US3394489A

US3394489A - Article roll game and track therefor

Info

Publication number: US3394489A
Application number: US522982A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lewis W Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-01-25
Filing date: 1966-01-25
Publication date: 1968-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1985-07-30

Description

July 30, 1968 L... w. MARTIN ARTICLE ROLL GAME AND TRACK THEREFOR Filed Jan. 25. 1966 INVENTOR.

law/s mM/mmv ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,394,489 ARTICLE ROLL GAME AND TRACK THEREFOR Lewis W. Martin, Rte. 2, Box 288B, Manheirn, Pa. 17545 Filed Jan. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 522,982 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A marble roll game which includes an elongate flexible bendable trough having an upwardly arcuate configuration for guiding a marble, a rail unitarily formed therewith extending downwardly including a planar portion and a heart-shaped bead on the bottom thereof, a support with a complementarily formed slot for receiving the heartshaped bead, a plurality of pillars secured to the supports and received in apertures in a playing board for positioning the trough both vertically and laterally according to the length and distribution of the pillars on the board, said trough being so disposed to direct a marble in a rolling path downwardly according to a pattern selected by the user is disclosed.

This invention relates to a game in which articles, such as marbles, ball bearings, vehicles or the like, are rolled "down a predetermined path for the amusement of individuals. Because of the prevalent use of marbles in such a game, it is customarily called a marble roll.

As conducive of an understanding of the instant invention, it should be pointed out that the marble roll games of the prior art generally constitute a track, for carrying the rolling object, which is fixed both as to path and as to slope. It will be apparent that a fixed track precludes the user from altering the rolling path of the object and consequently lessens the enjoyment of the game.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a game for rolling objects in which the path thereof may be altered by the user.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a game for rolling objects in which the slope of the predetermined path may be readily changed by an individual.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a game for rolling objects in which the predetermined path may be lengthened by temporarily securing together a number of tracks.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a track for an article rolling game which is particularly adapted to be used in a game in which the player desires to change either the configuration of the path or the slope thereof.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a track for an article rolling game having an elongate trough of transversely arcuate cross section with a grip rail extending away from the trough from the convex side thereof.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a track of the character described in which the grip rail is provided with an enlarged bead adapted to be received in a suitable holding device.

Still another object of the instant invention is to pro vide an article rolling game and track therefor which may be inexpensively made and marketed, which is durable and long lasting and which may be readily disassembled for purposes of storage.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

3,394,489 Patented July 30, 1968 In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the article rolling game of the instant invention illustrating a base board having a multiplicity of holes receiving supports for carrying a track made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention; A

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the game of FIGURE 1 clearly illustrating the slope of the track;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the game track of the instant invention illustrating one support and holding device and also illustrating a connecting sleeve secured together to similar tracks;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the connecting sleeve and its relation with the game track taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view of the track and holder taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a spherical object received by the track: and,

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross sectional view of the track receiving another form of roller on which is mounted a vehicle simulating body shown in dash lines.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10 the article rolling game of the instant invention which has as its major components a base board 12 providing a multiplicity of apertures 14 which constitute one part of a supporting means shown generally at 16 spacing a game track shown generally at 18 above base board 12. Base board 12 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, plastic, Masonite or the like, and although it is illustrated as rectangular with apertures 14 being regularly spaced thereon, it should be understood that base board 12 may be of any desired configuration with apertures 14 being placed in any suitable manner.

In the play of game 10 a suitable rolling article, such as a sphere 20 or a vehicle shown generally at 22 (which is more fully described in US. Patent 3,205,617), is placed in a receptacle shown generally at 24 at the starting point of track 18. Because of the slope of track 18, as may be seen in FIGURE 2, the rolling article traverses the pre determined path and comes to rest in a receptacle shown generally at 26 at the finishing point.

Game track 18 includes an elongate trough 28 which has a transversely arcuate concave cross sectional configuration, or more specifically a cross sectional configuration in the nature of a minor segment of a cylinder. Providing a means of afiixing trough 28 to support 16 is a grip rail 30 which extends away from trough 28 from a point midway between the transverse dimension thereof and at a point adjacent the lowermost surface of trough 28. Positioned on the outermost end of grip rail 30 is an enlarged bead shown generally at 32 of substantially heart-shaped configuration having a shoulder 34 extending outwardly from each side of grip rail 30 and tapering to a point 36 for insertion into a complementarily formed slot 38 which is in the lower part of a groove in a holder 40 of supporting means 16.

