US2029177A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1936. B. M'acDoUGALL 2,029,177

GAME APPARATS Filed NOV. l5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sl'leeil l mm mw N 2 4' M a 10 16201 INVENTOR.

Jan. 28, 1936. B. MaCDOUGALL, 2,029,177

GAME APPARATUS 'Filed Nov. 15, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. on Maco ya ZZ B; M my M HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 28, 1936- t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Bon MacDougall, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Fred C. McClellan, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 15, 1935, Serial No. 49,909

4 Claims. (Cl. 273-121) This invention relates to game apparatuses. clined playing board I2 which has ball-receiving It is an object of this invention to provide an exit openings or pockets I3 formed therein. improved game apparatus which is relatively Slidably mounted in the cabinet II. below the insimple and inexpensive in construction and efclined playing board I2, is a ball-retaining mem- 5 cient in use. ber I4 which is provided with ball exit openings Another object of the present invention is to I6 and these ball exit openings I6 are adapted provide in a game apparatus of the so-called pin to be registered with the ball exit openings or and marble game type, a novel device for pockets I3 by movement of the ball-retaining changing the effective or scoring values of the member I4. Carried by the slidable ball-retain- 10 various ball-receiving pockets or exit openings ing member I4, and normally arranged below the 10 formed in the playing surface. pockets I3, are switches I5 `(Figs. 3 and 4). A further object of the present invention is to Provided on the inclined playing board l2, adprovide a novel control device, adapted to be jacent each 0f the pockets I3, iS a colored marassociated with a score-indicating instrumentalginal edge 0r border ll (Fig. l) Formed in the ity, or a plurality of the same, in a game apinclined playing board I2 iS a Sight Opening I3 15 paratus of the pin and marble game type, and and provided on the inclined playing board I2, by means of which the elective scoring value of adjacent the Sight opening i8, iS a Series 0f a ball lodging in one of the pockets provided on I variously colored parallel strips I9, each of which the playing surface of the said apparatus may corresponds, in color, to one of the colored mar- '20 be controlled and varied rather than remaining ginal edgeS or borderS ll 0f the pockets i3, fOr a 20 constant or fixed as in pinand marble games purpose t0 be explained hereinafterheretofore made. Rotatably mounted in the cabinet I I, below the Other objects will appear hereinafter. inclined playing board l2, iS a drum or dial The invention consists in the novel combina 20, and provided 0n the peripheral Surface of this tion and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter drum 2U are parallel roWS 0f numeralS 2| (Fig. 3), 25

described and claimed. these rows of numerals 2| being visible, one at a The invention will be best understood by reftime, through the Sight Opening i8 (Fig. 1). erence to the accompanying drawings showing 'Ihe drum 20 is mounted on a horizontal shaft the preferred form of construction, and in 22 and likeWiSe Carried by, that iS, Xed On, this which: shaft 22 is a ratchet 23 which includes teeth 24 30 Fig. 1 is a top plan View, partly in section, of a (Fig- 6). game apparatus of the so-called pin and marble Pivotally mounted, aS at 25, in the cabinet l l, game type, embodying a preferred form 'of the adjacent the ratchet' 23, is a pawl 26 and this present invention; pawl 2E has Van angled end portion or arm 2l Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, on line Which iS engageable With the teeth 24 0f the 35 2-2 in Fig. 1; ratchet 23, the pawl 2E being normally urged, by

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view a Spring 23, into the poSitiOn in Which it iS Shown on line 3-3 in Fig. 1, showing the new control in full lineS, Fig. 6.

