US2791432A - Dice throwing device - Google Patents

Description

y 7, 1957 A. L. ALVERNAZ 2,791,432

010s THROWING DEVICE Filed Oct. e, 1955 1/ FIG. ii E? i 22 g; I11 5;

/ V INVENTOR.

" n/vro/v/a A. m Vim 42 2,791,432 DICE THROWING DEVICE Antonio L. Alvernaz, San Francisco, Calif., assignor of one-half to W. Edwin Walgren, San Francisco, Calif.

Application October 6, 1953, serial No. 384,414

Claims. (21. 213-145 This invention relates to a dice game and particularly to a sealed device providing means for unpredictably throwing dice in a continuous sequence. The invention also relates to an advertising medium which includes the dice throwing means as an integral part thereof.

In historic times dice throwing games have always been popular and have appeared among the several peoples in widely separated areas all over the world. The prior art has produced some dice games which have mechanical mechanisms for throwing the dice, but, for the most part, they have required some form of human manipulation to accomplish the actual throwing of the dice. In these devices the operator must physically touch levers, pushbars, bell cranks and other mechanisms and is required to manually participate in the throwing of the dice and bringing the result of the throw in view for reading.

Other devices found in this art have been associated with clocks and clock mechanisms, but in each of these instances they have involved an intimate association with a clock mechanism together with pins, springs and com plicated movements, all of which produce wear, break and become out of adjustment. The difliculty of keeping them operating properly as intended has, for all practical purposes, rendered them impractical and interesting only as a temporary plaything.

The objects of this invention have a very practical and logical solution to the problems which have eiristed and among the objects is the provision of a dice throwing device which has its own power unit operating the dice throwing means positively and without association to any other mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is iii-produce such a device where there are a minimum of movingparts and which requires a minimum of adjustment, maint nance and service.

A further object is to produce a device which has a simple operation, easily understood, and not subject to the vagaries of springs, pins, bell cranks or the like.

A still further object is to produce a dice throwing machine where the points thrown will vary in the same un predictable manner as if the dice were thrown by handin the usual manner of playing. 1

Further objects are to provide a construction ofmaxi mum simplicity-economy, and ease of manufacture and also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and the invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, con struction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood. that the same is merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change,

and comprehends other details of construction without of the ap- Y nited States Patent O F 2,791,432 ir wall ta m'entarysection of the base and showing the motor in elevation and the dice chamber in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line II II of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the dice chamber with the rotating blade shown in an elevated position in full lines and the rotating blade with its dice in reading position being shown in broken lines.

Figure 4 is a similar diagrammatic rendering of the dice chamber with the blade past the angle of repose being shown in full lines and the unburdened blade being shown in broken lines.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view in section taken on the lines V-V of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the cage or chamber only showing the dice expbsed for reading through a transparent window.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, and with particular reference to Figure 1, the entire device is mounted on a suitable base 10 which may be of any desired form or shape. Not only is the base 10 a support for the mounting of the dice throwing device, but it is also the support for any advertising form which may be used in conjunction with, or mounted with the device itself. The dice throwing device is a cylindrical cage or chamber, preferably sealed, and made of a transparent plastic, and comprises a circular wall 11 with inner and outer covers 12 and 14, respectively. The

transparency of the material is purely optional, as all that is required to be transparent is a portion of the cylindrical wall 11 be left transparent as indicated between points 15 and 16. This represents a segment which is approirimately 15 above and 15 below the horizontal, but, obviously, this segment left for the visual reading of the dice, can be placed at any desirable location about the circumference.

