US2104740A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

C. F. EVANS GAME APPARATUS Jan. 11, 1938.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1957 I llllll INSQJLATmN & 6 M4 INVENTOR. 30/ 6}: ba f/90 K5147 45- flz C. F, EVANS GAME} APPARATUS Jan. 11, 1938.

Filed Jan. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. F. EVANS GAME APPARATUS Jan. 11, 1938.

Filed Jan. 23, 1937' 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w 0 67 3 5 5V 6 \IAG A I: I,/ 9 I 45 62 a 5 6 47 0 2 in 7 6 95 v\ o 66 M V l INVENTOR. /T EV/V/ J C. F. EVANS GAME APPARATUS Jan. 11, 1938.

Filed Jan. 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 [Egg Jan. 11,- 1938.

c. F. EVANS 2,104,749

GAME APPARATUS v Filed Jan. 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Qaq vwa f 5 147/145" Patented Jan. 11, 1938 4 UNITED STATES GAMCE APPARATUS Clifford F. Evans, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Gordon Novelty Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 23, 1937, Serial No. 122,000

20 Claims.

My invention relates to a game apparatus and has for its principal object the provision of a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive apparatus that will afford amusement, entertainmentand an interesting pastime for the players,

and the playing of which game requires skill of the players in order to manipulate certain elements, in an endeavor to increase the individual scores.

A further object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus that is practically automatic in all of its functions and the various moving parts of the game being electrically operated and controlled by the insertion of disc-like playing pieces into the machine, .and the various operations following one another in proper sequence; further, to provide a game apparatus having a bowl with superimposed discs mounted for rotation therein, the upper one of said discs being provided adjacent its edge with apertures for the reception of a spherical playing piece that is projected into the bowl above the uppermost disc by electrically actuated means, and, further to provide a game apparatus of the character referred to having a small electric motor arranged to impart rotary motion to one of the discs and the operation of which motor is under control of the inserted playing piece.

Further objects of my invention are to provide simple and efficient means in a game apparatus of the character referred to for causing the ball, after it has passed below the rotating discs, to move and be moved to a point where it is projected or snapped into the bowl by electrically operated means, and, further, to provide a game apparatus with electrically operated means controlled by the position of the ball as it drops through certain of the apertures in the upper disc within the bowl for causing playing pieces, preferably discs or tokens, to be delivered to the player with the object in view of increasing the individual score of the player.

Further objects of my invention are to provide in a game apparatus of the character referred to, mechanical means for counting the number of movements of the means utilized for inserting tokens into the machine, and also means for counting the number of operations of the means that delivers an extra number of tokens to the player during the play of the game.

A further object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus having automatic means for delivering to the player a plurality of playing pieces in the event that the ball that is discharged or snapped into the apparatus passes into certain of the apertures in a rotating perforated disc, thus increasing the individualscore of the player that receives the added number of playing pieces.

A further object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus of the character referred to which, when played, requires but a single spherical member and a plurality of disk-like tokens or counters that are automatically discharged from the machine as the spherical member drops into certain of the apertures that are formed in the edge of one of the rotating discs.

A further object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus having a pair of rotatably mounted discs, one disposed above the other, the upper disc being provided adjacent its edge with a row of apertures through any one of which the spherical playing piece is adapted to drop and the upper perforated disc being arranged so as to engage and rotate with the lower one of the discs which is driven by the electric motor and which movement takes place each time the game is played so that the relative positions of the upper and lower discs are changed with each successive play of the game.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away, of a game apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3a is a detail section of a normally open ball-closed switch.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3. r

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken onthe line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of the token control unit shown at A on- Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a. vertical sectional taken on the line' Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 9, with parts broken away.

Fig. 12 is an irregular vertical section on the line 52-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward part of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 10 with parts in section.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the token slide plate and token tension device in separate positions.

Fig. 16 is a vertical section taken on the line l6|6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the token pay-off unit shown at B on Fig. 1.

