US2071600A - Game device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1937. J. F. WELLEKENS GAME DEVICE 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.

INVENTOR. Jay/v fT/VfLLA'A [A J.

% ATTORNEYS gill Feb. 23, 1937. J. F. WELLEKEIQVS- GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937.

' J. F. WELLEKENS GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tllll lalllll I.l||

El h I W INVENTOR. f. fizzz/rf/va wit/og/A/ 5 6- ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1937.

J. F. WELLEKENS 2,071,600

GAME DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 dill 1111111 011 )mroe INVENTOR. Jo/m /-T WELLE/n'A/a 1w TNESS ATTORNEYS Patented eb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in game devices and more particularly it pertains to such devices as are commonly known as of the bagatelle type.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a new and improved game apparatus which combines the element of chance with the element of skill of the players.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved mechanism whereby the total .score of an individual player is at all times visible to the players.

In connection with the present device, it is intended that the score be computed by addition and subtraction of predetermined or arbitrary amounts or values depending upon the play of an individual and it is a further object of the invention to provide a novel mechanism whereby the addition and subtraction as the several plays determine, will be automatically computed.

Other objects of the invention reside in a new and novel combination and arrangement of parts and will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood.

For a further understanding of the invention reference will be had to the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a game apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail longitudinal'sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line '|-1 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 6.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail sectional views showing the manner in which the several circuits are completed by one of the lements of the game, and;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view illustratingthe various circuits employed in the apparatus.

Referring particularly to Figure 1- of the drawings, the game apparatus comprises a housing or casing I2 which has a horizontal partition l3 arranged near its upper end. The partition is cut away to form a playing field and this playing fleld is divided into two sections l4 and Hi. The section I4 is movable and preferably consists of a rotating t/able l6 having a circularly arranged series of openings I! which form traps for a ball or balls rolled over the playing field. The stationary portion l5 of the playing field is provided with a plurality of pins or other suit able baffles for directing the movement of a ball over the playing field; There are a plurality of these pins |8 in the upper portion of the playing field, it being understood that the playing field is inclined, and extending from the zone in which these several pins I8 are positioned there is a plurality of grooves or channels 9 which receive the balls from the upper portion of the playing field and convey them to the movable portion l4 of the playing field and the traps l1 thereof.

As heretofore stated, the portion M of the playing field is movable and by reference to Figure '7 it will be apparent that this portion I4 comprises a dome-like member 20 in which the openings or traps I! are formed. This dome-like member 2|) is carried by a table 2| which has a bearing 22 for supporting the rotating table upon the upper end of a shaft 23 mounted on the bottom wall 24 of the housing l2. This shaft 23 carries a sleeve 25 rigidly connected thereto, and rigidly connected to the sleeve-there is a pulley 26 around which passes a driving element 2'! herein illustrated as a coil spring. This driving element 21 passes around a pulley 28 carried by a shaft 29, which latter is ,mounted in a bracket 30 at one end and in a bearing 3| in the front wall 32 of the housing at the other end. Externally of the housing this shaft is provided with a crank 33- by which it maybe rotated and it will be obvious that upon operation of the crank 33, through the medium of the mechanism just described the table 2| will be rotated. By this construction and arrangement of parts, one of the traps I! may be positioned in line with any one of the channels or grooves l9 to receive a ball therefrom. The tracks I! being of different values, and being movable with respect to the of concentric channels 88. Passages 88 lead through the rotating table 2| and by reference to Figurel'l it will be noted that the anglesoi these passages 88 vary with relation to each other in order that their lower or discharge end will occupy positions in registration with the various concentric channels 88 oi the member 84. For example, in Figure 7, the left hand passa e 88 registers with the channel 38 which is the third innermost channel, while the passage 88 at the right hand end of said figure registers with the outermost channel 88.

Mounted beneath the table 84 there is a distributing device 81 and this distributing device is formed with a plurality of channels 88 which, as best illustrated in Figure 4, lead to a bail receiving compartment or receptacle 48 which is divided by partitions 4| into compartments 42 which register with the channels 88, heretofore mentioned.

