US2280000A - Racing game - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1942. P. s'. MILL/Ah ETAL 2,280,000

meme GAME Filed May 11, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Preston 5. M1 Mar BY Pe te n Garms p i 14, 1942. P. s. MILLARETAL 2,280,000

RACING GAME 7 Filed May 11, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Pres fan. 5'. Mwllar BY Peter Garms 5: LATTORNM April 14, 1942. I P. s. MlLLARvE TAL RACING GAME Filed May '11, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 3- Y INVENTORS Preston 6. Millan Peter Ga/ms Ar'rsgzxv.

April 14, 1942.

P. s. NQLL'AR ETAL RACING GAME Filed May-ll, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 'INVENTORS Preston 5'. Mltlar Peter Gar/11s BY nrroegtx I P. S. MILLAR EI'AL April 14, 1942.

RAG I-NG GAM E Filed May 11, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 5' INVENTORS Preston 3. Milllar Peter Garms P. s. MILLAR ETAL April 14, 1942.

RACING GAME Filed May 11, 1940 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 E. t. NS r E. 3; m mm. .IWW .I

g iiii INVENTORS Preston 6. Millar Peter vGar s ATTO P. s. MILLAR ET AL RACING GAME Filed May '11, 1940 April 14, 1942.

9 Sheets-Sheet 8 'INVENTORS Preston 6'. Miller Peter Gar/n6 Y 3 g 3 P Arrows 3 Patented Apr. 14', 1942 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- RACING GAME Preston S.Millar, Scarsdale, and Peter Garms,

Huntingtom N. Y.

Application May 11, 1940, Serial No. 334,514

' (c1. ave-s) Claims.

the racers movecontinuouslyas in an actual race,

and their speeds which normally are identical can be altered by the players to produce a winner.

again, and to reset the ball-boxes "before the beginning of a race. i

As shown in Figure 1, the game consists of a race-track l several feet in length, which may be mounted in a vertical position as shown. The longer the race-track, the faster the horses may be made to move without curtailing the time of the race, which, preferably, should approximate that of areal horsef-race, with corresponding gain in excitement for players and spectators.

i As shown, therace-course is provided with six Such alterations, however, whileinitiated by the players are, nevertheless, wholly amatter of chance. In thisrespect the game is distinguished from those in which the players, ifthey possess suflicient skill, can maintain the speed of the respectiveracers at or nearthe maximum.

The arrangement of the game of this invention is such that the race-track may be of any desired length-the longer the better-and it :may be mounted in a-vertical position so that it may be observed notonlyby the players, but by spectatorsas well. 0 Also, the ball-boxes containing the mechanism by means of which each player endeavors to increase the speed of his particular racer, are wholly separate units which can be positioned in any desired way with relation to each otherand at any desired distance from the race-track. Furthermore, each unit is so connected to the mechanism which actually moves the racers that any racer can be controlled from any ball-box.

The game is applicable to the racing of horses,

yachts, dogs, vehicles, and the like. For the purpose of this inventiona form of game simulating a horse-race has been selected This is illustrated in the drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a general View in perspective of the game, showing'the race-track and the individual ball-boxes; Q i i Figure 2 is, a rear view of therace-track illustrating one general arrangement of the mechanisms by which the racers aremoved and controlled; 0

Figure Bis-a view in elevation of a mechanism by means of which one of the racers is moved;

Figure Lisa plan view ofthe mechanism of Figure 3; i 1

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a ball-box; and Figures 6 throughill) are diagrams illustrating various electrical circuits employed to cause the horses to moveover the race-course from start to finish, to returnthe horses to the starting line horses, the upper one of which is numbered 2 and the remaining five numbered 3, each of which is slidably mounted in a slot 4 in the race-track.

There are also provided six ball-boxes 5, one for each playeneach of which is connected by an electric cable 6,.ina manner which will be hereinafter described in detail, to the mechanism which operates a horse, this mechanism being mounted behind the race-track proper in the shallow box-like housing 7, shown in Figure 2. Therefore, each ball-box may be placed in any position in relation to the others and at any desired distance from the race-track and may be connected to the mechanism of any horse.

Preferably the race-track proper is covered with green baize, 'or other similar material, to simulate as nearly as possible the closely-clipped grass of a real track.

