US1993562A - Amusement machine - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1935. J. F. MEYER 1 ,993,562

AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' A 1 l 2416 g March 5, 1935, J. F. MEYER 1,993,562

AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1 50 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 75 Q%4 CINUETZZOT'I Ma uch 5, 1935.

J. F. MEYER AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Sept. 29

, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Sheets-Shet 4 Filed s t. 29, 1930 w ,7 m u +H Fl illllI tili y /H, m M u J w & ,0 7 0 0 9 W 7 7 M 3%. g u "Ta 0 u I"? --b|11|l|| I V WL w u dz E a O Y n 0 6 6 7. O 0% a Z J. F. MEYER AMUSEMENT MACHINE-E March 5, 1935.

Filed Sept. 29, 19 30 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES AMUSEMENT MACHINE John F. Meyer; Pasadena, Calif. Application September 29, 1920, Serial No. 485,045

2 Claims. (o1. 265*) This invention relates to amusement machines and more particularly. to an amusement machine which, may be used as a strength testing device and which maybe arranged for coin control.

, The salient objects of my invention are to provide a novel amusement machine embodying a member which may be moved intoan operative position wherein a blow may be struck thereon; in which the memberstruck by a blow may be forced into engagement with a portion of. the de vice in a manner such that the. force of the engagement may be registered on a suitable indicating dial or the like; in which a coin control device holds the member against movement into operative position until a coin is inserted into the machine; in which the member to be struck by a blow is returnedto inoperative position in a gradual manner so as to eliminate unnecessary shock or strains in the machine; in which a signal is provided which is rendered operativeunder certain conditions of operation of the machine; and in which the indicating member cooperating withthe dial isreturned to an initial position priorto each operation of the device.

In the selected embodiment of the invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a topplan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4; 1

Fig. 3 isa diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical connections employed in the device;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, drawn to an enlarged scale. illustrating a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6a is a detail view of a link connection used with the indicia device;

Fig. '1 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 7-7 on Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the dial;

. Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially on the line 10-10 on Fig. 1; and I Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 on Fig. 4.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a selected embodimentof my novel amusement ma-- chine, 12 generally indicates the main housing whichincludes-a front wall 13 and which has a vertically extending partition 14 therein spaced from the front wall 13 providing a compartment 15. In the compartment 15 there is a horizontally extending shelf 16 on which aportion of the operating mechanisms of my improved machine are supported. Disposed below the top wall 1'7 of the housing 12 is a horizontally extending partition 18 which extends from the upper end of the partition 14 to the rear wall 19 of the hous ing 12. Mounted on the partition 18 at the end thereof adjacent the partition 14 is a bracket 20, and one end of an arm 21 is pivotallyconnected thereto, as indicated at 22-. At the lower end of the arm 23 is a right angularly extending por tion 24 which is pi'votally connected to the. free end of the arm 21 by the pin 25, and depending from the portion 24 is a tongue 26 to which one end of a spring 27 is secured, the other end of said spring 27 being suitably fixed at the lower end of the compartment15. The corner provided by the abutting of the partitions 14 and 18 is chamfered, as indicated at 28, and an angle plate 29 is secured thereon which carries a resilent bumper 30 which may be a rubber block or the like.- The spring 27 acts on the tongue 26 and the arms 21 and 23 to urge the same down wardly, and this action is limited by the engage-- ment of the arm 21 with the bumper 30. Se cured to, but disposed in a plane below, the top wall 1'7 is a plate 31 having an opening 32 therein through which the arm 23 projects. Projecting above the top wall 17 and surrounding the opening 32 in spaced relation therewith is a collar 33. Suitably secured to the upper end of thearm 23 is an inflated bag 34, and when the spring 27 acts on the arms 21 and 23 to hold the arm 21 in engagement with the bumper 30 this bag rests on the'collar 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. 1

Preferably, the operation of my improved amusement machine is coin controlled, and I have therefore provided an arrangement whereby this may be expeditiously accomplished. To this end I provide a coin trough 35 (Fig. 2) having a slide 36 arranged therein, and the trough 35 and the slide 36 have openings therein which when aligned permit a coin to pass therethrough. The slide 36 will first be arranged in the outer position shown in Fig. 2, and a coin will be arranged in the opening 37 therein, and when the slide 36 moves inwardly the coin in the opening 37 is moved into alignment with the opening 38in the trough 35 and the coin passes through this opening into the coin funnel 39 from whence it is directed into the coin guide passage 40. From the coin guide passage 40 thecoin is directed into the coin trough 41 and after passing through the trough 41 the coin will travel through the opening 42 in the partition 16 and be collected in the removable coin box 43 (Fig. 4) arranged at the lower end of the compartment 15. The trough 41 is supported by a bracket 44 and pivotally mounted on this bracket 44 is a rocker 45 which has one end thereof projected through an opening 46 in the rear wall of the coin trough 41 so that a coin, such as 47, passing through the trough 41 will strike against the rocker 45 and pivot the same from the position shown in Fig. 4 into the position shown in Fig. 6.

A bracket 48 is carried by the partition 16 and mounted thereon is an arm 49 having a shoulder 50 thereon, which shoulder 50 is urged into position above the pin 25 by the spring 49' when the bag 34 is resting on the collar 33. Mounted on the arm 49 is a plate 51 having a shoulder 52 thereon and a cam surface 53. When no coin is passing through the device the rocker 45 is disposed in engagement with the shoulder 52 and therefore should the bag 34 be gripped and moved against the action of. the spring 27 the pin 25 will abut the shoulder 50 and will tend to pivot the arm .49, but this movement will be limited by the engagement of the shoulder 52 with the rocker 45. However, when the rocker 45 is pivoted into the position shown in Fig. 6 it is aligned with the cam surface 53. Therefore, should the pin 25 strike the shoulder 50 the arm 49 will be pivoted and the end of the rocker 45 will be pivoted upwardly by the cam surface 53, and therefore the bag 34 may be lifted. The bag 34 is lifted sufficiently to raise the pin 25 upwardly until the same may be seated on the upper end 54 of the arm 49, and when the pin 25 is in this position, which is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the bag 34 is held in the dotted-line position of Fig. 6. When the bag 34 is in this position it is intended that the same shall be struck a blow by the users fist, and this blow is intended to be struck on the bag 34 to move the same in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. The pin 25 will be resting on the upper surface 54 of the arm 49, and therefore the arm 23 will pivot about this pin as it rests on this surface. Thus, the pin 55 on the tongue 26 will be moved into engagement with the angle iron 56, and the action of this pin 55 will be such that the arm 49 will be pivoted and be withdrawn from below the in 25 and therefore the spring 2'7 may act to return the arm 23 and as sociated parts to the full-line position of Fig. 6, and the rocker 45 will again engage the shoulder 52 and will prevent raising of the bag 34 until another coin has been inserted into the device. The coin 4'7 will rest on the rocker 45 until said rocker is moved by engagement thereof with the cam surface 53 which will pivot said rocker out of the coin trough 41 and therefore the coin 47 will travel therethrough into the coin box 43.

It is manifest that the spring 27 will tend to forcibly return the bag 34 into engagement with the collar 33, and if this action were brought about uninterruptedly a severe shock might be impressed on the device, and to eliminate the likelihood of such a shock and to prevent undue strains I provide the following arrangement: Secured to the arm 23 to extend above the portion 24 is a plate 5'7 and connected to the plate 57 is a rod 58 which carries a piston that is disposed in the tube 59. The tube 59 has an opening at its upper end to permit free vertical movement of the piston therethrough, but at the lower end of the tube a restricted orifice is provided. Therefore, when the bag 34 is elevated the piston may freely move through the tube 59, but when the parts are released, as above described, and the piston starts to move downwardly through the tube, air escapement from the tube will be retarded by reason of the orifice, and therefore movement of the piston through the tube will be retarded. This arrangement provides a dashpot, and therefore shocks are eliminated. It is manifest that the shock attendant to the return of the arm 23 is also somewhat absorbed by the bumper 30 when the arm 21 engages therewith.

As best shown in Fig. 1, a slot 60 is provided in the collar 33 in the portion thereof disposed inwardly on the machine. A plate 61 is hingedly mounted, as indicated at 62, and forms a portion of the upper wall 17. When the bag 34 is struck in the manner previously described, the

'arm 23 passes into the slot 60 and said bag strikes the plate 61. A rib 63 depends from the plate 61 and rests on one end of a lever 64 pivotally mounted at 65 on a bracket 66 carried by the partition 18. A resilient bumper 67 in the form of a rubber block or the like is also .mounted on the partition 18 and is covered by a plate 68, and the lever 64 is arranged between the plate 68 and aplate 69 on the lower end of the rib 63. Therefore, when the bag 34 strikes the plate 61 the rib 63 will be forced downwardly and the lever 64 will be pivoted, this pivotal action being retarded and the movement is somewhat absorbed by the resilient bumper 67. It is manifest that when the end of the lever 64, confined by the plates 68 and 69, moves downwardly the opposite end thereof will move upwardly and to this opposite end a rod '70 is connected. 7

As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, a link '71 has one end thereof connected to the arm 21 and the other end thereof is connected to a dog '72 pivotally mounted on the bracket '72 (Fig. 6a). On the dog 72 there is a pin '73 having a rod 74 connected thereto. A housing '75 is provided which has a vertically extending partition '76 therein, in which partition a shaft 77 (Fig. 10) is journaled. Freely mounted on the shaft '77 is a dog '78 carrying a pin '79, and the dog '78 normally rests on the upper end of the rod '70 which is guided by the bracket 80 carried bythe upper wall 1'7 of the housing 75, said rod '70 and the rod '74 extending through an opening 81 in said wall 17 into the housing '75. Fixed on the shaft 7'7 is a ratchet wheel 82 engaged by a pawl 83 pivotally mounted as indicated at 84, and the upper end of the rod '74 is connected to the pawl 83 at 85. When the bag 34 is raised into the dotted-line position of Fig. 6, the arm 21 is pivoted into the dotted-line position of Fig. 6, and the link 71 is consequently moved and movement imparted to the link '71 is transmitted to the dog '72 which is so moved that the pin 73 moves downwardly, and this movement is transmitted to the rod '74 to pivot the pawl 83 to retract the same from engagement with the ratchet 82, said pawl being pivoted against the action of the spring 86 that is connected to said pawl and to a spring anchor 87 on the wall '76. Extended through the shaft '77 is a pin 88 which normally rests on the pin '79. When the rod '70 is moved upwardly in the'manner described, the dog '78 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10. It is manifest that the rod '10 will not be moved until after the bag 34 has been elevated and struck, and at this time the ratchet wheel 82 will be free to turn by reason of the fact that the pawl 83 will have been retracted fromengag'eme'nt therewith atithe time'the bag 34 was elevated. Therefore, when the rod '70 moves upwardly and moves the dog '78, the pin '79 will be moved and therefore the pin 88will turn the shaft '77 and consequently the ratchet wheel 82. However, following the time the bag 34 strikes the vplate61 the spring 2'7 will act to return said bag and the arm 23 and the arm 21 to; the full-line positions shown in Fig. 6, and therefore the link 71 will be moved to move the'dog '73 and thus the spring 86v will be free .to reengage the pawl 83 with the ratchet 82. Therefore, since the lever 64 and consequently the rod '70 will be moved in an amount proportionate to the force of the blow struck on the plate 61 by the bag 34, and as the shaft '77 will be rotated in an amount proportionate to the amount of movement of the lever64, it is manifest that the force of the blow struck by the bag34 may beindicatedbyamember connected to the shaft '77 and-since the'pawl 83 will reengage the ratchet 82, it is also apparent that such an indicating member may be retained in-the position into which it ismoved. Such an indicating member is indicated by 89 and is intended to bemovable over the calibrated dial 90 carried by the wall '76.

1 It is desirable if a blow of predetermined force be struck by the bag 34 on the plate 61 that a signal device be rendered operative, and in the present arrangement I have provided an audible signal in the form of a bell 91 which is mounted on the wall '76 of the housing '75. Carried by the bracket 92 (Fig. 4) is a plate of insulating material 93. At spaced intervals on this plate of insulating material 93 at the points at which it is desired that the signal device 91 be rendered operative are electrical contacts in the form of screws 94. Fixed on the shaft '77 is a contact arm 95, and when the shaft 77 is rotated so as to move the indicating member 89 into one of the predetermined positions the contact arm 95 will be engaged with one of the contacts 94. As best shown in Fig. 10, a contact screw 96 is carried by the pawl 83 which engages a stationary contact 97 when the pawl 83 is engaging the ratchet 82. It is therefore apparent that as the arm 95 rotates with the shaft '77 and passes over contacts 94 the audible signal will not be rendered operative for the screw 96 does not engage the contact 97 until the pawl 83 is looking the ratchet 82 against further movement. Furthermore, the audible signal will only be rendered operative during the time the arm 23 is returning to the full-line position of Fig. 6, and this is controlled by the following arrangement. Mounted at the end of the plate 5'7 is a pivotally mounted dog 98 having a section of insulating material 99 thereon. Carried by the partition 14 is a contact strip 100. When the arm 23 moves upwardly the section of insulating material 99 on the dog 98 rides thereover against the action of the leaf spring 1u1. However, when the arm 23 moves downwardly, the dog 98 is pivoted in the opposite direction and the conductive portions thereof engage the strip 100 and close the circuit in the following manner: A suitable source of current, such as the battery 102, is provided and one terminal of this source 102 is connected by a conductor 103 to the plate 57. A conductor 104 is connected to the contact strip 100 and tothe various contacts 94. A conductor 105 interconnects the contact arm 95 and the contact 9'7. A conductor 106 interconnects the contact screw 96 and one terminal of the bell 91, and a conductor 10'? interconnects the other terminal of the bell 91 and the other terminal-ofthe source 1'02. Therefore, when the COD? tact arm 95 stops on one of the contacts 94,the bell 91 will be rendered operative after thescrew 96 engages the contact 97 and during the time the. conductive. portions of the member ,98 are movingover the contact strip 100, and this may be used to indicate any desired situation such as thewinning of-a prize.

' Aacountingdevice 108,is provided in the com-v partment 15 which includes an operating arm 109 that is pivotally connected to the arm 110 which, in turn, is connected to theplate 5'7, and thus each time the bag 34 is raised and lowered the counting device 108 will be operated. In or.- der to insure return of the plate 57 and the various mechanisms connected thereto, I provide springs 111 which extend between a membercone nected to the plate 57 and spring anchors on the wall 16.

In use, a co is'inserted into the device and the rocker-45 ispivoted from retaining position. The bag 34 is raised into the dotted-line position of Fig. 6 to which it is locked by thes'eating of thepin 25 on the upper surface54 of the arm 49. When a blow'is struck on the bag 34, the same is forced into engagement with the plate 61 and the lever 64'is moved which motivates the rod 70. At the time the blow is struck the, arm 23 pivots on the pin 25, and the pin 55 engages the angle strip 56 and the arm 49 is pivoted from below the pin 25 which permits the spring 57 to return the arm 23 against the action of the dashpot provided in the tube 59. At the time the bag 34 is elevated, the pawl 83 is retracted from engagement with the ratchet 82 and the spring 112 connected to the shaft '77 returns the various mechanisms on the shaft '77 to initial position.

However, as soon as the rod '77 moves upwardly, the shaft '77 will be rotated and the indicating member 89 will move over the calibrated dial 90 to indicate the force of the blow, and by reason of the fact that the arm 21 returns to normal position, shown in Fig. 4, the pawl 83 may again engage the ratchet 82 and therefore the indicating member 89 will be locked in indicating position. Should the shaft 7'7 be rotated in an amount such that the contact arm 95 stops on one of the contacts 94, the audible signal will be rendered operative during the time the arm 23 is moving downwardly.

It is manifest from the foregoing description that I have provided an amusement machine which may be used to indicate the force of a blow struck on a member of the machine, and it is apparent that the device is so arranged that the member may be moved into strikable position only after the insertion of a coin into the machine. Furthermore, the parts are returned to inoperative position after the striking of a blow on the member. Moreover, the device is arranged so that it may be used in the distribution of prizes by reason of the signal device provided in the machine which may be rendered operative under certain conditions of operation.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In an amusement machine which has an indicating device including an indicating member,

and means for moving the indicating member into indicating positions, the combination of a hingedly mounted platform, a striking bag adapted to be driven into engagement with said platform to move the same about the hinge mounting therefor, a member supporting said striking bag, an arm pivotally connected to said member, a pivotal support for said arm, resilient means acting on said member to urge said bag into inoperative position, means cooperating with said member to hold said bag in operative position against the action of said resilient means, a resilient bumper, a pivotally mounted lever having a part thereof rested on said bumper and engaged with said platform, and means connecting said lever to the means for moving the indicating member into indicating positions whereby said indicating member is actuated when a blow is struck on said bag when it is in operative position to drive said bag into engagement with said platform, the engagement of said bag with said platform moving-said lever against the action of said resilient bumper.

2. In an amusement machine which has an indicating means including an indicating member, means for moving said indicating member into indicating positions, means retaining the indicating member in the positions into which it is moved, and means for retracting said retaining means, the combination of a hingedly mounted platform, a striking bag adapted to be driven into engagement with said platform to move the same about the hinge mounting therefor, a member supporting said striking bag, an arm pivotally connectedto said member, a pivotal support for said arm, resilient means acting on said member to urge said bag into inoperative position, means cooperating with said member to hold said bag in operative position against the action of said resilient means, a link connected to said arm and to the retracting means and adapted to retract said retracting means upon movement of said arm when said bag is moved into operative position and adapted to actuate said retracting means to permit said retaining means to move into operative position upon movement of said bag into inoperative position, a resilient bumper, a pivotally mounted lever having a part thereof rested on said bumper and engaged with said platform, and means connecting said lever to the means for moving the indicating member into indicating positions whereby said indicating member is actuated when a blow is struck on said bag when it is in operative position to drive said bag into engagement with said platform, the engagement of said bag with said platform moving said lever against the action of said resilient bumper.

JOHN F. MEYER.

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