US1825778A - Game - Google Patents

Description

0d. 6,1931. F. R CHESTER 1,825,778

GAME

Filed April 18, 1928 4 Shee tS-Sheet 3 INVENTOR, Frank R Chester,

LLAQMWMW/ A TTORNEYS.

@ct 6, E931. F. R. CHESTER 51;@25778 GAME Filed April 1s, 192s 4 sheets-sheet 4 5 1.. 9 Uhull Frank R. @bensi/vfam,l

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INVENTOR A TTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK R. CHESTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T CHESTERFIELD CONTROL COMPANY, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE GAME Appiication inea April is, 1928. serial No. 270,855.

This invention relates to a functionally and structurally improved game of skill.

In its more specific embodiments the invention is to be considered primarily in the nat-ure of a golf game but it will hereinafter be obvious that the features thereof might readily be employed in. conjunctionv with other skill gaines. Therefore, while the 1nvention will be described as a golf game, the interpretation to be placed on such wording is, in certain aspects, to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character, the parts of which will be relatively few in number and individually simple and. rugged in construction, such parts being assembled readily to furnish a gaine which will operate over long periods of time with freedom from mechanical difficulty.

A. further object of the invention is that of providing` a game of this character in which various strokes used, for example, by

a player inthe game of golf, may be duplicated with fidelity and in which the mechanism employed to achieve this result will be of extremely simple type.

In addition to the objects generally stated above, further objects will become apparent upon reference to the annexed specication and drawings, which latter illustrate practica-l embodiments of the invention 'and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gaine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the figure or impelling member;

Fig. 4 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the lines 5 5 in the direction ofthe arrows of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 and in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 2;

Fig 7 is a perspective view of one form of missile-delivering mechanism which will be employed;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a certain detail of this mechanism;

Figs. 9 and 10 are somewhat idealistic perspective views, and

Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional views of other forms of delivery mechanism and a coin control therefor.

In these views the numeral 15 indicates a cabinet within which a deck is positioned, which is generally indicated at 16 and which will hereinafter be more particularly described. Suiiice it to say, at this time, that, generally stated, the deck is inclined through out its entire length to a single point, at which a turn-table 17 is positioned, this turntable mounting an impelling member, in the presentinstance in the nature of a golfer figure including body and nether portions 18 and 19 respectively, the former being rotatably mounted upon the latter and having a missile contact portion as, for example, a club embracing a shaft 20 carried by the figur? arms and having a head 21 at its lower en The deck has a series of target portions, in the present instance in the nature of openings hereinafter described in derail, and thus the turn-table must be shifted to have the impelling member direct a missile in different directions if a target is to be achieved. With this in mind the turn-table aforedescribed is provided, and the mechanism for mounting and shifting the same may include a retaining ring 22 secured to the lower face of the deck and underlying a portion of the turntable in order to maintain the edges of the same flush with the adjacent edge portions of the deck. Secured to the turn-table, in the present instance, is an arm`23 to the outer end of which one end of a` link 24 is attached, the opposite end of this link being secured to a lever 25 extending beyond the cabinet and having its inner end pivoted to a suitable frame portion 26 below the deck. Thus, it will be apparent that as the lever is shifted, the turn-table will be rocked to have the impelling member face in various directions.

In connection with the turn-table it will be noted, as has been shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4,

so that a missile such as a ball 27 will gravitate towards this edge', it being furthermore noted that at this point the turn-table is formed with an arcuate groove 28 of increas ing depth and having a degree of curvature corresponding to that of the path of travel of the club head and in line with such path of travel. As a consequence, the ball will always be fairly struck upon the missileimpelling member being actuated, and the direction of its projection may be skillfully gauged.

