US2593631A - Game apparatus for chance-selected indications - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 GAME APPARATUS FOR CHANGE, SELECTED INDICATIONS Charles Tognetti, Union City, J. Application S pt mber 30, .50. Serial No fllsiflllv 11 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatusand particularly to a game in which cards having various indications thereon (such as numbers, letters or other syrnobls) are distributed amongst players and which are useable in conjunction with a system of chance-selection of indications, substantially as in the case of the game commonly known as Bingo, where the person holding the card with the chanceeselected indication receives a credit.

It is primarily within the contemplation of my invention to provide a mechanical means of ,obtaining the chance-selection of said indications, and to provide cards with various indications thereon in corollation with those on the mechanical device. And in this aspect of my invention it is an important object to so arrange the indications on both the mechanical member and the cards as to enable aprompt and quick recognition of the chance-selected indication;

More specifically, it is an object of my invention, in one form thereof, to provide a manually operable roller device containing thereon a continuous sheet on the surface of which is contained an arrangement of rows and columns of numerals and letters, the sheet being operatively associated with an indicator or pointer marking arranged for alignment with one of the said rows on the sheet-the cards being marked to correspond with different sections of the sheet. And in this particular aspect of my invention it is an object to enable the rapid recognition of a chanceselected row of symbols by employing a novel arrangement of number and'lett'er sequences on both the cards and the sheet.

'It is a further object of my invention t provide a simple and readily fabricated apparatus to accomplish the above-mentioned objectives, and one that can be readily manipulated, and played with continuous interest.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings, I

Figure-1 is a perspective view of the mechanical device for the chance-selection of indications, in accordance with the present invention.

[Figure '2 is a part side elevation, part section, taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1, a hand being shown in dot-dash lines in the process of imparting a motion to the roller mechanism of the device.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of Figure 1 taken along line 3--3.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the indication-bean mg, olle m un ed ha c: Fi u e 1 ho n in.

itse tend d. c n it nd Fi ures 6 and 7 a e p an iews of hree 9? the cards employed the present invention.

In the particular form of my invention illustrated, a casing I0 is employed having lateral upright walls I I and 12, said walls having extendil'lg obliquely downwardly from the upper edges thereof the slots I3, l4, I5 and I6. Disposedbetween said walls II and I2 are the rollers H and [8, each of the rollers having at their opposite ends the outwardly extending pins [9 loosely mounted for rotation within theadjacent slots l3, l4, l5 and it. Mounted over'the rollers is the continuous sheet 2!! in the form of a loop enveloping the said rollers and the space therebetween. a

The arrangement is hence such that a motion could readily be imparted to the sheet and rollers by placing a hand, such as H of Figure 2, on the upper surface of the sheet overlying one of the rollers, and quickly moving the hand rearwardly in the direction of arrow A, whereupon the sheet and rollers will move until they are frie tionally stopped. The inclination of the slots l3, M, l5 and I6 is generally in the direction of Y movement, so that the pins l9 will be caused to bear against the lowermost terminals of the slots without any danger of the rollers being forced out ofthe slots. A pointer marking or indicator 7 22 points towards the sheet, and towards the transverse rows of indications which will now be described,

' The sheet 29 illustrated contains-thereonaplr rality of transverse spaced parallel rows come posed of a sequential arrangement of numbers which continue from one row to the next until a predetermined highest number is reached, whereupon the numbering starts a new cycle. The sheet also contains a longitudinal arrange.- ment of letters, preferably although not necessarily at a longitudinal edge thereof, and at the longitudinal ends of certain of said transverse rows, as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

rows generally designated as 26 and on the longitudinal column designated by the reference numeral 21. In the form shown, the rows 28 each contain eight symbols, and the column 2! contains a repeated series of letters spelling out the word Poker, each series being separated by a row of numerals containing no letters thereon, the numerals on said separating rows extending along the entire length thereof. For example, rows 28, 29, 30, 3| and 32 contain only numerals, whereas all the other rows contain seven numerals and a single letter, the letters in the preferred form illustrated being disposed adjacent the marginal edge 33 of the sheet 20 and at the marginal ends of their respective transverse rows. As a further illustration of the manner in which the numerals are arranged, it will be noted that row 28 contains a continuous sequence of numerals from 1 to 8, the next adjacent row 34 starting with the next numeral, that is 9, and then starting anew cycle beginning with 1. This cycle continues on line 34 until the last number 6 thereon, whereafter the sequence continues on the next line 35 with the numeral 7 until the predetermined highest number 9 is again reached, whereupon the sequence again repeats itself beginning with the numeral 1. In each case Where there is a letter at the column 21, the sequence of numbers begins at the column following the letter; but wherever the letters are discontinued, such as at rows 28, 29, 30, 3| and 32, the first number continuing the sequence appears in column 21. It will also be observed that the number of symbols in each row is one less than the number of numerals in each series of sequential numbers, so that no single row contains all the numbers in a series. hence such that every series of numbers must appear on two rows.

The cards, such as cards 23, 24 and 25, contain thereon, as aforesaid, certain preselected adjacent rows of the sheet 28. Card 23 contains the rows appearing on the portion of the sheet indicated by the bracket B; card 24 contains the rows appearing on the portion of the sheet indicated by the bracket C; card 25 contains the rows appearing on the portion of the sheet indicated by bracket D. An entire set of cards should preferably correspond to all possible sections of the sheet, different cards containing indications corresponding to different sections.

