CA2008455C

CA2008455C - Rotator game device

Info

Publication number: CA2008455C
Application number: CA002008455A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Reuben B. Klamer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-01-25
Filing date: 1990-01-24
Publication date: 1995-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-24
Also published as: JPH02277478A; ES2049851T3; KR930010039B1; HK35594A; EP0380114A1; AU631396B2; DE69005463T2; JPH0763526B2; AU4870590A; PT92956A; US4941665A; ATE99183T1; BR9000314A; MX166856B; DE69005463D1; NZ232230A; AR245382A1; KR900011492A; PT92956B; CA2008455A1

Abstract

A rotator game device for the generation of randomly selected data has a circular housing with a recess, and a base wheel rotatable within the housing recess upon a bearing arrangement. The base member has an upstanding handle member fitting over said bearing arrangement, and a circular retainer member having an inclined surface and a lip is mounted to the circular housing. A collar mem-ber is fitted to the upstanding handle member and has a plurality of detents as well as an indicia indicator for each detent area. A plurality of wheel or disc members carrying indicia such that each wheel member has one edge resting on the circular retainer and one edge resting on the base wheel. When the base wheel is stationary the plurality of wheel members are urged under the influence of gravity to nested relationship in the detents of the collar member, and when the base wheel is rotating the wheel members are displaced outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force such that their outer edge contacts the lip of the circular retainer, causing the wheel mem-bers to revolve in the direction of movement of the base wheel while counter rotating with respect to the direc-tion of their revolution and the direction of rotation of the base member. Storage compartments can be provided for storing the wheels or discs, and the storage compart-ments can be made rotatable for use in game play in selecting particular sides of wheels or discs to come into game play.

Description

2Qos455 66239-1575 Thls invention pertains to a rotating game device for randomly selecting data, whlch can be used as part of a variety of dlfferent games, includlng strategy games, games of chance, television game shows and the llke.
This invention is an lmprovement on a "Kaleidoscopic Game Device" whlch is the sub~ect of United States Patent No.
4,291,881, granted on September 29, 1981 to the same lnventor as the present invention. As polnted out ln that prlor patent, devlces to randomly select numbers or other data have been utlllzed in games throughout the hlstory of mankind. Dice and slmple spinners are commonly used for this purpose. Due, however, to the relative simplicity of such apparatus, they are capable of generating only a limited amount of data. Moreover, such apparatus are not that vlsually lnterestlng. In prlor U.S.
Patent No. 4,291,881 referred to above, there ls dlsclosed and claimed an arrangement in which a plurality of small wheels bearing indicia rest upon the surface of a base wheel and are captured in a circular housing. Random data is generated by spinning the base wheel. The torque of this motlon causes the smaller wheels to spln in the opposite dlrectlon. When everything comes to rest, a centrally located lndlcator points to data on one of the small wheels to select indicia thereon as part of a game play or the like.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved data A

selection apparatus, ln whlch a number of smaller wheels bearlng lndlcla are provided whlch counter-rotate to a base wheel.
The invention provldes a rotator game devlce for the generatlon of randomly selected data comprislng a housing, a base member rotatable wlthln sald houslng and havlng a plurallty of centrally located detents or collars which includes a plurality of lndlcla lndlcating means being adapted to slmultaneously select lndicla, a retalner member havlng a clrcular lncllned surface and a retalnlng llp, and a plurallty of removable wheels carrying lndlcla and having one edge supported on the base member and the other edge supported on the lncllned surface of sald retainer member, such that when the base member ls at rest the wheels are nested under the lnfluence of gravlty in the detents of the base member and spaced from said retalnlng llp, and when the base member is rotating the wheels are displaced outwardly and up the lnclined surface of the retainer member to contact the retainlng llp under the lnfluence of centrlfugal force, resultlng ln the wheels revolving in the dlrectlon of movement of sald base member whlle lndlvldually counter rotatlng untll centrlfugal force decreases to the polnt where they fall under the lnfluence of gravlty back to the detents ln the base member.
The lnventlon also provldes a rotator game device for the generatlon of randomly selected data comprlsing a houslng;
a base member rotatable within said housing;
a retalner member; and A

