US3556525A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric football game with offensive, defensive, and chance selection means
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-06-12
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-06-12
Abstract
Abstract An electrically-operated simulated football game apparatus is disclosed having a network of perforations in the playing field for passage of light selectively therethrough. Mounted below the field is a slidable scrimmage-line board carrying light bulbs at selected locations on either side of the scrimmage line corresponding to ball positions to be gained (or lost) upon completion of an offensive play. Upon completion of each offensive play, one (and only one) of the lamps becomes illuminated which, relative to the scrimmage line, corresponds to a gain, or no gain, or a loss. The play is made by the offensive player spinning a spinner-type rotary switch, to close a circuit to one (and only one) lamp. Prior to spinning the spinner, the offensive player, by selecting and inserting, into a junction box, one of a number of cross-connection blocks (corresponding to one of a number of offensive plays) establishes the probability of completion of the circuit to the desired lamp, corresponding to the desired ball position to be attained. Concurrently, the defensive player, not knowing which offensive play has been selected by his opponent, operates one of several defensive switches (corresponding to one of several defensive plays) and, by selecting the right defensive play, reduces the probability of successful completion of the chosen offensive play.
Inventors
- 👤 Loren Davis Pegg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:00
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/06; A63F7/0664
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
335 words
In an electric football game apparatus: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. an array of light-passing passages at spaced-apart locations in said board; c. a frame mounted below said board and slidable in the lengthwise directions relative to said playing field; d. a plurality of light bulbs mounted at selected locations on said frame and adapted when lighted to emit light upwardly through one of said light-passing passages in said playingfield board; e. an electric power supply; f. a rotary switch having a plurality of pairs of contacts; g. conductor means connecting one contact of each pair of switch contacts to one side of said power supply; h. a junction bOx having a recess and a row of electrical contact terminals on each side of said recess; i. conductor means connecting other contacts of said pairs of rotary-switch contacts to a different one of the contact terminals on the one side of said junction-box recess; j. conductor means connecting some of the terminals on the other side of the junction-box recess to the other terminal of said power supply through different ones of said light bulbs; k. defensive-play means normally connecting some of the remaining terminals on said other side of the junction-box recess to other of the remaining terminals on the same other side; l. said defensive-play switch means being operable to connect one or more of said some of said remaining terminals to said other terminal of said power supply through one of said light bulbs; m. offensive-play cross-connection block means selectable from a set of cross-connection blocks having different crossconnections and insertable one at a time into said junction-box recess to connect each of said terminals on said one side of said recess to selected terminals on the other side; and n. and means for spinning said rotary switch to select by chance one of said pairs of switch contacts, thereby to complete a circuit through said rotary switch and said cross-connection block means, thereby to illuminate one of the light bulbs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
335 words
In an electric football game apparatus: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. an array of light-passing passages at spaced-apart locations in said board; c. a frame mounted below said board and slidable in the lengthwise directions relative to said playing field; d. a plurality of light bulbs mounted at selected locations on said frame and adapted when lighted to emit light upwardly through one of said light-passing passages in said playingfield board; e. an electric power supply; f. a rotary switch having a plurality of pairs of contacts; g. conductor means connecting one contact of each pair of switch contacts to one side of said power supply; h. a junction bOx having a recess and a row of electrical contact terminals on each side of said recess; i. conductor means connecting other contacts of said pairs of rotary-switch contacts to a different one of the contact terminals on the one side of said junction-box recess; j. conductor means connecting some of the terminals on the other side of the junction-box recess to the other terminal of said power supply through different ones of said light bulbs; k. defensive-play means normally connecting some of the remaining terminals on said other side of the junction-box recess to other of the remaining terminals on the same other side; l. said defensive-play switch means being operable to connect one or more of said some of said remaining terminals to said other terminal of said power supply through one of said light bulbs; m. offensive-play cross-connection block means selectable from a set of cross-connection blocks having different crossconnections and insertable one at a time into said junction-box recess to connect each of said terminals on said one side of said recess to selected terminals on the other side; and n. and means for spinning said rotary switch to select by chance one of said pairs of switch contacts, thereby to complete a circuit through said rotary switch and said cross-connection block means, thereby to illuminate one of the light bulbs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that, in addition to said light bulbs carried on said slidable frame, two light bulbs are fixedly mounted under said playing-field board, one at each end of the playing field and corresponding to touchdowns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that each of said defensive-play switches is identified as a defense to a different offensive play, and in that when a defensive switch is operated away from its normal condition the probability is increased of completing a circuit to illuminate the light bulb whose position on the slidable frame corresponds to a ball position on the playing field corresponding to no gain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that conductor means are provided for connecting at least one of said other contacts of said pairs of rotary-switch contacts directly to said other terminal of said power supply through one of said light bulbs, said light bulb when illuminated indicating a penalty, said light bulb being mounted above the playing field on a side pedestal of said slidable frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that each of said offensive-play cross-connection blocks is identified with a different offensive play, and in that the particular cross connections effected by each block when inserted into said recess increases the probability of completing a circuit to illuminate the particular light bulb whose position on the slidable frame corresponds to the ball position in the playing field hoped to be attained by that particular offensive play.