US1887068A - Game device - Google Patents

Description

I NOV. 8, 1932.. H` K RENZ LSSZDGS GAME DEVICE Filed Dec. 17. 1930 l(lillIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,III

Patented Nov. 8,- 1932 uNirEo STATES ,PATENT K- oFFl'cEf l A HENRY K. RENZ, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, AssIGNOR TOTHE SUPERIOR OONFEOTION OOM- PANY, or` COLUMBUS, omda CORPORATION `or OHIO l GAME DEVICE Applicationled December 17, 1930. Serial No. 502,966. i

This invention relates to a kdice shuffling or shaking device and one of the objects o f the invention is to provide a device of thls character which may be used to promote trad-e in business establishments, to provide amusement and which device may also be used as an advertising medium.

Another object of the invention resides. 1n the provision of a device of this kind which is portable and of such shape and construction that it maybe conveniently placed and operated on a counter or the like, andwherein the device comprises a base provided with an enclosed visible dice container in its upper portion and means for causingthe shuflling of the device operablefrom either side of said base. v

A further object is to arrange theoperating plunger of the device transversely-and horizontally of the oase structure and withl the operating ends thereof capable of protruding through either side so that the plunger when extended from ther base, as for eXample'on the customers side of the counter, the vdice shaped mechanism may be operated towards the other side of the counter. n

With this arrangement a customer may be given an opportunity to operatethe device '1 a but only when reseton the other side ofthe counter., In this connection, the customers maytry `to turn up a certain vface or faces of the dice and if successful may be refunded the purchase price of thebusiness transaction.

For a further understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan'view of the device showing the same positioned upon a supporting base, such as a. counter or other latfsupport, f 1

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken onthe-line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure .3 is a horizontal sectional View taken onthe line 3 3 0f Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, the numeral"1 designates the device in its entirety comprising a base formed in the shape y of' a shallow casing 2, the side walls 3 of which terminate aty their upper edges in inwardly directed flanges4. Engaging the under sideof saidflanges and closing the top of the casing 2 is a'transparent panel 5 which is held in place in connection with the flanges 4: by means of fastening elements 6. Positioned within the casing 2'and arranged below and adjacent the transparent panel 5 is the frame structure 7 of the dice shaking mechanism. This mechanism includes a plate 8 held in place within the casing by the fastening element 6 and `which plate is provided with downwardly Ydirected posts 9 at the corners thereof which serve as supports for the device. Attached to the :lower ends of these posts is a plate lO'which` closes the lower end of the casing and which is held in place by screws 11 threaded into the lower ends of the posts 9. vThese screws may be covered by rubber or the like so as to prevent marring thesurface upon which the device is positioned.

Positioned for movement below the plate 8 is a shaker plate 12 which is attached to the youter free end of a flat leaf spring 13 which has its other end secured as at 14 to the lower ends of apair of projections 15 formed`integral with the plate member 8.V Formed in the plate 8 and loca-ted at a point above the shaker plate 12 is an opening 16 in which is positioned an open ended collar 17 which is yfrictionally held in place with the side edges of the opening and projects downwardly to a point yadjacent the plate12. This ring which is closed at its upper end by the transparent panel 5 forms a container fol` holding one or more dice 1S and which dice rest upon the shaker plate y12. The dice 18, which are confined within the container, are visible through the ,panel 5 but are inaccessible to the` person playing the device so that counterfeit ldice may not be substituted.

To Aeffect the shuffling or tumbling of the r dice 18 within the container or collar 17, a

plunger 19 is provided which hasits end por-v tion slidably received within bearing openings 20 provided in the side wallsB of the casing. A plunger-19 may also be slidably received within bearings formed in downwardly projecting extensions 21 integrally formed with the under sideof the frame or plate member 8. To limit the sliding movement of the plunger 9 a pin 22 is attached to the plunger 19, which pin is received within .an elongated slot 23 formed in a boss provided upon the under side of the plate 8.

Secured for movement with the plunger 9 and depending from its lowermost face thereof is a pair of studs'24 between which is normally positioned the upwardly directed flange 25 formed with an extension 26 carried by the shaker plate 12. The-flange 25, which is positioned at an angle and has both of its side surfaces engaging the posts 24, acts as a cam and when engaged by the outermost of the posts 24 upon the movement of the plunger in an inward direction will cause the shaker plate 12 to move in a direction towards the plunger 19 until said postsV free the inner edge of the flange or cam 25 at which time the spring 13 acts to return the plate to anormal position. However, as the shaker plate12 is of considerable Weight and size the spring 13, due to this imparted movement, will cause a reciprocatory action upon the plate 12 causing the dice positioned thereon to tumble.

