U.S. patent number 3,740,039 [Application Number 05/261,533] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-19 for game or educational device.
Invention is credited to Victor J. Prola.
United States Patent |
3,740,039 |
Prola |
June 19, 1973 |
GAME OR EDUCATIONAL DEVICE
Abstract
A device having the outward form of a transparent or translucent
crystal ball disposed before a human figure with conjointly movable
arms and eyelids. Disposed within the crystal ball are a pair of
independently rotatable cylindrical members having
circumferentially distributed symbols that become visible through a
predetermined viewing region of the ball when the cylindrical
members are illuminated by a lamp located within each member.
Indexing movement of one of the cylindrical members selectively
causes illumination of one or both lamps. A cam and lever
arrangement assures synchronous movement of the arms and eyelids
with said one cylindrical member.
Inventors: |
Prola; Victor J. (Blairsville,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
22993743 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/261,533 |
Filed: |
June 9, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/161; 434/201;
446/342; 446/392; 273/143D; 434/335; 446/390; 446/485 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
9/181 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
9/18 (20060101); A63f 009/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/143R,143D ;35/9B
;46/116,117,118,120 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a game or teaching device; a frame, a pair of cylindrical
members rotatably mounted in coaxial relation in the frame and
bearing circumferentially distributed symbols that become visible
in a predetermined circumferentially disposed viewing region when
the respective cylindrical member is internally illuminated, each
cylindrical member having a plurality of indexed positions in each
of which a respective symbol is presented to said viewing region,
means for independently indexing said cylindrical members from each
indexed position thereof to the next, lamp means for independently
illuminating the inside of each cylindrical member, and control
means responsive to indexing movement of at least one said
cylindrical member for controlling the illumination of said lamp
means.
2. A game according to claim 1 which includes support means
swingably supporting said lamp means, and means responsive to
indexing movement of at least said one cylindrical member for
causing said lamp means to commence to swing on said support
means.
3. A game according to claim 2 which includes a spring supporting
each lamp means on said support means.
4. The game according to claim 1 in which said frame includes a
spherical portion surrounding said cylindrical members and on the
inner surface of which said symbols are projected by the said lamp
means when the lamp means are illuminated.
5. A game according to claim 4 in which said frame includes a
figurine seated adjacent said spherical portion and having moveable
arms with hands which rest on said spherical portion in a lowered
position of said arms and on the head of the figurine in an
elevated position of said arms, and actuating means responsive to
rotation of at least said one cylindrical member for moving said
arms between the two said positions thereof.
6. A game according to claim 5 in which said figurine has moveable
eyelids, and linkage means connecting the eyelids to said arms for
closing the eyelids in the elevated position of said arms and
opening the eyelids in the lowered position of said arms.
7. A game according to claim 5 in which said actuating means
includes a cam connected to rotate with said one cylindrical
member, and linkage means in said frame connecting said cam to said
arms of the figurine for actuation thereof as said one cylindrical
member is rotated.
8. A game according to claim 1 in which said frame has a spherical
portion simulating a crystal ball and surrounding said cylindrical
members, a diametral shaft in said spherical portion, said
cylindrical members being independently rotatable on said shaft,
said frame having a front wall, a pair of knobs rotatable on said
front wall, and means drivingly connecting each knob with one of
said cylindrical members.
9. A game according to claim 8 which includes a dial behind said
front wall and driven by one of said knobs, said dial having
symbols thereon in circumferentially distributed relation, and a
window in said front wall for viewing said dial thereby to
determine the indexed position of the cylindrical member pertaining
to the respective knob.
10. A game according to claim 8 which includes a shaft connected to
each knob and extending into the frame, a worm on each shaft
adjacent the respective cylindrical member, and teeth on the
cylindrical members engaging the respective ones of said worms.
11. A game according to claim 1 in which each cylindrical member
includes notches in one edge and detent means resiliently supported
in said frame and bearing on said one edges to determine the
indexed positions of said cylindrical members.
12. A game according to claim 11 in which said control means
includes switch means actuated by the detent means pertaining to at
least said one cylindrical member.
13. A game according to claim 12 in which said switch means
includes a first switch in circuit with the lamp means pertaining
to said one cylindrical member and operated into closed position by
the detent means pertaining to said one cylindrical member when the
detent means drops into any notch in the said one edge of said one
cylindrical member.
14. A game according to claim 13 in which at least one selected
notch in said one edge of said one cylindrical member is deeper
than the others thereof, and a second switch in circuit with the
lamp means pertaining to the other said cylindrical member and
closed only when the detent means pertaining to said one
cylindrical member drops into said one selected notch.
