A New Gaming Device, Serving as a Substitute for Dice-box and Dice.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New Gaming Device, Serving as a Substitute for Dice-box
and Dice.
I, EDMUND KRÜGER, of the firm of A. Krüger, of Manteuffelstrasse No. 116, Berlin,
in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is a device intended to replace the dice and dice box
for the purpose of preventing the noise and irregularities attendant on the mode
hitherto in use, of playing such game.
The improved device essentially consists of a circular box containing two superposed
horizontal plates connected by a suitable number of bolts having projections or
shoulders about their middle, the lower plate being attached to the bottom of the
box. Above the upper plate are provided three horizontal discs arranged symmetri-
cally in a circle and adapted to revolve with their pointed shafts passing through
the top plate in corresponding cavities provided in the bottom plate. Each of said
discs is marked on its top surface with signs or numerals from 1 to 6 inclusively
corresponding to the six surfaces of a die. To these signs or numerals appertain
respectively six through-going stop holes provided circularly at equal distances from
each other and countersunk at the bottoin. A disc provided in the centre of the
box above the other discs and having a friction ring of indiarubber or other suitable
material on its circumference, is adapted to be brought in contact with the three
indicator discs by overcoming the action of a spiral spring surrounding its shaft.
This central disc is easily revolvable with its pointed shaft in a cavity fitted in the
bottom plate, said shaft passing with its upper end through the cover of the box and
terminating in a knob. Between the two plates mentioned above, a stop device is
provided which consists of a loose circular plate bearing on the shoulders or projections
of the bolts, which pass through it and held in position by the action of spiral springs
surrounding the top portion of said bolts. The loose plate carries three pointed
vertical stop pins radially arranged at the same distance from the shafts of the three
indicator discs as the centres of the stop holes and is adapted to be raised by means
of a two-armed lever having its fulcrum in a bearing which is secured to the bottom
plate and terminating in a knob outside the cover. The latter has three square cuts
which are so arranged that, on the indicator discs being arrested by the stop device,
one of the six signs or numerals of said discs becomes visible below each cut.
On depressing and revolving the knob of the central shaft, the friction disc sets the
three indicator discs in rotation, which movement freely continues for some time after
releasing the knob. A pressure on the knob of the two-armed lever causes each of
the three stop pins to enter one of the stop holes and one of the six signs or numerals
of the indicator discs to appear below the cuts of the cover. On releasing the lever
knob, the stop pins resume their original position by the action of the spiral springs
surrounding the top part of the bolts.
TAL: 011
1000
HUELSER & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Gaming Device, Serving as a Substitute for Dice-box
and Dice.
I, EDMUND KRÜGER of the firm of A. Krüger, of Manteuffel Strasse No. 116 Berlin
in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to gaming devices and has for its purpose to provide a
tasteful and compact apparatus intended to replace dice box and dice and preclude
the noise and irregularities attendant on the old mode of playing at dice.
Referring to the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a top view of the improved apparatus.
Fig. 2 the same, the cover being removed.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along line ay Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 a vertical section along line a¹ y¹ Fig. 3, and
Figs. 5 to 8 illustrato details.
The circular superposed plates a and b, lodged in the casing G, are held in position
by means of bolts c, the bottom plate a being secured to the said casing G by means of
screws d. Above the upper plate three small horizontal disks e are symmetrically
arranged at equal distances from the centre of plate b and adapted to revolve easily
with their pointed shafts f, which pass through the top plate b, in corresponding
cavities provided in the bottom plate a.
Each of these indicator disks e, which represent the dice, is marked on its top
surface with numerals or points to indicate 1 to 6, that is to say, the six numbers
expressed on the faces of a die and has furthermore six radially arranged stop holes g
which are countersunk at the bottom and correspond to the points or numerals.
