US3901510A

US3901510A - Device for testing the skill of a manipulator

Info

Publication number: US3901510A
Application number: US489380A
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Demaio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-07-17
Filing date: 1974-07-17
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26

Abstract

The invention is in a device for testing skills, in which the device may be cylindrical, with an inner concentric tube, which has either a number of openings leading to the interior of the tube, or a number of receptacles which are sealed off from the interior of the tube, but opening into the area between the tube and the main cylinder, where a number of loose pieces, such as marbles, which may be of different colors, are loose in the space between tube and cylinder, so that these loose pieces may be agitated by the manipulator in order to catch the pieces flying through that space either in the openings, or in the receptacles, and where the pieces may be colored, and the holes or the receptacles may be identified by colors, to make necessary an even higher degree of skill to effect the locating of the proper piece in the proper opening or receptacle.

Description

United States Patent 1 D'emaio 1 1 Aug. 26, 1975 [76] Inventor: Peter Demaio, 142 Bay 7th St.,

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11228 [22] Filed: July 17, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 489,380

Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello Attorney, Agent, or FirmHenry L. Burkitt 1 ABSTRACT The invention is in a device for testing skills, in which the device may be cylindrical, with an inner concentric tube, which has either a number of openings leading to the interior of the tube, or a number of receptacles which are sealed off from the interior of the tube, but opening into the area between the tube and the main cylinder, where a number of loose pieces, such as marbles, which may be of different colors, are loose in the space between tube and cylinder, so that these loose pieces may be agitated by the manipulator in order to catch the pieces flying through that space either in the openings, or in the receptacles, and where the pieces may be colored, and the holes or the receptacles may be identified by colors, to make necessary an even higher degree of skill to effect the locating of the proper piece in the proper opening or receptacle.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR TESTING THE SKILL OF A MANIPULATOR The invention relates to a device for testing the skill of a manipulator. The device is intended to test such skill in its manipulation to bring together identifiable objects with identifiable receiving means.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which may, in one embodiment, be cylindrical in form, wherein there is associated with an outer container, an inner tubular member, which may have a common axis, and if both container and member are cylindrical, may be substantially concentric, where, in the space between container and member, there may be positioned, at the commencement of a manipulation, small pieces which, by imparting to the assembled container and member, movement, as for instance, by shaking, or vibrating, or imparting a revolving movement to, the whole device, to obtain centrifugal, and then centripetal, motion, and where the inner tubular member is provided with a plurality of openings which may provide open communication between the container and the interior of the tubular member, or where such communication may be by means of openings into receptacles which do not communicate with the area within the tubular member, so that, in accordance with skill of the manipulator, the pieces may be caused to fall through the openings or into the receptacles, and thus a device is provided by means of which a manipulator may test his skill in seeking, by his manipulation of the entire device, to bring the pieces into the openings, or into the receptacles, as the case may be.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device in which the pieces hereinbefore referred to may be colored to provide an additional test for determining more exactly the skill of the manipulator in relation to his ability for associating a piece of a distinctive color with a specific opening or receptacle.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated, in which the container may be of any general contouring, and thus not limited to a cylindrical cross-section, and where the inner tubular member likewise may be of any desiredcross-section, in order to provide a further element in testing the skill of the manipulator.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which are illustrated embodiments exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of any such construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method of operation or use, or any of the various details thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, as the same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied in many varied relations, without departing from the spirt and scope of the claimed invention, of which the exemplifying embodiments, herein shown and described, are intended only to be illustrative, and only for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the Statutes for disclosure of an operative embodiment, but not to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which are disclosed such practical constructions,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying certain features of the invention, parts being broken away to disclose internal construction, and parts being shown shaded for color;

FIG. 2 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, showing the construction in which just openings are provided into the bore of the inner tubular member, and certain of the marbles being shaded for color;

FIG. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially of the same configuration as FIG. 2, except that the openings in the walls of the inner tubular member receive receptacles which are carried by and extend into the interior of the inner tubular member, where the bottoms of the receptacles are sealed against communication with the area within the tubular member, and certain of the marbles are shown shaded for color; and

FIG. 4 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3, of the container and the inner tubular member, showing pieces at rest on the inner surface of the container and a receptacle.

