US2639153A - Dice shaking device - Google Patents

Description

R. P. MURRAY DICE SHAKING nEvicE May 19, 1953 Filed Dec. 11, 1950 IN VENTOR zbarduzwz' ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICEv DICE SHAKING DEVICE Richard I. Murray, Joplin, Mo.

Application December 11, 1950, Serial N0..200160` 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-145) The present invention relates to a game device, and more particularly, tc a game device for effecting agitation of game elements, such as dice, adapted to be used in connection with the playing of a game.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a game device rotatable in such a manner that it is certain-that the enclosed game elements will always present only one upturned face to the player so as to eliminate any question as to the nalposition of such elements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game device which holds a plurality of separated game elements in full view of the players at all' times and which, upon operation by a player, will positively agitate the game elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game device which is f the rotary type and which is so constructed that it is virtually impossible for a player to control the tumbling of the separated game elements supported therein.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a game device of the rotary type having a tray-like receptacle associated therewith for the retention of cards or other loose objects.

Other objects and. features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the game device according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the game elements shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral Il) designates generally a preferred form of the assembled game apparatus. End walls I2 and Il are preferably constructed of a transparent plastic material and are of a, generally rectangular shape, the preferred embodiment of the invention having rounded upper portions. As is best illustrated in Figure 1, a generally rectangular base plate I6 having opposed upturned edges I8 and extends between upright end walls I2 and I4 and is attached thereto with the upturned edges I8 and 20 likewise extending between the end walls, the base plate I6 being secured to the end walls I2 and I4 in any suitable and convenient manner.

As a result, end walls I2 and I4 are supported in an upright position, upturned edges I8 and 20 serving to brace the end walls I2 and M and to stabilize the structure. This arrangement of parts results in the formation of a tray-like receptacle designed to hold garce elements such as, for example, playing cards 22.

Positioned in the upper portion of the end walls I2 and I4 are circular openings 24 and 25 respectively. Loosely extending through the openings 24 and 26 are cylindrical journals 28 and38, these journals being freely rotatable with respect to the end walls I2 and Irl. Fitted over the outer ends of the journals 28 and 30 are knurled turning knobs 32 and 3f!- `which are securely attached to the respective journals in any suitable manner.

The numeral 36 designates generally a transparent rectangular hollow casing which is preferably in the form of a right hexahedron and is formed throughout of a clear plastic material. The casing 36 comprises transparent side faces 3|, 33, 35 and 31, transparent end faces 42 and lill, and parallel transparent inner dividing walls 38 and 40. rlhe end walls 42 and 44 are preferably provided with reinforcing bosses 46 and 48 `also preferably formed of a transparent plastic material. The casing 36 is supported between the end walls I2 and I4 by cylindrical journals 28 and 30 which extend through circular openings in end walls 42 and M respectively, and are securely attached to the casing 36 in any suitable manner, as by the use of glue.

As will be more easily seen in Figure 3, the journals 28 and 30 are attached to the casing 38 in an eccentric manner, each journal being positioned farther from the side face 31 than from the side face 33, but being substantially evenly spaced from the side faces 3| and 35. The casing 38 is accordingly out of balance in a rotational sense so that when it is rotated and released it will always come to rest with the face 31 beneath the face 33 With face 31 in a substantially horizontal position.

A typical game element adapted to be used in conjunction with the game device hereinabove described is generally designated by the numeral 66 and is shown in perspective in Figure 4. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a game element will be enclosed within each of the compartments formed within the casing 36 by the dividing Walls 38 and 40. As shown in the drawing of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the game element 66 is in the form of a cube upon the faces of which various numerals, letters, or other indicia are inscribed. It is to be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the particular indicia shown, any

3 indicia being suicient to permit the practice of the invention.

In operation, either of the knobs 32 or 34 is grasped by a player and rotated in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. Since the knobs 32 and 34 are securely attached to the journals 28 and 30, the rotary motion imparted to the knobs by the player will be imparted to the journals 28 and 30, and from the journals to the casing 36. Because the game elements 66 are coniined within the compartments of the rotatable casing 36, the rotation of this casing will thus cause a tumbling or agitation of the game elements 66 and when the casing 36 comes to rest, these game elements will present a chance arrangement of faces to the player. Since the casing 36 is eccentrically mounted, the face 31 will always come to rest in a substantially horizontal plane beneath the face 33, and as a result, only one face of each game element 66 will be clearly presented to the player.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes in modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A game device comprising spaced vertical end members, a substantially horizontal base member attached to said end members, a substantially horizontal casing formed as a hollow polyhedron, having end walls, transparent sides, and spaced parallel transparent partition members dividing said casing into a plurality of separate compartments, a freely movable die enclosed within each of said compartments, and aligned journals extending from said end walls and rotatably supported by said vertical end members, said journals being in eccentric relation to said end walls whereby when said casing is rotated, it will always come to rest with one of its sides substantially horizontal.

2. A game device of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein the casing is formed as a hollow right hexahedron.

3. A game device of the type set forth in claim 2 wherein said base member has upturned edges between said end members, to stabilize said end members and to provide a tray-like receptacle for holding loose articles, and including knobs attached to the end of each of said journals to provide means for manual rotation of said casing.

RICHARD P. MURRAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 379,447 Chamberlain Mar. 13, 1888 933,429 Gitterman Sept. 7, 1909 1,303,787 Fritz May 13, 1919 2,103,009 Klein Dec. 21, 1937 2,178,193 Wade Oct. 31, 1939 2,249,079 Garrett July 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 453,454 Germany Dec. 8, 1927 763,269 Germany Feb. 12, 1934

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