US2609203A - Simulated bowling game - Google Patents

Description

F. J. EULA SIMULATED BOWLING GAME Sept. 2, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l. 1948 Fm m A 0 8 G 9 4 9 S e J 8/ ///////7// c\l\\ Tv mq .de www om m @d m, o: N s m um JN @N o ..0. NW n 0 0 O e vulllH l e rm, mm. a l mm mm Q. .mi )n m, QN. v mm Nw a Sept. 2, 1952 F. J. BuLA SIMULATED BOWLING GAME 7 Sheet`s-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 1, 1948 NN au ...MMM T d .0 mm md/5M m j, f N v \.|M ark ,E m .mm

m Nm Sept. 2, 1952 FQJ. BULA SIMULATED BOWLING GAME 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 1, 1948 a av :v .maf Nv m V a l \\a/, m J l ma., MM l a N@ I! l l W. |||||l| wm Y m lo wo B @m M 3 s mm ha s@ m@ @C I. ,Il I m mm mw s: .2., b: Nn oo@ mo; l I n .ew 5, m: .FL Fmxkfn .a if. mm n ,IPHHINTIIHHLI'IH In Van l i Q L\ M m m f ll\ l.\\v lll la. m l-. m?. Amm mm. QN. w m@ mOP mv Sept. 2, 1952 F. J. BULA 2,609,203

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME Filed Dec. 1. 1948 'T Sheets-Sheet 6 Amllllll/massa' 1N V EN TOR.

Ffa/7,4. //a

BY MM ,99's ttor/zy Sept. 2, 1952 l F. J. BULA l 2,609,203

SIMULATED BOWLING GAME Filed Dec. 1. 1948 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN V EN TOR.

Patented: Sept. 2,. 195,2

UNITED STAT-Es PATENT -fo-FFicE-T SIMULATED BOWLING GAME Frank J. Bula, Speedway, Ind., assig-nor of 'onethird' to Vincent T. Connor-and oneethird 4to .Theodore Kruse, both if/Chicago, '111.

4 ApplicationDecemher 1, 1948,.'SerialNo, 62,807

8lClaims. (Cl. 273-285) This invention .relatesfto certain new and useful .improvements :in coin-controlled amusement .bowling game apparatuses. Ay principal object ofthe invention is to utilize a spot of .light to simulate `a ba-l1. moving toward a plurality of targets, together with anfarrangement.forimoving thespotgof light.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and entertaining arrangement forwcontrolling :and directing :the ball-.simulating Spot of light in its travel toward la :target area.

Another objectief the .invention is to provide an amusement game apparatus Vwhich requires of the .player a; high degree of skill.

. .In Ymost ,eamusementggame lapparatuses. `of the coin-controlled type, ya ball is projected to the upper `end of -an :inclnedzilooard for gravitation thereover into and against one and :more targets thereon. fIn4 such games, .after the fba'll haspbeen projected for gravitation over the board .by a projector, the :ball is ,no longer under the` control of the player. In many localities, vsuch an apparatus is labeled a'fgame oichanceand its operation forbidden. `In the amusement `game apparatusembodying my invention, the 'spot of light ywhichA simulates the moving .ball is -at `all times under the control of the playerythereby constituting'the game apparatus a game .requiring substantial sk-ill in its operation. VBy reason Vof this fact, the amusement ,game :apparatus constituting the subject matter of my ,invention is yone yof skill.

`Another -andequally .important yobject of the invention ispto providea simple and inexpensive mechanism for projectingand'A-guiding the. `Spot of light, simulating a moving Lball tothe target area, lupon a translucent; playing iield.

.Finally it -is an object of this invention t0. providean amusement .game .apparatus which `.is not only aj gameof skill but Aalso one` which willaford the maximum amusementand entertainment to the player.

`Other `objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in f the: novel: combinationf` and Varrangement of par-.ts to be hereinafter described :and claimed.

