US3558139A

US3558139A - Amusement devices

Info

Publication number: US3558139A
Application number: US817971A
Authority: US
Inventors: John R Brandell; Nick C Kategian
Original assignee: Brandell Products Corp
Current assignee: Brandell Products Corp
Priority date: 1969-04-21
Filing date: 1969-04-21
Publication date: 1971-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-26

Abstract

An amusement device embodying a novel carton and a runner, which may be disposed in the carton in folded position for storage, or which may be disposed in extended position of use, the device affording a practice-putting device, or the like. The bottom wall of the carton includes a scored cutout portion which is adapted to be swung downwardly and rearwardly into latching engagement with a rearward opening in the bottom wall to thus form a ballreceiving opening in the bottom wall and a support for holding the carton at an acute angle to a supporting surface. The carton includes a front wall which is movable from a first vertically extending position wherein tabs thereon engage the carton''s sidewalls and bottom wall to a horizontally extending position wherein tabs thereon are retained in guiding engagement between the two piles of material which form the sidewalls. The runner includes a ball-receiving opening which is adapted to be aligned with the ball-receiving opening in the carton''s bottom wall when the runner is in its extended use position overlying the bottom wall and the front wall in its horizontally extending position. A rear wall of the carton includes cut lines which permit U-shaped tabs to be moved outwardly therefrom to provide brackets for supporting a decorative flag.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors John R. Brandell;

Nick C. Kategian, Glenview, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 817,971

[22] Filed Apr. 21, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [73] Assignee Brandell Products Corporation Rosemont, 111. a corporation of Illinois [54] AMUSEMENT DEVICES Primary ExaminerGeorge J. Marlo Attorney-J0hnston, Root, OKeeffe, Keil, Thompson and Shurtleff ABSTRACT: An amusement device embodying a novel carton and a runner, which may be disposed in the carton in folded position for storage, or which may be disposed in extended position of use, the device affording a practice-putting device, or the like. The bottom wall of the carton includes a scored cutout portion which is adapted to be swung downwardly and rearwardly into latching engagement with a rearward opening in the bottom wall to thus form a ballreceiving opening in the bottom wall and a support for holding the carton at an acute angle to a supporting surface. The carton includes a front wall which is movable from a first vertically extending position wherein tabs thereon engage the cartons sidewalls and bottom wall to a horizontally extending position wherein tabs thereon are retained in guiding engagement between the two plies of material which form the sidewalls. The runner includes a ball-receiving opening which is adapted to be aligned with the ball-receiving opening in the cartons bottom wall when the runner is in its extended use position overlying the bottom wall and the front wall in its horizontally extending position. A rear wall of the carton includes cut lines which permit U-shaped tabs to be moved outwardly therefrom to provide brackets for supporting a decorative flag.

PATENTEU'JAN26I97I 3.5581139 SHEET 1 [IF 3 JOHN R BRANDELL NICK C. KATEG/A/V PATENTEU JAN26 I97! 3553.139

sum 3 or 3 4 IN VE N TORS JOHN R. BRA NOEL 1. NICK c. 104 TEGIAN B) M tg {1 54 42 W! REFS AMUSEMENT DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to amusement devices, and, more particularly, to amusement devices of the type which are particularly well adapted for use as a practice-putting device, and the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to afford a novel amusement device.

Another important object of the present invention is to afford a novel practice-putting device.

Practice-putting devices have been heretofore known in the art. However, the practice-putting devices heretofore known commonly have had several inherent disadvantages such as, for example, being large and cumbersome in size; being difficult and expensive to manufacture; being difficult to assemble; being of such size and construction that they were difficult to store or ship; being of such construction that they were difficult for the average person to dispose in position of use; or not affording a desirable putting surface, and the like. It is another important object of the present invention to overcome such disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel amusement device which is of such size and construction that, when the parts thereof are disposed in position of use, it affords an effective practice-putting device of substantial size, complete with a putting surface having the smoothness and texture normally desired by a golfer.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel amusement device of the aforementioned type, which, when the parts thereof are in position for shipment or storage, is relatively small and compact in size.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel amusement device of the aforementioned type wherein the parts thereof may be readily moved between storage position and position of use by the average person.

