US2053379A - Game - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1936.

K. a sHYvERs ET AL GAME Filed Feb. 10, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 1 fgydens Zy 01a .7? 30:11am? 13 Sept. 8, 1936- K. c. SHYVERS ET AL GAME Filed Feb. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES GAME Kenneth C. Shyvers and Lyndon A. Durant, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 10, 1936, Serial No. 63,056

14 Claim.

This invention relates to a pin game of the type wherein a plurality of balls are impelled to various scoring positions and to an electric totalizing means for indicating the number of points scored at any time during the game. Games of this character are located in various public places and must be capable of operation with a minimum of servicing.

An object of this invention is to devise a game of this character wherein a totalizing means is provided, which is cheap, effective and operates quickly to indicate the number of points scored at any time during the game.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, our invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same 5 characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts through the several figures of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a complete game; Fig. 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 40 Fig. 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section along line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detail of the indicating means; .and Fig. '7 is a circuit diagram of the totalizing 45 means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the game comprises a frame I of wood or metal. Supported by the frame is a panel i2 of wood, upon which may be located the various paths and traps for the balls. 50 'A plunger 3 suitably journaled in the frame is adapted to be pulled back in the well known fashion and propel a ball 5 along chute 6, which extends to the rear of the panel and to the other side thereof. The ball 5 is adapted to pass a trap 55 8, if it has sufilcient momentum, and up an inner chute 9 beyond a spring gate Ill and thence into the playing field.

The field may have suitably shaped blocks H, I! and i3 for guiding the ball. There may also be provided a plurality of posts i5 carrying spring rings i6 offset therefrom and adapted to impart interdeterminate impulses to the ball in its travels. A plurality of holes into which each ball may drop is provided, eachhole.having a predetermined scoring value. Inasmuch as the 10 arrangement of posts, guide blocks and holes may be changed to suit the taste of players and since it forms no part of the present invention, it will not be described.

The entire machine is provided with a level ini dicator 2i and a coin chute 22. This coin chute is provided with a circular cut-out 23, into which any suitable coin may be disposed, after which lever 22 is pressed inwardly. Upon the pressing in of lever 22, a board 25 immediately below play- 20 ing panel 2 is moved in its own plane to uncover the various holes 20 and permit the balls to drop through to the bottom of the cabinet. A suitable pick-up device, operated by a lever 26 of well known construction, is adapted to elevate one ball 25 at a time into the chute 6.

At the rear of the cabinet a vertically disposed panel 28 is disposed into which the totalizing mechanism is adapted to be mounted. The scoring total may be read through a small window 30 30. (Fig. 6).

The totalizing mechanism proper, in general, comprises a pair of equal resistances having corresponding predetermined taps permitting the shutting out or insertion of corresponding and predetermined resistance values. The total value of the two resistances in series tends to remain constant. In the event that any balls operate to change the value of one of the resistances, automatic mechanism is provided tending to change the value of the other resistance to an equal amount, but in the reverse sense. These two resistances are adapted to form one arm of a Wheatstone bridge, the other three arms of which have fixed values. The balls, when played, are adapted to disturb one of the resistance values causing the bridge to become unbalanced. By suitable step up mechanism the other resistance carrying the scoring values is suitably operated upon to automatically balance the bridge.

Electrically controlled means are provided to reset the mechanism to "zero" upon the initiation of a play and to render the mechanism inoperative in the event that the game apparatus is not level. Additional means are provided whereby at certain predetermined scoring values a return coin chute may be operated as a reward during the resetting operation and contact point during the playing operation. The point 40 is connected by a line M to movable contact 42 of a level control relay 43. The movable contact 42 normally touches fixed contact 44 which is connected to a junction point 45. This junction point 45 is connected by a line 46 through the winding of the relay 43 to a line 4? and thence to a cup member 48.

A freely swinging contact 49 is adapted to be clear of the cup member '48 if the cabinet is level, so that no circuit through this switch is made. A movable contact 49 is connected by a line 50 back to the junction 36. It is clear that ii the cabinet is not level, a circuit through 49 and 46 I will be established, energizing the winding 43 of the relay and causing the movable contacts 42 to break away from the contact 44, thus breaking the main circuit and also circuit to tilt device.

The junction point 45 is connected through a clock control switch 46 to a terminal 40. The Junction point 36 is connected-to a terminal 50 and also through a voltage reducing resistance 5I to a terminal 52. The reset contact 39 is connected by a line 53 to a terminal 56.

The contacts 48 and 52 are connected by lines 51 and 53, respectively, tothe opposite points,

59 and 60 of a bridge for energizing the same. The junction 59 has resistances 6| and 62 con nected thereto. The resistance 62 is connected to a junction 63 and between this point and 60, a resistance 64 is provided. The resistances BI, 62 and 64 are invariable values and between the junction 60 and junction 65 there is adapted to be connected a pair of oppositely variable resistances. From the junction point 65 a line 66 is provided going to a terminal 61. The terminal 61 is connected by a jumper 68 to terminal 69 of a resistance generally designated as 10. The other terminal II of this resistance is connected by a jumper 12 to a terminal 13, thence by a line 14 to a terminal 15 of a resistance generally designated as 16. A wiper I1 forms the other terminal of this resistance as far ascurrentconduction is concerned and is connected by a line 18 to the junction 60 of the bridge.

Referring to the resistance 10, this resistance is made up of suitable resistance units having a plurality of contact points to 88, inclusive. Between these contact points predetermined values of resistances may be disposed in any suitable manner. As shown here, the resistance wire is wound zigzag around an inner series of posts 9| and-an outer series of posts 92. A plurality of switch arms to I03, inclusive, may be provided for engagement with the contacts 80 to 88, respectively, and the terminal at the other end of the corresponding resistance section,

a short circuiting conductor I05 may be provided, so that upon the closure of any switch with its corresponding contact, a predetermined portion of the entire resistance is cut out. Switches 95 to I03, inclusive, are mounted on the lower panel 25, and in the normal playing p sition are adapted to be in holes 20 so that when a ball drops in, the switch will be closed.

The resistance 16, whose total value may be equal to that of resistance 10, is constructed so that its resistance wire I01 is threaded back and forth between an inner series of posts I08 and an outer series of posts I09. This resistance wire is carried on a board I08 through the center of which a shaft I09 is rotativeiy mounted.

The shaft I09 carries an arm IIO balancing apair of wipers III and H2. The wiper III 00- operates with the inner series of posts I08 which are preferably of metal and have suitable flat tops. As the balls close the various switches in the resistance 10 and vary its value in a predetermined fashion, it is evident, therefore, that the arm IIO with the wiper III must be moved to add a predetermined amount of resistance from the resistance '16 to keep the bridge balanced.

Assuming that the system is unbalanced because of the operation of one or more switches in the resistance 10, it is clear that a diiference of potential between the points 63 and 65 of the bridge will be set up. Inorder to take advantage of this difference of potential, the point 65 is connected by a line 5' to the terminal, II6 of a sensitive relay H1. The other terminal H6 of this relay is connected to a line H9, to which bridge point 63 is connected by a wire' I20 and the line H9 is connected to the fixed contact I20 of a step up solenoid I2I. The line II9 also goes to the fixed contact I22 of the relay I I1. The movable contact I23 01 this relay is connected to, the

winding of a time delay relay I25, the other terminal of the winding being connected to point I26. The point I26 is connected back by a line i21 to terminal 50'. The fixed contact I30 of the relay I25 is connected to the junction I26 and co-operates with the movable contact I3I. A condenser I32 is connected across these contacts-to suppress sparking to protect the relay contacts. The fixed contact I3I is connected to a line I33 which goes through the winding I35 of the solenoid I2I and thence by a wire I36 to the line 51. A movable I contact I31 is connected to the line I36.