2a 66239-1575 a plurality of removable wheels carrylng indlcia, characterlzed in that the base member has a plurality of centrally located detentsS
the retainer member has a clrcular incllned surface and a retainlng llp;
the wheels have one edge supported by the base member and an other edge support on the lncllned surface of the retalner member, such that when the base member ls at rest the wheels are nested under the lnfluence of gravlty ln the detents of the base member, and when the base member ls rotatlng the wheels are dlsplaced outwardly and up the lnclined surface of the retalner member to contact the retalnlng llp under the lnfluence of centrlfugal force, resultlng ln the wheels revolvlng ln the direction of movement of the base member whlle individually counter-rotating until centrifugal force decreases to the point where the wheels fall under the lnfluence of gravlty back to the detents ln the base member.
Preferably the smaller wheels are easily removable, so that the apparatus can be adapted for use ln a varlety of games, and can also be utlllzed ln a game ln whlch a part of the game play and/or strategy involves brlnglng dlfferent wheels bearlng dlfferent lndlcla lnto and/or out of playlng connectlon wlth the base wheel. The apparatus may lnclude storage means for storlng the smaller wheels whlch are used ln the apparatus, as well as belng useful for, e.g. selectlng whlch slde of a smaller wheel A

200845~
2b 66239-1575 shall be operative when the wheel ls placed lnto play by contactlng lt into the base wheel of the apparatus.
Advantages of the present lnvention wlll appear from the followlng detailed descrlptlon A

-of a preferred embodiment of the invent~on, taken in con-junc~ion with the accompany~ng drawings.
Brie~ ~escriPtion of the Drawin~s ~igur~ 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus of one 5 embodiment o the inventlon at rest, with the smaller wheels in contact with a central member which includes locating coll~rs and indicia selecting means.
F~gure 2 is an exploded vie~ of the mechanism of Figure 1, showing the interrelationship of the various 10 element~ of thè mechanism.

F;gure 3 is a psrtial cross-sect~onal view taken along the line 3-3 in ~igure 1.

Figure 4 is ~ ~op plan view similar to Figure 1 showing the apparatus in motion, ~ith a base w~eel rotat-ing and the smaller ~heels counter-rotating.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken alonq the line 5-S in Figure 4 .
Figure 6 ~ a t~p plan ~iew of another embodiment of the invention in whi~h storage/disc side selector mech~-20 nisms are provi~ed, Figure 7 is a cross section view of one of ~hestorsge/d~sc s~de selector m~chanisms of Figure 6, illus-tra~ing the h~nged top fo~ inserting and retractin~
discs.
Fig~re 8 ~s a cros~ sect~onsl view sim~lar to F;gure 7, but illustrating the rotational ~ount;ng of the storage/sele~tor ~echanism for ran~omly selectin~ a disc side.

