Game successively utilizing selectively positionable gear playing pieces varying in pitch radii

July 6, 1965 yy j-j_t schaper 3 193 293

GAME SUCCESSIVELY UTILIZING SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE ’ . . „„ , GEAR FLAYING PIECES VARYING IN FITCH RADII

Filed Aug. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

Filed Aug. 22, 1962

<img file="US3193293A_D0001.tif" />

Wnuam H. Schaper

<img file="US3193293A_D0002.tif" />

/Ottoxy/fys •July 6, 1965 yy h. schaper 3 193 293

GAME SUCCESSIVELY UTILIZING SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE ’

Filpd An&lt;r 99 Ιακο^ ^{PLAYING PIECES} VARYING IN PITCH RADII riiea Aug. 22, 1962 ₂ Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3193293A_D0003.tif" />

O O O O O I O O O

<img file="US3193293A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US3193293A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US3193293A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US3193293A_D0007.tif" />

/WYNTOR

W/LL/AM ft Serf# PER &amp;Y

Attorneys

United States Patent Office „ , 3,193,293

Patented July 6, 1965

193 293

GAME SUCCESSIVELY UTILIZING SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE GEAR PLAYING PIECES VARYING in PITCH RADII

William Hubert Schaper, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to ⁰Schaper Manufacturing Company, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota

Filed Aug. 22,1962, Ser. No. 218,616

Claims. (Ci. 273—135)

This invention relates to a game for competitive playing by a number of individuals, or for “solitaire” play where one or more sets of gears or equivalent rotary driving elements are utilized as playing pieces in combination with a playing board having provision for pivotal mount- 15 ing of said gears in a great variety of selective positions and where each set of gears comprises individual gears varying considerably in pitch radii, but all having teeth of the same pitch and space.

Certain elementary gear sets have been previously used 20 in the prior art to entertain and instruct children and others in the basic principles of gear relations and their functions.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a gear game of the type described where through successive 25 selection and play of gears from the set, winning of the game depends on mental processes, knowledge of gear combinations relative to pivot positions on the board, and visual estimate of distances transversely and diagonally between pivot locations for the respective sizes of gears 30 employed, akin in several respects to the playing of a game such as chess.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a game of the class described wherein a generally horizontal game board is provided with a great multiplicity of predeter- 35 minately arranged pivot positions or sockets for receiving selectively, gears of a set which vary in pitch radii, and wherein the playing pieces constitute for each player, a set of gears of said varying pitch radii, and wherein for each player a starting pivot position on the board is pro- ⁴⁰vided as well as a predeterminately positioned “winner gear” spaced a substantial distance on the board from and preferably in opposite relation to said starting pivot position. The combination of said structural features ₄₅enables each player to successively in turn select a starting gear, and thereafter successive gears from his set, with the ultimate objective of successively building a gear train extending to and drivably connected with his winner gear. Gears on the board positioned by another player may be 50 utilized in the first player’s gear train.

A further object is the provision of such game apparatus wherein the pitch radii of the several different!}' sized gears are related with the predetermined pivot position points on the game board to facilitate diagonal relation ⁰⁵and intermeshing of certain combinations of gears, as well as to provide for longitudinal and transverse line intermeshing of certain other gear combinations. This structural combination makes possible a great variety of ulti- θθ mate gear trains for each player, a number of which in successive play and sometimes with help from some of the gears played by an opponent, will ultimately interconnect a player’s starting gear with his winner gear at the opposite side of the board, but likewise such variety 65 of intermeshing of variable size gears presents pitfalls where ultimate interconnection with the winner gear is practically impossible.

. These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be more fully apparent from the following ϊ° description made in conjunction with the drawings, where2 in like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing an embodiment of my game apparatus with a single train of gears successively formed, which lead to and drivably connect the “winner gear” with the selectively positioned starting gear;

FIG. 2 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 2—2 of FIG. 3 showing two gears of different pitch radii intermeshed on the playing board;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing in detail, the lay-out and pivot positions of approximately half of the playing board with a number of gears of different pitch radii selectively positioned thereon, as in the course of play of said embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a detail cross section taken diametrically through one of the gears detached, on an enlarged scale.

While it will be understood that a large number of predetermined layouts of the pivot positions on the game board is possible, I will describe as exemplary, one of several preferred forms where spaced lines of pivoting positions or holes are provided in the game board, making possible the meshing of certain combinations of gears along the general lines enumerated and also diagonally across two or more of the spaced line arrangements.

