US3822879A

US3822879A - Coin magic device

Info

Publication number: US3822879A
Application number: US00311365A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Guitar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-12-01
Filing date: 1972-12-01
Publication date: 1974-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-09

Abstract

A device for performing close-up coin magic including a gimmicked Oriental type annular coin and a nesting coin-like insert disc. The Oriental coin has one conventional face and an opposite face having a circular insert pocket which receives the nesting insert disc. The insert disc has a first face formed by the major portion of one face of a first coin and a second opposite face formed by one face of a second coin of contrasting color. When the members of the device are nested together with the first coin face displayed, the illusion of a complete first solid coin is presented to the viewer. When the device is turned over, the insert separated from the Oriental coin, and both members displayed, the illusion is presented of an Oriental coin and a separate solid coin of the second type. In the hands of a skilled performer, the device permits the performance of magic tricks giving the appearance of the manipulation of an annular Oriental coin and two solid coins. The use of the Oriental coin with the central opening is a psychological deterrent to a belief that the coins nest together.

Description

llnited States Patent [191 Guitar 1 5] July 9, 1974 [54] COIN MAGIC DEVICE [76] Inventor: Pressley n. Guitar, PO. Box 22, 79 [57] ABSTRACT Abilene, Tex. 79604 [22] Filed: Dec. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 311,365

[52] US. Cl 272/8 R [51] Int. Cl. A63j 5/00 [58] Field of Search 272/8 R, 8 N, 21, 25, 27 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1969 Lynch 272/8 N OTHER PUBLICATIONS Coin trick from Elliotts Enigmas, Magic a's a A device for performing close-up coin magic including a gimmicked Oriental type annular coin and a nesting coin-like insert disc. The Oriental coin has one conventional face and an opposite face having a circular insert pocket which receives the nesting insert disc. The insert disc has a first face formed by the major 1 portion of one face of a first coin and a second opposite face formed by one face of a second coin of contrasting color. When the members of the device are nested together with the first coin face displayed, the illusion of a complete first solid coin is presented to the viewer. When the device is turned over, the insert separated from the Oriental coin, and both members displayed, the illusion is presented of an Oriental coin and a separate solid coin of the second type. In the hands of a skilled performer, the device permits the performance of magic tricks giving the appearance of the manipulation of an annular Oriental coin and two solid coins. The use of the Oriental coin with the central opening is a psychological deterrent to a belief that the coins nest together.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures COIN MAGIC DEVICE designed coin devices for producing unusual visual impressions on viewers. Where the coin device include shell and insert members, such members have been provided with solid faces so that to a very close ob server of the performance of magic there may be a suggestion of a nesting relationship in the way that the performance must be carried out to achieve the desired effect.

It is a particularly important object of the invention to provide a new and improved coin magic device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a coin magic device which permits a single coin device to pro vide the means for presenting an illusion of three separate coins during a performance with the device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a coin magic device which provides an illusion of three different coins which are readily, apparently interchangeable with three identical genuine coins.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a coin magic device which includes a gimmicked simulated annular Oriental type coin and a coin-like disc member insertable into a pocket in one side of the Oriental coin, the insert disc having opposite faces taken from the second and third solid coins.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a gimmicked coin for use in magic procedure to present the illusion of the manipulation of one annular Oriental type coin and two solid coins of contrasting colors.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a gimmicked coin device for close-up coin magic including an Oriental type coin comprising an annular ring having one conventional face and a recessed opposite face providing a pocket which receives in nested relation a two faced solid coin-like disc having one face comprising one side of a Mexican 20 centavo piece and the other side comprising one face of a United States half dollar.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a'gimmicked magic coin including nesting Oriental and solid type coins which when nested give the illusion from one side of being a United'Sta'tes half dollar and when separated and viewed from the other side, give the illusion of an annular Oriental type coin and a Mexican 20 centavo piece.

