US3394489A - Article roll game and track therefor - Google Patents
- ️Tue Jul 30 1968
July 30, 1968 L... w. MARTIN ARTICLE ROLL GAME AND TRACK THEREFOR Filed Jan. 25. 1966 INVENTOR.
law/s mM/mmv ATTORNEYS.
United States Patent 3,394,489 ARTICLE ROLL GAME AND TRACK THEREFOR Lewis W. Martin, Rte. 2, Box 288B, Manheirn, Pa. 17545 Filed Jan. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 522,982 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-43) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A marble roll game which includes an elongate flexible bendable trough having an upwardly arcuate configuration for guiding a marble, a rail unitarily formed therewith extending downwardly including a planar portion and a heart-shaped bead on the bottom thereof, a support with a complementarily formed slot for receiving the heartshaped bead, a plurality of pillars secured to the supports and received in apertures in a playing board for positioning the trough both vertically and laterally according to the length and distribution of the pillars on the board, said trough being so disposed to direct a marble in a rolling path downwardly according to a pattern selected by the user is disclosed.
This invention relates to a game in which articles, such as marbles, ball bearings, vehicles or the like, are rolled "down a predetermined path for the amusement of individuals. Because of the prevalent use of marbles in such a game, it is customarily called a marble roll.
As conducive of an understanding of the instant invention, it should be pointed out that the marble roll games of the prior art generally constitute a track, for carrying the rolling object, which is fixed both as to path and as to slope. It will be apparent that a fixed track precludes the user from altering the rolling path of the object and consequently lessens the enjoyment of the game.
It is an object of the instant invention to provide a game for rolling objects in which the path thereof may be altered by the user.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide a game for rolling objects in which the slope of the predetermined path may be readily changed by an individual.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a game for rolling objects in which the predetermined path may be lengthened by temporarily securing together a number of tracks.
A further object of the instant invention is to provide a track for an article rolling game which is particularly adapted to be used in a game in which the player desires to change either the configuration of the path or the slope thereof.
Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a track for an article rolling game having an elongate trough of transversely arcuate cross section with a grip rail extending away from the trough from the convex side thereof.
A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a track of the character described in which the grip rail is provided with an enlarged bead adapted to be received in a suitable holding device.
Still another object of the instant invention is to pro vide an article rolling game and track therefor which may be inexpensively made and marketed, which is durable and long lasting and which may be readily disassembled for purposes of storage.
Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.
3,394,489 Patented July 30, 1968 In the drawing:
FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the article rolling game of the instant invention illustrating a base board having a multiplicity of holes receiving supports for carrying a track made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention; A
FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the game of FIGURE 1 clearly illustrating the slope of the track;
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the game track of the instant invention illustrating one support and holding device and also illustrating a connecting sleeve secured together to similar tracks;
FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of the connecting sleeve and its relation with the game track taken substantially along
line44 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrows;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view of the track and holder taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a spherical object received by the track: and,
FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross sectional view of the track receiving another form of roller on which is mounted a vehicle simulating body shown in dash lines.
Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, there is indicated generally at 10 the article rolling game of the instant invention which has as its major components a
base board12 providing a multiplicity of
apertures14 which constitute one part of a supporting means shown generally at 16 spacing a game track shown generally at 18 above
base board12.
Base board12 may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, plastic, Masonite or the like, and although it is illustrated as rectangular with
apertures14 being regularly spaced thereon, it should be understood that
base board12 may be of any desired configuration with
apertures14 being placed in any suitable manner.
In the play of game 10 a suitable rolling article, such as a
sphere20 or a vehicle shown generally at 22 (which is more fully described in US. Patent 3,205,617), is placed in a receptacle shown generally at 24 at the starting point of
track18. Because of the slope of
track18, as may be seen in FIGURE 2, the rolling article traverses the pre determined path and comes to rest in a receptacle shown generally at 26 at the finishing point.
18 includes an
elongate trough28 which has a transversely arcuate concave cross sectional configuration, or more specifically a cross sectional configuration in the nature of a minor segment of a cylinder. Providing a means of
afiixing trough28 to support 16 is a
grip rail30 which extends away from
trough28 from a point midway between the transverse dimension thereof and at a point adjacent the lowermost surface of
trough28. Positioned on the outermost end of
grip rail30 is an enlarged bead shown generally at 32 of substantially heart-shaped configuration having a
shoulder34 extending outwardly from each side of
grip rail30 and tapering to a
point36 for insertion into a complementarily formed
slot38 which is in the lower part of a groove in a
holder40 of supporting
means16.