Now with reference to the mechanism by means of which the impelling member is actuated, it will be noted that one preferred form of such mechanism embraces, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a shaft 29 which extends through the turn-table and is coupled by means of a universal connection 30 to the body portion so that, when the shaft is rotated such portion is rocked with respect to the nether portion. The lower end of this shaft hasbearing in the frame 26 and this shaft mounts a pinion 31 which meshes with.

the teeth of a rack bar 32 slidably mounted in the frame. This rack bar, by means of a link 33, is coupled t0 a crank secured to a shaft 34 extending beyond the cabinet, as shown in Fig. l, and mounting a handle 35 by means of which it may be rocked. As has also been indicated in dotted lines in this figure, there is secured to this shaft an arm 36 which cooperates with stop members 37 in order that the rack may not be reciprocated beyond predetermined limits. It will be obvious, how-- ever that under an actuation of the handle 35 the impelling member will be operated to project a ball across the deck and that by means of the handle provided by the exposed end of the lever 25, the turn-table may b'e shifted in order to have the impelling member direct the ball to various points on the deck.

lith reference to the specific form of game herein illustrated, it is proposed to provide a series of traget openings in the deck 16 and tofurnish missiles corresponding in number to the number of targets provided, which missiles, upon passing through the target,or other openings (hereinafter described) will become unavailable, a succeeding missile being furnished until the series of balls have been successfully or unsuccessfully impelled across the deck. Thereupon, all of the missiles which have become unavailable may be redelivered sequentially to the deck. The redelivery of such a group of missiles is controlled preferably, in the device under consideration, by a coinor tokencontrolled mechanism and one form of such mechanism has been shown in Fig. 7. In this figure the numeral 38 indicates a chute which forms a continuation of a panor receiving surface hereinafter described. This chute has its lower end communicating with a shaft-way 39 within which a plunger 40 is reciprocally mounted and the upper end of this shaft-way terminates in an opening 41 in the face of the deck 16 and at the point shown, for example, in Fig. 2. `Movement of the plunger is effected by means of an arm 42 which is connected to the plunger by the pin and slot connection indicated at 43 and this arm, as shown in Fig. 8, is secured to a block 44 which is mounted for rotation upon a shaft 45 and is normally coupled by a spring-pressed dctent 46 with a disk 47 affixed to such shaft. At the outer end of the shaft is a coin mechanism indicated, generally, at 48 and which is provided with a handle 49 -by means of which the shaft may be rocked. vThe con struction of this control mechanism has not been illustrated nor described, this'being a standard article upon the market and well known to those skilled in theart. Suffice it to say that under all conditions the handle 49 may be rocked through approximately fortyfive degrees and a spring 50 normally maintains this handle in a predetermined position. Upon the insertion of a coin or token the handle, however, may be rocked through a further arc of approximately forty-five degrees, whereupon, the parts being released, the coin will pass clear of this mechanism and the handle will snap back to position and again be capable of movement through only an initial forty-five degrees.

Thus, using a coin-control of this nature, the shaft 45 mounts an arm 51 carrying a pin 52 extending into a slot 53 of a link 54, the parts being so proportioned that under normal movement'the link will not move. However, upon the shaft 45 beinO rocked in excess of approximately forty-ve degrees, the pin will bear against the end of the slot 53 and press the link upwardly, thereby rocking the shaft 55 to which, by means of an arm 56,

the link is connected. At the inner end of this shaft a gate or stop member 57 is secured, as a consequence of which, if a num' ber of balls are in position within the chute, as shown in Fig. 7, and the coin-control mechanism is actuated after the coin Vor token has been deposited therein, this gate will move upwardly, permitting the balls, under the action of gravity, to move beyond the gate member, the first of the same coming to lie upon the upper end of the plunger. It will be observed in this connection that the parts of the shaft-way are so proportioned as to accommodate only one ball at a time and as a consequence, while the balls are beyond the gateway or stop member, after the depositing of a token, the missiles will not jam in the shaft-way and'only one will be delivered to the deck.V Such delivery is, of course, effected by virtue of the fact that the handle 49 is free to turn to a certain extent and sufiiciently to assure a movement of the plunger to a point at which the missile rolls out on to the In connection with this apparatus it will be observed that, while the elements 44 and 47 are normally coupled incident to the spring-pressed detent, the movement of the shaft beyond the limits of movement of the plunger will result in these parts being automatically disconnected and incident to the weight of the arm 42 and the plunger, the latter' will sink to the bottom of the shaftway whereupon, when the shaft is returned -to normal position, the parts 44 47 will again couple to move in unison, and the stop or gate 57 also returning to its normal position. will serve to retain returned balls from moving down the chute 38 under subsequent manipulations of the game mechanism.

