US2752157A - Receptacle for a disc game board - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1956 R. E. TOWLE, JR 2,752,157

RECEPTACLE FOR A DISC GAME BOARD Filed July 9, 1954 46x 47 5&5! 5953 28\ ,w 22+ i H64 F/G5 3o ,20 26 INVEN;3R.

I4 71 ab 5| ROBERT E TOM LE JR. y//// J A] 53 Unite States atent RECEPTACLE FGR A DISC GAME BOARD Robert E. Towle, Jr., Omaha, Nebr.

Application July 9, 1954, Serial No. 442,305

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-126) This invention relates to games of the sliding disc type and more particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a receptacle disposed at an open end of such a game board for receiving sliding discs as they pass over the end of the board.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a receptacle which leaves the end of the game board open, whereby a player can shoot discs from that end of the board without interference by the receptacle for the reason that the receptacle does not extend above the horizontal playing surface of the board any considerable distance.

Heretofore many receptacles have been provided at the open end of game boards. However for various rea- Sons these are impractical for sliding disc games. Some of these have portions extending substantial distances above the game board for catching miniature ten pins which are inclined to fly through the air when hit. Such receptacles are undesirable for the reason that they must be adjusted continually to move them out of the way when a player is shooting from an end of the game board of which a receptacle is disposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle as described which is adapted to fold upwardly and inwardly from a position for receiving discs to a position of storage between the side walls of the game board.

Yet a further object is to provide the combination of a receptacle as described with the use of a collapsible and flexible material for receiving the discs.

Yet a further object is to provide a receptacle as described which can be attached to the game board in a simple and economical manner and which will maintain its position during playing of the game through the resting of portions of its framework on the end of the gameboard for the supporting of the framework in a simple and economical fashion.

Yet a further object is to provide a receptacle as described in which a pivoting supporting member holds up the inner side of the upper edge of the collapsible receptacle to prevent the discs from bouncing from the outward side of the receptacle across the inner side of the upper edge.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the disc receptacle of this invention shown in full lines attached to an end ice portion of a game board in an operating position, with parts broken away for clarity and the receptacle is shown in a storage position in dotted lines, being folded over and upon the bottom portion;

Figure 2 is an inverted frontal elevation of the elongated transverse frame member which supports the forward side of the bag portion of this invention and taken with Figure 3, which is a top plan view of the U-shaped bag supporting frame member, shows the complete frame work of the receptacle assembly in their approximate operative positions;

Figure 4, partly in section, illustrates the mounting of the bag below the game board and the insertion of the end of the frame members with side walls; and

Figure 5 is a right end elevation of only the flexible and collapsible disc receiving bay of this invention, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The receptacle for a disc game of this invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 and, as shown in Figure l, is adapted to be mounted on an end portion of a game board 12.

The game board 12 comprises a normally horizontal disposed bottom portion 14 for receiving slidahle discs 13 thereon. The game board is further provided with side walls 16 secured to each side of the bottom portion 14 and extend vertically upwardly from the bottom portion 1 The side walls 16 extend horizontally along the bottom portion 14 and are of substantial height so as to prevent a slidable disc 13 from falling over the sides of the bottom portion 14 and also serve to guide the slidable discs along the bottom portion 14 while the game is in progress.

The upper corners of the terminal ends of the side Walls 16 are preferably rounded into an arc, as shown at 18 in Figure 1, in order to provide as little interference as possible for the player while he is in playing position at an end of the board and at times when he is sliding the discs thereon.

Each side wall 16 of the game board 12 is provided with an aperture 20 therethrough disposed inwardly from the ends of the side walls 16 adjacent to the upper surface of the bottom portion 14. The apertures 20 extend transversely through the side walls 16 and are preferably in alignment with one another.

The purpose of the apertures will be apparent from the following detailed description of the disc receptacle 16 which comprises 21 preferably flexible and collapsable disc receiving bag 22 of any suitable material which is suspended from and supported by two frame members 32v and 46 which are preferably formed of steel wire or the like.

The frame member 32 is U-shaped having a center section 4i) of an overall length equal to a dimension taken transversely of the bottom portion 14 from the inner ide surface of one side wall 16 to the inner side surface of the opposite side wall 16 whereby the frame member 32 may be received therebetween.

The frame member 32 further has parallel side portions 34 extending outwardly and forwardly at right angles from the center section 40 and disposed longituddinally of the bottom portion 14. The side portions 34 each have end portions 30 which latter are formed at right angles to the side portions 34 and are out-turned toward the respective side wall 16. Each end portion 30 preferably extends a distance one-half of the thickness of its respective side wall 16 and is adapted to be pivotally received in the respective aperture 29 provided therein. This is best illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 4.

