US2048944A - Game - Google Patents

Description

Patented Y July 28, 1936 GAME - Donald H. Munro and Ralph E. Grieve,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 5 Claims. (Cl. 273-85) The invention has for its object the production of a. novel and amusing parlour game simulative of hockey, and calling for the exercise of skill and judgment on the part of the players in order to score against each other.

The invention consists substantially of a playing board having oppositely playing ends at which the participants take their positions. A marble is used in lieu of a puck and is projected over an inclined surface of the board by a spring-urged plunger or the like. The marble is deflected towards hazards such as a cluster of pins that retard its progress as it gravitates towards a goal, which is defended by a goalkeeper controlled by an operator at the opposite end of the board.

- swingable elements are arranged on each side of the goal whereby the operator at the other end may flick the marble towards the goal. Deflectors divert the marble towards the swingable elements.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of the game.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof showing a half of the board in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the underside of the board depicting the control mechanism.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of one of. the swingable elements.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section depicting the goalkeeper of one of the goals.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures throughout the drawing of the invention.

In performing the invention, an elongated board 6 is furnished having sides 1 as customary to games of this nature. The board is symmetrical about its transverse centre line and the playing surface 8 slopes from the middle to each end.

At end 9 of the board is a projecting mechanism for propelling the marble l towards the opposite end ll thereof. This mechanism is illustrated by way of example but not of limitation as composed of a runway I2 formed by the strip l2 and the adjacent side-wall of the board.

- A pin l3 protrudes into the runway and is car- .ried by a flat spring l3 secured at 13 to the marble, for which the preceding description will sufiice.

In advance of the runway I2 is an incurvate defiector I rigidly fixed to the board and disposed to divert the marble inwardly towards a. cluster of pins l6. These pins are preferably arranged in staggered rows in order to retard or impede the progress of the marble. The speed at which the marble is propelled through the runway need only be very moderate because once it has passed the crest of the playing surface it gravitates towards the opposite end by reason of the slope. These pins perform a vital function in the playing of the game as will be later explained.

Immediately following the pins is a pair of spaced guides I'l fixed to the board. in divergent directions and spaced from each other. In alignment with the space between the guides is a goal l8 of reticulate formation receptive to the marble.

0n the left and right wing of the goal are swingable elements I9 and I9 composed of a peg l9" representing a man, and a bar representing a hockey stick. The swingable elements are normally retained in the positions in which they are fully shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, but are adapted to be swung to the positions indicated in dot-and-dash lines.

At the forefront of the pins and in close proximity to the deflector I5 is a similar swingable element 2|. The swingable elements in their preferred construction are' typically represented in the detail given in Figure 4, in which the bar 20 is illustrated as formed of a wire rod bent back upon itself as at 22 with the end 22' fitted in the peg to carry it. The wire rod is bent as at 23 to forma vertical axis journalled in an openingin the board and having an integral arm 23' on the underside thereof.

The mechanism for operating the swingable members concurrently with each other comprises a handle 24 integral with a shaft '24 journalled in bearings 25 on the underside of the board. The shaft is formed with an offset portion 25 to which wires 26 and 26' are attached. These wires are also connected to the respective arms 23' of the three swingable members. Tension springs 2'1 are employed to retain the swingable members in a normal position and to return them to this position on release of the handle.

The swingable member I9 has an incurvate deflector 28 for guiding the marble towards it.

Immediately in front of the goal I8 is a peg 29 representing a. goalkeeper and mounted on a bar 29 projecting upwardly from a crosswise slot 30. The bar has a continuation 3| journailed in bearings and terminating in a handle 3| by which the goalkeeper can be swung from side to side to defend a goal.

The other end 9 of the board has an identical arrangement of elements for which the preceding description will suffice. The goalkeeper is manipulated by a handle 32, while the swingable elements are controlled by a handle 33.

In playing the game, one of the operators, say at the end 9 of the board, shoots the marble in through the runway l2 by pulling and releasing the knob l4. This operator then grasps the handle 24 for manipulation of the swingable elements IS, IS and 2 I. The marble is deflected to the pins by the deflector l5 and can be guided more or less by the swingable member 2|. The marble is retarded by the pins, which enables the operator at the end 9 of the board to have time to take hold of the handle 24 and get ready to manipulate the swingable members should the course of the marble demand it.

The marble wends its way through the pins and should it pass between the guides I! it rolls directly towards the goal. The other operator at the end II of the board manipulates the handle 3| of the goalkeeper in order to cause him to block or check the marble from entering the goal. Should the marble, however, pass on the outside of the guides it is diverted by one or the other of them to the respective swingable member. These checking members are then manipulated by the handle 24 to flick the marble into the goal either directly or indirectly without permitting it to pass through the passages 34, 34' adjacent the goal. Should the marble pass through said passages, it rolls into the runway for the other player to shoot and no score is made. The player at the end ll of the board now has his turn to propel the marble and manipulate the handle 33 to control the swingable members on the other half of the board with the object of scoring a'goal. The goal is defended by movement of the'handle 32.

Whereas the invention has been disclosed in its application to a hockey game, it is susceptible of modification and variation, and/or application to another board-game, as coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a game of the class described, a playing board having an inclined surface, a goal at the lower end thereof, a marble for gravitating towards the goal, laterally disposed swingably mounted members comprising pegs mounted on vertical rods journalled in the board, bars outwardly extending from the pegs for flicking the marble, arms integral with the rods and disposed wards the goal,

beneath the board, a handle. a shaft therefor journalled on' the underside of the board and having an offset portion, and spring-urged wires connecting the offset portion of the said shaft to the said arms.

2. In a game of the class described, a playing board having an inclined'surface, a goal at the lower end thereof, a marble for gravitating towards the goal, laterally disposed swingably mounted members comprising bars outwardly extending from rods journalled vertically in the board, arms integral with the rods and disposed beneath the board, a handle, a shaft therefor journalled on the underside of the board and having an offset portion, and spring-urged wires connecting the offset portion of the shaft to the said arms 3. In a game of the class described, a playing board having an inclined surface, a goal at the lower end thereof, a marble for gravitating towards the goal, laterally disposed swingably mounted members comprising pegs mounted on vertical rods journalled in the board, bars outwardly extending from the pegs for flicking the marble, arms integral with the rods and disposed beneath the board, a handle, a shaft therefor journalled on the underside of the board and having an offset portion, and substantially rigid members connecting the offset portion of the said shaft to the said arms.

4. In a game of the class described, a playing board having an inclined surface, a goal at the lower end thereof, a marble for gravitating towards the goal, laterally disposed swingably mounted members comprising pegs mounted on vertical rods journalled in the board, bars outwardly extending from the pegs for flicking the marble, arm's integral with the rods and disposed beneath the board, a handle, a shaft therefor journalled on the underside of the board and having an offset portion, substantially rigid members connecting the offset portion of the said shaft to the said arms, and means applying resilient pressure'on the said arms.

5. In a game of the class described, a playing board having an inclined surface, a goal at the lower end thereof, a marble for gravitating tolaterally disposed swingably mounted members comprising pegs mounted on vertical rods journalled in the board, bars outwardly extending, from the pegs for flicking the marble, arms integral with the rods, and a springurged control mechanism mounted on the underside of said board and connected to said arms, said mechanism having a manipulative handle.

'* ,DONALD H. MUNRO.

RALPH E. GRIEVE.

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