US1563983A - Moving-pocket game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1,1925. 1.563.983

M. HIGUCHI IOVING POCKET GANE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 iNvENToR BY ATTORNEY y E Dec. l 1925.

- M. HlGUCHl HOVING POCKET GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1l 1925.

M. HIGUCHI MOVING POCKET GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4. 1922 3 Shets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR ATToRNEY S S CAS Patented l, 1925.

UNITED Sra'rss MONNOSUKE HIGUCHI, F COLLEGE FOINT, NEVI YORK.

MOVING-POCKET GAME APPARATUS.

Application filed November 4, 1922.

.To LU whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, MoNNosUiir. Ilioiioni, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at College Point, county of Queens, and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful Invention in a Moving- `Pocket Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to amusement and recreation apparatus, wherein a system of (3o-ordinating elements co-operate to automatically release a ball, or several balls in successsion, to be put into play, and to aiitomatically record a score made by a player who puts the balls into play. A further object includes the provision of mechanism for constantly modifying the probable results of any particular play, including a multiple-pocket constantly-moving device and a system of circuits, relays and operating devices for effecting the operating and recording mechanism.

Other objects will appear hereinafter, and I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a view partly in section, showing one form of ball tossing mechanism in relation to the moving pocket;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the ball Ii'noving pocket and cabinet;

Fig. 3 is a view, largely diagrammatic, of the operating circuits and tally record ing parts;

Fig. l is a sectional view of the moving' pocket and corresponding circuit closers;

I*l 5 is a plan view of the pocket moving vmotor and reciprocator;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the score tering mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view of the coupon registering mechanism;

Fig. S is a view of the score or coupon registering escapement;

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of the releasing detent;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view of the ball operating circuit closer; and

Fig. Il is a view of 'the coin chute showing the circuit closing contacts.

Like numerals refer to similar throughout the several views` Referring now to the acconilmnying drawing which is given by way of illustrap a l' s Serial No. 598,980.

tion rather than in a limiting sense, in a lixed cabinet l5, of any desired shape and suitable size, a movable ball catching pocket element 16, operating motor l?, ball projecting device or trajectory tray 18, ball retaining mechanism and sloping base l?. circuit closers 20, and associated conta/cio s' are provided for the purpose to be more fully stated hereinafter.

Cabinet I5 is further provided with registering mechanism 2l, for tallying and recording the scores made by the players, and with a ball rebounding surface 22, and ball collecting slopes 23, a ball limiting and detaining mechanism 24C, and an initial solenoid 25, for releasing the ball limiting mechanism, to permit a certain number of balls to be played under certain definite conditions, as, for example, when the mechanism is used commercially and the balls are released for play by a coin in the manner stated below.

The movable pocket element 16 may assume any desired shape or size, and in my preferred form the same comprises a rectangular' member sloping towards the player and having a suitable number of pockets 26, 27, 28, 29 and 80. These pockets are of varying extent and are so arranged that the easiest and most accessible pocket is nearest the player. This pocket is given the lowest score value. Each succeeding pocket is more diflicult, and is given a cor respondingly higher score value. The score values are indicated by the registering mechanism 2l, on a score dial 32, by pointer 33, or equivalent.

Each pocket is provided with an openin 26', 27, etc., through which the ball pas when thrown, or tossed, into any corresponding pocket. Below the several openings there are provided the contactors 26, 2, etc., for putting into operation the ciri cuit closers 20, thereby recording` the scoresI of the discarding balls as they roll down the inclined base support 34, and tip the contactors for closing the circuits. From this construction it is evident that balls from the lowest pocket will strike only one contactor, and, therefore, record only one score; those in the next higher pocket will strike two contacter-s, and, therefore, record two scores, and so on to the highest or last pocket from which the balls will str rike all of the contactors and thus close all the circuit closers for recording the proper scores in the manner stated.

i reciprocating n'iechanism 35, operated by motor 17, causes the pocket to move back and forth ivithin definite limits, thus putting the players skill to a more se vere test.

