US2500824A - Container for a checkerboard and pieces - Google Patents

Description

March 14, 1950 D. J. HORVATH 2,500,824

CONTAINER FOR A CHECKERBOARD AND PIECES Filed Dec. 22, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /& ZZ Z? ZZMe WHZZya March 14. 1950 D. J. HORVATH 2,500,824

' CONTAINER FOR A CHECKERBOARD AND PIECES Filed Dec. 22, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 9% WJ M 527295.

Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrcE CONTAINER FOR A CHECKERBOARD AND v PIECES Daniel J. Horvath, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 22, 1947, Serial No. 793,141

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-136) This invention relates to a checkerboard and container therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved checkerboard and container of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter, whereby the checkerboard and associated checkers therefor may be contained in a compact container which will occupy a minimum space as when travelling and provide a suitably large board for the actual use of .the game as such.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind having a cylindrical container for the checkers in which device the flexible checkerboard may be Wound about the container when not in use to provide an attractive compact container for the various g'am'e pieces and the game board.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved game container within which the game board and associated game pieces may be contained in a minimum space in such a manner that the game board and the game pieces may be separately removed from within the container. The game board is made of suitable flexible material whereby it may be coiled or wound about a suitable reel within the container and may be readily unwound when it is desired to use the game.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be manufactured with a minimum amount of labor, materials and tools, while providing an attractive, serviceable compact unit for conventional home and travelling use.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of the checkerboard container in a closed position constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container with the checkerboard in an extended position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed section showing the reel member with the checkerboard attached thereto,

Figure 7 is an end view of the container,

to be described hereinafter.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detailed elevation of an end of the container showing the attachment of the closure therefor.

Referring to the drawings,the numeral I0 designates generally an improved container for enclosing a flexible checkerboard or the like and the associated checkers or game pieces therein. The-- checkers or game pieces are contained within the body of the container I0 in such a manner that the flexible game board may be wrapped or wound around the checkers for enclosing both the checkerboard and the checkers in the body, whereby the entire device will take up a minimum amount of room, providing a novel and useful container for travelling.

The container III is formed with an outer body II, and an inner body I2, rotatably mounted therein. The outer body II is formed of an elongated cylindrical tube which is made of plastic or metal or other suitable material. An end wall as I4 is fixed at one end of the body II, spaced slightly inwardly from the extreme edge thereof.

The Wall l4 isprovided with a central opening I5 therein concentric to the body I I, for purposes I A ring as l6 carried by the body I I forms a second end wall which is fixed in the tube II at the opposite end from the wall I4 and is formed with an enlarged central opening IT. The opening I! is of substantially the'same diameter as the inside diameter of the inner tube or reel member I2.

The wall I6 is spaced inwardly from the extreme end of the body II. The body II and reel member l2 are open at this end of the container ID for the insertion of the game pieces l8 within the container. A central cylindrical member I2 is formed of an elongated tubular body open at both ends thereof. The body I2 is formed of plastic 'or other suitable material in the same manner as the outer body I I. The length of the reel member I2 is considerably shorter than the length of the outer body I I so that the reel member may be contained wholly within the outer body.

'l'ne reel member I2 is formed with a ring or bearing I9 at one end thereof, engaging the outer surface of the reel I2, and the inner surface of the body 11, for spacing the inner surface of the outer body from the outer surface of the reel member. The bearing or ring I9 is provided with an enlarged central opening 20 for engagement with the outer surface of the reel I2 at this end where it is secured by gluing or other suitable. fastening means. The ring or hearing I9 is spaced inwardly a slight distance from the extreme end of the reel I 2.

A plurality of notches 2| are provided about the periphery of the reel member I2, each being radially disposed relative thereto.

A second bearing member as 22 is fixed on the opposite end of the reel member I2, engaging about the outer surface of the body I2 to'which it is fixed, and slidablyengaging the inner surface of the outer body I I. The bearing 22 spaces thisend of the reel member from the body II in the same manner as the bearing I9, for supporting the reel member concentric to the body.

in inwardly spaced relation relative thereto.

