Amusement device

Claim 2

Amusement devices and the like, comprising a plurality of plaques at least certain of which are disposed in stacked juxtaposition, each of said plaques having opposite faces separated transversely one from the other and having also a base edge extending substantially between said faces adjacent one end thereof, each of said plaques along each face thereof defining a pivot area generally adjacent the mergence of the face with the associated base edge, and hinge structure pivotally interconnecting said plaques directly one to another generally adjacent said pivot areas thereof so that each base edge is juxtaposed with an edge immediately preceding the same, each of said plaques being pivotally related by said hinge structure to any immediately adjacent plaque along their facing pivot areas thereby enabling said plaques to be manipulated so as to articulate sequentially from one said stack to another in alternate opposite directions.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 in which each of said plaques is relatively rigid and generally planar.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 in which said plaques are substantially similar structurally.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 in which said hinge structure is essentially continuous and extends from one end of such stack of plaques to the other end thereof while defining a plurality of hinge locations respectively relating successive plaques for angular displacements with respect to each other generally adjacent the pivot areas thereof.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 in which said continuous hinge structure comprises a plurality of laterally spaced strands respectively extending through laterally spaced apertures provided therefor in said plaques.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5 in which said strands are elasticized.

Claim 8

The device of claim 1 in which said hinge structure comprises a plurality of hinge elements respectively interconnecting successive plaques for relative angular displacements so as to articulate as aforesaid.

Claim 9

The device of claim 7 in which said hinge structure comprises a flexible web extending substantially from end to end of such stack of plaques and being secured to each so as to define said plurality of hinge elements respectively interconnecting successive plaques.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 in which said hinge elements are formed integrally with the successive plaques interconnected thereby.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1 in which at least certain of said plaques along a face thereof are provided with patterns creating visual impressions as said plaques are displaced from one stack to another.

Claim 12

The device of claim 10 in which said patterns are of sequential character and depict motion as said plaques are displaced from one stack to another.

Claim 13

Amusement devices and the like, comprising a plurality of plaques at least certain of which are disposed in stacked juxtaposition, each of said plaques having opposite faces separated transversely one from the other and having also a base edge extending substantially between said faces adjacent one end thereof, each of said plaques along each face thereof defining a pivot area generally adjacent the mergence of the face with the associated base edge, and hinge structure pivotally interconnecting said plaques generally adjacent said pivot areas thereof so that each base edge is disposed in adjacency with an edge immediately preceding the same, each of said plaques being pivotally related by said hinge structure to any immediately adjacent plaque along their facing pivot areas thereby enabling said plaques to be manipulated so as to articulate sequentially from one such stack to another in alternate opposite directions, each of said base edges being relieved so as to merge with the associated faces at angles greater than 90* .

Claim 14

Amusement devices and the like, comprising a plurality of plaques at least certain of which are disposed in stacked juxtaposition, each of said plaques having opposite faces separated transversely one from the other and having also a base edge extending substantially between said faces adjacent one end thereof, each of said plaques along each face thereof defining a pivot area generally adjacent the mergence of the face with the associated base edge, and hinge structure pivotally interconnecting said plaques generally adjacent said pivot areas thereof so that each base edge is disposed in adjacency with an edge immediately preceding the same, each of said plaques being pivotally related by said hinge structure to any immediately adjacent plaque along their facing pivot areas thereby enabling said plaques to be manipulated so as to articulate sequentially from one such stack to another in alternate opposite directions, each of said base edges being relieved so as to merge with the associated faces at angles greater than 90* .

Claim 15

The device of claim 12 iN which each of said base edges is beveled and converges inwardly from each of the associates faces toward the center plane of the associated plaque.

Claim 16

The device of claim 12 in which each of said base edges has an arcuate configuration curving outwardly from each of the associated faces toward convergence adjacent the center plane of the associated plaque.

Claim 17

The device of claim 12 in which each of said plaques is relatively rigid and generally planar.

Claim 18

The device of claim 15 in which said hinge structure is essentially continuous and extends from one end of such stack of plaques to the other end thereof while defining a plurality of hinge locations respectively relating successive plaques for angular displacements with respect to each other generally adjacent the pivot areas thereof.

Claim 19

The device of claim 15 in which said hinge structure comprises a plurality of hinge elements respectively interconnecting successive plaques for relative angular displacements as aforesaid.