The ball may be put into play by hand, or by the mechanism illustrated in Fig. l. It the ball projecting device 1S is used, thc saine may be putinto operation by an operating .lever This lever may be supported on a suitable stand or counter 3'?, and is connected to the projection member 18, by any suitable means as connections 3S, which may be united by lever arms 39. ik coin chute l0, having electric contacts Lll and il?, may be provided for putting the apparatus into play by insertion of a coin 43.

rhe ball limiting and detaining mechanism Q-t, comprises a Wheel which is provided with a number of radiating spokes or ball stops 44, and a Wheel stop l5 ior abutting against the end of a stop lever 4G. rlhis lever is mounted to swing on a pivot il?, and is controlled by the solenoid 25. Normally, one ot the ball stops or spokes engages a detent on the detent lever 48. ln the ball limiting form illustrated, six; ball stops and one Wheel stop are provided, but obviously other numbers might be selected and adopted. Since but one Wheel stop is provided for any desired number of ball stops, and a coin releases the Wheel stop, it follows that vvith each release made as many balls may be played as there are ball stops on the detaining mechanism between the vnl l stops, and when this number has been played, the ball limiting mechanism Will loch against 'further rotation until the solenoid lever is again moved aside by a coin or other means, to disengage the Wheel stop.

rlhe operation of my device may proceed as follows: Then a coin is dropped into chute tO, and the circuit closed at il and l2 by means of coin 43, current from a suit able source, as a battery 4:9, passes through conductor 50, solenoid 56, conductor 5l, contact 49, coin L13c0ntact el, conductor 52, to ground This energizes solenoid 556, Which pulls down the score stop lever 57, thus Vperinitting the score Wheel bell cranl:

or detent 58 to tiltrback and disenga'ge thescore Wheel 59, which then runs back to the O position and stops by reason of the detent engagingstop 3 locking against the detent projectionS. Vhen a coin thus closes the coin circuit, solenoid is also energized and lever t6 Jpulled. down by the core 25.V Thisnidisengages the wheel stop 25, and releases the ball limiting rnechanism 24, which on account of the Weight of a inposition, rotates and permits the ball to descend into playing position in the projection tray 1S. In the meantime detent lever t8 descends and engages the next spoke or ball stop, thus holding the ball limiting mechanism against further rotation until a ball has been played, or is in position to again release detent Li8 lior succeeding plays.

lllhcn the ball is in position on the projection tray, it may be put into play by hand, it desired, or by the mechanism de scribed above. ln the latter ase the player strikes l-:nob a suitable blow at the exact moment to j'nojert the ball into one of the pocliets, :nul pretcrably into the upper or highest tallying ones. Il the ball is suc cesstully landed into the upper pocket 30, it passes through opening tilting contaeter 30, and thereby closing contacts at 2O to complete circuit 50 through solenoid GO, conductor 6l, through 80, 20 and to ground 62, thus energizing solenoid and rocking score detent 58 to advance the score ivheel one point. As the ball rolls donn the incline Sel, it successively tilts contactors 29", 28, 2T, 26, and closes the respective contacts, thus advancing the score Wheel for each contact in the manner stated above, and .vhich condition is indi 1ated on the score die 3Q. lli poclet 26 is hit, only one contact is made. For the interniediate pockets the correspondinecontacts are made and recorded and when the ball passes be.- yond the movig pocket, it rolls doivn bai-'c l) Without iual'nng a score.

The score n'heel may be provided 'with any desired number ot score contact pins (Sil, ivhich may be arranged on said Wheel in an y desired ratio to that of the escapement teeth (5T. ln the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a ratio ot l to 2, but obviously other ratios may be adopted. Vln all cases, hon'ever, are the contact pins so located as to close the coupon circuit (telA nt G-'l at the proper time. The coupon solo noid is thus enero" 'ed `for cach speciticd number of score coinacts made. lVhen now the predetermined score contacts have been made to advance the contact pins successive ly into circuit closing position, current passes from b ttei'y 42S) through the coupon solenoid G5 in the coupon circuit (il, througl'i the score stop lever 57, contact 5T', contact Gt, pins ('-f to ground (56, thus rocking the coupon detent .TO to advance the coupon wheel one point.

wheel will not be affected as solenoid b is not energized.