. The .invention will be. best understood .by reference .to the accompanying dra-wings .showing the preferred vformof construction; and in which:

vFigJl -isaperspective view ofthe amusement game apparatus embodyingmy invention;

Fig. V2 a part' longitudinal"verticalsectional detail vievvA of `the same;

'Figi 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail 4view taken` substantially on line 3-,3 `of Fig. 2;

Fig. Q41. is -.a fragmentary .detailsectional view taken substantiallyfon line .4f-4 of 2 Fig.;.5 isla-side elevational View taken substantially on line-.--B of Fig-3 Eig. 6 isa fragmentary sectional detail yew taken substantially on .line 6-6 of Fig.`4;

Fig. 7 is a Yfragmentary .sectional detailview .taken substantially online 7-1 of'Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is aside elevational View of `a resetting arm and -its .mounting-embodied in the invention;

Fig.Y 9,.isa plan view of the same;

Fig. .10 is a .fragmentary sectional detail View vof certain parts .shown in Fig. 5 showing such parts in diierent position Vwith respect ilo-each other Fig. 11- is a perspective view of -a target .striker embodied in theinvention;

Fig. .12 is adiagrammatiCal Viewv of a.circu`it arrangement embodied in the invention;

Fig.. 1.3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially online l'3-vl3.of,1*`!ig. 3; ,and Fig.. 14 .isa sectional detail view of. one of the bowling pinsembodied in the invention.

The invention in its preferred forni-(ifcon-v struction, -and by which construction .the several objectsv of .the invention are accomplishedpjin.- cludes (Fig. l) .a cabinet 2U .comprising "a sup-` porting .top wall .2 I and a base .22. Infthe'form of the invention .illustrated lin the drawings, ,the top wall .2! V,provides a bowling valley 23.compris ing the side walls24,4 endwallsj25, 'a topt'ransparent cover .plate 26,\and,a translucent Vplaying held 21. Y n At one .end ``of the al1ey23 is amounting board 28. On .this board 28, in standard, formation, are arranged bowling pinsIZB. ,Each Tof jthese bowling pins 29 is formed of translucentl material and has arranged ,therein an ,incandescent-1am 30.

The front Wall.22 ofthelcabin'etlil Vhasvanopening 3l formed therein. Mounted on this :front -wall 22and framing the opening 3 l .isan escutcheon plate 32. NVithin-this .escutcheon-plateQZ and in the opening. 3 l is .aV body. 33Y `(hereinafter referredto a hanl plate)v simulating the hand gripping ,sideV of .a bowling ball. ,In this Ehand plate are provided finger gripping openngsllA and 34. Arranged in one ofthe openings is a push buttonswitch of` a standardrconstruction. Y

.On the front wa1l`22 is `mounted a coinslide :il-including a slide bar v.38. 'This .coinjsldef'l' is oi a .wellknown construction andis commonly' used in connection withcoin-.controlled ball riolling games. This coin slide constitutesinopart of the present invention.

To complete thecabinet, there is fprovided. .(Fig.. 1) vat 4the :end thereof Aan upright vcabinet.'-l-iwlithin which may be arranged a suitable score mech# anism (not shown). This Vscore mechanism constitutesno partofthepresent invention. `Extending,from the -front Wall-22 Vof the cabi# netz!) (Figs. 2 and 5)A andsecured thereto :in any, suitable :manner gis a `laterally rextendingabracket 39. This bracket at its extremity provides a bearing40. Y

Secured `to a mounting board 4| (Figs. 2 and 5) arranged within the cabinet in spaced relation with respect to the translucent playing field 21 is a plate 42 providing a bearing 43.

Arranged between the bearings 40 and 43 and having its end portions journalled therein, is a vertically extending rotatable shaft 44 properly positioned with respect to the bearings 40 and 43 by collars 45 carried by and fixed to the shaft 44. The shaft 44 flxedly carries a block 46. A U-shaped bracket 41 has its parallel arm portions 48 spaced from the adjacent sides of the block 46.

Arranged between these arms 48 and the block 46 and insulated therefrom by insulating plates 49 are the end portions 50 of track bars 5|. These track bars 5| are connected between the arms 48 ofthe brackets 41 and the block 56 by suitable screws 52 which screws (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) connect the bracket to the block 48 and are spaced from the track bars 5| by passage through enlarged openings 46' formed in the bars 5|. The bracket 41 has a depending apron 53. v A nut-bearing bolt 54 rigidly connects the spindle 55 of the hand plate 33 to the apron 53 of the bracket 41. This spindle 55 is further connected to the shaft 44 by a stabilizer 56 comprising an L-shaped plate 51 connected by means of screws 58 to a block 59 in turn rigidly connected to the shaft 44 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5).

For reasons hereinafter more apparent, a bumper ring 60 is mounted on the shaft 44 above the block 46.

A supporting arm 6| (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) is secured as at 62 to the shaft 44 for rotation therewith. Supported as at 62 to the free end portion of this arm 6| is an electrically operated solenoid 63. The coil 64 of this solenoid 63 is connected by conductors 65 to a power source 66 and to the push button 35 in the manner shown in Fig. 5. Each time the switch of the push button 35 is closed by pressure of the thumb of the hand thereon, the coil 64 will be connected in circuit with the power source, for reasons hereinafter apparent.

