US2074009A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

\'Mrh 16,19370. J.WUNNER' 2,074,009

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1936 I A 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR.

BY v

ATTORNEY` AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYSA Patented` Mar. 106, 1937 PATENTv OFFICE 2,074,009 p AMUSEMENT DEVICE John Wunner, South Plainfield, N. J. Application May 2s, 193e, serial No. 82,277

4 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices of the type presenting a plurality of targets at which missiles, such as baseballs, may be directed and whichv are adapted toso function in 5'- conjunction with` suitable signals as to indicate the scoring ofv direct hits.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character mentioned which is relatively simple :in-construction,

' inexpensive to manufacture andcapable, by reason of the peculiar effects which are produced in response to direct hits, of gaining and maintainlng interest on the part of those desiring totest their accuracy of aim or ability toscore direct J hits on the various targets. y

Although the invention may assume many forms, it is herein illustrated as embodied in a device presenting a target iigure shaped to simulate a face with eyes, nose and chin, with which are associated targets, which, when hit by a missile such as a baseball, are adapted toyield under impact and to then exercise such control over their respectively associated indicator means as to give the effect of a black eye in response to a direct hit on either of the eye-targets, the eiTect of a pair of black eyes in response to a direct hit on the nose-target and to present a ag and ring a bell in response to a direct hit on the chintarget. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a front view of a device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan viewof lthe device; Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is'a fragmental, sectional view taken substantially on line` at their lower ends-to thevside frame members 8.,

Disposed at the rear of the panel I0 is a vertical 50 frame member I2, which is connected to the central frame member 1 and securely anchored in a i vertical position by a brace I4, the lower end of which is connected to the frame member 1.

To the front of the panel I0 there is connected 55 a targetgure, which is indicated generally by the numeral I5, and is shaped to simulate a face having eyes, a nose and a chin, with which are respectively associated targets in the form of button-like elements I6, I1 and I8. These button-like elements are connected to the outer ends 5 vr.f

oi a series of push- rods 20, 2l, and 22 and are adapted, when'moved under impact, to engage ring-like rubber cushioning elements 24, which are carried within cup-like recesses 25formed in the eye areas, the nose area and the chin area 10 i of the-face. Normally the push- rods 20, 2l, and 22 are maintained in forwardly extended positions by compression springs 26, the rear ends of which engage the frame member I2 and the forward ends of which engage collar-like elements: 15'Y 2l secured to the respective push-rods at the rear of the front panel I0. From the foregoing it will become apparent that the collars 21 not only serve as abutments against which the springs 26 act, but also as means for limiting the. push-rods in their return movements pursuant to their being moved against the action of the springs incident tothe scoring of a direct hit on any one of the targets, namely, the button-like elements I6, I1, and I8.

The frame member I2 serves in conjunction with the front panel I9 and the target gure I5 as means'for slidably supporting the push- rods 20, 2|, and 22 and also as a support for various elements, entering into and forming parts of cer- 3o, ltain indicator means, hereinafter more particularly described, Which are rendered operative in response toa direct hit on the respective targets I6-I1--l8. At the rear of the frame member I2 there is connected a bearing plate 28, having 35 a pair of rearwardly extending marginal wings 29 to which are 4pivotally connected a pair of substantially U-shaped arms 30 and 3|, to the free ends vof which are suitably connected a pair of indicators in the formof disks 32 and 34 respec- 40 tively. Pivotally connected to the wings 29 are a pair of arm-actuating ngers 35 and 36, on the outer ends of which the arms 30 and 3l normally rest, each of the lingers being formed near its pivot point with a heel-like extension 31. To the wings 29 are pivotally connected a pair of rocker arms 38, the lower ends of which are adapted to cooperate with the heel-like extension 31 and the upper ends of which are adapted to cooperate with the rear ends of each of the pair of pushrods 20. By reason of the relation between the push-rods 28, the rocker arms 38 and the U- shaped arms SI1-3|, it is apparent that a sudden rearward movement of one or the other of the push-rods 20 will cause its associated U- 55 Shaped arm to move from its full line position shown in Fig. 3 to its dotted line position shown therein, Thus, it will be appreciated that if a direct hit is scored with suflicient force of impact on the right eye target I6, the disk 32 will come to rest directly in front of the right eye; Whereas if a direct hit is scored on the left eye target I6, the disk 34 will assume a position directly in front of the left eye. If the target iigure I5 is viewed from a substantial distance in front thereof, the presence of either of the disks 32-34 at the front of the gure will give the illusionary eiect of a black eye, since the disks are themselves black. In order to augment such illusionary effect, the U-shaped arms 30 are sol colored that they, when moved to their dotted line positions (see Fig. l) blend with the background colors of the target iigure I5.

