US3674275A - Random number selector - Google Patents

Abstract

A random number selector having a base which presents a plurality of compartments each of which is associated, permanently or alterably, with a number unique thereto and whose entrances face a deflector (domed or pyramidal) whose function is to deflect a ball dropped onto said deflector into one of the compartments in order to ''''select'''' the number associated with that compartment. In one form, the selector has a ball-aiming device which forms a part of a removable member carrying said compartment numbers and covering said compartments except for portions thereof which are left uncovered for access thereto and, in another form, the selector has a ball-aiming device which forms part of a lid which is rotatable by means of a knob in which said device is provided, the lid having an access aperture therein.

Description

I United States Patent [151 3,674,275

Samson 1 July 4, 1972 [54] RANDOM NUMBER SELECTOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Julie Marie Samson, Brighton, England 487,931 1929 Germany "273/120 {73] Assignee: Subbuteo Sports Games Limited, Tun- Prima ry ExammerR1chard C. Pmkham bndge wells Kent England Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown [22] Filed: May 1, 1970 Attorney-Melvin A. Crosby [2]] App]. No.: 33,628 57 ABSTRACT A random number selector having a base which presents a plu- [30] Appl'cauon Pnomy Data rality of compartments each of which is associated, per- June 5, 1969 Great Britain ..28 550/69 manemly altmbly with a number unique and whose entrances face a deflector (domed or pyramidal) whose 52 us. Cl. ..273/l38 R 273/120 R fumim is deflect 3 dmPPed Said deflect [51] Int. Cl. ..:\63b 71/00 one of the compartments in order to lkselect the number 58] Field of Search 273/120 R 121 R 138 R sociated with that compartment. In one fonn, the selector has a ball-aiming device which forms a part of a removable [56] References Cited member carrying said compartment numbers and covering said compartments except for portions thereof which are left UNITED STATES PATENTS uncovered for access thereto and, in another form, the selector has a ball-aiming device which forms part of a lid which is 2,721,082 10/ 1955 Hunold ..273/ l 38 R rotatable by means f a knob in which said device is provided 201,398 3/1978 Eusten ..273/1 38 R the lid having an access aperture therein 1,103,558 7/1914 Berger et al.. ....273/120 2,601,985 7/1952 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FKTENTEDJULl I972 JULIE MARIE SAMSON RANDOM NUMBER SELECTOR This invention relates to a random number selector.

Many games require the use of a die (sometimes wrongly or loosely called a dice) or of two dies (sometimes spelt in the alternative manner, namely, dice).

However, the use of a die or of twodies gives rise to a number of difficulties of which the following are some:

The markings (usually dots or numerals) on the six faces of the die inevitably become difficult if not impossible to read with certainty or at all due to wear because the faces of the die are handled frequently in the course of a game. The rate of deterioration due to wear is most great in the case of the cheapest dies.

The shaking receptacle is often nowhere to be seen when play is about to begin and a suitably shaped substitute receptacle of the correct size is often hard to find.

Shaking receptacles are more often than not made of card board and are, therefore, very susceptible to damage or destruction. The damage or destruction rate is higher the lower the age of the users.

Shaking receptacles are sometimes difficult to hold for a child whose hands are small but who is capable of playing the game concerned (for example snakes and ladders or Coppit" (Registered Trade Mark) because of the length of one half of the circumference of the receptacle. Further, young children find it difficult at first to remember to cover the open end of the receptacle before trying to shake the die well with the result, frequently, that the die falls out on to the table or floor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a die whose use does not give rise to said difficulties or whose use is unlikely to give rise to difficulties which are of the same order of seriousness.

As employed herein to describe a portion of a base, the word annular is intended to include not only a ring-like portion having circular outer and inner peripheries of which the inner periphery defines the circular aperture of the ring but also a ring-like portion having outer and inner peripheries which are other than circular and which may be identical to one another (e.g. each periphery being hexagonal) or different from one another (e.g. the outer periphery being rectangular and the inner periphery being hexagonal), the aperture of the ring being of the shape dictated by said inner periphery.

