US1662504A - Amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1928. 1,662,504

`A. KUDLER AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July a. 1924 s sheets-sheet 1 MAQ# ,i g, Irzg'. I. .74 s@y March 13, 1928. r1,662,504

A. KUDLER AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed J Mmh 13,1928. 1,662,504

A. KUDLER AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed July a. 1924 :s sheets-sheet 5 123.1% x15 4/ V Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

PATENT oFFlcE.

ADOLPH KUDLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AMUSEMENT Application tiled July 8,

An object of this invention is to provide an amusementapparatus adapted to discharge balls over a runway toward pivotally mounted paddles with means connected therewith for locking the ball discharging appliance after a predetermined number of halls have been discharged; and also means for unlocking the ball discharging appliance that can be actuated at a place remote from the apparatus as by a lever otl'set thereto. In other words I provide an appliance in which a player can discharge a certain number of balls over the course after which the ball discharging appliance is automatically locked; and will remain so until unlocked by an attendant, so that a charge can be made for a play; and a means is provided wherebyv a play can comprise a discharge of a predetermined number of balls.

An object is to provide an interesting game that can be utilized for amusement and commercial purposes.

Features' of the invent-ion are shown in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts whereby an amusement apparatus of cheap and durable construction is provided.

Features of invention are shown in the novel means for elevating balls from a return runway; and discharging them over a ball course.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure l is a sen'ii-diagrannnatic plan View of an amusement apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken section on line x2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line ac3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental section on line a, Fig. 1; showinglby full lines the ball discharging appliance in set position with the discharge spring under tension and the hammer ready to discharge a ball; and indicating by dotted lines the normal position of the hammer and associated parts.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on line :115, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line Fig. 4, showing a detailed construction of the ball discharging hammer.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section on line APPARATUS.

1924. serial No. 724,774.

a, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, with part of the housing and ball course broken away to show the ball wheel and paddles.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged ragmental side View pf 1the ball control ratchet and the automatic oc r Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on line m9, Fig. 4, showing a plan of the automatic lock.

Fig. l0 is a. section on line w1", Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a det-ail of the ball control ratchet provided with filler bars that are used with the 'ratchet when the number of balls ot a play are to be increased or decreased.

Fig. 12 is a section on line m12, Fig. 11, showing two filler bars secured to the ratchet and also showing a fragmental portion of the lock bolt abutting an end of a filler barA and side of the ratchet wheel.

Fig. 13 is a. perspective viewl of one of the filler bars.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross section on line fu, Fig. l.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmental section on line w1, Fig. 14, showing a detail of a paddle and the'resetter rod that isindicated by full lines in normal and by dotted lines in actuated position.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmental section on line w1, Fig. 14, showing a detail of a paddle and a spring for holding it in an upright position; also showing by full lines the resetter rod in actuated and by dotted lines the normal position.

Fig.`l7 is an enlarged ragmental section on line Fig. 14, showing a detail construction of two paddles and a portion of the resetter rod.

The apparatus comprises a frame 1 on which an elevated ball course 2' is secured that has a front end 3, sides enclosed by elongated walls 4, 4', and a rear end 5 provided with pivotally mounted paddles 6 and a ball stop 7.

Adjacent the forward end 3 and secured thereto is a narrow gun housing y8 that encloses a. ball elevating wheel 9 and a' ball discharging appliance. 10 arranved in the respective compartments 11, 12 that are formed between the end walls 13, 14 and an intermore fully described and that is pointed over and toward the rear of the ball course 2 the auxiliary housing 21 is rigidly secured to the housing S and has the appearance of an automatic pistol.

A shat't JL is `ioutnalled in the walls 13, 14, 1:3, and to it is secured the ball elevating wheel t).

'the wheel 9 is provided with cylindrical pockets 2. that are spaced equidistant apart and an equal radial distance from the shaft 22, and preferably there are twelve of the pockets.

'l`he 1 are arranged so that when in their highest position in revolving around the shaft :'22 that they are slightly above the surface ol the hall course .2 with their centers aligned in a perpendicular platte above the longitudinal axis ot' the shalt.

