US3589723A - Device with depending tray - Google Patents

Abstract

A game device including an upright structure having a laterally outwardly portion adjacent its top, and means at the upper end of said upright structure for releasably supporting a depending tray member disposed in swingable relationship thereto and which is adapted to receive playing pieces. The support means for the depending member comprises a looplike structure, and the depending member includes a portion adapted to bear against the base surface of the looplike structure. The game includes a plurality of playing pieces and chance means for determining the number of playing pieces to be placed on the tray, and the placement of an excessive number of pieces on the tray causes the latter to fall from the support means. The game is disposed in a container which is openable to present hingedly connected sidewalls adapted to receive the upright structure of the game device.

Description

United States Patent Inventors Marvin I. Glms OTHER REFERENCES Schaper l966 Game Catalog, The Last Straw" Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Chicago;

Jeffrey D. Breslow, Evanston, both of, ll]. [21 1 Appl. No. 780,695 [22] Filed Dee. 3,1968 45 pammed 19, 1971 Anorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and McCord [73] Assignee Marvin Glass & Associates ABSTRACT: A game device including an upright structure having a laterally outwardly portion adjacent its top, and

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NDING TRAY CHANGE means at the upper end of said upnght structure for releasably supporting a depending tray member disposed in swingable relationship thereto and which is adapted to receive playing 273/1 pieces. The support means for the depending member com- A63f 9/00 prises a looplike structure, and the depending member in- 273/1; cludes a portion adapted to bear against the base surface of the looplike structure. The game includes a plurality of play- Chins, s'nuilni'ri s.

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ing pieces and chance means for determining the number of References Cited 0.0% ma 6H m m e .1 e ahd lute D-SS emw uS -l dc m fw vnU e r a ting t e mob n S 0W8 de -la C e afm m. n 660 .0100. omP tuu a 6 p ev. .11 nrfi .mm e In 0.8%

sidewalls adapted to receive the upright structure of the game device.

PATENTED M29197: 7 3.589723 SHEET 2 ur z N v E N TO R s MAAV/A QASS JEFFRHQWESMW EY QEJNL HIQEBENP NQJBAKQWLW R M t1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to games and amusement devices.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There have been many recent developments along the lines of games made of simple interconnectable elements which may be stored in very compact boxes and may be easily assembled and set up for use. Many of these have taken the form of rather sophisticated adult games. However, few such games are suitable for use by young children and even fewer utilize the releasable nature of some of the interengageabIeJassembled components as a chance element in the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of a game made of interengageable components including a releasably con'nectable element as a chance element in the game.

The best mode currently contemplated by me for carrying out the invention is the provision of an interchangeable notched structure simulating a tree with a generally cantilevered branch hanging outwardly therefrom. The branch terminates in a generally U'shaped loop to receive the hooked arm of a simulated monkey. The simulated monkey has a hooked tail from which a tray hangs. Playing pieces and a chance device are provided. When a sufficient number of playing pieces are placed on the tray in accordance with the dictates of the chance device or when the scale is disturbed during placement of playing pieces by one of the players, the monkey will fall from its releasable hanging position from the limb of the tree and the player causing the fall loses the given round.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the container utilized as part of the game of this invention and showing the container in closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in the open position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view through the container of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the hinged portion of the container of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the game of this invention shown in assembled condition;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the structure for connecting the elements of the game of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the releasable connection between a simulated monkey arm and tree limb extensions;

FIG. 8 is a plan view ofa plurality of the playing pieces utilized with the game of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game 10 of this invention may be carried within a suitable carrying case 100. Referring first to FIGS. 5 through 8, the game 10 includes a simulated tree 12 having simulated monkey 14 hanging therefrom. A simulated tray I6 hangs by means of strings 16a from the monkey. The game further provides a chance device 18 including the usual spinner 18a and circular segments 18b on the face thereof. Further included in the game is a plurality of playing pieces 20 preferably in the form of simulated bananas, such as the yellow banana 20a, green banana 20b and a brown or rotten banana 200. The elements l2, 14, 16, 18 and 20 are preferably made of a suitable cardboard or plastic material or the like.

Included in the tree 12 is a lower trunk portion 22 having an elongate lower notch 22a. Spaced upwardly from the bottom of the lower trunk portion are two laterally diverging legs or foot portions 24a and 24b. The trunk also has a notch 22b at its upper end for connection with the interconnecting member 28. Member 28 has a notched bottom 28a and a notched top 2811.

Referringto FIG. 6, the two adjacent elements 22 and 28 are positioned at right angles to each other with the notches assembled one into the other to complete the connection. Preferably, the width of each notch is approximately the same as the exterior dimension between the opposite faces of the generallyflat elements to insure a good, snug fit. Upper trunk member 30 has a lower notch 30a which engages with the upper notch 28b of the interconnector 28 and an upper notch 30b which engages with the lower notch 28a of another interconnector member 28. The upper notch 28b of interconnector 28 receives the lower notch 32a of simulated limb 32 which hangs outwardly in a generally cantilevered fashion. At the free endof the limb there is another notch 32b which receives the notch 34a of limb extension 34.

Limb extension 34 terminates in a depending loop 36 or monkey suspending element. Loop 36 has closely spaced apart, generally parallel sides 36a and 36b spanned by a bottom 36:. The sides of the loops terminate in outwardly diverging feet 36d and 36e which are secured to the underside of the limb extension 34.

