US2645493A - Mechanical card game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 4, 1953 J. R. MCMAHON 2,645,493

MECHANICAL CARD GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1949 July 14, 1953 J. RJM MAHON 2,

MECHANICAL CARD GAME APPARATUS 7 Filed July 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW/ Q Q52:

Patented July 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to games and more particularly to mechanically actuated games having movable groups of cards, or the like, bearing different indicia, wherein the groups are provided in varying series, at least some of which are capable of being aligned or otherwise disposed to form some predetermined pattern whose formation may constitute the winning of the game by the respective player.

A general objective of this invention is to provide a mechanical game, such as the indicated card type, which is novel in construction and arrangement and attractive to persons interested in the playing of mechanical games.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game structure wherein cards, or equivalent carriers of appropriate indicia, are arranged in a novel fashion whereby to dispose different series of cards of different movable groups so that predetermined relationships may be attained by manipulatingthe cards, or equivalent indicia carriers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card game, or the like, of the nature above indicated, wherein the mountin means for one group of cards is adapted to be locked when one series of such group has been disposed in a selected playing relationship, the locking of such mounting means serving to unlock mounting means carrying a plurality of other groups of cards. An incidental object is to provide automatic counting means which serves automatically to lock the said mounting means for said plurality of cards following a predetermined number of playing operations. Astill further object is to provide means in conjunction with said counting means which renders it possible to distribute the predetermined or allowable number of plays indiscriminately among the mounting means for said plurality of groups of cards, so that each group of said plurality of groups may be actuated as often as desired within the total of said predetermined number.

Another object of the invention is to mount each group of cards, or the equivalent indicia carriers, upon an endless band in a plurality of series extending transversely of said band, so that each band may be mounted upon a bladelike member which supports the endless band and is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis whereby to present any given series of the respective group in an upwardly facing or other desired playing position. In connection with these objects it will be apparent that selected card from the conventional so-called playing cards may be used in as many series as required, and it will also be obvious that other types of cards carrying any other types of appropriate related indicia may be used.

Other objects of the invention and the various features thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings wherein the generic invention is illustrated by way of certain embodiments.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a structural arrangement of one form of the invention, wherein substantial portions of an outside casing are broken away to reveal internal ararngements, portions of an internal framework which supports the playing mechanism being also broken away to facilitate the showing;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the structure of Fig. l with the casing shown fully and in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation showing the -mechanism at the front of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and in different positions from the positions shown in Fig. l, the forward portion of the casing being removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail on an enlarged scale taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional rear View taken on the line 'l---'! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken approximately from the line 88 of Fig. "7; and

Fig. 9 is a cross section on a small scale of a modified form of rotary carrier member.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawings comprises: a frame having an upstanding front Wall I0, 9. corresponding rear wall H spaced therefrom, a bottom l2 extending between the front and rear walls and side bracing strips I 3 suitably disposed and attached to maintain proper spacing of the front and rear walls. There is normally disposed about the framework an outer casing generally indicated at [4 which surrounds the framework except that it is either open at its top or is provided with a transparent top wall I 4a through which the cards or other indicia-bearing parts are viewed. The forward end of the casing i4 is ordinarily spaced from the front wall 10 of the frame, as by means of spacer blocks I 4b, sufficiently to enclose certain operating mechanism carried forward of the front wall 3 I0, manipulating means, however, being extended through the casing hi into accessible locations approximately as seen in Fig. 2. The operating means to be concealed by the forward end of the casing M is seen in front of the front wall it in Fig. 1.

