US574158A

US574158A - Puzzle

Info

Publication number: US574158A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1913-12-29

Description

OnA. MAPEL.

`PUZZLE.

No. 574,158.- Patented Dec. 29,` '1896.

um lun-1| www@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORA A. MAPEL, OF SIATLERS RUN, IVEST VIRGINIA.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,158, dated December 29, 1896- Applioation iiled July 1,1896. Serial No. 597,749. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern,t

Be it known that I, ORA A. MAPEL, a citizen' of the United States, residing at Statlers Run, in the county of Monongalia and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new `and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new, amusing, and instructive puzzle, and has for its object to provide a device of this description by which endlessfamusement may be afforded both old and young in its manipulation and solution, and which at the same time will test the capacity of a person to distinguish one color from another,thereby giving instruction to children.

Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth,and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, its construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective of my improvement,illustrating the manner of operating the same; Fig. 2, a plan view showing the several balls used in connection therewith within the center of the tray; Fig. 3, a reverse plan view showing the relation of the color-spots to the holes, and Fig. 4f a cross-section illustrating the method of holding the balls in place after having been properly located by the placing of a cover over the tray before inverting the same.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tray or box consisting of an annular iiange or band A and abottom B, so located therein as to form a compartment upon each side thereof, and in practice I prefer that this bottom shall be nearer the top than the bottom edge thereof. Holes C are located equidistant from each other within the bottom and near the periphery thereof, which are preferably eight in number and have the names of the several colors written next adjacent thereto, as, for instance, red, brown, pink, yellow, blue, scarlet, green, and gray.

The center portion of the tray is occupied by semicircular partitions D, having spaces between their ends, so as to permit the passage of the balls E therefrom after having been placed within these partitions.

The reverse Side of the bottom is provided with spots F, which correspond in color to the color of the several balls and also to the names written next adjacent the holes upon the opsite side of the bottom.

The method of operating the puzzle is as follows The balls are placed within the center of the box and the box grasped in the hands and given a to-and-fro tilting motion until the several balls are rolled within the holes having the names of the respective colors opposite thereto which correspond to the balls, and as these holes are of a vsize sufficient to arrest the movements of the balls, but not to permit their passage through the bottom, it will be seen that the balls will be retained in position.

It will be found that considerable patience and skill are required to so manipulate the tray as to bring the several balls to their proper holes, and it also will require the use of the faculty of distinguishing the colors of the balls, in order that they may be located in the hole having the'name of the color of the ball placed therein.

After all of the balls have been properly placed in accordance with the idea of the person operating the puzzle, the cover Gis placed over the box, so as to prevent the balls from falling without the holes in which they are located, and the tray is then inverted, in order that the operator may compare the color of each ball with the spot F located around the hole through which said ball appears,by which means it may then be determined whether the balls were properly located in regard to their color, which will either verify the lcorrectness of the operators eye in determining the several colors of the balls or detect the discrepancy therein. As many persons are color-blind, although not aware ofthe fact, the operation of this puzzle will convince them that such is the case and at the same time aiford much amusement to the onlookers.

Slight modifications might be made in the arrangement of the several parts of this puzzle without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be IOO limited to the exact design shown anddescribed.

That I claim as new and useful isl. A puzzle consisting of a tray composed of a circular Wall, a transverse partition dividing the tray into two compartments, said partition having holes formed therethrough, balls of different colors adapted to fit in said holes and protrude through to the opposite side of the partition, said holes being designated by names of colors on one side and the colors Corresponding to the name on the opposite side, as and for the purpose described.

2. A puzzle consisting of a tray composed of a circular Wall, a transverse partition dividing the tray into two compartments, one being shallower than the other, said partition ORA A. MAPEL.

\Vitnesses:

S. WILLIAMSON, J. B. FURMAN.