US1956198A - Game - Google Patents

Description

April 1934 A. F. LIVINGSTON 1,956,198

GAME

Filed Feb. 4, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor jzagrezv F lz zfziiysi ala April 24, 1934. A. F. LIVINGSTON GAME Filed Feb. 4, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 24, 1934.

A. F. LIVINGSTON GAME Filed Feb; 4, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inuenlor Andrea zlflz izjafaib flllomey April 24, 1934. A. F. LIVINGSTON GAME Filed Feb. 4, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 1934- A. F. LIVINGSTON 98 GAME Filed Feb. 4, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor @4.md0l 22m April 24, 1934. A. F. LlViNGSTON GAME 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 4, 1933 Inventor A ril 24, 1934. A. F. LIVINGSTON GAME Filed Feb, 4, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Apr. 24, 1934 STATES PATENT OFFICE one-half to Arlie E.

Application February 4,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a ball game which is suggestive of golf and has for some of its objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a game of this character which will require the exercise of considerable skill in the successful piaying thereof, which will be highly amusing, which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, which may be expeditious assembled or set up for use and disassembled or folded in a manner to occupy a minimum of space and which may be manufactured at low cost.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a game of the aforementioned char- '1-cter embodying a novel construction and arrangeinent of ball actuated score indicating means through the medium of which the player, at the end of each game, may conveniently compute his score. Still another important object of the invention is to provide a game of the character set forth including novel coin or check controlled means for releasing the balls to be played.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and idvantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the :everal views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of an embodiment of a game constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation, showing the game folded.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one end portion of the game, showing an upper portion of the upper or playing board of the alley broken away.

substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through one end portion of the same, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line '7'7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view in rear elevation of the game with the door of the score indicator housing removed.

Figure 9 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a view in vertical transverse sec- Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View, taken Suggs, Abilene, Tex.

1933, Serial No. 655,270

tion, taken substantially on the line 1010 of Figure 14.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 1111 of Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a View showing, separated, certain of the members constituting the lateral extensions at the scoring end of the game and further showing, in vertical section, a portion of the score indicator housing upon which the rear members of these extensions are removably mounted.

Figure 13 is a view principally in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 13-13 of Figure 2.

Figure 14 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 1414 of Figure 1.

Figure 15 is a detail view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 15-15 of Figure 16.

Figure 16 is a detail view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 1616 of Figure 2.

Figure 17 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 17-17,of Figure 2.

Figure 18 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 18-18 of Figure 2.

Figure 19 is a detail View in section, taken substantially on the line 1919 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a detail view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 20-20 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is a detail view, principally in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section, of one of the scoring disk or wheel actuating levers.

Figure 22 is a detail view in vertical section, showing the means for detachably connecting the supporting legs to the rear end portion of the alley.

Figure 23 is a detail view in top plan of one of the detachable supporting legs.

Figure 24 is a detail view in side elevation of Y operatively connected with each of the score indicating disks.

Figure 28 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 28-28 of Figure 2.

Figure 29 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 29-29 of Figure 23.

Figure 30 is a View in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line till-30 0" Figure 28.

Figure 31 is a detail view in vertical transverse section through a portion of one of the side walls of the alley upon which the housing structure shown in Figure 28 is mounted, taken on the line 3131 of Figure 6.

Figure 32 is a detail low in perspective, showing the means for connecting the re-setting and ball-releasing rods to the upwardly extending rods seen in Figure 23 of the drawings.

Figure 33 is a detail view in plan of the ball return board or the forward section of the alley.

Figure 34 is a detail View principally in hori- Zontal section of one of the sweeps.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an alley which is designated generally by the reference numeral 1, said alley including a pair of sections 7 2 and 3 which are hingedly connected with each other, as at i, in a manner to permit said sections to be folded together, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, when the apparatus is not in use.

The section 2 of the alloy 1 comprises a bot o tom 5 from the longituoinal marginal portions of which side boards 6 and 7 rise. Mot-.nted between the side boards 6 and 7 is inclined playing board 8 which rests on supporting members 9, 10 and 11 which rise from the board 5. As best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, the members 11 paraliel the forward portions oi the side boards 6 and 7 in a manner to define ball return passages 12 and the members 19 converge in a manner to constitute guides for directing the balls in to the passages 12. The members 9 also converge and are engaged, at their forward ends, with intermediate portions or" the members 11.

The section 2 of the alley 1 further includes an inclined ball return board 13 which is mounted between the boards 5 and 3 and which is of the shape best seen in Figure 33 of the drawings to accommodate the members 10 and 11, said board 3 including the leg portions 14 which terminate at intermediate points the passages 12. Thus, the free ends of the legs 14 provide abutinents for preventing rearward movement of the balls in the passages 12. The rear end of the board 13 rests on a support 15 which is mounted on the rear end portion of the bottom board 5.

Hingedly mounted, as at 16, on the forward end of the section 2 of the alley 1 is a substantially flat plate or platform 17 constituting a tee which receives the balls from the passages 12 and from which said balls are driven with a conventional golf club by the player up the alley 1. Suitable deflectors 18 are provided in the outlet end portions of the passages 12 for directing the balls substantially toward the center of the plate 17.

The section 3 of the alley 1 comprises a lower inclined ball return board 12 from th longitudinal marginal portions of which side boards 20 and 21 rise. Mounted between the side boards 20 and 21 is an inclined playing board 22 which is spaced above the board 19. The board 19 constitutes a continuation of the return board 13 of the section 2, the side boards as and 21 constitute continuations of the side boards 6 and 7,.

retainers 25 which are mounted on the bottomof the section 3 at the rear end of said section. Metallic strips 28 are countersunk and secured on the upper ends of the legs 23 and traverse the channels 24 for engagement with the retainers 25 for connecting the legs thereto. The section 3 of the alley further includes an end wall 27 which extends transversely between the rear end portions of the side boards 20 and 21.

As best seen in Figure 9 of the drawings, the playing board 22 of the section 3 terminates in spaced relation to the end wall 27 and extending horizontally between the upper end of said board 22 and the end wall 27 is a plate 28 having a plurality or" scoring pockets 29 therein for the reception of the balls. The upper rear portions of the side boards 26 and 21 are recessed, as at 30, said recesses extending substantially the length of the plate 23. As best seen in Figure 13 of the drawings, lateral extensions 31 are provided on the sides of the plate 28, said extensions 31 being substantially triangular in plan, as seen in Figure 2. The side boards 20 and 21 the alley section 3 are provided, adjacent the lower walls of the recesses 30, with openings for the reception of lugs 32 throu h the medium of which the extensions 31 are removably mounted in position. Pivotally mounted, as at 33, on the outer edges or" the extensions 31 are diagonally extending wings 34 which are detachably connected at their forward ends to the vertical forward walls of the recesses 30. This connection is ace in plished, as best seen in Figure 11, through the medium or vertically aligned eyes in which a pin 35 is l'einovably inserted, said pin being in the form of a miniature flag.

The reference numeral 36 designates generally a score indicator on the rear end portion of the section 3 of the alley 1, said indicator including a housing 37 which is hingedly mounted, as at 3-3, for permitting said housing to be swung downwardly on to the plate 28. Referring now to *lgure'l2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the side walls of the housing 37 are provided with slots 39 for the reception of hooks 40 through the medium of which wings 41 are reinovably mounted on said housing. The wings il are detachably connected, at their outer ends, to the rear ends of the wings as by pin and eye couplings 42. The wings 41 are engaged with the rear end portions of the extensions 31.

The score indicator 36 further includes a pin rality of vertical disks 43 which are rotatably mounted on one side of brackets 44 which project rearwardly from the forward wall of the housing 37. The disks 43 have suitable score indicating numerals on their peripheries which are observed through windows 49 which are provided for this purpose in the forward wall of the housing 37. This is best seen in Figure 5 of the drawings. Adjacent each window 19, the housing 3'? has indicated thereon a pair of zeros, as at 45, which are read in conjunction with the numerals on the disks as appearing through the windows 49 for determining the scoring value of each ball too lower portions of said disks 56.

, pins 46.

which is played into the pockets 29. Pins 46 project from the disks 43 and are engaged by springs 47 which releasably secure said disks against idle rotation. Each spring 47 is engaged with two pins on the disks 43 and by reason of this construction and arrangement said disks will always be caused to stop with one of the numerals thereon in alignment with the windows 49. The springs 47 are mounted on the brackets 44 and are maintained in engagement with the pins 46 by pins 48 which project from said brackets. The springs 47 are provided with spaced indentations in which the pins 46 engage. These indentations are designated by the reference numeral 50.

