US3034785A - Amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1962 "R. E. GRAHAM AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1959 IN V EN TOR. R44 PH I. 6524/74 BY Fl/L was? May 15, 1962 R. E. GRAHAM 3,034,785

' AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M y 4 M y n m4 7.. N 2 p ,6 x m A My r a H m J J w W y A F R Y B 4 4% a a a a a w wwi iii fl 3 5 wzw fl fl m 4 f A A w 2 MAX r 5 7 g f n z x p A a p 5 mounted in a cockpit.

United Sttes The present invention relates generally to the field of amusement devices and more particularly to an amusement device wherein passenger-carrying vehicles, equipped to shoot harmless projectiles, are operated under the limited control of passengers.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide an amusement device which includes a number of vehicles to accommodate passengers, which vehicles are operated under the restricted control of a passenger therein and wherein the vehicles incorporate gun means for shooting harmless projectiles at other vehicles or selected targets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an amusement apparatus wherein harmless projectiles are shot from vehicles and wherein the projectiles are automatically circulated to be shot over and over.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an amusement apparatus wherein passengers control vehicles from which they shoot harmless projectiles at selected targets.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gun means for use as an amusement device wherein harmless projectiles are shot in rapid succession.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a toy gun which may be inexpensively manufactured and which is capable of propelling projectiles in rapid sequence.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective and sectional view of an illustrative amusement apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a gun incorporated in the apparatus of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, the apparatus embodying the present invention i shown to include passenger-carrying vehicles V which are moved in a circular pattern by a motive means M. The vehicles V are capable of assuming various levels under control of the passenger therein as will be described hereinafter. Furthermore, the vehicles V are each equipped with a gun G for propelling projectiles P. The gun G is operated under the control of a passenger in a vehicle and may be pointed at various targets including other of the vehicles V. The projectiles P eventually fall to the bottom of the apparatus and are carried by a conveyor system C to a reservoir from which they are dis pensed to be repeatedly shot by the gun G.

Considering the vehicles V of FIGURE 1 in greater detail, reference will now be had to FIGURE 2. The vehicles V include a streamlined body formed to simulate a rocket or other aircraft. Fins 12 are mounted to radiate from the rear of the body 10 and jet tubes 14 extend from the back of the body thereby further providing a rocket appearance for the vehicle V. r

The body 10 contains backto-back seats 16 and 18 The seats may be mounted to turn and are equippedwith safety belts (not shown). The cockpit of the vehicle V is covered by a transparent canopy 20 which may be formed of screen or other durable maatent 3,34,785 Patented May 15, 1962 terial capable of withstanding repeated bombardment by the projectiles P.

The seat 18 faces a control level 22 which serves to control the horizontal position of the vehicle V as will be described hereinafter. Mounted in front of each of the seats 16 and 18 is a gun G which extends through the canopy 20. The gun G shoots the projectiles P which may be small balls formed of cork or may alternatively be made of plastic or various other light materials.

Considering the guns G in detail, reference will now be had to FIGURES 3 and 4. The gun G includes a handle 24 integrally-formed with an elongate barrel 26 in somewhat of a pistol configuration. The handle 24 and barrel 26 may be formed of rigid plastic, metal or various other materials and maybe cast in the form shown as an example. Sights 27 and 29 are mounted on the top of the barrel 26 to assist in aiming the gun G. A trigger guard 28 is provided below the barrel 26 adjacent the handle 24 and contains a trigger 30 which is pivotally-mounted by means of a pin 32 supported in the casting of the gun G. A coil spring 34 is engaged by the upper part of the trigger 30 and contained in a bore 36 adjacent the trigger guard 28. The spring 34 urges the lower part 30A of the trigger 30 forward.

An electrical switch 38 is mounted in handle 24 of the gun and includes a plunger 40 which is depressed when the lower part 30A of the trigger 30 is pulled rearwardly. The switch 38 may comprise a limited-movement single-pole single-throw switch which is normally opened but which is closed upon depression of the plunger 40 to thereby operate the gun G as will be described hereinafter.

The projectiles enter the gun G through a spring section 42 to enter a chamber 44 bounded by the walls of the barrel 26, pads 46 and a stop roller 48. The pads 46 may be formed of various resilient-deformable materials as rubber and serve to prevent the projectiles P from leaving the barrel 26 except when impelled therethrough. The roller 48 is mounted rearward of the chamber 44 on a bracket 50 afiixed to the top of the barrel by screws 52.

A cylindrical housing 54 is provided at the bottom of the barrel 26 and may be integrally-formed therewith. A motor 56 (FIG. 4) is affixed on the side of the housing 54 by bolts 58 so that the shaft 60 of the motor extends through a bearing shaft 62 into the housing 54. Inside the housing 54, leaf springs 64 and 66 (FIG. 3) are aflixed to extend radially from the shaft 60 by a coupling 68. The leaf springs are revolved by the motor 56 to cyclically pass through the chamber 44 after being flexed by engagement with the roller 48. Therefore, the springs 64 and 66 enter the chamber 44 with a snap, striking a projectile and propelling the projectiles through the barrel 26 with considerable force: Of course, the momentum of the projectiles P is relatively small in view of their light weight.

The gun G is supported by an upward extending U- shaped mounting bracket '70 (FIG. 4) the extremities of which pivotally receive support shafts 62 and 72 coaxially afiixed to the cylindrical housing 54. Thus, the gun G may be easily tilted to various horizontal angles. The shaft 62 passes the shaft 60 of the motor therethrough to engage the coupling 68 by set screws 71.

The U-shaped bracket 70 terminates in a cylindrical section 74 at the bottom thereof, which is telescopically received in a bearing 76 supported on a mounting panel 80 in the cockpit of the vehicle V. The cylindrical section 74 isfree to turn within the bearing 76 thereby enabling the gun to be turned to various positions. The motor 56 is energized through a cord 82 which extends through the cylindrical section 74 to be connected to a v source of electrical energy.

In the operation of the gun G, the motor 56 is energized upon closure of the switch 38 by pulling the trigger 30, thereby revolving the leaf springs 64 and 66 radially within the housing 54. As the leaf springs 64 and 66 approach the projectile-containing chamber 44, they engage the roller 48 and are flexed by the further movement of the motor 56. After the springs are flexed to a predetermined degree, they pass under the roller 48 and snap into the chamber 44 to propel a projectile P through the barrel 26. Upon the propelling of one projectile P another projectile enters the chamber through the section 42, and is ready to be propelled by the next spring to enter the chamber 44. Thus it can be seen that the guns G shoot projectiles in rapid sequence, with considerable speed.

Considering the integrated system, including a plurality of the vehicles V, reference will again be made to FIG- URE l. The vehicles V are supported upon beams 100 pivotally-mounted at the base of a column 102 for vertical movement. The column 102 will normally be formed of steel and is aflixed as by welding to a base 104 which has a plurality of thrust bearing rollers 106 aflixed at the lower, outer edge thereof to engage a bearing race or track 108. The track 108 is supported upon a structure 110 which may be variously formed of rigid members as steel sections. The support structure 110 also incorporates a horizontally-mounted stabilizing bearing 112 which receives a shaft 114 extending from the bottom of the column 102. The shaft 114 is coupled to a motor 116 mounted in the structure 110 by means of a gear train generally indicated at 118.

The column 102 also carries slip rings 120 which are contacted by electrical contacts 122 adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy. The contacts 122 and the slip rings 120 are individually connected to electrical conductors which extend through the column 102 and the beams 100 into the vehicles V to provide electrical energy to the motors therein which serve to operate the guns G.

The beams 100 are pivotally attached to the column 102 by pins 123 to enable the beams 100 to be positioned at various angles with respect to the column 102. A hydraulic actuator 124 is connected between each of the beams 100 and the column 102. The actuator is hydraulically connected to a source of hydraulic fluid or air and is controlled by the control lever 22 mounted in an associated vehicle V whereby to variously position the beam 100 with respect to the column 102 in accordance with well known techniques. For example, raising the control lever 22 may serve to extend the actuator 124 whereby to elevate the beam 100 and the vehicle V. Similarly, depressing the control lever 22 may serve to lower the vehicle V.

The column 102 is covered by a generally-cylindrical housing 126 which terminates at a deck 128. The deck 128 is formed in a very flat cone so that projectiles P falling thereon roll to a funnel-like central section 130. An electrical motor 132 is mounted at the bottom of the funnel-like section 130 and drives a conveyor 134 which may comprise a screw 136 in a tube 138. Therefore, projectiles rolling into the funnel-like section. 130 are carried by the conveyor C upward to a reservoir 140 located above the column 102 which is above the highest point attainable by the vehicles V.