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken on the line l9--|9 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a section taken on the line 20-29 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a vertical section taken on the line 2l2l of Fig. 17.

Fig. 22 is a face elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a vertical section taken on the line 2323 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a pawl and link shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view of a pivoted lever and switch member shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 26 is a wiring diagram of the electrical system of my improved game apparatus.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, H1 designates a circular hollow housing or drum, supported by any suitable means, as by standard H.

The drum 19 comprises a bottom wall l2 and an upright circular wall I3 terminating in. a flange l4. The open top of the drum is closed by a panel l5, preferably of plate glass, enclosed by suitable ring flanges l5.

Centrally located within drum l0, and spaced from the bottom thereof is a substantially circular housing l'l', supported upon suitable blocks l8 fixed to the bottom of the drum 9.

The housing I? comprises a bottom wall l9, provided with a marginal upright wall 25 and a substantially horizontal wall 2| terminating in an upright, enlarged flange 22 having its open upper end positioned adjacent panel l5.

An inclined ball race 23 is centrally located within housing I! adjacent bottom wall ii? of the housing and has an upright flange 24 provided to curb the travel of the ball 25.

The plane face of ball race 23 is held at an angle to bottom wall 5 9 by means of suitable blocks 26, so that the balls may roll by gravity toward the entrance of the ball kick, to be hereinafter described. 1

Centrally fixed to bottom wall 49 is a base flange 21 provided with a hollow, upright sleeve 28, terminating aproximately midway between bottom wall l9 and panel 15.

Rotatably journaled in sleeve 28 is a shaft 29 fixed at its upper end to a convex selector disc 30, said disc having its outer edge terminating in an upwardly curved circumferential ball race 3|, said race being perforated (see Figs. 1 and 2) at equi-distant points. The perforations 32 are made slightly larger than ball 25 and may be numbered if desired or otherwise suitably marked.

Disc 30 is provided on its under face with a hub 33, into which shaft 29 is fixed and a rivet 34 is provided to fix disc 30 to said hub.

Concentrically supported in spaced relation to disc 39 is a similar disc 35 of slightly less diameter than disc 39. The disc 35 is rotatably supported on shaft 29 and the free face of sleeve 28. Disc 35 is frictionally rotated by drive wheel 36 of motor 3'! (see Fig. 2) and is provided centrally with a depression 38, adapted to receive a block 39 that is provided with upwardly projecting ratchet teeth 45. The hub 33 of disc 30 is provided with a pin 4i, extending diametrically therefrom and adapted to engage between the ratchet teeth.

The depression 38 of disc 35 has a bottom wall 42, centrally perforated to freely receive shaft 29 and said wall has fixed to its free face a spacing block 43 and concentrically spaced conductor rings 44, 45 and 46. Any suitable means, such as screws 47, may be used to fix block 39 and disc 35 to parts 43, 44, 45 and 46.

Supported by base plate 2': is an insulating block 48, suitably drilled to receive brushes 49, 50 and 55, said brushes being concentrically alined with and adapted to contact conductor rings 44, 45 and 45 during rotation of disc 35. The brushes 49, 56 and 5! are yieldably supported by coil springs 52 which engage. terminal screws 53. v

The flange 22 of housing I! (see Figs. 1, 2, 7 an 8) is open at 54and connected at this point is a ball chute 55, said'chute at its free end being provided with a ball kicker 55, consisting ofa magnet 51 and spring arms 58 and 59. The ball chute is perforated at 56 to receive one end of a ball tube 51, held to housing I? by clamp 62 and plate 53. Tube 81 is cut out as at 54, said opening aligning with perforation 65 in plate 53' and ball guide 55 that is fixed to opening 61 in housing ll adjacent the lowermost point of ball race 23-.