The operation ot the coupon wheel (28 similar to that ot the score wheel, and the construction ot' these wheels identical, excepting that but one conta-co' pin G9 provided on the coupon Wheel. It nouY the coupon wheel has admnced by reason ot' the solenoid G5 having, in response to tl e scores made, rocked the coupon detent the required number ot times to rotate the u'l v-el into contacting position of pin '39 with contact Tl, he circuit through a bell armature TQ is completed, and the bell. begins to ring. rlhe ringing may begin 'when the coupon wheel approaches or reaches its ni imuin rotation. Iush button 73 may non' ne used to reset the coupon Wheel to xero, and to stop the bell from ringing, because when thc circuit is completed through the push button or its equivalent, solenoid -lf is energized to depress lever 75, and thereby interrupt the bell circuit at 76. As lever T5 is depressed, the coupon detcnt roclzs bacl D-n-l permits the coupon Wheel to turn ha o zero. Should contact be maintained between pin G9 and contact 7l, while the coupon Wheel is turning back, the bell Will not continue to ring as soon as the bell circuit is intcrrulited by reason of lever 75 being;` depressed or pulled down, by the core oit the solenoid Tl.

The recording; mechanism may be operated by any suitable ineens, as by iv.' TT and 7S, or equivalents, and thro proper mechanism not shown) engin-ji cogis 79. As this mechai'iisni forms no part ot'rm'rv inrenticm it is not herein shown or described in detail.

Having non described my invention, and disclosed a mode of its application, what I clailn as ynew and useful, ot my ovfn invention. and desire to scure by Letters t une apparatus tor playing ie score made, the combinaunits therein, ay ball tossinggj mechanism in id cabinet, and means for causing` the tossing mechanism to become ettectire to thereby place a ball into play 'tor registering a score made by passing a ball through one ot said moving 'pocket units. .1. In a game apparatus for playing); hall and registoring);A the score iliade. the wenn bination ol: a cabinet haring` movii'ig portlet elements provided with open sides and bot tom :tor influencing Ythe score value, a ball tossing device in sind cabinet, means 'tor operating said ball device, and means recording the corresponding` score value.

i3. In a game apparatus for playing` ball and registering the score made, the combina tion of a moving pocket element, a bali control mechanism, means for releasing said mechanism, means :tor playing said bail through said moving pocket element to effect a predetermined score, and means tor recording said score.

'l. In a (5a ie apparatus, a cabinet harinf" an open race. a moving pocket element e3.:- posed through said e, means for reci procating said pocket element, a ball retainer and means tor releasing a predetermined number of balls from said retainer.

In an amusement apparatus tor playing ball and rcgisteriiiaj a score made, a cabinet having vertical sides provided with slots the 'ein and an open tace, :i pocket element reciprocating` in said slots and exposed through said tace, pockets in said element, means :tor projecting a ball, said means being` under control ot the player, tor striking;` one of said pockets, and means associated with each of said pockets for eliiecting a score.

6. In an amusement apparatus for playing ball and registering a score made, a cabinet having vertical sides provided With slots therein and an open tace, a sloping pocket element reciprocating in said slots and exposed through said tace, a plurality of falsebottom pockets arranged side by side in said element, contractors associated with each pocket, said contractors being` arranged beneath corresponding pockets on an incline whereby one or more of said contractors are struck by the same ball passing down the incline from the poc-het through which the ball has passed.

7. In an amusement apparatus for playing hall and registering a score made, a cabinet, a moving pocket element in said cabinet, said pocket element having a plurality ot pockets, a motor element in said cabinet for reciprocating said pocket element, a ball restraining mechanism adjacent said pocket element, an electric control device tor releasing said restrainin element, means 'tor projecting` said ball in the direction oit thc moving pocket element, whereby, when said ball passes through a pocket, the score value ot said pocket will be indicated, and means Jfor indicating said score value.

S. In a ball playing apparatus, a moving pocket element comprising a plurality ot false-bottom pockets arranged to represent different score values, a slopine base beneath said pockets, an electric cireu1t with a circuit closer :tor yach pocket projecting in the path ot the ball, means :tor putting a ball into play for passing through one of said pockets, and closing one or more of said circuit closures in conformity With the specilic pocket through which the ball passes and then rolls away down the sloping base.

9. In an amusement game apparatus provided With ball driving mechanism and score registering mechanism, a cabinet and a 4. Menues.

pocket element therein, u bali operating' said moving pocket element foi' supplying mechanism in said cabinet, and :i nizunialijx a. pl'edetein'iined number of balls to be played manipulated member located outside of said into said moving pocket element.

cabinet for projecting the ball Within the In testimony whereof I have hereunto cabinet. set myhztnd on this 2Std day ot' October 10. A moving pocket element and means t A. D., 1922.

for moving said element7 means adjacent MONNOSUKE HIGUCHI.

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