US2104574A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 4, 1938. Y D. c. RocKoLA GAME APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13, 1935 l l n n m I l aoid 6. /Qoflo/a t0 INVENTOR.

BY 7M M HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 4, 1.938l

PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS David C. Rockola, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Rock- Ola Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,228

8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatus which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and enicient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel latching device for certain parts of the operating mechanism of a coin controlled amusement Vending apparatus or the like.

An additional object of the invention is to provide, in connection with a coin-controlled machine or apparatus, a novel device for preventing a. second operation of the coin slide before the i operating mechanism oi' the apparatus, which is controlled by the slide, has made a full stroke.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in combination with a game apparatus which includes a cabinet, an operating mechanism in the cabinet, a control device for the operating mechanism, and an actuating or coincontrolled member movably mounted vin a wall of the cabinet, means for preventing a second operation of the control device, once the same and the coincontrolled member have been actuated, until the operating mechanism, which is controlled by the coin-controlled member, has made a full or complete operative stroke.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View of a coin-controlled amusement apparatus, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a preferred form of the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 C in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a View on line 3-3 in Fig. 1, partly in section and partly in top plan; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical circuit embodied in the invention.

A game apparatus embodying a preferred form of the present invention is shown in the drawing, and therein generally indicated at Ill, said apparatus comprising a cabinet II which includes a wall I2 in which a coin controlled actuating member or coin slide I3 is slidably mounted.

The inner end portion I4 of the coin slide YI3 is engageable with the upper end portion I5 of a member I6, which is pivotally mounted between its ends, as at Il, upon an upright supporting wall I9 which is arranged in the cabinet II, and this member I6 is normally urged, by a spring I8, (clockwise, Fig. 1).

Slidably mounted in the cabinet II, upon the upright support I 9, by means of pin and slot connections 29, is a slide bar 2i, and provided in the bottom edge 22 of the slide bar 2| is a recess or notched portion 23. Engageable in the recess or notched portion 23 of the slide bar 2l is a pawl 24 which is pivotally mounted between its ends, as at 25, upon the upright support I9, this pawl 24 being normally urged into initial position (as shown in Fig. 1) by meansvof a spring 26.

Attached to, and projecting laterally from, the pawl 24 is an arm 21 and this arm 21 is engageable with the movable element or contact 28 of a control switch 29 which is arranged in the cabinet I I, and which switch may be used for any desired purpose such, for example, as controlling the operating mechanism of the game apparatus I0.

Mounted upon the upright support I9 is a dash pot 33, which includes a` movable element or piston-rod 3|, and this piston rod 3| is normally urged into extended position, (right to left, Fig.

l) by means of a spring 32; and interconnecting the piston rod 3I and the slide bar 2l is a link 33.

Pivotally mounted at one end, as at 34, upon the upright support I9 is a latch member 35, and carried by the member I6, adjacent the lower end thereof, isa roller 36 which is engageable with one end portion 39 of the latch member 35.

Carried by the slide bar 2l is a roller 3l and the latch member 35 has a cam edge 38 which is engageable with this roller 31, for a reason to be explained presently.

Pivotally mounted on the upright supporting wall I9, as at 46, is a bell crank lever 44 which has, at its upper end, a laterally extending arm 43, this member 44 having a laterally extending arm 45 at its lower end.

Provided in the bottom edge of the slide bar 2I is a notch 48, and the slide bar 2I includes a cam portion 49 which is arranged between the notch 48 and the recess or cut-out portion 23 (Fig. 1).

The switch 29 is arranged in an electrical circuit, generally indicate-d at 40 (Fig. 4), and which may include any instrumentality or device, generally indicated at 4I, which it may be desired to control or operate by the closing of the switch 29. Likewise embodied in the circuit 40 is suitable source of current 42 which may be, for example, a battery of dry cells arranged in the cabinet II.

Operation When the coin slide I3 is pushed in (right to left, Fig. 1) the inner end portion I4 of the same engages the upper end portion I5 of the member I6, thereby pivoting the latter, at I'I (counterclockwise, Fig. 1) against the action of the coil spring I8, and thus tensioning the latter.

During this operation the lower end portion 47 of the memberv I6 engages the roller 3l, which is carried by the slide bar 2|, thereby shifting the slide bar 2! (left to right, from full to .dotted line position, Fig. l). During this operation, the pawl 24 rides out of the recessed or notched portion 23 of the slide bar 2l and into the notch 48 and when the pavvl 24 is in this position, that is, engaged in the notch 48, the arm 21 thereof is disposed, relative to the contact 28, in position to maintain the switch 28 open, (as in Fig. 4).