15. A game according to claim 14 in which other lamp means are
provided inside said cylindrical member and in circuit with said
second switch.
16. A game according to claim 1 in which each of the said lamp
means for illuminating the inside of a said cylindrical member is
nonrotatably supported inside the respective cylindrical member,
and reflector means adjacent each said lamp means directing the
illumination therefrom toward a predetermined circumferential
region of the respective cylindrical member.
17. A game according to claim 1 which includes means for supplying
energy to said lamp means comprising battery means in said
frame.
18. A game according to claim 1 in which said one cylindrical
member has a plurality of sets of instructions serially arranged
thereon about the periphery thereof.
19. A game according to claim 1 in which said one cylindrical
member includes a mask element thereon which in one position of
said one cylindrical member covers the portion of the other
cylindrical member which is disposed in said viewing region.
20. A game according to claim 1 in which said one member has a
plurality of sets of instructions serially arranged about the
periphery thereof, an indexed position of said one cylindrical
member pertaining to each instruction, a further indexed position
for said one cylindrical member at the end of each series of
instructions comprising the answer position, and means for
illuminating the lamp means inside the other cylindrical member in
each answer position of said one cylindrical member.
Description
This invention relates to a game device or teaching device, and in
particular to a device of this nature involving mathematical or
arithmetical operations and which embodies an air of
mystification.
More particularly still, the present invention concerns a device in
which certain selections, for example, of numbers, can be made and
the device signals instructions to the operator or player which are
to be followed and, subsequently, signals an answer which shows
whether or not the signalled instructions have been properly
followed.
The present invention represents further advances and improvements
over the device illustrated in my copending application, Ser. No.
13,486; entitled: GAME DEVICE, and filed Feb. 24, 1970, now U.S.
Pat. No. 3,672,071.
A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a
device of the nature referred to which is relatively compact and
inexpensive, but quite efficient in operation and which, in
addition to providing the pleasure of mystification and suspense,
provides for practice in arithmetic.
Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of
the nature referred to which is adjustable to provide for different
types of instructions and different answers corresponding to the
instructions.
A still further object is the provision of a device of the nature
referred to which is both entertaining and educational and operates
in a manner such as to mystify at least younger players.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent upon reference to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the device in one
position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the device in another
position.
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the device indicated
by line III--III on FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line IV--IV of
FIG. 2 and 3.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a linkage mechanism forming a
part of the device.
FIG. 6 is a section on line VI--VI of FIG. 3 showing a detail of
the device.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for the device.
FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a modification.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device of the present invention embodies the combination of
instruction signalling means and answer indicating means with the
instruction signalling means being sequentially actuated. The
instruction signalling means may be visible or audible or a
combination thereof and, in a preferred form which the invention
takes, consist of instructions for performing mathematical or
arithmetical operations.
The device embodies a selector for selecting an item of
information, such as a number, which is employed during the
carrying out of the instructions, together with another item of
information, such as a number, which is indicated on the
device.
Following the carrying out of the sequentially indicated
instructions, the apparatus indicates an answer which will show
whether or not the operator or player has correctly carried out the
instructions indicated by the device.
The device is housed in a frame and may be either battery operated
or operated from conventional household current and includes a
manually operated switch for sequentially actuating the instruction
signalling means. A motor operated switch may also be used for that
purpose.
The frame of the device is in the form of a base having a figurine
at one side while resting on the base is a spherical member
simulating a crystal ball. The instructions are inside the
spherical member and are made visible by lamps and the figurine has
moveable arms and eyelids which are actuated during the operation
of the device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device comprises a frame consisting of a base 10 having a
figurine 12 upstanding at one side while in front of the figurine
is a globular shell-like portion 14 of light conductive material.
This portion 14 may be either transparent or translucent.
Supported inside portion 14 on a diameter thereof is a shaft 16 and
rotatably mounted on the shaft 16 in axially spaced relation are
first and second cylindrical members 18 and 20, each of which has a
hub 22, 24, respectively, and spokes, or a spider, connecting the
hub with a cylindrical rim portion. Each cylindrical rim portion
bears symbols in the form of numbers or words or the like which are
normally invisible from outside shell portion 14 but which become
visible when the respective rim portion is illuminated from the
inside.
For illuminating the rim portions of members 18 and 20 from the
inside thereof, there are provided the respective lamps 26 and 28
each mounted in a respective socket with each socket provided with
a respective reflector 30, 32 which directs the light from the
respective lamp toward a certain peripheral region of the rim
portion of the pertaining cylindrical member and which can be
referred to as a reading position. This position is to one side of
the vertical center line of shell-like portion 14 and on that side
of portion 14 opposite figurine 12.
