Letters and numbers game

Claim 2

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics and a dispenser for said chips comprising, a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, means at said storage station for supporting a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack; means at said dispensing station for removing individual chips from said stack and discharging them from said frame, and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteriStics which are complementary to the distinguishing characteristics of said chips, whereby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed in said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said removing means for placement in predetermined locations on said tray; said tray comprising a number tray having a plurality of raised numbers formed thereon, said chips having apertures formed therein defining numbers adapted to receive corresponding raised numbers on said tray, said raised numbers having different heights, with each raised number having a height corresponding to the thickness of the number of chips it represents.

Claim 3

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics, and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said leading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located in said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; means in said frame for preventing movement of said stack towards said dispensing station under the influence of said biasing means when the plate is not in said first position, including an abutment member movably mounted in the frame on the side of the plate opposite said support means, and means for biasing said abutment means towards said storage station, said abutment means being urged into contact with the first chip in said stack upon movement of said plate out of said first position, said plate and abutment means having cooperating surfaces for moving said abutment means away from said stack as said plate is returned to said first position; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinquishing characteristics of said chips, whereby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed on said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray.

Claim 4

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics, and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said leading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located in said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; means in said frame for preventing movement of said stack towards said dispensing station under the influence of said biasing means when the plate is not in said first position, including an abutment member movably mounted in the frame on the side of the plate opposite said support means, and means for biasing said abutment means towards said storage station, said abutment means being urged into contact with the first chip in said stack upon movement of said plate out of said first position, said plate and abutment means having cooperating surfaces for moving said abutment means away from said stack as said plate is returned to said first position; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinquishing characteristics of said chips, whereby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed on said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray.

Claim 5

The toy as defined in claim 2 wherein said support means comprises an outwardly extending lip formed on the side of said plate facing said ramp.

Claim 6

The toy as defined in claim 3 including at least one rib formed on said plate below said lip for engaging the first chip in said stack as said plate is moved towards said second position, thereby to prevent movement of said chip into said dispensing station during movement of said plate to its second position.

Claim 7

The toy as defined in claim 2 wherein said abutment means comprises a lever pivotally mounted in said frame, and said means biasing said abutment means comprise a spring operatively connected between said frame and said lever for biasing one end of said lever towards said storage station.

Claim 8

The toy as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for biasing said stack comprises a pusher element slidably mounted on said ramp and spring means for urging said pusher towards said dispensing station.

Claim 9

The toy as defined in claim 6 wherein said spring means comprises an elongated coil spring secured at one end to said pusher, and at its other end to said frame adjacent the end of said ramp remote from said dispensing station, said fame including a spring guide member adjacent said dispensing station, and said spring being trained over said gUide between its ends whereby said pusher is adapted to be moved to the end of said ram adjacent said dispensing station by said spring.

Claim 10

The toy as defined in claim 6 wherein said pusher adn said ramp have at least one pair of cooperating surfaces formed thereon for preventing movement of said pusher at a predetermined location along said ramp.

Claim 11

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said leading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located on said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; means in said frame for preventing movement of said stack towards said dispensing station under the influence of said biasing means when said plate is not in said first position; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinguishing characteristics of said chips, whereby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed on said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations in said tray; said tray comprising a letter tray having raised letters formed thereon; said chips having different recessed letters formed thereon, and being adapted to be placed on said ramp and dispensed therefrom by said plate for placement on corresponding letters on said tray.

Claim 12

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said leading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located on said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; means in said frame for preventing movement of said stack towards said dispensing station under the influence of said biasing means when said plate is not in said first position; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinguishing characteristics of said chips, whereby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed on said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations in said tray; said tray comprising a letter tray having raised letters formed thereon; said chips having different recessed letters formed thereon, and being adapted to be placed on said ramp and dispensed therefrom by said plate for placement on corresponding letters on said tray.

Claim 13

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said loading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located on said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinguishing characteristics of said chips, whreby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed whereby said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray; said tray comprising a number tray having a plurality of raised numbers formed thereon, and a plurality of said chips having apertures formed therein defining numbers adapted to receive corresponding raised numbers on said tray, said raised numbers having different heights, with said raised numbers having a height corresponding to the thickness of the Number of chips it represents, said chips being adapted to be placed on said ramp and dispensed therefrom by said plate for placement on corresponding numbers on said number tray.

Claim 14

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said loading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located on said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinguishing characteristics of said chips, whreby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed whereby said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray; said tray comprising a number tray having a plurality of raised numbers formed thereon, and a plurality of said chips having apertures formed therein defining numbers adapted to receive corresponding raised numbers on said tray, said raised numbers having different heights, with said raised numbers having a height corresponding to the thickness of the Number of chips it represents, said chips being adapted to be placed on said ramp and dispensed therefrom by said plate for placement on corresponding numbers on said number tray.

Claim 15

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said leading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located on said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinguishing characteristics of said chips, whereby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed in said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray; said biasing means including a pusher element slidably mounted on said ramp and spring means for urging said pusher towards said dispensing station; said pusher having an inclined surface formed thereon extending upwardly and away from the last chip in said stack thereby to permit insertion of an additional chip into said stack adjacent said pusher without manually moving the pusher.

Claim 16

A toy comprising a plurality of chips having distinguishing characteristics and including peripheral edges, and a dispenser for said chips comprising a frame having a chip storage station and a chip dispensing station, said storage station including a chip storage ramp adapted to support a plurality of individual chips in an aligned stack on their peripheral edges, and means for biasing said stack along said ramp towards said dispensing station; said dispensing station including a dispensing plate located adjacent one end of said ramp and having support means thereon located generally in alignment with said ramp for receiving the leading chip in said stack, said leading chip being urged onto said supporting means under the influence of said biasing means, said plate being slidably mounted in said frame for movement from a first position wherein said support means is adjacent said ramp and a second position wherein said support means is located outside of said frame, whereby an individual chip located on said support means is removed from said stack and dispensed from said frame; and at least one cooperating tray having distinguishing characteristics which are complementary to the distinguishing characteristics of said chips, whereby said chips are adapted to be randomly placed in said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray; said biasing means including a pusher element slidably mounted on said ramp and spring means for urging said pusher towards said dispensing station; said pusher having an inclined surface formed thereon extending upwardly and away from the last chip in said stack thereby to permit insertion of an additional chip into said stack adjacent said pusher without manually moving the pusher.

Claim 17

A toy comprising a plurality of character containing disks having peripheral edges and a dispenser therefor, said dispenser comprising a frame having a disk storage station and a disk dispensing station, said storage station including a disk storage ramp formed in said frame and adapted to support a plurality of individual character disks in an aligned stack on their edges, a pusher slidably mounted on said ramp, and first spring means for biasing said pusher along said ramp towards said dispensing station to urge said stack towards said station; said dispensing station including a disk dispensing plate slidably mounted in said frame adjacent one end of said ramp, said plate having a disk support lip formed on one side thereof and normally located in alignment with same ramp for receiving and supporting said first disk in said stack, said first disk being urged onto said lip under the influence of said spring means, said plate being slidable from a first position wherein said lip is in alignment with said ramp to a second position wherein said lip is located outside said frame, whereby said first disk is removed from said stack by said plate and dispensed from said frame; means in said frame for preventing movement of said stack towards said dispensing station under the influence of said first spring means when said plate is not in said first position, including at least one rib formed on said plate below said lip for engaging the first disk in said stack as said plate is moved towards said second position to prevent movement of said stack towards said dispensing station until the bottom edge of said plate passes said ramp, a movable abutment member movably mounted in said frame on the side of said plate opposite said lip and second spring means normally biasing said abutment member towards said ramp, said abutment member being moved into contact with the first disk in the stack on said ramp by said second spring means as the bottom edge of said plate moves past said ramp, whereby sAid rib and abutment means cooperate to prevent a disk from entering said dispensing station when said plate is out of said first position, said plate and abutment member having cooperating surfaces for moving said abutment member away from said stack of disks as said plate is returned to said first position; and at least one cooperating tray having characters formed thereon which are complementary to the characters of said disk, whereby said disks are adapted to be randomly placed in said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray.

Claim 18

A toy comprising a plurality of character containing disks having peripheral edges and a dispenser therefor, said dispenser comprising a frame having a disk storage station and a disk dispensing station, said storage station including a disk storage ramp formed in said frame and adapted to support a plurality of individual character disks in an aligned stack on their edges, a pusher slidably mounted on said ramp, and first spring means for biasing said pusher along said ramp towards said dispensing station to urge said stack towards said station; said dispensing station including a disk dispensing plate slidably mounted in said frame adjacent one end of said ramp, said plate having a disk support lip formed on one side thereof and normally located in alignment with same ramp for receiving and supporting said first disk in said stack, said first disk being urged onto said lip under the influence of said spring means, said plate being slidable from a first position wherein said lip is in alignment with said ramp to a second position wherein said lip is located outside said frame, whereby said first disk is removed from said stack by said plate and dispensed from said frame; means in said frame for preventing movement of said stack towards said dispensing station under the influence of said first spring means when said plate is not in said first position, including at least one rib formed on said plate below said lip for engaging the first disk in said stack as said plate is moved towards said second position to prevent movement of said stack towards said dispensing station until the bottom edge of said plate passes said ramp, a movable abutment member movably mounted in said frame on the side of said plate opposite said lip and second spring means normally biasing said abutment member towards said ramp, said abutment member being moved into contact with the first disk in the stack on said ramp by said second spring means as the bottom edge of said plate moves past said ramp, whereby sAid rib and abutment means cooperate to prevent a disk from entering said dispensing station when said plate is out of said first position, said plate and abutment member having cooperating surfaces for moving said abutment member away from said stack of disks as said plate is returned to said first position; and at least one cooperating tray having characters formed thereon which are complementary to the characters of said disk, whereby said disks are adapted to be randomly placed in said storage station and dispensed therefrom by said dispensing plate for placement in predetermined locations on said tray.

Claim 19

The toy as defined in claimm 12 wherein the lowermost portion of said rib is tapered towards said lower edge of said plate and defines a cam surface for engaging the first disk in said stack as said plate is returned to said first position, said plate having a slot therein extending from said lower edge to the location of the beginning of said tapered rib portion, and said abutment member being located to extend through said slot.

Claim 20

The toy as defined in claim 13 wherein said abutment member comprises a lever pivotally mounted in said frame and having a leg portion adapted to extend through said slot.

Claim 21

The toy as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for biasing said stack comprises a pusher element slidably mounted on said ramp and spring means for urging said pusher towards said dispensing station.

Claim 22

The toy as defined in claim 15 wherein said first spring means comprises an elongated coil spring secured at one end to said pusher, and at its other end to said frame adjacent the end of said ramp remote from said dispensing station, said frame including a spring guide member adjacent said dispensing station, and said first spring means being trained over said guide between its ends whereby said pusher is adapted to be moved to the end of said ram adjacent said dispensing station by said first spring means.

Claim 23

The toy as defined in claim 15 wherein said pusher and said ramp have at least one pair of cooperating surfaces formed thereon for preventing movement of said pusher at a predetermined location along said ramp.