US2130289A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 13, 1938. c. A. PHELPS AMUSEMENT DE-VICE Filed Sept. 23, 1957 2, Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1938. c, PHELPS 2,130,289

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 23, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1938 1 UNITED STATES AMUSEMENT DEVICE Charles A. Phelps, Salem, Mass, .assignor vto Parker Brothers, Inc., Salem, Mass.,.a corporation of Maine Application September 23, 1937, :SeriaLNo. 165,330

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement device, andiits principal object is to provide agameor toy which involves the exercise in skill of the player, which, for :example, may be determined by the number of hits made at a given distance from a series 'of targets.

Further-objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying :drawings, wherein :Figs. 1,2 :and'3are front, rear and-end elevations, respectively, of an amusement'device constructed :in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig.l2;:and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one of the targets.

According to the present invention my amusement device comprises a plurality of individual targets arranged in a series, and supporting means constructed and arranged to move the targets successively into shooting position when the first of the series has been shot down or knocked out of position by a missile discharged from a gun, slingshot, or the like projector. This device may be used either as a toy or as a game which may be played by any number of players in competition with each other, the object being to determine which of the players is the more accurate at a specified range. The scoring may depend upon the number of hits made, or the particular target hit, or both, and the winner is the one who first attains either the greatest number of points, or who first scores a predetermined total. However, it is to be understood that the foregoing is merely suggestive, as other methods of procedure will suggest themselves both for individual and competitive play.

The embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises an upstanding wall I, such as a piece of heavy fiber board, a metal panel or the like, supported by spaced feet 2 and 3, each formed with a transverse slot which receives the lower edge of the wall. The wall I is formed with an opening 5 and on its front face, surround- 5 ing the opening 5, is a scene or sketch caricaturing a farmer shooting, in the direction of the opening 5, at a crow.

An elongate inclined slide 6 is secured to the rear face of the wall I and extends from the upper right-hand corner (Fig. 2) downwardly toward the left beneath the lower edge of the opening 5, the angle of inclination of the slide being such as to permit gravity to move a series of targets disposed on the slide successively into shooting position, as hereinafter explained.

Theouter longitudinal edge of the slide is provided with a retaining rail 8 which extends from its upper-enddnto a point spaced from its lower end and :thednner longitudinaledge of the slide is Iflush with the-rear surface of the wall I which provides, in :effect, a :rail cooperating with the rail 33 to hold the targets in position.

The lower endof ithe slide '6 is provided with alstop zfl here'shownas an :upstanding nail or pegembeddedin the slide 6 adjacent-to its lower end. The distance between the lowerend of the rail :8 and the stop 9 approximates the width of the openingzS, the-arrangementbeing such that these parts are concealedwhen the device 'is viewed from the *front (Fig. 1).

Each of the targets I0 consists of a base member, such as an elongate block of wood II whose length is slightly less than the distance between the end of the rail 8 and the stop 9. The base I I is formed with a longitudinally extending groove which receives an upstandingmember I2, shaped to depict the outline of a crow, as shown in Fig. 5, or other bird as shown at Ill in Fig. 2, it being understood that the particular design of the individual targets, as well as that on the face of the wall I, may be varied to conform with any scheme calculated to enhance the appearance or salability of the device.

The targets ID are arranged in series along the slide 6 so that the first or lowermost target of the series engages the stop 9, in which position it alone registers with the opening 5, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the first target is removed from its position, as, for example, by being knocked out of position by a missile shot in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 4), it drops off the slide 6, as illustrated by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 4, whereupon gravity causes the remaining targets in the series to move down the slide so that the next succeeding target assumes the position of the first, and so on until the last of the targets has been knocked out.

In using the device as a game the series of targets is first positioned in the manner shown in Fig, 2. The player is provided with a gun, such as a repeating rifle adapted to shoot elastic bands, or a slingshot or the like projector, and is supplied with a limited number of shots or misssiles. After having taken the specified number of shots, the players score is counted, the targets are replaced and the next player takes his turn, and so on. Each target knocked out of position may for example, count one point, except one on which there is a premium, here shown as the final target In, depicting a duckling which, for example, may count five points. The player who attains the largest score, or who is the first to score a predetermined total, is the winner.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportion, and arrangement of parts, aswell as the substitution of equivalent elements for'those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising an upstanding wall having an opening therein, an inclined slide secured to the rear of said wall with its lower end extending beneath said opening, a

- plurality of individual targets disposed in a series target in said series so as to arrest downward movement of said series and hold the first target in said series in registry with said opening and with its peripheral edges spaced from the edges of said opening, said stop and slide being so constructed and arranged that when one target is knocked out of the series by a missile said series is advanced so that the next succeeding target in said series assumes the position of the one so knocked out.

2. An amusement device comprising an up- 5 standing wall having an opening therein, the front face of said wall depicting a natural scene which surrounds said opening, a plurality of individual targets each comprising a base member and an upstanding part depicting an animal, the 1 upstanding part being of smaller size than said opening and the length of the base member being slightly greater than that of said upstanding 7 part so that when said targets are disposed in series said upstanding parts are spaced from each 1 other, an inclined slide secured to the rear of said wall with its lower end extending beneath said opening, said slide being constructed and arranged to support said targets in a series and being disposed at an angle of inclination such as to permit gravity to move said series downwardly, and a stop adjacent to the lower end of said slide and arranged to engage one end of the base member of the first target in said series, thereby to arrest downward movement of said series and hold the first target in registry with said opening, and with its peripheral edges spaced from the edges of said opening, said stop and slide being so constructed and arranged that when one target is knocked out of said series by a missile, said series is advanced so that the next succeeding target in said series assumes the position of the one so knocked out.

CHARLES A. PHELPS. 3

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