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that: a. each of said pairs of rotary switch contacts is formed by contacts located on opposite sides of a slot and in that said slots are spaced equidistant from the center axis of rotation of said rotary switch; and b. said means for spinning said rotary switch comprises a rotatable center shaft, a radial arm secured on said shaft for rotation therewith, a downwardly-projecting contacts-closing element secured to said arm for making connection between the contacts located on opposite sides of said slot, and means for elevating said center shaft to raise said contacts-closing element above the contacts and for supporting said shaft and said radial arm in elevated position during spinning thereof for spinning said contacts-closing element clear of said contacts and for dropping said shaft and radial arm at the termination of said spinning to drop said contacts-closing element into one of said slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
301 words
In an electrical football game apparatus: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. an array of vertical passages through said playing-field board at spaced apart locations; c. support means mounted below said playing-field board and movable relative to said board in the lengthwise direction of the field; d. a plurality of light bulbs at selected locations on said support means adapted when lighted to emit light upwardly through one of said passages in said playing-field board; e. electric power supply; f. a rotary switch having a rotatable switch arm and a plurality of pairs of switch contacts arranged equidistant from the axis of rotation of the said switch arm; g. conductive means connecting one contact of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to one side of said power supply; h. a junction-box having two sets of electrical contacts spaced from each other; i. conductor means connecting other contacts of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to a different contact of one of the sets of junction-box contacts; j. means connecting contacts of the other set of said junction-box contacts to the other terminal of said power supply through different ones of said light bulbs k. a selection of offensive-play cross-connection means adapted for use with said junction-box, each of said cross-connection means being different from each of the others, only one of said selection of cross-connection means being usable at a time, for connecting certain of said contacts of the one set of said junction-box contacts with certain of the contacts of the other set; and l. means for rotating said rotary switch to select by chance and thereby to connect the power supply to one only of the contacts of said one set of junction-box contacts, thereby to close a circuit through and to illuminate one and only one of said light bulbs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
301 words
In an electrical football game apparatus: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. an array of vertical passages through said playing-field board at spaced apart locations; c. support means mounted below said playing-field board and movable relative to said board in the lengthwise direction of the field; d. a plurality of light bulbs at selected locations on said support means adapted when lighted to emit light upwardly through one of said passages in said playing-field board; e. electric power supply; f. a rotary switch having a rotatable switch arm and a plurality of pairs of switch contacts arranged equidistant from the axis of rotation of the said switch arm; g. conductive means connecting one contact of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to one side of said power supply; h. a junction-box having two sets of electrical contacts spaced from each other; i. conductor means connecting other contacts of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to a different contact of one of the sets of junction-box contacts; j. means connecting contacts of the other set of said junction-box contacts to the other terminal of said power supply through different ones of said light bulbs k. a selection of offensive-play cross-connection means adapted for use with said junction-box, each of said cross-connection means being different from each of the others, only one of said selection of cross-connection means being usable at a time, for connecting certain of said contacts of the one set of said junction-box contacts with certain of the contacts of the other set; and l. means for rotating said rotary switch to select by chance and thereby to connect the power supply to one only of the contacts of said one set of junction-box contacts, thereby to close a circuit through and to illuminate one and only one of said light bulbs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
In an electrical football game apparatus according to claim 7 further characterized in that said means for connecting contacts of said other set of said junction-box contacts to said power supply through different ones of said light bulbs includes a plurality of defensive-play switch means for switching connections from contacts of said other set of junction-box contacts from one of said light bulbs to a different one of said light bulbs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
286 words
In an electrical football game apparatus: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. support means mounted below said playing-field board and movable relative to said board in the lengthwise direction of the field and carrying a transverse indication corresponding to the scrimmage line; c. a plurality of light bulbs at selected locations on said support means on both sides of said scrimmage line; d. electric power supply; e. a junction-box having two sets of electrical contacts spaced from each other; f. a rotary switch having a rotatable switch arm and a plurality of pairs of switch contacts arranged equidistant from the axis of rotation of the said switch arm; g. conductive means connecting one contact of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to one side of said power supply; h. conductor means connecting other contacts of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to a different contact of one of the sets of junction-box contact; i. means connecting contacts of the other set of said junction-box contacts to the other terminal of said power supply through different ones of said light bulbs; j. a selection of offensive-play cross-connection means adapted for use with said junction-box each of said cross-connection means being different from each of the others, only one of said selection of cross-connection means being usable at a time, for connecting certain of said contacts of the one set of said junction-box contacts with certain of the contacts of the other set; and k. means for rotating said rotary switch to select by chance and thereby to connect the power supply to one only of the contacts of said one set of junction-box contacts and to close a circuit to ilLuminate one and only one of said light bulbs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
