Vacuum Cup-held Game Device

Abstract

A game device having a hollow elongated body and resilient vacuum cups mounted at ends of the body. A partition in the body spaced from the vacuum cups forms air columns inside the body in communication with the interiors of the vacuum cups. Each of the vacuum cups can hold the device on a surface engaged thereby, and air from one of the air columns permits the engaged vacuum cup to partially expand after engagement of the device with the surface to permit ready release thereof.

Description

This invention relates to a game device. More particularly, this invention relates to a game device which is provided with vacuum cups at ends thereof which can be caused to engage a flat surface.

An object of this invention is to provide a game device having resilient vacuum cups at ends thereof which hold the device in upright position on the flat surface when in engagement therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a device in which the vacuum cups are carried at opposite ends of an elongated tubular body and in which a column of air inside the body is in communication with the interior of each vacuum cup so that the device can readily be released from the surface.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description and the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention in position for throwing and in position held by one of a pair of vacuum cups thereof, the position of the device after improper throwing thereof being indicated in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale, partly broken away and in section to reveal details of interior construction;

FIG. 3 is a view in bottom plan of the device shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken on an enlarged scale on the line 4--4 in FIG. 2.

In the following detailed description and the drawing, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In FIG. 1, a game device 10 constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in position for throwing from a knee 12 of a player 13 in accordance with one type of game played therewith.

Details of construction of the game device 10 are shown in FIGS. 2-4 inclusive. The game device 10 includes an elongated tubular body 14, which can be formed of rigid plastic material or the like. The interior of the body is divided into air column sections 17 and 17' by a resilient ball partition 16 which is centrally disposed therein and wedged in place. The ball 16 can be formed of rubber or other rubber-like material. Vacuum cups 18 and 19 are mounted at opposite ends of the tubular body. The vacuum cups 18 and 19 are similar in construction and in the manner of mounting in the tubular body 14, and only details of construction of the vacuum cup 18 will be described in detail.

The vacuum cup 18 is formed of rubber or other rubber-like material and, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a hollow cup-shaped main portion 21 and a cylindrical boss 22. The boss 22 fits tightly inside an end portion 23 of the body 14. Set screws 24 mounted in radial threaded openings 26 in the body 14 can engage the boss to hold the boss in position inside the end portion 23 of the body 14, or the boss can be held in position by an adhesive or the like. An axial opening 27 in the boss 22 provides communication between the interior of the main portion 21 of the vacuum cup and the air column 17 inside the body 14. A metering or choke portion 28 of the axial opening is very small with relation to the space inside the main portion 21 of the vacuum cup so that air from the air column can move into the space inside the main portion. In a vacuum cup having a diameter D (FIG. 3) of 31/4 inches, the diameter of the choke portion 28 of the axial opening can be approximately one-sixteenth of an inch. The volume of the air column 17 and the volume of the space inside the main portion of the vacuum cup when in normal or released position are preferably approximately equal.

In use, the device 10 can be thrown or tossed from the position in which the device 10 in FIG. 1 is shown held by hand 29 of the player 13 to a position 10A in which the vacuum cup 18 engages a floor 30 having a flat upper face. If the device is properly thrown, the main portion of the vacuum cup engages the floor and is spread to hold on the floor with the device in upright position. If the game device is improperly thrown, it fails to be held in upright position and falls to the position shown in dashed lines at 10B. As shown in FIG. 4, resilient walls of the main portion 21 of the vacuum cup 18 arch and taper outwardly from the rigid body 14 so that the vacuum cups form resilient bumpers when the device is improperly thrown to prevent injury to the floor 30.

Resilience of the walls of the main portion of the vacuum cup 18 urges the device upwardly when held on the floor in upright position, and the air column 17 permits partial raising of the tubular body with the vacuum cup 18 gripping the floor but with some air from the air column 17 in the main portion of the vacuum cup 18 so that the cup 18 can readily be caused to release the floor when the tubular body is tilted to one side to cause the cup to be released preparatory to a next throwing of the game device.

The outside wall of the tubular body 14 of the game device 10 can be painted to provide sections 32, 33, and 34, which can be of contrasting colors to permit ready following of the device as it is thrown.

The game device illustrated in the drawing and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent is:

1. A game device which comprises a hollow elongated body, a resilient vacuum cup mounted at one end of the body and closing said end of the body, there being an opening in the vacuum cup communicating with the interior of the body, a second resilient vacuum cup mounted at an opposite end of the body and closing said opposite end of the body, there being an opening in the second vacuum cup communicating with the interior of the body, a partition in the body spaced from the vacuum cups to form an air column inside the body in communication with the interior of each of the vacuum cups, each of the vacuum cups being adapted to hold the device on a surface engaged thereby, air from the air columns permitting each of the vacuum cups to partially expand after engagement of the device with the surface to permit release thereof.

2. A game device as in claim 1 wherein walls of the vacuum cups extend outwardly from the body forming resilient bumpers at opposite ends of the body.

3. A game device as in claim 1 wherein the diameter of each of the openings is sufficiently small to choke passage of air therethrough.

4. A game device as in claim 1 wherein the diameter of each of the openings is approximately one-sixteenth inch.

5. A game device as in claim 1 wherein the diameter of each of the openings is sufficiently small to choke passage of air therethrough and volume of the air column communicating with the interior of each vacuum cup is substantially equal to the volume of said vacuum cup.