. There may also be a starters stand 1a not shown in Figure l, but diagrammatically indicated in Figures 6, 8 and 10, from which a starter may start the race, declare the winners, return the horses to the starting line again, and reset the ball-boxes before the beginning of the next race. 0

Each of the six horses 2 and 3 may be cut or molded from any suitable material and is mounted upon a small base 8 slidably mounted in slot 4; As shown in Figure 2, the underside of each base 8 is provided with two pins or projections 9 and I0 adapted to operate certain switches at thestart and finish of a race, as will be'described later. 'To the underside of each base 8 within housing 1 are connected the ends of a belt II,

which runs over pulleys l2 and I3 positioned,

upper end of sleeve I5 is mounted one element l8 of a clutch which may be a soft rubber disk. Also loosely mounted upon shaft [4 is a gear IS, the hub of which includes the other element of the clutch. Meshing with gear I9 i a gear 2| fixed to a shaft 22. It will be observed that when clutch elements l8 and 20 are .disengaged rotation of shaft 22 will not be transmitted to shaft I4 because gear I9 turns freely thereon, but that when the clutch elements [8 and 28 are engaged, gear I9 is locked to shaft l4 so that this shaft and pulley l2 will turn in harmony with shaft 22.

The means selected for engaging and disengagin clutch elements 18 and 28 best shown in Figure 3 consists of a solenoid 23, the plunger 24 of which is connected to a pivoted arm by a resilient strip 26. The other end 21 of arm 25 is notched so as to engage an annular shoulder 28 on sleeve l5. A spring 29 normally maintains plunger 24 in its uppermost position, and

' clutch elements l8 and 20 disengaged. When solenoid 23 is energized plunger 24 is pulled downwardly and, consequently, end 21 of arm25 is rocked upwardly so that clutch element I8 is moved into engagement with element 20 and gear l9 locked to shaft [4. The resilient strip 26 connecting the plunger 24 to pivoted lever 25 enables the plunger when pulled into the solenoid to maintain a light pressure upon clutch element 18' to insure its close engagement with the other element 20 and also permits the plunger to be pulled down onto a definite seat within the solenOid, which will reduce humming and prevent chattering,a common characteristic of solenoids when energized.

As will be seen from Figure 2 this operating unit, generally designated by the numeral 29a, is duplicated for each horse with the exception of shaft 22, which is common to them all and carries the six gears 2i. At one end of shaft 22 is a pair of beveled gears 30 by means of which it is connected to a motor 3| through a reducing gear 32.

An identical set of six high-speed-operating units 33 is also-mounted beyond the finish end of the race-track for operating the pulleys l3, with the exception that the gears 34 on shaft 35 are larger than gears 2| on shaft 22. Shaft 35 is connected through beveled gears 36 to another motor 31 through a reducing gear 38. Motor 31 is preferably identical to motor 33, so that they will rotate at the same speed, and if so, it will be evident that pulleys 43 will turn faster than pulleys l2. However, this greater speed may be obtained by a motor of higher speed or in any other suitable way. Except as indicated above the various elements of these high-speed units when referred to will be identified by the same numerals as the normal-speed units with a letter a appended.

The driving units 290. illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and also at the right end of Figure 2, are for driving the horses at normal speed. The driving units 33 shown at the left end of Figure 2 are for driving the horses at higher speed. It

has been found that a higher speed twice the normal speed makes an interesting and exciting race.

The game is so arranged that the respective pulleys l2 and [3 associated with any horse will never be locked to their respective shafts at the same time by th clutches heretofore described. Therefore, when pulley I2 is operating to drive a horse, corresponding pulley 43 will turn freely and vice versa.

At the end of each slot 4 adjacent the starting end of the race-track is a single contact switch 39, which is normally closed except when a racer is at the starting point when it is open as the result of the engagement of projection 9 on the base of a racer with a finger on the switch.

Another set of switches 4!one for each racer-is p sitioned adjacent the finish line. However, these are double contact switches, of which one pair of contacts 42, 43, is normally closed and the pair 43, 44, open. When a horse reaches the finish line this condition is reversed through the engagement of pin I0 on the base 8'of the horse with finger 45 of the switch, which opens contacts 42, 43,heretofore closed, and closes the other pair of contacts 43, 44.

There are also two sets of five single-action relays each, 46--50 and 5 l-55, respectively, a set of six double-acting relays, 56a--56f, for opening and closing certain circuits, as will be described hereinafter, and three additional relays 51 in the ball-box circuits, also to be described.