The plunger 19 during this movement is positioned to one side so that one of its ends projects a considerable distance through the opening formed in the side wall 3, whereas its other end will be flush with the opposite wall. This necessitates the operation of the plunger from the projecting end in order to reset the shaker plate for theneXt dice shaking operation. During this resetting operation of the shaker plate the outermost post 24 will engage the other face of the flange 25 and force the plate away from the plunger 19 until the flange 25 frees said post and positions itself between both of the posts as disclosed rin Figure 3 of the drawing. By this movement of the plunger the end thereof nearest the post 24 will project exterior of thecasing 2 and thus be prepared to reset the operation.

If desired7 a roller 27 may be positioned on the outermost of the posts 24 to reduce thefriction therebetween and the cam surfaces ofthe flange 25. To dampen the last and minor reciprocatory movements or vibrations 12, a leaf spring 28 is provided which is secured to projections 29 formed with the frame structure andhas its free end engaging the lower edge ofthe spring 13 and is held in tension al engagement therewith. By the provision of the spring 28 the plate 12 willquickly come to a standstill and prevent undue movement of the dice within the dice container.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in operating the device, the actuating plunger extends exterior of one lside of the casing and towards one side of a support which may be a counter and that by operating the plunger the same may be pushed towards the opposite side of the support or counter and therefore in order to again set the device in operation the plunger must again be reset for operation. The device may also serve as an advertising means by placing a card or the like having printed material thereon under the transparent panel 5 and which card may also carry directions or instructions for the operation of the device. The device has the advantage of being extremely novel and simple in its construction with very few working parts which are not apt to become out of order or become disarranged. The construction of the device makes the same particularly adaptable for various games wherein one or more dice are used for governing the outcome of the various plays.

Although I have shown and described the preferred form of the invention, nevertheless it will be understood that certain changes in the form of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

W'hat is claimed is:

1. In a dice shaking device, a casing having a transparent top, a container positioned below said top and adapted to confine one or more dice thereiina shaker plate arranged below said container and forming a bottom therefore, a resilient support for said plate, a plunger member slidably positioned and having its ends projecting through the side walls of sai-d casing, a cam member upon said plate, and means formed with said plunger for engaging said cam whereby the plate is forced to one side and when free therefrom will be reciprocated to tumble said dice by the action of said resilient support.

2. In a device of the character described, a substantially rectangular casing, a transparent cover for the top of said casing, a frame positioned within said casing including a dice container closed at its upper end by said transparent cover, a shaker plate positioned below said container and forming the bottom therefor, .said bottom being supported for free reciprocatory motion, relative to said container, an actuating plunger having its ends extending through openings formed in the side walls of said casing and capable of being operated from either side thereof, a cam member formed with said plate having a pair of operating surfaces thereon, and a projection formed with said operating plunger and serving upon engagement with said cam surfaces to move said shaper plate to one side or the other below said container.,

3. In a device of the character described, a comparatively shallow casing having its upper end closed by a transparent panel, a dice shaking mechanism positioned within said `plunger slidably positioned within bearings and having its ends extending throu h the side walls of said casing, means forme with said plunger and plate for forcingthe plate to one side to flex said resilient arm and effect the reciprocation of said plate, and means engaging said resilient arm for dampening the final and minor reciprocatory movements thereof as well as that of said plate.

4. In a device of the character described, a substantially rectangular casing, a transparent cover for the top of said casing, an

vopen ended dice container supported'from said casing and having its upper end closed by said transparent cover, a shaker plate positioned below said container and spaced slightly from the bottom edge thereof, a re` silient arm mounted within said casing and having its free end supporting said shaker plate, an actuating plunger having either of its ends extending through openings formed in the side walls of said casing and capable of being operated from either side thereof, an angularly shaped cam member carried by said shaker plate and having a pair of oppositely arranged operating surfaces thereon, and a cam engaging projection provided upon said operating plunger and serving upon engagement with said cam surfaces to effect the reciprocatory action of said shaker plate for tumbling the dice within said Container.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRY K. RENZ.

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