US1899706A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2s, 1933. A) w, MCCLEAN 1,899,706

l GAME APPARATUS I Filed May 22. 1931 5 sheets-sheet 1 l l l ago Feb. 28, 1933.

A. W. McCLEAN GAME APPARATUS Filed May 22. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /7/e an'en WPA/676@ @y I l Wd fe'f www Feb. 28, 1933. A. w. MCCLEAN GAMEv APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 22. 1931- l l X l l 1 l I Il Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES ALEXANDER W. MCCLEAN, or WEBSTER Gnovns, Missormr GAME APPARATUS Application led May 22,

The invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and consists inthe novel construction hereinafter disclosed.

An object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus wherein a plurality of spheres or bails, which constitute the counters of the game, are propelled around an oval or circular track by air impulses delivered across the surface of the track, the air impulses affecting the several counters irregularly, thereby propelling the counters at undetermined and different velocities.

Another object of the invention is to equip an apparatus of the class described with means for imparting to the counters a starting impulse simultaneously, together with manual and electrical means for operating said starting apparatus.

Another object is to equip an apparatus o the class described with means for assembling the counters` in sequence sothat the Vcounters will come to a point of rest in sequence to thereby determine the sequence of finish of the counters, to enable the game to be played upon the principle of a race.

Other detailed features of the construction will be apparent from the Lfollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which` Fig. 1 is a top plan view with a portion of the apparatus broken away.

Fig'. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view illustrating Y the counters dispersed.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view with portions broken away to more clearly illustrate the mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the air passages.

Fig. 8 is an electrical diagram illustrating the wiring for the electrical operating mechanism. y

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus is shown as incorporated in a frame 1 in the form of a table having legs 2. Vithin the frame there is a continuous conduit A formed U from spaced vertical walls 3 and 4 supportthe line 4 4 1931. Serial No. 539,162.

ed by a bottom wall 5 of the lframe. This conduit is so constructed as to provide an oblong passage of substantial cubic capacity. At one side of the frame there is provided an Vinlet conduit B formed from a curved wall'6 55 that extends across `VVthe conduit Vabove described. This Vinlet conduit communicates l with an opening Yin the bottom wall 5 of the frame, :said opening being covered by f a screen 8, thereby providingV anair intake.

W'ithin this air inlet conduit isf. a fan 9 driven by a motor 10, the blades of the fan being set to cause a suction in the inlet conduit and to 4drive the air column forward .of the fan into the'air conduit first described. 65 The wall 6 terminates at its inner extremit y slightly below the top of they air conduit to provide a passageway 11 for the air column that traverses the main conduit A of the apparatus. The conduit A has a top plate 12 70 in which there is a plurality of irregularly spaced openings 13 which project" through the wall of the plate at an inclination substantially uniform in direction, whereby air jets are permitted egress from the conduit A in the direction indicated by the several arrows applied to the openings 13.V These openings may vary incross-section so that the amount or volume o-f the air emitted'from the several openingsl varies at different points inthe surface of the plate. vThe plate 12 constitutes the runway for the'spheresor balls C, which constitute the counters. At yeach sideVV of the plate 12y and above the surface thereof are rails, the inner rail being indicated by 14 and the outer rail by 15.

Through the vertical side walls ofthe rails 14? and 15 are a plurality of passages 16 andV 17 respectively, said passages communicating with the conduit A and having a direction of angularity thatvaries to 'some degree, butV having an inclination in the general direction of the inclination ofthe passages 13. The angularity of the Vpassagesl'and 17 is conveniently illustratedby the arrows, particularly inV Fig. 1 of the drawings@ The plate 12and the rails 14 and `15 form a'substantiallyV oval channel which constitutes thev raceway for the countersw The frame ofthe machine may be conveniently finished by aVv top frame member 13 that encompasses the raceway and linishes the generally oblong contour of the apparatus table.

The central section D within the oval con" duit A provides a convenient housing for a part of the electrical apparatus for operating ries of grooves 2l extending at right angles thereto. The groove 2O provides a point of rest for the transverse series of counters C, so that they may be brought into alinement, and the grooves 2l provide lanes for 7determining the initial direction of the counters at the start et their movement. The groove 2O also'provides a means for accumulating the counters at the end of the travel thereof, said counters being assembled in the groove 2O in sequence after they have completed the course.v s

rlhe counters arealined inthe groove 20, as shown particularly in Fig. l of the drawings, and are given'the initial impulse by mechanism hereinafter to be described. After they have been impelled into the raceway, the counters are advanced by' means of the several jets of air that strike themat undetermined angles from the passages 13, 16 and 17. The counters taire tortuous path through the raceway at varying velocities, so

. that they traverse the raceway at various soeeds. It should be understood that the counters are varicolored so that those playing the game may select a particular counter at the start of the race, and the counter that fin ishes first, iii' selected by the player, is the winner, the other counters finishing in sequence determining the points. attained by the players who have selected the several vcounters before the :initial impulse was imparted thereto'.