Detailed Descriptlon of A Preferrqd Embodimen~
Turning now to the drawings, particularly ~iqu~es 1through 5, the present in~entio~ includes a ~ircular housing 11, which as shown has a recessed area 12 closed S at its bottom and open at its top, A needle bear~ng 13 is fixed to the center of the reeessed ares 12 of the circular housing 11 on its bottom, and ex~ends up~ardly.
A circular base wheel 14 has an upstandin~ handle member 16 ~hich is hollow, and which fits over the needle bear-10 ing 13 to mount ~he circula~ base wheel 14 for rotat~onalmovement with respect t~ the circular housing ~1. A clr-c~lar ret~lner membe~ 17 is pro~ided suitably attached by adhesive or fasteners to the circular housing ~1. The circular retainer has an upwardly in~lined ~u~face lB, 15 and a retain;ng lip 19 (Figure 3).
As shown in Fi~ure 2, in one en~bodim~nt of the invent~on a collar/indicator member 21 ~s suitsb~y mounted to ths ups~anding handle mem~er 16, by adhesiYes, force fit or other suitable means. The member 21 is pro-vided ~ith a series of detents 21a, and a series of indi-cia indicating ~eans, in this case pointers 21b. As shown in ~igure 2, a handle 22 holds the me~ber 21 onto the up~tanding handle member 1~. A plural~y of remov-sble wheel~ or dlscs 23 are pr~vided. As shown in ~igure 25 3, these wheels or discs 23 are positioned ~n the rotator game dev~ce such that each wheel or disc has one of its edges nested into one o~ the detents 21a and resting on the circ~lar base wheel 1~, and its opposite edge restinq on thQ inclined surface 18 of the circular retainer mem-30 ber As generally indicated in the drawings, each o ~heremovable ~heels or discs 23 has indicla thereon. The exemplary ind~cia shown in Figure 1 is simple numbers on different colored wheels (red, blue, grcen, ~ell~w, purp~e), but obviously the indicia can be drawings, let-ters, characters or any other kind of ~isible indicia that might enter into playing considerations for any of a variety of strategy or skill games. In accordance ~i~h ehe invention, t~e wheels or discs can have different indicia on opposite sides, and the ~heel~ or d~scs are easily reversible so as to expose either side. In the part1cular embodiment shown ~n the drawings, the game apparatu~ is shown as including f ive separa~e removab~ e ~iscs or wheels, with a corresponding n~mber of the detents 21a and pointers ~lb. Clearly, more or less than f ive removable wheels can be provide~, It is ~lso a par~
of the ~n~ntion thAt t;hc ~otal game apparatus can include a number of wheels or discs that are in excess of 15 the number that will f it at any one time ~n the game apparatux. That way, the apparatus ~s useful in games wherein the strategy or game play depends upon which of t~e ~ario~s d~scs or wheels are contsined in the rotator apparatus at any par~icular time. Preferabl~, the wheels 20 or discs have surface ~eatures on the~r edges, such as ri~g~s or interlocking dlmples, ~hich facilitate "stack-ing~ of the wheels or discs as might be useful ~n partic~
ul~r games, If des~red, the inclined surface 18 of the ~rc~lar ~etainer 17 can also be provided with indicia that enters into or determine~ game play. This is genera~ly ~ndi-cated in Figure 2, showing simple divisions of this sur-face bear~ng alphanumeric designations. As in the ~ase of the d~scs or wheels Z3, the indicia on the inclined surface of the c~rcular retainer can be virtually any-thing that enters into or determines game play for a game with which t~e appar~tus might be associated.
The operat~on of the inYention in accordance with F{gures ~ thro~gh 5 will now be described. ~en the apparatus is at rest or st~tionary, the ~elative --6- 20 0~ ~SS

~uxtaposition of the elements is as shown ~n ~igures 1 and 3. That ~s, the removable wheels or discs 23 are~
nested in the detents 21a, with the pointer elements ~lb pointing to a part~cular area on each wheel or disc, The ~pparatus i8 activated by manually grasping the handle member 22, to spin the circular base wheel 1~. As the base w~eel 14 in spun in one or the other direction, each o~ the discs or wheels 23 are caused to counter rotate, or spin in the direction opposite to that o~ bsse wheel 14. ~urther, the centriugal force resultin~ from the spinning o~ the base wheel 14 and the counter rotation of the d~scs or wheels 23, causes the discs or wheels 23 to spin up the in~lined surface 18 of the circular retainer member, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, with the wheels or lS discs 23 contact'ing the retaining lip 19~ The wheels or discs 23 still h~ve one of their edges in contac~ with base ~heel 14 in Figures 4 and 5. This causes the wheels or discs 23 to be physically re~olved around the circular retaining member in the same d~rection as the rotation of the base wheel, while each individual disc is at the same time rotating in the opposite direction because of con-tact o~ each individual disc edge with the retain~ng llp 19. This combina~ion of motion increases the randomness of the final disc or wheel orientation and leads to interesting visual effect~, which can obvious~y be quite varied by providing a variety of indicia on the wheels or d~æcs.
tn Figure 4 the top outer surface of the c~rcular retainer is shown div~ded ~nto seg~en~s labeled R, G, B
and Y. This is ~ust to indicate that, if desired, par-ticular ind~c~a or color segments can be provided on this surface (and/or the surface can b~ ex~ende~ to a wider width) to cooperate with a pointer or pointers on the indicator member 2~ as a psrt of game play.

