US3985357A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lane-length-compensating race game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-07-14
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Granted: 1976-10-12
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Expires: 1995-07-14
Abstract
Abstract Connected to the contestant game pieces of a J-shaped racecourse game are pull cords guided at a semi-circular turn by laterally-spaced guide members and at the finish line by laterally-spaced upper guide holes in the top wall, whence the pull cords pass through radially-spaced intermediate cord guide holes on a pivoted lane-length-compensating sector gear, and finally through lower cord guide holes in a fixed guide bar to connections on the winding hubs of multiple geared spools loosely and rotatably mounted upon a stationary cross shaft. The geared spools mesh with an elongated half gear on a drive shaft rotated by an external hand crank and carrying a sector gear drive gear meshing with the sector gear teeth. The teeth terminate in a lock notch engageable by a lock pin normally slidable along the top face of the sector gear until it reaches its foremost position, whereupon the lock pin drops into the lock nut to lock the sector gear until the end of the race. The pull cords wind differently at random along the hubs of their respective geared spools, thereby causing chance to determine the winner. Disengaging the half gear from the gear spools enables the contestant pieces to be pulled along their respective lanes back to the starting gate for the next race.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D. Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:39
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A lane-length-compensating race game comprising a race game supporting structure having an approximately J-shaped race course with multiple parallel lanes thereon and with starting and finish positions thereon disposed remote from one another and with a curved portion therebetween, a multiplicity of contestant pieces adapted to be moved along said lanes between said starting and finish positions, means at said starting position for holding said contestant pieces laterally apart from one another and within said lanes, a multiplicity of winding spools rotatably mounted side-by-side on said structure at a location beyond said finish position in spaced relationship therewith, a multiplicity of elongated flexible pull elements disposed in a substantially common plane along said lanes, each pull element having a leading end connected to one of said winding spools for winding thereon in response to rotation thereof, each pull element having a trailing end connected to a corresponding one of said contestant pieces, means for guiding said pull elements in said lanes around said curved portion of said race course, a lane-length-compensator pivotally mounted on said structure between said finish position and said winding spools for swinging in the plane of said pull elements toward and away from said finish position, said compensator having pull element guides thereon disposed in radially-spaced locations therealong, said pull elements passing through said guides, and driving mechanism for simultaneously rotating said winding spools and swinging said compensator relatively to said finish position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A lane-length-compensating race game comprising a race game supporting structure having an approximately J-shaped race course with multiple parallel lanes thereon and with starting and finish positions thereon disposed remote from one another and with a curved portion therebetween, a multiplicity of contestant pieces adapted to be moved along said lanes between said starting and finish positions, means at said starting position for holding said contestant pieces laterally apart from one another and within said lanes, a multiplicity of winding spools rotatably mounted side-by-side on said structure at a location beyond said finish position in spaced relationship therewith, a multiplicity of elongated flexible pull elements disposed in a substantially common plane along said lanes, each pull element having a leading end connected to one of said winding spools for winding thereon in response to rotation thereof, each pull element having a trailing end connected to a corresponding one of said contestant pieces, means for guiding said pull elements in said lanes around said curved portion of said race course, a lane-length-compensator pivotally mounted on said structure between said finish position and said winding spools for swinging in the plane of said pull elements toward and away from said finish position, said compensator having pull element guides thereon disposed in radially-spaced locations therealong, said pull elements passing through said guides, and driving mechanism for simultaneously rotating said winding spools and swinging said compensator relatively to said finish position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 1, wherein there is provided means for drivingly disconnecting said winding spools and said compensator from said driving mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes gearing operatively connecting said compensator and said winding spools, and wherein said mechanism also includes a driving device rotatingly connected to said gearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 3, wherein said gearing includes an elongated drive gear having teeth disposed around only a part of the circumference thereof, and wherein said winding spools have driven gears thereon operatively connected to said drive gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 1, wherein said compensator includes a sector gear, and wherein said driving mechanism includes a driving gear meshing with said sector gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 5, wherein said driving mechanism also includes gearing simultaneously rotating said winding spools and said driving gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 5, wherein a lock member is slidably mounted in said structure with one end of said lock member slidably engaging the face of said sector gear, and wherein said sector gear has a recess therein lockingly receiving said lock member in response to the arrival of said sector gear at its rearmost position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 1, wherein a shaft is mounted on said structure at said location beyond said finish position, and wherein said winding spools are loosely and rotatably mounted on said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A lane-length-compensating race game, according to claim 8, wherein each winding spool has a gear secured thereto in coaxial relationship therewith, and wherein said driving mechanism includes gearing simultaneously in mesh with said winding spool gears.
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) | 1979-10-12 | 1980-04-12 | 1980-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-12 | 1984-04-12 | 1984-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-12 | 1988-04-12 | 1988-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |