US2216278A - Bombing game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. l, 1940. F. wLNl-:w

BOIBING- GAME APPARATUS Filed March 23., 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VENTOR.

nmz/E miam wm .hummm Od., 1, 1940. F, M, NEW 2,216,278

BUMBING GAME APPARATUS Filed March 2s, 194e :s 'sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. l, /fp M /VEM Oct. 1, 1940. F. M. NEW

oumo GAME APPARATUS INVENTOR. FRED M. NEW. BY /em BOMBLAMPS Ell-IE! IT LAMPS Patented Oct. 1, 1940 n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,216,278 oMBlNG GAME APPARATUS Fred M. New, New York, N. Y. p `Application March 23, 1940, Serial No. 325,627

Claims. (Cl. 273-101.1)

This invention relates to game apparatus and at the targetfas well as on a score board to simulmore particularly to apparatus in which airplanes taneously signalize the establishment of a or similar devices are used for bombing or like bomb hit. purposes to` hit a target or targets. n It is a still further object of the `present inven- 5 It is a feature of this invention to provid tion to provide releasing means remote from the means for directing from an airplane or similar said airplane and said targets on the platform `movable apparatus a light beam simulating the adapted lto be manipulated by the operator, who trajectory of a bomb to hit said target. views said light beam laterally thereof to spot out It is another feature of this invention to prothe target to be hit by said light beam. This l0 vide ymeans for indicating at the location of said feature particularly differentiates game apparatus lo target if the latter is properly hit or not. made Vin accordance with this invention from It is still another feature of this inventionto those known and in use as shooting game apparelatively move said airplane or similar device at ratus wherein an aiming device including a gunvarying speeds in a predetermined path and like implement with sight means is employed for above said target to be hitfy bringing into alignment the eye of the operator It is a further feature of this invention to di- With said sight means and target or targets, movrect a light beam for aiming purposes from said able or otherwise. Inrsuch devices electrical conmovable device at said target. tact with the shooting or aiming device `is Still another feature of this invention is to proestablished when such alignment condition is y5:0 vide remote indicating means with respect to said brought about. n

i hit target for signalingthat said latter is prop- In further `contradistinction to said known erly aimed at. shooting or aiming devices the device at present Yet, another feature of this invention resides .contemplated brings into play the Senses of judgin the provision of light means adapted to illumiing, estimating and approximating the timely renate the said target whereby when said light beam lationship between and coincidental positioning 25 from said airplane is substantially in alignment of two or more relatively movable objects, for eX- with one of saidf light means and upon releasing ample, of a movable beam of light and affixed of a control device another of said light means is target, whereby the ability and skill of a person switched over to signalize that a proper hit has or operator is developed. The device lends itself `:l0 been effected or established. as an amusement instrumentality in which the 30 It is still a further object of the present invenoperator is also an eye witness or observer of the tion to provide an educational amusement device bombing scene-in-action.

in which the releasing of a bomb" and estab- The foregoing and other objects and features lishment of an actual hit of a target or targets of the invention will become more `clearly apparby said bomb is` simulated by dashing on of ent from the following description, which is de- 35 direct or indirect illuminating means. scriptive of a preferred embodiment of the inven- Still a further object of the present invention tion illustrated in the accompanying drawings. is to provide a coin operated apparatus having a However, the embodiment hereinshown and deplurality of targets forming a target course and scribed being for purposes ofillustration'only, it

`40 arranged on a platform (the targets being noris to be understood that such modifications may 40 mally in a dimly lighted atmosphere) and an airbe made, when desired, within the scope and `plane thereabove, preferably the airplane being spirit of the invention as claimed. i

relatively movable to the said platform and pro- In the drawings `jecting through an aperture facing said target Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of the electrical concourse, a beam of light on the platform, the beam nections employed for carrying out the invention. ,45

of light selecting or spotting `out successively the Fig. 2 is a perspective fragmentary view of an targets during movement of said airplane formapparatus made in accordance with the invention. ing alight projector means, remote means being Fig. 3 is a top View of the driving mechanism further provided operable for establishing an employable in the invention.

