US1970586A - Game device - Google Patents

Description

J. WAHLBERG Aug. 21 1934.

GAME DEVI CE Filed Sept. 21, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I JOHN WAf/LBLPG BY Q Aug. 21, 1934. J. WAHLBERG GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1932 yr 15 TIME. TO GET U9 INVENTOR. :10 N WA/ILBf/PG BY g A TTORN YS.

1934- J. WAHLBERG 1,970,586

GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOHN WAHI, BERG BY Mxm.

ATI'O NEY 1934- J. WAHLBERG 1,970,586

GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY Mam.

ATTO EY 1934- J WAHLBERG 1,970,586

GAME DEVICE Filed Sept. 21, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR. JOHN WAHLBERG BY Mxm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 arter GAME DEVICE 16 Claims.

The objects of this invention are to provide apparatus for playing games of chance and in such compact attractive form, as to be conveniently carried in the pocket.

Especially, it is the purpose of the invention to accentuate the element of chance and therefore the interest such a device may have to players using the same.

The objects mentioned and others, possibly equally desirable, are attained in the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts involving the invention hereinafter described, iliustrated in the accompanying drawings and broadly covered in the patent claims.

The drawings, which may be considered as forming part of the specification, illustrate a variety of :forms the invention may take and as these views are primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood that the actual form and structure may be further modified, all within the true spirit of the invention and the coverage of the patent.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one of the practical embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view as on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1, illustrating parts in section as on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear view, illustrating in particular, the adjustable shutters inside the front of the case.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the front wall of the case and the counter and shutter mechanisms.

Figs. 7, 8, 9 are detail views of the two forms of shutters.

Figs. 10, 11, 12 are front vertical sectional edge 40- views respectively of the rotor or chance wheel.

Fig. 13 is an edge View of the wheel with rim portions of the same broken away and in section to show methods of applying interchangeable indicator cards thereto.

Fig. 1a is a face View of the disc or wheel partially broken away and in section to-illustrate a method of clipping and indicator band on the rim of the wheel.

Fig. 15 is an edge View of one of the detachable indicator discs, equipped with spring fingers for releasably securin it over the face of the wheel.

Figs. 16 and 17 are broken, front and edge views respectively, of the detachable indicator band. 7

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of another embodi (Cl. 273ll42) ment of the invention incorporating two concentrically mounted chance wheels.

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional View as on line 19-49 of Fig. 18.

Fig.20 is a fragmentary rear view showing portions of the casing being broken away.

Fig.21 is an edge View of this embodiment with parts broken away as on line 21'21 of Fig. 18; to illustrate details of the driving and indexing pawls for the two wheels.

Figs. 22 and 23 are broken details of the combined driving and indexing pawls.

Figs. 24 and 25 are fragmentary front and vertical sectional views respectively of another form of the invention in which the two chance wheels are mounted on separate axes.

Figs. 26 and 27 are similar views of another embodiment in which the wheels are driven through hand actuated gearing instead of by rocking impulse of the casing.

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary detail of the hand lever for actuating the drive gearing.

Fig. 29 is a broken perspective view, illustrating the manner of holding the device in the fin-- gers of one hand and operating the counter and shutters by fingers of the other hand.

Figs. 30, 31, 32, 33, are somewhat diagrammatic views, illustrating different effects obtainable with different uses of the shutters.

Figs. 34 and 35 are edge and back views of the device as held in the hand for imparting r0- tation to the wheel.

Generally speaking, the invention comprises a casing of a convenient size and shape to be held in the fingers of one hand and containing a wheel free to spin within the casing and carrying numbers, letters, words, figures or other designations or indications adapted to appear, in accordance with the stopped position of the wheel through one or more windows in the casing.

In Figs. 1 to 20, the casing is shown as of fiat circular shape, embodying front and back walls 1, 2, the front wall carrying a rearwardly angled circular flange 3, forming the rim of the case. The back wall is indicated in Figs. 2 and 5 as set into this rim flange and secured by having lugs 4 entered in bayonet slots 5 in the rim and secured against reverse turning, such as would unlock these parts by a transverse slide 6, Fig. 2, adapted to be projected by a pin '7, into engagement back of one of the lugs 4. Upon shifting this slide to the left in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the back cover in the case will be released to permit turning of the same, as by engagement with the ends of lugs 4, to carry said lugsinto the open ports of the bayonet slots 5, whereupon the back of the case may then be removed.

The wheel, which is shown more in detail in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, is indicated as made up of a cupped sheet metal member 8, having an external annular depression 9, and at the center a protruding conical pivot boss 10, the open side of this cupped member receiving a disc 11 of heavier material, giving the added necessary weight for inertia effect. This weight disc issuitably secured, as by having a forced fit in the cup portion of the wheel and is shown as having a centrally bossed portion 12, carrying a socket 13 for the bearing point 14, pressed in from the back of the case.