Each ball-box 5 may consist, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, ofa cabinet-like housing having a top 58, which may contain a glass panel and is provided with an opening 59 at one end through which balls can be dropped. Below the top 58 of the ball-box are four run-ways, 60, 6|, 62 and 63, the uppermost of which 60 slopes downwardly from the end of the box at which the opening 59 in the top is positioned. Each of the other three run-ways GI, 62 and 63 slopes in the opposite direction from the run-way directly above it, and all of the run-ways with the exception of the lowest 63 terminates a sufiicient distance from the end of the ball-box to provide a slot 64, 65 and 66, respectively, through which can drop any ball which does not otherwise pass from one runway to the other. The lowermost run-way 63 terminates in a pocket 61, in which the balls which are dropped through opening 59 in the top, will ultimately collect and from which they can be retrieved. Run-way 6D is provided with openings 68 into which short downwardly-extending tubes 59 are fitted, the internal diameters of which are sufficiently large to permit the passage of balls dropped onto the run-way through opening 59. Run-way 60 may also be studded with pins 13 arranged in any desired pattern to impede and deflect the normal course of the balls down the run-way. Run-way 6| is also provided with openings 1| through, which the balls referred to can drop and also may be studded with pins 12 in any desired pattern for the same purpose as pins 10. The third run-way 62 has neither openings nor pins, and this is also true of the lowest run-way 63.

The lower end of each tube 69, or of as many of these tubes as desired, is normally closed by a trigger 13 mounted on a horizontal shaft 14, which passes through opposite sides of the ballbox and at the ends of which are attached arms 15 and 16, respectively. In the game illustrated there are four such triggers, 13, shown one on each of two shafts 14, and two on another, as will be best seen from Figure 5. Adjacent the free end of each arm 15 is a switch 11 which is normally closed. These three switches are connected in series in the same circuit, so that whenever any one of them is open, the circuit is broken. They are shown in closed position in Figure 5. Each arm 15 is so positioned upon its shaft 14 that when trigger 13 is struck and depressed by a ball falling through one of the tubes 69, it will be swung so as to engage finger I8 upon its associated switch 111 to open it and break the circuit. Arm I6 attached to the other end of eachshaft I4 is also associated with a switch I9, but in this instance the switches are normally open, as shown in Figure 5, and are connected in parallel into a circuit which, consequently, is normally open. Arms I6 are so positioned with respect to these switches that when a trigger I3 is depressed by a ball falling through a tube 69, the arm will engage a finger 80 on one blade of the switch to close the switch and, I

since all of these switchesare in parallel in the which is preferably a key switch in a circuit IOI,

rent suitable for illuminating the small lamps same circuit, the closing of any one of them will complete the circuit. .It will beseen, therefore,

that whenever a parallel switch" is closed, a series switch 1! is simultaneously opened soithat the two circuits containing these respective sets of switches can never be closed or open at the same time. This means, as will be hereinafter explained, that the normal speed and high speed I04 positioned on the race-track just beyond the finish end of each slot 4, However, lamps I04 will not be illuminated because one side of the circuit thereto from transformer I03 includes switches 4| of which contacts 43 and 44 are open.

Now assume that there are six players, one for each horse, standing before the ball-boxes. The

starter having ascertained that the horses are mechanisms of the horses cannot be energized simultaneously. I

Adjacent the lower end of the lowest run-way 63, but far enough inside the ball-box to prevent tampering from the outsidefls agate 8I mounted upon arms 82 whichare attached to the horizontal shaft 83 and adapted to swing to permita ball to pass thereunder. To one end of shaft 83 is attached an arm 84 (Figure 5) so positioned with respect to a switch 85, whichis normally open, that when gate 8I is swung open by a ball, the switch will be closed through the engagement of arm 84 with a finger85a on one blade of the switch. Switch 85 is in a circuit with solenoid 86, the plunger 81 of which is pivotally attached all positioned at the starting line of the racetrack and that the players are ready, throws switch I05 assumed to be in the starters stand "Ia so as to engage contacts I05a and M51). As

, will be seen from Figure 6, this will complete the to an arm 88 which may be conveniently pivoted when gate BI is closed, anyof arms I6 can swing I without interference to close its associated switch I9, but when gate 8| is swung open by a ball resulting in the closing of switch 85, the

energizing of solenoid 86, the: retraction of plunger 8! of the solenoid and the consequent swinging of arm 80 and movement of rod 89 will return any of sucharms I6 to the inactive position indicated in Figure 5, whichjwill result in circuit consisting of line wire IOI, wires I06, I01, I08, I09, IIO, III to one end of the winding of each of relays 46-50, wire I I2, from the other end of the winding of each relay and wires H3,

H4 and H5 to line wire I02.