A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel amusement device of the aforementioned type, which embodies a novel carton portion, with the carton portion embodying a construction wherein the parts thereof are constituted and arranged in a novel and expeditious manner.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to afford a novel cartOIl.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel amusement device of the aforementioned type, including a novel carton, which may be readily and economically produced commercially, and which is practical and efficient in operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an amusement device embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the device in erected, assembled form, ready for storage or shipping;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the amusement device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the carton portion of the amusement device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded top perspective view of the amusement device shown in FIG. 1, showing the parts thereof in extended position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top perspective view, similar to FIG. 5, but showing the parts thereof in assembled position; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the blank suitable for making the carton shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN An amusement device 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The amusement device I affords a highly practical parlorgame type of unit, and is particularly well adapted for use as a putting-practice device, as will be discussed in greater detail presently. As shown, it embodies, in general, a novel carton 2 and a runner 3, FIGS. 1,3 and 6.

In the broader aspects of the invention, the carton 2 may be made of any suitable material, but preferably is made from a suitable foldable material such as, for example, boxboard. It is preferably of the open-top type and embodies a bottom wall 4, with a rear end wall 5, a front end wall 6, and two

sidewalls

7 and 8 extending along, and projecting substantially perpendicularly upwardly from, respective marginal edge portions of the bottom wall 4. The bottom walld is preferably rectangular in shape, with the walls 5-8 foldably connected to respective edge portions thereof substantially throughout the length of the latter. With this arrangement, the

end walls

5 and 6 are disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other, and the

sidewalls

7 and 8 are disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other and in substantially perpendicular relation to the

end walls

5 and 6.

In the carton 2 shown in the drawings, the

sidewalls

7 and 8 embody two

inner plies

9 and 10, and two outer plies 11 and 12, respectively. in the erected carton, as shown in FIG. 3, the plies 9 and II of the sidewall 7 are disposed in juxtaposition to each other, as are the plies l0 and 12 of the sidewall 8.

In the erected carton 2, FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear wall 5 cm bodies a rear panel 13 and a front panel 14 foldably connected to an elongated top panel 15 along

fold lines

16 and 17 extending along opposite side edges of the top panel 15 respectively. The rear panel 13 is foldably connected to the bottom wall 4 along a fold line 18.

The front end wall 6 of the carton 2 is preferably of singleply construction and is connected to the bottom wall 4 along a fold line 19 which extends substantiaLly the entire length of the front edge of the bottom wall 4. At its opposite end edges, the front end wall 6 embodies two panels or

tabs

20 and 21 foldably connected to the main body portion of the front end wall 6 along

fold lines

22 and 23, respectively. Each of the

tabs

20 and 21 embodies an outwardly projecting

ear

24 and 25, respectively, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

When the carton 2 of the amusement device 1 is disposed in erected, assembled form, FIG. 3, the

tabs

20 and 21 are disposed between the plies 9 and 11 and the

plies

10 and 12 of the

sidewalls

7 and 8, respectively. The

tabs

20 and 21 preferably engage the inner faces of the respective pairs of plies with a relatively snug frictional fit so as to effectively hold the front end wall 6 in erected position, with the inner faces thereof disposed in abutting engagement with the adjacent end edges of the

plies

9 and 10. In this position of the

tabs

20 and 21, the

ears

24 and 25 thereon are disposed in

openings

26 and 27, respectively, in the bottom wall 4, FIG. 2, to thereby afford additional frictional latching to assist in holding the front end wall 6 in erected position for storage and shipping purposes.

When the amusement device I is disposed in extended position, as will be discussed in greater detail presently, the front end wall 6 extends forwardly from the fold line 19, by which it is engaged to the bottom wall t, in a substantially horizontal direction, FIGS. 5 and 6. The

tabs

20 and 21 are of such size and shape that the front end wall 6 may be readily manually moved between the aforementioned erect and extended positions, the

tabs

20 and 21 sliding between the plies 9 and II and the plies l and 12 of the sidewalls '7 and 3, respectively, during such movement of the front end wall 13. The ears 2% and 25 are disposed on the

tabs

26 and 21, respectively, in such position that when the front end wall 6 is disposed in the aforementioned extended position, the

ears

24 and 25 remain disposed between the plies 9 and iii and the plies ill) and i2, respectively, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 4 with respect to the car 25, to thereby retain the tabs 20 and 2k in operative, guiding engagement with the

sidewalls

7 and 8. respectively.