Inside the cylindrical cage or chamber are two dice 17 and 18. Only two dice are shown in the present drawing because most dice games are played with two dice. If more'dice are required for any particular game, either smaller dice may be used, or the depth of the chamber can be increased. The cage or chamber is mounted with its axis in a horizontal plane by means of brackets 20 and 21, which are secured to the base 10. Only the bracket 20 is required, but the bracket 21 lends stability and firmness to the entire structure. Mounted on the opposite side of the bracket 20 is a drive motor 22, having a rotating stub shaft 23 which extends into the chamber through apertures in the bracket 20 and the wall 12 and almost reaches the inner face of the wall 14. The shaft 23 is rotated by the motor 22 in any suitable manner, such as mechanical or electrical means, although Figure 1 shows the motor 22 as electrical with its leads 24 and connector terminals 25. The stub shaft 23 may be flattened along one portion thereof, which is inside the cage or chamber, to form a chord which is shown at 26 in Figures 2 and 4. The chord 26 provides a fiat surface for the mounting of a blade 27 which extends radially al-' attached blade 27 is shown to be clockwise, but it is obvious that the rotation may be reversed if the window between points 15 and 16 is also on the opposite side.

The device operates as follows: The motor 22 is started so that the stub shaft 23 and its attached blade 27 are rotated clockwise at a speed preferably not iri excess of from 2 to 5 R. P. M. and assuming a starting position such as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the two dice are side by side resting on the bottom of the cage or chamber, and are in front of the blade 27. The blade 27 engages the rear faces of the dice 17 and 18 and moves them along the perimeter on the inside of the wall 11. The dice 17 and 18 are moved up continuously so that the surface, which is in contact with the inner face of wall 11', is exposed in the window, which is the transparent space between the points 15 and 16.' It is during'the passage of the dice'betweenthese points that it is possible to observe the markings on the face and exhibit the results of the throw. This is the only period when the result of each throw is known. Beyond the point v16 inthe continuous rotation, the blade and the dice. move to the position shown approximately in Figures 3 and 5. The dice 17 and 18, because of their individual weight and the law of gravity, will moveidown against the trip 30. f The trip 30 is for the purpose of canting the dice, suchas is illustrated in Figure 5, to insure. a random throw and fall. As soon as the dice reach a position beyond the angle of repose, such as that shown in Figure 4, they will fall by gravity to the bottom of the cage or chamber. Sometimes they will be thrown free. Some times they will strike the stub shaft, but in any event the throw is a random'one and completely unpredictable. The blade 27 continues its path, freed of its burden, as is shown in Figure 4 in broken lines, and continues until it engages the rear surfaces of the dice in the new position and begins again the cycle which has been explained.

The dice do not always fall so that they are lined up evenly as shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, upon contact and urging from the rear by the blade 27, they do line up so that as they start their upward travel, they are in the alignment shown in Figures 1 and 2. This is true although no pattern for the fall or the arrangement of the dice has been observed in hours of continual operation and observation.

In order to successfully practice the invention it is not necessary to have the island trip 30. When this is omitted thedice, when reaching approximately the 11:00 position shown in Figure 3,,will slide by gravity along the face of theblade 27, against the stub shaft 23 and will remain therebriefiy until gravity takes charge and causes them to fall from this'position to the bottomrof the cage or cham* ber, The only reason for imposing the trip 30 is to cant these dice and to give them a-little further distance for falling and changing position. i

It will be observed thatthe rotation of the blade 27 continuously'b ings the dice in their new fall before the window area 15-16, without the aid of any human intervention, without the aid of any springs or trigger actions, Without any manipulation and without the intervention of anything except the law of gravity. The device will operate continuously in this manner as long 'as the motor is operating. Electric motors of this character are very simple, run continuously for long periods, and require practically no maintenance.

It will be observed that a wall in front of this device witha window of a size corresponding to the area indicated between 15 and 16, may contain advertising or other informative information as a part of the housing for the device itself, so that the continued gaze of the observer for resultsof these individual throws of the dice will also be directed to whatever material is on'thewall or housing. i

Iclaim: Y i" .1. A device for unpredictably rollingdice in continuous sequence comprising a base, a closed cylindrical dicecage having a depth sufficient to permit the free roll of at'least fall two dice longitudinally side by side and having a window in a portion of its wall, dice within said closed cage, a support for said cage mounting it horizontally on its axis, motor means for continuously rotating a stub shaft, said motor and stub shaft being mounted on said support with the shaft axially penetrating the interior of said cage for rotation therein, and means'within said cage radially attached to said stub shaft for contacting said dice at the bottom portion of said cage and lifting said dice in contact with the inner surface of said cage past said window exposing only the outermost surface of the dice to full view and then continuously moving the said .contacting means beyond the angle of repose causing the dice to fall in random fashion to the bottom of said cage, said lifting means being solid and having a width just slightly less than the depth of said cage.