.50 electrical contact at a moment when the light Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view shown 50 beam strikes a target to bring into effect illumiin section on an enlarged scale of the apparatus 4 ,nating means indicating that a hit of said shown in Fig. `1. i i

target has been made. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are top views of parts of the It isstill another object of the invention to proapparatus, shown in Fig.4, taken along lines `5i, E, `5:15 vide indicating means inthe movable airplane, `l, respectively. l i 455 Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, there is provided a housing I0 having a front window I I whereby the inside of the housing I0 may be viewed by the operator and observer (not shown). Within housing l0, there is arranged a substantially horizontal platform I2 upon which there are disposed a plurality of targets Ia, 2a 6a' |0a, said targets being successively arranged with respect to each other and spaced from one another. The targets may be of any desirable form and may represent any desired target object or objects providing a target course. The platform may be representative of any desired landscape which includes roads with armored cars, tractors, battle ships, airplanehangars, etc. u

which may be dimly illuminated by indicating means or lamps, as, for example, I4, 14a'y (Fig. 4). Light projector means I5 simulating a bomber or like aircraft device is suspended on a bracket I6 which is rotatably mounted in a partition I1 of housing I0. Bracket |6 has a vertical extension I8 which projects within a box I0 within which is disposed the driving mechanism for bracket |6 and certain electrical connections later described.

Light projector means I5 is provided with a tubular extension 20 having an aperture positioned above and facing said target course and said indicating means. Light projector means 20 is adapted to emit through said aperture light rays successively and continuously upon the said target objects of said target course on the platform I2. The beam of light 2| assumedly simulates the trajectory of a bomb when released or dropped from a bomber.

When the bomber I5 (upon insertion of a coin (not shown) into coin slot slide 28) is made to follow a predetermined path, as will be described further below, and at the moment the light beam 2| traverses and thus spots out a selected target, say, for example 6a (Fig. 4) and the bomb release 22 (Fig. 2) is operated, thereby actuating vrod. 23, then at this instant red light lamp Ls will be brought into operation (through the circuit hereinafter described) thereby simulating an explosion and a proper hit will simultaneously be indicated on the board 25 arranged at the top of housing I0. In order to provide passages for the light rays from lamps I4 and Le, respectively, and other corresponding lamps to the said targets, openings 26, 21 areprovided-in platform I2.

.Every time the bomb release lever or button 22 -is operated the dropping of a bomb will be indicated on board 25, whether a hit is made or not. After, for example, ten bombs are released, which will be successively indicated on board 25, the game automatically stops functioning, and it will require the insertion of another coin in coin slot 28 of the apparatus to put the game again in operation.

Within casing I9, there is mounted an electric motor 30 provided with a rotatable shaft 3| upon which is fixed a pulley 32 over which is trained a belt 33, the latter also being trained over a preferably larger pulley 34 fixed to shaft I8 and bearing against a bushing 35. Provision may be made for varying the driving speed of pulley 34. To this end, there may be provided a cam 36 xed to rotate with shaft 3|, said cam 36 being engaged with a cam follower 31 rotatably mounted on bracket 38. Bracket 38 is pivoted at 39 to a bearing 40 which may be secured on partition I1,

Vand has rotatably mounted at its end 4| a grooved pulley 42 constantly urged againstbelt 33 by a spring 43, one end of which is attached to bracket 38, and the other end of which may be secured to a stud'44 on partition I1. It is well understood that as shaft 3| rotates the follower 31 will be caused by engagement with cam 36 to vary the pressure of pulley 42 on belt 33, thereby varying the speed of pulley 34 and shaft 8 connected thereto. Therefore airplane I5 may follow a circular path at non-uniform or varying speed, thereby making the apparatus more interesting and more difcult to manipulate.

Shaft I8 is supported in a bracket 45 mounted on partition I1. Fixed to bracket 45 is a disc 46 having three brush arms 41, the latter contacting respectively the contact rings 48, 49, 50 mounted on disc 5| rotatable with shaft I8, said contact rings being the electrical connections to white and red light lamps WL and RL housed in the airplane I5 (Figs. 1 and 5). The underside 52 of disc 5| has a pusher or switch member 59 which, during rotation of disc 5|, will respectively and successively actuate switch contacts Ia, 2a, 3a etc., circumferentially arranged on partition i1. It is evident that the pusher or switch member 59 may be of any predetermined length and width or may be made telescopically adjustable in length to maintain electrical contact as long as desirable between, for example, the leaves 53, 53a of contact 6a or 54, 54a of contact 1a, etc.

The operation of the game apparatus together with the electrical connections shown in Fig. 1 will now be described.

Upon insertion of a coin (not shown) in coin slot 50 of slide 28, the latter being retracted, the `following circuit will be established:

Contact will be closed between A and B (Fig. 1) and timer W will also be closed (in a manner well known in the art) and thus put primary P1 of transformer T1 across power source S.