As thus described and with reference to Figure 1, it will be seen that the side portions 34 of the frame member 32 are preferably of an overall equal length such that the center section 40 is disposed at a considerable distance from the end 38 of the gameboard 12 and parallel thereto, whereby discs, such as illustrated in Figure 1 at 13, can he slid along the gameboard bottom portion 14, across its end edge 38 and into the bag 22.

The flexible and collapsible disc receiving bag 22 has a large open top 24 of a rectangular configuration, of course conforming to the shape of the frame member 32 from which it depends. The bag 22 further has end walls 26, a rearwardly disposed side wall 26, a forwardly disposed side wall 42 and a closed bottom 44.

The bag 22 is supported by the frame 32 by means of a tube or hem 70 provided at the upper edges of the end walls 26 and side wall 28 through which the frame member 32 is passed before the ends 30 thereof are positioned in their respective aperture 20 in the side walls 16 of the game board 12.

The tube or hem 70 is formed by turning the upper edge 72 of the end walls 26 and the side wall 28 upon itself, being secured preferably by a running stitch 74. It is to be understood that other and various means may be used in place of the stitching 74 such as snap fasteners or the like but for reasons of economy and simplicity, the stitching is preferred.

Referring to Figure 5 wherein is shown an end view of the collapsible bag 22, it will be seen that the upper edge 72 of the end walls 26 and side wall 28 is not continuous with an upper edge 76 of the forwardly disposed side wall 42. Each of the end walls 26 are provided with a diagonally extending upper edge 78 and, as best seen in Figure 1, extends from a point adjacent the outer edge 38 of the game board 12 inclinedly downwardly to meet the forwardly disposed side wall 42 at a point a substantial distance below the upper edge 76 thereof. The construction, as described provides a triangularly shaped opening 50, the purpose of which will be apparent from the description of the second frame member 46 which follows, and its function as a feature of the receptacle assembly will be outlined in the description of the operation of the assembly.

A detail of the second frame member 46 is illustrated in Figure 2 and is formed preferably of an elongated length of steel wire, as is the frame member 32 and has a normally horizontally disposed center section 47, side portions 53, extending vertically upwardly at right angles to the center section 47, and terminal ends 51 extending inwardly a short distance parallel to the center section 47 at right angles to the side portions 53. The length of the inwardly extending terminal end portions 51 is preferably one-half of the thickness of the respective side wall 16.

As seen in Figure l and in the enlarged detail of Fig. 4, the frame member 46 is disposed in a normally horizontal position across the underside of the gameboard 12 and is pivotally secured thereto and held in spaced relationship from the underside thereof by means of the inwardly extending terminal ends 51 which are received into the outer entrances of the respective aperture 20 provided in the side walls 16. As thus described, it will be seen that the frame member 32 is separate from the frame member 46, although they both are connected to the side walls 16 by means of end portions 30 of the frame member 32 and 51 of the frame member 46 received by respective apertures 20 and the members 32 and 46 are adapted to pivot within the apertures 20 independently of the other.

The frame member 46 serves as a support for the upper edge 76 of the forwardly disposed side wall 42 and is attached thereto by means of a tube or hem 80 which receives the frame member 46 therethrough. The tube or hem 80 is formed by turning the upper edge 76 of the side 42 upon itself and being secured by means of a' running stitch 82. V

As thus described, the frame member 46 supports the upper edge 76 of the forwardly disposed side wall 42 of the bag 22 in a position closely adjacent to the underside of the game board 12 for preventing a disc 13 from rebounding between the upper edge 76 and the underside of the game board 12. Therefore, the length of the side portions 53 of the frame member 46 are of suitable length such that the center section 47 is of a sufficient in their respective positions as illustrated in Figure l.

The side portions 34 of the frame member 32 are sprung inwardly toward each other sufficient for the outturned ends 30 to clear the side walls 16. The ends 30 are brought into alignment with the respective aperture provided in the side walls 16 and as pressure is released from the side portions 34, the ends 30 will be forced into the apertures 20 by the resiliency of the steel wire frame member 32.

The second frame member 46 is likewise placed in position across the underside of the game board 12 and the ends 51 thereof are sprung outwardly to clear the side walls 16. When the terminal ends 51 are in alignment with the respective aperture 20 of the side walls 16, pressure is released and the ends 51 are caused to extend into the respective apertures 20.