The simulated monkey 14 includes an upraised, curved arm 40 with a hooked or downturned end 40a terminating in a rounded bottom 40b. End 40a is intended to be received between the sides 36a and 36b of the loop 36 as best seen in FIG. 5 and in enlarged detail in FIG. 7. Preferably, the thickness of the hooked end 40a generally corresponds to the distance between the interior faces of the sides 36a and 36b so that the end will be relatively snugly received therein. Also, preferably the bottom 36c of loop 36 is of a forward to rear depth generally coextensive to that of end 40a. When the simulated monkey is suspended from the loop 36, the bottom 36c bears against the free end of the hooked portion 40a to support the monkey against gravitational forces. The simulated monkey 14 is further provided with a downwardly extending, simulated tail 42 terminating in outwardly upturned hooked end 42a from which the string 16a and the support string 16 depend.

When it is desired to mount the simulated tree 12 onto the case 10a, the case is placed in the open position as shown in FIG. 2, and the lower trunk portion 22 is assembled on a generally inverted U-shaped base piece 44 with the notch 22a of lower trunk 22 inserted into a notch 44a in U-shaped base piece 44. The base 44 straddles the opposite adjacent walls 48a and 48b of the two case halves with the lower trunk portion 22 extending through a slot 50 in a medial web or hinged portion 52 which joins the two walls 48a and 4812.

Generally speaking, the case is comprised of two traylike cover panels 56a and 56b, each having handle half portions 580 and 58b with the aforementioned hinged portion or medial web 52 therebetween. For closure purposes, one of the traylike cover panels 560 may have a peripheral flange 60 and the other may have a peripheral rib 62 intended to mate with the flange as best seen in FIG. 3. For supporting the case when not in use, depending feet 64a and 64b may be provided on each of the traylike halves 56a and 56b as best seen in FIG. 3.

In use, the game participants are each provided with a certain number, preferably four. of simulated rotten or brown bananas 20c. The remaining simulated bananas are left in a common pile. The first player actuates the chance device by spinning the spinner "la and, as indicated by the position where the spinner comes to rest, the player places the indicated number of simulated bananas 20 on the tray 16. The object is for each player to try to get rid of his simulated rotten or brown bananas. When the spinner so indicates, a player may get rid of the indicated number of his own rotten bananas and place them on the tray.

During play, it is possible that the monkey will be knocked from the tree, either by the imposition of too many bananas on the tray or by the careless handling and deposit of the bananas on the tray by a player. When this happens, the player who knocks out the monkey must take all of the rotten bananas that fell from the basket. The other bananas, such as the yellow and green bananas are put back into the common pile, and the play continues. The game terminates when one player is completely out of rotten bananasand the monkey has fallen from the tree. lf the player has placed his last rotten banana on the tray, the play must continue until the monkey falls from the tree. If it should fall by the action of the player who is out of rotten bananas, he must collect all those simulated rotten bananas from the monkeys tray and the play continues.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A game device comprising means simulating an upright structure; a simulated lateral structure extending generally laterally outwardly from the simulated upright structure; sup

port means at one end of the simulated lateral structure for releasably supporting a depending member comprising a generally outwardly opening looplike structure having a flat base and upright walls; a depending member having a generally outwardly extending grasping portion constructed and arranged for releasable engagement with said support means said grasping portion being of a size and shape to nestably. engage said looplike structure and bear against the flat base thereof; receiving means extending outwardly from said depending member generally opposite said grasping portion and including a tray swingably mounted on said depending member; playing piece elements for deposit on said receiving means, and chance means for determining the number of playing pieces to be placed on said tray, whereby the imposition of excessive number of playing pieces on the receiving means will cause the release of the depending member from the support means.

2. The game device of claim 1, including a container for said device comprising two sections each having a bottom wall with sidewalls extending outwardly therefrom, said two sections being hingedly connected along adjacent sidewalls and openable to a position wherein said adjacent side walls extend upwardly in side-by-side relation, and means on said upright structure for frictionally engaging said adjacent side walls when said container is open to thereby support said upright structure on said container.

Claims (2)

1. A game device comprising means simulating an upright structure; a simulated lateral structure extending generally laterally outwardly from the simulated upright structure; support means at one end of the simulated lateral structure for releasably supporting a depending member comprising a generally outwardly opening looplike structure having a flat base and upright walls; a depending member having a generally outwardly extending grasping portion constructed and arranged for releasable engagement with said support means said grasping portion being of a size and shape to nestably engage said looplike structure and bear against the flat base thereof; receiving means extending outwardly from said depending member generally opposite said grasping portion and including a tray swingably mounted on said depending member; playing piece elements for deposit on said receiving means, and chance means for determining the number of playing pieces to be placed on said tray, whereby the imposition of excessive number of playing pieces on the receiving means will cause the release of the depending meMber from the support means.

2. The game device of claim 1, including a container for said device comprising two sections each having a bottom wall with sidewalls extending outwardly therefrom, said two sections being hingedly connected along adjacent sidewalls and openable to a position wherein said adjacent side walls extend upwardly in side-by-side relation, and means on said upright structure for frictionally engaging said adjacent side walls when said container is open to thereby support said upright structure on said container.

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