US2056515A - Game - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1936. T. c. GLASER GAME Filed Jan. 5, 1955 3 SheetsSheet l MMJA . INVENTOR. 6 500055 6 4/455 BY &

ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1936. T. c. GLASER GAME Filed Jan. 3, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. W's-00042.5 C 61. 065B,

' ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanical game and refers more particularly to a device adapted to be released by the insertion of a coin and used for amusement purposes.

An object of the presentinvention is the provision of a device of simple and inexpensive construction which can be easily manipulated by a player and which may serve as a substitute for various card games,.such as poker, and/or other games of chance which are based onthetprinciple of different combinations of numerals and/or signs obtained by the difierent players.

The above and other objects of this invention may be realized through the provision of a device comprising a number of wheels bearing different signs and/or numerals which rotate through a manipulation of a lever released by the insertion of a coin, said wheels after having completed their rotation indicating various combinations of signs and/or numerals to a player.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed. description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section-through the device shown in Figure 1, the parts being shown in their respective positions before insertion of the releasing coin.

Figure 3 is a cross section along the line 3-3- of Fig. 2, looking in the direction-of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and shows the shifting lever in adifferent position.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, locking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Figure 7 is a section along the line l'! of Fig. 2.

Figure 8 is a view in the direction ofthe arrow 8 of Fig. 7, some parts being shown in section, and others beingremoved. for the sake of clearmess.

The device illustrated in the drawings comprises a support l6 carrying a casing ll (Fig. 1). In the example illustrated the casing l 1 comprises five vertical slots [2, l3, l4, l5, and I6 through which project the shifting levers IT, l8, I9, 20, and 2!.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings, five rotary wheels 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are situated within the casing H, and each of the shifting levers I? to 21 is used for shifting and releasing a separatewheel. Obviously, the number of the Wheels may be varied at will. The cylindrical side surfaces of the wheels are provided with various letters, numerals and/or signs. The casing H is provided with five openings 21, 28, 29, 30, and 31. The dimensions of the numerals or signs carried by the cylindrical side surfaces of the wheels 22 to 26 should correspond to'the dimensions of the openings 21 to 3!. As will be described hereinafter, the wheels 22 to 26 are mounted in such manner that when they are at a standstill, the signs or numerals are situated opposite'the openings 21 to 3|, so that the player cannot see more than one sign or numeral through each opening. The openings 2'! WM may be covered by glass, cellophane or any other suitable transparent material.

The casing II is provided with a long vertical slot 32 for the operating lever 33 and a slot 34 for the insertion of a coin- (Fig. 1). A container 35 for the'coins whichis carried by'the support In, is situated under theslot 34'.

As shown in Fig. 2, a number of supports or brackets 36, v 31, 38, 39 and 46' and 4|, are used for supporting a rotatable shaft 42 which passes through openings formed in these brackets. A number" of coiled springs 43, 44, d5, 46, and 41 surround the shaft 42. The end 48 of the spring 43 bears against the adjacentsurface of the support 31. Corresponding ends of the springs 44, 45, 46, and 4'! bear against the adjacent supports 38, 39, and 4| respectively.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and'4, the shaft 42 is not round in cross-section, but is provided with parallel flat side surfaces 42a and 42b.

The shaft 42 carries a sleeve 48' which is provided with a cylindrical inner surface. The sleeve 48' is rotatably and slidably mounted upon the shaft 42 below the wheel 22 and has outer conical end surfaces 49 and 50. Similar sleeves 5|, 52, 53, and 54 are situated under the wheels 23, 24-, 25, and 26 respectively.

A driving member 55'is slidably mounted upon the shaft 42 adjacent to the sleeve 48'. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the member 55 comprises a disc 56 having inner surfaces which correspond to the surfaces of the shaft 42, so that it is rotatable along with theshaft 42. The disc 56 carries radially disposed leaf springs 51, 58, 59, 60, and 6!, which are'adap-ted to impart a rotary motion tothe wheel 22, as will be described hereinafter.

The sleeves 5|, 52, 53, and 54 are in contact with similar driving members 62, 63, 64, and

(Fig. 2). The coiled springs 43 to 41 which are situated between the brackets 31 to 4| and the driving members 55 and 62 to 85, respectively, press each of the driving members against the adjacent sleeve.

The shifting lever I! which is used for shifting and releasing the wheel 22 is carried by a pivot 66, which is mounted in the support 36 (Figs. 3, 4, and 6). The end 81 of the lever I'I surrounds the shaft 42 and forms an arcuate opening 68. As shown more clearly in Fig. 6, the end 61 of the lever I! has the shape of a curved cam surface by means of which the sleeve 48' may be shifted along the shaft 42 when the lever IT is moved upward around its pivot 65 in a direction toward the wheel 22.

The levers I8, I9, 20, and 2I are provided with similar cam surfaces 69, 10, II, and I2 used for causing a sliding movement of the sleeves 5 I,- 52, 53, and 54 along the shaft 42.

The wheel 22 situated above the sleeve 48' is made of a single piece or firmly connected with the wheel I3, having a smaller diameter than the wheel 22. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the diameter of the wheel I3 should be such that the leaf springs 51 to 6| of the driving member 55 can come in contact with the cylindrical side surface of the wheel 13 and cause a rotation of the wheel 13 and of the wheel 22 which is rigidly connected with the wheel I3.

The Wheels 23, 24, 25, and 26 are connected with wheels I4, I5, I6, and 11, respectively, the last-mentioned wheels being similar to the wheel I3 (Fig.2). The wheels 22 to 26 and I3 to I! are rotatably mounted upon a shaft 19 which is carried by the brackets 36 to 4| and which is substantially parallel to and above the shaft 42. A sleeve or distancing piece 18 is mounted upon the shaft I9 between the wheel 22, I3 and the bracket 36. Similar sleeves 80, 8|, 82, and 83 are situated between the other wheels and the brackets 31 to 40, respectively. 7

The wheel 22, I3 is rigidly connected with a pinion 84. The end of a resilient lever 85 carried by the support 31, slides over the teeth of the pinion 84 when the pinion 84'is rotated along with the wheel 22, 13. tion of the wheel 22, 13 comes to an end, the lever 86 will cause it to stop in such a position that the end 85 of the lever 86 will be situated between two teeth of the pinion 84. Due to this arrangement the numerals or signs situated upon the side surface of the wheel 22 may be arranged in such manner, that when the wheel 22 is at rest, only one sign or numeral will be seen through the opening 21. g

A similar lever 88 carried by the bracket 38 is in contact with a pinion 81 rigidly connected with the wheel 14. The wheel 15 is rigidly connected with a pinion 89 which is in contact with a lever 90 carried by the support 39. The wheel I6 is rigidly connected with a pinion 9| which is in contact with a lever 92 carried by the sup-- port 40, while the wheel 'I'I carries a similar pinion 93, in contact with a lever 94 carried by the support 4|.

A sleeve 95 freely mounted upon the shaft 79 is used for maintaining the wheel 22 at a predetermined distance from the support 31. Another sleeve 96 is situated between the pinion 81 and the support 38. A sleeve 9'! is situated between the pinion 89 and the support 39, the sleeve 98 is situated between the pinion 9! and the support 40, and the sleeve 99 is situated between the pinion 93 and the support 4|.

However, when the rota- As shown more clearly in Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawings, the shaft 42 carries a pinion I00 which is rotatable along with the shaft. The operating lever 33 comprises an annular portion I0| surrounding the shaft 42. The lever 33 is movable within certain limits with respect to the shaft 42, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A ratchet wheel I02 is carried by the shaft 42 between the support 4| and the annular portion I0! of the lever 33. The wheel I02 is rigidly connected with the shaft 42 and is rotatable along with said shaft. In the example illustrated in Fig. 8, the ratchet wheel I 02 is provided with five teeth I03, I04, I05, I06, and I01.

A pawl I08 is mounted upon a pivot I09 which is carried by the lever 33. The pawl I08 is pressed by a spring IIO carried by the lever 33 against the teeth I 03 to I07 of the ratchet wheel I02.

The pinion I00 meshes with a toothed wheel III which is supported by a bracket II2. As shown in Fig. 7, the toothed wheel III is provided with several angular holes I I3, II4, I15, I I6, and Ill. The wheel III also carries several projecting members H8, H9, I20, I2I, and I22 extending substantially parallel to the axis of r0- tation of the toothed wheel III. The openings M3 to Ill and the projections 8 to I22 are disposed symmetrically upon the wheel III.

A lever I23 is supported intermediate its ends by a pivot I24 carried by the support II2. The end I25 of the lever I23 has the shape of a projection fitting into any one of the openings I I3 to I I? of the wheel III. The opposite end I26 of the lever I23 is in contact with a spring I2'I which is carried by the sup-port I I2 and which presses the end I26 of the lever I23 in a direction away from the support I|2, thereby pressing the end I25 of the lever I23 against the wheel III.

A coin I28 inserted through the slot 34 passes between two pairs of rails or guides I29, L30, and I3I, I32. In the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the projection H9 is situated underneath the guiding rails I3I and I32, so that it supports the coin I28 situated between these rails. As soon as the projection H9 is removed the coin I 28 falls through the slot I33 into the container 35.

'When the end I25 of the lever I23 is situated in one of the openings 3 to H1, it projects into the path of the abutment I34forming a part of the annular portion IOI of the lever 33, thereby preventing an upward movement of the lever 33, as shown in Figs. 2 and '7.

Another ratchet wheel I35 shown in Fig. 2 is rotatable along with the shaft 42 and is mounted upon said shaft close to the bracket 36. A pawl I36 pivotally mounted upon the bracket 36 meshes with the teeth of the wheel I 35 and is pressed against these teeth by a spring not shown in the drawings. These parts prevent rotation of the shaft 42 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7. The driving elements or units carried by shaft 42, are therefore supported for rotation in only one direction, that is, in counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '7.

The device is operated as follows:

When the shifting device is situated in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the end I25 of the lever I23 passes through the opening I|| so that the wheel III is prevented from rotating. The end I25 of the lever I23 is also situated in front of the path of the abutment I34 so that the lever 33 cannot be moved upward far enough to bring the pawl I08 into engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel I02 in order toturn the. shaft. 42. In .this position the device is locked so thatit is; impossible tooperate it. without. first, inserting. a. coin into the slot 34.

A, coinIZB inserted into the slot34 will drop hetweenthe .rails. I29. and I'30.-.and between the rails I31 and. I32. until it strikes against the endI26 which is situated within. the space. between the two. rails I3I and I32. (Fig. 2). Thecoin I29 striking against the end I26 of.:the lever I23 will swing the lever. I23..around.its pivot I.24,.moving the end I26. toward the support H2 and pulling the end. I25 of the leverv I23 out of the opening I II of the wheel II I. This positionisshowninFig. 8 of the drawings. I

Dueto the withdrawal of the end I25 out of the opening. I, the abutment. I34 of the lever 33 is freed so that.the..leve1:.33 can be swun around the shaft 42. Ifthe lever 33 is swung upward the pawl I08 willp ass. over the tooth I! of the ratchet wheel I02. 'Ihenthe spring IIO will press the pawl I08 againstthe inner surface of the tooth I01, thereby establishingan operative connection between the lever 33 and the ratchet wheel I02.

In order to operate the device the player has to pull the lever 33- downward1'y. Since the pawl I08 engages the ratchet wheel I02, this wheel will be rotatedalong with the annular portion. IIII of the lever 33.- As has been mentioned already, the ratchet wheel I02 is firmly connected with the shaft 42 and with the pinion I00, so that a rotation of the ratchet wheel I0 2-by the lever 33 will cause a rotation of the shaft 42 and of the pinion I00.

As. shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, the driving members 55,- 62, 63, 64 and 65, which are slidably mounted upon the shaft 42, are rotatable along with this shaft.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, the leaf springs 5I to SI of the driving members are adapted tocome in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the wheels I3 to II. When the lever 33 is pulled downwardly the shaft 42 performs one-fifth of a complete revolution and in rotating it will rotate along with it the driving members 55 and-62 to 65. One of the leaf springs 51- to 6| of-each of these members will come in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of each of the wheels I3 to II and will impart a rotary movement to these wheels.

Since the wheels I3 to II which are rigidly connected with the wheels 22 to 26, respectively. are freely mounted upon the shaft I9, these wheels will rotate until they are stopped by friction and by the sliding contact between the ends of the levers 86, 88, 90, 92, and 94, andthe pinions 84, 81, 89, 9|, and 93, Due to the provision of these levers the rotation of the wheels 22 to 26 will come to an end-when 'theseends of the levers 85, 8B, 90-, 92,- and 94 are situated between a pair of adjacent teeth of the pinions 84, BI, 89, 9|, and 93.

In the example illustrated in thedrawings, the device comprises five wheels 22 to 26 which are rotated by depressing the lever 33. On many occasions it may be desirable to operate the device in such manner that only some of the wheels 22 to 26 are rotated when the lever 33 is depressed. In accordance with the present invention the shifting levers I1 to 2I are used for the purpose of shifting any desired number of wheels 22-to 26.

In the position shown in Figs. 1 and2, the shifting levers II to H are depressed. In this position the driving members 55 and-62 to 65 are. situated directly underneath their. respective wheels. I3. to. II so that all of said wheels are rotatedrwhenthe lever 33 is depressed. In order to. disengage one of these wheels it is merely necessary. to. movethe corresponding shifting levers. upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3

to. the position shown in Fig. 4 of-thedrawings.

- When, for instance, the. lever I1 is: swung upward'around its pivot 66, the. cam surface 61 of the lever. I-I willmove. along. the conical surface 49ofthe sleeve48, and will push thesleeve 48.1 tothe. right (looking in the direction of Fig. 6) thereby compressingthe spring 43. Since the driving member 55 is in contact with the sleeve 4.8%, thedrivingrnember 55 ..will move along with the sleeve until it isplaced; in such a. position between the, wheel I3 and the support 3T that when. the shaft, 42. is rotated the leaf springs 51 to 64 of-the drivingmember 55 will not'come in contact any more withthe wheel I3. When the. driving member 55- is. situated in this position, (Fig. 4) therotation of theshaft 42 will not cause any rotation of the wheel 22, since the springsS I-to 6| will not comein contact with the. associated wheel I3.

In order. toput the wheel 22 into the play itis merely necessary to move the lever II downwardly from the position shown inFig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 3. When the lever II is moved in this direction the connection between the cam surface 61 andpthe. conical surface!!! is interrupted so that, thespring 43 will push the driving member 55 back into the position shownin Fig. 2, in which position one. ofthe springs 5 to 6| of, the driving member 55 will come .in contact with the wheel I3 andwill cause a rotation of this wheel as soon as the shaft 42 is. rotated.-

Since the .pinion I00; (Figs. '7 and 8) is rotated along with the shaft 42 a rotation of the lever 33;-will also cause a rotation of this pinion, which will drive the toothed wheel II I. As has been mentioned already, each depression of the lever 33 will cause a turning of the-pinion I00 to onefifth of a complete revolution. Since the projection I.I9..supporting the coin I28rotates along with the wheel I I I, the coin I28.wi ll'drop through the. opening I33 into the coin box 35 as soon asthe projection I I9has passed beyond the guiding rails IBI-and I32.

Inthe example illustrated, when the lever 33 has. been fully depressed, in making a play, the end I25; of the lever I23 will be between the openings H6 andIII. On the next play, however, the opening II6 will be in a, position to receivethe end I25;-of the lever I23. Due to the pressure of the spring I2! the end I25 of the lever I23 will pass through the opening IIB and willlock the wheel III. At the same time the end I25 will prevent the lever 33 frombeing swung upwards so that the pawl I38 of the lever 33pwi1l not be able to engage oneof the teeth of the ratchet wheel I08 in order to rotate the shaft 42. The device will be locked again and the 'lnsertion of another coin will be necessary to resume the game. It will therefore be seen, that, depending upon the ratio between the gears I00 and III, two or more plays can be made before it'is necessary to insert another coin.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in my improved construction for a game of chance, there area plurality of members, such as the wheel 22,13 forexample, supported for rotation about the axis of. the shaft I9, and thatthere are drivingunitsassociated respectively ith these members for imparting rotary movement to the same, such as the driving unit 55 for the wheel 22, 13. These units are rotatable about the axis of the shaft 42, which is parallel to the axis-of shaft 19. With reference, for example, to the driving unit 55 for the wheel 22, 13, it is important to note that the elements 51, 58, 59, 60, and BI thereof are of spring material and that each is supported only at one end thereof and is disposed to engage its free end with peripheral surface of the associated wheel part 13. Upon rotary movement of this unit, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the distance between the points of support of these elements and the peripheral surface of the wheel part 13, is less than the length of these elements so that in moving the lever 33 down to make a play the element next in order first engages the wheel surface and is sprung'upon continued counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 42, as viewed in Figs. 3 and'4, and is then released to spin the member or wheel 22, 13 with a relatively quick snap action, at which time the lever 33 will have been moved to its horizontal position as shown in Fig. 1.

The lever 33 constitutes the means common with respect to'the driving units for operating the same, and causes these'to rotate about the axis of the shaft 42 in a step-by-step fashion in the required direction.

What is claimed is:

1. A game apparatus, comprising a plurality of rotatable wheels, a shaft carrying said wheels, another rotatable shaft situated substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, a plurality of driving devices carried by the second-mentioned shaft, each driving device being adapted to actuate a separate wheel, a separate disengaging device for each of said driving'devices, a driving lever rotatably mounted upon the second-'mentioned shaft, and means for establishing an operative connection between said lever and the second-mentioned shaft to rotate the second-mentioned shaft and to actuate said driving devices thereby.

2. A game apparatus, comprising a plurality of rotatable wheels, a shaft carrying said wheels, another rotatable shaft situated substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, a disc slidably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft and rotatable along with it, a member carried by said disc and adapted'to come in contact with one of said wheels to rotate the same when said disc is rotated, means for moving said disc along the second-mentioned shaft to bring said member out of contact with said wheels, a driving lever rotatably mounted upon the secondmentioned shaft, and means for establishing an operative connection between said lever and the second-mentioned shaft to rotate the latter.

3. A game apparatus, comprising a plurality of rotatable wheels, a shaft carrying said wheels, another rotatable shaft situated substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, a plurality of discs slidably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft and rotatable along with it, the number of said discs corresponding to that of said wheels, springs carried by said discs and adapted to come in contact with said wheels to rotate the same when the discs carrying said springs are rotated, means for moving said discs along said shaft to bring said springs out of contact with said wheels, a driving lever rotatably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft, and means for establishing an operative connection between'saidlever and the second-mentioned shaft to rotate the latter.

4. A game apparatusycomprising a plurality of rotatable wheels, a shaft carrying said wheels, another rotatable shaft situated substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, a bracket supporting said shafts, a disc slidably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft and rotatable along with it,"a' leaf spring having one end firmly connected with said disc, the other end of said leaf'spring being adapted to come in contact with one of said wheels to rotate the same when said disc is rotated,. a shifting lever pivotally mounted upon said bracket and having one end adapted to move said disc along the second-mentioned shaft to bring the second-mentioned end of said leaf spring out of contact with said wheels, a driving lever rotatably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft, and means for establishing an operative connection between the second-mentioned lever and the second-mentioned shaft to rotate the latter.

5. A game apparatus, comprising a plurality of rotatable wheels, a shaft carrying said wheels, angother rotatable shaft situated substantially parallel to the first-mentioned shaft, at least two brackets supporting said shafts, a disc slidably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft and rotatable along with it, a leaf spring having one end firmly connected with said disc, the other end of said leaf spring being adapted to come in contact with one of said wheels to rotate the same when said disc is rotated, a shifting lever pivotally mounted upon one of said brackets, intermediate its ends, a coiled spring surrounding a part of the second-mentioned shaft and having one end bearing against another one of said brackets and the other end bearin against said disc, and a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft adjacent to said disc, said lever having a cam surface adapted to come in contact with said sleeve to move said sleeve and said disc along the second-mentioned shaft to bring the secend-mentioned end of said leaf spring out of contact with said wheels, a driving lever rotatably mounted upon the second-mentioned shaft, and means for establishing an operative connection between the second-mentioned lever and the second-mentioned shaft to rotate the latter.

6. In a game of chance, moveable members, means forimparting movement to said members comprising elements of spring material each supported at one end thereof and for movement to engage its free end with a surface of one of said members, the distance between the surfaces of said members and the pointsof support of the respective elements being less than the length of the latter whereby upon continued movement of said elements after engagement of the latter with said surfaces said elements are first sprung and are then released to impart movement to said members with a relatively quick snap action, means for selectively placing said members and the respective associated elements into or out of operative relation with respect to each other, and means common with respect to said elements for operating the same.

, -'7. In a game of chance, members supported for rotation, means for imparting rotary movement to said members comprising rotatable units associated respectively with said members and eachprovidedwith a plurality of elements of spring material each supported only at one end thereof and each disposed to engage its free end with a surface of the respective associated member upon rotary movement of the unit, the distance between the points of support of the elements of any unit and said surface of the respec tive associatedmember being less than the length of said elements whereby upon continued rotary movement of said unit after engagement of any element thereof with such surface the element is first sprung and is then released to spin the member with a relatively quick snap action, means for moving said units selectively in a direction along their axes of rotation to place said units into or out of operative relation with respect tothe respective associated members, and means common with respect to said units for operating the same.

8. In a game of chance, members supported for rotation, means for imparting rotary movement to said members comprising elements of spring material each supported only at one end thereof and for rotary movement to engage its free end with a surface of one of said members, the distance between said surface of said members and the points of support of the respective elements being less than the length of the latter whereby upon continued rotary movement of said elements after engagement of the latter with said surfaces said elements are first sprung and are then released to spin said members with a relatively quick snap action, means for moving said elements selectively in a direction along their axes of rotation to place said elements into or out of operative relation with respect to said members, and means common with respect to said elements for operating the same.

9. In a game of chance, a rotatable member, means for imparting rotary movement to said member and rotatable for such purpose in only one direction about a given axis, and means for causing said first-named means to rotate about said axis in a step-by-step fashion in said direction, said first-named means comprising elements of spring material extending substantially radially outwardly from said axis and having their free ends disposed to engage successively a surface of said member as a consequence of the step-by-step rotation.

10. In a game of chance, a rotatable member, means for imparting rotary movement to said member and supported for such purpose for ro tary movement only in one direction about a given axis, means for imparting rotary movement to said first-named means in a step-by-step fashion in said direction and means for moving said firstnamed means in a direction along said axis into or out of operative association with said member.

THEODORE C. GLASER.

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