US2846227A - Fortune telling ball - Google Patents

Description

1958 E. R. WICKHAM 2,846,227

FORTUNE TELLING BALL Filed Jan. 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7'0 WURSELF rm amass LEO '1 7 v EZZemeri/eR.Wickham 7.27.. 53.. I

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 5, 1958 'E. RJWICKHAM 2,346,227

FORTUNE TELLING BALL Filed Jan. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /3 /5 Elle me 1* ie 314 21076510 m INVENTOR I BY l I 4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent FORTUNE TELLING BALL Application January 23, 1957, Serial No. 635,839 1 Claim. Cl. 273-161) This invention relates to amusement devices, the primary object of the invention being to provide an amusement device designed primarily for telling or indicating fortunes, the device including an outer stationary opaque spherical member having a sight opening formed in the wall thereof extending from the top to the bottom of the outer member, and an inner transparent spherical member viewed through the sight opening of the outer member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotatable transparent spherical member on which indicia representing groups of cards, are formed, the groups of cards being visible through the sight opening of the outer mem ber.

A still further object of the invention is to provide printed matter on the outer surface of the outer stationary opaque member and arranged adjacent to the sight opening, indicating the meaning of the cards of each group, as the groups of cards move to positions opposite the sight opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transparent inner spherical member illuminated by an electric lamp mounted within the inner member, the light rays from the lamp being projected through the wall of the tansparent inner member and illuminating the indicia thereon.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an amusement device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the inner transparent spherical member.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the spring pressed stop for stopping rotation of the inner spherical member at predetermined points.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail the device comprises a base indicated generally by the reference character 5, the base being in the form of a pedestal with a central opening in which an electric lamp socket 6 is held, the lamp socket supporting an electric lamp 7.

The lamp socket 6 is formed with an annular shoulder 8 that provides a rest for the collar 9 formed with an outwardly and upwardly inclined annular flange 10 which in turn provides a support for the inner transparent spherical member 11.

The spherical member 11 is formed with an opening that fits down over the upper portion of the lamp socket 6 as better shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, the inner spherical member 11 being rotatable on said annular flange 10.

A spring pressed ball 12 is mounted in the tubular housing 13 fitted in an opening in the flange 10. The transparent inner spherical member 11 is formed with justed ball 12 will enter one of the depressions and cause the inner spherical member to cease rotation. With this construction, it is obvious that when the inner spherical member ceases rotation, groups of indicia representing playing cards, will appear opposite to the sight opening and may be read by the person spinning the inner spherical member.

The inner spherical member 11 is mounted within the opaque outer spherical member 15 which is provided with an opening, the portions of the spherical member 15 adjacent to the opening being extended downwardly at 16 providing an annular flange that fits within the opening of the base, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings and holds the outer spherical member in position.

The outer spherical member is formed with an opening at the top thereof through which an extension 17 extends, the extension 17 supporting a ball 18 at its upper end, which ball affords a hand grip for rotating the inner spherical member within the outer spherical member.

An opening indicated by the reference character 19 extends from top to bottom of the outer spherical member 15, the opening being indicated by the reference character 19. This opening provides a circular sight opening whereby the indicia 20 which may be of any desired type, but which in the present showing are representatives of the conventional playing cards, may be viewed.

As shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the groups of indicia representing playing cards fall opposite to certain indicia indicating steps in the rules of playing the game or operating the amusement device.

When operating the device a person spins the inner spherical member by rotating the ball or knob 18, and as the inner spherical member 11 loses its momentum, the ball will move into one of the depressions which falls directly opposite to the ball 12, causing the inner spheri cal member to cease rotation. It will of course be understood that the coiled spring 20a mounted within the tubular housing 13 will be sufficient to overcome the movement of the inner spherical member at a certain point to cause the groups of indicia on one section of the inner spherical member, to be lined with the sight opening of the outer spherical member so that they may be read and the fortune of the person spinning the inner spherical member, determined.

It might be further stated that the base 5 is provided with a plurality of circular sight openings that are arranged in a circle around the base. Under each of these openings are indicia indicating the sign of the zodiac that is directly under the three cornered guide or indicator 21. Thus it will be seen that when the inner spherical member stops spinning, the card indicia showing in the sight opening will indicate the fortune of the person spinning the inner spherical member.

The guide or indicator 21 is formed at the base or lower portion of the outer opaque spherical member 15, so that when the outer opaque spherical member is ador rotated slightly to bring the guide or indicator 21 over a certain circle, as by means of the handle 22, the base may be adjusted to a position directly over the sign of the zodiac which is within the range of the months of the year that agrees with the date of birth period of the person using the device for a fortune reading.

When using the device for a fortune reading, the outer paq e spherical member is rotated as described, to cau e Patented Aug. 5, 1958' and spaced predetermined distances.

2,846,227 7 p i r the indicator 21 to lie directly above the selected sign of the zodiac. The knob 18 is now rotated to cause the transparent inner spherical .member to spin within the outer opaque spherical member. When the force of rotation caused by the spinning of the inner spherical member has been overcome or spent, the inner spherical member will stop to. bring a certain group or groups of indicia representing cards, before the sight'opening which will indicate the fortune reading.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed An amusement device comprising a base, an outer opaque spherical member mounted for rotation on said base, said opaque spherical member having an. ovoid sight opening formed in the wall. thereof, an inner transparent spinning spherical member mounted for rotation within said outer spherical member, said inner member having groups of indicia in the form of playing cards arranged on the outer surface thereof visible through said sight opening, mechanism for illuminating indicia on said transparent inner member, and spring biased ball means for retarding spinning movement of said inner member '4 within the outer member, said inner member including depressions engageable by said ball means whereby certain groups of card indicia are displayed before said sight opening, and means comprising an operating handle for effecting rotation of said outer spherical member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 387,957 Moreon Aug. 14, 1888 1,600,966 Adair Sept. 28, 1926 1,637,010 Rees July 26, 1927 1,718,898 Fagan June 25, 1929 2,120,439 Jamison June 14, 1938 7,134,461 Fusco Oct. 25, 1938 2,381,933 Sloper Aug. 14, 1945 2,444,810 Creasy July 6, 1948 2,690,621 Dean Oct. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 413,862 Great Britain July 26, 1934 812,983 France Feb. 15, 1937

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