US2573916A - Game top - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6, 1951 J, w, LIOVEDAY 2,573,916

' GAME TOP Filed March 6, 1947 Ila-E Juuus WELLER LOVEDAV Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE GAME TOP Julius Weller Loveday Detroit, Mich. Application March 6, 1947, Serial No. 732,740

This invention relates to an improved to structure adapted to be used as a game.

An object is to provide a game top consisting of at least two separable elements, each of which bears game indicia and which elements together make up the top and function together while the top is spinning, but which elements automatically separate when the top falls over upon completion of spinning. When so separated each element exposes upwardly an indicia-bearing face.

Another object is to provide a game top of the character described which comprises a hollow shell element which exhibits a plurality of flat sides each bearing game indicia and at one end a point upon which the top is adapted to spin, and at the opposite end a handle element receiving recess. The handle element which is separate from the shell element exhibits a body portion provided with a similar corresponding plurality of flat sides and oppositely directed end handle portions. This handle element is receivable as to either end portion and the body portion within the hollow interior of the shell element to engage the same to rotate therewith.

' A preferred embodiment of the within described game top is one wherein the shell element and the handle element constitute a pair of dice and upon the completion of the spinning of the top the two elements separate and fly apart as the top falls over and exhibit two dice faces, one on each element.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 exhibits a side elevation of the complete top assembly and also of the handle element of the top,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the top assembly shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the top assembly shown in Figure 1, V

Figure 4 is a view showing the handle element separated from the shell element and with the shell element in vertical cross section to illustrate the interior thereof, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the top structure shown in Figure 1 illustrating two of the flat side faces thereof.

In the drawing there is illustrated a game top which is made up of two elements. One element is a hollow shell element indicated as [0 and the other element is a handle element indicated generally as I 2. The hollow shell element is provided with a plurality of flat similar sides l6, six

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-147) sides being here shown. These six sides may bear gameindicia such as appears on a dice member. Each flat side is adapted to support the shell element with another flat side exposed upwardly as shown in Figure 3. The shell element is provided at one end with a point 'i 8 upon which the top is adapted to spin. At the opposite end the shell is hollowed out interiorly as shown particularly in Figure 4 and as hereinafter described. The ends of the shell element are so formed that the element is not adapted for support thereon.

The handle element which is shown in side elevation in Figures 1 and 4 and is indicated by the numeral [2 includes a body portion 20 provided with similar oppositely directed stemshaped handle portions22. The body portion 20 has a flat sided configuration which corresponds with that of the shell element so that it is adapted to lie fiat on either one of its six sides and expose another side upwardly. The end portions 22 are oppositely disposed and similarly formed as shown. The six sides of the body portion 20 are here illustrated as bearing game indicia corresponding to those appearing on the six sides of the shell element It. The ends of the handle portions are so formed that the handle element is not adapted to be supported thereon.

The top face or upper end of the shell element may be arcuate in appearance as shown in the figures of the drawing and is indicated by the numeral 24. The bottom face or lower end of the shell element may exhibit the configuration of a six-sided pyramid having faces 26 as shown. The shell element, when it falls over upon the completion of the spinning operation, will fall upon one of the flat faces l6 and will not rest upon either end face. The handle element, when it falls over upon the completion of spinning of the top, will rest upon one of the six flat faces of the body 29 and will not rest upon either end.

It is apparent, therefore, that upon assembly of the two elements the top may be spun as a unit and upon completion of its spinning as it falls over, that due to centrifugal force the handle element will be thrown clear of the shell element and the two elements will lie flat upon the surface of the table or the like, each exhibiting upwardly a fiat game indicia-bearing face.

What I claim is:

1. A game top comprising, in combination, a member terminating in a pointed end upon which the member can spin on a fiat surface and provided with a plurality of similar exterior flat side faces circularly spaced around the axis of the member, each of said side faces being distinctively marked and adapted to support the member at rest on a flat surface and expose the opposite side face in uppermost position, said member having a cavity opening out through the end thereof opposite to said pointed end and shaped with a plurality of similar interior flat side faces extending to the edge of the opening of the cavity, a handle element for spinning the top provided with a body portion having a plurality of similar exterior flat side faces circularly spaced around the axis of the handle element and corresponding in number to said interior side faces; of the member and further having a stem portion projecting from one end of the body, each of said side faces of the handle element being distinctively marked and adapted to support the handle element at rest on a flat surface and ex; pose the opposite side face in uppermost position, said body portion of the handle element being dimensionally shaped to endwise slidably fit within the cavity of the member and bein snugly received therein with its exterior flat side faces in juxtaposed complementary relation to the interior flat side face of the member and with the stern portion projecting outwardly from the member to provide a finger grip, said complementary opposed side flat faces releasably interlocking the handle element to the member for joint spinning motion as one piece on said pointed end of the member but enabling the handle element to readily separate from the member when the latter stops spinning and falls. on its side.

2. A game top comprising, in combination, an outer member terminating in a. pointed end upon which the member can spin on a fiat surface and provided with six similar external flat side faces circularly spaced around the axis of the member, each Of said side faces being distinctively marked and adaptedto support the member at rest on a fiat surface with the opposite side face in uppermost position and exposed to View, said member being hollowed out interiorly to form a cavity closed adjacent to said pointed end and opening out through the opposite end of the 4 member, said cavity having a reduced substantial- 1y cylindrical portion adjacent to its closed end and a wider portion having six similar internal flat side faces circularly spaced around the axis of the member and extending to the edge of the opening of the cavity, a handle element for spinning the top having a relatively wide intermediate portion shaped to form six similar external flat side faces circularly spaced therearound, each of said side faces being distinctively marked and adapted to support the handle element at rest on a flat surface with the opposite side face in uppermost .position and exposed to view, a similar reduced substantially cylindrical stem portion projecting from each end of the body portion of the handle element, said handle element being dimensionally shaped to endwise slidably fit Within'the cavity and being snugly received therein with one stem portion thereof disposed in the reduced portion of the cavity and the body portion thereof disposed in the wider portion of the cavity with the external flat faces in juxtaposed complementary relation to the internal flat faces of the cavity, the opposite stem portion of the handle element projecting outwardly from the member to provide a finger grip for spinning the top, said complementary juxtaposed side faces releasably interlocking the handle element to the member for joint rotation as one piece when the top is spun but enabling the handle element to slide out of the cavity of the member when the latter falls on its side upon completion of the spin.

JULIUVSQVWELLER; LOVE-DAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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