US2295452A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1942. c. u. DEATON GAME APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l jgii 66 4M TH W ORDERS FROM HEADQUARTEILS Ship aturga a? T'Bonc infirm... CATTL ENA 0o a pease he Immih'an; w u n BOMBER 4/7 2/ 4/ as 64 0/7 (IA/9%? A TORNE YS.

p 1942- I c. u. DEATON 2,295,452

GAME APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME AP PARATUS Charles U. Deaton, Centralia, 111.

Application May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,111

7 7 Claims. (o1. 273-434.)

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus. V r

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a game apparatus which possesses various novel and entertaining features and involves a large factor of chance.

Second, to provide a game apparatus which involves a large factor of surprise in playing the same embodying automatic movable parts which contribute to the surprise by their unpredetermined actuation.

Third, to provide a game apparatus which largely precludes manipulation by a skilled player to the disadvantage of an unskilled player.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a game apparatus embodying the features of my invention, a portion of the top panel of the game board being broken away to disclose one of the actuating magnets therein and also details of structure.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a series of cards which may be used in the playing of the game.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a tally or score indicating member.

Fig. 4 is a conventional view of a series of chips which may be used in playing the game.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the game piece and the game board taken on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a plan viewof the game piece-of the embodiment of my invention illustrated.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating certain possible relations of the actuatedmagnet of the game piece with the actuating magnets Within the game board, these magnetsin this embodiment illustrating that the direction of the actuation of the actuating magnet of the game piece depends upon its approach or positioning relative to the actuating magnet.

In the embodiment illustrated, my improved game board designated generally by the numeral 1 comprises two complemental sections 2, 2 which comprise top panels 3, bottom panels 4 and border frame 5, these panels and border frame coacting to provide a closed chamber 6 for each section.

The surface ofthe board in this preferred embodiment is provided with a map design con "sisting of main land portions 1 and 8 and a plurality of islands 9-distributed about in the water portions IEI; The land configurations and the disposition of the islands are such as to provide restricted water zones of various character, as ll, 12, I3, M, and IS. The land portions are provided with variously positioned place indicia, certain of the place indicia being preferably located in' portions of the shore-line rendered somewhat inaccessible by the configurations of the land and positioning of the island areas. Of course, it will be understood that the particular design or map outline is purely arbitrary, Where the game board is in twoor more sections, it will be understoodthat the map sectionsare complementary. 4 7

Within each main board section-I provide a plurality of actuating members I6, these be preferably in the form of woodjor fiber disks having magnets l1 setinto thesame, themagnets being preferably of the-polarized 'type that is, having positive and negative poles which are indicated byN ands in Fig. '7. These actuating members are freely shiftable withinthe chamber 6 to unpredictable positions,that is, the actuating members are, concealed, and by shaking the game board or the sections thereof when it is formed in sections, the actuating magnets are shifted about, to positions unknown by any of the players.,It would of course be possible to shakerthem all to oneend oriside of the chamber but thatwould be an unintended manipulation and even then their position would still be undetermined or unknown. 7

I provide for use in this connection a game piece I 8 which in this embodiment roughly simulatesa ship, the game piece being adapted to bemanuallymanipulated on the sea or water portions of .the map orchart. In thisembodiment, the body ofthe game piece 39 is formed ofplasticmaterial having a bottom 28 of fibrous material secured in downwardly facing recesses 2|, see Fig.5, in the Walls of the bodyportions provided therefor. I A

A recess 22 is formed in the upper side of the body member adapted to permit the mounting of the signalmembers 23 and124 on the pivot 25 which is arranged through the upwardly projecting flange-like members 26 on the body. The signal members are provided with weights 2! below their pivots which, swing them to their erected position. A boss or raised ortion 28 on the body is slotted at 29 to receive these signal members Whenthey are in their set position and limit the lateral swinging thereof. 'or

distortion thereof, these members being sheet metal stampings.

A trigger or detent member 30 is mounted on the vertical pivot 3| at the top of the body and provided with a segmental detent 32 which of the game piece about the game board surface,

the magnet 34 is brought into coacting relation to one of the actuating magnets, the magnet 34 will be actuated and consequentlyth trigger member actuated in one or the other direction. depending on the relationship of'the'actuating" magnets and the actuated magnet. This'I have indicated by arrows in the diagrammatic Fig. 7.