Upon the unbalancing of the bridge and the existence of a difference of potential between the points 63 and 65, current will flow through theline II 5 and the winding of the relay I I 1, through the line I20 to the point 63. contacts I22 and I23 to close which will energize the time delay relay I25. With the relay I25 energized, the contacts I30 and I3I will close to establish a circuit from the point 36 above the battery 35 through the junction 50', line I21, contacts I30 and I3I, line I33, solenoid winding I35, line I36 to the junction 48 and thence through the switch 46, point 45, contact points and, 44, line 4|, contact points 40 and 39, thence back to This will cause the relay 1 the battery. The solenoid I2I will thereupon be sults in a reverse difference. of potential between points 63 and 65 of the bridge, reversing the flow of current through the first relay II1. This reverse current rapidly opens the relay contacts and :overcomes any tendency for contact sticking.

which might otherwise occur. The opening of the relay I I1 will in its turn result in opening the relay I25, which, because of its slow operation, is adapted to permit the step up solenoid I2I to go through with its step up operation more positively.

The mechanical operation whereby the step up solenoid I2I changes the value of the resistance 16 to balance the bridge, will now be described.

The step up solenoid I2I is provided with a core I40 which is adapted to be sucked into the solenoid upon energization thereof. of the core I40 is pivotally secured to a lever I4I rotatively secured to the shaft I09. Beyond the shaft I09 the lever I4I has a portion I42 upon which is pivotally mounted a lever I43 carrying a ratchet dog I44. A spring I45 between the members I42 and I43 presses dog I44 against the teeth of a ratchet I48 rigidly secured to shaft I09. A spring I49 secured between the member I42 and a rigid plate I50 tends to keep the core I40 of the solenoid in its projected position. Upon the energization of the-relay winding I35, the core I40 is sucked into the relay winding and moves the lever I4I anti-clockwise, as sen in Fig. 3. The dog I44 rides over the teeth of the ratchet I48. The core I40 which opens the contacts I20 and I31 in its lowermost position and tie-energizes the winding is thereupon pulled out by the action of a spring I49, which advances the ratchet I48 a tooth in a clockwise direction. This serves to move the arm IIO with its wiper III from one contact post I08 to another one. Assuming that the bridge still remains unbalanced, another step up cycle will occur until the resistance relationship between 10 and 10 is such that they both add up to the predetermined amount necessary to balance the bridge. The shaft I09 in its turning movement rotates a scale I52 carrying suitable numbers thereon and in the balanced condition of the bridge is adapted to show a suitable indication through the window 30.

In order to reset the mechanism back to zero position in preparation for a playing cycle, means are provided for releasing the ratchet to permit the scale to assume its starting position. As the totalizing means operates to turn the scale from a lower to a higher reading, the shaft I09 tends to wind up a spring I55.

In order to reset the mechanism, a reset coil I51 is provided connected by a line I58 to the terminal 56. The coil I51 is mounted on the plate I50 and has pivoted thereto an armature I60. This armature is provided with a long lever portion I6I adapted to contact against a dog I63 pivoted at I64 and engaging ratchet wheel I40. A spring I between the dog I03 and the base plate I50 tends to keep the dog in engagement with the ratchet. During the normal step up operation of the step up coil I2I, the ratchet I48 is adapted to turn in a clockwise direction and the dog I63 merely slips over the teeth of the ratchet.

During the inward movement of the core I40 I of the step up magnet, when the step up ratchet I43 is slipping backward to engage a new tooth. the dog I63 prevents the ratchet I48 from being driven backwards by the spring I55. The dog I44 of the step up ratchet is provided with a long ear I61. When the release coil I51 is energized, the armature ISO is attracted causing the lever I6I to swing the dog I63 clear of the ratchet and at the same time by pressing against the ear I61 causes the step up ratchet I43 to clear the ratchet teeth. There being no restraint on ratchet I48, the spring I55 reverses the shaft I03 until the zero position is reached. The

The free end reset coil I51 is energized by the starting switch 38 being raised upwardly to close with the contact 39. By means of a dashpot I10 on the switch 38, 30 is kept in contact with the point 39 long enough to permit the mechanism to reset back to zero" and therefrom the switch 38 is dropped to close against the contact 40. When the shaft I00 is driven back to the zero position, the arm IIO carried thereby is adapted to open up the contacts 54 and 55 at the zero" position of the Indicating means. This is accomplished by the arm Il0 striking an extension of the con tact 54 and serves to open up the reset circuit as soon as resetting is accomplished and thus save drain on the battery 35 in the event that the dashpot on the switch 38 operates too slowly.