When the slide bar 2i is thus moved (left to right, Fig. l) it acts, through the link 33, to sluit the piston-rod 3i (left to right, Fig. 1) relative to the cylinder 5l of the dash pot 35, thereby tensioning the resetting spring 32. Accordingly, when the coin slide i3-4 is returned to its initial position (as in Fig. l) by means oi its resetting spring (not shown), the pivotal member I6 is pivoted back into its initial position (as in Fig. l) by means of the resetting spring I8. The tensioned resetting spring 32 then returns the piston rod 3l and the slide bar 2l back into their initial positions (right to left, Fig. l) against the action ci the dash pot Sil-3l, which times the speed and duration of this return movement of the slide bar 2 i and during this return movement of the slide bar 2l the pawl 24 rides out of the notch 4S, which is formed in the bottom edge of the slide bar 2|, and is engaged by the cam edge il@ of the slide bar 2i, which thereupon pivots the pawl 24 (counterclockwise, Fig. 1) against the action of the spring 26, and during this operation, that is, when the pawl 2li is pivoted (counterclockwise, Figs. l and 4), the arm 21 thereof engages the contact and pivots the same into position to close the switch 29; and the closing of this switch 29 may be employed for controlling the operation of any desired mechanism such, for example, as the operating mechanism of a game apparatus, it being noted that the arm 21 of the pawl 24 is held in position to close the switch 29 only during the time (when the slide bar 2i is moving from right to leit, Fig. 1) that the cam edge 49 of the slide bar 2i is disposed in engagement with the pawl 24, during the return movement of the slide bar 2|.

When the coin slide l3-l4 is pushed in (right to left, Fig. 1), and the pivotal member IS-i is thereby pivoted (counterclockwise, Fig. l), the arm 43 of the member 44, which normally bears, by gravity, upon the upper edge oi the member E6, (as seen in Fig. l) pivots at 45, (clockwise, Fig. l), and when the sli-de bar 2l, during its movement from left to right, Fig. 1, passes the angled arm 45 of the member 44, the said angled arm 45 of the member 45 drops, by gravity, down in front o the end 5E! of the slide bar 2i (left hand end as seen in Fig. l), thereby preventing the slide bar 2i from being returned to its normal or initial position until the coin slide i3 is retracted and the member i5 is returned to its initial position, whereupon the member l5 will engage the angled arm 43 of the member 44 and thereby pivot the same at 45 (counterclockwise, Fig. l), thus moving the angled arm 45 of the member 4d out of alignment or engagement with the end 55 of the sli-de bar 2l.

The cam portion of the latch member 35 normally bears upon the roller 31, which is carried by the slide bar 2i, and the latch member 35 is thus heldin raised or full line position, (Fig. l). However, when the slide bar 2l is moved (left to right, Fig. l), (by the coaction of the coin slide iti-54, member l5, and the engagement of the lower end portion 41 of the member i5 with the roller 31) the roller 31 is moved out of engagement or alignment with the cam portion 38 of the latch member 35, and the latter pivots, by gravity, into dotted line position, Fig. l; and when the latch member 35 is in this position, (as in dotted lines, Fig. 1), it prevents operation of the member i6, since if an attempt is vmade to operate the member I6 when the latch member 35 is disposed in effective position (as in dotted lines, Fig. l), the cam roller 36 will engage against the end portion 39 of the latch member 35 and the member I6 and coin slide I3 will thus be prevented from being moved into effective position, it being noted that when the latch member 35 is in raised position (as in full lines, Fig. l), the member l-lG and coin slide i3 may be operated, since in this position of the parts the cam roller 35 may be moved around and under the end portion 39 oi the latch member 35.

When the slide bar 2l is returned to its normal or initial position (as in full lines, Fig. l) the cani roller 31 carried thereby engages under the cam edge 38 of the latch member 35 and thereby pivots the latter, at --.o its normal or raised position (as in full lines, Fig. l), and in which position of the latch member 35 the member l5-3 and the coin slide i3 may again be operated.

It will thus be noted that the latch member 35-38-39 prevents the actuating member or coin slide iii- HL which controls the operating mechanism of the apparatus, comprising the slide bar 2i, pavvl Eil-2l, and switch 29, from being operated a se Xnd time before the said operating mechanic has completed a full str-oke, once the same has been operated, that is, the slide bar 2! must be moved to full stroke position (left to right, from full to dotted line position, Fig. l), and returned to its initial position, before a second operation oi the coin slide i3 and member i5 may be made, and in this manner fraudulent operation of the switch 2S and the mechanism 4l controlled thereby, through the medium of the coin slide i3, is prevented; that is, by reason of 'the device thus provided the pawl 24-21 may be operated only once, and the switch 29 closed only once, for each operation of the coin slide i3, and fraudulent closing of the switch 2! by holding the siide in or jiggling the slide 3, that is, moving the same in and partially out after a coin has been inserted into the coin aperture of the slide and the latter is actuated, is prevented.

While I have illustrated and described the preierred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modication, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details oi construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

laving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

i. Switch control mechanism comprising: an operating arm pivoted Afor movement from an idle position through an operating stroke and having means for returning the same to said idle position; a plate slidable from an idle to a set position by said arm upon the movement of the latter in its operating stroke; means for effecting slow return movement of said plate from set position to idle position; switch means and operating mechanism therefor operable by movement of said plate, and means released by said arm during the operating stroke thereof for preventing switch-operating movement of the said plate back to idle position, and until said operating arm is returned to idle position.

2. Switch mechanism including a switch, an operating pawl therefor, an actuating slide, a lever pivotable from an initial to an advanced position by said slide, a second and reciprocable slide movable by said lever from an initial to an advanced position for operative engagement with said pawl, said slide being adapted to drive said pawl upon return movement to initial position and thereby actuate said switch, means normally urging said second slide into initial position, together with latch means including a stop member released for movement into block return movement of the second slide when said lever is moved out of its initial position, said stop member being movable out of blocking position by said lever upon its return to initial position, and a second stop member movable into position to prevent the return of said lever from advanced to initial position when said second slide is in a substantially advanced position, said second stop member being moved into ineffective position by said second slide upon return to the latter initial position as aforesaid.

3. A full stroke control mechanism including a reciprccable actuating member, a reciprocable slide, a pawl operable by said slide when the same is rnoved in one direction, switch means operable by said pawl, a lever movable from a normal position by said actuating member to move said slide in one direction out of normal position, means yieldingly holding said lever in normal position, yieldable means urging said slide into itsl said normal position, together with means cooperable with said slide to latch said lever against movement back to normal position until said slide has returned to normal position.

4. A full stroke control mechanism including a reciprocable actuating member, an operating plate mounted for reciprocatory movement, a pawl operable by said plate when the latter is moved in one direction, switch means operable by said pawl, means yieldably urging said plate into a normal position, a lever engageable by said actuating member and operable thereby to move said plate out of said normal position, means yieldingly urging said lever into a normal position for operative engagement with said plate when the latter is in normal position, together with latch means operable to hold said plate against return to normal position as aforesaid until said lever has returned to its said normal position.

5. Control mechanism comprising a slide arm, means mounting said arm for reciprocatory movement, means for moving said slide into a normal position, the slide having a cam edge and a recess at one side of the same, a switch and an operating pawl therefor, said slide being movable out of said normal position to position said recess for operative engagement with said pawl,

the latter being operated when said slide returns thereafter to normal position, an operating lever pivoted between its ends, yieldable means holding said lever in a normal position for engagement of one of its ends with said slide when the latter is in normal position as aforesaid, said lever being pivotable from normal position to move said slide out of its normal position to engage said pawl, stop means in the form of a bell crank movable by gravity to position one of its arms into movement-blocking relation with said slide, the other arm of said crank being engaged by said lever when the latter is in normal position to pivot the bell crank out of blocking position, and a second stop means including a pivoted arm having an end movable into position to block movement ci said lever back to normal position When said slide is moved out of normal position, said slide being operable to pivot said arm out of blocking position by movement back to normal position.

6. Co-ntrol mechanism including a reciprocableactuating member, a reciprocable slide having a cam edge fianked by a recess, means yieldingly urging said slide into a normal position, a control device including an actuating pawl operable by said slide, means normally positioning said pawl for operative engagement by the recess in said slide by movement of the latter out of its normal position, a reciprocable lever movable in one direction to engage and move said slide out of normal position to engage the pawl as aforesaid, stop means movable into position to block the return movement of said slide toward normal position so as to prevent operation of said pawl, and means operable by said lever during its return movement to move said stop means out of blocking position,

7. Control mechanism including a switch, a pawl movable to operate the switch, a reciprocable slide, means including a reciprocable lever for advancing the slide from an initial position into operative engagement with the pawl, means for returning said slide to said initial position to operate said pawl, means for retarding the return movement of said slide, stop means automatically movable into position to block the return movement of said slide after the latter has been advanced a predetermined distance from said initial position, means for returning said lever to a starting position independently of said slide, together with means including a bell crank operable by said lever to move said stop means out of locking position when the lever has been returned a predetermined distance toward said starting position.

8. A full stroke switch-operating mechanism including a switch, a pawl movable to operate the switch, means yieldingly holding the pawl out of switch-operating position, a first reciprocable member movable in one direction into operative engagement with the pawl and movable in an opposite direction to move the pawl and opcrate said switch, means normally urging said rst reciprocable member out of operative engagement with said pawl, a second reciprocable member movable from an initial position in one direction to move said first reciprocable member into pawl engaging position, means for returning said second reciprocable member to initial position, together with latch means automatically operable when said second reciprocable member is moved from initial position to latch said first reciprocable member against retrograde movement until said second member is returned to initial position, and latch means operable by said iirst reciprocable member while the same is in switch-operating position to latch the second reciprocable member against return to initial position.

DAVID C. ROCKOLA.

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