US855827A - Counter. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

E. T. WILLSON.

COUNTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22,1906.

iVLENTO/P (3W (Law 8) QHQQM ATTORNEY WITNESSES 1m: NORRIS PETERS 1:51.. WASHINGTON, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

COUNTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed September 22, 1906. Serial No. 335,688.

provements in Counters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to counters, and particularly to counters intended and designed to be used in games such as whist, etc.

The objects of my invention are to provide an attractive, simple, inexpensive, convenient and effective counter, which from its novel construction and method of operation may be of interest also as a puzzle. I attain these objects by the device described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, in which like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the respeetive views.

Figure 1 is a front view of the complete device showing the projecting interlocking corners of the shield in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the complete device. Fig. 3 is a front view with the shield and one of the counter plates or ring -d removed to show more plainly the construction, operation and manner of assembling the various parts. Fig. 4 is a front view of the shield. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views of the several wheels, disks or rings forming the counting elements or indices of the device.

Heretofore in most game counters and devices of this nature it has been customary to attach the various movable parts to the whole or to each other by pivots or other i similar means. I In my invention I eliminate all fixed pivots, the various parts preferably being firmly retained in relation each to each by their resilience or elasticity, and the interlocking construction, the moving parts being capable of revolving in the slits or open ings in the body of the device while held therein. Thus, it will be seen, I obtain a device of compact and pleasing appearance, not easy to get out of order, and yet one that may be easily and quickly taken apart for cleaning, repair, replacement, change, or other purpose, and Without tools.

I prefer to make the device of celluloid, thin rubber, aluminium or other comparatively thin, hard and springy material, any particular substance, of course, not being material, nor need it be resilient, as the retaining corners or flaps may be bent in place after the insertion of the indices.

Referring to the figures, a is the main body or frame. It is pierced or provided with apertures, slots or openings of various shapes so arranged or disposed as to form flaps or similar retaining means co-operating with the portions left to secure the parts, as will be later more particularly pointed out.

5* is a cover adapted to be slipped into the aforesaid slits or apertures a cl/l) cc-dd-ce f y"in e, and is provided with the corners or shoulders twhich bear against the back of the body -a and prevent its slipping out. bis also provided with openings -r s and -q through which the several disks or rings cde 4 and -y may be seen. One of the objects of this cover is to conceal the counter disks or rings as well as to form a means of securing them and making the whole device more secure. This shield is preferably of some different color from the body c and the wheels or disks, so as to make both a pleasing and a useful contrast.

c is a disk provided with suitable characters adapted to be slipped into the apertures or slits c cdcl in the lower part of the body a where it is covered by the lower part -Z) of the shield b exce t at the aperture p as shown in Fig. 1. it will be noticed on reference to Fig. 4 that the aperture Q- in the shield Z) registers with the aperture -p in the body -a, and permits the disk c to appear.) Disk c is moreover held in place in the body -a by the portions nforming flaps which lie in rear of c and keep it from slipping out (see Fig. 2). It will be observed that c* revolves around an imaginary center or pivot which is preferably the center of the lower part of the body a-.

(Z is a ring or annular counter adapted to slip into the frame a as shown in Fig. 2. It is held in the slits aab b c c ff. This annular counter is not shown in Fig. 1 as it is there covered by the shield l except at the aperture -s* registering with -0 in a. It will be observed that it is free to revolve around an imaginary center corresponding with the center of the whole device.

6 is a disk adapted to he slipped into the slits c-coo1 -y (see Figs. 2 and 3); the body a being cut away in such manner as to form flaps in front of the disk which retain it while permitting its free revolution therein around its center. fis a similar disk secured in a similar way but lying in the apertures o v i/- r--9t" 2 2* in rear of the flaps just mentioned, and also in rear of the disk -0 (see Fig. 2). g is an annular counter smaller than, but similar to, d and is adapted to slip into the slits and apertures b b -;rz in rear of the disk -e and flaps above mentioned, but in front of the disk It will be observed that these disks and rings are provided with characters arranged in such way that by the revolution of the respective disks and rings various combinations either of numbers or other characters are secured showing through the apertures r p-so q in the body a and shield b. It will be noted, moreover, that these rings and disks are so placed relative to each other and to the body and shield.

that they do not interfere with each other in their revolutions, and that the numbers are so disposed thereon as to permit the forming of the combinations referred to; and also that these rings and disks serve to support and retain each other in co-operation with the various flaps of the body a, such as the portions or flaps i--i-7t 7tjj-- n n, etc., which flaps are, of course, formed by the peculiar shape of the slits or apertures.

The various disks and rings may and preferably should be slightly roughened on the back as at "0-, Fig. 2, in order that sufficient resistance may be secured to the pressure of the finger as to permit the revolution of the disk or ring in the body a*.

In assembling the various members of this device, the disks may be slightly bent and the body a also bent when necessary, and the flaps lifted to permit the insertion of the disk or ring into the proper slits or openings. Preferably, I first insert the disk -c then -e gfand -(Z- in the order named, and finally place the shield b over all, although this particular order need not necessarily be followed. Indeed, the interest excited by the endeavor to assemble the device easily, properly and quickly is one of the attractive features of my invention.

It may be noted that by revolving the ring and disks fc various combinations of numbers, or other symbols as the case may be, are obtained showing through the aperture -r--, Fig. 1, and different numbers, letters or other characters may be made to appear in the apertures 0 and p-, Figs. 1 and 3, by the revolution of the ring d and disk ---e.

Of course, one of the principal functions of this device is to conveniently count and register the points of a game or series of games such as bridge-whist, and to this end I preferably number the disk -g in consecutive numbers up to 9, a hole preferably indieating the Zero mark. The ring -(Z .l. provide with consecutive even numbers as 2, l, 6, 8, etc, up to 30 a hole preferably indicating the zero mark. The disk --e" is pro vided with consecutive even numbers 2, 4, (i, 8 on both sides of the center line, which center line runs through the two zero marks, one of which may be an aperture. The disk 1 is provided. with consecutive numbers up to E) wth an aperture for the zero mark, but in. the case of this disk the numbers are placed comparatively near the center so that when placed in the body (1 in. connection. with disk and ring c and. -g they will come into proper position relative to the characters on c and -gand make the resulting combination clear. The disk e is provided preferably with letters inv the following order Starting with an aperture which indicates O and going to the right, follows VV, R, L, R on each side of the center line; the letter 0 being on the dividing line opposite the aperture designating O.

In using this device for a game counter for bridge-'\\'hist, the combination of numerals formed by the disks -c-f and ring visible in the apertiu'e r (see Figs. 1 and 3) represents various points secured. The numerals on the ring Z shown through the aperture -0', same F igs., represent the number of game points, while the letters on the disk e shown through the aperture p same figures, indicate respectively the words \Von Iilll.)l)01"* Lost.

It is clear that the device may be quickly assembled or taken apart for any purpose such repair, change or otherwise, and it is evident that there is sufficient friction between the various parts to prevent unintentional ilisarrangcment of the various moving parts while yet permitting the necessary or desirable manipulation, and all without any permanent attachment.

I do not limit myself to any particular material, shape, color, design, arrangement or order of characters. or other qualification of the whole or various parts of this device, nor to the peculiar arrangement or relation of the various parts or the slits or apertures in which they fit, as illustrated, nor to any particular use or purpose for the device, as whist, card or game counter, but

IVhat I do claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A counter, comprising a body of resiliposed in the rear, by which they may be rel volved in said body, and a shield provided 1 with apertures through which the indices 5 may be observed, fitting into the apertures of the body and securing the indices therein.

3. A counter, comprising a frame provided. with apertures extending through the same; a plurality of adjustable plates provided with characters and each secured in two or more of said apertures so as to be retained in place by the frame, and arranged so that the characters thereon can be brought in such mutual relation as to produce various combinations of characters.

4'. The combination of a frame provided with apertures extending through the same,

- and a plurality of adjustable indices held between the edges of the apertures and overlapped by the remaining portions of thej frame.

5. The combination of a body provided with apertures, a plurality of adjustable indices movably retained therein by the remaining portions of the frame, parts of which .indices are exposed in the front and parts of which are exposed in the rear for the purpose of rotation.

6. A counter comprising a frameprovided with apertures extending through the same and an adjustable plate provided with characters and held between the edges of the apj ertures by the edges of the frame.

7. The combination of a "frame provided with. apertures, and a plurality of adjustable indices retained in said apertures and overlapped by adjacent portions of the frame.

8. The combination of a frame provided with apertures, a plurality of adjustable indices held therein, a part of each index being in front, and a part in rear of the frame.

9. The combination of a frame provided with apertures in its surface, a plurality of adjustable indices larger than the apertures, the outside edges of which bear against the inside edges of the apertures and lie partly in rear and partly in front of adjacent portions 3 of the frame.

Signed at city of New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 20 day of September A. D. 1.906.

EDWARD TEMPLE WTLLSON.

i tnesses:

HENRY S. REYNOLDS, ANNA R. BENNETT.

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