US2671665A

US2671665A - Rotary game wheel

Info

Publication number: US2671665A
Application number: US110902A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter H Rothgery
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-08-18
Filing date: 1949-08-18
Publication date: 1954-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-09

Description

w. H. ROTHGERY 2,671,665

ROTARY GAME WHEEL Filed Aug. 18, 1949 March 9, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WALTER H. ROTHGERY,

ATTORNEY.

March 1954 w. H. ROTHGERY ROTARY GAME WHEEL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1949 ATTORNEY.

m m m m WALTER H. RQTHG BY March 9,

Filed Aug.

ROTARY GAME WHEEL SO 68 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. WA LTE R H. ROTHGERY,

9 ATTOR/IEY.

March 9, 1954 w, H RQTHGERY 2,671,665

ROTARY GAME WHEEL Filed Aug. 18, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WALTER H. ROTHGERY,

B gk g A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement device and has particular reference to a game wheel.

The invention contemplates an amusement device comprising a plurality of concentric wheels rotatable upon a supporting spindle, with one wheel carrying a plurality of simulated animals, such as horses, while another wheel carries a plurality of simulated figures, such as riders or jockeys, there being an equal number of horses and jockeys and means whereby the wheels may be rotated jointly and the jockeys moved radially outwardly of the horses whereby the wheels may be independently rotated in either direction and means whereby, when momentum of the wheels sufficiently decelerated, the jockeys will accurately engage the horses, establishing various combinations in number or colors for determining winning plays.

A further object of the invention resides in a fixed mounting panel that carries a supporting spindle upon which is mounted for rotative play, a pair of wheels having interlocking ratchet means therebetween for normally locking the wheels together for rotation in unison, with one wheel carrying a plurality of simulated horses arranged in radial form, while the other wheel carries a plurality of simulated jockeys, likewise arranged in radial form, one for each horse and normally being positioned astride the horses, with means for moving the jockeys outwardly under centrifugal action as the wheels are rotated at sufficient momentum, releasing the looking ratchet connection for permitting independent rotation of the wheels and retarding mechanism carried by the mounting panel whereby the jockey supported wheel is slowed down to permit a reduction in gravitational pull upon the jockeys whereby they automatically move inwardly for actuating the ratchet mechanism and accurately positioning each jockey for a perfect straddling of a. horse as the wheels are decelerated, the jockeys and horses carrying numbers and being in various color combinations to determine a winning number combination or a winning color combination within a given area, such as an open horseshoe supported in front of the wheels in fixed position.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel mounting of the wheels, the interlocking ratchet mechanism, means for controlling the identical radial movement of the jockeys by equalizing linkage, the retarding means for decreasing the momentum of the wheels and various mechanical details which will be readily apparent by reference to the drawings taken in connection with the following description.

In the drawings, wherein has been shown a preferred form of the invention and wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several figures;

Figure l is a front elevation of an amusement wheel constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, illustrating a jockey supporting wheel and associated ratchet mechanism, with the jockeys omitted for sake of clearness.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the device of Figure l, with the jockeys moved radially outwardly,

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the wheel of Figure 3, taken on line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a mounting panel, taken on line 66 of Figure 2,

Figure '7 is a rear elevation of the mounting panel of Figure 6, illustrating retarding mechaism,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end perspective of one retarding device removed from the panel,

Figure 9 is a vertical section of the complete device, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 1,

Figure 10 is a perspective View of one jockey controlling mechanism with a ratchet device being shown fragmentarily,

