US1377869A - Indicating mechanism for game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

. E. BLACKBURN.

INDICATING MECHANISM FOR GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILEQ FEB. 25,1919.

Patented May 10, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR 13/00/06/0 w,

Wit.

ORNEY W. E. BLACKBURN.'

INDICATING MECHANISM FOR GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 251 I9I9.

Patented May 10, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IATTORM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, WILMUTH E. BLACKBURN. or SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

INDICATING MECHANISM FOR GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed-February 25, 1919. Serial No. 279,103.

This inventlon is of the general type disclosed in my companion applications for game apparatus, filed Augu rial No. 187,327, and Serial No. 244,257, filed July 10, 1918, in that I employ a targetin rear of a ball runway, the latter having its rear portion curved upwardly to cause a ball or missile to be traj ected upwardly into contact with a baffle when caused to travel in the Y rangement of the game apparatus, the target direction of length of the runway, the target carrying a plurality of pockets into either of which the ball may fall after its contact with the baflie, the ball then being operative in tripping suitable mechanism forming part of an accumulative indicating structure normally hidden from view but adapted to expose an indication representing the 'accu mulations.

The present invention pertains more particularly to the indicating mechanism portions of such apparatus, diifering from the prior form in that the indications employed are carried by a suitable indication carrying member, which may be in the form of a web, movable relative to the exposure opening, the tripping mechanism being operative to cause a succession of web movements of varying length according to the particular value of the pocket into which the ball or missile may fall, the shifting of the web exposing a new indication representing the value of the pocket added to the amount of the previous indication.

The objects of the invention are to provide a construction of this type which is simple and eflicient in operation, durable in const 21st, 1917, Se-j after fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views 7 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus, of the general type referred to and in which the present invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the indicating mechanism, parts being omitted and others broken away.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same,

with parts left on for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 4: is afragmentary detail of a portion of a support, and

' Fig. 5 is a detail inverted perspective View of the controllingelements or tumblers employed inthe control of the length of web shifting movements.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the general arbeing indicated at a, the ball runway at b with the inclined portion 72, the balls or missiles at c, the baflle at d, and the goals or pockets at e, e and 0 these having different values according to the difliculty of pocketing the ball therein. For instance, goal 6 may have a value of fifty points, goal 6' thirty points, and goal 6 twenty points, goal e being the more diflicult to pocket owing to its size and location.

In playing the game a contestant is given a definite number of balls or uissiles-ten, for instance-which are rolled successively over the runway, contacting with the baifle and then passing into one of the pockets or goals,

each of the latter having. a passageway f leading from the pocket through which the delivered ball travels and down an offset ranged in rear of the target, and in which is mounted a supply drum 11 and a collection roll 12, these having secured thereto the opposite ends of a web 13, the particular embodiment shown being of the web type to permit of the use of'a largenumber of indision by tens.

and is then carried forwardand connected to a resetting mechanismshown as in the form of a lever 15, the connection being indicated as in the form of a rod 14, although the cable may lead direct to the lever. The

arrangement is such that asthe drum is rotated 1n the dlrection of accumulative advance'of the web, the cable is wound upon its sheave-a suitable amount of slack being provided for the purpose-so that when the lever is shifted to reset the indicator, the-unwinding of the cable will rotate drum 11 in the opposite direction.

The shaft of roll 12 also carries a pulley or sheave 16 on which is mounted a cable 17 carrying a weight 18, the direction of wind of this cable being such that as the web is withdrawn from the roll during the resetting operation, the cable will be wound on its sheave, the weight then acting as the power to shift the positions of the drum and roll as the tripping mechanlsm permits the web formingthe' connection between drum and roll for the purpose;

Where drum 11 only is used, the two sheaves would be carried by the drum shaft, this being a well-known form of mechanism for rotating a drum in opposite directions.

