US2240276A - Novelty score indicator - Google Patents

Description

April 29, I941. H. E. WILLIAMS arm. 2,240,276

NOVELTY SCORE INDICATOR 5 Q 0 E t Z T w w, m m w A m 1m WW S 2 1 H Filed April 8, 1940 1522a Z 7? wffi April. 1941- E. \INILLIAMS EI'AL 2,240,276

NOVELTY SCORE INDICATOR Filed April 8, 1940 2 SheetsSheet 2 h 50 H4 35 ag nd 54/ 2 L P 52, ,I

2 L f 62 l4; Q) BRAKE, 1.0mm; 1M- Q5 36 43 45 25 y? f 68 39 3? ?0- 23 L r u a 52 6?] k P; I I I I I I? 269 27a.

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 29, 1941 NOVELTY SCORE INDICATOR Harry E. Williams an Lyndon A. Durant,

, Chicago, 111..

Application April 8, 1940, Serial No. 328,476 Claims. .(Cl. 116-120) This invention relates to amusement apparatus, particularly ball rolling games, and has as its principal object the provision of a novelty score indicator in which one or more confined balls are moved from a starting position into various advanced positions as a result of the player's achieving predetermined scores in playing the game.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object to provide a novelty indicator in which one or more confined balls are advanced from a starting position corresponding to the home plate position on a baseballdiarnond, into advanced positions corresponding to the bases on thediamond, depending upon the success of the player, in projecting other balls, which are not captive in the sense of the indicating balls, at certain balli objectives on a playing board.

Another specific object is the provision of indicating means including a circular receptacle or pen in which are disposed one or more indicating balls, a revoluble ball moving member;

within the receptacle and including annularly arranged ball pockets and means for moving one of the balls into a pocket opposite a starting position in the receptacle and causing the ball moving member to move in a certain direction and carry the pocketed ball into successively advanced positions and back toward the starting position, together with means for causing the pocketed balls to be discharged from the pockets as they approach the starting position.

Other objects relate to the provision of a novel braking mechanism for the ball moving member, whereby the same is accurately stopped at the required positions, together with novel circuit control means and connections for causing the ball moving member to move different amounts in response to the difierent scores achieved by the player.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of con-- struction as well as the cooperative relationship of 'the component parts of the illustrative embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 4' is a perspective of the switching or control 'disc of the indicator;

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram.

Referring to Fig. 1, the indicating means of our invention has been shown as part of a ball rolling gameof' a familiar type including a ball rolling board It] over which balls are projected by a plunger or any other suitable means with an object of causing the ball to engage one of several game or ball switches including an operating lever ll disposed on the board to be engaged by the ball for the purpose of actuating some score or signal means, there being a number of these ball switches situated strategi cally around the playing surface so that the player must exercise his skill in :causing the ball to engage the same, with the object of achieving a high' score. In Fig. 1, only one of these switches is shown because of the fragmentary nature of the view, it being understood that there will preferably be a plurality of these switches, at least four, as shown in the circuit diagram of Fig; 5'hereinafter described.

The score indicating means is preferably situated at the lower end of the board 10 and includes means in the form of an annularly arranged rail or guard I 2 defining a circular receptacle, track or pen within which one or more indicating balls l3, l4 I! are confined, it being understood that the board It is customarily tilted downwardly toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, with the result that the balls 13. I! seek the lower levels in the pen, which, cooperably with a rota-table ball moving member or disc, causes the same to be'lined up in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

Mounted for rotation about an axis 18 centrallyof the ballconfining receptacle or pen is a ball moving member or disc l9 provided with circumferentially spaced or annularly arranged notches 20 constituting ball receiving formations or pockets ofwhich, in the illustrative device, there are founequally spaced about the periphery ofthe disc. The spacing of the guard rails 12, which confine theballs, is not uniform with respect to the periphery of disc l9, there being 7 a. quadrant 12a of the rail extending between Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a ball 7 playing board and the novelty indicating means thereon;

Fig. 2.is a fragmentary vertical section alon lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, detailing the'loading means for the indicating balls;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalong lines 3- -3 of Fig. 1 through the entire indicator unit;

the position indicated as Third and the position indicated as Home plate on board 10, which quadrant is spaced from the periphery a distance sufficient to permit the several balls to rest and move between the portion lZa of the rail and the corresponding peripheral quadrant of the disc so that the balls will normally be disposed in what is termed the starting position shown in Fig. 1, the portion |2b of the next adjacent section of the rail being spaced closer to the periphery of disc l9 so that the leading latter having a depending insulated portion 45 disposed to operate a control switch later to be described.

ball I 3 cannot pass between the rail and disc,

25, operation of which will cause relatively slow rotation in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig- 1) of the disc l9.