Accordingly, the present invention according to a first aspect thereof consists in an apparatus having compartments which are not in direct communication with one another, at least one part of each compartment being visible from locations external to said apparatus and each compartment having an entrace giving access to the interior thereof, and a deflector, the arrangement being such that, if the apparatus were to be stood upon a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface and if a ball were to be dropped on said deflector from above said deflector and from a location on or substantially on the vertical axis of symmetry of said deflector, said ball would have an equal chance of being caused by said deflector to move towards and through the entrances of all of said compartments into said compartments.

Further, the present invention, according to a second aspect thereof, consists in an apparatus which includes a base having a first portion thereof which is annular (as herein defined) and which is located at or in the vicinity of the periphery of said base, said first portion being co-extensive with said periphery at said location; a second portion of said base spaced from said first portion thereof; a third portion thereof which is annular (as herein defined) in plan configuration and which connects said first and second portions to one another; said second portion being so shaped as to be adapted to act as a deflector whose upper surface is at an elevation above that of any part of said third portion; a surface of said third portion sloping downwardly away from said deflector towards said first portion and being divided into a number of open-topped compartments which is either six or a multiple of six; each compartment having a medial line which extends from one end of the compartment to the other and also, when extended, through said deflector; each compartment being provided with an entrance at that end thereof which is remote from said deflector by a part of said first portion by virtue of the free edge of said first portion being at an elevation above that of that part of the downwardly sloping surface of said third portion which is farthest from said deflector; the plan configuration of said deflector having a center point through which there extends the axis of symmetry of said deflector; and a device which is mounted or is adapted to be mounted upon said base and which includes a passageway of which at least a portion is right cylindrical, that end of said right cylindrical portion which is near said deflector being spaced from said deflector and the axis of said right cylindrical portion being coincident with said axis of symmetry; the arrangement being such that, if the base of said apparatus were to be supported. on a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface with said device located at a higher level than that of said base and if a ball whose diameter is lessthan but close to that of said right cylindrical portion of said passageway were to be dropped into said passageway, said ball would drop on to said deflector in such a manner as to be free to be caused and as to have an equal change of being caused by said deflector to move towards and through the entrances of all of said compartments and to roll in any compartment along said downwardly sloping surface towards said part of said first portion which closes that end of said compartment which is remote from said deflector, each of said compartments further being devoid of any means permissive of said ball moving directly from said compartment into either of the adjacent compartments.

In one embodiment of said second aspect of the present invention, said device is, in plan configuration, smaller than said base, whereby at least that region of each compartment is accessible from locations outside said apparatus in which said ball, if so dropped into said passageway, would come to rest in order to permit retrieval of said ball.

In an alternative embodiment of said second aspect of the present invention, said base and said device are circular in plan configuration, said passageway being formed in a knob which is secured to a lid which is rotatably mounted upon said base in such a manner as not to be readily detachable therefrom, said lid having formed therein anaperture of a size and shape such as will permit retrieval of a ball from any of said compartments when said aperture has been brought into register, with said compartment.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in section the preferred embodiment of apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, said section being taken on the line I-I in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of said apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates in section along a diametral plane of the preferred form of the device which, together with the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 constitutes the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative shape for the deflector; and

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective an alternative embodiment of the apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated therein an apparatus which consists of a so-called base 10 having compartments 11 which are not in direct communication with one another, each compartment having an. entrance 12 giving access to the interior thereof, and a deflector 13. It will be seen that said base 10 is circular in plan configuration and consists of an annular first portion 14 which constitutes the periphery of said base, a second portion 15 spaced from said first portion 14 and an annular third portion 16 which connects said first portion 14 and said second portion 15 to one another. The free edge of the annular first portion 14 is elevated above the level of the radially outermost part of the surface 17 of the annular third portion 16 in order to form a lip for a purpose which will become apparent. Likewise, the upper surface of the second portion is at all points thereon elevated above the level of the radially innermost part of said surface 17 for a purpose which will become apparent. Lastly, said radially innermost part of said surface 17 is elevated above the level of said radially outermost part of said surface. The portions 14 and 15 will hereinafter be referred to as the lip and the deflector, respectively, for simplicity of description. The deflector 15 is circular in plan configuration and the upper surface thereof is convex.

