US1538134A - Game - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1925.

C. S. MUlR GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 23. 1922 moz.: wi ..0

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N AT RNEY May 19, 1925.

C. S. MUIR GAME Filed Dec. 23, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZM s f ATT RN'EY Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES `CHARLES S. MUIR, OF CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND.

GAME.

Application'filed-December 23, l1922. Serial No. 608,720.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES S. AMum, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chevy Chase, in the county of Montgomery and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of whichth@ following is asspeciication.

This invention relates to an improvement in games.

The object is to provide agame that will not only amuse, but one which will be instructive and educational in the science ot astronomy. It consists oit a chart of the sun and the various planets,.and an indication ot their Vorbits and various constellations, all of which are named, and direct lines extend from the sun to the nearest planer, and t0 the remaining planets in order, .accorde ing to their relative distances from the sun, and thence to lthe various constellations successively according to their relative remote ness. These lines are divided int-o stops by stars or other indications; and each planet and constellation also represents a stop in the game, the game being played by a spinner, which on stopping at a number indicates the number of spaces the aeroplane or other object used in playingthe game) moves, certain plays being indicatechfor instance, a comet or a meteor or the like 'which requires that the aeroplaneV or other device used in playing the game must returnV to a given point ift-he stop indicated by the spinner would be where a comet or meteor or other obstruction is located.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view `of the entire game;

Fig. 2 is a view of the spinner showing one of the several signs of the zodi ac;

F 3 is a view of an aeroplane used in playing the game.

The chart viewed in Fig. l represents the sun at the center of the various orbits of the planets included in. the solar system of the sun, such as Mercury, Venus, the earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, whose distance from the sun are in the relative order named. Lines 1, preterably straight, are drawn from the sun first to Mercury, and then from l\'lercury to Venus and so on, in the order named, indicating the path ot the object used in playing the game, such, for instance, as an aeroplane 2 or any other device, the aeroplane being selected as it carries out the -idea of yaerial navigation from `one celestial body to another.

The spaces .or moves on these lines are indicated by Istars 3, all of which are stops,as are the various planets and lconstellations 'in Iplaying the game.

Some such device as a spinner, well known in various games-of chance `is employed, such as illustrated at 4 in Figs. 1 and 2, and around the edges of which are indicated the signs of the zodiac, one only, namely Scorpio, being illustrated lat 5. These various spaces have the numerals 1 lto 12 placed therein, and the hand turning at the pivot 7 is adapted to be spun or whirled, and when it stops, tor example at 8 as illustrated, it means `the player `moves eight spaces. It starting the game, this would bring the Vplayer to the Fig. 1. Another turn the `spinner might. stop at 3. and that would `bring him to the point marked 8 on the chart,

planet Venus. For the next player, the first spin might stop at 11, in which event the first players aeroplane would have to go back to the pla-net Mercury, which would mean that when his `turn ycame again he would have to start from, there. lf the spinner `happened to stop at 5, the player would move live point-s on the line 1, on his journey through the heavens, and would then have another spin of the hand 6, which might stop at 10, where theindication is Engine trouble. Lose spin, which would mean that he would lose the move.

Suppose a players aeroplane had reached Jupiter, and the next move indicated was 9: that would take him to the comet (l, and would mean that he would have to volplane back to Mars; and so if a player in the region of Neptune won a number which happened to indicate a stop at the meteor M it would mean he must return to Saturn, and proceed from there on.

Again on reaching Taurus the bull, il the stop happened to come at that point, the player would have to go back to Canis Major, or the greater dog.

Further on, and approaching Polaris or Northern Star, which is the final destination, between that and the Big Dipper there is a stop indicating Out of water, and necessitating a return to the Big Dipper.

This game might be continued on indenitely, and it is obvious that it could be made still more complicated by adding other obstructions, and even making the return back to the sun, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention in the game itself to have the actual known distances of the planets and the constellations indicated for the educational value, and also a great deal of additional data, as, for instance, the length of orbit and the speed ofthe earth and the various planets and the time required to revolve around the sun, such as Neptune, for instance, it requiring one hundred sixty-four years for Neptune to complete its orbit around the sun. So far as possible, there would be some indication of the relative sizes of the planets, also of the sun and moon, as I have attempted to indicate in some measure in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Many of the brighter stars might also be shown.

Likewise in the complete illustration, lig ures may be shown of the various constellations, such as Leo the lion; Gemini, the twins; Taurus, the bull; Auriga, vthe sliepherd; the Great Bear; Big Dipper; and so on, for the interest it would create, and its educational value to either the child or adult, who upon looking at the diagram will know at a glance what the different constellations are. These various things would "be indicated on the drawing, but lack of space prevents.

Vilhile I have illustrated and described a spinner as a means for indicating the moves, it is obvious that dice might be employed, or a deck of cards for that matter, or any other means that would determine the move by chance.

I claim:

1. An astronomicalgame including a diagram of celestial bodies and orbits around the sunwith planets in their respective orbits with definite relation to their distances from the sun, a movable object adapted to move from one planet to another, and means for indicating the move of said object with respect to the various celestial bodies indicated on the diagram.

2. A game including a diagram of celestial bodies extending continuously from the celestial body nearest the starting-point, as the sun, thence to the next nearest celestial body, and finally to the most remote body, means for indicating the players move, and a movable object adapted to be moved to the place defined by the indicating device.

3. A game including a diagram ot celestial bodies comprising sun, earth and planets, which revolve around the sun, their respective orbits, and spaced-off lines indieating a course of travel from one, starting with the sun, and extending from one celes tial body to another in order of their distance from the sun, means Jfor indicating the move upon the line, and a movable device adapted to be moved thereon, as defined by the indicating device.

4t. A, game including a diagram of celestial bodies extending continuously from the celestial body nearest the starting-point, as the sun, thence to the next nearest celestial body, and finally to the most remote body, means for indicating the players move, and a movable object 'adapted to be moved to the place defined by the indicating device, the travel course passed through comets, meteors and the like at intervals, where directions are provided for the return of the traveling device to an indicated point.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

CHARLES S. MUIR.

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