Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
  • A63G1/00—Roundabouts
  • A63G1/32—Roundabouts with seats two or more of which form a see-saw
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
  • A63G11/00—See-saws

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a game of the see-saw type wherein an extended bar or beam is generally, not necessarily, oscillated up and down by two children sitting astride the beam itself at the respective ends.
• a structure comprising a bar or extended beam capable of oscillating on the vertical plane around a central horizontal pin mounted on a support rotating around a vertical axis with respect to a fixed base, wherein along said beam there is mounted a sliding counterweight which can be positioned by means of suitable manual or automatic controls in order to balance the weights on the two arms of the beam with respect to the central pin.
• the game acting if necessary as a balance is of the on-payment type, which may be installed for instance also in amusement parks as well as in public parks, and comprises a slot machine to control the start of a game cycle which comprises the positioning of the counterweight by means of an electric motor controlled by suitable balance position sensors, the rotation of the central rotating support by operating a motor reducer with several successive speeds if necessary, and the end of the cycle by bringing the counterweight back to the initial central position.
• Figure 1 is a schematic lateral view of the game according to the present invention with the oscillating beam at the horizontal balance point and, with a broken line, in the two extreme oscillating positions;
• Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same game of Fig.l in two different positions during the rotation around the vertical axis.
• the game according to the present invention consists of a supporting structure comprising a base 1 which can be fixed to or only laid on the ground or the pavement, however being rather heavy (for instance being made of concrete) in order to withstand possible overturning of the whole, still allowing its moving, when desired.
• a fixed support 2 on which there is mounted, for instance on an axial ball bearing 10, a rotating support 3 capable of rotating around a vertical axis X-X.
• the bar or oscillating beam 4 of the see-saw is mounted on said rotating support 3 by means of a horizontal pin 8 (visible in Fig. 2) provided with terminal flanges in order to avoid the discharge, during the oscillations, of the beam 4 which preferably has flanges 9 in the central zone acting as guides inside the upper portion of rotating support 3.
• a sliding counterweight 7 is provided, preferably along the lower side of beam 4 and as inner as possible in order to create the slightest hindrance especially in the central pivoting zone, whereby there are provided suitable sliding guides on the beam and operating units consisting for instance of a double chain with toothed wheels and manual operating controls such as hand wheels and the like.
• suitable sliding guides on the beam and operating units consisting for instance of a double chain with toothed wheels and manual operating controls such as hand wheels and the like.
• a motor 6 for the translational motion of counterweight 7 by any known means, for instance a worm screw or rack system.
• Motor 6 can be operated to automatically move to the right position the counterweight by means of suitable sensors which, placed for instance in the zone wherein shock-absorbing buffers 17 are provided on rotating support 3, control the rotation in either direction of the reversible motor 6, moving thus the counterweight 7 forwards to an end position or backwards to the central position drawn with an unbroken line in Fig. 1, up to get the balance, the beam 4 being horizontal in the game starting position.
• Counterweight 7 may be provided with a pointer 11 to indicate, on a suitable weight scale 16, reproduced on one of the arms of beam 4, the weight of a person sitting on the end of the opposite arm, acting thus as a real balance.
• a suitable weight scale 16 reproduced on one of the arms of beam 4, the weight of a person sitting on the end of the opposite arm, acting thus as a real balance.
• the hand- resting and back-resting elements between the seat portions 18 provided on both ends of beam 4 and which may be more than one in order to allow several children or adults to use the game at one and/or the other end, while the respective foot-rests have been shown with 13. It is clear that, when children are sitting on both arms of the beam, the weight shown by the counterweight on the scale 16 is the weight difference between two children or groups of children.
• the game according to the present invention is suitable to be used on payment, by means of a token or a coin to be inserted into a slot machine 15, so as to give the necessary impulse to unlock the counterweight 7 from its central resting-position drawn with unbroken lines in Fig. 1.
• the same impulse controls the operation of motor 6 thanks to the above mentioned sensors (not shown) up to the right position of counterweight 7 which therefore allows the child to make use of the see-saw game even without a partner on the other end of the latter, or with a parent, sitting nearby if necessary, on the same side of the beam, especially if the child is young.
• a timer is started for the delayed start of motor reducer 5 which rotates beam 4 of the see-saw, if necessary at different successive speeds and with direction reversal, up to the end of the game cycle and the return of the counterweight to the central resting-position.
• Said cycle may be programmed in advance and if necessary modified by the user by operating on a control panel 14 placed near the seat 18.
• the game may also be used in a traditional way by children placed astride both ends of the beam, with the possibility of manually move the counterweight, as above mentioned, and rotate the rotating support by means of the muscular power only.

Landscapes

• Toys (AREA)
• Pinball Game Machines (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11366922

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1993
  • 1993-09-17 IT ITMI932016A patent/IT1272651B/it active IP Right Grant
• 1994
  • 1994-09-14 HU HU9600678A patent/HU9600678D0/hu unknown
  • 1994-09-14 CA CA002171935A patent/CA2171935A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-09-14 AU AU76643/94A patent/AU7664394A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-09-14 WO PCT/IT1994/000149 patent/WO1995007739A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-09-14 EP EP94927038A patent/EP0776242A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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