As thus described, the disc receptacle of this invention is now in the operative position illustrated in Figure 1 whereby the receptacle opening is supported in a horizontal disposition closely adjacent the end 38 of the. game board 12 and substantially level with the bottom portion 14 of the game board 12. This is accomplished simply by reason that the forward ends 30 of the side portions 34 of the frame member 32 are secured in the apertures 20 and the side portions 34 extend rearwardly over and are in contact with the end edge 38 of the game board 12 whereby the game board end edge 38 supports the frame member 32 in a horizontal position.

In operation, the receptacle 10 is of a size sufficient to provide a large opening whereby discs can he slid along the game board bottom portion 14 across its end edge 38 and into the bag 22 where they are readily available to a player while he is taking his turn at manipulating the discs along the game board 12 during the progress of the game.

When it is desired to prepare the game board for storage, the operator grasps the frame member 32 and moves the receptacle upwardly and forwardly, whereby the receptacle follows a path indicated by the arrows 49, into a completely collapsed, fiat position upon the bottom portion 14 as indicated in dotted lines.

The triangular openings 50 in the end walls 26 provide sufiicient clearance between the bag 22 and the end edge 33 of the game board 12 as the receptacle is moved into a collapsed storage position.

Also, in order to insure proper collapsibility of the receptacle 10, the center section 47 of the frame member 46 is disposed sufiiciently far from the underside of the game board 12 as to permit a pivotal movement rearwardly enough to provide suflicient slack 48 in the forward side wall 42 to permit the said forward side wall 42 to fold around the end 38 of the game board 12 allowing the frame member 32 to fold in the direction of the arrows 49 against the upper side of the bottom portion 14 as seen in dotted lines in Figure 1 whereby the collapsible bag lies flat, as above described, in a storage position between the game board side walls 16.

Suitable means is provided to hold the receptacle 10 in the folded and collapsed storage position, such means comprising a peg 60 insertable and removable from the inner end of an aperture 62 which is transversely disposed in a side wall 16 of the game board 12 in a position above the frame member 32 whereby the peg 60 extends inwardly over the side portion 34 of the frame member 32 and prevents the receptacle from moving out of the storage position.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a game board constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a disc game board having a bottom member having a normally horizontal upper surface and two spaced apart horizontally extending elongated parallel sidewalls attached to said bottom at their lower sides and extending upwardly therefrom, and a receptacle assembly comprising a flexible and collapsible bag normally disposed at an end of said gameboard, said bag having an open top to receive discs sliding off said end of said bottom and extending downwardly a substantial distance for receiving a plurality of discs, and said receptacle assembly further comprising attaching means comprising a frame member of approximately a U-shape and having a center portion spaced from said end of said gameboard and having side portions extending forwardly from said center portion and pivotally attached to the inner sides of said side members of said gameboard whereby said frame member can pivot toward said board about its inner ends to be received between said sideboards, the inner ends of said side portions being spaced inwardly from said end of said bottom member whereby the said end of said bottom member is engaged by and supports said side porgameboard to the other side of said gameboard, said supporting member having end portions on each end of said transverse portion and being of a shape and size and being pivotally attached to said board in a manner causing said transverse portion to be spaced downwardly from the underside of said gameboard and permitting said transverse portion to pivotally swing upwardly and toward said end of said gameboard at times when said frame member is being moved to a storage position, and said supporting member being attached to and supporting the inner edge of said bag.

2. In combination, a disc game board having a bottom member having a normally horizontal upper surface and two spaced apart horizontally extending elongated parallel sidewalls attached to said bottom at their lower sides and extending upwardly therefrom, and a receptacle assembly comprising a flexible and collapsible bag normally disposed at an end of said gameboard, said bag having an open top to receive discs sliding off said end of said bottom and extending downwardly a substantial distance for receiving a plurality of discs, and said receptacle assembly further comprising attaching means comprising a frame member of approximately a U-shape and having a center portion spaced from said end of said gameboard and having side portions extending forwardly from said center portion and pivotally attached to the inner sides of said side members of said gameboard whereby said frame member can pivot toward said board about its inner ends to be received between said Sideboards, the inner ends of said side portions being spaced inwardly from said end of said bottom member whereby the said end of said bottom member is engaged by and supports said side portions of said frame member, said frame member being attached to and supporting the side and outer end upper edges of said bag, and said bag being attached to and being suspended from and hanging downwardly from said frame member, the operating position of said bag being such that said open top of said bag is substantially horizontally level with the said gameboard bottom member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,561 Wehner Feb. 28, 1911 1,357,778 Jacobs Nov. 2, 1920 2,230,874 Wenneis Feb. 4, 1941 2,555,132 Hickey May 29, 1951

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