device or so-called score changer; Mounted in the cabinet Il, adjacent the drum 40 Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View of one of the 20, (Fig. 3) is an electromagnet 29 and this elec- 40 ball-receiving'pockets and Switches; tromagnet 29 includes a movable element or ar- Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the new control mature 3U Which iS engageable With an end p0rdevice, on line 5-5 in Fig. 3; tion 3| of the paWl 25.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 6-'6 in Fig. 5; Carried by the Shaft 22, on Which the drum 7 is a Sectional View on in Fig. is mounted, is a. disc 32, and mounted On Fig 3 is a diagrammatic View of the principal disc 32 is a circumferentially arranged row of electrical circuit embodied in the inventionyand contacts 33 and 34, the Contacts 34 being ar- Fig. 9 is likewise a diagrammatic View of an ranged at intervals between or relative to the auxiliary electrical circuit embodied in the incontacts 33 (Fig. '7). TheSe movable contacts 0 vention. 33 and 34 are successively engageable with a series 5o A game apparatus of the so-called pin and of spaced and relatively stationary contacts or marble game type, embodying a preferred form brushes 38, by movement of the disc 32, as will be of the present invention, is shown in the drawexplained presently. ings, is therein generally indicated at I0, and Mounted on the shaft 22, adjacent the drum comprises a cabinet II which includes an in- 20, is a series of electrically insulated and spaced 55 rings 35, each oi which has an annular groove formed in its peripheral surface, and projecting into and working in each of these grooves 36 is a wiping contact or brush 31.

Slidably mounted in the end wall 40 of the cabinet II is an actuating member or coin slide 39 and the inner end of the coin slide 39 is engageable with an arm 42 which is attached to, and depends from, the slidable ball-retaining member I4 (Fig. 3).

Associated with and operated by the coin slide 39 is a conventional so-called full stroke switch 4I and this full stroke switch 4I is arranged, t0- gether with the eiectromagnet 29, and a suitable source of current 43, such as a battery of dry cells or the like arrangedin the cabinet II, in an electrical circuit 44 (Fig. 9).

Mounted in the cabinet, at a suitable point therein, and preferably at the head or upper end of the saine, is a bank or. group of score-indicating instrumentalities which are shown as having the form of lights 45 and arranged in front of`v each of these lights 45 is a transparent plate 46 en which is provided a suitable score-indicating indicium 41 (Fig. 2)..

The score-indicating devices or lights 45 are arranged in an electrical circuit, generally indicated at 48 (Fig. 8), and which includes, in addition to the score-indicating devices or lights 45, the switches I5, a suitable source of current, such as a battery of dry cells or the like 49 arranged in the cabinet II, and the score-changing or control device which includes the commutator 32--33-34-38-36-31 and associated parts.

The circuit 48 also includes a group of conductors 50, which lead from the switches I5 to the stationary contacts 38, and a group of conductors 5I which lead from the contacts 34 to the conductive rings 35 (Figs. 7 and 8). Likewise embodied in the circuit 48 is a conductor 52 which electrically connects all of the contacts 33 with one of the conductive rings 35.

Also embodied in the circuit 48 is a group oi' conductors 53 which lead from the brushes 31 to the score-indicating devices or lights 45 (Fig. 8).

Operation When the coin slide 39 is pushed in (left to right, 3) the inner end of the same engages the depending arm 42 of the slidable ball-retaining member I4, thereby moving the latter (left to right, Fig. 3) into ball-releasing position. This movement of the coin slide 39 causes the same to close the full stroke switch, thereby closing the circuit 44 and energizing the electromagnet 29 which is arranged therein. Wlien the electromagnet 29 is thus energized it attracts its movable element or armature 30, and when the movable element or armature 30 is thus attracted, by its electromagnet 29, it engages the end portion 3I of the pawl 26 and thereby pivots the latter, at 25, (clockwise from fuil to dotted line position, Fig. 6), When the pawi 26 is thus pivoted (from full to dotted line position, Fig. 6) its angled end portion or arm 21 engages the teeth 24 of the ratchet 23, and when the pawl 26-3I reaches the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the angled end portion or arm 21 thereof passes out of engagement with the teeth 24 of the ratchet 23, whereupon the ratchet 23, shaft 22, drum 29, disc 32, and rings 35, are caused to rotate (clockwise, Fig. 6)