The web carries a succession of indications-shown as numbers-indicating values, these being arranged in uniform progression, with the indication of least valuegenerally zeroforming the first indication from the end secured to roll 12, the particular arrangement shown providing progres- For a pur'pose presently described, the zero or starting indication is so arranged onthe web that when it is opposite the exposure openinglof the target-'indicated at h-a portion of the web will be wound upon the roll; in other words. the arrangement is such that the particular portion ofthe web carrying the starting indication can be carried beyond the exposure opening during the resetting operation, although the completion of this operation finds this indication in proper-position relative to the exposure opening, this being provided by a return of the web under the action of weight 18 after the indication has been moved past the opening.

The major portion of the web is normally wound on drum 11, the latter, at the close of the resetting operation, acting to restrain the weight from advancing the wehfrom its position of exposing the starting indication, untilthe tripping and web-movement contro ling mechanisms release the drum roll 12.

Drum 11 carries an annular series of pins or rods 20 extending parallel to the drum axis, these rods being shiftable longitudinally to. control the amount of projection on the front of the drum and acting on the order of an escapement structure to determine the length of angular movement of the drum under the action of the weight.

The shifting movements of the rods or pins 20 are provided in the following manner:

Located in front of the drum. and mount-' ed on a suitable rod or pivot 21, are a plurality of tumblers 22, 23 and 24-three being shown in correspondence with the num- Thev tumblers are arranged ber of goals. side by side and may, as shown, be of different sizes, each being of suitable configura tion, shown as triangular, and have their forwardly projecting portions resting on ends of levers 26, 27 and 28 mounted on brackets 29 carried by the frame. The levers correspond with the number of goalsone for each goal-and as the ball or missile travels from the goal to a return runway, it passes into contact with the corre-' arms 25 projecting upwardly from the rear ward direction, thereby taking them out of the plane of an upright 10 which forms a part of the frame and which forms an element of the escapement structure, it being understood that a projected pin will contact with the upright and prevent advance of the drum, and when the pins are shifted, thisrestraint is eliminated by the movement of the pins.

The tumblersshown inverted in F g. 5

are so arranged ,that tumbler 22-that for' goal e is located adjacent the upright, and since the goal value represents two of the tens, it-is of a size and so positioned as to be effective on the two pins that may be projected in immediate advance ofthe upright-the first pin being that which is prowith the upright,thus again restraining the advancing movement, the distance traveled being such as to advancethe web a distance of two indicatlons, so that the exposed 1ndica tions will indicate a value of two tens 7 j 130 greater than the previous exposure.

viding the drum restraint. Hence, when rently shifted, and hence there is a connec indication progression-one ten in the partion between these tumblers 22 and 23, this connection being in the form of a recess 23* carried by tumbler 23 and a pin -22 carried by tumbler 22, the recess permitting tumbler 22 to operate alone, while the pin and recess connection causes a movement of both tumblers when-tumbler 23 is operated, so that movement of tumbler 23 serves to shift three'pins, and permits the drum to advance the angular distance corresponding to, a shifting of the web for a distance of three tens indications. A simllar pin 23 and recess 24 on tumblers 23 and 24 provide this, joint movement when tumbler 24 is actuated, the movement of this tumbler thus 1 concurrently moving all of the tumblers and.

shifting five pins-representing the value of five tens in the web indications. 7 a

From this it will be understoodthat each pin represents a value of one ten 'step in'the ticular embodiment, shown, and it therefore;

becomes necessary only that the tumblers;

be so formed as to shift thenumber of pins which representsthe total number of steps represented by a goal value. At" the end of each advance movement of the drum a new set of pins is located in rear ofthe tumblers, ready for the succeeding operation under which the web is advanced from the last position 'the number of tens correa result, the number of 'pinsf employed in,

the drum becomes more or less immaterial, since the drum may be rotated-a plurality of times in unwinding a lengthy web with many indications, each advance positioning a new set of pins for operatiom v eration of this escapement structure is de pendent upon the presence of projected pinswhen opposite the tumblers, while the tripping mechanism shifts. these pills into the:

opposite position; To provide the return shifting action so as to reset the pins/after the tumblers have been actuated, I employ a roller 30 or other form of 'structure--operating in the nature of a cam-son-the rear side of drum l1 and in the path of the pins which have been shifted rearwardly, the,

rear of the several tumblers plus one pin.- In the drawings I have shown the position of the cam S0 a'sto provide for tWo a d only.

As will be understood, the successful 'opai n-vance or less than a single revolution. As

' tional pins, this, of course, being illustrative As a result, it will be understoodthat while the tumblers operate to shift pins 05 rearwardly in accordance with values, thus providing drum advance angularly, such advance automatically restores the pins to projected position as each passes the cam roller 30, sothat a constant supply of'projeoted pins is present to permit the web advance to any point within the limits permitted by its length on the drum. I

r .In playing the game, the apparatusis re -1 set before the beginning of the operation by the succeeding player, this beingprovided by actuation of lever 15, the movement of which serves to rotate drum 11 in the opp-osite direction. a 7

As will be readily understood this reverse movement of the drumbringscertain difficulties to the fore. For instance, the actual drum-holding pin-that in contact with the -upr1ght must be projected to serve its purpose in the succeeding operation, and yet it must be shifted in order to pass the upright during the advance. )shifted rearwardly during the advance and which have not reached roller 30 are inthe retracted position and'while capable of passing theupright during the return are not in position to provide drum-holding action; onthe other hand, these pins which have passed the roller are projected and there-' Hence, these pins .fore must be retracted before they can again pass the upright during the return movement. 1 j a To meet these a'cam-face 10 in upright 10 -see Fig. 4- this cam face being so positioned to shift rearwardly any projecting pins which may be present in the succession of pins passing the upright during the return movement, thus permitting free return movement of the drum regardless of whether it has made .a plurality of revolutions during the adi-they reach this roller during this movement,

but since they are again shifted rearwardly conditions, I have provided y cam-face 10", this projecting action has v no effect onthe operation.

It is by this action of roller 30 that the resetting operation is completed, the presence-of the extra web portion heretofore referred to, permitting the web to be carried a distance sufficient to cause the particular pin which may represent the zero or start- ,ing indication, to reach roller 30 during this return movement, thus projecting this par- I ticularpin, so that when the-movement of lever 15 hasbeen completed and the weight becomes effective, the drum is free to' advance until this particular pin comes into its drum-holding position, thus locating the starting indication, opposite the exposure opening. To illustrate: Assuming pin m in Fig. 3 to represent this particular pin,

the return movement of the drum will be suflicient to carry it to the position 3 before 1 the lever completes its re-setting movement-the parts being so arranged that this movement mustbe completed, but not exceededwhereupon the advancing movement will carry it to thew position.

As will be. understood, the particular construction shown is simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction, and can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost. And while the structure provides accuracy and ease in operation, the parts are of a character as to withstand rough usage withable or essential in meeting the exigencies of the particular use to which it may be applied, and I desire to be understood as reserving the rig ht'to makeany and all such changes oixniodifications as may be found necessary or desirable, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanyinglclaims, when broadly construed.

aving-thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In game apparatus wherein a succession of balls or missiles may be projected toward a targethaving goal values, means for visually indicating the values of goals made, said means including. an elem'ent rotatable in opposite directions and forming a carrier for indlcatlons arranged in a definite value-progression, said element being ,positioned in definite relationship to an indication exposure opening and having its movements in one direction by a succession of stages and in the opposite direction continu ously through an angular distance not less than the angular distances traversed in the totality of stages, and means including control mechanism operative in the element movements in both directions for providing and controlling such element movements, said latte-r means including power means permanently active to provide element movements in the direction of stage advance, and restralnlng means normally active to prevent such element movement and rendered temporarily inactive in the presence of goal value production.

2. In'game apparatus wherein a succession of balls or missiles may be projected toward a target having goal values, means for visually indicating the values of goals made, said means including an element rotatable in opposite directions and forming a carrier for indications arranged in a definite valueprogression, saidelement being positioned in definite relationship to an indication exposure opening and having its movements in one direction by a succession of stages to rotate the element through a totality of angular distances of a magnitude determined by the accumulative values of the succession of goals made and in the oppositedirection continuously an angular distance not less than such total distance, and means including control mechanism operative in the element movements in both directions for providing and controlling such element movements, said latter means including power means permanently active to provide element movements in the direction of stage advance, and restraining means normally active to prevent such element movement and,

rendered temporarily inactive in the presence of goal value production.