Thus, by way of general description, the ball indicating means is set into operation by actuation of the switch associated with the switch operating arm H on the playboard, which ultimately results in an operation of the ball loading means to push the lead ball into the pocket of disc |9 opposite the Home plate, whereupon the disc I9 rotates to move the ball (now held in the pocket by the the portions |2b, etc., of the guard from the starting position to positions opposite the First, Second and Third base positions indi cated in Fig. l on the playboard, to simulate the movement of a base runner in a baseball game. The distance that the balls move from the Home plate is determined bywhich of the score switch controls II the player succeeds in operating by rolling over the playboard other balls, which may be termed playing balls to distinguish from the captive indicating balls l3 l1.

Such controlled advancing of the ball moving disc is efiected by a conductive control disc 26 mounted to float on the spindle 2| (see Fig, 4 also) and provided with a pawl 21 pivoted as at 28 thereon and urged by spring means 29 into engagement with the teeth of the star gear .22, whereby to provide a yieldable carry-over driving connection between the motor-driven spindle and the control disc.

Spaced about'the periphery of the metal control disc in positions corresponding to the positions of the notches or pockets 2!] in the ball moving disc, are insulated areas 30, in radial alignment with each of which is a brake slot 3|. Spaced appropriately along the outer periphery of the metal disc are a plurality of contact wipers or fingers 32, 33, 34 and 35, each yieldably bearing against the peripheral edge of the disc for contacting engagement therewith and adapted for connectionin a control circuit hereinafter to be described.

Means for braking or stopping the control disc and hence the ball moving disc, includes the provision of a solenoid 36 (Fig. 3) provided with a plunger 3'! at the upper end of which is a reduced nose portion 38 adapted to project into the brake slots 3|, the plunger-31 being urged by a relatively light spring 39 to bear against the 1 underside of the control disc for projection of the nose portion into any brake slot which moves into alignment therewith. This brake means is controlled through certain circuit connections hereinafter to be described, so that the ball moving disc will be stopped with the ball pockets thereof properly aligned opposite the base positions of the simulated baseball diamond.

The lead 'ball I3 is normally held by gravity out of the pocket at Home plate position, and 5 1 means are provided for loadingthis ball into the pocket at the time of or prior to the movement of the disc I9 in advancing operation, this means including a kicker arm 40' (Fig. '2) movable in a slot 4| radially of axis l8 ofthe disc in a direction to push the lead ball l3 into'the pocket, the arm being normally retracted by action of a spring 42, but being pulled forward in ball loading action by a solenoid 43, the plunger 44 of which is connected with the loading arm, the

a ,15 One of the objects of the invention is to have. the disc l9 advance one or more indicating balls intervening between Home plate and rail portion l2'a), and brake means 3|-38 operates automatically to arrest the disc I!) to dispose the ball |3 opposite the First, Second or Third base position, depending upon which of the score switches the player has operated.

The circuit connections for controlling the operation of the novelty indicator are shown in Fig. 5 j wherein there are four ball-operated switches Ila, lib, He, and Hd, each connected to a common power conductor 56 leading to one terminal of a battery 5| whose opposite terminal 52 is grounded. Associated with each of ball switches ||a |d is an electrically operated circuit controlling device or relay 53a, 53b, 53c, and 53d having one terminal connected with a contact of the corresponding ball switch Ila lld, the remaining terminal of relay 53a being connected byconductor 54 to the first wiper contact 32, while relay 53b is connected by conductor 55 to the second wiper 33, the remaining relays being connected respectively by conductors 56 and 51 to the wiper contacts 34 and 35.