The extreme end as 24 of this end of the reel member abuts the inner surface of the apertured end wall I6 of the body II for holding the reel.

member against sliding movement from this end of the container IO. M reel member I2 is in substantial alignment with the inner peripheral edge of the wall It,- the. openingof the reel member is in alignment and registers with the opening III. whereby checkers I8 maybe inserted into the reel member I2 from without thebody lI.v

A bolt as25, havingan outer head 26- thereon engages; through the central opening. 2-1. of the closure member 28. which closes the open end of the reel member I2 and-the associated end of the body II. ported on thebolt 25 which engages through the hub 30; The pointer. 29 is provided as an added decoration at this end of the container I-ll.v

An abutment member as 3| is fixed on the inner end of the bolt 25, being spaced inwardlyfrom the inner surface of the closure plate 28 by a Washer or spacer '32.. The abutment member 31 isv annular in shape, having a flat inner surface for engagement with the flat surface of the end checker I8 .containedwithin the reel I2. The engagement of the abutment member 3 I with thecheckers 48. holds the checkers securely-v within the reel member I2 to hold them from rattling or being looselydisposed therein.

A spider 34. engages the. opposite .end of the" reel member I2. The spider 34 is provided with a central, hub. as 35, having radially, extending arms 35. The arms 36. are adapted'to engage within the slots 2| of this, end of the. reel member I2. Thev bolt I whichengages through. the

end wall I4 of the body II engages through a central opening 36 of thehub .35 where it .is secured by a nut 31.

I 6 thereof, is formed with segmental arcuate slots 42 therein, extending 1 circumferentially of the body I I outwardly of the wall I6.

A longitudinally disposed opening as -44"at the extreme endof the'body I- I opens-into one end of the slot 42, providing a keyway. Radially disposed lugs as 45 are fixed: to'or formed on 'oppoe site sides of the ciosureplate 28. The lugs/45. are. adapted to be engaged. within the openings 44 and 42, for removably securing the closure plate 28 on the body I I. The lugs 45 are of substantially the same width as the circumferential opening-4.4 and areqofsubstantially the same thickness as As the inner surface of the A plastic pointer 29- is rotatably sup- A looped handle as 38 is. rockably'carried by the head. 39' of the bolt I5 outwardly of the container I0. Washers as 40.

4 the width of the opening 42, whereby the cover 28 may be engaged on the body II by sliding the lugs axially of the bod through the openings 44 and then rotating the closure 28 for disposin the lugs 45 within the narrow end 42 of the composite opening.

An elongated flexible game board as 46 is adapted to be contained Within the container I0, between the reelgmember I2 and the body II. The game board '46 is formed with an elongated substantially square body 41. The flap as 48 is fixed to or carried by one end of the body 41 and extends substantially one-half the length of one side'of the board. The flap 48 is truncated as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, and is adapted to be extended through a longitudinal opening 49in one wall of thebody II. The inner end of the flap 48 is adapted to besecured to the outer surf-ace of the reel member I2 within the body II by being glued thereto or by other suitable fastening means.

A closure member as 54 is fixed on the opposite edge of the flexible game board 46 in substantial alignment with the flap 48. The closure member 59 is formed of an elongated strip of plastic or other metal of which the body II is made, and is slightly arcuate in cross section, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, having the same are as the wall of the body I i. The closure member 50-is adapted to be contained Within the opening 49 for closing this opening when the ame board 4545" wholly contained within the body I I;

A-handleas 51 is carriedby the outer surface of the closure 50 to facilitate the handling thereof and the extraction of the game board. A springpressed hook member as 52 is carried by the body II adjacent one edge of the opening 49. The hook member 52- includes a bolt 54 fixed in the body II, and an arm or hook 55 rotatable about the bolt 54 and partially engageable over one edge of the closure 56.

The flexible game board '46 is adapted to be folded along a central line for disposing the game board in a doubled relation before winding the game-board into the container I0. In this manner the game board may be readily enlarged when it is withdrawn from the container to facilitate the-usethereo-f.