'l`hcy are also arranged so thatwhen in their lowest position they register with the discharge end ot a return ball runway Q4 that is inclined l'rom the ball stop 7 toward the forward end of the apparatus so that halls discharged over the course i). will return by gravity to one of the pockets 23 of the wheel A means is provided for moving the wheel 9 one twelfth ol a revolution each time that the f lischarging appliance 10 is set to shoot a hall 25 t'roin an uppermost pocket of the wheel; and also each time that the appliance 1t) is set a pocket 23 containing a ball 2 is moved into position for the hall to be shot out through an openingr 13 in the wall 1I) over the hall course.

It ratchet wheel 2h' is arranged in the coinpartment 12 and secured to the shaft 22 in position to be actuated by a dog 27 that is pivoted at 2S to a slide 29 and pressed toward the ratchet by a st )ring carried by the slide: and the parts are constructed and arranged so that when the slide 2D is moved downward the dog will slide over the teeth 31 of the ratchet, and when moved upward the dog will engage a tooth 31 and rotate the ratchet, shalt. and wheel one twelfth of a revolution.

rl`he slide 29 is mounted in a guide 32 secured to the side wall 17; and the slide is pivotally connected by a pin 83 to the slotted end t3-1- of a bell crank 35 0n the rocking rod 3G journalled in the walls 17, 18, see Fig. 4.

Also pivotally connected to the pin 33 is one end of a link 37 that has its other end pivotally connected by a pin 38 to one arm of a hell crank 39 secured to a rod 40 journalled in the Walls 17, 18.

The other arm of the bell crank 39 is slotted and pivotally connected to a pin 41 secured to a draw bar 42.

The draw bar 4Q has a reduced end 43 slidahly mounted in a guide 44 in the auxiltary housing 21; also the bar 42 is provided with side extensions 45 that are slidable in vthe ratchet wheel .t.

guide slots 46 in the auxiliary housing gun 21, see Figs. 4, 5.

The hell crank 35 has its other arm pivotally connected by a lilik 47 with a hammer 4.5 pivotallv mounted on a rod 12) secured in the walls 17, ltn.

'l`he hammer comprises a handle formed ol hars 5H secured together, one ol` which is turned at right angles to the major portion ol' the handle and threaded to form a socket :31 l'or the shank of the hammer head .33); and preferably the head is provided with a sott cushion 54 as indicated in Figs. l, t3.

A spring 55 connects the lower end ol' tht` handle 5t) with a rack 5G that is :secured to the cud plate 14 and normally the spring holds the hammer and associated parts in the dotted position indicated in Fig. 4.

'l'he hammer is drawn hack into a set position against the tension ol the spring .35 by means ot' the false trigger' :3T on the draw har 42; and on the har 42 is an upper extension :35 that is adapted to he engaged and held hy a dog 5t) when the hammer is drawn back into a set position shown by full line in Fig. 4.

rl`he dog 5t) pivotcd at (it) and is pressed toward the bar 42 by a spring til secured to the auxiliary housing E21, and a trigger (Si pivoted at (lil is provided for releasing the dog:r from the extension 5b when a hall is to he discharged over the hall course. 'l'hat is, when the trigger 62 is pulled toward the gun grip Q1 the dog 5f) will release the har 42 and permit the spring :35 to actuate the hammer JS and drive a hall out ol a pocket 2:1 over the hall course.

The wall 15 is slotted at (34 so that when the hammer is released from a set position the spring 55 will drive the head 5I) through thc slot into engagement with a hall 25 and drive it out of a pocket lil with considerahlc force over the course 2 toward the paddles any one of which it' struck h v a discharged ball will he knocked down into the dotted positions indicated in Figs. 15, 16.

An automatic stop is provided for locking This stop comprises a lock har (S5 with an end (tti adapted to be automatically wedged hetween predetermined ratchet teeth 31 so that the wheel t) cannot he turned at'ter a certain numher of halls have been driven or discharged over the course. That is, the ratchet wheel ti is formed so that the end ol' the har is wedged between the teeth each time that the dog 27 has been actuated to move the ball wheel 9 three or any other predetermined numher of tintes.