The plunger 61 of the solenoid 63 by means of a link 68 is pivotally connected as at 68' t0 a throw arm 69. One end of this throw arm A69 is pivotally connected to the supporting arm 6| as at 69.

. The upper end portion of the throw arm 69 is turned about its longitudinal axis to provide a flat surface` which is adapted to engage the angled end portion 1| of a target striker 12 carried by a carriage 13. In the position of the throw arm as shown in Fig. 5 the end portion 10 thereof bears against the bumper 60.

The carriage 13 includes parallel confronting side plates 14 and 15 formed of non-conductive material. These plates 14 and 15 are spaced from each other by suitable spacer bars 16 likewise formed of non-conductive material and connected to the side plates 14 and 15 by suitable connecting screws 11.

The side plate 14 has' connected thereto by means of suitable stud shafts 18, grooved wheels 'I9 which rollingly engage the adjacent track rail 5|.

The side plate intermediate its opposite end portions and on a line midway between the wheels 19, carries a roller 80 which rollingly bears against the adjacent track rail 5|. This roller 80 is mounted on a stud shaft 8|. This stud shaft 8| 4 carries a conductor strip 82 bent substantially U-shaped with the endportion 83 thereof engaging therounded end'portion 84 of the shaft 8| To this conductorst'rip 82 is connected as at 85 a conductor wire 86.

Carried by one of the stud shafts 18 (Fig. 3) and angled to bear against the inner end thereof as at 19 is a substantially U-shaped conductor strip '18'. This strip 18' together with a conductor wire 81, connected as at 88 to the said one of the'stud shafts 18, provides a connection between the one stud shaft 18 and a terminal block 89 of a socket mounting 90 of any approved construction. To this block 89 is also connected the conductor wire 86.' The socket mounting 90 may be of any approved construction and is arranged within a housing 9| and supports an incandescent lamp 92. This incandescent Ilamp 92 is arranged beneath a lens assembly 93 of any approved construction which, when the meandescent lamp 92 is illuminated, projects a spot of light against the translucent plate 21. This spot of light is plainly visible through the plate and simulates a ball.

This housing 9| is mounted upon a plate 93' formed of non-conductive material, and this plate is connected to the spacer bars 16 as at 94.

'I'he target striker 12 includes a disc-shaped member 95. This disc 95 has its flat surfaces disposed in a substantially horizontal plane so that the edge 96 of the striker disc will engage the switch posts |26 for reasons hereinafter more fully explained.

This striker disc is secured as at 91 to an arm 98 which is secured as at 99 to a substantially U-shaped bracket |00. This parallel arms |0| of this bracket are pivotally connected as at |02 to the side plates 14 and 15. The ends of these arms |0| are connected to over-throw springs |03 arranged between pins I 03 carried by brackets |04 secured to the side plates 14 and 15 and the arms IUI (Figs. 5 and 11).

The end portion 1| of the target striker 12 is provided with a forwardly extending finger 1 which is adapted to engage a projection |05 carried by the throw arm 69.

rl'he tracks are connected to the source of electric energy 66 as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3 by conductors |06. The arrangement is such that when the time switch |51 is closed by operation of the coin slide 31, the incandescent light 92v will be energized to project the spot of light upon the playing field 21. This time switch is of a well lknown standard construction and constitutes no part lof my invention. It Aincludes an actuating arm |51 adapted to be engaged by the coin slide 31. Other arrangements may be provided for energizing the incandescent light 92 and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the circuit arrangement illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings herein which circuit is here shown for illustrative purposes only.

Between the side walls 20' of the ycabinet 20 at the inner end of the cabinet 20 is mounted a transversely; horizontally extending supporting bar |01 which serves to support the track bars at an inclination with respect to the horizontal (Fig. 4). The track bars 5I at the inner end portion are spaced by a spacer block |08, insulated from the track bar by means of insulating inserts |09 (Fig. 4). To these end portions of the track bars 5|v are secured as at H0, L-shaped bearing arms from which extend stud shafts 2. On these stud shafts I|2 are rotatably arranged wheels |3, which ride uponv accesos:

thetrackbar |'0- |`fand serve-'to support thetrack bars incIi-nedl in a direction upwardly fr 'm 4the front Wall 22 of theA cabinet. Y

Thef inner endportions of the track bars 5| carry on corresponding sides# thereof; rubber bumpers ||4, which bumpers are designed to engagej the sides '|`4- and-1510i theifcarriage to rebound' the carriageback upon the'inclinedtrack. bars 1 v The side platesY 14 andY '|'5` (Fig. 5) at their lower corresponding corners have secured thereto, stud shafts ||5". Mountedv on thesestud shafts ||5 are'rollers` I |6" which serve to prevent displacement of the carriage from the track. rails.

' `The side plate |5`intermediate the rollersk |16 carriesl a1 stud shaft' |A T. Mounted on'V this shaft is a roller |-5|`8' which engages the adjacent track rail 5|. This stud shaft ||T isfconnected by a suitable connector ||9 to the stud'shaft` 8| (Fig. 13). The roller ||8 cooperates with the roller to assurea posi-tivecontact with the adjacent track bars 5|.

Slidably supported` by spacedv set screwsl |23, upon tliespacer rods 15 similar to and' serving the same purpose as'fthe spacer bars 1G', is a reset bar |2| of flat elongated fori-nation.r The end portion |2| of this reset'rod 2| is bent radially with respect tothe long axis thereof to Vprovide aA verticallyextending striker edge which is adapted to engagethe angled end portion 1| of the armV 98 of the striker 12.

In its normal starting position, the carriage 131s' releasably latched upon the track-barst This isaccomplished through themediumof a latch nger 5| secured to the block as at 52' and have ing its latch head- 53 engaging the adjacent spacer bar 1B# which barv 16V has a groove 54y to receive the latch head. The latch 'nger isdisengaged Yfrom the carriage by the action of the throw arm 59. Byf this provision of the latch linger, the carriage cannot be moved forwardly upon the track' by `tilting thevcabinet 2|!.

Mounted* upon 'the board 4| (Figs. 6J?) by means of' supporting brackets |22`is a supporting platform |-23of non-conductive material. SupportedV by andfabove this platform I 23 is a rela-4 tivel-yflat conductor plate |24. This plate |24 is supported in spaced relation with`v respect to the platform |23 byJ spacer rods |25.

Carried bythe platform |23 arel a; plurality offlexibl'e switch posts |26. These posts extend upwardly from the platform |23 through openings: |21 formeclinthe conductor plate |214- and are normally spaced fromthe conductorV plate |24" as" shown in` Fig- 7'.

v llaerzl-i--post |26: comprises a base |23 connected tothe platformY by meansl ofa screw |23. This base .|281has'a tapered reduced projection |30 which extends into Va `socket 3 formed--inan intermediate sectionv lf3-2y and normally'inA- contact therewith. This intermediate section |32 has aV socket |33 into which a-reduced tapered portion |34 projects and which is normally in contact'with the intermediate section. This projection |34 is formedfas-'an integral part of a postl section l35'fhaving a capv |36; These' sections are formedof conductive' material andare flexiblyV connectedV together by' means of' a spring |31 projected through a bore formed in the sections and havingl one end portion connecte-dV as at |313` to the base |28 and an opposite end portion connectedasat |39 tothe-cap |36; Y

The;v arrangement is lsuchl thatf'when the; edge wot thestriker disc 95 strikesfone' or more* oiVv 6i thel posts- |26; thesections of each post', being` yieldably connected together, will assume sub'- stantially the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, to' bring theintermediate section; |324i`nto. contact with the conductor plate |24. The post# section |35, being yieldably connectedrto `thefinV termediate section, will be free to tilt` a suicient distance to permit the full travel ofV the carriage upon-the track bars 5| in themanner and for the reasons presently to be explained. nl f As shown in Fig. 112 `each incandescent lampi of the pins V29 (which pins are arranged instand@ ard bowling formation) has oneside 'connectedl by a conductor |45; to one side' |4| oil a relayy switch |42. The switch arm |43 of this relayswitch is controlled by an overthrowspr'ing. |44 of' any approved construction, and whichV willi hold the arm |43 on eitherside of a" centeralineA between relays' |48 and-|49; I i This switch arm |43 is connected by a conduce tor |45 tov one side. of a power source |43 the' other side of such source being connected byf conductors |41" and |4Tto the other side of the incandescent lamp 30'. l 1 f Theswitch arm |43 is acted upon by the-confronting electromagneticv relays |48 and '|491` The relay |48 hasl one side connected bylmeansof a conductor |50 to one of the' posts `|25.l The conductor plate |24 is conneotedrby aconductor |5'| to one side of the power source |46, the other side of the power source beingconnectecll bycon'- ductors |4|- and |52 to the other side ofthe' r'e-v lay |48. y. One side of the relay |49 isconnected by a conductor |53 tol one side of a coin slide actuated switch |54, the other side of suchV switch being connected by a conductor |55V to one side of the; power source |46, the-otherrside ofV the power source |46 being connected by conductorsf.|4'|" and |56 to the other side of therelay |49;

