US845811A - Game. - Google Patents

Description

P. M. oseoon.

GAME. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1906.

'PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

FREDERICK M. OSGOOD, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application iiled March 26,1906. Serial No. 308,009-

To all whom it may con/007%:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. Oscoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manchester, county of Hillsboro, and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Games, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to games, and has for its object to provide a novel game of chance which may be played by one or more persons. The device comprises a base, on which is imprinted a chart of some description, and a spinning device adapted to be spun on the base.

The spinning device is preferably in the shape of a prolate ellipsoid and is constructed to be set in motion when standing on its minor axis. As it spins it will gradually change from its minor to its major axis, and the spinning thereof will be completed with it standing on one end. The two ends of the spinning device each have a distinguishingmark, they preferably being of different colors, and part of the game is for the person spinning the device to make a guess as to which end will come up. 'As the speed of the spinning device decreases it will change from its major to its minor axis again, and part of the game is to note the position on the chart in which the spinning device comes to rest.

I will first describe one embodiment of my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

In the draWings,.Figure 1 is a top plan view of a base on which to spin the top or spinning device, which base is provided with a chart of one character. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the base, showing the position of the top while spinning; and Fig. 3 shows the position of the top when starting and a device employed for giving the top its rotary move ment.

8 designates the base or surface on which the top or spinning device 7 is spun. This base may be formed in any suitable way; but preferably it will be slightly concaved, so that the top will not run off from the edges thereof while being spun. The top or spinning device is designated by 4, and it is in the shape of a prolate ellipsoid. It has a non cylindrical opening 5, and the two ends 6 and 7 thereof are provided with distinguishingmarks. This may conveniently be done by making the two ends of different colors,one being red and the other green, for instance.

The top is spun in any suitable waysuch, for instance, as by means of an implement comprising a stem 8, which is pivoted or swiveled to a cross piece or head 9. The stem is round throughout the greater portion of its length and is non-circular at its lower end 10 to fit the non-circular opening 5 in the top. This non-circular end of the stem is inserted in the opening 5, as shown in Fig. 3, and then the cord 11, which has previously been wound up upon the stem 8, is unwound rapidly, thus giving the top a rotary movement on its side. As the top rotates it will very soon assume an upright position, as shown in Fig. 2, and will complete its spinning on its end. As it ceases spinning it will resume its horizontal position again and will come to rest upon the surface 3. Thesurface 3 is provided with a chart of some character, and the game consists partly in noting the position in which the top comes to rest.

The different positions on the chart count different amounts for or against the person spinning the top, and said person will have more or less added to or subtracted from his score according to the position in which the top comes to rest.

Any suitable chart or device may be used on the surface 3. For the sake of illustration I have shown a chart or diagram comprising a plurality of radially-extending sections 12, each one having a different numeral thereon. Between the sections 12 are radially-extending arrows 13, each arrow being marked so as to effect the total score in one way or the other. In playing the game the operator first sets the top spinning in a horizontal position, and as it rises into vertical position he notes which end thereof comes up. Whichever end does rise is taken for the index end. When the top finally comes to rest in its horizontal position, the person playing will have either added to or subtracted from his score the number indicated on the arrow 13 or on the section 12 over which the index end of the top comes to rest.

As shown in Fig. 2, the end 6 of the top is the index end, and if, for instance, the top should come to rest with this index end over the section 12 marked 7 then the person would have seven added to his score. If, v on the other hand, it should come to rest over the arrow 13 marked Off 3, then three would be subtracted from the score.

It will be obvious, of course, that the character of the diagram or chart and the base 3 may be varied without departing from the invention. 7

Having fully described my invention, what I I claim as new, and desire to ters Patent, is-

1. In a game apparatus, a suitably-graduated base, having a concaved depression formed therein and a prolate ellipsoid spini ning-top adapted to be spun in said depresj sion, said top having its opposite ends indif cated by distinguishing-marks, whereby the I ends may be selectively used as indices to cooperate with the aforesaid graduations.

2. In a game apparatus, a suitably-grad uated base having a concaved depression formed therein and a prolate ellipsoid spin- I ning-top adapted to be spun in said depres sion, said top having its opposite ends of equal weight, said ends being indicated by distinguishing-marks whereby the ends may be selectively used as indices to cooperate secure by Letwith the aforesaid graduations.

In testimony whereof- I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK M. OSGOOD. Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. BURGESS, JOSEPH H. LAFLAMME.

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