As previously intimated, one of the most important features of
game track18 is its ability to be temporarily deformed into rolling paths of different configurations. Accordingly, it is preferably made of a resilient bendable material, such as plastic or the like, which provides for the curving of
trough28 while maintaining substantially the same cross sectional area shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Since the path of
track18 shown in FIGURE 1 may be changed at the will of the operator, it will be apparent that the player may use
game track18 within any desired configuration.
Supporting
means16 includes a plurality of
pillars42 of varying heights to establish the slope of
game track18, as may be seen in FIGURE 2. As is apparent from FIGURES 2 and 3, the lower end of each of
pillars42 is configured to be snugly received by
apertures14, while the upper end of each of
pillars42 is secured in a
blind opening44 formed by
holder40. Since
holder40 is made of a resilient material, such as rubber, plastic or the like, it will be readily apparent that
holder40 may be disengaged from
grip rail30 and heart shaped
head32 for changing the point of location of supporting
means16 to
game track18. It should be noted that
apertures14 in
base board12,
plilars42 and
holders40 constitute supporting
means16.
Starting and finishing
receptacles24, 26 may be of any desired type or shape and are illustrated as a tear drop shaped device having an
upstanding rail46 extending about substantially the entire periphery of
receptacles24, 26 but forming an
opening48 adjacent the entrance and exit of
game track18. In the assembly of game a plurality of
pillars42 may be placed in selected ones of
apertures14 in the desired configuration. Since
holder40 is preferably secured to
pillar42,
pillar42 should be oriented such that
slot38 extends in the general direction of the desired path at which time bead 32 and
guide rail30 may be inserted therein. Since the longer pillars are selected to be positioned
nearest starting receptacle24, it will be apparent that a rollable article placed therein will roll along the pathway of
track18 to finish in
receptacle26.
Providing another variable in the game of the instant invention and thereby enhancing the enjoyment thereof is the provision of a connecting sleeve shown generally at 50 in FIGURES 3 and 4 for securing together a pair of
game tracks18.
Sleeve50 includes a transversely arcuate
concave segment52 complementarily configured to receive
trough28 as may be seen in FIGURE 4 and a pair of inwardly directed
flanges54 for holding the upper edges of
trough28. A
longitudinal slot56 is formed in
grip rail30 adjacent the junction of
grip rail30 and
trough28 for receiving
segment52 as may be seen in FIGURE 3.
In the assembly of
game tracks18,
sleeve50 may be inserted into
slot56 of one of
tracks18 with
slot56 of the other track then being slidably secured with the free end of
sleeve50. It will be noted that
receptacles24, 26 are preferably secured to
game track18 in a similar manner to minimize the number of parts necessary in
game10 and to facilitate the manufacture thereof.
It will be readily apparent that an individual may change the path and slope of
game track18 in any desired manner. In addition to the amusement features of
article roll game10, the slope and configuration of
game track18 may be changed to lend an educational attribute thereto. For example,
track18 may be configured to provide a slight rise or hill between starting and finishing
receptacles24, 26 to study momentum of rolling objects. By making the rise of suitable height, a marble will be unable to ascend the rise and continue the downward path toward finishing
receptacle26. On the other hand, a heavier ball bearing of like size will be able to ascend such a rise and complete the downward travel to finishing
receptacle26 teaching the individual that mass or weight is related to momentum.
It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved article roll game and track therefor which accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the instant invention, including many others of great practical utility and commercial importance.
Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
I claim:
1. A marble roll game which comprises the combination of:
an elongate trough having a transversely arcuate concave upward configuration and a unitarily formed grip rail extending downwardly from the concave upward structure, said grip rail including a substantially planar lip extending downward from the center of the upward structure and a downwardly pointed heartshaped bead having upper outwardly and downwardly rounded shoulders, said head being formed for easy insertion into a complementarily formed slot, said trough being constructed of a bendable material for providing a lateral and vertical curvature of the track while maintaining substantially the same cross-section;
a plurality of supports having a groove formed in the top thereof for complementarily receiving the grip rail on the trough and an opening in the bottom for receiving a pillar;
a plurality of pillars of varying lengths individually received in the openings in the supports; and
a board having a multiplicity of apertures therethrough disrtibuted throughout the area thereof, said apertures being adapted to receive the bottom of the individual pillars for supporting the pillars and for thereby permitting the trough to be positioned laterally and vertically according to the length and distribution of the pillars under the trough.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,433 5/1929 Molnar 46-43 2,000,808 5/ 1935 Williams 46-43 2,354,485 7/ 1944 Slaughter.
2,532,521 12/1950 Stair 46-43 2,862,333 12/ 1958 Gardiol 46-202 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.
S. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.