US1988251A - Game mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15, b1935. J.. w. PATTISQN GAME MECHANISM Filed oct', 7, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 @NUN Jan. l15,. 1935. J, w. PATTlsoN GAME MECHANISM Filed OOG. 7, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 or y Jan. 15, 1935. l J. w. PA'rTlsoN GAME MECHANISM Filed OCT.. 7, 192

5 eets-Sheet 4 Jan. 15, 1935. J. w. PA'rjnsoN 1,988,251

GAME MEcHANIs-M Filed Oct. 7, 1929 5 SheetS-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 15, 1935 I l' .y l I vJohn W. Pattison, Absecon; :Ni "J.,assi`gnor 'of .one- 5.1 :half to Irwin J.' Rider,'Absecon, lN.l J.

Application October j, 1929, vSerial Nol1:,977i'864'Y i I 20 Claims. 1 (C1. 27s-ss) UNI-TED STATB My invention isjan improved game mechanism Fig. 2; Fig. M12 nins-'a .1 transverse sectional View which maybe played by onejor more persons, takenl on t'hevline..lf2-1.2` o f Fig. 2; Fig. 13 is vand which is particularly. designed to per init a transverse sectional View taken on the line play vwhich will closelysimulate the plays4 of a 13--713 of Fig. 2; Fg. 1 4 is a transverse sectional s regularly organized baseball game, and wherein View taken on vthe liner14--14 of Fig. 2;.Fig.l15` 5 skill and chance both contribute. to the results is a transverse sectionalview taken on the line ofthe various plays, and each play may .alect .15-15ofFigw2; Fig'. v16 isa sectional View on y and be affected by the previous and subsequent line `1 6- 1 6 of Fig.l 2; Fig. 17 isa front elevaplays. tionnof thescoring board for the vruns and outs;

lo By the utilization of my novel apparatus the Fig. 18 is ladiagrammatic layout of the electric l0 'pitching or rolling of -a missile toward an. obwiring; Fig. l9.-ris simila r to Fig. 2, on' an enjective may produce a Variety of results comllarged scalegFig. 20y isa view ojf `the right-hand parable to the results `of a strike, ball, hit; two'- .end of'Fig. 6, onan enlarged scale; and bagger, three-bagger, or home run, and the ef- .2 1 is a top-plan .viewof theyapparatusnear the l5 fects of each ball pitched or rolled upon-previ- Las viewed-:at the upper left-hand, end of l5 ously 'uncompleted plays, aswell vas the yresult Fig,4 19. v .f z 1 of the playA represented by thefball being pitched .g-Avsl;.illustrated inA the gdrawings, (Fig. 1) a;

.or rolled, is automaticallyf indicated-ff and re- `frame lff'supports an inclined alley 2 up vwhich, corded. Plays may be made continuously until balls are pitched or rolledat the target 3, (Fig.V

lo the occurrenceof three plays simulating outs, 5).1r Ihe `board 3 is disposed -in ari-inclined v20 and the. end ofa'half` inning, Whenl'the appaposition above a chute-1 V(Figs. 1, 2 "and1'5) ratus must be reset to permit, the playing of a vdivided:intorunways `5,-6 .and 7, leading torun-` new half inning. vv\ra.ys...5 i, 6a,`` and 7a..'respective1y, in a chute AWhile myinvention is susceptible of -embodi- 8a. The lower edge of thetarget `board13 con- 35 ment in Various forms,'it'preferably comprises Stains recesses 8, 9 and-1 registerngwith run- 25 vaplurality of runways to which missiles'suchv-as wrfiys 11, -12 and 13 cfg-a chute 14j (Figs. 1, 4 balls'are selectively admitted 'in accordancewith i and 5) .f A V-shaped deflectorl 15 (Figs.^2,.4 andA the position'. occupiedby .the ball'onv approach- 5) 'isflxed tothe chute 14-with its nose infront ing anl objective, and the several runwayscoh.- :0f runway 12. `The deflector projects across the .30 tain movable devices whereby the courses ofthe front of runways'l, andl'l, so that balls rolling 3o balls are deflected and indicated. I L". upon thesurfaceoffthe alley 2 andlacking suiii- The characteristic features and operations inlcientirripetusfto ride up `upon the target board 3 cident to my improvements .Willmore vfully apare'ydeflected' intoweither therunwayyll or the pear vfrom the following description andfthe -runway.13'.`r v`(Figs. 2, 4 and 5.)- i .f

