US1664506A - Game device - Google Patents

Description

. April 3, 1928.

E. w. GATES GAME DEVICE Filed July 1, 1927 0' I ----u IIII'IIIIIIIIIIII'IIIII. 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Apr. 3 1928.

UNITED STATES ERNEST W. GATES, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS. I

GAME DEVICE.

Application filed my 1,

The object of this invention is to provide a game device adapted ment, and of educational value in that its operation 'simulatesthe action of a volcano in eruption.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game device embodying the invention. I

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same. Figure 3' is a view similar to Figure 2,

showing means for illuminating the volcano crater when the device is operated to simulate an eruption.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, in a diversified surface including a protu erance 13, simulating a volcanic mountain, and terrain at the base of the protuberance.

The bed may be molded from any suitable plastic material adapted tosolidify by drying, or it may be otherwise constructed. An

upstanding curb lsurrounds the bed and projects upwardly from the margin thereof,

said curb being preferably a part of a box which includes a bottom 1 1 of the protuberance 13 is provided with an upwardly opening recess 15, surrounded by a wall which simulates a crater.

The device includes a plurality of loose balls 16, adapted to be assembled in the recess 15. 17 designates a ball-supporting plunger which normally rests on the bottom of the recess and is formed to support the balls, as indicated by full lines in Figure 2. The plunger is movable vertically in the recess to cause the balls to roll outwardly over the recess wall, so that they are free to roll downwardly on the protuberance 13. 'The bed is provided with a plurality of ball-re ceiving pockets 18, each designated by a value-indicatingnumber 19 on the bed. Some of the pockets may be formed in the protuberance, and others in the portionof the bed at the base of the'protuberance. Balls rolling down the protuberance may lodge in the pockets, some of which are less freelyac- V cessible than others, the more inaccessible pockets having higher values.

The plunger 17 is provided with a stem 21, extending downward through a guiding orifice 22, in the bed, the stem having a push member at its lower end exposed in an to afford -entertain-.

12 designates a bed hav- The summit 1927. Serial N0. 202,944.

opening 24 in the bottom of the bed, and in the box bottom 14*.

The game may be played by several players, each holding the device with its bottom horizontal and pressing a finger upward against the usb piece until the balls 16 are raised sufliciently to roll outward over the edge of the recess, andthen downward on The value-indicating numbers 19 of the pockets in which balls are caused to lodge by each player, are added, the sum being the players score.

The bed may by an inverted box lines in Figure 2.

The balls may be adapted to shine in the 1 the protuberance.

be covered when not in use,

dark. For example, they may be hollowand of glass, and contain luminous material or composition, such as is used to render Watch hands and dial figures luminous.

Figure 3 shows a. push member composed of a bell-crank lever .27 fulcrumed at 28 in a relatively large cavity 29 in the bottom of the bed. One arm of this lever is loosely connected with the .stem 21, and the other arm is loosely connected with a horizontal push rod 30, extending through an end of the bed, the arrangement being such that the plunger 17 may be raised by an inward push on the rod30, so that the device may be operated while resting on a horizontal support.

Figure 3 also shows, somewhat conventionally, an embodiment of means in which the bell-crank lever 27 is included, for illuminating the crater when the plunger 17 is raised. An incandescent lamp 31 is mounted on a bracket 32, fixed to the bottom 14: and is located in the cavity 29, in position to project its light upwardly into the recess 15, the latter being connectedwith the cavity 29 by a large opening 33. 3 1 designates a flash-light battery included in a normally open electric circuit, which includes the lamp and a spring contact 35, carried by the bell-crank lever 27. The contact 35 is separated from the battery when the lever is in its normal position, the plunger 17 being lowered. When the lever 27 is moved to raise the plunger, the contact '35 closes the 26, as indicated by dotted.

woven Wire, or perforated sheet metal, or of transparent or translucent material, such as celluloid or glass, which may be colored to color the projected light.

I claim:

1. A game device comprising a bed having a diversified surface including a protuberance simulating a volcanic mountain, an upstanding curb surrounding the bed, the summit of the protuberance being provided with an upwardly opening recess sur rounded by a wall which simulates a crater, aplural-ity of loose balls adapted to be assembled in the recess, and a ball-supporting plunger formed to support said balls within the recess, and movable vertically therein to cause the balls to roll outwardly over the recess wall and upon the protuberance, the :bed being provided with numbered ball-rewceivingpockets in which rolling balls may lodge.

2. A game device as specified byclaim 1,

the plunger being provided with a stem extending downwardly into a cavity in the bed,

the device comprising also a push member located in said'cavity and connected with the stem, the push member being manually movable to raise the plunger.

3. A game device as specified by claim 1,

the plunger being provided with a stem extending downwardly into a cavity in the bed, the device comprising also a bell-crank lever fulcrumed in said cavity and connected with the stem, said lever constituting a olun 'er-raisin ush member and a ush rod extending horizontally through an end "of the bed and connected with the lever.

4:. A game device as specified by claim 1,

comprising also an electric lamp located in signature. I n. 1 l

- ERNEST'W. GATES.

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