The compartments 1 l are created by twelve radially extending vertical walls 18 which are such as to deny direct access from one compartment to an adjacent compartment and also such as to define said entrances 12 by their vertical radially innermost free edges 19. The shape of the walls 18 is not of any significance insofar as the first aspect of the present invention is concerned.

If the apparatus so far described were to be stood upon the horizontal or substantially horizontal surface of a table and if a ball were to be dropped on the deflector 15 from above said deflector and from a location on the vertical axis of symmetry of said deflector, said ball would have an equal chance of being caused by said deflector to move towards and through the entrances 12 of all of the twelve compartments 11 into said compartments. By this is meant that, provided the ball were dropped in the requisite manner, the direction in which said ball would travel after striking the point on the convex surface of the deflector 15 through which said vertical axis of symmetry extends would be quite random and it would be quite impossible for a player to predict said direction of travel.

Thus, if the compartments are suitably numbered or otherwise marked in a manner representative of numbers (for example by embossed characters formed so as to stand proud of the surface 17), with twelve compartments 11 a ball can be used with said apparatus to simulate the throw of two dies, with six compartments (not illustrated) a ball can be used with said apparatus to simulate the throw of a single die, and so on.

However, it will obviously be desirable to provide some means which will enable a player to drop the ball in the requisite manner, or substantially so, every time and without the tedium of having to take careful aim. Accordingly, it is preferred to make the said apparatus in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention which includes the provision of adevice 20 (FIG. 3) which is dome-shaped in section and circular in plan configuration. Said device 20 has a radial flange 21 of which the upper surface 22 is marked 01? in segments which are numbered from 1 to 12, inclusive, in sequence or in random fashion and portions of whose lower surface 23 are intended, in use, to be in contact with horizontal upper edges 24 of the walls 18 (see FIG. 1). The walls 18 are formed with locating bosses 25 whose radially outwardly directed vertical faces 26 are adapted to contact the radially inwardly directed vertical face 27 of a right cylindrical portion of a cavity 28 with which one end of a centrally disposed right cylindrical passageway 29 is in direct communication. Said passageway 29 extends completely through said device 20. The device 20 is further provided with a locating segment 30 whose dimensions and function will become apparent from the following description.

In order to mount the device 20 on the base or apparatus 10, the said device is lowered (while in the attitude thereof which has been illustrated) on to the base whilst ensuring a. that the locating bosses 25 all extend into the right cylindrical portion of the cavity 28 and b. that the locating segment 30 is disposed between two of said bosses 25. With said device 20 thus positioned not only will the numbered segments be in alignment with compartments but also the device itself will be temporarily locked against rotation. Furthermore, thus positioned, the device 20 will enable accurate dropping of a ball on to the deflector 15 in the requisite manner by virtue of the fact that the longitudinal axis of the right cylindrical passageway is coincident or substantially coincident with said vertical axis of symmetry of the deflector.

Referring to FIG. 5, one alternative shape of deflector is shown in plan, namely, a pyramidal deflector whose ground or base plan is dodecagonal.

It will be appreciated that once a ball has been dropped on the deflector 15, it will roll ofi the deflector 15 on to the downwardly sloping surface 17 along which it will roll further through one of the entrances 12 into the compartment concerned and will come to rest in the position indicated by the ball B drawn in dotted lines. The ball is easy to retrieve from that position whether the device 20 is used as aforesaid or not. Furthermore, because of the downward slope of the surface 17 in radially outward directions, the ball will also travel quickly and positively into a compartment and along said compartment up to the lip 14.

