US3223417A

US3223417A - Racing game

Info

Publication number: US3223417A
Application number: US218872A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicholas P Riso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-23
Filing date: 1962-08-23
Publication date: 1965-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-14

Description

Dec. 14, 1965 N. P. RISO 3,223,417

RACING GAME Filed Aug. 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR. Q CHOL A5 PA /50 IMQ Q A TTORNEYS N. P. RISO 3,223,417

RACING GAME Dec. 14, 1965 2 SheetS -Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1962 United States Patent Office 3,223,417 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,223,417 RACING GAME Nicholas P. Riso, 398 Huntington Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. Filed Aug. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 218,872

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-86) This invention relates to a game or amusement device and more particularly to a race simulating game wherein participants cause objects such as racing cars or race horses to travel about a race course.

The present invention comprises generally a game board or surface which includes a race course which may be of any desired configuration but is illustrated in the present instance as an oval. Racing figures such as horses or automobiles are guided for movement along the race course and magnetic means under control of the participants of the game and generally concealed beneath the game board are provided for propelling the racing figures along the course.

The magnetic relationship between the racing figures at the top surface of the game board and the propulsion means beneath the board dispenses entirely with any necessity for mechanical connection between the racing figures and the propulsion means. Further, an important aspect of the invention resides in the fact that hydraulic conduit means are provided for guiding the propulsion element beneath the game board in the desired path, coincident with the guide means at the top of the board which determines the paths of the racing figures and the configuration of the race course.

In a preferred form of the invention the hydraulic pressure generator for activating the magnetic propulsion element beneath the board is manually operated and individual manual hydraulic operators are provided, one for each racing figure. In this form of the invention separate racing lanes are provided for the several racing figures and the speed of each figure along the race course is determined by the speed and dexterity of manual operation provided by the participant who is controlling the particular figure, as will appear more fully later herein.

The apparent lack of physical or mechanical connection between the racing figures and the game surface proper, excepting for the guide formations, adds to the interest of the game and its appeal to participants and spectators. Furthermore, the entire absence of mechanical connections or mechanisms other than the fluid pressure generating means themselves provides a game apparatus which is relatively foolproof and not subject to mechanical failure.

A single embodiment of the teachings of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and is described in the following specification. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the form thus shown which is set forth merely to illustrate the underlying principles of the invention.

Various modifications and rearrangements may be made without departing from the principles of the invention, the scope of which is limited only as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a general pres-pective view of one form of the racing game of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken approximately on the line IIIIII of FIG. 2.

Like characters of reference denote like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings and the numeral designates a panel which comprises the game surface proper and forms the general supporting component and play surface of the apparatus. The panel 10 may be supported in any desired manner and in the present instance forms the top member of a shallow box structure 11 which houses portions of the apparatus disposed beneath the panel 10. If desired the panel 10 may be hinged to the box structure 11 to give convenient access to the apparatus located beneath the panel.

In the present example two racing lanes are shown but it is to be understood that any desired number of lanes may be provided and for certain amusement purposes only a single course may be employed. In FIG. 1 the numerals 12 and 13 designate raised guide formations extending along the upper surface of panel 10 generally parallel to each other and in the present instance, although not necessarily, in oval configuration.

In the form shown herein the panel 10 may be of plastic or pressed fibreboard whereby the formations 12 and 13, and clearly shown in FIG. 3, form channels designated 15 and 16, respectively, at the underside of the panel.

Tubular conduits

18 and 19 are disposed within the channels 15 and 16 which are thus formed and the latter thereby serve several purposes. First, disposing the conduits in the channels assures that the conduits are precisely coincident and in alignment with the formations 12 and 13; second, the channels give secure lateral support to the conduits and facilitate securing them to the underside of panel 10; and third, as will appear later herein, location of the tubular conduits in the channels locates the conduits in intimate juxtaposition with respect to the formations 12 and 13 to provide efficient magnetic attraction between the racing figures and the means provided for impelling them along the guide formations. The

conduits

18 and 19 may be cemented into the channel formations or may be secured therein in any other desired manner.

A piston 20 is disposed in each of the

conduits

18 and 19 and the pistons are preferably rounded or tapered along their peripheries into a slight barrel shape to facilitate traversing the curved portions of the

conduits

18 and 19. The pistons 20 are of iron or other magnetic material for relative attraction to magnet elements carried by the racing figures. In FIG. 1 the numeral 22 designates racing figures in the form of miniature automobiles which are formed to straddle the guide formations 12 and 13. As shown in FIG. 3, each FIGURE 22 includes a magnet unit 23 extending transversely across the figure and the magnet unit may be of eificient horseshoe shape both to serve as the guiding component of the figure in cooperation with the respective guide formation 12 or 13, as the case may be, and to cooperate effectively with the piston 20 in mutual magnetic attraction.

Various means may be provided for impelling the pistons 20 along through the

conduits

18 and 19 by hydraulic or other fluid pressure to thereby carry the racing figures 22 along the guiding formations by reason of the aforesaid magnetic attraction. In the present instance fluid pump units shown in FIG. 2 at 25 and 26 connect with opposite ends of the

conduits

18 and 19.

Various fluid displacement means may be employed but by way of example the present embodiment provides gear-type pumps with

manual cranks

30 and 31, respectively, disposed for convenient access along the panel 10 at the top surface thereof, the pumps proper being preferably disposed beneath the panel as shown. Various types of positive displacement or turbine type devices for creating differential fluid pressure may be employed within the purview of the invention.