Closing of A and B which occurs momentarily, energizes reset coil RC of bomb counter sections C1--C2 allowing the same to be reset to zero through the following circuit:

Contact point B, leads |00, |0I, |02, RC, leads |03, |04, |05, |06, terminals E-F of secondary P2 of transformer T1 to ground G2 back to contact A through ground G1 and lead |00a. Reset coil 'RC has an armature which is engageable with a dog of the bomb counter ratchet wheel. Every time the bomb release 22 is operated pointer 55 of bomb counter Ci-Cz moves forwardly one digit, that is from zero (0) to one (1), from one (l) to two (2), etc., which progressive movement of pointer 55 is brought about by an electrical system described herein below. When the said coin is inserted to start operation of the machine the reset coil RC will attract its armature disengaging said dog from said ratchet wheel and causes the latter while being under spring tension to return to its initial position in which pointer 55 will be set at Zero (0). 'Ihis dog and ratchet arrangement under control of a relay is well known in the art and is therefore not deemed necessary to be set forth in more detail. Counter section C1 functions as an end switch which is mechanically connected to counter section C2. Pointer or switch arm 55 and arm 56 of C2 are both xed'to a common shaft 51 and therefore will rotate simultaneously in successive stages, arm 56 passing from Zero (0) over terminals |35, |36, etc., to switch on bomb lamps B1, B2, B3, etc., arm 56 being connected by means of leads |45, |25, |05 to secondary Pz of transformer T1. One

leg of each bomb lamp is arranged to contact the 75 rotatable switch arm 56,1the other lleg-offeach bomb lamp being groundedatGs, making thereturn through G2 tothesecondary P2 of transformer T1. 1

When A andB will be closed, then contacts A and C (normally closed) will open, thereby breaking electrical lock ofl all` hit relays R1, R2, R3, etc., Rio. Relays R1 to R10 are normally open and some or all will be closed during the operation `of the apparatus, In resetting 4C1- C2 'as aforesaid, switch relay SR will be deenergized vas its circuit is open because switch arms 55, 56 are returned to zero and no `further electricaliconnection is established with the `secondary P2 of transformer T1. Upon ldeenergizationfofr said relay SR contact blades at switch S1 and switch S2will `be closed (normally `open under' spring tension); switch S2 thus energizes motor M through the following circuit: Switch S2, lead |01,` motor M, lead |08, primary P1 of transformer T1, lead |09, back `to switch S2. Mechanically `connected `to motor M as by means of a shaft 58 is' a switch arm 59 of the contactor unit of target TC. When motor M is energized switch arm '59 will rotate over contact points la, 2a, 3a, etc., to |0a successively and continuously in the direction of the motor drive.

As above mentioned deenergization of switch relay SRalso causes closing of switch S11, `which thus completes the circuit for bomb counter relay BC and white light lamp WL of the airplane or bomber l5 in the following manner:

For white lamp WL: S1, lead ||0, ground G3, ground G2, terminals E F of secondary P2 of transformer T1, leads |06, ||2, WL, leads ||3, H4, ||5backto S1; a l f For bomb counter BC: lead ||0, ground Gs, ground G2, terminals `of secondary P2 of transformer T1, leads |06,.|||, |8, ||6, bomb release momentary contact BMC1, lead I Il, coil BC, lead ||5, back to S11. BMC1 is` caused to close by momentary contact relayMCR, the latter being energized through the following circuit, when bomb release BR is closed:` S1,-lead ||0,ground G3, ground G2, terminals of secondary P2, leads |06, |1||, ||8, ||9, BR, lead |20, MCR, leads |2|,I|4,||5backtoS1. l

When bomb release 22 having the contacts BR is closed the circuit for MCR (momentary contact relay) is completed and momentary contacts BMC1 and BMC2 are momentarily closed by action of energized MCR. v

Closing of BMC'1 by MCR operates red-light RL of airplane and further bomb counter relay BC through the following circuit: BMC1, leads ||6, ||8, |06, terminal E-F of secondary P2 of transformer T1, ground G2, ground G3, lead I0, switch S1, leads H5, H4, H3, red light RLback to BMCi and also from BMC1 to BC through lead I Il placed in parallel with thegformer circuit.

Energization of bomb counter relay BC' causes stepwise advancement of counter lsections C1 and C2 through conventional ratchet and wheel mechanism hereinabove mentioned.` 1

As set forthabove with respect to bomb release 22 each operation thereof will result in the pointers or contact arms 55, 56 of counter sections C1-C2 being forwardly moved in one-digit stages and corresponding bomb lamps Bi to B110 are thus switched on. Now,` after, say, ten vbombs have been thus released switch or contact arm 55 will `have reached the dotted line position `at point ten of the dial, whereby thefollowing' circuit will `be closed: Point l0, lead `|25,switch relay SR, ground G4, ground G2, 4terminal F-E'of\sec ondary P2 of transformer T1, leads |06, |05, |25,

|26 to pointer 55 back to point |0.

By this circuit switch relay SR will be `energized, and made operable to open switches S1 and S2, thereby deenergizing again the hereinabove mentioned circuits for motor M, relay BC, plane lights WL and RL and relay MCR.

Simultaneously with the closing of BMC1 by momentary contact relay MCR, bomb release momentary contact BMC2 will also be closed. Thus the following circuit for hit relays R1 to R10 may be established; all hit relays are connected on the one hand to leg |2`||3| (which is joined to leads |28, |29, contacts A--C, lead |00a. and ground G1) and on the other hand through relay contacts R12 to R102, leads |30, relay coils to the other leg H8 (which is joined to leads H8, |06, terminal ll-ll, secondary P2 of transformer T1, and ground G2). Leads |30 further connects with target contacter TC and its terminals la to |0a over which switch arm 59 slides, which in turn is conected through lead I2 to momentary contact BMC2.

Now, referring to Figs. 2 and 4, airplane I5 is revolving and the light beam 2| is approaching target 6a.. If, at the moment said beam 2| is thrown on target 6a bomb release lever 22 is op-` erated bomb release contacts BR (Fig. 1) will close and the circuit containing the latter will be established, as above described.

In Fig. l, for example numeral 6a on target contactor TC represents the relative position of said light beam 2| on target 6a.' (Fig. 4), switch arm 59 being mechanically connected to motor M through sha-ft 58 will thereby establish a circuit causing hit light l-Ie on board 25 (Figs. 1 and 2) and target red light Le (Figs, 1 and 4) to be illuminated. This circuit is as follows: Momentary contact BMC2, lead |2`||3|, relay contact Rs2 (closed by energization of coil Re), lead |30, coil of relay Rs and leads |28, |29, contacts A-C`, ground connections G1-G2, terminals F--E, secondary P2 of transformer T1, leads |06, I||, ||8, H8', coil of relay Re, lead |30, relay contact Rss, lead |3||21 back to BMC2. Hit light Hc and target red light Le are connected in parallel and across leads |2'ia and |32; the lead |32 connecting with contact 6a of target 6m through lead |36 and said contact 6a. of target 6a.' connecting with lead H2 back to BMC2. Lamps H and Le are illuminated during closing of relay Rea and will remain .so until the end of the game because, although switch arm 59 (operated by motor M) will immediately pass over contact of target 6a and thereby open the respective circuit at said contact, the current will be shunted through the now -engaged contact at Rs2, thereby maintaining the circuit formed by leads |3I, |28, |29, contacts A-C, ground connections G1-G2, secondary P2 of transformer T1, leads 1 |06,.|||, |48, H8', lead |21, coil of relay Rs. It is to be understood that bomb release switch BR is of the momentary type and after being operated for closing its circuit will automatically and instantly open again said circuit (before pusher arm `59 will move fromcontact 6a. of target 16a to that of target la etc.)

1 i Only when bomb release lever 22 (BR) is operated at the exact moment that pusher or switch member 59 causes connection between `the leaves of any of the contacts la to |0a will a hit of the bomb be established 'and indicated at the board by a corresponding lit hit lamp and by a lit Sbomb lamp signalizing the number of bombs already Aused up for establishing Said hit.

Selection by the operator `of the target to be hit is made through light bea-m 2|, vwhich coordinates the position of a target on platform l2 with the position of the corresponding contact on partition Il, for example, with respectto target 6a', switch leaves 53, 53a (of target contact 6a) and pusher memb-er 59. After a hit has been made or missed another target may be selected in a similar manner until ten (10) bombs are released by manipulating bomb release 22 (BR) ten times. Upon insertion of a further coin the game may then be repeated for a further operation.