The metal control disc 25 is grounded so that if either of the ball switches ||a-. ||d is closed, power from battery 5| will be connected thereby to the relay winding through the-corresponding wiper contact 32 35, each of which is normally engaged with a conductive portion of the periphery of disc 26 between the insulations 30, such energization of the relay causing the relay switches thereof.to be closed. to set up a locking circuit which will hold the .relay in energized condition after the playing ball has disengaged the ball switch.

There is one relay 53m. 53d for each of the scoring or base positions shown in Fig. 1, relay 53a corresponding to the First base position and being provided with a locking switch ,58 connected to the common power conductor 50 to connect power to the relay winding around the corresponding ball switch ||a when the relay is pulled up. Similarly, relays 53b, 53c and 53:! are each respectively associated with the Second, Third and Home base positions, and each of these relays is likewise provided with a locking switch 59, 60, or 6| operable to hold the relay in encrgized condition once the same has been initially energized by action of the corresponding 'ball switch.

Each of thescore relays isalso provided with a score switch 58a, 59a, 60a, and 6|a, respectively, each having one terminal connected to a common power lead 50a, the remaining terminal of the First base score switch being connected by a conductor 62 to one terminal of the loading solenoid 43' and the brake solenoid 36,'while the remaining terminal of the score switch 59a of the Second base relay isconnected by conductor 64 with the First base relay to energize the latter in the event that Second base score switch 59a should be closed, score switches 60a and Gla of the Third and Home base relays each respectively being connected by conductors 65 and 66 to energize the preceding relays, that is to say, the Secnd base relay or the Third base relay respectively, responsive to closing of said switches 66a or am.

Thus, it will be apparent that if the switch Bla of the Home plate relay 53d were to be closed, the Third base relay 530 would be enerigzed via conductor 6 6, which in turn would result in energization of the Second base relay 53b viaconductor 65, and this in turn would result in energization of the First base relay via conductor 64. In this sense, the relays are connected to control each other serially so that each higher relay controls all of the lower relays, the Home base relay being considered at the top of the series, and the First base relay at thebottom thereof.

The motor 25 has one of its terminals connected to the common power lead 50 and the remaining terminal connected via conductor 61 to one contact 68 of a brake switch whose companion contact 69 is grounded. Contact 66 is moved from normally open circuit condition to engage contact 69 by pressure thereagainst of the lower end portion 31a of the brake solenoid plunger when brake solenoid 36 is energized, with the result that power is connected across the terminals of motor 25.

Since the brake solenoid 36 is initially energized via conductor 62 and switch 58a of the First base relay, and since the latter is looked as soon as it pulls up (following momentary operation of the corresponding ball switch), it is desirable to deenergize solenoid 36 shortly after the motor starts for the purpose of causing the nose portion 38 of the brake solenoid plunger to ride against the underside of the control disc in readiness to drop into the next brake slot in the event that the movement of the disc is to be equivalent only to a single base hit.

Such action of the brake solenoid is accomplished by having one of its terminals connected as heretofore described to the conductor 62, and the remaining terminal connected via conductor I6 to one terminal ll of the loading switch, which has a companion or central contact 12 connected to ground. As soon as the First base relay pulls up, power is connected to the loading solenoid 43, causing the arm 46 thereof to be advanced so that the depending switch operating portion 45 thereof will engage the loading switchand cause contact F2 to close circuit with contact 1 I, thus connecting ground to the brake solenoid 36,energizing the same, and consequently closing the brake switch 68-439 to start motor 25.

The loading solenoid 43 must remain energized long enough to cause the ball loading arm 46 to hold ball in pocket 26 until the disc has displaced the ball sufficiently from starting position to assure its remaining in the pocket. In the first instance, the necessary ground connection for operating the loading solenoid 43 is procured via a conductor 14 connected with a contact 15 and through a movable contact 16 of a motor relay H to ground. As soon as the motor is energized as aforesaid, relay Tl pulls up, breaking the ground circuit to the loading solenoid; however, the initial impulse to the latter is sufiicient to operate the loading switch and cause contacts l213 thereof to close, thus connecting ground to the solenoid 43 to lock the same in operated condition so long as the associated scoring relay 53a is pulled up.