From the foregoing it will be apparent then, that as a. ball is received in a trap II it passes through the trap into the corresponding passage 88 and is delivered to the corresponding channel 88 from which it is delivered to the corresponding channel 88 which conveys it to the proper compartment 42 01' the ball receiving compartment or receptacle 48. The several compartments 42 are given values which correspond with the values of the traps so that by merely glancing at the compartment or receptacle 40, the score of any number of balls played may be determined by a simple process of addition and subtraction.

In the present embodiment of the game it is contemplated that certain of the traps will have a plus value and other traps will have a minus value so that, for instance, if the first ball played were received'in a trap having a plus 10 value, the scoring being done in units oi 10, and the second ball played were received in a trap of minus 10 value, simply by glancing into the ball receiving receptacle or compartment 40, it could be ascertained that the score would be zero.

As best illustrated in Figure 1, the values or the several compartments may be designated along the upper or inner edge of the ball receiving compartment or receptacle 40, as indicated at 48 in said Figure 1.

Means is employed to provide a' visual indication of the total score at any time during the play. By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that this means includes a series of calibrations of plus value designated 45, and a series of calibrations of minus value designated 48, and that these calibrations extend in opposite directions from a zero point designated 44.

Movable over these calibrations there is a pointer or indicator 41 which is mounted upon a shaft 48 carried by a partition 48' which extends transversely of the housing I2. The lower end of this pointer 41 is provided with a counter weight 48 which tends normally to hold the pointer '41,; in registration with the zero position and which serves to return the pointer to this position when it is not otherwise held. Mounted on the shaft 48 in such a manner as to drive the pointer 41 there is a gear 80. This gear 88 meshes with a small gear 81 mounted upon a shaft 52, upon which a large gear 83 is also mounted in such a SCOI'B.

pins 84 carried by a rotating member 88, which in turn is driven by a shaft 88 which in turn is operated by a gear 81 meshing with a gear 88, the gear 88 being driven by a suitable spring motor 88. The gear 88 is driven in a counter-, clockwise direction by engagement of pins 80, the pins 88 being carried by a rotating member 8| driven by a shaft 82 through the medium of a gear 88 which meshes with a gear 84 driven by a spring motor 88.

A holding pawl 66 is mounted in yielding engagement with the teeth of the gear 83by means of a spring 81. This pawl, however, will not lock the gear 83 against rotation by either of the spring motors 88 or 65 but, will hold the same against accidental movement.

The members 88 and SI are of similar construction except that they operate in opposite directions and each is controlled by an escapement mechanism which will now be described. The member 88 has a plurality of equi-distantly spaced peripheral projections 68 which are adapted to be engaged by the hooked ends 88 and 18 or. a bell crank lever Ii which is,mounted in one position by means of a spring I2. Extending from the shaft 18 upon which the bell crank II is mounted there is an arm I4 which carries an armature I8 adapted to be attracted by an electromagnet I8.

The member 8i has a plurality of equi-distantly spaced peripheral projections II adapted to be engaged bythe hooked ends I8 and I8 of a bell crank lever 80 which is operated in one direction by means of a coil spring 82. Mounted upon the shaft 88 upon which the bell crank lever 80 is mounted, there is an arm 84 which carries an armature 88 adapted to be attracted by an electromagnet 88. In the normal position of the parts the pointer 41 will occupy the position as shown in Figure 3. It now, the escapement oi the member 88 be released, the pointer will be driven to the left in Figure 3 and indicate a minus If, on the other hand, the escapement of the member 8| be released the pointer will be driven to the right in Figure 3 and indicate a plus score.

The member 88 is released by energization of the electromagnet I6 which draws the armature I8 to the left in Figure 3, disengaging the hook ID with the projection 68, thus permitting the member 88 to rotate to the direction of the arrow under the influence of its spring. It is allowed to rotate, however, but one step since disengagement of the hooked end 10 with a pro- Jection will move the hooked end 88 in the path or another projection which, as long as the magnet I8 is energized, will prevent further rotation of the member 85.

Rotation of the member 8| under the influence of its spring is obtained by energization of the magnet 88 and attraction of the armature to the right in Figure 3 to disengage the hook I8 with a projection 11, and moving the hook I8 into the path of the succeeding projections 11.

Immediately either of the energized electromagnets I6 or 88 is de-energized, the spring I2 or the spring 8i, as the case may be, will engage a projection of its respective member 88 or 8i, to hold these members 58 or 8i against further rotation under the influence of their driving spring.

The magnets I8 and 86 are in electric circuits which are designated diagrammatically in Figure II. In said Figure 11, the source of power is designated 81 and 88. The conductor 81 is connected as at 89 to a conductor 98 which has contacts 9i, 92. 93. 94, 95, and 96. The conductor 88 leads through the electromagnets 86 and by means of a conductor 91 is connected to one terminal of a switch 98. Leading from the other terminal of the switch 98 there is a conductor 99 which has a plurality of contacts I88, IN, and- I82. Leading from the conductor 98 as at I83 there is a conductor I84 which leads through the electro magnet 16, and extending from the elec-- tromagnet 16 there is a conductor I85 which is connected to one terminal I86 of an electric switch, Leading from the other terminal of the electric switch I 86 there is a conductor I81 which has a plurality of contacts I88, I89, and H8. Connected to the conductor 81 as at III there is a conductor II2 which has two contacts H3 and H4. Connected to the conductor I81 as at II5 there is a conductor II6 having a contact II1 closely adjacent the contact H3. and connected to the conductor 99 as at II 8 there is a conductor II9 having a contact I28 closely adjacent the contact 4.

Connected to the conductor 81 as at I2I there is a conductor I22 and this conductor I22 has two contacts I23 and I24. Connected as at I25 to the conductor I81 there is a conductor I26 which has a contact I21 closely adjacent the contact I23. Connected to the conductor 99 as at I28 there is a conductor I29 which has a contact I38 closely adjacent the contact I24. Connected to the conductor 81 as at I3I there is a conductor I32, and this conductor I32 has four contacts I33, I34, I35, and I36. Connected to the conductor I81 as at I31 there is a conductor I38. This conductor I38 has a contact I39 closely adjacent the contact I33 and a contact I48 closely adjacent the contact I34. Connected to the conductor 99 as at MI is a conductor I42 which has a contact I43 closely adjacent the contact I36 and contact I44 closely adjacent the contact I35.

These several contacts are arranged in the channels 39 heretofore mentioned and are adapted to be bridged to complete the circuit in the conductors of which they are a part by the balls as they pass through said channels.

It will be remembered that the channels 39 have difierent values and therefore, the circuits will be so arranged in the channels that the channels of higher values will carry the greater number of contacts, for instance, the contacts H4 and I28; I24 and I38; I36 and I43; and 9| and I88 would all be in one channel so that a ball rolled through said channel would complete first, the circuit of conductors I I2 and I I9, second of conductors I22 and I29, third of conductors I32 and I42, and fourth of conductors 99 and 98. By reference to Figure 11 it will be noted that the circuits are in duplicate. One of these duplicate circuits will operate the electromagnet which will release the mechanism to drive the pointer 41 in the plus direction and the other circuit will 0 be operated to operate the electro magnet to release the operating mechanism to drive the pointer 41 in the minus direction. Thus, if a ball were received in the channel carrying the four sets of contacts above described, there would be a four step operation of the pointer in either the plus or minus direction depending upon the track in which the ball is trapped and the channel to which it is delivered. Assuming that the ball is trapped and delivered to the channel carrying the four sets of contacts and the operating mechanism is released to move the pointer 41 in the plus direction. There would, under these circumstances, be a movement of the pointer 41 to the right in Figure 3 to the calibration 48.-

If now, the next ball played were to be delivered to the channel carrying two sets of contacts on the minus side, the operating mechanism which drives the pointer 41 in the minus direction will be operated to drive the pointer in a counterclock direction or to the left in Figure 3 two steps showing a total score of 40 less 20, or 20. However, by glancing at the ball receiving compartment or receptacle 48 it will be apparent that one ball played gave a score of plus 48 and that the other ball played gave a score of minus 28, and that the total score is, therefore; plus 28.

Thus it will be apparent that means is provided not only to give the total score of plays but also means is providedwhereby the manner-in which the total score was reached may be ascertained. It will be noted that the circuits of the electromagnets 16 and 86 are so arranged that when the circuit to one of said electromagnets is energized, the circuit to the other one will be automatically opened so that the two magnets cannot be simultaneously energized. For example, if a ball completes a circuit at the contactsv H4 and I28, the magnet 86 will be energized through the conductor 99, switch 98, conductor 91 and conductor 88. Energization of the magnet 86 attracts the switch armature 85 and opens the circuit of the electromagnet 16 by an opening of the circuit through the conductors I81, I85, I84 and 88. If, however, a circuit be completed by engagement of a ball with the contacts H3 and H1, the electromagnet 16 will be energized through the conductor I81, switch I 86, conductor I85, conductor I84, conductor 88. Energization of the electromagnet 16 will attract the armature 15, open the switch 18 and open the circuit heretofore described as the circuit of the electromagnet 86.

The machine herein illustrated is of the coin controlled type. Machines of this type are cleared each time they are played by the insertion of a coin in a suitable coin mechanism, which upon operation, releases all of the parts and permits them to return to normal position.

In the present embodiment of the invention, this coin controlled mechanism is conventionally illustrated at I52 and includes a reciprocating member I53 having the ordinary coin receptacle I54. As the member I53 is moved inwardly, it engages a lever I55 which is pivotally mounted as at I56 in a suitable bracket I51. Extending from this lever there is an operating rod I 58 which is connected as at I59 to a crank arm I68 carried by a transversely extending shaft I6I. Through the medium of a crank arm I69 which is carried by the shaft I6I, see Figure 2, a reciprocating member I18 mounted in brackets Ill is moved downwardly against the action of a spring I12. This member I18 has a right angular upper end I13 which engages the end I14 of the holding pawl 66 to disengage it from the tion where they may be elevated to projecting position by a conventional elevating mechanism designated Ill. The reference numeral ill' designates a conventional projecting device by means of which the balls are projected from startinl position to the playing field.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved scoring, computing and totalizing mechanism for games 01 the character set forth, and while the invention has'been herein described in itspreierred form it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the construction herein shown and that it may be practiced in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a game of the class described, an inclined playing field defined by a ball runway, a plurality of baflie elements, means for projecting the ball from the ball runway into engagement with said baii'ie elements, a plurality oi! parallel channels adapted to singly receive the ball from the baiile elements, rotatable means mounted in the playing field, said rotatable means having a plurality of ball receiving traps, and means for rotating said rotatable member, selectively to position any one of the ball receiving traps of the rotatable memher in position to receive a ball from any one oi said store-mentioned channels in which a bail might be present.

'2. In a game of the class described, an inclined playing field defined by a ball runway, a plurality of baiile elements, means for projecting the ball from the ball runway into engagement with said baii'ie elements, a plurality of parallel channels adapted to singly receive the ball from the baiiie elements, rotatable means mounted in the playing field, said rotatable means having a plurality of ball receiving traps, and manually operated means for rotating said rotatable member, selectively to position any one of the ball receiving traps of the rotatable member in position to receive a ball from any one 01' said aiore-mentioned channels in which a ball might be present.

3. In a game of the class described, an inclined playing field defined by a ball runway, a plurality oi. baiiie elements, means for projecting the ball from the bail runway into engagement with said baifie elements, a plurality of parallel channels adapted to singly receive the ball from the bame,

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