US403012A - Robert m - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. M. WASHBURN.

GAME.

No. 403,012. W Patented May '7, 1889..

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ROBERT M. VVASHBURN, OF BURLINGTON, IOWVA.

GAME,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 403,012, dated May 7, 1889.

Application filed December 31, 1888. Serial No. 296,028. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. WAsHBURN, a resident of Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games; andl do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven= tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in games; and it consists in a box divided by a horizontal plate into two compartments, each of which has a labyrinthine channel, the said channels of the compartments communicating with each other, and the box having the inlet-openin g communicating with one channel and the outlet-opening communicating with the other channel, as hereinafter described. and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of the upper compartment of the box. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the box, showing the plan of the lower compartment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line x w of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line y y of Fig. 1.

A represents a rectangular box or case, which is divided by a central plate, B, with an upper compartment, 0, and a lower. compartment, D. In the compartment C is a labyrinthine channel, E, formed by a series of partition-strips, F, arranged at various angles, as shown, the object being to make the channel as long, crooked, and intricate as possible. This channel communicates with a triangular chamber, G, located in one corner .of the compartment 0, and in said chamber and parallel with one side thereof is a baffle plate or strip, H. An opening, I, which communicates with both compartments 0 D, is made in the plateB at the vertex of the chamber G. .At the extreme end of the channel E is an exit-opening, K, made in one side of the box, a baffle plate or strip, L, being arranged at an angle across and beyond the inner side of said opening. The plate B has also an opening, M, communicating with the channel N of the lower compartments, and with an inlet-opening, O, in one side of the case. This opening M is inclosed on three sides by strip P, arranged at right angles to prevent communication between the opening 0 and channel E. The channelN in the lower compartment, D, also forms a labyrinth, and

is formed by a series of strips, R, arranged at troduced into the channel N through the open.

ings O and M. The operator grasps the box with one or both hands and tilts or inclines the box in various directions successively, the object being to cause the ball to roll by gravity through the various arms of the channel N until it has traversed the entire length thereof and reaches the chamber S. The box is then inclined to cause the ball to roll to the ver tex of said chamber to a position under the opening I, and the box is then turned over to cause the ball to enter the channel E through said opening I. The operator then tilts or inclines the box in various directions successively to direct the ball through the intricacies of the channel E, and when the ballhas traversed the entire length of said channel and comes opposite the opening K the box is tilted to cause the ball to be discharged from the said opening.

The object of the game is to cause the ball to traverse the entire lengths of both channels without unnecessary deviations, the course of the ball when properly directed being indicated by dotted lines a in Figs. 1 and 2. In practice, however, and especially to novices, it will be found quite difficult to so direct the ball, owing to the labyrinthine character of the channels.

In the compartment 0 is a magazine, V, of

sufficient capacity to exactly hold two more extra balls and prevent them from rolling therein. The mouth of the magazine is covered by a pivoted plate, WV, and the opening 0 has a similar pivoted plate, X.

A game thus constructed is extremely cheap and simple, and will be found a source of great amusement.

I am aware that heretofore boxes for games have been made with grooves or channels arranged in complex order, and I do not claim such, broadly; but

IVhat I do claim is- 1. In a game, abox or case consisting of two compartments each having a labyrinthine channel communicating with the other by an aperture, and each channel beginning at said aperture and terminating at an exit from the box.

2. In a game, an opaque box divided in two compartments having labyrinthine channels dissimilarly arranged and communicating with each other, and each channel provided with an exterior outlet.

In a game, the box or case having the upper and lower compartments each provided with a labyrinthine channel, said channels communicating with each other and one comniunicating With an inlet-opening in the box or case and the other communicating with an outlet-opening therein, and a ball (one or more) adapted to traverse the said channels, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT M. 'WASHB'URN.

Witnesses:

HENRY L. DIXEN, SAMUEL MEYERS.

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