US2619349A - Magnetically operated game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1952 E' ABRAHAMsoN 2,619,349

MAGNETICALLY GPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5Q '1- 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII lnllllallmllllzlllnlln II/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/l w: a I

2/ 28 6 44 24 grwc/wiom I til] 'Illl)!llIIIIIIIIIIIIIIall!!!IIIIIIIIIIIllIIIIlIIIIII/Iln 27 flz Patent agent.

Nov. 25, 1952 E. ABRAHAMS'ON 2,619,349

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Poteni; agent Nov. 25, 1952 E. ABRAHAMSON- 1 2,619,349

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Paient agent Nov. 25, 1952 E. AB RAHAMSON 2,619,349

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1947 Sheets-Sheet 4 47 J9 as 4o jvwe/wfov 1 3g. 59 L 7' 82 ,wa f i}; 85 T2 5/ g PQtQnt agent Nov. 25, 1952 E. ABRAHAMSON 2,619,349

I MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1947 5- Sheets-Sneet 5 Patented Nov. 25, 1952 MAGNETICALLY OPERATED GAME APPARATUS Edmund Abrahamson, Baldwin, N. Y.

Application January 2, 1947, Serial No. 719,661

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electromagnetic apparatus of the type employable in the construction and operation of games, amusement and educational devices, advertising display devices, and the like, the primary object of the invention being to provide devices involving magnetizable elements which become endowed with or produce visible or audible activity, upon the establishment, either momentary or prolonged, of a magnetic circuit between such elements and a permanent magnet or an electromagnet located in a supporting surface over which the devices are moved, such as a gameboard or other platform or base.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement of magnetically cooperating gameboard and game pieces, in which the gameboard is provided with magnets or iron pieces in either fixed or changeable lo cations, and/or with changeable game charts or cards overlying and concealing the magnets or iron pieces and adapted to be changed to prevent the players memorizing the locations of the magnets or iron pieces and being guided thereby in subsequently moving the game pieces over the gameboard.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an arrangement of gameboard and game pieces of the character indicated above, in which the game pieces are self-contained and have magnetizable elements adapted to vibrate when actuated, and transmit their motion mechanically in such a way as to impart vibratory or other continuous or discontinuous movement to other components of the game pieces for the purpose of endowing said components with or substantially increasing, the visibility or audibility of said components, and/or changing their positions relative to each other or to other portions of the game piece, as in the case of dice or the like, when any game piece is moved or placed to occupy a position over a cooperatively arranged magnet in the gameboard or other platform or base.

Another important object of this invention is to provide game pieces, or exhibitors of the character indicated above which are self-energizing, that is, which contain batteries for the energization of their visible and/or audible components, such as lamps, buzzers, and the like; and whose magnetizable elements control switches for closing and/or opening the circuits between the batteries and said components.

Other important objects and advantageous features of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the drawings appended thereto, wherein merely for purposes of illustration, specific but non-limiting embodiments of this invention are set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game board in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of an electric game piece in accordance with this invention, being a ball shaker, part of the game piece and of the gameboard with which it is associated being shown in section;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, taken at right angles to Figure 3 of a similar game piece, being a dice shaker, showing it associated with an individual base, instead of a gameboard;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken through an electric buzzer form of a game piece;

Figure 6 is a similar section taken at right angles to Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical section taken through a horizontal axis rotating wheel or drum form of a gamepiece;

Figure 8 is a similar section taken at right angles to Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section taken through a vertical axis rotating cylinder form of a game piece;

Figure 10 is a side elevation taken at right angles to Figure 9, and showing certain internal parts, shown in dotted lines;

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical section taken through a flag waving form of a game piece;

Figure 12 is a transverse vertical section taken at right angles to Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken through a gameboard in accordance with the present invention, showing employment of a single electromagnet having a plurality of pole pieces, instead of a single pole piece arranged in the board;

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section taken through an electric lamp form of a game piece;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the base portion thereof;

Fig. 16 is a transverse vertical section taken through another type of an electric lamp game piece and through the game board with which it is associated, the game piece having a permanent magnet and the game board being equipped with concealed soft iron pieces for actuation of the game piece;

Figure 17 is a perspective illustration of a 3 modified form of the game board associated with the game piece of Fig. 16, part of the game board being shown in transverse vertical section;

Figure 18 is a transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken through a magnetically operated switch, similar to that employed in the game piece of Figure 16, adapted to be used in connection with the game board shown in Figure 19;

