US3181866A - Surface projectile rocket game - Google Patents

Description

May 1965 R. E. CLOCHESY 3,181,866

SURFACE PROJECTILE ROCKET GAME Filed July 22, 1963 re cAuAv'mA United States Patent 3,181,866 SURFACE PROJECTILE ROCKET GAME Ralph E. Clochcsy, 596 E. 9th St., Fond du Lac, Wis. Filed July 22, 1963, Ser. No. 296,851 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-126) This invention relates to games and more particularly to a game of skill incorporating the use of missiles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rocket game which will be novel and will stimulate the imagination of a player by simulating a rocket trip to outer space and onto various planets and will provide recreation for the players, whether children or adults.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rocket game which will have a multi-stage component which will separate at various points upon the game board surface, and thus the final portion of the multistage unit will separate from the other components and.

position itself upon one of a plurality of imprinted balloons indicating planets, moons, etc.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rocket game which will have a launcher which may be pro-aimed by the player before the device is activated.

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

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

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a game comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1 shown partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded view of the launching mechanism shown removed from the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the multi-stage rocket shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded bottom plan View of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing, a rocket game made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a pair of parallel, side walls 12 and a pair of parallel end walls 14 providing a means for retaining the missile components which will hereinafter be described. A base 16 of rectangular configuration is fixedly secured to side walls 12 and end walls 14, and the playing surface 18 of game 10 is provided with an arcuate step 20, 22 and 24 which separate the components when the game is triggered by a player. A plurality of balloons simulating heavenly bodies such as planets 26 are inscribed on the rearward portion of the playing surface 18 and are marked with numercial characters for indicating score. An opening 28 of rectangular configuration through playing surface 18 freely and slidably receives a rectangular extension 30 fixedly secured beneath launcher 32 and extension 30 is provided with a transverse opening 34 which receives a rubber band 36 which provides power for launcher 32. The ends of rubber band 36 receive a fastener 38 which is secured to the bottom of playing surface 18 and a plurality of spaced apart teeth 40 in the bottom of extension 3t] toothingly engage a plurality of teeth 42 in the rectangular block 44 which is fixedly secured to an elongated rectangular bar 46 which provides relief means for launcher 32. A pair of parallel arms 48 pivotably receive bar 46 at one end by means of a pivot pin 50 and the opposite end of bar 46 is provided with a vertical button 52 which is fixedly secured to bar 46 and extends through play- Patented May 4, 1965 provided with a pair of forwardly extending parallel pins 64 which are freely and slidably' received within a pair of spaced apartopenings 66 of a second; stage rocket 68. Rocket 68 is provided with a pair of parallel spaced apart pins 70 which are freely received within a pair of parallel openings 72 of the third stage rocket 74 and a V-shaped opening 76 freely receives a-triangular-shaped capsule 78 which is provided with an opening 88 at its apex for receiving a central pin 82 within the apex 76 of third stage rocket 74, and each of the stages 62, 68, 70 and the capsule. 78 are assembled having a receding step-like form under theundersurface.

In operation, the player grasps the launcher 32 and urges it towards him. The amount of thrust is controlled by the distance the launcher 32 is moved toward the player, and when the launcher 32 is released, the teeth 40 of extension 30 engaging teeth 42 of block 44 secured to bar 46 thus holds launcher 32 stationary until the player pushes downwardly upon the button 52. When the player urges downwardly upon button 52, bar 46 pivots upon pivot pin 50 and thus the teeth 42 of block 44 disengage from the teeth 40 of extension 30 and the head 58 of launcher 32 urges the first stage 62, the second stage 68, the third stage 74 and the capsule 78' forward simultaneously upon release of the launcher 32 by the player whereupon stage 62 is stopped from further forward motion by means of step 24. The forward motion of the launcher is arrested by the coaction of the forward end of the opening 28 with the forwardend of block 30. The inertia upon the remaining components urges stage 68 forward until it is stopped by step 22, and stages 74 continues forwardly until it is stopped by step 20 and thus the capsule 78 continues forward, leaving stage 74.