In accordance with another object of the invention, there is provided a gimmicked coin device which permits close-up coin magic having the psychologically disarming effect of tending to eliminate suspicions as to the possibility of nesting coins due to the use of a coin with a hole in the center.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a coin device for performing close-up coin magic including an annular type simulated Oriental coin having one conventional face for display and one face having a circular pocket which receives a nested solid coin-like disc made up of one face of a first solid coin and an opposite face formed by a face of another solid coin of contrasting color. When nested together, the coin device members present the illusion from one side of a single solid coin of the first type and when turned over and separated, the coin members appear to be an annular Oriental type coin and a solid coin of the second type.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description of a preferred form thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the assembled coin device as seen from the side of the device presenting the view of a solid coin of the first type;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the coin device as seen from the opposite side from FIG. 1 which shows the face of the Oriental type coin with a portion of one face of the solid coin insert visible through the central opening of the Oriental coin;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in section along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the Oriental type coin and the coin-like disc insert in an assembled or nested relationship;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in section of the nested members as shown in FIG. 3 illustratingthe disc insert removed from the annular member;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective showing the two members of the gimmicked coin device separated, as seen from thepocket side of the Oriental coin and the first side of the insert disc;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the opposite faces of the Oriental type coin member and the disc insert member; and

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of three genuine coins used in the performance of close-up magic using the gimmicked coin device of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, a coin magic device or gimmicked coin l0 embodying the invention is formed by an annular Oriental coin member 11 and a disc shaped solid insert coin member 12. The

members

11 and 12 are of such precision workmanship and structural features that when nested together as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the illusion is presented to a viewer one side of the device, as illustrated in FIG. 1, of a first type of single solid coin. When separated and viewed from the other side, the illusion is presented of separate second and third types of coins, one of which is an Oriental annular coin. FIG. 7 illustrates genuine

solid coins

13, 14, and 15 of the three types used in close-up magic with the gimmicked coin device 10 and from which the device is manufactured.

The coin 13 is an annular disc of simulated Oriental type which has engraved

face characters

20 and 21 symbolizing an Oriental writing character form. The Oriental coin has a milled or serrated edge 22 and a central circular opening 23. The coin 14 is solid disc which is shown as a United States Kennedy half dollar having a milled edge 24. The tail side of the coin 14 including the design of an eagle 25 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The coin 15 is shown as a 20 centavo piece from Mexico which has a smooth edge 30 and is a solid disc member of the proper diameter relative to the coin 14 to permit the necessary machining of the several coins to provide the desired nesting relationship.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the annular member 11 of the gimmicked coin device 10 is formed by a thin annular plate 31 and a rimmed annular member 32 machined from two coins l3 and 14 illustrated in FIG. 7 and joined together. The annular disc 31 comprises a thin annular plate portion of the coin 13 which leaves a full display face 31a of the coin with the

Oriental characters

20 and 21 visible. The disc 31 is formed by machining a coin 13 until one face of the coin is removed sufficiently to leave a very thin annular member having the other face 31a with the Oriental characters. The Oriental coin 13 used to form the annular member 31 may be cut as thin as possible so long as the full display face of the coin with the Oriental characters remains to present the illusion of a genuine coin to the viewer. The other pocketed portion 32 of the annular member 11 is an integral structure formed by an annular thin plate portion 33 and a narrow rim or edge portion 34. The member 32 is constructed from a coin 14 by fully machining off one face of the coin, cutting a central hole in the coin exactly matching the hole 23 in the coin 13, and machining out a major portion of the interior of the coin from the other face leaving only the outer milled rim 34 and the thin annular plate portion 33 thereby providing a precision pocket 35 into which the insert disc 12 will fit. The plate portion 33 is secured to the back face of the Oriental coin portion 31 to form the member 11.

