US1559140A - Game of skill - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 27, 1925. 1,559,140

G. WOLKENHAUER GAME or SKILL 7 Filed March 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get. 27, 1925. 1,559,140

G. WOLKENHAUER GAME OF SKILL Filed March 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .77; 64d m W42 6 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV WOLKENHAUEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 BIVEBVIEW PARK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01' ILLINOIS gum or sxILL.

Application filed March 2, 1925. Serial No. 12,474.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV WOLKEN- BAUER, a citizen of the Republic of Germany, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Game of Skill; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel and improved game of skill and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of my invention is to produce a novel and attractive game of skill more particularly designed for use in amusement parks, at fairs, and in like places. The essentially attractive feature of the game is, that it is in fact a game of skill, instead of a game of chance, as are so many games (alleged games of skill) now put out for like purposes. The new game will also be particularly attractive to those attending such places where games of the kind are offered because it will be manifest to the player of the game, that his success in playing the game depends entirely upon his own skill and that his chances of winning the game can not be in any way reduced or affected by any act of the attendant who offers the game for his play.

The'advantages of the invention will appear more clearly as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved game apparatus as it appears when observed by one to whom the game is presented for play.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the game apparatus with some parts shown diagrammatically-the plane of the section being illustrated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of one of the target boats included in the game.

The apparatus of the improved game-is embodied in one or more units, each complete in itself, and so constructed that a number of such units may be assembled in a line side by side. Thus one or more of the several units may be operated or played at the same time.

Each game apparatus unit consists of a moving target; of a bombarding element or gun, which may be fixed or movable, but which is placed in a certain relation to the moving target so that at one point in the path of the target, the bombarding element will be accurately directed towards the target; of a projectile and an electromagnet adapted to support or retain said projectile in the gun or bombarding element; of means for driving the target in its path of movement; and of electric conductors in circuit with the electromagnet with suitable buttons or switches-one for the attendant of the game and the other for the one playing the game-by means of which the attendant operating his button or switch may cause the magnet in the gun to be energized to hold the ball or projectile and the player operating his button may break the circuit to the magnet when the gun discharges the projectile against the target, at the instant when the target comes into the line of fire.

In that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the target consists of one or more, in this case three, miniature gunboats or other vessels arranged at equal angular distances on a rotating latform which is continuously driven (w on the game is oifered for play) by any suitable motor, as an electric motor. Said platform is located in a box or case open in front to display the rotating platform with its miniature oats. Suitable scenery is painted or provided at the front, sides, top, and back of the box in the manner of a miniature stage setting, to carry out the idea of the boats running on a sea.

The bombarding element or gun is carried by a miniature aeroplane, which in this case is stationary, being suspended from the top wall of the open box, with a gun barrel or mortar directed downwardly and so located that in the rotation of the platform the miniature vessels will come in succession into vertical alignment'below the orifice of the bombarding element or gun.

Suitable metal balls are provided to be engaged within the mouth of said gun and an electromagnet is provided therein and when energized will retain said ball in the gun. The player observing the approach of the vessels in succession into vertical alignment below the presses the button .to release the ball, W ereupon the ball falls and strikes or misses the vessel, depending upon the nicety of the layers calculation and adjustment of the time required between his pressing the button to release the ball and the time required for the descent of the ball to the time required for the vessel to move from the position occupied when he presses the button to the position in the line of fire.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings: 10 indicates an open front box or casing, there being two of such shown in Figure 1. The top Wall, back, sides and front margins of said walls are provided with suitable parts and are properly painted with designs to indicate a water scene, as a sea or bay, and a town or other scenery in the background. 11 indicates the bottom wall of said box. On said bottom wall and in a position somewhat above the top face of the same is located a rotary platform 12, which has a central pin or stud 13 mounted in a suitable manner for rotation on said wall 11. Preferably a ball and a ball race 14 provide an antifriction bearing for said rotary platform. A gear 15 is fixed to the stud or pin 13 and is engaged by a pinion 16 for continuously rotating the platform. 17 indicates a motor for driving the platform, said motor being connected by suitable reduction gearing to the pinion 16, as the beveled pinions 18, the small pinion and large gear 19, 20 and the shaft 21 01f which the pinion 16 is fixed. The motor is connected in a suitable electric circuit 22 in which is located a switch 23 for starting and stopping the motor.

On the platform, at equal distances about its outer periphery, are provided miniature vessels, 22, 23, 24. These vessels represent the targets which are to be hit by the projectiles. These vessels are preferably distinguished by stacks 25, 26, 27, of successively increasing diameter-the one 25 being quite small, but a little larger in diameter than is necessary to receive the projectile; the second, 26, a little larger and the third, 27, considerably larger, so that varying degrees of skill are required to strike each of the three Vessels. Preferably, the vessels, to indicate a hit, are made collapsible and include a trigger or other device located in the stack so that when the projectile strikes a vessel through its stack, the trigger will act to collapse the vessel-thus giving the player visual evidence of his successful marksmanship or skill.

