US3389913A - Simulated space travel game apparatus with vertically extending board - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1968 TUNSTALL SIMULATED SP TRAVEL GAME APPARATUS WITH I VERTICALLY EXT ING BOARD Filed Aug. 1955 INVENTOR.

WILFRED TUNSFFALL.

LIONEL. v TEFFT ATTORNEY.

United States Patent F 3,389,913 SIMULATED SPACE TRAVEL GAME APPARATUS WITH VERTICALLY EXTENDING BOARD Wilfred Tunstall, 12874 2nd St., Yucaipa, Calif. 92399 Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,465 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-134) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus in which players advance magnetic game pieces upwardly on a metallic stripped post, by chance, to a spaced metallic lighting area that is activated when the first magnetic game piece bridges the gap.

This invention relates generally to games and particularly to a device in which several players launch individual rockets along space paths in chance controlled manner until the Winner is indicated by automatic activation of lighting means to indicate moon crash.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a space game that simulates possible rocket ascent to the moon or other space objective.

Another object of the invention is the provision of special space paths upon which the plural rockets are magnetically attached in ascent under chance control of each player.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the automatic moon lighting mechanism which is activated by the first rocket to arrive.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chance progress indicating mechanism as a part of the rocket launching and ascension control means.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1 with the playing pieces removed;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1:

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the upper end of the guide post;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of one of the rockets with magnetic attachment.

Referring to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed, 10 refers to a base having a vertically disposed screw 12 extending therethrough. A washer 14 on the shank 13 of the screw 12 rests on the base 10. A second washer 15 is welded to the screw shank 13 slightly above the washer 14 and a pointed chance arrow 18 is manually spinnable on the intervening shank portion 19. The threaded end 20 of the screw 12 penetrates and secures a vertical rocket guide post 22 calibrated at 24 to indicate elevation in thousands of miles or as otherwise desired. 1

A cylindrical rocket launching pad or platform 26 extends laterally from the bottom of the guide post 22 and the launching pad or platform is rapertured in a plural manner at 28 to sustain rockets 30 seated therein. The rockets are variously colored, one for each player, and they have magnetic surfaces 32 which are attracted in the usual manner to plural metal rocket space path strips 34 on the sides of the vertical rocket guide post 3,389,913 Patented June 25, 1968 "ice 22. A metal ring or cap 36 overlies the top of the guide post 22 and has tabs 38 engaging notches 40 therein. The

cap 36 is spaced slightly at 41 from the upper ends of the strips 34.

A plastic moon simulation 42 on the cap 36 has a standard bulb 44 and socket 46, attached to the cap, extending therein. A flanged plate 48 has a spring con-tact 50 thereon engaging the bottom of a standard dry cell battery 52 and pressing it against the bulb 44 in conventional manner. Closing of this conventional circuit is accomplished when the magnet surface 32 of any rocket 30 bridges the gap or space 41, as shown in FIGURE 3, and the moon is lighted indicating rocket strike or crash thereon.

The upper surface of the base 10 surrounding the chance arrow 18 contains a game information chart 53 which includes sets of numerals 54 indicating possible thousands of miles of ascent of each rocket. The spaced zero markings 56 'indioatecount down or lift off position. The letter A at 58 indicates malfunction and return to platform. The letter B at 60 indicates second stage failed to fire and return to platform. The letter C at 62 indicates failed to correct course and drop thirty thousand miles. The letter D at 64 indicates malfunction, losing speed and drop back twenty thousand miles. The game information may obviously be varied in any manner desired without changing any physical structure.

The operation of the device and manner of play 1311'6 relatively simple. Each player spins the [chance needle or arrow and moves his rocket as indicated. He must rst attain a count down or lift off position zero at 56. Thereafter he moves his rocket to magnetically attached position on one of the metal space path strips. The player whose rocket first bridges the switch gap and crash lights the moon is the winner. The game information, such as extent of ascent and other data, may be changed as desired.

While I have described in considerable detail what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various [changes may be made in the shape [and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the broad scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A rocket game apparatus, comprising:

a base simulating a launching pad;

a calibrated post having multiple vertical metal strips thereon;

plural game pieces having magnetic attaching plates;

a metal cap on said post spaced from the ends of the metalstrips to provide a gap capable of being bridged by the magnetic plates on the game pieces;

a light bulb on the metal cap including a battery and electrical circuit activated by bridging of the gap; and

a game dial indicating game piece ascent on the metal strips and a chance indicating member therefor.

2. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the game dial is on the base and the chance indicating member is an arrow spinnable thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 859,692 =7/1907 Robbins 273l34 2,729,451 1/ 1956 Larson 273-134 2,990,181 6/1961 Lippold 273-134 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,253,572 1/1961 France.

DELBE-RT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

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