The solid insert disc 12 is formed by two

circular disc members

40 and 41 which are thin round solid plates machined from the coins l4 and respectively so that one face of the coin 14 provides one face of the insert disc 12 while one face of the coin 15 provides the other face of the insert disc. In the form of the invention shown, the disc member 40 is formed by machining off the head" side of a United States half dollar 14 and machining down the diameter of the coin to remove the outer milled rim portion which provides a diameter exactly matching that of the centavo piece and fitting precisely within the pocket 35 of the annular coin member 11. The disc member 41 is machined from a Mexican 20 centavo coin 15 leaving the side of the coin shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for display. The smooth machined faces of the

coin members

40 and 41 are suitably joined together so that the insert disc 12 has a first face 42 which is the tail side of the United States half dollar and a second opposite face 43 which is the side of the Mexican cantavo piece showing the representation of a pyramid and the large numeral 20. The thicknesses of the various members of the gimmicked coin 11 comprising the

solid discs

40 and 41, the annular disc portion 33 of the member 32, and the annular member 31 formed from the Oriental coin are adjusted in machining to provide a total thickness of the gimmicked coin device when the disc insert member 12 is nested in the member 11 which is substantially equal to the thickness of a genuine solid United States Kennedy half dollar. The outside diameter of the insert disc 12 and the inside diameter of the pocket 35 in the member 11 are formed to a tolerance which permits ready insertion and removal of the insert disc by the manipulation of one hand of a performer, and when viewed in nested relation from the half dollar side of the device presents the appearance of a fully intact genuine half dollar. The insert disc should not be so loose that in manipulation it will rattle or in the magicians terminology talk during a performance. This tolerance is such that when the coin device is held somewhat flat with the face 42 downwardly and the member 11 is lifted by engaging the milled edge of the rim 34, the insert disc readily drops from the pocket 35 so that the coins may be separated by one hand for display to a viewer. The preferred color contrast for optimum performance of magic with the coin device is provided by the silver of the United States half dollar the copper color of the Mexican twenty centavo coin, and the use of brass in the Oriental coin. Such color contrast permits quick color recognition to discriminate visually between the coins without close scrutiny upon the part of the viewer.

FIG. 1 represents the coin device 10 when both

members

11 and 12 are nested together as viewed from the half dollar side of the gimmicked coin. FIG. 2 shows the back or Oriental side of the device in the fully nested relationship as in FIG. 1. The representation in FIG. 1 is a completely accurate showing of the half dollar side of the coin device is absolutely undetectable, even by the closest scrutiny, from an unaltered solid genuine United States half dollar because of the fact that the thickness of the rim 34 is exactly that of the rim of an un-altered solid coin, while the diameter of the insert is only smaller by a few thousandths than the in side diameter of the rim so that even with the tolerance necessary to permit ready insertion and removal of the insert disc, the line between the insert and the rim is not visible. The making of the bottom plate 33 of the pocket from the same coin 14 as the rim 34 further aids in disguising the line between the insert and the rim. The view represented in FIG. 5, like that of FIG. 2, is solely for the purpose of showing the relationship between the annular member 11 and the insert disc 12 of the gimmicked coin, since the pocket side of the member 11 would never be exposed during a performance with the device. The view of the separated annular member 11 and the insert disc 12 as shown in FIG. 6 is that which is seen by the viewer, which exposes the Oriental coin side of the member 11 and the Mexican centavo piece side of the member 12 presenting the illusion of the two genuine coins l3 and 15. The precision of construction of the two

members

11 and 12 permits manipulation in the hands of even an amateur magician so that the appearance to the closest viewer is that of the genuine coins. Since the fully nested arangement of FIG. 1 presents the appearance of a United States half dollar and the separated arrangement of FIG. 6 gives the illusion of the Oriental and Mexican coins, magic transposition procedures involving the three types of coins are readily carried out by both amateur and professional performers.

marketing the coin device, it is sold along with a genuine solid Oriental coin and a Mexican 20 centavo pice together with a detailed written description of at least one routine which may be used in performing with the device and a small leather pouch for storage of the genuine and gimmicked coins. The purchaser supplies an additional genuine United States half dollar corresponding with the one used to produce the gimmicked coin device.