A hinged plate 63, connected to housing 69 of magnet 15 by a flat spring hinge H has a perforation in its free end adapted to providea seat 12 for ball 25, as in Fig. 7. A pair of spring contacts 13 and 14 are insulated from and fixed to the under side of plate 58, the upper contact 14 having a curved extension l5 adapted to actuate the ball 25 when magnet '16 is energized.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a token control unit A extends through drum H1 at 16, said unit being detailed in Figs. 9 to 16.

The control unit is fixed to drum H] by means of flanges l1 and 18 of slide housing [9, the said housing adapted to form a guide for slide plate 35. The slide plate, as shown in Fig. 15 is'provided with a token slot 5! opening into a central, longitudinal slot 82. The plate terminates in a substantially right angled arm 83 at one end and a handpiece 83 at the other end.

The slide housing 19 has fixed to its under face, at right angles to its longitudinal center, a shaft 84 journalled in bearings-85 and 86 and adapted to rotatably support levers 8?, 88 and U-shaped lever 89, said levers adapted to work in slots 99, SI and 92 in the under face of housing i9, by means of 1 coil springs 93 and 94.

The upper face of slide housing .9 is cut out, as at 95, to accommodate a pair of flat springs 96 and 91 and has a pressed up tongue 98. A partial cover plate 99 is fixed by screws It!) to the forward portion of housing 19 and provides a sloping track l0! and curved guide walls 102 and I03 to guide tokens I04 into the token chute I05.

A. two-prong flat spring is fixed to plate 99 and has one prong contacting tongue 98, a second prong extending into the token chute and a body portion fixed to plate 99 with a screw I01 which also fastens extension I08 of the token chute.

A retractile spring I09 is fixed at its ends to arms 83 and lever H0 carried by shaft 84.

The slot 82 of plate 80 is reduced as at III to engage lug H2 which depends from plate 99 into slot 82.

The housing 19 is provided with a pawl H3 pivoted at H4 and forced by spring H5 against the edge of slide 86, said slide beingprovided with serrations I I6 and notches H1 adapted to engage pawl H3.

A secondary slide H8 is slidably held by plate 99 upon the top face of housing 19 and has a pair of legs H9 and I20, leg I20 having a bent portion I2I adapted to work in notch I22 of plate 89 (see Figs. 14 and 15). Slide I I8 carries fiat springs 96 and 91.

.As shown in Figs; 1 and 16, the token control unit A projects into the drum I0 and is provided with a counting'device B and a clock-work unit C, connected to slide plate 86 as in Figs. 15 and 16, by rods 2) and c.

A standard I23 is located between counter B and unit C, and is provided with a rotatable shaft I24 carrying an arm I25 normally retracted by spring I26, as in dotted position of Fig. 2. Arm I25, connected by rod I25 to plate 80 also carries a lug I21 adapted to engage the free end of lever I28, said lever having its opposite end attached to motor 31, as at 31, (Fig. 2), and said lever fulcrumed at I8a to block I8.

The motor 31 is tiltably mounted at points I29 to bearings I30, so that drive wheel 36 may be removed into and out of engagement with driven disc 35.

A switch I3I is positioned between lever I28 and base plate I32 of drum I9, and is closed by the lever when same is actuated by lug I28. A switch I33 (see Fig. 2) is fixed to plate I32 and is adapted to be closed by slide 89 in its extended position.

A brake device I34 is fixed to disc 35 and has a shoe I36 adapted to engage disc 39 when pin 4| is making engagement with teeth 42, to prevent chattering. 7

As shown in Fig. 1, the token chuteI05is-extended to feed token to the automatic pay-out unit I31. It is desired to provide a pay-out unit that will automatically pay out varying numbers of tokens depending upon the contingency of ball 25 dropping upon one of the contacts I38 fixed to disc 35, shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 32.

' To this end I provide a supply tank I39 fed by chute I05, and connected (see Fig. 1) to a token supply box I40, which takes care of overflow tokens. The tokens in tube I39 are received by a slide plate I4I, having an aperture I42 through which the tokens extend to rest upon base plate I43, said plate having an aperture I44 leading to a pay-oil trough I45.