On the drawings (FIGS. 1 and 2), there is depicted a device in which a container 10 is formed from material, such as a clear plastic, so that the manipulator will be able to observe what is happening within that container as he handles it. Although container 10 is shown to be of substantially cylindrical form, it is to be understood that this cylindrical for is not the requisite form, although it may be desirable for certain purposes, as, for instance, ease in manufacture. For instance, an cetagonal cross-section may produce some of the results which may also be attained by a cylindrical crosssection, but, of course, creating a situation where the manipulator must display much greater skill than with a container which is of cylindrical cross-section. It is to be understood that, in any case, the thickness of the material forming walls 12 of container 10 should be sufficient so that such walls will be capable of absorbing the shocks during the manipulations to be described.

Container 10 is closed by

end caps

14 and 16, which may be of the same material as that used for walls 12. Caps l4 and 16 may be fixed in position, as, for instance, by being cemented to the end faces 18 of walls 12.

End caps

14 and 16 may be provided with openings 20 and 22.A tubular member 28, which may be of the same material as container 10, may be positioned within and coaxially with container 10. Its

ends

24 and 26 may abut against and be secured, as by cementing, to the inner faces of

end caps

14 and 16 around

openings

20 and 22. Member 28 may be closed, at

openings

20 and 22, by means of

extensions

30 and 32. These extensions may be an integral part of

end caps

34 and 36 for the open ends of member 28. At least one end cap is provided with a cup 38 which may nest within member 28, and, by means of a wall extension, fit snugly within the bore of member 28 and against end face 40, and yet be removable therefrom at various stages of use of the device.

Extensions

30 and 32 may serve to provide handles by which the manipulator holds and manipulates the device. I V

Tubular member 28, within container 10, is provided with a plurality of

openings

42, 44 and 46', thes e openings may be formed by cutting through wall 48 of member 28. Whilesuch openings may be centered on a straight line at the same diametrical position on member 28, it is possible, at least, that

such openings

42, 44

and 46 be staggered at different radial positions around wall 48.

Positioned to roll freely in container may be a number of pieces 50. In the disclosure, these pieces are in the form of marbles, that is, spherical, the dimensions of which are less than the dimensions of

openings

42, 44 and 46. Pieces 50 may be provided in shapes other than that of a sphere, but the dimensions of the pieces must be such that the pieces may pass readily through any one of

openings

42, 44 and 46. By gravity, these pieces normally will rest on the inner surface 52 of the bottommost portion of container 10, when the container is held by the hands grasping extensions and 32, as, for instance, when the container is substantially horizontal.

The manipulator, by movements of his hands, may produce any desired movements of the container. One procedure found desirable is to move both hands of the manipulator so that the whole container, while held substantially in a horizontal position, moves in what approximates a circular path. According to the speed of such movement, pieces 50 will roll upon the inner surface 52 of walls 12 of container 10. However, the experienced manipulator will try to slow up, and then even to stop, this movement in order to try to get the pieces to fall through one or more of

openings

42, 44 and 46.

The degree of skill involved may be enhanced by coloring the pieces according to a desired scheme, as, for instance, having one of the pieces red, another, white, and another blue. Then the areas immediately at

open ings

42, 44 and 46 may be provided with a similar color indication, as, for instance, by a circle of paint 54 immediately around each opening. Then the game may require that the manipulator cause a red piece 50 to fall through the opening marked with a red indication, a white piece, to fall through the opening which has the white indication, and the blue piece, to fall through the opening with the blue indication.

If and when the manipulator is able to effect the de sired registry, or if he gives up after having tried and failed, and if he has gotten one of the pieces 50 to go through one of the openings, cup 38 may be removed, and pieces 50 moved back to their position on surface 52, in the interior of container 10. One of

end caps

14 and 16 may be formed with a small flange 56, to be received sungly over a ledge 58 formed at the end of wall 12 of container 10. Thus, when the occasion arises, as, for instance, as just described, this cap may be removed, and the pieces, which have passed into the interior of tubular member 28, may be reintroduced into container 10, to roll on surface 52.

In the construction depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the interior of tubular member 28 is not open to the interior of container 10. Instead, at each of

openings

42, 44, and 46, there is positioned one of

receptacles

60, 62 and 64. These receptacles may themselves be made of a material substantially identical with the material from which container 10 and tubular member 28 are formed, that is, a clear plastic, so that all of the operations which will take place within container 10 will be visible to the manipulator.

Receptacles

60, 62 and 64 may be circular in cross-section, and have their ends closed, in each case, by a wall 66.

At the ends at which they coincide with

openings

42, 44, and 46, the cylindrical walls 68 of the receptacles are cut away so as to fit properly into

receptacle openings

42, 44, and 46. Obviously where each receptacle is assembled with its respective opening, the opening into the receptacle is less than that of each of

openings

42, 44, and 46. However. the bore of each of the receptacles must be greater than the diameter of any of pieces 50.

The same procedure for manipulation may be followed as in the case of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, that is, revolving the container in a path according to the will of the manipulator, but still with the purpose of causing pieces 50 to flow around the inner surface of v walls 12 of container 10, and then to gauge their centrifugal force to cause them to fall as closely as possible to enter one or the other of the respective receptacles. Again, there will be the matter of getting the falling pieces to fall into the

proper receptacles

60, 62 or 64, according to the color of the piece and of the indication at the opening to the respective receptacle. If and when the piece does come to rest in a receptacle, it will not enter the space within tubular member 28, but will be confined in the receptacle. When another manipulator desires to test his skill, to see whether he can get the pieces into the proper openings, all that is necessary is that the container be rotated, by means of

extensions

30 and 32, so that pieces 50 fall out of the receptacles. and onto inner face 70 of container 10.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular constructions, and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific details thereof, hereinbefore set forth, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined herein, the specific description being merely of embodiments capable of illustrating certain principles of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A device for testing manipulative skills, the device comprising a hollow container of substantially translucent material, a hollow member of substantially translucent material and disposed substantially coaxially within and spaced from the walls of the container and providing, between the container and the member, a substantially unobstructed interspace, both ends of the container and of the member being closed, the walls of the member having a plurality of openings providing communication through the walls of the member from the inner space within the member to said interspace, the openings being all substantially in a single line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member, and a plurality of pieces the largest dimension of each of which is less than the dimensions of any one of the openings, the pieces being free for movement within said inter space, the device having means for imparting movement to the device to cause the common axis of the container and the member to revolve in non-planar movement to cause said pieces to roll centrifugally in relatively circular paths on the inner walls of the container, to fly freely in, and to fall through, the interspace and be caught in an opening to enter said inner space.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being tubular and substantially concentric.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric, and the pieces being substantially spherical.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, the pieces being substantially spherical, and the means for imparting movement comprising handle means secured to end wall of the container.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric, the closed ends of the container and of the member comprising end walls, at least one of the end walls of each of the container and the member being removable to provide access to their interiors, and both of the end walls of the container having handle means for the movement imparting means.

- 7. A device as defined in claim 1, the openings providing for free movement of said pieces between said interspace and said inner space.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric, and receptacles having closed ends extending into said inner space and communicating at the openings with said interspace.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric, and receptacles having closed ends extending their closed ends into said inner space and communicating at the openings with said interspace, each of the receptacles having a crosssectional dimension slightly larger than the largest dimension of any one of the pieces loosely to receive and house any one of the pieces.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric, and receptacles having closed ends extending their closed ends into said inner space and communicating at the openings with said interspace, each of the receptacles having a crosssectional dimension slightly larger than the largest dimension of any one of the pieces loosely to receive and house any one of the pieces, and the pieces being substantially spherical.

Claims

1. A device for testing manipulative skills, the device comprising a hollow container of substantially translucent material, a hollow member of substantially translucent material and disposed substantially coaxially within and spaced from the walls of the container and providing, between the container and the member, a substantially unobstructed interspace, both ends of the container and of the member being closed, the walls of the member having a plurality of openings providing communication through the walls of the member from the inner space within the member to said interspace, the openings being all substantially in a single line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member, and a plurality of pieces the largest dimension of each of which is less than the dimensions of any one of the openings, the pieces being free for movement within said interspace, the device having means for imparting movement to the device to cause the common axis of the container and the member to revolve in nonplanar movement to cause said pieces to roll centrifugally in relatively circular paths on the inner walls of the container, to fly freely in, and to fall through, the interspace and be caught in an opening to enter said inner space.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, the openings providing for free movement of said pieces between said interspace and said innEr space.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric, and receptacles having closed ends extending their closed ends into said inner space and communicating at the openings with said interspace, each of the receptacles having a cross-sectional dimension slightly larger than the largest dimension of any one of the pieces loosely to receive and house any one of the pieces.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, each of the container and the member being substantially cylindrical and substantially concentric, and receptacles having closed ends extending their closed ends into said inner space and communicating at the openings with said interspace, each of the receptacles having a cross-sectional dimension slightly larger than the largest dimension of any one of the pieces loosely to receive and house any one of the pieces, and the pieces being substantially spherical.