US3018108A

US3018108A - Golf game device

Info

Publication number: US3018108A
Application number: US44313A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr Charles A Selzle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-21
Filing date: 1960-07-21
Publication date: 1962-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1979-01-23

Description

Jan. 23, 1962 3, SELZLE, 5 3,018,108

GOLF GAME DEVICE Filed July 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 8 n i E 6 E- N A m INVENTOR.

A TTOIWVEVS.

Jan. 23, 1962 c. A. SELZLE, SR

GOLF GAME DEVICE Y 914 .502 x .s.

Jan. 23, 1962 Filed July 21, 1960 C. A. SELZLE, SR

GOLF GAME DEVICE FIG: 5..

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JNVENTORI (flax/49A Se/z/gSz:

A 770/7/VEY5.

Jan. 23, 1962 Q SELZLE, 5R 3,018,108

GOLF GAME DEVICE Filed July 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG: 6

m INVENTOR. tW/asASZIZ/agflz:

new

fit

3,@l8,l@8 Patented Jan. 23, 1362 rice 3,018,108 GOLF GAME DEVICE Charles A. Selzle, Sin, 3907 N. 10th St, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed July 21, 1960, Ser. No. 44,313 16 Claims. (Cl. 273-180) This invention relates to a golf game suitable for either indoor or outdoor play. My invention provides an apparatus which is used together with a putter and three standard golf balls to play a game which is challenging and enjoyable.

To play the game properly, a certain degree of putting skill is required, or at least highly desirable for to achieve the objective of the game it is necessary to control both the direction of the putted ball and also the speed at which it arrives at its destination.

The apparatus of my present invention may be advantageously employed by golfers to improve their putting skill, and may also be employed by non-golfers purely for amusement and entertainment. Thus, the apparatus should appeal to both golfers and non golfers.

The apparatus, and the method of using it to play the game, will become clear from a reading of the following description of one form of the apparatus illustrated in the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View, partly broken away, of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the same apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view, partly broken away, showing the position of various movable parts after the first ball (A) has been accurately putted;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view with the back of the apparatus removed, and shows the position of various movable parts after the second ball (B) has been accurately putted;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line VV of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view showing the position of the parts just after the third ball (C) has arrived at its initial intended position;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view showing the position of the parts a moment later than illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the second ball (B) being discharged through the hole in the barrier;

FIGS. 9-10 are sectional views along the lines of lX-IX and X-X, respectively, of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the rocker shelf.

In describing the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not my intention to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

Referring now to F168. 1 and 2, the structure illustrated includes a base 10, a rear wall 12, a barrier wall 14 (running parallel with rear wall 12 and spaced for wardly thereof), an inclined floor 16 (located between a side wall 13 and a partition wall 20 and inclined upwardly from the front edge 17), and a ramp 22 (located between partition Wall 20 and a side wall 24) the angle of inclination of ramp 22 being greater than that of the inclined floor 16, the ramp going all the way to the top of the barrier 14.

Inclined floor 16 terminates short of barrier 14 and is supported on a wall 36, as seen in FIG. 2. Between wall 36 and barrier 14 is a well 37. Pivotally mounted in well 37 is a balanced rocker shelf 38, the details of which are shown in FIG. 11. Shelf 38 pivots about a pin 41 which is supported in

walls

14 and 36.

As seen in FIG. 11, rocker shelf 38 is provided with a pair of pockets or

seats

40 and 42, one on each side of the central pivot point or hole 49 through which pivot pin 41 passes.

Seats

40 and 42 are spaced at different distances from the pivot point 49, seat 42 being farther away. Each seat is shown to be V-shaped, with the wide mouth of the V facing rearwardly toward the barrier 14. Barrier 14 is provided with a pair of slots or

holes

44 and 46 each sufficiently large to pass a golf ball and each substantially in line with one of the

seats

40, 42 but the holes are located above the plane of rocker shelf 38 when the shelf is in balanced position. This may be clearly seen in FIG. 3, in which the rocker shelf 38 is shown in dotted lines.

