US3445114A

US3445114A - Circus game construction

Info

Publication number: US3445114A
Application number: US530682A
Authority: US
Inventors: Helene E Fernandez
Original assignee: Mattel Inc
Current assignee: Mattel Inc
Priority date: 1966-02-28
Filing date: 1966-02-28
Publication date: 1969-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-20

Description

y 1969 H. E. FERNANDEZ 3,445,114

CIRCUS GAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1966 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR. 14 54:: 5 ken/mas:

K 'M w 54 aa M M I fine/Viv:

y 1969 H. E. FERNANDEZ 3,445,114

CIRCUS GAME CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1965 MMM Qmm M United States Patent 3,445,114 CIRCUS GAME CONSTRUCTION Helene E. Fernandez, Canoga Park, Calif., assignor to Mattel, Inc. Filed Feb. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 530,682 Int. Cl. A631) 71/04, 65/12 US. Cl. 273101 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A circus game construction incorporating a tightrope game, a cannonball game and an acrobatic or catapult game. The tightrope game includes a wire with a series of bends along its length extending between a pair of spaced vertical supports and a platform movable along the bent wire for carrying a tightrope-walking object. The cannonball game includes a slide adapted to be carried by one of the vertical supports and a catcher means carrying a basket adapted to catch a ball rolled down the slide. The acrobatic or catapult game includes a spring catapult for launching an acrobatic object onto a platform which replaces the basket atop the catcher means. The tightrope game consists of two spaced stands supporting a rigid member having a plurality of bends. A tightrope walker is moved along the rope by pulling either end of a string attached to it. Also attached to one of the stands is a sloping trough and movably positioned on the base of the game is a target in the shape of a bear having a cup shaped member balanced on its head. The catapult game comprises a spring catapult with an object in the shape of a monkey placed thereon. The monkey has a magnetic base. Also included is another animal figurine having a rotatable metallic platform balanced on its head.

The present invention relates to improvements in indoor game constructions and, more particularly, to a novel circus game construction.

Over the years, the circus has captured the interest and imagination of hundreds of thousands of peopleparticularly those young in years or heart. Much to the disappointment of many of these people, they are confined to the role of spectator and are unable to participate, even by way of imitation, in the activity and excitement of the circus.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to bring some of the thrills and color of the circus into the home where it can he participated in and enjoyed by all members of the family.

Another, more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel indoor game construction for performing several exciting and entertaining circus acts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a game construction of the foregoing character which is easy to assemble and operate even for children.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a game construction of the foregoing character which is simple in design, sturdy in construction, yet economical to manufacture.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken with the drawings which, by way of example only, illustrate one form of circus game embodying the features of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the circus game construction;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a portion of the circus game construction associated with the cannonball act of the circus;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1 illustrating the connection for a tightrope to supporting poles in the game construction;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the platforms for stationing on top of the supporting poles in the circus game construction;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a headgear for mounting on top of objects representing various animals for performing acts in the circus game;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a rotating platform utilized in the game construction;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a walking platform utilized in the tightrope walking act performed with the circus game construction;

FIGURE 8 is a side view of one of the inanimate objects representing a panda bear;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIGURE 1 illustrating the manner in which the headgear of FIGURE 5 and a basket are mounted on top of the head of the panda bear; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional side view taken along the line 10-40 in FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of a catapult for propelling a monkey from the base of the circus game to the rotating platform on the head of a seal.

In the drawings, the circus game construction is represented generally by numeral 10 and includes a combination of elements for performing tightrope walking, cannonball and acrobatic acts.

More particularly, the construction 10 includes a board 12 which acts as a fiat base for the game and supports a ring 14 representative of the center ring in a circus. The board, as well as the ring, may be formed of various materials and may be separate pieces interlocked in any convenient manner.

In addition to defining the center ring, the ring 14 includes a pair of diametrically opposite sockets 16 and 18 for receiving the lower ends of

vertical poles

20 and 22, respectively. The tops of the

poles

20 and 22 support

stationary platforms

24 and 26 of a tightrope walking means 28 which in addition to the platforms includes a stiff wire 30 having a series of bends therein, a tightrope walking object 32, and drive means 34 for moving the object back and forth along the tightropehere the wire 30.

In the tightrope walking means 28, the

stationary platforms

26 and 24 provide end support for the bent wire 30 between the

poles

20 and 22. To this end, as is most clearly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the platforms each have a diametrically slotted socket 36 extending vertically from their lower surfaces with a pair of diametrically opposite ears 38 extending outwardly from the socket in a vertical plane normal to the plane of the slots. The opposite ends of the bent wire 30 are adapted to extend through the slots in the sockets 36 and around one of the ears 38. Thus to secure the wire 30 in place, the

stationary platforms

24 and 26 are first removed from the tops of the

poles

20 and 22 and the ends of the wire inserted through the slots in the sockets 36 and around one of the ears 38. The

stationary platforms

24 and 26 are then returned to the

vertical poles

20 and 22 to cap ture the ends of the bent wire within the sockets 36 above the upper ends of the poles.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the tightrope walking object 32 comprises a generally fiat, circular base 40 and an upright member 42 shaped to represent a circus animal, here a lion. Thus arranged, the tightrope walking object 32 is adapted to balance on a traveling platform assembly 44 and to move along the bent wire 30 between the

stationary platforms

24 and 26 in response to operation of the drive means 34.