The detent 32 of the trigger member is ofisuch dimensions that when swung in one direction it releases one of the signal members, retaining the other, and when swung in the other direction the action is'reversed. The signal members are given different values, one for example being blue and the other red. The red may, for example, be saidto indicate that the ship has been torpedoed, and blue is given some other significance.

Inasmuch as thepositioning of the actuating magnets within the game 'board are unknown to the players, the chanceor hazard in making a particular voyage from' one place to another imparts great interest; amusement; and excitement in the playing of the'game. Various games may be played both by children an'd'adults;

In Fig. 2, I illustrate a series 'of .cards 36'whi'ch bear legends or instructions.

In Fig. 3, a scoring device 31 which isruled into sections38, numbered 1 to 6, is shown; each section having indicia, as 7 to 1, 6 to 1, 5 to 1, etc., indicating values or difierentials of theiwagers placed on the particular sections.

Colored chips 39'sh0wn in Fig. 4' are provided and any value may be ascribed to the colors.

In playing the game, each player attemptato make the same voyage. Forexample,v a card is turned up from the stack of cards, these being entitled in this illustration Orders from headquarters with suitable instructi0ns',-thetop card in Fig. 2 bearing the instructions -Ship'a cargo of T-bone steaks from 'Cattlena to appeasethe munitions workers of Bomber. That would mean that the game piece would be moved rrom' the place designated CattIena to the place designated Bomberand the player may pursue "any course he desires. If, in making theitrip, he movesithe game piece into operative relationto one'of-the operating magnets, his voyage is ended and the scoring depends on whether the red or blue signal is released. The player places the chip hedesires on any of the sections 38'of the scoring piece 31 and if he successfully negotiates the trip, the dealer pays the player 7 to 1, 6 to l, or as the case may be, dependingon" where he has placed his chip. I have usedfthe name Subsidy for the particular game and the player is designated the Government. If the first player fails, the secondplayer attempts to make the same trip and so on until one of the players has completed the trip safely or until the trip has been tried six times. In either casea new card. is drawn-.-

It should beunderstoodthat the map or chart or. indicia on. the surfaceof the'gameboard may be greatly varied but a surface chart in the form of a map provides an effective way of securing a plurality of routes over which the game piece may be manipulated from one place to another. The game piece can be made to simulate or represent other objectsfor example, airplanes or submarines, and other objects will occur from the disclosure.

The playing of my game is entertaining and normally involves considerable excitement and pleasure both for children and adults.

I have illustrated an embodiment or adaptation of my invention which I consider very desirable and practical. I have not attempted to illustrate other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in' the art to embody or adapt my improvementsas may be desired.

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

1. A'game apparatus comprising-a chambered game board having a playing surface provided with a-map representing'land and water in complemental conformations providing restricted water zones between land portions, said map being provided with place indicia, some of the indicia being associatedwith saidrestricted water zones, a plurality" ofpolarized actuating magnets concealed within and shiftablein said game board chamber for unpredetermined positioning relative to the said land and water representations and said indicia-on-said playing surface, a game piecesimulatinga ship adapted to be manually moved on the surface-of said game board, signals pivotally mountedon said game piecein side by side relation and providedwith actuating weights, and a trigger-membervertically pivoted on said game piece and provided with a segmental signal detentadapted to be engaged with both of said signal members-for retaining them in cocked position and adapted to release one of said signal members while retaining'the other and vice versa, depending onthe direction of actuation of the trigger member on its'pivot; said trigger member having a polarized' inagnet on'th'e lower end of its pivot whereby'wh'en the game piece'is manually manipulated on the surface of the game board and brought into actuating juxtaposition to one of said actuating magnets within'said game board chamber,

2. A game apparatus comprising a chambered game board having =1 a" playing surface provided with "a map representin'g'landand water in comple'mental conformations providing restricted water zcnes'between land portions, said'map"being provided with place indicia, some of the fin-' dicia being. associated -with "said'restri'cted water zones, a plurality." of 'a'ctuatin'g" magnets con cealed withinandshiftabl'e 'inf said game board chamber for unpredetermin'edpositioning 'relative to i the said land-and water representation and said indicia on said playingisurface; a game piece simulating a ship. adapted'to be manually moved on the surface of 'saidgame board, a signal mounted on' said game Ipiec'e andprovided with means acting j to urge it to: signaling. posi'-' tion, and a "trigger:memberpivoted on'said' game piece and providedwith' "a' signal detent adapted to be engaged 'with'sai'd signal 'member' 'for' re-' taining. it in" cocked "position: said trigger meniber having a'magn'eton' thelower en'dof-its pivot whereby when the "game piece is manually tuatingmagnet's' Within saidgame board chain;

her, the trigger member is actuated to release the signal.

3. In a game, a chambered game board having a playing surface provided with a plat, a plurality of actuating members of insulating material provided with polarized magnets, said actuating members being concealed and shiftable within said game board chamber for unpredetermined positioning relative to the said playing surface plat, a game piece adapted to be manually moved on the platted surface of said game board, signals pivotally mounted on said game piece in side by side relation and provided with actuating means, and a trigger member vertically pivoted on said game piece and provided with a signal detent adapted to be engaged with both of said signal members for retaining them in cocked position and adapted to release one of said signal members while retaining the other and vice versa, depending on the direction of actuation of the trigger member on its pivot, said trigger member having a polarized magnet on the lower end of its pivot whereby when the game piece is manually manipulated on the surface of the game board and brought into actuating juxtaposition to one of said actuating magnets within said game board chamber,

4. In a game, a game board having a charted surface, a game piece adapted for manual manipulation relative to such chart, a plurality of polarized actuating magnets shiftable for unpredetermined positioning relative to said charted surface, signals carried by said game piece and provided with means for actuating them to signaling position, means confining the movement of said magnets relative to said surface and maintaining said magnets in operative relation to the game piece, and a trigger for said signals mounted on said game piece and adapted to retain both of them in retracted [i position or to release them one at a time depending on the direction of actuation of the trigger, the trigger being provided with a polarized magnet whereby when the game piece is manipulated into actuating juxtaposition to one of said 1 actuating magnets, the trigger is actuated in one direction or the other depending on the relation of its magnet to the juxtaposed magnet within the game board chamber.

5. In a game, a game board having indicia thereon, a game piece adapted for manipulation relative to such indicia, a plurality of polarized actuating magnets shiftable for unpredetermined positioning relative to said indicia, a signal carried by said game piece and provided with means for actuating it to signaling position, means confining the movement of said magnets relative to said indicia and maintaining said magnets in operative relation to the game piece, a trigger for retaining said signal in retracted position, and a magnet for actuating the trigger whereby when the game piece is manipulated into actuating juxtaposition to one of said actuating magnets, the trigger is actuated.

6. In a game, a game board having indicia thereon, a plurality of polarized actuating magnets shiftable relative to said indicia, a game piece adapted for manipulation relative to said indicia, a plurality of signals on said game piece provided with means for actuating them to signaling position, means confining the movement of said magnets relative to said indicia and maintaining said magnets in operative relation to the game piece, a trigger adapted to be engaged with the signal members for retaining them in retracted position and adapted to release said signal members one at a time, and a magnet for actuating said trigger whereby when the game piece is brought into actuating juxtaposition to one of said actuating magnets the trigger is actuated to release one of the signal members depending on the relation of the game piece magnet to the juxtaposed magnet within the game board chamber.

7. In a game, a game board having indicia on its playing surface, a plurality of actuating magnets shiftable relative to said indicia, a game piece adapted to be manipulated relative to said indicia of the said game board, a signal carried by said game piece and provided with means for actuating to signaling position, means confining the movement of said magnets relative to said indicia and maintaining said magnets in operative relation to the game piece, a trigger for retaining said signal in retracted position, and a magnet for actuating said trigger when the game piece is manipulated into actuating juxtaposition to one of said actuating magnets whereby the signal is released.

CHARLES U. DEATON.

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