US170429A - Improvement in game-boards - Google Patents

Description

J'. G. THURBER, h

GAME-BOARD.

Patented Nov.23,1875.

WJ/nessas N-FHERS. PHOTO LITMOGRAPHE1L WASHINGTON. D C. v

" UNITED STATES from it by a spring,

somepart or disk PATENT, OFFICE.

.JOHN G. THURBER, JR, OFPROVIDENOE, maroon rsnannnssrenon TO JOSEPH P. MANTON, 0F SAME PLACE.

. IMPROVEMENT IN GAME-BOARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,429, dated November 23, 1875; application filed May 10, 1875.

To all whom it may concern: g

Be it known that I, J OHN G. THURBER, Jr., of Providence, Rhode lsland,have invented a game called Top Pool, of which-the following is a specification:

The game herein described, which I propose shall be known by the name oftop pool, is intended to afl'ord a novel and pleasant amusement and recreation. It consists of a table or board, A, upon which are arranged, in any desired manner or relative position, a number of pins similar to those used in a'bowling-alley. Theseare designed to be overthrown by a revolving top which travels among them. The sides are provided with disks, which, struck by the top, transmit the blow to a gong or bell, which is thus sounded.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table, pins, and top. Fig. 2 shows the bell and the mechanism by which it is sounded. Fig.3 is a perspective view of the top-holder used by hand in spinning'the top. and Fig. 4 shows the top-holder applied to the game-board.

The table A must have a surface which shall lie in a perfectly, horizontal plane. The pins N are placed in their proper position, and the top is spun in the players station 0, from Whenceit immediately moves, traveling over the table, rebounding from the sides, overthrowing the pins, and if, perchance, it strikes a disk, D, it rings the bell. The mechanism by which the bell is sounded is clearly shown in Fig. 2. F is the bell. D is one of the disks, secured to one end of a lever, E, whose other end is pivoted to a'rod, G, whose extremity is nearly in contact with the bell, and is kept H. Any blow upon the disk D depresses it and thrusts forward the rod G into contact with the bell.

It is not novel to provide a game-board with a bell which may be sounded by a blow upon operating in connection with it; but 1 am not aware that a top has ever been used to sound a bell.

The several disks D, arranged in any number along the sides of the game-board, communicate, in boards of ordinary size, with a single bell, F. Where the board is so large as to make the connection between the disks and a single bell too cumbersome, more than one bell may be used, but the same connection would be employed. 1

The rod G, besides serving as a hammer, serves also as the medium of communication between the disk-levers E and the bell F.- A distinguishing feature of this arrangement is, therefore, that of a number of rods secured at one end to the levers upon which the blow is struck, and converging radially upon the bell.

A top constructed for the purpose of giving a blow to any body in contact with it I believe to be novel. The effect noted cannot be produced by the ordinary top, whose periphery is circular, for the reason top in its revolution must alwaysmove in a direction tangential to its points of contact with another body, and a blow can only be given in a direction angular to the surface of the body struck. For the reason named I make the perimeter of the top irregular or eccentric to its axis of revolution. As the face of the disk is slightly rounded some portion of the perimeter of the top that lies at an angle to its axis of revolution will come in contact with the disk and give. the latter a sharp blow. The same efi'ect is producedwhen it strikes one of the upright pins. The pin is knocked over instead of being pushed over.

Other than the above-named peculiarity I lay no claim to any special shape of top. The form best adapted seems to be that of the ordinary teetotum shawn, or some modification of it, as giving the greatest generation of centrifugal force with a minimum weight of top. The peg or part on which the top bears in spinning is not pointed, but flattened, and of considerable size-a form not novel, but adapted to cause the top to travel quickly over the board. As a support to the top in its holder, I place about the stem, just above the top, a collar, M.

The top-holder K may be affixed to a handle, as shown in Fig. 3, or may be secured to the re rable to make the holder detachable from th board after the top is spun to prevent any in jury by the contact of the latter with it. This is a contingency not necessary to provide against in other. games where the top-holder that the surface of the board, as in Fig. 4. In the latter case it is is attached to the board, but is made advisable in this game because of the powerful blow given by the peculiar top used. For the purpose of removal the holder has a shank, V, of

any suitable shape, which fits into a correspondin'g groove or mortise, V, at the sides of the game-board.

If the top-holder were placed in the same position relative to the upper. edge of the side of the game-board as in other constructions, either the string which revolves the top would beidrawn over such edge or recourse be had to a slot in the side of the board, both of which are objectionable. By supporting the top by the bearing of its collar M in its holder, and placing that holder so far above the edge that the. string shall not wear upon} it, I obviate these objections. 7

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, in a game and game-board using tops or pins, or provided with bells, as set forth in this specification 1. The lever E, having the disk D, in com bination with the rod Gr, spring H, and bell F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

bination with the ,bell F, as and for the purpose set forth. a i

3. The top P, having an irregular or eccentric perimeter, in combination with a gameboard provided with pins or bell-ringing device, substantially as and for the purpose.

Specified.

4. The top-holder K, placed asjdescribed, and having the slotted arms I J and shank V,

in combination with a game-board, A, having the groove V, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. a v

JOHN G. THURBER, J3.

Witnesses:

OHRIs'r. A. HALL, H. OLPIEROE,

2. The radiallydisposed rods G, operated by the levers and springs, as described, incomwx

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