US2528938A - Magnetic game device - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 7, 1950 c, WOLF 2,528,938

MAGNETIC GAME DEVICE Filed March 24, 1948 INVENTOR. R1. R. WOLF Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in game pieces and has reference more particularly to a game piece comprising a miniature football 'player mounted on a platform that carries a permanent magnet.

The primary object of this invention is to produce an improved miniature football game in which the players are mounted on bases provided with rollers or wheels and which carry permanent magnets, the parts being so arranged that the players are moved anddirected in their movements by means of a magnet presenting .a pole of similar polarity to the permanent magnet carried by the bases so that the players may be moved Without actually bringing the control magnet into physical contact with the players or the parts on which they are supported.

The invention is directed to the players or game pieces themselves, but in order to explain the purpose and the advantages of the construction that forms the subject of this invention, the same will be described in connection with a miniature football game. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to such use, but can be employed in other relations, if desired.

Miniature football games of various kinds have been invented, some of which are employed entirely in connection with a radio broadcast, or a written report of a game and the several dummies or game pieces are moved in accordance with such reports. a

It is the object of this invention to produce game pieces of the type mentioned which can be arranged in opposite formations and controlled entirely by magnetic repulsion and in'this way the movements of the players will resemble more closely the voluntary movement of a player on a field.

It is a further object of this invention to produce miniature football players mounted on bases and so arranged that when they collide with a football the latter will adhere to the player, being held in place by magnetic attraction and this player will then be in position to carry the ball towards the goal and continue until arrested by a player from the oppositeside.

The above and any other objects that may become apparent as the. description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a miniature football 1 Claim., (Cl. 27394) game board showing two-opposing teams lined up for play;

Figure 2 isa top plan view of the base on which the miniature players are mounted showing the permanent magnet in position thereon;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view looking in the of arrow 4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows the manner in which theplayers or game pieces are propelled by magnetic direction repulsion Figure 6 is a view showing a football which contains either a permanent magnet or a piece of soft iron;

Figure 7 .is a front viewshowing a base on which a player is mounted, showing the same in position preparatory for kicking a field goal;

Figure 8 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 7, but shows another position of the player;

Figures 9 and 10 show other positions of the players to a reduced scale.

.In the drawing reference numeral [5 designates a game board which is made of any suitable material and has outlined on its surface a football field, the ten-yard lines being indicated by reference numeral it and the goals by reference numerals l1 and I8. The several game pieces representing the players have been shown as lined up in position preparatory for a play. When a game is to be played, there are two operators, each holding in his hand. a permanent magnet, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Each game piece consists of a base or truck I9 provided with two rollers 2!! mounted for free rotation, as shown in Figure 4:. The term roller means as employed in the claims is therefore intended to be generic to both rollers and wheels. The roller means permits the game piece to more freely move in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller means than in other directions. Instead of rollers, wheels may beemployed, if desired. Supported on each base or truck is a permanent magnet 2|, which is preferably made of an alloy that can be highly magnetized, and which will retain its magnetism indefinitely. The truck itself may be made from soft iron or from some nonmagnetic material, either a metal or a plastic. Each truck carries a miniature football player which has been designated by reference numerals 22 and 22a in Figures '7 and8 and by reference numeral 23 in Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to Figure-5, it will be seen that the player has one foot on each side of the permanent magnet. This is an important feature of the invention because it prevents contact with the permanent magnet from the sides. The players may, of course, assume any position similar to that assumed by actual players in a game. Reference to Figure 9 shows that the head of the player projects to the front of the magnet which is a feature that lends interest to the game because when two players from opposing teams come towards each other, they meet head-on and this usually results in a turning of one or both of the players so as to expose the ends of the magnets of opposite polarity towards each other. In this way a player is always, tackled from behind. The football has been designated by reference numeral 25 and since this contains either a piece of soft iron 26, or a permanent magnet, it is evident that when one of the players collides with the ball, the permanent magnet carried by the base will attract the ball and the latter will then adhere to the front of the base or truck and can be carried in this manner to the goal of the opposing team, scoring a touchdown unless a player from the Opposing team manages to obstruct its passage or tackles it in such a way as to prevent its furthe onward movement.

'-Particular attention is directed to Figure in which the hand of the operator has been designated by reference numeral 21. The operator holds in his hand a strong permanent magnet 28 and when the permanent magnets are arranged on the base or truck with the north pole towards the rear, the magnet held by the operator will have its north pole exposed, as shown in Figure 5 so as to exert a repulsive force on magnet 2|. This is an important feature of the invention and of the game because it produces a movement without actual physical contact and is altogether different from a corresponding movement that would be obtained by attractive action, the latter would resemble more the pulling of the game piece by means of a cord which would interfere greatly with its free movement, whereas, by the repulsive action employed in the game, the game piece or miniature player is free to respond to whatever forces it may be subjected to and can therefore make sudden turns or proceed in opposite directions. By employing the repulsive action of magnets greater skill is required by the operator than would be necessary where an attractive action is employed.

. It is contemplated that the permanent magnets shall be all arranged in the same manner on the several pieces; that is either the south or the north pole on all ofthe pieces must be to the front or to the rear. This arrangement assures that a player can be tackled and held only from the rear because only in this position will the permanent magnets on the two pieces attract each other. At the same time when this arrangement is used, two players meeting each other will be subjected to a repulsive action that has a'tend- .ency to turn them and this adds another interesting feature or complication to the game which increases its interest and calls for additional skill on the part of the operator.

In the drawing the pieces have been shown as each carrying a miniature football player, but, as above explained, other images or dummies may be substituted. For example, it may be possible to provide each piece with a miniature dog or cat or any other shape. By having each miniature player in a different position,'the game assumes a more realistic appearance and this adds further interest to the same.

Particular attention is called at this point to the construction comprising the truck or base with the permanent magnet secured thereto and the dummy player supported on the base with its legs straddling the permanent magnet. The permanent magnet has been shown as somewhat shorter than the base with the permanent magnet extending to the rear of the base, leaving a ledge at the front which serves to support and hold the ball when the latter is attracted to the magnet during the play. By having the rear end of the permanent magnet flush with the base, it is more accessible to the action of the control magnet and makes it possible for the operator to bring the control magnet into close proximity with the permanent magnet in order to effect a forceful line-bucking action.

Having described the invention what is claimed. as new is:

A game device, comprising; a game board, a game piece adapted to move on the game board, having a non-magnetic base, a permanent bar magnet having front and rear ends of opposite polarity supported on the base, a miniature figure simulating a player in a contest, fixed to the base, the figure having legs straddling the magnet, and a portion extending forwardly beyond the base, and magnetic operating means adapted to be manipulated by the hand of a user from above the board and at the rear end of the bar magnet for moving the game piece forwardly, said operating means having a pole at its operative end of the same polarity as the rear end of the bar magnet, whereby the game piece may be moved forwardly by magnetic repulsion as the operating means is moved toward the rear end of the permanent magnet, and roller means supporting the game piece adapted to permit it to more freely move in a direction between the poles of the magnet than in other directions.

CARL R. WOLF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,603,717 'Rubino et al Oct. 19, 1926 ,148,354 Hurlock Feb. 21, 1939 2,239,395 Mallory Apr. 22, 1941 2,249,454 Brake July 15, 1941 2,263,115 Winter Nov. 18. 1941 2,282,430 Smith May 12, 1942 2,330,951 Burmester et al Oct. 5, 1943 2,339,209 Vensel Jan. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,537 Great Britain 1911 608,095 France Apr. 10, 1926

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