Game device

July 6, 1943.

2,323,291

S. J. BENS

GAME DEVICE

Filed Aug. 15,

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INVENTOR

ATTORNEYS

July 6, 1943.

2,323,291

S. J, BENS

GAME DEVICE

Filed Aug. 15, 1941

Sheets-Sheet 2

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ATTORNEYS

Patented July 6, 1943

2,323,291

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

Application August 15,

Claims.

This invention relates to game devices, and particularly to indoor or outdoor game devices which are equally advantageous for small or large groups of players, and which are adapted for use in playing a variety of exercising and educating games. It also pertains to new methods of playing, exercising and educating.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a play device which: requires relatively little space; may be used with equal advantage by youngsters differing widely in age and size; may be used by children having physical handicaps; will, or will tend to, overcome inferiority complexes in children; allows tired players to easily step out of the game while other fresh players step in; is safe, or has little or no hazard connected with its use; may be played indoors or outdoors; is exciting and stimulating; keeps the players confined, so that they do not interfere with other nearby games and players; is educational; requires very little or no supervision; stimulates and develops quick thinking and coordination; promotes a healthy competitive spirit; and makes possible good healthy exercise.

Another object is to provide methods whereby youngsters may play, exercise and be educated in a new and interesting manner.

Features of the present invention resulting from the attainment of the foregoing objects are the provision of: an enclosure with a plurality of obstructions therein; an enclosure with a plurality of rows of obstructions therein with at least certain of the obstructions relatively staggered to provide devious paths within the enclosure; a game device with an enclosure of such height that small players can easily enter thereunder while larger players can easily enter thereover; extensions for the obstructions hereinabove referred to; a storage pocket or pockets within the enclosure, to hold educational members; a table, or tables, preferably around the outer edge of the enclosure to receive the educational members; and rotatable obstructions within the enclosure.

Another feature is the provision of divers methods of playing games whereby the player’s interest may be held, and whereby real exercise, play and educational advantages are quickly passed along to the players..

Other objects and features will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention.

2,323,291

GAME DEVICE

Samuel J. Bens, Stamford, Conn.

1941, Serial No. 406,943 (Cl. 35—29)

Fig. 2 is a side view of the game device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an extension.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of the game device.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one form of obstruction.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on line 6—6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of another form of obstruction.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the obstructions of Figs. 1 and 2, with a pocket.

Fig. 9 is a perspective detail view of one educational member.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a confining member. Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. For example, the term “play device” as used herein embraces the play, exercise and/or educational functions and characteristics of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 inclusive which show a present preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a plurality of side and end supports 12 and 13, respectively, preferably and suitably forced or set in the ground. A member, or members, 14 is suitably secured to and extends from support to support at the upper ends thereof and preferably from two to four feet above the ground, to join with the supports in forming a suitable enclosure 15 to confine a group of players. If preferred the confining member 14 may be in the form of a continuous cable or metal bar.

Within the enclosure 15 the present invention provides a plurality of obstructions 16, each including a pair of posts 17 suitably set in the ground, with an interconnecting head 18 which is preferably larger than or projecting beyond _g0 the posts in order to safely keep the player, and particularly the player’s feet, away from the posts.

The obstructions 16 are preferably in rows, for example in rows A, B and C, and spaced _fi5' from each other and from the enclosure 15 to

2,323,291 provide a plurality of what may be termed straight paths E and F between the rows, and path D between the obstructions and the enclosure. The rows A, B and C may be straight or irregular.

Also, it should be particularly noted that the obstructions 16 in the row B are staggered laterally relative to the obstructions (6 in rows A and C in order to provide devious paths across the enclosure, to further tax the skill of players.