It is, of course, not necessary for the apparatus to take the form described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, namely, one embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention. It may be desirable for the device which is operable to ensure that the ball is dropped every time in the requisite manner to be permanently connected to the base. One embodiment of such an apparatus is disclosed in FIG. 5 which consists essentially of a base 40 and a lid 41 which are connected to one another, at a location indicated approximately by the reference numeral 42, for rotation about an axis which (when the apparatus is to be used) is vertical. The base 40 is similar to the base or apparatus 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 insofar as the essential constituents (namely, the central deflector, the downwardly and outwardly sloping surface, the lip at the periphery, and the walls defining the compartments) are present but obviously the locating bosses 25 are unnecessary.

The lid, which is made of transparent or at least translucent material, is formed with a radially extending slot 43 which (as illustrated) is equal in area to that of each compartment, and is also provided with a centrally located knob 44 which has a right cylindrical passageway 45 extending therethrough. The longitudinal axis of said passageway 45 is coincident with the axis of symmetry of the deflector which lies beneath the lower end of the passageway 45. Each compartment is numbered or otherwise marked in the manner discussed earlier, it being necessary to place the number or mark on the base 40 and not on the lid 41 which is rotatable.

When the ball has been dropped on to the deflector by way of the passageway 45 with the whole apparatus supported by a horizontal surface, the ball will come to rest against or near the lip in one of the compartments. Ifthe ball does not appear in the compartment with which the slot is in register at the time in question, the lid is rotated through the appropriate number of degrees in order to permit retrieval of the ball.

FIG. 5 represents an expensive embodiment alternative to that which comprises the base or apparatus 10 and the device 20 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. However, a further and cheaper alternative embodirnent is obtainable by the use of, in effect, a funnel which is provided with a supporting tripod whose legs are connected or are capable of connection to three of said walls 18, said funnel being a hollow frusto-conical part to the end thereof which is of least diameter there is connected a right cylindrical tube. Such a funnel would act as a device into which the ball could be dropped carelessly, the frusto-conical part being a hopper down which the ball will travel to the passageway defined by the said tube.

It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the device 20 and the principal parts thereof have been drawn in dotted lines, thereby clarifying the section thereof in FIG. 3.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by letters patent of the United States is:

1. A game device comprising; a substantially circular bottom member having a downwardly facing planar supporting surface and an upwardly facing playing surface, a flange upstanding from the periphery of said playing surface, a whole multiple of six spaced partitions upstanding from said playing surface and extending from said peripheral flange toward the center of the base member and all terminating at the radially inner ends thereof substantially the same radial distance from the center of said bottom member, said playing surface inclining upwardly toward the center of said base member and having in the center a slightly elevated upwardly convex circular region terminating at the periphery radially inwardly from the radially inner ends of said partitions, a substantially circular top member resting on the upper edges of said partitions and having a central hole extending therethrough which is perpendicular to the plane of said supporting surface when said top member rests on said partitions, cooperating elements of locating means on said bottom member and said top member interengageable to locate said top member radially in a central position on said bottom member so the hole in said top member is coaxial with said convex region on said playing surface, and at least one of said base member and said top member having indicia thereon near the periphery which align with the said spaces, the arrangement being such that when the device rests on a horizontal support and a ball slightly smaller than the said hole in said top member is dropped into the hole, the ball will fall on said convex region in the center thereof and will then at random take a path into one of the spaces between said partitions and the value of which is indicated by the indicium which is aligned with the respective space.

2. A game device according to claim 1 in which said indicia are on said top member, and said top member includes means engageable with at least one of said partitions to locate said top member in a rotated position on said base member such that said indicia are aligned with said spaces.

3. A game device according to claim 1 in which the upper edges of said partitions near the radially inner ends of the partitions comprise portions which are coplanar and parallel to said supporting surface, said top member having a downwardly facing annular area engaging said portions of said partitions, said cooperating elements of locating means comprising a finger upstanding from each said partition at the extreme radially inner end thereof and a radially inwardly facing flange on said top member at the radially inner edge of said annular area engaging the radially outer sides of said fingers.

4. A game device according to claim 3 wherein at least a part of said top member is transparent to permit the spac therebeneath to be observed.

5. A game device according to claim 3 in which said indicia are on said top member and said top member includes locating segment means projecting from said radially inwardly facing flange engaging at least one partition and locating said top member in such rotated position on said base member as to cause said indicia to align with the spaces between said partitions, said top member being smaller in diameter than said peripheral flange to expose the radially outer ends of said spaces.

6. A game device according to claim 1 in which said indicia are numerals.

7. A game device according to claim 1 in which said indicia are carried by said playing surface near the radially outer ends of said spaces.

8. A game device according to claim 1 in which said top member is of such thickness in the center thereof that the length of said hole is about equal to the diameter thereof, said hole being a right cylinder.

9. A game device according to claim 1 in which said base member and top member are circular and said top member is rotatable on said base member, a central knob upstanding from the top of said top member and having said hole therein, said top member comprising a substantially radial peripheral portion extending over said spaces and having at least one aperture therein registerable with said spaces upon rotation of said top member on said base member to permit ready retrieval of a ball from the respective compartment.

Claims (9)

1. A game device comprising; a substantially circular bottom member having a downwardly facing planar supporting surface and an upwardly facing playing surface, a flange upstanding from the periphery of said playing surface, a whole multiple of six spaced partitions upstanding from said playing surface and extending from said peripheral flange toward the center of the base member and all terminating at the radially inner ends thereof substantially the same radial distance from the center of said bottom member, said playing surface inclining upwardly toward the center of said base member and having in the center a slightly elevated upwardly convex circular region terminating at the periphery radially inwardly from the radially inner ends of said partitions, a substantially circular top member resting on the upper edges of said partitions and having a central hole extending therethrough which is perpendicular to the plane of said supporting surface when said top member rests on said partitions, cooperating elements of locating means on said bottom member and said top member interengageable to locate said top member radially in a central position on said bottom member so the hole in said top member is coaxial with said convex region on said playing surface, and at least one of said base member and said top member having indicia thereon near the periphery which align with the said spaces, the arrangement being such that when the device rests on a horizontal support and a ball slightly smaller than the said hole in said top member is dropped into the hole, the ball will fall on said convex region in the center thereof and will then at random take a path into one of the spaces between said partitions and the value of which is indicated by the indicium which is aligned with the respective space.

2. A game device according to claim 1 in which said indicia are on said top member, and said top member includes means engageable with at least one of Said partitions to locate said top member in a rotated position on said base member such that said indicia are aligned with said spaces.

3. A game device according to claim 1 in which the upper edges of said partitions near the radially inner ends of the partitions comprise portions which are coplanar and parallel to said supporting surface, said top member having a downwardly facing annular area engaging said portions of said partitions, said cooperating elements of locating means comprising a finger upstanding from each said partition at the extreme radially inner end thereof and a radially inwardly facing flange on said top member at the radially inner edge of said annular area engaging the radially outer sides of said fingers.

4. A game device according to claim 3 wherein at least a part of said top member is transparent to permit the space therebeneath to be observed.

5. A game device according to claim 3 in which said indicia are on said top member and said top member includes locating segment means projecting from said radially inwardly facing flange engaging at least one partition and locating said top member in such rotated position on said base member as to cause said indicia to align with the spaces between said partitions, said top member being smaller in diameter than said peripheral flange to expose the radially outer ends of said spaces.

6. A game device according to claim 1 in which said indicia are numerals.

7. A game device according to claim 1 in which said indicia are carried by said playing surface near the radially outer ends of said spaces.

8. A game device according to claim 1 in which said top member is of such thickness in the center thereof that the length of said hole is about equal to the diameter thereof, said hole being a right cylinder.

9. A game device according to claim 1 in which said base member and top member are circular and said top member is rotatable on said base member, a central knob upstanding from the top of said top member and having said hole therein, said top member comprising a substantially radial peripheral portion extending over said spaces and having at least one aperture therein registerable with said spaces upon rotation of said top member on said base member to permit ready retrieval of a ball from the respective compartment.

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