Since pumps of the type shown are freely reversible merely by operating the manual crank in one direction or the other, no valves or other controls are required, the interchangeable inlet and outlet ports of the pumps being connected to opposite ends of their respective associated

conduits

18 and 19. Turning a

crank

30 or 31 in one direction moves the hydraulic fluid and the piston 20 in one direction through a

conduit

18 or 19 and vice versa.

The following describes a representative manner in which the game device of the present invention may be used. With the pistons 20 in the positions indicated by the letter A in FIG. 2, the racing figures are placed in corresponding positions so as to directly overlie the pistons 20'. Two participants will then turn the two

cranks

30 and 31 to move the pistons in a clockwise direction about the course, the racing figures being carried along by the aforesaid magnetic. attraction.

Generally speaking, the faster the cranks are turned the faster the racing figures will move. However, the magnetic attraction may be relatively limited in force, either intentionally or otherwise, and if the piston moves too rapidly it may leave the racing figure behind. This can add considerable interest and attractiveness to the game since an over-eager participant may leave his racing figure behind and have to reverse his crank operation to go back and pick up the figure again by return movement of the piston 20.

The race may end when the racing figures and the associated pistons reach the positions marked B in FIG. 2. In any event, in the form shown the pistons will be arrested when they reach the bends in

conduits

18 and 19 where the latter leave the channels 15 and 16. When a race is completed the pistons 20 may be returned idly to the positions marked A before starting another race or, optionally, the next race may be started at the points marked B and proceed in an opposite direction, that is, clockwise.

While simulated racing cars are illustrated herein by way of example, it is to be understood that other figures may be employed such as horses, either running horses or harness horses, dogs, human runners, etc. Furthermore, while the present embodiment illustrates a permanent magnet carried by the racing figure and a piston of iron which comprises an armature for the magnet, this arrangement may be reversed. In fact, the piston may comprise a permanent magnet and the racing figure may not embody a separate magnet or armature member but may itself be formed wholly or in part of iron or other magnetically permeable material.

In an alternative form of the apparatus of the present invention the tubular conduit members may be secured directly to the upper surface of the supporting panel and may thus serve directly as the guiding formations for the racing figures.

I claim:

1. Racing game apparatus comprising a generally horizontal panel, a plurality of generally parallel guide formations defining a plurality of racing lanes of a race course atthe upper surface of said panel, a tubular conduitat the underside of said panel in alignment with each of said guide formations, a piston of magnetic material in each of said conduits, a racing figure adapted to track along each of said guide formations, magnetic means on each of said racing figures for magnetic attraction to the piston of the associated tubular conduit, and manually operable pump means connected to each end of each of said tubular conduits for moving the piston thereof selectively in opposite directions therein and consequently moving the associated racing figure along the aligned guide formation, each racing figure being constrained to its racing lane by its guide formation whereby magnetic connection between said figure and its associated piston may be established or reestablished by movement of said piston in its conduit in a direction toward the figure until registry with said figure occurs.

2. Racing game apparatus comprising a generally horizontal panel, a plurality of generally parallel guide formations defining a plurality of racing lanes of a race course at the upper surface of said panel, said guide formations including tubular conduit means extending in alignment therewith, a piston of magnetic material in each of said conduits, a racing figure adapted to track along each of said guide formations, magnetic means on each of said racing figures for magnetic attraction to the piston of the associated tubular conduit means, and manually operable pump means communicating with each of said tubular conduit means for moving the piston thereof selectively in opposite directions therein and consequently moving the associated racing figure along the aligned guide formation, each racing figure being constrained to its racing lane by its guide formation whereby magnetic connection between said figure and its associated piston may be established or reestablished by movement of said piston in its conduit in a direction toward the figure until registry with said figure occurs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,641 1/1953 Smith 3022 2,637,140 5/1953 Hoff 4624.0 2,778,692 1/1957 Makinson 302'--14 2,786,680 3/1957 Northrop et 'al 27386 2,827,296 3/1958 Walker 46-24O 2,832,177 4/1958 Mueller 46-244 3,120,389 2/1964 Lombard 27386 FOREIGN PATENTS 448,133 6/1936 Great Britain. 881,084 11/1961 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

Claims

1. RACING GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL PANEL, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY PARALLEL GUIDE FORMATIONS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF RACING LANES OF A RACE COURSE AT THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID PANEL, A TUBULAR CONDUIT AT THE UNGERSIDE OF SAID PANEL IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OF SAID GUIDE FORMATIONS, A PISTON OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL IN EACH OF SAID CONDUITS, A RACING FIGURE ADAPTED TO TRACK ALONG EACH OF SAID GUIDE FORMATIONS, MAGNETIC MEANS ON EACH OF SAID RACING FIGURES FOR MAGNETIC ATTRACTION TO THE PISTON OF THE ASSOCIATED TUBULAR CONDUIT, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE PUMP MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH END OF EACH OF SAID TUBULAR CONDUITS FOR MOVING THE PISTON THEREOF SELECTIVELY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS THEREIN AND CONSEQUENTLY MOVING THE ASSOCIATED RACING FIGURE ALONG THE ALIGNED GUIDE FORMATION, EACH RACING FIGURE BEING CONSTRAINED TO ITS RACING LANE BY ITS GUIDE FORMATION WHEREBY MAGNETIC CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID FIGURE AND ITS ASSOCIATED PISTON MAY BE ESTABLISHED OR REESTABLISHED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON IN ITS CONDUIT IN A DIRECTION TOWARD THE FIGURE UNTIL REGISTRY WITH SAID FIGURE OCCURS.