The bottom wall 4 of the carton 2, FIG. 3, embodies a substantially circular shaped panel 28, which is cut free from the remainder of the bottom wall 4 along a score line 29, which extends throughout the major portion of the circumference of the panel 28. On the side thereof remote from the front end wall 6, and in inwardly spaced relation to the rear end wall 5, the panel 23 is foldably connected along a fold line 30 to the remainder of the bottom wall 4. Preferably, in the initial construction of the carton 2, the panel 243 is tacked" to the remainder of the bottom wall 4! by a short uncut portion 31, disposed on the side of the panel 28 remote from the fold line 30, so as to hold the panel 23 in uniplanar relation to the remainder of the bottom wall 4 for shipping purposes. A fold line 32 extends across the panel 28 in forwardly spaced relation to the fold line 30 to thereby divide the panel 28 into two foldably connected

portions

33 and 34.

An opening 35, FIG. 3, is formed in the bottom wall 4 between the rear end wall and the fold line 30. A tab 36, which is complementary in size and shape to the opening 35 is formed on the bottom wall panel 28 at the side thereof remote from the fold line 30.

When it is desired to do so in the operation of the amusement device I, as will be discussed in greater detail presently, the tacking or uncut portion 31 may be manually broken to thereby free the panel 28 for downward swinging movement relative to the remainder of the bottom wall 4 around the fold line 30, to thus afford a substantially circular-shaped opening defined by the score line 29. The opening 35 is so disposed relative to the panel 23 that when the latter is thus pushed downwardly from the remainder of the bottom wall 4, into position wherein the portion 33 thereof is disposed in substantially vertically extending position, the portion 34 of the panel 28 may be folded rearwardly and upwardly along the fold line 32 into position wherein the tab 36 is latchingly engaged in the opening 35 to thereby afford a substantially V-shaped support, FIG. 4, which, together with the front edge of the bottom wall 4 is effective to support the carton 2 with the bottom wall 4 disposed at an acute angle A to a supporting surface S on which the fold line 32 between the panel and the bottom wall 4 may rest, as illustrated in FIG. i.

The runner 3 is in the form of an elongated sheet, which is preferably rectangular in shape, and ofa width such that it will fit snugly, but smoothly, between the inner faces of the

sidewalls

7 and 8 of the carton 2. it may be made of any suitable material, but, preferably, is made from a suitable fiberless material such as, for example, foamed polyurethane.

At one end thereof, the runner 3 has two openings 37 and 38 which are complementary in size and shape to the opening 35' and the opening defined by the score line 29, respectively, in the bottom wall The openings 37 and 33 are so disposed on the runner 3 that when the latter is disposed in overlying juxtaposition to the top face ofthe bottom wall 4, with the rear end edge 39 thereof disposed in abutting engagement with the ront face of the rear end wall 5 of the runner 3 disposed in abutting engagement with the inner faces of the sidewalls 7 and 3 of the carton 2, the openings 37 and 38 are disposed in vertical alignment with the opening 35 and the opening defined by the score line 29, respectively, in the bottom wall 4.

The runner 3, preferably, is of such length between the rear end 39 and the front end 42 thereof that when it is folded to fit within the confines of the erected, assembled carton 2, as illustrated in FIG. I, it will fit comfortably within the carton 2, with the upper surface of the runner 3 disposed in substantially uniplanar relation to the upper edges of the walls 8, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the use of the amusement device I, the runner 3 may be removed from its stored position within the carton 2, and the panel 23 may be folded downwardly into the aforementioned position wherein the tab 36 thereof is disposed in latched position in the opening 35, and the carton 2 may then be placed on a suitable supporting surface, such as, on the floor or on the carpet in a living room, or the like, with the fold line 32 of the panel 28 and the front edge of the bottom wall 4 disposed on the upper face of the supporting surface to thereby support the carton 2 at the aforementioned acute angle A. Thereafter, the front end wall 6 may be manually turned downwardly around the fold line 19 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, into position wherein it projects horizontally forwardly from the bottom wall 4 in horizontally extending, overlying juxtaposition to the upper face of the supporting surface S. The runner 3 may then be disposed in extended position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, with the rear end portion thereof disposed in operative position in the carton 2. In such position of the runner 3, the opening 37 therein is disposed in surrounding relation to the tab 36 on the panel 28, and the opening 38 is disposed in vertical alignment with the opening defined by the score line 29 in the bottom wall 4. In extended position, the runner 3 extends forwardly from the carton 2 in closely overlying juxtaposition to the upper face of the bottom wall 4 and the upper face of the extended front end wall 6 onto the upper face of the portion of the supporting surface S disposed directly in front of the carton 2. The runner 3 is preferably made of sufficiently resilient material, and the relative thickness of the runner 3 and the front end wall 6 are preferably such that the leading edge of the front end wall 6 forms substantially no ridge in the upper surface of the runner 3 when the amusement device 1 is disposed in the aforementioned extended position, as illustrated in FIG. 6. With the front end wall 6 made of a single ply of boxboard, and with the runner 3 made of the aforementioned foamed polyurethane, it has been found that the aforementioned desired smoothness of the upper surface of the runner 3 may be afforded with the front wall 6 having a thickness of three thirty-seconds of an inch, and with the runner 3 having an uncompressed thickness of nine thirty-seconds of an inch.