When the coin slide 29 is returned to its initial position the switch 4I is opened, thereby opening the circuit 44 and deenei'gizing the electromagnet- 29, whereupon the resetting spring 28 will urge the pawl 2li-3| back into its initial position (as in full lines, Fig. 6). During this operation, the angled end portion or arm 21 of the pawl 26 reengages the teeth 24 of the ratchet 23, thereby stopping the rotation of the ratchet 23-24 and the drum 28. When the drum 20 is thus stopped one of the rows of numerals 2I thereon will be visible through the sight opening I8, as shown in Fig. 1.

Thus, assuming for the purpose of illustration, that the drum 20 comes to rest with the particular row of numerals 2i visible thereon which is shown in Fig. 1, by reference to which it will be noted that the highest numeral in the row of numerals which is visibleA in the sight openings I8 (Fig. 1) is the numeral 25, it being noted that this numeral 20 is disposed in alignment and registration with the orange-colored stripe 54. The arrangement cf the several elements in the circuit 48 is such that when the parts are disposed as in Fig. l, that is, when the numeral 20 is disposed in alignment with the orange stripe 54, the player may then, by playing a ball into that particular pocket I3 which is surrounded by an orange colored marginal edge or border, as indicated at 55, (Fig. 1), illuminate the particular score-indicating light 45 which has a scoring value of 28, (Fig. 2), it being noted that current will then flow through the circuit 48 as follows: from one side of the current source 49, by way of the conductor 56, into the particular switchv I5 which is associatedwith the pocket I3 having the orange-colored border 55 (Fig. 1), said switch being designated I5A, (Fig. 8) thence by way of the corresponding conductor 58A, stationary contact 38A, into the contact 34A, disc 32ccnductor 5IA, conductive ring 35A, brush 31A, conductor 53A, into the score-indicating light 55A, which has a scoring value of 20, an

thence by way of the conductor 51 back to the source of current 49. In this manner the scoreindicating light or score-registering device 45A, which has a score value of 20, will be actuated or illuminated when, in the present example, (the parts -being disposed as in Fig. l) the player succeeds in playing a ball into the particular pocket I3 which has the orange-colored border 55 (Fig. l).

However, the several elements inthe circuit 48 are so arranged that when the coin slide 39 is again operated the said pocket I3 which has the orange-colored border 55 (Fig. l), and which had a scoring value of 20, in the foregoing example, will not again be likeiy to have the same score value, when the device is again operated, as will now be explained:

When the coin slide 39 is again operated, to rotate the drum 20, through the medium of the electro-magnet 29-3Ii, pawl 2G-3|, and ratchet 23, the drum 20, and the disc 32 and contacts 33-34 carrie-:i thereby will, in all probability, come to rest in diierent relative positions than vthose they occupy in Figs. l and 8.

Tires, assuming that theparts are disposed as in the foregoing example, that is, as in Figs. 1 and 8 and that the drum'28, discr32 and coinmutator rings 35-36 are again operated: In this event the disc 32 may, for example, come to rest in such a position that the contact 34A which was, in the foregoing example, disposed in engagement with stationary contact 38A (Fig. 8) is now disposed in engagement with the stationary contact 38B (Figs. 7 and 8). In this event the particular ball-receiving pocket I3 which is associated with the switch ISB (Fig. 8) will now have a score value of twenty, and when a ball is played into the said pocket I3 which is associated with the switch 15B, current will then ow as follows: From the source of current 49, through the conductor 56, through the switch 15B, through the corresponding conductor 50B, and brush 38B, through the contact 34A (which is at this time disposed in engagement with the stationary contact 38B), through the conductor SIA, through the contact ring 35A, then by way of the brush 31A and conductor 53A to the scoreindicating light 35A, which has a score value of twenty, and thence by way of the conductor 51 back to the current source 119.