It is desired to move slide plate I4! so that the tokens enclosed by aperture I42 may be moved into alinement with aperture I44 for the pay-off into trough I45. To accomplish this the plate MI is fixed slidably to strap plate I46 provided at its end nearest the supply tube with an upright arm I48. The tube I39 is supported in bearing I49 having a base plate I59. The strap plate I46 is provided with a bumper strip I5I adapted to engage plate I50, as in Fig. 19.

The solenoid I52, having slidable core I53, provided with a collar I54 is adapted to receive bifurcated arm I48, so that movement of core I53 will be transmitted to plates MI and I46.

A magnet I is supported by housing I66 car-- ried by wall I51 and has a hinged plate I61 connected by spring I68 to arms I62. Lug I69 of push pawl I59 overlies lock pawl I60, so that. upon energization of magnet I65, the plate I61 will be attracted, causing striker I64 to engage lug I63 and release pawl I60 which in turn liftspawl I59.

Shaft I55 at its end opposite to ratchet I58, has fixedly connected thereto an arm I10 carrying at its forward end an arcuate block (Figs. 17, 21 and 22), said block I'H being provided with a switch plate I12 upon its outer surface. The plate I12 is notched to provide contact areas I13 to I19 of varying lengths, and the same are adapted to contact switch arms I and I86 as shown in Fig. 17, which are carried by strips I81.

As shown in Fig. 21 the plate I10 in its lowermost position serves to break switch I88.

It is now clear that reciprocation of core I53 will be transmitted to plate I4I so that tokens may be paid out and it is also seen that means must be providedto energize and de-energize sole.- noid I52 the requisite number of times determined by ball 25 and contacts I38 on disc 35.

A switch I89, comprised of switch arm I90 and rocking lever I9I, are pivoted at I92 to wall I51, and a retractile spring I93 fixed to wall I51 and lever I9I serves to hold lever I9I in contact with arm I 41 of strap plate I46.

Stop lugs I94 and I95 limit the movement of switch arm I90 and lever I9I, as seen in Fig. 23, and it is clear that as arm I41 is pulled back by core I53, the lever I9I will rock, and as soon as spring I93 isbelow the dead-center point of pivot I92, the lever I9I will snap downward and strike lug I96 of arm I90, moving the same into the break position, between switch blades I96, as shown in Fig. 20.

Figs. 17 and 18 show the position of ratchet: I58 and switch plate I12 after the pay-off has been made. Ratchet I58 is held in tension against pawl I60 by a retractile spring I58 and limited in its reset position by lug I96 of wall I51, as in Fig. 23.

A push arm I91, which pivotally supports pawl I59 at I59 is pivoted at I98 to wall I51 and at its lower end has a pin I99 adapted to work in notch 290 of an upright lug 20I carried by strap plate I46. A lug 202 on arm I 91 is held against pawl I59 and a tension spring 203 is connected at its ends to arm I91 and pawl I59.

A brake device adapted to frictionally engage the outer, under edge of disc 35, (see Fig. 1) extends outside of drum I0 to provide a hand grip 204. A shaft 205 extends into the drum and is journalled in bearing 206, so that rotation. of hand grip 294 may move wheel 208 into and out of contact with disc 35, thus controlling its rotary movement. A look 209 may be used to lock panel I5 on drum I0.

A counting device 2I0 (see Fig. 19) is fixed in the path of slide plate I 4| so that counter arm 2| I may be rocked thereby.

The counting device B is for the purpose of counting the number of times the game is played as a result of the insertion of a token or disclike playing piece into the apparatus and counting'device 2H] is for the purpose of counting the number of operations of the mechanism that delivers to a player an extra number of playing pieces.

Y The operations incident to the play of my improved game apparatus are as follows: Under normal conditions or with the parts of the apparatus at rest, said parts occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 2. -A disc-like playing piece is inserted in the opening 8| in slide 80 and said slide is moved inwardly to carry the playing piece into the apparatus. Following this action the clock switch C will be closed for a predetermined period of time and after such time said clock switch automatically cuts oiT the current to the transformer, thus effecting a saving of the electric power required to operate the machine.

