US2035638A

US2035638A - Game device

Info

Publication number: US2035638A
Application number: US5239A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Culp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-02-06
Filing date: 1935-02-06
Publication date: 1936-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1953-03-31

Description

March 31, 1936. J, w P 2,035,638

GAME DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1955 f/a-d.

45. V 1 i 4a INVENTOR.

JO/IN. 14/. 601/? ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES T OFFICE 12 Claims.

The invention relates to-a game device of the type "wherein a game playing-elementis 'moved in'a compartment and permitted to come-to rest at anyone of a plurality of points or goals in the compartment-said goals having Various value indicating symbols or indicia associated therewith and corresponding to values employed in the playing of a "game.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein a housing contains a plurality of "independent chambers, one within the plan outline of the other, and each containing a. game playing element and provided with goals with which are associated symbols related to each other, whereby the symbols designated by the elements in all compartments may be combined to indicate a composite value.

A further object is toiprovide a device of this character provided with a plurality of independent chambers disposed one above the other with the size thereof progressively decreasing from the upper to the lower, and each chamber being provided with a transparent cover portion whereby the interior of each chamber is visible.

A further object is to provide a device of this character provided with a. plurality of independent chambers disposed one above the other with a portion of the bottom of each forming the top of the one next below, said portion being Figures 1 and 2 thereof which illustrate the preferred embodiment of-the invention, the numeral I0 designates a housing of hollow, generally semispherical shape. The housing is preferably formed of rubber and is provided at the center of its outer surface with a concavity I l at whose perimeter the housing is normally supported to position the upper edge thereof in a horizontal plane. The housing is provided adjacent its upper endwith an interior groove in which a disc *c1osure or cover 12 formed of glass or other relation below-said cover, the housing wall portion l6 and a base portion l1 "off-set transparent material removably fits. In spaced I0 is provided at its interior-with asecondgroove "I 3 extending in a plane parallel to the supporting perimeter Ofconcavity ll of the" same. '--In'this groove [3 fits-a circular partition M. The cross sectional configuration of partition 14 is best illustratedin Figure 2, the outer portion Hi thereof beingdished; and the central portion thereof being ofcup shape and comprising a cylindrical below -the lower portion l5, said Wall portion l6 and base portion I! "being concentric of member M. The wall portion l6-prrojects above the dished portion -l5'-at the juncture thereof, as illustratedat 1-8. A transparent closure or cover I9 is secured at its margin, as by adhesive, to the upper edge of portion 18 of -wall IS in spaced relation below cover l2, whereby an-independent closed chamber is provided thereby in co-njunc--- tionwithwall portion [6 and base portion I! of member 'l i. The juncture of portions l5 and. I8 of'member I4 is of generally concave crosssectional shape as illustrated at' 20, and is interrupted by-a plurality of radially extending; ribs 2| ior'purposes to :be hereinafter set forth. The upper surface of base portion ll of member is of generally dished shape and is provided with a central upward projection22 of substantially square outline whose-side portions are 30 vertically and horizontally concaved.

The device is thus provided with a pair of closed chambers; being a large upper chamber defined'by'disc I2, the upper'portion of hous- 'ing I'D, portion '15 of member 14 and transparent 35 20 between any two adjacent ribs 2 lwhich form a plurality of receiving pockets or goals therefor, and *the ball "in the lower chamber coming to restagainst one of the goal-forming sides of the central upwardly'projecting portion not 50 base 11. "Each of the goals at which each ball maycome to rest has visually associated therewith a' symbol or indicium 24, as best illustrated in Figure 1, imposed on portion-"l5 of member 14 and on base l1, respectively. I "55 be determined.

These symbols and indicia 24 designate a value for the positions at which the balls come to rest, and the indicia for the upper chamber is preferably related to the indicia in the lower chamber so that the position assumed by the two balls 23 will be readable together to indicate a composite value, as for instance, the value and suit of one cardof a deck.

In use, the device is placed upon a horizontal surface and then tipped and released. The casing isso shaped that it normally tends to assume the position illustrated in Figure 2 when released, accompanied by a preliminary rocking move: ment. balls 23 to roll from side to side of the chambers and generally also to circle about, the side walls thereof in an erratic undeterminable movement. Soon after the device has. come to rest in the illustrated operative position, the momentum of the balls is expended and they will come to rest at one of the goals as previously described after moving centrally from the outer wall-under the influence of the dished shape of the bottom of each chamber, whereupon the composite value indicated by the position of the two balls may One of the. attractive features of the device is that operation thereof may cause the two balls to move circularly in opposite directions. Also, where the housing is formed of rubber, the device may be operated by simply dropping it upon a horizontal surface, which causes the balls to move in their respective chambers as described. Also, it will be understood that more than two compartments or chambers may be provided in the device, by utilizing the principle of construction and arrangement of parts above described.

In Figure 3 is illustrated a modified embodiment of the device wherein a device of the same or an equivalent construction to that abovedescribed is mounted for circular agitation in a horizontal plane. In this embodiment the housing ID of the device-is mounted in operative position upon a suitable standard comprising a base 38 and an upright shaft 3|. A socket 32 is carried centrally by the base of housing H! and is journaled on shaft 3|. A spring 33 is coiled around shaft 3| and is secured at its opposite ends to base 30 and socket 32. The base is preferably provided with a stop 34 with which a stop 35 carried by socket 32 is engageable. At its upper end the housing lllis provided with a projecting handle 36. Thus, to operate the device, the housing Ill is.rotated by means of handle 36 against the action of spring 33 and is then released; whereupon the spring reversely rotates said housing, which reverse rotation is stopped upon interengagement of

stop members

34 and 35, so that the balls are agitatedand caused to move in their respective chambers as above described.

In Figure 4 the invention has been illustrated as applied to a coin controlled game device of the type well understood in the art. In this embodiment of the invention a rectangular horizontally positioned housing 43 is provided with a transparent cover and the game board is provided vwith the two concentric chambers 4| and 42 which are positioned with one-abovethe level of the other and with thesame independent from each other. The upper chamber 4| has communicating therewith a run-way 43 extending tangentially thereto; --and the lower chamber 42 .has a similar tangential run-way 44 communieating therewith; Each of these chambers is formed in the generalshape and arrangement of This agitation of the device causes the the respective chambers of the preferred form of the device as described above by the provision of dished bottoms therefor, but are provided with a plurality of openings 45 through the portion of the game board forming the bottoms of the respective chambers, and these openings are provided with normally closed trap doors, as is well understood in the art. Indicia 46 are imposed on the game board adjacent each opening 45 as above described. The housing 40 is provided with suitable spring pressed plungers 41 extending into run-

ways

43 and 44 for projecting balls 48 fed thereto by manually operable members 49 upon release of the balls from the game board by opening of the trap doors energized by the coin chute 50, all as is well understood in the art. In this device each ball is independently manually propelled through the run-ways to the respective chambers, whereby a modicum of control of the particular goal at which the ball comes to rest rests withthe player, which is, attractive inasmuch as it makes the same a test of skill as well as luck. Also, with a device of this character, more than one ball or game playing element may be used in each chamber, though the relationship of the character of the indicia to give a composite score from the readings of all thereof is preferably retained.

It will therefore be seen that with a device of this character and the use of related indicia therein, a small device is usuable to obtain a very large number of score values which is the product of the number of goals for the game playing elements in the chambers, thus affording a wide range of values in a comparatively small and simple device.

The invention having-been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1; In a game device, a hollow substantially semi-spherical housing having a central support ing surface for normally maintaining said housing in balanced position, a transparent cover for said housing, a dished partition spaced below said cover and formed in part by a centrally disposed upwardly off-set transparent portion,

a cup member depending centrally from said partition below. said transparent partition portion and having a dished bottom, a game playing element of a dimension less than the smallest dimension of the chamber formed by said cup and freely shiftable in said cup, and a game playing element of a dimension less than the spacing of said cover and transparent partition and freely shiftable on said partition, said cup and partition having pockets formed therein adjacent the centers thereof to which said game playing eleof said partition and spaced below said first cover,-a game playing element of; a dimensionless than the smallest dimension of the" chamber formed by said cup and freely shiftable in said cup, a game playing element of a dimension, less than the spacing of said covers and freely shiftable on said partition, the base of said cup being dished and having a plurality of game element receiving pockets formed centrally therein, said partition having a plurality of game element receiving pockets formed therein adjacent the edge of said cup cover.

3. In a game device, an agitatable housing having a transparent cover, a dished partition spaced below said cover having a central transparent portion, a cup member depending centrally from said partition below said transparent portion and having a dished bottom, a game playing element smaller than the space between said cover and transparent partition portion freely shiftable on said partition and between said cover and transparent partition portion, a game playing element freely shiftable in said cup, said partition and cup bottom each having a plurality of game element receiving pockets formed therein, and means for directing each game element into one of said pockets.

4. In a game device, a housing having a transparent cover, a dished partition spaced below said cover having a central transparent portion, a cup member depending centrally from said partition below said transparent portion and having a dished bottom, a game playing element freely shiftable on said partition and of a size small enough to pass between said cover and central transparent portion, a game playing element freely shiftable in said cup, said partition and cup bottom each having a plurality of pockets formed therein.

5. In a game device, a housing having a transparent cover, a dished partition spaced below said cover having a central transparent portion providing a compartment, a cup member depending from said partition below said transparent portion and having a dished bottom providing a second compartment, a game playing element in each compartment, each of said game elements being of a size less than the smallest dimension of its compartment and a plurality of means in each compartment adjacent the center thereof for receiving said game playing eleand a plurality of means in each compartment for receiving said game elements.

7. In a game device, a housing having a transparent cover, means in said housing forming an upper chamber and a lower chamber of smaller size disposed centrally below said upper chamher, said means including a transparent member spaced below said housing cover to form a cover for said lower chamber and a portion of the bottom of said upper chamber, a game playing element freely shiftable in each chamber, and a comparatively small plurality of means in each chamber for receiving said game elements, the last named means in said upper chamber being positioned in outwardly spaced relation to the cover of said lower chamber.

8. In a game device, a housing having a transparent cover, means in said housing forming independent chambers one above the other, a game playing element freely shiftable in each chamher, and a plurality of means in each chamber for receiving said game elements, a portion of the means forming the bottom of the upper of said chambers being transparent whereby both of said chambers forming a cover for said lower chamber and are visible, said last named transparent portionbeing spaced below said housing cover to permit the game element in the upper chamber to pass thereover.

9. In a game device, a housing having a trans parent cover and provided with a pair of chambers, one of said chambers being disposed below and Within the vertical outline of the other and having a transparent cover spaced below said housing cover to render said lower chamber visible', a game playing element freely shiftable in each chamber, the game element in the upper chamber being shiftable in the space between said transparent covers and a plurality of goals in each chamber at an undetermined one of which each game element will come to rest.

10. In a game device, a housing, means in said housing providing a plurality of chambers disposed one above the other and including a transparent portion in the cover of each chamber, a game playing element shiftable in each chamber, the upper game element being shiftable between said transparent portions, and a plurality of goals in each chamber at an undetermined one of which each playing element will come to rest, the goals of one chamber being spaced vertically and laterally from the goals of the other chamber.

11. In a game device, a housing, means in said housing including a transparent portion and providing a plurality of visible concentric chambers disposed one above the level of the other, a game playing element shiftable over the entire area of the base of each chamber, and a plurality of goals in each chamber for said game elements, one of said chambers projecting laterally beyond the other with the goals thereof in said projecting portion.

12. In a game device, a housing, means in said housing providing a plurality of visible concentric chambers disposed one above the level of the other and separated by a transparent member, a plurality of goals in each chamber, game playing elements, and means for shifting at least one game element in each chamber for reception by one of said goals, the game element in the upper chamber being shiftable on said transparent partition.

JOHN W. CULP.