It may be desirable to provide a coin return or suitable indicating means in the event that certain high scoring values are obtained. For this purpose, the wiper II2 on the arm H0 is adapted to co-operate with a series of contacts 15' inwardly spaced from the inward series of contacts I08. These contacts 16' may be connected in any suitable manner and, as shown here, are all connected to a line I'II, leading to a terminal I12 to magnet I13 and back again through a terminal I14 and line I15 to the line I33. In the event that the arm IIO travels far enough to engage any one of the contacts 16', a circuit from the bridge point through the line 18, arm IIO, wiper H2 and thence through the various lines down to the line I33, is established. This circuit will be energized from the battery 35 only when delay relay I25 closes the contacts I30 and I3I.

In order to illuminate the dial or member I52 uponwhich the score values are marked, there is provided a light I59 disposed directly in the rear of the opening 30, which light is connected in the main battery circuit.

It is believed that our invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details arenevertheless capable of wide varia-' tion within the purview of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electrical means for indicating the position of a body at a remote distance comprising a bridge having three fixed resistances for the three arms thereof and a pair of equal resistances in series as a fourth arm, said pair of resistances being remote from each other and being adapted to have a constant combined resistance, means on one of said resistances for varying the value thereof in accordance with the position of one or more bodies, means co-operating with one of said resistances tending to change the value of said other resistances by an equal amount and in the reverse sense to said first resistance to maintain said bridge in balance, said means being energized by a difference of potential across said bridge when unbalanced and comprising a step up relay. a stepby-step mechanism co-operating with said other resistance to vary its value, means whereby said step up relay in its movement stores energy in said step up mechanism and means whereby said step-by-step mechanism varies upon the deenergization of said step-up relay.

2. An indicating means, comprising a bridge having three fixed resistances as the arms there= of, a first and second resistance in series with each other as the fourth arm, means for energizing said bridge from two opposite points, means for varying the value of said first resistance to unbalance said bridge thereby causing a dider-= ence of potential to automatically vary said second resistance to bring the bridge into balance. said last named means comprising a relay for utilizing said difference of potential in said bridge, a step up relay controlled by said first relay, a wiper on said second resistance and adapted to contact therewith, a dog and ratchet mechanism co-operating'with said wiper to impart step-by-step movement thereto, means whereby said step up relay operates said dog and vratchet to advance said wiper for a small unitary value of resistance, means controlled by said step up relay to reverse said bridge unbalance whereby said control relay is sharply released to begin another step up cycle and an indicator carried by said wiper calibrated to indicate the condition of said first resistance.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said wiper. is adapted to progress forward in one direction only against a spring, and means for freeing said ratchet of its dog for returning said wiper to a starting position.

4. An indicating system for showing the position of a body at a distance remote from the indicating means, comprising a bridge having three fixed resistances as the arms thereof and a fourth arm comprising two resistances in series, means for energizing said bridge across two points, and means for utilizing any potential difference across the other two points of said bridge, one of said'resistances being remote from the other, means for varying the value of said one resistance in accordance with the body positions to be measured, thereby unbalancing said bridge and means responsive to the difference of potential across said bridge due to its unbalanced position for varying the other resistance an equal value in a reverse sense, said means comprising a wiper playing over said resistance, a shaft coupled to said wiper and carrying an indicating means, a ratchet mechanism coupled to said shaft and tending to turn said shaft in one direction only,

a spring coupled to said shaft and wound up by said ratchet mechanism as said shaft 'is turned thereby, relay means responsive to the unbalanced condition in said bridge for operating said ratchet mechanism step by step until said bridge is automatically balanced, an independent means for rendering said ratchet advance inoperative whereby said spring returns said shaft to a zero position. v

