Illuminated dice and storage housing

• US 4,181,304 A
• Filed: 07/21/1978
• Issued: 01/01/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terry M. Haber
• Original Assignee: Terry M. Haber
• Inventors: Haber, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kramer, Arnold W.
• Application Number:
  US05/926,656
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 273/146, 273/58 G, 273/138 A, 273/DIG. 24, 200/61.1, 200/61.19, 200/61.59, 200/153 M, 200/DIG. 23, 307/143, 307/139, 362/394, 362/802, 362/155, 206/579, 206/315 R, 206/315 B
• US Class Current: 273/146
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2454 with LED
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/0457 for actuating a switch by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0413 Cuboid dice
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0495 Dice-boxes or similar storing means
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes

Abstract

Playing dice are provided with light emitting diodes in their interior together with a battery and master switch in each die. A light emitting diode is associated together with a gravity responsive switch in addition to the master switch for each die face, the arrangement being that the upward face of the die is illuminated after the dice are thrown. A storage housing is provided in combination with the dice, the housing including die receiving compartments having small projections for reception in small bores formed in one face of each die to open the master switch in each die so that there will not be drainage on the batteries when the dice are stored.

Claims

1. An illuminated die and a storage housing therefor including, in combination:

(a) a die incorporating battery and light emitting means;

(b) a normally closed switch in said die for connecting said battery to said light emitting means;

(c) a storage housing defining a die receiving compartment for said die; and

(d) means in said compartment responsive to the placing of said die therein to open said normally closed switch.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, in which there is provided a second die similar to said first die, said housing including a second compartment incorporating means responsive to the placing of said second die therein to open the normally closed switch incorporated in said second die so that said housing serves as a storage means for dice.

3. Illuminated dice and a storage housing therefor including, in combination:

(a) first and second dice each having a plurality of surfaces in which opposite surfaces lie in parallel planes;

(b) light emitting means in each die;

(c) energizing means for said light emitting means in each die;

(d) a normally closed master switch in each die for connecting and disconnecting said energizing means to said light emitting means;

(e) a housing for said dice having side-by-side die receiving compartments of inside dimensions corresponding to the outside dimensions of the dice so that the dice substantially fill the receiving compartments when placed therein, each die having a bore extending into its interior from a given face; and

(f) a projection on the floor of each die receiving compartment positioned to be received in said bore when said given face of a die is positioned downwardly to seat on said floor, said master switch means being located within said die so as to be automatically engaged by said projection to move to an open position whereby the master switch in each die is open when the dice are stored in said receiving compartments of said housing to avoid drainage of energy during storage.

4. The subject matter of claim 3, in which each die is in the form of a cube, each die receiving compartment having a cubical volume for receiving the die;

and a cover having raised square areas on its underside dimensioned to be received in the upper opening of said compartments to index the cover in position on said housing.