Figure 19 is a top perspective view of a question-and-answer type of game board in accordance with the present invention, in the operation of which the magnetically operated switch of Figure 18 is selectively moved over the surface of the game board, containing concealed soft iron pieces for actuating the switch;

Figure 20 is a top plan view of another form to project above and across the core 3|, with its of a game piece in accordance with the present Referring to the drawings in'detail, and first to Figures 1, 2 and 13 thereof, the numerals 2| and 2| a generally Idesignate platforms, bases, or

gameboards of suitable insulated material, which may be provided with openings 22 and 22a respectively, accommodating pole pieces 23 and 23a, respectively, of electromagnets 24 and 24a, re-

spectively, with the upper :ends of the pole pieces either flush with or slightly below the top of the top surfaces 25 and 25a, respectively. In the case of gameboards, the corners or other suitable locations of the top surfaces 25 and 25a may have projecting pins 26 to enter holes in and removably retain detachable game cards or charts 2'! in selected positions on such surfaces.

In order to prevent the players from memorizing the positions of the pole pieces with reference to the different significant areas of any game card or chart 21 and to provide games of varied nature and procedure, a plurality of interchangeable cards or charts may be provided, which can be exchanged at will upon the gameboard 2| or altered in relative position thereon. For the same purpose the magnets 24 may be changed in position by placing the pole pieces 23 in different ones of the holes 22 provided in the board.

In Figures 1 and 2 a plurality of electromagnets 24, having single pole pieces 23 are employed; while in Figure 13 a single electromagnet 24a is employed, having a plurality of pole pieces 23a, for insertion in the holes 22 and 22a, respectively.

The game pieces or exhibitors and the above described gameboards, platforms or bases, can be of a variety of forms, as will occur to qualified persons, other than those specifically shown herein.

One form of game piece or exhibitor A, shown in Figure 3, comprises a cup-shaped base 28 of insulating material, over which is sleeved a glass or other suitable transparent material globe 29 whose lower end abuts a ledge 30 on the base. A soft iron orother magnetizable core 3| is centrally mounted through the bottom wall 32 and substantially flush with the underside thereof, for registry with any of the pole pieces 23 of the gameboard or the like 2|, to establish a ma netic circuit therebetween, the coils of the electromagnets 24 or 240, being connected either in series opposite or free end positioned near the opposite wall of the base. With this arrangement energization of the electromagnet 24 or 24a by alternating or pulsating current will cause the armature 38 to vibrate up and down in a well known manner as long as the current is applied to the electromagnet.

The said opposite or free end of the armature 38 is bent upwardly and inwardly or, as shown in the drawings, is provided with an upwardly and inwardly angulated spring wire or other suit able material arm 4|, which has a foot 42 secured to the upper side of the said free end by soldering, welding or other suitable means. The angulation of the arm 4| relative to the armature 38 is relatively acute as shown, and the arm 4| reaches inwardly to a position over the magnetizable core 3|, at which point the arm has a substantially perpendicular upward extension 43 reaching above the base 28, and anchored in a fixed boss 44 at the center of the underside of a vibratory table 45, in the nature of a fiat thin disk of suitable relatively rigid material, capable of supporting thereon while at rest at least one ball 46 of light weight material, such as elder pith, balsam wood etc., and of projecting said ball upwardly thereabove within the globe 29 as in dicated in dotted lines, while the table is vibratmg. a

In playing a game utilizing the above described apparatus, each player has. a game piece like A;

or any of the other game pieces described herein, and this is placed upon the gameboard 2| in, for example an appropriate one of the starting positions designated by the numbered circles 41 formed on the chart or card 2'1; and then in turn, each players game piece is moved stepby-step circumferentially or inwardly toward the goal designated by the'center circle 48, by way of radially or circumferentially intermediate circles 49. In the course of these movements of the game pieces, which may be initially dictated by any desired arbitrary arrangement, some of the game pieces will become registered with circles or spots 49 which overlie the positions of electromagnetic pole pieces 23 in the board 2|, andthe fact will be signalled by, in the instance of the game piece or exhibitor A, the repeated rise and fall of the ball 46 in a bouncing manner, which is instantly visible to all of the players and may signify that the "particular player is entitled to make additional moves on the game card or is penalized a certain number of moves therein. I