Ball actuated gates 51 are hingedly mounted beneath the pockets 29 for normally closing said pockets. The gates 51 are swung upwardly to closed position by gravity through the medium of counterweights 52 which are threadedly mounted for adjustment on arms 53 which are fixed on the gates. Also fixed to the gates 51 (see Figure 26) are shafts 54 having fixed thereon arms 55. The reference numeral 56 (see Figure 9) designates disks which are journaled on the rear portion of the plate 28, one of said disks being provided beneath each of the scoring disks 43. The lower portion of the housing which rests on the plate 28 when the score indicator 26 is in raised or operative position has formed therein a transversely extending opening in which the disks 56 are operable and the adjacent portion of said plate 28 is provided with a substantially similar opening which accommodates the Rods 57 are connected oif center, at one end, to the disks 56 and at their other ends to the. arms 55.

Pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on each bracket 44 is a lever 58 which is operatively connected to the adjacent scoring disks 43 in a manner to actuate the same in a step by step fashion through the medium of a pivoted pawl 59 which is engageable with the pins 46. The pawl 59 of each lever 56 is yieldingly 'rnaintained in operative position through the medium of a coil spring 60. It will thus be seen that when the levers 58 are swung in one direction, the scoring disks -3 will be rotated a distance corresponding to the space between the The reference numeral 61 designates rods which are connected oif center to the disks 56 at one end, and which are adjustably connect ed, at their other ends, to the end portions of the levers 58 which are remote from the pawls 59. The levers 58 are provided with a series of openings 62 in which the rods 61 are selectively engageable. It will thus be seen that the scoring disks 48 are connected to the gates 51 for actuation thereby.

Mounted transversely in the upper portion of the housing 37 is a rocker shaft 63 on which forwardly and downwardly projecting arms 64 are fixed. Rods 65 depend from the arms 64 and have connected thereto, through the medium of springs 66, rods 67. The rods 67 terminate, at their lower ends, in elongated loops 68 in which headed pins 69 which project from the scoring disks 43 are slidably engaged. Projecting rearwardly from the rocker shaft 63 is an arm 76 to which one end of a cable 71 is connected. The purpose and operation of the cable 71 will be presently set forth.

The rear wall of the housing 37 is provided with a door 72 which is hingedly mounted, as at 73. The door 72 is provided with a suitable look 74. As will be apparent, the door 72 permits access to be had to the mechanism in the housing 37. Removably mounted on the top of the housing 37 is a light shade or hood 75 which projects forwardly of the housing. Supporting arms 76 are pivotally mounted on the forwardly projecting portion of the shade or hood 75 and are engageable in openings provided therefor in the upper portion of the front wall of said housing. The rear portion of the top of the housing 37 is provided with openings which receive pins or the like 77 which are mounted on the inner side of the shade or hood 75.

Mounted in an intermediate portion of the alley section 3 below the playing board 22 and adjacent the side board 20 is a housing 78 in which a rotatable ball retaining wheel 79 is vertically mounted. The wheel housing 78 is provided with inlet and outlet openings 89 and 81, respectively, in opposite walls thereof, the outlet opening being below the horizontal plane of the inlet opening, as best seen in Figure 18 of the drawings. A ball runway 82 extends between the inlet and outlet openings in the housing '78 and includes an inclined end portion 83 adjacent the inlet opening 80. A spring latch 84 is mounted in the housing 78 and is engageable with the free ends of the wheel blades for frictionally securing the wheel against idle rotation. The reference numeral 85 designates a resilient pawl which is mounted beneath the latch 84 and which is engageable with the blades of the wheel 79 for preventing retrograde rotation of said wheel. Mounted on one side of the housing 78 adjacent the wheel 79 is a casing 86 which is open at its ends and in which a bolt 87 is slidable, the end portions of said bolt projecting from the casing. As best seen in Figure 19 of the drawings, the bolt 87 is provided with an angularly extending end portion 88 which is engageable by a lug 89 which projects laterally from the outer end portion of one of the blades of the wheel 79, thus permitting the wheel to be rotated but one complete revolution when the bolt 87 is retracted and released. The follow ing blade of the wheel 79 has projecting from an intermediate portion thereof a curved lug 89 which is engageable with the bolt 87 when said bolt is in retracted position for locking the wheel, thus necessitating releasing the bolt to its operative position after the retraction thereof in order that the wheel may rotate one complete revoiution, thereby preventing the perpetration of fraud. The bolt 87 is yieldingly urged toward operative position by a coil spring 99 which mounted in the casing 86. A cable 91 passes slidably through an opening 92 which provided therefor in the housing 7 8 and said cable is connected, at one end, to the bolt 97. On the other end of the cable 91 is a snap hook 93.

