US1594066A - Target-practice vending machine - Google Patents

Description

July I27 192s.

F. v1 MILLS TARGET PRACTICE vENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. EL4, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f z lmuiln." l

In vngimllllllllfl July 27 1926.

F. 1.. MILLS TARGET PRACTICE .VENDING MACHINE v Fild Deo. 14, 1925 'Fu-.ff 'i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 9T? I l [72E/872%?? lv1,594,066 I F. L. MILLS A".TARGET PRACTICE VENDING yIIACHNE July 21,1926.`-

Enea Dec. i4 1925 ,afm

z/ezzz L' WMM' ,4 Sheets-Sheet '3v July-21,1926.

1,594,066 F. L. MILLS Y TARGET- PRACTICE VENDING CHINE Filed Dec, 14. 19225 4 sheets-sheet 4 Y, i Patented July 27,1926. y

, w1.59am@ r*lf-1mTEDEff-MES, PATENTGFFCE-" FRED L. MILLS, or oni: PARK', ILLiN01s',SS1GORTO` mms NOVELTYGOMPANY F f 1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A conPoRATIoNoF ILLINOIS. f f

` 'TARGET-RhenenVENDING MACHINE..

Application filed December The primary object of the present invenL tion is to providela'inachine, for use inconnection'with the salefofV articles of merchanf dise, such as pieces of chewing gum, ksticks of 5 chocolate, cigarettes Vand the like, Withcoin-r using means for target-practice, thereby to render interesting the operation by inducing thewezercise of skill in the Way of endeavor to cause a propelled coin to hit one/of a" 1U plurality of prize-targets entitling vthe operator,Y Whensuccessful in the endeavor, to receive a prize in addition to the article paid for by the used coin.Y y Referring to the r accompanying drawi5 Figure 1 is ya 'perspectivev view lof the machine; f i

Figure 2 is a broken section on an enlarged scale over Fig. 1,on line 2%2, Fig. 11'; Figure 3 is a section on linef, Fig.

Figure e is a section on line 'e-e, Fig. 2;'

VFigure 5 ,`s a rear View of the machine,

with the casing-back removed;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6, Fig. l5; Figure 7 is a vieW infront elevation of the device provided Withvthe targetfforming pockets, and

Figure 8 elevation; f' .Figure 9 is a View like that presented in Fig.v 8, but with parts removed vvto disclose details,"`

vFigure 'lO-is a vi'eW inside elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 7

vis Va View` of the same in Yrear 35 Figure 11 is a section on line 11.11, F198; L

VFigure ll`L` is a perspective vievvv ofla pocket-forming detail; Y Figure 12 is a plan 'sectional view on line Y12,'Figs. 7, 8 and 9;

Figure 14 is a section on line 14T-14,' Fig.

direction of the arrows,l

- 6, viewed in the 5G has the lower partof` its'sides expanded forwvardlyfto provide the upright section 1, relatively narrow from back lthe Wider base-B, Aivitha seating bed-plate b on'tlie'base, jvvhich lis provided ivith a cover M or "ledge c fastened in place; and the section them and adapt it to Figure 13 is a broken view in section on,

Figure 15 is afipartly broken lvien7 in section on thea'foresaidflinel4-11, Fig. 6, receiving drawer inplan.. which is preferably formed flanges recessed to` front, and

14, was.V seai No. 75,346.

A also has a cover a fastened in place.

. rllhe back al of the casingl isp'referably a Wooden sheet, as is also an interior vback e for the 'section A, set to extend between its sides and' V to the cover a, near the forward edges'` ofthe sides; the back'e being'preferably'covered by ak pane of: glass f, forming th'efinterven-V ing space g. In the expanded base a drawer D,"foij1ning'a coin-receptacle, is supported be operated through theV open face of the `base YB, which is covered rvby a "plate v secured in place bya suitable lock, indicated at 71,1 and thedraWer is shown to contain,

near one end, three relativelynarrowv and jshallo'vv coin-receiving compartments, la, Z

and m though the number thereof may be one'or inore, leaving the remainder ofthe draiveris interior a single larger comparti ment for the coin-receiving purpose.

[On one side of thecasing-sectionlA, near vitsv upper end, is fastened a -pair of plates secured together in spaced relationl to forni a Vcoin-ii'osertionYslotfdevice16 (Fig. l), the rear `plate-,having aprojection 17 4`on its upper 'edge for guiding a the discharge-end of theslottocause the coin to be retained on itsfseatuntil driven therefrom throughan openingin that side ofthe, cas1ng-to which the slot leads.