It is apparent that the plane I5 may be made to revolve and the platform and targets thereon may remain stationary or any two or more of said airplanes, platform and targets may be made to relatively move and preferably at different speeds. It is further evident that any conventional switching arrangement (not shown) may be provided to cause instant illumination of lamp I4 (Fig. 4) only, when light beam 2l of airplane I5 is approaching target, say, 6a', in order to make the game more attractive and to direct the eye of the observer and operator to said target proper. From the above it will be seen that there has been provided according to this invention a game apparatus comprising a substantially horizontal platform, at least one target disposed at said platform, electrically operable indicating means positioned below said target for illuminating the same, light projector means simulating an aircraft for aiming at said target a-nd having an aperture, means to continuously move said projector means in a predetermined path above and relatively to said target, said projector meansI being arranged in superposed relation to said target and said indicating means and being adapted to emit through said aperture a beam of light simulating bomb dropping, said light beam being directed toward said platform and traversing said target when said projector means is moved along said path, hand-operated switch means simulating bomb releasing mechanism and including an electric circuit, and electric mea-ns coordinated to said target and includable in said circuit, said switch means being adapted to operate said indicating means through said electric means when said projector means is substantially in a position above said target and said light beam strikes the latter whereby said indicating means may signalize that said target is properly aimed at by said projector means Although I have described my improvements with considerable detail and with respect to a certain particular form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to such details since many changes and modifications in the form, arrangements, proportions and sizes thereof may well be made without departing from the spirit and Scope of my invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A game apparatus of the character described comprising a substantially horizontal platform, a plurality of targets successively and spacedly arranged from one another on said platform providing thereon a target course, electrically operable indicating means adjacent each of said targets, light projector means simulating an aircraft for aiming at said targets and having an aperture, said aperture of said projector means being positioned above and facing said target course and said Vindicating means, means to move said projector means in a predetermined path above said target course, said projector means being adapted to emit through said aperture a beam of light simulating bomb dropping, said light beam traversing said indicating means when said projector means is moved along said path, and hand-operated switch means simulating bomb releasing mechanism and including an electric circuit, said switch means being adapted to operate said indicating means through said circuit When said light beam is substantially in a position coincident with one of said indicating means to signalize through the latter if its adjacent target is properly aimed at by said projector means.

2. A game apparatus of the character described comprising a housing, a substantially horizontal platform in said housing, a plurality of targets forming a target course disposed at said platform, a group of electric lamp means adjacent each target for illuminating the same, light projector means simulating an aircraft for aiming at said targets and having an aperture, said aperture of said projector means being positioned above and facing said target course and said lamp means', means without said housing to move said projector means in a path substantially coextensive with and above said target course within said housing, said projector means being adapted to emit through said aperture a beam of light simulating bomb dropping, said light beam successively traversing said lamp means when said projector means is moved along said path, and handoperated switch means simulating bomb releasing mechanism and including an electric circuit, said switch means being adapted to operate through said circuit one lamp of a group of said lamp means when said light beam substantially strikes said group of lamp means to signalize through another lamp of said group if its adjacent target is properly aimed at by said projector means.

3. Algame apparatus of the character described comprising a substantially horizontal platform, a plurality of targets forming a target course disposed at said platform, electrically operable indicating means adjacent each of said targets for illuminatingA the same, light projector means simulating an aircraft for aiming at said targets and having an aperture, said aperture of said projector means being positioned above said target course and said indicating means, means to continuously move said projector means in a predetermined path above and relatively to said target course, said projector means being adapted to emit through said aperture a beam of light simulating bomb dropping, said light beam traversing said target course when said projector means is moved along said path, and hand-operated switch means simulating bomb releasing mechanism and including an electric circuit, said switch means being adapted to operate said indicating meansI through said circuit when said light beam is substantially in a position coincident with one of said targets to signalize through said indicating means ii' its adjacent target is properly aimed at by said projector means.

4. A game apparatus of the character described comprising a substantially horizontal platform, at least one target disposed at said platform, electrically operable indicating means positioned below said target for illuminating the same, light projector means simulating an aircraft for aiming at said target and having an aperture, means to continuously move said projector means in a predetermined path above and relatively to said target, said projector means being arranged in superposed relation to said target and said indicating means and being adapted to emit through said aperture a beam of light simulating bomb dropping, said light beam being directed toward said platform and traversing said target when said projector means is moved along said path, and hand-operated switch means simulating bomb releasing mechanism and including an electric circuit, said switch meansI being adapted to operate said indicating means through said oircuit when said projector means is substantially in a position above said'target and strikes by its light beam the latter whereby to signalize through said indicating means that said target isI properly aimed at by said projector means.

5. A game apparatus of the character described comprising a substantially horizontal platform, at least one target disposed at said platform, electrically operable indicating means positioned beloW said target for illuminating the same, light projector means simulating an aircraft for aiming atn said target and having an aperture, means to continuously move said projector means in a predetermined path above and relatively to said target, said projector means being arranged in superposed relation to said target and said indicating means and being adapted to emit through said aperture a beam of light simulating bomb dropping, said light beam being directed toward said platform and traversing said target when said projector means is moved along said path, hand-operated switch means simulating bomb releasing mechanism and including an electric circuit, and electric means coordinated to said target and includable in said circuit, said switch means being adapted to operate said indicating means through said electric means when said projector means is substantially in a position above said target and said light beam strikes the latter whereby said indicating means may signalize that said target is properly aimed at by said projector means. v

FRED M. NEW.

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