In consequence the winding of each relay 46-50 is energized and the armature II6 attracted so as to bridge contacts III and H8. This completes a circuit to the armature of highspeed motor 31 from line wire'IOI through wire I06and from the motor back to line wire I02 through wire II9 running to contact I II of relay 46, the armature II6 of this relay, contact H8 and wires H3, H4 and 5. A second circuit runs to the field of motor 31 by line wire IOI through wires I06 and I06a, through relay 48 and wire I061), and from the motor back to the other line wire I02 through wire I20, relay 41 and wires I I4 and H5. Thereupon motor 31 starts to rotate. Now both motors are in operation and continue to operate throughout the race. Anincidental circuit may also be provided by means of which a sign may be illuminated to indicate the number of the race when switch I05 is closed. This may opening the corresponding switch or switches I9 again. I

Switches I9 may be opened by mechanical connections between them and gate 8| without the interposition of the switch 85 and solenoid 86, I I

but it has been found that occasionally a ballar rives at gate 8| with insufiicient momentumfto supply the necessary energy for straight mechanical operation, particularly if more than one of the switches?!) are closed, so that more than one arm I6 must be swung; Therefore, it is advisable to performthis operation through the solenoid 86 utilizing the gate 8 I simply as a means of closing the switch 85. in the solenoid circuit, an operation which a ball always has the energy to effect. I I

how the game is I consist of the wires I2I bridging the two blades of switch I05, wires I22, I23 to a lamp I24 and return wires I25,'I26, I21 and M5 to line wire I02.

The energizing of relays 49 and 50 completes a circuit through each of the ball-boxes to the six solenoids 23 of the normal speed-operating units 29a with the result that the solenoids are simultaneously energized and the clutches en gaged so that all of the horses leave the starting line simultaneously and at the same time since they are all driven by identical mechanisms operated from a common shaft 22, as described in I connection with Figures 3 and 4.

The circuits which cause the horses to start the race in this way are in part common to all and in part individual. With respect to the individual circuits only that for ball-box I (Figure I l) and the horse 2 (Figures 1 and 2) will be de- In Figure 7 which illustrates these circuits to be described, contacts I I1 and I I8 of relay 4!! are numbered Illa and II8a, and the equivalent contacts of relay liii are numbered III?) and H81), respectively. v

The energizing of relays 49 and 59 completes a circuit from line wire IBI, wires I86 and I28, contact I 5811, armature H6 and contact IIIa. of relay 49, wires I29, I39, I3I and I32 to series switches II, which it will be recalled are in the ball-box and are normally closed as shown in Figure 7 and wire I33, which terminates at normal speed-clutch-operating solenoid 23. From this solenoid the circuit is completed by wire I34 which runs to contact 42 of switch 4|, which at this time is in contact with contact 43 of the same switch, wires I35, I36, I31 and I38 contact II'Ibof relay 50, the armature IIB of this relay, contact IIBb, wires I39, I40 and M5 to the other line wire I92. Each of the other ball-boxes is similarly connected to its respective normalspeed-clutchoperating solenoid 23 and contact 42 of its switch 4| so that, as already stated, all

.of the normal-speed clutches will be simultaneously engaged and all the horses will leave the starting line at the same time and at the same speed.

This condition continues until a ball dropped by some player, assumed to be the player of horse 2, through opening 59 in the top of his ball-box and onto the top run-way 60, falls through one of the tubes (59 below which a trigger I3 is positioned, and by depressing this trigger, opens one of the switches II, as indicated in dotted line at IIa in Figure '7 and closes one of the parallel switches III also as indicated in dotted line at 19a in Figure '7. Since all of the switches 11 are in series this breaks the circuit to solenoid 23 of the operating mechanism of horse 2. In consequence the corresponding clutch will disengage and horse 2 will be disconnected from its normal speeddriving mechanism.