It is desirable, sometimes, to render it apparent to the player of the game that more than one ball will be available to him for playing the game after the depositing of a token or coin and the actuation of the mechaanism for receiving the same. With this in mind ihe structure shown in Figs. 9 and l0 has been devised and in which the shaft-way 58 is of such size as to accommodate more than one ball and is provided at its upper end with a slotted confining member' 59 and in which a plunger (30 has an inclined upper face 6l. The chute 38, as in Fig. 7, connects with the shaft-way, but two balls may move from this chute to rest upon the upper face of the plunger. Thus, when the arm 42 is rocked these two balls will be projected to the plane of the deck and the foremost of the same will roll on to the deck, the rear ball being prevented from so doing, by being retained within the member 59. It will, however, be visible to the player and it is apparent that upon the handle of the delivery mechanism being released, the plunger will sink to a point at which the second ball cannot roll on the deck. Upon the plunger dropping back to its lower position, an additional ball will roll from the chute on to its upper end and the same sequence of operations will result until the final ball, which, due to the inclination of the upper end of the plunger is adjacent the forward end of the same. is moved upwardly and rolls on to the deck. ln order to aetuate the arm 42 a coin slot ($2 is provided which is formed with an opening (i3 permit-ting of the automatic elimination of tokens or coins of'improper type and size. but tokens or coins of proper type will move down this chute to come to lie between the blocks G4 and 65 which are slidably mounted within the track member 6G. The block G5 carries a handle 67 extending beyond the cabinet and the token lying between these blocks will cause the block 64 to be moved inwardly upon pressure being applied to the handle 67. The block 64 is normally spring-pressed outwardly as at G8 and is connected with a bellows 69, this block furthermore having an arm which is connected with a shaft as, for example, the shaft 55 in order to actuate the gate member. A link 71 having its inner end slotted as at 72 connects the blocks so that, while an outward movement of the handle 67 serves to retract the block 64, an inward movement of this handle, except in the ease of a. coin, does not affect the block 64, it being observed that incident to the bellows member a somewhat retarded return of this latter block is assured. Obviously in the case of a coin or token of proper denomina'ion being positioned between these blocks, and the handle being actuated in the manner aforedescribed, the coin will drop down the chute member 7 3 and come to lie within a proper receptacle (not shown). By means of a link 74 secured to the block 65 the arm 42 is rocked and thus it will be apparent that by this mechanism a device will be provided consistent with the achievement of the desired. results.

In connection with consideration of Figs. 9 and l0, it is here to be understood that a somewhat 'ideal and diagrammatic showing has been made inorder to simplify the illustration required and render the same readily intelligible. Obviously, any desired number of connecting elements and arrangement thereof might be u'l ilized in order to have the coin-controlled and missile-delivery mechanism extend at a proper angle and the shaftway to be provided at the desired position.

Now with reference to the deck, generally heretofore referred to in connection with the numeral 16, it will be observed, in Fig. 2, that three greens are provided identified as at 75, 76 and 77 respectively, each of these, greens being formed with an opening 78. Each of these greens, with the exception of portions of the same immediately adjacent the opening, is sloped towards the lower end of the deck at which the turn-table is positioned and the boundaries of these greens are defined by raised edge portions 79. Extending across the deck is a depressed portion which may be painted and which may have a number of low points at which openings 80 are provided. In order to provide a ball return between the green 7G and the missile-impelling member a bridging portion in the nature of a groove 81 may extend between this green and the other portions of the deck may be concealed as, for example, by a member 82 simulating in appearance a foot bridge and below which the ball may return. Furthermore, as in Fig. 5, the deck may be raised to provide a ramp 83 in line with the depressed portion of the turn-table and the center of the opening or cup within the green 76, so that the ball must be lofted7 across the brook portion of the deck on to the green. In other words, a mashieshot must be played. As in Fig. G it will be observed that the green 77 is inclined from the horizont-al and furthermore, the deck may have a raised obstructing portion 84 in advance of the opening provided in this green so that no direct shot may be made. However, to not render the holing out of a ball a matter of almost impossibility, the side portions 79 of this green may, in

advance of the opening, each'have a slightly inwardly extending projection 85. Thus, if a ball is impelled with proper speed these proj ecting portions will serve to divert the same towards the opening. It will also be noted that, adjacent the delivery end of the chute portion 81 concealed by the foot bridge, the raised boundary part of the green may likewise have a projection 86 serving to divert the ball from any possibility of dropping into the hole 78 upon returning from the green 76.

As has been shown in Figs. 1,2 and 5, a pan 87 is provided below the deck and if a delivery mechanism of the nature shown in Fig. 7 is employed this pan may conveniently terminate-at its lowermost point in a chute 88 disposed adjacent the forward end of the game While if a delivery mechanism of the nature shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is provided, the pan may, if desired, slope rearwardly, as in Figs. 5 and 6 and have its chute adjacent its lowermost and rear end portion. In any event, however, any ball passing through any one of the openings 78 or 8O will drop on to the 'pan and due to the inclination of the latter', will come to lie within the chute at a point in ad Vance of the gate member.

Now, considering the operation of the device z--It will be presumed, initially, that the construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is employed in conjunction with a golf game of the nature illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6. A coin or token is deposited within the chute 62 and if this element is not of proper type it will be discarded through the opening 63. Otherwise it would come to rest between the blocks 64 and 65. Thereupon, an operator may shift the handle 67, thus moving the block 64. In such shifting it will be obvious that the spring 68 will be compressed and the bellows or other retarding member 69 will likewise be actuated. Also, by means of the link 74 the plunger 60 will be elevated and the gate will be actuated to permit the three balls to move down the chute 38 to a point adjacent the shatway 58. Now, upon the handle 67 being released, the return of the block 64 will be somewhat delayed due to the retarding action of the bellows 69. As a consequence, all three balls will pass the gate member before it returns to its normal position and the coin or token will be free to drop through the chute 73. Now, upon the block 65 being again shifted the plunger' which, in the interim, has returned to its lowermost position, will be elevated, carrying with it two balls which have come to rest upon its upper surfaces as soon as such surface has reached a point below the lower end of the chute 38. The foremost of these balls will, upon the upper end of the deck, while the second of the balls will be visible within the confining member 59. Due to the link connection 71 it will be obvious that 7* the block 64, during these movements of the parts, will not shift, this occuring only upon the initial, or tokendepositing operation. Obviously, the next ball within the chute 38 will come to lie upon the plunger as it reaches its lowermost position andthe actuation of the plunger by means of the handle 67 may be repeated. The ball which has been delivered from the shaft-way 58 will, while the plunger is descending, gravitate across the deck 16 and the 'turn-table 17, and come to lie withinthe forward and deepest end of the groove 28.