As exhibitor B for advertising and exhibiting purposes other than the playing of games of the character indicated above, is readily provided in the form shown in Figure 4, wherein the structure handling the dies 45b is the same as described in connection with Figure 3, but the actuating means is in the form of a suitable compact base or platform 2 lb, taking the place of the gameboard 2|, and containing only a single electromagnet 24b. This device maybe usedeither as a manual dice shaker by removing the globe 29 from the base or platform 21a and shaking it by hand or as a mechanical shaker by energizing the electromagnet 24b with the globe in place on the base or platform 2 lb. The dice shaker B may be used as a game piece in the same manner as the game piece A in association with the game board 2| shown in Figure 1. The number and character of the additional or penalizing moves to which the player is entitled may be indicated by the showing of the dice 46b as they come to rest upon the table when the game piece B is removed from the underlying magnetic areas of the board for that purpose. In addition other uses may be made of the indicating or exhibiting properties of this device, such as an electrically operated signal.

' A still further similarly employable game piece or exhibitor C, shown in Figures 5 and 6, comprise a flat circular insulating material base portion 280 having a central magnetizable core 3lc, from one side of which a support rod 51 rises from the base and has its upper part displaced, as indicated at 52, to rise in axial alignment above the core 3| 0. A globe 290, preferably of metal, such as bronze, plastic, or other suitably resonant material has a central depending lug 53, preferably threaded into the upper end of the rod 5!, whereby the globe 29c constitutes a bell or buzzer, with its lower edge spacedly surrounding the base 280 and closely spaced upwardly from a ledge 39c, encircling the base 28c. The armature 38 is the same in structure and mounting as in forms A and B, but the spring wire arm 41c differs from those of forms A and Bin being less acutely angulated, and in terminating in a bell tongue 54, arranged to strike the adjacent side of the globe 29c as the armature 38 is vibrated, and thereby give forth an audible signal. It is obvious that in this case also the device C is adaptable to purposes other than'acting as a game piece for a magnetic gameboard, as well as to such use.

Another form of game piece or exhibitor to be used on the new gameboard is designed in accordance with the principal features of the indicator disclosed and claimed in this inventors copending patent application Serial No. 613,778, filed August 3-1, 1945, now U. S. Patent No.

2,438,958, issued April 6, 1948. This gamepiece or exhibitor D, shown in Figures 7 and 8, comprises a base portion 23d, similar to the base 280 of form C, with a vertically foreshortened transparent material globe 29d fitting the base and resting upon the ledge 39d. The armature 38 is again present and has fastened to its free end, instead of the single spring wire arms of the preceding forms; a U-shaped spring wire loop 55, arranged crosswise of the armature and angulated upwardly and inwardly'to a position aligned above the core 31d, with the upper ends of the sides turned laterally upwardly, as indicated at case, when the armature 38 is vibrated, the loop and the bearing shaft 51 are vibrated, thereby causing the drum 59 to rotate at relatively high speed in accordance with the operating principle 6 of the indicator of the afore-mentioned U. S. Patent No. 2,438,958.

The form E, shown in Figures 9 and 10, is constructed and operating in accordance with a modified indicator likewise disclosed and claimed in said just mentioned U. S. Patent. This gamepiece E has a base portion 28c similar to the base portions of forms C and D, and a vertically elongated transparent globe 29e similar to the globes of forms A and B, but having the upper end supportably secured in the lower end of a perpendicular shaft 62 instead of supporting a vibratory table. The upper end of the shaft 52 is provided with a sharp bearing point 53 to rotatably engage in the conical upper end 64 of an axial bore 65 formed in a preferably solid cylindrical rotor 66 of relatively light material, whose upper part is hemispherical as indicated at 6'! and whose lower part is cylindrically recessed to define the depending perpiheral skirt 58 which spacedly surrounds and encloses the arm 4 l e and the space immediately above the armature 3 The exterior of the rotor may have stripes 69 like a barbers pole, if desired, to heighten the visual effect of the rotors rotation. Such rotation is produced, when the armature 38 is vibrated, by frictional contact of the lower end of the bore of the rotor 66 with the sides of the shaft 52 while the shaft is vibrating.

A further form of game piece or exhibitor F, shown in Figures 11 and 12, includes the vertically elongated transparent globe 29f and flat base portion 23 and armature 38 of forms of C, D and E, with a spring wire arm Alf acutely angulated like the arm 4! of forms A and B, but unlike them, terminating in a fine preferably steel wire perpendicular flag pole 19 having a flexible flag ll of thin and light material at its upper end, which flaps and waves as the vibration of the armature 38 is transmitted through the flag pole.

