US2643885A - Racing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

w. c. FRD

meme APPARATUS June 30, 1953 2 insets-Sheet: "1

Filed April 3, 1950 ////j// //l //l l/ IN V EN TOR.

ATFGRNEYS June 30, 1953 w, c. FORD moms APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 Filed April 3, 1950 .YI/I/l/l/l/fi.

Fi 0 34 g 14 INVENTOR.- WILLIAM c: FORD Ream w ATTORNEYS Patented June 30, .1953

UNITED OFFICE inane" 'AIgrA R'A ihis" lWillifiiii'ZFiitd, Anabvefi Mass: flpplication-npriie 1950,"Serial other", at contihu'allii changing caterer speed} th'espeed be'ing controlled by chance.

1 am aware that t efi rc csed their van'ce such racing" figures by"pl'aci'ri"g'therrf on" moving belts, roller conveyers, revolving coil springs "or vibrating er" oscillatingplatforms. Tfiislneth'dd or a van em nt iSWheLt'I can the" direct i'nethodin'that' thefigiiieadvarfce's'be'ca "e" the "race course advances; Of' cohrsfe witlf race 'course'fa'nd 'figiffe 515th "the direction the illusion" of "facing: is secret; at lessened andf therefore avoid this construction;

ram also aware thatcert'a ifidiiect'ihethod's" oradvan'cem'erit have beeii'prcpo'semtc overcome" the above disadvantage; 'suchasprovidirig'a slot te'd race coursewhich remains" stationary while the racing figure is propelled albn'g'the 'g'ili'cld'sldt by means of a periodic push'r'ecelved Home moving member underneath the race course. In such devices the racing figme'usuaimissupported by forward and rear wheels resting 'on'the race course and has a dpendin iarmprojecting through the guide Slot and into the path of actuators on the'm'ovin'g. member. w

M y device is ofthe type'justdescribed' in that it has an upper member which is' slotted and corresponds to a racecourse. In addition; each of my racing 'figures as a depefridingiaifm p g jecting through a gu de Slot and into the of actuators carried by a lower member, My' apparatus diifers from other such indirectly actua-ted devices, however in tlie novelfea'tures ex-v plained hereafter. v I A One of the objectsot my invention is to provide a racing figure with the appearance of a galloping animal, the figure being so termed;- and somounted on the upper-member of the amusement device, that it simulatesgalloiaingas it isactuated from below. I V Y Another object of myinventionis anamusement device-having slotsthe upper member to guide my new racing figures and having a lower member provided with fixed actuators arranged to rock eachfigure as itadvances the figures abreastof each other.- t

A further object of; myinve'ntion" is to provide an improved chance-actuator on the lower; menu bar arranged to change'i-ts contact relation-with each racing figure and thus to continually varythe'rate ofadvancement ofeach-figure;

.,A sum further obit or; my invention" is :toprovide an amusement device comprising racing the" uart -en 2 figureswmcrr appeaf'to gallop as" the? advance, at chance determined rates of speedalong a swttec'ucper member; "the "upper member" being either straight or "cfrciilarand being either mov iiig" ors'tatioii'a asf'desc ibe'dl- By'tli'efterr'ri fiifed acti ator, I- mean a strip ofn'iatrial fiiiedacross' th'e path of the depend of racifigfigiirfs'which rocks and slides said figiir'e's on their" pivots a similar amounteacl-i timebbfitact'b'etweefi them is made. By'the t'eFfni' -Tiaiie'e' actuator-g? I" mean an actu-v ato ilarly located but" having irregularities on it's ii'rface' and belng'inovable whereby each time contact isinade tlie figures' are afiected in The most afiliafitageoiis" embodiment of m invention simulates a race of'fo'ur legged animals Siich' asedgs drhorses'. I have discovered that racing figures" having a depending arm extending belowft'h'e figure a'ndthrough a slot can be caused'to" rock from front to rear like a running four legged animal if pivoted, weightedandactuatedas described herein. 7 V

The racing'figures of my device are supported on' a"s:1'1gle transverse 'p'inextending across a giiide slot intheuppermember, so that the figure is what I can rockably mounted; This is in contransduction to previous devices in which the figure'n'iay'be' a horsejon wheels, or a racing car"; so guided on a track'that instead of rocking,- tliey pr'ogres's smoothly when'pushedf rom below.