In the use and; operation of the game board container I0 described above, starting from the closed position thereof, the game board 46 may beunreeled by moving the hook member 52 to the open position out of engagement with the closure 50. By drawing the handle .51 and the closure 56 outwardly from the body 4 I, the game board is withdrawn from the outer body II and the reel member I2 is rotated as the game board slides outwardly through the opening 49.

When the game board is totally disposed outwardly of the bodyI I, it may be unfoldedalong its central line to a, position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The cap 28 may then be removed from the end of the body II-and thegame pieces or checkers I8 removed therefrom, For bringing the game board 46 back into the body II, it must be first folded along the central line so that one-half of the game board overlies that half of the game board having the. flap. -43 thereon. By rotating the looped handle 38, the spider 34 having the arms 36 engaging in the slotted end of the reel member 52 will rotate, the reel member and the game board 46 will be rolled'about the reel member I2 within the bOdy. II. The closure 50 will then be moved up into the opening 49 for closing this opening, and the latch 55 may be rotated about the bolt 54 for securing the closure 50 in place.

The spring 59 about the bolt 59, between the head 57 thereof and the body ll, constantly presses the latch 55 into engagement with the outer surface of the closure 50. The checkers l8 may be then stored within the opening of the reel member H and the closure 28 engaged in the openings 94 and 42 of the outer body H for closing this end of the body II and reel 12 for confining the checkers therein.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling Within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A container for a flexible game board and correlated game pieces comprising a tubular body open at one end and closed at the other end thereof, a tubular open ended reel member rotatably and slidably disposed within said body, said reel member being concentric with and spaced inwardly from said body, the end of said reel member adjacent to the closed end of said body being formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots, a spider member rotatably carried by said closed end, engaging in said slots, means connected to said spider and disposed outwardly of said closed end for rotating said spider and said reel member, a plurality of endwise opening keeper slots formed in said body adjacent the open end thereof, a closure plate engageable in said open end to retain said reel member in said body and having means thereon for resisting endwise movement of game pieces disposed within said reel member, and marginal tabs on said closure plate to removably engage said keeper slots for holding said closure plate in reel member retaining position.

2. A container for a flexible game board and correlated game pieces comprising a tubular body open at one end and closed at the other end thereof and formed with a longitudinally extending game board receiving slot alOng the length thereof, a tubular reduced diameter open ended reel member, to which the game board is fastened, disposed concentrically within said body and rotatable and slidable relative thereto, endwise opening longitudinal slots formed in the end of said reel member adjacent to the closed end of said body, a spider member rotatably carried by said closed end of said body removably engaging in said slots, means connected to said spider member and disposed outwardly of said closed end for rotating said spider member and said reel member, a plurality of keeper slots formed in said body adjacent the open end thereof, a closure plate engageable in said open end to retain said reel member in said body, means carried centrally on said plate and extending inwardly of said body for resisting endwise movement of game pieces disposed within said reel member, and marginal tabs on said closure plate slidably engaging within said keeper slots for holding said closure plate in reel member retaining position.

3. A container for a flexible game board and correlated game pieces comprising a tubular body open at one end and closed at the other end thereof and formed with a longitudinally extending game board receiving slot along the length thereof, a tubular reduced diameter open ended reel member to which the game board is attached disposed concentrically within said body and rotatable and slidable relative thereto, cutouts formed in the edge of said reel member adjacent to the closed end of said body, means rotatably carried by said closed end removably engaging in said cutouts for rotation of said reel member, a plurality of keeper slots formed in said body adjacent the open end thereof, a closure plate engageable in said open end to retain said reel member within said body, means mounted centrally on said plate and extending inwardly of said body for resisting endwise movement of game pieces disposable within said reel member, and means carried by said closure plate to slidably engage in said keeper slots for holding said closure plate in reel member retaining position.

DANIEL JOSEPH HORVATH.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Feb. 12, 1903

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