US2036462A - Game - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES GAME William E. Davison, St. Lambert, Quebec, Canada Application May 10, 1935, Serial No. 20,798

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel game.

An object of the invention is the provision of a game which is amusing and entertaining and which involves skill and patience in the playing thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a game of the aforesaid character embodying a base structure formed with a circuitous track upon which a rolling body is to be l0 moved by skilful tilting of the base from the horizontal.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a game of the above character which is relatively simple in construction and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the game,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a' section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 o-f Figure l,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section showing the game in balanced position in full lines and tilted in dotted lines, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section showing the arrangement of the game for disposing a rolling piece in starting position.

Referring to the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, A generally designates the base structure. or body of the game and B a game piece adapted to be rolled on a predetermined course formed on the body.

In the present example the body embodies a box-shaped structure having a flat rectangular bottom I0 formed at the edges with right angularly disposed side walls II. Rigidly supported above and parallel to the bottom I!! on a plurality of support blocks I3 is an intermediate platform I4. The top of the platform I4 is covered with surfacing material I5 which may constitute any suitable plastic composition.

The top of the plastic material I5 is shaped to provide a circuitous course or track embodying a plurality of straight track sections I6 and a plurality of curves II. The straight sections I6 are in the form of grooves or channels merging into the curves. vEach of the curves I1 is provided with a turning elevated bank I8 shaped so that its inner side forms a steep concave incline I9. The straight track sections I6 merge unbrokenly into the lower base portion of 5 each bank. At the inner side of each banked turn is formed an opening or pit 2l formed through the surfacing material I5 and through the platform I4.

The movable game piece B embodies in the 10 present instance a spherical element or ball 23 shaped to roll in the grooved structure of the straight sections and along the inclined base portion of the turning banks. It will be apparent,` however, that the rolling piece may be formed l5 to simulate a bicycle, automobile or other suitable objeot to form the game piece.

The concave incline I9 must be sufficiently steep so that a certain speed must be imparted to the game piece when rounding the curves, as 20 otherwise it will drop in the pit 2l. Conversely, too high a speed will project the game piece over the bank. Thus, the purpose of the banked curves is to render the game more diicult of solution, so that skill will be necessary to com- 25 plete a run around the whole circuit.

At one corner of the body is formed an elongated opening 25 through which is extended an inclined strip 26 leading through the bottom onto the top surface of the platform and ter- 30 minating at the top in an arcuate game piece holder 21 situated at the starting point of the track and in alignment with the groove of the first straight section.

'Ihe game may be played as follows: 35

The movable game piece 23 is positioned at the starting point by inclining the body so that the ball will be rolled along the inclined strip 26 from the bottom compartment onto the starting element 21, as shown at Figures 3 and 6. 40 The body is then inclined to cause the ball to roll along the initial straight track section I6 toward the rst curve or turn Il. The body, which is held in elevated position by the player, is then manipulated by proper tilting with a 45 View to causing the ball to negotiate the turn and to enter the second straight section. Upon skillful manipulation of the body the ball may be moved so as to traverse the base portion of the banked incline and to pursue its course along 50 the succeeding straight portion of the track. If, however, the body is not properly manipulated, the ball will drop into the initial opening 2l and is removed from the track so that the player is thereby eliminated. As will be noted from Figure 55 1, the various openings at the curves are designated by numerals increasing in value as the course proceeds so that the player Who moves the ball the greatest distance along the track scores the highest number of points and, if the track is completely negotiated, the ball enters the curved stop member 29. When the ball drops through one of the openings or pits 2| it falls into the bottom compartment and is restored into a starting position by tilting the body and causing the same to move along the incline 26.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described s to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

l. A game of the character described comprising a body having a relatively at surface, a track formed on the flat surface including straight grooved sections and banked curves merging into the straight sections, the inner side of the banked curves having a concave incline and having pits formed at the base thereof, and a game piece adapted to be rolled along the track by proper tilting of the body and to fall into the pit when a curve is not properly traversed.

2. A game of the character described comprising a box-like body, a platform in the body above the bottom, a track formed on the top of the platform consisting of grooved straight sections and banked curves, the inner side of each curve being shaped toprovide a concave incline merging into the straight sections, the said platform having openings formed therethrough at the inner base portion of each curve, and a rolling member adapted to roll along the track and to fall through the openings when it is dislodged from the track.

3. A game of the character described comprising a box-like body, a platform in the body above the bottom, a track formed on the top of the platform consisting of grooved straight sections and banked curves, the inner side of each curve being shaped to provide a concave incline merging into the straight sections, the said platform having openings formed therethrough at the inner base portion of each curve, and a member adapted to be rolled along the track by tilting the body and to drop through the openings When it leaves the track at one of the banked curves.

WILLIAM E. DAVISON.

Images