US3224779A

US3224779A - Rotatable ball dispensing chance device

Info

Publication number: US3224779A
Application number: US318600A
Authority: US
Inventors: Geleshko Steve
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-10-24
Filing date: 1963-10-24
Publication date: 1965-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-21

Description

"Dec. 21, 1965 s. GELESHKO 3,224,779

ROTATABLE BALL DISPENSING CHANCE DEVICE Filed Oct. 24, 1963 INVENTOR United States Patent Ofifice Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,779 RCTATABLE BALL DISPENSING CHANCE DEVICE Steve Geleshko, 3710 Laval St., Montreal 18, Quebec, Canada Filed Get. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 318,600 6 Claims. (Cl. 273144) This invention relates to improvements in devices which may be utilized in playing games of chance and the like. It is conventional practice at parties and other social gatherings to provide various types of games and game devices whereby the guests may be amused. It is especially advantageous to provide means whereby a group of people may enjoy the same game. Hitherto, it has been conventional practice to provide game devices which allow only a limited amount of player participation and for this reason such previous devices are not widely popular.

Further disadvantages are encountered with many prior types of game devices especially those in which a pointer or other rotating part is used to single out the various players whereafter the rules of the game apply. In most instances the players, having very little participation and in addition having very little in the way of visual indication of the games progress, soon become bored and lose interest in the game.

Still other types of game devices provide for the distribution of various rules, forfeitures, and the like to the individual players. Disadvantages are often encountered with such methods since in many cases the indications distributed are not reuseable and for this reason the game cannot be continued indefinitely if the guests so decide.

Still other types of devices have been proposed which attempt to overcome the objections and disadvantages by the provision of game devices having a complication of parts and operations. This leads to further disadvantages in the fact that the complication leads to the requirements of skill in manipulating the device and for this reason does not find wide favour amongst party goers.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game device suitable for use with a number of players, whereby each player will be actively engaged in the participation in playing a game according to any particular set of rules.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a game device wherein visual indication of participation is incorporated, thereby further enhancing the interest created therewith.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a game device which may be re-used indefinitely and yet continue to provide enjoyment.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a game device wherein all of the foregoing objects are incorporated while still being simple to operate, without resort to complicated mechanisms or the like.

The invention seeks to achieve these and other objects and features such as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts by the provision of a game device comprising: a skirt member rotatably supported and finding a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top of the skirt member and rotatable therewith, the body member defining a cavity therein, the cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation, the cavity being in communication with the passage through a port in the bottom; a pendulum pivotably supported within the cavity above the port; at least one ball within the cavity; a port cover secured to the lower end of the pendulum; the cover occluding the port upon the pendulum being swung to one side; and a ball socket secured to the lower end of the pendulum adjacent the port cover and adapted to retain one ball therewithin upon the pendulum being swung to one side, and being directly above the port upon the pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby the one ball is dropped through the chute and discharged through the chute and discharged through the passage.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a mid section elevation of a presently preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a mid section elevation of the device as illustrated in FIG. 1 showing one of the balls therewithin being discharged through the discharge passage.

Having reference to FIG. 1, a game device indicated generally as 11 is illustrated and comprises a base 12 having an upright spindle 13 located thereon. Said spindle 13 is adapted to engage and rotatably-support a skirt member 14. A thrust bearing 15 is located between skirt member 14 and base 12 and is adapted to ensure smooth rotation of the skirt member 14. Skirt member 14 also defines a passageway 15 therethrough said passageway being in communication with a discharge passage indi cated at 16. A. body member 17 is secured to the top of skirt member 14, body member 17 in this case being in the shape of a bottle. Body member 17 defines a cavity 18 therewithin, said cavity having a sloping bottom 19 whereby the bottom 19 slopes toward a centre position which is the centre of rotation of skirt member 14. Thus all of the balls 20 located within the cavity 18 tend to roll towards this centre position to be dropped through the passage 15. The pendulum 21 is pivotally supported on pin 22 substantially above the opening indicated as 23 which provides communication from cavity 18 into the passage 15. The pendulum as illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown in the displaced position, the pendulum being held thus by rotation of the body member 17. As an aid in maintaining this off centre or displaced position a weight 24 is located on one side of pendulum 21 and thus ensures total displacement of pendulum 21 to one side during rotation of body member 17.

During such rotation, and upon pendulum 21 being displaced, a port cover 25 substantially occludes the port 23 whereby balls 20 are prevented from rolling therethrough. A ball socket 26 located on the end of pendulum 21 adjacent to port cover 25 is adapted to receive one ball 20 while said pendulum 21 is in the displaced position.

Upon first rotation of body member 17 it will be seen that due to centrifugal force all balls 20 will be displaced outwardly up the sloping surface 19 and upon slowing down of rotation the balls 20 will tend to move towards the centre of rotation. Just prior to the body member 17 stopping rotation one ball 20 will be within the ball socket 26 while port cover 25 will still be occluding the port 23. This is the position as illustrated in FIG. 1 and it will b seen that the lip 27 on ball socket 26 prevents more than one ball 20 from being engaged within the socket 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, the final at rest position is illustrated wherein pendulum 21 is hanging in the at rest position, port cover 25 is displaced to one side, and ball socket 26 is directly over the port 23. In this position a ball 20 is discharged through the port 23 into the passage 15. Also it will be seen that the lip 27 about the socket 26 prevents any other balls 20 from entering the passage 15 and for this reason only one ball at one time is discharged.