As soon as the loading solenoid 43 is initially energized, brake solenoid 36 is also energized via loading switch contacts Ill2, and the brake switch contacts 69 are held in closed condition because the nose 38 of the brake plunger is bearing against the underside of the control disc 26. The brake solenoid will, however, remain energized via the conductor 16a, connecting with motor relay contact 1511, which receives ground via armature contact 16 as soon as the motor relay pulls The control disc 26 moves only a short distance from its starting position until the nearest insulated portion 30 thereon engages the wiping contact 32 and thus releases the First base score relay 53a, breaking circuit via conductor 62 to both the brake solenoid and loading solenoid. The ball moving arm 46 of the loading solenoid and the switch operating part thereof drop back, but the brake plunger 31-31(1-38 remains depressed by virtue of its engagement with the underside of the control disc until the next succeeding brake slot moves into alignment with nose 38, which opens the brake switch 68-69, dropping the motor relay TI and deenergizing motor 25.

As a result of the foregoing train of events, the lead ball I3 will have been advanced from the Home plate position shown in Fig. 1, to the next adjacent or First base position, thus indicating to the player a Single.

, Considering next the case where the player succeeds, in operating the ball switch lid to make a Home run, the'Home run relay 53d will be the first to pull up, with the remaining base relays 53c-53b--53a pulling up in succession as the score switches 6la-66a,59a are closed. As a result of the energization of the First base relay 53a, the brake solenoid 36, the kicker solenoid 43,

and the motor 25 will all be energized in the manner heretofore described, so that the control disc 26 begins its anti-clockwise movement, the difierence, in this instance, however, residing in the fact that as the first insulated portion 30 passes over the First base relay wiper 32, relay 53a will be dropped, and the brake solenoid 36 and kicker solenoid 43 will likewise be deenergized. However, as soon as the insulated portion passes wiper 32, relay 53a will again pull up, since its energizing circuit is primarily controlled by the next succeeding or Second base relay 53b, in consequence of which the brake solenoid and the loading solenoid will again be energized. Similarly, as the insulated portion 30 next passes over the wiper 33, the Second base relay 531) will be momentarily dropped and restored, as will the Third base relay when the insulation passes over wiper 34.

When the insulation passes over wiper 35, however, the Home run relay 53d will be dropped, but the motor will continue to drive disc 26, since the brake solenoid remains energized through the other relays of the series. As the next succeeding insulated area 30 passes successively over wipers 32 and 33, the associated first and second base relays will again be momentarily dropped and pulled up, but when this insulation passes over wiper 34, the Third base relay will be permanently dropped. By this time both the control disc and the ball moving disc will have moved a distance of a half revolution, thus carrying the ball from 'I-Iome plate, past First base, into position opposite Second base, the disc continuing to carry the ball to Third base and back toward starting position adjacent Home plate by virtue of the fact that the First and Second base relays are still pulled up, with the result that the disc 26 will continue to move through the remaining half revolution until'relay 53b is dropped by action of the next succeeding insulated area passing over wiper 33, and finally the First base relay 53a is dropped by action of the next succeeding insulated area in passing over wiper 32.

It should be observed that the ball gravitates out of its pocket as the latter rotates into position opposite the quadrant or section 12a of the ball enclosing guard.

It will be appreciated that if the player makes a Two or Three base hit by operating either switch lib or' i lc, the operation of the machine will be similar to that described in conjunction with the Home run, except that in the case of the 7 Three base hit, only the first three relays 53a, 53b, and 530 will be pulled up, the same being dropped in inverse order beginning with relay 53c in the case of the Three base hit, or with relay 531) if the play is only a Double. The player may make a succession of Single hits which will results in loading all of the pockets of the carrier, and it is therefore necessary to confine an appropriate number of balls in the receptacle.