As previously intimated, one of the most important features of game track 18 is its ability to be temporarily deformed into rolling paths of different configurations. Accordingly, it is preferably made of a resilient bendable material, such as plastic or the like, which provides for the curving of trough 28 while maintaining substantially the same cross sectional area shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Since the path of track 18 shown in FIGURE 1 may be changed at the will of the operator, it will be apparent that the player may use game track 18 within any desired configuration.

Supporting means 16 includes a plurality of pillars 42 of varying heights to establish the slope of game track 18, as may be seen in FIGURE 2. As is apparent from FIGURES 2 and 3, the lower end of each of pillars 42 is configured to be snugly received by apertures 14, while the upper end of each of pillars 42 is secured in a blind opening 44 formed by holder 40. Since holder 40 is made of a resilient material, such as rubber, plastic or the like, it will be readily apparent that holder 40 may be disengaged from grip rail 30 and heart shaped head 32 for changing the point of location of supporting means 16 to game track 18. It should be noted that apertures 14 in base board 12, plilars 42 and holders 40 constitute supporting means 16.

Starting and finishing

receptacles

24, 26 may be of any desired type or shape and are illustrated as a tear drop shaped device having an upstanding rail 46 extending about substantially the entire periphery of

receptacles

24, 26 but forming an opening 48 adjacent the entrance and exit of game track 18. In the assembly of game a plurality of pillars 42 may be placed in selected ones of apertures 14 in the desired configuration. Since holder 40 is preferably secured to pillar 42, pillar 42 should be oriented such that slot 38 extends in the general direction of the desired path at which time bead 32 and guide rail 30 may be inserted therein. Since the longer pillars are selected to be positioned nearest starting receptacle 24, it will be apparent that a rollable article placed therein will roll along the pathway of track 18 to finish in receptacle 26.

Providing another variable in the game of the instant invention and thereby enhancing the enjoyment thereof is the provision of a connecting sleeve shown generally at 50 in FIGURES 3 and 4 for securing together a pair of game tracks 18. Sleeve 50 includes a transversely arcuate concave segment 52 complementarily configured to receive trough 28 as may be seen in FIGURE 4 and a pair of inwardly directed flanges 54 for holding the upper edges of trough 28. A longitudinal slot 56 is formed in grip rail 30 adjacent the junction of grip rail 30 and trough 28 for receiving segment 52 as may be seen in FIGURE 3.

In the assembly of game tracks 18, sleeve 50 may be inserted into slot 56 of one of tracks 18 with slot 56 of the other track then being slidably secured with the free end of sleeve 50. It will be noted that

receptacles

24, 26 are preferably secured to game track 18 in a similar manner to minimize the number of parts necessary in game 10 and to facilitate the manufacture thereof.

It will be readily apparent that an individual may change the path and slope of game track 18 in any desired manner. In addition to the amusement features of article roll game 10, the slope and configuration of game track 18 may be changed to lend an educational attribute thereto. For example, track 18 may be configured to provide a slight rise or hill between starting and finishing

receptacles

24, 26 to study momentum of rolling objects. By making the rise of suitable height, a marble will be unable to ascend the rise and continue the downward path toward finishing receptacle 26. On the other hand, a heavier ball bearing of like size will be able to ascend such a rise and complete the downward travel to finishing receptacle 26 teaching the individual that mass or weight is related to momentum.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved article roll game and track therefor which accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the instant invention, including many others of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A marble roll game which comprises the combination of:

an elongate trough having a transversely arcuate concave upward configuration and a unitarily formed grip rail extending downwardly from the concave upward structure, said grip rail including a substantially planar lip extending downward from the center of the upward structure and a downwardly pointed heartshaped bead having upper outwardly and downwardly rounded shoulders, said head being formed for easy insertion into a complementarily formed slot, said trough being constructed of a bendable material for providing a lateral and vertical curvature of the track while maintaining substantially the same cross-section;

a plurality of supports having a groove formed in the top thereof for complementarily receiving the grip rail on the trough and an opening in the bottom for receiving a pillar;

a plurality of pillars of varying lengths individually received in the openings in the supports; and

a board having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough disrtibuted throughout the area thereof, said apertures being adapted to receive the bottom of the individual pillars for supporting the pillars and for thereby permitting the trough to be positioned laterally and vertically according to the length and distribution of the pillars under the trough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,433 5/1929 Molnar 46-43 2,000,808 5/ 1935 Williams 46-43 2,354,485 7/ 1944 Slaughter.

2,532,521 12/1950 Stair 46-43 2,862,333 12/ 1958 Gardiol 46-202 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

S. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.