US3010722A

US3010722A - Game device

Info

Publication number: US3010722A
Application number: US713026A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond R Ostergren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-02-03
Filing date: 1958-02-03
Publication date: 1961-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1961 os-rER E 3,010,722

GAME DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

' INVENTOR: RAYMOND R. OSTERGREN United States Patent Ofilice lifilfifizz Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,722 GAME DEVICE Raymond R. Ostergren, El Cajon, Calif. (1302 W. River Terrace, McHenry, Ill.) Filed Feb. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 713,026 4 Claims. (Cl. 273145) This invention relates to a game or amusement device which is also adapted for educational purposes.

The new game device or apparatus is designed to contain, shake, mix, align, and display a plurality of sets of indicating elements, cubes or dice, referred to hereinafter for convenience as dice. The device operates to perform the foregoing functions independently yet simultmeously with each of the plural sets of dice.

The object of the device is to produce random mixing of the dice sets followed by display of the sets in adjacent files or columns, so that the dice in adjacent files fall in transverse rows for comparison of the dice in each row. A variety of pairing or matching games can be played, based upon any type of indicia on the dice and upon any plural number of sets of dice. When the dice are provided with letters, word games can be played. The degree of matching or mismatching between adjacent members of the several sets of dice may be determined, in playing various matching games. The device provides empirical means for determining probabilities of matching pairs or the like following random mixing of the sets, and thus serves as a useful educational or like device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact device of the character described, which is readily and economically constructed and operated.

An additional object is to provide a versatile game device. The device is adaptable to any number of plural sets of dice. Changeable dice are preferably provided, which are readily provided with any desired indicia or symbols thereon.

Another object is to provide a sturdy and durable yet lightweight construction in a game or educational device as described.

These and other objects, advantages and functions of the invention will be apparent on reference to the specification and to the attached drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in which like reference characters identify like parts in each of the views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the housing for the game device, with a part broken away to show rows of dice therein;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device with the side panel or plate removed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one die, with a part broken away;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2.

T he invention resides in the new combination and arrangement of parts providing the new game device, and in the provision of a new die, especially adapted to cooperate in the device.

The game device includes a combination of a novel housing and a plurality of sets of dice. The housing includes a plurality of adjacent sections, each of which encloses a set containing a plurality of dice. The sections are separated by dividers. Each section includes a display arm or alley communicating with a mixing chamber or zone. The construction preferably provides restricted movement of the 'dice in each section, restricted to sliding movement and turning movement about one axis of each die. Each display alley preferably holds a single file on the dice, and adjacent alleys form rows of dice thereacross. Means are provided for viewing the rows of dice.

A new and improved cubic die is also provided. The die has a medial groove circumscribing it on four sides. A circumscribing band is mounted in the groove, and it bears indicia located on the sides of the die. The remaining two sides or ends of the die are preferably substantially flat.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates the housing for the game device, generally indicated by the numeral 1. The remaining components of the game device constitute a plurality of sets of game dice, one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 3 and generally indicated by the numeral 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the housing 1 has a banjo-shaped profile or outline, and it includes an elongated display arm 3 connected to a vertically enlarged generally cylindrical chamber, bowl, or end 4. In describing and claiming the invention, reference to vertical and horizontal contemplates the position of the device as illustrated in FIG- URE 2, which is the position in which it will be normally used. However, such description is not intended to limit the manner of operation or position of the device, but the directions are only relative.

The housing 1 in the illustrative embodiment is a combination of three horizontally aligned

parallel sections

5a, 5b, and 5c, which are identical. From two to any number of adjacent sections may be joined together, each section housing one set of a plurality of dice 2. Each section is trough-like or hollow and has two principal compartments. The section includes a generally cylindrical mixing chamber or zone 6a, 6b, or 60, communicating and aligned with a display arm, duct or alley 7a, 7b, or 7c having a rectangular cross section of constant dimensions for the length of the alley. The widths or transverse dimensions of the mixing chambers and of the alleys are the same.

