Bingo masterboard
United States Patent [191 Militello 1 1 BINGO MASTERBOARD [76] inventor: Frank Militello. 436 Garretson St..  
 Rodeo, Calif. 94572 {22] Filed: May 13, 1974 {21] Appl. No.: 469,459  
 [52] US. Cl 273/144 A [51] Int. Cl. A. A63f 3/06 [58] Field of Search 273/148 R 122 R, 122 A.  
 273/125 R, 125 A, 144 R, 144 A 144 B;  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.3501182 8/1920 Suto 273/125 R 2,565845 8/1951 Frederick... 312/307 X 3.044.780 7/1962 Silvermun 273/144 A 3118.677 1/1964 Lang 273/144 R FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 764.774 3/1934 Fruncc 1. 273/125 R 1 51 Apr. 8, 1975 449.310 4/1968 Switzerland 273/138 A Primary E.raminerAnton O. Dechsle Armrney, Agent, or FirmHarry A. Pacini [57 ABSTRACT Game equipment as an improved portable Bingo masterboard inc luding a flat top board surface with five rows of fifteen holes each to receive game counters. u flat retainer board, positioned beneath and communicating in close proximity with the lower surface of the flat top board. The retainer board is reciprocally mounted with one or more springs. Said retainer board is movabiy mounted whereby the counters can fall through the holes in the top board and pass to and through a slot at the end of the masterbourd to a counter container.  
 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures FKJENTEE 975 3,876,209  
 sum 1 of z FIG 2.3  
 ILFIG. 2,3  
 BINGO MASTERBOARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved Bingo masterboard. More particularly, this invention relates to a new and improved Bingo masterboard for recording, easily clearing of the board and return of the calledplaying pieces to the caller.  
  The existing Bingo masterboard equipment, especially portable or hand-held models, comprise a board surface with indentations in which the counters rest. At the end of the game the counters must be returned individually to the counter container or receptacle from which the counters are drawn. When many counters are drawn during the game the task becomes tedious and cumbersome. If the game is not played under ideal conditions. recovery of dropped pieces becomes difficult if not impossible. At times it is desirable to play the game as a portable game. Under portable conditions complete control of the counters is important and vital to the continuance of the game.  
  Masterboard equipment which permits an accurate accounting of the counters and return of the counters to the counter-container is highly desirable. Also desirable is a portable Bingo masterboard which incorporates these desirable features.  
  It must be appreciated that existing masterboards as described require many manipulative steps to return the counters to the counter containers.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objects of the present invention are to provide for an improved Bingo masterboard which permits and provides for the recording of the counters or discs or balls, and rapid return of the counters to the counter container.  
  Another object is to provide an improved portable or stationary Bingo masterboard which permits and provides for the recording of the counters and rapid return of the counters to the counter container.  
  Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent from the following description when considered with the following drawings in which:  
  FIG. I is a front view of the surface or top board of the game masterboard.  
  FIG. 2 is a cut-away sectional side-view taken on line 2-2 through the game masterboard, with the retainer board in the rest position.  
  FIG. 3 is a cut-away sectional sicle-view taken on line 33 through the game masterboard, with the retainer board in the depressed position.  
  FIG. 4 is a sectional cross-view taken on line 44 through the masterboard viewed through the exit slot 15.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be generic in their ap plication as the art permits.  
  Like reference numbers and characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.  
  In the accompanying drawings and description forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.  
  Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 which are schematic cutaway sectional side-views of the game masterboard. For more complete and specific embodiments of this invention, reference is also made to FIGS. 1 and 4.  
  As illustrated the improved masterboard of this invention comprises a top board or playing board surface 1 having a plurality of holes 18, preferably equidistantly spaced. For the game of Bingo the top board 1 contains five rows of fifteen holes 18 in each row each to receive a randomly selected game counter 3. The top board I is attached to sides 6 and said sides attached to a bottom board 5. At one end of the masterboard, preferably the upper end and positioned between the topboard l and the bottom board 5 is one or more lifting wedges 13 comprising an acute angular member. By using a sufficient number of guide channels 11 and by placing at least one set on the sides 6 opposite the exit opening 15 the lifting wedge can be omitted. Interposed beneath the top board I is a flat reciprocally movable retainer board 7. The movable retainer board 7 is large enough to cover the plurality of holes I8 in the top board 1. The retainer board 7 is attached at 14 through a spring member 12 to the bottom board 5 at fastening means 20. One or more spring members is suitable. Any spring means for urging the movable retainer board against the top board is suitable. This spring means includes helical springs, compressable springs, leaf-springs, coil-springs. elastic members of rubber and the like. The movable retainer board is equipped with one or more sets of guide pins 10 which communicate in slots or guide channels 11 in sides 6. Said guide channels 11 are preferably inclined toward the exit opening 15. A pull member 8 is secured at one end to a means for pulling such as a cord 9, lever or the like and secured at the other end 17 to the reciprocally movable retainer board 7 at 17. The sides 6 at the lower end opposite the lifting wedge 13 form an exit opening 15. Preferably the sides 6 are tapered to form an exit opening or slot 15 which allows the game counters 3 to be removed and emptied into a counter container 2. To aid in holding and positioning the counter container 2 near the exit slot 15 the game masterboard is provided with a plurality of supports 4 for holding or attaching a means for holding the counter container 2. Any form of means for pushing or pulling downwardly on the reciprocally moving retainer board 17 is contemplated.  
  The principle on which the invention is based, as well as the operation of the masterboard, will be best understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 represents the masterboard with the reciprocally movable retainer board 7 in the in the rest or positive position. Pressure is exercised by the spring 12 on the movable retainer board 7 during the positive or rest portion of the action. The movable retainer board 7 thereby is kept in close communication with the underneath surface of the top board 1 so as to effectively close the holes 18 thereon. Together the top board 1, the movable retainer board 7 and the holes 18 form an indention in which the game counters or discs or balls. are placed.  
  A continuous downward force on the pull member 8 can now relieve the pressure on the movable retainer board 7 and allow the game counters 3 to fall through the holes 18 in the top board 1 onto the retainer board 7. While as long as the spring 12 remains in the rest position. as in FIG. 2, the resultant force is directed toward the top board 1 urging said retainer board 7 against the underneath surface of the said top board l. The lifting wedge 13 keeps the retainer board 7 in posi tion. By using a sufficient number of guide channels 11 1nd by placing one set on the sides 6 opposite the exit apening 15 to the lifting wedge l3 can be omitted. At Lhe same time, when a continuous force is applied to null 8 the lifting wedge 13 cooperates therewith to guide the retainer board 7 downwardly to slide during the movement ofthe retainer board 7 into the actuated aosition, FIG. 3. With the game counters now through the holes 18 in the top board 1 and resting on the retainer board 7, the entire game board is tilted slightly as to cause the game counters 3 to exit the opening or slot 15. The game counters 3 are collected in the counter container 2. Upon release of the continuous Force on the pull 8 the spring 12 causes the retainer board 7 to slide upwardly, lifted by the lifting wedge 13, and guided by the guide pins 10 in guide channels 11 until the retainer board 7 returns to rest beneath the top board 1, FIG. 2. A new game is about to begin.  
  By using the present invention it is thus possible to have a convenient and portable means for recording game counters, as discs or balls, during a game and for :learing the game board and returning the game count :rs to the counter container with a minimum of effort. Although the masterboard and its action is described herein in terms of the popular game known as Bingo or lotto, it is contemplated herewith that the equipment and action described can be easily adopted to any game which employs selected game counters as discs or balls which must be recorded during the game and latter returned to a game counter container. The top board 1 :an be easily adopted for many such games.  
  Although the game masterboard is portable and convenient in that form, it is contemplated that the action :mployed therein can be adopted to a stationary apparatus. Similarly, although, a ring pull 8 is represented in the drawings, the employment is contemplated for any lever, trigger. pull or means for actuating or means For exerting a continuous force on the retainer board 7 to lower it to the actuated position of FIG. 3 and which would allow the retainer board 7 to return to the rest position of FIG. 2.  
  While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that, in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents various omissions, substitu tions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
 What is claimed is:  
 l. A masterboard comprising a. a flat top board having a plurality of holes for receiving game counters;  
 b. a reciprocally movable retainer board positioned beneath and communicating with said topboard;  
 c. a bottom board substantially the same length as the top board;  
 (1. sides attached to said top board and said bottom board and the length of said top board;  
 e. a lifting wedge positioned between said top board and said bottom board to close one end of the space formed by the top board, bottom board and sides. and communicating with said movable retainer board so as to urge said movable retainer in position beneath said top board;  
 f. spring means for urging said movable retainer board against said top board;  
 g. pull means for exerting a continuous downward force on said retainer board;  
 h. an exit slot for the game counters, formed by the top board, the bottom board and the sides.  
  2. The masterboard of claim 1 wherein said flat top board has five rows of fifteen equidistantly spaced holes.  
  3. The masterboard of claim 1 wherein said sides have one or more guide channels and said retainer board has one or more sets of guide pins which communicate with said guide channels.  
  4. The masterboard of claim 1 including a plurality of supports for holding a counter container.  
  5. The masterboard of claim 1 wherein said spring means is an elastic member attached to said top board and to said bottom board.  
  6. The masterboard of claim l wherein said spring means is a helical spring attached to said top board and