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said relay means for operating saidratchet comprises a pair of successive relays, one of said relays being directly responsive to the unbalanced condition of said bridge, the other relay being responsive to said first relay, said other relay in its energized condition being adapted to unbalance said bridge in the reverse direction to cause a. quick release on said first relay.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said ratchet operating means comprises a magnet and a spring system so that when said magnet is energized, the ratchet dog slips the ratchet and a spring advances said ratchet.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said ratchet advancing means comprises a string-pressed dog, a magnet for operating on said dog to advance said ratchet, an additional spring-pressed aosasve dog on said ratchet, an additional magnet for releasing both dogs from said ratchet and a spring wound by said ratchet during. its advancing position for returning said ratchet to a "zer position.

8. A totalizer operatively associated with a game board having a plurality of switches adapted to be closed by projectiles projected onto said game board, comprising a resistance connected to said switches and having its efiective value varied thereby a second resistance in series with said first resistance, said two resistances in series forming one arm of a bridge, three other resistances forming the three additional bridge arms, means for; impressing a potential dlfler ence across one pair of opposite bridge points, meansconnected across the other pair of opposite bridge points for responding to a difference of potential as a result-of bridge unbalance, and means controlled by said last mentioned means for varying the value of said second resistance to balance said bridge, said means com= prising a wiper playing over said second resistance and movable in steps, a relay responsive to a condition of bridge unbalance for moving said wiper one step at a time, said relay being controlled by said bridge only at the beginning of each operating cycle, and indicating means carried by said wiper to correspond with the switches in said first resistance changed by said operator.

9. The totalizer of claim 8, wherein a relay is connected across said other opposite bridge points and responsive to a condition of unbalance, and a slow acting relay system controlled by said first relay for actuating said wiper, said slow acting relay system, when energized, being adapted'to throw out said first relay in preparation for a new operating cycle.

10. The totalizer of claim 8, wherein said wiper operates against the spring, a ratchet system controlling said wiper, a step-by-step relay system for advancing said ratchet in one direction in response to the potential difference across said bridge when in unbalanced condition, a release magnet and means controlled by said release magnet when energized for releasing said ratchet to permit said spring to return said wiper to a starting position.

11. The totalizer of claim 8, wherein said wiper rides over a series of contacts corresponding to predetermined wiper conditions and an unlocking circuit controlled by said contacts whereby at predetermined wiper conditions said unlocking circuit operates giving special indications for predetermined high scoring values. 7

12. A score indicating means operatively associated with a game board having a plurality of switches adapted to be closed by balls pro- Jected onto and travelling over said game board, said indicating means including a bridge having threefixed resistances as the arms thereof and a fourth arm comprising two resistances in series, a plurality of switches disposed one in each of said openings and adapted to be closed by the disposition of a ball within said openings, said switches being connected to one of said last mentioned resistances and arranged so as to have its effective value varied thereby, means for impressing a potential difference across one pair of opposite bridge points, means connected across the opposite pair of bridge points for responding to a difference of potential as a result of bridge unbalance, and means including the indicating means controlled by said last mentioned means for actuating said indicating means to move the same to correspond with the change in value 01 said first resistance caused by the disposition of the balls in the openings on the playing surface.

13. A totalizer operatively associated with a. game board having a plurality of switches adapted to be closed by balls projected onto said game board, including a resistance, all of said switches being connected to said resistance, which resistance has its effective value varied by the closing of said switches, a second resistance in series with said first resistance, said two resistances in series forming one arm of a bridge, three other resistances forming the three additional bridge arms, means for impressing a potential diflerence across one pair of opposite bridge points, means connected across the other pair of opposite bridge points for responding to a difference of potential as a result oi bridge unbalance, means controlled game board having a plurality of electrical switches adapted to be closed by balls projected onto said game board, said totalizer including an electrical resistance connected with said switches, which resistance has its effective value varied by the closing of said switches, whereby a predetermined amount of resistance is cut out upon the moving of said switches to closed positions, and means responsive to the action of the cutting out of the resistance for actuating the totalizer.

KENNETH c. SHYVERS. LYNDON A. DURANT.

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