The game device so far described may be used for playing a variety of games. For example, a group of players may enter the enclosure, the larger players by stepping over and the smaller ones by sliding under the member 14. One of the group is made the “It” player while the others walk, run and/or dodge between the sides and ends of the obstructions ί 6, or between the obstructions and member 14 of the enclosure 15, in an effort to avoid being tagged by the “It” player. The long straight paths provide a space for speedy elusiveness, or speedy “catch-up” by a fast “It” player, while the devious transverse channels between the laterally offset obstructions provide added facilities for elusive, tricky or brainy play, whereby the slower and/or smaller players have a chance against the fast and/or bigger players. Similarly, a different form of the game may be played by permitting all the players, including the “It” player, to run only longitudinally of the game device (i. e., not laterally or across) or between the adjacent ends of the obstructions. In yet another related way the game may be played by allowing only the “It” player to move crosswise of the game device between adjacent ends of obstructions.

To further vary these games, and use of this game device, tagging may be permitted across the tops of the obstructions. However, and preferably, the rules of these games permit tagging only in the lanes.

If preferred, extension 19 in the form of a screen 20 secured to a rectangular frame 21 with depending legs 22 adapted to enter vertically disposed holes 23 in obstructions 16 may be used to prevent tagging across the top of the obstructions, By having the screens 20 in the extensions opaque, or translucent, the element of surprise, and greater excitement, can be injected into the games.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 disclose a further modified form of the game device so far described, differing from the first form primarily in the provision of straight and vertically disposed large postlike obstructions 24, within a slightly differently shaped enclosure 25. The latter is made similarly to the enclosure 15, with side members 26 nailed or otherwise suitably secured together, and at the same time is supported and spaced from the ground by four-corner posts 27.

Three rows, G, H and I, of obstructions 24 are also provided, plus two additional corner obstructions at J and K, all spaced from the enclosure member 26 to provide straight paths for the players between the adjacent rows, and between the outer obstructions 24 and the enclosure member 2S. The obstructions 24 (see Figs. 5 and 6) are provided with a rotatable head 28 including three spaced annular discs 29 secured together by vertically disposed plate members 30 which with the annular discs form pockets 3 i. If preferred, the pockets may be provided with a wall 32 about the lower section thereof, preferably in the form of a thin metal or wooden band suitably nailed to the circular segments 29 of the obstruction 24 to better confine articles within pockets 31.

Holes 33 in the head 28 (or discs 29) accommodate the upper section of a post 34, part of the obstruction 24, while the lowermost of the three discs 29 rests upon a suitable flange 35 so that the head 23 may be advantageously rotated. The flange 35 may be turned integral with the post 34 or it may be glued, nailed or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Similarly, the annular discs 29 and plates 39 of the rotatable head 28 may be nailed, glued, bolted or otherwise suitably secured together, as will be readily appreciated.

The obstructions 24 may be provided with extensions, similarly to extensions 19 on obstructions 13, but merely proportionately reduced in size, as will be readily appreciated. All of the games heretofore described, by way of example, may be played in this modified form of the game device, plus others to be described.

To vary the games playable with the present invention, a confining member 36 (see Figs. 4 and 10) may be provided to define a confining channel 37 in which one, two or three players, as decided, may take refuge from the tagger or “It” player. The confining member 36 is preferably provided with an inverted U-shaped bracket 38 secured to the end of a board 40, as by wood screws, and adapted to hook over side member 26 of enclosure 25. This bracket alone may support the confining member 36 on the enclosure 25; however, to better support the free end of the confining member 36 another inverted L-shaped bracket 39 is also preferably secured thereto in order to hook over the top of an adjacent obstruction 24 (see Fig. 4).

As shown in Fig. 5, posts 34 of obstructions 24 (and similarly, as will be readily appreciated, posts 17 of obstructions 16 as well as posts 12, 13 and 27 of enclosures 15 and 25) may each be provided with a pointed projection 41 adapted to be forced or otherwise suitably supported down in the ground. Alternatively, each of these may have a square end 42 (see Fig. 8) level with the top surface of a playground, gym floor or the like, and may be suitably secured thereto by brackets 43 and suitable screws.

Now, it should be particularly noted that the present game device has some highly advantageous educational features. For example, one or more of the obstructions 24 may be provided with one or more pockets 31 to house one or more educational members 44. These educational members may be in the form of flat alphabet blocks, as shown in Fig. 9; or, may be similar blocks, or sets of blocks, with pictures (or words) representing animals, birds, fish, reptiles, trees, flowers, etc. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, an obstruction may be provided with as many as eight pockets.