A disk provided in the centre of the box over the indicator disks, and having a
friction ring of indiarubber or other suitable material on its circumference is easily
revoluble with the pointed bottom end of shaft k-which passes through plate b-in a
corresponding bore of plate a, while the upper portion of said shaft passes through the
cover and terminates in a turning knob m.
Between the two plates a and b a stop device is provided, consisting of a plate n
resting loosely on shoulders or thickenings of bolts c and held in a depressed position
by the action of helical springs o. The plate n carries three vertical stop pins p
pointed at the top and radially arranged at the same distance from the centres of the
three indicator disks as the above mentioned stop holes g. The plate n is adapted to
be raised by means of the two-armed lever q, having its fulcrum on a bearings, which
is secured on bottom plate a. The extremity of the lower arm q' of said lever,
preferably broadened and hoop shaped so as not to interfere with the revolution of
the shaft k, while the other elbow shaped extremity q² of the lever passes through
slot t, provided in the cover l, and terminates in an outward pressing knob u.
The cover , secured to the casing G by means of screws has three square cuts w
which are radially arranged at equal distances so as to allow, on the indicator disks
being arrested by the stop device, one of the six signs or numerals of each indicator
disk to appear before each of the said square cuts.
The apparatus is operated as follows:
When the disk his revolved by the player turning the knob m, the friction
ring, which is so determined as to be in slight contact with the circumferences
of the indicator disks e, causes the latter to revolve with great rapidity. Each of
the cuts w in the cover 1, being placed in the periphery of the circle described
by the six numeral or point fields of the respective indicator disk, each numeral or
set of points passes its cut rapidly several times without being recognised owing to the
great rapidity of rotation.
To ascertain the result of the game of chance, that is to say, attain the incidental
equivalent for the top faces of three dice thrown at random, the knob u, i.e. the

page_text: lever arm is depressed, thereby raising through the arm q¹ the plate n with its stop
pins p. Each of the latter, being placed in the periphery of the circle described by
the stop holes g of the corresponding indicator disk, is thereby caused to enter
into one of the said stop holes 9 and arrest the respective indicator disk.
To ensure prompt stopping of the indicator disks, stop holes g are countersunk at
the bottom, (Fig. 7), in such a manner as to cause the rims of two adjoining
holes, (Fig. 8), to be in tangential contact on the lower surface of disk e. The stop
pins therefore, when raised enter one of the stop holes either direct or over an
inclined plane, thereby suddenly arresting the indicator disks, each of which presents
a numeral or series of points. The pressure on knob u being discontinued, the
helical springs o cause the plate n to resume its normal position for continuing
the game.
The friction ring i, as mentioned above, is only in slight contact with the circum-
ferences of the indicator disks e or rather lies closely above the same, the real or
sufficient contact being produced by the pressure by the player in revolving the
knob m.
This pressure being discontinued the friction ring rises and allows the
indicator disks to revolve independently. The relative positions of the latter therefore
must undergo modification and therefore the games played on the apparatus are in
fact games of chance.
The cuts ware marked on the cover with numerals 1, 2 and 3 to allow the
apparatus to be employed for games with one or two dice only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1) A gaming device being a substitute for dice box and dice in which three
indicator disks, contained in a casing and bearing each the signs of the six faces of a
die, are adapted to be set in rapid rotation by means of a friction disk revolved by
the player, and to be arrested, for ascertaining the result, by a stop device, thereby
causing one of the said signs to appear in each of three cuts provided in the cover of
the box, substantially as set forth.
2) In the apparatus forming the subject of claim 1) a device for promptly arresting
the indicator disks in proper position, consisting in countersunk stop holes, in contact
with each other at the bottom, in combination with pointed stop pins, provided on a
common plate and adapted to enter, when the latter is raised by means of a pressing
lever, each into one of the said holes, either direct or over one of the adjoining
inclined planes formed by the same, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of January 1890
EDMUND KRÜGER.
Per Huelser & Co.,
142, Fleet Street, London, Attorneys.