Through rod I25 lever I25 is swung on its axis and eccentric pin l2! depresses the forward end of rod I28, and such action elevates rod 29 and the upper disc 30 carried thereby. This permits the ball 25 to drop through the aperture 32 in which it has been positioned and to drop past the edge of disc 35 and roll downward over disc-23 to the inlet end of the ball lifting device illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The inward travelof the slide carrying the playing-piece closes the circuit from the line which is 110 volt A. C. to the motor 31, and the friction wheel 36 carried by the motor shaft engages and drives disc 35 and the upper disc 30. The ball is delivered by the ball lift to the chute 55 from whence it is kicked or forcibly projected into the upper portion 22 of bowl I! and said ball will spin within the upper portion of said bowl and finally pass downward onto the surface of disc 30 and finally the ball will pass into one of the apertures 32 in said disc.

' In the event that the ball drops into the aperture that is directly above one of the switches I38, a twelve volt velocity D. (3. current will be sent from the transformer through one of the three carbon brushes 49, 50 or corresponding to the contact, and thence back to the transformer."

The operation of the pay-off mechanism closes switch I88 and when a playing piece is subsequently inserted into the machine by means of the slide 88 the contact is closed by said slide so' that current is sent from the transformer through the contact actuated by the slide, and through switch I88 back to the transformer. This completes the circuit to operate the solenoid associated with the payoff mechanism and resets the automatic pay-oif mechanism for subsequent operation.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a game apparatus that is relatively simple in construction, and whichaffords a pleasing and interesting pastime for the players.

An especially desirable feature of my improved game apparatus is the construction and arrangement whereby all of the operations of the machine are entirely automatic and follow in regular sequence the insertion of a playing piece into the housing of the machine.

' A further novel construction is the provision of means that may be easily and conveniently manipulated by the players of the game for controlling the dropping of the ball into certain apertures in the rotating disc in an endeavor to increase the score of the player.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved game apparatus may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim. as my invention:

1. In a game apparatus, a'bowl, a pair of disks mounted for rotation within said bowl, said disks being arranged one above the other, there being a row of perforations formed in the upper disk adjacent its edge, a motor for imparting rotary motion to the lower disk, the upper disk being mounted for vertical movement relative to the lower disk, and driving connections between the two disks, which driving connections are in engagement when the upper disk is in its lowered position.

2. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and electrically operated means for forcibly delivering a ball tangentially into the upper portion of said bowl.

3. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, with electrically operated means for ejecting playing pieces from said owl, a series of normally open switches mounted on the lower one of said disks, which switches are adapted to be closed by the ball as the same drops through the apertures in the upper disk, and an electric circuit in which said normally open switches and said electrically actuated playing piece ejecting means are located.

4. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, with electrically operated means for ejecting playing pieces from said bowl, a series of normally open switches mounted on the lower one of said disks, which switches are adapted to be closed by the ball as the same drops through the apertures in the upper disk, an electric circuit in which said normally open switches and said electrically actuated playing piece ejecting means are located, and means for receiving and delivering playing pieces into the machine, the operation of which last mentioned means energizes the circuit in which said normally open switches and playing-piece ejecting means is located.

5. In a game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and manually operable means for controlling the rotary movement of said discs.

6. In a game apparatus, a bowl, a pair of discs mounted for rotation within said bowl, said discs being arranged one above the other, there being a row of perforations formed in the upper disc adjacent its edge, said upper disc being mounted for vertical movement relative to the lower disc,

driving connections between the two discs, which driving connections are in engagement when the upper disc is in lowered position, a motor mounted for tilting movement in the bowl, a driving wheel carried by the shaft of the motor for engaging and driving the lower one of said discs, and means for simultaneously tilting said motor to move its driving wheel into engagement with the lower one of the discs, and for elevating the livering a ball tangentially into the upper portion of said bowl.

9. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 6, with electrically operated means for forcibly delivering a ball tangentially into the upper portion of said bowl, electrically operated means for ejecting playing pieces from said bowl, a series of normally open switches mounted on the lower one of said discs, which switches are closed by the ball as the same drops through the apertures in the upper disc, and an electric circuit in which said normally open switches and said electrically actuated playing-piece ejecting means are located.

10. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 6, and manually operable means for controlling the rotary motion of said discs.

11. In a game apparatus, a bowl, a pair of discs mounted for rotation within said bowl, said discs being arranged one above the other, driving connections between the two discs, which driving connections are in engagement when the upper disc is in lowered position, a friction brake carried by the lower disc for engaging the upper disc as the same is lowered to effect engagement of the driving connections between the discs, and means for imparting rotary movement to the lower one of said discs.

12. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 11, and with manually operable means for controlling the rotation of said discs.

13. In a game apparatus, a bowl, a pair of discs mounted for rotation within said bowl, one disc arranged above the other, there being a row of perforations formed in the upper disc adjacent its edge, a motor for imparting rotary motion to the lower disc, the upper disc being mounted for vertical movement relative to the lower disc, driving connections between the two discs, which driving connections are in engagement when the upper disc is in its lowered position, means for forcibly projecting a ball into the upper portion of said bowl, an inclined disc arranged below the first mentioned discs, and electrically operated means controlled by the delivery of the playing piece into the apparatus for elevating the ball from the lower portion of said inclined disc to said ball projecting means.

14. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 13, with electrical switches on the lower one of the first mentioned pair of discs, which switches are adapted to be closed by the ball as it drops through certain of the apertures in the upper one of the two first mentioned discs, means for ejecting different numbers of playing pieces from the apparatus, and an electric circuit in which said playing piece ejecting means and said switches are located.

15. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 13, and with manually operable means for controlling the rotation of said pair of discs, electrical switches on the lower one of the first mentioned pair of discs, which switches are adapted to be closed by the ball as it drops through certain of the apertures in the upper one of the two first mentioned discs, means for ejecting different numbers of playing pieces from the apparatus, and an electric circuit in which said playing pieces ejecting means and said switches are located.

16. In a game apparatus, a bowl, a pair of discs mounted for rotation within said bowl, the upper disc being provided adjacent its edge with a row of perforations, electrically operated means for forcibly projecting a ball into said bowl above said discs, electrically operated means for ejecting playing pieces from said apparatus, switches carried by the lower one of said discs and adapted to be closed by the ball as it drops through certain of the apertures in the lower one of said discs, and an electric circuit in which said switches and playing piece ejecting means is located.

17. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 16, an electric motor, driving connections between said electric motor and the lower one of said discs, a circuit in which said motor is located, a switch in said circuit, and means actuated by the insertion of a playing piece into the apparatus for 7 closing said switch.

18. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 16, with manually operable means for controlling the rotation of said discs, an electric motor, driving connections between said electric motor and the lower one of said discs, a circuit in which said motor is located, a switch in said circuit, and means actuated by the insertion of a playing piece into the apparatus for closing said switch.

19. In a game apparatus, a bowl, a pair of discs mounted for rotation within said bowl, the upper one of said discs being provided adjacent its edge with a series of distinctively marked apertures, electrically operated means for projecting a ball into said bowl above said discs, switches carried by the lower one of said discs, electrically operated means for ejecting playing pieces from the apparatus, a circuit in which said switches and ejecting means are located, a motor mounted for tilting movement, a driving wheel carried by the shaft of the motor for engaging the lower one of said discs and imparting rotary motion thereto, an electric circuit in which said motor is located, a switch in said circuit, and means actuated by the insertion of a playing piece into the apparatus for closing said last mentioned switch to energize the motor circuit.

20. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 19, and with manually operable means for controlling the rotation of said discs.

CLIFFORD F. EVANS.

Images