Fig. 7 discloses a simple form of obstruction 45 which may be made in one piece, if preferred, with a plurality of integral pockets in the form of bores 46 extending inwardly and downwardly in a head 47 of the obstruction.

The educational members 44, in combination with the pocketed Obstructions 24 and/or 45, provide many possibilities for educational games, or methods of play, exercise and education. For example, various contests and methods of play may be had between children of a group, or groups, as follows:

3,323,291

Example 1

Give each child in a group within the enclosure a six-letter word and then give a “go” signal, to see which child will be first (or which ones will be first, second and third) in locating the proper educational members 44 (block letters) in different pockets of obstructions 24 or 45 to make the assigned word. The child, or children, first building up the assigned word with the proper letter blocks may rush to the supervisor at an end or side of the enclosure.

However, and preferably, tables 48 are provided around the outer face of the member 26 so that the children may lay out and spell out the assigned word on a table before giving an indication of “finish.” The tables may be flat panels nailed to the member 26 or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

These tables may be provided with suitable indicia such as a single letter of the alphabet or successive numerals as shown, and the children may be individually provided with a table number or assigned to a particular table at the time a word is assigned to them. Lugs 49 may be provided at the bottom of the alphabet blocks 44 to fit into suitable apertures 50 provided in the tables 48. However, use thereof is not essential.

Example 2

To alter the game slightly the players may be merely told to each, from his own mental storehouse of words, select, say, a seven-letter word and make up the same from alphabet blocks within the pockets 31 or 46 of the obstructions 24 or 45, respectively. The first player achieving the objective, and reaching the supervisor, the confining space, or building up the word on a table, as decided at the start of the game, will be adjudged the winner. Alternatively, the first three may be adjudged the first, second and third best or winners.

Example 3

Individuals in a group may be each assigned the task of locating, say, three animal blocks (educational members 44 with a word or picture representation of an animal) from a general assortment of animal and nonanimal educational members within the pockets 31 or 46 of the obstructions 24 or 45, respectively, and of carrying the same to the confining space 37. Thus, the first one, or the first three if it is decided that there are to be a first, second and third best in the game, will rush to the confining channel 37 with three blocks having animal representations thereon. Alternatively to the confining channel, the tables 48 may be used by the individual players and completion or finish may be indicated by the players raising hands.

Example 4

One individual in a group may be assigned, or challenged to search the pockets and locate four educational members 44 (or blocks) with representations of animals, while another is assigned to select four blocks with representations of fish, another assigned to locate four blocks with representations of trees, etc., and then upon the “go” signal the search and careful selection will go forward with keen zest until, say, the first or fastest three complete their assigned collection of four particular types of blocks. As heretofore explained, and as decided at the outset, the winning players may dash to the supervisor, the confining channel 37 or the tables 48.

Example 5

The children in the group may be told that after a “go” signal each is to search the pockets of constructions 24 or 45 to locate four unlike blocks (e. g., one of an animal, one of a tree, one of a flower, and one of a fish); and, to rush to the confining channel 37 (or to tables 48 about the enclosure 25).

Many extensions and variations of these examples are possible, as will be readily appreciated.

If preferred, the enclosures IS and 25 may be in the form of flat bottom posts adapted to rest upon the floor of a gymnasium, hard playground or the like, as will be readily appreciated, thus dispensing with the necessity of driving pointed posts into the ground.

That form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 preferably has the obstructions in certain of the rows staggered with respect to the obstructions in other of the rows in at least one direction. For example, the obstructions 24 of row H (and also obstructions at J and K) are staggered laterally relative to the obstructions in rows G and I, in order to provide devious paths, as well as straight paths for the players.

If preferred, that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may have one or more of the obstructions 16 provided with a pocket 5 ί to receive educational members 44 so that this form of the invention may be used for the educational games hereinbefore described in detail.

Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.