US2517324A - Simulated racing game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 1, 1950 K. KURosE 2,517,324

SIMULATED RACING GAME APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. /eomof? /fwose QQ/4, www

Aug. 1, 1950 K. KuRosE SIMULATED RACING GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1948 a wwm H9 0W 6 2mb N( 2 m 2 M. 1nd 5 :7 3% 2 n A M u m M. 2 x 4\ a 3 6 l 3 O 8 5 29 5 3 3 34 f 2 9/0 f oP .4 44 44 4 ffy; 3

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TTF/VEY Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

' This invention relates'to a race tracktype amusementdevice and an object ofthis invention is to'provide arace track type amusement device whichis chance controlled, which ishig'hly'entertainingand which can beused orplayed'by' one or more persons.

Another object is to provide a race track type amusement device'which is well adapted to be' mader in an inexpensive form for the use of children as a toy and whichcan bek maden i'n a more substantialv andv durable harm' for adult' use.

Another Objectis to prov-idefarace track type amusement device comprising!V a` racing table mounted iorxun'dulating movement aboutanupright central axis, saidtablehavingithereon a" race track whereon wheel supported figuresk are movablyv disposed and said device being` provided with meansior imparting undulatingfmovement to=the table and withv meansrfor indicating the number'cf laps made by theracing figures' around the track. on' the table'.

Other objects aretoprovide a race track type amusement device `which is simplel in' construe tion, not expensive' to manufacture, `and'l whichI is highlyy efficient in providing amusement to persons using thefsame.

Other objectsot the invention will: be `apparent from4 the following description takenf` irl-*connection with the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a planviewfof;I a-race'itrack type amusementv deviceV constructed in; accordance with my invention.-

Figzisan elevation of the samelcoking. in` the direction oi broken line 2-2vof:Fig..1r.

Fig; 3 is a sectionalview of the samevtakensubstantially on broken line 3 3 of- Fig. 1.

Fig. L i..is an elevationlooking in the direction of broken line 4--4 of Fig. l`

Fig. 5fis a detached-plan viewl offa racing table of a different shape thanfthe racing.table shown in Fig. l'.

Fis'is a detached Viewv partly in-rsection and partlyy in elevation showing an'y adjusting. device which can be-used inv connection with this ap paratus.

Fie. rl'is a'planview of'onetype-of racing device which can be used iniconnectionwith-this-1amuse-V ment device.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the device'shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 vis a side elevation of another type of racing device.

Fig. 10 is a view partlyv in plan and partly in sectionof the device shown in Fig. '9, taken.v on broken line Ili---HJ of Fig.. 9.

Like'- referencey numerals designate like .parts shaped racing table |`2` which is supported for undulating or swash plate movement about an upright central axis. Theracing table i2 has an upwardly'curvedlmarginal nance i3 which forms theouter vvall of a race track M. Another upwardly extendingiflange |15: forms the inner wall oftherrace' trackld. Both of theanges I3 and t5'. curve upwardly from the track M? and' are inclined outwardly relative to the track. This provides'a `construction in. which wheel supported racing pieces-on the trackld can run partly on these flanges and climb.` part way up said anges as they. race around the track.

The' center of the racingv table i2 is' provided with. an indentation lB which-rits over and rests upon theta'peredupper endA portion il of a rigid' upright post I8. This post I8 thus supports the race table i2; for undulating movementl aboutr an upright centrally positioned axis; Any suitable meangiiszprovided. for preventing rotation of the table I2. This can be accomplished by providing onthe-table I2 anoutwardly protruding forked bracket 59' which tsover-a fixed upright post |9a.secured to theframe Il.

One satisfactory'way of imparting undulating` movement to the table i2 is to secureto the bottom of said tablea downwardly extending preferablyinclined track ange'Zf) which terminates in an inwardly directed tread portion 2i on which a wheel 242i is adapted toroll. The treadaporticn'Zl isfpre'fera-bly formed at ak proper angle so thatv any portion: thereof which contacts the platform o1 the-frame l i' will rest flatly against such frame. The track flange 29' is circular and is'concentrically positioned relative to the'bearing socket ISfon which. the table l2 is supported. Preferably the table i2 isiormed of` a paper or fiber product and preferably the track flange 529-2! is formed of sheet metal and is readily detachable fromthetable I2.

The Wheell?. is rotatively mountedon a cross arm 2-3 whichv is secured to a sleeve 25./ supported onrthe postl i8. Preferably another wheel 25 is mounted: on-an endportion: ofthe crossl arm 23' diametricallyopposite to the wheel-22. Thev use ofthe-second wheel 25 is desirable to provide a better'.A balancedz structure butthe device isf oper- 3 ative without this second wheel 25. The wheel 25 is closer to the axis of the post I8 than is the wheel 22 to avoid interference with indicator mechanism hereinafter described and this wheel 25 runs on the horizontal platform IIa provided by the frame I I.