Each of the incandescent lamps 3|] in the pins- 29 simulating the bowling ball pins, isv arranged in a circuit similar to that shown in 1'2.- The object is to maintain the incandescent lamp illuminated until the game' has been played dur-- ing" a period of time permitted by a timing switch |-5'|` incorporated in the electric circuit' shown places the electromagnetic solenoid S4 in' circuit' with the power source 66 to be energized. upon-S closing of the push buttonl switch 35.

The player will grip' the hand plate 33v inthe manner of gripping a bowling ball. The playery will horizontally adjust the track by rotating the` shaft '44. In doingl so', thel player will positionV the carriage for travel along a path upon the track bars which in the players judgmentwill result in'what is knownin the bowling ballv game"` as a 'strikef When he has thuspositioned;the.` carriage, he places hisfthumb upon the push bute ton thereby toA energize the solenoid'. 63..'l .The solenoidwill` pivot the 'throws arm 69" to "propel |54' is adaptedhtok bev thecarriage along the track bars In this movement of the carriage, theY target striker 12, being in theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 5, will be brought into contact with the heads |36of the posts |26 and will cause all or certain of these posts to be tilted Ato bring the intermediate sections |32 of such tilted posts into contact with the plate |24.

As the incandescent lamp supported by the carriage 13 is illuminated, during the travelof thecarriage along the track rails, the spot of light will move upon the translucentplaying eld 21, simulating a ball traveling toward the pins 29. Certain or all of these pins 29 will be illuminated. depending upon which of the posts |26 are tilted by the striker disc 96 carried by and movable with the carriage 13. The illumination of vthese posts is effected by the movement of the switch arm |43 into contact with the switch element |4| upon energization of the relay |48, whichv energization of the relay |48 is effected by contact of the switch post |26 with the conductor plate |24. The lamp will remain illuminated until the switch |54 is closed by the operation of the timing switch at which time theV electromagnetic element |49 will be energized to break the circuit to the lamp 30. A When the carriage reaches the end of its run in target direction upon the track rails 5|, the reset rod |2| will engage a strike plate |22' and be moved longitudinally of the carriage ina direction opposite to the travel thereof. This engagement of the reset rod with the strike plate |22 will bear the reset rod |2| against the angled end portion 1| of the target striker 12 and cause the same to pivot in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 to pivot the striker disc 96 in the position illustrated in Fig. 10, in a plane above the posts |26Y so that when the carriage is returned by the gravity to its starting position, the target striker will clear the posts |26. Y

Afer the throw arm 69 has been pivoted intal clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, it will remain in that position until returned to its normal positionl of rest in the following manner: f

The track bars 5| as shown in Fig. 2 are in.-y

clined with respect to the horizontal so that the carriage will be caused by gravity to return to its starting position. Just prior to reaching its starting position, the carriage will engage the finger 1| above the head |05fof the throw arm 69. The momentum of the carriage during its travel to its starting position will pivot the throw arm 69 in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10. As this throw arm 69 is thus pivoted to its normal initial position, the head |05 will bear upon the finger 1|. pivot the arm 98 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and at the same time re-project the reset rod |2| to the position shown in Fig. 5.

The essential and important feature of my invention is the provision of means for movably supporting an incandescent lamp to project a moving light spot upon a translucent plate to simulate the movement of a ball rolling upon the plate in a direction toward the targets. In the present instance, I have accomplished this by the provision of a carriage adapted to be projected along a track-way by an electromagnetic element. This track-way is adjusted by the player to direct the travel of the carriage and consequently the spot of light upon the translucent playing field. I have found that by adjusting the track-way laterally that the spot of light can be caused to curve in its travel toward the targets.v

,WvhllefI have illustrated diagrammatically certain diagrams for controlling thevarious electric elements, it is to be understood that these cir-f cuits are merely suggestive circuits and that these circuits may be varied in order to accomplish the desired and best result in the most eflicient and inexpensive manner. Y

It is apparent that the amusement game ap-v paratus embodying the principles and constructed in accordance with the foregoing description is oner which calls upon the player to exercise a high degree of skill.

