US1371845A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

0. V. BORGESON.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1920.

Patented Mar. 15, 192i.

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AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8, 1920.

. Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

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Arron/Ins WIT/VESSES UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE.

OSCAR 'VILHELM BORGESON, OF BROOKLYN, NEN YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HERMAN SCHULTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented llc/lar. 15, 1921.

Application filed March 18, 1920. Serial No. 366,825.A

To all whom it may conce-rn Be it known that I, OSCAR V. BoRGnsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Amusement Device, of Which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to amusement devices, toys, games or the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device which is in the nature of a game requiring a Certainamount of skill and in which the element of luck plays only a secondary part, thus rendering the same highly amusing and interesting to the participants of the same.

Another object in view is to provide an amusement device which simulates a race lcourse over which a plurality of racing bodies are adapted to be moved between a starting point and a goal, each of said bodies being under the direct control of one of the participants of the game, with mechanism provided which permits the participants to match their skill in avoiding penalties for a failure to observe certain restrictions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which includes automatic means for returning the racing bodies to they starting point after the Winning body has reached the goal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which includes means for automatically presenting the front of the bodies in the direction ofk travel in order to simulate more closely the real instrumentality which is represented.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the foregoing and other objects, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and which is automatic in operation to high degree.

With these and other objects in view which will be more readily apparent as the nature, purpose and operation of the device is better understood from the following description anvd'claims, reference is had to the'accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the assembled device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view therethrough with parts broken away to Adisclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 3 is, a fragmentary plan View.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional'view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference Which denote like parts throughout the several views thereof, 10 designates a frame defining a stage 11 in front of which is positioned a counter 12. At opposite ends of the stage and supported by the frame work are arranged the transverse beams 13 and 14 between which are suspended a plurality of parallel suspension cables 15 which constitute trolleys throughout the length of which are movable a plurality of carrier blocks 16 each of which is designed to be supported by a pair of said cables, said carrier blocks are being provided with tubular guides 17 through which the cables are passed in mounting the same thereon. Racing bodies 18 here illustrated as .minature aeroplanes are swivelly supported from the carrier blocks by the pinion shafts 19 which pass through a centralaperture in the blocks and are provided` with pinions 2O keyed to the upper extremity thereof which protrudes above the upper surface of said carrier blocks. A rack bar 21 is longitudinally slidable on the upper surface of each carrier block in the guides 22 and the teeth of said rack bar engage and co-act with the teeth of the pinion 2O for a purpose to be hereafter set forth. The opposite extremities of the rack bar are provided with apertures for the reception of the terminals of an endless drive belt 23 which is trained around the idler pulley 24 secured to the transverse beam 14 and around the drive pulley 25 arranged adjacent the transverse beam 13.

The means for rotating each of the drive pulleys 25 comprises the individual operating wheels 26 secured to the vertical shafts 27 which pass through the counter 12. Each `of said shafts 27 is provided with a beveled gear 28 meshing with a similar gear 29 on the rearwardly extending shaft 30 which `is provided at its opposite end with a bevel gear 31 meshing with a bevel gear 32 on the vertical shaft 33. The upper end of the vertical shaft is provided With a cone friction clutch member 34 which normally engages the cone clutch member 35 upon which the drive pulley is mounted. A centrifugal speed governor 36 is provided in the length of the shaft 33 adjacent the clutch member 34 in order to control the engagement of said clutch member with the clutch member 35. When the drive pulley is revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 the initial movement of the belt 23 will exert a pull on the rack bar 21 thereby moving the same through the guides until the toothed portion thereof engages the forward guide to arrest further movement thereof. The engagement of its teeth with the pinion will serve to rotate said pinion and itsshaft 19 in order to present the nose of the racing body simulating an aeroplane7 in the direction of travel. Further rotation of the drive pulley will advance the carrier toward the beam 14 which will be hereinafter termed the goaL Means for returning the carriers toward the beam 13 hereinafter termed the starting point, is provided and said means includes the drums 37 each of which is mounted upon a transverse stationary shaft 38. A. convolute spring 39 is secured at one extremity to the shaft 38 as at 40 and at its opposite extremity Ito the drum as at 41. A cable 42 is secured to the drum at one extremity and adapted lto be wound thereon. `The opposite extremity of said cable is attached to the rear end of Athelrack bar 21. Then the carriers are advanced toward the goal the cables 42 will be unwound from the drum resulting in the winding up of the spring 39 on the shaft 38 and the placing of said drums undera tension. p