Mounted between the front and rear walls It and H of the framework is a plurality of elongated rotary carrier members l5, l5, 7, and I8 which are successively arranged in parallel relationship, as best seen in Fig. 1 and also indicated in Fig. 4. These carrier members are mounted in the upper portion of the structure so that cards or other indicia-bearing parts will lie only slightly below the transparent top wall I la in order to facilitate observation by the player. As indicated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the carrier members I5, it, ll, and i8 are in the form of flat, comparatively thin blades of a width to accommodate the width of the cards to be used. However, other forms of carrier members may be employed, such as the square structure H530 shown in Fig. ,9, wherein each face is approximately of the width of the cards to be used. The carrier member iii in the arrangement shown constitutes a primary carrier which is tobe manipulated first and then looked, and the carrier members I6, H, and I8 constitute a secondary group of of the respective carrier member.

carriers to be locked when the carrier member I5 is unlocked and to be unlockedfor playing purposes when the carrier member i5 is looked, as later to be described.

The rearward end of each of the carrier members l5, l5, l2, and i8 is journaled in the rear wall H in any appropriate manner, such as by trunnions ii! of Fig. 1. The forward ends of the carrier members l5, [6, ii, and 3 are respectively provided with extensions 15a, i6a, lid, and Ida which are integral with the carrier members in the form shown and are appropriately journaled in enlarged circular ends 28 of upwardly extending slots 22 provided in the upper portion of the front wall it of the frame work. The slots provide for ready installation of the respective carrier members, inasmuch as their extensions may be passed down through the slots 2i} after the rearward ends of the carrier members have been moved into the trunnions provided at I?) as above described. In this manner various carrier members are readily disposed in their horizontal operating positions illustrated. With the extensions 55a, lea, Ila, and i811 in the illustrated positions, the front wall of the outer casing it may be readily positioned by causing such extensions to be received in corresponding circular holes in such front wall of the outer casing it. For the purpose of individual manipulation of the respective carrier members [5, i6, ll, and i3, appropriate knobs 15b, ltb, ill), and 181) are fitted upon the respective extensions as illustrated in Fig. 2. As seen in Figs. 5 and '7, the middle portions of the forward ends of the carrier members l5, 16, H, and i3 are locked against rotation, as described below.

Upon the respective carrier members l5, l5, H,

and i8 there are mounted horizontally extending endless bands constituting respective card assemblies 25, 26, 2'5, and 28. Each of these bands is in the form of an endless strip of flexible fabric 30 upon which there are mounted series of cards respectively indicated at 25a, 26a, Tia, and 28a, the cards for each band being arranged in a plurality of transverse series, and the cards of each transverse series being in the form of a row of cards which is adapted to lie along a longitudinal face of the respective carrier member. Adjacent rows of cards of each band are spaced slightly lengthwise of the band as indicated at 3! in order to provide corresponding flexible fabric hinges adapted to fold around the edges of the blade-like carrier members 55, #6, H, and. It, or around the corners of a polygonal carrier such as the square carrier i511: illustrated in Fig. 9. Thus, as one of the knobs I523, 16b, ill), and E81) is'turned through a corresponding row of cards originally disposed face up on the respective carrier is moved downward to one side of the respective carrier, by reason of the folding of the band about the adjacent fabric hinge 3i, and the next row of cards on the respective end less band is brought into upwardly facing position where it is supported by the opposite face To prevent swinging of the lower ends of the card assemblies 25, 26, 27, and 28, rods 32 are extended therethrough between the front and rear walls it and H.

The carrier members 15, i6, H, and i8 are adapted to be placed in locked or unlocked condition through the medium of a lock-bar 35 (Figs. 5, 6', and '7) which is disposed upon the inner face of the front wall it), being pivoted thereon by a pivot pin 36 located at an intermediate position (Figs. 1, a, and '7), thislock-bar ingeneral extending transversely of the front wall it. The left end-of the lock-bar 35 (right end as viewed in the rear elevation of Fig. 7) is provided with a forward projecting actuator stud 31 (Figs. 1, 4, and 7) which passes through an arcuate slot 38 in the front wall it and also through a corresponding arcuate slot 38a (Fig. 2) in the forward wall of the outer casing M where itsend is accessible for manipulation by the player. When the lock-bar 35 is in the horizontal position shown in brokenlines in Fig. '7, the actuator stud 3? lies in the bottoms of the arcuate slots 38 and 33a. Upon release of a trigger 40, as presently to be described, the actuator stud 3? may be manually raised to the tops of the arcuate slots 33 and 38a, thereby rocking the lock-arm 35 upon its pivot pin 36 and thereby moving the lock-arm 35 to the full line position of Fig. 7. When this is done, the longer arm of the lock-bar 35 is withdrawn from its position immediately underlying wings I60, I70, and We of the carriermembers l6, H, and 18 whereby to unlock said wings by reason of withdrawal of the locking shoulders 42 at the upper edge of the lock-bar 35 from engagement with the respective wings Ito, Ho, and IBc. These shoulders 42 are conveniently formed by providing elongated, sloping notches 43, such notches being directed toward the pivot pin 36 so that the shoulders 2 are disposed at the ends of the notches remote from the pivot pin 36.

The lock-bar 35 is normally held in the broken line position of Fig. '7 .by means of a spring is attached to its end which is adjacent to the primary carrier member I5. It will be apparent that when the lock-bar 35 is in the broken line or looking position with respect to the secondary group of carrier members 26, I1, and 18, such carrier members may not be rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4' (or clockwise as viewed in Fig. '7) because of engagement of the respective wings I60, 510, and 80 with the respective locking shoulders 52. Rotation of the secondary group of carrier members l6, l7, and I8 in the opposite direction will be prevented through the medium of actuating fingers 45 fixed on the respective extensions of the secondarygroup of carrier members IS, IT, and [8, as later to be explained. Asv to the locking of the primary carrier member by the lock-bar 35, this may be accomplished when the lock-bar 35 is in the full line position of Fig. 7, by the provision of a fiat locking edge 41 on the upper side of that portion of the lock-bar 35 disposed adjacent the carrier member i5 and underlying the respective Wings 150. Thus, when the corresponding end of the lock-bar 35 is elevated to its full line position, the wings I50 lock in horizontal position against the flat locking edge 4'! upon any attempt to rotate the carrier member I5, inasmuch as the portion of the extension I 50. which works in the enlarged lower end 20 of the respective slot 22 is broad enough to prevent elevation of theextension l5a upward through such slot 22. It will be appreciated that the extension I50! must be rotated through an arc of 90, whereby to bring a flattened portion thereof into alignment with the respective slot 22 before such extension may be elevated. The same is true of the other extensions 16a, I la, and Mia, with respect to their slots 22.

When the lock-bar 35 is in the full line position of Fig. 7, it is so held against the tension of the spring 44 by a horizontal latch 48 (Figs. 5, 6, and '7) mounted in the front wall Hi for engagement in the outermost notch 43 as presently to be described.

A preferred form of means for locking the primary carrier member 15 against rotation when the lock-bar 35 is in the full line position of Fig. '7, comprises a locking trigger 50 positioned adjacent to the forward end of the carrier member i5, this trigger 50 being shown in Figs. 7 and 8. It is pivoted to the inner face of the front wall 50 by a pivot 5i, and it carries on its lower end a locking pin 52 which is adapted to overlie the adjacent corner of the carrier member l5 (that is, the forward left corner of the carrier member l5 as seen in Fig. 4). This locking trigger 50 is moved about the pivot 5! into its full line or locking position of Fig. 7 by means of a cam face 53 provided on an upstanding portion 54 of the lock-bar 35 adjacent to the end in which the actuator stud 3! is fixed. A stop pin 55 may be employed to limit swinging movement of the trigger 5% beyond locking position, and it may be loaded by a spring 56 to restore it to nonlocking position when the lock-bar 35 is in its horizontal, broken line position and there held by the tension spring 44. When this locking means is used, the wings 15c may be omitted.

