US2093522A - Racing game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1937. A, KEN-H 2,093,522

RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 1 AELE/ L. liE/TH sept. 2 1, 1937. ALKITH l 2,093,522-

RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed My 27, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 21, 19257.y A L KEn-H I 2,093,522

RACNG GAME APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Syvum/Kolo ARLEY L. KE/TH Sept.A 21, 1937.

A. L. KEITH RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed May 2v, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A RY/.EY L. /fE/TH sept.' 21, 1937. A. l.. KEITH 2,093,522

. v RACING GAME APPARATUS Y 'i Filed May 27, 1935 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 21, `1937 l UNITED STATES PATENT F-FIE RACING GAME APPARATUS Arley L. Keith, Washingtom'D. C.

Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,750

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in game apparatusgenerally, but more particularlyof that type wherein racing figures are employed.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a race course, and a plurality of racing figures, preferably horses, which are positively moved alongthe course, and wherein the relative positions of the figures during the race may be controlled by the skill of the players.

Another object of the invention is to provide a racing game apparatus of the character described which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and highly amusing in its operation to both young and old players. v

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the` accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a racing game apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is an` enlarged vertical section `taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4--4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation showing the operating connection between one of the carriage rails and the associated racing figure support, v

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a `horizontal section taken on the line 'l-l of Figure 2, i

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken'on the line 8-8 of Figure 2,

Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing one of the racing figures, the carriage on which the iigure is automatically movable rearwardly, one of the hurdles for the figure, `and the manually operable means for rendering the automatic means ineffective,

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken on the line I ll-I Il of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view showing the mounting of one of the racing gures, and

Figure 12 is a detail view showing the adjusttaken able tension for the manually operable control wire.

Like reference numerals designate correspondconcentric or endless slots or tracks 8, 9, I0 and j II, forming resultant ring portions I2, I3, I4 and I5 which are supported in the' planerof Vthe iioor by a plurality of arch units I6, Il andl having their legs connected to the floor proper and to `said ring portions. The floor is centrally supported, las shown in Figure 2, by means of a post I9 having a base flange 23 mountedon the base 5, the upper end of the post passing through an opening in the floor and being clamped to the iioor by screws 2l", 2|.l

A relatively large worm wheell 22 is provided with a rigidly connected hub 23V whichextends above and below the wheel and is `journaled on the vertical post or bearing I9.

'A carriage B is supported below the slots 8 to Il of the floor to rotate continuously, as distinguished from intermittently. This carriage is sector-shaped and includes front and rear radial channel bars 24, 25 arranged at a suitable angle, and a plurality of concentric track rails 26, 2, 28 and 29 which are` rigidly connected to said bars, the inner ends of the bars being di-` rectly connected to the hub 23, and the outer ends thereof having rollers journaled thereon and engaging an endless'bearing 3l mounted on the wall 6 of the supporting structure A. The track rails are disposed directly under and register withthe slots 8 to `II` in the floor. An electric motor 32 ismounted on the base 5 and rotates a worm. 33 which is in mesh with the worm wheel 22. Thus, when the motor is. running, the carriage B will be continuously rotated in the direction indicated by thearrow in Figures 1 and 7.

The motor is controlled by a switch 34 inl the power circuit (not shown); The switch is -closed by manual means such as a coin controlled plunger 35 which extends inwardly through the wall 6, and is automatically opened upon the completion of a predetermined number of revolutions of the carriage 'B. The switch 34, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is of the pivoted type and is mounted in a block 36 secured to the base 5. The switch includes an upwardly extending radial arm 3l which operates between two laterally eX- tending pins 38, 39 xed to an actuator barllll` arranged in alinement with the plunger and slidably mounted for radial movements in bearing openings formed in spaced posts 4l, 42 mounted on the block 36. A star wheel 43 is journaled to rotate about a vertical bearing pin 44 mounted in the block 36, and as illustrated, the wheel is provided with eight teeth. This wheel is disposed below the inner end of the actuator bar 40, and integral with and projecting upwardly from one of the teeth of said wheel is a cam 45 adapted to engage a roller 46 journaled on the inner end of said bar 49 upon each complete rotation of said star wheel and thereby move the actuator bar outwardly to open the switch 34 and thereby stop the carriage B from rotating. A pin 4l depending from the worm wheel 22 is moved by said wheel to successively engage the teeth of the star wheel 43. Thus the pin 4l rotates simultaneously with the carriage B, and immediately following the eighth complete rotation of the carriage the cam 45 will move the actuator bar 49 outwardly to open the switch. In order to retain the actuator bar in either of its extreme positions of movement, I have provided the post 42 with a spring pawl 48 which engages alternately in seats 49, 59 formed in said bar.

It is desirable to start and stop the carriage at the same point along its path of travel and for this purpose I have provided a means which functions immediately following the opening of the switch 34 to lock the carriage against travel, until the lock is released upon closing of the switch. To this end, the upper edge of the switch actuator bar is provided with a cam 5l which extends through the post 42. A vertically movable locking rod 52 is mounted in the post above the cam 5I and is provided on its lower end with a cam-engaging head 53. A coil spring 54 located within the post bears against said head to maintain the latter in yieldable engagement with the cam. Secured to and depending from the front channel bar 24 of the carriage is a spring keeper 55 which is adapted to be engaged by the upper end of the locking rod 52, as shown in Figure 8, when said rod is moved upwardly by the cam 5l. The receiving end of the keeper 55 is provided with a downwardly inclined spring finger 55 and the other end with a spaced depending stop finger 56. Thus, when the switch actuator rod 48 is moved outwardly by the cam on the star wheel 43 to open the switch 35, the cam 5| will elevate the locking rod 52 and the upper end thereof will slide past the spring z finger of the keeper 55 and will be retained in the space between said finger 55 and the stop 56, thereby retaining the carriage B agains movement in either direction.

Respectively mounted for sliding movements along the rails 26, 2l, 28 and 29 of the carriage B are racing figures C, D, E, and F such as horses or the like. Each figure is mounted on a horizontal pivot 5l located at the upper end of a sleeve 58 which is slidably mounted on the upper end of a post 59 above the iioor l. A spring 60 is disposed between the sleeve 58 and post 59 and functions to yieldingly retain the figure against upward movement. The post 59 is rigidly connected to the upper end of a flat guide shoe 6| which in turn is rigidly connected to and projects upwardly from a saddle 62 having inner and outer legs 63, 64, the upper end of the guide shoe 6I riding in the associated slot B, 9, I9 or Il and serving to thereby stabilize or retain the saddle 62 in a vertical plane. It will thus be seen that each figure is supported by the associated saddle 62 for movements with the latter along the associated rail, and that the figure is supported above the door I for tilting movements about a horizontal axis and for bodily vertical movements. It will also be observed that the saddle 62 and consequently the associated iigures are mounted on the carriage B for independent line movements relative to the carriage, or, in other words, the figures are not only bodily movable along the race course by reason of their being supported on the traveling carriage B but said figures are also capable of being moved either forwardly or backwardly with respect to said carriage, the extent of backward and forward movements of the figures being determined by the distance between the radial channel bars 24 and 25 of the carriage.

Associated with the arch units i6, ll and I8 are hurdles 65, 66 and 6l respectively, there being four of these hurdles associated with each arch unit and respectively disposed in close proximity to the slots 8, 9, I0 and l of the iioor l. Each racing figure carries front and rear rollers 68 and 69 which are adapted to contact the associated hurdle and thereby cause said racing iigure to swing about the horizontal pivot 5l and also to be elevated by the hurdle due to the extensible support which consists of the sleeve 58 and post 59. It will be observed in this connection that the spring 66 will maintain the rollers in engagement with the hurdle while passing over the latter.