In operation of the device each player selects one of 'the operating wheels 26 and turns Ithe same inthe proper direction to advance his plane or racing body 18. Should any one of the players seek to advance his plane above a predetermined speed the centrifuga-l governor 36 will disengage the clutch member 34 from the clutch member The drive pulley and clutch member 35 willlthen be free to move and immediately the tension on the spring` 39 will exert a pull on the cable -42 initially moving the rack bar 21 to the rear `to present the nose of the plane toward the starting point and further resulting in the returning of the carriage and plane to the starting point thus penalizing the player for his lack of skill in judging the maximum speed at which the plane will travel. The clutch member 35 is supported by a vertical shaft 43 mounted in the brackets 44 for vertical movement, a stop 45 being provided to limit the downward movement of the same.

Means ifs provided for returning all of the carriers to the cstarting point7 when the winning plane reaches'the goal and said means includes a rock shaft 46 havingV a plurality of arms 47 keyed thereto for movement therewith, the free extremities of said arms being bifurcated or forked as at 48. Trunnions 49 are provided in the furcations of the bifurcated portion 48 and 'the same engage in the annular groove 50 formed in the sleeve 51 of the clutch member 35. A cam 52 is keyed to the rock shaft and provid-ed with an offset lip 53 which is normally engaged by the offset portion 54 of the pivoted catch 55. An arm 56V is secured to the rock shaft 46 and a coiled con* tractile spring 57 is secured at one extremity to the free terminal `of the arm 56 and at its opposite extremity to the frame 10 whereby to normally exert a tension to rotate the shaft in thedirection indicated by the arrow when the offset portion 54 of the catch 55 isdisengaged from the offset portion 53 of the cam 52. The meansfor disengaging the offset portions 53 and 54 comprises a second rock shaft 58 mounted transversely in the frame adjacent the beam 14 and a depending arm 59 secured thereto and connected by the cable V60to the catch 55. A plurality of triggers 61 are also secured to the rock shaft 58 and are each p0- sitioned between pairs of suspension cables 15 which support the respective carriers so plane contacts with its trigger arm 61 the rock shaft 58 willbe rotated to exert a pull Y on the cable 60 for disengaging the offset portion 54 from the offset portion 53 of the cam. rlhe rock shaft 46 will be'rotated under the action of the spring 57 thereby lifting the arms 47 and disengaging the clutch member 35 of each clutch from' its respective clutch member 34 to Vpermit all of the drums 37 to rotate under the action of their springs 39 whereby to return all ofA the carriages and planes to their starting point simultaneously; Means is provided f or rotating the rock shaft 46 in the opposite direction to reset'the mechanism and engage all of the upper clutch members 35 with the lower clutch members 34 simultaneously and at the same time dispose the `offset portion 53V in engagement with the offset portion 54. The said means includes an arm 65 secured to the rock shaft 46 adjacent the front wall of the frame 10 dening the stage a-nd a pivoted operating lever 66 connected thereto by means of a length of eable'67.

While the racing bodies have been here illustrated as miniature aeroplanes, it is of course understood that such a showing is merely illustrative of one form of racing body which may be employed. It is also to be understood that the frame work, counter and stage may be dispensed with and any other arrangement or construction of a supporting frame substituted if desired.

While there has been illustrated and described a preferred form of apparatus, it is to'be understood that variations and modiications which fall wit-hin the scope of the appended claims and which do not depart from the spirit of the invention may be resorted to when found expedient.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim` as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an amusement device, a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality of racing bodies adapted to be moved between the starting point and the goal, independently operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal, and means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means above a pre-determined speed, comprising a clutch, a centrifugal governor for controlling the same, a drum mounted adjacent the starting point, a cable connecting the racing body to the drum, and means for tensioning the drum upon movement of said body toward the goal.

2. In an amusement device, a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality of racing bodies adapted to be moved between the starting point and the goal, independently operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal comprising an endles belt having its ends connected to the body, an idler guide pulley adjacent the goal and a drive pulley adjacent the starting point over which said belt `is trained, a driving mechanism for said belt, and means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means above a predetermined speed, and means operable by the winning body upon its arrival at the goal for automatically rendering all of said returning means active whereby returns all of said bodies to the starting point simultaneously.

