US3103360A

US3103360A - Electrical racing device

Info

Publication number: US3103360A
Application number: US96133A
Authority: US
Inventors: Archey V Miller; Muller Carl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-16
Filing date: 1961-03-16
Publication date: 1963-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-10

Description

p 1963 A. v. MILLER ETAL 3,103,360

" ELECTRICAL RACING DEVICE INVENTORS Arc/le l/M/l/er Car/ M u Her By %/a% Sept. 10, 1963 A, V.-MILLER ETAL 3 0 ELECTRICAL RACING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1961 s sheets-sheet 2' INVENTORS Arc/leg V. Mi/ler Carl Muller Atiys.

Sept. 10, 1 963 A. v. MILLER ETAL 3,103,350

ELECTRICALRACING DEVICE Filed March 16,1961 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Arc/leg L M/Y/ef Car/ Mu//er obstructions. only directional forces being those produced by the driv- United States Patent O I ELECTRICAL RACING DEVIC Archey' V. Miller, E. 1928 Liberty, and Carl Muller,

N. 2427 Standard, both of Spokane, Wash.

Filed Mar. 16 1961,Ser. No. 96,133 4' Claims." (Cl. 273-86) This invention relates to a novelelectrical racing device. The present invention relates to an amusement device wherein magnetic objects are moved about an orbital path along a 'smoot htoppedtable, there-being no inechanical connection between the objects being moved and the drivingdevice which forms the'present invention.

' tion by utilizing suitable controls which are conventional and will not be described in theffollowing disclosure.

It is aifirst object of this invention to provide an. electrical racing device wherein there 'is" no direct mechanical connection between themoving objects and :the driving mechanism. The only force exerted ibetWeenthe two systems is that produced by the respective magnetic fields involved in the separate mechanical arrangements.

It is, another object of this inventionto provide a magnetic support which will move the driving magnets in a non-circular orbit so as to better simulate actual track conditions. The objects which are moved'across the table in this non ci-rcular locus are nothindered by. any fixed The track itself is "perfectly smooth, the

ing magnets. j

It is another object of this invention to provide random movement of the driving magnets while utilizing a single -.-drive unit and drive shaft tozpropel the. entire mechanism. ay insuring random'movement of the magnets the present invention guarantees that no" onesobject at the outside of study of the followingidisclosure takenfin conjunction with the?accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a pre- =ferred-form ofthe invention; 'It is to beunderstood that this form is exemplary and is :not intended to limit or restrict the invention except'as it is limited by the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE :1 a vertical sectional view through the supporting table showing the vgracingidevice as it would ac- -tually' be installed;

FIGURE 21s a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1', showing the main driving components;

FIGURE 3 is a to'pxplan view of the track showing the tabletop partially broken away;

FIGURE 4 is an .enlargedsectional view of the driving apparatus as se'en.along .line 44 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE .an' enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in-FIGURE 2 with the motor being broken away.

This inventioncontemplates an-electrical racing device which would be normally mounted in a suitable cabinet i-(notshown). Thedeviceconsists of a table top '10 which is suitably supported in ahorizontal plane. The top surface of the table top is perfectlysmooth andneed not be obstructed by any fixed \abutm-ent's. 'However, to simu .late an actual track any suitable miniature fence or other device may .be installed on this topsuriface of the table top 10. The material useern the construction of the 3,103,360 Patented Sept; 10, 1963 .2. j 7 table top 19 must be non-magnetic and is preferably made of wood. Mounted-on the top surface of thetable top 10 are a plurality of minature object-s11. The design of the objects 11 is immaterial. They may consist of small racing autos, as shown, or may be miniature horses,v dogs or other suitable racing elements; Each ofthe autos shown in FIGURE 1 is provided with a suitable magnet 12 which isdesignedto beengaged by the magnetic field created below the table top 10. t

The drive mechanism for this racing device is propelled by a single electronic motor 13 which is suitably fastened to any fixed base so as to be positioned in fixed, relation with respect to the table top 10. The drive shaft 14 of the motor 13 extends vertically upward. The axisof the shaft 14 is therefore perpendicular to the plane of the table top It). The main support arm 15 for the driving apparatus is suitably keyed to the shaft =14. This arm 15 is therefore revolved about the axis of the shaft =14 when the motor 13is energized by a suitable control apparatus (not shown). A'sprocket 16 i-s'mounted concentrically about shaft 14 and is provided with a central aperture larger than shaft 14 so-as to insure proper; clearance be tween these two elements. Thesprocket 16 is fixed to a pair of posts 17 which lock the sprocket 16'to the fixed housing of the motor 13. Thus the-sprocket 16 is fixed relative to the table top 10 and is mounted in a position concentric with the driving shaft '14. At the outboard end ofthe arm 15 is rotatably journalled a pivot shaft 21. The axis of shaft 21 is parallel to the axis of shaft 14 but is radially displaced therefrom. The lower end of shaft 21 has fixed thereto a driven sprocket '18 whose diameter is one half that of the fixed sprocket 16. The two

sprockets

16 and 18 areencompassed by a suitable chain 20. Due to the relative sizes of

sprockets

18 and 16 the shaft 21 will revolve about its axis twice during each revolution of the arm 15 about the axis of shaft 14. It is this relation which provides'the oval track locus utilized in the propelling of the objects '11. e

At the upper end of shaft 21-is fixed an eccentric arm 25. This arm 25 has a length less than that of arm-.15. Rotatably journa'lled about 'the intermediate portion of shaft 21 is a pinion 22 which is fixed to arm 15 by a suitable bracket 23. The pinion 22 meshes with a larger gear 24 which is joined by a friction clutch 29 to a shaft axis due to the action of sprocket 18 and the flipper arm 27 will also be revolved about the axis of Shaft 26 due .to the action of pinion 22 and gear 24. Clutch 29 prevents damage to flipper arm 27 due to jamming At the outer end of the eccentric arm 25 is formed an upstanding boss '30. Boss 30' is. recessedto receive a vertical shaft 31. The shaftS-l is spring biasedrby a compression spring 32 which forces the shaft 31 m an upward direction. Shaft 31 is capped by asuitable spherical joint 38 which'is fixed to. thelower surface of a large circular disk 28. The (disk 28. is the first element of the magnet support. Fixed to the [lower surface of the disk 28 are three downwardly protruding abutments 34. These abutments 34 extend downwardly to a point where they intersect the locusof the flipper arm 27. Theflipper arm 27 is designed to strike the abutments 34- in a' random fashion to thereby spin the disk 28 about the axis of joint '33. The upper surface of the large disk 28 is provided with four conventional caster units 3 5 which bear against the under surface of the table top 10. The casters35'are suitably swivelled so as to ride along the under surface of the table top 10 regardless of the position of thedisk 2.8. The casters 35 are maintainedin this position against' the table top due to the action of spring. 32. Rotatably mounted on the large disk 28 are four small 36 which have three magnets 37-fixedto each of them. The magnets 37 are suitably aligned so as to attract the magnets 11 imbedded Within the driven objects 11. The disks 66' are free to spin about their axes inresponse to the eccentric driving-action of the

arms

25 and 15.

T-heoperationof this invention isquitesimple and can be fully understood by a: study of the accompanying drawings, 1 Asmotor 1'3 drives shaft 14 the arm will a revolve in a circular orbit. At the same timethe'arm '25 willrevolve about its axis twice dun'ng each revolution of arm 15 about the axis of shaftl l. This-will be suitahly timed. relative to the table dimensions so as toinsure thatthe arm will be fully extended at the farthest length of the table mp1s and will be fully contracted along its narrow side. ,Suc'ha relation can be seen in FIGURE '3 wherein arrow 3% designates the direction of motion of'shaft'ld'and arm 15. The random movement of flipper arm 27 will result in its contact with the abutments 34 at periodic intervals to thereby spin the'large, disk-Zflabout the substantially vertical axis of thespherical joint 33. j The magnets 37 be maintained in-a position adjacent the table top 10 due' by one cannot foretellwhichobject '11 will be in a leading position relative to the remaining objects 11 at any time. In order to simulate arace one need only toset the number of revolutionsof arm 15' at a predetermined quantity dependentupon therace conditions desired. Bydrawing a finish lineacross'flhe top surface of the table top 10*, oneoan then determine the leading 7 object 11 at the completion of the predetermined number of revolutions' of shaft 14 and arm 15. Each revolution of arm 15 will constitute a single lap ofthe race across the table top 10.

The present invention maybe modified without disturbing the basic'concepts embodied in the above em bodiment; For instance the particular locus'utilized in this device may bevariedby changing the relative sizes of sprockets lfi and 18. If desired, a circular track may be utilized, inwhich case the arm 25 will be maintained in a fixed position by using, a sprocket 18- of the same size as the fixed sprocket 16. The most important concept in this invention is the random motion of the magnet 37v which is insured by the positive drive to-flipper arm 27 and its random striking of theabutments 34.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. An amusementdevice, comprising:

a table top having a plane upper surface;

' tive thereto; i i

a plurality of magnetic objects independently posF-t ported "thereon;

i 'oned on said plane uppersurface and movab ly supa rotatable arm journa'lled on said base about a fixed v vertical axis;

' abase positioned beneath said table top and fixed relaan eccentric arm journal'led on said rotatable armf' 7 about an axis radially spaced from said fixed axis, a said eccentric arm being located above said rotatable arm;

' drivemean'sl' mounted on said base operatively connected to said rotatable arm adapted tot rotate said rotatable arm, about said fixed axis;

g j 4 I V a first sprocket fixed to'said base adjacent said rotatable arm and centeredrabout said fixed axis; I a second sprocket fixed to said eccentric'arm and cert tered about the axis of said eccentric arm on said rotatable arm, said second sprocket having a difierent number oiteeth than does said first sprocket; an endless chain operatively engaged about said firs and second sprockets;

a magnet support rotatably journalled on said eccentric arm for movement about a substantially vertical axis, said support being positioned adjacent the underside ofsaid table top;

a plurality of magnets mounted on said support di- 'rectly adjacent the underside of said table top;

a plurality oil-downwardly extending projections fixed to said support and radially positioned from the central axis of said support;

a flipper arm assembly rotatably extending about a 7 verticallaxis intermediate the rotatable taxisof said 7 eccentricarm and said magnet support, said flipper arm having one end adapted to intersect the locus i a of said projections as saidzmagnet support revolves about its central axis,

a first gearfixed to said flipp r arm assembly;

' and a second gear fixed to saidi'second sprocket and 3' being in mesh with said first gear, whereby rotation of said rotatable arm will result in relative motion V of said eccentric-arm and said rotatable arm andsimultaneous relative motionwbetween said flipper arm assembly and said eccentric arm. 7 2. An amusement device,.com.prising:- r

a table top having a plane horizontal top surface; a plurality of magnetic objects independently positioned on said surface and movably supported thereon;

a magnet support located adjacent the underside of said table,top,'said magnet support ,being located in a planc substantially parallel, to said plane upper surface; i

a plurality of magnets carried by said magnet support a intermediate said table top' and said magnetsupport;

" the magnetic field of said magnets being suflicient'to exertan attractive force on said magnetic objects when the individual magnetsare vertically positioned below the individual magnetic'objects;

carrier means operatively supporting said/magnet support, said magnet support being rotatably journalled thereon about a substantially vertical central axis,.

said carrier means being moun-tedon a fixed base and being adapted 'to carry said magnet support about a predetermined locus in a plane parallel to saidtabletop surface; 7 downwardly projecting abutments fixed' tothe lower surface of said magnet support, said abutinents being radially spaced from the centerof the support and being circumferentially spacedtfro m' one another; 7

and flipper means frotatably mounted about a vertical 1 axis on said carrier'means;'said flipper means including a protruding portion adapted to intersect therotational paths of said abutments about the center of sardmagnetsupport, said carrier means including 1 drive means operatively connected to said fiipper means adapted to efiect the rotational'motion of said flipper means'abou't its vertical'axis 1 v 3. The device as defined in claim '2, wherein said mag;

net support comprises:

'a first disk rotatably supported on said carrier means by a universal fitting spring biased in anupward y direction toward said tabletop; V V r ,a pluralityof circumferentially spaced/casters mounted onflthe upper surfaceof said first disk, said casters, a 1 being adapted to ride on the undersidefof said table x 1 a plurality of V g mounted on said first disk-about circumferentially smaller. disks independently. rotatably '7 spaced vertical axes, said magnets being fixed to the upper surfaces of said smaller disks;

said abutments being fixed to the lower surface of said first disk.

4. An amusement device, comprising:

a table top having a plane upper surface; 1

a base positioned beneath said table top and fixed relative thereto;

a plurality of magnetic objects independently positioned on said plane upper surface and movably supported thereon;

a rotatable arm journalled on said base about afixed vertical axis;

an eccentric arm journalled on said rotatable arm about an axis radially spaced from said fixed axis, said eccentric arm being located above said rotatable arm;

drive means mounted on said base operatively connected to said rotatable arm adapted to rotate said rotatable arm about said fixed axis; i

a magnet support located adjacent the underside of said table top and mounted on said eccentric arm for rotation about an axis parallel to andradially offset [from the axis of said eccentric arm on said rotatable arm;

a plurality of magnets carried by said magnet support means operatively connected to said rotatable arm, said base and said eccentric adapted to eifect rotation of said eccentric arm about its axis on said arm in response to motion of said rotatable arm about said fixed axis; 1 i p and means on said eccentric arm opei'atively engageable with said magnet support adapted '-to effect random rotational movement of said magnet support" relative to said eccentric arm in response to rotational movement of said eccentric arm said rotatable arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 264,258 Dimmick Sept. 12, 1882 2,668,389 Morrison v Feb. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 29 1949 relative to

Claims

4. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE, COMPRISING: A TABLE TOP HAVING A PLANE UPPER SURFACE; A BASE POSITIONED BENEATH SAID TABLE TOP AND FIXED RELATIVE THERETO; A PLURALITY OF MAGNETIC OBJECTS INDEPENDENTLY POSITIONED ON SAID PLANE UPPER SURFACE AND MOVABLY SUPPORTED THEREON; A ROTATABLE ARM JOURNALLED ON SAID BASE ABOUT A FIXED VERTICAL AXIS; AN ECCENTRIC ARM JOURNALLED ON SAID ROTATABLE ARM ABOUT AN AXIS RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID FIXED AXIS, SAID ECCENTRIC ARM BEING LOCATED ABOVE SAID ROTATABLE ARM; DRIVE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROTATABLE ARM ADAPTED TO ROTATE SAID ROTATABLE ARM ABOUT SAID FIXED AXIS; A MAGNET SUPPORT LOCATED ADJACENT THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TABLE TOP AND MOUNTED ON SAID ECCENTRIC ARM FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO AND RADIALLY OFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF SAID ECCENTRIC ARM ON SAID ROTATABLE ARM; A PLURALITY OF MAGNETS CARRIED BY SAID MAGNET SUPPORT INTERMEDIATE SAID TABLE TOP AND SAID MAGNET SUPPORT, THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF SAID MAGNETS BEING SUFFICIENT TO EXERT AN ATTRACTIVE FORCE ON SAID MAGNETIC OBJECTS WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL MAGNETS ARE POSITIONED BELOW THE INDIVIDUAL MAGNETIC OBJECTS; MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROTATABLE ARM, SAID BASE AND SAID ECCENTRIC ADAPTED TO EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID ECCENTRIC ARM ABOUT ITS AXIS ON SAID ARM IN RESPONSE TO MOTION OF SAID ROTATABLE ARM ABOUT SAID FIXED AXIS; AND MEANS ON SAID ECCENTRIC ARM OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID MAGNET SUPPORT ADAPTED TO EFFECT RANDOM ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID MAGNET SUPPORT RELATIVE TO SAID ECCENTRIC ARM IN RESPONSE TO ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ECCENTRIC ARM RELATIVE TO SAID ROTATABLE ARM.