Separate means for the respective racing figures are provided for automatically moving the racing figures rearwardly along the carriage B during the forward travel of the latter whereby at the end of a predetermined number of revolutions of said carriage all of said racing figures will be moved equally and intermittently from their normal starting positions at the front of the carriage to the extreme rear end of the latter. Separate manually operable means are provided for rendering ineffective said separate automatic means during the movementof said carriage whereby the ultimate positions of the racing figures at the end of the carriage movement will be determined solely by the skill of the players. For these purposes, I have provided the underside of each rail of the carriage B with a rack lil. A gear wheel 'll is located between the legs` 63, 64 of each saddle 52 and is fixed to a horizontal shaft 'l2 journaled in said legs. On the inner end of each shaft l2 is fixed a ratchet wheel 'i3 having ratchet teeth 14. The gear wheel H is formed on its inner face with a concentric recess and mounted in this recess is a coil spring 16, the inner end of the spring being fixed to the shaft 'l2 as at TI and the outer end of said spring being fixed to a stud 'Z8 fixed to the inner leg 63 of the saddle 52. Supported on the base 5 of the frame in advance of the hurdles 65, 66 and 6l are three horizontal shafts 19, and 8l, and journaled on each of these shafts is a plurality of holding pawls 82, 83, 84, and which are respectively arranged in the paths of movements of the ratchet wheels 13, the shafts 19, 89 and 8l being located in a horizontal plane below said ratchet wheels. Each of these holding pawls is of Y-shaped construction and includes upwardly extending and spaced apart front and rear stop arms 8B and 8l and a depending actuating arm 8S. The upper end of the stop arm 86 is disposed above the stop arm 81 and is normally disposed in a horizontal plane Cil t at

30 y i to the base 5.

`is threaded and is engaged by a take-up nut |9| i ative to the carriage.

fwhich" intersects the bottom of the associated ratchetv wheel 13. Theother arm 81 is normally `disposed 1in a horizontal plane disposed below ,wheel 13. Each back dog includes an upwardly extending tail 9| anda spring 92 is interposed between the tail and the guide shoe 6| so.as to normally and yieldably retain the dog in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Each back dog 89 isprovided with a rearwardly and downwardly extending release arm 93, the lower end 9 8 thereof being `disposed in a plane above arefalso disposed `in vertical planes located in- ,wardly of the respective pawls so as to clear the latterigduring `travelof the carriage. It will be .observed that there is a set of three pawlsassoelated with each racing figure, said three pawls being respectively mounted on the shafts 19, 89 and 8|, The threepawls of each set are `connected in series by a Bowden wire- 95, said wire being connected tothe lever arms 88 of the pawls clips `91. The inner ends. of these wires 95 are i attached to tension rods 98 which extend through openings 99 in a transverse bracket |99 attached The outer end of each rod 98 andl disposed between the bracket |99 and said nut is` a `coil spring |92. The outer or free ends of theBowden wires 95 extend outwardly through spaced openings in thefwall 6 of the frame and are respectively-connected to manually operable hand levers |93 which are` pivotally connected as at |94 to brackets |95 attached to the outer face `of the l.wall 8 of the frame. The hand levers |98 are located in spaced relation so `asto permit a plurality of playersto operate said levers without ward end ofthe carriage, The coin controlled plunger 35 is then actuated and the carriage will @be rotated as previously described. After the carriage has been rotated a predetermined number of revolutions, the carriage will be automaticallybrought to a state of rest as previously described.` v`During the rotation of the carriage a toothof each ratchet wheel 13` will engage the stop arm 89 ofthe associated pawl and thereby cause the ratchet to be rotated one step by reason of the carriage moving forwardly. This step rotation of the ratchet will be imparted to the associated gear wheel 1l and as a result the associated figure will `be moved rearwardly rel- This rotation ofthe gear wheel imparts a winding motion to the associated coil spring 1,6 and the back dog 89 functions-to hldthe ratchet wheel against a reverse rotation.

`the other two 'pawlsv vof the set. `sotimed that the racing figures will all bemoved The carriage then continues its rotation and additionalrearward steps areimparted to the racing figure each time the ratchet wheel engages The partsv are ulate the Bowden Wires 95 so as to `oscillate the associated stoppawls and thereby endeavor vto preventl said pawls from contacting the ratchet wheels. Consequently the racing figure of a player who employs the greatest' skill will win the race because his racing figure will not be moved rearwardly relative to the carriage as far asthe vother racing figures. By employing the second stop arm 81 on each pawl, it will be apparent that considerable skill will `be` required by a player to avoid either one or both arms 86, 81 from being contacted by the ratchet wheel.

