US3710508A

US3710508A - Game piece

Info

Publication number: US3710508A
Application number: US00122885A
Authority: US
Inventors: Laren E Mc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-03-10
Filing date: 1971-03-10
Publication date: 1973-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-16

Abstract

A strip of flexible material such as paperboard and the like includes end portions shaped to similar opposed jaws. A fold line extends longitudinally of said strip intermediate the side edges thereof, and fold lines extend from the ends of said first mentioned fold line to opposite side edges of the strip forming triangular areas. When the sides of the strip adjoining the apexes of the triangular areas are pressed inwardly, the triangular areas remain flat, flexing the strip into opposed jaws having inner opposed concave surfaces which can be swung together or apart by variations in inward pressure.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1 Jan. 16,1973

McLaren [54] GAME PIECE [76] Inventor: Edwin C. McLaren, 10655 Vessey Road, Bloomington W., Minn. 55431 [22] Filed: March 10, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 122,885

[52] 11.8. CI ..46/154 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 3/14 [58] Field of Search ....46/154, 153, 157, 22; 229/15 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,183,622 5/1965 Frank] ..46/l54 3,228,139 1/1966 Lohncs ..46/157 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. O. Lever Attorney-Robert M. Dunning [57] ABSTRACT A strip of flexible material such as paperboard and the like includes end portions shaped to similar opposed jaws. A fold line extends longitudinally of said strip intermediate the side edges thereof, and fold lines extend from the ends of said first mentioned fold line to opposite side edges of the strip forming triangular areas. When the sides of the strip adjoining the apexes of the triangular areas are pressed inwardly, the triangular areas remain flat, flexing the strip into opposed jaws having inner opposed concave surfaces which can be swung together or apart by variations in inward pressure.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 3.710.508

F/G 4 /NVENTOR [ow/N C. McLAPEN A TTOANEY GAME PIECE Thin invention relates to an improvement in Game Piece and deals particularly with a strip of flexible material which is cut and creased in a manner to provide a pair of connected opposed jaw like members which may be opened or closed by the application of lateral pressure at the juncture between the jaws.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many toys have been produced for throwing and catching a projectile such as a ping pong ball or the like. For example, strips of fabric have been supported between a pair of handles which may be held in the hands and moved toward or away from one another to trap a projectile therebetween in the pocket formed by the fabric strip. Cup-shaped receptacles have been provided mounted on handles which are manipulated to move the receptacle into the path of the projectile in order to catch the projectile therein. Other similar means have been used to trap projectiles and to release them to move in a predetermined direction. An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a game piece which may be held in one hand and which includes two opposed inwardly concave jaws between which a baLl may be caught or from which a ball may be thrown.

1 SUMMARY INVENTION THE IN.

The present invention resides in the provision of a game piece formed of a single elongated strip of paperboard or the like. A fold line is provided intermediate the longitudinal sides of the strip intersecting the centerline of the strip and extending an equal distance on opposite sides thereof. One pair of fold lines extends from the ends of the longitudinal fold line to one edge of the strip at the longitudinal center thereof. A second pair of fold lines converge from the ends of the strip to the opposite side edge of the strip at the longitudinal centerline. When inward pressure is provided on opposite sides of the strip the strip folds along all of the fold lines tending to flex the ends of the strip toward one another until the ends of the strip come into contact.

In other words, the areas on opposite sides of the central longitudinal fold line isosceles triangles which are hingedly connected along their base edges, and which are foldably connected along one edge to one end of the strip and foldably connected along the second side of normally equal length to the other end of the strip. As a result, the two isosceles triangle areas on opposite sides of the centerline remain flat and rigid while the ends of the strip are bent to form oppositely concave surfaces between which the projectile may be contained.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a game piece designed to improve the dexterity of the players. The device must be moved into a position to receive the projectile and the pivoted jaws must be opened and closed at the proper time in order to catch or to release the projectile. The accuracy in positioning the game piece and the timing of opening and closing the jaws increases with practice so that the game may be usually won by the most skillful player.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

DESCRIPTION 0 THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game piece is indicated in general by the letter A and is formed of flexible paperboard, flexible sheet plastic or the like. In the arrangement illustrated, the

' game piece has been designed to similate the jaws of an alligator. The two ends of the game piece are shown as being symetrical so that the strip'ends forming the jaws tend to come together at their ends; Obviously, it would be possible to make one jaw longer than another so that the upper jaw would project beyond the lower or vice versa. The jaws are indicated at 8 and 9.

The strip of paperboard forming the game piece A is shown as having

rounded ends

10 and 11 merging into outwardly

curved side walls

12 and 13. Near the center of the strip, the side walls may curve slightly together as indicated at 14 and 1 5, the

side

14 and 15 meeting at the center point 16 of the strip.

In view of the fact that the game piece is to similate the mouth of an alligator, generally triangular teeth 17 project outwardly from the edge 13 and are foldably connected to the edge 13 so that they can be bent into angular relation to the remainder of the jaws as is indicated in the drawings.

A longitudinally extending fold line 19 is provided midway between the points 16 and intersecting the centerline of the toy which is indicated by the broken line 20. The centerline 20 is merely for the purpose of reference, and is not in the nature of a fold line. The fold line 19 defines the base of two isosceles triangular area 21 defined by fold lines 22 extending from one end of the central fold line 19 to the centerpoint 16v on the sides of the strip and by fold lines 23 extending from the opposite end of the central fold line 19 to the center point 16 onthe edges of the strip. The surfaces of the game piece may be decorated, and tabs may be cut from the surface and folded upwardly as indicated at 24 to similate the eyes of an alligator.

The isosceles triangular areas 2.! remain flat as inward pressure is applied at the center points 16. As the paperboard is folded along the central fold line 19, the two triangular areas 21 tend to flex toward face contact. Due to this fact, the outer surfaces of the end of the strip outwardly of the triangular areas flex into outwardly convex surfaces leaving the inner opposed surfaces of the strip ends concave. As will be understood, the areas outwardly of the isosceles triangles 21 form the opposed jaws which may be swung open orclosed by the application of pressure at the points 16. When properly decorated, the jaws are very lifelike in appearance. The opening and closing of the jaws, combined with the proper positioning of the jaws to receive the projectile assist in developing the coordination of the players.

The projectile B is normally a lightweight ball similar to a ping pong ball which will bounce when dropped on a solid surface. In a typical game, a barrier is erected on a table between the sides thereof much in the manner of a ping pong or tennis net. One player may throw the ball in the manner to bounce it over the net or barrier and the other player attempts to catch the ball between the jaws on the first bounce. If desired, the game piece may also be used to contain the ball as it is thrown, this operation requiring dexterity and skill on the part of the players. I

While the triangular areas 21 are in the form of isosceles triangles, this is not absolutely essential. The length of the central fold line 19 relative to the width of the center of the strip determines the concavity of the end portions of the strip. If the fold line extends farther beyond the center line 20 on one side than the other, one jaw will be more concave than the other. Furthermore, while the construction shown in preferred, the apexes of the triangular areas may be beyond the strip sides, forming truncated triangles or trapezoidal areas.

Sector shaped flaps 25 are hinged to the

edges

14 and 15 adjoining and extending equally on opposite sides of, the center line 20. A short fold line 26 extends along the center line extending outwardly from the points 16 dividing the flaps into a pair of connected gusset flaps. The flaps 25 are designed to fold inwardly through a generally parallel relation (see FIG. 2) as the jaws are swung closed. These flaps form folded edges in the areas of the jaws engaged between the thumb and finger.

in accordance with the patent statues, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in Game Piece; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from spirit of my invention.

1. An elongated strip of flexible material including a longitudinally extending fold line at the center of the strip, and converging fold lines extending to the side edges of the strip, forming generally triangular areas on opposite sides of the longitudinally extending fold line which remain flat and rigid, the portions of said strip outwardly of said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotal into opposed relation, and a pair of hingedly connected gusset flaps hingedly connected to opposite sides of said jaws adjoining said center line.

2. A game piece comprising an elongated strip of flexible material having a longitudinal center line extending from end to end thereof generally midway between the sides of said strip, a fold line extending along said center line in an area substantially midway between the ends thereof, and pair of converging fold lines extending from the ends of said first named fold line to the side edges of said strip, said converging fold lines with said first named fold line, forming similar substantially triangular areas on opposite sides of said longitudinally extending center line which remain flat and rigid, the portions of the strip outwardly of said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotal into opposed relation.

3. An elongated strip of flexible material having a center line longitudinally thereof midway between the sides thereof, a transverse center line in right angular relation to said longitudinal center line and substantlally midway between the ends of said strip of material,

a fold line extending along said longitudinal center line, said fold line extending substantially an equal distance on opposite sides of said transverse center line, and pairs of converging fold lines extending from the ends of said fold line to the ends of said transverse center line, forming a pair of generally triangular areas on opposite sides of said longitudinal center line which remain flat and rigid, the portions of said strip o'utwardly of said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotal into opposed relation.

Claims

3. An elongated strip of flexible material having a center line longitudinally thereof midway between the sides thereof, a transverse center line in right angular relation to said longitudinal center line and substantially midway between the ends of said strip of material, a fold line extending along said longitudinal center line, said fold line extending substantially an equal distance on opposite sides of said transverse center line, and pairs of converging fold lines extending from the ends of said fold line to the ends of said transverse center line, forming a pair of generally triangular areas on opposite sides of said longitudinal center line which remain flat and rigid, the portions of said strip outwardly of said fold lines being adapted to form jaws pivotal into opposed relation.