It will therefore be noted that the scoring value of the pocket i3, which has the orange colored border 55, Fig. 1, and with which the switch 15A is associated is now two, rather than twenty, as in the previous example, since the stationary contact 38A, which is associated with the switch 15A, is no longer disposed in engagement with the contact 34A, but is now disposed in engagement with one of the contacts 33, all of which contacts 33 are connected, by the conductor 52, to the contact ring 35C, whereupon current will iiow as follows:

From the current source 59, by way of conductor 56, through the closed switch 45A, through the contact 38A and the particular contact 33 which is disposed in engagement therewith, then by way of conductor 52, into the contact ring 35C, into the brush 37C, and conductor 53C, then into the light 55C, this light llC being disposed behind the particular plate it which has a scoring Value of 2 (Fig. 2), and thence by way of the conductor l back to the current source 39, thereby illuminating the light 35C which has a scoring value -of two, it being noted that this light 655C, which has a scoring value of two, is in this present example illuminated by a ball disposed in the same pocket i3, (indicated at 55, Fig. 1) which, in the previous example, had a scoring value of twenty.

It will thus be seen that operation of the present control device, that is, the movement of the disc 32 and the movable contacts 33 and 361 carried thereby, relative to the stationary contacts 38, does not change the scoring value of the scoreindicating or registering lamps (i5, but merely varies or changes the scoring value of the ballreceiving pockets i3 and associated switches l5, that is, the movement of the disc 32 and the contacts 33 and 34 carried thereby, relative to the stationary contacts 38, determines which one of the switches i5 will illuminate a pre-selected one of the score-indicating lights 35.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eiect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit oi` the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A score control device for an amusement apparatus of the type which includes a cabinet having armember providing a ball-playing surface provided with ball-receiving pockets, said core control device comprising score-indicating means, a plurality of electrical circuits for operating said score-indicating means and each of said circuits including a switch closed by the action of a ball entering one of said pockets, each of said circuits also including a stationary contact and a movable contact and the latter being' movable successively into engagement with said stationary contacts, and means for moving the said movable contacts successively into engagement with the said stationary contacts to change, by chance, the relative positions between the said stationary and movable contacts.

2. A score control device for an amusement apparatus of the type which includes a cabinet having a member providing a ball-playing surface provided with ball-receiving pockets, said score control device comprising score-indicating means, a plurality of electrical circuits for operating said score-indicating means and each of said circuits including a switch closed by the action of a bali entering one of said pockets, each of said circuits also including a stationary contact and a movable contact and the latter being movable successively into engagement with said stationary contacts, and means including an electro-magnetic device for movingthe said movable contacts successively into engagement with the said stationary contacts to change, by chance, the relative positions between the said stationary and movable contacts.

3. A score control device for an amusement apparatus of the type which includes a cabinet having a member providing a ball-playing surface provided with ball-receiving pockets, said score control device comprising score-indicating means, a plurality of electrical circuits for operating said score-indicating means and each of said circuits including a switch closed by the action of a ball entering one of said pockets, each of said circuits also including a stationary contact, said score control device including a movable contact and the latter being movable successively into engagement with said stationary contacts, and means, including an electro-magnetic device, for moving the said movable contact successively into engagement with the said stationary contacts to change, by chance, the relative positions between the said stationary contacts and the said movable contacts.

4. A score control device for an amusement apparatus of the type which includes a cabinet having a member providing a ball-playing surface provided with ball-receiving pockets, said score control device comprising score-indicating means, a plurality of electrical circuits for operating said score-indicating means and each of said circuits including a switch closed by the action of a ball entering one of said pockets, each of said circuits also including a stationary contact, said score control device including a movable contact and the latter being movable successively into engagement with said stationary contacts, and means, including an electro-magnetic device, for moving the said movable contact successively into engagement with the said stationary contacts to change, by chance, the relative positions between the said stationary and movable contacts, said second-named means including a switch for operating the said electro-magnetic device.

BON MACDOUGALL.

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