35 accompanying drawings of `an illustrative em- .d The upper edgela. of. vthe bottom'of. the'ii bodiment of my invention. f l.alley 2 :is :spaced from the forward edge of In the drawings Fig. 1 isja side elevation of targetfpl'at'e 39(Fig. 2), so lthat a ball which falls a preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. back lfrom'the targetplate' 3 drops into. the 2 is a top planview thereof; Fig. 3 is an'y Vend Lrunwayll orthe runway 13. v

40 view, taken from theleft hand end of Fig. 3, When "a: ball is; tossed` or rolledup the ralley 40 with parts omitted for the sake of clearer illus- `2 and entersthe runway v1`1 .ofthe chute 14 it` tration; Fig. 41s an enlarged topplanview of jSfde-lcted by y PVOtBCl gfl liFgS-l, '7' and ya portion of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2, -9) into the'runway S16 where it strikes the tail with parts removed; Fig. 5 -is .a frontelevation '19 Of the gate M16-TOURS 'the latter 1113011 tSTVOt of the target exemplifying; thebatters nog; {2 0 seas to fclosetheopeningzl inthe wall vof 45 Fig. 6 is a topplan vew of the fourth chute the'ruriway (Fig-4) 'Ifhe gatelS'is so mounted from the top shown in Fig. 1; Figfl is fagtransas to stay pu in its opened and closed posiverse sectional yview on the'line .'7-7 of Fig.A 4; tions. 'I he'ball then drops throughA the aper- Fig. 8.is a transverse sectional View takenon-the 'ture 22 "(Fg'ls. 4 'and 7); into the return chute 23 50 line 8-8 of Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a detachedperspec- ..(Fg. 1)` Which v dni/STS the ball 130l a SOIagB tive View of one of the. pvoted gai-,es gr deflee- 'spac'e125below, vatlth'e front endv of the alley tors; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken (Filgs.y 1 and 2)'.gwflfhe'operation' of the gate on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2; Fig. 11 is a transcauses a contact 26 (Figs. 4 andillwto engage a ,5,5 .verse sectional View taken'on the linerll-ll of VContact27h-carriedV by a crossmember 28 and (55 closing a circuit which lights the light 29 on the score board 30 (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 18).

Should a second ball enter the runway 11, either immediately after the first ball or after balls have entered other runways, such second ball entering the runway 11 passes` the` closed gate 18 and is deflected by a similar second gate 31 into the runway 16 whereit operates the tail 3210i '.thefgate, fand. drops-through the :taperture 33 into thev return chute 23. -The rocking of the gate 31 causes the contact 34 Vthereon to engage with the contact 35 which closestng circuit illuminating a second light 36 .on .the Vscore board 30. n

`When a third ball enters r:the runwayflfL either` limmediately after the ball last iabove :described or at a later period in the ...playing .of a; game,

it passes the closed gates 18 and f31 a'nd."deV presses a contact 37 (Figs.- 4 andfl) a contact 38 which closes a circuit illuminating a 'third-light v 3'9- on the score board V3. D Y

4 i-aTl-ieball -the'n strikes 4theFleperfcli'ng rocker y"finger40 and passes-aroundfa-=c1n-ved chute por- (Figs. #1,2 f and-6) .v "The thirdstrike ball .passes -f fdown'wthefmnway 411unti1-it Strikes and-fis deindicate one man out.

yfllhefrocker -nger =40 is fixed tof-a fshaft :'50 ('Figslf'4 and 8) which hasdepend-ingther'efrom "a rocker fnger' `51whi`c`h engages and-rocks the #lever 52 ffixed @on :la .rocking 5shaftr15'31mounted vinsuitable bearings A*carriedby 'the iframe, the leverdbeing `counterloalanced{by a :weight I'54 f-(Fig. 58); The sliaftf53f'lr1a`s `fixed thereon :the depending ngers and {56 `which normally 'hangsbeside the closed gatesandpwhenirocked '.or'turned aboutlthe axis. of the shaft '53" engage and -tur'n' :the 4gates '18 rand .'--31 (-Fi'g. 4) about -their 'upright pivots.. 20 to open .,position."