As has been previously indicated, each carrier of the group of secondar carrier members [6, H, and i8 is to be actuated by counterclockwise rotation. The primary carrier member 15 is to be actuated by clockwise rotation. For the purpose of insuring this clockwise rotation, there is fixed upon the extension 50. of the carrier member l5, forward of the front wall IE1, a ratchet or check member '69 which is double ended and provides shoulders 6! adapted to be engaged by a dog 52 on the previously mentioned trigger 40 which is pivoted at 63. in a position to dispose a stop-arm 64 thereof in the path of the actuator stud 31. trigger 4D is loaded by a spring 65 which urges it into a position against a stop pin 64a to block the stud 31. In order to provide a checking effeet as the primary carrier member [5 is rotated each end of the check member 6!! is provided opposite the respective shoulders 6| with operating As indicated in both Figs. 1 and 4; the

fingers 66 which, when rotated clockwise, engage the dog 62 to withdraw the stop-arm 64 from the stud-blocking position, against the tension of the spring 65, until the dog 62 is disengaged by the respective finger 66. This arrangement in effect provides a notch 61 at each end of the check member 60 between the corresponding lock shoulder GI and operating finger 66. As a consequence of this arrangement the carrier member l5 cannot be rotated counterclockwise because of the locking function performed by the dog 62 and the respective lock shoulders 6|. This structural arrangement also provides for actuation of the trigger 40 by the respective operating finger 66 to withdraw the stop-arm 64 from stud-blocking position upon rotary movement of the corresponding knob 151), so that the stud 3? may be raised and rock the lock-arm 35 against the spring 44 and about its pivot pin 36. to lower the opposite end of the lock-bar 35 and permit the previously mentioned latch 48 to drop into the outermost notch 43 and hold the lock bar 35 in the full line position of Fig. 7 against the tension of the spring 44 and unlock the group of secondary carrier members l6, H, and i8.

Regarding the functioning of the latch 48, which engages in the outermost notch 43 to retain the lock-bar 35 in the full line position of Fig. 7 where it unlocks the secondary carrier members It, ll, and [8, this latch is pivoted on the front wall If! by a substantially'vertical pivot we carried by the front wall either directly or through the medium of a cylindrical block H which is fixed to the outer face of the front wall it and serves also to support a rotary ratchet wheel l2. The front wall I0 is provided with a transverse slot M through which one end of the latch 48 projects and in which it works. The latch 48 is loaded by spring 15 which urges it toward the latching position shown in Fig. 6. A toe i5 is provided at one corner of the latch 48 to limit its movement under the influence of the spring F5. The latch 48 is adapted to be withdrawn from the locking position of Figs. 6 and 7 by means of a stud or other appropriate trip 78 carried on the back face of the ratchet wheel 12, so that, when the ratchet wheel 12 has been moved through a complete rotation, the trip 18 engages an adjacent edge portion 19 of the latch 48 to swing it about the pivot Ill and disengage the upper face portion of the respective notch 43 at the outer end of the lock-bar 35 whereby to permit the spring 44 to return the lock-bar 35 to the broken line position of Fig. 7 and lock the secondary carrier members l6, l1, and [8 against counterclockwise rotation.

As best indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, the ratchet wheel I2 is advanced in a clockwise direction by means of a spring loaded ratchet feed finger BEI which is pivoted at 8i upon an outer face portion of a reciprocating feeder-arm 82 carried in appropriate retainers 82a which permit the necessary reciprocating movement. The feederarm 82 is adapated to be advanced by the pre- I viously mentioned actuating fingers 45 fixed on the extensions tea, Na, and 18a of the secondary carrier members I6, H, and I8. A spring 83, one end of which is attached to the front wall it and the other end which is attached to the feeder-arm 82 serves to return the arm 82 after each excursion effected by any one of the actuating fingers 45. It will be noted that each actuating finger 45 is double ended so that it may throw the feeder-arm 82 at each half revolution.

tints 7 The feeder-arm 82 is provided with a shoulder 84 for each double actuating finger 45, one of these shoulders being conveniently provided by the left end of the bar 82, the other shoulders 84 being provided by forming notches 85 in the upper edge of the arm 82 large enough to permit the necessary travel of the respective actuating fingers 45. To prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel #2 by frictional drag of the feed finger 88 as the latter is returned with the bar 82 by the spring 83, astop dog 86 held by a stud 88 on the front wall it is employed. This dog 85 may be of any yielding, sufiiciently stiff material such as a leaf spring or a stiff leather strip engageable with the ratchet teeth.

Since the feeder-arm 82 may be advanced by any one of the actuating fingers 35 as they are moved in connection with shifting of the various card rows of the three secondary card assemblies 2t, 2?, and 28, it is obvious that all of the plays made with the secondary card assemblies 25, 2?, and 28 combined are additively registered by the feeder-arm 82 upon the ratchet wheel l2. Thus,

when the number of plays of these three secondary card assemblies reaches a predetermined total, for example fifteen, the stud trip '58 withdraws the latch is and releases the lock-bar 35 thereby preventing further rotation of the secondary carrier members [5, H, and i8 and concluding the game.

When the lock-bar 35 has been released so that the spring Ml returns it from the full line position of Fig. 7 to the broken line position, thereby locking the'carrier members it), H, and It by the shoulders t? on the upper edge of the lockbar 35, the opposite end of the lock-bar 35 is moved downward to withdraw the flat locking edge ll from engagement with the wings Q50 of the primary carrier member I5. Such'movement also releases the locking trigger 56 so that its spring 56 returns it to non-operative position and thus moves the locking pin 52 out of the path of the adjacent corner portion of the carrier member i5, Incidentally, when the respective end of the lock-bar 35 is drawn down by the spring 44, thereby drawing downward the actuator stud 31, the spring-loaded trigger l9 yields against its spring 65 to permit the stud 3i to move into the bottom of the arcuate slots 38 and 38a. Under these conditions the parts are reset to commence the game anew.

Operation The operation-of the apparatus has, in general, been described along with the above description of the structural features. In brief, the game may be played by starting with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. l. The knob 55b is rotated clockwise to rotate the primary carrier i and bring into horizontal position any one of the series or row of cards 25a of the primary card assembly 25 that may meet the fancy of the player. He then rotates the knob 552) through a short are until the operating finger as which is in engagement with the dog 62 of thetrigger it, moves the latter sufiiciently to withdraw the stop-arm 64 of the trigger 46 from the path of the actuator stud Isl. The outer, exposed end of th actuator stud 31 is then lifted by the playerinto the upper portion of the slots 38 and 33a, thereby swinging the lock-bar 35 about its pivot pin 36 against the tension of the spring M and causing the opposite end of the lock-bar 35 to be depressed until the latch 43 adjacent to the sprocket wheel 12 is actuated by edge portion of the lock-bar 35, which edge portion in the form shown happens) to be at the outermost notch 43. The lock-bar 35 is now retained in the full line position of Fig. 7, thereby unlocking the wings I60, I10, and We of the secondary carrier members I6, ll, and 18, while looking the wing 15c and the primary carrier member l5 by the means shown at the right of Fig. 7, as above described. Under these conditions the primary carrier member l5 may be no longer rotated but any one or all of the secondary carrier members if), H, and I8 may be rotated counterclockwise through any number of plays up to the predetermined total represented by the ratchet teeth in the ratchet wheel 12. As previously indicated, each of counterclockwise rotation of each secondary carrier member l6, El, and 18 produces one reciprocation of the feeder-arm 82 through the medium of the respective actuating finger 45. When the various cards 25a, 26a, Zia, and 28a of the several card assemblies 25, 26, 2?, and 28 have been brought into the horizontal positions in an order re quired by the rules of the game without prior release of the latch 58, the game is considered won. However, if such a card order has not been attained within the number of plays provided by the ratchet wheel l2, and before the stud trip l8 on th inner face of the ratchet wheel "E2 trips the latch 68 and releases the lock-bar 35, the game is lost.

The cards 25!, 26a, Zla, and 28a of the various assemblies may be of any type preferred. As generally indicated in Fig. 1, they may be in the form of various arrangements of aces, kings, queens, and jacks of the conventional playing card type. Thus, each row facing upward upon the carrier members i5, i6, H, and i6 would contain an ace, king, queen, and jack of any suit or of mixed suits. In order to win the game, the rules may provide either that no two cards of any suit or denomination appear in any horizontal row, or that somewhere on each of the card assemblies 25, 26, 21, and 28 there be some required arrangement in the vertical rows of cards as they appear in viewing position on the respective carrier members. For example, as shown on carrier member !5, the order is ace, king, jack, queen. To win, either there would have to be no corresponding suit nor ace, king, jack, or queen on the other carriers in any one horizontal row, or some specified arrangement would have had to develop. It is apparent that any other type of cards than the conventional playing cards may be used. For example, various card combinations representative of animals, flowers, trees, or fruits might be used for educational purposes. Itwill be obvious, of course, that the actuator finger 3l may be under the control of a coin actuated mechanism if desired.

Inasmuch as modifications of the generic invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in this art, it is intended to protect all such forms as fall within the scope of the patent claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mechanical game comprising in combination: a plurality of laterally spaced elongated rotary carrier members arranged in substantially parallel relation and disposed on laterally spaced horizontal axes of rotation; a flexible elongated looped member individually carried by each of said carrier members; means to rotate said carrier members selectively; a plurality of series of I 9 aligned indicia-bearing parts disposedupon each looped member, the indicia-bearing parts in each series being aligned, and said series being arranged in approximate parallelism with one another, each rotary carrier member having means positioned to present to view each series of aligned indicia-bearing parts, whereby plural series presented in substantially parallel relation by said carrier members may be viewedv simulta- J neously and indicia thereon compared; a framework in which said carrier members are mounted to rotate upon said horizontal axes; first locking means to lock one of said carrier members; second locking means to lock others of said carrier members; a movable device between said first and second locking means to move one thereof into locking position while withdrawing the other to unlocking position; and releasable latch means to retain said device in position holding said other locking means withdrawn. v v

2. A combination as in claim 1 including: advancing means movable on said framework; operating means on certain of said carrier members and said advancing means for actuation of said advancing means upon each actuation of said certain of said carrier members; progressively movable releasing means, mounted on said framework to engage and release said latch means upon predetermined movement; and. a drive connection between said advancing means and said releasing means to advance the latter by increments through said predetermined movement by successive actuations of said advancing means.

3. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said first locking means is a latch means located adjacent and controlled by said lock device and movably mounted to move into the path of ro tation of said one of said carrier members upon movement of said lock device.

4. A combination as in 1 wherein said second locking means includes shoulders formed on said lock device and means on the respective carrier members to engage and be locked against rotation by said shoulders, when said lock device is released.

5. In combination in a mechanical game: a primary rotary carrier; a plurality of secondary rotary carriers; a framework on which said carriers are mounted adjacent one another and are journaled to rotate; a series of indiciabearing parts mounted upon each of said carriers for movement selectively into position to be simultaneously viewed and compared; first locking means for locking said primary carrier against rotary movement; second locking means for locking said secondary carriers against rotary movement; means interconnecting said first looking means and said second locking means to move one locking means into locking position while withdrawing the other locking means from looking position; means to urge said locking means to one of their positions; and latch means engageable with said interconnecting means to retain said locking means in the other of their positions.

6. In combination in a mechanical game: a primary rotary carrier; a plurality of secondary rotary carriers; a framework on which said oarriers are mounted adjacent one another and are journaled to rotate; a series of indicia-bearing parts mounted upon each of said carriers for movement selectively into position to be simultaneously viewed and compared; first locking means for locking said primary carrier against rotary movement; second locking means for locking said secondary carriers against rotary movement; means interconnecting said first locking means and said second locking means to move one locking means into locking position While withdrawing the other locking means from, looking position; means to urge said locking means to one of their positions; latch means engageable with-said interconnecting means to retain said locking means in the other of their positions; trip means to release said latch means; and advancing means actuable by movements of each of said secondary carriers to actuate said trip means upon a predetermined number of movements of said advancing means.

7.A'combination as in claim 6 wherein said advancing means includes: a reciprocable bar disposed on said framework adjacent said secondary carriers; means on said secondary carriers to engage and move said bar upon rotation of said carriers; and means on said bar to engage and move said trip means.

8. A combination as in claim 7 wherein: said trip means includes a ratchet wheel having a member to engage and actuate said latch means; said bar carries a dog engageable with said ratchet wheel to move said wheel on each advancement of said reciprocable bar; and means is provided for retracting said bar following each advancement thereof.

9. In combination in a mechanical game: a primary carrier; a plurality of secondary carriers; a framework on which said carriers are movably mounted adjacent one another; means to move said carriers selectively; a series of indicia-bearing parts disposed upon each of said carriers for movement of indioia by the various carriers into viewing position; a lock-bar movably mounted on said frame adjacent said carriers; first locking means carried by said lockbar adjacent said primary carrier to lock the latter when said lock-bar is in one position; second locking means carried by said lock-bar to lock said secondary carriers when said lock-bar is in another position; means to move said lockbar to one of said positions; means to move said lock-bar to the other of said positions; latch means to hold said lock-bar in one of such positions; and trip means actuable by movement of certain of said carriers to trip said latch means upon predetermined movements of such carriers.

10. A combination as in claim 9 wherein said trip means includes advancing means carried by said framework adjacent said secondary carriers, and wherein certain of said carriers have actuating means to engage and move said advancing means upon movement of said secondary carriers.

11. A combination as in claim 10 wherein said advancing means includes: a reciprocable bar provided with engaging means; and progressively movable means to be engaged and moved by said engaging means upon successive advances of said advancing means, said latch releasing means being operated by said progressively movable means, the combination including means to return said reciprocable bar after each advancement.

12. A combination as in claim 11 wherein said progressively movable means is a ratchet wheel and said engaging means on said reciprocable bar is a dog engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

13. A combination as in claim 9 wherein said carriers are elongated and each carrier carries a plurality of rows of indicia-bearing parts, such parts of each row being aligned to lie' lengthwise of the respective carriers, whereby the various rows faced in the same direction on the various carriers may be viewed and compared simultaneously.

14. A mechanical game comprising in combination: a plurality of laterally spaced elongated rotary carrier members arranged in substantially parallel relation and disposed on laterally spaced horizontal axes of rotation; a flexible elongated looped member individually carried by each of said carrier members; means to rotate said carrier members selectively; a plurality of series of aligned indicia-bearing parts disposed upon each looped member, the indicia-bearing parts in each series being aligned, and said series being arranged in approximate parallelism with one another, each rotary carrier member having means positioned to present to View each series of aligned indicia-bearing parts, whereby plural series presented in substantially parallel relation by said carrier members may be viewed simultaneously and indicia thereon compared; a framework in which said carrier members are rotatably mounted; means on said members to rotate the latter; first locking means to lock one of said members; second locking means for locking the remainder of said members; and means interconnecting said first and second locking means to release one thereof while rendering the other effective, and including trip means positioned adjacent said locking means for normally holding the latter ineffective and releasable to render said second locking means effective upon a predetermined number of actuations of the carrier means controlled thereby.

JOHN R. MCMAHON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 2, 1934 Number Number

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