US3721440A

US3721440A - Manual dexterity game

Info

Publication number: US3721440A
Application number: US00189815A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Burns
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-18
Filing date: 1971-10-18
Publication date: 1973-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-20

Abstract

A manual dexterity game device in which randomly positioned target pieces are picked up by a pickup member slidingly suspended on a slack length of string connecting the end extremities of a pair of wands which are intricately, pivotably and rotatably mounted on a game board in position for controlled manipulation of the player. In a preferred embodiment, the player controls two interdependent pivotably rotating wands mounted one on the other with each hand and, by so doing, moves the game pickup member on the string into pickup contact with the randomly positioned game piece and locates it in a preselected target receptacle.

Description

United States Patent Burns I 1March 20, 1973 [54] MANUAL DEXTERITY GAME [76] Inventor: Howard M. Burns, 344 E. Hardin jggggi i fg rsgr gi fg g f it l St., F1ndlay,0h1o 45840 Attorney paul F Sum P [22] Filed: Oct. 18, 1971 211 App]. No.: 189,815 [57] ABSTRACT A manual dexterity game device in which randomly positioned target pieces are picked up by a pickup [52] "273/1 35/22 25/ 3 member slidingly suspended on a slack length of string connecting the end extremities of a pair of wands [51] Int. Cl. ..A6.1b 5/ld which are intricately pivotably and rotatably mounted [58] held of sen-W273 1 l 46/39 on a game board in position for controlled manipula- 35/22 tion of the player. In a preferred embodiment, the player controls two interdependent pivotably rotating [56] References C'ted wands mounted one on the other with each hand and, UNITED STATES PATENTS by so doing, moves the game pickup member on the string into pickup contact with the randomly posi- 2,l76,725 10/1939 Shelton ..273/100 tioned game piece and locates it in a preselected tar- 2,454,478 11/1948 Roberts ..273/l R X t e e tacle 2,985,451 5/1961 Sims ..273/1 R 3,572,703 3/1971 Greene ..273/1 E 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZOIQH SHEET 10F 2 FIG). 2

INVENTOR.

.PATENTEUHARZOIQYS SHEET 2 OF 2 w OI JON

INVENTOR. BY HOWARD M. BURNS y w MM; 7;) K)

MANUAL DEXTERITY GAME The present invention relates to a game which embodies features of entertainment and, as well, features designed to test and improve the manual dexterity, skill and judgment of the player. The game is best understood by a preliminary reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein it can be seen that the player or operator, whose hands are shown in dotted outline, carefully manipulates, with his thumb and first two fingers of both hands, a pair of delicately balanced wands in such manner as to control the location and elevation of a pickup device over a game board on which is situated object pieces to be picked up and located on target pedestals. The rotation of the wands and the pivoting of the wands will control the lateral and vertical movement of the pickup member and, as well, the elevation thereof in order that it may be moved in appropriate fashion as will accomplish the purpose; namely, picking up, in individual sequential fashion, a plurality of object pieces which are then carefully located over a receiver pedestal and carefully lowered therein. Success is measured by the elapsed time which it takes the player to complete the game; that is, picking up all of the pieces and locating them in the desired fashion. Time is measured by the illustrated sand hourglass located in the corner.

The game can be played in solitary fashion by a single player or it can be played by any plurality of players who, in turn, measure their skill against the elapsed time. A full version of the game involves picking up and locating all of the object pieces, of which there are eight illustrated, on the designated target pedestals. In a briefer version, the game may feature any smaller number of target pieces selected for completion. In a more devious version, particular object pieces may be designated for particular target pedestals as by color code, number or the like. In a still more devious embodiment, an enlarged board may be provided with an additional set of wands for a second player. The second set of wands would be connected by a thread which is threaded to the same pickup piece. In this more devious and complicated version, the two operators would have to cooperatively manipulate their fingers and manual movements as to accomplish the proper positioning of the pickup member and the lowering and raising thereof to accomplish the movement of the object pieces from their random disposition to the target pedestals.

With the foregoing introduction, it may be stated to be a general object of the present invention to provide a game device which is not only entertaining but challenging for the player.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a game device or apparatus which is designed to test the manual dexterity, the patience, the concentration and the judgment of the player by combining elements in the form of hand manipulable wand-controlled or pickup devices which provide a means for employing his own skill in manipulating these elements designed by their combined constructional features to permit pickup engagement of random object pieces and movement thereof in a desired manner from one location to a target region.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a game apparatus which is of relatively simple construction involving no exotic or intricate pieces or materials of construction such that the game can be manufactured or fabricated in a manner as does not involve considerable expense, thereby being producible at relatively low cost.

The foregoing and, as well, other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawing on which there are illustrated several embodiments of the invention for purposes of illustration only.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus shown in its entirety from a vantage point above and as seen by an observer watching the game being played by a player whose hands are shown in operative engagement with the elements of the game;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the game device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the same game apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partially schematic, vertical, sectional view of one portion of the game apparatus, particularly through one of the plurality of target pegs which are mounted in the principal game board;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one form of pickup piece or element shown in engaging relationship with an object piece or game piece;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view ofa game or object piece representing a variant embodiment thereof which may be readily employed in the game of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pickup member in accordance with a variant embodiment and specifically for use with the object piece of FIG. 6.

Viewed most basically, the present invention envisions a skill-measuring game apparatus in which the player/operator attempts to pick up in sequence and move to a predetermined target a plurality of object pieces and place them onto a target receiver or pedestal employing a pickup device suspended on a string or thread suspended between a pair of wands mounted universally on a second pair of rods, all being manipulated by the fingers of the player to control the spatial location and elevation of the pickup member; the success as measured against time being the factor gauging the relative skill of a single player or plurality of players.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a game board 11 of generally rectangular plan configuration bounded by spaced

parallel edges

12 and 13 defining the narrowest dimension of the board and spaced parallel edges 14 and I5 defining the longest dimension of the rectangular board. A pair of

posts

17 and 18 are respectively mounted in appropriate holes, allowing insertion and removal but not rotation of the posts in corners determined respectively by the intersection of edges 13 and I5 and 13 and 114. The posts each define an inverted L, with the horizontal legs 17a and 18a being generally parallel with the planar top surface 11a of the board. As can be seen, the posts support identical wand structures so the description will primarily be confined to the right-hand structure on post 17. Pivotably mounted on the top side of leg 17a is an oarlock member 19 which has pivotably pinned therein a linear wand 20 comprising an elongate principal segment 20a extending principally on one side of the oarlock, a vertical leg 20b extending downwardly on the other side of the oarlock and a rearwardly offset segment 20c parallel with respect to 20a. The segment 20a includes a plurality of recessed bores or holes 20d along its length. Rotatably mounted in one of the holes is an oarlock member 22 having pivotably pinned therein in oar fashion a wand 24 having a principal horizontal leg segment 24a and a normally dependingly connected leg 24b at one extremity and terminating in a flared end 240. The wand 20, by reason of the oarlock connection 19 to post 17, is free to pivot or rotate essentially universally. Similarly, the wand 24, by reason of the pin oarlock connection 22, is free, particularly at its endextremity 24a, to be pivoted up and down or rotated laterally and simultaneously. Reference numeral 26 identifies in dotted outline the right hand of a user/player. Reference numeral 27 identifies in dotted outline the left hand of the user/player in proximity to an identical array of wands, oarlock members and the like. Thus, the reference numeral 29 identifies an oarlock on the left-hand setup similar to the oarlock 19. Similarly, reference numeral 30 identifies the primary wand corresponding to wand 20, while reference numeral 34 identifies the secondary wand rotatably and pivotably mounted in wand 30 via oarlock 32. Suspended between the end extremities of

wands

24 and 34 is a length of string or thread 40 on which is free to slide a pickup claw device 42. Mounted in the corner defined by edges 12 and is a sand glass timer T mounted in a suitably provided hole. Circle 44 defines a zone or region of the playing board on which is randomly located a plurality of object pieces or pegs 45, only one of which is shown within the zone 44. Located generally about and outside the circle 44 are eight generally equal spaced upstanding removable object peg receiver pedestals 47; seven of which, as shown in FIG. 1, have releasably carried therein object pegs 45. The object peg 45 is composed of a spherical top 45a and a depending peg portion 45b designed to fit into the axial hole 47a (FIG. 2) in the upper end of receiver pedestal 47.

The manipulation of the right hand is fairly well understood from a viewing of FIG. 1. Thus, the right hand is situated on the wand parts in such fashion that the thumb rests on the leg c of wand 20 with the fore part resting supportingly and guidingly against the leg 20b. The downwardly projecting leg 24b of wand '24 is in a sense grasped between the forefinger and the adjacent finger of the same hand with the fore pads of the fingers resting on the flared collar region 24c. The leg 24b can be grasped, depending upon the size of the hand of the user, anywhere along the length of the first two fingers. For purposes of illustration, reference may be here made to FIG. 1, wherein it can be seen that the same vertically depending leg 34b of left-hand wand 34 and its flared end 34c is somewhat further inbetween the two fingers of the left hand involved. The position of the thumbs and the fingers thus can be modified slightly to the convenience and comfort of the player which, it may be noted parenthetically, will possibly change from time to time as operator skill and technique improves. In any event, to conduct the game, the operator with his fingers and hands somewhat in the position of FIG. 1, as determined through trial and error, exerts downward pressure on the thumbs, causing the

wands

20 and 30 to pivot about the

oarlocks

19 and 29 which serve as a fulcrum point, raising the

opposite extremities

20a and 30a. It will be appreciated that the

wands

20 and 30 can thus be pivoted up and down and at the same time can be moved or pivoted about the pin connection of the oarlocks l9 and 29 whereupon the ends may subscribe an arc across and above the playing board. Now simultaneously, the operator by control of his forefinger and adjacent finger in grasping relationship with the leg 24b of wand 24 (and leg 34b) can move

wands

24 and 34 independently or simultaneously in a pivoting action about the

respective oarlocks

22 and 32 whereby appropriate muscle control and finger manipulation causes

wands

24 and 34 to be moved in such fashion as to describe an arc across and above the board. With each action or movement of a given one of the wand pairs 20-24 and 30-34, there will be a corresponding change in the distance and angle relationship between the end extremities of the

wands

24 and 34 to which the thread or string 40 is connected. As a consequence of any such motion, accordingly, the weighted pickup claw is free to move slidingly along the thread or string 40. The object of the game, of course, is to so control the pickup claw 42 by appropriate dexterous and controlled manipulation of the wands by simultaneous and coordinated movement of the thumb and fingers of each or both hands so that the pickup claw will releasably embrace the spherical end 45a of object peg 45. When thus embraced, the object piece is picked up and then carefully moved over a preselected hole (such as the hole 47a in receiver pedestal 47) again by dexterous and controlled manipulation of the wands. Further manipulation guides the peg leg 45b down into the hole to the position of FIG. 4. The pickup claw 42 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is best described as a three-pronged claw which is designed in relationship to the circumference of the spherical end of object peg 45 as to permit the spherical head 45a to pass between any two of the three prongs if the claw and the spherical head 45a are in the relative horizontal position generally shown in dotted outline in FIG. 4. Once this position is achieved, the pickup claw is moved upwardly by appropriate manipulation of the wand, allowing the object piece to move downwardly within the confines of the claw as shown in solid line in FIG. 4. The weight of the depending peg 45b will assist in the ultimate positioning of the object piece in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 4 such that, upon appropriate manipulation of the wands and the string, the claw 42 can be moved over to allow the peg 45b to descend into the hole 47a of receiver pedestal 47. At this point, the operator must still carefully control the claw 42 such that its rate of descent is slow, permitting axial penetration of the peg 45b into the hole 47a and then careful disengagement of the peg head 45a by the claw by a continued descending movement of the claw until the claw and ball head occupy the dotted position shown in FIG. 4 whereupon lateral movement of the claw in just any one of three directions will find the claw legs passing around the ball rather than striking same which might otherwise cause unseating of the object peg from the pedestal.

In one version of play, all of the object pegs are located in random fashion within the field defined by circular line 44. The sand glass timer T is inverted to commence play and the operator begins to attempt to manipulate the wands, string and pickup claw in such fashion that an object peg can be properly snared or engaged and thence moved by further appropriate manipulation of the parts to a position directly above the object peg receiver studs. There again, careful manipulation of the finger/thumb controlled wands will allow the object piece to be lowered onto the receiver pedestal. This sequence is continued until all of the pieces have been located on the appropriate receiver pedestals or until time has elapsed as indicated by the sand glass timer T. As indicated, by appropriate numbering or color coding, a particular object peg can be designated for a particular receiver pedestal, making the game a little more difficult. The relationship of wands 24 and and, of course,

wands

30 and 34 can be adjusted by inserting the

oarlocks

22 and 32 in any one of the holes provided along the length of the

wands

20 or 30 to accommodate a different sized hand of child or adult.

