US3817518A

US3817518A - Magnetic amusement device

Info

Publication number: US3817518A
Application number: US00331027A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Routson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-02-09
Filing date: 1973-02-09
Publication date: 1974-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-18

Abstract

The invention is a magnetic amusement device which embodies one or more control magnets rotably mounted, one or more slave magnets rotably mounted in about the same horizontal plane as their respective control magnet(s), and one or more means for translating the motion imparted to the slave magnet(s) by the control magnet(s) to a visual effect, such as, for example, a system of pulleys and belts or of gears, etc.

Description

United States Patent [191 Routson June 18, 1974 MAGNETIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE [76] Inventor: Willis G. Routson, 1075 Walnut Ave., Walnut Creek, Calif. 94598 [22 Filed: Feb. 9, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 331,027

[52] US. Cl. 273/1 M, 35/19 A, 46/238 [51] Int. Cl. A63t 9/00 [58] Field of Search 273/1 M; 46/236, 238;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1970 MacPherson 46/238 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Welch Physics and Chemistry Digest, May 1954, Vol.

4, page 28, N0 1800.

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or FirmJ. Roger Lochhead [57] ABSTRACT The invention is a magnetic amusement device which embodies one or more control magnets rotably mounted, one or more slave magnets rotably mounted in about the same horizontal plane as their respective control magnet(s), and one or more means for translating the motion imparted to the slave magnet(s) by the control magnet(s) to a visual effect, such as, for example, a system of pulleys and belts or of gears, etc.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures FIG. 2 L

|l||lllllllilll|lf]|' PATENTEDJun 18 m4 SHEET 10F 4 FIG.

FIG '2 m m mun is m sum 2 UF 4 FIGS PATENTEBJUII w an 3NL618 sum 3 or a FIG. 4

1 MAGNETIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention, in its simplest embodiment, is comprised of three major components: one or more control magnets, each being fixed at right angles to a shaft which is pivotally mounted so as to allow 360 rotation of said magnet(s); one or more slave magnets, being spaced from but under the magnetic influence of said control magnets, each of said slave magnets being fixed at right angles to a shaft which is pivotally mounted so as to allow 360 rotation of said slave magnet(s), in about the same horizontal plane as their respective control magnet(s), said slave magnet rotation being induced by the rotary motion of said control magnet(s); and, one or more means for translating the rotary motion of said slave magnet(s) into a visual effect. A preferred method for translating said rotary motion would comprise a pulley attached to and rotating with the shaft of said slave magnet(s), said pulley or pulleys continually communication with one or more other shaftmounted pulleys by a belt or the like. Another means would comprise various types of gear-drives such as are well-known to the art.

Many variations of visual indicators will occur to those skilled in the toy and game art. The following are but a few: tug-of-war, auto racing, ski racing, horse racing, mountain climbing, boat racing, foot racing, bicycle racing, and many, many more. Also contemplated are games which utilizethe concept herein to provide games such as roulette, bingo, and the like.

DRAWINGS The concept taught herein, as well as a few of the variations possible, may be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one version of the magnetic amusement device of this invention comprising a pair of control magnets and a single slave magnet;

FIG. 2 is a-vertical elevation of same-along the indicated line of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plane view of another version of said device which incorporates a pair of control magnets and apair of slave magnets;

FIG. 4 is a top plane view of yet another version which incorporates a pair of control magnets for each of a pair of slave magnets; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the device of FIG. 1.

While in each of the above drawings the means for translating the rotary motion of the slave magnet(s) is a belt and pulley system, it is to be understood that many methods of such translation are available.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A simplified version of the magnetic amusement device of this invention is illustrated by FIG. 1, 2 and 5. Referring to these figures, the device includes a base which may suitably be of any shape and fabricated from many different materials, including wood, plastic, pressboard and the like. Pivotally mounted upon said base 10 are the control magnet modules, each preferably comprising a

bar magnet

11 and 12; a

cylindrical sleeve

13 and 14 for each said magnet, said sleeve being approximately perpendicular to said magnet; a

rod

15 and 16, being either continuous through the magnet or discontinuous therewith, said rod being, for

instance, friction fitted within said

sleeve

13 and 14, and serving the dual function of providing a pivot point for the module with the base 10, and also provide an attachment point for the

control knob

17 and 18.

The control magnet modules are spaced from a slave magnet module, in the device pictured in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, in such a way that they each exert a magnetic influence over said slave magnet, while, on the other hand, the influence which the control magnets have over each other is not only less than their influence on the slave magnet (due to their relative positions to each other), but essentially inconsequential as a result of direct player control of them.

In the above figures, an angle of about is defined by the centers of the pivot points of the three modules. Other positions could be utilized.

The slave magnet module is similar to the control magnet modules (i.e., bar magnet 19, sleeve 20 and rod 21), except that the

control knobs

17 and 18 are replaced, in this version, by a pulley 22. Gears or other motion transmitting means could also be suitably employed.

In the above drawings the means for transmitting the rotary motion of the slave magnet is a series of pulleys continuously connected by a belt. More particularly, the rotary motion of slave magnet 20 is transmitted through slave magnet pulley 22 via a continuous belt 23 which travels through

pulleys

24 and 25, which may be mounted to the game unit by any number of suitable methods.

The above transmitting means lends itself to providing a visual indication of the number of revolutions of the slave magnet module makes in each direction by afixing to the belt 23 an indicator 26. The indicator 26, in this case, is in the shape of an arrow which traverses a scale 27, although the indicator could be in any desired form.

It is preferred, from the standpoint of rigidity and strength, as well as to protect the magnet modules, to provide a top cover 28 which is secured to the base 10 through one or more supports 29, which may be continuous (such as is illustrated) or discontinuous. The top cover 28 and the support(s) 29 may be transparent or opaque, and may be made of the same material as the base 10, or different.

The operation of the device depicted by the above three figures lends itself to a game or amusement device which requires both skill and coordination, as well as involving an element of chance or randomness. Insertia, momentum, magnetic attraction/repulsion and synchronization all enter into its operation.

More particularly, with respect to the version depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, one or two players may participate. The

control knobs

17 and 18 aremanipulated with the fingers, each of the two control magnet modules being capable of spinning in the same or diflerent directions. The primary object for a player is to capture the slave magnet, causing it to spin in the desired direction. The opponent attempts to do the same. The slave magnet responds to the relative positions of the control magnets in a number of ways: it may spin in the same or opposite direction; it may change direction; or it may stop. The factors of inertia and momentum also enter in. The net result is a somewhat unpredictable reaction of the slave magnet to the players efforts giving rise to an appealing game of chance and skill. The winner can be indicated by many devices other than the simple pointer shown in FIG. 1. For instance, a contact switch could be utilized to activate a light, or a mechanical counter could be used.

FIG. 3 shows a variation on the simple scheme set out above. In this figure and the next, obvious components already numbered above will not be renumbered. FIG. 3 depicts an arrangement whereby each control magnet influences a spearate slave magnet, the slave magnets preferably being situated so that they influence each other. In this variation the same components as have been previously discussed are found. For the sake of visual effect, the pointers have been placed in an adjacent/opposing position. In order, then, to operate so that the slave magnets, and therefore the control magnets, turn in opposing directions, it is necessary that one player race from bottom to top, and the other viceversa, as can be seen from the arrows. If, on the other hand, the two pointers are moved to the outside of the belts, the slave magnets may be operated in opposite directions in order for the pointers to race" to the top. Other variations will be obvious.

FIG. 4 demonstrates a design whereby each of a pair of control magnets controls a separate slave magnet. The players may team on a single slave magnet, or opposing team members may so play. The discussion of FIG. 3 relative to the direction of motion of the pointers is equally applicable here.

It is apparent from the above discussions that a series of gears, and optionally shafts and the like, as well as other means, could be used in conjunction with, or in lieu of, the system of pulleys and belts shown. Other transmission devices will be apparent to the skilled in the art.

It is to be noted that while the drawings illustrate the motion of the magnets and the transmission device being in planes parallel to each other, it is contemplated that said planes could be perpendicular, or at acute or obtuse angles. Furthermore, the planes of the control and/or slave magnets may overlap as long as the axis of rotation of one is outside the circumference of the other(s). This is in order to avoid coaxial arrangements whereby direct magnetic coupling is accomplished, this being deemed to defeat the amusement potential of the invention.

While a single pointer-and-scale method of visually depicting motion is illustrated, it is obvious that many facades could be used. It is generally contemplated that the rotary motion of the slave magnet(s) may be translated into a visually depicted movement in one or more planes. The form of this visualization is a matter of artistic choice, the basic magnetic scheme considered to be the invention herein remaining the same.

In lieu of a pulley and belt system, a gear could be installed on a slave magnet, said gear meshing with one or more other gears, the net effect being utilized to activate one or more indicators. It is the novel interaction of slave and control magnets, coupled with a method of converting the induced rotary motion of the slave magnet to a visual effect, that is considered the invention herein, rather than the particular means one chooses for said motion conversion.

1 claim:

1. A magnetic amusement device comprising:

A. One or more rotably mounted control magnets;

B. One or more rotably mounted slave magnets,

being spaced from but under the magnetic influence of their respective control magnets, said slave magnets rotating in about the same horizontal plane as their respective control magnets; and

C. Means for translating the rotary motion of said slave magnets into a visual effect comprising:

a. A pulley attached to and rotating with a shaft mounted at right angles with each slave magnet, said pulley rotating in a plane approximately parallel with that traversed by said slave magnet;

b. One or more rotably mounted pulleys spaced from said slave magnet pulley;

c. Continuous belts connecting the pulleys of (a) and (b); and

d. One or more indicators attached to one or more of said belts.

Claims

1. A magnetic amusement device comprising: A. One or more rotably mounted control magnets; B. One or more rotably mounted slave magnets, being spaced from but under the magnetic influence of their respective control magnets, said slave magnets rotating in about the same horizontal plane as their respective control magnets; and C. Means for translating the rotary motion of said slave magnets into a visual effect comprising: a. A pulley attached to and rotating with a shaft mounted at right angles with each slave magnet, said pulley rotating in a plane approximately parallel with that traversed by said slave magnet; b. One or more rotably mounted pulleys spaced from said slave magnet pulley; c. Continuous belts connecting the pulleys of (a) and (b); and d. One or more indicators attached to one or more of said belts.