It will be noted that the rubber band 36 extending through opening 34 of the extension 30 secured beneath launcher 32 provides the entire force for driving all of the stages forwardly, and when the capsule 78 becomes stationary upon one of the inscribed planets 26, the numerical characters inscribed thereupon may be tallied for scores in the game.

While various 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 Letter Patent of the United States is:

1. In a rocket game comprising, in combination, a base of rectangular configuration, a pair of parallel side walls and a pair of parallel end walls carried by said base providing confinement means for a multi-stage missile, a launcher and a playing surface provided with arcuate steps carried by said game board, means on said missile cooperating with said steps of said playing surface for separation of each stage of said missile, a rubber band cooperating with said launcher and fastener means carried by said game providing thrust means for said missile, a pair of serrated blocks carried by said game providing stationary holding means for said launcher and said missile, and means comprising an elongated bar carried by said device for disengagement of said serrated blocks.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said launcher is provided with an arcuately configurated head providing for mating engagement with the rear of the first stage of said missile and said launcher has one of said serrated blocks secured beneath it freely riding in an elongated rectangular opening in the playing surface of said game, the thrust of said launcher being controlled by the distance said launcher is moved toward the player and when said launcher is released by the player, the said serrated block secured to said launcher engaging the other of said serrated blocks which is secured to said bar, thus holding said launcher in position until it is desired to launch said missile.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein a pair of parallel arms secured beneath said playing surface receives oneend of said elongated bar and thus provides fulcrum for said bar and a pivot pin received through said parallel arms and said end of said bar, a button at the other end of said bar for pivoting said bar when said button is urged downwardly by said player.

. 4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said button when urged downwardly by said player releases said serrations of said block on said bar with said serrations on said block beneath said launcher and thus said launcher is urged forwardly simultaneously urging the missile forward, said missile comprising a first stage, a second stage and a third stage, and a forward interlocking capsule, and a spring received around the shank of said button springingly urging said button to its full upward position preparatory for another launching.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein each of said stages of said missile are interconnected by a pair of parallel, spaced apart pins, said pins being received in a pair of parallel spaced apart mating openings in the next stage, and said capsule having a triangular configuration is received within a triangular opening in said third stage, said third stage having a pin for engagement with an opening in the apex of said capsule, thus interlocking said capsule within the first stage of said missile.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said launcher, when activated, is Stopped in its forward motion by means of the forward end of said rectangular opening in said playing surface engaging with the forward end of said one of said blocks secured to said launcher and by means of inertia, said first stage continues forward until the forward edge of said first stage is stopped by an arcuate step in said playing surface of said game, and the second stage carrying the third stage and said capsule is stopped by a second arcurate step and the third stage is Stopped by means of a third arcuate step whereupon the capsule leaves the opening provided for it within said third stage and positions itself upon one of a plurality of inscribed balloons on said playing surface, said balloons indicating heavenly bodies and said heavenly bodies being also inscribed with numercial characters for scoring said game.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,136 11/87 Freeman 273-119 395,881 1/89 Cunningham 4674 FOREIGN PATENTS 699,597 12/40 Germany.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A ROCKET GAME COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE OF RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION, A PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE WALLS AND A PAIR OF PARALLEL END WALLS CARRIED BY SAID BASE PROVIDING CONFINEMENT MEANS FOR A MULTI-STAGE MISSILE, A LAUNCHER AND A PLAYING SURFACE PROVIDED WITH ARCUATE STEPS CARRIED BY SAID GAME BOARD, MEANS ON SAID MISSILE COOPERATING WITH SAID STEPS OF SAID PLAYING SURFACE FOR SEPARATION OF EACH STAGE OF SAID MISSILE, A RUBBER BAND COOPERATING WITH SAID LAUNCHER AND FASTENER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID GAME PROVIDING THRUST MEANS FOR SAID MISSILE, A PAIR OF SERRATED BLOCKS CARRIED BY SAID GAME PROVIDING STATIONARY HOLDING MEANS FOR SAID LAUNCHER AND SAID MISSILE, AND MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BAR CARRIED BY SAID DEVICE FOR DISENGAGMENT OF SAID SERRATED BLOCKS.

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