Each section 5a, b, and c is a single piece, preferably constructed of molded or cast plastic or synthetic resin. The sections are joined together by conventional means for joining them, and with plastic construction, may be joined with adhesives and the like. To assist in joining the sections and aligning them, a number of integral plastic projections or pegs 8 are provided at locations distributed around the free edges of the section, and they are received in corresponding recesses or seats 9 in the adjacent sections, to interlock the sections. Referring to FIGURE 5, the adjacent sections are provided with interengaging shoulders and recessed edges for nesting the sections and interlocking them. Thus, a shoulder 10 is provided slightly inwardly from the periphery of the side 11 of each section, at its free extremity. At the opposite extremity of each side is a recessed corner 12 which seats on the shoulder 10 of the adjacent section.

The mixing chamber 6a, b, and c of each of the sections 5a, b, and c includes a centrally located integral deflector, numbered respectively 13a, 13b, and 13c. The deflector serves to thoroughly randomly mix the set of dice in each section, in the mixing chamber or zone, and also to somewhat slow the return of the dice to the funnel-like mouth 14 provided at the communicating end of each alley 7a, b, and c. Within each mixing chamber, small semi-cylindrical bumpers 6 are formed integrally with the side 11 of each section, and are spaced around the side. They serve as deflectors to enhance the mixing action.

Integral closure construction 15 is provided at the opposite, free end or extremity of each individual arm or alley. Strength and rigidity is furnished in each section of the housing by a truss 16, constructed of the floor 17 of each alley, a spaced converging outer base 18 for each alley, and interconnecting reinforcing struts 19.

The last or open section 50 in the housing 1 is closed by a coextensive cover panel or plate 20, which is joined and interlocked in the same manner as the adjacent sections.

The construction of the several sections, deflectors, and the cover panel is preferably of molded or cast plastic. Thus, thermoplastic organic synthetic resins may be employed, such as polystyrene and vinyl polymers. Synthetic organic thennosetting resins may also be employed, such as phenol-aldehyde, urea-aldehyde, and like resins. The parts may be constructed of trans parent, translucent, or opaque materials, preferably translucent to opaque, With some light transmission, the device is especially adapted for producing various lighting effects by lighting means included in or adjacent the device, not shown.

Each section is constructed to separately enclose a set of a plurality of dice. The plane end walls 21a, 21b, and 210 of the respective sections 5a, b, and c constitute vertical dividers or partitions separating the sections and defining the respective mixing chambers or zones 6a, b, and c. The dividers extend in the direction of enlargement of the chamber 4 and throughout the chamber and the display arm 3 of the housing 1, so that the sets of dice in the several sections are separated from each other.

Two or more sections 5a, b, etc. and the cover panel 20 are joined together, and a set of dice such as illustrated in FIGURE 3 is supplied to each section. The display arm 3 is then closed and completed by mounting a transparent viewing panel 22 on its upper side. This panel may be constructed of glass or, preferably, transparent plastic such as one of those resins referred to above.

The construction of the housing sections 5a, b, and c and the preferred construction of the dice 2 together comprise means restricting movement of the dice in each section to sliding movement and turning movement about a single axis of each die, which may also be referred to as movement restricted to one plane. Thus, the distance between adjacent dividers 21a, b, and c, and between the cover panel 20 and the succeeding divider 21c, is only slightly greater than the length of the dice, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. This width is the same in the alleys 7a, b, and c and in the mixing chambers 6a, b, and c. The contacting surfaces of the dividers are substantially flat. A pair of opposite preferably substantially square ends 23 of the dice are constructed so that the dice slide or revolve between the dividers without changing position in any other manner, as by turning end over end, the ends 23 always remaining in the same planes. For this purpose, the opposite ends 23 preferably have fiat or substantially flat surfaces. The dice slide on these surfaces and turn or revolve exclusively about the axis passing through the center of each end 23, when in the mixing chambers 6a, b, and c. The dice may remains in the alley. Each mixing chamber or zone 6a, b, and c restricts movement of each die to sliding movement on the surfaces of the opposite ends 23, or on the sides 24 of the dice around the inner surface of the chamber side 11, and to turning or revolving movement about the axis joining the centers of these ends. The dice turn like barrels in the mixing chambers, so that any one of the four sides 24 may be uppermost when a die enters the mouth 14 of an alley and proceeds down the alley. V

Dice having the construction described and illustrated are referred to as cubic; however, they need not be true cubes in order to provide the device functioning according to the invention. Thus, the sides 24 need not be square but may be oblong as illustrated. The

sides

23 and 24 preferably present flat surfaces for contacting the housing 1, but they may be slightly convex or concave while still accomplishing the objects of the invention. At times it may be advantageous to provide such variations for reducing friction, easier entry to the mouth 14 of the alley, and other purposes.

The dice 2 may be hollow or solid, and they are prefer ably constructed of a plastic such as described above, Lighting elfects such as also described above may be achieved by construction of transparent to translucent material.

move in the same manner in the alleys 7a, b, and 0, but

it is preferred that the depth of the alleys in relation to the thickness of the dice be limited as shown to prevent the dice from changing position by turning about the aforementioned axis.

The remaining four sides 24 of provided with flat surfaces or surfaces of such a nature as to cause the dice to rest on one side 24 on the floor 17 of the alley, without changing their position.

In this manner, each of the alleys or arms 7a, b, and c of display arm 3 restricts movement of the dice to sliding movement on one of the sides 24 of the dice in the preferred construction, or on the ends 23 of the dice depending on the position of the housingl. The dice do not turn or revolve in the alley a sufficient amount to change position. Once a die 2 enters an alley with one side 24 uppermost, this side remains uppermost and visible through the viewing panel 22 so long as the die the dice 2 are likewise In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a novel die is provided having a medial groove 25 between the opposite ends 23, which circumscribes the die on the remaining four sides. In this groove is mounted a removable circumscribing band or strip '26, which likewise may be of either light-transmitting or opaque material. The band may be constructed of plastic, fabric, or other flexible material, so that it is easily applied and removed.

The circumscribing band 26 is imprinted or otherwise provided in each portion corresponding to one of the sides 24 of the die, with any desired indicia, such as letters of the alphabet, as illustrated, numerals, pictorial matter, and any of various other indici-a serving for the play of a game or for educational purposes. Each side may bear a different symbol, or some or all of the symb-ols on one die may be the same. It is also contemplated that on occasion one side may be left blank, and the band 26 need not be provided onfsuch a side. The bands may be changed or replaced by bands bearing different indicia corresponding to diflerent games or different desired results.

The medial groove 25 is bordered at each opposite end 23 of the die 2 by a flange 27 which preferably has flat surfaces on each side of the die. The dice slide on these surfaces on the alleys and contact with other dice at the surfaces, so that the indicating band is protected and friction is reduced. The edges at the junctures of the sides 24 of the dice are preferably rounded to assist in moving the dice in the device and in discharging them from the mixing chamber to the alley.

The game device is especially adapted for mixing and comparing sets each containing a substantial number of dice, e.g., ten to twenty or more per set. Such a number of dice is contained in each alley 7a, b, and c, and the same or a greater number is accommodated in the mixing chambers 6a, b, and c.

In operation of the device, the display arm 3 is elevated so that the dice fall from the alleys 7a, b, and c into the respective chambers 6a, b, and c. The arm may be rocked back and forth to cause the chamber or bowl 4 to rotate. The dice sets are broken up by the deflectors 13a, b, and c and are mixed thereby and by collisions with the sides 11 of the chambers, with the bumpers 6' and with each other. The dice are thus thoroughly mixed and the sides 24 are caused to rotate a number of times about the longitudinal axis through the centers of the ends 23. After this shaking and mixing, the bowl 4 is elevated to discharge the dice from the several mixing chambers into the respective alleys, by way of each alley mouth 14. The dice slide down the respective alleys until all of the dice are in the alleys or the alleys are full.