A still further form of game piece or exhibitor G, shown in Figures 1e and 15, comprises a vertically elongated oup-shaped base portion 28g of insulating material, composed of the lower cup-like part l2, and the upper cylindrical tube part 73 threaded into the upper end of the lower part I2 and formed with a partition 14 spaced slightly above the upper end of the lower part 72 provided with a central hole 2'5. The upper end of upper part 73 is internally recessed to define the annular shoulder 76, forming a rest for a spiral spring contact i which has a con ductor rod TS extending downwardly through the wall of the part F3 and terminating at its lower end in a contact point 79, with which is engaged the upper end of a spiral conductor spring 89 resting on the bottom wall 8! of the lower part T2. The bottom wall BI is provided with a central magnetizable core 35g.

A reclining L-shaped conductive spring bracket 82 is anchored as indicated at 83 to the bottom wall SI and reaches to a point directly above the core 31g at which the bracket carries a cylindrical contact 84 which it presses through the partition hole E5 into contact with the metallic bottom of a flashlight cell 85 fitting the interior of the base upper part 73 with its upper end substantially on a level with the shoulder 76. A cylindrical block 88 acting as a miniature electric lamp bulb socket is threaded into the upper end of the part 73 and has threaded on the upper part thereof a transparent Or translucent dome Or globe 87, spacedly surrounding a lamp bulb 88 having its base threaded downwardly through a conductive socket 89 connected as indicated at 90 with the spring contact 11, so as to engage its end contact 9! with the central upper terminal. 92 of the battery 85, against the upward tension of the spring bracket 82. The mentioned bracket anchoring means 83 may be in the form of a contact screw for engagement by the contact point 93 which depends from the free end of the spring armature 38g in spaced relation thereto. The armature is mounted from its opposite end by a spacer 39 by means of a screw 49 anchored in the lower base part 12 so as to extend horizontally beneath the bracket 82 and across the magnetizable core 38g and has a depending magnetizable armature element 94 vertically aligned with the core 38g. The lower spring contact 89 is connected as at 95 with the spacer 39, so that when the game piece or exhibitor G is brought into an electromagnetic field of suflicient strength the armature element 94 and the armature 38g are attracted by the case core 3lg and thereby the contact point 93 is caused to engage with the contact point 83. As a result of this, an electric circuit will be closed involving the battery 85 and lamp bulb 88, so as to cause the bulb to light, thereby indicating that the base core 31g is positioned upon or close to a pole piece of an electromagnet energized by an alternating current or direct current. It will be obvious that this particular form G is especially adaptable to certain testing operations, as well as to use as a magnetically operated game piece and exhibitor.

A form H, shown in Figure 16, in the nature of a modification of Form G, for actuation by registry with soft iron pieces, such as discs 992 rather than an electromagnet equipped game board or the like, has a substantially similar insulated casing or housing including the lower part 12, the upper part 13, the lamp bulb support block 86 holding the bulb 88 and the transparent dome 87, the upper spring contact '11 and its connection 98 with the bulb socket 89, and its rod 18 presenting a contact point at its lower end. Also, the upper terminal 92 of the battery 85 engages the bulb contact 9|. Other than this, the battery case engages a conductor strip 98, on the upper side of the partition 14 and is connected at 91 to a conductive strip 98 on the underside of said partition.

The contact point 19 is engaged by a spring finger 99 anchored in contact with a contact bracket 82h anchored in the bottom wall SI of .the lower casing part 72 near the contact point 19 at the opposite side of said lower part from a vertically elongated spacer 39h to the upper end of which is fastened one end of a generally horizontal spring armature 39h having on its free end a depending contact point 93 for engagement with the bracket 82h. A spiral spring connector 88h connects the conductive strip 98 with the armature 38h. The armature 38h and its post or spacer 39h are preferably of soft iron so as to exhibit a practical minimum of residual magnetism.

Positioned beneath and close to the underside of the free end of the armature 38b is a vertical bar permanent magnet core cm, which like the post or spacer 39h, extends through to substan-' tially flush with the underside of the casing bottom wall 8|. The permanent magnet 3th is arranged, for example, with one (north) .pole up and its other (south) pole down. When the device is registered with one of the soft iron pieces manner.

or discs 962 in the game board or other surface 2 Ih, the gap in the magnetic circuit between the lower ends of the soft iron post 39h and the permanent magnet 31h will be closed, This results in an increase of the magnetic field strength acting on the armature 38h which will be 'attracted by the magnet 3|h, i. e. said armature swings downwardly and closes the battery lamp bulb circuit and lights the lamp bulb 88.

