US2155929A - Score registering device - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1939.

C. J. BREITENSTEIN ET AL SCORE REGISTERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-{Sheet l v 20 v J9 I 15 12 I I N JO Patented Apr. 25 1939 tsTAvAlLA -E scoan REGISTERING navrca Charles JjBreitenstein and Alfred r". Chouinard,

Chicago, Ill., assignors to Raymond Ohicago, Ill. I

T. Moloney,

Application August 21, .1936, Serial No. 97,118

5 Claims.

The invention relates to an automatic score registering device for use wherever desired, but particularly in games having playing pieces which are movable over or into pockets or targets having given numerical score values.

For instance, in ball rolling games having pockets, or the like, into which balls may be rolled, upon the display of the requisite skill by the player, it is usual to have the several pockets marked with score value numbers such as 10, 20, 30, etc. At the termination of play it is desirable to have the score total of thepocket ed ballstotalized and displayed to the player of the game.

The present invention, therefore, relates more particularly to an automatically acting score totalizer usable wherever desired, but particularly in ball rolling games. Since many of these games are used in poorly illuminated places, it is desirable that the totalized score be displayed as visibly as possible and the structure of this invention also purports to solve this difiiculty by causing a clear display of the score total under all conditions of use of the associated game.

The main object of the invention is to provide I an improved score totalizer. Another object is to provide a simplified totalizer in which when electrical switches are momentarily closed by game playing pieces or the like, a score carrying wheel, or the like, is stepped up from an initial starting position to show instantly the score as it progresses and finally at the end of the play, the score total. Still another object of the invention is to project light through the score number wheel, which is made transparent, so as to enable, by means of lenses, to project the score total on a display screen. or the like, in enlarged size, so that the score will be clearly visible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a release mechanism operable after a final score total has been displayed to return the totalizer mechanism back to an original starting or zero position.

Other objects will becomeapparent to those skilled in this art as the disclosure is more fully made. e

Briefly, such desirable objects may be achieved by the illustrative example of the mechanism herein to be disclosed wherein normally open, electrical spring switches are arranged in a row. Each switch when closed, serves to complete a circuit to energize an electromagnetic device having an armature which turns a ratchet wheel one step. Movable with the ratchet wheel a (Cl. aa-27) transparent disk carrying on its marginal edge a series of number designations in proper order "from 10 in multiples thereof to 20, 30, 40, etc., as high as is necessary, depending upon the character of the game, or the like apparatus with which the totalizer is to be used. Light from a lamp is condensed on the edge of the disk to project an image of the numbers through a projection lens and onto a ground glass or other translucent display screen, where the score numbers are visible. Each time a switch is closed the step up mechanism operates the display number disk, with the number in line with the lenses constantly being light projected onto the display screen where it' is visible.

When the scoring cycle has been completed, an electromagnetic releaser may be operated to cause release of the step up mechanism and automatic return of thenumbered display disk to an initial starting or zero position. So much will sufiice in giving a general understanding of the improved counting mechanism, which is shown in detail in the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein:

Figure lis ageneral perspective view of an illustrative type of ball rolling game with which the totalizer may be used, the near wall of the game having been removed to show the ball routing alleys to guide the pocketed balls over the control switches for the totalizer;

Figure 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the display totalizer per se;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the totalizer taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2,- looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 4 is a reduced scale, plan view of the totalizer taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, there additionally being shown an illustrative wiring diagram for the electrically operated parts.

For the sake of illustration only, there is shown in Figure 1 a bowling type of ball rolling game, embodying an alley in along which a player rolls balls toward the ramp end thereof shown at I l. The balls leap off the ramp and depending upon the player's skill, into any one of a plurality of passages formed by spaced ring the present game shown there are flve score 7 pockets, only live switches are shown. Thus the passages i serve to direct 'the pocketed balls to control the number of the switches that the re-' turning balls are to operate, in a manner that will be obvious, and in accordance with the desired score value of the pockets. a

The rear end of the game includes a back wall i3 and with the table i 3 serves as a support for an upper cabinet I9, having a front wall 29 provided with a centrally disposed opening covered by a circular ground glass, or other translucent display screen member 2i. This cabinet portion l9 also includes a floor 22 which as will now be seen serves as a support for the score registering mechanism of this invention.

Preferably to facilitate manufacture and assembly of the games, the'totalizer is made as asmall compact unit to be included with a horizontal support plate .23 that may be fastened to the floor 22 in any convenient manner.

The plate 23 accordingly carries an uprigh bracket providing a transverse wall 24 carrying a horizontal, longitudinal shaft 25 for mounting a ratchet wheel 26 having the necessary number of teeth. The wheel 26 and wall 24 respectively carry pins 21,23 between which is connected a spring 29, as shown. Also the wheel 26 carries a stop block 30 cooperable with a stop pin 3| on the wall 24.

Above the wheel 26 the wall 24 carries a bracket structure 32 for mounting a transversely disposed solenoid 33 provided with an armature core 34 the free end of which is notched as at 35 to fit loosely over a pin 36 carried on an upright lever 31 pivotally connected by a pin 36 at its lower end to the wall 24, as shown. Around the pin 38 is a coil tension spring 31' serving normally to pointing toward the wheel 26 by means of aspring 49 connected as shown.

Looking at Figure 4 it can be seen that a source of energy appears in the diagram at 4| and that by means of wires 42, 43 the solenoid 33 is placed in circuit with the battery, or the like. A wire 44 leads from the solenoid 33 to one side of eachof the switches l1 and then through the said switches by a common return wire 45 back to-the battery. Each time a switch i1 is closed by a ball rolling thereover a circuit is momentarily closed to energize the solenoid 33, the'rstroke of the parts 34, 31 being so proportioned that the dog 39 will step up the wheel 26 one tooth. In this manner as the wheel 26 turns away from its starting position determined by the stops 30, 3| the-spring 29 is tensioned to store energy for a purpose later to appear. 7

Turnable with the ratchet wheel 26 on the forwardly extended shaft 25 is a laminated wheel multiples of 10, as 10, 20, 30, etc., are marked.

Adjacent the wall 24 the plate 23 carries a socket BEST AVAiLABLE COP.

43 for an electric lamp 49 which by means of wires 50 is in circuit with the source of energy to be illuminated and serve as a light source.

In front oi the lamp 49 the plate 23 carries an upright bracket 5i in which is mounted a condenser lens 52, said lens and lamp being longitudinally alined with the transparent marginal score marked track or edge of the wheel disk 41 in such a manner that the light from the lamp is condensed directly onto the score markings. In advance of the disk 41 is another bracket 53 also carried on the base plate 23, said bracket carrying a projection lens 54 to receive the light from the score image and project it, enlarged, onto the back side of the translucent screen plate 2i heretofore described. The score thus displayed is visible from the front side of'the game as indicated in Figure 1.

' Whenthe allotted number of balls have been played and the score total has been displayed the parts should be reset so that the display wheel 41 will always start from its zero marking position. Such reset mechanismcomprises a pivoted retrograde preventing pawl 55 normally engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 26,. Said pawl is pivoted between its ends by:a mounting pin 56 to carry same on the plate bracket 24. The pawl is pulled to duty by means of a spring 51, as shown. The lower edge of one end of the said pawl .55 includes anarmature pad- .59 directly in line with the core of an upright electromagn 59 carried on the base plate 23.

This magnet 59 is normally in an open circuit 60 with the battery 4 I, said circuit being closable to energize the magnet bymeans of a push button switch 6|, or any other desirable form of circuit closer. Thiscompletes the, detailedv description of the mechanism and the mode of operation oi the score counting and totalizing mechanism will next be described.

The starting or zero indicating position of the parts is shown in Figure 2 where the spring 29 has the ratchet wheel 26 pulled counterclockwise with its block 39 abutting the stop pin 3|. I I Since.

the magnet 59 is deenergized the spring 51 engages the dog 55 in the teeth of the ratchet wheel 26. The score number disk 41, of course, is now a in the light ray from lamp 49 to indicate a score oi zero projecting on the screen 2|. The solenoid 33 is deenergized and the tension spring 31' has the lever 31 pulled outwardly against the stop 39' with the pawl 39 abutting the stop pin 39'.

In the playing of the game, or other associated apparatus a switch i1 is closed by a ball or the like, whereby a circuit is completed to energize the solenoid 33 momentarilyto pull the armature 34 to the right as seen in Figure 2. whereupon the lever 31 is pulled in the same direction to engage the pawl 39 with the ratchet wheel 26 one notch. This turns the shaft structure 25 one notch and with it the disk 41 one notch or from a position marked zero to a position marking 7'10, which the light and lens structure instantly projects onto the screen 2| for display. Thedog 55 merely prevents retrograde turning by holding the gain of the ratchet wheel 26. Such dog 55 is necessary as the wheel 26 steps up it tensions the reset spring 29. The instant the solenoid is deenergized the spring 31 swings the lever 31 back to the position of Figure 2 to disengage the pawl 39. In this fashion each time a switch i1 is closed the ratchet wheel 26 and display disk 41 advance one step to step up the displayed score in an obvious, manner. When closing of the switches II has ceased, as

when no more balls are available for play, then the mechanism displays the final score total on the screen 2| By pressing the button 6| momentarily, the electromagnet 59 may be energized, whereupon to attract the pad 58 and swing the pawl 55 to release same from the ratchet wheel 26. With the wheel 26 thus freed, the spring 29 is operative to pull the wheel 26 and with it, of course. the disk I! in a reverse direction to reset the same in the initial, or zero starting position, as determined by the stops 20, ll

From this disclosure it will now be seen that a simple and improved score totalizer and displayer has been provided for achieving the objects of the invention heretofore recited.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example shown for the sake of illustration, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described positionable as a compact projector unit in an exhibitor structure and comprising a horizontal support, a vertical bracket mounted on the support and carrying a horizontal shaft, a ratchet'wheel secured to the shaft adjacent the bracket, said shaft projecting through and beyond the other side of the bracket, a light source, a disk carried on said projected end of the shaft and having a marginal edg'e throughwhich a beam of light may be projected, lenses carried on the support respectively on opposite sides of the disk and in alinement with each other and with said marginal edge thereof, means on said support for securing the source of light in optical alinement with the marginal edge of the disc and the lenses, an electromagnetic device carried on the bracket on the ratchet side thereof, a lever pivotally carried on the bracket, said lever including a pawl to operate the ratchet wheel to turn the shaft and disk, means for operating the lever from the electromagnetic device, stop means between the bracket and wheel, a spring pulling the wheel to the stop means to determine a starting position from which the disk and wheel is to be turned,

' means to prevent retrograde movement of the disk and wheel, and means to release the latter means to permit the'springto pull the disk and wheel back to the starting position.

2. Iii a device ofrthe class described positionaue as a compact projector wt in an exhibitor structure and comprising a support, a bracket on the support, a horizontal shaft carriedon the bracketincludingadiskturnableontheshaft axis, a ratchet wheel turnable with the disk,

spring means exerting -force on the disk-and wheel, a stop means between the wheel and bracket to determine a starting position for the disk and wheel, a driver pawl to move the disk and wheel intermittently together from the starting position, a yieldable dog to prevent retrograde movement of the wheel, means. to operate the driver pawl. said disk having an edge through which a light beam may pass, a light source. a condenser lens positioned between the disk and light source, a projector lens means on said edge support for securing the source of light in optical alinement with the marginal edge of the disc and screen, means on said support for securing said source of light in optical alinement with the edge of the disc and lenses, operating means for the disk comprising a ratchet wheel turnable with the disk, a spring pulling same, a stopagainst which the wheel is normally held by the spring, a'driver pawl to advance the ratchet wheel step by step from the stop and to energize the spring, a dog to hold the gain of the wheel, and means to release the dog to free the wheel whereby the spring may reverse the disk and restore the wheel and disk to their starting positions determined by said stop.

4. In a device of the class described positionable as a compact projector unit in an exhibitor structure and comprising a support carrying a turnable disk having an edge through which a light beam may pass, a source of light, a screen, a lens system associated with the disk to project light from the source through the disk to the screen, means on said support for securing said source of light in optical alinement with the edge of the disc and lenses, operating means for the disk comprising a ratchet wheel turnable with the disk, a spring pulling same, a stop against which the wheel is normally held by the spring, a driver pawl to advance the ratchet wheel step by step from the stop and to energize the spring,

pawl, a yieldable dog engaging the wheel to prevent retrograde movement thereof, and electromagnetic means to tree the dog from the wheel whereby said spring is efl'ective to reversely drive the disk and wheel to the starting position determined by the stop.

5. In a device of the clam described positionable as a compact projector unit in an exhibitor structure and comprising a horizontal support carryingatur'nablediskhaving an edge through whicha beam oflightmaypass, aaource oflight, a screen, a lens system associated with the disk to project light from the source through the disk to the screen, means on' said support for securing said source of light in optical alinement with the edge of the disc and lenses, a stop means determining a starting position-from which the disk spring means to drive the disk reversely to its starting position.

Images