Now, by means of the handle or lever 25, the position of this turn-table may be adjusted, and by the handle 35 the body portion of the figure may be oscillated to have the head of the club traverse a plane immediately above the base of the groove 28. Thus, the club head will strike against the ball and iinpel it, for example, towards the hole 78 ot' the green 75. It the shot is unsuccessful, the ball will return over the deck to its initial position in front of the gure and a stroke will be counted. T he user may again attempt a shot until he finally sinks the ball within the cup provided by the hole 78 ot the green. Each unsuccessful stroke will be counted as in golf, and due to the arrangement of the groove within the turn-table and the relationship of the striking head of the club with respect to this groove, as well as the contour of the deck, it has been found that unless the ball is properly struck, it may be sliced or pulled. This is quite aside from the factor of distance. Thereupon, by a second actuation of the plunger 60 the second ball will be delivered upon the deck and the player may seek, by means of a pitch, to success` fully hole out on green 76. Each time that a ball is inaccurately propelled towards this green, due to striking the ball too heavily or in the wrong direction, it will be returned across the guideway portion 81 and roll back down the deck. If a shot is too weak, however, it may drop over the edge of the ramp 83 into the brook or hazard portion provided by the relatively depressed part formed in the deck. This is, of course, also true it a shot is attempted towards the green 75 which is too violent, it being apparent that in such case the ball will simply go over the raised bordering portion 79 provided to the rear of such green and drop into the depressed portion of the deck which simulates, in appearance, a brook and pass through t-he opening 8O therein. Upon the whole green 76 having been negotiated, or the ball having been lost, the hole of the green 77 will be attempted, after the next ball has been delivered. If

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the shot is under played and particularly due to the inclination of this green, it will be patent that the ball may not be holed out, but will strike against the raised portion 84 and be returned, thus penalizing the player one stroke. If 'the shot is too violently played the ball will also be returned or may, in fact, jump the inclined bordering portion 7 9 of this green and fall into the brook, to drop through the opening or else the ball will simply roll back, after traveling around the bordering portion, to the player. It is apparent that numerous other holes may be provided in the deck according to the number of greens and traps furnished, and that the number of missiles may be varied and the delivery mechanism adjusted according to the needs of the game.

In any event, any ball passing through any of the openings will come to lie within the pan 87 and gravitate to the lower end of the same, thus passing to the chute 38 within which it will be retained until the gate member is actuated incident to the use of a proper token or coin. It Will furthermore be apparent, in connection with the device just described, that a user will at all times be aware as to whether he is playing with the last available ball or whether another one will be accessible upon a further actuation of the plunger.

Considering the device as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the operation will in all respects be similar to that just described, with the exception that only one ball at a time will be visible as it is delivered to the deck, the operation of this mechanism having been described in detail.

Finally, with reference to the structure shown in Figs. 11 and 12, it will be observed that a shaftway 88 has been shown leading to the deck and for the -delivery of the balls, and that the chute 38 from the pan has, at its lower end, an enlarged portion 89 divided into two levels by a blade or platform 90. Thus, the balls will run down the chute and come to rest upon this member in the manner shown in Fig. 12. Moving within the shaftway is a plunger 91 of any desirable construction which, in common with the illustration in the preceding figures, may be actuated through the medium of a pin and slot connection 92 by an arm 93 which forms a part of a bell crank lever 94;. The second arm of this bell crank lever is link-connected as at 95, to a block 96 actuated by a plunger 97. A coin chute 98 serves to deposit a coin in advance of the block 96 and to the rear of the block 99, and the latter is connected to the block 96 by a pin and slot connection 100 afforded by the link 101. The block 99 is furthermore connected to the blade or platform through a lever and link 102. Thus, in this form of construction which is, in certain aspects, most desirable, a coin, upon being deposited, will move to a position between the blocks and upon the handle being projected the blade or platform 90 will be retracted, resulting in the simultaneous depositing of all balls within the lower portion of the compartment 89. These balls will then be singly raised to the deck if a plunger and shaftway of the type illustrated in this figure is employed, one ball being elevated upon each successive operation of the handle. The advantages of this construction are obvious in that no delayed action is necessary to assure a delivery of all balls.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, among others, the several objects of the invention are achieved. It is intended, however, that numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

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

1. A game including a deck having target, hazard and ramp portions extending -from and above the body of the deck and disposed in line`with each other, and a missile-impelling member mounted upon said deck and in advance of said ramp portion, whereby a properly impelled missile will traverse said ramp, avoid said hazard portion and be disposed upon said target portion.

2. A game including a deck having target, hazard and ramp portions disposed in line with eachother, a missile-impelling member mounted upon said deck and in advance of said ramp portion whereby a properly impelled missile will traverse said ramp, avoid said hazard portion and be disposed upon said target portion and means forming a part of the deck bridging said hazard portion and extending from the target portion of the deck to connect the same with that deck portion which mounts said impelling member, the portions of said deck presenting surfaces inclined towards said missile-impelling member.

3. A game including a deck having target, hazard and ramp portions disposed in line with each other, a missile-impelling member mounted upon said deck and in advance of said ramp portion, whereby a properly impelled missle will traverse said ramp, avoid said hazard portion and be disposed upon said target portion and means forming a part of the desk bridging said hazard portion and extending from the target portion of the deck to connect the same with that deck portion which mounts said impelling member, the portions of said deck presenting surfaces inclined towards said missile-impelling member, said target and hazard portions of the deck being formed with openings into which a missile passes and means for delivering missiles passing into said openings back on to said deck and adjacent said impelling member.

4;. A game including a deck over which a missile is to travel and a target portion forming a part of said game, a turn-table mounted by said deck, a missile-impelling member mounted by said turn-table and having an arcuate movement With respect thereto, means for operating said impelling member, and said turn-table being formed With a groove to receive a missile, said groove being disposed in an arc corresponding, in

curvature, to the arc of travel of said impelling member.

5. A game includingr a deck over which a missile is to travel and a target portion forming a part of said game, a turn-table mounted by said deck, a missile-impelling member mounted by said turn-table and having an arcuate movement with respect thereto, means for operating said impelling member, and said turn-table being formed With a groove to receive a missile, said groove being disposed in an are corresponding, in curvature, to the arc of travel of said impelling member, the upper surface of said turn-table being inclined towards said groove and being of increasing depth towards the forward end thereof.

6. A game including a deck over Which a missile is to be impelled, a target portion forming a part of said game, a missile-1mpelling member mounted by said deck andv including a. figure embracing body and nether portions, a missile-striking member carried by said body portion, a shaft connected with said portion to move the same with respect to said nether portion, a pinion mounted by said shaft and a rack having its teeth in engagement with said pinion to rotate said shaft and actuate said impelling member, a` turn-table inerposed between said figure and deck and means for shifting said turn-table.

7. A game including a deck having missile-receiving portions, a chute connected to said receiving portions, a plunger to receive. missiles from said chute, means for moving said plunger to deliver missiles to said deck and means cooperating with said plunger to display upon said deck a plurality of missiles supported by said plunger and to deliver one of said missiles only to said deck.

8. A golf game including a deck formed with a plurality of target openings through which balls are to' pass, a golfer figure mounted upon said deck, a club associated with said figure and means for actuating the latter to swing said club and impel a missile towards one of said openings and means disposed below the deck and connected to said openings to return a ball passing through one of the same to said deck and at a point adjacent said golfer figure and said deck being inclined towards said golfer figure.

9. A game comprising a member formed in the shape of a miniature golf course having a plurality of greens thereon With holes eX- tending through said member, and a tee remotely disposed from said greens, said member having surfaces pitching toward said tee and other surfaces pitching toward said holes, a revoluble platform positioned in said field to serve as the tee thereof, said platform having a depression at the lowermost point thereof for the reception of a ball to be propelled about said field, a striking mechanism for propelling said ball from said depression upon said field, and means for oscillating said platform to direct the travel of said ball toward any of said holes.

l0. A game comprising a member formed in the shape of a miniature golf course hav-v ing a plurality of greens thereon with holes extending through said member, anda tee remotely disposed from said greens, said member pitching at certain points toward said tee and at other points toward said holes, a revoluble platform positioned in said field to serve as the tee thereof, said platform having a depression for the reception of a ball to be propelled about said field, a manikin mounted upon said platform in proximity to said depression, a club carried by said manikin and movable toward said depression for striking balls disposed therein and propelling the same about said field, means for operating said club and means for rotating said platform to direct the ball to- Ward any of said holes.