2. A device for unpredictably rolling dice in continuous sequence comprising a ba'se, a closed, cylindrical chamber of a depth sufficient to permit the free roll of at least two dice longitudinally side by side having a window in a portion of its wall, ,a support for said chamber mounting it horizontally on its axis, dice within-said chamber, motor means for continuously rotating a stub shaft, said motor and stub shaft being mounted on said support with the shaft projecting axially into the interior of said chamber, and means within said chamber radially attached to .Said stub shaft for contacting said dice at the bottom portion of said cage and lifting said dice in contact with the inner surface of said chamber past said window exposing only the outermost surface 'of the dice to full view and causing them to fall by gravity from said contacting means to a new and different position at the bottom of said cage, said lifting means being solid and having a width just slightly less than the depth of said chamber.

3. A device for unpredictably rolling dice in continuous sequence comprising a base, a closed cylindrical chamber of suflicient depth to permit the free roll of at least two dice longitudinally side by side having a window in a portion of its Wall, a support for said chamber mounting it horizontally on its axis, dice within said chamber, motor means for continuously rotating a stub shaft, a stub shaft, said motor and stub shaft being mounted on said support with the shaft projecting axially into the interior of said chamber, means Within said chamber. radially attached to said stub shaft for contacting said dice at the bottom of said cage and lifting said dice in contact with the inner surface of said chamber past said window exposing only the outermost surface of the dice to full view and causing them to fall by grayity to anew and different position at the bottom of but within said chamber, said lifting means being solid and having a width just slightly less than the depth of said chamber, and a housing having an opening therein inv registry with and corresponding to said window.

4. A device for unpredictably rolling dice in continuous sequence comprising a base, a closed cylindrical chamber of a depth suflicient to permit the free roll of at least two dice longitudinally side by side having a window in a portion of its waH, a support for said chamber mounting it horizontally on its axis, dice within said chamber, motor means for continuously rotating a stub shaft, a stub shaft, said motor and stub shaft being mounted on said support with the shaft projecting axially into the interior of said chamber, blade means within said chamber radially attached to and rotating with said stub shaft for contacting said dice at the bottom of said cage and lifting said di cein contact with the inner-surface of said chamber past said window exposing onlythe outermost surface of the dice to fullview, causing them to fall by gravity to a new and different position at the bottom of but within said chamber, said blade lifting means being solidand having a width just slightly less than'thc depth of said chamber, and trip means on said lifting means for canting said dice prior to their fallto insure a free random 5. A device for unpredictably rolling dice in continuous sequence comprising a base, a closed cylindrical chamber of sufficient depth to permit the free roll of at least two dice longitudinally side by side having a window in a portion of its wall, a support for said chamber mounting it horizontally on its axis, dice within said chamber, a stub shaft having one side flattened to mount a radial blade, motor means for continuously rotating the stub shaft, a said motor and stub shaft being mounted on said support With the shaft projecting axially into 10 the interior of said chamber, a radial blade attached to and rotating with said stub shaft Within said chamber for contacting said dice in the bottom of said cage and lifting said dice in contact with the inner surface of said chamber past said Window exposing only the outermost sur- 15 face of the dice to full view and causing them to fall by gravity to a new and different position at the bottom of but within said chamber, and trip means on said radial blade for canting said dice prior to their fall to insure 5 a free random fall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 464,915 Slinn et al Dec. 8, 1891 624,172 Cahnbley May 2, 1899 1,545,903 Junghans July 14, 1925 2,221,337 West Nov. 12, 1940 2,262,642 Liberson Nov. 11, 1941 2,269,742 Smith Jan. 13, 1942

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