The post I8 is of substantial length and the lower end portion of said post is preferably secured to a base block or bearing member .26 which is supported by the frame II; In'this way the post I8 is rigidly supported in' an upright position. The sleeve 24 is rotatively mounted on the post I8 and the lower end portion of said sleeve is iixedly secured to a bearing block 21. The two [ blocks 26 and 21 are spaced apart by balls 28 which `cooperate with the blocks to form an antifriction step bearing.

Suitable driving means is connected with the sleeve 24. This driving means can be manually operated or power operated. The driving means shown in the drawings comprises a sheave 29 secured to the sleeve 24 and connected by a belt 36 with another sheave 3| on an upright shaft 32 which is positioned at the side of the table I2. For manual operation a crank 33 can be secured to'the shaftI 32. Obviously this shaft 32 can be driven by an electric motor or by a spring motor. Also either anelectric motor or a spring motor can be mountedwithin the housing formed by the frame I I andconnected by worm or bevel gear means with the sleeve 24'.v

Obviously when the sleeve .24 and cross arm 23 connected therewith are rotated the wheel 22 will be caused to move in a circle on the tread member 2l and Vthis will-impart an undulating movement to table I2. If wheeled figures are supported on the race track portion I4 of the table I2 this undulating movement will cause the gures to move progressively around the track I4 as hereinafter explained.

If it is desired to limit rotation of the shaft 32 to one direction only then a ratchet wheel 1D can (be secured to this shaft and a pawl 1I positioned in engagement with this ratchet wheel, see Fig. 2.

To enable users of this game to select in advance of a race, the number of laps to be run, I provide indicator means. One preferred form of this indicator means is hereinafter disclosed butthe same can be widely varied. This indicator means comprises a star wheel 34 Secured to a shaft 35. The points 'of this star wheel 34 extend upwardly throughan opening 36 in the frame platform ila, into the path of a contacter 31 which is carried by the cross arm 23 so that the star wheel will be advanced one step for each complete revolution of the cross arm 23. The outer end portion of the shaft 35 has an arml 38 secured thereto. Another star wheel 33 is secured to a shaft 4i! and positioned with its points in the path of movement of the arm 38. Each time the shaft 35 makes one complete revolution the arm 38 will contact one point of the star Wheel 39 and advance the same one step. The shaft 4) is rotatively mounted in a frame piece 4l and extends through a -dial member 42 and has an indicator "arm 43 secured thereto. A'hand wheel or knob 44 is secured to the outer end o'f the shaft 46 so that this shaft can be turned toset the indicator arm 43 `infany desired position, depending upon the number of laps'selected fora race. The end of a racecan be signalled bythe sound of a bell 45. The bell 45 is sounded by the dropping of a lever arm 46 which is fulcrumed on' a pivot 41 andhas'one end thereof positioned 4 I in the path of the indicator arm 43. As the indicator arm 43, moving counterclockwise, Fig. 4, approaches its zero or starting position, which in the drawings is the position in which said indicator arm points downwardly, it will first engage and angularly move the lever arm 46 clear of the bell 45 and will then release said lever arm and allow the outer end of the same to strike and sound said bell. y

vThe racing table can be circular in shape, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, or it can be of a different shape such as the oval or elongated tafble 48 shown in Fig. 5. The elongated table 48 has an upwardly and outwardly extending marginal flange 49, which in cross section, is shaped like 'the ange I3 of the table I2 and functions in the same manner.I Also the oval table 48 has an upwardly and inwardly extending inner flange 50 which is oval in plan and which, in cross section, is shaped like the flange I5 0f the table I2 and functions in a similar manner. The under side of the oval table 48 has a circular track flange 5I secured thereto. This'trackange 5I has'a tread flange 5.2 and is of the same size and shape and is similar in every way to the track iiange '2t-2l of Figs. 1 to 4 so that the two race tables 48 and I2 can'be used interchangeably with the mechanism shown in Figs. l to 4. The track flange 5I is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The center of the oval table 48 has a bearing recess 53, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. This bearing recess 53 corresponds to the .bearing recess I6 of the table II. The portion of the oval racing table between the flanges 49 and 50 forms an oval track 54 in which racing figures can be operated.

The racing figures used on the track can be spherical gures, such as marbles, or they can be small wheel supported figures, vehicles, iboats or the like. Figs. '1 and 8 show a small car 55 having two rear wheels 56 and a front ball 51 on which it runs. The ends ofthe car 55y are rounded and the wheels 56 and ball 51 are within the outlines of the frame so that when a number of these cars are kused on the track they will not catch on each other but will be deflected away from each other if they bump together on said track. Preferably the ball 51 is of heavy material, such as a steel ball, so that the weight of this ball will tend to keep the end of the car in which the ball is supported ahead of the other end when the car is moving by gravity along the inclined race track. The ball is also free to roll sidewise and for this reason makes the car more nexible and helps to steer the car along the track. If desired lthe body of the car 55 can be made to simulate a boat or a bus or any other vehicle.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a, frame 58 supported on a front ball 59 and rear wheels 60. The wheels 6D are secured to a shaft 6I which has a crank portion 62. A figure 63, which can be that of a horse, has its rear leg 64 pivotallysupported on the crank 62 and its front leg 65 connected [by pivot means 66 ywith the front end of the frame 58. Obviously rotation of rear wheels 63 will rotate the crank shaft 6I-62 and this will move the horse 63 to simulate a gallop or run.

Preferably the vehicles, figures and the like used on the track are distinctively colored to differentiate them one from another.

It may be desired to vary the pitch or slope of the tables I2 and 43. One way of doing this is to provide a conical extension member 61, Fig. 6, which can be fitted over the top end of the post I8 and used as a pivotal support for the racing table. This spaces the center of the racing table arther away from the frame Il and results in an increased slope of pitch.

Preferably the race track portion of each table i3 and 48 has perforations 59 into which pins 58 or other deflector devices can be plugged. Ihese deneetor members 58 offer obstruction to the figures on the track and deflect and change the course of these ngures and cause the gures to vary their speed and serve to make the races more interesting.

In the use of this racing device a desired number of the gures to be used are placed on the track with the race table I2 or 48 at rest and preferably with the lowermost part of this table positioned alongside of the indicating mechanism. In this connection it will be noted that Figs. 2, 3 and Ll show the table tilted so that the portion of the table farthest away from the indieating mechanism. is at the lowest elevation. Before the start of a race the players decide on the number of laps to be run and set the indicator arm :i3 in a position relative to the dial 42 to indicate this number of For instance, if they set the indicator arm i3 in line with the hole in the dial Ywhich is marked I 5 then the cross arm 23 will have to make fifteen revolutions to angularly move this indicator arm i3 counterclockwise. Fig far enough to ring the bell d5.

After the indicator arm All has been set a player rotates the cross arm in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l by turning the crank 83. es the cross arm 23 rotates the wheel 22 rolls around on the tread member 2| of the track ilange 25 and imparts an undulating movement to the race table I2 about the axis of the post I 8 which causes the figures on the table to run around the track. The speed of movement of the igures can be varied by varying the speed of undulation of the table. As these figures move around the track they will also move in and out of said track and will be deflected from straight paths by the pins or like deflector members 58 which are placed in the holes 89 in the track and said figures will crowd the flanges i8 and l5 or 49 and 50 and will tend to run up on these anges, particularly the marginal flanges l 3 and 511, Due to this irregularity of movement the iigures in the race will lose and gain relative to each other and will pass each other and it will not be possible to tell in advance which figure will be in the lead when the finish bell rings.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings disclose a preferred embodiment o my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that changes can be made within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a racing table having thereon an endless curved race track adapted to receive racing iigures which run on the track; means supporting said racing table for undulating movement about an upright central axis; means restraining said racing table against rotary movement; a circular track flange rigid with said table and extending downwardly therefrom and having an inwardly directed annular tread portion; a Wheel positioned on the tread portion of said track flange; and means for moving said wheel in a circular path around said tread portion to impart undulating movement to said racing table.

2. An amusement device comprising a racing table having thereon an endless curved race track adapted to receive racing gures which run on the track; means supporting said racing table for undulating movement about an upright central axis; means restraining said table against rotary movement; platform means underneath said table; a circular track flange secured to the under side of said table and having an inwardly directed tread portion spaced from 'the table and adapted to engage With the platform so that the point of contact of said track flange with said platform will move around the platform as the racing table undulates; a cross arm supported for rotative movement above the platform; means for rotating Said cross arm; and a Wheel on said cross arm positioned on said tread portion of said track fiange and movable in a circular path on said tread portion to impart undulating movement to said table.

3. An amusement device comprising a racing table having thereon an endless curved race track adapted to receive racing gures which run on the track; a centrally positioned rotatively mounted upright post supporting said racing table for undulating movement about an upright central axis; means restraining said table against rotary movement; platform means underneath said table; a circular track flange secured to the under side of said table and having an inwardly directed tread portion spaced from the table and adapted to engage with the platform; a cross arm carried by said post and supported for rotative movement above the platform; means for rotating said post and said cross arm; a wheel on said cross arm movable in a circular path by rotative movement of said cross arm and adapted to run on said tread portion of said track flange to impart undulating movement to said table; and another wheel on said cross. arm positioned diametrically opposite and at a lesser radial distance from said post than said first mentioned Wheel and adapted to run on said platform to counterbalance the lift exerted by said circular track flange on said first mentioned wheel.

KEAMON KUROSE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS of record in the Number Name Date 432,163 Kennedy July 15, 1890 597,764 De Ribas Jan. 25, 1898 861,919 Thompson July 30, 1907 1,025,456 Curran May 7, 1912 1,091,484 Cohn Mar. 31, 1914 1,374,844 Flatow Apr. 12, 1921 1,409,071 Veaux et al. Mar, 7, 1922 1,553,895 Garcia Sept. 15, 1925 1,661,865 Zabel Mar. 6, 1928 1,701,503 Marx Feb. 12, 1929 2,108,726 Rocuskie Feb. 15, 1938 2,188,619 Bernhardt Jan. 30 ,1940

FOREIGN PATEIITS Number Country Date 108,427 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1917

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