-~00845~
, .

A~ the b~se wheel 14 slows down, the diCcs or wheels 23 als~ obvio~sly slow down, and finally fsll under the ~nfluen~e of qravity back down the inclined surf~ce 18, endin~ up nestin~ in the detents 21a with ~he pointers S 21b pointed to 8 particular area or indlcis on each one of the wheels or disc~, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Of course, it shoul~ b~ understood th~t ~igures 1 thro~gh 5 only lllustrate one embodiment of the inven-tion. For example, provision could be made for rotatingthe base wheel 14 by a sm~ll electrie motor or the like, instead of manually. As ~nother example, fewer of ~he pointers 21b could be provided th~n there ar~ wheels or d~scs, so that whi¢h di~c or wheel ehe pointer or poin~-15 ers end up pointed at forms a part of the game p~ay.Al~hough various piastics are an obvious choice for m~te-rials for the various rotator elements, other materials such as wood and metal are also suit~ble. Clearly, the apparatus can also be constructed in a variety of scales, from a relati~ely small table-top unit that ~s part of a game that miqht also invol~e a board or the like, to a very large un~t,that might be used, for example, on ~
televlsion game show. ~he apparatus eould also be useful as an amusement psrk r~de. Also, mechanical type po~nt-25 ers are ill~strated in the drawing f~r sele~-tinq or indi-csting one of t~e various areas or ind~cia on the ~heels or discs ~3. It would also be s~itable to prov~de light-ing elements adjRcent the detents to cooper~te with translucent are~s on the ~iBCS or wheels, to illuminate 30 the selected areas or indicia on the w~eels or discs.
Thus, when the term ~pointer means" is used, i~ is intended to re~er to any mechan~c~l, optical or electri-csl mechanism for selecting ~ndicia or areas of the wheels or discs. ~hese and many other variat~ons are possible w~thout departinq from th~ bas~c tenets of the present inven~ion.

-e-Turning now to F~gures 6 through 8, ehere is illu5-trated another embodiment of the invention l~ which stor-age compartments can be provide~ for the wheels or d~scs ~3, and such compartments csn actually enter into and be S a part of game play. As shown in ~igure 6, for example, an extended base 26 can be provided, with the ~pparatus of Figures 1 through S centrally mounted in the ext~nded base, as shown in ~iqure 6. In the particular embodiment shown in Fiqures 6 through 8, there are shown a plural~ty ~eight) storage compar~ments 27 d~sposed arount the periphery of the extended base 26, In this p~rticular embod~ment, e~ch of the storage compartments ~7 has a body 27a and a hinged lid 27b, s~itably arransed to snap sh~t on the body t~roug~ a snap ~ip 27~, Also, ~s shown `
ln ~gures 7 and 8, each ~f the s~orage ~ompartments is mounted via pivots 28 to the extended base 26, su~h ~hat the entire s~orage compartment can be rotated or revolved.
n oper~t~on, the storage compartments 27 can clearly be used for storage of the wheels or discs 23 when the rotator game de~ice ~s not in use. Also, the storage compartments ean be used for stora~e of wheels or discs whlle the rotator game de~ice is in use, fo~ exam-ple ~n a game where there sre ~ore wheels or discs than ~5 will f~t at sny one time ln the rotator apparatus. As mentioned pre~lously, the apparat~s of th~s in~ention is sppl~cable to game play where the particular wheels or discs wh~ch are pl3ced ln the r~tator ~evice forms a part of the game play, with fo~ example par~ of the qsme play ~e~nq determ~ning whlch ~heels or discs are in the rota-tor apparatus, either through strategy or chance. The ~rotatable~ ~torage comp~rtments as shown in F~gures 6 through a end~le yet another ele~ent of ~ame play. Spe-cifically, one or more wheels o~ discs can be placed in the storage compartments, and the storage compartments ro~ated so as to randomly expose one or the other of the 2U084~S

9 - .

two sides of each wheel or disc. Alternati~ely. other d~mens~onal objects (1.e. figures, toy c~rs and the l~ke) ~an be placed in the storage ~ompartments. This can clearly also orm a part of the game play for whatever game ~8 utiliz~ng the apparstus of this invention.
~ he variety and makeup of games wi~h wh~c~ th~ appa-rstus of this invent~on ~ay be used is llmlted only by the creativlty and imag~nation of a game developer. ~rh~t is, the rotato~ game apparatus of this invention may in essence comprise an en~ire game, by ~ons~ru~ting rules and a game pl~y outline related to the wheels or discs 23, their indicia, e~c. Alternatively, the rotator g~me apparatu~ of this invention may be a port~on of a game that in~ludes a boar~ and/or cards and the like, w~th the rotator apparatus entering into qa~e play in determining t~rns, advances, chance alternat~ves or the l~ke. For example, selectinq which of a player's wheel-~ or d~scs are placed in the rotator apparatus could be a function of the player!s game strategy, with obviously the indlcia se~ected on the wheels bsing a function of chance ~n spinn~ng the rotator game apparatus.
Although the present ~nvent~on has been descr~bed in terms of particular embodlments, i~ should be clear that many o~her embod~ments and alternatives ~re within ~he scope of the ~nvent~on. ~herefore, ~he descr~ption of ~he embod~ments should not be considered restric~ive, and the appended claims s~ould be referred to in determin~ng the scope o the present inv~nt~on.

Claims

1. A rotator game device for the generation of randomly selected data comprising a housing, a base member rotatable within said housing and having a plurality of centrally located detents or collars, a retainer member at the top of said housing overlaying part of said base member without contacting the same and having a circular inclined surface and retaining lip, and a plurality of removable wheels carrying indicia and having one edge supported on the base member and the other edge supported on the inclined surface of said retainer member in a spaced relationship from said retaining lip, such that when the base member is at rest the wheels are nested under the influence of gravity in the detents of the base member, and when the base member is rotating the wheels are displaced outwardly and up the inclined surface of the retainer member to contact the retaining lip under the influence of centrifugal force, resulting in the wheels revolving in the direction of movement of said base member with respect to said housing and said retainer member while individually counter rotating until centrifugal force decreases to the point where they fall under the influence of gravity back to the detents in the base member.

2. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 1 wherein indicia indicating means are provided as part of the detents to select at least one indicia on at least one of the wheels when the wheels are nested in said detents.

3. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 2 wherein a plurality of indicia indicating means are provided as part of said detents so as to simultaneously select indicia on a plurality of said wheels.

4. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said removable wheels are provided with indicia on both their surfaces, so that the indicia on one or the other of the surfaces of the wheels are brought into game play, depending upon which surface is visible when the wheels are in position in the game device.

5. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 1 including a number of removable wheels which exceeds the number of wheels which can be positioned in the device at any one time, whereby selection of which wheels are placed in the device can be a part of game play.

6. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retainer member is also provided with indicia around its periphery or retaining lip which can be part of game play.

7. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wheels are provided with ridges or dimples around their periphery so as to be easily stackable.

8. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing includes a plurality of removable wheel storage compartments for storing the removable wheels or other dimensional objects forming a part of the rotator game device.

9. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 8 wherein the removable wheel storage compartments have hinged tops and wherein the storage compartments are themselves hinged to said housings, whereby the storage compartments may be rotated to randomly tumble wheel members contained therein to select one or the other side of the wheel members as a part of game play.

10. A rotator game device for the generation of randomly selected data comprising a circular housing having a circular recess, a base wheel rotatable within said housing recess upon bearing means carried by said housing, said base member having an upstanding handle member fitting over said bearing means, a circular retainer member at the top of said circular housing above said recess, said circular retainer extending inwardly in a non-contacting relationship with said base wheel and having an inclined surface and retaining lip, a collar member fitted to the upstanding handle member and having a plurality of detents, and a plurality of smaller wheel members carrying indicia and being located such that each wheel member has one edge resting on said circular retainer in a spaced relationship from said retaining lip and one edge resting on said base wheel whereby when said base wheel is stationary the plurality of wheel members are urged under the influence of gravity to nested relationship in the detents of said collar member, and when said base wheel is rotating said wheel members are displaced outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force such that their outer edge contacts the retaining lip of said circular retainer, causing the wheel members to revolve in the direction of movement of said base wheel with respect to said housing and said circular retainer while counter rotating with respect to the direction of their revolution and the direction of rotation of said base member.

11. A rotator game device for the generation of randomly selected data comprising a housing, a base member rotatable within said housing and having a plurality of centrally located detents or collars which includes a plurality of indicia indicating means being adapted to simultaneously select indicia, a retainer member having a circular inclined surface and a retaining lip, and a plurality of removable wheels carrying indicia and having one edge supported on the base member and the other edge supported on the inclined surface of said retainer member, such that when the base member is at rest the wheels are nested under the influence of gravity in the detents of the base member and spaced from said retaining lip, and when the base member is rotating the wheels are displaced outwardly and up the inclined surface of the retainer member to contact the retaining lip under the influence of centrifugal force, resulting in the wheels revolving in the direction of movement of said base member while individually counter rotating until centrifugal force decreases to the point where they fall under the influence of gravity back to the detents in the base member.

12. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said retainer member is also provided with indicia around its periphery or retaining lip which can be part of game play.

13. A rotator game device for the generation of randomly selected data comprising:
a housing;
a base member rotatable within said housing;
a retainer member; and a plurality of removable wheels carrying indicia, characterized in that the base member has a plurality of centrally located detents;
the retainer member has a circular inclined surface and a retaining lip;
the wheels have one edge supported by the base member and an other edge support on the inclined surface of the retainer member, such that when the base member is at rest the wheels are nested under the influence of gravity in the detents of the base member, and when the base member is rotating the wheels are displaced outwardly and up the inclined surface of the retainer member to contact the retaining lip under the influence of centrifugal force, resulting in the wheels revolving in the direction of movement of the base member while individually counter-rotating until centrifugal force decreases to the point where the wheels fall under the influence of gravity back to the detents in the base member.

14. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 13 characterized in that indicia indicating means are provided as part of the detents to select at least one indicia on at least one of the wheels when the wheels are nested in the detents.

15. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the removable wheels are provided with indicia on both their surfaces, so that the indicia on one or the other of the surfaces of the wheels are brought into game play, depending upon which surface is visible when the wheels are in position in the game device.

16. A rotator game device in accordance with any one of claims 13 to 15 characterized in that a number of removable wheels which exceeds the number of wheels which can be positioned in the device at any one time, whereby selection of which wheels are placed in the device can be part of game play.

17. A rotator game device as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 characterized in that the retainer member is also provided with indicia around its periphery or retaining lip which can be part of game play.

18. A rotator game device in accordance with any one of claims 13 to 15 characterized in that the wheels are provided with ridges or dimples around their periphery so as to be easily stackable.

19. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 14 characterized in that a plurality of indicia indicating means are provided as part of the detents so as to simultaneously select indicia on a plurality of the wheels.

20. A rotator game device in accordance with any one of claims 13 to 15 or 19 characterized in that the housing includes a plurality of storage wheel compartments for storing the removable wheels or other dimensional objects forming part of the rotator game device.

21. A rotator game device in accordance with claim 20 characterized in that the wheel storage compartments have hinged tops and are themselves hinged to the housing, whereby the storage compartments may be rotated to randomly tumble the wheels contained therein to select one or the other side of the wheels as a part of game play.

22. A rotator game device in accordance with any one of the claims 13 to 15, 19 or 21 characterized in that:
the housing is circular and comprises a recess; the base member includes a collar and a base wheel rotatable within the recess;
bearing means are provided and carried by the housing;
the base wheel includes an upstanding handle member fitting over the bearing means;
the retainer member is circular and mounted to the circular housing above the recess, the circular retainer member having the inclined surface and lip;
the collar is fitted to the upstanding handle member and has a plurality of detents; and the removable wheels comprise smaller wheel members carrying indicia and are located such that each wheel member has one edge resting on the circular retainer and one edge resting of the base wheel.