Q) in its-preferred form offa forming plates to hang betiveen be forcibly turned on rear and' front limiting its path, tojdri'vea coin two slotthe '.pivot, between stops 2O and 21 in coin 1 8 in insertingit into the slotto its seat inthe bottoni Be- 'hindi the'coin-seat a driver 19.i's provided,

. shown Y (Fig.l

finger pivoted at its upper eiidbetivecntheV v ahead of it `through the lspacebetweenthe back el and its glass cover purpose hereinafter described.

it aside of the casing-sectionA, preferably as shown, oppositev that carrying the slot-device 16, is securedA bache a target`-device of the followingdescribed preferred construction:

' A plate 22 is rigidly secured to e, in spaced relation thereto, by Vsuitable in their outer edges, one of theseV flanges, shown at 23, project-ing rear- Wardly fromlthe'outeredge lof the plate Yange, 2e, from .thev

and the other, shorter f, as and forthe to the face Vof the" face thereof; these flanges `being connected vat their loWerfends by a boss' presenting an inclined sui-face;

Tear its outer 'edge tively, as shown in l and 7'; and the edge of the plate are shown to termed three' letters C, each relating to a window to indicate a center to be attained by the target-practiie hereinafter described. @n the baci; ot' the plate 22 provided, beneath each window l and2, a guide-lug- 2T llig. l1). Against 'the under of the lowermost of these lugs bears the upper edge oiu the head olf an approximately@ i-shaped plate 23 (Figs. 1l and lla), conned at its lower end between and seating in the rccesses of the plate-flanges'23 and 2e, where it covers and is spaced "from the boss 25 to forni a coin-passage 29 (Fig. 1l) between them; and the back of the plate 28 has formed thereon a central, longitudinal nlike guide-ridge 30.

As'will be seen, the plate 28 forms with the baclr of the plate 2 2 a species of pocket 3l, into which a coin may enter at the space provided between the upper-end portion plate 2 3 and the back of the .plate of the pocket for discharge 22, and thence enter the at the outlet 29.

The plate 28 is covered by a similar but somewhat longer plate 28a, held in place between the flanges 23 and 2Q, with its upper end bearing against the uppermost lug 27; this plate being spaced from theV plate 28 to form a pocket 31FL like the pocket 31 and opening toA a coin-outlet 29, and having its inlet, at 32a, between the back of the plate 22 and the upper-end portion or head of the plate 28a.

A third plate 28C, of substantially the shape or' the plate 23b but longer, covers the latter like it covers and is spaced from the plate 23, to provide a coin-inlet at 32b to a pocket 31C opening to a coin-outlet'29b. The plate is fastened at its opposite ends by screws to the back of the plate 22 (Fig. 8).

From the aforesaid coin-outlets 29 there extend similar chutes 33, preferably joined together, as shown, and leading, respective` ly, to the shallow dijawer-compartments 7c, Z, and m, for conducting thereto coins when released from the pockets; and the larger drawencompartment D receives coins that miss the targets, when impelled as hereinafter described, and drop, after being released, into that compartment, to which they are guided by an inclined runway 34.

lt is desirable to retain the` coins entering the target-pockets, and those missing the same, inview for inspection as to their eing genuine, as against, say, slugs being usedA lfor the target-practice, hereinafter -described.. To this eend a vstop is withdrawably provided at `each window 26' and at the entrance to the drawer-compartment D where prongs will normally entend the glass-covered casing-,section A Vcommunicctes therewith. The stop-means for the window comprise a similar stop forming prongs Vprojiecting in suitably spaced relation from its inner edge, whereby with the bar pivot-ally supported its ends, as represented in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, on the back of the plate y into the windows l2), Vto which position, when withdrawn therel'roin, they are returned a spring 3G bearing against'the bar. For working theV bar 3,5'to withdraw the stops 35, it is connected, at a lug 37 project at an angle from the bar (Fig. V5), byV a link 38 with a rod 39 journaled at its oppo- Ysite ends centrally lin the casing-cover c,

(where it carries a Knob 39aV or handle) and in a klug 39?) at the bottom of the section A. For arresting, for the inspection purpose, coins on their way to the drawer-compartment D', a stop-blade D (Fig. 14) is pivoted near one end to the under face of the ledge c and is resiliently held, by a spring 40a, to close the coin-passage at the end of the runway 3l; and to withdraw this stop a linlr 4:0" connectsit eccentrically with the lower end of the rod 39,

l1 or a purpose hereinafter described, Va button l-l'is provided on the faceV of the back c of the casingsection A adjacent each entrance to a target-pocket at f, the button being preferably of rubber to render it resilient.

The machine is intended, more particularly, for use inthe store of a merchant who sells such articles as are to be delivered by him to customers operating the machine, which should therefore be placed and secured, as on the counter, in position conveniently accessible to the customers. For the following explanation it may be sup- .posed that the article to be delivered by the merchant to the customers for the price of the used coins, is chewinggum.

