US3047980A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1962 G. H. BISCHOFF AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23. 1959 FIG.2

INVENTOR GUSTAV H. BISCHOFF ATT ORNEY Aug. 7, 1962 G. H. BISCHOFF AMUSEMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25. 1959 wplr mm INVENTOR GUSTAV H. BISCHOFF ATTQRN EY 3,@ i7,98ll Fatented Aug. 7, 1962 3,0473% AMUSEMENT DEVEQE Gustav H. Eisehoii, 748% Drexei Drive, University City, MO.

Filed Nov. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 354,727 4 Claims. C1. 4-61) This invention relates in general to amusement devices and, more particularly, to a novel device providing great pleasure in use and requiring the exercise of skill.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an amusement device which incorporates a novel playing piece adapted for unusual and unexpected mobility and the controlled operation of which requires dexterity and coordination.

It is an additional object of the present invention t provide an amusement device which incorporates a rockable surface for disposition thereon of a novel playing piece adapted for unpredictable movement responsive to manipulation of the supporting surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an amusement device which is constituted of simply constructed parts which are most durable and reliable in usage and, hence, not subject to ready destruction or damage, and which may be most economically manufactured in high volume.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings (2 sheets) wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and further showing the playing piece in phantom lines in its other position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the playing piece of the present invention. FIGURE 4 is an exploded, fragmentary view of a portion of a playing piece illustrating the relationship of the constituent parts.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the amusement device showing the board in horizontal disposition.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates an amusement device which incorporates a relatively lar e, flat, annular playing surface-forming member or game board 1, constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as Wood, plastic, and the like, which is mounted at its center upon a short leg or peg member 2 having its lower end desirably rounded, as at 2 (FIGURE 5) which is conducive to facile, pivotal movement. It will thus be seen that through the construction of game board 1 the latter will be rockable or tiltable about horizontal axes, and thus, through the rounded character of the lower end of leg 2 will be unstable in horizontal position so that it will normally tend toward an inclined attitude to the horizontal. Thus, FIGURE 5 does not present a position of rest of board l, but is presented merely to reveal the relationship of board 1 and leg 2. In actual use, board 1 may be subjected to sufficient torque, as by spinning by a player, to rotate about its vertical axis, but as the turning force spends itself board 1 will come to rest in tilted position, as shown in FIGURE 1. The upper surface of board 1 may have suitably inscribed thereon a plurality of demarcated zones 3, each of which may carry a numeral representing a preselected point score. However, other indicia may be provided upon board 1 to effect various game objectives without departing from the scope of this invention. The numeral zones 3 thus serve merely to exemplify one possible game usage of the present invention.

Provided for playable disposition upon the upper face of board 1 is a playing piece, indicated at B, which comprises a pair of similar, fiat, annular disk-like member-s 4, 4 arranged in generally sideby-side relationship; each of said members 4, 4' having projecting upwardly from its center a short, slotted boss 5 for engaging the opposite key-forming end 6 of an interconnecting coil spring 7, which latter thus in an arch-like manner bridges between the centers of said members 4, 4. Said spring 7 is of such extent, tension, and strength, as to bias said members i 4/ in different planes. Thus, one member 4 or 4, as the case may be, will be normally disposed restingly upon a support surface, in planar-parallel relationship thereto, while the other member will be tilted or inclined wherein its plane is at an acute angle to the plane of the other member and, accordingly, to the support surface. This basic or normal relationship is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 5, and therein it will be noted that the confronting upper edge portions of the members are in abutting relationship, as at a, b in FIGURE 2.

' Each member 4, 4 carries a weight 8, 8, respectively,

which is located radially of its center. Although the rawings suggest the provision of an insertable type of weight,'it is obvious that the members 4, 4' may be so V designed as to integrally incorporate portions of relatively greater density, so that the same may be weighted in an eccentric fashion. As shown in full lines in FIGURE 2, said weights 8, 8' will be located on the same or corre sponding side of their centers, in substantial mutual alignment, when said playing piece B is in normal or customary starting position. As Will be described hereinbelow, members 4, t will alternatingly change position as playing piece B is'caused to travel over board 1, so that first one member, as 4, will be fiatwise upon board 1, with the other member, as 4', being tilted, and then, subsequently, the latter will be disposed fiatwise and the former will be in tilted attitude. Thus, in an effort to achieve clarity of description, the member which is momentarily flatwise upon the support surface will be referred to hereinbelow as the lower member, and the member which is momentarily tilted or inclined will be referred to as the upper member.

In usage, with a playing piece B disposed on game board 1, and in its normal position, as shown in FIG- URE 2 in full lines, a player will then manipulate board 1, as by rocking, oscillating, spinning, tilting, etc. to cause playing piece B to move thereacross in order to bring to rest or land the lower member wholly within the boundaries of any one of these demarcated zones 3. Upon attainment of such an aim, the player will be entitled to a point score corresponding to the number appearing in the particular zone 3. The novel construction of playing piece B provides same with a very unusual and unpredictable mobility so as to cause the location of a lower member within a scoring zone to require skillful, deft handling of board 1; it being noted that a player is not permitted to touch playing piece B during its playing movement. Such movement is produced as the result of various forces developed through the character of movement accorded board 1 by a player and the responses thereto by playing piece B through its unusual character. When game board 1 is tilted, as suggested in FIGURE 1, lower member 4 will through friction tend to resist movement and with the weight .of the upper member being elevated the same will cause upper member to wheel or rotate about lower member, with spring 7 thus acting as an axle, and with edge a of the former thus running about the edge portion b of the latter; which latter thus provides a track. Such moveass-aces ment will continue until the upper member has moved through an arc of 180 degrees and its now lowered weight, that is, with relationship to the support surface, will cause same to drop downwardly in flatwise, resting disposition upon the support surface, as indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. Thus, the erstwhile upper member has now become the lower member and the erstwhile lower member has been brought into elevated r tilted position. The lower member, through friction, as stated, Will tend to resist movement during the wheeling action of the upper member, but there will be some limited tendency toward a slight sliding action through a pull exerted by the spring 7; As thus described, the members 4, 4 of playing piece B have exchanged positions. By reference to the figure in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the relative position of weights 8, 8' has been thus altered, causing a shifting of the center of gravity of playing piece B, whereby said weights are now on opposite sides of their respective centers, and which will introduce an element of instability. Additionally, by such movement, as described, a torque or twisting force will have been developed upon spring 7, which further tends toward the momentary unstable condition of playing piece B so that continued movement or action is produced, whereby the now-elevated or upper member, as at 4, will circle or wheel about the presently flatwise or lower member, as 4, which latter will remain relatively stationary through friction, during such movement, for returning the members to the initial relationship for completing a cycle. But with the provision of a gravitational pull, a similar cycle may be instituted so that the playing piece B can be moved about board 1, responsive to the various attitudes to which said board may be subjected by a player. It is, of course, recognized that playing piece B can be brought to rest by presenting board l in horizontal position wherein the frictional engagement between the lower member and the support surface will tend to prevent the completion of a cycle of movement as described. The tilted disk, resting on its knife-like edge portions produces practically no friction, and with its related weight in thrust position, is readily driven or spun downwardly to its fiat or frictional position, while the tension in spring 7 serves to lift the other-disk, causing the action to be repetitive.

Thus, playing piece B through its very unusual construction, may be subjected to a multiplicity of forces for inducing a novel, highly fascinating, and entertaining mobility so that great pleasure will be evoked in the users while engaging in efforts at dexterously handling board 1 to bring a lower member within a scoring zone 3. It will be noted that depending upon the particular direction of tilt or slant of board 1, the upper member may move clockwise or counterclockwise about the lower member, and as. pointed out above, when proceeding from initial position the torque developed in spring 7, tension in spring 7, the elevation of the weight in the upper member for driving the related disk and the shifting of the Weights or the center of gravity of playing piece B all combine to produce further movement of playing piece B. Patently, to control the movement of playing piece B considerable skill and dexterity is required for commensurately changing the attitude of board 1.

The device of the present invention provides a source of heightened amusement, requires the development of manual skill in playing, and may be enjoyed by adults as well as children. Furthermore, the unusual character of playing piece B lends an unpredictable and exciting element to the operation of the device and, hence, provides a source of continuous pleasure to its user. It is apparent that the construction or" game A is quite simple,

and the parts thereof may be most economically pro duced in high volume for durability and reliability.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the amusement device may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described Without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

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

1. An amusement device comprising a surface-forming member adapted for rockable movement about horizontal axes, and a playing piece for disposition on said surface-forming member for movement thereon, said playing piece comprising a pair of members having fiat, bottom surface portions and being arranged in substantially side-by-side relationship, each of said playing piece members being eccentrically weighted, and a spring extending between, and secured at its end to, said playing piece members at corresponding points on their respective vertical axes, said spring being of such length and tension as to bias one of said members into tilted relationship with respect to the other, whereby confronting edge portions of said playing piece members are in contact.

2. An amusement device comprising a game board adapted for rockable movement about horizontal axes and a playing piece for disposition on said game board for movement thereon responsive to rocking of said board, said playing piece comprising a pair of similar members having flat bottom surace portions for alternating resting disposition upon said game board and being error in generally side-by-side relationship, each of s'd playing piece members having an eccentric, weighted portion, and a coil spring extending between secured at its ends to said members at corresponding points on their vertical axes, said spring being of such length and tension as to bias one of said members into upwardly tilted relationship to the other member wherein confronting upper edge portions of said playing piece members are in contactive engagement, said playing piece members being round edged so that the upwardly tilted member may roll about the other member under influence of forces applied on said game board.

3. For use in an amusement device, a playing piece comprising a pair of similar flat bottom members, arranged in general side-by-side relationship, each of said playing piece members having an eccentric, weighted portion, and a spring extending between said members and connecting same at corresponding points on their verti cal axes, said spring biasing one of said members into upwardly tilted relationship to the other.

4-. For use with an amusement device, a playing piece comprising a pair of similar, flat bottom members, being arranged in general side-by-side relationship, said memers being round edged, and each having an eccentric, weighted portion, and a spring member connected at its ends to, and extending between, said playing piece members, said spring member being engaged at corresponding points in the vertical axes of said members and extenupwardly therefrom, said spring member biasing one of said members into tilted relationship to the other whereby the confronting upper edge portions of said members are in contactive relationship.

References (Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,827,383 Clark Oct. 13, 1931 2,415,012 James Jan. 28, 1947 2,530,082 Roth Nov. 14, 1950 2,854,786 Sabo Oct. 7, 1958

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