` 'sionof the runway 44'. The ball strikes-:the

ingE 60 through whichit passesintothe return chute 47a and rollsthrough-the `crosschute48a Yand chute 23 to the ..box` 25 Vas Ypreviously vdescribed.- The rocking of Ythegate 258 causes the contact v61, corresponding ytothe contact .'45" to 4be brought 'into engagement (with. the contac't}62, correspondingto the .contact 45". Thiscloses the circuit through the 4second out 'light '63 n(Fig. 17) 'onithe score/board `\4^8 to 'indicate a iseco'nd'man'out.j`v j 1 Y "Y l ing three missiles., into the runway 11 either inv sequence or interspersed with other plays,the third'ball of the third player, thus resulting in Va strike after reaching the runway 41 passes both the closed gates 43 .and 58 and passes under and rocks a depending rocker nger or hanger 64 (Figs. 2fand'6) and drops through vthe aperture 65 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6). The depending rocker; nger 641s` fixed tofa yiournalled shaftf iwhichrhasiprojecting therefrnmmn arm `or lever 67 which depresses an arm or lever 68 Mixed toa shaft 69 journalled in suitable bearings and having thereon a finger 70 for opening :"thergate58 and a depending finger 71 for openvi-ng Atlfieygate'43f` (Figs.'.;=2, 6 and 13) 1 .Uponzropping through the opening 65, `the vballengages,androcks an arm 72 of a, trigger '73 '(FigsL '6`and^1"4) pivoted on a bearing 73 on the :side of the chute 42. This trigger has a toothed end normally supporting the counteriiivceig'htedsfend174 fof-lJa-Lll'ever174.- The action of `the counterweighted-end 74'" inrookingfthelslever '74 -is supplemented lbyv the impact ofv the Adescendfing ball with tlieend"74"^ after having vrocked.

'fthe ltr-iggrerr arm f72. f-Thelever j74 vispivotally supported by' thefpivot 75 (Figs.' 2-'a`nd-6) The -end f76 ofthe lever 74r`also1h`as thereon a con- -ta'ct "T78 which is -f moved by fthe elevation. `of lthe end 76 into engagement with a contact v78ifor fclesing'f'th'e circuit oiia `laxnp' $.79 -Son the score 'board 48 to-)indicate Athat the `third player lis-` out and the '.rst ihalf. 'of the-inning ended.` v The `vball' has meanwhile ldropped: into the crossy chute -48a(Fig. 1) .hndlpassed through Ithel chute 'L23l 'foregoing Adescription .is '7: given i .to afford sa fcomplete 'understanding ynf ,the mechanismy actuated byballs yentering thetrunway 11,4regardless-of' -Whe'therithe i strikes fare. nlsequence, or. inter- 7 If a pitched or rebounding ball, impelled up the chutefor ialley .22.insta'd :of: entering the run- Yreception `of :missiles `representing ..balls\ (Figs. '4 4fand:-5).,1L'thefrstball Vis deected .by f the 1 gate `80 into=the :run-Wayf17. The ballrocksthe tail -81 :of the egatepbefore vdropping :through Athe .opening-i232,.and'therebyclosesthe gate-80. .The

closure of thei'gateimov'es=1the.contact 83 .finto engagementviwith: the 1 contact r. 84 rand'fcloses the -circuit A-of :the ilamp '851 lon .thev score iboard@ to indicate .oneball` '.Theball passing through the aperture `82 drops into `the'return 'chute 223 and returns to the storagefboxi25.

Aesecond ball pitChed-Or'rebOunding into the -runway -1-3 )passes fthe closed gate 580 and -isfdefflected by the open gate 86 'into the runway 1-7 land 'dropsfthrough `the-'aperture 87 into the "rturnvfrunwafy 23 and ba'ck-to-fthe box 25. 'In `passing to theapeture -87 the ball rocks the -tail 88 -o'fthegate''86 `-soas to closethislgate and *bring j{the lContact 89 thereon into engagement with 'the'contact 9'0lto close lthe circuit of` the flight 91 "on 1 the score yboard ..30 to -indi'cateia `second"ball'.` `r i f The third balli-pitched! or vrebounding Yinto .the

