US3592469A - Cutting game with timer - Google Patents

Abstract

Game apparatus comprising paper sheet material having currency outline markings which may be cut apart for use in purchasing wearing apparel for dressing doll figures. A timing device is provided for limiting the time period during which the player may use the scissors. The timing device includes a movable pointer and a number of openings for receiving the blades of the scissors. When the blades are inserted into an opening, the sound timer is rendered inoperative until they are removed.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Marvin I. Glm;

Jeffrey D. Breslow, both of Chicago, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 797,928 [22] Filed Feb. I0, 1969 {45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee Marvin Glass & Associates Chicago, Ill.

[54] CUTTING GAME WITH TIMER 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.CI. 273/1 R, 46/ I 57 [51] Int. Cl A631 9/00 [50] Field ofSearchm. 273/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,458,189 7/1969 Holt 273/1 3,463,487 8/1969 Tepper 3,471,149 10/1969 Glassetal Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner- Paul E. Shapiro Attorneys-James F. Coffee and Gerald M. Newman ABSTRACT: Game apparatus comprising paper sheet material having currency outline markings which may be cut apart for use in purchasing wearing apparel for dressing doll figures. A timing device is provided for limiting the time period during which the player may use the scissors. The timing device includes a movable pointer and a number of openings for receiving the blades of the scissors. When the blades are inserted into an opening, the sound timer is rendered inoperative until they are removed.

PATENTED JUU 3:91: 3; 592,469

SHEET 1 0F 2 VENTOQS MJPV/A L JfFFPf) 05 LOW ATTORNEY CUTTING GAME WITH TIMER This invention relates in general to games. In particular, this invention relates to games of skill suitable for use by children for improving their manual skills. The invention also relates to a timer wherein an element cooperates with the timer to render it inoperative until the element is removed.

The game apparatus of the invention generally comprises paper sheet material having outline markings of simulated currency which may be cut out and used to purchase wearing apparel for dressing doll figures. A chance device is provided for indicating a time period during which a game player is allowed to use a scissors for cutting out the currency. The scissors cooperate with a presetable timing device for rendering both inoperative except when the scissors is removed from the timer base.

The primary object of this invention is to provide game apparatus particularly suitable for use by girls.

Another object of this invention is to provide game apparatus wherein the game players cut out simulated currency from sheet material as rapidly as possible for purchasing articles of clothing with which to dress doll figures.

It also is an object of this invention to provide game upparatus including sheet material bearing designs which may be cut out with a scissors for improving the manual dexterity capabilities ofyoung game players.

A further object of this invention is to provide a timer suitable for use with a game or the like wherein an element is inserted into the wound timer and renders it inoperative until the element is removed.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent to those versed in the game art upon an understanding of the following detailed description of the game apparatus taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the apparatus is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus of the invention including a timer 10, a number of doll figures l2 and assorted wearing apparel 14 for dressing the doll figures;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevational cross-sectional view ofthe timer 10 of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the timer with portions of the timer bell removed for clarity;

HO. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the timer mechanism taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view ofa doll figure and an article of wearing apparel; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view ofa template for use with the invention.

Turning now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the game apparatus of the invention generally comprises a timing device 10 forming a holder for the blades of a scissors 11, a number of doll figures 12, assorted wearing apparel 14 for placement on the doll figures, paper sheet material 16 having outline markings 120 simulating currency which may be cut out with the scissors, and a spinner type chance device 18 for indicating the amount of time a player has to cut out the simulated currency. The object ofthe game is to cut out the simulated currency as rapidly as possible in the permissible time in order to accumulate sufficient currency to purchase a wardrobe for the doll figures.

Turning now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, in addition to FIG. 1, the construction of the timing device 10 will be described in detail. The device comprises a housing 20 having an upper, generally planar, wall 22 hearing numerical indicia 24 disposed thereabout in the general configuration of the numerals on the face of a clock. The timer housing further comprises a short front wall and a longer rear wall 31 which causes the timer face to slope forwardly for better visibility. Top wall 22 forms a circularly shaped depression 33 having a bottom wall 32 and an annular sidewall portion 34.

A spring-driven timing mechanism 26 underlies walls 22- 32 and includes a frame having parallel, spaced-apart upper and lower frame walls 38 and 40, respectively, and spaced apart sidewalls 42 and 44 which may be formrd integrat Wit lower frame wall 40. The frame is secured beneath the housing walls by means of threaded fasteners 45 cooperating with outwardly extending tabs 46 of frame wall 38.

A timer drive shaft 50 having a square cross section is journaled between upper and lower frame walls 38-40 and carries a coiled drive spring 54 which is secured at its interior end, not shown, to the shaft. An exterior end 56 of the drive spring is fixedly secured to frame wall 44 by passing it through an aperture 60 formed by the wall and retaining the end by means of an enlarged tab 58. An upper end 62 of shaft 50 is formed with a narrow, rectangular cross section and extends upwardly through an aperture 63 in frame wall 38 and an aligned aperture 64 through the center of housing wall 32. An elongated pointer 65, having an upwardly offset end 66, is secured to shaft end 62 for sweeping pivotal movement in overlying relation to wall 22.

Drive shaft 50 of the timing mechanism rotatably carries a large gear 68 which continuously engages a spur gear 70 secured to a second shaft 72. Shaft 72 is slidably journaled in an elongated aperture 73 formed in wall 40 and a similar, aligned aperture, not shown, formed in wall 38, and is adapted for movement from one side of the elongated apertures to the other. Shaft 72 also carries a large gear 74 which is selectively cooperable with a smaller gear 76, depending upon the position of shaft 72 in its elongated journals.

Gear 76 is supported on a third shaft 78 which is journaled between frame walls 38 and 40. Shaft 78 carries a second gear 80 which cooperates with a pinion gear 82 rotatably supported on an escapement shaft 84 also journaled between walls 38 and 40. Shaft 84 includes a star-shaped wheel 86, the edges of which sequentially cooperate with the interior of a V-shaped pocket 88 formed in a swinging lever 90 secured to a jour naled shaft 92.

As is well known in the art, star-wheel 86 and lever 90 form an escapement which restricts the rate at which the energy of spring 54 is released for moving pointer 65. The rate at which the spring energy is released in a function of the ratio of the gear train and the mass of the escapement lever. Rapid engagement of the points of star-wheel 86 with the lever 90 produces an audible ticking sound which enchances the realism of the timer.

A bell 91 is located generally centrally of the timer in overlying relationship to pointer 65 and is supported on a Z-shaped bracket which is suitably secured to circular wall 32 as by rivets 102. An upstanding portion 103 of the bracket 100 carries an irregularly formed spring 104 having a depending tab 106 generally centrally of its length. A distal end 108 of the spring terminates with a striker for hitting the interior of the bell.

An upstanding stud 110 is secured to pointer 65 in a suitable position for cooperating with depending tab 106 of the spring, to cam spring end 108 inwardly as the pointer approaches its 12 o'clock position as it moves in a counterclockwise direction. As the pointer attains the 12 o'clock position, stud 110 releases the spring tab 106 and spring end 108 moves rapidly outward causing the striker to hit the interior of bell 91, signalling the end ofa preset time period.

Operationally, the timer is wound by manually rotating pointer 65 clockwise from its 12 o'clock position to the desired position adjacent one of the numerals 24. Rotation of the pointer in the clockwise direction winds coil spring 54 and causes clockwise movement of gear 63, as seen in FIG. 4, which rotates spur gear 70 counterclockwise causing shaft 72 to shift to the right in its elongated apertures. This movement disengages gear 74 from pinion gear 76 and enables the timer to be set without the accompanying drag of the escapement.

Rectangular openings 112 are provided inwardly adjacent each numeral 24 for receipt of the closed blades of scissors 11. Upon setting the timer by moving its pointer to the desired numerical indicia, the blades of the scissors may be inserted in a corresponding opening 112 to prevent the pointer from moving, thereby rendering the timer inoperative. Upon removal of the scissors from opening I12, the timer is immediately rendered operative and begins marking off a given period of time. Simultaneously, the user acquires control over the scissors for use in the game activity. This provides a foolproof method for increasing the accuracy of the indicated timer period and for preventing a player from beginning his turn prior to starting the timing device.

As seen in FIG. ii, the game apparatus of the invention also includes the spinner-type chance device 18 having a freely rotatable hand 116 and numerical indicia 118 correlated to the indicia ofthe timer.

A number of paper cutout sheets are provided, such as the representative sheet l6, and have double outline markings 120 which simulate currency having various denominations such as $.50, $1.00 and $5.00. As noted in FIG. i, the larger currency denominations have larger outline peripheries, so that a greater amount of time is required to cut out a simulated piece of currency having a $5.00 denomination, than is required to cut out currency having a l .00 denomination.