As represented most clearly in FIGURE 7, the assembly 44 includes a generally flat, circular platform 46, a pair of horizontally extending,

cylindrical sleeves

48 and 50 stationed one atop the other, and connected to the undersurface of the platform substantially at its axis, and a rod 52 extending downward from the sleeve 50 and carrying a weight 54 adjacent its lower end. A side slot 56 enables the sleeve 5.0 to be slipped over and hence the assembly 44 to be mounted on bent wire 30 for movement therealong in response to operation of the drive means 34.

In the illustrated form of the circus game construction, the drive means 34 comprises a string or cord 35 passing through and around the sleeve 48, along and above the wire 30, over the stationary platforms, and down through

edge slots

25 and 27 in the platforms to terminate in small weights 47. By pulling on one end or the other of the cord 35, the player of the game can move the assembly 44 back and forth along the wire 30. During movement of the assembly 44 along the wire 30, the rod 52 and weight 54 develop counterbalancing moments on the traveling platform 46 to aid those playing the game in maintaining the tightrope walking object 32 on top of the platform.

In playing the circus game and in performing the tightrope walking act, the players may be required to first assemble the tightrope Walking act by setting up the

poles

20 and 22, attaching the bent wire 30 to the

platforms

24 and 26, placing the stationary platforms on top of the poles, attaching the traveling platform assembly 44 to the bent wire 30 and by directing the cord 35 through the edge slots in the

platforms

24 and 26. Then, with the traveling platform assembly 44 adjacent one of the

stationary platforms

24 or 26, the tightrope walking object 32 may be placed on top of the platform 46.

Once the act is assembled, the player, much as the ringmaster would introduce the act, may call out and now, in the center ring, presenting the famous, world renowned lion, performing the death-defying tightrope walking act! Then, in the manner previously described, the player may be required to cause the lion to travel back and forth along the wire 30 between the

stationary platforms

24 and 26 as many times as possible in a given length of time.

In the game construction 10, the stationary platform 26 not only performs the function of providing end support for the bent wire 30 of the tightrope walking means 28, but also provides vertical support for a slide member 58 used in the cannonball act. To this end, the platform 26 includes a socket 60 for receiving a vertical pin 62 extending downwardly from a reinforcing flange 64 connected to the back of the slide member 58. With the pin 62 in the socket 60, the slide member 58 is supported at substantially a 30 angle from the horizontal with an upwarldy turned lower end 66 facing the interior of the ring 14. The longitudinal edges of the slide member 58 are upturned to form marginal lips 68 for guiding a ball means 70 down the slide, off the lower end 66, and into a catcher means 72.

The catcher means 72 may take various forms. Preferably, and in the illustrated form, the catcher means 72 comprises a performance platform 74 and a cannonball catching object 76 supporting a headgear 78 and basket 80 for catching the ball means 70. The performance platform 74 is manually movable over the board 12 and provides a base support for the cannonball catching object 76, here including a generally circular, flat base 82 for resting on top of the performance platform, and an upright portion 84 shaped in the form of an animal, here a panda bear.

As illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 8, the head of the panda bear includes a slot 86 which is adapted to receive the headgear 78. The construction and assembly of the headgear 78 and basket 80 are most clearly illustrated in FIGURES and 9. As there represented, the

headgear 78 comprises a base member 88 having a discshaped top 90 and a vertical, bifurcated bottom portion 92 for fitting into the slot 86 with legs extending on opposite sides of the bears head to secure the headgear and basket in place. A positioning rod 93 extends from the side of the base member 88 to aid in the positioning of the headgear and in movement of the cannonball catching object 76 during the performance of the cannonball act.

The basket 80, like the headgear 78, is preferably formed of plastic. The basket also includes a plurality of side openings 94 and a pin member 96 extending from its base. The pin member 96 is adapted to fit within a top hole 98 in the base member 88 of the headgear in order to connect the basket to the headgear. Preferably, the top hole 98 is slightly larger than the pin member 96 such that the basket may be spun during performance of the cannonball act to increase the diificulty of the act.

Prior to the performance of the act, the player of the circus may be required to set up the cannonball act. Thereafter, he may imitate the ringmaster by calling out and now, in the center ring, your attention is directed to the panda bear who, in his inimitable style, will perform the dangerously exciting cannonball act! In performing the cannonball act, the catcher means 72, including the performance platform 74 and panda bear 76 supporting the basket 80, is positioned within the center ring in line with the slide member 58. The player selects a position for the catcher means 72 which, hopefully, will result in the ball means 70 being caught in the basket 80 after leaving the slide member 58. Then, the ball means 70 is stationed at the top of the slide member and rolls down the slide and flip through the air, hopefully, into the basket 80. As in the tightrope walking act, a time limit may be imposed upon the player during which he is expected to see how many times he can cause the cannonball to be caught in the basket 80. To increase the difficulty of the act, the basket 80 may be spun as the ball travels down the slide and through the air.

