US2017501A

US2017501A - Game

Info

Publication number: US2017501A
Application number: US674347A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward T Howard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-06-05
Filing date: 1933-06-05
Publication date: 1935-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1952-10-15

Description

Oct. 15, 1935. E' How 2,017,501

GAME

Filed June 5, 1935 Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus and has for one of its objects the provision of a game which includes-a relatively large number of playing pieces that require progressive removal from the playing surface in the course of a game and that are apt, when removed, to be easily lost.

An additional object is to so construct the game board that it may occupy a relatively small space and yet may have suflicient size for convenience in playing.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a game board embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of a board construction, and Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 in Fig. 4.

The game apparatus that I have devised is in the form of a container having a top surface I0, a bottom I I, and a side wall I2. In the form illustrated in Fig. 1, the container is in the form of a truncated cone although, if desired, other forms may be utilized. The playing surface II) has depressions I4 arranged in predetermined form, such as in rows in the form of a cross, and the depressions are substantially hemispherical, and of suflicient size to receive an ordinary marble. There are thirty-three depressions illustrated and at the start of the game, a marble is placed in each depression with the exception of the center one Ma. The game then proceeds by jumping any marble over an adjacent one and removing the jumped marble from the playing surface, the object of the game being to Tim ish with one playing piece occupying the depression I la.

As the marbles are moved, it is desirable to provide a convenient storing place for them. To this end, I utilize the interior portion of the container as a receptacle and I provide an opening I5 in the surface Ill, and on one side of the playing field, through which the marbles may be dropped, as they are progressively removed. Thus, at the end of the game, the playing pieces are conveniently stored away where they are immediately accessible for reuse. To permit removal of them quickly from the container, I have shown an opening IS on the side wall from which the balls will progressively drop when the container is held on its side.

A modification of my invention is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein the container has top and. bottom surfaces Illa and Ila that are held in spaced relationship by a hollow annular rubber article 25 that resembles a tire, and that provides a supporting surface for holding the 5 bottom IIa out of contact with a table or other support on which the apparatus may be placed.

The playing surface Illa is provided with depressions 30 which correspond in form and arrangement with those indicated at I4 in Fig. 1, l0 and is also provided with an opening 35 through which the playing pieces may be dropped into the receptacle. To facilitate removal of the balls from the receptacle, the bottom is sloped, as at 36, toward an opening 31 that is norl6 mally closed by .a removable cork 38.

While I have explained the fact that balls are used as playing pieces I may, if desired, use 1' wooden pegs, such as golf tees 40. To this end, a small opening 4| is shown at the bottom 20 of each depression. The tees shown have tapered shanks, which provide a snug lit with the wall of each opening and thereby serve to hold them in upright position.

I claim: 25

1. A game board, comprising a container having a playing surface, and having a downwardly extending flange adjacent the marginal edge thereof, the flange providing a support to hold the playing surface above any surface on which 30 the board may be rested, and the board having depressions thereon for receiving playing pieces, the depressions being smaller in size than-the playing pieces, and the surface having an opening larger than the playing pieces, whereby they 35 may be dropped through the playing surface when not in use, and whereby the entire space beneath the playing surface and within said flange provides a receptacle for the playing pieces. 40 2. A game board, comprising a sheet metal container having a playing surface thereon, the

surface having depressions therein, a downwardly extending flange adjacent the marginal edge of the playing surface and terminating in 45 a head, a bottom for the container lying in a plane parallel to the playing surface and having its marginal edge secured to the bead, and openings in the playing surface and the flange for inserting and removing respectively, the play- 50 ing pieces.

EDWARD T. HOWARD.