opponents men in the grave, the hospital, the insane asylum, court and prison adds ymuch to the y amusement of playing it.

ll contemplate applying each and all of the novel principles or features of this game to other games.

l am aware that diagrams of ladders have been used in games before; but they were not shaped the same as this one, nor used in the same way, nor did they bear similar designations nor produce the same results.

Hving now described my invention, what I l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A game comprising a game board having spaces arranged in a series, a game piece, ,a chance devicel controlling the primary movement of said game piece, and a qualifying chance means for controlling a. possible further movement of said game piece.

2. A game comprising a game board having spaces arranged in a series,a game "piece, a chance device controlling the primary movement of said game piece, and a qualifying chance means for controlling a possible further movement of said game piece, said f 4. A game comprising a game board hav- I ing spaces with representations of happenings of a business career thereon, said spaces being arranged in a series, a game piece, a chance device controlling the primary movement of said game piece, and a qualifying chance means for controlling a possible further movement of said game piece, said game board also having indicia thereon similar to those on said qualifying chance means, to f cooperate with said qualifying chance means.

5. A game comprising a game board having spaces with representations of happenings of a business career thereon, .said representations consisting of a plurality of sepa* rate series, each series containing representations peculiar to a certain branch of business life, a game piece, a chance device con-YV trolling the primary movement of said game piece, and a qualifying chance means for controlling a possible further movement of said game piece, said game board also having indicia thereon similar to those on said qualifying means, to cooperate with said qualifying means. 'l 4 6. A game comprising a game board having spaces with representations of happenings of a business career thereon, said representations consisting of a plurality of separate series, each series containing representations peculiar to a certain branch of business life, a game piece, and a chance device controlling the movement of said game piece.

7; A game comprising a game board having spaceswith representations of happenings of a business career therein, said representations consisting of a plurality of separate series, each series containing representations peculiar to a certain branch of business life, said plurality of series leading into a single series, a game piece, and a chance device controlling the movement of said game piece.

8. A game comprising a game board having spaces with representations of happenings o a business career thereon, said reprey 1D 'game board also having indicia thereon similar to those on said qualifying chance means, to cooperate with said qualifying' chance means.

9. A game comprising a game board having spaces arranged in series, a game piece, a chance device controlling the primary movement of said game piece, and a qualilfying chance means for controlling a possible further movement of said game piece, the indiciaon said qualifying chance means consisting of anirmative and negative Words7 said game board also having indicia thereon similar to those on said qualifying means, to cooperate with said qualiyin means.

ERNEST HVILAND' OBBS.