US454358A - Gaivie apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. D. JACKSON. GAME APPARATUS.

110.454,358, Patented June 16,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN I). JACKSON, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,358, dated June 16, 1891. Application tiled March 19, 1891. Serial No,385,6l3. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN D. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus; and the object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus for the amusement of both children and grown people, which is easily operated and cheaply constructed.

Another object of the invention is to arrange a game apparatus for amusement, which will provide occupation for all of the participants therein at the same time.

The invention consists in aboard provided with a race or channel ot convolute form, begining at its inner end with a circular space having a dial provided with numbers, an index pivoted tothe center of the dial, and ending at its outer end with a tangential portion containing a ball for moving in the race or channel, and provided With a plunger actuated inwardly by a spring for imparting motion to the ball, and a series of spring-operated gates placed at intervals along the outer circle of the track for stopping the ball at the will of the players.

The invention also consists in the combination, arrangement, and construction of the device and its several parts, which'will be fully explained hereinafter, and Will also be explicitly designated in the claims of this speciiication.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, in which- Figure l represents a plan view of my improved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken at Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections of Fig. l, taken at y y, showing the operating parts in different positions. Fig. 5 is a section showing the gates enlarged.

The same letters of reference are used in the several views to designate the same parts.

a is a board of a suitable dimension, and beneath its outer edges are secured the pieces h for supporting the board, and upon the surface of the board is arranged a race or channel c of convolute form, beginning with a circular open central space d containing a dial upon the surface of the board, and after surrounding the space d several times the race or channel terminates with a straight tangential portion e. This race or channel o is arranged and formed by a strip f of any suitable material bent to a convolute form with continuous coils, and is secured with one edge upon the surface of the board, leaving a continuous annular space between the coils forming the race.

IVithin the tangential portion e is arranged a plunger g, provided with a rod 71, which reaches through an opening i in the partj, which closes the outer end of the race, and the rod extending beyond the part j is provided with a knob 7e', and within the race a spring Zis coiled around the rod and is arranged with one end bearing against the plunger, while the opposite end thereof bears against the piece j, so that as the knob is operated to draw the plunger outward the spring will be compressed, and when the knob is released the recoil ot the spring returns the plunger' to its original position with great velocity until the knob comes in contact with the piecej.

Upon the surface of the board, within the part e, is arranged an upwardly-inclined bed portion mf, which extends beyond the plunger, and a cover 'a is secured to the upper edges of the lateral sides o of the part e, and this cover extends to some distance along the outer curved portion of the race as well, and directly in front of the plunger an opening p is arranged in the cover for the admission of a ball q in front of the plunger and upon the extended portion ot' the incline ym.. At intervals around the outer circle ot the convolute are located gates r, and these gates are composed of the vertical sides s, which pass down through the board beside or through the strip fon opposite sides of the race7 and the upper ends of these vertical sides s are connected by a bar t, to which is secured an upwardly-projecting knob u.,while t' is a bar or stop extending across and be- IOO tween the vertical sides at a point below the bar t and in a position to allow the ball Q to pass beneath when the gate is raised to a normal position, but to'obstruc't the path of the ball when the vertical sides are moved downwardly by pressing upon the knob u, and beneath the board the downwardly-projectin'g ends w of the sides s are turned inwardly, and a springz is arranged to actuate the gate upwardly to a normal position.

W'ithin the central space d and upon the surface of the board is arranged a dial or index plate a', with suitable numbers arranged around its outer portions, and b is an index or pointer pivoted by its middle to the center of the dial, and with one arm c arranged as a pointer or index-linger, while the opposite arrn is provided on its outer portion with an upwardlyextending wing d', arranged for Contact with the ball when it comes within the space d by way of the race c. The wing portion is preferably arranged, when the index is inra normal position, so as to be located on the side of the space opposite the entrance e of the race to the spaceY d, so that the ball entering the space d from the race is directed against the wing d', so as to move the index on its pivot in the best manner.

The operation of the apparatus -is as follows: The participants in the game are arranged around the board, which is intended for four players, three of whom operate the gates @while the fourth operates the knob for drawing the ball through the race. The ball being in position upon the incline m in front of the phinger, the knob 7c is operated to withdraw the plunger and compress the spring, the ball following down the incline, and the knob is then released and the ball is driven along Vthe race c at great speed, and each of the first-named players attempts to stop the passing ball by quickly moving his particular gate downward after the release of the knob, and the ball being intercepted counts a number for the person operating the intercepting gate, while should the ball pass theV gates without contact it passes through the race, enters the space d,comes in contact with the wing d', and moves the index to some number on the dial, which number is' counted for the player making the shot. Vhen one player has made the prearranged number of shots, the board is turned for the next player to make his shots, while the one shoot-ing before operates one of the gates for intercepting the ball, each gate counting for its operator according to its location in relation to the plunger, as a gate Ynear the plunger is more difficult to operate to intercept the ball than one farther away.

The counting can be arranged in any convenient manner, as desired by the players, and it will be seen thatc the parties playing the game are all occupied, and each is interested with his own particular part of the sport, as when operating the gates as much attention is required to make a count as when operating the plunger to drive the ball,and the several locations of the gates and the'constant changes from one to another of the several operations provide a game which, while all are interested and amusedtnone can be so expert as to win more than another, nor can the ball be manipulated by peculiar blows or other movements to count more for an expert player than for a novice in the game.

It will be understood, of course, that other in place of the plunger and spring for ac tuating the ball, and the gates for arresting the ball may be omitted, if preferred, as the apparatus can be operated without these devices and a fair and amusing game can be played by counting the points indicated by the index-finger upon the dial when the in: dex has ceased to move, so that I do not confine my invention entirely to these particular parts as being altogether essential.

Having described the construction and operation of my improvement, what l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a gaine apparatus, the combination, with the board having a central space of circular form, of a trough or race of a convolute form with one end opening into the said central space, and with its outer end terminating in a tangent and provided with a plunger, a ball in front of the plunger, and means for actuating the plunger for Vpropelling the ball through the convolute race, substantially as set forth.

2. In a gaine apparatus,the combination, with a board having on its surface a central circular space containing an index plate or dial, and an index-linger pivoted in the center of the dial, of a continuous race or trough of convolute form surrounding and opening into the said central space, and with its outer end terminating with a tangential portion, a plunger within the tangential portion and provided with an outwardly-extending rod and a spring for actuating' the plunger inwardly, a ball in front of the plunger for moving through the race, a series of gates arranged at intervals across the outer coil of the said race, and springs for raising the gates to allow the ball to pass, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a game apparatus, of the board a, with a strip f of convolute form secured by its lower edge to the surface of theboard and provided with Va continuous annular race c between the convolutions of the strip, a circular space d atthc inner end of the strip having a dial, an index b, pivoted upon the dial and provided on one end with a wing portion d', a tangen- -well-known devices may be used, if desired, 8o

IIO

In Witness whereof I hereunto aix my signature in presence of two witnesses:

JOHN D. JACKSON.

Witnesses:

J. M. MAXON, JAS. E. THOMAS.

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