The indications may be applied to the rotor in various ways, for example, be directly imprinted thereon. To provide greater variety however, the designations may be separately applied, as for example, as indicated in Figs. 13, 14, 15, where there are shown indicating discs 15, 16, applied to opposite faces of the wheel and an indicating band '17 applied about the rim of the wheel. These removable andinterchangeable indicators may be of metal, celluloid, cardboard or other suitable material and they are shown as removably attached to the discs by having backwardly struck hooks or lugs 18, adapted to be sprung into openings 19, in the front and back of the wheel and the encircling band as having terminal spring clips 20, to enter in slots 21 in the rim of the wheel, said band lying positioned between lugs 22,23, extending out from opposite edges of the disc member. 7

The indicating discs are shown as having two separate sets of readings 24, 25, readable respectively through the intermediate and the end portions 26, 27,'Fig. 1 of the diametrically opposite segmental windows 28, 29, in the front of the case.

To controlsuch readings, shutters are provided in the illustration, the first shutter 30, of fan shape and having a cutout 31 in one edge to expose the intermediate portion 26 of the window 28 and the secondshutter 32 having a narrow intermediate blade 33, to leave uncovered the top and bottom portions 27 of the window opening 29. These shutters, as indicatedin Figs. 7, 8, 9, have central ring portions 34, 35, swivelled over the inwardly embossed portion 36 of the front cover and held in overlapped relation against the inside of the front cover by a supporting ring 37, secured by lugs 38, extending through slots 39 in the cover.

The shutter securing lugs 38 are shown in Figs. 1,3 and 6 as additionally utilized by being bent over the outer rim ofa ring 40, swivelled over an outward embossment 41 of the cover. This ring may be utilized for counting or other purposes, it being shown in the illustration as shiftable rotatively by an up-struck finger-hold 42 and as having an opening 43 to expose, one at a time, a series of underlying members 44, Fig. 1. This ring may be utilized for counting purposes and it is shown as indexed by an outward projection 45 to snap over the underlying points 46.

The central inwardly struck boss 36 on the front of the case is shown in Fig; 3 as having an inwardly facing conical step orsocket 47, serving as a bearing for the conical point 16 on the front face of the wheel.

In addition to the upper and lower windows 28, 29, Fig. 1, left and right windows 48, 49, may be provided inthe front of the case, and these in turn,-maybe governed by the extra blades'5i) of the shutters 32, two of the latter being indicated in Fig. l, at opposite sides of the center, so that the blade portions 33 thereof may either, or both, be set to obscure or partially obscure the intermediate or lower portion of the window 29. The broken lines at the right in Fig. 1, illustrate various possible positions of the right hand shutter, leaving fully open both the windows 29 and 49 and partially or wholly obscuring window 49, or covering theintermediate portion of window 29. The same adjustments are possible for the left hand shutter in this view.

Similarly, at the top, duplicate shutters 30 are indicated, one at each side of the center and operable each independently of the other, to wholly uncover or partially cover either or both sides of the upper window 28. The various shutters are shown as having up-struck finger-holds 51, operable through appropriate slots 52 in the top or face of the casing. The reading, figures or other indications on the rim or band portion of the wheel are visible in the illustration, through one or more windows 53, in the rim of the casing, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 34.

Rotation is imparted to the wheel in the first formsof the invention shown, by simple oscillatory movements of the casing, held in the hand, by a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel, consisting of spring drive pawl 54, generally circular in extent, Figs. 1, 4 and 22, fixed to the front cover by anchorage lugs 55, struck therethrough and engageable at its free laterally displaceable end with ratchet lugs 56, struck up in the depressed annular portion 9 of the wheel, Figs. 10 and 1 1. In Figs. 3 and 4, the free end of thepawl is shown as having angularly turned lugs or teeth 57, having abrupt terminals at the end of the pawl and inclined sides disposed toward the ratchet lugs. This construction enables the spring pawl to positively drive 7 the wheel by engagement with the ratchet lugs when the case is rotated toward the left, Figs. 1 and 4, the inclined cams 58, at the back of the drive lugs permitting the ratchet lugs 56 to depress and ride freely over the pawl, as the wheel continues to spin at the end of the forward rocking movement of the case.

The driving pawl may be relied upon to index the wheel in respect to the window or windows, but there may be provided in addition, a special indexing pawl as indicated at 59, Figs. 21, 22, 23, shaped to conform to spaces between adjoining ratchet teeth and thereby adapted to resiliently center the wheel with theindications opposite the reading opening or openings. pawl as illustrated, may be formed in combination with and as a separately fiexible part of the main drive pawl, both pawls being relatively rigid in circular extent, but yieldable laterally between the face of the wheel and the adjoining inside face of the case in planes, substantially parallel with the axis of the wheel.

For greater variety, two or more wheels may be mounted in the casing, for instance, as shown in Figs. 18 to 21, where there is an inner smaller wheel 60, nesting partially within an outer larger wheel 61, the same having indications visible one above the other through the window openings 28, 29. These window openings may be reproduced at the back of the case as indicated at the top in Fig. 19, to give additional readings. Also, as particularly shown in this view, the outer larger wheel 61, may itself have windows 28' therein through which will be visible indications on the back of the smaller inner wheel 60, as these This I index movable. windows and indications come into register with windows 28, 29 in the back of the casing.

In the two wheel form under consideration, the inner or smaller one is shown journalled on a pivot pin- 62, held between the front and back covers of the case and the outer or larger wheel is shown as having, a bearing sleeve 63, rotatably engaged over the reduced hub portion 64 of the first wheel, each of the wheels being inde pendently driven and indexed by separatesets of driving and indexing pawls carried by the walls of the case. Due to the difference in diameters, one wheel may have a tendency to rotate longer or differently than the other andthe journalling of one wheel on top of. the other introduces a further element of uncertainty in the relative spinning of the two wheels.

In Figs. 24 and 25, two wheels 65 and 66 are shown journalled on separate pivot pins 67, GBand as carrying each a rotatable set of indicators 69, which may be in the form of dice or the like, visible through two adjoining windows 70. The case in this construction is of elongated form with the dice wheels at opposite end portions of the elongated case and the latter is restricted midlength as indicated at '71 to afford a convenient grasp for the fingers.

In Figs. 26, 27, 28, the chance wheels are shown as positively driven through gearing. The power is applied through a thumb or finger lever 72, mounted to oscillate about the center 67 and carrying a rack '73 within the casing engaging gear 74, which in turn drives the pinion 75, carrying pawl 76, which. latter engages the ratchet wheel 77 of the first wheel member 65. A train of soaring 78 extends from pinion to drive the pinion 79 of the second wheel, a pawl and ratchet drive 76, 7'7, similar to the first, being provided to enable the over-running actionof both the wheels when the lever is depressed against the pull of the return spring 80.

The last described direct drive form of the in vention has certain advantages, especially in that the power applied may be regulated to vary the length of spinning of the wheel or Wheels. The same general efiect however, may be obtained in the first described forms of the invention, by vary-- in the extent and the rapidity of the oscillating hand movements.

It will be evident, that the device is suited to the playing of many games of chance and that it may be used as an auxiliary to game boards, and the like, for the advancement of game pieces, etc.

The casing, in the first form illustrated, can be readily opened up to permit the substitution of dif-- f re t forms of wheels or to permit the equipment of the wheels with different forms of markings on the faces or rims thereof. By opening, partially opening or closing the shutters, various different effects may be produced, suflicient variety being thus afforded to keep up the interest. The wheel or wheels should have sufficient weight to spin for a desirable length of time. Such time may be regulated to some extent by the tension of the driving and indexing pawls. The driving pawls apply the power near the center of rotation, so that a comparatively short rocking movement will, through the leverage thus gained, impart a desirably long spinning movement to the wheel or wheels. Also, it is to be noted that the power is applied approximately in the central plane of the wheel, to prevent any tendency at cocking. Friction is kept at a minimum by use of a small diameter pivot pin. The ratchets may, if desired,

produce a musical sound, particularly in a construotion like Fig. 24;, where the wire spokes of the wheel act as ratchet teeth. In constructions'like Fig. 2'7, the indexing pawls may be mounted on the front cover. The wheels may be made to resemblesrnall roulette wheels and, if desired, a ball or balls may be used in the pockets formed between the ratchet teeth, in simulation of roulette.

What is claimed is: I

1. A game device comprising a casing to be held in the hand and be given rotary motion by rocking movement of the hand, a chance wheel journalled to rotate freely in said casing and a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel to impart rotation to the wheel upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit the wheel to spin independently of the casing.

2. A game device comprising a casing to be held in the hand and be given rotary motion by rocking movement of the hand, a chance wheel journallod to rotate freely in said casing, a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel to impart rotation to the wheel upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit the wheel'to spin independently of the casing, said one way drive connection including opposed pawl and ratchet elements between one face of the wheel and adjoining inner face of the casing and the pawl being substantially rigid circularly of the wheel but yieldablo laterally in a plane parallel with the axis of the wheel.

3. A game device comprising a casing to be held in the hand and be given rotary motion by rocking movement of the hand, a chance wheel journalled to rotate freely in said casing, a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel to impart rotation to the wheel upon rooking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit the wheel to spin independently of the casing and an indexing pawl for determining stopping positions of the wheel in the casing.

4. A game device comprising a casing to be held in the hand and be given rotary motion by rock ing movement of the hand, a chance wheel journalled to rotate freely in said casing, a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel to impart rotation to the wheel upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit the wheel to spin independently of the casing and an indexing pawl for determining stopping positions of the wheel in the casing, said indexing pawl being combined with the one way drive pawl and cooperating with the same ratchet members.

'5. A game device comprising a casing to be held in the hand and be given rotary motion by rocking movement of the hand, a chance wheel journalled to rotate freely in said. casing, a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel to impart rotation to the wheel upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit the wheel to spin independently of the casing, said one way drive connection including opposed. pawl and ratchet elements between one face of the wheel and adjoining inner face of the casing, the pawl being substantially rigid circularly of the wheel but yieldable laterally in a plane parallel with the axis of the wheel and an indexing pawl combined with said one way drive pawl and cooperating with the same ratchet member.

6. A game device comprising a casing to be held in the hand and be given rotary motion by rocking movement of, the hand, a chance wheel journalled to rotate freely in said casing, a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel to impart rotation to the wheel upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit the wheel to spin independently of the casing, said chance wheel bearing indi ations and the casing having a window with a closure shiftable to variously expose said indications. f

'7.- A game device comprising a casing to be held in the hand and be given rotary motion by rocking movement of the hand, a chancevwheel journalled to rotate freely in said casing, a one way pawl and ratchet drive connection from the casing to the wheel to impart rotation to the wheel upon rocking movement, of the casing in one direction and then, permit the wheel to spin independentlyv of the casingjka second chance wheel similarly driven within the; casing-said chance wheels having indications thereon and the casing having windows for exposure of the indications on the two chance wheels and "shutter de vices cooperahle with said windows to variously expose said indications.

9. A game device comprising a hand casing, a chance wheel rotatable therein and a pawland ratchet drive connection from'the'casing to said wheel and relatively shiftable laterally of the wheel, in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the wheel to enable over-running action of the wheel when the casing is oscillated'in -one direction. 1

10. A game device, comprising a casing provided with a window, a chancewheel rotatable in said casing, spinning indicators pivoted on said chance wheel in position to appear through said window in the casing and indexing means for stopping the wheel in positions withsaid spinning indicators inline with said window.

11. A game device, comprising a casing, chance wheels journalled to rotate freely in said casing and one way pawl and ratchet drive connections from saidcasing to said chance wheels to impart rotation to said wheels upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit said wheels to'spin independently of the casing, said chance wheels bearing indications and the casing being constructed to expose said indications on said chance wheels.

12. A game device, comprising a casing, chance wheels journalled to rotate freely on a common center in said casing and oneway'pawl and ratchet drive connections from said casing to said chance wheels to impartrotation to said wheels upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit said wheels to spin independently of the'casing, said chance wheels bearing indications and the casing having windows located in different portions of the same to expose the respective indications on said chance wheels. i

. 13. A game device, comprising a casing, chance wheels journalled to rotate freely on different centers offset from each'other in said casing and one way pawl and ratchet drive connections from said casing to said chance-wheels to impart rotation to said wheels upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit said wheels to spin independently of the casing, said chance wheels bearing indications and the easing having laterally offset windows positioned to expose indications on the respective offset chance wheels.

- 14. A game device, comprising a casing, chance wheels journalied to rotate freely in said casing 100 and one way pawl and ratchet drive connections from said casing to said chance wheels to impart rotation to said wheels upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit said wheels to spin independently of the casing, said chance wheels bearing indications, the casing being constructed to expose said indications on said chance wheels and indexing means for bringing the different chance wheels to rest to expose the indications thereon in certain definite relations. I

. 15. A game device, comprising a casing, chance wheels journalled' to rotate freely in said casing with portions of'one'covering the other, one way pawl and ratchet drive connections from said 115 casing to said chance wheels to impart rotation to said wheels upon rocking movement of the casing in one direction and then permit said Wheels to spin independently of the casing, said covering portion of one of the chance wheels having window openings exposing underlying portions of the other chance wheel, said last mentioned' underlying portions bearing indications visible through. said window openings and the casing being constructed to expose indications on one chance wheel which are uncovered by window openings in the other chancewheel.

16. A game device, comprising a casing having a window opening, chance wheels journalled in said casing in back of said window opening and 3g arranged with portions of one wheel covering portions of the other wheel, said covering portions of one wheel having window openings to register with the window openings in the casing and the covered portion of the other wheel having 135 indications thereon to register with and be visible through window-openingsin the covering portions.

JOHN WAHLBERG.

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