Figure 11 is a transverse fragmentary section taken on line Hll of Figure 9 and,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section taken on line I2--l2 of Figure '7, illustrating the action of the retarding mechanism upon the wheels.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 5 designates a mounting panel, formed circular preferably and of any desirable material. The panel as shown, is recessed upon its rear wall, as at 6 and preferably has a hub 1 upon which is rigidly mounted a hook or other fastening means 8, whereby the panel may be conveniently mounted upon a standard, wall or other structure, to be supported in vertical position. The front wall 9 is provided with a pair of eccentric slots l E3, each being traversed by a shaft l I, rotatably supported in a bearing i2, rigid with respect to the ends I3 of arms 14. The arms [4 are pivotally supported at their opposite ends upon the inner surface of the wall 9 in concentric relation to the slots Hi. Dashpots or other retarding means [5 are pivotally connected to the wall 9 and carry piston rods l6 that have pivotal connection with the arms l4. Springs I! may or may not be used in conjunction with the dashpots for accelerating the movement of the arms in their swinging movement. The shafts l I carry at their outer ends, abutment flaps l8, for engagement by devices carried by the wheels and to be later described. The inner ends of the shafts have connection with coil springs l9 controlling the movement of the flaps to engaging position. The flaps are held against upward movement by a disc 20, fixed upon the shafts II and carrying a pin 2!, engaging the edge of the arm Id. The flaps may be rotated downwardly against the action of the spring i9 when contacted in one direction by the wheel mechanism, but when the wheel is rotated in the opposite direction, the flap will be held against turning movement by the disc and pin 20 and 2|, causing the arm M to swing upon its pivot and the shaft H to traverse the particular slot I until, by its eccentric movement with respect to the panel, it, moves out of the path of the wheel mechanism. Upon release, the arm I4 is moved to its original position under the influence of the dashpot and spring, l5 and I1, respectively. The same operation prevails with both retarding devices, each functioning to retard the rotation of the wheels in either direction. A wheel mounting plate 22 is centrally positioned upon the front of the wall 9 and carries an integral spindle 23, for the rotative support of the wheels, to be described. The plate 22 is bolted or otherwise rigidly supported upon the panel 5, as shown.

Mounted for rotation on the spindle 23, is an inner wheel, designated as a whole by the numeral 24 and an outer wheel, designated as a whole by the numeral 25. The wheel 24 is circular and concentric with the panel 5 and includes a rim section 26, connected by radial spokes 21. The wheel and its spokes may be formed as an integral structure of a desirable material and of a particular design and ornamentation. The inner ends of the spokes are rigidly supported in a hub of tubular formation, as shown at 28, with the hub being provided with preferably integral

circular flange plates

29 and 30, upon opposite sides of the wheel. Antifriction bearings 3|, rotatably support the hub upon a tubular sleeve bearing 32, of a length substantially that of the spindle 23 which, at its inner end terminates against the plate 22. The sleeve bearing 32 is in turn supported upon antifriction bearings 33 at each end thereof and the bearings 33 are held against displacement by an inner tubular mounting sleeve 34 that is removably mounted on the spindle 23 for non-rotation. The sleeve 34 and its associated bearings 33 and bearing sleeve 32, is held against displacement in mounted position upon the spindle 23, by a screw 35, having a relatively wide head and having threaded engagement in the terminal end of the spindle axially thereof. The

flange plates

29 and 30 are radially slotted at 36 and 31, with the slots being axially aligned and equidistantly spaced around the flanges, for a purpose to be described.

The sleeve bearing 32 is provided with a radial flange 38, serving as a rigid backing plate for a preferably fiber ratchet lock 39, bolted or otherwise detachably connected to the flange 38, by bolts or like fastening devices 49. The ratchet 39 and flange 38 are jointly slotted axially and radially, at 4|, with the slots extending entirely through the periphery of the ratchet. The slots 4| are axially aligned and equal in number to the

radial slots

36 and 31 of the

flanges

29 and 30. The slotting of the fiber ratchet provides a plurality of ratchet teeth 42, with each tooth inclined inwardly and having its apex rounded, as shown.

The outer wheel 25 comprises a disc-like hub 43, centrally bored for snug engagement over the extended end of the sleeve bearing 32. The hub 43 is bolted to the fiber ratchet and its supporting flange 38, by bolts 44, passing entirely through the hub and having threaded engagement in the flange 38, whereby the outer wheel 25, the ratchet 39 and the sleeve bearing 32 are rigid as a unit and turn together on the anti-friction bearings 33, while the inner wheel 24 is rotatable under certain conditions to be described, upon the antifriction bearings 3|. The hub 43 carries radial, preferably tubular spokes 45, equal in number and spacing to the

slots

36 and 31 and the slots 4| and fixedly carry at their outer ends, figured elements, simulating, in the present instance horses 46, each one numbered, as at 41 and preferably differently colored. The wheel and its associated horses are adapted to rotate with the wheel 24 under certain conditions to be described or, may, under other circumstances, rotate independently of the wheel 24. A cover plate 48 closes the central opening of the hub 43 and may be removably held in covering position by a resilient spring device 49, see Figure 9.

Each of the spokes 21, see particularly Figures 5, 9 and 11, is radially grooved throughout their length at 50, with the groove extending through to the periphery of the Wheel 24. Radially slidable in the grooves 50, are preferably channel bars 5|, provided at their inner ends with rearwardly extending pins 52, slidable in the slots 31 of the flange plate 30, while forwardly extended pins 53, axially arranged with respect to the pins 52, pass through the slots 36 of the flange 29 for interlocking engagement in the several teeth of the ratchet 39, when the channel bars are in their innermost position. It has been found desirable to provide one of the pins 53 with a roller 54, to facilitate the engagement of the pins with the ratchet as the bars 5| move inwardly. The pins 53 serve as the means whereby the two

wheels

24 and 25 are locked together through the medium of the ratchet engagement. Each bar 5| adjacent its outer end is provided with a forwardly directed pin 55, forked at its outer end for the rigid support of a simulated jockey 56. The jockey is accurately positioned in overriding relation to the horses 46 and is shiftable toward and from the horse under the action of the bar 5|. The jockeys carry number designations 51 and are suitably colored similar to the horses. Each bar 5| adjacent its upper end is provided with a rearwardly projecting pin 58, slidable in a slot 59 formed in a backing plate 60. The bar is further provided with a rearwardly extending blade 6|, the shank of which likewise slides in the slot 59, with the blade extending rearwardly of the wheel to travel in a path for contact with the abutment flaps l8 during a predetermined rotative momentum of the wheel.

Since it is essential that all of the jockeys be actuated simultaneously, an equalizer ring 62 is rockably mounted on the extended end of the hub 28 and is provided with outwardly offset radial fingers 63. The fingers 63 are equal in number to the bars 5| and have pivotal connection at their outer ends with equalizer links 64. The links 64 are pivotally connected at their outer ends with the bars 5| and jointly serve to assure that the movement of the bars outwardly will be identical in their travel, resulting in an identical movement radially of all the jockeys 56. Springs 65 urge the bars and associated elements to retracted position, with the springs 65 being connected at one end to the outer pivotal point of the links 64 and at their inner ends to a screw or other connection upon the flange plate 30. The ring 62 is held against displacement from the hub 28, by a retainer 66.

It may be found desirable to provide a retarding means to the rotation of the wheels after they have been manually started and the jockeys shifted outwardly to their extreme position under the influence of gravity and, for this purpose, a relatively resilient roller 61 is rotatably supported in bearings 68, carried. by the panel 5 at a point adjacent the lower periphery of the front wall 9; When the jockeys have been moved outwardly, the blade 6! contacts the side of the rollerduring the rotation of the wheel and until the rotation has been retarded sufficiently to permit the jockeys to start their inward movement toward the horses.

The winning circle for the horses and jockeys is in the form of a horseshoe cs, suspended forwardly of the horses and jockeys by a barit, detachably connected to the rim of the panel at the top thereof at ll. The horseshoe, the faces of the wheels and the face of the panel may be suitably ornamented with reflective materials, adding materially to attractiveness of the device during its operation and, especially when illuminated.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the device has been mounted in a vertical position whereby the wheels will be free to rotate, the operator grasps one of the spokes t5 and whirls the wheels in either direction since, at their position of rest, they are locked together by the ratchet The whirling of the wheel causes the several jockeys to move outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force, such outward movement causing the bars 5'! to move outwardly radially against the tension of the springs 65, causing the pins 53 to disengage the ratchet teeth 39, thus freeing the wheel 25 with respect to the wheel 2%. The jockeys having risen clear of the horses, the wheel 25 is freely rotatable and may be grasped by the operator and rotated in an opposite direction. Since the blades (ii will lightly contact the roller El when in the outer position, the momentum the wheel 24 will be gradually reduced and, as the speed is further reduced, the gravitational pull is being overcome by the springs 85, causing the several bars 5!, their supported jockeys 5t and the ratchet pins 53 to move inwardly until the roller 5% of one pin 53 starts to contact the apexes of the teeth rolling over the rounded ends of the teeth until the rotation of the wheel has been so far reduced as to cause all the pins 53 to look within the teeth 3%, accurately locking the two wheels together and accurately positioning the jockeys in straddled position over the horses. The wheels thus being locked together continue to rotate and when so locked together, the blades Si have moved inwardly and in the path of the abutments i a. The abutments functioning in opposite directions at either side of the panel 5 will present a retarding action to the blades El, regardless of rotational direction of the wheels. Looking at Figure 6, assuming that the wheels are rotating in a clockwise direction, the blades- GI will catch under an abutment is at the left hand side, causing the arm i i to rise against the tension of the spring ll until the abutment has moved out of the path of the blade 51 due to its eccentric travel. As the blades E-i move downwardly at the opposite side of the wheel, they merely flex theabutments downwardly against the tension of their springs 59. If the wheels 2% and 25 are moving in a counter clockwise direction, the opposite arm ill will assume the retarding action. This retarding continues until the wheels are finally stopped and the jockey and horse combination have been stopped either in the winning circle of the horseshoe or, as some times occurs, two horses and their jockeys may partially enter the circle, thus setting up what is known as a dead heat or photo finish. The use 6 of the fiber ratchet 39 greatly reduces the noise of the ratcheting effect of the pins 53 just prior to: the interlocking of the wheels, prolonging the life of the parts by reducing wear and substantially reducing the shock when the wheels are locked together, especially when they are being rotated in opposite directions. The equalizing mechanism maintains all the jockeys and their associated mechanism accurately radially positioned and assures that their movement toward and from the horses is identical under all degrees of rotation of the wheels.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very novel and entertaining amusement and game wheel has been provided. The color combinations and numbers or the horses produce many betting angles, such as is possible in horse racing. While horses and jockeys have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent that other figures could be employed, such for instance as dogs and rabbits or various number combinations, etc. The parts of the device are relatively simple and require a minimum of attention, are easy to disassemble for purposes'of shipment or storage, since the wheel 25 can be readily removed from the wheel 26 by removing the bolts Ml and slipping the wheel from its position of rest upon the hub extension. The completely assembled wheel 24, including the several elements for controlling the jockeys may then be removed from the spindle 23 by first removing the screw 35, after which the complete hub assembly including the sleeve 34, hub 28 and associated bearings can he slipped from the spindle 23.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1'. An amusement device comprising a supporting panel having a central spindle, a pair of concentric wheels rotatable on the spindle, interlocking ratchet means between the two wheels whereby they rotate in unison at decelerated speed, circumferentially spaced simulated horses carried by one wheel, circumierentially spaced simulated jockeys shiftably supported upon the other wheel and having normal straddled relation to the horses, when the wheels rotate in unison, the horses and jockeys being colored and numbered, connecting means between each jockey and the interlocking ratchet means, means whereby the jockeys move outwardly radially when the wheels are accelerated for releasing the interlocking means and permitting the wheel'sv to rotate independently of each other, said wheels when decelerated permitting the jockeys to move inwardly for reestablishing the interlocking means the said simulated jockeys when moved inwardly simultaneously reassuming their straddled relation to the horses for establishing variable color and number combinations.

2. The combination of claim 1, whereby retarding means carried by the supporting panel is engaged by mechanism of the jockey carrying wheel for retarding the rotation of the wheels in unison when the interlocking means between the wheels are engaged.

3. An amusement apparatus of the character described including a supporting panel having a central spindle, a pair of concentric wheels rotatably supported on the spindle in concentric relation to the panel, a plurality of radial spokes carried by one wheel equidistantly spaced, colored and numbered simulated horses fixed at the ends of the spokes, a plurality of colored and numbered simulated jockeys carried by the other wheel equal in number to the horses and normally having straddled relation to the horses, the jockeys being shifted outwardly radially by centrifugal force when the wheel is accelerated to have overriding clearance with the horses, interlocking ratchet means between the wheels whereby they rotate in unison at a decelerated speed, radially shiftable bars supported by the jockey carrying wheel, each bar supporting a jockey at its outer end, the bars provided at their inner ends with ratchet engaging pins, the centrifugally shiftable jockeys serving to release the interlocking ratchet means through the medium of the bars for permitting independent rotation of the wheels, spring means for urging the bars and jockeys inwardly when the wheel is decelerated, retarding means carried by the panel for progressively decelerating the jockey carrying wheel, the jockey carrying wheel when sufliciently decelerated permitting the jockeys to move inwardly under the influence of the spring means to reestablish the interlocking means, the jockeys when moved inwardly being accurately straddled upon the horses and equalizing means carried by the device whereby all of the jockeys are simultaneously radially shifted.

4. A rotatable amusement apparatus that comprises a flat circular supporting panel having a forwardly projecting horizontal spindle, a bearing sleeve supported on the spindle for rotation thereon, an inner and an outer rotatable wheel, the inner wheel rotatably supported on the sleeve, the outer wheel supported on the sleeve for rotation therewith, a ratchet lock fixed with respect to the sleeve and the outer wheel, the outer wheel provided with equidistantly spaced radial spokes having colored and numbered simulated horses fixed at their outer ends, the inner wheel having a rim and radial spokes, colored and numbered simulated jockeys carried adjacent the rim, being equal in number to the horses and normally positioned in straddled relation to the horses, interlocking means between the inner wheel and the ratchet lock whereby the wheels turn in unison at a low speed, the said jockeys adapted to simultaneously shift outwardly radially away from the horses under the influence of centrifugal force when the Wheels are accelerated, radially positioned and radially shiftable bars carried by the inner wheel for controlling the shifting ofthe jockeys, the bars having inner and outer ends, forwardly projecting pins carried by each bar adjacent its outer end for the support of the jockeys, pins carried by the bars at their inner ends for shiftable engagement with the ratchet, the said jockeys when shifted outwardly imparting radial shifting movement to the bars causing the pins to disengage the ratchet for permitting independent rotation of the wheels with respect to each other, equalizing means for controlling the simultaneous and equidistant shifting of the jockeys, spring means for opposing the outward shifting of the bars, retarding means for the inner wheel when the jockeys are in their outermost position, the wheels when decelerated permitting the jockeys to be retracted under the influence of the spring means to straddled position with respect to the horses, retarder mechanism carried by the panel and engageable with the inner wheel when the jockeys have been retracted, the retracting of the jockeys causing the pins upon the inner ends of the bars to interlock with the ratchet for rotation of the wheels in unison.

5. An amusement device of the character described embodying a fixed panel and inner and outer concentric rotatable wheels, a central spindle carried by the panel for supporting the wheels in concentric relation thereon, the outer wheel comprising a circular hub having radial equidistantly spaced spokes provided at their outer ends with colored and numbered simulated horses, the inner wheel comprising a circular rim supported on radial spokes equal in number and spacing to the spokes of the outer wheel, a plurality of colored and numbered radially shiftable jockeys supported in equidistantly spaced relation around the rim, the jockeys being equal in number and spacing to the horses, a bearing sleeve rotatably supported on the spindle, antifriction means for the sleeve, a hub for the inner wheel rotatably supported on the sleeve, antifriction means for the hub, flange plates carried by the hub for engagement upon opposite sides of the inner wheel, the plates being radially slotted and of a number corresponding to the horses and jockeys, a flange formed on the sleeve inwardly of its outer end, a ratchet lock carried by the last named flange, the hub of the outer wheel supported on the extended end of the sleeve and bolted to the ratchet and sleeve flange, radially shiftable bars slidably supported upon the rear face of the inner wheel, pins carried by the outer ends of the bars and extending through preformed radial slots in the rim and supporting the jockeys at their outer ends, pins carried by the inner ends of the bars for engagement in the ratchet when the wheels are at rest and in decelerated motion, the pins engaging slidably in the slots of the inner wheel hub flanges, equalizer linkage supported on the hub of the inner wheel and connected with each of the bars, the said wheels when accelerated causing the jockeys and their bar supports to radially shift outwardly under centrifugal force for disconnecting the pins from the ratchet whereby the inner wheel and its jockeys and the outer wheel and its horses may rotate independently of each other, retarder means for the inner wheel when the jockeys are in their outer position, spring means for retracting the bars and their supported jockeys simultaneously as the wheels are decelerated for engaging the lower pins with the ratchet and retarder means carried by the panel for engaging the inner wheel after the jockeys have been retracted, the retarding means functioning in either direction of rotation of the wheels.

6. A wheeled amusement apparatus having a mounting panel, a spindle mounted centrally of the panel, an inner and an outer wheel concentric with each other and with the panel, a bearing sleeve rotatable on the spindle, antifriction bearings for the sleeve, a radial ratchet flange formed on the sleeve inwardly of its outer end, a hub for the inner wheel rotatable on the sleeve, antifriction bearings for the hub, radial flanges carried by the hub, the last named flanges being radially slotted, spokes radially supported in the hub, a rim carried by the spokes, the spokes being radially grooved upon their inner faces, bars slidable in the grooves, the rim being slotted in alignment with each bar, forwardly projecting pins carried by the outer ends or the bars to traverse the rim slots, colored and numbered simulated jockeys supported upon the ins forwardly of the front face of the rim, guide plates carried by the rim and overlying the slots and provided with parallel slots, pins carried by the inner and outer ends of the bars for slidable engagement in the guide plates and the slots of the hub flanges, the pins at the inner ends of the bars being extended forwardly for traversing the slots of the hub flanges, an equalizer ring supported on the hub, equalizer links carried by the ring and having connection with the bars, spring means for urging the bars inwardly, rearwardly extending abutment members carried by the outer ends of the bars, the outer wheel embodying a circular disc hub centrally apertured for engagement over the extended end of the bearing sleeve, a slotted toothed ratchet fixed to the flange of the sleeve, with the slots being aligned axially and equal in number to the slots of the inner wheel hub flanges, the forwardly projecting pins of the inner ends of the bars engaging the ratchet teeth, the outer wheel hub being connected to the ratchet, radial spokes carried by the outer wheel hub for the support of colored and numbered simulated horses at their outer ends, the horses and jockeys being equal in number and spacing circumferentially, the jockeys and their supporting bars being radially shiftable outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force when the wheels are accelerated to a position where the jockeys are out of the path of movement of the horses and retracted to straddle position with the horses when the wheels are decelerated, the movement of the jockeys radially controlling the engagement of the pins in the ratchet teeth for determining the movement of the wheels in unison or independently and retarding means carried by the panel and engaged by the abutment members of the inner wheel in both the extended and retracted position of the jockeys.

'7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the panel supported retarding means for the jockey carrying wheel when the jockeys are in retracted position comprises a pair of oppositely extending bars pivotally supported at one end upon the rear of the panel, lateral shafts carried by the opposite ends of the bars and projecting through arcuate slots formed in the wall of the panel to extend beyond the front of the panel, abutment flaps carried at the extended ends of the shafts, rigid abutments supported at the outer ends of the bars of the inner wheel and shiftable therewith to lie in the path of the flaps when the jockeys and their supporting bars are retracted the shafts being spring loaded for maintaining the flaps in an extended position for contact by the abutments of the inner wheel, the flaps being flexed in one direction only, the said bars of the retarding means being pivotally supported in off center relation to the panel and the connected with the retarder bars and with the slots being eccentric to the panel, dashpots panel for controlling the swinging movement of the bars when the flaps are engaged by the abutments of the inner wheel and springs for returning the bars to their normal position to position the flaps in the path of travel of the abutments of the inner wheel, the swinging of the bars under the influence of the inner wheel abutments moving the flaps out of the path of the wheel abutments due to the eccentric motion of the retarder bars. 8. The combination of claim 4 wherein the retarding means for the wheels when the jockeys are in their retracted position is actuable in either direction of rotation of the wheels.

9. A game wheel that includes a fixed panel having a centrally disposed and forwardly projecting spindle fixed thereon, a tubular bearing sleeve rotatable on the spindle and having antifriction bearing thereon, the sleeve being provided with a radial flange having equidistantly spaced radial slots, a fiber ratchet attached to the flange and slotted radially in alignment with the slots of the flange, the slotting of the ratchet providing radial teeth having their outer edges bevelled inwardly, an outer wheel including a hub having radial and equidistantly spaced spokes, the hub supported on the sleeve and secured to the ratchet and the flange, the spokes being equal in number to the slots of the flange and ratchet and aligned therewith, colored and numbered simulated horses fixed at the terminal ends of the spokes, an inner wheel having a hub rotatable on the bearing sleeve, antifriction means for the hub, spaced radial flanges carried by the inner wheel hub that are radially slotted to correspond to the slots of the sleeve flange and ratchet, spokes rigidly supported between the hub flanges, the spokes being radially disposed and equal in numher and spacing to the spokes of the outer wheel, a rim carried by the spokes of the inner wheel, the spokes being grooved radially and centrally throughout their length with the grooves extending through the rim, channel bars slidable in the grooves, oppositely extending and axially aligned pins projecting forwardly and rearwardly of the inner ends of the bars with the pins slidable in the slots of the hub flanges, the forwardly pro jecting pins being engageable in the slots of the ratchet with one forwardly projecting pin provided with a roller, the rim being slotted from front to rear in alignment with the grooves, slotted guide plates positioned over the rim slots and the outer end of the grooves, forwardly projecting pins carried by the outer ends of the bars and projecting through the rim slots, colored and numbered simulated jockeys fixed upon the outer ends of the last named pins to be positioned in overriding straddled relation to the horses, a rearwardly directed pin carried by the outer ends of the bars for slidable engagement in the slots of the guide plates, a rearwardly projecting wedge shaped abutment device carried at the outer ends of the bars, an equalizer ring rockably mounted on the hub of the inner wheel and provided with radial arms, links connected with each arm and with the bars, springs for urging the bars inwardly, the bars and jockeys being movable outwardly radially by centrifugal force, a resilient retarder carried by the panel for engagement with the abutment when the bars are extended, and oppositely directed and dashpot controlled retarders carried by the panel for engagement by the abutments when the bars and jockeys are retracted.

WALTER H. ROTHGERY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,917,948 Post July 11, 1933 2,141,723 Pieper Dec. 27, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 543,155 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1942