In a further variation of the game, the object pegs are located on the receiver pedestals with the exception of one vacant pedestal, whereupon the object pegs are moved in turn; starting with one and moving it to the vacant post, followed by a movement of the second piece over to the post just vacated by the first moved; etc. This sequence can be timed and times compared competitively by differing and competing player.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a further constructional variant embodiment of the present invention, principally in the claw device and the object peg. In FIG. 6, the object peg S0 is composed of a stud or peg 511 and an upper disk 52 whose plane is normal to the axis of the stud 51 and has projecting from its upper surface an eye or hook 53. The catching claw is identified by the reference numeral 54 and is composed of a shank Ma having at one end a formed eye 54b for sliding engagement with the thread or string and at its opposite end three formed legs 54c projecting laterally as shown and terminating in a hook upturn 54d. In this embodiment, the manipulation of the catching claw 54 is to engage the leg 54c of claw 54 with the eye or hook 53 of object piece 50 as it lies on its side position much like the object pieces 45.

Looking at FIGS. 6 and 7 and visualizing mentally their incorporation into the structure as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, one may readily envision that the manipulation of these components would be accomplished in the same manner, particularly the manipulation of the wands,.to accomplish essentially the same end, an engagement of the object piece by the hooks 54c permitting the object piece to be lifted from the area 44 and carefully located onto the receiver studs 47.

In accordance with a variant embodiment of play, two players would play at the same time. In this manner of play, the cornerpost 17 would be located in the hole instead of the timer T such that the cornerposts would be located diagonally across from each .other on the board. With this positioning, two players would each use their left hands to cooperatively manipulate the wands, the string and the claw in the appropriate manner to accomplish the objects of the game as described hereinabove. In still another version, the posts would be diagonally opposed in the opposite corners, permitting two players to simultaneously use their right hands to cooperatively manipulate the parts in order to play the game.

It will be appreciated that in place of the string or thread 40, there could be employed a strut slidably connecting with the terminal ends of each of the wands; the strut featuring a depending claw device.

As a further variant embodiment, each terminal end of the

wands

24 and 34 could feature a universal ball socket arrangement from which are extended stiff to semi-flexible rod members; which members would be universally and pivotably joined together at their terminal ends and having a depending claw device suspended therefrom.

The various parts which go to make up the game as described hereinabove may be made of essentially any material of construction. Generally, the wands, posts, boards and pegs can be made of either wood or a reasonably tough plastic material. The oarlocks can be made of metal or plastic and the object pegs can easily and conveniently be made of plastic. The thread is desirably constructed of woven nylon and provided with a slick surface in order that the catching device slides easily along its length during the manipulation of the wands and the appropriate consequent movement of the string or thread as suspended between the end extremities of the wands. It will be appreciated that the finger hold elements 34c on the bottom region of wand 34 could be formed in any one of a variety of configurations as to permit or assist grasping by the forefinger and second finger. The playing board 11 is essentially hollow as shown, excepting for support regions for the various posts and pegs and is provided with a snap-on plastic cover 11a, permitting the hollow interior of the board to be used as a storage area for thevarious components, namely, pegs, wands, etc.; all of which are removable from the surface of the playing board.

Familarity with the manipulation of the wands and as gained through playing including skill in engagement of the claw with the object pegs will suggest to most players a number of variations that may be adapted for competitive skill testing as between players. Furthermore, it will be clear that object pegs and catching claw devices of various complementary design may be conceived as substitutes for the object pegs and claw members disclosed and described herein without detracting from or departing from the essential feature of the game apparatus of the present invention which is seen to reside in the employment of wands mounted in universal fashion for finger manipulation and employed to maneuver a pickup claw slidingly carried on a string suspended between the wands to engage and move object pieces from one place to another with time as the limiting gauge. Any variety of methods of scoring may be employed. The time elapsed for the total number of object pieces to be appropriately moved in a designed pattern may be the score criteria or a given time may be set as the operator/players period in which to accomplish as much as he can within that period. The game is immensely challenging with time as the criteria and the delicate finger/thumb coordination which is necessary in order to successfully maneuver the claw device in relation to the object pieces. The game proves appealing and challenging to young and old. Experience establishes that operator skill improves immensely and thus is of manifest educational advantage in terms of improving manual dexterity of the person who uses the game fairly consistently or regularly.

Variations and, as well, modifications of structure or materials may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention unless to do so would be clearly violative of the scope afforded by the language of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A game for testing and/or measuring the dexterity and coordination of the player, said game comprising:

1. a horizontal game board,

2. a first pair of wand members,

3. means for supporting said wands in elevated relationship to said game board and free to pivot and rotate about a point intermediate their ends,

4. a string or thread member connecting the end extremities of said wands at one end outwardly from said point,

5. a pickup member slidably suspended on said string or thread and 6. at least one game piece adapted to be randomly positioned on said game board, said pickup member and object piece being releasably engageable responsive to proper manipulation of said wand members.

2. The game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said first pair of wands comprises a second pair of wand members pivotably, and rotatably mounted to said game board, each of said first pair of wand members being releasably mounted in any one of a variety of positions along the length of one of said second pair of wand member.

3. The game as claimed in claim 1 which includes a target receiver adapted to receive said game piece responsive to proper manipulation of said wand members.

4. The game as claimed in claim 3 which includes a plurality of game pieces having projections and a plurality of target receiver pedestals having a recess adapted to receive said projections on said game pieces.

5. A game for testing and/or measuring the dexterity and coordination of the player, said game comprising:

1. a horizontal game board,

2. a pair of posts located in spaced upstanding relationship from said board,

. a first pair of wand members, one of each being mounted respectively in pivotable and rotatable relationship on each of said posts,

. a string or thread member connecting the end extremities of said wands remote from said post mounting,

. a pickup member slidably suspended on said string or thread,

at least one object piece adapted to be randomly located on said game board and at least one upstanding receiver pedestal formed or mounted on said game board adapted to receive said object piece when the wands, thread and pickup member are appropriately manipulated by the player to effect lifting or engagement ofthe obect piece by the pickup mem er and positioning of said object piece into releasable positionment with the receiver pedestal.

6. The game as claimed in claim 5 which includes a second pair of wand members pivotably, rotatably mounted one on each of said posts, each of said first pair of wand members being pivotably, rotatably and releasably mounted in any one of a variety of positions along the length of one of said second pair of wand members, said second wand members each including formed thumb engaging regions and said first wand members each including finger engaging means whereby dexterous synchronous thumb, forefinger and adjacent finger control of said wand extremities controls the positioning and movement of the pickup member carried on said thread with respect to said game piece randomly positioned on said game board.

EDWARD M.FL11ITCHER,JR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTKON Dated March 20,

Inventor(s) Howard M. Burns It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet "6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures" should read 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures a Claim l,' column 7, line.

Claim 2, line 3?,

- members column 7,

Claim 5, column 8, 16,

line

- slidabl y' Claim 6, column 8, line 29, after "pivotably" the comma and insert and Add the following new claims 7-10 7 The game as claimed in claim 1 wherein member (5) is slidably suspended on said string 8. The game as claimed in claim 2 wherein member (5) is slidably suspended on said string 9. The game as claimed in claim 5 wherein member (5) is slidably suspended on said string The game as claimed in claim 6 wherein member (5) is slidably suspended on said string Signed and sealed this 26th day of March 197k.

(SEAL), Attest:

c MARSHALL Attesting Officer ORM PO-105O (10-69) cancel "member" after "member" cancel after pivotably" cancel and insert after "member" cancel cancel the pickup or thread.

said pickup or thread.

said pickup or thread said pickup or thread DANN Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 6O376-P69 U. 5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE l9! 0-366-334,

Claims

1. A game for testing and/or measuring the dexterity and coordination of the player, said game comprising: 1. a horizontal game board, 2. a first pair of wand members, 3. means for supporting said wands in elevated relationship to said game board and free to pivot and rotate about a point intermediate their ends, 4. a string or thread member connecting the end extremities of said wands at one end outwardly from said point, 5. a pickup member slidably suspended on said string or thread and 6. at least one game piece adapted to be randomly positioned on said game board, said pickup member and object piece being releasably engageable responsive to proper manipulation of said wand members.

2. a pair of posts located in spaced upstanding relationship from said board,

2. a first pair of wand members,

3. a first pair of wand members, one of each being mounted respectively in pivotable and rotatable relationship on each of said posTs,

4. a string or thread member connecting the end extremities of said wands remote from said post mounting,

5. a pickup member slidably suspended on said string or thread and

5. a pickup member slidably suspended on said string or thread,

6. at least one object piece adapted to be randomly located on said game board and

6. at least one game piece adapted to be randomly positioned on said game board, said pickup member and object piece being releasably engageable responsive to proper manipulation of said wand members.

7. at least one upstanding receiver pedestal formed or mounted on said game board adapted to receive said object piece when the wands, thread and pickup member are appropriately manipulated by the player to effect lifting or engagement of the object piece by the pickup member and positioning of said object piece into releasable positionment with the receiver pedestal.