US569391A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

0. J. STAUFPIG'VER.

GAME APPARATUS.

No. 569,391. I Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

llllll JIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 u l gy I f I n! Witnesses. I

Inventor.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. STAUFFIGER, OF BUFFALO, NE\V YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,391, dated October 13, 1896.

Application filed February 19, 1896. Serial No. 579,918. No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. STAUFFIGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference bein ghad to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, its object being to provide a simple, inexpensive, and amusing device.

To that end my invention consists of a casing having in its upper portion a closed and unobstructed chamber and in its lower portion a series of chutes, their upper inletorifices being arranged in the floor of the closed chamber, theirlower numbered outlet-orifices being arranged in the front of the casing below the closed chamber, a fixed propelling device in the wall of the closed chamber, and a ball to be propelled within the closed chamber and to pass by gravity into the inlet-orifice of one of the chutes and along such chute to its numbered outlet-orifice.

I will now minutely describe the manner in which I have carried out my invention, and then claim what I believe to be novel.

In the drawingsflligure 1 is a front elevation of my improved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same in the line a a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the top cover removed, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached detail view of the propelling device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the casing, in the upper portion of which is the closed unobstructed chamber 2, having its front wall preferably of glass. In the lower portion of the casing is constructed a number of chutes which I preferably arrange in three rows or series 4, 5, and 6. The walls of these chutes are built rectangular in cross-section for economy of construction and consist of the rear vertical portions 7, 8, and 9. The upper open ends of these vertical portions are covered with a perforated sheet-metal plate 10, forming the floor of the closed chamber, the perforations being arranged in three rows 11,

ranged in one of the upper rear corners of the closed chamber 2.

is the barrel, arranged on a slight incline, its forward open end being cut away at its upper portion, as shown, to permit the bill 21 to drop into the muzzle of the barrel 23 through, the open passage 25 in the top or cover 26 of the casing 1. A knob or projection 27 upon the lower side of the inner Wall of the barrel prevents the ball from rolling down into the barrel. The ball 24 is preferably of rubber to make it elastic.

A plunger 28 passes loosely through the orifice 29 in the side wall of the casing 1, its outer en d being provided with a suitable knob 30 for manipulating the plunger. Its inner end is provided with a head 31, the front end of which is provided with sloping or conical sides 32. Between the head 32 and side wall of the casing 1 is interposed the spiral spring 33, which surrounds the plunger.

In operation the ball 2a is dropped through the orifice 25 and lands in the open end of the barrel The knob 30 is then pulled out quickly with the hand and released. The spiral spring forces the plunger 28 and its head 31 32 sharply forward and against the ball 25L, which is projected across the closed chamber 2. Its elasticity causes it to bound back and forth a number of times before settlin g down upon the perforated floor of the easing. The ball finally enters one of the upper inlet- orifices 11, 12, and 13 and passes into and through one of the chutes to its lower outletorifice 17, 18, or 19, Where it is held until removed by the vertical wall 20, 21, or 22. The outlet- orifices 17, 1S, and 19 are consecutively numbered upon the outer faces of the vertical walls 20, 21, and 22.

The game consists in having each of two or more players manipulate the ball as just described a stated number of times, a record of the numbers placed opposite the outletorifices in which the ball settles being kept, and after the game the highest total obtained determines the winner.

I claim 1. A game apparatus consisting of a casing having in its upper portion a closed and unobstructed chamber and in its lower portion a series of chutes, their upper inlet-orifices being arranged in the floorof the closed chamber, their lower numbered outlet-orifices being arranged in the front of the casing below the closed chamber, a fixed propelling device in the wall of the closed chamber and a ball to be propelled within the closed chamber and to pass by gravity into the inlet-orifice of one of the chutes and along such chute to its numbered outlet-orifice.

2. A game apparatus consisting of a casing having in its upper portion a closed and unobstructed chamber with transparent front wall, and in its lower portion a series of chutes,

their upper inlet-orifices being arranged in the floor of the closed chamber, their lower' numbered outlet-orifices being arranged in the front of the casing below the closed chamber a fixed propelling device in the wall of the closed chamber, a ball to be propelled within the closed chamber and to pass by gravity into the inlet-orifice of one of the chutes and along such chute to its numbered outlet-orifice and an open passage leading from the top or cover on the casing to the muzzle of the propelling device for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 5 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. 'STAUFFIGER.

\Vitnesses:

W. T. MILLER, F. P. KERSTEN.

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