GB680713A - Improvements in amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

680,713. Mechanical race games. BRITISH AMERICAN NOVELTY CO., Ltd., and BRENNER, B. W. April 5, 1950. [April 8, 1949] No. 9645/49. Class 132 (ii). In an electrically controlled and operated race game in which competing players each have a figure to be advanced towards a goal, the figures 19 are each mounted on a slider 12 running on a guide rail 10 and advanced by an endless cable 13 driven, for forward and reverse movement, by an electric motor 37 which is controlled by relays operable by a master switch and player operated control switches. The apparatus is set by closing the master switch. The player then projects balls up his own table 65 to holes 67 under each of which is a pivoted member 59 which momentarily makes a contact 62 which operates relay mechanism to advance the figure one step along the rail 10. One of the contacts 62 is adapted to operate another relay which causes the motor 37 to advance the figure two steps. Bunkers 66 or the like may be provided on the table 65. When the figure reaches the goal end of its track, an abutment 21 hits a pivoted member 22, an abutment 27 on which closes a switch which, through relay mechanism lights a lamp, makes an audible signal and interrupts the current supply to the motors of all the figures. The master switch is next operated to energize a relay which reverses the supply to all the motors which then drive the figures back to the start, whereupon a tappet 17 on the cable 13 rocks a pivoted member 23 an abutment 28 on which opens a switch in the supply to the reversing relay and hence renders the device ready for a new race. At the start of a race a counter is energized and, when a race is completed, it records the race. Also at the start a bell and a lamp are energized through a relay; the circuit to which includes a switch. To enable a trial race to be run, this last switch is opened thus rendering the bell and lamp inoperative. The trial race proceeds until a tappet 18 on the cable 13 rocks a pivoted member 32 to close a switch 24 which stops the trial race. The step given to the figure is determined by timing mechanism driven by the motor 37 through a slipping clutch so that, when the figures are being reversed, the current to the motor is not interrupted. The driven pulley 15 for the cable 13 is coupled to the driving gear of the motor by pins 20. The figure 19 is pivoted to the slider 12 and is provided with a pendulous weight 96 so that a rocking motion results. The playing table 65, the motor 37 and the relays, the guide rail 10 and the figure 19, and the master switch are formed as easily disconnected units for replacement purposes. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 641,529.