In playing the game, cards are drawn or distributed in accordance with a pro-arranged plan whereby all the players have in their possession one or more cards. impart a motion to the rollers in the manner above indicated, until the rollers and'sheet are frictionally stopped. The indicator 22 will then point to the whining row; that is, the row that stops closest to the indicator 22 will constitute a winning row. A person holding a card which contains a row corresponding to the winning row receives a credit of any desired value or form. For example, referring to Figure 1, the indicator 22 designates row 36 as the Winning row, and the corresponding row 36a, appearson card 23. Accordingly, the person holding card 23 receives a credit for one completed row. In a preferred manner of playing the game, the person holdin a card on which all of the lines have been chanceselected by the roller device l0, may be designated as the Winner, or may receive a credit of a predetermined number of points. And when a winning card includes in addition the complete combination of the word appearing in column 21, he

A player or caller may then The arrangement is will receive a special point premium. For ex-' ample, if the card 24 were the winning card, the holder thereof would receive a special credit because the complete word Poker also appears thereon; whereas winners with other cards, such as 23 and 25, would receive a lesser credit inasmuch as the complete word Poker does not appear thereon.

Because of the fact that the arrangement of lines and columns is such as to provide a sequential arrangement of numbers which continues from one line to the next, and because there is also a plurality of series of letters in a vertical column arranged to spell a readily recognizable word, the determination of a winner with each movement of the roller can be effected in a minimum of time. This arrangement has a decided advantage over the conventional Bingo game, for example, wherein there are haphazard arrangements of numerals, requiring a careful scanning of the card and a consequent loss of time in determining the winning combination. With the present invention, however, it has been found that the game proceeds with great rapidity, since the special sequential arrangement of numbers and letters enables, as aforesaid, an immediate recognition of the chance-selected row, The game can thus continue at a fast pace, the rapid fire selections adding both interest and excitement; and it has been found that the game may be played over a long period of time without the fatigue and eyestrain that frequently results from games requiring a careful scrutiny of cards. Furthermore, the employment of a mechanical device for obtaining chance-selections of rows adds both play-appeal and novelty to the game. Moreover, the combination of both numeral and letter sequences provides considerable variety to the play and thereby addsto the interest. It is particularly to be noted that the continuous sequence of both numerals and letters makes my invention adaptable for playing a. game suggesting straight poker winning combinations which has a fascination for all players of the game of poker.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified. in the appended claims.

I- claim: I

1. In a game apparatus, a movably mounted sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced rows of symbols, and a row indicator adjacent said sheet, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, said apparatus also including a plurality of cards each having thereon a plurality of rows of symbols corresponding in position, value and sequence to a selected group of adjacent rows on said sheet.

2. In a game apparatus, a movably mounted sheethaving thereon a plurality of spaced rows of symbols, and a row indicator adjacent said sheet, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, there being less symbols in each row than there are numbers in each series, those series of numbers that are incomplete on one row continuing to the next row.

3, In a game apparatus, the combination according to claim 2, said apparatus also including a plurality of cards each having thereon a plurality of rows of symbols corresponding in position, value and sequence to a selected group of adjacent rows on said sheet.

4. In a game apparatus, a movably mounted sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced transverse rows and at least one longitudinal column of symbols, and a row indicator adjacent said sheet, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, said column containing a plurality of letters constituting a predetermined word, said letters being sequentially arranged in adjacent rows to form said word, said apparatus also including a plurality of cards each having thereon a plurality of rows of symbols corresponding in position, value, rotation and sequence to a selected group of adjacent rows 'on said sheet.

5. In a game apparatus, a movably mounted sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced transverse rows and at least one longitudinal column of symbols, and a row indicator adjacent said sheet, said rows comprising a. plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, said column containing a plurality of series of letters, each series forming a predetermined word, said letters being sequentially arranged in adjacent rows to form said word.

6. In a game apparatus, a movably mounted sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced transverse rows and at least one longitudinal column of symbols, and a row indicator adjacent said sheet, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, said column containing a plurality of series of letters, each series forming a predetermined word, said letters being sequentially arranged in adjacent rows to form said word, each of said series of letters being separated from the next series by at least one transverse row of symbols.

7. In a game apparatus, the combination ac- 9. In a game apparatus, a movably mounted sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced rows of symbols, and a row indicator adjacent said sheet, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, said apparatus also including a plurality of cards each having thereon a plurality of rows of symbols corresponding parallel slotted portions extending obliquely down from the upper edges of said walls, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted within said slotted portions and disposed between said walls, a coni tinuous sheet mounted over said rollers, an indicator on one of said walls adjacent said sheet,

' said sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced rows of symbols, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row 'to row, each series being sequentially arranged.

11. In a game apparatus, a casing having oppositely disposed lateral walls, two pairs of parallel slotted portions extending obliquely down from the upper edges of said walls, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted within said slotted verse rows and a longitudinal column of symbols,

and a row indicator adjacent said sheet, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, said column containing a plurality of letters constituting a predetermined word, said letters being sequentially arranged at a marginal edge of said sheet adjacent said transverse rows.

portions and disposed between said walls, a continuous sheet mounted over said rollers, an indicator on one of said walls adjacent said sheet, said sheet having thereon a plurality of spaced .transverse rows and at least one longitudinal column of symbols, said rows comprising a plurality of series of numbers continuing from row to row, each series being sequentially arranged, said column containing a plurality of series of letters, each series forming a predetermined word, said letters being sequentially arranged in adjacent rows to form said word, said apparatus also including a plurality of cards each having thereon a plurality of rows of symbols corresponding in position, value, rotation and sequence to a selected group of adjacent rows on said sheet.

CHARLES TOGNETTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 302,723 Grimes July 24, 1884 489,499 Ragan Jan. 10, 1893 666,906. Pierpoint Jan. 29, 1901 1,608,098 Hall Nov. 23, 1926 2,124,136 Bugg July 19, 1938 2,409,584 Peterman Oct. 15, 1946

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