It is contemplated that the novelty indicating device may also be employed in conjunction with a signal or visual indicating device electrically controlled by means of a ball-operated signal switch 80 (Fig. 1) connected via a conductor 8| with a signal solenoid 82 arranged to actuate a visual indicating disc 83, switch 80 being situated in the ball pen or receptacle at a point opposite the widened portion I2a of the guard rail to be operated by a ball as the same drops out of pocket 20 upon restoration to starting position. In addition to the foregoing Home run indicator, switch 80 controls a lamp 84 at Home plate position on an electrically illuminated panel which is arranged to represent a baseball diamond. Opposite each of the intervening base positions in the ball pen is a base switch 86 at First base, 81 at Second base, and 88 at Third base, the latter switch being seen in sectional View of Fig. 3. The First base switch 86 is connected via conductor 86a to illuminate the lamp 861) at First base position, Second base switch 81 being connected via conductor 87a to energize the Second base lamp 81b, and the Third base switch 88 being connected via conductor 88a to energize the Third base lamp 88b.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular embodiment specifically described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ball rolling game of the type including switch means situated with respect to a ball rolling field for operation by a ball thereon, novelty indicating means including a ball pen on said field and having a ball confined therein, a ball moving device arranged in said ball pen for rotative movement with respect to the latter to transport said ball from a starting position in said pen into a succession of intermediate positions, and back toward said starting position, and means operably controlled by said switch means for starting and stopping the movement of said ball moving device responsive to the operation of said switch means by a ball rolled on said ball rolling field.

2. In a ball rolling game of the type including a ball rolling field and a plurality of ball-operated score switches thereon, the combination of novelty score indicating means comprising an annular ball pen on said field and a ball confined therein, a rotatable ball moving member in said pen, electrically actuated means for rotating said ball moving member, selectively operable switching mechanism connected for actuation by said ball-operated switch to effect movements of said ball moving member different amounts from a starting position depending upon which of said ball-operated switches is actuated, means for mounting said pen in a tilted position to effect gravitation of said ball into said starting position for transport by the ball moving member as aforesaid, means operably controlled by said selectively operable switching mechanism for moving said ball into operative engagement with said ball moving member at starting position, means for maintaining said ball in operative engagement to be carried by said moving memher after leaving starting position, and means for effecting disengagement of said ball from carrying relationship with the moving member as the ball approaches starting position.

3. In a device of the class described, a novelty indicator including a substantially annular pen and an annular ball carrying disc within the pen, said disc being provided with a ball pocket in an edge thereof, said pen being spaced from said disc an amount suificient to maintain a ball in said pocket during three-quarters of a revolution of the disc from a starting position and being spaced from said disc in the region opposite the transit of the pocket during the remaining quarter revolution such that the ball may move freely between the disc and pen, said pen being inclined so that said ball will gravitate from the pocket during said remaining quarter revolution and gravitate into said starting position for the disc at the lowermost part of the pen, means for efiecting rotative displacement of said disc, and means operable to engage a ball and move the same into said pocket at said starting position.

4. A novelty indicator including an annular ball pen and a ball moving member concentrically arranged within said pen so as to effect move ment of a ball from a starting or Home plate position successively into First, Second and Third base positions back toward said starting position in sirnilitude of a base runner in a game of baseball, said'ball moving member having a plurality of ball receiving pockets therein, said pen being inclined to'cause a ball therein to gravitate into said starting position opposite Home plate, means for rotatively moving said ball moving member and stopping the same with one of said pockets opposite said starting position, means for loading a ball into said pocket at starting position, and control means for actuating said loading means and thereafter said rotating means to move the latter different distances from starting position'to dispose a ball in said pocket at any of said Base positions and ultimately carry said ball beyond said Third base position for gravitation back to starting position as aforesaid.

5. In an amusement device, a circular pen with a ball therein, means for mounting said pen in a tilted position so that said ball will gravitate from a certain position at a higher level therein into a starting position at a lower level therein, and a rotary ball carrier in said pen for moving said ball from starting position around the pen toward starting position aforesaid to free said ball for gravitating movement the remainder of the distance to starting position, and means for rotating said ball carrier.

6. In an amusement device, a circular ball pen having a floor tilted so that one part of the pen is lower than the remainder thereof, said lower part constituting a starting position for a ball, said pen representing in similitude a baseball field with said starting position constituting Home plate and three positions spacedaround the remaining portions of the pen constituting respectively First, Second and Third base, a ball normally positioned by gravity at said starting position in the pen, a rotatable ball movingdevice in the pen for moving the ball from starting position successively into said Base positions in a direction back toward Home plate as far as the Third base, said ball gravitating out of operative engagement with said carrier after being moved out of Third base position and gravitating to starting position at Home plate as aforesaid, together with driving mechanism, and control means therefor selectively operable-to move said ball moving device relative to the Bases in the manner aforesaid, whereby to efiect movement of a ball from Home plate relative to the Bases in similitude of the movement of a base runner in a baseball game.

7. A simulated baseball amusement device including a substantially annular ball penhaving a Home plate, together with First; Second and Third base positions designated therearound in simulation of a baseball field, a ball confined in the pen, a rotatable ball moving device arranged concentrically within the pen for moving said ball therearound from one Base to another, and means for controlling movement of said ball moving device and comprising a rotatable control member having circumferentially arranged conductive portions with insulated portions thereon situated in spaced relation in correspondence to the spacing of the several Base positions, motor means for moving said 'ball moving device and control member in step, means actuated by a player for starting said motor means, andcircuit control means connected to control said motor means and including a plurality of contact means cooperable with said conductive parts of the rotatable control member to maintain an energizing circuit for said motor means to drive said ball moving device different amounts to move said ball relative to said Base positions.

8. In an amusement device, a-ball pen having a series of stations situated therein and into which a ball is moved in succession in a certain direction from a starting position, rotatable means for moving a ball as aforesaid, motor means for driving said rotatable means, and means selectively controlling said motor means to effect movement of a ball relative to one or more of said stations in the manner aforesaid and comprising a Control disc rotatable in step with said ball moving means, spaced conductive and insulated parts on said disc and wiping contact means cooperable therewith and connected with switching mechanism to control an energizing circuit for said motor means to move said ball moving means.

9. In an amusement device, in combination, an annular pen defining a baseball field with a Home plate and First, Second and Third base positions designated thereon, a rotatable ball moving member arranged concentrically with respect to said pen on said field, ball receiving apertures formed in said last named member to move a ball successively around said field relative to said Base positions from Home plate, motor means for moving said ball moving member as aforesaid, together with control means for effecting movement of the ball moving member to move said ball into one or more of said Base positions, said control means including a switch for starting said motor, and selectively operable switch means under the control of the player cooperating with switch means coacting with saidiball moving member to maintain said motor in energized condition for different periods, and means {controlled cooperably with said selectively operable switch means for moving a ball into operative engagement with said ball moving member at said Home plate prior to the ball moving operation of said member.

10. In a device of the class described, a ball pen having a substantially circular inner wall and a tilted floor with base positions spaced therearound and including a Home plate position at the lowermost portion of said floor with additional base positions spaced therefrom in a direction around the pen in simulation of a baseball field, a ball moving disc mounted in the pen rotatable about an axis substantially normal to said floor and having lball receiving pockets spaced around its periphery, each opposite one of said Base positions, electric motor means for rotating said disc in a direction from Home plate toward First base around the field, electrically operated brake means normally stopping said disc with said pockets each opposite a base position, and switching mechanism connected for operation to energize and release said brake means and energize'said motor means for selected periods of operation to rotate the disc and move a pocket therein relative to one or more Base positions, the inner wall portion of said pen between Home plate and First, Second and Third base being spaced close enough to the edge of the disc to maintain a .ball in a pocket thereof during transit from Home plate into Third base position, the remaining inner side of the pen from Third base to Home plate being spaced far enough from said disc to permit a ball to gravitate from a pocket after leaving Third base position and to pass between the disc and pen to a starting position lback opposite Home plate; and means operably controlled by said switching mechanism for'loading a .ball at starting position into a pocket, releasing said brake means and moving the disc relative to one or more base positions as aforesaid, said lbrake means acting automatically to stop the disc following deenergization of the motor means.