In the example herein illustrated, a substantially rigid playing board of generally rectangular form is provided, supported if desired by a plurality of feet F, as shown integrally formed therewith, four of which are at the corners of the board B, and four of which are shown as intermediately disposed between the corners of board B. Board B as shown is provided with a great multiplicity of gear-pivoting elements, most simply formed by circular apertures 7, each of which is adapted to engage a depending axial pivot pin supplied by the several gears of this apparatus. The stock of board B is of sufficient thickness to nicely journal such pivot pin.

In the example illustrated, four pivot apertures are disposed of the board arranged in the formation of a square and defining the corners thereof, such square arrangement being identified by the letter a. Surrounding this arrangement a is a larger square arrangement of pivot apertures, designated at b, spaced as shown a distance from the central arrangement a equal to the distance between apertures 7 in arrangement a, but containing many more pivot apertures 7 which are spaced apart half of the distance of the spacing of apertures 7 in the first square a. A. third square arrangement c of pivot apertures is circumscribed about the second arrangement b and is spaced thererrom a distance equal to the spacing of the corner pivot apertures of the central arrangement a. The pivot apertures 7 in arrangement c are spaced apart the same distance as in arrangement a. A fourth square arrangement of pivot apertures d is circumscribed about square arrangement c in the same spaced arrangement as the other square arrangements, but here the individual apertures 7 are spaced half the distance apart as in arrangements a and c.

In addition to square arrangements of apertures previously recited along each side of the board and parallel thereto and also extending parallel to the adjacent side of tne last square arrangement d are straight line series e of pivot apertures 7, spaced apart the same distance as m square arrangement c and extending from one corner of the board to a point opposite to a special aperture designated as w for receiving the pivot pin of a player’s “winner gear” W, later to be described. The first aperture 7 of each straight line series e immediately adjacent one corner of the board constitutes the starting pivot aperture for one of the players and is so indicated in tire board, referred to as a play-starting station.

Simplest method of competitive play

Taking turns in clockwise rotation, each player places a gear of his own choosing on the playing field in any desired open aperture thereof. Once a player selects a gear he cannot exchange it, but must play it. The other players follow in clockwise rotation. On succeeding turns, each player may place another gear or move one of his gears already on the playing field, or he may pass. Thus each player attempts to successively build a gear train extending between his respective winner gear and his starting gear position. The first player who can turn his starting gear expose his “winner flag” wins the game.

Solitaire playing

The object of the game when played by one player is to complete a connecting row or train of gears from the starting corner diagonally across the opposite “winner gear” with the least number of gears, or if a chancedetermining element such as a die is used, with the least number of rolls of the die. A perfect score for the apparatus disclosed is nine rolls.

Play with chance-determining medium such as a die or spinner

To start the game each player selects a set of gears and a starting corner. Each player’s “winner flag” is attached to the “winner gear” W in the diagonally opposite comer. Each player rolls the die. The player rolling the highest number starts. The first player rolls the die and places the gear of the number rolled wherever he wishes on the playing field and the other players follow in clockwise rotation. On succeeding turns, each player, after rolling the die may place, another gear of the number rolled on the playing field, or move one of his gears of that number already on the playing field, or he may pass. Here again the first player who can expose his “winner flag” or arm W-α by turning the starting gear in the starting corner, wins the game. Players may work through their opponent’s gears in any manner desired in building their respective trains. No player is. allowed to place a gear in a position which locks his own or his opponent’s gear train. No player is allowed to block his opponent’s “winner gear.” If he does so, his opponent may remove the gear when he places his own gear in position.

While the foregoing precise arrangements of the gear receiving apertures and various types of playing the game with the apparatus of my invention, are merely exemplary, it will be seen that in all instances a predetermined positioning of a “winner” or terminal gear is. essential, ' disposed some way oppositely to a starting aperture or positioning of one of the gears. It will further be. seen , that two or more starting positions and terminal “winner gear” positions are provided by the game board of the apparatus and that competitive play, with opportunity for ³³ matching or meshing of selective gears of one player with positioned gears of another player to the ultimate end that a continuous gear train is formed between starting gear and “winner gear” is provided.

My invention provides apparatus for an action and com⁶⁰ petitive game combining luck, strategy, experience and skill in the successful playing thereof.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of ⁶³ my invention.

Where hereafter in the appended claims the term “gears” is used, it contemplates the wide meaning of rotary disc members such as friction discs and other driving and -θ driven elements peripherally associated to provide for ‘ driving and formation of a train.