However, the closing of one of the parallel switches I9 within the same ball-box, as indicated at 19a, occurs as already described simultaneously with the opening of any switch 11, with the result that when the normal-speed-operating mechanism becomes inactive the high-speed-operating mechanism takes up the burden of moving horse 2.

It will be recalled that this mechanism is exactly the same as the normal-speed-operating mechanism with the exception that it is adapted to move the horse-at a higher speed. This mechanism is energized as follows:

The closing of parallel switch I9, as above described, completes the following circuit (Figure 7). Line wire IIII, wires I06, I28, relay 49, wires I29, I39, I3I, I42, switch I9, wires I43, I44, I45, contacts I48 and M1 of double-acting relay 56a and wire I48 to solenoid 23a, which operates to close the high-speed clutch and return through wire I49, contacts I50 and I5I of relay 56, wires I52, contacts 42 and 43 of switch 4|, wires I35, I36, I31 and I38 to relay 59, wires I39, I40 and I I5 to line wire I92.

Horse 2 is now moving at high speed and will continue to do so until a ball which has been dropped by the player through opening 49 in the top of the ball-box reaches gate 8| adjacent the lower end of bottom run-way 63. This may be the ball responsible for closing switch I9 or some other ball dropped either earlier or later by the player. In other words, assuming that a trigger I3 has been depressed so that a switch I9 is closed to move horse 2 at high speed, the first ball which thereafter reaches gate BI will effect the opening of the high-speed circuit and the closing again of the normal-speed circuit.

As already explained gate III is so mounted upon a shaft 83 that it will swing to permit a ball rolling down the bottom run-way '53 to pass under it. The swinging of gate 8| closes switch 85 to energize solenoid 86, the plunger of which is connected to the mechanism shown in Figure 5, which will open any switch I9 which happens to be closed. This opens the circuit to high-speed solenoids 23a so that the high-speed clutches disengage and close again corresponding switch 11 to complete the normal speed-circuits so that normal-speed solenoid 23 is energized and the normal-speed clutch engaged to move the horse at normal speed again. Switch 85 derives its energy from line wire IllI through the wires already described above leading to switches I9 and the additional wire I53. From the switch a wire I54 leads to solenoid 86 and from the solenoid wires I55 and I55 run to wire I38, relay 59 and wires I39, I40 and H5 to line wire I42.

It will be evident that all the player can do to speed up his horse is to drop balls through openings 59 in the top of his ball-box and to hope for the best. The balls may or may not fall through one of the openings under which is a trigger I3, and they will be impeded to varying degrees by pins I0 and I2. Also they may or may not drop through openings in run-way GI and will be impeded to varying degrees by the pins in that run-way. In short, what the balls will do and how long they take to do it is entirely a matter of chance. All that can be said about the effect on the speed of the horse which will be produced by the balls is that the horse will move at high speed so long as a switch I9 is closed. How long a switch I9 will remain closed is problematical. If only one ball were dropped and if it passed through one of the tubes 39 provided with a trigger 13, the switch I9 would remain closed until that ball passed under gate 8| and the horse would move at high speed during that period, but even then the time is indeterminable because it depends upon which one of the trigger-equipped openings 69 in the top run-way 69 the ball dropped through, whether it rolls the entire length of the next run-way 6| or drops through one of the holes II therein, how much it is im peded by the pins I2, and how long it takes to traverse the third and bottom runways. If several balls are in transit through the ball-box at one time, it may well be that the high speed produced by closing of a switch I9 through the action of one ball will be checked practically instantaneously by the passage of another ball dropped earlier or later under gate 8|. Also, while any switch I9 is closed, the closing of another switch I9 by another ball will have no efiect whatever because the high-speed circuit is already complete and both switches will be opened simultaneously by the first ball to pass through gate 8|.

These few examples will serve to illustrate a major characteristic of this game that no amount of skill on the part of the player can have any eiTect whatever on the outcome of the race. Furthermore, as already explained, any ball-box can be so connected into the game by its cable 5 so as to control the operation of any one of the horses. In this way the whims or prejudices of the players can be met and all suspicion as to the absolute fairness of the game removed.

