US3601403A

US3601403A - Slide game

Info

Publication number: US3601403A
Application number: US2009A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph A Weisbecker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-01-12
Filing date: 1970-01-12
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24

Abstract

A member provided with intersecting guideways and a plurality of slides slidable along respective guideways in overlying relation, the slides having openings, and an array of apertures overlying the slides for receiving removable pegs inserted through selected apertures and into aligned slide openings.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Joseph A. Webbecker {56] References Cited 1220 Wayne Erh n. Cherry Hill, J- UNITED STATES PATENTS A I N 21%; 1,903.226 3/1933 Perry 273/155 ux 1 2,460,563 2/1949 Zelvin 273/155 2.901474 9/1959 Jahr .l 273/153 R Pmmd 81411971 3.4ss,os2 1/1970 Wcisbecker 273/1 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro ArtomeyRobert K. Youtie SLIDE GAME Dm'mm ABSTRACT: A member provided with intersecting U.S.Cl 273/130 R, guideways and a plurality of slides slidable along respective 273/l R, 273/153 S, 273/I55 guideways in overlying relation, the slides having openings, lnLCl. A63I9/06 and an array of apertures overlying the slides for receiving Field of Search 273/1 R, removable pegs inserted through selected apertures and into l30 R, I53 S, I55, I57 R aligned slide openings.

PATENTEU M824 1971 3.601. 403

sum 1 or 2 bra; 4/

Wyn/roe. JOSEPH A. WEISBECKER er I INDIA/E Y.

SLIDE GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION viare lacking in variety, so that they are rather easily figured out,

and the attraction is quickly lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a slide-type device which overcomes device which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art devices, providing a great multiplicity of patterns of operation, so as to be effectively beyond memorization by players, whereby interest is sustained in persons of all mental abilities. However, the instant game is one of logical operation, so that patterns are capable of solution, thereby providing hours of challenging fun for persons of all ages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game construction of the type described, wherein the movable elements or slides are each movable through several positions, and wherein the removable pins or pegs selectively engageable through a plurality of apertures.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a game construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, wherein the slide openings extend longitudinally of slide movement, so that slide movement may be effected with the removable pins inserted through the slide openings.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosurev The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top perspective view illustrating a game or puzzle device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing the device of FIG. I in an exploded condition.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating an initial condition of play of the instant device.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the instant device in the condition of FIG. 3, but with certain parts removed to illustrate operation.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing the parts of FIG. 4, but in a slightly different condition of operation.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but in still another condition of operation.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view similar to FIGS. 4-6, but with additional parts removed and illustrating still another condition of operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the game device of the instant invention is generally designated 10, and shown in an assembled condition in FIG. 1. The game device 10 includes a lower body, guide member or base 11, which is illustrated as being generally fiat and of octagonal outline configuration, but may be of other specific configuration, if desired. More particularly, the body member, guide or base 11 may be formed in its upper side with a pair of grooves or

recesses

12 and 13, which grooves or recesses have their opposite ends opening through opposite side edges of the guide member, and extend transversely or generally normal to each other. That is,

the groove or recess 12 opens through a pair of opposite side edges of the guide member 11 and extends generally normal to the groove or recess 13, which opens through another pair of opposite side edges of the guide member. The grooves or

recesses

12 and 13 thus define guideways, which intersect with each other. as at 15, in a central region of the guide member I 1.

Formed in the central guideway region 15 may be a plurality ofupwardly facing openings or holes collectively designated 17. In the illustrated embodiment, there are l6 holes 17 which are arranged in a rectangular array of four on a side, conformably within the rectangular central guideway region 15. Centrally within the common guideway region 15, there is fixed to the guide member 1], an upstanding limit member or pin 18.

A plurality of slide members are respectively designated 20, 21, 22 and 237 The slide members may be substantially identical, each of an elongate, generally rectangular striplike configuration conformably and slidably engaged in one of the guideways I2 and 13. For example, the lowermost slide 23 rests slidably on the bottom surface of guideway 13, while the next lowermost slide 22 rests in the guideway 12, extending transversely across and over the lowermost slide 23 in the central intersecting region 15 of the guideways l2 and I3. Disposed in the guideway 13, over both the

slides

23 and 22 is a next upper slide 21, while the uppermost slide 20 is disposed in the guideway 12 over the

slides

21, 22 and 23.

Each of the slides 20-23 includes, at one end, a working region, as at 25, 26, 27 and 28, respectively. The working region of each slide 20-23 is formed with a plurality of parallel, elongate openings extending generally longitudinally of the respective slide, so as to be longitudinally of the slide receiving guideway of guide member 11. Such elongate openings are respectively designated 30, 31. 32 and 33 in slides 20, 2], 22 and 23. The slides 20-23 may all be substantially identical, so that a detailed description of one will suffice. For example, the

openings

30, 31, 32 and 33 of each slide may be arranged in four rows, which rows are in equally spaced parallelism, and respectively superposed on a nether row of holes 17 when the slides are in position in the guideways I2 and 13. Further, the openings 3033 of each slide 20-23 are located so as to expose therethrough each of the holes 17 in four positions of longitudinal shifting movement of each respective slide. That is, the elongate configuration of holes or openings is such that the spaces between each adjacent aligned pair of openings is less than the space between each adjacent pair of holes 17. For reasons to become apparent more fully hereinafter, this configuration of elongate openings or slots 30-33 permits of engagement of pins downwardly through the openings into any arbitrarily selected holes 17, or into all of said holes, if desired.

In addition to the arrays of elongate openings or slots 30- 31, each working portion 25-28 of the slides 20-23 is provided with an elongate, laterally centrally disposed opening or slot, respectively designated 35-38. Each of the central elongate openings or slots 35-38 is located laterally medially of the respective slide, and terminates short of the ends of the associated openings 30-33.

In the assembled condition, the fixed pin or post 18 upstands through each of the central elongate openings or

slots

38, 37, 36 and 35, and provides a positive limit to longitudinal shifting of the several slides 20-23. That is, each of the slides 20-23 is limited in its longitudinal shifting movement by engagement of the opposite ends of respective openings 35-38 with the fixed pin or post 18.

In addition to the working portions 25-28 of respective slides 20-23, the slides are provided with actuating end portions or flaps respectively designated 40, 41, 42 and 43. These end flaps provide manual gripping extensions for actuating sliding movement of the slides. Further, the actuating end portions or flaps 40-43 are each provided with an indicia marker, such as a blue dot, respectively designated 45, 46, 47 and 48, In addition, there are provided on each of the slides 20-23, in

the working portion thereof, with a marking, as at 50-53, say in the form ofa yellow or gold dot, contrasting to the endmost blue dots.

superposed over the base body or guide 11 and the received slides 20-23, is a top or cover 54. The cover 54 may be suitably secured in position, say to the raised portions or lands of the guide body 11, being generally congruent to the outline configuration of the guide body, and leaving the guideways l2 and 13 with their opposite ends open for projection therethrough of the actuating portions or flaps of respective slides 20-23, as best seen in FIG. 1.

The top member or cover 54 may be provided with a plurality of openings or windows, as at 55, 56, 57 and 58, each located over a

respective slide

20, 21, 22 and 23. In the fully inserted positions of the slides 20-23, the blue markings or indicia 45-48 are respectively disposed through openings or windows 55-58, Upon shifting movement of the slides 20-23 to their outermost positions, upon manual retraction of the slide actuating portions 40-43 away from the guide 11, as limited by engagement of the pin 18 in central slots 35-38, the contrasting or yellow markings or indicia 50-53 are then exposed through respective windows 55-58.

The top member or cover 54 is further formed with a plurality of through apertures or holes 60, in the instant embodiment being 16 in number and arranged in a rectangular array of four rows of four holes each. Moreover, the apertures 60 are located in respective superposed registry with the holes 17 over the central common or intersecting portion of the

guideways

12 and 13.

In addition to the structure described hereinbefore, the instant device includes a plurality of removable pins, such as the four headed pegs 61, best seen in H6. 2. The removable pins 61 are selectively engageable downwardly through apertures 60, thence through

openings

30, 31, 32 and 33, and thence into holes 17,

The several apertures 60 have been respectively designated 1', 2'. 3. 4'. 5, 6, 7', 8', 9,10',11',12,l3',14',15' and 16, as seen in FlG. 3, to indicate the positions ofpins 6].

in the condition shown in H6. 3, there are illustrated the four pins or pegs 61 located in the four corner holes 60, respectively designated 1', 4', l3 and 16', [f we remove the cover 54, and upper three

slides

20, 21 and 22, this leaves exposed only the lowermost slide 23, and is illustrated in FIG, 4 as in its innermost position. It will there be seen that the fixed pin 18 in the central slot 38 limits the slide 23 to its innermost position of longitudinal shifting movement. Further, the pins 61 in holes 12 and 16' limit the slide 23 against further inward movement, while the pins 61 in hole 1' limits the slide against outward movement.

in the condition shown in H0. 5, one pin 61 has been transferred from aperture 1 to aperture and the slide 23 has been shifted one step of its possible four-step shifting movement. That is, the slide 23 has been shifted outwardly, as by manual pulling of the actuating portion 43.

The conditions shown in FIG. 6 illustrates the slide 23 having been pulled an additional step outwardly to a third position limited by engagement ofa pin 61 in hole 4'. This sequence of FIGS. 4-6 illustrates the manner in which the slides 20-23 may be shifted outwardly upon transfer of the pins 61 to different positions.

FIG. 7 illustrates removal of all pins 61, and outward shifting movement ofthe slide 23 to a maximum or outermost position ofits shifting movement.

In use, the instant game device may be employed to play various games with up to four persons, and may also be employed as a solitary game or puzzle device,

For example, from the condition of FIG. 3, with the slides 20-23 all shifted to their innermost positions, and the pins 61 in the four corner apertures 60, each player chooses a single slide and the players take turns each removing a selected peg or pin 61 and replacing it in another hole or aperture 60. Then a player pulls his slide out, if possible, until it is stopped by one or more of the pins, and the next player takes his turn in the same way. The irst player to shift his slide all the way out to expose the yellow indicia 50-53 is the winnerv Of course, many variations of the above rules may be employed, such as starting with the pins 61 in the four center holes, or permitting all players to attempt outward shifting of their slides after each players turn.

In addition, many forms of puzzles may be used. For example, to move ones slide 20-23 completely outward from the position of FIG, 3 in a minimum number of turns or transfers of the pins 6].

From the foregoing it is seen that the instant device provides a game and puzzle which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What 1 claim is:

l. A game construction comprising a guide member having a pair of intersecting guideways, a plurality of slides slidable along respective guideways in overlying relation with respect to each other, each slide being formed with openings extending longitudinally of its respective receiving guideway, and at least partially overlying some of the openings of the other slides a cover over said slides and having apertures in alignment with said openings at least some of the positions where the openings in the respective slides overly each other, and removable pins selectively engageable through said apertures and openings into nether holes to limit the permissible extent of slide movement,

2. A game construction according to claim 1, the pattern of openings of each slide being configured identically to each other.

3, A game construction according to claim 2, said pins being equal in number to said slides.

4. A game construction according to claim 3, said slides being four in number two sides being arranged at with respect to a first reference slide and each other and the fourth slide being arranged at l80 to the first slide,

5. A game construction according to claim 3, in combination with an extension on one end of each slide defining a manual pull flap.

6. A game construction according to claim 3, said openings including an elongate central opening located centrally of each slide and in overlying intersecting relation with each other, and an additional pin fixed relative to said guide member and extending through said central openings to limit the movement of said slides in the absence of said removable pins.

Claims

1. A game construction comprising a guide member having a pair of intersecting guideways, a plurality of slides slidable along respective guideways in overlying relation with respect to each other, each slide being formed with openings extending longitudinally of its respective receiving guideway, and at least partially overlying some of the openings of the other slides a cover over said slides and having apertures in alignment with said openings at least some of the positions where the openings in the respective slides overly each other, and removable pins selectively engageable through said apertures and openings into nether holes to limit the permissible extent of slide movement.

3. A game construction according to claim 2, said pins being equal in number to said slides.

4. A game construction according to claim 3, said slides being four in number two sides being arranged at 90* with respect to a first reference slide and 180* each other and the fourth slide being arranged at 180* to the first slide.