Instead of the soft iron pieces 961', small permanent magnets may be provided in the game board or other surface. When the game piece or exhibitor H is registered with one of thesepermanent magnet pieces, the armature 38h will be attracted by the magnet 3th only if the lower pole of the permanent magnet 3lh in the game piece or exhibitor registers with a pole of opposite polarity of said permanent magnet .piece in the game board or other surface, becausein other positions of the game piece or exhibitor H with respect to said permanent magnet piece in the game board the magnetic field acting on the armature 38h is decreased or changed in direction so that said armature will rather be repelled than attracted by the permanent magnet 3th. In other words, the game piece or exhibitor H has to be placed on each of the permanent magnets in the game board or other surface in one definite position to actuate the switch closing the circuit of the lamp bulb 88, so that in case of a game the chances are made additionally dependent upon the relative positions of the game piece and the significant areas. The exhibitor H may also be used as indicator means to indicate the direction of magnetic field lines or the polarity of a magnetic field pole.

The game board in Figure 16 comprises three layers of wood, card board, plastic or other suitable material, i. e. two outer layers I05 and I96, and an intermediate layer I91, the latter being provided with a plurality of apertures into which the soft iron or permanent magnet pieces 9% are inserted. The three layers are glued together or combined to an integral structure in any other The outer surfaces of the two outer layers may be printed with circles or other designs to indicate the playing positions of the game pieces, so that both sides of the structure can be used as game surface.

A modification of the game board structure shown in Figure 16 is illustrated in Figure 17. The two outer layers I05 and I06 are the same as in Figure 16, while the intermediate layer I08 consists of an iron or steel sheet in which a large number .of perforations or cut-outs of preferably circular shape is provided. The three layers are combined to a unitary structure in the same manner as in the game board in Fig. 16. The game boardof Figure 17 has active or significant areas all over the surface, except at places where the perforations or cut-outs are provided in the intermediate sheet.

In Figures 18 and 19 is shown a question-andanswer gamepiece adaptation I of the invention involving a suitable rearrangement of the components of form If in relation to a gameboard 212, having soft iron discs or plates 962' inserted in the surface thereof, in positions corresponding to correct answers to questions appearing on the replaceable charts or cards 2'11. This rearrangement includes displacement of the lamp bulb m to a position at the head or other desirable location of the game board 212, the installation of the battery 852' within the game board, with the remainder of the game piece H changed to mount the permanent magnet core 3Ih, the soft iron armature post 39h, the soft iron armature 38h, and contact points 93 and 82h in an insulated casing or housing consisting of a disc 8Ii into which is threaded a tubular upper part 132, whose upper end is closed by a cap I having a neck IOI through which extends a flexible conduit I02, containing the necessary leads I03 and I04 to the armature and contact point 82h, and connected to the battery 85i and the lamp bulb 882'. The gamepiece I being freely movable by a player over the surface of the card Z'Iz' on the questionand-answer board 2 Ii, will, if registered with one of the soft iron discs or plates 962 underlying a correct answer area, produce lighting of the lamp bulb 88i thereby visually indicating the correctness of the players response to a given question. The questions appearing on the replaceable charts or cards 212' call for answering yes or no. Consequently two answer areas, marked yes and no, respectively, have to be provided for each question printed on said chart or card 212' adjacent said areas, for example, therebetween. If, for example, the question between one yes and one no areas reads Did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone?, the correct answer is yes, and therefore the player is expected to place the gamepiece I on the adjacent yes area to answer this question correctly. In this case, one of the soft iron discs or plates is concealed under the said yes area and consequently the gamepiece I becomes energized and the lamp bulb 881' lights up to indicate the correctness of the anwser. If the player should answer the question incorrectly and place the gamepiece I on the no area having no soft iron disc or plate in the present case, no energization of the gamepiece I takes place and the lamp does not light up, indicating that the answer was incorrect.

A still further form of game piece or exhibitor K, shown in Figures 20 and 21, comprises a base portion I09 of insulating material having a vertically projecting rim portion III] over which is sleeved a glass or other suitable transparent material cup II I whose lower end abuts a ledge H2 on the base portion I09. Two soft iron or other magnetizable cores H3 and H4 are mounted through the bottom wall H5 of the base portion is at places symmetrical with respect to the vertical center line of said base portion and substantially fiush with the underside of the base for registry with any of the pole pieces of the game board or the like, in particular with the game board shown in Figure 22. A centrally located raised portion of the base I09 forms a hub H5 supporting a horizontal disc or rotor II'I rotatably mounted on the hub IIB by means of a screw H8. The disc or rotor III has a downwardly projecting rim or flange III which is so short that it cannot contact the bottom II5 of the base portion I 09.

A spring member I having a U-shaped middle portion and two free straight ends I2I and I 22 is centrally mounted on a boss or stud I23 forming a raised portion of the base I09 by means of a bolt I2 1. The straight ends IEI and I22 of said spring member I29 are bent at I25 and I29 outwardly toward the rim or flange II9 of the rotor II! in opposite directions substantially coinciding with radii of the rotor disc. The curved or bent portions at I25 and I28 of the spring member I 20 are located opposite the magnetizable cores H3 and H4, which when magnetized by an alternating or pulsating current cause the spring member I20 to vibrate. The straight spring ends I2I and I 22 are of such length that their tips I21 or I28, respectively, engage slightly the inner surface of the rim or flange II9 of the rotor II'I, when said spring ends are caused to vibrate under influence of magnetic fields induced by alternating or pulsating electric currents in the magnetizable cores H3 or H4, respectively. In the rest positions of the spring ends IZI or I 22, i. e. when said ends are not vibrated, the tips I21 and I28, respectively, are out of contact with the rim or flange I II] of the rotor II1.

Actually, game piece K has two driving systerns causing the rotor III to rotate in the one or the other direction, respectively. When the left-hand spring end I2I is vibrated by means of the left-hand core II3, the disc II! is rotated in the direction of the arrow I29, i. e. to the left, the right-hand spring end I 22 being at rest, so that its tip I 28 cannot engage the rim H0 and stop the rotor I II. When the right-hand spring end I22 is vibrated under the influence of the right-hand core II 4, and the left-hand spring end I2I is at rest, the rotor III is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow I30, i. e. to the right. If both m'agnetizable cores H3 and H4 are simultaneously caused to vibrate their associated spring ends I2I and I22 with equal power, no rotation takes place, because the two drivin forces acting in opposite directions on the rotor III compensate each other. If both ,cores are simultaneously magnetized and one of the magnetizing forces should outweigh the other, the rotor will rotate in the direction in which the system of greater power actuates the rotor.

Pointers or indicating means ISI and I32 are provided at the outside of the base portion I09 at diametrically opposite places of its circumference on a line leading through the centers of the cores I I3 and I I4 and the center of the base portion I09 itself. Said indicating means show the players how the game piece K has to be properly placed on the game board.

A game board preferably associated with the game piece K is illustrated in Figure 22. In said game board constituting a modification of the game board shown in Figures 1 and 2 the same electromagnets as shown in Figure 2 are employed. Only the location or distribution of said electromagnets in the board and the design on the board surface indicatin the positions for the game pieces are different from the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2. Circles I33 on the game board top I35 or on an interchangeable chart attached to the game board designate the places for the game pieces K. These circles I33 are partially overlapping each other and their centers are located on a line of any curvature. Significant areas are provided within some of the circles I 33, indicated by circles or spots I34 overlying the concealed positions of electromagnetic pole pieces 23, as shown in Fig. 2. These significant areas are eccentrically displaced with respect to the center of the circles I33 to the same extent as the cores H3 and H4 are displaced from the center of the game piece K. The playing positions designated by the circles I33 are consecutively numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. on the game board. In the even-numbered circles I33, the significant areas I34 have the opposite locations as in the uneven-numbered circles I33.

In playing a game utilizing game pieces K as shown in Figures and21 and a, game board according to Figure 22, each player places his game piece K upon one of the circles I33 in such, a manner that the pointers or indicating means I3I and I32 substantially coincide with the curved line I35 going through the centers of all circles I33 and I34.

As a result of the location of the significant areas I34, in a game piece K properly placed in one of the uneven-numbered circles I33 the left system will be energized, because the left core I13 is magnetized as it registers with the electromagnet underlying said significant area. Thus the rotor rotates to the left. When a game piece K isplaced in one of the even-numbered circles I33, the right system is energized by the underlying electromagnet and the rotor is driven to the right. The rotating directions in both cases can be reversed, if the game piece K is placed on the circles after being turned 180 degrees about its vertical axis.

Numbers 6 and 7 of the circles I33 have no significant areas, so that the rotor willstopwhen the game piece is placed thereon. The rotor would also remain at rest when the game piece K is placed in a circle I33 having two significant areas I34 overlyin electromagnets energizing the two driving systems in thegame piece K to impart driving impulses of equal force and opposite directions to the rotor.

As the game piece K is provided with a rotor turning either to the right or to the left, the right-hand rotation may signify that the particular player is entitled to make additional moves, while the left-hand rotation may signify that the player is penalized and has to go back or start the game anew. Of course, any other provisions may be made in the rules of the game.

It will be understood, that the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2 could also be devised to permit 'question-and-answer operation of the yes and no type involved in and described in connection with form I of the invention, and that any of the forms of' game pieces or exhibitors disclosed herein and their permissible variants could be employed in either arrangement, or for the other purposes mentioned herein, without departure from the present invention.

I claim:

1. Magnetically operated game apparatus comprising a gameboard including a playing surface having significant areas and non-significant areas, some of which significant areas have stationary pulsating current energized magnet means positioned therein, and at least one game piece selectively movable over said surface with reference to said areas, said gamepiece compris ing a casing, a signal element and magnetizable means in said casing for operating said signal element, said magnetizable means being constructed and arranged to be intermittently actuated by any of said magnet means when said gamepiece is moved on the gameboard to a position of substantial registry with a significant area having such magnet means.

2.. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnet means comprise an electromagnet having at least one pole piece energized by said pulsating current so as to contain a pulsating magnetic flux, and wherein said magnetizable means comprises a vibratory armature arranged to be vibrated by said pulsating magnetic flux, when said game piece is in substantial registry with any of said significant areas.

3'. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim'l, wherein said magnet means comprise an electromagnet having at least one pole piece energized by said pulsating current so as to contain a pulsating magnetic fiux, wherein said magnetizable means comprises a core arranged to be magnetized by said pulsating magnetic flux, when said game piece is in substantial registry with any of said significant areas, and whereina vibratory armature is mounted in said casing to be actuated by said core.

a. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnet means comprise an electromagnet having at least one pole piece energized by said pulsating current so as to contain a pulsating magnetic flux, wherein said magnetizable means comprises a core arranged to be magnetized by said pulsating mag netic flux, when said game piece is in substantial registry with any of said significant areas, wherein a vibratory armature is mounted in said casing. to be actuated by said core, wherein an oscillatory platform is supported by said armature, and wherein at least one projectile is resting upon said platform and is adapted to be thrown upwardly within said casing by oscillation of said platform.

5-. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnet means comprise an electromagnet having at least one pole piece energized by said pulsating current so as to contain a pulsatingmagnetic flux, wherein said magnetizable means comprises a core arranged to be magnetized by said pulsating mag netic flux, when said game piece is in substantial registry with any of said significant areas, wherein a vibratory armature is mounted in said casing to be actuated by said core, wherein a platform is flexibly mounted on said armature, and wherein at least one die is freeiy supported on said platform to be tossed in said casing by oscillatory motion of said platform caused by vibration of said armature.

6. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnet means comprise an electromagnet having at least one pole piece energized by said pulsating current so as to contain a pulsating magnetic flux, wherein said magnetizable means comprises a core arranged to be magnetized, when said game piece is in substantial registry with any of said significant areas, wherein an armature is mounted in said casing within the magnetic field of said core so as to be vibrated by the induced pulsating magnetic flux apparent in said core, wherein an oscillatory element is provided in said casing, and wherein a mounting means supports said oscillatory eiement in said casing and operatively'connects said element to said armature.

7. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 6, said mounting means comprising a spring arm fixed at one end to said armature and supportably connected at its opposite end to said oscillatory element.

8. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 6, said oscillatory element con stltuting a substantially horizontal platform, said mounting means comprising a spring arm fixed at one end to said armature and supportably connected at its opposite end to said oscillatory element.

9. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 1, said magnet means comprising an electromagnet havin at least one pole piece energized by said pulsating current so as to contain a pulsating magnetic flux, said magnetizable means in each casing comprising at least one core magnetizable by the pulsating magnetic flux of any of said magnet means corresponding to a significant area with which said game piece may be registered, armature means in form of spring means mounted in said casing and positioned within the magnetic field of each of said cores, said armature spring means being adapted to be vibrated by said pulsating magnetic flux induced in said cores, when said game piece is in substantial registry with any of said significant areas, a rotor having an annular portion, said armature spring means having free ends frictionally engaging said annular portion of said rotor, when said spring means is vibrated, whereby rota-ting impulses are imparted to said rotor.

10. Magnetically operated game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein two magnetizable cores and two spring armature means are provided, each of said spring means being associated with one of said cores, respectively, the free ends of said spring means being adapted and arranged to frictionally engage said annular portion of said rotor at opposite sides of its circumference, when said spring means are vibrated to impart rotating impulses to said rotor, the rotating impulses by the one of said spring means caused by the energization of the one of said cores driving the rotor in the one direction, the rotatin impulses by the other of said spring means caused by the energization of the other of said cores driving the rotor in the other direction.

11. Magnetically operated game apparatus comprising a gameboard including a playing surface having significant and non-significant areas shown thereon, stationary, alternating current energized electromagnets positioned in some of said areas, at least one gamepiece selectively movable over said playing surface into registry with any of said areas, said gamepiece comprising a casing containing a core magnetizable by the alternating flux of any of said electromagnets corresponding to a significant area with which said gamepiece may be registered, an armature in said casing positioned within the magnetic field of said core to be vibrated by the induced alternatin flux apparent in said core, an oscillatory element also in said casing, and means operatively connecting said armature to said oscillatory element, said connecting means comprising a sprin arm fixed at one end to said armature and supportably connected at its opposite end to said oscillatory element, said oscillatory element comprising a bell tongue adapted to engage a portion of said casing to produce a sound.

12. Magnetically operated game apparatus comprising a gameboard including a playing surface having significant areas and non-significant areas, some of which significant areas have stationary, alternating current energized electromagnetic means positioned therein, and at least one gamepiece selectively movable over said surface with reference to said areas, said gamepiece comprising a casing, a signal element and magnetizable means in said casing fOr operating said signal element, said magnetizable means being constructed and arranged to be intermittently actuated by any of said electromagnetic means when said game piece is moved on the gameboard to a position of substantial registry with a significant area having such electromagnetic means.

13. Magnetically operated game apparatus comprising a gameboard including a playing surface having significant areas and non-significant areas, some of which significant areas have stationary, pulsating current energized magnetic means positioned therein, and at least one game piece selectively movable over said surface with reference to said areas, said gamepiece comprising a casing, a signal element and magnetizable means in said casing for operating said signal element, said magnetizable means being constructed and arranged to be intermittently actuated by any of said magnetic means when said gamepiece is moved on the gameboard to a position of substantial registry with a significant area having such magnetic means, said signal element comprising an electric lamp bulb, said magnetizable means comprising a normally open magnetically operable switch in said casing arranged to be intermittently closed by the pulsating magnetic flux of any of said magnetic means when registered therewith, and a circuit in said casing including a battery, said lamp bulb, and said switch for flashing said lamp bulb as said switch is intermittently closed by registration of said gamepiece with one of said significant areas of said playing surface.

14. Magnetically operated game apparatus comprising a gameboard including a playing surface having significant areas and non-significant areas, some of which significant areas have stationary, pulsating current energized electromagnetic means positioned therein, and at least one gamepiece selectively movable over said surface with reference to said areas, said gamepiece comprising a casing, a signal element and magnetizable means in said casing for operating said signal element, said magnetizable means being constructed and arranged to be intermittently actuated by any of said electromagnetic means when said gamepiece is moved on the gameboard to a position of substantial registry with a significant area having such electromagnetic means, said signal element comprising an electric lamp bulb, said magnetizable means comprising a normally open magnetically operable switch in said casing arranged to be intermittently closed by the magnetic flux of any of said electromagnetic means when registered therewith, and a circuit in said casing including a battery, said lamp bulb, and said switch for flashing said lamp bulb as said switch is intermittently closed by registration of said gamepiece with one of said significant areas of said playing surface.

EDMUND ABRAHAMSON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 492,961 Johnson Mar. 7, 1893 1,400,050 Grace Dec. 13, 1921 1,458,180 Hammond June 12, 1923 1,605,703 Brown Nov. 2, 1926 1,647,276 Daman 1 Nov. 1, 1927 1,648.,956 Meade Nov. 15, 1927 1,858,020 Linke May 10, 1932 1,888,980 Dingledine Nov. 29, 1932 2,073,205 Gunig Mar. 9, 1937 2,081,744 Handy May 25, 1937 2,399,041 Kleber Apr. 23, 1946 2,438,958 Abrahamson Apr. 6, 1948

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