US3579856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Auto-chess apparatus and punched card therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-07-22
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1988-07-22
Abstract
Abstract As described herein, a light source mounted in a housing illuminates each column of a prepunched chess card as the card is intermittently driven through the housing. Each column of the card, except for a start of new game column, includes at least two apertures which transmit the light to the light receiving ends of two of a possible 64 light fibers. The light transmitting ends of the fibers extend to the squares of a chess pattern formed in the top plate of the housing and illuminate the squares when their corresponding light receiving ends are illuminated by the light source. The illuminated squares indicate the chess piece to be moved and the square to which the piece is to be moved.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick L Way
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:51
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/22; A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00173; A63F3/00574; A63F3/00643; A63F3/02; A63F3/022; A63F2003/025; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/0613; A63F2009/0637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for games comprising a housing with a board member adapted to receive game pieces, the board member having recorded thereon a predetermined game pattern, a light source mounted in the housing, means in the housing adapted to receive a programmed record having light transmissive portions and including means for effecting relative movement between the light source and the programmed record to cause the illumination of the light transmissive portions, a plurality of light transmitting fibers mounted in the housing, the light receiving ends of the fibers arranged to receive the light transmitted through the light transmissive portions of the programmed record and the light transmitting ends of the fibers arranged to illuminate different portions of the board member when their corresponding light receiving ends are illuminated by the light source, and a programmed record comprising a plurality of spaced columns, each column containing at least two spaced apertures selectively formed therein, the apertures arranged to transmit the light emitted by the light source to the light receiving ends of a selected pair of the plurality of light transmitting fibers to effect the illumination of two portions of the board member to thereby indicate the game piece to be moved and the position of board member to which the game piece is to be moved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for games comprising a housing with a board member adapted to receive game pieces, the board member having recorded thereon a predetermined game pattern, a light source mounted in the housing, means in the housing adapted to receive a programmed record having light transmissive portions and including means for effecting relative movement between the light source and the programmed record to cause the illumination of the light transmissive portions, a plurality of light transmitting fibers mounted in the housing, the light receiving ends of the fibers arranged to receive the light transmitted through the light transmissive portions of the programmed record and the light transmitting ends of the fibers arranged to illuminate different portions of the board member when their corresponding light receiving ends are illuminated by the light source, and a programmed record comprising a plurality of spaced columns, each column containing at least two spaced apertures selectively formed therein, the apertures arranged to transmit the light emitted by the light source to the light receiving ends of a selected pair of the plurality of light transmitting fibers to effect the illumination of two portions of the board member to thereby indicate the game piece to be moved and the position of board member to which the game piece is to be moved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for effecting relative movement between the light source and the programmed record comprises drive means adapted to engage the programmed record, the drive means including means for incrementally positioning each of the spaced columns of the record in the path of the light emitted by the light source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising support means mounted in the housing immediately above the light source and wherein the light receiving ends of the light transmitting fibers are mounted along the length of the support means, the spacing between adjacent fibers along the support means being equal to the spacing between adjacent apertures formed in the programmed record.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the board member has recorded thereon a plurality of segments arranged in a selected game pattern and wherein the board member has formed therein openings in each of segments for receiving the light transmitting ends of the light transmitting fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of game pieces, each game piece comprising a main body portion and a light transmissive rigid center member ending through and beneath the main body portion of the game piece and wherein each opening in each of the game pattern segments is dimensioned to functionally receive the portion of the light transmissive center member extending beneath the main body portion of each game piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for games comprising a housing with a board member adapted to receive game pieces, the board member having recorded thereon a predetermined game pattern, a light source mounted in the housing and extending in a straight line between a pair of parallel sidewalls of said housing, the area above said light source defining a selected area of said housing, means in the housing adapted to receive a programmed record having spaced light transmissive portions and including means for effecting relative movement between the light source and the programmed record to cause the illumination of the light transmissive portions, and a plurality of light transmitting fibers mounted in the housing, the light receiving ends of the fibers being mounted together in a straight line in said selected area of the housing above the light source and arranged to receive the light transmitted through the light transmissive portions of the programmed rEcord, and the light transmitting ends of the fibers arranged to illuminate different portions of the board member when their corresponding light receiving ends are illuminated by the light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for games comprising a housing with a board member adapted to receive game pieces, the board member having recorded thereon a predetermined game pattern, a light source mounted in the housing and extending in a straight line between a pair of parallel sidewalls of said housing, the area above said light source defining a selected area of said housing, means in the housing adapted to receive a programmed record having spaced light transmissive portions and including means for effecting relative movement between the light source and the programmed record to cause the illumination of the light transmissive portions, and a plurality of light transmitting fibers mounted in the housing, the light receiving ends of the fibers being mounted together in a straight line in said selected area of the housing above the light source and arranged to receive the light transmitted through the light transmissive portions of the programmed rEcord, and the light transmitting ends of the fibers arranged to illuminate different portions of the board member when their corresponding light receiving ends are illuminated by the light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 comprising support means mounted in the housing immediately above the light source and wherein the light receiving ends of the light transmitting fibers are supported by the support means in a straight line above the light source, the spacing between the light receiving ends of adjacent fibers along the support means being equal to the spacing between adjacent light transmissive portions of the programmed record.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the board member has recorded thereon a plurality of segments arranged in a selected game pattern, wherein the board member has formed therein openings in each of the segments for receiving the light transmitting ends of the light transmitting fibers and wherein the light receiving ends of the light transmitting fibers are selectively mounted within the selected area to maintain the shortest possible distance of travel by the light transmitting fibers between the selected area and the plurality of segments.
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) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |