US1549084A

US1549084A - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US1549084A
Authority: US
Inventors: Otto U Husted
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-11-28
Filing date: 1924-11-28
Publication date: 1925-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1942-08-11

Description

Aug. 11, 1925,

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed NOV. 28, 1924 i l JIM I!!! I 4 v ATTO EY.

Patented Aug. Ill, 1925.

NETEEI) ,eaeet rarest QTTO U. Hos-ran, or n us a GITY, MISSOURI;

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

' Application filed November 28, 1924;- Serial No. 752,593.

and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a complete specification.

This invention relates to amusement devices and particularly devices wherein a counting head, operable by the throwing of balls is,used to determine the score and skil of the player.

More specifically this invention pertains to a new and novel counting head wherein the structure is less complicated and the result attained more satisfactory to the players.

A further object of this'invention isto provide a counting headwhich may be used inoonnection with the well known ball rolls ing surface which terminates in a semi-circular rolling surface leading into the rear of the counting head.

An even furtherobject of this invention is the provision of appropriate retrieving means for the slidably mounted score drop located on the front of the counting head facing the player. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and novel means of scoring in a game of this character wherein the scoring number orcounter is normally con cealed beneath the slidably mounted score drop and revealed only when the operating mechanism of that particular score drop is actuated by the ball thrown into the counting head by means of the semi-circular rolling surface.

With these general objects in view as well as minor objects which will appear in the course of the detailed specification and claims, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a game of this type embodying the improved counting head.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical central section of the counting head and a portion of the semicircular rolling surface. which introduces the balls into said counting head.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the counting head with the top removed to reveal parts contained therein.

Fig. 4 is a face view of the counting head showing one of the slidably mounted score drops in a lowered or released position and revealing a counting number.

Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the pivotally mounted operating pin.

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the score drop showing in particular the spring retaining means for maintaining it in the set position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein 7 designates the horizontal portion of the'ball rolling surface which terminates at one end in the upwardly and forwardly extending semi-circular surface 8, the scoring head positioned at the terminating end of rolling surface 8 comprises a housing 9 into which balls 10 are forced after they are thrown by the player and caused to roll along horizontal rolling sur face 7 and around surface 8.

To indicate to the player the score he has made, ball 10 is caused to enter scoring head housing 9 through the rear as shown in Fig. 2where'it strikes pin 11 pivotally mounted and suspended by a rod or similar 7 means 12. When ball 10 strikes the lower end of pin 11, the upper end draws cable 13 rearwardly and causes latch 14 to release its hold on the clips carried by a vertically sliding score drop 15.

As illustrated in the drawing there are a plurality of pins 11 and score drops 15 mounted within and upon scoring head housing 9 and the object of the player is to cause as many of the score drops 15 to lower as is possible. Pins 11 are spaced in such a way that a ball'properly thrown may strike the lower end of the two adjoining pins. This feature introduces the element of chance into the game and of course excites greater interest therein.

Further than that the scoring numerals 16 are painted or otherwise marked on the face board 17 of the scoring head at a point where they are concealed by scored drop 15 when the same is in a set position. The number is revealed only when the score drop assumes a lowered position. After a player has thrown a predetermined number of balls, the device is reset through any suit able mechanism such as illustrated. This resetting mechanism preferably, though not necessarily, consists of a transverse shaft 18 having a series of arms 19 projecting up wardly therefrom at points adjacent the "erticalcenter line of each score drop 15. A. cable 20 connects arms 19 to score drop 15 as shown, and when the score drop is in a set position enough slack is in cable 20 to permit of its dropping to a. lowered position without interference. Crank 21 rigidly attached to shaft 18 and made operable through cable 22 serves as a means for rotating the shaft 18 and arms 19 to a point where score drops 15 are again drawn up to the set position. A spring or other suitable retrieving means 28 may be used to return arms 19 to their normal position after they have been actuated to reset score drops 15. To allow the automatic engagement of pin 14 with score drop 15 a new and novel clip 23 is provided on the upper edge of score drop 15 which is preferably formed of spring wire and adapted to spring apart and pass around pin 14 when cable 20 pulls score drop 15 into engagement with pin 14.

