US2176725A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

' ct. 17, 1939.. R, P. SHELTQN 2,176,725

GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1938 kINVENToR. REBER-r F EHELTUN.

A TTORNEK Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

' similar institutions by patients undergoing physical or mental therapy treatment, where physical effort and mental concentration are factors in such treatment; and (4) use in public places such as carnivals, amusement parks, and the like. It

will also be obvious that the game may be played by one player, or several of the games may be played. simultaneously and competitively by sev'- eral players.

It is particularly proposed to provide a game which may simulate various events, as for instance, a round the world flight, or other undertaking where progress may be measured in various steps, in other words, in a round the world flight the steps will represent the various stops. It is proposed to provide means whereby such steps in the game will require greater or less skill, and vwhich may be compared to the di'iculty encountered at different points in the flight or other undertaking that the game simulates. In the case of simulation of an around the world Eight, the board will contain a map representation which will have the educationalfunctions of giving instruction in the names and location of various countries and cities.

In carrying out my invention, I propose to employ at each stop a peg which the player enydeavors to ring or engage by means of a ring or other suitable device, carried upon the end of a cord, wire or the like, which in turn is suspended from the end of a Wand or stick, such wand or stick being provided with means which will cornpel the player to hold it at a predetermined distance from the end thereby standardizing the conditions of play required by each player, and also` standardizing the conditions for ringing the pegs at each stop. Y

It is further proposed tol provide the pegs at the diflerent stops of various heights, and which will require various degrees of skill in ringing in order to engage the ring with them. It is further proposed toprovide, as one form of the invention, a surface surrounding the peg which will have a varying contour so that different degreesof skill will be required depending upon the point at which it is tried to engage the ring, and such surface contour may be in the nature of an obstruction or hazard, simulating, for instance, trees, telephone wires, etc.

A further object is to provide a game apparatus of this type in which timing means will be coordinated With the game, so that the players time in completing the course may be scored. Where a number oi" games are played simultaneously and competitively by several players the iirst to finish will be considered the winner, irrespective of time. l

A further object is to provide a game apparatus of simple and inexpensive construction, in which the parts may be readily removed and replaced, in the event of breakage or wear.

With the above and other objects in View, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. `1 is a perspective View showing the game apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing one form of vring according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is an edge view thereof. l Fig. iris a sectional view showing one of the pegs and which is ofcylindrical cross-section.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified form of peg, and which is of square or triangular or other cross-section.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the ring also in section, in position to be engaged with the peg, the peg shown in this View being relatively high and requiring a relatively high degree of skill to vengage the ring therewith.

Fig. '7 is a similar view showing a shorter peg, and which requires a lesser degree of skill than the peg as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modification in which the contour of the board surrounding the peg is in the form of a hill at one side and a valley at the other, the dot and dash lines showing-the relative positions of the ring as the vplayer endeavors to ring the peg.

Fig. 9 isa sectional view showing a board or portion of the board of convex form.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a board or portion of the board of concave form.

Figs. 1l to 16 inclusive, show various modifications of the ring.

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of the modification of the ring as shown in Fig. 16.

shown a similarly shaped ring 31 having a circular hole 38.

In Fig. 13 I have shown a circular ring 39 having a diagonally disposed slot-like hole 40 therein.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a ring 4l of kite-like shape having a hole 42 of semi-circular shape. I have also shown above the hole 42 and along the center line of the ring a groove 43, which may be provided therein for the purpose of guiding the ring with respect to the peg after it has beenengaged therewith. Such groove may be provided at one side only of the ring, in which case it will be easier to engage it with the ring if this side is brought into engagement with the peg rather than the plain side.

In Fig. 15 I have shown a circular ring 21 and having the cord 26 secured thereto by a hitch 44, carried about the ring and knotted at 45. This hitch will function as a guide groove.

In Figs. 16 and 17 I have shown a circular ring 21 and provided at each side with radial grooves 46, and in which a loop 41 of the cord 26 is engaged, and secured by knotting at 48, the arrangement being such that the cord is below the surface of the ring, and at the same time the groove constitutes a guide means for assistance in engaging the peg.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the shape of the ring and the hole provided therein, as well as the means for attaching the cord may be varied, as desired, and that the surface of the ring may be provided with a groove or grooves arranged either to assist or hinder the engagement of the ring with the peg.

In playing the game the player will start at a given starting point, for instance New York as shown in the illustrated embodiment, and will endeavor to ring the pegs in sequence, the stop watch being started at the beginning of the game and stopped when the player has completed the circuit. The rules may be such that in order to win the player must make the circuit within a given time, as for instance, one minute. Where two or more lgames are played competitively between two or more players, the first to complete the circuit will be considered the winner. It will be understood that the height of the pegs, the shape of the ring, the length of the cord, the length of the wand, and the contour of the surface surrounding the peg may be varied, and that such variation will affect the diiculty or ease of ringing the pegs. In this way the game may be scientifically designed to meet the different uses contemplated. For instance, where the .game is to be used in hospitals or similar institutions for physical or mental therapy treatment, it will preferably be so designed that the pegs may be engaged with comparative ease, this being especially desirable in the case of certain types of patients. In the case of the game being used for purely entertainment or competitive purposes the various factors will be designed to make it comparatively difficult.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringing device having predetermined outer and inner diameters, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequential ly arranged stop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding peg member secured to said board, certain of said pegs being relatively higher than others, the upper ends of said higher pegs adapted to engage said ringing device when the latter is leaned against said peg at a point between the top of the aperture and the top of the outer edge of the ringing device, and the upper ends of said relatively shorter pegs being in line with a portion of said aperture when said ringing device is in leaning relation with respect to the said peg.

2. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringingv device, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arranged stop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding peg member secured to said board, said playing field having a nonfiat surface in surrounding relation to at least one side of said peg.

3. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringing device, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arranged stop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding peg member secured to said board, said playing field having a hill and valley surface in surrounding relation to at least one side of said peg, the hill being at one side and the valley at the other.

4. In a game apparatus for use with a Wand controlled apertured ringing device, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arranged stop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding peg member secured to said board, said playing field having a convex surface in surrounding relation to at least one of said pegs.

5. In a game apparatus for use with a wand controlled apertured ringing device, a playing field board, a series of spaced sequentially arranged stop means upon said playing field, each consisting of an upstanding peg member secured to said board, said playing eld having a concave surface in surrounding relation to at least one of said pegs.

ROBERT P. SI-IELTON.

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