The reservoir 140 is connected to each of the guns G by a variable-length perforated tube 142 which may comprise a plurality of sections telescopically fitted together to allow the vehicles V to move to various posi tions relative to the reservoir 140. A vibrator 144 is mounted at each of the exits from the reservoir 140 to prevent the projectiles P from clogging at the entry to the tubes.

The entire moving apparatus of FIGURE 1 is covered by an enc osure 146 which may be formed of screen, or various other materials. The lower portion 146A of the enclosure 146 is transparent and lies adjacent a catwalk 148 upon which spectators may stand to view the moving apparatus within the enclosure 146. The ceiling portion 146B of the enclosure has ultraviolet or black lights 150 mounted thereon to illuminate the interior of the enclosure with the ultraviolet radiation. The projectiles P and the vehicles V are painted with luminescent material and therefore fiuoresces under the light from lights 150.

In the operation of the system constructed in accordance with the present invention, passengers are seated in the seats 16 and 18 in the vehicles V. The motor 116 is then energized causing the column 102 to revolve along with the supporting base 104 and the housing 126. As the column 102 turns, the column carrying the vehicles V is revolved through a circular pattern. Of course, the passengers in the vehicles V may variously position the control levers 22 in order to set the hydraulic actuator 124 at various lengths and thereby simulate dives and climbs for the vehicles V.

While operating the lever 22 to simulate flight of the vehicles V, within a restricted pattern of movement, the passengers may also operate a gun G to propel projectiles P either at other of the vehicles V, spectators on the catwalk 148 or other targets which may be mounted inside the enclosure 146. As a result, considerable entertainment is provided for the passengers in the vehicles V as well as the spectators standing on the catwalk 148.

It is to :be noted, that the projectiles P possess relatively little momentum in view of their light weight and therefore upon striking the canopy 20 or the enclosure 146, the projectiles become dead or expired and fall to the deck 128 without harming the equipment or the passengers.

Upon falling to the deck 128, the projectiles roll to the central section to be carried by the conveyor C back to the reservoir 140. Of course, the reservoir is well stocked with projectiles P so that each of the tubes 142 leading to the vehicles V are always filled with projectiles to which are continuously provided the guns G.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the structure of the guns G wherein harmless projectiles are propelled by a relatively simple structure which may be economically constructed.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the composite amusement apparatus which provides considerable activity as well as an entertaining challenge to passengers placed in the vehicles V.

Various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing description without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An amusement apparatus wherein harmless projectiles are propelled at various targets, comprising: a base; a plurality of passenger-carrying vehicles; structural means interconnecting said base and each of said vehicles whereby said vehicles are movable in a limited pattern; gun means affixed to said vehicles to propel said projectiles; an enclosure substantially covering said vehicles to restrict said projectiles to the area encompassed by said enclosure, said enclosure including a deck sloped to a central area; and conveyor means for receiving at said area projectiles shot from said gun means and transporting said projectiles back to said gun means, said conveyor means including a reservoir mounted above said vehicles, means for raising expired projectiles to said reservoir and a tube for carrying said projectiles from said reservoir to said gun means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said projectiles are phosphorescent under ultraviolet light, and said apparatus includes means to illuminate the interior of said enclosure with ultraviolet light.

3. An amusement apparatus wherein harmless projectiles are propelled at various targets, comprising: a base; a vertical column rotatably supported on said base; a

plurality of beams extending radially outwardly from said column with each of said beams having its radially inner end pivotally connected to said column; first power-operated means to rotate said column; second power-operated means to vary the angular position in a vertical direction of said beams relative to said column; a plurality of passenger-carrying vehicles, each of said vehicles being supported at the radially outer end of one of said beams whereby said vehicles are movable in a limited pattern; gun means aflixed to said vehicles to propel said projectiles; an enclosure substantially covering said vehicles to restrict said projectiles to the area encompassed by said enclosure, said enclosure including a deck sloped to a central area; and conveyor means for receiving at said area projectiles shot from said gun means and transporting said projectiles back to said gun means, said conveyor mean-s including a reservoir mounted above said vehicles, means for raising expired projectiles to said reservoir and a tube for carrying said projectiles from said reservoir to said gun means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said projectiles are phosphorescent under ultraviolet light, and said apparatus includes means to illuminate the interior of said enclosure with ultraviolet light.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Luminescence by Pringsheim et al., pages 118-141, published in 1943 by Interscience Publishers.

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