The catcher means 72 is useful not only in the cannonball act but may be also employed in the acrobatic act as a means for catching a catapulting object 99 as it flips through the air. Preferably, however, a slightly different form of catcher means 100 is employed in the acrobatic act, and includes a performance platform 102 and an acrobat catching object 104. In the illustrated form, the acrobat catching object 104 includes a generally circular, fiat base 106 supporting an upright member 108 shaped as an animal, here a seal. The head of the seal resembles that of the panda bear previously described and includes a slot (not shown) for receiving a headgear 110 similar to the headgear 78 worn by the bear.

Although the headgear 110 is adapted to receive a basket such as 80, in the acrobatic act the headgear 110 preferably provides support for a rotating platform 112 illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 6. As there represented, the rotating platform includes a flat, disc-shaped member 114 having a smaller metallic plate 116 connected to the top surface thereof. A positioning rod 118 extends from the outer edge of the disc 114 and provides means for positioning the rotating platform 112 and for spinning the platform during the performance of the acrobatic act. To this end, an axial pin 120 extends from the bottom of the disc 114 and is adapted to fit within the hole (such as 98) in the top of the headgear 110.

With the rotating platform 112 positioned on top of the headgear 110, the metallic plate 116 is adapted to provide means for catching and retaining the catapulting object 99 as it travels through the air from a catapulting means 122. To this end, and as represented most clearly in FIGURES 1 and 10, the catapulting object 99 preferably comprises a base 124 of magnetic material and supports an upright portion 126 shaped as an animal, here a monkey.

The catapulting means 122 comprises a generally triangular support base 128 for resting on top of the game board 12, and a spring arm 130 cantilevered from the topmost edge of the base 128. The spring arm 130 and base 128 are designed such that when the catapulting object 99 is placed at the rearmost edge of the spring arm 130 (see FIGURE and the spring arm is depressed and released, the object will flip through the air and travel to the catching means 100 within the center ring 14. Hopefully, the player has placed the catching means 100 in a position where the base of catapulting object 99 Will engage the metal plate 116, be attracted thereto and held in place.

Thus, in the performance of the acrobatic act, a player first may be required to set up the act by positioning the catapulting means 12?. outside the ring 14 and the catching means 100 within the ring. Then, the player places the catapulting object 99 on top of the catapulting means 122, depresses the spring arm 130 a desired amount and releases the spring arm. The catapulting object then flies through the air and hopefully lands on top of the rotating platform 112 with the base 124 contacting the metal plate 116. Also, hopefully, the trajectory of the object 99 has been such that it will not slide off the plate 116 but will strike the plate at such an angle that the magnetic attraction of the magnet base 124 for the metal will hold the object in place on top of the rotating platform 112. Again, as in the other acts, a limit may be imposed to see how many times the player can successfully perform the acrobatic act in a given length of time.

From the foregoing description it is appreciated that the present invention provides a game construction which brings the thrills, excitement and color of the circus into the home where it can be participated in and enjoyed by all members of the family. This, the present invention accomplishes with an economical game construction which is easy to assemble and operate even for children and which is simple in design, structure and economical to manufacture.

In the foregoing description a particular form of circus game construction has been set forth in some detail. Changes and modifications, however, may be made in the illustrated form Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the present invention be limited in scope only by the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A circus game comprising:

first and second support means extending above a substantially flat base for said game, said support means being spaced from each other;

a tightrope means including a substantially rigid member having a plurality of bends extending between said first and second support members above said base, said tightrope means being positioned in a generally horizontal attitude by said support members;

a tightrope walking object for balancing on said tightrope means;

means for moving said tightrope Walking object along said tightrope means;

slide means supported by one of said support means;

ball means for traveling down said slide means;

catcher means on said base for catching said ball means;

catapult means on said base;

a catapulting object for being propelled by said catapult means to said catcher means, said object having a magnetic base; and

a rotating platform adapted to be supported by said catcher means, said platform including a metallic plate for contacting said magnetic base of said catapulting object to cause said object to stick to said rotating platform.

2. In a circus game:

first and second support means extending above a base for said game, said support means being spaced from each other;

tightrope means including a substantially rigid member having a plurality of bends extending between said first and second support members above said base said tightrope means being positioned in a generally horizontal attitude by said support members;

a tightrope walking object for balancing on said tightrope means;

and means for moving said object along said tightrope means.

3. In a circus game:

tightrope means including a member having a plurality of bends extending between said first and second support members above said base;

a traveling platform for moving along said tightrope means;

means connected to said traveling platform for guiding said platform along said tightrope means;

string means connected to said traveling platform for pulling said platform along said tightrope means; and

a tightrope walking object adapted for balancing on said traveling platform.

4. The combination of claim 3 further including counterbalancing weight means extending from said traveling platform below said tightrope means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 503,022 8/ 1893 Whitburn 273-101 732,281 6/1903 Durboraw 273-101 FOREIGN PATENTS 252,944 10/1912 Germany. 618,199 2/ 1961 Italy.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.