To operate the machine, a coin 13 repren senting the purchase price of a piece of the gum is inserted edgewise into the slot lo', whereupon the user, with a linger and prei'- erably his thumb, strikes the driver 19 with a forcible blow in the endeavor to cause the impelled coin to enter one or the other oi the pockets. In the event ol" failure in that behalf, the coin drops rthrmigh the space between the glass f and bache upon the runway 34, and is arrested by the henger 40 to remain in view through 'the glass f until released to the drawer; and the user is thereupon entitled to receive a piece of chewing1 gum, to be delivered to him byV Should thel target, by enterthat success will prize of greater the merchant over the counter. impelled coin strike the ing the uppermost pocket, entitle the customer to a Vvaluethan that or av single piece'of *the` slender bar 35 having guin-inaybe two or more pieces of thesame to be delivered bythemerchant; and entry of the coinintotli-ev intermediate pocket by striking that target, entitles him to a prize of still greater value; and so on,

`throughout the number of target-pockets f provided, which may, or any Vdesired'number ,notingpi-izes of anyfdesired character-.and

however, be onlyy one of increasing value.

It isV to be observed, however, that there" can 'never be a miss, each operation? entitling the operator to receive the articleV -fof the value represented by the 'coin,.

whether or not he fails to strike the target, the purpose of which is to'induce patronizingthe machine by'rend'ering itsoperation so attractive asto incite practice therewith to attain a degree er Sian that vWiii ambie "the operator to hit a target with ,an .pelled coin more oi' less frequently,`

The buttons. ,4,1 are provided to tend to guard accidental entry of the impelled coin i into a prize-pocket,v by deflectingit tothe L pocket,

runway 34, thereby increasing the difficulty of the attainment and-enhancing the `degree.

of skill required therefor.

Coins arrested vfor inspection at thewin dows and atthe end` of the runway may ybe released by turning therod 39 to withdraw the stopsv a and 40 from obstructing 1 their entry, VVof one or more ofthe pockets retaininga coin at a window 26, into the proper shallow -e in vthe one instance,` from each drawer-compartment, and in thepther yinstance into thev drawer-compartment D;

It will be observed .that a coin released V from the windowV of the uppermost target, having enteredthe saine edgewise through the outlet 29h, whence it runs through the lchute 33 leading from that outlet into the Hto i limit my invention thereto exceptf as pointed out in the appendedV claims, by.

which it is my intention vto claim all the VYnovelty inherent in my inventionV as broadly as permissible by the state of the vart.'

' Irclaim: `v y j l.r A machine 0f the character described,

comprising a casing having its lower portion equipped with a plurality of coin'receptaf cles, said casing being provided 'above said receptacles with a glassrfroiit and an inner' more than one, "dewall separatedy ybya 'narrow l space from said glass;front,-an intervening member between said v'wall and Glass-front resentind-a runway'at thelower portion yof said'spac'e which leads to one of said coin receptacles, a plu?"V A ,Q -theother withinsaid spacegnear. the 'upper 'Y ralityV ofj coin-pockets disposed one 'above portion of the' casingf and'disposed to per- -initthe coins-'which miss said pockets/to drop upon. saidrunway, chutes leading from said' coin-pockets to the othercoin receptacles, a slot extending through the side of the upper portion of' the casing opposite said coin-pockets and aordin'g a seat for `an inserted coin, and a ldriver associated with said slot adapted to impel a coin'horiz'on- 'tallyr through vthe upper portion of# said .space towards,Y said pockets.

2'. Alinachine of the' character described, comprising a casing having a base vcontainingfa plurality of coin receptaclesfand havi 5 ing anupright section rising. from the rear portion of said base, vsaid upright section 'Y having 'a glass" front and beingi'provided lwithgan linner wall separated by a narrow vspace `from said glass front, an intervening '.n'iember within said space near one lateral wall Vof the" ca'sing, said intervenino' ineinber being equipped atits upper portion with a plurality of coin-,pockets and presenting below said coinepoclrets a vertical edgesp'ortion and a lateral yrunway across the'lower pockets tothe other 'coinr'eceptacles, a slot through thelateral `wall of, said casing 'o'p-. posite said coin-pockets and an associated y Y seat for an inserted coin, anda driver as pela coin across the upper portion ofsaid space towards said coin-pockets. Y

A machine of the characterfdescribed,

vcomprising a casing having a base-portion portion of saidspace leading to a coin frev, v,

ceptacle, chutes leading from said4 coin` -I icesociatedwith said seat adapted to Vim-. Y'

the inlet 32h, runs atwise along the fin;Al 30 of the plate 28L through the pocket to- .containing a plurality of coi-nv receptacles v placedside by side, said casing having 'an 'upper section rising from` therear portion of the base and provided `with a glass `front and withan inner wallV separated by a nar-l row spacefroin said glass front, Van intervening-plateinfsaid space adjacentv one side ofthe casing. a plurality of coin-'pockets in the rear ofthe' upper portionfof said plate, said plate presenting a vertical edge and a 'runway across the 'lower portion of said space leading to a lcoin receptacle, studs in lsaid space guarding the entrances -to 'said coin-pockets, said l'space being otherwise unobstructed, a'coiirslot extending throughv the' casingvwall opposite said coin-pockets 'and a coin-seat associated` therewith, and a driver adjacent said coin-seat adapted to imrpel a coin across the upper portion of'said `space towards saidf pockets.

y FRED VL'. MILLS.

Aiio

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