Mounted vertically in the section 3 of the alley l on the board 19 is a partition structure 94 which is so arranged that the balls from all of the scoring pockets 29, with the exception of the rearwardmost scoring pocket, will be directed into the inlet opening 89 of the housing 78. Mounted in the area defined by partition structure 64, the end wall 27 and the side board 26 is an inclined platform 95 which is spaced above the board 19 and over which the balls travel to the housing 78. The rear portion of the partition structure 94 also defines a chamber 96 and a tunnel 97 which receive the balls from the rearwardmost scoring pocket 29. at will thus be seen that the balls which are played into the rearwardmost pocket 29 will be returned directly to the player without passing through the wheel controlled housing 78. Mounted in the compartment is an elevated platform 93 from which an inclined runway 99 extends substantially into the tunnel 97. The balls from the rearwardrnost scoring pocket 29, of course, drop on to the platform 98 and roll down the runway 99, through the tunnel 97 onto the return board 19 of the alley section 3.

Mounted on the inner side and top of the forward end portion of the side board 6 of the al ley section 2 is angular sheet of metal 100 having spaced openings 101 therein between which is a slot 102. This is best seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. The side board 6 is provided with openings in registry with the openings 101 and with a slot which registers with the slot 102. The openings 1G1 receive the legs of a substantially U-shaped rod 103 through the medium which a housing 1% is secured on this side of the alley sectio A plate 195 is fixed horizontally in the lower portion of the housing 104, said plate including inturned end portions through which the end portions of the rod 103 project. Securing nuts are threaded on the ends of the rod 163. A U-bolt 167 is on an intermediate portion of the rod 103 and projects through the slot 2 into the housing 134 and has mounted thereon a padlock 108 which provents unauthorized removal or" the housin 104.

The lower inner portion or" the housing 164 is recessed to accommodate the side board 6 of the alley section 2 and has mounted thereon a vertical plate 169 which abuts the outer side of said board 6. As best seen in Figure 23 of the drawings, the plate 169 is also provided 1th openings which accommodate the end portions of the rod 103 and a slot through which the U-bolt 167 projects. Pivotally mounted on the plate 192 is a pair of bell crank levers 110 and 111 having fixed on one end thereof inwardly extending socket members 112 which are operin arcuate slots 113 which are provided therefor in said plate 109. The side wall 6 of the alley section 2 formed in its inner side a longitudinally extending channel 114 which extends rearwardly beyond the plate 100, plate constituting the inner wall of the channel. Arcua-te slots 115 are also provided in the side board 6 and communicate with the channel 11 1. The socket members 112 are operable in the arcuate slots 115 and project therethrough into the channel 114.

The housing 104 is constructed to provide compartments 116 and 117. A hand operating rod 118 is operable the compartment 116 and is connected, at one end, to the bell crank lever 110, said rod slidably through the partition 119 the housing 104. The rod 108 also extends slidaTo-ly through the top of the compartment 116 and terminates, at i s upper end, in a hook or handle 12. A coil spring 121 is opera- -'vely connected to the rod 118 for yieldingly urging said rod toward its inoperative position.

A rod 122 is operable in the compartment 117 of the housing 111 1 and is connected, at its lower end, to one end of the bell crank lever 111. At its upper end, the rod 122 is adjustably con nected to one end of a lever 123 which is pivotally mounted, at intermediate point, on the housing 104-. The reference numeral 12 1 designates a suitable coin or check controlled operating unit which is mounted horizontally on an upper portion of the housing 10% and which is operatively engageable with the lever 123 for actuating said lever in one direction. A coil spring 125 is connected to the bell crank lever 111 for returnin said bell crank lever to inoperative position. The reference numeral 126 designates a coin box which is reinovably mounted in the compartm nt 117 of the housing 10% for receiving coins or checks from the unit 12 1. The box 126 is provided with a suitable lock 127.

The reference numeral 129 designates 2. flexible rod which is mounted in suitable guides on the inner sides of the side boards 6 and 20 of the alley sections 2 and 3 and which terminates, at its rear end, in an eye 130 with which the snap hook 93 is engaged, thus connecting said rod 129 to the bolt retracting cable 91. The rod 129 is operable longitudinally in the channel 114 and terminates, at its forwad end, in a right angularly extending portion 131 (see Figure 32 which is engageable in the socket member 112 of the lever 111, thus operatively connecting the bolt 87 to the coin or check controlled unit 124 for actuation thereby against the tension of the coil spring 36. A rod substantially similar to the rod 129 is connected, at one end, to the bell crank lever 11%) and is connected at its other end with the cable 71 for resetting the score indicating dislrs 4'. The cable 71 extends downwardly into the alley section 3 from the housing 37 an is tra ned under a pulley 132 which is mounted below the plate 28. It will thus be seen that, by pulling upwardly on the rod 118 against the tension of the coil spring 121, the rocker shaft 63 will be actuated in a direction to swing the arms 6 1 upwardly for re-setting the scoring disks 43 through the medium of the rods 65, the springs 66, the rods 67 and the elongated loops 68 which are slidably connected with the headed pins 69. When the headed 69 are in alignment with the free end portions of the 61 and the axis of the scoring disks 13, said scoring disks are in re-set position. A portion of the which connects the re-setting cable 71 to the bell crank ever 110 is shown in broken lines in Fi ure 29 of the drawings as indicated by the reference numeral 133.

At a point beneath the forward portion of the horizontal plate 28, the side boards 26 and 21 of the alley section 3 have formed therein openings 133 which are traversed by vertical rotary shafts 13 1. This is best seen in Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings. Fixed on the shafts 13 1 and 0perable in the openings 133 are drums 135 to which one end of branch cables 136 is anchored and upon which said branch cables are windable. Coil springs 137 encircle the 134 and are operatively connected to the drums 135 for yieldingly urging said drums and shafts in one direction. Guards 138 are mounted on the outer sides of the side boards 20 and 21 for concealing and protecting the runs 135.

The shafts 13 1 project through and above the plate 28 and have fixed on their upper end portions sweeps which are desigl ated generally by the reference nurneral 139. As best seen in Figure as of the drawings, each sweep 139 comprises inner section 1 10 having a bore therein in which an outer section 1 11 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement. The section 141 is yieldingly urged outwardly by a coil spring 142 which is mounted in the section 1 16. The reference numeral 14.3 designates a stop pin which projects from the section 141 which is oper- .ble in aslot 114 which is provided therefor in the section 140. A roller 1&5 is journaled on the its outer end of the section 141. The sweeps 139 areadapted tobe actuated from a position adjacent the wings 34; (see Figure 2) across the extensions 31 and the plate 28 for clearing said plate of balls which may not enter the scoring pockets 29. This movement of the sweeps is accomplished by unwinding the branch cables 136 from the drums 135, the branch cables being wound in opposite directionson the drums to actuate the sweeps toward each other, or in 0pposite directions. As the sweeps 'are actuated by the branch cables 136, the coil springs 137 are tensio'ned or wound tighter for returning the sweeps to inoperative position and for re-winding the branch cables 136 on the drums 135 when the pull on said branch cables is released. The rollers 145 travel on the members 41 and the front of the housing 37 during a portion of the inward movement of the sweeps. As will'be ap parent, the extensible construction of the sweeps assures that practically the entire area of the plate 28 and the extensions 31 will be covered by said sweeps.

Mounted on the forward portion of the side board 7 of the alley section 2 is a metallic plate 146 which is substantially similar to the plate 100 on the side board 6. The plate 146 extends over the top and the inner side of the side board 7. Mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the outer side of that portion of the side board 7 upon which the plate 146 is mounted, is a lever 147 having a stop and supporting lug 148 projecting inwardly therefrom for engagement on the plate 146. That portion of the side board 7 upon which the plate 146 is mounted has formed therein a channel which is substantially similar to the channel 114 in the side board 6 and operable in this channel is a cable 149. The cable 149 is mounted in suitable guides 150 and is connected, at one end, to the branch cables 136, as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. At its other end, the cable 149 is connected with the lever 147 for actuation thereby. It will thus be seen that by swinging the lever 147 upwardly and forwardly by suitable means as by engaging the head of a golf club therewith, the sweeps 139 will be actuated in a manher to clear the scoring area of balls which may have failed to enter the pockets 29.

Briefly, the operation of the apparatus is as follows:-

A coin or check is inserted in the unit 134, thus permitting said unit to be actuated to swing the lever 123. The bolt 87 is thus retracted against the tension of the spring 90 to release the wheel 79 which is then actuated by the balls rolling by gravity through the runway or trough 82 in the housing 78. These balls are shown in broken lines and designated by the reference numeral 151. It will be seen that the wheel 79 which has been illustrated is constructed to permit the passage of seven balls between the blades of said wheel after which one complete revolution will have been made by the wheel which is arrested by the engagement of the lug 89 with the angular end portion 88 of the bolt 87. It is understood, of course, that after being retracted to release the wheel, the bolt 87 is released and is returned immediately to its operative position by the spring 90. The balls roll by gravity from the wheel housing 78 down the inclined boards 19 and 13 of the alley sections 3 and 2, respectively, and are directed by the members 10 into the passages 12 from which said balls pass onto the tee 17. The forward longitudinal marginal portions of the board 8 of the alley section 2 are provided with elongated recesses 152 to permit movement of the balls through the passages 12. The balls are then driven up the alley 1 by an ordinary golf club, the object being to play the balls into the scoring pockets 29. As the balls drop through the scoring pockets they actuate the gates 51 and said gates, as hereinbefore explained, actuate the scoring disks 43 in the housing 37. The halls which enter all but the rearwardmost pocket 29 drop on to the platform r 95 and roll by gravity to the inlet opening'80 of the wheel housing 78, being directed by the diagonally extending forward portion of the partition structure 94;. As also previously set forth,

the balls which may enter the rearwardmost scoring pocket 29 drop into the compartment 96 and are returned through the tunnel 97 directly to the tee 17 fora free play.

When not in use, portions of the apparatus,

such as the housing 104, the expansion 31, the

wings 34 and 41 may be removed and the apparatus folded in a manner to occupy a minimum space by swinging the housing 37 downwardly on to the plate 28 and then swinging the alley section 3 over on to the section 2 as shown in Fige.

ure 3 of the drawings. To facilitate this, the rods 129 and 133 and the cable 149 have interposed therein, at the hinge joint 4 of the alley sections, suitable couplings 153 which permit the alley sections to be readily folded. The guides in which the rods 129 and 133 operate are designated by the reference numeral 154 in Figure 2 of the drawings.

As best seen in Figure 11 of the drawings, the

playing board 22 of the alley section 3 includes a removable section 155 constituting a door through which access may be had to the wheel housing 78. The casing 104 is constructed to accommodate one or more golf clubs. In Figure 1 of the drawings, a golf club 156 is shown project- I ing from the casing 104.

It is believed that the many advantages of a game in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustratpocket and operable by the balls which enter the pockets, rotary score indicating disks, and means operatively connecting the score indicating disks to the gates for actuation ther by, the last named means including pivotally mounted levers operatively engageable with the scoring disks, arms connected to the gates for actuation thereby, rotary disks mounted substantially between the arms and the levers, rods connecting the second named disks to the arms for actuation thereby,

and rods connecting the levers to the second named disks for actuation by said second named disks.

2. A game comprising an alley including an inclined playing board and an inclined ball return board spaced beneath the playing board, scoring pockets at the upper end portion of the playing board for the reception of balls, means for receiving the balls from certain of the pockets and conveying said balls by gravity to the return board, and means for controlling the return of the balls, the last named means including a housing for the reception of the balls, a rotary, bladed, ball actuated Wheel rotatably mounted in the housing, and provided with a plurality of spaced radially extending blades, a lug carried by and extending laterally from one of said blades, a retractable bolt for engaging said lug to lock said Wheel against rotation, means for retracting said bolt to disengage the same from said lug to permit rotation of said Wheel, and means for automatically returning said bolt to a position for engaging said lug upon release of said retracting means.

3. A game comprising an inclined alley including a pair of hingedly connected, foldable sections, scoring pockets at the upper end portion of the alley for the reception of balls, score indicating means hingedly mounted on the upper end portion of the alley, a tee hingedly mounted on the lower end of the alley, means for returning the balls by gravity from the scoring pockets to the tee, and means for controlling the return of the balls from the scoring pockets to the tee.

4. A game comprising an alley, scoring pockets at one end of the alley for the reception of balls, ball actuated gates mounted adjacent each pocket and operable by the balls which enter the pockets, movable score indicating members, and means operatively connecting the score indicating members to the gates for actuation thereby, the last mentioned means including pivotally mounted levers operatively engageable with the score indicating members, arms connected to the gates for actuation thereby, rotary disks mounted substantially between the arms and the levers, rods connecting the disks to the arms for actuation thereby, and rods connecting the levers to the disks for actuation by said disks.

ANDREW F. LIVINGSTON.

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