US2017102A

US2017102A - Amusement apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2017102A
Application number: US685990A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mayhew Ralph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-08-21
Filing date: 1933-08-21
Publication date: 1935-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1952-10-15

Description

@650 E5, 135; R MAYHEW 2,017,102

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR @cfu 15, 1935. R. MAYHEW Zfil'MUZ AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 15, 1935 Uhiii ST attain PATENT ()FFIQE Application August 21, 1933, Serial No. 685,990 Renewed April 12-, 1935 36 Claims.

My invention relates to amusement devices in which there is employed a loose object or play piece, which a person may manually project through space and thereby cause it to accomplish or perform certain predetermined acts or things. One of the important features of my invention is that the play piece is detachably mounted on a support on which it has angular movement about the axis thereof so that it may be turned thereon to free it therefrom and give it flight through space; the piay piece moving angularly about such axis through a partial or full circle or more and the actuating impulse given by the player may be given either to the play piece direct or to its support, the function called for being the automatic separation of the play piece and the support by the angular mov ment of the play piece about the axis of the support. Another important feature is that the supporting means from which the turning play piece is detachably suspended is provided with a spiral or screw-thread by means of which the play piece is caused to travel out of engagement with the supporting means and enter upon its flight; this peculiar construction of supporting and detaching means is here shown in the form of a pair of supporting members, spaced apart in axial alinernent, one member having a right-hand spiral thread and the other a left-hand one, which under the angular movement of the play piece, cause it to detach itself and take flight in a predetermined direction, or if preferred, a single screw threaded supporting member may be used. In another form, the supporting means may be made without a screw-thread for directing the disengagement of the play piece therefrom and the itself may have its means provided with a virtual guide or thread which will serve to disengage the play piece when turned on the support. Another novel feature is the separated suspending means having coaxial members detachably engaged by the suspending means which is moved off the ends of the members into space and thereby disengaged when the play piece is turned angularly about the axes of the members. Another novel feature is the correlation between the screw-thread on the supporting means and the contacting parts of the play piece suspending means. Another novel feature is the performance of the play piece after it has been turned on its support and shot through space towards a trapeze and its suspending means is caused to attach itself thereto and swing in the air therewith. Other novel features are the tethering of the play piece to make it captive and (Cl. LG-40) yet opera, le; the dice box which is carried by the loose play piece; the tethered dice box or carrier; the movable jaw of the figure simulating a biting action; the signal means for announcing each oscillation over a certain range of movement of the suspended play piece in the air when attached to the objective, and the registering means for recording the number of such oscillations so as to have an accurate score of the same. Another novel feature is the construc- .10 tion and arrangement of the shut-off means for making the device inoperable, at will, and which may be controlled by ordinary coin or token operated means, and also a housing for shielding and concealing certain parts of the shut-off 15 means and preventing the same being tampered with. There are other important and novel features with my invention, which will appear from the accompanying illustrations and the detailed description hereinafter given.

I have illustrated types of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 shows a perspective View of apparatus embodying my invention with the play piece suspended from its support and also shown in dotted lines as attached to the objective trapeze to which it has been projected from its support.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view in side elevation of the play piece in position of suspension from its support from which it is projected. Figure 3 shows an enlarged view in detail of the yoke to which the suspending arms are articulated on the play piece, the view being in section on a plane indicated by the broken line 3-3, in Fig. 2.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged detail view of the joint between the yoke and a suspending arm of the play piece, a part of the yoke being shown in cross-section.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged View of the supporting means for the play piece, with a part thereof shown in vertical longitudinal section, and with the play piece suspended therefrom and shown as partly broken away.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged detail View of a screw-threaded supporting member, with the hand of the suspending arm engaging the same, the view being in vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of the shutoff means for one of the screw-threads, the section being taken on a vertical plane indicated by the line l-l, in Fig. 5.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a modified form of the apparatus in which two trapezes are employed, 55

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a modified form of the supporting means for the play piece, which is shown as suspended therefrom, and made captive by means of a tether.

Figure 10 shows a view in front elevation, on a reduced scale, of a modified form of the sup porting means in which the screw-threads are omitted, and with the play piece suspended by its arms from the supporting means.

Figure 11 shows a detached view enlarged, of the trapeze shown in Fig. 1, and the connected registering means for recording the number of swinging movements of the play piece over a certain range of movement.