11. In a ball moving device, a ball pen, a ball carrying disc mounted for rotation in the pen to move a ball therein from one position to another, a control disc rotated coaxially with said carrying disc and provided with stopping means spaced thereabout to correspond to each of the aforesaid positions, a brake member yieldably urged against said control disc for stopping engagement with said stopping means responsive to the movement of the disc to bring the stopping means into alignment with the brake member, electromagnetic means for withdrawing said brake member from stopping engagement with said stopping means, said brake member riding against said control disc following withdrawal as aforesaid until the next succeeding means is aligned therewith by movement of the control disc, a driving motor rotating said disc, and selectively operable switch means connected for operation to efiect withdrawal of said brake member and energization of said motor, together with additional switch means operably controlled by movements of said control disc for stopping said motor after the control disc and carrying disc have been rotated together different distances predetermined by the selective operation of said selectively operable switch means.

12. In a device of the class described including a rotatable member, control means comprising a control disc mounted to rotate in step with said rotatable member, stopping means spaced about the axis of rotation of said disc, conductive portions extending on said disc about the rotative axis thereof and interrupted at positions opposite each stopping means, brake means including a brake member yieldably bearing against said disc for stopping engagement with any of said stopping means disposed in juxtaposition therewith, said brake means further including electrically operated means to move said brake member from stopping engagement as aforesaid, electric motor means driving the rotatable member and disc as aforesaid, contact means engaging the conductive portions on the disc, switching means connected with said contact means for selective operation to energize said brake moving means for operation as aforesaid during periods corresponding to different rotative displacements of the control disc, and switch means coacting with said brake means for energizing said motor means while said brake member is out of stopping engagement with the stopping means and further to deenergize said motor means when the brake member is in stopping engagement with the stopping member.

13. In a device of the class described, control means for a rotatable ball moving disc, said control means comprising a control disc interconnected with the ball disc to revolve in step therewith, said control disc having brake slots spaced about the rotating axis in a face thereof, a brake plunger yieldably urged against said face for movement into any of said slots aligned therewith to stop the disc, non-conductive portions on said control disc opposite each brake slot, conductive portions extending concentrically of said control disc between said non-conductive portions, a plurality of wiper contacts bearing against said conductive and non-conductiveportions dur ing rotative movement of the control disc, electromagnetic means energized to withdraw said brake plunger from stopping engagement in a brake slot, a motor driving said discs in step as aforesaid, a switch operated by said brake plunger in withdrawn condition to energize said motor, said plunger being held in withdrawn condition by engagement with the disc following withdrawal and rotative movement of the disc and engaging in the next succeeding brake slot provided the plunger is not held in withdrawn condition by said electromagnetic means, and selectively operable switch means connected to energize said electromagnetic withdrawing means and operably controlled by circuit connections through said wiper contacts to permit said motor to run for diiferent periods dependent upon which of the wiper contacts are connected by selective operation of said selectively operable switch means.

14. In a device of the class described including a revoluble member, means for controlling the movements of said member comprising, in combination, a control disc revolving in step with said revoluble member and having brake slots formed in a face thereof concentrically of the rotating axis of the disc, a brake plunger yieldably urged against said face to project into any of said slots 21 aligned therewith, said plunger being held in withdrawn position by riding against portions of said face intervening between any succeeding slots, electromagnetic means energizable to withdraw said plunger from a slot, a motor driving gsaid discs, a motor energizing switch closed by said plunger in withdrawn condition, and means adapted to be controlled by a player for effecting withdrawal of the plunger as aforesaid.

15. In a novelty device of the class described,

a circular ball pen, a ball moving member revoluble in the pen and having a ball pocket opening toward the inner wall of the pen, said inner wall of the pen being spaced close enough with respect to said ball moving member throughout a por- .':tion of the latters travel less than the distance around the pen to maintain a ball in said pocket during said travel, the inner side portions of the pen for the remaining distance therearound being spaced far enough from the ball moving mem Iber to permit a ball to move out of the pocket and pass between the ball moving member and pen toward a starting position at the beginning of that portion of the pen which is closer to the ball moving member, means for rotating said ball moving member, means for positioning a ball disposed at said starting position in said pocket when the latter is opposite said starting position whereby the ball may be carried in said pocket around to the more widely spaced portion ;of the pen, and means for effecting movement of said ball from said pocket following movement thereof into position opposite the beginning of the more widely spaced wall portion, said means further effecting movement of the ball into starting position.

HARRY E. WILLIAMS. LYNDON A. DURANT.

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