.Slots 67 are cut between the third and fourth, the sixth and seventh, the ninth and tenth, and the one and twelfth teeth that the guide 68 of the lock bar end G6 can slide through the slots 67 and permit a peripheral llo portion 69 of the bar end 66 to close the 'space between the teeth so that the dog 27 cannot engage them. When peripheral portion 69 is in place between the teeth of the ratchet the false trigger 57 can be actuated without turning the Wheel 9; and the parts will remain locked until released by means that will be described later.

The lock bar is slotted at 70 and mounted on the'guide pins 71; and normally it is pressed toward the ratchet 26 by a coil spring 72.

The lock Vbar is held out of engagement with the ratchet by a latch 73 mounted on onedof the, guide pins 11 and said latch is forced into a notch 74 on the bar 65 by a spring 75 when the bar is manually moved against the tension of the coil spring 72.

The bar 65 is'manually moved away from the ratchet by means otl a lever 76 that can be remotely located relative to the amusement apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The lever 76 is connected to the bar 65 by a cable 7 7 that passes over the pulleys 7 8, so that an operator can unlock the ratchet wheel when desired, as when a player has paid for the privilege of another play.

The latch 73 is released from the notch 74 so that the bar will automatically lock the ratchet wheel again by means of trip pins 79 secured to the sides of the ratchet wheel. In other words after the lever 7 6 is actuated to move the bar 65 and unlock the ratchet wheel the first movement of the ratchet by actuation of the dog27, causes one of the pins 79 to engage the free end of the latch 73 and release it from the notch 74 so that the spring 72 will force the end 66 of the lock bar in sliding engagement on the side of the ratchet until a slot 67 comes into register with a guide 68 so that'it can enter the slot and Wedge the end of the bar between the teeth and lock the ratchet wheel until it is released by another pull on the operators control lever 76. As shown in the drawing the slots 67 are slightly tapered adjacent the bar 66 so that the guides 68 can easily enter when the parts come into register.

I provide filler bars80 that can be tted into one or more of the slots 67 and be secured to the ratchet` wheel by screws 81 S0 that the number of balls played can be varied and the purpose of the filler bars is to prevent the guides 68 from entering the slots 67 between ratchet teeth, except at desired places.

That is, by operating the Wheel without any of the filler bars a player can operate the appliance to discharge three balls in series of four plays to each revolution of the ball wheel 9, and with two of the filler bars attached, the plays will be in a series of two to each revolution of the ball wheel and six balls to each play, and with three of the filler bars attached, there will be one play to each revolution of the ball wheel and twelve balls to the play, and with four filler bars attached the play can be continued indefinitely.

A brake 82 is provided for holding the ball wheel 9 in a fixed position after it has been moved a proper distance by actuation of the ratchet wheel 26.

The brake consists of a lever 83 that is fulcrumed on a pin 8l secured to the wall 15.

On one end of the lever is a cam 85 that is engaged by the top end of the handle 5() when the hammer 53 is drawn back into set position; and an upward movement of the cam 85 forces the brake 82 into engagement with the periphery of the wheel 9 and holds it in a fixed position until the brake is released by a stroke of the hammer.

When the hammer is released from a set position it is thrown toward the rear end of the course with considerable force against a ball in the uppermost pocket of the ball wheel 9 to drive it from the pocket toward the paddles one of which it may knock down.

The paddles are pivoted on pins 86 in brackets` A87 secured to the ends of the course, and the paddles are provided with latch springs 88 that support them in an upright position until struck by a ball, and when the paddles are down they lay flat with the course.

Av resetting bar 89 is pivotally mou/nted adjacent the pins and this bar is provided with a lever 90 thatis connected by a cable 91 with the operators lever 76 so that when it is actuated by the operator to release the lock bar 65 it will also reset the paddles that may have been knocked down by a series of discharged balls. f

If desired the Side walls 4, 4 can be provided with resilient cushions 92 as indicated inFigs. 14, 15, 16.

In operation a player sets the hammer by actuation of the false trigger which also moves a ball into position to be struck by the hammer. Then a pull of the trigger releases the hammer which drives a ba-ll over the course toward the paddles, and this operation is continued until a series of balls have been driven over the course, and each ball returns by gravity to the elevator wheel to again be elevated and driven over the course in its turn.

I claim:

1. The amusement apparatus set forth comprising an elevated ball course havingA front and rear ends; a return ball runway under said course; balls adapted to' be driven over said course; a main housing secured to the forward end of said course; a stationary auxiliary housing on said main housing; said auxiliary housing having the appearance of a gun, a shaft in said main housing; a wheel on said shaft for elevating said halls from said runway to the upper surface of and in position to he driven over said eourse; a hammer for driving said halls over said course; a spring for driving said hammer against said halls; a draw har in said auxiliary housing. links connecting said draw har and said hammer wherehy said hammer may he set against the tension of said spring, lot-king means for said draw har, a trigger in said auxiliary housing adapted to release said loelting means; and means for loelting said wheel against rotation after a numher of halls have heen driven over said course.

Q. rl`he amusement apparatus set forthernnprising an elevated hall course having front and rear ends; a return hall runway under said eourse; hallsl adapted to he driven over said course: a housing seeured to the forward end of said eourse: a shaft in said housing; a wheel on said shaft for elevating said halls from said runway to the upper surface of and in position to he driven over said eourse; a hammer for driving said halls over said course; a spring for driving said hammer against said halls; a draw har in said hous'ng; a ratchet wheel on said shaft.; a slide; a dog on said slide engaging said ratehet wheel; a. hell erank lever pivoted to said slide and to said draw har; a seeond hell erank lever pivoted to said slide and to said hannner for setting said hammer: loelring means for said draw har; a trigger in said housing adapted to release said loeliing means; and means for loeking said ratchet wheel against rotation after a number of halls have heen driven over said eourse.

2*. 'l'he amusement apparatus set forth eomprising an elevated hall eourse having front and rear ends: a return hall runway under said course; halls adapted to he driven over said course; a housing seeured to the forward end ot said course; a shaft in said housing; a wheel on said shaft for elevating said halls from said runway to the upper surfaee of and in position to he driven over said eourse; a hammer for driving said halls over said eourse; a spring for driving said hammer against said halls; manually aetnated means for setting said hannne against the tension of said spring: a trigger on said houshg for releasing said manually aetuated means and said hammer from set position; means for loeliing Said wheel againstrotation after a predetermined nmnher of halls have heen driven over said course; and

hralte means engaging said wheel while the hammer is in set position.

Lt. The amusement apparatus set forth comprising an elevated hall course having front and rear ends; a return hall runway under said course; halls adapted to he driven over said course: a housing seeured to the forward end of said course: a shaft in said housing; a wheel on said shaft for elevatingr said halls from said runway to the upper surface of and in position to he driven over said course; a hammer for driving said halls over said eourse: a spring for drivingr said hammer against. said halls: manually aetu ated means for setting said hammer against the tension otI said spring: a trigger in said housing for releasingr said manually aetuated means aml said hammer from set position: a ratchet wheel seeured to said shaft; means eonneeting said hammer setting means and said ratehet wheel wherehy said ratehet wheel is rotated as said hammer is set; said ratehet. wheel having slots therein; a loeli har adapted to enter said slots; means holding said loelr har out ol' said slots; and means adapted to release said loelt har when a umnher of halls have heen driven over said course.

5. 'lhe amusement apparatus` set forth comprising an elevated hall course having front and rear ends: a return hall runway under said Course; halls adapted to he driven over said eours; a housing seem'ed to the forward end ot' said eourse: a sha ft in .said housing; a wheel on said shaft for elevating said halls from said runway to the upper surl'aeeI of and in position to he driven over said eourse: a hammer for driving said halls over said eourse; a spring for driving said hammer against said halls: manually aetnated means for setting said hammer against the tension of said spring; a trigger in said housing for releasing said manually actuated means and said hammer from set position: a ratehet wheel seeured to,.\aid shaft; means eonneeting .said hammer setting means and said ratehet wheel wherehy said ratchet wheel is rotated as said hammer is set, said ratehet wheel having .slots therein; a loelt har adapted to enter said slots; manual means to retraet said loeltr ha r.y a lateh adapted to hold said loeli har in retratted position; and means on said ratchet wheel adapted to release said lateh.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los ,\ngeles, California, this lst day of July, 10Q-i.

ADOLPH KUDLER.

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