Figure 12 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the registering means.

Figure 13 shows a detail view of a. modified form of connections between the swinging trapeze and the registering means.

Figure 14 shows an enlarged view of the structure shown in Fig. 13, the view being taken at right angles to that in Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout, 1 indicates a detachable or loose play piece or figure, which in the present structure is shaped and designed to represent a monkey. This piece is provided with a pair of suspending arms 2 and which are attached or articulated to it, by means of a yoke 4, consisting in a plate formed somewhat C-shaped with its

respective ends

5 and 6, passing through the oblong openings 1, formed in the inner ends of the respective arms. This yoke or saddle is inserted in a recess or notch 8, formed in the back of the piece i, at an angle sloping inwardly and upwardly it is fastened in place by pins 9. The ends of the yoke are elongated in cross-section and fit with a slight play in the elongated openings 1, of the arms, and when placed in position, the extreme ends of the yoke are housed within the recess so as to provide closed eyes or

loops

5 and 6, projecting laterally from the body I, for receiving the openings l', of the respective arms and articulating them to the body.

The suspending arms are constructed alike, each having a curved hooked hand It], the inner part of which has an arcuate formation Ii, shaped to detachably engage the supporting means which consists in a pair of members l2 and I3, mounted upon uprights of the frame id, of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1. The supporting members have their free ends reduced in diameter in cylindrical form, and one is provided at such end with a left-hand spiral or screw thread l6, and the other with a right-hand spiral or screw thread l5, of the same size and pitch, and the curved hands engage these threads like a nut thread so that the hands may be unscrewed from the same. The members l2 and I3, are disposed in axial alinenient with each other and are spaced apart at their opposing ends to provide a gap l1, into which the hands are moved from the screw-threads and through which they pass when the play piece is put in flight by giving it an impulse that willcause it to move angularly or turn about the axes of the screw-threads, such angular movement causing the hands to be unscrewed from the threads and moved away from the same, in a direction normal to the plane of angular movement of the play piece and at right angles to the direction. of subsequent flight of the play piece. In positioning the play piece on the support so that it may be thrown therefrom, the hands are spread slightly apart and placed on the screw threads at their inner ends,

the articulation of the arms to the body is such that they have a limited freedom of action for positioning the play piece for flight and permitting it to escape from the screw threads into flight, the hands having the same pitch the threads.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the supporting means is a T-shaped fixture 55, having the free ends of the head or cross piece formed with screw-threads, I6 and IS, the former being 10 a left-hand thread and the latter a right-hand one, with a short length of thread as the range of angular movement is limited by the fixture, the stem of which is oblique instead of vertical to give sufficient angular movement.

In the modification shown in Fig. 10, the supporting means have threadless stems "1 and 16 which are engaged by the hands iii, which are bent slightly inwardly toward each other giving them a line of contact with the stems 00 which is oblique with a trend inwardly towards the free ends of the stems, so that when the play piece is turned about the axes of the supporting stems under impulse, this oblique contact of the hands will serve to feed them off the ends of the i 5 stems to put the play piece into flight. In both modifications of the supporting means, the arms of the play piece have the same construction of the arms and their articulate joints with the body, as in the primary form, and the same freedom of play.

The objective or target which I have herein adopted for the play piece to be impelled to, conin a trapeze l8, hung so to E i-blag from an overhanging part IQ, of the frame work of the apparatus, a suitable distance forward of the supporting means of the play piece, and with the trapeze bar somewhat above the level of said means and parallel with the axis of angular movement of said play piece, so that the trapeze bar may swing toward and away from the supporting means within the range of flight of the play piece The play piece may be operated by the player grasping it with his hand as it hangs in its normal Vertical posit on from the supporting means, then drawing it towards himself with it facing him and the hands pointed towards him, on a short arcuate path, say about a quarter of a circle, and then suddenly throwing it down wardly and forwardly fromhis hand so to turn it on its support. This impulse will cs it to revolve on. s

ttically minwardly toward each other and i 1 them from the support, whereupon play pi e proceeds to describe a somersault in the air r the general direction of the trapeze, which it e gages with its hands and proceeds to swing the same under the retained momentum and v w til it comes to rest as such momen' .111 dies down. The path of the described flight is indi cated at 2G, by broken-lines and arrows in Fig. 1, wherein the play piece is shown in full lines in its initial position on the supporting before flight, and in dotted lines as suspended from the trapeze to which it has attached itself, the position on the trapeze being the same that assumed on the supporting means, the with the play piece facing the player who man at the left hand end of the apparatus sh in Fig. 1. The play piece may be impelled its flight in other well known ways than that o. throwing or hurling it by hand.

The act or stunt performed by the play piece which has just been described, maybe added to or modified by having asecond trapeze 2i, hung from the frame i9, beyond the first trapeze 8, with its bar slightly above the level of the first trapeze and parallel therewith in the line of and adding to the play piece an a pendage or tail which is curved in the opposite direction from that of the hands, shown in the modification Fig. 8, wherein the play piece the figure a monkey whose hands curvev forwardly of the monkey-figure and the cu es rearwardly and upwardly to enable it to en age the second trapeze. In using an extra trapeze, the play piece being positioned on-its support with the tail pointing in the direction of flight, the piece may be forcibly impelled so that it makes its flight through space; its tail will catch the second trapeze with a strong outward pull, then rebound and catch with its hands the first and nearest trapeze with a slight jolting movement which will serve to release the tall from the second trapeze and permit the piece to swing by its hands on the trapeze,.

thereby simulating a double trapeze act.

An additional feature which may be added to the play piece made in the form 0:. a being, especially in the form of a monkey as shown here in, is the provision of a movable jaw of the head of the figure. This is shown in Fig. 2, in detail with the lower jaw 23, pivoted at 2 5, in the mouth cavity, and provided with a weight 25, for keeping the jaw closed when the monkey is in vertical position, but which forces it into open position when the figure is swung face forward. To this feature may be added a fixed or movable object or device 26, which is suspended by a cord from the frame of the apparatus, and located that the mouth of the monkey when it swings towards it may make contact with it and the movable jaw seize it or if not appear to be snapping at it.

When it is desirable to prevent the play piece being mounted in position for operation, I employ a shut-off device which is mounted on one the supporting members and comprises a reciprocating sleeve 23, sliding on a reduced part of the supporting member l3, so that it may be moved outwardly and cover the screw-thread i5, and render the same inoperable with the play piece. This sleeve 23, is slid out and in by means of a rod 33, which passes loosely through the central iongitudinal bore in the member l3, and is connected with the sleeve by means of a lug 3i, fixed to the red by a driven fit, a screw 32, securing the sleeve to the lug, which slides horizontally in a cavity 33, formed in the member l3. See Figs. 5 and '7, the former showing the shut-off sleeve 23, at its inward limit of movement in full lines and also its outer limit of movement when it covers the screwthread, in broken lines. The sliding shut-01f sleeve is protected by a cylindrical housing 34, which is made fast on the reduced cylindrical part 35, of the member l3, and has the same external diameter as the member to make it flush therewith. The shut-off device is connected with and controlled by any well known and suitable form of coin-controlled mechanism, which I have herewith illustrated in a conventional or symbolic manner at 3%, in Fig. 5, the sliding rod 3% being directly connected with such mecha- I provide an additional feature of amusement in the way of dice chucking means which is carried by the play piece, so that in its flight and mounted to move vertically.

somersault movements, the dice will be thoroughly shaken'in an uncontrolled and impartial manner and the result of the throw may be read when the play piece comes to rest on the objective towhich it has been forcibly impelled. A simple and durable way in which the dice throwing means may be constructed is shown in Fig. 3, wherein a rectangular shaped hole 31, is formed in the body of the play piece I, and its disposition is such that when the play piece lodges on the objective and comes to rest, the floor or bottom of the chamber or hole will assume a substantially horizontal position and the dice 38, resting on the level floor, may be read by the player to ascertain the count or score he has made. Each side of the dice chamber is provided with transparent material 39, to house the dice and permit them to be visible from the exterior of the play piece and the results to be read through the transparency.

It will be noted that as the play piece has an angular movement about a horizontal axis, the weight of the play piece acts to hold it in operable position on the supporting means or horizontal bars and when given an impulse to turn it on such axis, the centrifugal force or pull created thereby likewise serves to make it function.

