US2204177A - Cribbage board - Google Patents

Description

June Hi 4- s. c. EDDY cxmsmm BOARD Filed Feb. 6, 1939 7 4 H H mm W i m E O T .V. y T V n o O o o 0 0mm A w mm m w w 1 0 0S o 0 0S 0 o o o o O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O 0 OOOOO Patented June 11, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRIBBAGE BOARD I Schuyler C. Eddy, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application February 6, 1939, Serial No. 254,877

This invention relates cribbage boards.

11 Claims.

to improvements in The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a novel cribbage board.

Second, to provide a cribbage board having novel provisions for aiding the playing of the game by simplifying the scoring thereof.

Third, to provide a cribbage board characterized by a movable or indexable counter member making it possible to ascertain at all times the exact numerical score of a. player as represented by the position of a counter peg thereon.

Fourth, to provide a board of the type de scribed which is simple in construction and ca pable of being rendered pearance.

Further objects relating very attractive in apto details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying follow. The invention the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the board of my invention, illustrating the position of the pegs when not in use.

Fig. 2 is a side view th ereof, with the pegs in their position just prior to play.

Fig. 3 is a view of a counter member of the board in developed form, illustrating the arrangement of scoring and direction indicia thereon with relation to the peg receiving holes therein.

Fig, 4 is an enlarged View in section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, illustrating details of construction of the board and the manner of manipulating the counter members thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The present invention relates to a novel cribbage board having provisions therein for eliminating objections present in hitherto used boards.

In scoring cribbage, it has been customary to employ a flat rectangular dred and twenty holes th of each player.

board having one hunerein, sixty for the use Inasmuch as a complete game.

dispute or disagreement.

Furthermore, it is a fact that on occasion a player will peg in the Wrong direction on the conventional cribbage board and even when the pegging is pursued in the correct direction there sometimes arises a question as to whether a player has pegged the proper number of holes from his previous most advanced position in transferring from one row of holes on the course to another. The aforesaid objections all tend to result in confusion, inaccuracy, and argument. My device e1iminates all these objections by making it possible to ascertain at a glance the exact position of each players peg on the course required to be pegged for an entire game, without the necessity of either mental computation or reliance upon the memory of either player concerning the number of rounds pegged. It permits an entire game to be scored without repetition of the pegging procedure.

In general, my device consists of a pair of indexable counter members, rectangular in section and provided on the sides thereof with the peg receiving holes. The counter members are in the form of elongated elements mounted for indexing movement, as will be described, and the four sides are adapted to rest successively on a suitable base in successive indexed positions thereof. This gives assurance that the side of the counter member opposite the side which engages the base is always automatically disposed in proper horizontal position for pegging. Furthermore, this engagement of a side of the polyg onal counter member with a fiat base provides a stable support for the counter member during pegging, which prevents inadvertent displacel ment thereof.

Further features of my invention reside in the disposition of the counter members of the board relative to one another, whereby to provide means for retaining the pegs between the members when the board is not in use, thus eliminating the necessity for a special container for the pegs, such as is required in the usual cribbage board construction, likewise in the fact that the pegs themselves constitute suitable means for indexing the counter members when a side thereof has been pegged and it is desired to bring a successive side into peg receiving position.

Referring to the drawing, the reference nu- The end pieces are rounded at their front and rear extremities for the purpose of reducing the labor or skill required to fit the same properly relative to the transverse dimension of the base. These end members or pieces are vertically slotted at throughout a portion of their height as illustrated in Fig. 5, to receive trunnions or pins 5 carried by theelongated counter members or blocks 6. These counter members are square in section and the pins are inserted or driven centrally in the ends thereof.

Slot 1 is of sufficient length to permit turning or tumbling of the square counter members about the trunnion pins 5 while indexing the same in the manner to be described. It will be appreciated that the pins 5 rise and fall as rotational indexing movem nt is imparted to the counters and the slots 1 should be of sufiicient length to permit this rise and fall with someth ng to spare so that ready and frictionless manipulation of the counters is possible. In play, the counter members are indexed onequarter of a revolution to bring a successive sur face to horizontal pegging position. This indexing movement is a combined movement of vertical translation and of rotation, since the pins 5 rise in the guide slots to permit clearance of the angles or edges of the counter members while the latter are rotated for indexing.

I lrc to point out that the polygonal and preferably square section of the counter members in combination with the fiat top of base 2 insures that after each indexing movement of a counter member the upper side thereof will be in proper horizontal position for pegging and the counter member will be provided with a very stable support to prevent inadvertent displacement thereof, notwithstanding the rotatable character of its mounting. This I regard as a salient feature of my invention.

Each side surface 7 of the elongated counter members is provided with a row of thirty peg receiving holes or recesses 8 arranged in groups of five and adapted to receive round pegs 9. The holes are preferably ofl'set from the longitudinal center of the surface I to permit the disposition on the latter of suitable indicia, for example, the arrows it designating the direction in which egging to be performed on each surface and also permitting the impression of designations of the points for starting and completing pegging for ach round, such, for example, as the words, Start and Home. Intermediate the last amed designations in the course of pegging up d down the successive sides I of the counter -Jer, appropriate score indicating numerals, for example, 30, 60, and 90, designating the numerical score on the completion of the pegging of each side, preferably arranged.

Ihe indicia referred to above may be formed on the surfaces '5 in any desired manner, i. e. by surface printing, stamping, inlaying, or in any other suitable manner, depending upon the quality of workmanship desired in the finished product. The end pieces 3 may be apertured at 2 desired to receive the pegs prior to commencement of pegging.

e., when a meml as neared the end or" a given row of holes one side and when his next play scores sufntly to advance his peg to a succeeding side, oerely grasps the previous most advanced peg swing the counter member in clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, to the position indicated in dotted lines in that figure, the axis of the counter member rising while the member rotates through 45, then falling until the succeeding side I is disposed upwardly for pegging.

In play, the pegging proceeds from the position marked Start in the direction of the arrow toward the position marked 30. When the first side has been pegged, the counter member is indexed as described and pegging proceeds in the reverse direction on the succeeding side, as indicated by the arrow thereon, toward the position marked 66, and so on on succeeding sides until a player has pegged past the last hole, when the game is over. In the Well known type of single surface Cribbage board, such a complete course of pegging requires that two rounds be pegged, with the attendant disadvantages referred to above. My board, however, eliminates this by enabling a single round of pegging to score an entire game, and, in addition, enables each player to ascertain the exact position of his own and his opponents peg at any time, and to ascertain exactly how many holes he or his opponent has pegged from his previous most advanced position. It should be noted that the transverse spacing of counter members 6 on base 2 is such that it is possible to rotate or index counter members inwardly relative to the board, i. e., in a direction opposite to the intended direction of rotation in play, whereby the pegs 9 may be disposed between the two counter members 6 when the board is not in use. Being inserted in holes 8, the pegs are retained from accidental displacement since the spacing of members 6 will not permit withdrawal of a peg from its hole when between the members. In order to prevent inadvertent sliding of the pegs across the space between the counter members and into an alined hole in the other member, thus locking the mem bers against turning movement, enlarged heads lb may be provided for the pegs. In addition, these enlarged heads add to the ease of manipulating the pegs in play.

It will be observed that if the above described procedure of tumbling or rotatively indexing the counter members by means or the pegs is followed it is impossible to hold on to a peg and at the same time actuate the same in improper direction. The players fingers will strike the opposite counter member 6 and prevent the proper full indexing movement. Likewise, the counter members obviously cannot be indexed by the pegs more than 90 in either direction.

It will be observed that in the preferred em bodiment the two counters of each board are identical in the disposition of the holes 8 and the indicia H thereon, thereby considerably reducing the cost of production of the same. The counters are, however, disposed oppositely on the base 2 with regard to the direction in which the pegging proceeds therealong. This facilitates the use of the board by a pair of players facing one another across a table.

My invention is not limited to all the above described specific details contributing to the preferred combined rotational and translational movement of the counter members in shifting thereof, but, on the contrary, resides broadly in the provision of a counting board for cribbage having rotatably shiftable or indexable counter members enabling the progress of the game to be ascertained readily, quickly, and accurately at all times.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

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

1. A counting board for cribbage, comprising a base, a pair of end members on said base having vertically extending guides, and a pair of counter members provided with trunnions slidably guided by said guides, said counter members being rotatable about said trunnions as an axis and having a plurality of sides provided with counting holes adapted to receive a counting peg, the lowermost side of a counter member resting on said base in use to stabilize the counter member during pegging of another side thereof, said trunnions rising and falling relative to said base during rotation of the counter members during indexing of successive sides to pegging position.

2. A counting board for Cribbage, comprising an elongated base having a pair of counter members normally resting on said base in use, said counter members having a plurality of sides, and means for mounting said counter members on said base for rotation to index successive sides to pegging position and for bodily translation during said rotation to permit rise and fall of the axes of the counter members relative to the base, said counter members having a plurality of counting holes on the sides thereof adapted to receive a counting peg, said counter members being adapted to be rotatably indexed following completion of the pegging of each side thereof to present a successive side to be pegged, another of said sides resting on said base to provide a stable support for the counter member.

3. A cribbage board comprising an elongated base having a fiat top, a pair of end members on said base provided with rounded extremities to facilitate assembly thereof on said base, said end members being positioned on and secured to opposite ends of said base and having elongated vertically extending guide ways on the respective inner sides thereof, and a pair of elongated counter members of polygonal cross section disposed between said end members and having trunnions slidable and rotatable in said guide ways, whereby the counter members are adapted to be rotatively indexed relative to the base to successive positions with a side of the counter members resting on said fiat top and with another side thereof operatively disposed for pegging, said elongated guide ways enabling the counter members to rise and fall relative to the base during said indexing, said counter members each having a longitudinally extending row of holes on each side thereof adapted to receive pegs in pegging, and being manipulated in opposite rotative directions by manipulation of one of the pegs in a hole therein, whereby to dispose the counter members with a succeeding side to be pegged facing upwardly, the counter members being laterally spaced relative to the base to permit disposition of the pegs in the space therebetween with the pegs inserted in holes on mutually facing sides of the counter members, whereby the pegs are retained from inadvertent displacement during non-use of the board.

4. Counting apparatus for cribbage comprising an elongated base having a fiat top, a pair of end members positioned on and secured to opposite ends of said base and having elongated vertically extending guide ways on the respective inner sides thereof, a pair of polygonal counter members disposed between said end members and having trunnions slidable and rotatable in said guide ways whereby the counter members are adapted to be indexed rotatively to successive positions with a side of the counter mem-- bers resting on said flat top and another side thereof operatively disposed for pegging, said counter members shifting laterally in said guide ways during indexing, said colunter members each having a longitudinally extending row of holes on each side thereof, and pegs insertable in said holes in pegging, said counter members being manipulated for indexing in opposite rotative directions by manipulation of one of the pegs in a hole therein and being spaced laterally sufficiently to permit disposition of the pegs between the counter members and in certain of the holes when the apparatus is not being used.

5. Counting apparatus for cribbage comprising an elongated base having a flat top, a pair of end members positioned on and secured to opposite ends of said base and having elongated vertically extending guide ways on the respective inner sides thereof, a pair of polygonal counter members disposed between said end members and having trunnions slidable and rotatable in said guide ways whereby the counter members are adapted to be indexed rotatively to suecessive positions with a side of the counter mem bers resting on said flat top and another side thereof operatively disposed for pegging, said counter members shifting laterally in said guide Ways during indexing, said counter members each having a longitudinally extending row of holes on each side thereof, and pegs insertable in said holes in pegging, said counter members being manipulated for indexing in opposite rotative directions by manipulation of one of the pegs in a hole therein.

6. Counting apparatusfor cribbage, comprising a base, a pair of counter members having rows of longitudinally extending holes, means for mounting said counter members for rotative indexing of the counter members relative to the base to expose successive rows thereof for pegging, and pegs adapted to be inserted in said holes in pegging, said pegs providing means for manipulating the counter members to index the same, said counter members being laterally spaced on the base sufiiciently to permit disposition of the pegs in certain of said holes and between the counter members when the board is not in use, the respective holes of said counter members being longitudinally alined and said pegs having heads of larger cross section than said holes to prevent engagement of a given peg in more than a single hole.

'7. A cribbage board comprising a counter member and supporting means therefor comprising a. base and a pair of end members, said counter member being rotatably and floatingly mounted in said end members for rotatable indexing movement and having rows of holes therein adapted to receive counter pegs to indicate the progress of the game, said counter member being indexed in use to bring the rows successively to pegging position.

8. A counting device for cribbage, comprising a base, a counter member normally resting against said base in use, said counter member having a plurality of rows of locating provisions thereon engageable by counting elements to indicate the progress of the game, and means for mounting said counter member on said base for bodily movement and rotation to index said rows successively to counting position, said counter member having a plurality of sides successively engageable With the base in use and conformed to provide a stable support for the counter mem ber against the base in counting.

9. A counting device for cribbage, comprising a base, a counter member normally resting against said base in use, said counter member having aplurality of rows of locating provisions thereon engageable by counting elements to indicate the progress or the game, and means for mounting said counter member on said base for rotation to index said rows successively to counting position, said counter member having a plurality of sides successively engageable with the base in use and conformed to provide a stable support for the counter member against the base in counting.

10. A counting device for cribbage, comprising a support including a base and a pair of end members, a counter member having a plurality of sides provided with locating provisions thereon engageable by counting elements to indicate the progress of the game, said sides being conformed to provide a stable support for the member relative to the support, one of said sides res-ting on the base during counting on another side, and means for floatingly mounting said counter member in said end members for rotative indexing movement whereby to enable said rows to be indeXed successively to counting position, said floating mounting permitting the counter member to rise and fall relative to the support during indexing.

11. A counting board for cribbage, comprising a support having a supporting surface and vertically extending guide means, a pair of counter members means for rotatably mounting said counter members on said support comprising trunnions for the counter members slidably engaging said guides, said counter members having a plurality of sides provided with counting holes adapted to receive a counting peg, the lowermost side of a counter member resting on the sup porting surface in use to stabilize the counter memher during pegging of another side thereof, said guides guiding said trunnions for rising and falling movement during rotation of the counter members during indexing of successive sides to pegging position.

SCHUYLER C. EDDY.

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