1l. In a game device, a member having a playing surface, said surface being formed with a plurality of holes therein spaced apart and each adapted to receive a ball, a platform revolubly fitted in said member and formed with a depression therein, the surfaces of said member and platform being pitched with respect to each other and with respect to said depression to cause the ball to gravitate into said depression from positions removed therefrom, striking mechanism mounted on the platform for propelling the ball from said depression, means for manually actuating said striking mechanism, and means for turning the platform to locate the same in various angular positions with respect to said member.

12. In a game device, a member having a playing surface, a platform revolubly fitted in said member, a striking mechanism mounted on said platform and adapted to propel a ball along said member from a given teeing point, said playing surface and the surface of said platform being-pitched with respect to each other and with respect to said teeing point to causethe ball to gravitate to said point yfrom positions on said surfaces removed from said point, means for manually 139 actuating said striking means, and means for turning the platform to locate the same in various angular positions with respect to said member.

13. In a game device, a member providing a portion of a playing` course along which a ball may roll, a second member associated with said first member and providing another portion of such course, said members being relatively revoluble to vary the angular relation therebetween, the surfaces of said members being formed to cause the ball to gravitate to a given point on said course, and striking mechanism mounted ou the second member for propelling the ball from said point. j

14. A game comprising a stationary member providing a portion of a playing course, a second member rotatably associated with said first member and providing another portion of said course, a striking mechanism mounted on said rotatable member for propelling a ball upon said course, said members being shiftable relative to one another to vary the path of travel of a ball propelled by said striking mechanism', the surface of said members being formed to cause the ball to gravitate on the said rotatable member and into position to be struck by the striking mechanism in any position of the platform.

15; An apparatus of the character described including a plane surface forming a course, and having an opening for the reception of a ball, a rotatable platform at one end of the course, a striking mechanism, including a club associated with said platform, actuating means operatively connected with said mechanism, manual means connected to said actuating means and through Which the same may be operated to effect a stroke of said club, an elevator tube associated with the platform, an elevator therein, a chute disposed to receive a ball delivered through said opening and to convey the same into said tube, and means for operating the elevator to effect the delivery of said ball onto said platform.

16. An apparatus of the character described including a surface forming a course, and having a ball receiving opening, a rotatable platform adjacent one end of said course 'and having a ball retaining depression in its upper surface, a projecting mechanism on said platform including a striker adapted to project said ball across said course, means carried by the platform through which said mechanism may be actuated to project said ball.

17. An apparatus of the character described including a surface forming a course, andhaving a ball receiving opening, a rotatable platform adjacent one end of said course and having a ball retaining depression in .its upper surface, a projecting mechanism on said platform including a striker adapted to project said ball across-said i i said opening onto said platform.

18. An apparatus of the character described including a surface forming a course and having a ball receiving opening; a rotatable platform adjacent one end of said course and having a ball retaining depression in its upper surface, a projecting mechanism on said platform including a striker adapted to 'project said ball across said course, means carried by the platform through Which said mechanism may be actuated to project said ball, and means for returning said ball, when projected through said opening, onto said platform, said ball-returning means including an elevator and manually operable means for operating the elevator.

19. An lapparatus of the character described including a plane surface forming a course and having an opening, a platform movable about a vertical axis arranged adjacent one end of said course and Whosel upper surface is approximately flush with the upper surface of said course, a projecting mechanism on said platform and including a striker, or club, a ball to be projected, means for operating said striker to effect the projection of said ball through said opening and Ifneans for returning said ball onto said plat/- orm.

FRANK R. CHESTER.

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