US3092390A - Game device - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1963 C; J, SUPER 3,092,390

GAME DEVICE Filed April 13, 1961 Q/f Q United States Patent O 3,092,390 GAME DEVICE Carl J. Super, 1531 Ave. G, Fort Madison, Iowa Filed Apr. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 102,870 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-135) This invention relates to an amusement device or game device, and more particularly to a game device that is adapted to utilize an element of chance combined with the exercise of memory by the player or players.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a game device which is self-contained `and wherein the game device is adapted to be played in such a manner that when a certain group or particular set of push buttons are manually depressed, a signal consisting of a light or lamp is adapted to be actuated or energized in order to give an indication that a ball member is in a particular location or position, and wherein according to the present invention a player must remember which push buttons were manually operated for pushed in order to subsequently push buttons that have lighted the lamp and also avoid pushing buttons that have proven to be dead.

Another object of the present invention is to ,provide a game device of the character described that is adapted to ybe made so that all of the necessary operating parts are self-contained wherein one or more batteries arranged in the game device can be used for supplying the elecltrical energy for actuating the signal lamp `at the proper time.

Still another object is to provide such a game device that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that iseconomical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of materials and uniformity of members formed thereform.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of the game device of l'the present invention, with parts broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the base with the openings therein for selectively receiving the ball members.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view illustrating the wiring dia-gram of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral y10 indicates the game device of the present invention which 'is shown to comprise a housing or casing that is indicated generally by the numeral 11, and the housing '11 is adapted to be made of a suitable non-conducting material, and as shown in the drawings, the housing 11 embodies a bottom wall 12 as well as spaced parallel upstanding side walls 13, and spaced parallel vertically disposed end walls 14. The numeral 15 indicates a generally rectangular frame that is suitably mounted to the upper portion of the housing 11, and the frame 1S includes spaced parallel side members or portions 16 as well as spaced parallel end members or portions 17.

Mounted in the lower portion of the housing 11 is a horizontally disposed base 18, and the base 1S is made "ice of material which is electrically conductive, and as shown in FIGURE 2, for example, the base .18 is provided with 'seated in slots 20 in the walls of the housing 11 so as to retain or maintain the base 18 in its proper position slightly above the bottom wall 12 of the housing.

Ball members 21 of electrically conductive material are adapted to selectively engage the openings .19 of the base 18, and the ball members 21 are mounted for movement through channels or passageways 23 that are defined between spaced l upstanding partitions 22, and there is provided one ball member 21 for each of the passageways or channels 23, for a purpose to be later described.

The numeral 24 indicates a horizontally disposed plate of electrically conductive material that is arranged in spaced parallel relation above the base 18, and outer edge portions of the plate 24 may be received in recesses 37 that are provided in the lower portion of the frame 15 so as to maintain the plate 24 in its proper position. The plate 24 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures 25 therein, and the game device of the present invention includes ,a plurality of push buttons which are each indicated generally by the numeral 26, and as shown in FIGURE 3 for example, each of the push buttons 26 has generally the same construction and each embodies a stem or shank 27 that is slidable through an aperture 25 in the plate 24. A coil spring 28 is circumposed on each stem 27, and there is provided ion the upper end of each push button a finger engaging piece 29, and the finger pieces 29 are adapted to have different colors thereon. A bushing 30 is adapted to be aiiixed to the lower end of the stem 27, and a washer 31 is arranged above the plate 24 and below the lower end of .the coil spring 28.