A number of different routines may be performed with the gimmick coin device, and the three corresponding genuine coins to provide the illusion of magical transpositions of the coins. At all times when the gimmicked coin is displayed with the tail side of the half dollar visible to a viewer, it is not possible to tell but that it is a genuine half dollar. Similarly, when the gimmicked coin is turned over and the insert is permitted-to drop out and the two coins are separated and displayed to a viewer, the illusion of separate genuine Oriental and Mexican coins is presented. Care is always taken that the gimmicked coin is never displayed in a nested relationship with the Oriental coin side facing the viewer and, similarly, the coin is not displayed unnested and separated with the pocket side of the Oriental coin and the half dollar side of the insert facing the viewer. Obviously, the nesting and unnesting is always performed within an essentially closed hand. The presence of the Oriental coin having the central hole through it psychologically conditions the observer to the belief that such a coin would not be associated with another coin in a nested relationship. Thus, the observer is inclined to seek some other mental solution to the coin magic performance rather than concluding that a trick nesting type coin is being employed.

7 For purposes of better understanding the function and utility of the gimmicked coin device, one preferred routine of manipulation of the device along with corresponding genuine coins shall be explained in the context of a suitable performance with the device by a magician. The handling of the coins will be described in terms of standard procedural steps and terminology known in the magic art.

Set-up: The genuine centavo piece and the genuine Oriental coin 13 together with the nested gimmicked coin device 10 are placed in the leather pouch in the left coat pocket of the performer. A genuine Kennedy half dollar 14 is placed in the right coat pocket.

Presentation: The left hand is placed in the left coat pocket maniuplating the nested gimmicked set into a finger palm position as the genuine Mexican and Oriental coins are removed from the pocket in the small leather pouch. The pouch is held in the right hand while the left hand is used to open the pouch taking care not to show the finger palmed gimmicked set. The two genuine coins are poured from the pouch into a viewers hand and the pouch is placed aside. The viewer is questioned about his familiarity with the genuine coins and they are then picked up from the viewers hand between the tips of the performers right thub and two fingers. Simultaneously, the gimmicked coin device 10 is manipulated in the left hand Oriental coin side up to separate the nested

members

11 and 12 by lifting the edge of the Oriental member 11 and pushing the member back slightly to separate it from the insert member 12. The performer deceptively appears to place the two genuine coins in his left hand while asking the viewer to supply him with a half dollar. In reality, the two genuine coins are merely clinked" together with the unnested gimmick coins in the left hand. The separated gimmicked coins are immediately displayed in the left hand giving the illusion of genuine Oriental and Mexican coins while the right hand is inserted into the right coat pocket to remove the previously deposited half dollar while leaving the actual genuine coins in the pocket. The viewer is told to forget the half dollar as the perfomier already has one. In the left hand, the Oriental coin 11 of the gimmicked set is shifted with the left thumb so that it overlaps the forward edge of the visible centavo side of the gimmicked set andthe genuine half dollar is placed in the left hand so that it overlaps the forward edge of the gimmicked Oriental coin. The genuine half dollar and 6 the two coins of the gimmicked set are now in a position of display.

First transposition: With the genuine half dollar 14 along with the two Oriental and

Mexican coins

11 and 12 of the gimmicked set displayed momentarily, the left hand is then closed and turned over as the coins are stacked in the hand with the insert coin l2 nesting into the Oriental coinll of the gimmicked set. The right thumb and forefinger reach into the left hand and remove the gimmicked set so that it is displayed in the right hand between the thumb and fingertips as a half dollar in a manner showing that the hand is otherwise empty. The performer states that he will remove the half dollar following which the right hand is turned over and closed as the gimmicked set is pressed into the classic palm position Oriental coin side up. Reference is made by the performer to leaving the copper and brass coins in the left hand. A slight tossing gesture is made with the right hand while the left hand is opened to display the genuine silver coin. The right hand is then turned over releasing the gimmicked set from the palm position to display the gimmicked Oriental coin and twenty centavo piece in the unnested relation in the right hand.

Interlude: The insert disc 12 of the gimmicked set with the 20 centavo piece face showing is placed at the base of the second and third fingers on the left hand while the coin member 11 with the Oriental face showing is displayed at the fingertips of the right hand. The Oriental coin is then placed over the right eyein the manner of wearing a monocle. A reference is made to the viewer to keep his eye on the Oriental coin. The Oriental coin member 11 is then removed from the eye position and placed in the left hand overlapping the forward edge of the 20 centavo face of the coin insert disc 12. The genuine silver half dollar remains lying with the tail side up near the second and third fingertips. The genuine half dollar is then turned over with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand to a position overlapping the forward edge of the gimmicked Oriental coin 11 so that the genuine half dollar along with the two coin members of the gimmicked set are ma position of display in the left hand.

' Second transposition: From the position of display,

7 the genuine half dollar and the two coin members of the gimmicked set in the left hand, the left hand is closed and turned over while stacking the coins to renest the gimmicked set. The gimmicked set, which now is on top within the palm down positioned left hand, is engaged with the right hand and shifted to the classic palm position in the right hand, leaving the genuine half dollar in the left hand. The viewer is asked if he knows what coins are in the left hand while the left hand is moved in a slight gesture. The viewer is asked if he thinks a transposition has already occurred. The right hand is then turned over as it is opened to display the gimmicked set presenting the illusion of the genuine half dollar in the right hand. The right hand is then turned back over and closed while retaining the Oriental coin member 11 in the classic palm position as the insert coin l2 is allowed to drop out of the pocket 35. The left hand is opened to display the genuine half dollar while a reference is made to the right hand which is opened displaying the Oriental coin and twenty centavo sides of the unnested coin members of the gimmicked set.

Final transposition: The two coins of the gimmicked set are placed in the left hand displaying them along with the genuine half dollar. The half dollar is then grasped by the right hand and turned over as it is placed in overlapping relationship on the forward edge of the Oriental coin member 11 of the gimmicked set. The left hand is then closed and turned over while stacking the coins to renest the members of the gimmicked set. The gimmicked set is then removed to the right hand with the half dollar side facing upwardly and placed in the classic palm position in the right hand. A reference is made that the use of three coins is confusing and the performer states that he will use only two, while he is reaching into his right coat pocket with the right hand as though placing the silver coin of the gimmicked set in the right coat pocket. The gimmicked set is actually shifted to a thumb palm position in the right hand as the right hand is removed from the pocket. A gesture is made with the left thumb while the left hand is opened displaying the genuine silver coin.

The viewer is requested to search the right coat pocket and remove the coins. To allow him access to the coat pocket, the right sideof the performer is turned toward the viewer while the performer raises his right elbow. As this is done the right hand of the performer is in a natural position to drop the gimmicked set, which is in a thumb palm position in the right hand, into the breast coat pocket. As the viewer removes the genuine copper and brass coins l3 and 15 from the otherwise empty right coat pocket, the genuine silver coin 14 is dropped by the performer on top of them. Now, all of the genuine coins that are in the hand of the viewer while the gimmicked coin set has been dropped into the left breast coat pocket of the performer.

It will be recognized that each time that the gimmicked set is displayd in the nested relationship to the viewer during a performance, it is shown with the half dollar face of the insert disc facing the viewer so that the illusion is always given of a genuine half dollar. Also, in each instance that the gimmicked set is displayed in the unnested relation in which the Oriental coin member 11 and the insert coin disc 12 are displayed, they are shown with the Oriental face of the member 11 and the Mexican centavo coin face of the member 12 facing the viewer so that the illusion is presented of separate genuine Oriental and Mexican coins. in no instance, at any step during the performance, is the nested gimmicked set displayed with the Oriental face showing in the form of FIG. 2 to the viewer, nor is the unnested set ever displayed in the relation of FIG. 5 with the pocket side of the Oriental coin facing the observer. The presence of the central hole in the Oriental coin is psychologically disarming to the observer as it suggests the impossibility of the use of a nested coin assembly, and thus a skilled performer may readily baffle even the most astute viewer even when performing the magic at very close range. Since most viewers who are experienced at watching magic performers are conditioned to the use of solid coin types when nested assemblies are used, it does not ordinarily occur to such a viewer that such an arrangement might be employed with a coin having a large central opening such as the Oriental coin.

While the gimmicked coin set of the invention has been illustrated and described in terms of the use of the simulated Oriental coin, the United States Kennedy half dollar, and a Mexican 20 centavo coin, it will be recognized that other coin faces and other disc designs may be employed to produce similar illusions regarding the handling of three separate coin-like members. When genuine coins are used, the proper diameter relationship and some color contrast is required to produce the proper effect. While generally the use of coins or simulated coins is believed to present more impressive and dramatic results, it will be recognized that artistically designed faces such as found on poker chips, washer like objects, and similar members, may be used to decorate the three component parts of the gimmicked set to produce the effect of manipulation of three separate disc-like pieces. In each instance the use of the member having the central hole provides the desired psychologically disarming effect on the viewer.

What is claimed is:

l. A magic device to produce an illusion of the manipulation of three separate members comprising: an annular disc member having one displayable face and an opposite face having an annular pocket therein said pocket having a bottom wall thereinsurrounded by a cylindrical upstanding wall, said pocket further having a bore through the center thereof extending through to said one displayable face; and a circular disc member fully insertable into said annular pocket of said annular disc member so as to be in contact with said bottom wall and said upstanding wall, said circular disc member having opposite faces of contrasting appearance from each other and from said displayable face of said annular disc member, a first face of said circular disc and the portion of said annular disc on the pocket side visible when said circular disc is in said pocket with said first face visible having matching finishes and color whereby when said members are nested together said device appearas as a first solid circular disc having the appearance of said first face of said circular disc member and when said members are separated and showing said displayable face of said annular disc member and the other face of said circular disc member the apperance is presented of a second solid circular disc and an annular disc.

2. A magic device as in claim 1 wherein said matching finish of said opposite face of said annular disc comprises rimmed outer edge finished to match said first face of said circular insert disc.

3. A magic device as in claim 2 wherein said displayable face of said annular disc simulates a first coin face, said rim of said other face of said annular disc and one of said faces of said circular disc blend to simulate a face of a second coin, and the other face of said circular disc simulates a third coin face.

4. A magic device as in claim 3 wherein the three coins simulated are contrasting in color.

5. A magic device as in claim 4 wherein said displayable face of said annular disc simulates an annular Oriental coin having a central hole therein and each of said faces of said circular disc insert simulate second and third solid coins.

6. A magic device as in claim 5 wherein said second coin face and said rim are formed from a United States half dollar and said third coin face is formed from a Mexican 20 centavo piece.

7. A gimmicked coin device for use in close-up magic comprising: an annular member having one side defined by a simulated annular Oriental coin and an opposite side defined by an annular pocket within an edge rim formed from a United States half dollar coin; and

nular member and centavo coin an illusion of separate genuine Oriental and Mexican coins is presented.

8. A gimmick coin device as in claim 7 wherein said rim and Oriental coin faces of said annular member have milled edges and said Mexican coin has a smooth edge.

Claims

1. A magic device to produce an illusion of the manipulation of three separate members comprising: an annular disc member having one displayable face and an opposite face having an annular pocket therein said pocket having a bottom wall therein surrounded by a cylindrical upstanding wall, said pocket further having a bore through the center thereof extending through to said one displayable face; and a circular disc member fully insertable into said annular pocket of said annular disc member so as to be in contact with said bottom wall and said upstanding wall, said circular disc member having opposite faces of contrasting appearance from each other and from said displayable face of said annular disc member, a first face of said circular disc and the portion of said annular disc on the pocket side visible when said circular disc is in said pocket with said first face visible hAving matching finishes and color whereby when said members are nested together said device appearas as a first solid circular disc having the appearance of said first face of said circular disc member and when said members are separated and showing said displayable face of said annular disc member and the other face of said circular disc member the apperance is presented of a second solid circular disc and an annular disc.

7. A gimmicked coin device for use in close-up magic comprising: an annular member having one side defined by a simulated annular Oriental coin and an opposite side defined by an annular pocket within an edge rim formed from a United States half dollar coin; and a solid circular disc insert having one face formed from one face of said United States half dollar and an opposite face formed from one face of a Mexican 20 centavo coin, whereby when said disc insert is nested in said pocket of said annular member said device appears as a genuine United States half dollar and when said members are separated displaying said coin face of said annular member and centavo coin an illusion of separate genuine Oriental and Mexican coins is presented.