3. In game apparatus wherein a succession of balls or missiles may be projected to ward a target having goal values, means for visually indicating the values of goals made. said means including an element rotatable in opposite directions and forming a carrier for indications arranged in a definite valueprogression, said element being positioned in definite relationship to an indication exposure opening and having its movements in one direction by a succession of stages to rotate the element from a predetermined starting position through a totality of angular distances of a magnitude determined by the accumulated values of the succession of goals made and in the opposite direction continuously an angular distance not less than such total distance, and means including control mechanism operative in the element movements in both directions for providing and controlling such element movements, said latter means including power means permanently active to provide element movements in the direction of stage advance, and restraining means normally active to prevent such element movement and rendered temporarily inactive in the presence of goal value production.

4. In game apparatus wherein a succession of balls or missiles may be projected to- Wvard a target having goal values. means for visually indicating the values ofgoals made, said means including an element rotatable in opposite directions and forming a carrier for indications arranged in a definite valueprogression, said element being positioned in definite relationship to an indication exposure opening and having its movements in one direction by a succession of stages, to rotate the element from a predetermined starting position through a totality of angular distances of a magnitude determined by the accumulated values of the succession of goals made and in the opposite direction continuously an angular distance not less than such total distance, means for providing the advancing stage movements, and means for providing the movements in the opposite direction, said latter means being operative to return the element an angular distance greater than the total distance of advance from said starting position, said advancing means being operative to locate the element .m such starting position, said advancing means including power means permanently active to provide the element advance movements, and restraining means normally active to prevent such power means activity and rendered temporarily inactive in the presence of goal value production.

' 5. In indicating apparatus of the accumulative type adapted for use with game apparatus having an indication exposure point; an indication-carrying element rotative in opposite, directions relative to apredetermined starting position, means for advancing the element in one direction by a succession of stages and including mechanism for selectively determining the angular magnitude of movement of the several stages, and means for moving the element in the opposite direction ;to locate it relative to such starting position, said latter means being operative to render the selective mechanism temporarily inactive to provide for continuous movement of the element in such opposite directions, an angular distance not less than the totality of distances traversed during the stage advance, said advancing means including power means permanently active .to provide the element advance movements, and restraining means normally act1ve. to

prevent such power means activity and rendered temporarily inactive in the presence of goal value production.

6. In indicating apparatus of the accumulative type adapted for use with game apparatus having an indication exposure point, an indication-carrying element rotative in opposite directions relative to a predetermined starting position,"mea ns for advancing the element'in one direction by a succession of stages and including power means permanently active to provide elementmovements in such direction, and-mechanism'normally active to prevent such power means activity and being rendered temporarily inactive in presence of goal value production, said mechanism being operative to selectively determine the angular magnitude of moves ment of the several stages, and means for moving the element in the opposite direction to locate it relatively to such starting position, said latter movement being continuous and of an angular distance greater than the totality of distances traversed during the stage advance, said mechanism permitting return movement of the element independent of stage control upon "completion of the continuous movement and for an angular distance corresponding to the excess movement of the latter means.

7 In indicating apparatus of the accumulative type adapted for usewith game apparatus having an indication exposure point, an indication-carrying element rotative in opposite directions relative to a predetermined starting position, means for advancing the element in one direction by a successionof stages and including power means permanently active to provide element movements in such direction, and mechanism normally active to prevent such power means activity and being rendered temporarily inactive in presence of goal value production, said mechanism being operative to selectively determine the angular magnitude of movement of the several stages, and means for opposite directions relative to a predeterminedstarting position, means for advancing the element in one direction by a succession of stages, and including mechanism for selectively determining the angular-magnitude of movement of the several stages, and means active to render the selective mechanism temporarily inactive and for moving the element in the opposite direction to lo cate it relative tosuch starting position, said mechanism including a member operative as a stop, a plurality of members carried by the element and shiftable into and ,out of the plane of said stop, and control means for shifting said members to provide an escape action of definite length. V

9. In indicating apparatus of the accumulative type adapted for use with game apparatus having an indication exposure point,

an indication-carrying element rotative in opposite directions relative to a predetermined starting position, means for advancing the element in' one, direction by a succession of stages, and including mechanism for selectively determining the angular magnitude of movement of the several stages, and means active to render the selective mechanism temporarily inactive and for moving the element in the opposite direction to locate it relative to such starting position, said mechanism including an escape means operable to permit element advance of variable angular distances to provide accumulative advance development by stages, and means for controlling the escape means to limit advancing movements of a stage to definite limits variable as to successive stages.

' 10. In indicating apparatus of, a the accumulating type adadpte'd for use with game apparatus having an indication exposure point, an indication-carrying element rotative in opposite directions relative to a predetermined starting position, means for advancing the element in one direction by a succession of stages, and including mechanism for selectively determining the angular magnitude of movementlof'the several stages, and means active to render the selective mechanism temporarilyinactive and for moving the element in theo'pposite, direction to locate it relative to such starting -means to limit advancing movements of a stage to definite limits variable-as to suecessive stages.

11. In indicating apparatus-of the accumulative type adapted for Withgame apparatus having an indication exposure in the opposite direction to locate it relative to such starting position, said latter movement being continuous and of an angular distance not less than the totality of distances traversed during the stage advance, said mechanism including a stop, a plurality of member-s shiftableinto and out of a position to engage the .stop to provide escape action, means for shifting the members into stop+engaging position during advance of the element, control means operative on one or more of the members to shift themout of such position to permit escape by the stop and provide stage advance, and independent means rendered active during element re- "turn movement for shifting positioned mempoint, an indication-carrying eleinent-rotative in opposite directions relative to apreof members shiftable into and out of'a posidetermined starting position, means for fad- 1- vancing the element in one direction by a successlon of stages, and including 'mechaa nism for selectively determining the angular magnitude of movement of the several succession of stages, and including mechabers to inactive position relative to the stop.

13. In indicating apparatus of the accumulative type adapted for use with game apparatus having an indication exposure point, an indication-carrying elementrotative in opposite directions relative to a predetermined'starting position, means for advancing the element in one direction bya ances traversed during the stage advance,

said mechanism including a stop, a plurality tion to engage the stop to provide escape action, means for shifting the members into stop-engaging position during advance of the element, control means operative on one stages, and means active to render the selec- V tive mechanism temporarily inactive and for' moving the element in the opposite direction toiocate 1t relative to such starting position, sald latter movement being continuous and of an angular distance not less than the totality of distances traversed during the stage advance, said mechanism including a stop, a plurality of membersshiftable'into and out of the plane of said stop, means operative to shift the members into position to complete stop contact, and control means for shifting one or more positioned members out of such contact to permit stage advance.

12. In indicating apparatus ofthe accuor more of the members to shift them out of such: position to permit escape by the stop and'provide stage advance, and independent Imeans rendered active during element return tance suflicient to locate a predetermined ,member in co-operative relation to said length of return movement.

member-shifting means to advance the memher into stop-engaging position, whereby the element" advancing means may' return the element a distance equal to suc excess with the advanced'member operative to limit the 14. In indicating apparatusof the accumulative type adapted for use With game apparatus having an indication exposure point, an indication-carrying element rotative in oppositedirections relative to a predetermined starting position, said element carrying a plurality of members shiftable in directions parallel to the element axis, means for shifting the members individually to provide predetermined projection of the members relative to the element, a stationary stop located in the path of a projected member, control means for shifting one or more of the members out of projected position to permit element advancmg movement, means for advancing the element an angular distance permitted by the control means operation to produce an advancing movement by stages, and means for moving the element in the opposite direction by continuous movement and for an angular distance not less than the totality of distances traversed during the advancing movement, said means including mechanism for shifting the members in directions to render the control means temporarily inactive.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 17th day of February, 1919.

'WILMUTH E. BLACKBURN.

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