US3656746A

US3656746A - Balancing game with pivoted receptacle cover member

Info

Publication number: US3656746A
Application number: US15623A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey D Breslow
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1970-03-02
Filing date: 1970-03-02
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18
Also published as: CA934403A

Abstract

A game of the type wherein playing pieces are deposited on a surface according to the dictates of a chance device until an excessive number of playing pieces are deposited thereupon, resulting in a dumping or tilting action of the playing surface, characterized by the provision of a supporting member in the form of a simulated pot-like receptacle and a playing piece receiving surface in the form of a lid-like member pivoted to the open end of the receptacle, with the receiving surface divided into discrete zones, and a plurality of visually identifiable playing pieces for depositing on the zones of the playing surface. Chance devices are provided for determining which zone is to receive a playing piece and for further determining which type of playing piece is to be deposited in the determined zone.

Description

United States Patent Breslow [151 3,656,746 1 Apr. 18,1972

[54] BALANCING GAME WITH PIVOTED RECEPTACLE COVER MEMBER OTHER PUBLICATIONS Sears Christmas Book, 1968, p. 478, Tip-It" Sears Christmas Book, 1968, p. 481, Don t Spill the Beans Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro Attorneyl-lofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7] ABSTRACT A game of the type wherein playing pieces are deposited on a surface according to the dictates of a chance device until an excessive number of playing pieces are deposited thereupon, resulting in a dumping or tilting action of the playing surface, characterized by the provision of a supporting member in the form of a simulated pot-like receptacle and a playing piece receiving surface in the form of a lid-like member pivoted to the open end of the receptacle, with the receiving surface divided into discrete zones, and a plurality of visually identifiable playing pieces for depositing on the zones of the playing surface. Chance devices are provided for determining which zone is to receive a'playing piece and for further determining which type of playing piece is to be deposited in the determined zone.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BALANCING GAME WITH PIVOTED RECEPTACLE COVER MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION i younger children. Interest in such games is heightened by the activity simulated in the dumping or tipping action and there is a continuing desire in the art for unique fonns of activity simulated by these dumping type games. Also there is a continuing desire to provide such games which also require the coordinate learning skills of different activities such as number and color recognition. Accordingly, this invention is directed to satisfying the aforementioned continuing need and desires in the game art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved game of the type wherein playing pieces are deposited on a surface to cause the surface or a related member to move following the deposit of an excessive number of playing pieces thereon according to the dictates of a chance device or the like.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a playing piece receiving surface supporting member, preferably in the form of a simulated pot with a handle. The receiving surface comprises a simulated movable cover which is preferably medially pivoted to the open end of the pot. The cover is provided with an outer surface divided into different numbered receiving zones. Playing pieces of different colors are provided and preferably simulate easily recognizable animals or birds or the like. Multiple chance means are provided, one for determining the color of the playing piece to be deposited on the receivingsurface and the other to determine the zone of the receiving surface into which the playing piece is to be deposited. When too many playing pieces have been deposited on one portion of the receiving surface, the entire surface will pivot to dump the playing pieces into the simulated pot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game device of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section view taken generally along the lines 22 of FIG. 1.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game of this invention includes a playing piece receiving surface supporting member or receptacle 12, shown herein as a simulated pot. The member 12 has a simulated handle 14 and a bottom 16 for resting on a supporting surface 16a. Extending upwardly from the bottom 16 is a generally cylindrical upright wall structure 18 terminating in an open peripheral edge 20. A generally centrally formed opening 22 is provided in the bottom 16.

The peripheral edge 20 is provided with spaced

opposed notches

24a and 24b for receiving hubs 26 extending laterally outwardly from opposite portions of a playing piece receiving member 28, shown herein as a simulated lid portion for the member 12.

Washers

30a and 30b are positioned about the hubs 26 interiorly of the

opposed notches

24a and 24b to provide a pivotal mounting for the playing piece receiving surface 28, thereby movably mounting the same with respect to its support.

The playing piece receiving member 28 includes an upper surface divided into a plurality of playing piece redeiving zones 32 through 42. These zones are defined by the three centrally intersecting rib-

like lines

44, 46 and 48, thereby producing six such zones. It is to be understood that any number of zones could be provided within the limitations of space and increasing the complexity of the game. Each of the zones is provided with a zone identification means here shown in the form of numbers 32a through 420 for each zone 32 through 42, respectively. In the preferred form of embodiment, the identification means'are numerals with 32a comprising the numeral 1, 34a comprising the numeral 2 and so on.