In some cases it may be desirable to have the piece held captive without interfering with its operation. Such a construction and arrangement is shown in Fig. 9, wherein a flexible cable es, is attached to each side of the body at 6!, and the upper ends of the cable are secured to an open bracket 62, the arms of which are spread apart a considerable distance to spread the cables for clearance by the play piece in it movements; the bracket being secured to the upper part of the fixture 55.

In using a swinging objective or target to which 40 the play piece or figure may attach itself and then continue to swing or oscillate therewith, I employ a registering device 18, which is swung by a cord ll, from theoverhanging part is, of the framework, so thatit is free to swing slightly back and forth when the swinging figure strikes it, the device being adjusted in such position that the figure may collide with one or more times in its successive swinging over a certain range of movement. This device isprovided with a step, by-step movable member -.2, bearing on its outer face a series of numerals from 0, 1, 2 and so on up to say 8, which in turn show through a window skin the casing 15, in which the member is swings on its cord. il butdoes not move vertically, while the member 52, is mounted to move vertically in the casingand extends through the top thereof. A cable EE, is attached to the upper part of the numbered member and passes over a pulley. ll, on theframe work, and is attached to the end of the frame 63, pivoted at 49, on the framework, with its other end provided with a pin 55, which moves loosely in a vertical slot ii i, in the end of the framework l9, so as to limit the rock-v ing movement of frame 48, on its horizontal pivot. The numered member 42, is provided with a vertical row of ratchet-teeth 5s, which are engaged by a pivoted pawl b2,.having a spring 53. The free end of the pawl is prolonged and provided at its end with a striking plate 54, for the swinging figure l, to collide with when swings on the trapeze [8. When the plate Ed, is struck by the figure it releases the pawl and the numbered member moves down one tooth or step and reg 75 The casing 15,

isters from 0 to 1, which shows at the window, and upon striking the plate a second time, the number 2 shows at the window, and so on as long as the swinging figure continues to successively strike the plate in swinging over a certain range of movement. This enables a player to make and keep a score of the number of times he has caused the play piece to swing on the trapeze in succession in excess of a certain range of movement. When the swinging of the figure has ceased, the figure may be lifted from the trapeze and this will cause the inner end of the pivoted frame 48, to gravitate downwardly and thereby lift the numbered member 42, and reset it to zero, so that another score can then be registered by another play.

In a modification of the registering device shown in Figs. 13 and 14, I provide for actuating it by the movement of the trapeze when it is swung by the figure I, instead of by the colliding of the figure with the register. In this form,

the registering device 40, is mounted on the over-' hanging part 19, of the frame work and is so positioned that when the figure swings on the trapeze, the upper inflexible part 51, of the trapeze IB which is pivoted at 56, operates the striking plate 54, of the registering device, one or more times in its successive swinging over a certain range of movement, and registers the score, as hereinabove described.

I also provide an audible signal for announcing the number of swinging movements in succession of the play piece when it swings on the trapeze. This signal is an ordinary bell 65, which is swung from the lower end of the register 40, so that each time the swinging figure collides with the register, it will ring the bell. These features of the register and bell may be used together or separately, as preferred.

The dice throwing features of my invention may be embodied in a simple form of container or box or cup for the dice, which substantially replaces the play piece figure such as I have herewith shown, and such container or holder may be made to lodge and swing on an objective, or may be cast free upon a table or platform, and it may be made captive or left free.

I wish to be understood as not limiting my in vention to the specific construction and arrangement as herein shown, as it is manifest that various modifications may be made in the several different parts thereof, without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