With the pawl 88 in itsnormal position, the ratchet wheel 13 will clear the stop arm 81 and contactthe stop 86, causing the associated racing figure to be moved backward one step. However, ifythepawl 88 is manually operated by the player before theratchet wheel 13 has passed the stop arm 81, the wheel will contact the stop arm 81 and cause the associated racing gure to be moved rearwardly one step. If the player' isV skillful enough to effect this movement im- `mediately following the passage of the ratchet wheel 13 over the stop arm 81, the ratchet wheel 13 will not Contact either"Y stop' arm 81 or 89, thus allowing the associated racing figure to pass the pawl without any backward movement being impartedV thereto. However, if the player should hold the pawl 88 in such a position asto leave the upper-endsof the stop arms 81 and 89 in a horizontal plane, the ratchet wheel 131will contact both stopl arms 81 and 86 and thereby effect two backward movements of the associated racing rlgure of one step each. It will be apparent that the players will be assistedin the time for manipulating the Bowden wires by reason of the pawls being located immediately in front of the hurdles, and that the player who succeedsl in rendering ineffective his `holding pawl for the greatest number of times will become the winner because his racing figure will be moved rearwardly along the carriage for the least amount.

During the backward movements of the racing figures, the coil springs 19 will be wound and thereby tensioned for an amountcsuflicient to return said gures to the forward end of the carriage upon withdrawal of the bac-k dogs 89 fro-m the associated ratchet wheels. For this return of the racing animalsI to the forward end of the carriage at the conclusion of a race, I have provided manually operable means associted with the release armsy 93 of said back dogs 89. 'I'his release means, asV shown in Figure 4, comprises a horizontally disposed plate |96 which is located directly below said arms 93 and directly under the carriage when the Alatter is in a state of rest. Rigidly connected to the plate |99 and depending therefrom is a plurality of tubular legs |91 which normally rest onlthe base of the casing. The: plate |99 is adapted to be moved vertically into engagement with the lower ends 94 of the release arms 93. The plate is guided in its upward movement by means of upwardly extending posts |98 which are rigidly secured to the base 5 and projectk into the tubular legs |91. In ord-er to elevate" the plate |99, I have provided acamlever |99 "which is pivoted intermediate its ends as at ||9 on a bracket attached to the base 5. This lever |99 is actuated by a thrust rod' ||2 which `extends rearwardly through the wall 8 of thefframe and is provided with a rlngerpiece ||3 at its outer end. The thrust rod ||2 passes through an opening in a bracket ||4 xed to the base 5 and a coil spring l5 is disposed around the rod between the bracket] I4 and a stoppin U9 attached to said rod. The spring 5 functions to yieldably .urge the rod ||2 outwardly so as to normally maintain the plate |06 in its lower position.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that whenever it is desired to release the back dogs 89 and restore the racing figures to their normal positions at the forward end of the carriage, the operator engages the fingerpiece I3 and pushes the thrust rod ||2 inwardly against the tension of the spring l5, thereby swinging the cam |09 and raising the plate |06 into engagement with the lower ends Sli of the release arm 93 of said back dogs.

Should another race be started without first restoring the racing figures to their initial starting positions at the front end of the carriage, it is possible that one or more of said figures will be at the rear end of the carriage. Therefore, if the carriage should be set in motion, the rearmost racing figure would be automatically moved rearwardly by the pawl and ratchet means and cause the figure to abut the rear radial channel bar 25 of the carriage and thereby jam or break the mechanism. I have therefore provided an automatic means for avoiding this objection. This means comprises posts fixed to the rear end of the carriage, there being one post for each figure. Each postis in position to be engaged by an arm ||8 which extends laterally from the upper end of the tail 9| of the associated back dog 89 and thereby release theV ratchet wheel 'i3 and gear 'il whereby the figure will be moved one step forwardly. Thus the figure will be intermittently moved forwardly and backwardly during the travel of the carriage and the danger of breaking the mechanism will be avoided.

-From the foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a carriage which is movable along a predetermined line; that means are provided for moving said carriage forwardly along said line; that a plurality of racing figures are mounted on said carriage for independent line movements relative thereto; that separate means are provided for respectively controlling the line positions of the racing figures on the carriage during the forward mo-vement of the latter; that said separate means includes means for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of the figures along the carriage and separate manually operable means for rendering ineffective said separate means during the carriage movement; that means are provided for automatically stopping the forward movement of the carriage at a predetermined point in the line of travel; that means are provided for effecting a return of all the figures on the carriage to their forward or initial positions, and that means are providedfor preventing said figures engaging the rear end of the carriage during forward travel of the latter should the operator fail to restore the figures to their initial starting positions prior to the beginning of a race.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed'and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

. I claim:

l 1. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a supporting element, of a carriage element movable along a predetermined line on said supporting element, means for moving said carriage element forwardly along said line, a plurality of racing figures mounted on said carriage element for independent line movements relative to the carriage element, separate means mounted on said elements for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of said figures along the carriage element during the forward movement of the latter, and separate manually operable means mounted on one of said elements for rendering ineffective said separate means during said carriage element movement.

2. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a supporting element, of a carriage element movable along a predetermined line on said supporting element, means for moving said carriage element forwardly along said line, a plurality of racing figures mounted on said carriage element for independent line movements relative to the carriage element, said figures being initially located abreast at the forward end of the carriage element, separate means mounted on said elements for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of said figures along said carriage element during the forward movement of the latter, means mounted on the supporting element for automatically stopping the forward movement of the carriage element at a predetermined point in said line, and separate means mounted on said elements and respectively connected to said figures and operable subsequent to the stopping of the carriage element for returning said figures to their initial abreast positions on the carriage element.

3. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a supporting element, of a carriage element movable along a predetermined line on said supporting element, means for moving said carriage element forwardly along said line, a plurality of racing figures mounted on said carriage element for independent line movements relative to the carriage element, said figures being initially located abreast at the forward end of the carriage element, separate means mounted on said elements for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of said figures along said carriage element during the forward movement of the latter, separate manually operable means mounted on one of said elements for rendering ineffective said separate control means during said carriage element movement, means mounted on the supporting element for automatically stopping the forward movement of the carriage element at a predetermined point in said line, and separate means respectively connected to said figures and operable subsequent to the stopping of the carriage element for returning said figures to their initial abreast positions on the carriage element.

4. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a supporting element, of a carriage element movabie along a predetermined line on said supporting element, means for moving said carriage element forwardly along said line, a plurality of racing figures mounted on said carriage element for independent line movements relative to the carriage element, said figures being initially located abreast at the forward end of the carriage element, separate means mounted on said elements for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of said figures along said carriage element during the forward movement of the latter, means mounted on the supporting element for automatically stopping the forward movement of the carriage element at a predetermined point in said line, separate means mounted on said elements and respectively connected to said figures and operable subsequent to the stopping of the carriage relement for returning said figures to their initial abreast and release `means inounted on they supporting element and common to `all of said retaining means.4 'y i l 5.1 In af racing game apparatus; the combination with a supporting element, of a carriage element movable alonga predetermined line on said 10 supporting element, said carriage element including a plurality of parallel rails extending longi-l tudinally in the direction of Vtravel of said carriage element, meansafor moving said carriage element forwardly along said line, a plurality 175s of'zracing gures respectively mounted on said carriage element rails for independentline movements, :separate means mounted on said elements for automatically and intermittently effecting `rearward movementsof said figures along said` `30 moving said carriage forwardly along said line,

said rails being respectively provided with rack teeth extending longitudinally therealong, a sad- `dle mounted on each rail fo-r longitudinal movements relative thereto, a racing ligure mounted 35 on each saddle, said figures being initially located abreast at the forward end of the carriage, a gear wheel journaled on each saddle and engageable with the associated rack teeth, a ratchet wheel mounted to rotate with each gear wheel, a pawl 40 pivoted on a fixed axis and normally engage-able by a tooth of the ratchet wheel during movement of the carriage to eiiect a backward movement of the racing figure relative to the associated rail, and separate manually operable 45 means respectively connected to said pawls for rendering the latter ineffective during movement of the carriage.

7. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a carriage movable along a predeter'- 50 mined-line, said carriage including a plurality of parallel rails extending longitudinally in the drection of travel of said carriage, of means for moving said carriage forwardly along said line, said rails being respectively provided with rack 55 teeth extending longitudinally therealong, a saddle mounted on each rail for longitudinal movements relative thereto, a racing gure mounted on each saddle, said figures being initially located abreast at the forward end of the carriage, a gear 60 wheel journaled on each saddle and engageable with the associated rack teeth, a ratchet wheel mounted to rotate with each gear wheel, a pawl `pivoted on a fixed axis and normally engageable by a tooth of the ratchet wheel during movement 65 of the carriage to effect a backward movement of the racing figure relative to the associated rail, a coil spring associated with each gear wheel and arranged to be tensioned during said backward movement of the racing figure, a back dog co- 70 operating with the ratchet wheel to normally retain the spring under said tension, separate manually operable means respectively connected to said pawls for rendering the latter ineffective during movement of the carriage, means for 75 automatically stopping the carriage at a predetermined point inA said line, and meansoperable subsequent to the stopping of the carriage for releasing all of said back dogs whereby the stored tensions of the springs will rotate the gear wheels and thereby return the-racing gures to their initial abreast positions on the carriage.

8.`In a racing game apparatus, the combination withabase, of a floor disposed above the base and having aplurality of spaced parallel slots,a hurdle located above and connected to the floor and positioned in operative relation to each slot,`1

a `carriage mounted on the base for movement along and below said slots, means for moving Said carriage, a plurality of posts mounted on the carriage and Vprojecting upwardly through said slots, racing figures mounted on said posts for vertical and pivotal movements relatively thereto whereby said ngures will engage and travel over said hurdles, said posts being supportedon the carriage for independent movements relative to the carriage and along the `lines of the slots, separate means mounted on the carriage and base and located between the base and the floor for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of said figures along the carriage during the forward movement of the latter, and separate manually operable means mounted on said base for rendering ineffective said separate means during said carriage movement.

9. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a casing including a plurality of endless tracks, of a carriage movable thereunder and supported in said casing, a plurality of racing gures independently mounted on the carriage for movements longitudinally thereof, an electric motor supported in the casing for moving said carriage along said tracks, a normally open switch located within and supported by the casing for controlling said motor, a push rod supported by the casing and operable externally thereof for closing said switch, a worm wheel located within and supported by the casing below the tracks and disposed concentrically of said tracks, said wheel being mounted on a vertical axis, a worm supported by the casing and operated by the motor for driving the worm wheel, a star wheel supported by and journaled within the casing and having a cam thereon, and a pin carried by the worm wheel for intermittently engaging and rotating the star wheel to thereby move the cam into engagement with the push rod and effect an opening of the switch.

l0. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a casing including a base, a surrounding wall, and a floor disposed above the base, said floor being provided with a plurality of endless tracks, of a carriage located below the floor and under the tracks and supported by the casing, means supported by the casing for moving the carriage along the tracks, a plurality of racing figures mounted on the carriage for independent movements longitudinally thereof, separate means located withinthe casing and below the floor and supported by the carriage and the casing for automaticallyand intermittently effecting rearward movements of the figures along the carriage, and separate means mounted on the carriage and located therein below the floor for rendering ineffective said separate automatic means during the carriagemovement and manually operable exteriorly of said casing.

v1l. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a casing including a base, a surrounding wall, and a floor disposed above the base, said floor being provided with a plurality of endless tracks, of a Carriage located below the floor and under the tracks, an electric motor located on said floor for moving the carriage along the tracks and supported by the casing, a normally open switch located within and supported by the casing below the floor for controlling said motor, means mounted on the casing and operable exteriorly thereof for closing the switch, a plurality of racing figures mounted on the carriage for independent movements 1ongitudinally thereof, separate means located within the casing and below the floor and supported by the carriage and the casing for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of the gures along the carriage, separate means mounted on the casing and located therein below the floor for rendering ineffective said separate automatic means during the carriage movement and manually operable exteriorly of said casing,

20 and means supported on the casing and operable by the motor for automatically opening the switch upon travel of the carriage for a predetermined distance.

12. In a racing game apparatus, the combina- 25 tion with a support, of a carriage movable along a predetermined line on said support, means mounted on the support for moving said carriage forwardly along said line, a plurality of racing figures mounted on said carriage for independent line movements relative to the carriage, separate means mounted on the support and carriage for automatically and intermittently effecting rearward movements of said figures along the carriage during the forward movement of the latter, separate manually operable means mounted on the support for rendering ineffective said separate means during said carriage movement, and means mounted on` the carriage for automatically reciprocating the racing gures on the carriage when said figures are at the rear end thereof.

13. In a racing game apparatus, the combination with a supporting element, of a carriage element movable along a predetermined line on said supporting element, means for moving said carriage element forwardly along said line, a plurality of racing figures mounted on said carriage element for independent line movements relative to the carriage element, separate means mounted on said elements for automatically and intermittently effecting movements of said gures along the carriage element during the forward movement of the latter, and manually operable means mounted on one of said elements for rendering ineffective said separate means during said carriage element movement.

ARLEY L. KEITH.

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