The deiiendi'rigi arm O'f m'y racing figure not pivoted to the figure as in prior devices, which I have been designed to allow the figure toad 'vance in a horizontal position. Instead the depending. arm 'is' integral with my racingfigure whereby" when the depending arm is struck by actuating elements o'n the lower member, the figure slides alongthe guide slot as it rocks backwardj onits pivot andthe figure thenrocks forwere to its original position The motion developed 'is not a smooth m0- mentary drawing forward of the figure but rather Y an impulse momentarily counteracting the otgravity is directly'below-the figure, the figure may advance, biit not-in thedesiredmariner.

so constructedthe figure tends to catch on: the

actuators to b'e linockedout of the slot and may I 3 swing haphazardly and occasionally advance to the end of the slot without stopping at all.

To overcome this disadvantage I may use a figure having a depending arm of light material and so weighted in the nose of the figure, above and in front of the single transverse pivot pin, that the centre of gravity is at the front of the figure. When rocked backward the figure instantly returns to its normal position of rest on the actuator carrying member in this construction.

I prefer, however, to use a racing figure the integral depending arm of which is heavier than the figure above the slot and is curved forwardly toward the nose of the simulated animal thus placing the center of gravity not only below the moment of force about the pivot is thus so arranged that each time the depending armis lifted by an actuating member, the figure moves along the slot while it rocks back and rocks forward to its normal position. g

I also prefer to construct my device so that the slotted upper member is fixed and the lower member which carries the actuating element moves beneath the upper member. The upper and lower members may be circular, in simulation of a curved track or they may be straight in simulation of a straightawayjrace.

However, Imay construct my invention with a moving slotted upper member revolving above a lower member which is fixed, in the manner of a wheel of chance. In'this embodiment I use the same type of rocking figure with a depending arm such as is used with the fixed track orrace course, but the arm extends rearwardly opposite to the direction of travel of the upper member. Thehead of the racing figure may be faced in the direction of travel of the upper member or in the opposite direction, in either case preserving the illusion of a racebetween galloping figures.

With a moving upper member, each time a figure is carried past an actuator on the lower member, the weight of 'the figure is temporarily counterbalanced and the upper member goes out from under it a' slight amount. Thus each figure progresses with relation to the upper member, upon each actuation; in the/direction opposite to the direction of travel of the upper member. As illustrated in the drawings, this modification of my device is preferably circular although it is obvious that it could also be constructed as a straightaway course.

A particularly novel feature ofmy invention is the actuating elements which give my racing figures the illusion of continually galloping or running animals. In prior devices the actuators may consist of knots in a cable or upstanding lugs carried by a belt each arranged to engage a part of the racing figure, push it forward slightly and release it causing the figure to advance intermittently by a series of advances and halts.

My actuators are preferably evenly spaced on the lower member and extend completely across the same thus giving each figure an equal impulse as the actuators contact the depending arm of each figure. For example if there are six racing figures and eight transverse actuators spaced along ten inches of the lower member, each of the six figures will appear to make eight ten inches of the lowermember.

In the circular'construction of my device, where the inside slots are proportionally shorter than the outside slots I may compensate by using actuators which are progressively higher as they approach the outer periphery, thus giving a correspondingly greater impulse to the outer racing figures. I may also compensate by increasing the friction between the pivot pin and upper member for the inner racing figures so that they encounter more frictional resistance than those figuresin the. outside slots. Of course, the outer figures travel ata; greater speed than the inner figures and thus receive a greater lift from the actuator, this greater lift also serving to equalize the rate of travel of the figures.

The competition between figures, in other words, the racing or chance element of my device,

consists in the novel revolving actuator which Iintersperseamong the fixed actuators on my lower member. I prefer to use one chance actuator with every six or seven fixed actuators because I have found that the human eye cannot detect the influence of such a proportion of chance actuators during the steady forward progression of my rocking, racing figures. However, it is obvious that all my actuators could be of the chance type or any desired proportion of the tinue to gallop forward steadily however, each same could be used to give various effects to the race.

