US1369084A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. P. COUGHLIN.

GAME APPARAT US.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1919.

1,369,084. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

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PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. COUGHLIN', OF HASTINGS, NEBRASKA.

GAME APPARATUS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed November 24, 1919. Serial No. 340,141.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES P. CO GHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hastings, in the county of Adams and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in games especially adapted for use as a source of amusement to both young and old.

Briefly stated a game constructed in accordance with this invention comprises a casing provided with a numbered dial and a hopper arranged above the dial and the object of the game is to throw a plurality of balls from afdistant point into the hopper for rotating or partially rotating the dial for registering. the points attained on each play or attempt. The sum of the individual points constitutes the total score for the individual players who aim to attain a predetermined score. For instance, it may be desired to attain a predetermined score of 125 by throwing the balls in the direction of the dial for operating the same. In the practice of the invention, the players, of course, take turns and at each turn or try each player throws preferably three balls and the total number of points attained as the result of throwing the three balls is added to the score I already attained until the number of points reach or nearly reach v125. Assuming that one player attains a score of 123 after a number of plays he has to now attain the exact number of points necessary tocomplete a full score, or, in other words, he must attain two points. In the event thatthe score of one player is 12Qandh'e' registers seven more points on the; next play those seven points willnot count but he must attainthe exact number or lessthan the exact number to complete the required points. dial further provided with a minusnumeral so in the event of the player registering this minus numeral his score is subtracted from rather than being enhanced.

A further object of this invention is to provide a game of the class describedwhich is simple, neat in appearance and cheap to manufacture. a p p In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, I I u v Figure lis a perspective of a game em bodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Inthe drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is' shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a casing having a front wall 6, a rear wall 7 and side walls 8 connecting the front and rear walls. The upper portion of the front wall 6 is inclined outwardly, as indicated at 9, as are the adjacent portions of the sidewalls 8 for forming a hopper 10 which opens out through the top of the casing. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the hopper is provided with a bottom wall 11 which extends downwardly from one side wall 8 and terminates short of the other side wallforforming a discharge opening 12 through which a plurality of balls 13 are adapted to pass upon entering the hopper. The inclination of the bottom wall 11 obviously directs the balls 13 to the opening 12 so that the same may readily pass through said opening and into a vertical channel or chute 1 1 formed'by a vertical partition 15 and the adjacent side wall 8. y I

A dial 16 arranged within the casingis mounted on a pivot element 17 and is rotatable about a horizontal axis so that an annular series of figures provided onthe outeredge portion of the dial may be viewed singly through a sight opening 18 in the frontwall 6. \Vith reference to 3, it will benoted that the dial 16 is disposed forwardly of the partition 15 so that the L- shaped radially disposed operating arms 19 of the same will not engage said partition during the rotation of the dial. With further reference to this figureand to" ig. 2 it will be observed that the horizontal portions 20 of the 'L-shaped arms 19 extend beyond the ends of the partition when passing the same so' that the, free rotation of the dial is not interfered with. The radial arms 19 extend into the vertical channel 14 and are en gaged by the balls 13 during the descent of the same so as to impart a rotary movement to the dial. 7 I n The improved game herein illustrated and described is provided with means to aline in one of the figures on the dial with the sight opening 18 sothat two adjacent figures may not be partly alined with the sight opening and thereby result in confusion and uncertainty on the part of the players of the ame. As illustrated in Fig. 2, an arm 21 1s horizontally pivoted, as indicated at 22, to the bottom wall 11 and is provided with a roller 23 adapted to seat in a series of concave recesses 24: in the periphery of the dial. During the rotation of the dial in a clockwise direction the roller 23 rides over the shoulders between the recesses 24 so as to prevent excessive rotation of the dial. In other words, the roller 23 serves to prevent the dial from partaking of a number of unnecessary revolutions when actuated by one of the falling balls, since it is not necessary to unduly delay the game and holding the players in metal suspense while waiting for the dial to stop. The arm 21 is prevented from assuming a vertical position by a transversely extending stop element or shoulder 24 whereby binding between the dial and the roller is prevented.

During the passage of each ball through the chute or channel 14 the same engage a horizontally pivoted gong-operating member 25 which when moved on its pivot 26 engages the bell 27. Therefore, each time a ball is directed through the channel 1% the players of the game are so advised. In addition to directing the attention of the players to the casing, the bell serves to advise the players that the balls are passing through the casing properly and uninterruptedly.

In the practice of the invention, the easing is attached by a ring 28 to the wall or other suitable support and the players stand a predetermined distance from the casing and throw the balls in an attempt to direct them into the hopper. The balls are, of course, thrown into the hopper individually and by reason of the inclined bottom wall 11 of the casing the balls are directed through the passage or channel 14. The descent of the balls within the passage causes the bell to ring and also imparts a revolution or part of a revolution to the dial. The number appearing through the sight opening 18 is applied to the score of the player whose turn it is, though in the event of the minus number being alined with the sight opening the score of that player is detracted from. In playing the game, the participants, of course, take turns in throwing the balls which in this case, number three, into the hopper. The game, of course, may be made more difiicult to play and may require the exercise of additional skill by positioningthe casing at an increased distance from the players whereby it is made more difiicult to throw the balls into the hopper. hen the score of any player approaches the desired number of points it is necessary for the player to exactly complete his score. In other words, if the predetermined number of points is 125 and the player has attained 120 he must now attain five points or less than five to apply on the score. No points over five may be applied to the score so that it may require numerous attempts before the player completes his quota. During this period the other players of the game who are not so far advanced may have an opportunity to increase their chances of win ing the game. By this method of playing, the game is rendered extremely interesting and often exciting.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the front wall 6 of the casing terminates above the bottom 29so that the balls may be removed from the casing after passing through the channel 1 1. A transverse strip 30 is secured to the casing and is arranged midway of the bottom of the front wall 6 and the under side 29 so as to prevent the loss or accidental removal of the balls from the casing. At one side of the casing, an inclined runway or strip 31 is provided for directing the balls to the other side of the casing where the same may be removed.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A game apparatus including a casing, a dial arranged within said casing and provided with a series of figures, the front wall of said casing being provided with a sight opening with which said figures are adapted to register, a vertical partition disposed within said casing in spaced relation to one side wall of the same thereby providing a vertical channel, and a pluralityof radial arms carried by said dial and extending into said channel.

2. A game apparatus including a casing having its upper portion enlarged to provide a hopper, said hopper being provided with a downwardly inclined bottom wall extending from one side of the casing and terminating short of the other side of the easing thereby providing a discharge opening. a vertical partition arranged beneath the bottom wall of said hopper and in spaced relation to one side wall. of the casing thereby providing a vertical channel in line with the discharge opening of said hopper, a dial arranged within the casing and rotatable about a horizontal axis, a plurality of L- shapedjarms extending radially from said dial and into said channel, said dial being provided with an annular series of figures, and an operating device adapted for movement through said channel.

3. A game apparatus including a casing having its upper portion enlarged to provide a hopper, said hopper being provided with a downwardly inclined bottom Wall extending from one side of the casing and terminating short of the other side of the casing thereby providing a discharge opening, a vertical partition arranged beneath the bottom Wall of said hopper and in spaced relation to one side Wall of the casing thereby providing a vertical channel in line with the discharge opening of said hopper, a dial arranged within the casing and rotatable about a horizontal axis, a plurality of L-shaped arms extending radially from said dial and into,

said channel, said dial being provided with an annular series of figures, an operating device adapted for movement through said channel, and an audible signal having an arm extending into said channel and adapted to be engaged by said operating device.

' 4-. A game apparatus of the class described including a casing having a hopper provided with a discharge opening, a dial arranged within said casing and provided with a series of concave recesses in its outer edge, and a pivoted arm arranged with said casing and provided with a roller adapted to be seated in said concave recesses, said dial being provided with a series of figures. 5. A game apparatus of the class described including a casing having a hopper provided with a discharge opening, a dial arranged within said casing and provided with a series of concave recesses in its outer edge, a pivoted arm arranged within said casing and provided With a roller adapted to be seated in said concave recesses, said dial being provided with a series of figures, and a stop element engaging the rear side of said arm for retaining the same in an inclined position.

6. A game apparatus including a casing having a hopper, a dial arranged Within the casing and rotatable about a horizontal axis, said di'al being provided With a plurality of numbers, a vertical partition arranged within said casing in spaced relation to one side wall of the same thereby forming a vertical channel, a plurality of L-shaped arms ex- 1 tending radially from said dial and extend ing into said vertical channel, a bell carried by said casing and provided with an operating device extending into said vertical channel, and means to limit the rotary movement of said dial, the bottom of said casing being provided with discharge means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES P. COUGHLIN. [L.s.]

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