Having further reference to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the ball 20 being discharged through the passage 15 drops onto a deflecting surface 28 whereby the ball 20 is defiected oif to one side. Also it will be seen that the body member 17 being the shape of a bottle is provided with a cap 29, the bottle and the cap thereby constituting a pointer. It is preferable to have the bottle pointing in the 3 same direction as the discharge passage 16 whereby upon final stopping of the bottle the ball will be discharged in the direction of the bottle pointing.

In order to utilize this game device several players are assembled in a circle and the device is placed at the centre of this circle. The body member 17, in the shape of a bottle may then be rotated whereby all of the balls 20 are forced up the surface 19 towards the end of the cavity 18. Upon slowing down of rotation the balls 20 will roll to wards the centre of rotation, one ball 20 being engaged within the ball socket 26, the port cover 25 preventing any other balls from entering into the port 23. Upon ceasing of rotation such as illustrated in FIG. 2, the pendulum 21 will swing back to the centre rest position whereby ball 20 will be dropped through the port 23 into the passage 15. Upon the ball dropping to passage 15 it is deflected from surface 28 out through the discharge passage 16 in a direction the same as the direction of the bottle pointing.

Each ball 20 may be provided with a different inscription thereon, the inscription being for instance in the nature of a forfeiture. It is also possible to provide various other indications such as numbers and the like on the ball, the numbers then corresponding to various conditions such as the rules may apply in the particular game being played. tI is also worthwhile to note that various types of games may be played with this device the rules depending upon the nature of the indications on each ball 20.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the instant invention provides a device whereby a number of guests may participate in the playing of a game and further, the device provides visual indication of the participation of each player. In addition, the game may be played indefinitely merely by placing the balls 24 back within the cavity 18. As a means of replacing the balls 20 within the cavity 118 cap 29 may be removable or body member 17 may be removed from the skirt member 14 and the balls returned through the port 23.

It will be further understood that although specific embodiments of this invention have herein been described and illustrated, the invention also contemplates such variations in design as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported and defining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top of said skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining a cavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passage through a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supported within said cavity above said port; at least one ball Within said cavity; a port cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side and a ball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum being swung to said one side, and being directly above said port upon said pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is dropped through said chute and discharged through said passage.

2. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported and defining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top of said skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining a cavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passage through a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supported within said cavity above said port; at least one ball within said cavity; a port cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side; a ball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum being swung to said one side, and being directly above said port upon said pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is dropped through said chute and discharged through said passage; and a deflecting surface below said passage in said skirt member, whereby said ball upon dropping thereon will be deflected to one side.

3. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported and defining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top of said skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining a cavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said said passage through a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supported within said cavity above said port, said pendulum being weighted to swing to one side upon rotation of said body member; at least one ball within said cavity; a port cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side and a ball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum being swung to said one side, and being directly above said :port upon said pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is dropped through said chute and discharged through said passage.

4. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported and defining a passage therethrough; a body member secured to the top of said skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining a cavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passage through a port in said bot tom; a pendulum pivotally supported within said cavity above said port, said pendulum being weighted to swing to one side upon rotation of said body member; a plurality of balls within said cavity each said ball being provided with a difierent inscription thereon, whereby each said ball can be identified one from the other; a port cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side; a ball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum being swung to said one side, and being directly above said port upon said pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is dropped through said chute and discharged through said passage; a deflecting surface below said passage in said skirt member, whereby said ball upon dropping thereon will be deflected to one side and visual pointing means on said body member, pointing in the direction of deflection of said ball.

5. A game device comprising a skirt member rotatably supported and defining a passage therethr-ough; a body member secured to the top of said ksirt member and retatable therewith, said body member defining a cavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passage through a port in said bottom; a pendulum pivotally supported within said cavity above said port; a plurality of balls within said cavity each said ball being provided with a different inscription thereon, whereby each said ball can be idenified one from the other; a port cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side; and a ball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum being swung to said one side, and being directly above said port upon said pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is dropped through said chute and discharged through said passage.

6. A game device comprising a base including an upright spindle; a skirt member rotatably supported on said spindle, and defining a passage therein; a body member secured to the top of said skirt member and rotatable therewith, said body member defining a cavity therein, said cavity having a concave bottom sloping toward the centre of rotation, said cavity being in communication with said passage through a port in said bottom; a plurality of balls within said cavity each said ball being provided with a diilerent inscription thereon, whereby each said ball can be identified one from the other; a pendulum pivotally supported within said cavity above said port, said pendulum being weighted to swing to one side upon rotation of said body member; a port cover secured to the lower end of said pendulum, said cover occluding said port upon said pendulum being swung to one side; a ball socket secured to said lower end of said pendulum adjacent said port cover and adapted to retain one said ball therewithin upon said pendulum being swung to said one side, and being directly above said port upon said pendulum being in the at rest position, whereby said one ball is dropped through said chute and discharged through said passage; a deflecting surface below said passage in said skirt member, whereby said ball upon dropping thereon will be deflected to one side; and visual pointing means on said body member, pointing in the direction of deflection of said ball.

No references cited.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A GAME DEVICE COMPRISING A SKIRT MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED AND DEFINING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH; A BODY MEMBER SECURED TO THE TOP OF SAID SKIRT MEMBER AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, SAID BODY MEMBER DEFINING A CAVITY THEREIN, SAID CAVITY HAVING A CONCAVE BOTTOM SLOPING TOWARD THE CENTER OF ROTATION, SAID CAVITY BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID PASSAGE THROUGH A PORT IN SAID BOTTOM, A PENDULUM PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID CAVITY ABOVE SAID PORT; AT LEAST ONE BALL WITHIN SAID CAVITY; A PORT COVER SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID PENDULUM, SAID COVER OCCLUDING SAID PORT UPON SAID PENDULUM BEING SWUNG TO