With the amusement device 1 constructed in this manner, and of such material, a novel and practical practice-putting device is afforded, which, when in position of use, affords a putting surface of substantial size, and which, when in stored position, is of such relatively compact size that it is effectively lends itself to storage and shipment. Thus, with the carton 2 having a length of 14% inches, a width of 12 inches and a height of 2 inches, and with the runner 3 made of foamed polyurethane and having a thickness of three thirty-seconds of an inch and a width suitable to fit snugly within the carton 2, a putting surface having an overall length of 6% feet may be afforded.

With the amusement device 1 disposed in the extended position shown in FIG. 6 on a suitable supporting surface S, such as, for example, a bare floor or a carpeted floor, it affords a highly practical amusement device in the operation of which an artificial such as a ball may be rolled rearwardly along the runner 3 from the front end portion 42 thereofin an endeavor to cause the ball to drop into the opening 38 and thus downwardly through the bottom wall 4 of the carton 2. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the ball may be of any suitable type, such as, for example, a tennis ball, or a plastic or rubber ball, and may be rolled by hand. However, the preferred use of the amusement device I, and the use for which it is primarily intended is that of a golf-putting practice device.

In the use of the amusement device I as a golf-putting practice device, with the device disposed in the aforementioned extended position, FIG. 6, the golfer may stand at any position along the edge of the runner 3 between the front end 42 thereof and the carton 2, and, with the golf ball disposed on the upper surface of the runner 3. From such position, the golfer may stroke the ball toward the hold 38 with a putter. The upper surface of the runner 3 is substantially smooth throughout the length thereof, to thereby afford a substantially ideal putting surface." If the golfer is successful in putting the ball into the hole 38, the ball drops downwardly therethrough and through the bottom wall 4 of the carton 2. If, on the other hand, the golfer misses the opening 38, the ball will roll downwardly along the bottom wall 4 of the carton 2 and thus outwardly along the runner 3 to thereby be returned toward the golfer.

If it is desired to do so, a flag, such as the flag 43 shown in FIG. 6, may be mounted on the carton 2 behind the opening 38. Such a flag affords a decorative feature. However, in addition, it may be so disposed on the carton 2, such as, for exampic, on the longitudinal center line of the runner 3, and behind the opening 38, that it affords a practical, small target area for the golfer or other player to aim the ball towards.

In the event that such a flat 43 is to be afforded,

tabs

44 and 45 may be formed in the front panel 14 of the rear end wall 5 for supporting the same, FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. The

tabs

44 and 45 are disposed in vertically aligned, spaced relation to each other. The tab 44 is substantially U-shaped, being defined by

cut lines

46 and 47, and being connected to the main body portion of the panel 14 along fold lines 48. The tab 45 is of substantially inverted U-shape, being defined by

cut lines

49 and 50 and being connected to the main body portion of the panel 14 along fold lines 51. With this construction, in the erected and assembled carton 2, the tab 44 may be folded downwardly into forwardly projecting position, and the tab 45 may be folded upwardly into forwardly projecting position, to thereby afford U-shaped brackets in which the staff of a flag, such as the flag 43, may be mounted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

A blank 52, from which the carton 2 may be constructed, is shown in FIG. 7. It may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, boxboard.

In the position shown in FIG. 7, the blank 52 has the elongated panel 14 extending along the top end thereof. At its upper edge portion, the panel 14 has

tabs

54 and 55 which project outwardly beyond the ends of the

lower end portions

54 and 57 thereof.

