US2467781A

US2467781A - Separation toy

Info

Publication number: US2467781A
Application number: US649325A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ribbe Irving
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-02-21
Filing date: 1946-02-21
Publication date: 1949-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1966-04-19

Description

A ril 19, 1949. l. RIBBE 2,467,781

SEPARATION TOY Filed Feb. 21. 1946 IN VEN TOR. [QV/NG 9/555 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,467,781 SEPARATION TOY Irving Ribbe, Cleveland, Ohio Application February 21, 1946, Serial No. 649,325

2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, especially to separation toys for use by small children.

I-Ieretofore many sizes and types of toys have been made, but the vast field of entertainment, especially for small children, is one that is never filled and is continually looking for something new. Children tire quickly of a toy, or else a toy may be broken, or else the toy is too advanced for the child and, again, this is particularly applicable to very young children.

The general object of this invention is to provide a novel, attractive, interesting toy for young children.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safe toy for children.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sturdy, but inexpensive, toy which has educational value for small children.

The foregoing objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by the provision of a transparent body, a plurality of partitions secured within the body to divide it into sections, each of the partitions having a plurality of openings therein with the largest opening in each of the partitions being progressively smaller from one end partition to the other end partition, and a plurality of groups of members received in the body. Each of the groups of members is of different size and is adapted to pass through the openings in none, some, or all of the partitions so that the partitions may be used to stratify the groups or members, or the members may be combined in one end section.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 is an elevation of a toy illustrating one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the toy of Fig. 1 when inverted and with the members therein Stratified; Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse cross sections taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig, 1; and Fig. 5 is vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 with the members within the toy omitted.

Referring specifically to the drawing, a large hollow ball I0 is shown, which ball is transparent and preferably made from two hemispherical sections that are fused, cemented or otherwise secured together. Two transparent partitions l2 and M are suitably secured in the ball ID with the partitions having holes l6 and I8, respectively, formed therein. The partitions l2 and M are substantially parallel and divide the interior of the ball into three sections.

A plurality of groups of balls or objects are positioned within the ball ll] prior to sealing the partitions therein. These include a group of small sized balls 20, a group of medium size balls 22, and a group of relatively large balls 24. I prefer to color the balls of each group distinctively and to make the individual balls of each group of sub stantially the same size. There are as many groups of balls within the ball l0 as there are sections therein for a purpose to be made clear hereinafter.

A feature of the invention is that the holes [6 in the partition l2 are larger than the holes 3 in the partition I4. Thus the group of the small balls 20 in the ball will pass through holes l6 and I8 while the medium size balls 22 are so formed that they will pass through the holes [6 but not the holes l8, and the large balls 24 will not pass through any of the holes It or l8. By positioning the ball ID as indicated in Figure 1 and shaking it, a child is able to cause all of the balls 20 and 22 to pass through the obstructing partitions to the lowest section of the ball. Then, somewhat magically to the child, he can separate the groups of balls by positioning the ball I0, as in Figure 2, and shaking it. As the child plays with the toy, he will learn about the relative sizes of the balls and holes and their action in permitting the theretofore strange action of separating the balls,

It will be seen that any suitable material such as Lucite or other plastic may be used to form the sections of the ball l0 and, usually, the partitions I2 and M.

It also should be noted that the holes in each partition need not all be of the same size as long as the largest hole in it is of proper size with relation to that partition and the groups of balls. Likewise, sometimes only one partition, or more than two may be used, as desired. Nor is the toy limited to a spherical body member or the use of balls since the enclosure might be in the form of a rectangular box, and the separable members might be cylindrical in form.

Another example of the invention might embody wire screens of progressive mesh size and small particles to be separated thereby. Edge slots or recesses may [be provided in the partitions for passage of the separable members, when desired. The invention also might embody a central general storage chamber with specially shaped openings in the partitions defining such chamber and correspondingly specially shaped members in the central :chamber for movement therefrom when the toy is properly positioned.

The transparent toy of the invention with sev- 3 eral groups of colored objects therein, which objects can be rapidly stratified, or grouped, by the child in playing with the toy will be of continual interest to the child and provide it with many hours of amusement.

It will be observed that a sturdy, attractive, interesting toy is provided and that the objects of the invention are realized.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, one embodiment of the invention has been specifi-. cally illustrated and described, it should be clearly understood that the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, or thereby, but is defined in the, appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A separation toy, comprising in combination, a large hollow transparent closed ball, a first. partition mounted in the large ball and having a plurality of large openings therethrough, a second partition mounted in the large ball parallel tothe first partition and having a plurality of small openings, therethrough, the, said second partition being spaced from t hefirst partition and forming therewith. three compartments in the large ball, a first set of small balls within the, large ballfand of alsiz'e capable of passing through the open'ings'of thegfirstand second partitions, asecond'set of small balls within the large ball and of a size capablenof passing through the, openings 'of the first partition but not of the sece ond partition, and a third set, of small balls within thelarge ball'and of a size inca-pable of passing through the 'openingsgot either the first or second partitions, the three sets of small balls having difierent colors and capable of being mixed to-, gether when thesecond partition is positioned over the first partitionandcapable of being separated into the three compartments when the first partition is positioned over the second, partition.

2. Aseparatignt'oy, comprisingin combination,

ahe w, ltfanep i ntfelee el qnta ne a first e ttition mounted in the container and having a plurality of large openings therethrough, a second partition mounted in the container parallel to the first partition and having a plurality of small openings therethrough, the said second partition being spaced from the first partition and forming therewith three compartments in the container, a first set of objects within the con tainer and of a size capable of passing through the openings of the first and second partitions, a second set of objects within the container and of a size capable of passing through the openings of the first partition but not of the second partition, and a third set of objects within the container and of a size incapable of passing through the openings of either the first or second partitions, the three sets of objects having distinctive apparent characteristics and capable of being mi;;ed together when the container is held in an upright position and capable of being separated when the container is held in, an inverted position.

IRVING, RIBBE.

REFERENCES CITED 'Ifhe following reterences are of record in the iilet this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name, Date 780,270; Farrell Jan. 17, 1905 1,143,914 McGaifick Aug. 3, 1915 1,174,657 Bell Mar. 7, 1916 1,337,758, DeCosta, Apr. 20, 1920 1,449,755 Hyde V May 27, 1923. 1,509,371 Nal1e Sept. 23, 1924 1,817,613 Brown,-.--, Sept. 13, 1932 1,921,692 Morgan-1g", Aug. 8, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Washington Herald; April 4', 19,41.