In order that the U-shaped arms 30 and 3| may be simultaneously moved from their full line positions shown in Fig.. 3 to their dotted line positions shown therein in response to a direct hit on the nose target I1, there is provided an elevating arm 40 which is pivotally connected to the wings 29 at a point intermediate the same. The outer end of the elevating arm 4U is provided with a T-piece 4I which is of suicient length to engage both of the arm-actuating ngers 35 and 36. The inner end of the elevating arm 40 is provided with a heel-like extension 42, adapted to cooperate with the lower end of a rock lever 44, which is pivotally connected to the wings 29 intermediate the same, the upper end of the rock lever being adapted to cooperate with the rear end of the push-rod 2|. In view of the relation existing between the push-rod 2|, the rock lever 44, the elevating arm 40 and the pair of arm-actuating fingers 35 and 3S, it will become apparent that, in response to a direct hit on the nose-target I 1, both of the U-shaped arms 30-3I will be moved simultaneously from their full line positions in Fig. 3 to their dotted line positions therein, thus producing the effect of a direct hit resulting in a pair of black eyes.

In order that the U-shaped arms 30 and 3| may be restored to their normal positions, each arm is equipped with a cord 45 or the like, which is anchored intermediate its ends to a springlike linger 46 secured to the upper end of a spring supporting post 41. Each of the cords 45 extends downwardly through a suitable guide 48 and forwardly through an opening 49 provided at the front of the device, it being observed that a suiiicient amount of slack is allowed in the cord intermediate the spring-like iinger 46 and the point at which such cord is connected to its corresponding U-shaped arm SI1-3|, to permit that arm to move unobstructedly from its normal position to 'its dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. From the foregoing it is obvious that the U-shaped arms Sil-3|, or either of them, may be conveniently returned to their normal positions from a remote location with reference to the device, as at the station from which the baseballs or other objects are delivered or impelled toward the target iigure I5.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the brace I4 is provided intermediate its ends with a slot S, adapted for the reception of a flagstaii socket 50, which is pivotally connected to the brace as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 and is provided at one end with a weight 5|, adapted to move the flagstafi socket from its full line position shown in Fig. 3 to its dotted line position shown therein. Carried by the socket 50 is a flagstaff 52 with which is associated a iiag 54, the flagstaff and flag being adapted to move from a substantially horizontal position generally at the rear of the device to a vertical position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In order that the socket 5U and its associated ilagstaff 52 and iiag 513 may be retained in normal positions subject to release in response to a direct hit on the chin-target I8, there is provided a latch 55 which is pivotally connected to the wings 29 at a point intermediate the same. The latch 55 is normally maintained in its retaining position, shown in Fig. 3, by a compression spring 56, the opposite ends of which are coniined within sockets 51 and 58 formed respectively in the latch and the frame member I2. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the upper end of the latch 55 is disposed in a cooperative relation to the push-rod 22, so that movement or that rod in response to a direct hit on the chintarget I8 will cause the latch to move from its position shown in Fig. 3 to a position of release, whereupon the ilagstaff socket 50 is permitted to move under the action of the weight 5I in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, thus allowing the ag 54 to be viewed from a position generally in front of the device.v

A direct hit on the chin-target I8 results, not only in presentation of the ilag 5ft, but also in the giving of an audible signal, as through the medium of an electric bell generally indicated by the numeral Ill. The circuit closer for the bell includes a pair of contact strips 6 I, carried by the brace I4 adjacent the slot S thereof and adapted to be electrically connected with each other by a contact element 62 (secured to the flagstai socketk 55) upon movement of that socket from its full line position in Fig. 3 to its dotted line position indicated therein. Conveniently located generally at the rear of the panel I8 is an electric battery B, the cells G4 of which are connected in series and the terminals 65l and 66 of which are connected, respectively, by conductors 61 and E8 to one of the bell terminals 1Q and one of the contact strips 6 I, the other contact stripbeing connected by a conductor 'II to the other bell terminal 12.

In order that the iiagstai socket 50, the flagstaff 52 and the flag 54 may be returned from their dotted line positions shown in Fig. 3 to their normal positions, the :Flagstaff 52 is equipped with a cord 14, or the like, which passes downwardly through a suitable guide 15 and outwardly through an opening 16 provided at the front of the device, it being understood that the cord 14 may be of a length corresponding to the length of the cords 45 so as to enable all of the indicator units of the apparatus to be reset from a given location in iront of and remote to the apparatus.

Although only one form of the invention is herein shown and described, itwill be understood that various modifications maybe vresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An amusement device comprising a target gure, a pair of movable targets associated with said iigure and adapted to be moved under a force of impact delivered thereto, direct hitl indicating means comprising a pair of indicator-carrying arms pivotally supported at the rear of said ligure, a pair of arm-actuating fingers pivotally supported independently of each other and of said arms at the rear of said figure and adapted respectively to be moved in response to a force of impact delivered to said targets and to in turn Vswing said indicator-carrying arms respectively from their normal positions of rest at the rear of said ligure toward the front thereof, a third movable target associated with said figure and adapted to be moved under a force of impact delivered thereto and an elevating arm pivotally supported independently of said indicator-carrying arms and said iingers at the rear of said ligure and adapted to be moved in response to a force of impact delivered to said third target and to in turn simultaneously swing said indicator-carrying arms from their normal positions of rest at the rear of said ligure toward the front thereof.

2. An amusement device comprising a target figure, a pair of movable targets associated with said ligure and adapted to be moved under a force of impact delivered thereto, direct hit indicating means comprising a pair of indicatorcarrying arms pivotally supported at theV rear of said ligure, a pair of arm-actuating lingers pivotally supported independently of each other and of said arms at the rear of said ligure and adapted respectively to be moved in response to a force of impact delivered to said targets and to in turn swing said indicator-carrying arms respectively from their normal positions of rest at f the rear of said ligure toward the front thereof, a

third movable target associated with said ligure and adapted to be moved under a force of impact delivered thereto, an elevating arm pivotally supported independently of said indicator-carrying arms and said lingers at the rear of said ligure and adapted to be moved in response to a force of impact delivered to said third target and to in turn simultaneously swing said indicator-carrying arms from their normal positions of rest at the rear of said figure toward the front thereof and an indicator carried by each of said indicatorcarrying arms and adapted to be moved generally forwardly with them from an obscure position at the rear of said iigureltoward the front thereof.

3. An amusement device comprising a target ligure, a movable target exposed at the front of said ligure and adapted to be moved under a force of impact delivered thereto, and direct hit indicating means comprising a substantially U- shaped indicator-carrying arm pivotally Isupported at the rear of said ligure with its leg portions normally extending upwardly, the length of the leg portions of said U-shaped indicatorcarrying arm as well as the base portion thereof being such that said indicator-carrying arm when moved upwardly and forwardly about its point of pivotal support is adapted to straddle said ligure, and an arm-actuating linger pivotally supported independently of said indicator-carrying arm at the rear of said ligure and adapted to be moved in response to a force of impact delivered to said target and to in turn swing said indicator-carrying arm from a normal position of rest at the rear of said figure into a straddling relation to said ligure.

4. An amusement device comprising a target ligure, a movable target exposed at the front of said gure and adapted to be moved under a force of impact delivered thereto, and direct hit indicating means comprising a substantially U- shaped indicator-carrying arm pivotally supported at the rear of said ligure with its leg portions normally extending upwardly, the length of the leg portions of said U-shaped indicatorcarrying arm as well as the base portion thereof being such that said indicator-carrying arm when moved upwardly and forwardly about its point of pivotal support is adapted to straddle said ligure,

an arm-actuating linger pivotally supported independently of said indicator-carrying arm at the rear of said figure and adapted to be moved in response to a force of impact delivered to said target and to in turn swing said indicator-carry ing arm from a normal position of rest at the rear of said ligure into a straddling relation to said ligure, and an indicator carried by one of the legs of said indicator-carrying arm and adapted to move therewith from an obscure position at the rear of said figure to a position in front of said target as said indicator-carrying arm assumes a straddling position with relation to said ligure.

JOHN WUNNER.

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