US1991626A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

C. R. RAWDON GAME APPARATUS Feb. 19, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 8. 1934 Feb. 19, 1935. 4 c. R. RAwDoN 1,991,626

GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zvl/EN Tae 1 CAI/yema @filma/v BVM/5% Patented Feb. i9, 1935 Y UNIT-ED s STATE www .GAME APPARATUS l `charlas La. Rawdon, st. Louis, Mo. v Application February 8, `1934, Serial No. 710,279..

is claims. (clizia-1) My invention relates to games and game apparatus and the `main object'is 'toprovide what may -be termed'a deep sea diving game employing `a', tank of water 'in which areEimmersed-a 'L number of small treasure chests anda figure like action and is Yweighted. vand'balanced so as to normally submergeand descend .headforemost .in the tankfan air bladder being provided in or near'the head or the diver so .that when `inflated it Vwill then-cause thediver` toascendto the top ofthe water with vits headuppermost.`

Another object is to .provide Aa game apparatus of this kind in which'the ,treasure ohestsare weighted to normally 4rest bottom down on the tank bottom .and whichinclude` a contact stripof `ron or similar `ferrous material on` their yupper sides adapted tocoact with a smalllpermanent magnet carried between the upthrust larms -of the vdiver so that the'chestswill 4be attracted and heldfto thediver as it ascends and WiIlcOmeinto view with their bottoms up to-present score-gindicating numerals'thereon to the sight Aofthe operator.

A further object isto providea; novelpractical carrying a small permanent magnet bar, therbody ofthe figure beingformed of Wood, or similar light material, and the head being made of a -rubber `ball secured inplace on theshoulders,

the said balll containing athin air bladder connected by small Aflexible tubing'v to a remote bellows/bulb or pump by vWhich'th'e 'bag may be inflated andthe ballhaving smallperforations to admit Water toits 'interior when thebladder is deflated. The diver thus `formed is weighted and proportioned so that it will be buoyant when the air bladder is inflated andrwill rest normally in a vertical position in the waterwith its-head uppermost vand. partially submerged. Then as the bladder is deflated, water enters the ball through its perforationsv causing the diver totinvert and sink or descend headforemost. As the Vbladder is inflated'the water is then expelled through my game apparatus. Figure 2 is a plan view.

and' thediier buoy'd up by its head tandreturns headforemost to the top `ofthe water.

Anotherobject is` torprovide in a game apparatus 'oi this kind a water tank .partially lled with `water and suitably ornamented ro'cks, small 1.5

plants andthe liketo-simulate the ocean bottom -.and"shore,l a portion of the bottom of the tank being left flat and unobstructed to receive the treasure chests which are distributed thereon lby a kchute leading down vinto the water, 'the diver :lo being arrangedto ascend and descend over this portion /of `the tank bottoml to bring its uelectromagnet into contact with vthevcontact strips on `the chests to raise them to View, an air -b'aglor pump Alocated exteriorly of the tank and connected to the diver by a small flexible tube to control fthe action of the diver, and acoincontrol means y vwhereby VVthe' diver is normally held Vin "its elef vated position at the Y top of the water Yuntil a coin isinsertedafterwhich the air bag or pump 2O may be manipulated to cause the diver to ascend and descendas the game is played. Y A l, With lthevforegoingV and other additional `obvjects and advantagesin'vicw as maybe developed lin thecourseof the following description, atten- 2.5 tion is directed-to the accompanying vdrawings wherein certainpractical embodiments `of my invention 'are exemplied'and wherein:` l

Figure `1 is a* longitudinal vertical section Figure 3` is an enlarged 4elevation of the. diving Afigure-or diver -employedin my game, the head vand upper parts being shown in cross section with the air bladder deflated. `35 andeiiicient -form of divingflgure or .diver .for "the 'game including abodywithupthrust arms Figure 4'is a section along the line 4-4 inFig- Yure '3 showing the air bladder 'inilated land coin` control therefor.

'Fig'ure''is'a plan view of thecoincontrol means'and a section through the control flatch. rFigure'l is a4 section along `the line '1-'1` in Figure 6.