3. In an amusement device, a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality of racing bodies adapted to be moved between the starting point and the goal, independently operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal comprising an endless belt having its ends connected to the body, an idler guide pulley adjacent the goal and a drive pulley adjacent the starting point over which said belt is trained, a driving mechanism for said belt, and means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means above a predetermined speed, said means comprising a clutch, a centrifugal governor for controlling the same, a drum mounted adjacent the starting point, a cable connected to the racing body and the drum, and means for tensioning the drum upon movement of the body toward the goal, in combination with means operable by the swinging body upon its arrival at the goal for automatically rendering all of said returning means active simultaneously.

4. In an amusement device, a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality of racing bodies adapted to be moved between the starting point and the goal, inf dependently operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal comprising an endless belt having its ends connected to the body, an idler guide pulley adjacent the goal and a drive pulley adjacent the starting point over which said belt is trained, a driving mechanism for said belt, means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means above a predetermined speed, said means comprising a clutch, a centrifugal governor for controlling the same, a drum mounted adjacent the starting point, a cable connected to the racing body and the drum, means for tensioning the drum upon movement of the body toward the goal, in combination with means operable by the swinging body upon its arrival at the goal for automatically rendering all of said returning means active simultaneously, and means for initially presenting the front end of the bodies in the direction of travel.

5. In an amusement device simulating an aeroplane race, a frame having spaced transverse supporting beams and a plurality of parallel cables suspended therebetween to constitute a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality of racing bodies supported by and movable over said cables between the starting point and the goal, independently operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal, and means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means beyond a pre-determined speed.

6.. In an amusement device simulating an aeroplane race, a frame having spaced transverse supporting beams and a plurality of parallel cables suspended therebetween to constitute a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality of racing bodies supported by and movable over said cables between the starting point and the goal, independently operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal, means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means beyond a pre-determined speed, and means for rendering all of said returning meansV active simultaneously upon the` arrival of the winning body at the goal.

7. In an amusement device simulating an aeroplane race, a frame having spaced trans'- verse supporting beams and a plurality of parallel cables suspendedtherebetween to constitute a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality4 of racingbodies supported by and movable over said cables between the starting point and the goal, independently operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal, means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means beyond a predetermined speed, means for rendering all of said returning means active simultaneously upon the arrival of the winning body at the goal, and means for initially presenting the forward end of the bodies in the direction of travel of the same.

8. In an amusement device, a plurality of carriages, racing bodies carried thereby, an overhead suspension means for Supporting said carriages, said suspension means deining a race course having a starting point and a goal between which the carriages are adapted to be moved, independently operf able means for advancing Vthe carriages toward the goal, means for returning each of said carriages to the starting point, and' means for initially presenting the front end of the bodies in the direction of travel of its carriage, comprising a vertical shaft secured to each body and j ournaled in its carriage, a pinion on each shaft, a longitudinally shiftable rack engaging said pinion and having its opposite extremities respectively connected to the carriage advancing and means respectively on the carriage and rack adapted to co-act for limiting the shaft of the rack.

9. In an amusementdevice, a race course having a starting point and a goal, a plurality of racing bodies adapted to be moved between the starting point and goal, independent-ly operable means for advancing the bodies toward the goal comprising an endless belt having its ends connected .to the bodies, an idler guide pulley adjacent the goal and a drive pulleyadjacent the starting point over which said belt is trained, a driving mechanism for said belt, means for returning each of said bodies to the starting point upon operation of its advancing means above a predetermined speed comprising a clutch, a centrifugal governor for controlling the same, a drum mounted adjacent the starting point, a cable connecting the racing body and drum, means for tensioning the drum upon movement ofthe body toward the goal, and means for rendering all of said returning means active simultaneously upon the arrival of thewinning body at the goal comprising a commonshaft traversing all of said clutches, arms secured to said shaft and respectively engaged with oneof the members at each clutch, means for rotating said Vshaft to cause thearms to disengage the clutch members, Vmeans for :normally retaining said shaft against rotation, and means connected within said latter means and arranged adjacentV the goal in the path of movement of the racing bodies for releasing said retain-V ing means.

OSCAR VILH-ELM BQRGESON.`

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