As shown in FIG. 6, the game apparatus may also include a template 122 having openings 123 in the shape of the currency outlines for producing additional currency outlines on plain paper upon exhaustion of the marked cutout sheets originally supplied with the game apparatus.

Finally, as best seen in FlGS. l and 5 the game apparatus includes a number of doll figures 12 supported on blocks H24 and having forwardly projecting pegs 126 on which the wearing apparel 14 may be retained. Appropriately placed slits 127 are provided through the apparel to assist in placing it on the pegs. in the illustrated embodiment, the wearing apparel is stored on hooks i128 carried on a clothing rack 130. Each item of wearing apparel has a price 131 which denotes its cost. While only one wardrobe is shown in the illustrated embodi ment, a complete set of clothing is provided for each doll figure.

in the play of the game, each of the game players seek to cut out the simulated currency as rapidly as possible in order to purchase clothing outfits for their doll figure. A first player operates spinner B8 which determines the time period which that player has to cutout her currency. The timer is set to the numeral indicated by the spinner, by manually moving pointer 24 clockwise to the proper numeral indication and inserting the closed blades of scissors 11 in the adjacent slot 112. as shown in FIG. i. Upon removal of the scissors, the timer begins to operate to the accompanying ticking sound of the escapement and the player proceeds to carefully cut out the currency as rapidly as possible in the denomination which she chooses. The currency must be out within the double lines 120. The players compete to cut a sufficient amount of currency to purchase the clothing outfits. The first player to so succeed, wins the game.

What has been described is a game apparatus and a timing device wherein the game players compete against the timing device to cut out paper currency for purchase of clothing outfits with which to dress doll figures.

While the game apparatus of the described embodiment comprises paper currency which is cut out for purchase ofdoll clothing, other embodiments of the game apparatus may include cutout outlines of toy vehicle accessories which are adapted for placement directly on simulated cars or trucks.

it is obvious that upon study by those skilled in the art, the disclosed game apparatus may be altered or modified without departing from its inventive concept.

What we claim is:

1. Game apparatus comprising: a scissors; a plurality of paper sheets having simulated currency outline markings on said sheets suitable to be cut out with said scissors; simulated commodities suitable for purchase with the currency; and timing means for measuring a time period during which a player is allowed to cut out said currency; said timing means forming a temporary support for the blades of said scissors and cooperating therewith to render the timing means and the scissors inoperative until removal of the latter.

2. The game apparatus as set forth in cla1m 1, including additionally: doll figures; and wherein said commodities comprise wearing apparel for dressing said doll figures.

3. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including additionally: a plurality of doll figures; and wherein the length of the cutting perimeter of the simulated currency is directly related to its purchasing value; wherein said commodities comprise wearing apparel for said doll figures; and wherein the game players compete to acquire sufficient currency to purchase wearing apparel for clothing said doll figures.

4. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said timing means comprise a faceplate bearing numerical indicia and defining an opening adjacent each indicia suitable for holding the blades of said scissors; a motor-driven pointer supported adjacent said faceplate for movement relative thereto and cooperating with the scissors in its supported position to thereby render said timing means inoperative and said scissors unusable; whereby said timer is rendered operational and said scissors simultaneously rendered usable upon removal of the blades from the opening.

Claims (4)

1. Game apparatus comprising: a scissors; a plurality of paper sheets having simulated currency outline markings on said sheets suitable to be cut out with said scissors; simulated commodities suitable for purchase with the currency; and timing means for measuring a time period during which a player is allowed to cut out said currency; said timing means forming a temporary support for the blades of said scissors and cooperating therewith to render the timing means and the scissors inoperative until removal of the latter.

2. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including additionally: doll figures; and wherein said commodities comprise wearing apparel for dressing said doll figures.

3. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including additionally: a plurality of doll figures; and wherein the length of the cutting perimeter of the simulated currency is directly related to its purchasing value; wherein said commodities comprise wearing apparel for said doll figures; and wherein the game players compete to acquire sufficient currency to purchase wearing apparel for clothing said doll figures.

4. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said timing means comprise a faceplate bearing numerical indicia and defining an opening adjacent each indicia suitable for holding the blades of said scissors; a motor-driven pointer supported adjacent said faceplate for movement relative thereto and cooperating with the scissors in its supported position to thereby render said timing means inoperative and said scissors unusable; whereby said timer is rendered operational and said scissors simultaneously rendered usable upon removal of the blades from the opening.

Images