Referring again to FIG. 11, one side of the rocker shelf 38 (the right side as viewed in FIG. 11) is hinged as by hinge 48 in order to permit seat 42 to be raised (by an actuator arm 32 later described) :above the level limited by the other side of the rocker shelf when it moves down to its lowermost position. The lowermost position of the unhinged side of rocker shelf 38 is determined by a stop member 67 shown in the broken-away portion of FIG. 7. The stop 67 is so located that the unhinged end of rocker-shelf 38 is permitted to move only slightly downward, just enough to give a slight slope to its surface.

Seat 40 on the unhinged side of rocker shelf 38 is located approximately midway between pivot point 49 and the end of the shelf. The surface of the outer part of the unhinged side is built up so as to incline slightly downwardly toward seat 40. Thus, seat 40 is in a slight valley. The surface of the hinged side of the rocker shelf inclines slightly downwardly from the hinge 48 toward the seat 42. The length of the shelf 38 beyond seat 42 is too short to require being built up.

Seat 42 is located at a substantially greater distance from the pivot point 49 than seat 40 so that when a standard golf ball is first placed in seat 40 and then a second ball is placed in seat 42, the side of the rocker shelf which includes seat 42 will move downwardly, thereby elevating seat 41 to the level of hole 44 in barrier 14.

Also located in well 37 below the hinged side of the rocker shelf 38 is an actuator arm 32. Actuator arm 32 is fixed to a pivot pin 34 which extends from wall. 36 through barrier 14 and beyond.

Also fixed to pin 34 behind barrier 14 is a rack 26 comprising a pair of parallel rods 28 and a counter weight arm 39. Rods 23 are spaced to receive therebetween a standard size golf ball. The rods 28 are bent upwardly at approximately the mid-point forming an outer portion which is inclined sharply upward and an. inner portion which inclines slightly upward from the bend to the counterweight arm 30. Thus, the bend forms a cradle in which the first golf ball (A) is received and retained after it comes through hole 44 in barrier 14. Mounted on rods 28, just beyond the bend or cradle, is a step 31 against which the third golf ball (C) rests after it is dfscharged from a cross trough which extends from the upper end of ramp 22 transversely across the back of the apparatus behind the barrier 14. Trough 60 is inclined slightly downwardly and terminates just above step 31 of the ball rack 26. At the outermost end of the rods of rack 26, a stop 29 is provided.

The rods 28 are fixed at one end to one end of the arm 30. The other end of arm 30 is fixed to the pin 34. Arm 30 is so positioned relative to pin 34 and to the rods 28 of rack 26 as to function as a counterweight. The rockershelf actuator arm 32 located in well 37 is, as previously described, also fixed to pin 34 and also functions per se as a counterweight for the rack 26. In addition, actuator ."the a paratus of the present invention. {the play, .the suitably counterweighted rocker shelf 38 arm 32 is held down by rocker shelf 38 whenever a golf ball (B) is in pocket 42 and that end of the rocker shelf is down. Thus, the weight of ball B must also be overcome before rack 26 will fall. The arrangement is such that when less than two golf balls are on rack 26, the combined forces tending to hold the rack up ateino't overcome and the rack remains in its upper position, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. When, however two golf balls are on the rack, the counter forces are overcome by the total weight of the two balls and the rack is forced down to its lower position. This is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 shows the rack'26 still in the upper position before it starts down, ball C having just arrived. PEG. 7 shows the rack in its lower position. I

Asshown in FIGS. 3-7, there is also positioned in the space'between rear wall 12 and barrier 14, a platform 50, pivoted about a pin53. Platform St) is so counterbalanced thatits one end 52 is normally at rest against the stop. 54. :However, when the ball B passes through the hole 46 in barrier 14 and drops on to the other end 6 of the platforrnitl, the end 56 drops. In the particular embodimeiit 1 selected for illustration in the drawing, a bell platform. 50. Thus, when the end 56 of the platform :"drops as a result of the ball B dropping thereon, the bell 158 is runga .The ball B then drops off the edge of the platform 5'0 and the platform returns to its normal position with end 52 resting against the stop 54.

in operation, as previously indicated, a putter golf club {and three standard golf balls are used in conjunction with At the start of :is in. its normal balanced position, indicated in dashed dimes in vFIG. 3, and ball rack 26 is also in its normal balanced position, indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 3.

