US2211253A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1940'. J. E; CHAMBERLAIN GAME APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l hk U l a w fianfitaizam lvrzain INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Au 13, 1940. J. E. CHAMBERLAIN 2,211,253 GAME APPARATUS Filed July 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k EV111/ 1/ 11 1 1 1 AN W 1 6 Joan 567162712 kiln 6 II- afllfllll ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to a game table or board.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein through the use of a playing area or field and movable objects scoring may be had for the playing of a game and the winning of the same, the apparatus being effective for lending amusement and attractiveness to participants in the playing of the game.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein the playing field has certain identification or indicia and pockets distributed throughout the same so that in bringing an object in motion through rebound thereof it will roll or drop into a pocket and through indicia or identification eifect a scoring for the player of a game and this maneuvering or activity of the object in motion requires of a player a certain amount of skill so as to master a high score for the winning of the game.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of this character wherein the checks, tokens, or the like deposited by players for identifying selected plays can be collected and delivered into a depository, the delivery being had in a novel manner.

A further object of the invention. is the provision of an apparatus of this character which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, being susceptible for use as a toy, lending attractiveness to participants or the players of a game thereby, being neat in appearance, possessed of artistic characteristics, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section. 50 Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

. Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally the apparatus in its entirety constructed in accordance with the invention and involves a table having corner legs I0, these being ornamented to give modernistic effect in the design thereof, and a table top or bed II which is formed with a flat upper surface carrying a playing field B which in its creation is made up with longitudinal and transverse spaced parallel lines of demarcation, the top or bed being of elongated or substantially rectangular shape and these lines of demarcation present longitudinal and transverse rows of square spaces I2 having centrally thereof arched spherical shaped pockets I3 for accommodating spherical shaped movable playing objects, one being identified at I4. The starting end of the playing field B is indicated by a blank space forming a starting station I5 and into this space or station is corralled the playing objects I4. One of the objects I4 is assigned to each player or participant in the use of the apparatus for the playing of a game as will be hereinafter described.

The field spaces I2 are colored of hues distinguishable from each other, that is to say, selected spaces I2 may carry a color yellow, others a color blue, and others a color red While combined with the color scheme of certain of the spaces are symbols, for example, a five point star I6, a horse I! or other symbols, not shown. While such spaces I2 are supplemented with respect to the color scheme and symbols by indicia as for example digits I 8, these under the arrangement thereof enable identification of such spaces by the participants or players of the game in the use of the apparatus.

For a major portion of one longer side, throughout one end thereof there is a minor portion of the other longer side of the top or bed II for a marginal framing I9 equipped with a drop door arrangement at 20. That is to say, one door 20 is arranged at the major marginal framing area at one longer side of the said top or bed II, another at the end thereof and another at the minor marginal area at the other longer side of said top or bed. These doors 20 are actuated by control rods 2I and connections 22 therewith, the rods 2I being shifted by hand levers 23 pivotally supported bracketed at 24 at one longer side of the top or bed I I. The upper face of each door 20 has created thereon spaces 25 corresponding to the spaces I2 in the playing field B carrying the symbols and color scheme with the digits l8 omitted. These spaces 25 are for accommodating checks, tokens, or the like used by participants or players of a game by the apparatus and such checks, tokens, or the like are selectively placed according to the election by the players of those spaces 12 in the playing field B to be played for scoring purposes in a game.

The doors 20 normally close communication to a hopper 26 built beneath the top or bed II and housing a depository or collecting tray 2'! so that the checks, tokens or the like can be recovered in the latter, they being dumped by the opening of the doors 20 which are manually controlled under manipulation of the levers 23. The doors 20 are normally in a closed position and lie flush relative to the upper surface of the bed or top I I.

The end of the top or bed H remote from the starting station it: has fixed thereto a striking canvas or sheeting 28 which rises above the playing field B and has roller shade-like connection with a rolling and unrolling shaft 29 journaled in brackets 30 mounted on side guard wings 31 attached to and rising from opposite sides of the top or bed H next to the canvas or sheeting 28. The wings SI are of a construction for the outward arching of the sheeting 28 to have the striking area of the latter curvilinear and thereby reversing the course of the ball on rebounding activity. This shaft 29 permits of the tightening or the holding taut of the canvas or sheeting 28 which is in the form of a striking curtain in that the spherical objects [4 when in play are projected or cast in a direction for the striking of the said curtain and on rebound of these objects the same traverse the playing field B so that by chance they will drop and become seated in the pockets I 3 present in the spaces l2. This action results in the scoring of points through determined valuations of scoring points in the playing of a game.

The top or bed H has associated therewith at one longer side of the same a scoring panel or board 32 bearing suitable indicia 33 indicative of scoring valuations for the respective spaces 12 in the playing field B. For example, the spaces l2 carrying the symbol I! have a scoring valuation of ten points, the symbol [6 a scoring valuation of five points, the spaces l2 being colored yellow having a scoring valuation of three points, the red and blue colored spaces one scoring point valua tion, and those spaces white a two point scoring valuation.

In the playing of the game it is necessary to send an object l4 over the playing field B so that the striking of the curtain 28 may be accomplished by the object and through rebound of this object it will become deposited in a pocket 13 for scoring purposes. The participant or player accumulating the highest scoring point is the winner of the game.

The top or bed I! in the use of the apparatus must be sustained level so that the movable ob jects Will not gravitate as would be the case when traveling on an inclined plane of a playing surface.

It is to be understood of course that changes, variations and modifications may be made in the game apparatus and also that different games may be played thereby as may come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

What is claimed is:

A backstop for a game apparatus having a horizontally disposed bed and thrown objects played thereon, comprising side wings rising vertically from opposite side edges of said bed at one end thereof, a curtain roller disposed crosswise of the bed and journaled at the uppermost portions of said Wings for the elevation thereof relative to said bed, and a flexible object rebounder curtain fixed to the bed and roller for disposition between the wings, the roller being adapted to render the curtain taut or slackened on the turning thereof, the said Wings being constructed for outwardly arching the curtain when rendered taut.

JOAN E. CHAMBERLAIN.

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