US1941630A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

R. SMITH GAME APPARATUS Jan. 2, 1934.

Filed may 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 2, 1934. I R. SMITH 1,941,630

GAME APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1932 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gwua/wiw $3 Ramsey Jzrzai/z, E

i m MAMW Jan. 2, R. sMlTH GAME APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7'2 th/ a Gum/M Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 1,941,030 GAME APPARATUS Ramsey Smith, Oakrldge, lboatan, Honduras Application May 27, 1932. Serial No. 613,962 3 Claims. v(o1. 213-121) My invention relates to game apparatus.

An important object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus which is highly interesting and attractive to play. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus which may be played with varying degrees of success, depending upon the skill of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned character, which is simple in construction, reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3, v

Figure 5 is a rear sideelevation of one of the target elements or paddles,

Figure'6 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is asection-taken on Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7, V

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 10,

Figure 10 is an end elevation of Figure 9, and,

Figure 11 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a modified form of ejector.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 15 designates a boxlike structure constituting the body portion of the apparatus. This box-like structure embodies a bottom 16, sides 17, and a high forward end 18 and a low rear end 19. A playing board or bottom 20 is arranged upon the bottom 18, with its forward end contacting with the high end 18 and its rear end spaced from the low end 19, providing a collecting pocket 21. overhanging the forward end of the playing board 20 is a horizontal strip 22. The forward end portion of the playing board, as indicated at 23, is inclined rearwardly in a direction longitudinally of the playing line 7-4 of board, with a stop shoulder 24 at its rear edge. The inclined portion 23, see Figure 3, is also inclined transversely from a central point 25, and extends downwardly and leads into longitudinal grooves or run-ways 26. These grooves or runways are inclined longitudinally in a downwardly direction toward the pocket 21, and discharge into the pocket. The projectile or ball 27, when projected upon the inclined portion 23, will travel by gravity to either groove or run-way 26, and then be returned to the pocket 21.

Rigidly attached to the overhanging strip 22, by means of screws 28, or the like, are brackets 29, having a horizontal transverse support shaft 30, attached to their low ends and extending between the same. The support shaft 30 is preferably rigidly attached to the brackets 29. Arranged above the support shaft 30 is a stop shaft 31 extending between the brackets 29, and rigidly attached thereto. The stop shaft 31 is arranged forwardly of the support shaft.

The numeral 32 designates target elements, provided upon their rear sides with hinge knuckles 33, which are pivoted upon the support shaft 30. These hinge-knuckles are substantially equi-distantly spaced from the opposite ends of the target-elements. Any suitable means, such as stop rings or sleeves 34 are rigidly attached to the support shaft 30 and prevent the longitudinal movement of the hinge-knuckles 33 upon the support shaft. Each target element is provided near its upper end and upon its rear side with a weight 35. This weight causes the upper end of the target element to be heavier than its lower end, so that the target element will remain in theupper .set' position, Figure 4, inclined forwardly slightly past dead-center, and resting upon the support rod 31. When the low end of the target element is struck by the projectile or ball, the target ele- 'ment is then shifted to a generally horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the low end of the target element being then held up against a re-setting rod 36.

As more clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the resetting rod 36, when in the supporting position, 1 is disposed forwardly of the support rod 30, and this re-setting rod is provided at its ends with radial cranks 37, having pivot extensions 38 journaled in bearings formed in the lower ends of the brackets 29. These pivot extensions are parallel 1 with the re-setting shaft 36, as shown. A lever 39 is rigidly attached to one of the pivot extensions 38, and this lever has connection with a retractile coil-spring 40, attached to the overhanging strip 22, as shown. This spring tends to hold the lever 39 in a raised position and returns the same to this raised position when released. A pull-element 41, which maybe in the form of a flexible wire,'is attached to the free end of the lever 39, and extends longitudinally of the playing board 20, outwardly of the groove or runway 26, and may be guided within guide elements or staples 42. A knob or handle 43 may be attached to the rear end of the pull-element which extends through a suitable opening in the low end 19. It might be stated, at this point, that when'any one or all of the target elements 32 have been struck at their low end and knocked down, the same may be re-set by pulling upon the knob 43. Pulling upon the knob will cause lever 39 to swing re-set rod 36 rearwardly, and this re-setting rod engages the target elements below the support shaft 30, and returns the target elements to the upright or set position.

A proiector 44 is provided for the projectile or ball 27. This projector includes a base or carriage 45, which is vertically arranged, and is provided upon opposite portions with horizontal grooves 46. The lower end of the carriage is mounted between horizontal transverse tracks or rails 4'1, which enter the grooves 46. These transverse tracks or rails have depending vertical ends 48, rigidly attached to the extensions of the board or bottom 20. The carriage 45 isadapted to be shifted along the rails 47, transversely of the board 20. At its top, the carriage 25 preferably has a curved recess 47'. The carriage 45 has a longitudinal opening 48, slidablv receiving a vertical rod 49, provided at its lower end with a head 50, serving to limit the upward movement of the rod 49 with relation to the carriage. It is thus seen that the rod 49 may be turned with respect to the carriage 45, or shifted vertically with relation to the same. At its upper end, the rod 49 is provided with a U-shaped element 51, having inwardly projecting pivots or trunnions 52, which enter recesses 53, formed in the sides of a barrel 54.

This barrel is, therefore, pivoted to the U- shapedelementsothatitmaybeswungina vertical plane. When the projector is not in use, the U-shaped element 51 is adapted to descend into a U-shaped groove 55, formed in the carriage 45, the barrel 54 then engaging within the recess 47'.

The barrel 54 is provided at its forward end with a cylindrical bore 56, extending through such forward end and terminating at a wall 5'1. Arranged within the bore 56 is 'a flexible and resilient nozzle 58, formed of rubber or the like. This nozzle includes an outer tubularsection 59, and an inner tubular section 60, these sections being formed by bending a tube upon itself at the point 61'. The outer tubular section 59 increases in diameter rearwardly and the inner tubular section 66 increases in diameter forwardly. The outer tubular section 59 is spaced from the wall of the bore 56 for the major portion of its length while the inner section 60 is spaced from the outer section 59. The outer tubular section 59 is provided at its rear end with a bead 61, suitably anchored in a groove 62. The inner tubular section 60 is provided at its rear end with a bead 63, receiving a tubular coupling 64, screw=threaded into one end of a port 65, formed in the barrel 54. The opposite end of this port leads into a coupling 66, having a flexible pipe or hose 67, secured thereto, which may be formed of rubber, or the like, as shown. The flexible hose 6'! extends through an opening in the lower wall 19 and has a compressible bulb 68 attached to its rear end. This bulb is closed at its rear end while it communicates with the flexible pipe 6'7 at its forward end.

In Figure 11, I have shown a somewhat modifled form of flexible nozzle. The flexible nozzle in this figure is designated by the numeral 69, and is formed of rubber, or the like. This flexible tubular nozzle increases in diameter forwardly and is provided at its forward end with a bead 70 held within the groove 71, formed in a barrel 54', which is substantially identical with the barrel 54. The tubular nozzle 69 is provided at its rear end with a head 72, receiving a tubular coupling 64', corresponding to the coupling 64, Figure 9. The groove 62 is omitted. All other parts remain identical with those shown and described in connection with Figure 9.

The playing of the game apparatus is as follows:

When it is desired to play the game, all of the target elements 82 are in the upper set position, These target elements may have different values,

which may appear thereon, as shown. The pro- Jectile 2'1 is now inserted into the barrel 54, Fig-.

ure 9, and is accordingly introduced into the inner tubular section 60 of the flexible nozzle. By virtue of the flexibility of this nozzle, the tubular section'60 will readily conform to the curvature of the projectile, thereby affording an air-tight joint. By forcing the projectile for a greater distance in the tubular section 70, the degree of contact between these parts may be increased, thereby regulating the amount of pressure necessary to expel the projectile, and controlling the speed of the same. With the projectile in place within the flexible nozzle, the barrel 54 is aimed at the selected target element. The barrel 54 may be swung in a vertical plane upon the trunnions 52. It may be swung horizontally upon the carriage 45 and it may be raised and lowered with relation to the carriage. When the desired aim is had, the playercompresses the bulb 68 and the.

compressed air will force the projectile from the barrel toward the selected target. The ball may miss all targets and pass between the same. When the ball strikes the lower end of, any target, this target is thrown to the generally horizontal position, Figure 4, with its lower end forced-upward against the re-setting rod 36. After any arranged in a transverse row, yet I wish it under- .140

stood that the invention is not restricted to this precise arrangement. They may be arranged in a different manner, as ten-pins. While the target elements are shown in the formof paddles, the invention is not restricted to this shape. They may be made in the shape of ten pins, or any other desired shapes.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and

125 or all of the targets have been thrown to the that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having fully described my invention, claim is:

1. In a game apparatus, a support including a board, a transverse support shaft arranged near the forward end of the board and above the same. target elements pivoted between their ends upon the support shaft and having their upper ends heavier than their lower ends, a transverse stop shaft disposed near the support shaft but spaced from the same so that the upper ends of the target elements rest upon the stop shaft, and a resetting device arranged near the support shaft to engage with the lower portions of the target elements.

2. In a game apparatus, a support, a transverse support shaft arranged near the forward end of the support, target elements pivoted between their ends upon the support shaft and having their upper ends heavier than their lower ends, a transverse stop shaft disposed near the support shaft but spaced from the same so what I that the upper ends of the target elements rest upon the stop shaft, a resetting shaft having cranks which are pivotally supported at points near and forwardly of the support shaft, means to shift the resetting shaft forwardly, and manually operated means to shift the resetting shaft rearwardly so that it engages with the lower portions of the target elements.

3. In a game apparatus, a support including a board, a transverse support shaft arranged above the board, a target element pivoted upon the support shaft and having its end portion extending above the shaft straight, a weight secured to the upper end of the target element and disposed upon the side of the same next to the support shaft, and a transverse stop shaft arranged above the support shaft and forwardly of the same, the arrangement being such that the stop shaft will support the target element in a position inclined from the vertical with the weight disposed bodily upon the forward side of the support shaft, and a resetting device arranged near the support shaft to engage with the lower portions of the target element.

RAMSEY SMITH.

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