The

opposite end portions

58 and 59 of the panel project outwardly beyond the

portions

54 and 55 of the panel 15, and the panel 15 is foldably connected along a fold line 60 to the panel 13.

The panel 13 has two

tabs

61 and 62 foldably connected to the main body portion thereof along

respective fold lines

63 and 64. The fold lines 63 and 64 are disposed in alignment with the

edge portions

54 and 57 of the panel 14. Each of the

tabs

61 and 62 has an opening or recess 61a and 62a, respectively, formed in the lower edge portion thereof for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

It will be remembered that the panel 13 is connected to the bottom wall 4 along the fold line 18, FIGS. 4 and 7. At its opposite lateral sides, the bottom wall 4 is connected to the outer panels 11 and 12 of the

sidewalls

7 and 8 along

fold lines

65 and 66, respectively. The panels 11 and 12 are connected to

inner sidewall panels

9 and 10 along

fold lines

67 and 68, respectively.

Each of the

inner sidewall panels

9 and 10 embody

tabs

69, 70 and 71 which project outwardly from the free longitudinal edges thereof in spaced relation to each other. Also, each of the

inner sidewall panels

9 and 10 embody an opening or recess 72 therein which is the same size and shape as the openings 61a and 62a in the

tabs

61 and 62, for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

It will also be remembered that the front, or bottom edge portion of the bottom wall 4, as viewed in FIG. 7, is attached to the front wall 6 along a fold line 19, and that the front end wall 6 embodies two tabs and 21 foldably attached to the main body portion thereof along

fold lines

22 and 23, respectively, FIGS. 3, 4 and 7.

The sidewall panels 9 and 11, and the

sidewall panels

10 and 12 are separated from the

tabs

61 and 62 by cut lines 73 and 74, respectively. Also, the sidewall panels 11 and 12 are separated from the

tabs

29 and 21 by cut lines 75 and 76,

' respectively, the

ears

24 and 25 on the

tabs

20 and 21 being formed from a corresponding indentation cut into the front edge portions of the panels 11 and 12, respectively.

Adjacent to the fold line 65, and in inwardly spaced relation thereto, four

elongated openings

77, 78, 79 and are formed in the bottom wall in longitudinally aligned, spaced relation to each other. Four openings 31, $2, 83 and 84 identical to the openings 77-81), respectively, are correspondingly formed in the other side of the bottom wall 4 in inwardly spaced relation to the fold line 66, and in horizontally aligned relation to the openings 77-80, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 7.

In the manufacture of the blank 52, the opening 35 is formed in the bottom wall 4, and the bottom wall portion 28 is defined by forming the fold lines 30 and 32 and the cut line 29. Also, the

tabs

44 and 45 are formed by forming the cut lines 46 and 47 and the fold lines 48, and forming the cut lines 49 and 50 and the fold lines 51, respectively.

In the manufacture of the carton 2, the erection thereof from the blank 52 may be readily accomplished. Thus, for example, the rear end wall panels 13-15 and the front end wall panel 16 may be turned upwardly around the fold lines 18 and 19 into perpendicularly upstanding relation to the bottom wall 4. The

tabs

61 and 62 may then be rotated around the fold lines 63 and 64, respectively, into forwardly projecting, perpendicular relation to the rear wall panels 13-15; and the

tabs

20 and 21 may be rotated around the fold lines 22 and 23 into rearwardly extending, perpendicular relation to the front end wall panel 6. Thereafter, the

entire sidewalls

7 and 8 may be rotated around the fold lines 65 and 66, respectively, into upstanding, substantially perpendicular relation to the bottom wall 4; and the

inner sidewall panels

9 and 10 may then be rotated downwardly around the fold lines 67 and 68, respectively, into position to dispose the tabs 69-71 on the

panels

9 and 10 into the openings 77-79, and 81-83, respectively. With this positioning of the sidewall panels 9-12, the

tabs

20 and 61 and the

tabs

21 and 62 are disposed between the plies 9 and 11, and the plies 3 and 10, respectively, with the

ears

24 and 25 on the

tabs

20 and 21 being disposed in the

openings

80 and 84, respectively.