A plurality of playing pieces 50 are also provided. Preferably, the playing pieces 50 simulate some form of well known animal or bird or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the playing pieces include a simulated duck or goose 52 mounted on a base 54 for providing a stable support therefor. In addition, it is preferred that the playing pieces have some form of visual identifying characteristic, such as being of a different color as shown with respect to the different colors of the

playing pieces

50a, 50b, 50c and 50d.

Means are provided for determining the deposit of certain playing pieces within certain of the zones. Preferably this means includes the chance device means. In the illustrated embodiment, two separate such chance device means are shown, although it is to be understood that a single chance means device of a dual chance concept could be provided. Accordingly, a chance device in the form of a die 56 is provided for the well known throwing thereof by a participant to determine the number corresponding to playing piece receiving zone 32 through 42 on which a playing piece is to be deposited.

In addition, a chance device 58 is also provided for indicating the particular playing piece which is to be deposited in a receiving zone. Chance device 58 is of the well known spinner type including a flat card-like base 60 and segmental indicia zones including

color zones

62a, 62b, 62c and 62d corresponding to the different colored

playing pieces

50a, 50b, 50c and 50d. In addition, a so-called pass zone 64 is provided and another variant zone 66 is provided. A spinner 68 is pivoted for rotational movement to indicate, upon its stoppage, the particular play to be taken. If the spinner lands in one of the color zones then a playing piece of that color is to be placed into one of the receiving zones to be determined by the number dictated by the throw of the die 56. If the spinner lands in the zone 64, then the player receives a pass and does not have to deposit any playing piece onto the receiving member 28. However, if the spinner lands in the zone 66, a player could be required to take some special action, such as placing all of his playing pieces 50 on the surface member 28 or any other reasonable variant to the usual play of the game.

Scoring of the game could be accomplished in many different ways. Different values could be given for playing pieces of different color or they could all be given the same value. The player who last places a playing piece on the receiving member 28 to cause it to tilt, could be awarded all of the numbers of playing pieces that are deposited by that action. Conversely, that player who causes the receiving member to tilt could be the loser." Once the playing pieces have dropped to the interior of the receptacle 12, it need merely be lifted from its supporting surface 16a and, through the provision of the open bottom 22, the playing pieces may be regathered and redistributed to several players for the start of another round of the game.

It can thus be seenthat the game of this invention provides .another unique approach to the games of the playing piece determine the proper placement of the playing piece. Thus, it

provides the feature of requiring the several players to go through dual recognition and execution concepts according to the dictates of the chance devices. It is further to be understood that instead of having'common shaped playing pieces of different colors, a variant of the game would be to have different types of playing pieces so as to distinguish which playing piece is to be deposited on which zone. In this case, another recognition factor would be added; that of attempting to determine whether or not a playing piece such as a simulated duck or simulated horse or the like is to be deposited on the receiving member.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clear- I ness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

lclaim: l. A game device comprising: a supporting member for a playing piece receiving surface; a playing piece receiving surface movably connected to said supporting member and including different playing piece receiving areas identified by different numerical indicia; a plurality of playing pieces having different colors; and two chance device means with one chance device having colors corresponding with the colors of said playing pieces and the other chance device having numerals to further determine the number of the receiving area for deposit of the colored playing piece selected by said one chance device.

2. Game apparatus comprising an open top receptacle, a playing surface member pivotally mounted on said receptacle in covering relation to said top, said member being normally balanced about its pivot mounting to present a horizontal surface and having its upper surface marked to provide different playing piece receiving areas, a plurality of playing pieces of different identifiable characteristics, said playing pieces having sufficient weight to disturb the balance of said playing surface member when a plurality of said pieces are placed thereon in spaced relation to the pivot axis of said member, whereby the placement of a plurality of said playing pieces on said member can cause the latter to tilt sufficiently to deposit said playing pieces into said receptacle, and chance means for indicating which identifiable playing piece is to be placed in which playing piece receiving area on said playing surface.

Claims

1. A game device comprising: a supporting member for a playing piece receiving surface; a playing piece receiving surface movably connected to said supporting member and including different playing piece receiving areas identified by different numerical indicia; a plurality of playing pieces having different colors; and two chance device means with one chance device having colors corresponding with the colors of said playing pieces and the other chance device having numerals to further determine the number of the receiving area for deposit of the colored playing piece selected by said one chance device.