The game device of the present invention further includes an electrical circuit which embodies a signal lamp or light 32 that is suitably mounted in the device, and, for example, the lamp 32 can be supported in a socket that is affixed in the plate 24, and a transparent shield or cover 33 is adapted to be arranged over the lamp 32, FIGURE 4. The numeral 34 indicates a source Yof electrical energy such as ya battery that is adapted to be arranged within the game device, and as shown in FIGURE 6 electric wires or conductors 35 and 36 are provided for the circuit.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a game device, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that the `game device 10 of the present invention includes the housing 11 that is ladapted to be made of a non-conductive material, and mounted within the lower portion of the housing 11 is the conductive base or plate 18 which has the openings A19 therein, and these openings 19 are of a size so as to snugly receive therein a lower portion of a ball member 21 in order totemporarily prevent movement or rolling of a ball member 21 in a channel 23 defined between the partitions 22. It is to be noted that if a ball member 21 is below a push button 26 when that particular push button 26 is manually depressed, the electrical circuit will be completed through the push button 26 :and through the ball member 21 and through the base A18, battery 34, lamp 32, and plate 24 so that the lamp 32 will be lit when a ball member is in an opening 19 below a particular push button 26 that is manually depressed or opera-ted. When manual pressure is released on the push button 26, the coil spring 28 will return or urge the stem to its initial position so that the electrical circuit to the lamp will be automatically opened or broken.

When a push button is manually depressed and when 3 there is no ball member 21 in an opening 19 therebelow, then the light 32 will not be energized since it is necessary for a ball member to be in position below a push button that is depressed in order to complete the electrical circuit from the battery to the lamp or light.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in diierent shapes or sizes.

The game device is constructed so that no contact can be made in any position unless one of the buttons is fully depressed. After a game has been played, or when it is desired to start the play over again, the game device can be shaken or tilted in order to readily cause the balls 21 to be dislodged or moved from the particular openings -19 in which they are seated so that these ball members can be caused to engage other openings whereby a different random selection of push buttons will be necessary in order to accomplish the desired result or eiect.

It will therefore be seen that according to the present invention there has been provided an electrical game which combines chance and memory, and the present invention is a self-contained game device which can be played by two or more persons and the game device can be played with interest by children such as children above the age of seven aswell as by adults.

The following is given as an explanation tof the rules of playing the game. Each player pushes but one button 26 in each horizontal row, and if the iirst button pushed in the iirst row lights the lamp 32, the player proceeds to the second row to push just one button. If that button lights the lamp, he or she progresses to the third row, and so on until the lamp 32 has been lighted in all the rows including the bottom row so as to win the game. If the lamp does not light when the player pushes a button, the player loses the turn to the next opponent. Each player must start at the top row every time he plays, and push a button lighting the lamp in each row until a dead button is pushed or until it lights the lamp in all of the rows. Because the lamp must be lighted in each row, and only one push is allowed in each row, the use of memory is required. Thus, each player must remember which button to push, so that in his turn he can push buttons that have lighted the lamp and avoid buttons that are proven to be dead.

It is to be noted that when all the rows of buttons have lighted the lamp by a player pushing just one button in each row, the game is over and a new game begins. Also, only one button in each row will light the lamp in that row. The position of this button is never known at the start of the game. After completing the game, the sequence ofthe lamp lighting buttons is changed by merely shaking the game board, since the movement of the board disturbs the steel balls 21 in each row of buttons as shown in the drawings so that the balls reposition themselves under different buttons by settling in the holes 19 in order to create a new sequence vof lamp lighting buttons.

An important aspect of the present invention is the laying out of a new sequence of lamp lighting buttons in conjunction with the aforementioned features.

The housing 11 can be made of a suitable rigid material such as wood, plastic or the like and the housing 1,1 is of a material that is not a conductor of electrical energy. The base 18 is of a material that does conduct electricity, and the partitions 22 are of a material that does not conduct electricity. The partitions 22 form supports between the plate 24 and base 718 so as to prevent warping or depression of the plate 24 and base y18 when pressure is applied to the push button 26. The plate 24 and base 18 are of the material that will conduct electricity, and the balls 21 are also of a material that will conduct electricity such as steel. The spring loaded push buttons 26 are also of a material that will conduct electricity. When these push buttons 26 have their upper iinger engaging elements 29 depressed, they electrically connect the surfacesl 18 and 24 if and when a steelrball Z1 is under the button that is depressed, and this contact completes the electrical circuit that will light the lamp.

The light 32 and battery 34 are connected in series with the two conducting surfaces 24 and 18 so that the lamp 32 will light when the series circuit is closed by pressing one of the push buttons 26 against a steel ball 21.

In FIGURE.' 5 vthe numeral 19 indicates openings in the base v18 and the steel balls 21 settle in these openings or holes 19 in the base 18 after the board is shaken, and these holes 19 insure that the balls will properly be under a button so that they will not change positions until the game is over and the board is again shaken. The holes 19 are considerably smaller than the balls 21 so that they will not deter easy movement of the balls when the board is shaken.

location of the battery 34 and light 3-2 between the surfaces 24 and 18, and on the top of the member 24 there is provided an open surface inthe vicinity of the area 38- which provides room to display the name of the game as well as instructions for playing the game.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be obvious that lthe invention may be otherwise embodied and the dimensions and interrelation of parts changed so long as the objects of the invention are attained.,

What is claimed is:

1. A game device comprising a housing of non-conductive material and said housing including a bottom wall, spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls, and spaced parallel end walls; a base of conductive material mounted in said housing in spaced relation with respect to said bottom wall, and said base being arranged above said bottom wall, a generally rectangular frame mounted on the upper portion of said housing, there being a plurality of spaced apart openings in said base, a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed partitions arranged in said housing and extending between said side walls and delining therebetween channels, a single ball member of conductive material movable in each of said channels, a plate of conductive material mounted in said housing and arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said base and positioned above said base, there being a plurality of spaced apart apertures in said plate, a plurality of push buttons each comprising a stem of electrically conductive material movably mounted in an aperture of the plate, coil springs circumposed on said stems, tnger pieces on the upper ends ofthe push buttons, and an electrical circuit including a light and a source of electrical energy connected to said plate and base.

2. A game device comprising a housing of non-conductivematerial and said housing including a bottom wall, spaced parallel vertically disposed side walls, and spaced parallel end walls; a base of conductive material mounted in said housing in spaced relation with respect to said bottom rwall and said base being arranged above said bottom wall, a generally rectangular frame mounted on the upper portion of said housing, there Ybeing a plurality of spaced apart openings in said base, a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed partitions arranged in said housing and extending between said side walls and delining therebetween channels, a single ball member of couductive material movable in each of said channels, a plate of conductive material mounted in said housing and arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to said base and positioned above said base, there being a plurality of spaced apart apertures in said plate, a plurality of push buttons each comprising a stem of electrically conductive material movably mounted in an aperture of the plate, coil springs circumposed on said stems, linger pieces on the upper ends ofthe push buttons, and an elecand said push buttons corresponding in number and arrangement to the openings in the base therebelow.

3. In a game device, a housing of non-conductive material, a base of electrically conductive material mounted in the lower portion of said housing, there being a plurality of spaced apart rows of openings in said base, a partition disposed between each of the adjacent rows and rising from said base, an electrically conductive ball member movable between each of the adjacent partitions and seatabie in one of the openings of the associated row of openings, an electrically conductive plate supported in said housing and disposed in superimposed spaced relation above said balls, an electrically conductive spring# biased push button mounted in said plate above and in registry with each base opening and being depressible by finger pressure into electrical contact with the ball of the adjacent row of openings when seated in said opening, a signal lamp mounted in said housing, and a source of electrical energy connected in circuit with said plate, said base, and said lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 852,755 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1960

Claims (1)

1. 3. IN A GAME DEVICE, A HOUSING OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A BASE OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL MOUNTED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART ROWS OF OPENINGS IN SAID BASE, A PARTITION DISPOSED BETWEEN EACH OF THE ADJACENT ROWS AND RISING FROM SAID BASE, AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BALL MEMBER MOVABLE BETWEEN EACH OF THE ADJACENT PARTITIONS AND SEATABLE IN ONE OF THE OPENINGS OF THE ASSOCIATED ROW OF OPENINGS, AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PLATE SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING AND DISPOSED IN SUPERIMPOSED SPACED RELA-

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