Amusement chance device

A transparent container partially filled with transparent viscous liquid; contains a multifaceted multicolored indicia enhanced game piece, which is greater in specific gravity than the transparent viscous liquid and an air bubble greater in size than the maximum horizontal clearance distance between the game piece and container side wall. When the container is turned relatively end for end the bubble rises, striking the game piece, whereby it rotates as it falls slowly to the bottom of the container, where the top or scoring facet of the game piece is viewed through the transparent container and transparent liquid. The game piece falling time period, being relatively repetitive, may be used for game play timing. The colors and indicia on the game piece facets give the player game playing instructions. When two or more containers are used in cooperation or two or more game pieces are used in one container, the colors of the game piece scoring facets instruct the players to either add, subtract or cancel the cooperative game pieces indicia, whereby there is a greatly expanded number of possible combinations. Incorporation of a tumble weight, having points and edges, inside hollow game pieces enhance erratic rotation of the game pieces as they fall adding suspense and avoiding player influence. Magnetic polarization of the game pieces whereby they repel each other, avoids game pieces coming to rest atop each other obscuring the scoring facet. The air bubble accommodates expansion or contraction of the liquid in the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an amusement chance device for the 
improved presentation of changing value game information. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a gaming means which enhances 
play on presently existing games. 
A further object of the invention is to add excitement and suspense to the 
playing of games involving the use of multi-faceted game pieces. 
Another object is to provide a self contained means for gaming piece 
agitation which reduces influence by the players. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a timing means for game play. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a device embodying 
multicolored indicia inscribed game pieces which may be used in multiples 
to further interact in game play thus providing greatly expanded chance 
possibilities. 
2. Description of the Prior Art and Summary of the Invention 
Liquid filled die agitators of various types are provided in prior art such 
as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,452,730, to Carter, 4,049,277 to Carlson, 4,176,469 to 
Timco. Such agitators usually consist of a container filled with opaque 
liquid, free of air bubbles and a die which displaces a greater mass than 
its own mass causing the die to rise or float. In the execution of these 
systems, it has been the object to create a liquid chamber which is free 
of air bubbles since the air bubble would rise along with the die and 
cause distraction and mal performance. The manufacture of such devices is 
complex, some times requiring filling and capping while the container is 
immersed in the filling liquid to avoid air inclusion. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,049,277 teaches the use of two chambers. The first, containing the 
gaming piece, is maintained air free and the second chamber contains 
overflow liquid and air to provide for an expansion and contraction of the 
liquid responding to environmental changes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,469 
provides a flexible diaphragm to accomplish this function. The instant 
invention eliminates the need for the care and costs of manufacturing air 
free die chambers while still allowing for liquid expansion and 
contraction and non-critical liquid filling methods. Another advantage of 
this invention is elimination of the need for internal obstacles as cited 
in U.S. Pat. No. 2,452,730 simplifying manufacture and filling 
requirements. Further benefit of the invention is gained by dividing the 
colors of the multi-faceted game pieces into two or more groups, one 
group, typically colored green, to represent plus or forward movement and 
one group, typically colored red, to represent minus or backward movement, 
whereby providing additional suspense and excitement while the game piece 
is being agitated until it comes slowly to rest at the bottom of the 
chance column. A feature which may be incorporated in the invention is the 
use of a game piece with a hollow interior and including a specially 
shaped tumble weight having points and edges. The use of a hollowed die 
and a round ball bearing is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,469. Another 
feature which may be added to the invention, is the use of positively 
polarized magnetic game pieces whereby when two or more game pieces are 
used within the same container, the game pieces repel each other and avoid 
stacking. Another embodiment of the invention includes the use of a 
mechanical turning means to further eliminate player influence on scoring 
results by providing relatively consistent turning action. 
An alternate embodiment of the device includes external, movable, 
negatively polarized, magnetic sources, at each end of the chance column, 
whereby the fallen positively magnetically polarized game piece is 
captured in a magnetic force field. The change column may then be turned 
relatively end for end and the external magnetic source holds the magnetic 
game piece until the magnetic source is moved away, breaking the force 
field whereby the game piece falls by gravity to the bottom of the 
container. This embodiment enhances the use of the chance column 
configuration as a timing means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings in detail and initially FIG. 1 thereof; shows an 
embodiment of a chance column 10 consisting of a transparent container 12, 
with end caps 13 and 21, partially filled with a transparent viscous 
liquid 16, and air/or gas bubble 14, and a multi-faceted chance piece 18, 
whereupon the various multi-colored facets such as 19 and 20, have indicia 
inscribed. The scoring surface 17 is viewed through the transparent liquid 
in the transparent container. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a chance column 
with single game piece. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an oval game chance 
column with two game pieces. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a chance piece 
18 showing the multi-colored factes such as 19, lined for color green and 
20, lined for color red, with indicia thereon in a typical pattern. In 
this pattern forward and backward or plus and minus indicia is placed on 
diametrically opposed facets so that if "one" forward is shown on the 
scoring surface 17 "one" backward is obscured on the underside of the 
chance piece. FIG. 5 is a cross section of a dodecahedron chance piece 18 
showing the hollow inside with the raised segmenting ribs 26, and a 
joining ledge 25. FIG. 6 illustrates two types of eccentric weights, 29 an 
octahedron and 30 a tetrahedron, either being suitable for inclusion 
within the chance piece. FIG. 7 is a top view of a bridge 31 used to 
juxtapose two chance columns and form a multiple column chance device. 
FIG. 8 is a cross section of FIG. 7 at B--B showing the two receiver wells 
32 and 33 created in bridge 31 to accept two chance columns. FIG. 9 is a 
side view of a mechanical turning means wherein chance column 10 is held 
by collar 25 tensioned by screw 36 said collar is connected to turning 
means 37. Turning means 37 is affixed to base 40 by column 39. Suction cup 
41 is attached to the bottom of base 40. External magnetic source 43 is 
movably affixed to chance column 10 by hinge 42. 
