US855949A

US855949A - Snapping device for marbles.

Info

Publication number: US855949A
Application number: US35463107A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willis L Hoffman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1907-01-29
Filing date: 1907-01-29
Publication date: 1907-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1924-06-04

Description

No. 855,949. PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

' W. L. HOFFMAN.

SN-APPING DEVICE-FOR MARBLES.

7 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1907.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SNAPPING DEVICE FOR IVIARBLES.

Application filed January 29,

T!) 1/. 71:71.07) it 777/607] concern.-

Be it known that I, WVrLLIs L. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and- State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Snapping Device for Marbles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a device adapted to be grasped in the hand, and which may hold a marble; the device being constructed in such a way that by a pressure from the hand the marble may be projected as when snapped from the fingers.

. The object of the invention is to produce a device constructed as suggested, adapted to be used by boys in playing marbles, and enabling the marbles to be snapped or thrown with greater force and accuracy than is possible when they are snapped in the ordinary way.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective showing how the device is held in the hand and operated; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device, representing a marble held in the mouth thereof and indicating the manner in which the mar ble is projected from the device.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents a resilient member or spring, which is bent near its middle to form a bow 2, from which extends a pair of substantially parallel and oppositely disposed resilient blades 3 and l. Near the bow 2 the blades 3 and 4 are rigidly connected together by a block 5 through which a fastening device, such as the rivet 6, may pass as shown. The forward ends of the blades 3 and 4 are disposed substantially in alinement with each other, as shown, and at these points the blades are slightly bent so as to form curved lips 7 and 8; the concave side of the curve being disposed inwardly. In this way oppositely'disposed lips are formed, which are adapted to hold a marble therebetween in the manner indicated in the illustrations. Between the lips 7 and 8 and the block 5 the material of the blades 3 and 4 is substantially flat, so that no substantial resistance 1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

1907. Serial No 354,631.

is offered to a flexing of the blades which must occur between these points. The lower lip 8 is slightly more curved than the upper lip, so that this lip more effectually constitutes a seat for the marble 9, as indicated. Near its rear portion, the side edges of the lip 8 are connected by a transverse bar or stop 10 which limits the rearward movement of the marble and enables the marble to be held in the seat formed by the lip 8.

The manner of using the device is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1; it is grasped in the hand, as shown, and the blades 3 and 4 are pressed toward each other at a point between the marble and the block 5. In this way the blades become flexed into substantially the position in which they are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. There is thus exerted a pressure upon the inner side of the marble which will project it forcibly from the device. On account of the fact that the lips 7 and 8 have considerable length, the device afitords means for controlling the direction which the mar,

ble takes, as well as the force with which it is projected. A device constructed as described constitutes a useful and interesting addition to a boys kit of marbles and toys.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described havinga pair of oppositely disposed blades tending to separate, said blades presenting unbroken faces on their outer sides adapted to be pressed by the fingers to force said blades together, and a member disposed entirely between said blades and holding them in posi tion.

2. A device of the class described havinga pair of oppositely disposed blades adapted to hold a marble therebetween, and a block between said blades and attached thereto, one of said blades being flexible whereby the marble may be snapped from said device by pressing the blades together with the fingers.

3. A device of the class described consist ing of a bent spring having a bow and blades extending from said bow, a block connecting said blades near said bow, the ends of said blades being disposed substantially opposite to each other and formed into lips adapted to hold a marble therebetween.

4. A device of the class described having a blade with a curved lip formed at the forward end thereof forming a seat for a marble, a transverse bar disposed near said seat and forming a stop to limit the rearward movename to this specification in thepresence of ment of said (rinarblehand a Second blade en tWo subscribing Witnesses.

a in the si e of t e mar e'o osite sai e irs t b lade, one of said blades b i rlg flexible WVILLIS HOFFMAN 5 whereby the marble may be projected from'l Witnesses:

said device by pressure thereupon. F. D. AMMEN,

In testimony whereof I have signed my l JNo. M. RiTTER.