US2187407A

US2187407A - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US2187407A
Application number: US201656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank J Stone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-04-13
Filing date: 1938-04-13
Publication date: 1940-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1957-01-16

Description

E N O T s D F AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIHIIHIHIIHHIHIHIHIHIIIIIII Jan. 16,1940. F, TO E msmw AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed April 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mai N ENTO l WK (A? $1 ATTO Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Frank J. Stone, Arlington, Mass.

Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,656

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement device.

In general the invention has for an object to provide a novel and highly entertaining amusement device embodying finger actuated characters, which may be economically manufactured,

in which the characters may be readily and inexpensively varied to provide different styles of entertainment and which is particularly adapted for use by children.

With this general object in View and suc others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists the amusement device and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrating the amusement device in posi tion to be operated; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stage; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a typical character; Figs. l and 5 are side and front elevations respectively of a modified form of the stage in which all the five fingers may be used to display characters; Figs. 6 and '7 are side elevations and plan views respectively of a modification of the stage shown in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a stage setting representing a dwelling house in which the characters appear through the open Windows and the doorway; Fig. 9 is a modified form of the rubber thimble, and Figs. it) and ii are side elevation and front views respectively of a modified form of. attachment.

In general, the invention contemplates an amusement device wherein finger actuated charesters are utilized in imitation of animated figures to provide entertainment, particularly for children. The characters may be selected from a great variety of fields such as from human life, animal life, bird life and, in addition, may include inanimate objects such as the alphabet. The characters may and preferably will be formed as a part of or attached to thin rubber thimbles designed to be conveniently slipped over the fingers and the amusement device further contemplates a stage or setting for the characters, one

form of which is capable of being manually held,

and upon which the characters may be actuated by the fingers to imitate animate characters in action, provision being preferably made to enable the stage to be held in the palm of the hand, and some or all of the fingers used to actuate the cl'iaracters. In addition to its utility as an amusement device in which grotesque characters or figures are used, the present invention may be used to advantage as an educational toy in which the figures maybe used to represent well-known characters of history, stage or screen, etc., and thus in use, the toy may serve as an aid in developing dramatic ability in the child using the of forms, and which is preferably made of cardboard or other inexpensive material, and the face of the material may have appropriate designs Hll printed thereon. As herein shown, the cardboard stage is provided with an opening 22, cut out of the cardboard and the portion. thus cut out may be folded to extend outwardly from the face of the stage to provide a flat surface it and a second fold made in the cut out portion forms a depending section it upon which a suitable design 23, such as an orchestra, may be printed.

As herein illustrated, the stage is, in one form of the invention, to be held in the hand, and to this end, an extended portion 30, suitably shaped to fit in the palm of the hand, is provided at the lower end of the stage. The stage is preferably arranged to be secured tothe hand, and as herein shown, by elastic bands 32, M, and the extension so may be slotted to form tab portions 3t, 38 over which the elastics are hooked.

In the use of the device, the lower elastic band M is extended around the back of the hand and the upper elastic 32 extended around the thumb and little finger, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The forward depending section 26 of the stage may be grasped between the thumb and the little finger, as illustrated, and the tension in the band 32 assists in retaining a firm grasp while the lower portion of the stage rests against the back of the thumb and little finger, the result being to attach the stage securely to the hand and leaving the central fingers of the hand free to manipulate and move the characters in imitation of animated figures in back of the stage.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, as therein illustrated, a modified form of the device may comprise a stage it: adapted to be held in a block t2 provided with a slot 44 into which the stage is inserted. With this construction, the operator is permitted to use all five fingers of the hand to display different characters. When in use, the block #2 may be placed on the edge of a table it, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to permit maximum freedom of movement of the hand. Figs. 6 land? illustratemasimilai form of stage which may be self-supporting and which comprises an upright portion 46 and a base portion 48 formed by cutting slits in the lower portion of the stage and folding the alternate tabs 5!], 52, thus formed 5 in opposite directions and at right angles to the upright portion of the stage.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that the fingers to which the characters are attached will extend upwardly in back of the stage and will appear through the opening 22. It will also be seen that by manipulating the fingers the characters will appear to be animated and that many amusing scenes may be depicted, providing entertainment, particularly for children. The thimbles bearing the characters may be quickly and easily exchanged and the action varied over wide fields. When using the device, the operator may simulate the Voices of the different characters and by twisting and moving 30 the figures at the same time, in the manner of a ventriloquist, may add greatly to the amusement afforded.

It will, of course, be apparent that a wide variety of stage settings may be provided to suit the different characters represented. In practice,

it is also contemplated to use the device in imitation of plays and sketches in which the characters may represent well-known figures of history, literature, art, etc., whereby the toy may be employed as an educational feature as well as for the purpose of entertainment. In some instances, plays may be produced in which more than five characers appear and in such case, both hands may be provided with thimbles iii to represent the characters. Scenery for such plays may extend over a wide area and may include buildings representing a town or a city, the buildings having cut-out portions in place of the windows and doors, through which the characters may be seen as they pass through the back of the stage. As herein shown, Fig. 8 represents a scene of a typical dwelling house ti l which may be supported on the edge of a table or shelf and in which more than five characters appear through the openings 56 cut out where the doors and windows occur.

A modified form of the thimble or cot provided with characters is shown in Fig. 9 upon which more than one character appears, and, as herein shown, different characters 58, iii may be represented upon two or more sides of the cot so that by turning the fingers around to face the audience a new character may be made to appear Without changing the cot.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a modified form of stage designed to be attached to the wrist of the operator, whereby all the fingers of the hand may be used to display characters and, as herein shown, elastic bands 62, 6d, hooked over the slotted portions 66, 63 may extend around the wrist to provide the attachment, leaving the fingers of the hand free to manipulate the characters.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stage capable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the hand disposed in back of the stage, a plurality of characters adapted for attachment to the middle fingers of said hand thereby enabling the op erator to imitate animated characters upon the stage by movement of the middle fingers of the same hand.

2. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stage capable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the hand disposed in back of the stage, a plurality of characters adapted for attachment to the middle fingers of said hand thereby enabling the operator to imitate animated characters upon the stage by movement of the middle fingers of the hand,

and means for securing the stage to the palm of the same hand.

3. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stage capable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the hand disposed in back of the stage, a plurality of rubber thimbles bearing characters adapted for attachment to the middle fingers of 'said hand thereby enabling the operator to imitate animated characters upon the stage by movement of the middle fingers of the same hand.

4. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stage capable of being held in one hand with the central fingers of the hand disposed in back of the stage, a plurality of rubber thimbles bearing characters adapted for attachment to the middle fingers of said hand thereby enabling the operator to imitate animated characters upon the stage by movement of the middle fingers of the hand, and means for securing the stage in the palm of the same hand.

5. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stage capable of being held in the palm of the hand and including a tab member depending from the stage adapted to engage the palm of the hand, elastic means extending around the back of the hand and secured to said tab member and a plurality of characters adapted for attachment to the middle fingers of said hand thereby permitting the operator to imitate animated characters upon the stage by manipulation of the fingers.

6. An amusement device of the character described comprising a stage capable of being held in the palm of the hand and having a tab depending therefrom adapted to engage the palm of the hand, an upper and a lower elastic hand, both being attached to the tab and adapted respectively to encircle the thumb and little finger to yieldingly hold the same against the face of the stage and to encircle the lower portion of the hand, and characters adapted to be secured to the middle fingers of the hand thereby permitting the operator to imitate animated characters upon the stage upon movement of the fingers.

'7. An amusement device comprising a stage constructed to be capable of being held in the palm of the hand with the middle fingers disposed in the rear of the stage, elastic means for retaining the stage in the hand and rubber thimbles bearing characters adapted to be placed over the middle fingers of the hand thereby permitting the operator to imitate animated characters upon the stage upon movement of the fingers.

8; A stage adapted for use in an amusement device of the character described, comprising a stage forming portion and a depending portion adapted to engage the palm of the hand, and resilient fastening means adapted for cooperation with the hand to retain the stage in the hand.

FRANK J. STONE.