'is-v de'ected by thefopen gate $9.2'v into -th'e runway IT-where it drops V`through the 'aperture V/93 finto thefreturn run-way 1231-aft'er rocking the tail `l94gfof "the igate A92 to -close vvthe cflatter 'and lbring the contact -95 1 intofengagementmith the ,Y contact ..96

gns

Icuit, ofand i'llumhiatethe light 136'01'1 thefs'oore '.board48; the"contacts 137 land v138 toI close the Vycircuitrof andfilluminate the. light 139 on` the Ascoreboard:48; the contact 140 and '141,to'close the 4circuitrof.` and illuminate the light 142 `on i, the-scoreboard. 48;-:the contacts 143and 144 to 'tnereby :closing fthe circuit 'ofwthe lamp 9'1Lon the score board'v to :indicate-a. third. ba'll..' -'I-he-'fourth'ba'll pitched Vor rebounding into -Lthe runway-13 passes theclosedgates 80,' 86'1andff92, depress'esflthe Contact '.98` againstsi'fheE contactY 99 v.to close` the circuit 'ofthe lainp 100 onlthe'score board 130y to indicate'affourth ball-'ferititling .the Ibatter to his-base on balls. yAfter closing this circuit, the fourth ballrpasses under the'de'pending nger 101 fixed tothe shafft=50..--(ligs.\ 4 and 8.)l Theffro'ckingv of the shafti` 50?'. acts vthrough the memberi5l to'depress thezlever .102 The lever 52 Iacts as heretoforedescrib'ed 4toopen the gatesi^18 vand 31,5?and' theleveri102 acts" through the' jour?.- :nalled shaft 103 and the pins104, 105 and 106 depending. therefrom ,tOsimilaily' open .the gates A80,-86 and 92"(Figsf4y7 and.8)... f '.When the fourth ball entering the runwayzl-S lhas passed the. rocker nger 1011, it yrolls y.around -the curved` .runway portion 40a" 4and drops vthrough-:ran` opening 13a intothe runwayl r107 ofthe Achute 42 (Figs. 2 and 6).. The ball rolls I'down the .runway 107 until it is deflected byxa pivoted gate 108fand stopped by a projecting pin 109 mounted upon. acounterbalanced lever 1-10 carried/by a.' journalled shaft 111.. .In this Astopped position, the. ball vrests uponl `a 'spring contact1112 which it depresses inta-engagement with a Contact 113, of a light .114 representing Afirst` base andl indicatingthat there is now a manon first base. ,l When the ball strikes vthe tail ofthe vgate ,108, the latter is deflected intof closed. position, .so that 1a secondball passing .down fthe; `runway 107. atjthe end offa )second groupfof, four".balls passesthe gate 108 and is ydeflected' by asecond vpivoted gate, 115.y Aballdeflected by'l theggate` y-causes the contact ,116 ,to engage thecontact V117 and illuminates-thelight 118 :t0 indicate that aman isqon secondbase. The ball .which 4is deflected-by thegate 1-153closes thisl gate by engagement with itsitail fand isstopped by the pin l119 which is movableupr., and Vdown by a counterbalanced leverY 12,0 fixed tothe shaft'lll. Should there be athird groupjof four, balls enter the runway v13, the fourth ball fof such third lgroup will roll downthe runway 107 and pass brothofthe yclosed gates 108jand y115. ASuch ball will, however, .be .d eected by, the gate 12,1 to causethe contact 122to.engage the contact A12,3, thereby closing they ,circuit of the` lamp 124, which is thus illuminated to indicate that there are men on allthree bases. The ygate 121g1is closed bythe contact of the ball with thetail of the gate, and this ballis stoppedvby, the pin 125 movable vertically by a counterbalanced lever or arm 126 xed on, the shaft 111.

, l Should a fourth group of vfour balls enterV-V the runway 13, either in sequence or interspersed with .other `plays of the game, the fourthball ofthe vfourthr'group will roll down the'runway 107 past the` closed gates 108,. .115 and 121until it is stopped yby thelpin 127. ;The rst-ball resting against the pin 127 presses the contact 128 against ay contact 129-and closesga circuit to the sc ore boardu48 (Figs. 17-and I18) to indicate'that-the person or persons simuside at bat has scored one run; As

additional runs are scored bythe side playing, the additional ball representing each, run accumulates behind; the -rst ,ball and close in .se- Aquence the contacts 131 and 132 `to close the cir- Acuit of and light .the lamp 133 on the score board y.48; k-the contactsf134 andl 135,110 close the. cir.-

von-Lfthe. score board ber.. of" contacts as may rcircuit of andv illuminate any. additional lamps 'whichpmaybe provided upon thescore' board 48 con a .pintle;149.l -l48 -is coupledfwith or operated byl the lever .74

advances each ball one etures; 46, v6-0 and. 65.

