US2846225A - Stock car racing game - Google Patents

Description

2 Aug- 5, A19158 G. T. KEYsER 2,845,225

STOCK CAR RACING GAME f 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1957 l N VEN TOR. KsysE/g GLENN Aug. 5, 1958 G. T.,KEYsER 2,846,225

sTocK CAR RACING GAME Filed Jan. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FTG.5

1N V EN TOR. GL :Mv Eyssk United States Patent O STOCK CAR RACING GAME Glenn T. Keyser, De Pere, Wis. Application January 7, 1957, Serial No. 632,890

Claims. (Cl. 273-86) This invention relates to toys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game including miniature stock cars wherein the cars are caused to move around a track in a novel manner under the direction of the players to provide a game ofskill.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stock car game of the above type which can be played by a number of players to provide many hours of enjoyment.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a stock car game bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and amusing and entertaining in use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is atop plan view of the stock car game embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the swivel which may be employed for this construction;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the swivel of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of one of the stock cars forming a part of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of one of the control sticks forming another part of the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of one of the printed track cards, forming another part of the invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. l0, a plurality of printed rectangular track cards 10 of light pasteboard or other suitable material are provided and have printed thereon the fence markings 11, substantially as illustrated. Each of the cards 10 is provided with a longitudinal fold line 12 so that the cards may be either employed at, as shown in Fig. 10, or in an upstanding manner by folding along the fold line 12. Sufficient of the cards 10 are provided to provide an inner track indicated generally at 13 (Fig. l) and anouter track indicated generally at 14, the inner track 13 having the circular end closures. The outer track 14 follows the contour of the inner track 13 except for one end where it extends out in a straight portion 15 to provide the inlet opening 16.

As shown in Figs. 5 through 8, a plurality of scale model racing stock cars indicated generally at 17 are provided, at least four different designs being used. Each of the cars 17 includes the stamped body 18 of low grade steel for weight, the axles 19 being secured across the bottom of the body and having enlarged ends to prevent their displacement therethrough. Each of the axles 19 near its end is provided with a pair of spaced collars or ilanges 2u intermediate which are rotatably mounted the thick wheels 21 of soft rubber. The toy stock cars .17 are painted in different colors and are each provided w1th the numbers 22 at the sides, front and rear thereof. The bodies 18 are provided with the cutout windows 23 at the front, rear and sides which define the window posts 24.

A length of kite string 25 is secured or tled to the innermost of the front window posts 24 and is connected at its other end to a control stick 26 of wood or plastic.

Preferably the string 25 is connected to the control stick 26 by means of the hollow cylindrical swivel 27 stamped with an internal annular ridge 28 which is received within a corresponding groove 29 provided on the end of the stick, the collar 27 extending outwardly beyond the end of the stick and having an opening withm which is rotatably positioned the light gauge wire 2.9 having an enlargement 30 at the upper end and being formed at its lower end with the loop 31 within which the cord 25 is tied. As an alternate construction, the string 25 may be tied directly to the groove 29 of the control stick. Thus, the eye 31 will rotate about a vertical axis during the movement of the stick, in a manner which will hereinafter become clear.

The position of the `four players is indicated at 32, 33, 34 and 35 (Fig. 1).

The swivel assembly 27 will be formed of sheet steel while the string 25 will consist of about twenty feet of ordinary kite string in the form of a ball of yarn. It may then be cut to provide the individual strings connected to the control sticks.

In operation, the cars 17 enter, one at a time (Fig. 1), at the inlet 16 and travel in a counterclockwise direction by pulling with the sticks 26 and strings 25. As the car passes the inlet 16, another car can enter the race in `proper position, which depends on the position of the players and their sticks.

The ends of the sticks 26 travel in a path similar to the track layout but on a smaller scale and are always slightly in advance of the car relative to their respective positions. Any motion of the stick is copied by the car via transmission through the string as the car proceeds along the track guided by the stick. The length of the string is about the length of a diagonal from the end of the track at a point four feet above said center. This length permits the car to have relatively great motion compared to stick travel. The length of the string will, of course, depend on the height of the player. It must be attached tothe drivers side windshield post 24 for a counter clockwise race.- The procedure followed to avoid string entanglement, i. e. the crossing over in front of each other, does not detract from the game but serves to keep the race tight and gives the players a change to tip over anothers car. s

All the players stand on the outside edge of the track, on either long side, with their sticks bending into the center o'f the layout. The swivel 27, while not absolutely necessary, will prevent string windup and will do away with the necessity of unspinning the cars after a few races.

The cards 10 are used instead of upright fencing because the field can then be overshot when first learning the game, and the track does not become disarranged by the cars running over it. It has another advantage in that the cards are expendible.

The game is easy enough to play with three players but with four, greater skill is required in operating the toys to complete successful track revolutions.

The idea of the game can be enlarged to include boats, airplanes and other conveyances without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

While vario-us changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the` spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

l.- A game of the class described comprising, in combination,l a track layout having an inner track and an outer track, each one Iof said inner and outer tracks comprising a plurality ot rectangular fence simulating cards, said outer track being open at one end to provide an inlet to the area intermediate said inner and outer tracks, a plurality of miniature vehicles adapted to be pulled around the track layout intermediate said inner and outer tracks, means for pulling the vehicles in the aforesaid path, said pulling means including a control stick, a string connected at one upper end to said control stick and at the opposite lower end to the front window post of one of said vehicles, swivel means disposed between the upper end of each of said strings and said associated control stick to prevent the strings of the various Vehicles from becoming entangled with each other, said swivel means comprising a hollow cylindrical collar having an inwardly stamped annular ridge, the end of the control stick having an annular groove receiving said ridge therewithin whereby toV secure the collar to the end of the stick, the end of the collar extending outwardly beyond the end of the stick and having an opening in the bottom thereof, a pin positioned within said opening having an enlarged end to prevent its downward displacement therethrough,

' and said pin at its lower end having an eye for securing the upper end of said string thereto.

2. A game according to claim 1, each of said cards having a longitudinal central fold line to permit the cards to be used in an upright position.

3. A game according t-o claim 2, said vehicles comprising toy stock cars of various designs and colors, each of said stock cars having an identification number.

4. A game according to claim 3, each of said stock cars comprising a hollow stamped body open at the bottom, a pair of transverse axles having opposite ends mounted in the sides of said body, said axles near each end having annular collars and soft rubber wheels rotatably mounted on the ends of said axles intermediate said collars and the sides of said body.

5. A game according to claim 4, each of said bodies having cutout portions defining front, side and rear windows and window supporting posts, the string being secured to the front innermost of said posts for movement in a counterclockwise direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,915,868 Rogers June 27, 1933 2,078,767 Marx Apr. 27, 1937 2,307,905 Ament a Jan. 12, 1943 2,699,011 Sedgwick Ian. 11, 1955

Images