Thereafter, the rear

end wall panels

14 and 15 may be turned downwardly around the fold line 60 into position wherein the panel 15 extends horizontally from the panel 13; and the panel 14 may then be turned downwardly around the fold line 53 into parallel relation to the panel 13, in which position the

tabs

54 and 55 on the respective opposite ends of the panel 14 latchingly engage in the openings 61a and 72 and the openings 62a and 72 disposed at the respective opposite sides of the carton 2, to thereby effectively latch the rear wall 5 of the

sidewalls

7 and 8.

It will be seen that, with the carton 2 disposed in such erected position, it affords a strong and efficient shipping and storage carton. Also, it will be seen that with this construction, the carton 2 may be readily converted by an average person into the target-forming portion of the amusement device 1, and, equally as readily, may be reconverted to an effective storage carton for the runner 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel amusement device.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel, practical and efficient practice-putting device.

Also, it will be seen that the present invention, in its more specific aspects, affords a novel carton construction.

Thus, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. An amusement device comprising:

a. a carton having:

1. a bottom wall;

2. a rear end wall projecting upwardly from one edge portion of said bottom wall;

3. two sidewalls:

a. projecting upwardly fromp6 respective opposite edge portions of said bottom wall; and

b. extending forwardly from respective opposite ends of said rear end wall in substantially parallel relation to each other, and

4. a front end wall:

a. connected to another edge portion of said bottom wall remote from said one edge portion; and

b. extending between said sidewalls;

b. said front end wall being movable between:

1. one position wherein it projects upwardly from said other edge portion in substantially parallel relation to said rear end wall; and

2. another position wherein it projects forwardly from said other edge portion in substantially horizontally extending position; and

c. a runner made of flexible material, and being movable between:

1. a folded position wherein it is disposed wholly within said carton in covering relation to said bottom wall, when said front end wall is disposed in said one position; and

2. an extended position wherein it:

a. is disposed in overlying juxtaposition to said bottom wall and said front end wall, when said front end wall is disposed in said other position; and

b. extends forwardly from said front end wall in substantially horizontally extending position;

d. said carton having:

1. an opening through said bottom wall; and

2. means for supporting said bottom wall at an acute angle to the horizontal, sloping downwardly from said rear wall to said front wall; and

. said runner having another opening therein;

. said other opening being disposed in overlying alignment with said first mentioned opening when said runner is disposed in said extended position, whereby an article can pass along said runner from in front of said carton, across said front end wall, upwardly across said bottom wall and downwardly through said openings, when said runner is disposed in said extended position and said bottom wall is supported at said acute angle.

2. An amusement device as defined in claim 1, and in which:

a. each of said sidewalls comprise two plies;

b. said front end wall has two panels projecting from respective opposite ends thereof;

c. said front end wall is hinged to said other edge portion for swinging movement between said one and the other positions; and

dv said panels:

1. are disposed between said plies of respective ones of said sidewalls; and

2. are slidable between said plied during such swinging movement of said front end wall between said one and other positions.

3. An amusement device as defined in claim 2, and in which:

a. each of said panels has an outwardly projecting ear; and

b. when said front end wall is disposed in said one position said ears extend into said bottom wall; and

0. when said front end wall is disposed in said other position said ears are disposed between said plies in respective ones of said sidewalls in upwardly spaced relation to said bottom wall.

4. An amusement device as defined in claim 1, and in which: a. said means for supporting said bottom wall comprises:

1. a portion of said bottom wall being movable between;

a. one position wherein it is disposed in uniplanar relation to the remainder of said bottom wall and wherein it is effective to substantially close said first mentioned opening; and

b. another position wherein it extends down from said remainder of said bottom wall in position to support said bottom wall at said acute angle.

. An amusement device as defined in claim 4, and in which:

a. said portion of said bottom wall:

1. has one portion foldably connected to said remainder of said bottom wall adjacent to an edge portion or said first-mentioned opening; and

2, has another portion foldably connected to said one portion;

b. said bottom wall has another opening therein on the side of said edge portion of said opening remote from said other portion of said portion of said bottom wall;

c. said portion of said bottom wall is movable between said one and other position around said connection of said one portion thereof with said remainder of said bottom wall to dispose said one portion in downwardly projecting relation to said first mentioned opening; and

d. said other portion of said first mentioned portion of said bottom wall is foldably connected to said one portion for movement, when said one portion is disposed in said downwardly projecting position, into position to latchingly engage in said other opening,

mg?" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 9 D t d January 26, 1971 Inventor(s) John R. Brandell and Nick C. Kategian It. is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 69, before "runner" insert of the carton 2, and with the longitudinal edges 40 and +1 of the Column l, line 6 "artificial" should be article Column 5, line 5, "hold" should be hole Column 5, line 22, "flat" should be flag Column 5, line 55, "5 should be 56 and Column 7, line 10, "fromp 6" should be from Signed and sealed this llth day of May 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIETGHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. An amusement device comprising: a. a carton having: 1. a bottom wall; 2. a rear end wall projecting upwardly from one edge portion of said bottom wall; 3. two sidewalls: a. projecting upwardly fromp6 respective opposite edge portions of said bottom wall; and b. EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID REAR END WALL IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AND 4. a front end wall: a. connected to another edge portion of said bottom wall remote from said one edge portion; and b. extending between said sidewalls; b. said front end wall being movable between: 1. one position wherein it projects upwardly from said other edge portion in substantially parallel relation to said rear end wall; and 2. another position wherein it projects forwardly from said other edge portion in substantially horizontally eXtending position; and c. a runner made of flexible material, and being movable between: 1. a folded position wherein it is disposed wholly within said carton in covering relation to said bottom wall, when said front end wall is disposed in said one position; and 2. an extended position wherein it: a. is disposed in overlying juxtaposition to said bottom wall and said front end wall, when said front end wall is disposed in said other position; and b. extends forwardly from said front end wall in substantially horizontally extending position; d. said carton having: 1. an opening through said bottom wall; and 2. means for supporting said bottom wall at an acute angle to the horizontal, sloping downwardly from said rear wall to said front wall; and e. said runner having another opening therein; f. said other opening being disposed in overlying alignment with said first mentioned opening when said runner is disposed in said extended position, whereby an article can pass along said runner from in front of said carton, across said front end wall, upwardly across said bottom wall and downwardly through said openings, when said runner is disposed in said extended position and said bottom wall is supported at said acute angle.

2. another position wherein it projects forwardly from said other edge portion in substantially horizontally eXtending position; and c. a runner made of flexible material, and being movable between:

2. an extended position wherein it: a. is disposed in overlying juxtaposition to said bottom wall and said front end wall, when said front end wall is disposed in said other position; and b. extends forwardly from said front end wall in substantially horizontally extending position; d. said carton having:

2. means for supporting said bottom wall at an acute angle to the horizontal, sloping downwardly from said rear wall to said front wall; and e. said runner having another opening therein; f. said other opening being disposed in overlying alignment with said first mentioned opening when said runner is disposed in said extended position, whereby an article can pass along said runner from in front of said carton, across said front end wall, upwardly across said bottom wall and downwardly through said openings, when said runner is disposed in said extended position and said bottom wall is supported at said acute angle.

2. An amusement device as defined in claim 1, and in which: a. each of said sidewalls comprise two plies; b. said front end wall has two panels projecting from respective opposite ends thereof; c. said front end wall is hinged to said other edge portion for swinging movement between said one and the other positions; and d. said panels:

2. has another portion foldably connected to said one portion; b. said bottom wall has another opening therein on the side of said edge portion of said opening remote from said other portion of said portion of said bottom wall; c. said portion of said bottom wall is movable between said one and other position around said connection of said one portion thereof with said remainder of said bottom wall to dispose said one portion in downwardly projecting relation to said first mentioned opening; and d. said other portion of said first mentioned portion of said bottom wall is foldably connected to said one portion for movement, when said one portion is disposed in said downwardly projecting position, into position to latchingly engage in said other opening.

3. two sidewalls: a. projecting upwardly fromp6 respective opposite edge portions of said bottom wall; and b. EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID REAR END WALL IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION TO EACH OTHER, AND

3. An amusement device as defined in claim 2, and in which: a. each of said panels has an outwardly projecting ear; and b. when said front end wall is disposed in said one position said ears extend into said bottom wall; and c. when said front end wall is disposed in said other position said ears are disposed between said plies in respective ones of said sidewalls in upwardly spaced relation to said bottom wall.

4. a front end wall: a. connected to another edge portion of said bottom wall remote from said one edge portion; and b. extending between said sidewalls; b. said front end wall being movable between:

5. An amusement device as defined in claim 4, and in which: a. said portion of said bottom wall: