Improvements relating to Dice and Dice-boxes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 189.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Dice and Dice-boxes.
We, MATHILDE SCHOTT, residing in the City of New Haven, No. 75 Dinwel!
Avenue, in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, United States of
America, Milliner, and ANDREW BURDELL DOBBS, residing at 81 Day Street, in the
City and County of New Haven, Manufacturer, both in the said United States of
America do hereby declaro 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 dice and dice boxes adapted for use in the game of dice
throwing, or as a counter or indicator in connection with other games or trials of
hazard or chance.
It is well understood that, in the game of dice throwing, several dice are generally
thrown from a box held in the hand of the player, and after the sum of their valuo is
computed they are picked up and again put in the box preparatory to again
throwing them.
This invention has for its object to overcone these inconveniences and for this
purpose we only use one die in a hand dice box, instead of using three or four as is
usual, and yet, when desired, we do not materially lesson the range of numbers or
values in counting from that with four ordinary dice.
The invention consists of a hand die box, which is preferably closed so that the die
cannot fall from it whatever he its position, and is provided with a chamber in which
the die can freely turn in any direction and a contracted or neck portion connected
with said chamber of approximately the size, in cross-section, of the die used, this
contracted portion having an opening through which the numbers placed on the sides
or faces of the die when lying in that portion of the box can be observed; also of a
die having numbers or marks of value on each of its sides or faces when used with
a dice box as above described.
Referring to the drawings-
Figure 1 is an elevation view of a dice box made in accordance with my invention,
with a die in position therein.
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the box with the cover removed.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of my improved die, and
Figure 5 is a modified construction of the box and die.
In these views, A represents the die. This is a block of any suitable material
having any desired number of sides, though we prefer to use a cabe. In order to
provide the usual range of numbers or values we prefer to mark each side or face of
the die with four numbers near the corners of such faces, as seen in Figure 4, which
will give a range of numbers from 1 to 24, inclusive. For convenience in locating
these numbers the faces of the die may be divided into four equal squares and a
number placed in each square. It will therefore be seen, in using such a die, if but
a single number be read from successively exposed faces, that the values of the single
numbers, as well as the range of their values, is substantially the same as though four
dice of the common form and numbering were employed and the sum of the values of
their exposed faces taken at every throw.
B represents the dice box, which may be of any suitable material. This box is
closed by a lid and is preferably corrugated upon its inner surface at D to give the
die a rolling motion when it is being thrown. The body or main chamber E of the
box is large enough to permit the die to be turned over in any direction and is
gradually curved to the contracted socket or neck F, which is at its lower end of a
square form in cross-section and a trifle larger than the die A, the chamber E and the

page_text: neck F forming a bottle shaped space in which the die moves.
At the end of the
neck is an opening G, smaller than the die, through which a number or mark of
value on one face of the lie can be seen.
Any form of die may be used in this boy, provided it is of such shapo that the
number or mark of value upon one of the faces will be brought opposite the opening G
where it can he readily observed.
If it is desired to give a greater range of values than can be obtained from the
numbers on the die when taken separately, one or more additional openings G may he
made in the neck, each of which will register with a number upon the faces of the
die when in position, and the sum of the numbers then exposed may be taken.
In the modified construction shown in Figure 5, the opening G is located centrally
through the wall of the neck F of the box. and the die A, instead of being marked
with four numbers upon ench of its sides, is marked with a single number or mark of
value, which may be a numeral, or other mark as a dot or series of Jots, located
centrally upon each face of the die, so that when the box has been shaken and turned
down to bring the die into position on the bottom of the neck F', the number or mark
upon one of the fares will register with the opening G. This construction employs
the same principle hereinhefur describal, namely, a single die numbered upon each
of its faces and capable of being turned in the chamber of the box to bring any one
of its faces opposite to the opening G, and though the range of values is quite
limited, it can be used for many purposes,
In practice the box is tossed or shaken by the hand of the player and then it is
held upright as in Figures 1 and 5, with the opening G towards the player. As the
box is brought to this position the die falls into the contracted neck, and one of the
numbers upon one of the faces appars through the opening G and indicates the value
of the player's throw.
By these means the game may be carried on with one die, under conditions the
same as is common to the ordinary diee, and without the inconvenience of continually
adding the separate values of the dies and picking them up and returning them to the
box. Furthermore, these improved implements of the game are cheaper, and the die
is both protected and preserved with the box against being lost or misplaced.
This box and die may be used for most of the purposes to which the common dice
are applicable. They may be used to determine a chance count in other games, or to
indicate the order of play, as in the game of billiards known as pool. There are
also various uses that this box is capable of, as a toy, a game, or as a part of a game.
but it is not essential to mention these here, as the foregoing explains the purpose and
use of the invention.
Wo are aware that it has been proposed to make a dice box revolving in fixed
supports and containing five or more dice, each having four numbers on one face
only, the dice being held in the hox so that the common plane of their numbered faces
cannot change, and there being openings in the box through which one number on
ench face of three dico could be seen. This we do not claim. Our die and box are
constructed to obviate any addition of values as well as the use of more than one die
which is capable of being turned in any direction in the large chamber E of the box
so that the numbers upon all of its sides or faces may be brought successively opposite
the opening G in the contracted neck F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :—
First. A dice box, consisting of a chamber in which the dio can turn freely in any
direction and a week or socket of substantially the shape of the die, the neck being
provided with an opening of loss area than the face of the die through which the
numbers on the faces of the dio when opposite the opening can be soon.
Second. The combination of a die having each of its sides or faces numbered or
provided with a mark or marks of value, and a dice box consisting of a chamber in
which the die can turn freely in any direction and a neck or socket of substantially

page_text: the shape of the die, the neck being provided with an opening through which the
numbers on the faces of the die can be seen.
Third. The combination of a die having each of its faces or sides marked with four
numbers, or other marks of value, and a dice box consisting of a chamber in which the
die can turn freely in any direction and a neck or socket of substantially the shape of
the die, the neck being provided with an opening through which the numbers on the
faces of the die can be seen.
22
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants