US2196710A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 1940- F. c.- STEFFENS GAME APPARATUS F1185. May 22, 1935 4 Sho ets-Sheet 1 i v 5- nm 3 u I: M WIN 0 H H Wu; H 1 H WT 1 V '[M m w F. c. STEVFFENS April 9, 1940.

GMIE APPARATUS Filed my 22', 1956 4 Shaets-$heet 2 April F. c. STEFFENS" 2,196,710

Gm: nrmrus Filed May 22, 1936 4 Shoots-Sheet :5

' device;

Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNIT D STATES 2,196,71il v GAME ArrAnA'rUs Fred C. Steffens, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Chicago Patent Corporation Application May 22, 1936, Serial No. 81,194.

13 Claim.

This invention relates to game apparatus and particularly to game apparatus in which a successful player is rewarded by an appropriate number of free games.

The invention is particularly concerned with a device for recording and controlling the number of games available to the player and has for its principal object the provision of an improved control mechanism for these purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control apparatus which is simple in construction and operates rapidly with efficiency, speed and with very little noise. I

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appe r from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof,

taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on a larger scale, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved control 5 Fig. 4 is a side elevationthereof, as viewed from the right-hand side of the game apparatus; Fig. 5 is a side elevation, as viewed from the opposite side;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 30 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail, and Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram showing parts of the control apparatus in perspective.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is il- 35 lustrated in connection with a game of the socalled pin game type. It must be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to games of this particular type, or to the particular game which is illustrated. It may be 0 applied equally well to any game in which the attainment of the objective close a control switch. The game apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises a cabinet Ill, the upper face of which 4' consists of a window H. Beneath this window is located the playing board or field apparatus. The playing board I2 is provided with-suitableopenings i3 into which the player '50 endeavors to roll the balls I; Beneath'the playing board I2 is slidabiy mounted a board l5 which is normally held in its forward position, shown in Fig 2, by means of springs (not shown). In

this forward position the board it provides a of a game apparatus can be arranged to l2 whichv slopes downwardly towards the front end of the the holes [3. Beneath each of the holes l3 the board l5 carries a, pair of resilient members It which are normally out of contact. When a ball I enters one of the openings l3 it depresses one of the resilient members i6 into contact with "the other resilient member It, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, each pair of resilient members It constitutes, a switch. For ease of reference, these switches are designated S2, S4. S6, Sid and S20, the numerical portion of these reference numerals corresponding to the number of free games provided by the attainment of the objective of locating a ball in that particular openins.

When the board i5 is pushed rearwardly by means of a lever H. as will hereinafter be described, openings IS in the board i5 are brought into alignment with the openings is, allowing the ball or balls locatedin the openings E3 to fall downwardly onto a board i9.

Board l9 allows the balls to roll downwardly into-a chute 20 from which they may be elevated by a ball elevator 2| into a chute 22 on the righthand side of the playing board. A ball It thus elevated can be projected upwardly by means of an impeller23 in known manner. The ball thus played may, according to the skill of the player, be directed into any particular one of the openlugs It. The board i2 is provided with suitable obstructions 24 to render the locating of the ball" 30 in any particular hole It very diiiicult, depending upon the numerical value of each particular hole. When the player has played the ball or balls, the game is terminateduntil the board I 5 is again moved forwardly by the lever I'i.

The lever I1 is pivotally mounted on the frame 25 of the control device. the .upper end of'the lever II which engages the board it being shown in the hight-hand top corner of Fig. 4. To this lever is pivotally secured a rearwardly extending lever 28. The pivot 27' of the lever 26 extends outwardly, as shown in Fig 4, and passes through a slot 28 of a link 29. The link 29 is pivotally connected to a lever 30 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 25 by means of a stud 3!. The lower end of the lever 30 is pivotally connected to a link 82 and this link is in turn pivotally connected to a rack 33'. The rack33-slides on a shelf 34 carried by the frame 25 and cooperates with a pinion 35 which is pinned to or otherwise rigidly mounted upon a shaft 36.

The shaft 36 is horizontal and is rotatably mounted in bearings provided, by the frame 25. The shaft 36 freeiy'carries a dish-like drum 31 and a ratchet wheel 38, suitably located within 5 ments of the control apparatus,

the dish-like drum 31 and rigidly, secured thereto.

A commutator which may suitably comprise a I to the drum 31 during the operation of the de It will be noted that the projection 5| -50 and engages the projection 5|.

vice, as will hereinafter be described.

The lower end of the lever 39 is secured to a tension spring 4|, the other end of which is secured to a bracket 42 carried by the frame 25. tension of the spring 4| will normally tend to move the rack 33 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, thus tending to cause the drum 31, together with the commutator and the ratchet 38, to move in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in that figure. The shelf 34 carries a pin 43 which extends upwardly into a longitudinal slot 44 in the rack 33 so as to maintain the rack against lateral displacement out of engagement with the pinion 35. The lever H has attached thereto a forwardly extending link 45 which is slidably supported by means of a screw 46 carried by the frame 25. The link 45 is engaged by a full stroke pawl 41 which insures the complete rearward movement of the lever l1 when actuated. The lever I1 is pulled forwardly by a spring 48 connected to this lever and also to the frame 25. If desired, this spring maybe omitted and the contact of the board |5 with the upper end of the lever |1 may be relied upon to move the lever H to its forward position, the a board |5 being normally held in its forward position by means of springs (not shown).

The rearwardly extending lever 26 comprises a laterally extending flange 49 from which depend two projections 50 and 51. These projections are in-alignment with the coin slide 52 and one orother of them is adapted to be engaged by the coin slide when that element is moved rearwardly. Whether one or the other of the projections 50 or 5| is engaged by the coin slide depends upon the condition of elevation of the lever 26. This lever has two positions, shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 4. In the full line or elevated position of the lever 26 the coin slide is arranged so that it passes .below the projection When the le-. ver 26 is in its dotted line position the coin slide engages the projection 56. The projection 56 is closer to the front of the apparatus than is the and, consequently, in the latter case the coin slide need only be pushed. inwardly to a comparatively small extent to-efiect'the movement of the lever I1 to start a game.

' The lever 26 carries near its forward end a flange 53. When the lever 26 is in its lowermost position; that is, the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 4, the flange 53 slides upon a horizontal part of the frame 25. The lever 26 carries a pin 54 which is adapted to engage an upstanding hook member 55 carried by the frame 25 when the lever 26 is moved rearwardly by the engagement of the coin slide 52 with the projection 50. This engagement between the pin 54 and the hook member 55 prevents the coin slide from being moved rearwardly to the extent of condition of the apparatus in which no free games are available to the player. To initiate playing, the player must insert a suitable coin in the coin slide 52 and he must push the coin slide inwardly to its full extent in order that the coin slide may engage the projection 5| and effect the rearward movement of the board l5 to render available the ball or balls with which the game is played. If the player succeeds in making his objective, the drum 31 and ratchet wheel 38 are rotated in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to a suitable extent, depending upon the value of the objective attained. However, irrespective of the value of the objective the bracket 56 is moved out of contact with the flange 53 v of the lever .26 so that the apparatus is now operable as a free game apparatus until, owing to the loss of games, the bracket 56 again elevates the lever 26.

The drum 31 is normally held against rotation in the counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 4) by means of a dog 61. The lower end of the dog 51 is formed into a stirrup-like member 58 which serves as an armature for an electromagnet 59. Thus, with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be understood that when the magnet 59 is energized the dog 51 is drawn out of contact with the ratchet wheel 36 and this ratchet wheel, together with the drum 31 and the commutator 39, are rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in F18. 4. As will hereinafter be described, this counter-clockwise rotation of the commutator 39 breaks the circuit which energizes the magnet 59, and when this occurs the dog 51 moves back into engagement with the ratchet wheel 36 under the influence of the spring Referring now particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and '1, it will be noted that the drum 31 rigidly carries on its face adjacent the commutator 39, a disc 69 which is provided around its periphery with a series of slots 6|. The commutator 39 carries a radial arm 62, the end of which isbent outwardly to provide a flange 63. Upon this flange is pivotally mounted a pawl 64, one end of whichis adapted to enter any of the slots 6| so as to latch the drum 31 and commutator 39 rigidly together. The latch 64 is normally biased towards the disc 66 bymeans of a spring 65, shown in Fig. '1. The pawl 64 carries a pin 66 which is adapted to engage a cam member 61 carried by the frame 25. tated in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, with relation to the drum 31, the pawl 64 slips over the slotted perphery of the disc 60 and when it reaches its final position the pin 66 engages the surface of the cam 61 which throws the pawl 64 into unlatched position.

The pawl 64 carries a projection 66 which is adapted to be engaged by a latch 69, best shown in Fig. 5. This latch is pivotally mounted on the When'the commutator 39 is roframe 26 and is normally biased towards the position shown in that figure by the spring 10. The'latch 69 comprises an inwardly turned portion 1| which extends below the armature 56. It will thus be seen that when the magnet 59 is energized, the dog 61 is released and also the pawl 64. Owing to the release of the dog 51, the spring 4| effects the rotation of the drum 31 in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, and in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5. Owing to the release of the pawl 64, the spring is enabled to draw the pawl into operative contact with the adjacent slot 6| of the disc 66. Consequently. the commutator is latched to the drum 31 and is carried around .therewith during-the rotation rei'erredto.

The control apparatus is arranged near. the

position corresponding to the beginning of play.

Near its forward end the lever 28 carries a projection or tooth SI which extends laterally over the ratchet wheel 38 so that it may engage the teeth of this'wheel in the manner hereinafter described. Thecommutator drum 3! is provided with a projection "which is adapted to engage and close the switch II in the event of the excessive rotation 01' the commutator. The eiiect of the closing of this switch is to energize the electromagnet 85 which opens the switch 8,! and throws the apparatus out of operation until the coin slide 52 is pushed rearwardly again, the rearward movement of-the lever 28 effecting the return of the commutator to its initial position. The switch 82 is adapted to be closed by a stop 9'! on the interior of the drum 3?. In the event that drum 3? is rotated excessively in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4-, the switch 82 closes with the result that the main switch 8? is opened. I

As has heretofore been indicated, the commutator comprises a cylindrical block of insulating material upon which is located the conductive sheet dd.- At one end the sheet it extends across the face of the commutator and thispart of the sheet til is in contact with the brushes B2, B5, B6, Bit, 3325i, and BB at the beginning of play, as shown in Fig. 8. These brushes are preferably mounted in a row upon a strip of insula- I tion'i2. The brushes B2, B4, B8, Bit and 320 are connected by wires it, it, it, it and I1 to one side of the corresponding switches 82, St,

St, Sid and S26, as shown in Fig. 8. The other contacts of these switches are connected bya common wire 58 to one end of the electromagnet E9. The other end of the electromagnet is connected to a batteryJS and also to a wire 80. The

wire 80 is connected to one side 01' the switch iii, a switch 82 and one side of a switch 83 which is closed if any attempt is made to tilt the machine. The switch 83 may consist of a pendulum mounted within a ring. The other endof this switch isconnected in series to the other end of the switches 8i and 32 by a wire 85 which is connected to the electromagnet 85. The other end of the electromagnet so is connected by a wire 86 to the brush BB. The wire 85 is con nected to one side of a switch 8? which'is adapted to be owned by the cnergizationof electromagnet 85. The other side of the switch 87 is connected by a conductor 88 to the other side of the battery id. The switch 81, which is. shown dia grammatically in Fig. 8, comprises a latch 89 and is adapted to be closed by a rod Silagainst the action of a spring 9i. The rod 9t may be carried by the board it so that the switch 81 isclosed when the coin slide is moved forwardly at the beginning of each game.

The correlation of the various parts of the ma= chine will be readily understood from the following description of its operation. At the beginning of playing the apparatus normally'has the drum 3? in its initial position. The flange of this drum s provided with a series ofindicia and the numeral "0" is visible thro sha window u, as

under the influence of the spring ll. The lever 26 Bin its uppermost position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, this position corresponding to the zero position of the drum 31. The switch 81 may be open, or closed, depending upon whether or not the preceding game was terminated with or without an attempt to beat the game by tilting the machine. A stop 93, carried by the wheel 38, is in contact with a stop 84 on the frame 25 so that there isno possibilityof rotating the drum 3! in the clockwise direction, as viewed inFig. 4.

To start playing the player must place the appropriate coinin the slide 52 and push it inwardly; Thescoin slide 52 must be pushedinwardly' to its fullest extent in order to engage the projection SI of the lever 26. The rearward movement of this lever efiects the rearward of the lever 26 and holds this lever in elevated position after it is moved rearwardly off the bracket 55. lever 26 in its elevated condition, prevents the projection 95 on the forward end of the lever 26 from engaging the ratchetwheel 38.

This rearward movement of the- The player now plays one of the balls it and if he is successful in getting it into one of the openings 53, one of the'switches on the board is closed. Let us assume that one of the switches S6 is closed. As a consequence'of the closing of the switch St, a circuit will be completed through battery it, electromagnet 5d, conductor it, switch S6, conductor 75, brush B6, conductive sheet at, brush BB, conductor 85, switch 81 and conductor 83 back to the battery. The completion of this circuit through the winding of the electromagnet 59 has the efiect of moving the latch 57 away from the ratchet wheel 38 and the movement of the latch 69 away from the pawl 6d;

Consequently, the-spring 6| acting through the rack 38 causes the rotation of the commutator in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. As a result of this movement of the commutator, the pin, 68 moves away from the cam surface hi slightly so that the pawl 56 engages one of the slots 5i of the disc 60,. This happens immediately after the commutator starts to move and the result is that the drum ,3! is carried around with the commutator by the spring 41.

This rotation oi the commutator and drum 3? continues until the portion of the conductive sheet at in engagement with the brush B6 runs of! that brush and breaks the circuit.

The conductive sheet to is cut stepwise, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to control the number of free games accorded by any of the switches S2,

St, etc. In the particular instance under consideration, the circuit is broken when the drum 3! has moved to an extent corresponding to six free games; that is, corresponding to an angle 01' six ratchet teeth on the ratchet wheel 33. At

1 this point the indicating numeral 6 appears in the window 92. When the electromagnet 59 is deenergized by the interruption of the circuit,

the, latch 51 immediately engages the ratchet wheel 38 and arrests the rotation of the commutator and the drum 31. The commutator is left displaced, in the clockwise direction, from the position shown in Fig. 5. The bracket 56 is displaced in the counter-clockwise: direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, from its position in that figure, with the result that the lever 26 moves to its lowermost position shown in dotted lines. As suming that the game is a one-ball game, it is now terminated leaving the player entitled to six free games.

To start a new game the player pushes the coin slide 52 inwardly, with the result that it engages the projection 50, owing to the lever 26 being in its lowermost position. Consequently, the pin 54 slides below the hook 55 and the rearward w movement of the coin slide 52 is limited so, that it is impossible to move it sufiiciently into the apparatus to effect the usual release and deposit of the coin located in it. As a result of the rearward movement of the lever 26 in its lowermost position, the projection 95 on this lever engagesv the ratchet wheel 38 and rotates it in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to the extent,

of one tooth. This has the eifect of rotating the drum 31 so that the next lowermost indicia, that is the number 5, appears in the window 92, corresponding to the utilization of one of the players free games.

The rearward movement of the lever 28 effects the rearward movement of the lever ll, with the result that the board 85 is moved rearwardly so as to return the ball to the player. This rearward movement of the lever 41 also efiects the rearward movement of the link 29, the pin 2? coming into engagement with the end of the slot 28. By means of the lever 30 and link 32, this movement forces the rack 33 forwardly, causing a' rotation of the pinion 35 and commutator 39 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. The engagement of the pawl 51 with the ratchet wheel 38 prevents this ratchet wheel from rotating in the same direction. In the latter part of the stroke of the lever 26, the projection 95 of the lever 26 does rotate the ratchet wheel 38 and the drum 3'! through an angle corresponding to one tooth of the ratchet wheel, as has heretofore been indicated. It will be noted that the full rearward movement of the lever 25. which is insured by the full stroke pawl 51, effects the return of the commutator to initial playing position, the pawl 54 slipping over the slot 5| of the disc until the pin 66 comes into contact with the cam surface 51, which effects the removal of the point of the pawl 54 from the disc 50. The latch 69 then engages the projection 68 of the pawl 64 and holds the same in the position shown in Fig. 5.v

The player may now play another free game and if he is successful in attaining his objective, 2. further movement of the drum 3'! in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, is eflected. If, howevenhe is unsuccessful in attainin his objective, he must push the coin slide 52 rearwardly again which eilfects a movement of the index drum 31 in the opposite direction, decreasing the number of free games available to the player by one. Playing in. this manner continues until the player has used up all his free games, and the drum 3! moves back to its zero position. When this occurs the lever-25 is elevated and a coin, if not previously placed in the coin slide 52,

has to be placed therein in order to resume playins.

'Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a. preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of 1 the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a free game control device, a rotatably mounted contact member, means for tending to rotate the contact member in one direction, means for preventing said rotation, electromagnetic means in circuit with the contact member for actuating the rotation preventing means, a control member rotatable with the contact member from a position wherein it prevents the play-' ing of free games to a position wherein free games are playable, a latch securing the contact member to the control member so that the contact member rotates the control member in said direction and rotates freely in the opposite direction, and means for disengaging the latch to permit independent rotation of the control member in said opposite direction. a

2. A free game control device comprising a rotating means for indicating the number of free games to which the player is entitled, a ratchet rigid with said indicating means, means for moving said ratchet and indicatihg means step by step in one direction as free games are played, a rotatably mounted member, a contact carried thereby, latch means for connecting said rotatable member to the ratchet and indicating means for rotation therewith, a spring tending to rotate the contact carrying member and the indicating means and ratchet-in one direction, a pawl normally holding said ratchet against said rotation, electromagnetic means for retracting said pawl, an electrical circuit including said contact and said electromagnet means whereby the movement of the ratchet and indicating means is terminated after a predetermined movement, and means for moving said ratchet and indicating means step by step,

3. A free game control apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted commutator, a series of brushes cooperating therewith for different angular distances, a pinion rigidly connected to said commutator, a sliding rack in mesh with said pinion, a spring tending to move the rack and rotate the commutator in one direction, a ratchet, a pawl holding said ratchet against rotation in said direction, a latch for securing said commutator to the ratchet so that the commutator and ratchet rotate together in said direction when the ratchet is released. said latch being adapted to slip relatively to the ratchet when the commutator is rotated in the opposite direction, an electromagnet in series with said commutator adapted when energized to release the pawl, an indicating member rigid with said ratchet indicating the number of free games available, means movable for initiating a game and moving the indicating member one step, means having a lost motlon connection therewith and connected to said rack for swinging the commutator to initial position, means for unlatching the latch in this position, a second latch releasable by the electromagnet for holding said commutator in initial position, and means on said ratchetforxelevatand for moving the contact member to its initial position at each step.

arcane ing the means movable for initiating a guest the zero position of the indicating means.

4. A game apparatus comprising a electrical circuits including 'switches each adapted to be closed by members operable in the playing of the game, a relatively movable contact system normally in said circuits and adapted to" break the circuits seriatim by said relative movement," means for normally preventing said movement, electromagnetic means in said circuits for actuating the last said means to permit said movement, and means for setting the apparatus to permit a plurality of free games depending upon the degree of movement of said contact system.

5. A free game device for an amusement appa-.

' ratus of the type which includes a playing board and ball operated switches, said free game device comprising a free game indicator movably mounted in proximity to thesaid playing board,

control means actuated by the operation of. one or more of said switches for moving said indicator in a direction away from its initial or zero position at each operation thereof, said control means including a device for moving the said indicator a plurality of steps at a single operat-ion thereof, the number of said steps at each operation being determined by the particular one of the said switches operated by the said ball.

6. A free game device for an amusement apparatus of the typewhich includes a cabinet having an inclined playing board provided with ballreceiving pockets, and a ball-retaining member slidably mounted in the said cabinet below the said inclined playing board fortemporarily retaining therein balls -which enter into said pockets, said free game devicecomprisinga free game indicator movably mounted in or adjacent to the said cabinet, control means actuated by a played ball entering one of the said pockets for moving the said indicator in a direction away from its initial or zero position at each operation thereof, said control means including a device for moving the said indicator a plurality of steps in a direction away from its initial or zero position at each operation thereof, the number of said steps at each operation being determined by the particular one of the said pockets the said ball enters, means for resetting the said free game indicator back into its intial position, means for moving the said ball-retaining member into ball-releasing position, andmeans for siinultaneously operating both the said resetting means for the said free game indicator and the saidmeans for moving the said ball-retaining member into ball-releasing position,

'7. A free game device for an amusement apparatus of the type which includes a cabinet having an inclined playing board provided with ballreceiving pockets, and a ball-retaining member slidably mounted in the said cabinet below the said inclined playing board fortemporarily re.- taining therein balls which enter into the said pockets, said free game device comprising a free game indicator movably mounted in the said cabinet, control means actuated by a ball entering one of the said pockets for moving the said indicator in a direction away from its initial or zero position at each operation thereof, said control means including a device for moving the said free game indicator a plurality oi. steps in a direction away from its initial or zero position at a single operation thereof, the'number of said steps at each operation being determined by the particular pocket the said ball enters, means for plurality ofretaining member, and means for preventingoperation of the said means for moving the said ball-retaining member, andof the-said resetting means for the said free game indicator, when the said free game indicator is in its initialor zero position.

8. A free game device for an amusement,ap-. paratus of the: type which includes a cabinet having-aninclined playing board provided with,

ball-receiving pockets, and aball-retaining member slidably mounted in the said cabinet below the said inclinedplaying board for temporarily retaining therein ballsi which enter into the said pockets, said free game device comprising a free I game indicator movably mounted in or adjacent to the said cabinet, control means .actuated by.

a ball entering one of the said pockets for moving the said free game indicator in a direction away from its initial or zero position at each operation thereof, said control means including a device for moving the said free game indicator a plurality of steps in a direction away from its initial or zero position at a single operation thereof, the number of saidsteps at each operation being determinedby the particular one of the said pockets the said ball enters, means for resetting the said free game indicator back into its initial position, means for moving/the said ball-retaining member into ball-releasing position, and a manual control member movably mounted in a wall of the said cabinet for simultaneously operating both the said resetting means for the said free game indicator and the said means for moving the sa ber into ball-releasing position.

9. A free game device comprising a free game indicator, means for operating the indicator to indicating positions, and means for controlling the operating means whereby the indicator is moved in a single operation to a position to indicate a given plurality of free games, said controlling means comprising a switch operable by a game playing member and. a ir uit losed y the switch including a brush and a commutator segment movable by said indicator operating means and being of such length as to efl'ect opening of the circuit upon'movement of the,

indicator to a position indicating saidgiven plurality of free games.

10. In a free same device a free "game indicator', means for operating the indicatorto free game indicating positions, an electric control means for initiating and arresting the movement of the operating means whereby the indicator is moved uninterruptedly to any one of a plurality of positions to indicate a particular plurality of free games, said control means comprising electric circuitseach provided with a id ball-retaining memtion wherein it indicates the plurality of free games predetermined by the switch so operated by a playing member, one of said contacts of each pair being movable by said operating means and being of such length as to move out of contact with the cooperating contact upon movement; or the indicator to the said free game indicating position for opening the corresponding circuit and arresting the movement of the operating means.

11. A free game device for use with game apparatus oi the type provided with a playing member and a manually operable member provided with coin control ing member accessible to the player, said device comprising a free game indicator, actuating means for moving the indicator to free game indication positions, latching means for said indicator actuating means, said latching means being releasable to enable said actuating means to operate the indicator uninterruptedly through different ranges to predetermined free game indicating positions and provided with resilient means for restoring the latching means to latching position for arresting the indicator in any such free game indicating position, electrically operable latch releasing means, means controlled by said device when said indicator is in any free game indicating position to render said manually operable member effective to release a playing member {or playing a plurality free games successively independently of said coin controlled means, and means for controlling the movement of said indicator to difierent indicating positions comprising a plurality or normally open circuits each including said latch releasing means and each provided with a switcmadapted to be oper-' ated by the playing member to close the corresponding circuit for efiecting the actuation of said latch releasing means, and means individual to each circuit eflective when a respective cirmeans for rendering the playarsenic cult is closed to open the circuit upon movement of the indicator to a position indicating a predetermined number of free games. 12. Ai'ree game device comprising a free game indicator operable to a position for, indicating a predetermined plurality of free games, means for operating the indicator, and means for controlling the operating means whereby the indicator is movable in each single operation to said indicating position, said controlling means comprising switch means operable by a game playing member, a circuit closable by said switch means upon said operation thereof, and means comprising a pair of normally engaged contact members in said circuit, one of which is operated by the indicator operating means to disengage the other for opening said circuit to arrest the movement of the indicator upon movement of the latter to said free game indicating position. 13. A free game device comprising a free game indicator operable to positions each for indicating a predetermined plurality of free games, means for operating the indicator to indicating positions, and means (or controlling the operating means whereby the indicator is movable in to one of said positions,

each single operation said controlling means comprising switches each adapted to be actuated by a game playing member for predetermining a plurality of free games, circuits each adapted to be closed by one of said switches upon actuation thereof by a game playing member, and means comprising a pair of normally engaged contact members in the closed circuit, one of which members is operated by the indicator operating means to disengage the other to arrest movement dicator upon movement of the latter to a position for indicating the number of free games predetermined by the actuated switch.

FRED C. S'I'EFFWS.

of the in--

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