US2814493A

US2814493A - Tile turning device

Info

Publication number: US2814493A
Application number: US524493A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keim Melville
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-07-26
Filing date: 1955-07-26
Publication date: 1957-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-11-26

Description

'Nov. 26, 1957 M, KEIM 2,814,493

TILE TURNING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1955 INVENTOR. .MELVIL LE KEIM United States Patent TILE TURNING DEVICE Melville Keim, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 26, 1955, Serial No. 524,493 3 Claims. (or. 273148) This invention relates to an amusement device or game and it relates more particularly to an element used in a game or the like for reversing the positions of tiles or discs employed in playing the game or the amusement device.

It is an object of this invention to produce a game of the type described which makes use of tiles or disc members and an element for use in reversing the position of said tiles or disc members and it is a related object to produce a new and improved device for use in turning over disc members, tiles and the like in playing the game or in operation of the amusement device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of the device embodying features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the device in normal position at rest on a surface;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view similar to that of Figure 2 showing the device in a tilted position, and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device shown in the previous figures.

The device embodying features of this invention comprises a member formed of a rigid material such as of metal, wood or the like, but preferably molded of plastic material into a unitary structure having a pair of vertically disposed side walls and 12 laterally spaced one from the other and joined one to the other along their rearward edge portion by a vertically disposed back wall 14 extending crosswise between the

side walls

10 and 12.

Extending rearwardly from an intermediate portion of the back wall 14 is a handle portion 16 in the form of a vertically disposed elongate arm molded of plastic material to extend rearwardly integrally from an upper portion of the back wall. Instead of molding the handle portion 16 to extend rearwardly integrally from the back wall, the handle portion may comprise a separate element such as a rod, shaft or the like member attached, as by molding, soldering, nailing, adhering, or by other means for fastening the handle to the rear wall.

Extending forwardly from the back wall between the

side walls

10 and 12 and spaced downwardly a short distance from the upper edges thereof is a horizontally disposed shelf 18. In the preferred illustrated embodiment, the shelf is shown as being molded to extend integrally from the back and side walls. Instead it may be in the form of a separate element inserted or fixed in the desired position between the side walls to extend forwardly from the back wall. The shelf 18 is dimensioned to extend forwardly from the back wall for a distance preferably as great as the lengthwise dimension of the disc members or tiles 20 adapted to be placed in position of rest on the upper surface thereof but the shelf terminates short of a front wall 22 by an amount greater than one-half of the lengthwise dimension of the disc members or tiles but less than the length thereof. Thus there is provided a spaced relation between the forward edge of the shelf 18 and the front wall 22 which is greater than one-half but less than the lengthwise dimension of the disc members or tiles with which the unit is adapted to be used.

The front wall 22 which is spaced forwardly from the forward edge of the shelf 18 extends vertically substantially continuously between the forward end portions of the

side walls

10 and 12. The front wall is inclined slightly rearwardly from the upper edge to the bottom with the bottom edge portion 24 extending downwardly below the shelf 18 being turned rearwardly at a slightly sharper angle to provide a curvilinear lip 26 which terminates short of the lower edges of the side and

back wall portions

10, 12 and 14.

While not necessary in the construction and operation, the shelf may be formed with a skirt 28 depending vertically continuously from the forward edge portion of the shelf 18 for a distance less than the front wall portion 24. When present, the skirt may be formed also with a forwardly extending lip portion 30 terminating short of the front wall to provide a spaced relation therebetween which is more than one-half but less than the length of the disc members or tiles.

In operation, the tiles or discs 20 are placed face up or face down, as the case may be, on the shelf 18 while the unit rests squarely on the top of the game board or table. As the device is rocked upwardly, as illustrated in Figure 3, using the lower rounded portions 32 at the forward edges of the side walls as the pivot, the weight of the tiles causes the tiles to slide forwardly over the shelf 18. If the length of the tile overhanging the shelf exceeds its center of gravity, usually at its center, but the leading edges of the tiles come into full engagement with the front wall portion 22, the overhanging portions of the tiles cause the tiles to rock downwardly about the forward edge of the shelf as the pivot. As the tile continues to shift forwardly, it is flipped over onto its opposite side as it continues its pass downwardly through the space between the shelf and the front wall 22. If the device is displaced forwardly over the surface of the board or table, the flipped tiles, as illustrated in Figure 3, will pass under the shelf and be deposited on the underlying surface of the board or table facing in the direction opposite that on the shelf.

The inturned portion 26 on the lower edge of the front wall 22 assists in the action to displace the leading edge portion of the tile rearwardly upon engagement and thus assists in the action to flip the tile almost while in midair during passage downwardly through the space be tween the shelf and wall. The lip 30 turned inwardly rather sharply from the bottom edge of the skirt provides insurance for the forward displacement of the trailing edge of the tile, in the event that the tile is inadvertently not flipped over in response to the previously existing balance of forces.

In any event, the spaced relation between the shelf and the front wall 22 is dimensioned to be less throughout their lengths than the lengthwise dimension of the tile or disc members so that it will be necessary for the tile to extend downwardly therebetween at a rather sharp angle which is accented by the lip on the skirt and the inclined portion on the front wall. As the leading edge of the tile engages the surface of the board or table during forward displacement of the device, the leading edge of the tiles in engagement with the surface will be caused to be displaced rearwardly relative the device whereby the tiles will be caused to flip over and permit the shelf to pass over the tiles now lying on their reverse side on the table or board.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement, operation and materials, without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A turner device for use with flat blocks comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart, vertically disposed side wall members, a back wall member extending crosswise between the side wall members adjacent the rearward edge portions thereof, a handle extending rearwardly from an intermediate portion of the rear wall, a front wall extending crosswise between the side wall members adjacent the forward edges thereof, and a horizontally disposed shelf extending forwardly from the rear wall between the side walls and spaced downwardly a short distance from the upper edges thereof, said shelf terminating short of the front wall by an amount to provide a spaced relation therebetween dimensioned to be less than the length of the blocks but greater than one-half the lengths thereof.

to form a lip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,522,616 Dann Jan. 13, 1925 2,645,492 Durant July 14, 1953 2,699,336 Keim Jan. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,170 Great Britain 1895