It has now been explained how the race is started and how horse 2 can be made to move at before.

normal and high speeds. When horse 2 reaches the finish line, projection I on its base will en- :gage finger 45 on contact 43 of switch M. This will separate contacts 42 and 43, which have heretofore been closed, and close contacts 43 and 44. This as will be seen from Figure 7 willbreak the return circuit, already described, from both normal and high-speed-clutch-oper- .ating solenoids associated with this particular horse, so that it is disengaged from its driving mechanism irrespective of whether it was movcuit was previously composed of wire I20, relay and wires,ll4 and II5. This reversal of the armature circuitwill cause motor 31 to reverse.

The; energizing of relays 54 and 5 5 completes circuits which will cause the high speed clutches to engage, with the result that all of the horses will be moved at high speed towards the starting line. I These circuits are shown in Figure 9 and I are as follows: 1

ing at low or high speed. Also the circultto the corresponding lamp I04 willbe closed and the lamp illuminated-to indicate that horse 2 has finished the race. The other players-have, .of course, been endeavoring to bring their respective racers to the finish linein the shortest possible time by dropping balls onto the run-ways in their ball-boxes, each of which has a circuit identical to that described connected to the other relays, solenoids and switches in an identical manner, so that the control over the movements of each horse is entirely separate from that of the others. These additional ball box circuits have not been shown because to do so would greatly complicate and confuse the diagram and because the description of one applies to them all. I 4

In Figure 7 the part of the diagram below the broken line A--A is in the ball-box, which has been assumed to be box number I in control of horse 2. The remaining circuits above the broken line A- A are in the housing 1 behind the track.

' When all the horses reach the finish line, as

IBI, as above described, contacts HI and I50 of each relay 56a-56f, wire I49 to each solenoid 23a, wire I48 from each solenoid tocontacts I10, I41 of each relay Mia-55f, wires I11a.-I11,f to

4 corresponding starting line switches 30, wire I18 indicated by the illumination of the several lamps I04, the race is over and the starter can declare the winner and the positions of the other horses.

Before another race can be started the horses must, of course, be returned to the starting line. [This is1 effected by reversing the direction of rotation of high-speed motor 31 andre-engaging from each of these switches, wires I19, I69, relay 55 and wires II4 andl I5 to line wire I02.

The high-speed-clutch-operating solenoids 23a having been energized cause the high-speed clutchesto engage and, in consequence, all of the horses will be returned rapidly to the starting line, since high-speed motor 31 is turning in reverse. I 1

When the starting line isreached, the projection 9 on the base of each horse will engage with finger. of its respective switch 39 and the circuit from the high-speed-clutch-operating solenoids 23a through corresponding wire Illa-[11f will be broken. Each ofthese circuits will be broken independently of the other so that all ,of

thehorses will be moved back to the starting line in position to begin another race.

The departure of the horses from the finish line has, of course, permitted contacts 42 and 43 the high-speedclutches so that the horses are returned to the starting line in the shortest pose sible time. To do this the starter throws switch I05 into neutral long enough to permit highspeed motor 31 to stop since, asis well known,

the mere reversal. of thecurrent to an A. 0. motor may not reverse its direction of rotation unless it is idle, and will then throw the switch I05 to engage the other set of contacts I51 and H I 58 (Figure 8) This will'establish a circuit from line wire-IOI ,through wires I06, I01, I08, wires I 59 and IE0 to one side of the windings of relays 5I55, from the other side of these windings through wires II4 and II5 to the other line wire I02. The armatures of these relays will, conthe field of motor 31 through wire I06 andreturning I through wire II 9 instead of going through relay 46 is now shunted around that relay by means of wire I'6I to relay and returns to linewire I02 by wires II4 and II5 as Therefore, thiscircuit to motor 31 is still complete. I

the other line wire .102, whereas the return cirof finish line switches! to close again so that lamps. I04are extinguished. If desired, the closing of switch I05 as above described to return the horses to the starting line may also be used to close an incidental circuit by means of which current is supplied from line wire IOI through contact I58 vofswitch I05 and wires IBI, I82 to a lampjl83 and returned to line wire I02 through wires I25,.I26, I21'and II5. Thelamp can be utilized with any suitable device for indicating the number'of horse which won the race just completed, or, if desired, the numbers of all of the horses in the order in which they finished.

'sequently, be attracted. The circuit running to Still another incidental circuit is indicated by the letter"B in Figure 7 for illuminating each ball-box. Since the ball-box circuits receive currentonly during a race, they will be illuminated only during that period. This will discourage playing with the ball-boxes between races. However, since triggers 13 are mechanically connected However, the armature of high-speed motor I 131 has been reversed since the current fromline wire IOI now passes from wire I06" and I06a throughrelay 53 and from there to wire. I20 by means of wire I63 instead of through relay 48 to wire I06b and the return circuit from .themotor 'is through wire I06b to relay 52 by means of wire .IB2and fromtherethrough ,wire II4 and II5 to to switches 11- and 10, if any of the players should happen to drop one or more ballsjinto his ballbox while thehorses are being returned from the finish tothe starting lines, one or more switches 11 might be 4 opened, and the corresponding switches 19 closed, and since the switch is electrically operated and there is no current through it, the passage of a ball through gate 8I would not reset the switches andftriggers 13. In consequence, when the next race is started one or more horses mightstart at high speed and thus gain an initial advantage over those starting at normal speed. To prevent this a circuit for insuring that normal-speed switches 11 are closed and high-speed switches 19' are opened is provided. This is shown in Figure 10. Line wire IOI is connected to relay 54 by wires IBM and I64. To the other side of this relay is connected a wire I84 to which one end of the windings I85 of relays 51 is joined. The other end of the windings of these relays is connected by a wire I86 to a button I81, preferably located in the starters stand la adjacent the switch I05. From button I81 a wire I88 returns to wire I38 and thence to line wire I02 through wire IBM and jumper I09 around relay 50 through relay 55 and wires H4 and H5.

The energizing of the windings of relays 51 by pressing button I81 will close the relay contacts I90, NH and I02, I93, respectively, of which contacts I90 and I92 are connected to line wire IOI via wire I94 and will complete a circuit to solenoids 86, which returns to wire I38 through a wire I95 and thence back to the line wire I02. Thus solenoids 36 can be energized from the starters stand by pressing the button I81 and, as already just described, this will accomplish the opening of any of the high-speed switches 19 in any of the ball-boxes which may be closed, and the closing of all normal-speed switches 11.

Since relays 54 and 55 are open at all times except when the horses are returned to the starting line, this ball-box resetting circuit is inoperative during a race and, consequently, cannot be used by the starter to interfere with the progress thereof. Preferably, the starter will press button I81 an instant before he throws switch I to start a race so that the ball-boxes are reset at the last possible instant.

Each relay shown in Figure acts to reset two separate ball-boxes so that only three are required for resetting the six boxes shown. However, it will be understood that if desired a separate relay can be provided for resetting each box, or any other suitable arrangement.

For convenience in testing it'is desirable to provide within the housing I a switch I96 connected into the circuits in the same way as switch I05 (Figures 6 and 8). This will make it possible to move the horses in either direction while standing back of the race-track to observe the operation of the various mechanisms within the housing or to make adjustments therein. However, switches I05 and I06 must not be closed at the same time.-

In the game heretofore described it is evident that the minimum speed of each horse is the normal speed and that the winner will be that horse whose periods of high speed movement make the highest total. If desired, the game can be so arranged that the so-called normal speed will represent the highest speed at which the horses can move and the effect of the closing of switches 19 will be to reduce the speed. This can be brought about simply by changing the size of gears 34 on shaft 35 so that the gear ratio of operating units 33 is lower than that of normal speed-operating units a, or by otherwise causing operating units 33 to move the horses at a lower speed than operating units 290.. The objective of such a race would, of course, be to finish last instead of first.

Still another variation of the game is that in which the horses normally move forward at normal speed, but actually reverse their direction and move back towards the starting line when switches 19 are closed. This can be made possible by a simple addition to the circuits originally described and without mechanical alteration.

As already explained the direction of rotation of high speed motor 3'! can be reversed by first opening both field and armature circuits and then closing them again in such a way that the armature circuits are reversed, this being done through switch I05 or switch I96. If motor 31 is permitted to rotate only in reverse, then whenever a ball dropped by a player depresses a trigger I3, his horse, which presumably has been moving toward the finish line at normal speed, will abruptly reverse its direction and move back towards the starting line at high speed. Here, also, the objective of the race would, of course, be to finish last instead of first.

