The present invention is in respect of a game device comprising a multi-rail track course along which pieces are movable.

From DE-OS 2 528 918 a race-track game belongs to prior art, in which the pieces are being moved along a track course by means of magnetic influence. To prevent a figuring-out on beforehand, which one of the pieces which is first to pass a predetermined finish line along the track, a number of magnets are attached onto a rotatable disk to be moved along and beneath the track. Down at the foot the pieces, which are movable along the track, the pieces are provided with magnets, the sides of the magnets of the pieces and of the magnets of the disk facing each other possess opposite poles. As a consequence, the pieces are dragged along the track in a manner, that it cannot be foreseen which one of the pieces is to first pass across the finish line. A drawback of this device is, however, that the pieces have a tendency of loosing their touch with one or more of the magnets carried by said disk, coming to a standstill on the track.

Therefore, when playing with this prior art race-track game, it is necessary to take the velocity of the disk along the track and the attractive force between the magnets of the pieces and of the disk into account.

The object of the present invention is, while eliminating said drawbacks, to provide a race-track game which in respect of its function and construction is simple and reliable.

According to the invention this object is obtained by a piece actuating member, which is movable along the path of the track and is provided with first magnets, the pieces being provided with second magnets located substantially in level with said first magnets, the pieces and the actuating member being arranged such that the sides of said first and said second magnets facing each other possess equally denominated poles, such that, when the actuating member is displaced along the track, the pieces are compulsary pushed forward ahead of the actuating member along the path of the track.

Preferred embodiments according to the invention show the characteristic features mentioned in the subclaims.

In the following, the invention is further illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred embodiment.

Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a game device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the same game device.

Figs. 1 and 2 thus show an embodiment of a race-track game device according to the invention for pushing forward pieces, in the present case four horses 1 carried by wheels, along a track. In this preferred embodiment, the track constitutes a closed loop, oval or circular, for instance, but obviously the track may have other configurations along its route. Thus, the track may be a non-closed one and, as an example, constitute a straight race-course. In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 the race-course has four tracks which are separated by ridges extending along the course, such as strips 2 or the like. As shown, one piece 1 is positioned in each track. A spoke 4 to be moved along the course is rotatably journalled on the shaft 5 carrying a gear ring 6. A pinion 7, attached to one end of a second shaft 8, is rotatable in the direction of the arrow 9 to rotate the gear ring 6 in the direction of the arrow 10 (Fig. 2), the spoke 4 being then moved towards the rear end of the pieces. A number of first magnets 11 are secured to and along the spoke 4, the rear part of the pieces carrying each one second magnet 12. The sides of the first magnets and the second magnets facing each other possess equally denomi¬ nated poles, wherefore, when the spoke 4 is moved toward the pieces, the latter are displaced away from the spoke by the repelling action of the magnets.

Preferably, the second shaft 8 is, at an opposite end, provided with a crank handle, not shown, located outside the track course. As an alternative, the spoke may be rotated by means of a motor, not shown. In the right hand part of Fig. 1 the pieces are shown as moved around half of the tracks relative to the position in the left part of Fig. 1, the right hand part better illustrating the arrangement of the magnet on the rear part of the pieces 1.

When the spoke is moved toward the horses in a start position, as in Fig. 2, for instance, each piece, when the spoke is approaching, will be pushed forward a distance depending on the rolling friction of the specific pieces, friction resistance at the support surface as well as the friction of the pieces at the edges of the tracks. When the spoke, which preferably moves at a substantially constant velocity, next time app¬ roaches the piece which was pushed forward the shortest distance, this piece is again pushed forward, thereafter the horse which before had moved the second shortest distance, and so on. It is easily to be seen, that, the length of the track not being too short, it will not be possible to figure

# out which one of the pieces will be first to pass a predetermined finish line,

IJUREA

OMPI

a prerequisite for the game to function in a satisfactory manner being that the motion of the pieces due to the repelling action of the piece and spoke magnets does not differ too much between the individual pieces. As an example and as illustrated by the right hand part of Fig. 1 the size of the wheels may be varied to make the pieces move differently far when influenced by the spoke magnets. Further, the pieces may be given different weights.

Within the scope of the present invention, the pieces may constitute subjects sliding directly on the support surface and may, for instance, consist of boats moving along paths arranged in a water pool.

Instead of being mounted on the shaft 5, the spoke 4 may be arranged in other ways. As an alternative, the spoke, or a member carrying said first magnets, comprises at least one downwardly directed gudgeon extending through a groove, which extends along the track and is actuated for motion along the track by a driving means arranged beneath the track, said driving means as the case may be being secured to the shaft 5. When, in this manner, said first magnets move along the track course, it may be arranged that the row of magnets always extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the track course.

Obviously, the spoke 4 is not necessarily provided with a plurality of magnets as in the embodiment illustrated and described above, in that one single magnet extending across all tracks may be attached thereto.

Although four tracks with pieces arranged thereon are shown on the drawing and described above, the number of tracks may vary from one single track and upwards as desired. With an embodiment having one single track, the game may be used in such a manner, that the second shaft 8 is rotated manually as fast as possible and time is taken of the motion of the piece from start to finish line.

The invention may be modified further within the scope of the accompanying claims.