In this position the rods 28 of the rack 26 are in the upper position and the rocker-shelf actuator arm 32 is in its lower position. It may be mentioned here that the rocker shelf 38, the ball rack 26 and actuator arm 32, and the platform 50 all take their normal balanced positions at the completion of play of the game without resetting being required on the part of the operator of player.

To play the game, the player takes a position across the room, or across the grass if outdoor, at any desired distance from the front edge 17 of the apparatus. Facing the inclined floor 16 and using the putter club, the player directs the first ball (ball A) toward the right side of the inclined floor 16, the object being to so putt the first ball (A) that it enters the seat 40. This may be accomplished by so putting ball A that it drops onto the unhinged right portion of the rocker shelf 33 at any spot between the divider block 80 and the end of the shelf. Any ball so dropping will gravitate toward the seat 40 as a result of the surface of the shelf in this region being inclined toward seat 40 from both directions. The purpose of divider block 80 is to cover hinge 43 and to limit the target area by removing the center section, thereby preventing a dead area.

For the purpose of preventing the player from putting balls directly up the inclined floor 16 and through the holes 44or 46 in barrier 14, there is mounted on the floor 16 in front of each

hole

44, 46, a

deflection plate

64, 66, effective to deflect the putted ball away from the

openings

44, 46.

Attention is here called to the fact that in order properly to putt ball A so that it enters seat 46, it is necessary not only to direct the ball accurately but it is also necessary to hit the ball with the proper amount of force. If the ball is hit too hard, it will carry across the well 37, rebound back from the barrier 14 on to the floor surface '16, and then roll back down the inclined floor 16. On the other hand, if the ball is hit with insuflicient force, it will not travel all the way up the floor 16 and will not even reach the well 37.

When ball A drops on to the right side of the shelf 38 d and enters seat 46, the downward movement of the right side of the shelf is very small, being limited by stop 67, as previously mentioned. Thus, the first ball A rests in the seat or pocket 46 with the rocker shelf 38 maintaining a substantially level position indicated by the dashed lines in H6. 3.

Assuming he has achieved the first step, namely, putting ball A into seat 4%, the player next putts the second golf ball (B) with the object of causing ball B to drop into the seat 42 located on the left or hinged side of the rocker shelf 38. This may be accomplished by so putting the ball up the left side of theinclined llOOI 16 as to cause the ball to drop onto the left side of the "rocker shelf 38 at any point between the divider 8i) and the. left end of the shelf. Any ball so-dropping will gravitate into the seat 42 due to the slightly downward inclination of the left side of the rocker shelf toward the seat. The

rocker shelf38 is so balanced, and the relative distances of

seats

40 and 42 from the center pivot are such, that when ball B drops onto the left side of the rocker shelf 33 and enters seat 42 (this being the more remote seat) the left side of rocker shelf 38 moves downwardly under the Weight of ball B. This raises the right side of the rocker shelf and carries the ball A in seat 40 upwardly until it assumes the position shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which ball A is opposite to the slot or hole 44 in the barrier 14. When this happens, ball A leaves seat 40, passes through hole 44, and drops down into the cradle of the rack 26, taking the position shown in solid line in FIGS. 4 and 5. The movement of the ball A from seat 40 onto the rack 26 is indicated in cross section in FIG. 5. It should be understood that the golf ball is supported by the edges of the V-notch seat, not by the floor of the seat, and that due to the force of gravity and the V-shape of the seat 40, any golf ball seated therein tends to sink lower into the notch, and that it does this by moving toward the mouth of the V. Thus, while the rocker shelf 38 shown in the illustration has thickness, it could be very thin, and seats being merely V notches.

When ball A drops into the cradle of the rack 26, the rack remains in the upper position shown in FIG. 4. This is due to counterweighting effect of actuator arm 32 and arm 3t] and to the fact that the weight of ball B is on the actuator arm 32, ball B being in pocket 42 and the hinged end of rocker shelf 38 being down, as seen in dotted lines in FIG. 4. These combined forces are sufiicient to prevent the rack from dropping down under the weight of one ball.

Assuming he has achieved both of the first two steps of the game, the player next putts the third ball, ball C, toward the narrow ramp 22, the object being to putt the ball all the way up the ramp 22, which, if accomplished, will cause ball C to enter the cross trough 60 (FIG. 6), and since cross trough 60 inclines slightly downwardly from left to right as viewed from the front of the apparatus, ball C will roll down trough 60 and drop onto the outer section of the ball rack 26, coming to rest against the step 31. When this happens, the combined weights of ball A and ball C are sufficient to overcome the counterbalancing forces provided by ball B, arm 32 and arm 30, and rack 26 drops downwardly, as indicated by the dashed line arrow in FIG. 6, the rack 26 coming to the position illustrated in FIG. 7.

When rack 26 moves downwardly, pivot pin 34, to which

arms

36 and 32 are fixed, rotates axially causing arm 32 in well 37 to rise upwardly. In so doing, arm 32 contacts the under side of the hinged end of the rocker shelf 38 containing seat 42 in which ball B is seated, and the seat 42 together with the ball B is raised until the ball B is opposite the hole or slot 46 in the barrier 14. This requires that that portion of shelf 38 which contains seat 42 be raised to a level higher than would be permitted by the downward movement of the other end of shelf 38, since stop 67 limits such downward movement.

Hinge 48, however, permits that end of shelf 33 containing seat 42 to be raised to the required height.

When ball B is raised to the level of hole 46, the ball B falls out of the mouth of seat 42, through slot or hole 46, and drops down onto the end 56 of platform 50, as illustrated in FIG. 8. When this occurs, platform 50 pivots about the pin 53 and the underside of end portion 5'6 strikes bell 58, causing the bell to ring, an indication that the player has accomplished the objective of the game. Ball B then drops off portion 56 of platform 50, as indicated in FIG. 7, and the counterbalanced platform 50 returns to its normal position in which the end portion 52 rests on the stop 54.

The three balls, A, B and C, are then retrieved and the next player attempts to duplicate the efforts of the first player.

Attention is called to the fact that with the rack 26 in the down position, the hinged side of rocker shelf 38 (containing seat 42) is raised above the plane in which it can be counterbalanced by the other end of the rocker shelf 38 and thus has weight of its own. With rack 26 in the down position, this weight is on actuator arm 32, as seen in FIG. 7. Without this weight on arm 32, rack 26 would remain in the down position after balls A and C were removed. However, with this added weight on arm 32, when balls A and C are removed, rack 26 starts upwardly, and it continues upwardly to final upper position after the hinged side of rocker shelf 38, containing seat 42, has returned to its normal balanced position (illustrated in dashed line FIG. 3).

It should be understood that the successful completion of the game may be indicated by means other than the ringing of a bell 58. For example, the momentary dropping down of end portion 56 of platform 50 under the weight of ball B may be utilized to close momentarily an electrical circuit to light a lamp or sound an alarm. Or, the dropping down of the ball rack 26 to its lower position may be utilized to close an electrical circuit to actuate an electrical device, such as a lamp. In such case, the circuit may remain energized (for example, the lamp may remain lighted) until the balls are removed from the rack and the rack is permitted to return to its normal upper position.

The apparatus of my invention, one form which is illustrated in the drawing and described above, may be made of any suitable material such as plastic, metal, or wood, or any combination thereof.

If desired, the apparatus may be modified to provide an inclined trough leading to the front of the apparatus to return the balls to the front in order to facilitate the retrieval thereof. In the particular embodiment shown in the illustration, balls A and C merely remain on the rack 26, and ball B remains in the position shown in FIG. 7, until manually removed by the operator. A hinged door 70, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, may if desired be provided, and such door may be opened, as by knob 71, to retrieve the balls.

While the preferred embodiment of my invention has been described in some detail, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from my invention as hereinafter claimed. For example, While not preferred, the game may obviously be simplified and played with only two balls, balls A and B. In such case, delivery of ball A behind the barrier would actuate the signal indicating completion of the game.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A golf game apparatus comprising: a barrier having first and second slots therethrough, each of a size to pass a standard size golf ball; a balanced rocker shelf positioned adjacent and in front of said barrier and below said slots, said rocker shelf having a horizontal center pivot point; a pair of seats on said rocker shelf, one on each side of the center pivot, one seat being more remote from the pivot than the other, each seat being so shaped as to tend to discharge any golf ball therein toward the barrier, said seats having such positions relative to the slots in the barrier that when a first golf ball is first rolled into the seat closer to the pivot and then a second similar golf ball is next rolled into the seat more remote from the pivot, the rocker shelf in response to the weight of the second ball will turn on its pivot to lift the first ball to the level of the first slot in the barrier to effect discharge of said first ball there-through; a rack behind said barrier fixed to a pivot pin, said rack being positioned to receive said first ball when it passes through said first slot; means including an arm fixed to said rack pivot pin, for counterbalancing said rack against the weight of said first ball; means, including a ramp in front of said barrier, leading to a position beyond said barrier and above said rack for guiding a third similar golf ball which is rolled up said ramp to a position on said rack, said rack under the weight of said first and third balls moving downwardly, thereby rotating its: pivot pin, said arm fixed to said pivot pin moving upward when said rack moves downward, said arm being positioned and adapted to lift that end of said rocker shelf having the second ball in its seat to the level of the second slot in said barrier, thereby to discharge said second ball through said second slot; indicator means; and means actuable by said second ball behind said barrier for actuating said indicator means.

2. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that a stop is provided to limit the downward movement of that side of said rocker shelf having the seat which is closer to the pivot.

3. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further characterized in that that side of the rocker shelf having the more remote seat is hinged between the pivot point and the said seat to permit said seat to be lifted upward beyond the level permitted by the other side of said shelf.

4. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that said seats are V-notches in said rocker shelf with the mouth of the V facing said barrier.

5. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further characterized in that an inclined fioor surface is provided leading upwardly to said rocker shelf.

6. A golf game apparatus comprising: a barrier having first and second slots therethrough, each of a size to pass a conventional golf ball; a balanced rocker shelf positioned adjacent and in front of said barrier and below said slots; a first ramp leading to said rocker shelf, said rocker shelf having a horizontal central pivot point; first and second seats on said rocker shelf, one on each side of the center pivot, said second seat being more remote from the pivot than the first, each seat being so shaped as to tend to discharge any golf ball therein toward the barrier, said seats having such positions relative to the slots in the barrier that if a first golf ball is first rolled up said first ramp into said first seat and] then a second similar golf ball is next rolled up said first ramp into said second seat, the rocker shelf in response to the weight of the second ball will turn on its pivot to lift the first ball to the level of the first slot in the barrier to effect discharge of said first ball therethrough; a rack behind said barrier fixed to a pivot pin, said rack being positioned to receive said first ball when it passes through said first slot; means, including an arm fixed to said rack pivot pin, for counterbalancing said rack against the weight of said first ball; means, including a second ramp in front of said barrier, leading to a position beyond said barrier and above said rack for guiding a third similar golf ball from said second ramp to a position on said rack, said rack being adapted, under the weight of said first and third balls to move downwardly, thereby to rotate its pivot pin, said arm fixed to said pivot pin being adapted to move upward when said rack moves downward, said arm being positioned and adapted to lift that end of said rocker shelf having the second seat to the level of the '2? second slot in said barrier, thereby to discharge said second ball through said second slot; indicator means; and means actuable by said second ball behind said barrier for actuating said indicator means.

7. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that a stop is provided to limit the downward movement of that side of said rocker shelf having the first seat.

8. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further characterized in that that side of the rocker shelf having the second seat is hinged between the pivot point and the said second seat to permit said seat to be lifted upward beyond the level permitted by the other side of said shelf.

9. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further characterized in that said seats are V-notches in said rocker shelf with the mouth of the V facing said barrier.

10. A golf game apparatus comprising: abarrier; a balanced rocker shelf positioned adjacent and in front of said barrier, said rocker shelf having a horizontal pivot point; first .and second'seats on said rocker shelf, one on each side of the pivot, said second seat being more remote from the pivot than the first, each seat being so shaped as-to tend to discharge any golf ball therein toward the barrier, whereby it a first, golf ball is placed first in said first seat and then a second similar golf ball is next placed in said second seat, the rocker shelf in response to the weight of the second ball will tufri on its pivot to lift thefirst ball to effect delivery of said first ball to behind said barrier, a rack behind said barrier .fixed to a pivot pin, said rack being in an upper position to receive said first ball when it is delivered behind said barrier; means, including an arm fixed to said rack pivot pin, for preventing said rack from falling under the weight of said first ball; means, ,including a ramp in front of said barrier, leading to a positionbehind said barrier and above said rack for guiding a third similar golf ball from said ramp to a position on said rack, said rack being adapted, under the combined weight of said first and third balls to fall downwardly, thereby to rotate its pivot pin, said arm fixed to said pivot pin being adapted to move upward when said rack moves downward, said arm being positioned and adapted to lift that end of said rocker shelf having the second seat to deliver said second ball behind said barrier; indicator means; and means actuable by said second ball behind said barrier for actuating said indicator means.

11. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 10 characterized in that a stop is provided to limit the downward movement of that side of said rocker shelf having the first seat.

12. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further characterized in that that side of the rocker shelf having the second seat is hinged between the pivot point and the said second seat to permit said seat to be lifted upward beyond the level permitted by the other side of said shelf.

13. A golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further characterized in that said seats are V-notches in said rocker shelf with the mouth of the V facing said barrier.

14. In a golf game apparatus; a barrier; a balanced rocker shelf positioned adjacent and in front of said barrier; a first ramp leading to said rocker shelf, said rocker shelf having a horizontal pivot point, said rocker shelf having first and second seats thereon one on each side of the pivot, said second seat being more remote from the pivot than the first, each seat being so shaped as to tend to discharge any golf ball therein toward the barrier, whereby if a first golf ball is first rolled into said first seat and then a second similar golf ball is next rolled into said second seat, the rocker shelf in response to the weight of the second ball. would turn on its pivot to lift the first ball to effect delivery of said first ball to behind said barrier; a rack behind said barrier fixed to a pivot pin, said rack being in an upper position to receive said first ball when it is delivered behind said barrier; means, including an arm fixed to said rack pivot pin, for preventing said rack from falling under the weight of said first ball; and means, including a second ramp in front of said barrier, leading to a position be hind said barrier and above said rack for guiding a third similar golf ball from said second ramp to a position in said rack, said rack being adapted, under the combined weight of said first and third balls to fall downwardly, thereby to rotate its pivot pin, said arm fixed to said pivot pin being adapted to move upward when said rack moves downward, said arm being positioned and adapted to lift that end of said rockershelf having th second seat to deliver said second ball behind said barrier.

15. In a golf game apparatus as claimed in claim 14 characterized by the provision of indicating means actuable by a ball delivered behind said barrier.

16. A game apparatus adapted to employ a plurality of balls of substantially the samefsize and weight, said apparatus comprising a barrier having first and second slots therethrough each of a size to pass one of said balls; a balanced rocker shelf positioned adjacent and in front of said barrier and below said slots; a first ramp leading to said rocker shelf, said rocker shelf having a horizontal pivot point and having first and second seats, one on each side of the pivot, said second seat being more remote from the pivot than the first, each seat being so shaped as to tend to discharge a ball therein toward the barrier, said seats having such positions relative to the slots in the barrier that when a first ball is rolled up said first ramp into said first seat and then a second ball is next rolled up said first ramp into said second seat, the rocker shelf in response to the weight of the second ball turns on its pivot to lift the first ball to the level of the first slot in the barrier to effect discharge of said first ball therethrough; a rack behind said barrier fixed to a pivot pm, said rack being positioned to receive said'first ball when it passes through said first slot; means, including an arm fixed to said rack pivot pin, for counterbalancing said rack against the weight of said first ball; means, including a second ramp in front of said barrier, leading to a position beyond said barrier and above said rack for guiding a third ball to a position on said rack, said rack being adapted under the weight of said first and third balls to move downwardly, thereby to rotate its pivot pin, said arm fixed to said pivot pin being adapted to move upward when said rack moves downward, said arm being positioned and adapted to lift that end of of said rocker shelf having the second seat to the level of the second slot in said barrier, thereby to discharge said second ball through said second slot; indicator means; and means actuable by said second ball behind said barrier for actuating said indicator means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,586 Platakis Aug. 9, 1932 mmaw... H,