. In order that the sequence of finish of the race may be accurately determined, the raceway is provided at the end of the course with a selecting mechanism through which the counters are admitted in sequence. This construction for selecting the counters in sequence includes inwardly inclined rails 22 and 23 which form a throat 24 to a passage way formed from a U-shaped rail 25 formed as an extension of the rail 23 and a barrier 26. The throat 24 is of a cross dimension to admit the counters inv sequence. When a counter passes through the throat 24, it is given a lateral impulse by an opening in a rail 27 that is formed as an extension of the rail 22. The direction of the jet is indicated by the arrow in Fig. l projecting from the member 27. Whenthe counter reaches the 'cross member `oi: the U-rail 25, it is given a forward impulse by an opening in the left arm Aof the lJ-rail, as indicated in Fig.` l by the arrow projecting from said member. The cross member of the U-rail vhas a passage therein in alinement with the groove 2O so that, as the counter reaches the forward turn, it is directed into the groove 2O.V

As the counters can only pass through the throat 24 oneat a time, they will be accumulated in the groove 20 in sequence from the outside of the raceway inwardly. In this way, after all of the counters have inished the course, they will be raclredin the groove 20 in the order in which they finished the course.

The major portion of the raceway is open at the top but, in order to insure the movement yor the counters through the throat 24, a glass panel 28 is mounted over the raceway in the rear of the rails 22 and 23. rlhis closure of the raceway tends to confine the air currents and to insure the movement of the counters through the selecting mechanism.

.In order to preventthe choking of the counters in the throat 24, an agitating plate 29 is mounted in the plate 12 adjacent to the inlet of the throat 24. The construction of this plate is best indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 oit the drawings, from which it will be noted that the plate has inclined walls and is mounted on an angular arm 30 pivoted at 3l in brackets 32. A curved lever 33 is attached to` the arm 30 and carries a weight 34 at its forward end. The rear end of the lever 33 is operated by a revolving rod 35 provided with a loop projection 36 that acts'as a tappet for oscillating the lever 33 and thereby, through the connections described, vibrating the plate 29.

The rod 35 is supported for rotation transversely of the conduit A and the means for rotating the rod comprises a fan 37 set in an opening 38 through the side wall of the conduit A. The air currents in the conduit revolve the fan and cause the rod 35 to rotate which, in turn, oscillates `the lever 33, developing a vibrating movement of the plate 29, preventing the counters from choking at the inlet of the throat24,

In order 'to direct the movement ci the counters into the throat 24, afseries of projections in the -form of screws 39 are arranged in the Jrace ot the plate l2 and in the plate 29. These projections, properly placed, guide the counters-in sequence to the throat. A'glass panel 40 is alsor placed over the J- shaped channel so that the linal vimpulses to the counters will be properly directed to cause the. passage of' the counters rapidly through the channel and into the groove 20.

The starting mechanism for imparting the initial impulse to the counters comprises a plate 4l. extending vertically from the 'lace ofthe track and'transversely thereof a point rearward of but approximate to the groove 2O.` This plate 4l isY pivoted for swinging movements in brackets 42 at the side of the raceway. A vertically extending lever 48 is pivoted belowthe top plate 12 in brackets 44 connected to the under face of said plate .12. The upper arm'of the lever 43 extends through a slot in the plate 12 and is provided with an angular extremity 45 that rests against the back face of the plate 41 below the pivot support therefor. VThe lower end of the lever 43 extends downwardly and is in contact with a vibratory plate 46l of an electric vibrator 47.

The vibrator 47 is of the usual construction. Vhen the coils of the vibrator are energized, the vibratory motion is imparted to the plate 46. The vibration of the plate 46 imparts a rapid swinging motion to the lever 48 whichincreases in intensity until the plate 41 swings outwardly at its lower end by the permissive action of the upper end of the lever against the-rear face of the plate. The plate 41, being alined in the rear of the counters when the counters are racked in the groove 20, moves the counters forwardly simultaneously through the lanes 21 with suiicient impulse to advance the counters in the raceway to bring 'them within the Zone of air currents from the several openings from the air conduit A and thereby advance the counters irregularly around the raceway. i The wiring diagram for the fan motor and the vibrator is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing, from which it will be understood that the motor 10 which drives the fan is connected in parallel with the main leads 48 and is controlled by a switch 49. The vibrator 47 l is actuated from a transformer 50,7the primary of which is in parallel with the main leads 48 and is controlled by a switch 51. The vibrator is actuated by the secondary of the transformer with which it is electrically connected, as clearly shown in the diagram.

In addition to the electrical means for actuatin g the plate 41, a mechanical means for this purpose is provided. The mechanical means consists of a lever 52 which is pivotedbelow the plate 12 in a bracket 53. The lever 52 extends upwardly through a slot in the plate 12 and is provided with a lingerpiece 54. rlChe lower end of the lever 52 is in contact with a rod 55 that extends into a bracket 56. The rod 55 contacts with one end of a transverse lever 57, which lever 57 is pivoted intermediate of its length and has anangular extremity 58 that contacts with the lever 43. An expansion' spring 59 is mounted in the kbracket 56 andbears against the end of the lever 57, forcing the lever normally against the end of the rod 55. When the lever 52 is actuated, the rod 55 is moved to compress the spring 59 and, when the lever 52 is released, the spring will cause a Vvibratory movement of the lever 57, imparting a percussive action to the lever 43 which, in

turn, actuates the plate 41.

, A bell 60 is mounted below the plate 12,

chanically, a swinging motion will be im- .v parted to the lever 61and thereby opera-te the bell mechanism. r

I am aware that the invention maybe modified in numerous particulars without departing from the spirit vand scope thereof, but what I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is z-f p Y 1. A game apparatus `comprising a raceway having a bottom wall, a plurality of air jets for delivering currents-of air across said raceway, and a plurality of irregularly spaced air jets for deliveringcurrents of air through said bottom wall, said` jets being adapted to propel counters around said raceway. v

2. A game apparatus comprising a raceway, a plurality of` air jets vfor delivering currents of air across said raceway and adapted to propel spherical countersaround saidv raceway, and mechanical means'for imparting an initial impulse tothe counters simultaneously and for bringing themv within the zone of the air currents. l y f 3. A game apparatus comprising a raceway, a plurality of air jetsfor delivering currents ofair acro'sssaid raceway and adapted to propel spherical counters around saidraceway, mechanical means for imparting an initial impulse to the counters simultaneously and'for bringing them within ythe Zone of the air currents, and means for bringing, the counters to a point of rest in sequence after they have traversed the raceway.

4. A game apparatus comprising anair conduit, a channel forming a raceway located above said conduit, there being a yplurality of passageways between the conduit and said channel for delivering air currents Vfrom the conduit to the surface of the raceway, means for generating a current of air in said conduit to form air currents through said passageways and across the surface of said raceway, a groove transversely of the raceway constituting a rack for `spherical counters,

means .for simultaneously impelling the counters into the air currents, and electrical actuating means for said impelling means.

5. A game apparatus comprising an air conduit, a channel forming a raceway located above said conduit, there being a plurality of passageways between the conduit and said channel for delivering air currents from the conduit to the surface of the raceway, vmeans for generating a current of air in saidconduit to form Aair currentsthrough said passageways and across the surface of said raceway, a groove f transversely ofV the raceway constituting a rack for spherical counters, means for simultaneouslyv impelling the counters intothe air currents,` and mechanical actuating means for said impelling means. Y

6. A game apparatus comprising a continuous open channel formed from a bottom plate and side walls, a plurality of air con- .duits Vin the bottom wall and side walls having an angular adjustment to deliver air cir-- cumferentially in one direction across `said channel, a transverse groove constituting a rack for a plurality of spheres, a mechanical device adapted to impart an initial movement to said spheres arranged transversely of the channel, a selecting device comprising a restricted passage for permitting sequential entrance of the spheres into said rack., and a vibrating plate at the throat of said` passage and projecting through the bottom wall roi the channel for preventing the spheres from choking in said restricted passage.

8. A gaine apparatus comprising a ycontinuous open channel Jformed from a bottom plate and side walls, a plurality of air conduits in the bottom wall and side walls having an angular adjustment to deliver air circumferentially in one direction across said channel, a transverse groove constituting a rack for a plurality of spheres, a mechanical device adapted to impart an initial movement to ysaid spheres arranged transversely of the channel, a selecting device comprising are-stricted passage for permittingsequential entrance of the spheres into said rack, and means adjacent to the throat of said restricted passage for guiding the spheres in sequence into said restricted passage.

9. A gaine apparatus comprising acontinuous air conduit, a blower in said conduitfor -developing a draft of air therein, a continuous channel constituting a raceway comprising a bottom. plate and side walls, said bottom plate and side walls having vpassages communicating with said air conduit and adapted to direct currents of air across said raceway, a

'rack formed in said bottom plate for supportin@ a plurality of spheres transversely thereof, a swinging plate arranged vparallel with said rack, an electric vibrator, connections between said vibrator and said plate whereby, when said vibrator is energized, said plate will be rocked to move the spheres out of the rack and into .the raceway, and means for accumulating the spheres in sequence in said rack after they have been propelled around said raceway.

10. A game apparatus comprising a raceway having a bottom wall provided with a

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