US2915190A

US2915190A - Game device

Info

Publication number: US2915190A
Application number: US557160A
Authority: US
Inventors: Austin F Stirratt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-01-03
Filing date: 1956-01-03
Publication date: 1959-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-01

Description

A. F. STIRRATT Dec. 1, 1959 GAME DEVICE Filed Jan. 3, 1956 m. N w 0 INVENTOR.

firmn'rzy States Patent This invention relates to a game device, and more particularly to a simple, inexpensive manufacture for re taining and securing a ball and jacks.

The ancient game of jacks, or jackstones, as played children teaches a number of concepts such as finger dexterity, addition or counting, and eye-hand coordination, while at the same time presenting an entertaining challenge to the players. The game requires a plurality of jacks varying in number from six to or 12, and a .rubber ball roughly the size of a golf ball. Although my invention is not directly concerned with the manner .of playing the game, it is played by scattering the jacks on any flat surface and recapturing one or more jacks after the ball has been bounced once, but before it bounces a second time.

One of the difiiculties which has been encountered in the past is the absence of a suitable storage place for the jacks and ball after the child or children have completed their play. It is most usual to provide a pouch :for storage of these laythings. However, this storage means suffers from the disadvantage that for the child, the pouch soon becomes a purse for holding various incidental possessions whereby the jacks and ball ultimately lose their storage place and become misplaced.

It is therefore one of the objects of my invention to provide a device which is capable of securely holding a ball and a number of jacks, but which is unsuitable for -the storage of other game parts or incidental objects.

4 It is another object of my invention to provide a device for carrying a ball and jacks which will encourage children to return the ball and jacks to the carrier and so assist in teaching them possessory concepts.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device for carrying and retaining a ball and jacks which will aid in teaching eye-hand coordination, finger dexterity and number concepts.

Additional objects will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of my carrier shown partly in section;

Figure 2 is a perspective view;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing for the general arrangement of the invention, it will be seen to include a substantially rectangular frame member 11 fabricated from a rigid sheet material in which two longitudinally spaced vertical slots 12 are formed. A horizontally disposed circular seat 13 is positioned between slots 12, which seat is preferably formed as an integral part of frame member 11. An elongate cover 14 is hinged to the upper portion of frame member 11 and prevents displacement of a ball from seat 13 when the cover 14 is situated in the position shown in Figure 1. It will be apparent that the invention can be fabricated from a wide variety of ma- R 2,915,190 Patented Dec. .1, 1959 terials, but from the standpoint of convenience and appearance of the finished product, I prefer to use one of the numerous commercially available synthetic plastics for this purpose. Furthermore, by utilizing such plastic materials, the frame member and cover can be molded as integral units.

Frame member 11 has a centrally disposedU-shaped opening formed therein that extends downwardly from the upper edge of the member. The U-shaped opening is defined by two longitudinally separated vertical flanges 16, the upper portions of which are straight, and the lower portions 17 of which flanges curve inwardly to terminate on the upper circumferential edge of a frusto-conical shell 18 that defines the seat 13. In Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the U-shaped opening divides frame member 11 into two sections 15.

The vertically disposed end edges of frame sections 15 are provided with transverse flanges 19 extendingoutwardly therefrom. The lower edge portions of flanges 19 are connected by an elongate flange 20 that is transversely positioned relative to frame member 11 and affixed thereto.

Flanges

19 and 20 are preferably formed as integral parts of frame member 11. The inwardly disposed faces of flanges 16 are so relatively spaced that a resilient ball 21 used in playing the game can be inserted within the confines thereof. The inwardly disposed faces of flange portions 17 conform to the radius of curvature of ball 21 to permit it to rest on seat 13.

Slots 12 are of such length that a number of jacks 23 (Figure 1) can be removably stacked in nested relationship within the confines thereof, with the jacks extending upwardly in the slots until the necks 25 of the uppermost jacks are in substantially horizontal alignment with the upper edge 22 of frame member 11.

Inadvertent displacement of jacks 23 from slots 12 is prevented by the cover 14, one end of which is connected to a hinge 26 that projects from the upper outer face portion of one of the flanges'19. The other of the two flanges 19 has a shoulder 27 formed on the upper outwardly disposed portion thereof, which shoulder is adapted to frictionally engage a latch 28 forming an integral part of cover 14.

Cover 14 consists of a first flat, rigid member 29 substantially the length of frame member 11. The free end of this cover terminates in a second downwardly extending member 30 in which a latch 28 is formed as an integral part thereof. Latch 28 is sufliciently resilient'to deform slightly in order to engage or disengage shoulder 27. A third rigid member 30a extends downwardly from first member 29 and is disposed adjacent to hinge 26. First rigid member 29 has an extension 31 depending from the lower face thereof and extending between the inwardly disposed faces of members 30 and 30a. Extension 31 is provided with an arcuate concave lower edge section 32 that is of substantially the same radius of curvature as ball 23. Edge section 32 is so located on extension 31 as to permit the edge section to engage the upper portion of the ball when the cover 14 is in the closed position shown in Figure 1. In this manner the ball 21 is removably held within the confines of the invention due to the cooperative action of the seat 13 and cover 14.

Lateral movement of cover 14 relative to frame member 11 is prevented by extensions 33 provided on flanges 16. Extensions 33 are of substantially one-half the width of flanges 16 and extend upwardly above frame 11 on opposite sides of the member. Vertically disposed recesses 33a are formed in cover extension 31 that are slidably engaged by flange extensions 33 when the cover 14 is in the closed position. Thus it will be seen that not only is lateral movement between cover 14 and frame 3 member 11 prevented,"but also it is impossible for the coverto become so stressed as to bind when the cover is pivoted to an open position for the removal from or insertion of jacks 23 and ball 21 within the confines of the invention. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, hinge '26 is formedwith alaterallyextending bore through which a key chain 35 of conventional design can be inserted for convenience in carrying the invention.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an inexpensive, novel carrier for jacks and'ball used inconjunction therewith, for this combina- *tion not only teaches -'the child to count and develops physical coordination, but also encourages a habit of tidiness in the storage of his possessions.

Although the inventionherein shown and described is fully capable of providing the advantages and achieving the objects as outlined, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrat iveof the-presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction, other'than as defined in the appended claims.

'Iclaim:

1. A game devicefor use in storing a plurality of jacks mid a-playing ball, including: a fiat,-rigid frame member having at least one elongate slot formed therein into which a pluralityo'f jacks can be disposed in nested relationship so as to project outwardly therefrom on each side thereof, which member is formed with an opening in which said :ball can 'be inserted so as to project outwardly therefrom on each-side thereof; a seat on which said ballrests when positioned within the confines of said opening; cover means movably connected to said member, which means when in a first position permits said jacks and ball to'be inserted into or removed from said slot and opening, and when in a second position prevents the removal of said jacks and ball from said slot and opening; and lock means for removably holding said cover in said second position.

2. Agame device as defined *inclaim 1 in which said cover is pivotally connected to said frame member.

3. A game device as defined in claim 2 in which said seat .is defined by a frusto-conical shell bearing a fixed relationship to said frame member and located in the lower portion of said opening.

4. A game device as defined in claim 3 in which said seat and frame member are formed as an integral unit.

5. A game device .as defined in claim 4 in which said frame-member has transversely disposed flanges formed on thebottom :and end edges thereof.

6. A game device as defined in claim 5 that is provided witha hinge rigidly mounted on the first of said flanges disposed on the ends of said rigid frame member, which hinge is connected to a first end portion of said cover to permit pivotal movement thereof.

7. A game device as defined in claim 6 in which said lock means is a latch afiixed to a second end portion of said cover and a shoulder disposed on the upper end portion of said second of said flanges mounted on the ends of said frame member, which latch is adapted to removably engage said shoulder to hold said cover in said second position.

8. A game device as defined inclaim 7 in which said frame member includes flanges disposed on opposite sides of said opening that extend above the upper edge of said frame member 'andare disposed adjacent opposite sides of said cover when in said second position, which flanges prevent appreciable lateral movement of said cover relative to said frame member when said cover is in said second position.

9. A game device as defined in claim "8 in-which said cover means is an elongate rigid member.

10. A game device as defined in claim '9in which'sa id elongate cover member-is formed with .a concavelower edge that engages the -uppersurface of said ball-when it is disposed on said seat and said cover member-is in said second position.

11. A game device for use in storing a plurality or jacks and a playing ball, said device comprising: a Ifiat, rigid frame member having at least one elongate slot formed therein in which a plurality of jacks can be disposed in nested relationship such that each jack projects outwardly from said member on each side thereofi said member being formed with an opening into which-said ball can be inserted so as to project outwardly from said member on each side thereof; aseat :attached to -'-said member at the bottomof said opening andradaptedito receive :said ball; and cover means :adapted to :be removably attached to:said member for closing off'iboth said :slot :and said opening so as :to retain said .ball and jacks therein.

References Cited inthe. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 756,093 Beeton et a1 Mar. :29, 1904 1,161,096 Whitney Nov.123, 1915 2,097,939 Timm Nov. 2, 19,217 2,119,217 Rocchi May 31, 219-38 2,221,704 Farley Nov. 12, 1940 2,349,803 Root, May .30, :1944

FOREIGN PATENTS 620,380 Great Britain Mar. 23,, 1949