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

1. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended, said play piece and support having a relative revolving movement with respect to each other, and means whereby the relative revolving movement of said play piece and support will cause them to separate and project the play piece through space.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and on which it has angular movement produced by impulse so that it may be projected from its support through space, and means intermediate the suspending means and support serving to move the suspending means off the support in a direction normal to the plane of angular movement of the play piece to put it in flight, said means including an inclined guide or thread-like part disposed obliquely to the plane of angular movement of the play piece.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, supporting means from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about which it may be turned by impulse given it and projected thence through space, said supporting means including a pair of members spaced apart in axial alinement, and means intermediate the suspending means and said members acting to move the suspending means ofi the supporting members in a direction parallel to the axis of said members to put said play piece in flight.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about the axis of which it may be revolved by impulse given to it and projected thence through the air, and a spiral guide or thread on said support engaged by the suspended play piece and serving to iced it oil the support when it is revolved thereon.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, a support from which said play piece may be suspended and projected thence through space, said play piece being revolvable on said support by impulse given to either one, said sup port being provided with a spiral guide or 'tillQiK engaged by said play piece and serving to move it along said support and release it therefrom wh n it is revolved thereon.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having means for detachably suspending it from a support, supporting means upon which the play piece may be suspended and about which it may be revolved to release it there from, said supporting means including a pair of members spaced apart in coaxial relation, intermediate the suspending means and supporting means acting to move the former off the latter in a direction parallel to the axis of the latter, and an objective toward which said play piece makes its flight when released from the supporting means and which may be engaged by the play pieces suspending means in its flight.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having means for detachably suspending it from a support and such means including a hooked part for engaging said support, said play piece being provided with a hooked appendage with the end thereof projecting in the direction opposite to that in which the end of the hooked part of the suspending means projects, separate objectives toward which the play piece may be hurled from its support and one being adapted to be engaged by the hooked part of the play piece suspending means and the other by the hooked appendage, supporting means from which said play piece may be suspended and about which it may be revolved to release it therefrom, and means intermediate said suspending means and supporting means acting to move the former off of the latter when the play piece is revolved on the supporting means.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about which it may be revolved and projected therefrom by such revolution, means for detachably suspending said play piece from said support, the construction and arrangement between said suspending means and said support being such that when the play piece is revolved it is thereby disengaged from said support and cause-t. to make a flight through the air toward an objective and to turn or somersault in such flight.

i). In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, supporting means from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about which it may be revolved to free it therefrom and cause it to be projected in flight, said supporting means comprising spaced apart members disposed in axial alinement with each other, said play piece having suspending arms relatively movable sidewise toward and away from each other and one arm detachably engaging one said supporting member and the other arm the other supporting member, means controlled by the angular movement of said play piece about said supporting members and acting to move said arms toward each other and thereby detach them from the supporting members.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, a pair of spaced apart supporting members fr which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about which it may be revolved to free it therefrom and cause it to be projected in night, said play piece having swinging suspending arms having a slight limited forward and backward movement thereon, one arm detachably engaging one supporting member and the other detachably engaging the other supporting member, means acting to detach from said supporting members by the angular movement of said play piece about said supporting members.

In apparatus of the class described, a loose piay piece, a pair of spaced apart supporting from which aid play piece may be detachably suspended and about which it may be revolved to free it therefrom and cause it to be projected in flight, said play piece being provided with suspending arms having a limited movement thereon so that they may be slightly canted on their longitudinal axes and said arms sus ied from said supporting members, and means acting to detach said arms from said supporting members by the angular movement of said play piece about said supporting members.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, a support for said play piece from which it may be suspended and projected in flight, said support having its free end provided with a screw-thread, said play piece having suspending means provided with a thread-like part engageable with said screw-thread of the support and adapted to be fed off the same and disengaged therefrom when the piay piece is given an impulse causing it to move angularly on said support.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece, a pair of supporting members for the play piece from which it may be detachably suspended, said supporting members being arranged coaxially one being provided with a righthand screw-thread and the other with a lefthand screw-thread terminating at the ends of said members, means for suspending said play piece detachably from the screw-threads of the supporting members and said means being unscrewed and freed therefrom for flight of the play piece when it is given an impulse which will cause it to move angularly about the axes of "the screw-threads.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece which may be projected through space, a stationary support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and moved angularly thereon to project it thence into space, means acting to detach from said support said play piece upon giving it an impulse which will move it angularly on its support, and a swinging objective toward which the play piece makes its flight when 5 thrown from its support and to which it may attach itself in flight and swing therewith under its momentum.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece which may be projected through space, 10 a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and from which it may be thrown into space by revolving it thereon, said play piece being provided with suspending arms mounted thereon so as to have limited movement 5 toward and away from each other, also forward and backward, also on their longitudinal axes sufficient to permit canting of the arms, said arms being adapted to engage said support in suspending the play piece and means acting to disengage 20 the arms from said support when revolved on the support.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece which may be projected through space, a support from which said play piece may be de- 2 tachably suspended and from which it may be projected into space by revolving it thereon, said play piece being provided with suspending arms each having at its inner end an elongated eye with rounded ends, each side of the play piece being provided with a projection slightly smaller in cross-section than said elongated eye, each projection extending into the eye of the corresponding arm, and means acting to detach said arms from said support by the angular movement of said play piece about said support.

17. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece which may be projected through space,

a support from which said play piece may be suspended and from which it may be projected through space by revolving it thereon, said play piece being provided with suspending arms attached thereto, each arm being provided at its inner end with an eye, a yoke mounted upon said play piece and provided with lateral projections for receiving the eyes of the respective arms and means acting to detach said arms from said support by the angular movement of said play piece about said support.

18. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece which may be projected through space,

a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about the axis of which it may be revolved and hurled thence through space, said play piece having a yoke attached thereto and consisting in a substantially G-shaped plate, a recess formed in the edge of said play piece for receiving said yoke with its free ends housed therein so as to provide a pair of laterally extending attaching eyes, said play piece being 0 provided with arms for suspending it from said support and each arm being provided at its inner end with an eye, the eyes of said arms interengaging with the eyes of said yoke so as to articulate the arms to the play piece and means acting to detach said arms from said support by the angular movement of said play piece about said support.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means and which may be projected through space, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and from which it may be projected through space by angular movement thereon, a swinging objective toward which said play piece may be projected and to which it may attach itself and swing thereon, said play piece being made in the figure of a being with the head thereof provided with a movable jaw constructed and arranged to automatically open and close when the play piece swings with said objective and means acting to detach said suspending means from said support by the angular movement of the play piece about said suppor.

20. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means and which may be projected through space toward an objective, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and from which it may be projected through space by impulse given it while suspended, said play piece being provided with a dice receiving place or chamber, and dice retainable in said place or chamber and visible from the exterior of the play piece and means acting to detach said suspending means from said support by impulse given said play piece to project it.

21. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means and which may be projected through space, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and from which it may be projected by impulse given it while suspended through space toward an objective, an objective upon which said play piece may lodge when projected in flight, said play piece being provided with dice retaining means, the bottom or floor of which assumes a substantially horizontal position when the play piece lodges on said objective, said dice being visible from the exterior of said play piece and undergoing a thorough and uncontrolled shaking action by the flight of the play piece and means acting to detach said suspending means from said support by impulse given said play piece to project it 22. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece which may be projected through space and means for so projecting it, an objective toward which said play piece may be projected and upon which it may lodge, said play piece being pro-- vided with a dice-holding chamber and means for retaining the dice in said chamber and through which the dice may be viewed from the exterior.

23. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means and which may be projected through space and means for detachably supporting said play piece and from which it may be projected by impulse and revolution about the axis of the supporting means, means intermediate the suspending means and said supporting means serving to move the suspending means oif the supporting means in a direction normal to the plane of revolution of the play piece, and adjustable means for rendering inoperative said intermediate means to prevent the unauthorized use of the play piece.

24. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about the of which it may be revolved by impulse and projected thence through space, means intermediate the suspend ing means and said support serving to move the suspending means off the support in a direction normal to the plane in which the play piece is revolved to put it in flight, said intermediate means including an inclined guide or thread-like part disposed obliquely to the plane of revolution of the play piece, and an adjustable shut-01f means including a device for obstructing said inclined guide part to prevent operable engagement between the same and the suspending means of the play piece.

25. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about the axis of which it may be revolved by impulse and projected thence through space, means intermediate the suspending means and said support servi to move the suspending means of)? the support in a direction normal to the plane in which the play piece is revolved to put it in flight, said intermediate means including an inclined guide part disposed obliquely to the plane of revolution of the play piece, and adjustable shut-off means actuated by ordinary token or coin controlled mechanism for controlling the adjustment of said shut-off means the operation of said intermediate means to prevent the unauthorized use of the play piece.

26. In apparatus 01" the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, supporting means from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about the axis of which it may be revolved by impulse given it and projected thence through space, said supporting means including a serew-tlneaded member from which said play piece is suspended, and i adjustable sleeve movable over said scre' read of said member to render the :tuT-JLc inoperable and means acting to detach said suspendi means from said support by revolving said play piece about said support.

27. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, supporting means from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and about the axis of which it may he revolved by impulse given it and projected thence through space, said supporting means including a screw-threaded said play piece is suspended and from which it may be detached by revolving it about said sup porting means, an adjustable sleeve movable over said screw-thread of the member to render the same inoperable, and a housing within which said sleeve may oe moved when said sleeve Lin-- covers said screw-thread.

28. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means and which may be projected through which said play piece may be suspended and from which it may be released and projected through space by angular movement on said. support, means for detaching said play piece from its support by said angular movement, a swinging objective to which said play piece may be projectcd and to which it may attach itself and swing thereon, said play piece being made in the figure of a being with the head thereof provided with a movable jaw constructed and arranged so that it automatically opens as the figure swings in one direction and closes when it swings in the reverse direction to simulate a biting action of the jaw, and an object or device disposed within the range of swinging movement of said figure and engageable by said movable jaw or approximately so to give the appearance of the figure snapping at said object or device with its jaw.

29. In apparatus the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means and which may be projected through space, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and from which it may be projected through space by angular movement thereon, means for detaching said play piece from its supmember from which space, a support from D port by said angular movement, a pair of spaced apart swinging objectives arranged in the line of flight of said play piece and toward which it may be projected and to which it may in turn attach itself, said play piece being provided at one point with curved or bent suspending means for detachably suspending it from said support and provided at another point with attaching means curved in the opposite direction from that of said suspending means, whereby when the play piece is released from its support in flight it may first attach itself to the further objective with its attaching means and then swing backwardly to the near objective and engage the same with its suspending means and then detach itself from the further objective and remain attached to the near objective and swing therewith.

30. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and on which it has angular movement produced by impulse so that it may be projected from said support through space, and means intermediate the suspending means and said support serving to move the suspending means off the support in a direction normal tothe plane of angular movement of the play piece on its support when the play piece is moved angularly about the axis of said support.

31. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and on which it has angular movement produced by impulse so that it may be pro jected from said support through space, means intermediate said suspending means and its support serving to move it off its support in a direction normal to the plane of angular movement of said play piece when the play piece is moved angularly about the axis of said support, and an objective to which said play piece may be projected from its support and to which it may attach itself in flight.

32. In apparatus of the class described, a loose play piece having suspending means, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended and on which it has angular movement produced by impulse so that it may be projected from said support through space, means intermediate said suspending means and its support serving to move it off its support in a direction normal to the plane of angular movement of said play piece and at right angles to the line of flight when the play piece is moved angularly about the axis of said support, and tethering means for keeping said play piece captive and yet free to operate.

33. In apparatus for throwing dice or the like, a container for receiving the dice, suspending means for the container, a support from which said container may be detachably suspended and on which it has angular movement imparted 5 thereto by impulse so that it may be detached therefrom and projected thence through space, and means intermediate said container suspending means and its support serving to move it off its support in a direction normal to the plane 10 of angular movement of said container and at right-angles to its line of flight when the container is moved angularly about the axis of said support.

34. In apparatus for throwing dice or the like, 15 a holder for receiving the dice, suspending means for the holder, a support from which said holder may be detachably suspended and on which it has angular movement imparted thereto by impulse so that it may detach itself therefrom and 20 be projected thence through space, and means intermediate said holder suspending means and its support serving to move it off its support in a direction normal to the plane of angular movement of the holder and at right-angles to the 25 line of flight when the holder is moved angularly about the axis of said support, and tethering means for keeping said holder captive and yet free to operate.

35. In apparatus of the class described, a play 30 piece which may be projected through space by impulse, a support from which said play piece may be detachably suspended with capacity of relative angular movement between the two, said support including a stem having a screw- 35 thread from which the play piece may be suspended and from which it may be unscrewed to detach it in flight by said relative angular movement imparted by impulse.

36. In apparatus of the class described, a loose 40 play piece which may be projected through space and means for so projecting it, an oscillating objective toward which said play piece may be projected and upon which it may lodge and then oscillate therewith, registering means within range of prescribed limit of movement of said objective and adapted to be actuated for registering the number of said oscillations within the prescribed limit, by the said limited oscillations, said registering means having means for resetting it to Zero and connections intermediate said resettingmeans and said objective, whereby the removal of the play piece from the objective serves to automatically reset said registering means.

RALPH MAYHEW. 55