My chance actuators may be of greater or less height than the fixed actuators and may be con stantly revolved by contact with the arm of each racing figure or by means of gears'or friction wheels driven'by the moving member. I provide permutations which may be in the form of cut out sections in each chance actuator in the path of the depending arms of my racing figures so that as the actuator is revolved, certain racing figures will be rocked and moved more or less than the others. I prefer an occasionally slipping friction drive for my chance actuator so that there is no danger of repetition of cycles as the moving member advances. However, a positive gear drive, in view of the positioning and variety of shape and size of the cut out sections and friction between figure and race course gives an excellent result.

In operation my racing figures are started in a straight row in slots in the upper member and, as the lower'member contacts them from below, the figures may advance neck and neck and galloping evenly for a short distance. Then as a chance actuator contacts them one or more figures will be rocked and slid a different amount and will lose ground or gain ground with relation to the-remaining figures. The figures conrocking on its pivot until another chance actuator makes contact. The failure of several more figures to rock and slide the same amount as other figures will again change their relative positions and the race thus continues to a finish line.

I provide a'pivcted sweeping arm to return the figures to their original position in my circular race course typeand may usea sliding arm to return them in the straightaway type. I also provide an electric or spring driven motor, to give motion tothe moving member of my device and'may provide suitable speed changing mechanism therefor, all well known in the art.

The speed at which'my moving member travels relation to the fixed member is preferably just sufiicient to make each racing figure slide along the upper member as it-rocks without preceptibly losing contact with'said upper member. If operated at high speed the figures might be jolted member 8U may have slots 8|, 8! of unequal length, as in Fig. 7, each slot having a starting point 82, and a finish point 83 on radial lines from the centre. The upper member 80 is pivoted for rotation above the centre of lower member 90 and is supported on a bearing 84 upon which it may be spun by the hand of the operator or it may be power driven by any suitable means as indicated in other forms of my invention.

Fixed actuators 9|, 9! and chance actuators 92, 92, may be used to give impulses to racing figures J, J in the manner explained above. However, I may provide a circular toothed rack 85, concentric with 80, and attached to the underneath portion thereof to give a positive drive to spur or bevel gears 95 adapted to revolve chance actuators 92. In such cases I avoid a construction in which the circumference of gear 95 is a divisor of the circumference of gear rack 85 thus assuring that the element. of chance is practically infinite. It is obvious that I can also use pins depending from 86 to periodically rotate gears 95 and that such projecting elements can be rigid or flexible as desired. While the greater speed of the figures in the outer slots 8! with the consequent greater lift from the actuators tends to compensate for the greater length of such slots, the fixed actuators and chance actuators may also be tilted or inclined as in Figure 3 or 5 to effect such compensation where necessary or desirable.

As an alternative method of compensating for the'difference in length of circular slots such as 8!, as shown in Fig. 8, I may use slots such as ISO which are of equal length in which case my actuators may be of uniform height.

In Fig. 9 I show the preferred form of my racing figure such as F, H, and J.

'In Fig. 8, I show a racing figure J having its depending arm 2l2 extending in a direction opposite to the nose or front 2l3 of the figure. As figures J rock in slots I00 and are carried in a circular path by revolving upper member I80, certain of the figures J lose ground to other figures due to the chance actuators such as 92. The centre of gravity of J is in the rear of pivot M4. The figures J are shown near the finish line of the slots I00 which line is to the left of Fig. 8.

In dotted lines is shown the position my racing figure assumes when the part 14 of i2 is contacted by an actuator, the pivot pin P having been slid along the upper member and the figure rocked backward slightly on the pivot. Also in dotted lines is shown the portion M of I2 in its final position after actuation when the figure H has rocked forward again due to the centre of gravity of the figure being in front of pivot pin P.

In Fig. 10, a modification is shown in the figure O pivoted on a pin P and having a depending portion ll2 with a curved bottom H4.

Arm H2 is integral with the figure 0 but may example, in Fig. 10, I show an-adjustable weight 220 on the tail T of the figure Oto permit such changes.

In certain modifications of my invention particularly when constructed for full size riders, I may provide stops-such as H5 and ilfi simulating the legs of the animal and may attach at the ends thereof a resilient member such as coil springs H! and ,l lBto prevent the throwing of the rider and to quickly return the figure to its normal positionafter actuation.

Figs. Hand 13 show the preferred form of my chance actuator 0 illustrating the cut out portions 35, 36, 31, 38, in the cylinder 32 and the manner in which it is carried in bearings 34 and may be revolved by a wheel such as .39.

A modified form of chance actuator K is shown in Figs. 12 andld in which a cylinder I20 carried on a shaft 423, in bearings I24, and revolved in any convenient manner, may have a strip of material such as rubber spiraled aroimd the surfaceand fixed at each end I26 and I21 to the cylinder.

It is apparent that my chance actuators C or K may be so mounted as to either hold back certain of the figures or to give certain figures an additional actuation.

If desired, additional chance elements may be added to my device such as the manually operated horizontal slotted disc L, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, as rotatably mounted at 210 proximate the end 53 of tracks 58 and adapted to normally permit only one figure H to enter a slot such as 2 in the disc and progress to the end of its slot.

Disc L may be rotated about post 210 by manual or power means and the peripheral opening of each slot 2H is just wide enough to accommodate, at most, the depending arms of two adjacent racing figures. In no position of rest, therefore, can the edge of disc L stop all the racing figures and inmost positions of rest it will permit only one figure to advance along its slot. 1 I I may provide a plurality of slots 220 in disc L, in addition to slots 2H, each of which may be of diiferent lengths in order to bar the further advance of the racing figures at different distances from the end of their respective slots.

I claim:

1. In a figure racing apparatus: an upper member having a row of elongated track slots; a lower member having at least one immovably mounted, regularly surfaced actuator and at least one irregularly surfaced, revolubly mounted, chance actuator spaced thereon beneath and transverse to said slots, the irregular surface of each chance actuator being mounted to revolve around an axis substantially transverse to the direction of said slots; means for imparting motion to one of said members relative to the other, and racing figures, rockably pivoted on said upper member, each having an arm depending through, and extending substantially below, a slot and adapted to be impelled along said slots with a rocking motion by contact of said arm with the regular and irregular surfaces presented thereto by said actuators.

2. In a figure racing apparatus: an upper member having a row of elongated track slots; a lower member having at least one immovably mounted, regularly surfaced actuator and at least one irregularly surfaced, revolubly mounted chance actuator spaced thereon beneath and transverse to said slots, theirregular surface of negates eanh' chance actuator being mountedto revolve rmember having a row ofelflilgated track, slots;

a,;low,er member having atileastone immovably mounted, re r-1y facedaetuatQr-and. at

rileas onegirr l rly surfaced; .revolu ly molmted chance actuator spaced thereon beneath and transverse tofl'said slots,the irregular surface of each reliance actuator being mounted to revolve around an,- axis substantially-transverse to the directionof said slots means for impa rgting'motion to-oneof said members relative to the other, and racing figures rockably pivoted on saidnupper member, each having an arm depending through and extending substantially below a slot and adapted to be impelled along said slots with a rocking motion by contact of said arm with the regular and irregular surfaces presented thereto by said actuators, each fixed actuator being identical and each chance actuator being revoluble by the moving member to contact each arm with a constantly varying actuation.

4. In an amusement device having an upper member provided with a row of elongated figureguiding tracks, a racing figure rockably mounted in each track and having an arm depending substantially below said track, a lower member and means for moving one member relative to the other in a closed path, at least some of said path being in a plane parallel to the plane of saidother member, the combination of at least one irregularly surfaced, revolubly mounted chance actuator on said lower member and under said tracks, each chance actuator being adapted to rock each figure and to move each figure in its track in unequal amounts, by the rotation of its irregular surface with each circuit of the path of said lower member.

5. In an amusement device having an upper member provided with a row of elongated figureguiding tracks, a racing figure rockably mounted in each. track and having an arm depending substantially below said track in a position to be contacted by actuators, a lower member and means for imparting horizontal movement to one member relative to and parallel to the other, the combination of a plurality of actuators spaced along said lower member under said tracks, at least one of said actuators being fixed and adapted to rock and advance all of said figures equally and at least one of said actuators being rotatable on a fixed axis transverse to the direction of said tracks, and having an irregular surface adapted to rock and advance all of said figures in unequal amounts by the operation of chance.

6. In a figure racing apparatus, an upper member having a row of elongated track slots: a lower member having a plurality of regularly surfaced actuators and at least one irregularly surfaced, rotatable, actuator spaced thereon transversely beneath said slots; means for imparting manor;- to one-of said. members relative to and parallel to the otherg racing figures rockablyand -slidab1ymounted in said track-- slots each having an arm dependingthrough and substantially below a slot'which coacts with said actuators to slide each figure with a rocking "motion -along a track slot in the upper member,

anda horizontal disc, revolubly mounted on said upper member, below-the track slots and proximate the end of the path ofthe arms of all said 'figures hai ing-cutout portions adapted to permit the arm of only bnefigure'to reach the eridof itstrack-sloti 7; In a figure racing; apparatus, an upper gmemberhaving a rowof elongated track slots;

a'lower member having a plurality of regularly surfaced actuators and at least one irregularly surfaced, rotatable-- actuator spaced thereon transversely-"beneath said" track: slots means for imparting motion to one of said members relative to and 'para'llel to th'e other; racing figures; rockably and s'lidably mounted in said track slots, each having an arm dependingthroughand substantially i below a track -slotwhich co-acts with said actuators toslide each figure with a rocking motion along atrack slot in the upper member; and 'aznehance-contrelled horizontal disc, revolubly mounted under the ends of the track slots in the upper member, the peripheral edge of said disc forming a barrier for the depending arms of said racing figures and said edge having a plurality of spaced radially extending disc slots, the peripheral opening of each disc slot being just large enough to accommodate two adjacent depending arms and the length of each disc slot coinciding with-the ends of said track slots, whereby, regardless of the position of rest of said disc, at least one racing figure may pass along a disc slot to the end of its track slot.

8. In a figure racing apparatus the combination of an upper member having a row of elongated trackslots; a lower member; means for imparting movement to one of said members relative to the other; said movement being in a closed path, at least some of which is in a plane parallel to the plane of said other member; racing figures rockably pivoted on said upper member and each slidable in a slot therein; an irregularly surfaced, chance actuator mounted on said lower'member to revolve on a fixed, substantially horizontal axis and extending beneath and transverse to all of said slots, and an arm on each racing figure depending downwardly through its slot and extending forwardly of its pivot, all of said arms being adapted to engage the revoluble, irregular surface of said chance. actuator during each circuit of the path of movement of one member relative to the other member.

9. A combination as specified in claim 8 wherein the slots are concentric with radial start and finish lines and the chance actuator is radial and gradually increases in height above the lower member as it approaches the periphery thereof.

10. A combination as specified in claim 8 wherein the revolubly mounted chance actuator is revolved by an operative connection to said moving member.

11. A combination as specified in claim 8 wherein the upper member is mounted to revolve around a central pivot carried by a stationary lower member.

12. In a figure racing apparatus having an upper member with elongated track slots, a lower member, co-extensive with said upper member, means for moving one member relative tothe other in a closed path at least some of which path is in av plane parallel to said other member and a plurality of racing figures, each rockably and slidably mounted in a slot and having a single integral arm depending downwardly through'said cluding mechanism for continuously changing the amount of actuation imparted thereby to each figure with each circuit of the path of said moving member. 7

13. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the slots in said upper member are concentric with radial start and'finish lines, a central pivot is provided around which one of said members revolves and the arm contacting surface of each regularly surfaced actuator is of progressively greater height'above said lower member as it approaches the outer periphery thereof.

14. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the slots in said upper member are concentric and of equal length and one of said members is mounted for rotative motion relative to the other.

15. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein the upper member is stationary and provided with concentric track slots, the lower member is mounted to rotate around a central pivot below said upper member, each racing figure is supported by a single transverse pivot pin resting on said upper member and the centre of gravity of each racing figure is in front of said pivot pin.

WILLIAM C. FORD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 870,473 S-chultze Nov. 5,1907 1,469,657 Magwood Oct. 2, 1923 1,851,900 Graham Mar. 29, 1932 2,205,459 Bardega June 25, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 54,345 Switzerland July 9, 1910 297,920 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1923 478,111 Great Britain Jan. 12, 1938 832,934 France July 11, 1938

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