close fthe :circuit of and illuminate ,the light 48, and such additional numbe desired to close ythe to indicate additional runs. v

The.'pin 127-,1by which theballs are retained in position during .-a half inning, ,is mountedupon Va-.lever 1,146 (Figs. 2, 6y and.14)pivoted on the shaft 147 andahaving its` opposite end loosely coupled withy or operated by a lever 148 pivote'd The `further end of `the lever `depressed by the fall *Y of va a third Eman out.4 Conse- -when the .latter is ball .representing -quently when 'the `third man has beenA putout on afside,fthe pin, 127l is depressed and" the accumulated balls fall-through an aperture 150 into the chutev48arfrom which-they return through the chutef23 to the storage-box r25 for the Abeginning l.of a new'half of an inning.- f i i "-'It will of --course bel understood that' the bases l. ffonfpballsg-,needf not result fromfsequen'tial plays, Y thereby closing the circuit u v,the ball isthrown.- through the opening 9 into lthe runway 12, it rollsover1the contact `151 which is pressed into engagement withfthe coni tact'1-52 and closes the circuit of the lamp 153 f on the scoreboard 130 to .indicate that the batter' hashit the ball. vThe ball then passes under the` lever 5 1,I which lis rocked thereby't'o operate the f rlevers 52and 102,1 which act, through the mech- .anismdescribed,` toopen'the gates 18, 31,811.86,

.and92 if any ofthese gates representingballs and strikes gare crlosed; The ball continues downthefrunway 12 and aroundjthe jcurve 40a at theendy thereof` and drops through angopening-f 12a onto the 'lever 154 (Figs. 1,2 and lppivotedjonthe pintle' 155 and rdisposed in the runway A1567 between thearunways 41 .and r107 (Figs- 2', 6 andjl).` the. lever.-154 rocks thelatter upon its fulcrum andl elevatesfthe armj157 which acts through theglnk 1,58y (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and) upon the arm '159 fixed to -the shaft 111 journalled in suitable bearings on rocking o f the shaft y 110, 120 and l1,26 to and.g;1 25 `and permits the bottom of 4the, chute ,42.A

111-acts through the arms the passage of any `balls which may ,haveA been resting against these pins.

The ,depression of the lever `154 by a ball rep- Ares'entinga fair. ball, *if` aihit thus clears each baser-of the ball previously stopped there, and base, or permits the deflection of such ball. into the. runway 4,1 to indicate a man put out, as follows:v The ball passing from the lever 154 strikes the point of .the deflector 160 by which itA may be vdeilected toward the right-2(Figs. 2 and 6), or

downwardly, as shown-in these figures, Aand stop against the pin 10,9 representing rst base', or'

.toward the left, ror downwardly, as viewed inthe ,dravvir 1gs, andvpermitted to roll down the runway 41 Ytowardthe frou gates 43 and 58 and aper- The second and third base stop pins119 and 125 likewise have pointed deflectors 161 vand 162 adjacent thereto, respecdepress the pins 109,y 119` .onelofhthe pins .109,2119 zand.

ztively,a.ndzthehw1e plateapnl'm. ismlso pruifvided .with a?. deector.: 1163 ,sin fads/ance' @thereof :byf which balls .a rolling itowardlithese hases-;fmay ibeeithersstopped et lthese .pins or liectedfinto Lthe .runway 4];` and `thereby .ftransmitted.. to the "o1`1t". gates lor; aperture. .,Ajbagll strikingfrdahe :deector 163 ,.atiithe home Yrplate: may be y:rie'ileoted -eitheit-.downsinto .the ,runl :section .ofz runway v107 fand stopped1by thepink 12.7 :or 4balls bearing @against lsuch spin, i or may, :be .-deflected.iintoi'the :runway1 41 Aaandfithen :.1throug`h.^one :of the `-'.out gates or aperture. y

Itiwi'll bez'understoodA thatsa ballfengagingany '125 -either from the runway .v 1107, :ther 4runway 156, .for f after :release fx-oma previousV oner of@` zadj acent to isu'ch :.pin, thereby .fpermitting 'a' :bail representingrna"battedfball or "fwalklto roll fdoW-n the runway*1"07 until :such ball reaches fthe ifrstl o'f theagates 108;".1115 and ='.121.1whioh 'iis open, whenit will beI deflectednbythe open gate fagainstl'thecorresponding pin. I-Should thereibe '.able'lbearings.

a `ibal1lforba11sfagainst =one `or lmoreiof l the spins '109,"1119 .andli125-a't the' time 'when-.la .thirdwman is put-.1 out' byf the passage fof--athirdllball `:through he opening. 65, the 'fbasesfare vacatdlbyifthe rocking of the lever .74 '.Wh'ioh' elevatesthe iarm 164-ofa journalledshaft 1'65 oumalled in Suitmmm these -pnssclosesithe gate .ture 2214,1'it enters the' "the feo'ntaict '32155 against the i lamp 'f2-17. lIt -then the i-roekerfnger 189 h'actsfthmughithenmeehanism may have been closedl byprevious balls-repre-y senting strikes. andfballs. The three-basey hitball then passes underthe lever 195, and, through the mechanisms'described, retracts the pins 109, 119 and'125l andelevates thepins 174, and 176. The ball then passes around the runway and drops through the' aperture 218 on to the lever 206, which, through the mecha-` nisms described, actuates the pins 109, 119 and 125, and 174, 175 and 176' in reverse directions. The ball then' rolls along the lever 206 between the-guides -206 and drops' into thefrunway 107 between the second and third basepins 119 and 125, and is Vstopped by the pin 125, having meanwhile closed the gate 121 "andfdep're'ssed' the is rockedV to actuate the mechanism described. for opening any closed ball and `fstrik'e gates in the chute 14. `It then passeshnder the rock-4 er 194 andacts, through' the mechanisms described, to depress the pins 109,:"1'197fa'nd 125,y and elevate Athe pins 174,` 175 and-`176 to permit i the movement of 'any' balls rwhich may have been on bases. These pins-are "latched inf position above 'described while `"the 1 ball is pro-` y ceeding around the runway to ther aperture 224, through'v which the ball dropsand1 1 engages and 207 acts throughX `the; mechanisms [described to elevate the `pins.v 109,' 119`and,125,' and retract the pins 174, 175 and v`176iA 'Ilieloall rolls down the lever 207 betweenthe guideways 207', and is dischargedfinto the runway 107 below the deector 163 andcloses one o the contacts adjaf cent to the ypin 127.y L j lit will be, observed n that- V'when` a 'two-base' 'hit is made, the ballswhich may have been on bases are advanced bythe depression ofthe `pins 109, 1 19 and v125, and @hef-elevation @f .therpins 174, 175 and 176, and the nurnber of'bases that'such balls are advanced v'is dependentlprimarily upon the interval betweenne ct aupnf'such pins by the movement of 1th rocker y192and their 'release bythe actuation of tnl ret: ker 204; This interval is dependent upony th'e"speed' of,` the ball, and,` by controlling.'suchispeed, it isp'os-Y siblethat' tn egbalis previously, on base vmay be advanced oneorrnoreba'sesfby a two-base hit. When ath'reeLbase hit is made, the .interval between the' operationfof the pins through the rocker-l and `theirk second` actuation byfthe movement A of the rocker 20 6j is ordinarily longer Ibecause the ball hasa further distance to travel,

and consequently the probability is greaterof advancing more than one basev the balls previ-r ously on'lcpasesv n '-Q ,i TWherr a4 home run rplay maderthelinterval between the operation of the pins'throughthe leverv 194 and the operation of the pins through .the lever 224 is-stilllongerff-and yconsequently Ythe probability is that alltheballs` previously onibasesl willhave completedtheir runs past vthe* deector. 163 and into th'elhomefrun compartmentbeforethe lever "224 is voperated-by the home run ball to' release Vthe*shafts-170'-aiid `i111 andoperate the pins.A

By' my improved apparatus a" largevariety prisingy a runway,"a

ofsplays of a' regular ballgame maybesimulated andthe consequences of such play-are reproduced in the. scoring and in the condition of the balls representing players and. teamsy as in a` regular game. v i 1 It will be understood that while I have describedthe plays in a specific sequence, the se quence described will not ordinarily occur, but playsfof different kinds will `be interspersedv with one another- For instance, a batter on one team may make Ltwo strikes and three ballsy and then: make .aqhome'run and thereby clear the ma` chine for the next batter.` The next batter may. make initially a three-base hit vand be Vleft on base as 'a result fof three vsucceeding .batters makinggthree strikes each, or. being otherwise; putiout. s That is, a ball will be left against the. pin 125 'for return to theV storage bin 25. whenrv the machine is reset for the next batter. :In- 1 stead of the. second player beingrputout'by the ending of `his sides half of-thegamahe may be puty out by a player who makes v`thewplay batter hits ball, as in such eventuthe pin 17.6k is" not' elevated when the ypin 125` is depressed, and the ball at the third .base pin 125 may @be Adeflected'by the` point 163'adjacentto home base into 'the runway 41 instead of into the runway forrecording runs.` i 'f When three batters have beenput v'out,-oneg half', an inning has been finished, and the' lever 179 is operated to release'the latch 177, andto elevate'the lever 74. into engagement-with the. latch 73.' The next halof the inning may then be playedr and many plays occurringin a'regular baseball gamel simulated and recorded. :Having described my invention I clair'nz-pz 1. Anvapparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of runwaysteach provided with a'plurality of 'gates operable by balls .enfgaging therewithand deflected thereby, anda second setof runwayseach containing` mecha.- n'i'sm operable" by a ball passing through the respectiveirunways of the second set, saidl mechani'sms-Ibeing. 'operatively' connected with. .and

operating-the gates ofthe `first named runways upon the actuation ofany 'of saidrmechanisms;

from second said runway into iirst namedflrun -way,a third runway havingl a plurality. of gates 'for' diverting ballstherefrom, `mechanism operi-z able by'a' ball passing through 1 said thirdv named runway for actuating said gates last named, and

ball operated mechanism Vfor actuating the'stops of said i'lrstI named 'runway and the gates of said second named runway; y he character describedcomplurality o f movable Ystops controlling passage to said runway, mechanism operable by a ball passingthrough said runway 2: apparatus, of;

`for operating stops aforesaid, afsecondrunway,

mechanism operable Aby a ball'pa'ssing through said second named runway for operatingA stops aforesaid, a third runway,g'ates controllingfthe passage ofaballs from said thirdnamed runway linto the first named runway, a fourth runway,

gates controlling they passage of balls through said fourth runway, mechanism operableby a ball for operating the gates of said fourth named runway, and ball-operable mechanism for actuating'the gates of said thirdl named runway and the stops of said iirstnamed runway.

1,988,251 a series of gates for successively deflecting balls and operable by the deflected balls, means operable by balls passing said gates for operating the gates, a passageway, means controlling the passage of balls through said passageway, and means operable by a ball, which has actuated said control means, for actuating said gate operating means.

16. Baseball game apparatus comprising a target including a runway for balls received by the target, movable elements for stopping balls at different positions along the runway, ball operated means controlling the movement vof the balls to be stopped successively or selectively by said movable elements, and ball operated means for actuating said movable elements to release the balls.

17. Baseball game apparatus comprising a target including a runway for balls received bythe target, movable elements for controlling Ithe movement of balls to selectively pursue different courses through said runway and ball-operated means controlling said movable elements.

18. Baseball game apparatus comprising a target including a runway for balls received by the target, a series of movable elements for stopping balls at different positions'along the runway, a series of ball-operable movable gates for directing the movement of the balls relative to said movable elements, and ball-operated mechanism for controlling said movable elements to stop and release the balls.

19. Baseball game apparatus comprising an alley constituting a ball path, a lower set of side and intermediate runways in said path at the alley head, a deflector in said path tending to direct balls from the intermediate runway toward the side runways, an upper set of runways in said path above said rst set, and a target above said upper set having ball-receiving apertures in register with the runways of the upper set.

20. Baseball game apparatus comprising an alley constituting a ball path, a set of parallel runways including runways in said path at the alley head, a deector for directing balls toward diierent runways of the set, ball-operable means in and controlling passage of the balls through certain runways of the set, and mechanism in another runway of the set and responsive to the operation of said ball-operable means for con-v trolling the movement of said 'ball operable means.

JOHN WM. PATTISON.

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