Each socket is supported on a respective spring 34, 36 with the
lower end of each spring being mounted on one end of a
substantially horizontal arm 38, 40.
As will best be seen in FIG. 3, each arm extends in the fore and
aft direction and is disposed below the axis of shaft 16 and is
provided with a counter weight 42 to counter balance the weight of
the lamp and socket and spring and reflector.
The arms 38, 40 are connected by a shaft 44 parallel to shaft 16
and suspended in the spaced arms 46 dependent from a bushing 48
loose on shaft 16 and fitting between hubs 22 and 24. Between
dependent portions 46, shaft 44 may have connected thereto a weight
50 of substantial size which determines a certain rest position for
shaft 44 and, therefore, for the arms 38 and 40 and the lamps
pertaining thereto.
Each of members 18 and 20 on the one side is provided with notches
for receiving a detent. Thus, cylindrical member 18 has notches 52
adapted to receive detent element 54 mounted on the upper end of a
leaf spring 56 anchored in portion 58 of the frame.
Similarly, cylindrical member 20 has notches 60 engaged by a detent
element 62 on the upper end of a leaf spring 64 also anchored in
portion 58 of the frame.
Adjacent detent element 62 are switches 51 and 52 with an actuating
plunger 66 extending between spring 64 and switch 51. When the
detent element 62 is riding on the edge of cylindrical member 20
between adjacent notches, both switches are open, and when the
detent drops into certain ones of the notches it will cause switch
51 to close, whereas when the detent drops into predetermined
deeper notches, one of which is designated at 68, the detent will
drop farther than it does when it enters a notch 60 and will cause
both of switches 51 and 52 to close.
The other axial edge of each of members 18 and 20 is provided with
gear teeth 70, and the gear teeth engage respective worms 72 for
member 18 and 74 for member 20. Each worm, as will be seen in FIG.
3, is mounted on a shaft 76 which is journaled in frame 10 and at
the outer end has a knob 78 for rotation of the shaft to drive the
pertaining cylindrical member in rotation from one indexed position
to another. Left hand knob 78 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a number selector
knob and right hand knob is the game knob. Left hand knob controls
a disc 81 which has a portion of the edge visible through window 79
whereby the adjusted position of left hand knob 78 and of member 18
operated thereby can be determined. Disc 81 can be fixed to left
hand shaft 76 or it can be positively driven thereby, as by a ball
chain.
The hub 24 for cylindrical member 20 carries a star wheel 80
thereon having notches 82 adapted to engage an element 84 carried
on arm 40. By the described arrangement, which is illustrated in
FIG. 6, each time member 20 is indexed one step, star wheel 80 will
cause the shaft 44 and the arms 38 and 40 thereon to start to
oscillate about the rest position thereof with the oscillations
gradually diminishing until the said arms come to rest.
The figurine referred to has a head 90 with eyes 92 which have
moveable eyelids 94. The figurine also has arms 96 pivoted to the
body of the figurine at 98 and with the arms having hands 100. In a
lowered first position of the arms, the hands rest on shell-like
portion 14, as shown in FIG. 1, and in a second rest position of
the arms, the hands rest on the head of the figurine as shown in
FIG. 2.
Simultaneously with the movement of the arms, the lids 94 move from
open position when the arms are down to closed position when the
arms are up.
As will be seen in FIG. 5, a linkage is provided, consisting of a
lever 102 connected to the eyelids and a lever 104 connected to the
arms in a link 106 extending therebetween so that when the arms
raise the eyelids will close and vice versa. The arms have another
lever 108 which may carry a counter weight 110 to counter balance
the weight of the arms. Lever 104 is connected by a link 112 with a
lever 114 pivoted in frame 10 at 116. The end of lever 114 opposite
its pivotal connection to link 112 comprises a follower 118 resting
on the periphery of a cam 120 which is fixed to the hub of member
20.
Member 20 in the arrangement illustrated has two beginning
positions, in each of which follower 118 is at the bottom of a
notch in cam 120. As member 20 is indexed away from the rest
position step by step, the arms of the figurine gradually raise
away from the first position thereof to the second position thereof
while the lids simultaneously close. The last indexed movement of
member 20 will bring the cam into such position that follower 118
will drop into the next notch thereby suddenly returning the arms
to the first position thereof and causing the eyelids to open.
Inside portion 14 are two further lamps 130 and 132 not directly
associated with members 18 and 20.
The lamp 28 is under the control of the aforementioned switch 51
and lamps 26, 130 and 132 are under the control of switches 51 and
52 with the lamps and switches being connected in circuit with a
battery B as shown in FIG. 7 with an on-off switch 134 also being
provided in the circuit.
As will be seen in FIG. 4, battery B may be receivable in a socket
in the bottom of frame 10 and retained in position as by clip 136
while making contact with spring members 138 and 140 and which are
connected to respectively opposite sides of the circuit of FIG. 7
as shown therein.
By way of example of one manner in which the device according to
the present invention can be employed, the knob 78 which is
positioned to the right in FIGS. 1 and 2 and which controls member
20, is rotated to starting position. In this starting position
switch 51 is closed and lamp 28 is illuminated. At the same time
lamp 28 is caused to swing back and forth so that the instructions
illuminated thereby do not immediately come into focus.
When the legend on member 20 does come into focus, the following
legend can be read, "THINK A NUMBER, ANY NUMBER." The player
chooses a number, for example number 12, and then turns right hand
knob 78 to index member 20 to the next position. The figurine's
arms now commence to move toward the figurine's head and lamp 28,
upon the aforesaid rotation of knob 78, first goes out and then
comes back on when member 20 reaches indexed position, while at the
same time the lamp is swinging inside the member 20. When swinging
of the lamp ceases a new instruction will be visible which may be,
for example, "DOUBLE YOUR NUMBER." Right hand knob 78 is again
actuated and the figurine's hands move closer to the head and a
further instruction will become visible in the aforesaid manner
when member 20 reaches the next indexed position. This further
instruction is "SELECT A NUMBER AND ADD."
The player then turns the left hand knob 78 to a desired number and
which number will be visible through window 79 on the front of the
device by means of dial member 81 carried on the shaft connected to
left hand knob 78, or otherwise positively connected to the shaft
so that a respective number is visible through window 79 in each
indexed position of member 18.
The player then adds the selected number to the previous total
obtained by following instructions. If the number 6 has been
selected, the total will be 30. The right hand knob 78 is then
actuated to advance member 20 one more position and at this time
the figurine's hands approach still closer to the head and a
further set of instructions will appear, for example, "DIVIDE BY
TWO."
The player follows these instructions and upon dividing 30 by 2
obtains 15.
The right hand knob 78 is then actuated again and this time the
figurine's hands engage the head and the eyes of the figurine
close. A still further set of instructions is also indicated,
namely, "SUBTRACT THE ORIGINAL NUMBER." The operator now computes
the final answer by subtracting 12 from 15, thereby obtaining
number 3. A further actuation of right hand knob 78 will cause the
arms of the figurine to drop and the eyes to open and at this time
detent 62 will drop into a deep notch 68, thereby closing both of
switches 51 and 52 and illuminating all of the lights inside the
shell-like transparent or translucent portion 14. The lamps 26 and
28 will be swinging inside the portion 14 and when the swinging
thereof ceases, the answer corresponding to the number selected by
the left hand knob 78 will now become visible, the answer being 3
and which corresponds with the answer computed by the player if the
instructions have been carried out properly.
From the foregoing it will be evident that other game arrangements
can be established with sets of instructions and that the foregoing
game is merely exemplary.
For example, if the selected number is the player's age, an answer
can be obtained showing the players age and years of birth. FIG. 8
is pertinent in this respect.
In FIG. 8, member 20 is shown in the indexed position thereof which
corresponds to the starting position for the series of instructions
which will yield the players age and year of birth. This game also
involves the presetting of member 18 in a certain answer position.
To prevent premature disclosure of the answer, member 20 carries a
mask 21 which, in the position in which member 20 is shown in FIG.
8, covers that portion of member 18 which is in reading position.
When member 20 is indexed to reveal the series of instructions to
be followed, the mask 21 will move out of masking position and,
when lamp 26 is illuminated by indexing of member 20 to the answer
position, the portion of member 18 in reading position will become
readable.
It will be apparent that a plurality of series of instructions
could be arranged in succession on member 20 with each series
terminating in an answer position of member 20 in which lamp 26 in
member 18 is illuminated to show the answer. The knob which is
connected to member 20, and the frame adjacent thereto would, in
that case, be provided with cooperating elements of indicia to show
the position of the knob corresponding to the staring position of
member 20 for each series of instructions.
The instructions are contemplated to be mathematical in nature and
can involve any type, or combination of types, of mathematical
operations. Other types of instructions which can lead to a
predictable end result, or answer, are, of course, possible.
Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *