US2052797A - Game - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1936- 13 READ 2,052,797

GAME

Filed Aug. 12, 1933 INVENTOR "30/2/70. feczaf ATTO RNEY-S Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orries 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a game wherein the objects sought involve the provision of playing pieces so constructed and decorated as to appeal to children and which, by virtue of the rules of play, will arouse and maintain a childs interest.

A specific object is to provide playing pieces each adapted to 'carry a pictorial representation of different familiar objects, each of the pieces indicating a profit or loss to the player holding it,

so that complicated score keeping at the end of a term of play, as in adult games, may be replaced by a simple method of computation in which each child player participates at all stages of play.

Another object is to provide playing pieces, as described above, so constructed as to be easily handled'and shuffled by youthful fingers, the construction entailing a handle or knob for each piece by which the pieces may be dealt, the handle or knob serving also as a prop for supporting each piece in position to expose the pictorial portion ofthis base.

A further object of the invention is to provide playing pieces which, when in position to expose the pictorialportion of the base, will not be impelled by the unevenness of a playing surface to roll from the View of the player. In order to accomplish this the base of the piece or its handle portion may be fashioned out of round.

Another object is to provide a game employing the pieces as above described in such manner as tobest assure the prolonged interest of children, all ofwhich will hereinafter become more fully apparent as reference is had to the accom- 1 panying drawing, wherein the various pieces are illustrated both individually and in arrangement for play, and in which- Figure 1 represents a playing surface having the playing pieces arranged for beginning play,

4 the deal having just been completed;

Fig, 2 illustrates the bottom of each playing piece;

Fig. 3 shows the bottom of a piece which has been fabricated and which is ready to receive a 45 pictorial representation in the countersunk center;

Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the finished pieces, partially broken away to better illustrate the countersinking;

50 Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are top plan views of finished pieces illustrating various suitable shapes;

Fig. 10 shows a modified manner in which the pieces may be constructed.

More particularly, the numeral I designates a 55 playing surface having the playing pieces 2 restsition exposing the bottoms thereof.

ing in the center thereof. These pieces 2 were mixed or shuffled and then dealt, three apiece, to each player whereupon the players each turned their pieces as indicated at 3, t, 5 and B to a po- The scor- 5 ing may be made in any suitable manner but in order to appeal to younger children I prefer some method which is capable of giving a continuous visual record of the relative standings.

Each of the pieces 2 is made in any manner as 10 may be found suitable. As illustrated, each piece has a base portion 8 and a handle or knob 9. Each base portion 8 is preferably countersunk at its bottom, as best shown in Figure 4, as the requirements of the game include pictorial reprel5- sentations I9 which maybe printed on paper and which would otherwise be damaged or eifaced by sliding during mixing and dealing. I contemplate manufacturing the pieces out of wood and gluing paper distinguishing characteristics there- 20 on, and also in other ways as by molding, for instance, out of a suitable phenol compound in which case the moldsmight be made to impress the distinguishing characteristics peculiar to each piece. In either case, the countersinking of the bottom is recommended. The handle or knob 9 may be made integral with, or separately made and secured to, the base 8. In order that the pieces 2 may not roll due to an unevenness of the playing surface I, either the handle 9 or the base 8 should be out of round. In Figures 4 and 5 the handle is illustrated as polygonal in cross section while the base is circular. In Figure 6 the shape of the base 811 is elliptical; in Figure 7 the base 8b is octagonal; in Figure 8 the base 80 is hexagonal; and in Figure 9 the base Ed is square. Any desired shape may be made to combine an artistic appearance with utility and I contemplate also a suitable painting, dying or staining.

In Figure 10 a modified form of playing piece is illustrated, the form being that of a bag H. The bag is preferably made of a transparent material such as a cellulose paper. A stiffener l2 of suitable shape, such as illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, may be inserted in the bag II to form a base. The printed distinguishing character may be inserted between the bag and the stiffener for visibility through the bag when viewed from the bottom. The bag may then be tied as shown at 13. The top of the bag serves as a handle analogous to those previously descr bed.

The pivoted characteristics which distinguish each piece are here chosen generally as farm son is selected as the farmer score keeper who takes charge of the game and who. gives credit to each farmer player for his capital.

playing pieces 2 are placed in the center of the playing surface and mixed and each farmer play- Play' is then er draws or is dealt three pieces. started by the farmer at the right of the score keeper by passing his poorest piece, that is, the

- one showing the poorest value, to the farmer at his right who in turn passes his poorest one to the farmer at his right before looking at the piece just passed to him. With the exceptions notedbelow, as soon as all have exchanged pieces as indicated, the farmers then expose their pieces to the score keeper and score or make settlement according to total of profit and loss indicated by their three pieces. After settlement, all pieces are placed in the center of the playing surface and shufiled whereupon a new. deal or drawing is made and the game proceeds as above described, the order of starting, rotating with the players. As quickly as a farmer loses all his capital or surpasses a given negative scoring value he is eliminated from further play until only a single winner remains. I

The exceptions noted above are as follows: If-a farmer draws the piece having the rooster thereon he is cock of the barnyard. .I-Ie remains quiet until the farmer on his left ofiers him his poorest disc whereupon he calls loudly cock-adoodle-do, which means Mr. Farmer on my left,

' I do not want your poorest piece, I want your highest'piec'e and I will give you my poorest piece, and I also call for immediate settlement 7 by the score keeper with all farmers. All pieces are thereupon exposed and settlement is made or scores entered. The farmer who draws thecat must sit quiet until the farmer on his left-offers him his poorest piece whereupon he simply hisses, which is a signal that he cannot exchange any piece. The farmer on his left then passes the preferred piece to the farmer at the right of him holding the cat. If a farmer has both the rooster All ing playing pieces each having a diflerent re- 1 repulsive articles, and other smaller groups of and the cat he follows the rule of the IOOStCI. In case the farmer who starts the game has drawn the rooster, he immediately stops the game by calling Cocka-doodle-do. Having no one to exchange with, he puts his poorest disc in the 5 center of the table and draws another.

As indicated, there is considerable latitude for changes in the game and the playing pieces as illustrated without departing from the spirit of my invention and I therefore desire to be limited 0 in protection only as defined by the scope of the claims.

- What I claim is:- I

1. The herein described game blocks comprisproductionof articles familiar to farm life on the bottom thereof, indicia of value bordering .the reproductions, said reproductions representing articles of varying degrees of likes and dislikes to the juvenile mind thereby forming several 20 natural groups of pieces, the indicia of value being the same for the pieces in any one group and varying from group to group, said indicia indicating positive value'onthose pieces having articles naturally appealing to the juvenile mind and 25 indicating negative value on those pieces having articles naturally disliked by the juvenile mind,

the groups bearing indicia of greatest value having a relatively smaller number of pieces.

2. The herein described game blocks compris- 3 ing playing pieces each having a reproduction of articles familiar to farm life onthe bottom thereof, indicia of value bordering said reproductions, said reproductions representing articles of varying degreesof likes and dislikes to a juvenile mind 35 forming several natural groups according to juvenile appeal, one of said groups including reproductions of vegetables and having the indicia of small positive value, another of said groups including reproductions of articles somewhat repulsive to-a' juvenile mind including a can of sour milk, a lame duck, a dry cow, aerate of bad eggs and a kicking mule and having indicia indicating relatively great negative value, another of said groups including reproductions of 45 animals and having indicia of greater positive valulthanfor said vegetables and numerically smaller thanthe negative value of said group of articleshaving indicia of major value, the indicia of value being equal for all articles in any group and differing for each group'with respect to every other group.

.r v BOLETIA READ.

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