US1624282A - Game - Google Patents

Description

April 12 1927. 1,624,282

2 L. L. RUSSELL GAME Filed Aug. 11, 1926 O/VTA fP/O LUZ- Russell z z I, atvtozmuaJ 1,624,282 PATENT OFFICE.

LEON L. RUSSELL, or ivnnmonn FALLS, MAINE.

GAME.

Application filed August 11, 1926. Serial No. 128,630.

My invention is a game, the apparatus for which may be produced at a low cost and which may be easilymanipulated by children as well as by adults and afford considerable entertainment. The invention provides an apparatus in which a water-way is supplied with obstructions, and a paddle wheel is mounted in the water-way at a convenient point thereof whereby to effect eirculation of water and by the circulation cause a floating object, simulating a boat, to pass through the water-way and around the obstructions placed therein. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my present invention, I provide a game board 1 which may be of any suitable material and of any convenient dimensions, being preferably fiat on both its upper and lower faces whereby it may be set upon atable or other support in a level position. In the upper surface of this board is formed a water-way comprising a main canal 2, pockets 3 which simulate lakes, and canals l connecting the several pockets. In the present illustration, I have shown live pockets which are arranged in approximately the same relation as the five Great Lakes and which may have educational purposes and will, for convenience, be referred to as lakes and given the names of the respective Great Lakes. Within each of the lakes is disposed an obstruction 5 which may be referred to as a buoy and which may convenientlv consist of a small post 6 having an enlarge head 7 at its upper end. In Lake Superior one buoy is provided at the center of the lake, but in each of the other lakes two buoys are provided, one being disposed near each end of the lake, and the several buoys are numbered consecutively from the entrance to Lake Ontario to the exit from Lake-Michigan, the buoy in Lake Superior being an extra or odd buoy and bein numbered 9. In the main canal 2, which is disposed adjacent and parallel with one longitudinal edge of the game board, is arranged a paddle wheel 8 mounted between side plates 9 which are secured in any con- 6 venient or preferred manner to the surface of the board at opposite sides of the canal,

as will be understood particularly upon reference to Fig. 2. A crank shaft 10 is journaled in the side plates9 and carries the paddle wheel so that rotation of the shaft will effectrotation of the paddle wheel and, consequently, cause circulation of the water within the water-way. The side plates 9, in

addition to providing hearings or supports for the paddle wheel, also serve as guards to prevent the water being splashed over the player, and, to further guard against this splashing and waste of the water,'a cover 11 is secured over the side plates and the paddle wheel, as shown. The game apparatus is completed by the provision of a floating object or a plurality of such objects, indicated at 12, and preferably given the outline of a boat. In play, the water-way is filled to a level which will support the boat 12 in the horizontal plane of the heads 7 of the several buoys. The boat is placed by hand in the canal 2 at the right of the paddle wheel and the paddle wheel is then rotated so that the water will be caused to flow from the canal 2 toward and into Lake Ontario. Obviously, the boat will follow the current and will be carried arounda-nd into the LakeflOntario, and one object of the game is to control the movement of the boat by the rotation. of the paddle wheel in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction so that the boat will be caused to take a predetermined course, Assuming the paddle wheel to be rotated in a counter-clockwise manner, the water will be caused to flow to the right from the wheel and the walls of the several canals will, ofcourse, direct the current from one lake to the next lake,,it being noted, however, that the inlet and outlet of Lake Superior are one and the same and form, with the outlet of Lake Huron and the inlet of Lake Michigan, a bottle neck in which the boat may be trapped, and that considerable difficulty will be found in attempting to direct the boat into. Lake Superior. 'lhc buoys are numbered con-secutively from 1 to 8 with the buoy in Lake Superior being numbered stated, and the boats are to around the several buoys order. While, of course, the players may agree upon any course for the boats, it wi 1 be assumed that the boat is to pass on the right side of buoy Ontario to pass out at the left of buoy No. 2 and enter Lake Erie at the left of buoy 9, as heretofore be caused to pass in a prescrlbed No. 1 and then cross Lake I No. 3. The boat should then cross Lake Erie and leave at the right of buoy No. 4 and enter Lake Huron on the right of buoy o. 5 crossing the lake and leaving at the left of buoy No. 6. It should then enter Lake Michigan on the right of buoy No. 7, cross the lake and pass out on the left of buoy No. 8, thence returning to the paddle wheel for another play. It is optional with the player as to whether the boat shall pass through Lake Superior, but inasmuch as a large score will be given for properly navigating Lake Superior, it is advisable to at tempt the feat. Each buoy properly passed will count five points for the player so that it is possible to score ten points for each lake with a minimum score of forty, not including Lake Superior, but the proper navigation of Lake Superior will score fifty points. If a boat passes on the wrong side of a buoy, it must remain on that side and pass out of the lake with a score of five points but if it crosses the lake after entering on the wrongside it will lose the total score for that lake. the wrong side of a buoy, its progress must be arrested before it passes the buoy and it is not permissible to remove the boat and.

start a second trial, it being necessary that the boat complete a trip and that the trip be controlled solely by the movement of the paddle wheel. The game board must be kept as nearly level as possible while playing inasmuch as it is not permissible to move the boat by hand except when moving it from one side of the paddle wheel to the other side nor to control the movement of the boat by shifting the level of the Water.

The device is exceedingly simple and in- If a boat is headed for expensive and its manipulation will require some skill as well as prove entertaining. Vhile I have illustrated a water-way simulating, to some extent, the Great Lakes, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to this particular form of Water-Way and that the pockets or imitations of lakes may be arranged in any other desired manner.

Having thus described the invention, ll claim:

1.' A game comprising a game board having a Water-way formed therein, said waterway being endless and having one portion parallel with and adjacent an edge of the game board and another portion simulating lakes and canals connecting the lakes, a pad dle wheel arranged within that portion of the Water-Way adjacent an edge of the board and adapted to cause circulation of Water in the water-Way, buoys placed in the sev eral lakes in spaced relation to the sides thereof, and a buoyant object tobe' caused to travel through the Water-Way by the circulation of water therein.

2. A game apparatus comprising a game board having a Water-way and simulating the a canal connecting Lakes Michigan and Ontario, a single buoy in the center of Lake Superior, buoys Within the other lakes one adjacent each end thereof, a wheel arranged in the canal connecting Lakes Michigan and Ontario for effecting circulation of the Water in the water-way, and a buoyant object to be carried through circulation of the water therein.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

LEON L. RUSSELL. [n s] the water way by the formed therein Great Lakes and having

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