This kind of race, which may be called a reverse race, can be made possible by by-passing relays 46 and 0| so that they become ineffective to open the circuit to the field of motor 31. Such a by-pass is represented by wires Ifil, I98 and I99 in Figures 6 and 8. If, while motor 3! is turning in reverse a switch 200 is closed, the breaking of the circuit to the field of motor 3! represented by wire H9, by the opening of relays 46 and 5| will be prevented and motor 31 will continue to operate even though the circuit to its armature is broken. Therefore, even though the armature circuit is later reversed the motor will not reverse. Specifically if switch 200 is closed while motor 3? is turning in the direction required to move the horses back to the starting line it will continue to rotate in that direction even though switch I05 is open or thrown so as to start another race, and the horses when under control of normal speed motor 3! will move towards the finish line at normal speed, but when under control of motor 3? will move back towards the starting line at high speed.

A further variation in the game may be provided by simply disconnecting wire I33 (Figure 7) which will put the normal speed mechanism out of action, with the result that the racers will move forward only when the high speed mechanism is actuated, and will remain stationary at all other times so that they progress intermittently.

While the foregoing description has been specifically limited to one particular form of game, of course it will be understood that the invention is not so limited, but may be embodied in games of different construction and arrangement with respect to the track proper, which may be round or oval or any other desired shape, and also with respect to the various mechanical elements and electrical circuits.

We claim:

1. A racing-game consisting of a race-course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, means detachably 'connectible to each racer for moving it in one direction over said course independently of the others at a predetermined speed, means detachably connectible to each racer for moving it in the same direction over said course independently of the others at a predetermined speed which differs from said firstmentioned speed and for moving all of said racers in the opposite direction simultaneously and at the same speed, means controlled by chance for disconnecting said first-mentioned moving means from each racer independently of the others and for simultaneously connecting said second-mentioned moving means to the same racer to move it in the same direction, manually-operated means for actuating said chance-controlled means, and additional manually-operated means for connecting said second-mentioned moving means to all of the racers to move them simultaneously in said opposite direction.

2. A racing-game consisting of a race-course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, a

source of motive power,meansforconnecting each racerindependently of the others to the source of power, electrical means for operating saidconnecting means which includes a circuit having a plurality of series switches, a second source of motive power, means for connecting said second source of motivepower to each racer independently of the others for moving it over said course at a pre-determined speed which differs from said first-mentioned speed, electrical means including a circuit having a plurality of switches in parallel ior operating said second connecting means, means controlled by chance for opening any of said series switches and closing any of said parallel switches, andmanually-op'erated means" i for actuating said chance-controlled means.

3." A racing-gameconsisting of a racecourse,

source of power, electrical means for operating a plurality of racers movable over said course, a

source of motive power, means for connecting each racer independently of the others to thesource of power, electrical means for operating said connecting means which includes a circuit having a pluralityfof series switches, a second source of motive power, means for connecting said second source of motive power to each racer independently of the others for moving it over said course at a pre-determined speed which differs from said first-mentioned speed, electrical means including a circuit having a plurality of switches in parallel for operating said second connecting means, means controlled by chance for opening any of said series switches and closing any of said parallel switches, manual-opera ated means for actuating said chance-controlled means, and means for subsequently opening any of said paralle1"switches which are closed and closing any of said series switches which are open.

4. A racing-game consisting of a race-course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, a

source of motive power, means for connecting each racer independently of the others to the said last-mentioned means being inoperative whenever any racer is moving towards the finish said connecting means which includes a circuit having a plurality of series switches, a second source of motive power, means for connecting said second source of motive power to each racer independently of the others for moving it over said course at a pre-determined speed which differs from said first-mentioned speed, electrical means including a circuit having a plurality of switches in parallel for operating said second connecting means, means controlled by chance for opening any of said series switches and closing any of said parallel switches, manually-operated means for actuating said chance-controlled means, and an additional manually-operated means for opening said parallel switches and closing said series switches.

5. A racing-game which consists of a racecourse havinga starting and a finish line, a plurality of racers movable between said line, a

source of motive power for moving the racers towards the finish line at a predetermined speed,

means for connecting each racer independently of the others to said source of power, electrical means for operating said connecting means,

which includes a circuit having a plurality of series switches, a second source of power for moving saidracers in either direction at a predetermined speed which diirers from said firstwhich are closed and closing any of series switches which are open, an additional manually-operated means for opening any of said parallel switches and closing any of said series switches,

line.

PRESTON S. MILLAR. PETER GARMS.

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