US2239420A - Amusement game - Google Patents

Description

April 22, 1941. M. l.. GoLDBx-:RG

` AMUSEMENT GAME Filed Oct. '7, 1940 Patented Apr. 22, 1941` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT GAME Morris L. Goldberg, Kiamesha, N. Y.

Application October 7, 1940, Serial No. 359,985

1 Claim.

This invention-relates to amusement games and has particular reference to games of skill.

One object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus having a device which simulates a structure for marine warfare, such as a submarine or hydroplane, and improved means for mounting the device and for causing the discharge of projectiles thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus as set forth having improved means including a liquid container and a submarine or hydroplane or both supported by the liquid, with the submarine wholly immersed in the liquid, and the hydroplane .floating on the surface of the liquid, the submarine and hydroplane being referred to as denoting toy devices of similar character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus having improved means including a structure for discharging projectiles at selected points according to the skill of the operator, which structure is mounted upon a perforated cover for a liquid container having vmarine-like devices operatively carried therein.

"Another object of the invention is to provide an improved game apparatus which may comprise an ordinary jar and screw cap therefor with the target mounted within the jar as on liquid `contained therein, and with the projectile discharging apparatus mounted on the cover where- ,by a simple, inexpensive and compact structure is obtained.

Another object of the invention is, in general,

`or hydroplanes as by devices that may simulate Ibullets, bombs, depth charges or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claim, and illustrated in the annexed drawing,'wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation with parts in section, and other parts removed, showing a game apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2` is a top plan view thereof, but with the projectile discharging apparatus positioned at a different angle.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing a modification.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation with parts removed and in section showing a modified structure according to the invention, and with the dot-dash lines indicating different projectile paths.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, ibut, useful devices maybe produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions.` 'I'he accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a game apparatus embodying the invention. 'I'he same may comprise a liquid container I'I such as a conventional glass jar which is partly filled with a liquid I2. Disposed on the surface I3 of the liquid is a device I4 which simulates a hydroplane. The latter is so carefully balanced that a small increment in weight will serve to cause 'the same to sink. Also supported by the liquid is a device I5 which simulates a submarine, but which is wholly immersed in the water in such relation thereto that a small increment in weight would serve to cause the device I5 to sink to the bottom of the container II. In general, either or both of the devices I4 or I5 may be employed, and these devices are illustrative of structures adapted for marine warfare.

The container I I is provided with a large mouth or opening that is normally closed by a cap I6. The same may have a top wall I1 and a dependthe line 5 5 of taken ing skirt I8 which is adapted for removable screw threaded engagement with the jar II. Formed in the slot I'I is an opening such as a slot I9 through which a projectile may be discharged into the container Il to strike one orjboth of the devices I4 and I5, or `else to strike the liquid in order to set up a turbulence whereby the positions of the said devices may be changed to .jectile bring them into a more favorable target relation to the projectile discharging means.

The projectile discharging means is indicated at 2U and may include a device of any conventional type for imparting an impulse to the pro- For example, it may include a cylinder in which is slidably disposed a piston 22 which is forwardly actuated by an expansion coil spring 23 and retracted by a linger piece 24. Connected to the piston 22 is a rod 25 which may strike the projectile when the piston 22 is released after being retracted against the force of the spring by the finger piece 24, in the usual manner..

Forming part of the projectile discharging means 2B, or associated therewith is a projectile holding or guiding means 26 adapted to hold a projectile such as 21 in spaced and permanently aligned relation with the device 20 in -any operative position of the latter. It is noted that the projectile 21 is disposed externally of the device 20, and this may have particular convenience if the projectileris in the nature of a coin, which is to be easily mounted and held in the discharging position. Moreover, this arrangement permits the rod 25 to be visible so that its retraction relative to the target may be observed whereby the operator can readily gage the force of the impact and the point on the target at which the impact is directed. For the realization of these different purposes, the device 25 may include a bracket or angular member such as a generally yoke shaped structure 28 which may comprise a pair of arms 29 having stub shafts 39 journaled in bearing elements 3I aiixed to the support I6. The short arms 32 of the elements 29 may be rigidly aflixed at 33 tothe cylinder 2I. Mounted upon o-ne of the arms 29 are a pair of fingers 34 which may function in the nature of a spring clip to resiliently grasp therebetween the disk or coin 21 and to hold the latter in constant alignment with the impeller 25. By arranging that the pivotal axis at 30 shall lie as close as possible to the plane of the top wall I1 yand in substantial alignment with the slot I9,

it results that the yoke structure 28 may be swung through various angles with the projectile 21 maintained in alignment with the slot I9 to a suiiicient degree to be able to readily pass therethrough under an impact caused by the device 20.

In operation, it will be noted that if the operator uses pennies, each shot or try will cost him one cent because the projectile is deposited at the bottom of the container I'I from which the owner may subsequently remove the money by removing the cover I6. The operator aims the projectile by swinging the device 20 to a desired angle, and he must deposit the projectile squarely upon the hydroplane device I4 or upon the submarine 4device I'5 since otherwise the projectile may merely slip o therefrom. The device I may have been delicately weighted by loading with buckshot so as to maintain just the right balance thereof and the ends thereof may have obstructions against the projectile whereas a central portion thereof may be flat to permit the projectile to deposit itself thereon.

It will be noted `that this game apparatus can be a source of considerable interest, amusement and skill. Thus the projectile 21 can be placed at diierent positions, nearer or `closer to the impeller 25, and in or out of exact alignment therewith, and then the device may be swung to Adifferent angles, so that the projectile may wipingly engage an edge of the slot I9 as it passes therethrough, for further control of its velocity. Accordingly the round disc 21 may have a direct line or a partly rotary motion imparted thereto, and can be used to agitate the water I2 to shift the position of the target.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modification 35 like that shown at Ill except that the projectile discharging means is different. The latter may include a cover St for the container II having a central opening 31 and lateral openings 38 in the top wall 33 thereof. Suitably axed to the latter is a chute member 40 having a projectile impelling device such as 2j), hereinbefore described. This chute 40 may have a side rail or guide I extending around the top wall as at 42 and having an extension 43, whereby balls 44 discharged onto the chute 40 travel tangentially onto the wall 39 and tend to drop through one of the lateral openings 38, thus avoiding a hit on the targets I and I5. It is only when the ball 154 drops through the center hole 31 that it can deposit on the target and sink the same. In general, the diameter of the container II may be sufciently small so that the targets tend to a central position in the container. However, certain positions of a target may be more favorable than others for preventing the ball from rolling 01T from the target, which may have a low railing on a portion of the top thereof. Hence the operator may desire to shift the position of the target by discharging a projectile through one of the holes 38. The ball 44 in that sense may suggest a depth charge.

In Figs. 6 and '1 is shown a modification 45 including a cap 46 to be attached to the container I I, the top wall 41 of said cap having a series of longitudinally aligned slot openings 48 all of which communicate with a projectile guiding or discharging means 4B. The same may havea pair of opposed plates 50 secured to the cap and forming therebetween a narrow passage, spanned by a series of transverse guides or obstacles such as the pins 5I which thus alford a horizontal passage 52 from which downwardly extend the branch passages 53, also denoted by the arrows in dot-dash lines, and leading to the respective adjacent slots i8. A disc element 54 may be flipped by the fingers of the operator into the passage 52 to travel therealong according to its velocity and to na-lly drop down in one of the branch passages 53 and hence to discharge through a slot 48 into the container II against a target therein. The openings such as 48 and 31, 38 may be referred to as sections of an opening -in the cover, and these sections may directly communicate with each other if desired. The operation of the device may be like that of the device 35.

I claim:

A. game apparatus including a container having a body of liquid therein, a submarine-simulating target submerged in the liquid and `freely floating above the bottom thereof, means for downwardly discharging a projectile upon the target, and means mounting the discharging means at the top of the container for pivotal movement at a fixed point to permit the projectile to be discharged at different vangles on the target to sink or upset the same, with the liquid thus forming a variable obstruction for the projectile.

MORRIS L. GOLDBERG.

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