In conformity with the intent of this chance device invention one or more 
transparent containers are provided and partially filled with a 
transparent viscous liquid; one or more multi-faceted, multi-colored, 
indicia enhanced game pieces, preferably in a pentagonal dodecahedron form 
substantially greater in specific gravity than the transparent liquid, are 
immersed in the liquid and the containers are closed allowing a controlled 
air/or gas bubble to be entrapped. 
The game piece is preferably injection molded in two parts using 
multi-cavity molds. After the molding cycle the pieces are retained 
attached to the sprue and in that form are hot stamped for coloring and 
numbering, magnetically polarized, then the weights are inserted, the two 
halves joined together with solvent along the joining ledge and the 
assembled game pieces separated from the sprue. The molding material of 
choice is polyester with glass fiber which can have a specific gravity of 
2.3. 
Tumble weights for inclusion within game pieces can be cast using metal 
having a high specific gravity in irregular shapes providing points and/or 
edges designed to catch the raised segmenting ribs molded around the walls 
of the hollow area whereby providing eccentric rotation of the game piece 
while falling. 
When two or more game pieces are used within one container it is preferred 
that the game pieces are made of magnetic material positively polarized on 
the outer surface. Magnetic polarization of the game pieces may be 
obtained by using special molding materials. Positively polarized game 
pieces will repel each other whereby game pieces will not come to rest 
atop each other obscuring the scoring surface. Separation of the game 
pieces may also be accomplished using a Cassini Oval shaped container or a 
vertically partitioned container. 
The viscous transparent liquid may be a combination of water and glycerine 
or oil. Since the fall rate of the game piece is dependent on a 
combination of factors, including: liquid viscosity, specific gravity of 
the game piece, shape of the game piece (as regards flow motion through 
the liquid), constriction of the liquid between container sides and the 
game piece, the combination can be controlled whereby the fall rate needed 
to provide optimum suspense time, a relatively repetitive timing period, 
and desired number of rotations wanted to avoid player influence is 
provided. The viscosity of the liquid helps keep it relatively bubble 
free. Since the scoring surface is viewed through the transparent viscous 
liquid at the bottom of the column, the air/or gas bubble at the top is 
not an interference or distraction. When the column is turned relatively 
end for end, either manually or with a turning means, the bubble rises and 
strikes the game piece causing an uncontrolled tumble action to begin. 
The tumble action of the game piece can be further enhanced by use of an 
enclosed eccentric weight striking the internal raised segmenting ribs, 
causing erratic rotation. 
The manner of use of the turning means is as follows; the chance column is 
installed in the collar, the suction cup is attached to a flat surface, 
the means is actuated whereby the collar rotates causing the chance column 
to rotate relatively end for end and the game piece to fall due to 
gravity. 
A dodecahedron shaped game piece is preferred because it provides several 
basic advantages; one, most games of chance using game pieces have six 
sided cubes which are numbered one thru six, therefore, since only the top 
facet or scoring surface of the dodecahedron shows when it is at rest, the 
duplication of numbers causes more suspense as it tumbles without player 
control; two, the shape of the dodecahedron lends itself to tumbling in 
liquid since it offers less obstruction and the viscous liquid flows more 
easily around the eased facets allowing more rotations in a given 
container length. 
Though the column with a multi-faceted game piece bearing forward and 
backward indicia, greatly enhances play in most games, and the forward and 
backward indicia may be provided in various ratios, the combination of two 
or more containers or two or more game pieces within one container in 
cooperation, geometrically increases game playing possibilities by 
providing an add, subtract and cancel feature. To illustrate the subtract 
feature; if one game piece shows 6 positive or forward and another shows 3 
negative or backward, the player would net 3 places forward or positive. 
To illustrate the add feature; if one game piece shows 5 negative and the 
other game piece shows 6 negative, the total result would be 11 negative 
or 11 backward steps. An illustration of the cancel feature; where game 
piece "one" shows number 4 green and game piece "two" shows number 4 red, 
the net result is 0 or cancel. Therefore, using one game piece, which is a 
dodecahedron numbered 1 thru 6 in red and 1 thru 6 in green, the throw 
could result in any one of twelve possibilities. By adding a second game 
piece, the effect of add, subtract and cancel is 1 of 288 potential 
results, or 24 times the number of possibilities. Plus and minus, or other 
arithmetic supplements are shown in prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 
3,892,410 to Hoetzel and U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,194 to Lapadura. U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,892,410 teaches the use of multi-sided game pieces bearing numbers 
on each face which are included in a set of spheres and shakers, the game 
pieces are agitated by removal of a platform bearing an arithmetic 
instruction, such as add, subtract, etc., allowing the game pieces to fall 
and thereby be agitated. U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,410 teaches the use of three 
dice in the play of Backgammon wherein two dice are conventionally 
numbered and the third die incorporates three plus and three minus signs 
in addition. The special die determines the additional forward or backward 
moves to be made. When the sum of the three dice are all plus, three moves 
are made forward by the number of each die. When the minus number on the 
special die is less or equal to the number on one of the regular dice, 
subtract from that die only. 
It will be seen from the above descriptions and drawings that an amusement 
chance device has been invented which is extremely effective in providing 
suspense, greatly enhanced chance possibilities, reduced player control, 
repetitive timing capability, ease and economy of manufacture and new 
versatility when used with many present chance controlled games. 
Though preferred embodiments of the chance device have been described 
herein with reference to accompanying drawings, it is to be understood 
that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and changes 
and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, without 
departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.