Figure Sis an inverted planview oi! 'the set of :45

vtreasure chests as used in playing the game showy ing'the score indicating indicia on certain of the chests. y Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical cross section through one chest. i

Figure l0 is anend view of one chest. 'Figure 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal and l'vertical crosssection through a game apparatus vshowing a-modifiedl form of' pneumaticcontrol Hmeans and coin controlletch. 1

Figure 12 is a longitudinal vertical cross Vsection through a further modified form of gameapparatus particularly designed for home use or as a Referring now with more particularity to the drawings and in carrying Vout the rst embodiment of my invention as shown therein I provide a tank 1 of metal or other watertight material shown as rectangular in form'but which may be of anyshape desired. The tank 1 includes a bottoni 2 and upstanding walls or sides 3 and ends 4 and is lled with water'to a point near the top as designated at 5. A wooden frame 6 surrounds the tank and at one end is built out to form a. chamber 7 enclosed'by sides 8, end 9, top 10`and bottom 11.Y .The tank bottom Z'may be roughmaterial withY upthrust `arms 15;

down to the bottomI of the `interior ofthe ballvv 16Y and ened or vridged as designated at 2a to simulate `the ocean bottom and may be`if desired partially filled with small rocks, sea plants and the like to fur-, ther enhance this effect. A medial portion 2b of `the' b'ottoin'-, however, is left flat and unobstructed to receive' the treasure chestsv hereinafter `described and a chute 12 leads downwardlyffrom one end ofthe tankinward to the margin of this .flat-portion 2b .where the chute is flared out as rshown at;l2a ,forza purpose which will appear.

A diving gureor diver. designated generally .at 13-is providedandin its preferred constructionin accordance with my invention comprises a-body`z14 of Wood or similar light or buoyant IIfhe head of the-.diver'is formed of a round rubber ball 16 cementedor otherwise secured in afrounded de- -pression117formed in the shoulders of the body 14:5; Thegwhole gure is painted and-ornamented .to simulate the appearance of a diver in helmet :and divers dress as shown. -A small permanent .magnet in the forniy of a ilat rectangular'vbar 18 -is secured as by screws19 between the upthrust :arms of the diver over its head and the structure thus-formed is weighted and balanced .so that when placed in, the/water itY willvbarely float therein and is slightly .top or head-heavy An air Ybladder 20 of thin rubber is placed within the ball 16 and anelongated small flexible tube 21 leads from this bladder out through a hole 22 in the ball at the back` and neck of the diver simulating the air and signal line of theusualv divers apparatus. The ball 16 being thus lightened by the airgin thebladder, vfthe lower-portion of the diver overbalances its head or upper portion and it turns end for end 'and rises headforemost. The diver then comes k-to rest ina vertical position at thev surface of the water as shown' in Figure 1 and remains vso as long as the bladder is held inated.

The tube 21leads from the diving gure to the chamber 7 through an opening 24 inthe frame 6 above the water line 5 and is connected at its end to a bellows 25 :located in said cham- Aber Vbetween two bellows paddles `or arms 26 and 27 .which are hinged at their inner ends at 28 to said frame 6. The paddles 26 and 27 have narrow handles 29 extended freely outward throughs Y an elongated slot 30 in the frame end 9 so that f by operating these handles the bellows 25 may be compressed or expanded, a small expansion coilv spring 31 being braced between the paddles near i their ends to normally force them apart. Thus y by pressing the handles 29 together; the air blad-v der 2O inthe diver 13 may be inated causingvv the diver to ascend and by then releasing the handlesI 'the bladder will be derlatedcausingthe diverto descend.

A plurality of treasures or treasure chests l' 32 are provided and each comprises a heavy bot- 'n tom 33 of metal, a center section 34 of wood or other'suitable material and a thin top contact strip 35 of iron or similar ferrous metal, the whole being shaped and ornamented to simulate a chest or trunk and being suiciently heavy to sinl; when placed in the water in the tank. 'I'he chests thus formed when dropped into the tank Will come to rest with their bottoms 33 down due to the relatively great .weight thereofiand a number `of' different score indicating numerals .are provided on the undersides of certain o'f theV chests as shown in Figurev 8.while others areleft blank as also shown.A

In playing the game .as thus far described and assuming that the chests 32 are scattered over the A vtank bottom and the diver 1-3 is restingat the top of the Water in the` tank, the handles 29 ofthe,

bellows 25 arek released deiiatingth'e bladder 20 so thatwater flows into the head-of the diver and it descends headforemost down toward Athe bottom of the tank-.as `hereinbefore described. By -re'- 'leasing the handles -29iirst gradually and then` lsharply and otherwise suitably manipulating them, 4 the diver maybe bobbed`or moved about in the' tank so as to' descend over any. one ofthe chests desired. Asthe magnet bar18 comes in Contact with the iron' topstrip .35 of :the'desiredmhestv that chest is attracted by andadheres to. this bar and by then squeezing the handles 29 together the bladder 20 isag'ain inflated and theI diver ascends iwith its headuppermostf exposingthe underside of the chest to view so that the'score` number, if any, thereon may be noted. f The chest is then vpulled on? .thebar `18 and placed to lone side vand .the action isrepeated eitherfby another-player or by the same-player. The. resulting score fromeach operation or dive or a predetermined numberf thereof by each player indicates vthe winner. VA

-number of 4possible rules of yplay'will be readily apparent and may-f be setup as desired. AWhen all the chests have been raised and removed from the hands ofthe .diver they are" droppedinto scattered around over; the vtank bottomagainby 55A vthe chute 12 whereupon they slide down.' and are f the flared mouthm12aof the chute, thistoprevent the players from knowing beforehand thelocation of the high-scoringchests. f

The operation of the game apparatus may be t .coin controlled by the means nowto be described though-it is obvious that this control may be dis-' Y pensed with and the apparatus used `and operated as set forth aboveif so desired. With coincontrol insertingthe cointhe bellows is released and the diver is caused to .lesfiend and chest afterwhich thecoin control mechanism again locks the bellows.k The mechanism for .carrying outthese operations comprises'a latch .or latch le`ver`36 arranged vertically alongside` the` bellows land fulcrumed intermediateits ends f 1 it is necessary that before the coin is-inserted the vbellows 25 be lockedin such position', that the diver=13 is at thetop-of the Water. VVThen upon pick upatrekasure, i A

, f1,`991;e2e and below the bellows `on a shaft 37 extendedA throughthe chamber 'Tbetween the end 9 and end of` the `frame 6 (Figure l)sothatthe"latch may swing on this shaft and move-at its upper end `toward or away'from the bellows. A retractile coil spring 38 isA stretched between' the lower end of the latch 36and one chamber-side 8'to normally move the said upper-end of the latch toward and against the bellows, the extent of this movement being limited by a stop rod 39 extended through `the chamber 7 parallel with the yshaft 37 so Vthat the latch will normally stand with its upper lfend in contact with or immediately adjacent the Inargins of the bellows paddles `26 and27 near their outer ends. Spaced .catches orl catchlugs 40 `and `f4lare formed on the upper edge of lthejlatch 36 lin vertically spaced relationship and are arranged to slip or hook overthe upper and lower facesl of the bellows paddles 26 and 27. respectively when these paddles are compresed 1 or squeezed together thus locking the paddles against moving apart as will be readily apparent in yligure 5. or upwardlyand downwardly extended faces 42 and 43 beveled olif toward the latch as shown whereby the margins of the paddles 26 and 27 as they are squeezedtogether (afterhavin'g been once `released andA expanded) ywill' strike these beveled faces and movev the'upper end of the latch 36 outward to permit the i'ull compression of the bellows after which the :spring 38' returns the latchto normalpositionand the catch lugs engage and' lock the paddles as described.

A conventional form of coin control slide des-V ignated generally at Aof the type comprising an elongated slide bar B slidably,mounted through a frame C and normally restrained against inward movement beyond a` certain point by a stop'D engaging the coin opening E is mounted in the chamberend Q below the bellows withjthe said slide bar B directed inwardly toward and," in line with the lower end portion of the latch 36." The inner end ofv this bar B is in accordancewith my inventionbeveled oil at one edge 44 and by placing a coin (not shown) inthe opening rli. the stop D may be raised `and the ,bar slid inwardly bringing this beveled end into wedging engagement withthe said lower end of the latchthe result being that theuppe'r end of the latch is swung away from the bellows disengaging the catch lugs 40 and 41 fromthepaddles. The bellows may then be operated as described to play the game but as theyv are fully compressed to cause the diver to ascend again after a dive the edges of .the paddles force their way past thecatch lugs `and are'then engaged and locked thereby pending the insertion of another coin and Vrepetition of the operation described.v When thefcoin slide bar B is released'by ther operator a' retractile` `coil spring 45 stretched between its inner end .and the chamber end 9 returns `it to normal position clear of the latch 36, the coin meanwhile of the chamber 7.

In lieu of the bellows andcoin control mechanism as described themodiiied'structure illustrated in Figure'll maybe employed in which dropping into a locked` drawerf46 at the bottom a cylinder 47 is mounted in the chamber 7a and connected to the air tube 21a for inflating the air bladder in the diver (not shown). The piston 48 in the cylinder is controlled by a piston rod 49 extended slidably out vthrough the chamber `end 9a and` provided Vexteriorly thereof with a knob .50. The latch 36a is fulcrumed nearits upper end The catch lugs 4i) and 41 have their noses i on? a shaft v37a extended across "the `'chamber 7a and has a catch 51 at its upper end engaging an piston-is pushedinward into the cylinder to fully inflate the airbladder, the said catch being `normally urged into thenotch by a retractile coill spring 38a stretched Y betweenu the lower end `ot `the latch and the end 9a ofthe chamber? A coin` control slide mechanism A? exactly asheretofore described is vmounted below the cylinder andthe inner end of the slidebar B is arranged to strike Vthe lower end of the latch 36a as a coin isinserted 4and the slide pushed inward, this action swinging .the'catch' 51v outof thenotch 52 and allowing one full operation or the diver before the catchf` again engages and locks the pistonfrod 49las the diverisraisedzto bring up a treasure chest.

. Asimpliiiedand modiiied form of the apparatusparticularlysuited for' use in the home asfa toy is illustrated4 in Figure 12 in.; which the tank 53v is formed with a rolled and roughened margin 54 which together-'withthe tank bottom 55 may -be vpaintedV and decorated to simulate a sea shore and bottom to add realism to the game.

The diver 13b and treasure chests 32h are exactly angularlnotch `52 in the piston rod 49 when the ST3 l as set iorthhereinbefore butthe tube 2lb leads out to an air bulb 56 of a simple conventional form by squeezing and releasing which the iigure may be controlled and caused to dive` or ascend at will. 'l Y :From they foregoing itv willbe apparent that -the garneapparatus is entertaining and convenient in operation and by practice a high degree or skill may beattained. in jockeying the diver around over the cheststo chooseanyv desired one. The action of the diver in inverting and diving head foremost and then again inverting and ascending likewise all by simple manipulation of a handle or Isimilar control is highly-entertaini .ing to young and old alike.

While I have herein set'zforth certain preferred 'and practical embodiments of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details so as best to provide a practical ap- `paratus `foruthe purposes in. view, not departing -f fromv the scope of the appended claims.

with watera plurality of `chest-shaped objects immersedin .the tank, a diving figure in` the` tank, 'and remotely controlled means for causing the diving figure to descend, engage one of the :"chests and then rise to the water surface with water, a miniature-chest immersed in the tank, 4a diving figure in thev tank andadapted to normally sink therein, magnetic means for engaging theiigure to the chest, and 4pneumatic means-for floating `the Vfigure to vthe water surface afterv the chest is engaged. 4, In `a game apparatus, rality of miniature chests adapted to be immersed `inthe tank, a diving ligure simulating a diver'in o diving dress,the said figure being adapted tonormally descendheadiirst in the tank, means on the iigure to engage `and ,hold any one of the chests, and remotely controlled means in the figl 1. In a gaine apparatus, a water tank filled a water tank, a plu- 7 i so y rality of miniature chests immersed in the tank and eachincluding an'f iron Contact member, a diving ligure simulating a diver in divers helmet and dress, the said figure being adapted to normally sink in the tank, a permanent magnet carried by the ligure and adapted toy engage the iron contact strips on the chests and hold' the chest to the ligure.

` 6. In a game apparatus, a water tank, a plurality of miniature chests immersed in the tank and each including an iron contact member, a diving ligure simulating a jdiver in divers helmet and dress, the said ligure being adapted tov normally sink inthe tank, a permanent magnet` carried by the ligure and adapted to engage the iron contact strips on the chests and hold the chest to the figure and the said ligure includingremotelycontrolled means for causing it to rise headforemost with the attached chest.

'7.'In a game apparatus, a tank adapted to be filled with water, a plurality of miniature objects simulating treasures immersed in the tank, a diving figure simulating a diver in divers helmet and dress, the said ligure being adapted to normally sink when placed in the tank, means on the ligure for engaging and holding any of the treasure objects, and remotely controlled means associated with the figure whereby the same may be caused to rise and float in the tank with one of the ytreasureobjects attached.

8. In a game apparatus, a tank adapted to be lilled with water, an object simulating a treasure and adapted to sink when placed in the tank, a diving ligure adapted to be placed in the tank and sink therein,` and means for engaging the object placed in the tank, an iron contact strip on the chest, a diving ligure also adapted to sink when placed in the tank, a permanenty magnet on the diving figure adapted to engage and adhere to the contact strip on the chest,` an air bladder in the ligure, and means for infiating the bladder to raise the ligure and chest to the top of the water. 10; In a game apparatus, a tank adapted to hold Water, a miniature chest adapted to sink when placed in the tank, an iron contact strip on the chest, a diving ligure also adapted to sink When placed in the tank, a permanent magnet on the diving ligure adapted to engage and adhere to the Contact strip on the chest, an air bladder in the figure, and means for inflating the bladder tov l water, a plurality of miniature treasure chests immersed in the tank and each including an iron Contact strip, a diving ligure in the tank and adapted to normally sink therein, the said ligure including a hollow head and upthrust arms, a

permanent magnet set between the arms, an air bladderin the head of the gure, a liexible tube leading from the bladder eXteriorly of the tank, a bellows connected to the other end of the tube.`

1,991,326y n y 12,-In`a game apparatus, a tank lllled'wlth.V

water, a plurality ofI miniature treasure lchests immersed in the tank and each including an' iron contacty strip, va diving ligure in the. tankl and adapted to normally sink thereinLthe said ligure including a hollow head and upthrust arms, a permanent magnet set between the arms, an air bladder in the head of theligure, aflexible tube leading from the bladder exteriorly of the tank, a bellowsconnectedto the other end of thetube the4 said head'ol the ligure having perforations toadmit water when 'the bladder is deflated wherebyv the ligure will normally sink headffirst in the tank.

water,` a plurality of miniature treasure chests 13. In a game apparatus, a tankfllledwith contact stripa diving Afigure in the tankandv adapted to normally sink therein, the said ligure including a hollow head and upthrust arms, a perbladder in the head of the figure, a flexible tube leading from the bladder exteriorly of the tank, a

bellows connected to the other end of the tube the v ,V '2o 'l marient magnetset between the arms, ank airy first, the said bladder being arranged when inliated to expel the water from the head and cause; l

the ligure to ascend also headrst.

14. In a game apparatus, a tank adapted to be filled with water, a plurality of miniature treasure chests immersed in the tank, each chest including a heavy base and light upper iron lcontact strip, f

the said chests having score indicia ontheir undersides, a diving ligure in the tank and includ-l Y, ing a hollow head and upthrust arms, aI penna-- nent magnet set between thearms, 'an air bladder in the head of the ligure, a flexible tube leading from the bladder out exteriorly of the tank, air compressing means on the outer end of thevr tube yfor inflating thejair bladder at will, the said head v having perforations adapted when the bladder is deliated to admit waterand cause the figurato descend in the water headfirst and bring theperlmanent'magnet into engagement .with Vone of the contact strips on the chests, the air bladder being then inflated, expelling the water and causing the ligure to invert and rise headforemost with th chest attached and bottom uppermost.

15. In a game apparatus,l a tank adapted torbe'j lilled with water, a plurality of miniature treasure chests immersed in the tank, each chest including a heavy base and light upper iron contact strip, the said chests having score indicia von their undersides, va diving ligure in the tank and including a hollow head and upthrust arms, a permarient' magnet set between the arms, an 'air bladder in the head ofthe ligure, a liexible tube leading from the bladder out exteriorly ofv the ,n tank, air compressing means on the outer end of f the tube for inflating the air bladder at will, the

said head having perforations adapted when the' bladder is deflated to admit water and cause the figure to descend in the water headlirst and bring v the permanent magnet into engagement with one of the contact strips on the chests, the air bladder being then iniiated, expellingthe water and causing the ligure to invert andv rise headforemos with the chest attached and bottom uppermost, and a chute extended down into the tank to carry the chests and scatter ythemiover the bottom thereof.

16. In a diving iigurerfor a game apparatus, a

buoyant body and hollow head, the said head having-water admitting perforations, an air bladder in the head, and a flexible tube leading outward from the air bladder.

- 17. In a diving iigure for a game apparatus of the kind described, a buoyant figure comprising a.

body and hollow spherical head attached to the body,` the said head having a plurality of perforations, an air bladder in the head, and a flexible tube leading from the air bladder out from the back of the ligure adjacent the head.

18. In a diving figure for a game apparatus of the kind described, a normally buoyant figure including a body and hollow spherical head, simu lating a diver in divers dress, an air bladder in the head, a flexible tube connected to the bladder and leading outward from the back and neck of the gure, and the said head having a plurality of small perforations adapted to admit water to the head when the bladder is deflated whereby the figure will sink and descend headfirst when placed in a body of Water, and means connectedV to the tube whereby the bladder may be inflated,

expelling the water from the head and causing

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