A spring 24 normally retains pin 14 in the projected position and as soon as ball 10 passes beneath pin 11, pin 14 is ready for engagment with clip 23 of score drop 15. An additional spring 25 may be interposed between latch 14 and pin 11 to accommodate any excess forward swinging of the lower end of pin 11. After balls 10 strike pin 11 their force is stopped by buffer 26 and they are caused to roll into a return passage 27 which leads back to the point of throwing.

This device may be made of any suitable material and to eliminate the noise incident to the using of wooden balls, housing 9 may be padded on the inside. erably formed of a hard sponge rubber whiclrmakes the'playing of the game practically noiseless. Also, the device may be made any size and used if desired as a toy for children. 7

Operation.

Amusement devices in which a ball is thrown by the player along horizontal surfaces and is made to travel over a semicircular rolling surface into a counting head are well known and further description of the same is unnecesary.

To operate this device the ball is thrown along the aforementioned surface in the usual manner and is caused to enter the counting head through the rear wall opening where it engages pins 11 suspended with their lower ends adjacent said opening. The pin is caused to swing to a position as shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 2 which in turn causes a backward pull on cable 13 to release latch 14 from its hold upon score drop 15. Drop 15 at once lowers to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the numeral 16 which is usually concealed by drop 15 is exposed to the view of the player.

As was previously mentioned the pins are Balls 10 are pref and regulations concerning the number of balls, re-throws and scoring may be made to suit the user of the device and same are not set forth herein.

Having thus described the invention and reserving the right to make all such formal changes and modifications as might fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims, what I claim is:

1. In combination with an amusement device having a ball rolling surface terminating in an upwardly and forwardly extending semi-circular curve, a closed cdunting head having scoring numerals marked on the face of the front wall thereof and vertically sliding counting drops positioned over and concealing said scoring numerals when said counting head parts are in the set position.

2. In combination with an amusement device having a ball rolling surface terminating in an upwardly and forwardly extending semi-circular curve, a counting head comprising a housing, counting drops releasably and slidably mounted on the exterior face of the front wall thereof and means within said counting head operable by a thrown ball for releasing said counting drops.

3. In a counting head of the character described, a housing having a ball entrance in its rear wall and a ball exit in the bottom thereof, a plurality of pins pivotally mounted within said housing, a plurality of counting drops slidably mounted on the exterior face of the front wall thereof and scoring numerals marked upon the face of said front wall in the path of travel of said slidably mounted counting drops.

4. In a. counting head of the character described, a housing having a ball entrance in its rear wall and a ball exit in the bottom thereof, a plurality of pins pivotally mounted within said housing having their lower ends adjacent the ball entrance of said rear wall, a plurality of counting drops slidably mounted for vertical movement on the face of the front wall thereof, scoring numerals painted upon the face of said wall in the path of travel of said slidably mounted counting drops and means supporting said counting drops operable by the said pins whereby said scoring numeral is exposed to view by the striking of said pin.

5. In a counting head of the character described, a housing having a ball entrance in its rear wall and a ball exit in the bottom thereof, a plurality of pins pivotally mounted intermediate their ends for free movement in a vertical plane within said housing with their lower ends adjacent the ball entrance of said rear wall, a plurality of counting drops slidably mounted on the face of the front wall of said housing having spring clips adapted to engage a latch when in the set position, said counting drops being held in said position to conceal scoring numerals marked on the face of said front wall and a cable connecting said latch and the upper end of said pin whereby saidcounting drop is released to expose to View said scoring numeral.

6. In a counting head of the character described, a housing having a ball entrance in its rear wall and a ball eXit in the bottom thereof, a plurality of pins pivotally mounted intermediate their ends for free movement in a vertical plane within said housing with said counting drop to a set position after.

same has been released, comprising a transverse shaft, arms extending upwardly therefrom, cables connecting said arms to said counting drops and an actuating lever externally of said counting head housing.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 25th day of November, 1924.

OTTO U. HUSTED.