A collapsible boat of the kind is shown in Figure 3, where the boat 22 is made in two sections 22*, 22 hinged at 22 so that when the ball strikes within the stack 25, which is made in two sections, one fixed to each hinged member of the boat, the boat will break on the hinge and thus appear to have been disabled or sunk. Any other means of thus collapsing the boat to indicate an actual hit as in real warfare may be used for the purpose.

The bombarding device in this case is carried by a miniature aeroplane 28, which is suspended from the top wall 10 of the box by wires 29, 30. Under the front end of the fusillade is fixed a downwardly directed gun barrel 31, which is adapted to receive in its open mouth a ball or projectile 32. I Within the gun barrel is located an electromagnet (not shown), which is adapted to be energized by current flowing through wires 33 connected thereto. The wires 38 may be led down along the hanger wires 29, 30 or may be used as and for said wires, as shown.

In front of and spaced some distance from the box 10, is a table 35; on this table are two switch buttons of familiar kind 36, 37. Said buttons operate switches in the circuit of the wires 33. Said switches are in series. The button 37 is for the use of the one playing the game, while the button 36 is for the attendant. The switch operated by the button 36 is normally open, while the switch operated by the button 37 is normally closed. When the button 36 is pressed, the circuit is closed, so that the magnet in the gun is energized. The attendant then puts a ball ,in the gun and the apparatus is thus set for a shot by the player.

In the rotation of the platform, the vessels, 22, 23, 24, are brought successively into vertical alignment below the gun 31. The player, observing the speed with which the vessels pass to and from the position in the line of fire and selecting the proper instant, presses the button 37 thus breaking the circuit of the magnet and releasing the ball which falls toward the vessel. If the release of the ball has been properly timed the ball will enter the stack and collapse the vessel; if not, the ball will miss the vessel or strike some other part of it than the stack, which will constitute a miss in the game. Prizes may be offered for striking the smaller or larger stackswhich will add to the interest of the game.

The platform is provided with suitable holes 39 so that the balls will fall therefrom on to the top face of the bottom wall 11 of the stage, whence they will be directed by suitable runways 40 to a transverse runway 41 at the front of the platform by which they will be directed into a pocket 42 in a convenient location for the attendant to reach them.

While in describing my'invention, I have referred to many details of mechanical construction and arrangements of parts, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited thereto, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A game apparatus comprising a target movable in a predetermined path, a bombarding element spaced above the path of said target in vertical alignment with one point of said path, a projectile, electrically operated means for retaining said projectile in said bombarding element, and means for controlling the operation of said electrically operated means in said bombarding element.

2. A gameapparatus comprising a target adapted to move in a predetermined path, means for driving said target in said path, a bombarding element located above the path of said target in vertical alignment with one'point'of said path, an electromagnet in said bombarding element, a projectile adapted to'be held in said bombarding element by said electromagnet, electric conductors connected to said electromagnet, and switch devices in-said electric conductors for operating said electromagnet.

3. A game apparatus comprising a rota tive platform, a plurality of targets carried by said platform, means for rotating said platform, a bombarding element lo cated above said platform in vertical alignment with one point in the path of travel of the targets on said platform, an electromagnet in said bombarding element, a projectile adapted to be retained in'said bom barding element by said electromagnet, electric conductors providing a circuit through said magnet, and switch devices located in said conductors adapted to make and break said circuit.

4. A game apparatus comprising a rotative platform, a plurality of miniature vessels arranged at angularly spaced distances in a circle about the rotative center of said platform, the several vessels being provided with stacks of different diameters, an electric motor for rotating said platform, speed reducing means connecting said motor with said platform, a miniature aeroplane provided with a downwardly directed gun located above said platform with the gun in vertical alignment with one electric circuit to make and break said circuit.

5. A game apparatus comprising a reel tive platform, a plurality of miniature vessels arranged at angularly spaced distances in a circle about the rotative center of said platform, the several vessels being provided with stacks of different diameter, a

stage on which said platform is mounted, an electric motor for rotating said platform, speed reducing means connecting said motor with said platform, a miniature aeroplane provided with a downwardly directed gun located above said platform with the gun in vertical alignment with one point in the circular path of the stacks of said vessels, an electromagnet associated with said gun, a ball adapted to be retained in said gun by said electromagnet, conductors providing an electric circuit in. which said electromagnet is included, a table spaced from said stage, said conductors leading to said table, and switches located on said table and included in-said circuit to make and break the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention,.I afiix my signature, this 27th day of February, A. D. 1925.

' GUSTAV VVOLKENHAUER.

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