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

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters is;

1. An amusement game apparatus comprising a cabinet having a translucent playing field, a

plurality of translucent pins simulating bowling ball pins arranged at. one end of said playing iield, an incandescent lamp arranged in each of said pins, an electric circuit including a power source for said lamps, switch means in said circuit including flexible switch posts arranged in said cabinet beneath said translucent playing field. a movable member arranged in said cabinet beneath said playing field and having means adapted to strike one or more of said switch posts to close said circuit and means for projecting said member in a direction toward said switch posts, said movable member including means for projecting a spot of light against the translucent playing field.

2. An amusement lgame apparatus comprising,

a cabinet having a translucent playing field, means for projecting a spot of light upon said field, an inclined track arranged in said cabinet, means for supporting said track for movement in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, hand gripping means for moving said track about said axis, a carriage movably carried by said track and supporting said light projecting means and means for projecting said carriage in one directionf plurality of translucent pins at one end of saidl playing field and simulating bowling ball pins,I an incandescent lamp arranged in each of said pins, a power circuit for said incandescent lamps, switch posts incorporated in said circuit for controlling illumination of said lamps, means movably supported within said cabinet and having an element adapted to strike one or more of said switch posts to effect illumination of said lamps 1 by said power circuit, and means carried by and movable with said last-named means for projecting a spot of light upon said translucent playing field to simulate a rolling ball striking the lanps as illuminated by action of said switch pos s.

a cabinet having atranslucent playing fleld. a

plurality` of translucent pins at onel end of said.

4. An amusement game apparatus comprising Y playing field and simulating bowling ball pins, an incandescent lamp arranged in each of said pins, a power circuit for said incandescent lamps, switch posts incorporated in said circuit for controlling illumination of said lamps, means movably supported Within said cabinet and having an element adapted to strike one or more of said switch posts to effect illumination of said lamps by said power circuit, and means carried by and movable with said last-named means for projecting a spot of light upon said translucent playing field to simulate a rolling ball striking the lamps as illuminated by action of said switch posts, and means including a hand gripping element for directing the path of movement of said movable means.

5. An amusement game apparatus comprising a translucent playing field, a4 plurality of translucent elements at one end of said field, an incandescent lamp within each of said elements, an electric circuit for said lamps including a plurality of switch members, means for projecting a spot of light upon said field, means for supporting said light projecting means for movement relative to said eld, said last-named means having an element adapted to engage one or more of said switch members to close the circuit to said incandescent lamps.

6. An amusement game apparatus comprising a translucent playing field, a plurality of translucent elements at one end of said field, an incandescent lamp within each of said elements, an electric circuit for said lamps including a plurality of switch members, means for projecting a spot of light upon said eld, means for supporting said light projecting means for movement relative to said eld, said last-named means having an element adapted to engage one or more of said switch members to close the circuit to said incandescent lamps, and means for directing the movement of said light supporting means.

7. An amusement game apparatus comprising a translucent playing eld, a plurality of translucent elements at one end of said field, an incandescent lamp within each of said elements,

an electric circuit for said lamps including a plurality of switch members, means for projecting a spot of light upon said eld, means for supporting said light projecting means for movement relative to said eld, said last-named means having an element adapted to engage one or more of said switch members to close the circuit to said incandescent lamps, and means for directing the movement of said light supporting means, said last-named means including a hand gripping member.

8. An amusement game apparatus comprising a cabinet having a translucent playing field, a plurality of translucent targets on said playing field, an incandescent lamp arranged to illuminate each of said targets, a power circuit for said incandescent lamps, switch posts incorporated in said circuit for controlling illumination of said lamps, means movably supported within said cabinet and having an element adapted to strike one or more of said switch posts to effect illumination of said lamps by said power circuit, and means carried by and movable with said last named means for projecting a spot of light upon said translucent playing eld to simulate a rolling ball striking the lamps as illuminated by action of said switch posts.

FRANK J. BULA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,149,021 Brylawsk Aug. 3, 1915 1,918,892 Beatty July 18, 1933 2,126,570 Mitchell et al. Aug. 9, 1938 2,180,448 Williams NOV. 21, 1939 2,184,868 Williams et al Dec. 26, 1939 2,198,389 Nicolaus Apr. 23, 1940 2,222,403 Chouinard Nov. 19, 1940 2,248,596 Wilsey July 8, 1941 2,292,283 Muller Aug. 4, 1942 2,300,132 New Oct. 27, 1942 2,346,428 Hanley Apr. 11, 1944

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