286 words
In an electrical football game apparatus: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. support means mounted below said playing-field board and movable relative to said board in the lengthwise direction of the field and carrying a transverse indication corresponding to the scrimmage line; c. a plurality of light bulbs at selected locations on said support means on both sides of said scrimmage line; d. electric power supply; e. a junction-box having two sets of electrical contacts spaced from each other; f. a rotary switch having a rotatable switch arm and a plurality of pairs of switch contacts arranged equidistant from the axis of rotation of the said switch arm; g. conductive means connecting one contact of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to one side of said power supply; h. conductor means connecting other contacts of the pairs of rotary-switch contacts to a different contact of one of the sets of junction-box contact; i. means connecting contacts of the other set of said junction-box contacts to the other terminal of said power supply through different ones of said light bulbs; j. a selection of offensive-play cross-connection means adapted for use with said junction-box each of said cross-connection means being different from each of the others, only one of said selection of cross-connection means being usable at a time, for connecting certain of said contacts of the one set of said junction-box contacts with certain of the contacts of the other set; and k. means for rotating said rotary switch to select by chance and thereby to connect the power supply to one only of the contacts of said one set of junction-box contacts and to close a circuit to ilLuminate one and only one of said light bulbs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
In an electric football game: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. a movable scrimmage-line tray mounted adjacent said board and movable relative to said board in the lengthwise direction of the field, and including a scrimmage line; c. light bulbs of at least two different colors on said tray at selected positions on both sides of said scrimmage line, the illumination of a light bulb denoting the position of the ball, the color of the bulb denoting the team having possession of the ball; d. a power supply; e. a multicircuit normally-open rotary switch and a multicircuit normally-open junction-box connected in series with said light bulbs across said power supply; f. cross-connection means selectable from a set of different cross-connection means, each corresponding to a different offensive play, for insertion into said junction-box to close a circuit from one side of said rotary switch to one side of said power supply through said light bulbs; and g. said normally-open rotary switch being adapted to be rotated to close one of the circuits between the other side of said battery and said junction-box, thereby to light one only of said light bulbs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
191 words
In an electric football game: a. a simulated playing-field board; b. a movable scrimmage-line tray mounted adjacent said board and movable relative to said board in the lengthwise direction of the field, and including a scrimmage line; c. light bulbs of at least two different colors on said tray at selected positions on both sides of said scrimmage line, the illumination of a light bulb denoting the position of the ball, the color of the bulb denoting the team having possession of the ball; d. a power supply; e. a multicircuit normally-open rotary switch and a multicircuit normally-open junction-box connected in series with said light bulbs across said power supply; f. cross-connection means selectable from a set of different cross-connection means, each corresponding to a different offensive play, for insertion into said junction-box to close a circuit from one side of said rotary switch to one side of said power supply through said light bulbs; and g. said normally-open rotary switch being adapted to be rotated to close one of the circuits between the other side of said battery and said junction-box, thereby to light one only of said light bulbs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 characterized in that defensive-play switch means are interposed between said junction-box and said light bulbs for increasing the probability that the light bulb corresponding to no-gain will be energized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an electric football game: a. a board simulating a playing field; b. a movable scrimmage-line tray mounted under said playing field and movable relative thereto in the lengthwise direction of the field, said tray carrying a plurality of ball-position indicating signal lamps only one of which is energizable at a time; c. a plurality of manually-selectable offensive play-selecting connection members for making connections to desired lamps; d. a plurality of manually-selectable defensive play-selecting connection members connected between said offensive play-selecting connecting members and certain lamps for diverting connections from offensive-selected lamps to defensive-selected lamps, e. a rotary spinable switch having a plurality of contacts connectable to said offensive play-selecting connection members; and f. power means connected to said rotary switch and to said lamps for energizing one only of said lamps for each play according to the chance selection made by the spinable rotary switch as modified by the manually selected offensive and defensive play-selecting connection members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
158 words
In an electric football game: a. a board simulating a playing field; b. a movable scrimmage-line tray mounted under said playing field and movable relative thereto in the lengthwise direction of the field, said tray carrying a plurality of ball-position indicating signal lamps only one of which is energizable at a time; c. a plurality of manually-selectable offensive play-selecting connection members for making connections to desired lamps; d. a plurality of manually-selectable defensive play-selecting connection members connected between said offensive play-selecting connecting members and certain lamps for diverting connections from offensive-selected lamps to defensive-selected lamps, e. a rotary spinable switch having a plurality of contacts connectable to said offensive play-selecting connection members; and f. power means connected to said rotary switch and to said lamps for energizing one only of said lamps for each play according to the chance selection made by the spinable rotary switch as modified by the manually selected offensive and defensive play-selecting connection members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |