US436751A - Island - Google Patents

Description

(No Mode-1.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. B. ALLEN.

PUZZLE.

No. 436,751. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

INNEN-ra.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J.B.ALLEN. PUZZLE.

No 436,751. Patented Sept.16,1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JAMES B. ALLEN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,751, dated September 16, 1890.

Application filed .Tune 13, 1890. Serial No. 355,307. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES B. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Provi dence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I do hereby declare t-he following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specilication.

My present invention relates to puzzles in which loose balls or other equivalent loose pieces are employed.

It has been common for a great many years to manufacture puzzle charms77 to be worn on watch-chains, dac., provided with a glasscovered or transparent face and having a roughened base, such articles being known as roulette charms, dice charms, dac., according to the character of the balls or loose pieces contained therein.

My improved puzzle possesses some of the characteristics just referred to; but it differs from all others of this class, so far as I am aware, in that I employ one or more hollow pieces or balls provided with apertures or openings and one or more smaller pieces or balls adapted to pass through said openings into the interior of the hollow pieces upon sufficiently turning or shaking the casing containing them, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, illustrating my improved puzzle, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a charm or locket embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the puzzle arranged in a rectangular box or casing provided with a glass cover or face. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line oc of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows the box provided with two apertured hollow pieces or balls and a smaller whole ball, the top or cover being omitted. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional viewtaken through the center of the hollow ball, showing the whole or solid ball resting therein. Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view showing the arrangement of the three balls represented in Fig. et when properly combined to produce the puzzle. Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of hollow apertured pieces adapted to be employed in lieu of the hollow spherical pieces, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the hollow member provided with two or more openings.

In the drawings, A indicates my improved puzzle as a whole. The frame or casing is designated by d, and the top or cover by g. The frame may be made of metall-as, for eX- ample', as shown in Fig. 1, wherein ithas a round form and is adapted to be mounted on a chain and worn as a charm. The metal employed may be gold, silver, or plated stock and also made very ornamental and otherwise attractive, if desired. When used as a charm, it is preferably pivoted at p to a bail or ring fr', provided with an eye r, by which the charm can be attached to a chain. For large sizes I prefer to make the frame portion d of cardboard, wood, &c., the form of the case or frame in such instance being square, although it may be round or anyother suitable shape. The depth or thickness of the box internally exceeds the major diameter of the largest piece or ball used. The top of the box I preferably cover with transparent material g, as glass, although it may be dispensed with. An advantage resulting from the use of a glass cover is that it prevents the loose pieces from dropping out and at the' same time renders' the moving parts visible at all times.

The essential part of my invention consists in providing the interior of the box d with one or more hollow pieces a, having an opening, as c, formed in one or more of its sides, and one or more whole or solid pieces b, adapted to pass through the said openings c into the interior of the larger pieces a; or, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 9, the parts a may have any suitable form, although I prefer the spherical shape, the same being made of thin metal.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have represented hollow cubes provided with openings c, which may be employed in lieu of pieces or members having a. spherical form. The openings c are -made sufficiently above the center of the spheres in order to prevent the smaller balls b from rolling out too readily. This latter piece b may be solid and made of metal or other suitable material, as wood, hard rubber, clay, 85e. These I make spherical, because they roll about more easily, thus making it more difficult to successfully operate the puzzle. Obviously the diameter of the pieces b must be less than that of the opening c.

In Figs. 4 and 6 I have represented two apertured pieces cL-a large one and a smaller one, the latter being adapted to pass into the other, while a still smaller or solid ball b is employed, which is adapted to pass into the smaller hollow ball a.

In Figs. 7 and 9 the hollow pieces ce are provided with two or more openings c, adapted to receive the smaller pieces b.

In operating my improved puzzle A the lskill or puzzle consists in so turning or vibrating it from side to side that the smaller ball or balls will pass through the openings c and into the interior of the larger sphere or piece a, substantially as represented in Figs. 5, 6, and 9.

vI would state that the form and arrangement of the puzzle may be varied from that shown without departing from the spirit ot the invention, the essentially-novel feature of which is the employment of a freely-moving apertured hollow member'or piece and a Smaller freely-moving piece adapted to enter therein.

l claim as my inventionl. A puzzle consisting of a box or oase oontaining one or more freely-moving apertured hollow pieces a and one or more smaller 35 pieces b, adapted to pass into said hollow pieces.

2. The puzzle A, substantially as hereinbefore described, consisting of the frame or case cl, having a transparent top or cover portion, 4o

member adapted to pass into the interior of 5o said hollow member through its apertured side, the movable members being inelosed within the said box or ease, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J AMES B. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES I-IANNIGAN, GEO. H. REMINGTON.

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