The dice form in a single file in each alley, as illustrated at 28 in FIGURE 2. The first or outermost die abuts on the end closure 15, and the file extends back to the last die. When the device is rested on a table or other support in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, on its base 18, there results a slight downward inclination of the alleys 7a, b, and c from the mixing chambers, which suflices to maintain them in their abutting positions in the file. As illustrated in FIGURES l and 4, the dice rest in the same positions in the several alleys, so that transverse rows 29 of dice are formed from the end 15 as far back as the dice extend. The number of dice in each row corresponds to the number of sections a, b etc. provided in the housing 1.

The complete rows 29 of dice are viewed through the transparent panel 22, so that the upper surfaces of the several adjacent dice may be viewed together. Employing letters of the alphabet as illustrated, word games may be played, such as determining the number of words formed in such a fashion or attempting to form particular words. The patterns of the dice in the various rows may be determined, e.g., the number of like symbols or indicia occurring in each row, their positions in the row, the number of matchings obtained in the number of rows corresponding to the extent of the files 28 of dice, and other similar results. The probabilities of various pairings may be determined and illustrated.

The invention thus provides a novel, entertaining and educational combination which is simply and easily oper ated manually. The device is especially versatile and permits of playing numerous games or serving a variety of purposes. The construction is compact, lightweight, and will accommodate various lighting efiects. The apparatus is constructed to simultaneously contain, shake, mix, align, and display a plurality of sets of indicating elements, which are displayed together in adjacent files forming a plurality of rows of elements for rapid and accurate examination and comparison. An important feature of the invention is that the movement of the dice in each section is restricted to sliding movement and turning movement about one axis. The mixing and display operation takes place smoothly and reliably, and the dice are prevented from sticking or being wedged in improper positions while functioning as desired to display the desired sides after being thoroughly mixed and rotated. The construction is sturdy and durable yet attractive.

It will be understood that variations in the construction of the housing 1 and the dice 2 may be made while still accomplishing the objects of the invention. For example, the dice may take other shapes and sizes, the number of sections may be changed as desired, the relative arrangement of the display arm 3 and the chamber 4 may be varied, as may be their constructions. Other deflectors may be provided in the mixing chambers and a plurality may be used. Deflecting pins or the like may be inserted in the chambers to provide deflecting and guiding functions.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A game device comprising, in combination, a housing and a plurality of sets of dice, said housing including a plurality of side-by-side, enclosed, and hollow sections each containing one of said sets of dice, each of said sections comprising a hollow display arm and an enlarged, hollow mixing chamber communicating with said display arm, said mixing chambers each having a pair of parallel side walls and an end wall connecting said side walls to form said hollow chamber, each of said arms having a longitudinally extending passage for said dice in its respective section, which passage is of a width and depth slightly larger than the corresponding dimensions of said dice whereby the movement of said dice in said passage is restricted to a nonrotating, sliding movement, each of said enlarged mixing chambers having its side walls spaced slightly greater than the width of the dice in the respective section whereby the mixing movement of said dice in said chamber is restricted to sliding movement in said chamber and rotation of each die in a single place, a dice-deflecting member extending across the center of each of said mixing chambers, the outermost edges of said deflecting member being spaced from said end wall of its respective mixing chamber a distance greater than the largest dimension of said dice whereby the dice can fall through said mixing chamber past said deflecting member when the chamber is inverted and whereby the falling dice which strike said member may be tumbled thereby, and means for viewing a column of said dice in each of said display arms.

2. A game device comprising in combination a housing and a plurality of sets of dice, said housing including a plurality of side-by-side, enclosed, and hollow sections each containing one of said sets of dice, each of said sections comprising a hollow display arm and an enlarged, hollow mixing chamber communicating with said display arm, said mixing chambers each having a pair of parallel side walls and an end wall connecting said side walls toform said hollow chamber, each of said arms having a longitudinally extending passage for said dice in its respective section, which passage is of a Width and depth slightly larger than the corresponding dimensions of said dice whereby the movement of said dice in said passage is restricted to a nonrotating, sliding movement, each of said enlarged mixing chambers having its side walls spaced spaced slightly greater than the width of the dice in the respective section whereby the mixing movement of said dice in said chamber is restricted to sliding movement in said chamber and rotation of each die in a single plane, a dice-deflecting member extending across the center of each of said mixing chambers with dice-deflecting surfaces, the deflecting surfaces of said dice-deflecting member being a plurality of outwardly-extending pairs of surfaces extending across each mixing chamber and converging in a direction outwardly from the center of the mixing chamber to a substantially pointed edge, the substantially pointed edges of said deflecting member being spaced from said end wall of its respective mixing chamber a distance greater than the largest dimension of said dice whereby the dice can fall through said mixing chamber past said deflecting member when the chamber is inverted and whereby the falling dice which strike said member may be tumbled thereby, and means for viewing a column of said dice in each of said display arms.

3. A game device comprising in combination a housing and a plurality of sets of dice, said housing comprising a plurality of side-by-side, joined sections, each section having a substantially disc-shaped wall and an elongated, integral wall coplanar with said substantially disc-shaped wall and projecting outwardly from said disc-shaped wall and an end wall integral with said substantially disc-shaped wall and said elongated wall and forming a peripheral wall extending about the edges of said substantially disc-shaped wall and said elongated wall at substantially right angles to said two last-mentioned walls, the free edge of said end wall abutting against the disc-shaped Wall and the elongated wall of the next adjacent section, interengaging shoulders and recessed edges on the abutting portions of said two last-mentioned walls and said free edge of said end wall, outwardly projecting pegs spaced along said free edge of said end wall, said pegs being seated in corresponding recesses in the substantially disc-shaped wall and elongated wall of the next adjacent section, a cover plate having a disc-shaped wall and an elongated, integral wall coplanar with said substantially disc-shaped Wall, said cover plate being attached to the free edge of the outermost section to enclose said section, said cover plate -having a plurality of recesses in which are seated the outwardly projecting pegs on the free edge of said outermost section, said joined sections and said cover plate forming a plurality of side-by-side hollow, cylindrical mixing chambers and hollow projecting display arms, a plurality of said display arms having a longitudinally extending passage for said dice in its respective section, a plurality of said mixing chambers communicating respectively with one of said passages, one of said sets of dice in each of a plurality of said sections, said end walls of each section being ofa height which is slightly greater than the width of the dice in the respective section, means for viewing the dice in each of said plurality of display arms, and fixed bumper means in said mixing chambers for deflecting and tumbling dice moving therein when said game device is shaken or inverted. I

4. The game device of claim 3 wherein the outermost end wall along one side of each of said elongated walls is a straight wall which is tangential with respect to the end wall of said disc-shaped'wall of its respective section whereby said joined outermost end walls form a fiat, lower surface. I v I References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,577 De Grain July 24, 1888 1,986,710 Brown Jan. 1, 1935 2,132,050 Serdynski Oct. 4, 1938 2,178,193 Wade Oct. 31, 1939 2,739,815 Fay Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 164,192 Austria Oct. 10, 1949 I 634,076 Germany Aug. 15, 1936 UNITED :STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,010322v November, 2 1961 Raymond R. Ostergren It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column '4 line 5O for Ton-'7; read in column 6 line 6, for "place" read plane line 30,, strike out "spaced'h Signed and sealed this 15th day of May 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDEB DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents