US1991610A - Target apparatus - Google Patents

Description

P. F- GAUS T-RGET APPARATUS ,Filed May 23' 1934 Iulvuluult lmlll I G4 Feb. 19? 1935? 2 Sheetsrsheet 1 INVMOR Paul I. 60H5" Feb. 19, 1935.

P. F. GAUS TARGET APPARATUS Fiied May 25, 1954 I 1 l J INVENTOR.

Paul Il Gaius Hrs ATTORNEYS.

fl (l Patented F eb. 19, 1935Y UNITED STATES PATENTE-'FICE TARGET APPARATUS L PaulvF. Gaus, Chicago, Ill. .i Apparati@ Mayas, i934, serial No.' '127,031 somm. crave-1pz) This invention relates to an amusement appalatug v Itis an vobject of vvthis .invention to provide an improved amusement apparatuswhich-is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and eicient'in use'. Y

Another object o f this invention` is to provide a` novel amusement apparatus that is particularly intended yfor use in 'outdoor vamusement parks, fairsQand the like.

Otherf objects will appear hereinafter. 4

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement. of parts to be hereinafter d escribed and claimed.` Y i The invention will bebest understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred formv of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewfillustrating the invention assembledin position for use;

Fig. 2vis a top planV view, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail plan viewg.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a target and latch mechanism embodied in the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the latch mechanism shown in Fig..4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of the means for mounting rthe animal character embodiedfin the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the means for mounting the animal character;

Fig. 8 is a part elevational View of the new apparatus in assembled position; V

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional detail view on line 9-9inFig.8."

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View on line 1U-'10 in Fig. 8; 'L

Fig. l1 is a horizontal sectional detail View;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view `on line'12-12 in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is avertical sectional View on line 13-13 inFigB;

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail view on line 14`14 in Fig. 8; 'f j Fig. 15 is a sectional detailview on line 15-15 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 16 is a side elevational view on line 16-16 in Fig. 15. f

A preferred form of the new amusement apparatusfis shown in the accompanying drawings and therein the same is Yshown in conjunction with a fair or amusement park or other like amusement place, in which is `provided a water pool 20. Arranged in this pool 2 0 is an animal character which is generally Vindicated at 21, and pro-jecting upwardly from the pool `2Q is a group of posts 22 which are ornamented to resemble trees, so

that thewhole is given the appearance of the natural` habitat of the animal simulated by the character 21.l

. Also projectingupwardly from the pool is a verticalV rod 23. whichf carries at its upper end o. target 24. ARotatably mounted upon one of the posts 22, by means of suitable .bearing blocks 26, (Fig. 8')V is a' horizontal shaft 2 5 (Figs. 8 and 12) vwhich lsupports a seat or platform, generally indicated at 27; the s eat 27 being fixedly attached or keyed tothe shaft 25 so as to turn or rotate therewith (Fig. 12).

. Inl the use of the new amusement apparatus, a

bo-y sits upon the platform 27, above the level of the water in the pool 20, and the player throws a ball or like missile at the target 24. If the player succeedsin striking the target 24, means, presently to be described, are actuated to release theseat 27 and drop'the boy therefrom into the pool 20, While at the same time this motion Vof the target 24, when struck, actuates means, also presently to be described, by which the animal character 2,1 is caused to move inthe pool 20 toward the boy dropped thereinto from the seat 27 by the act of the player in striking the target 24. Afterthis operation, the boy climbs up out of the pool 20`by means of a ladder28 `(Fig. 8), and thisclimbing operationofthe boy upon the ladder' 28` operates means, presently tobe described, by` which the seat 27 is reset into horizontalposition and the target 24 jand animal character 21 are returned to or reset into their initialpositions. c.

Havingxthusgiven `a general description of theoperation ofthe new amusement apparatus, a

detailed description of the construction and operation of the same will now be given. l The seatfstructure 27 Aincludes a horizontally projecting portion or platform 29, and it also inf end portion'of the'se'atpla'tform 29 having a flat shock absorbing or buffer'spring 32 arranged i therebelowwith its end portions projected into recesses 33 formed in the end blocks 30; the tension ofthe spring-'32 and the amount of movement allowed the innerend portion of the seat platform 29 upon its pivot 31 being capable 'of variationbyadjustment of set screws 34 and Cil 35 which are mounted in the end blocks 30 (Fig.

Carried by the horizontal shaft 25 is a beveled gear 36 (Fig. 8) which meshes with a corresponding beveled gear 37, the gear 37 being carried by a vertical shaft 38. 'I'his shaft 38 is rotatably mounted in a vertically extending channel 39 (Figs. 8 and 11) which is formed in the supporting post 22.

At its lower end the vertical shaft 38 carries a beveled gear 40 (Fig. 8) which meshes with a corresponding beveled gear 41, the gear 41 being mounted upon one end portion of a horizontal shaft 42 which is submerged in the pool 20. One end of the shaft 42 is mounted uponthe post 22 (Fig. 8) and the other end thereof is mounted upon a supporting frame 43 which is also submerged in the pool 20.

At its other end the horizontal shaft 42 carries a beveled 'gear 44 (Fig. 2) which meshes with a corresponding beveled gear 45, the gear 45 being carried by a second horizontal shaft 46 which is also rotatably mounted upon the supporting frame 43 and submerged-in the pool 20.

Carried by the shaft 46 at one side ofthe supporting frame 43 is a counterweighted Y-shaped member, generally indicated at 47 (Fig. 2). This member 47 includes a counterweighted arm portion 48 and a pair of diverging arms 49 (Fig. 2).

Extending transversely between the upper end portions of the arms 49 is a shaft 50 and pivotally mounted on this shaft 50 isa frame, generally indicated at 51, which supports the body and upper jaw portions 57 and 76 (Fig. 8) of the animal` character 21; the animal character 21 having a lower jaw portion 52 which is alsol pivotally mounted upon the shaft 50 by means of a sleeve 83 (Fig. 6); the lower jaw portion 52 of the animal character being urged toward the upper jaw portion 76 of the same and kept in a substantially horizontal position vby means of coilsprings 53 (Figs. 6 and 7), each of which has an end portion 54 that is attached to the lower jaw portion 52 of the animal vcharacter 21, and each of. which has its other end portion 55 attached to the adjacent side rails 84 of the frame 51 (Fig, 2).

Extending betweenV the side rails 84 of the frame 51 and transversely across the body 57 0f the animal character 21 is a rod 58 (Fig. 2). This rod 58 projects through a slot 59 formed in a channel bar 60 which is arranged between the side rails 84 of the frame 51 (Fig. 8) This bar 60 is pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 61, to a link 62 which, in turn, is pivotally connected at its lower end, asv at 63, to the supporting frame 43. The channel rnember60 has marginal flanges 85 (Fig. 8) for a reason to be explained hereinafter.

The upright target, supporting member, or rod 23 is pivotally mounted at its lower end, as at 56, (Fig. 4) upon a vertically extending portion 70 of the supporting frame 43. Pivotally connected to the target-supporting member 23 between the ends of the latter, as at 64 (Fig. 4) is an arm 65. This arm 65 is pivotally connected at its upper end, as at 66 (Figs. 4, 5, and 15) to another arm 67 and the arm 67 is pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 68, to the supportingr frame 43 (Fig. 4). Y

Pivotally mounted. on th-e vertically extending portion 70 of the. supporting frame 43 is a bracket 71 (Fig. 4) and pivotally connected at its lower end to the bracket 71, as at 72, (Figs.` 2 and 4) is a latch operating arm 69, (Fig. 4) ;'the arm 69 having at its upper end a laterally extending latch pin 73 (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 15, and 16). This latch pin 73 carries an anti-friction roller 95 thereon which rides upon the peripheral surface of a latch cam 74 which is mounted upon the shaft 46 at one end of the latter, (Fig. 2), the cam 74 having a notched portion 75 formed in its peripheral surface (Figl Operation f The latch pin '13 1s normauydisposedV in the notched portion 75 of the latching cam 74 (Figs.

4 and 5) and the latchingcam 74, latch pin 73, and target V24 are normally disposed in the positions'indicated'in full lines in Fig. 4. In this' position of these parts, the engagement of the latch pin 73 in the notched portion 75 of the cam 74 prevents movementof the various parts of the new amusement apparatus, and the seat get-supporting member 23 pivots the latch operating arnf 65 upwardly (Fig. 4), thereby raising the other latchoperating arm 67, (from full to dotted line position, Fig. 4') under the latch pin 73, thus lifting the latch pin 73 up out ofthe notched portion 75 of the latching cam 74.-

Theweight of the boy on'the seat 27 then pivots the seat 27 downwardly, thereby dropping the boy off the seat 27 into the'pool 20, and at the same time rotating the shaft 25; (counterclockwise, Fig. 9). This movement of the seat 27 v and its supporting shaft -25 acts through the gears 36, 37 to rotate the vertical shaft 38 in the channel or groove 39 (counter-clockwise, Fig. 1K1) f and this rotation of the vertical shaft 38 acts through the gears and 41 to rotate the horlzontal shaft 42 which in Aturn acts through the gears 44 and 45 to rotate the shaft 46 and thev latch cam 74 (clockwise, Figs. 4 and 5, from the position of Fig`f4 to the position of Fig. 5, the Shaft 46being thus rotated counterclockwise,

Fig. 8). This rotation of the shaft 46 movestheV in the direction of the boy as the latter is dropped' olf the seat 27 into the pool 20. `During this movement of the animal character 21, the body portion 57 and theV upper jaw portion 76 of the animal character 21 pivot downwardly upon the shaft 50, thus closing the upper Vjaw portion 76 of the animal character upon the lower jaw,V

portion 52 of the same.v During these movementsv of the animal character 21' the springs 53 keep` the lower jawA portion 52 of the same in a substantially horizontal position and flush with the surface of the water in the pool 20. The extent or length of this movement of the animal character 2l is limited by the engagement of the upper end portion 86 of the link 62 with the marginal anges 85 of the channel-shaped member (Fig. 8).

The vertical side rails 77 of the ladder 28 are pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the shaft 42, by means of a bracket 78 (Figs. 8 and 13), and one of these side rails y77 of the ladder 28 is pivotally connected, at its lower end, as at Cil 80, to a link 79 which, in turn, is pivotally suspended from the vertical post22, as at 81 (Fig. 13). f

When the seat 27 isin lowered or vertical p0- sition, the ladder 28 is in raised position (dotted lineposition, Figs. 8 and 13). t

VWhen the boy is dropped from the seat 27 into the pool 20 he from the latter by climbing up the rungs 82 of the ladder 28 onto stationary rung 93 which project laterally from thepost 22 above the pool 20 (Fig. 8), and as he climbs up the ladder 28 his weight thereon pivots the latter 28 downwardly (from dotted to full line position, Figs. 8 and 13) thereby rotating the shaft 42 (clockwise, Fig. 13). This rotation of the shaft 42 acts through the train of' shafts and gears 42-41-48-38-37--36-25 to rotate the shaft 25 (clockwise, Figs. 9 and `l2), thus raising and resetting the seat 27-29 into horizontal position. Y

At the same time this rotation of the shaft 42 (clockwise, Fig. 13) acts through the gears 44-45 to rotate the shaft 46 (clockwise, Fig. 8), thereby rotating the animal character 21 and its supporting structure Y49--47-'48-51-60, etc. (clockwise, Fig. 8) rthus resetting theanimal character 2l back into its initial position (Fig. l) while '4), thereby reengaging the latch pin 73 inthe notched portion 75 of the latch cam 74, and thus relatching the seat 27 in horizontal or raised position andthe target 23`-24, and animal character 2l in their initial positions. Y

Attached to and projecting laterally from the latch-operating arm 69 is a block 87 (Figs. 15 and 16) in which is provided a 'slot 88; the latch pin 73 being adjustable axially of this slot by means of set screws 89 and 90 which are mounted in the block 87 at opposite ends thereof.

The stroke or arc of movement of the target 24 and its supporting armv 23 (from full to dotted line position, Fig. 4) necessary to raise the latch pin 73 out of. latching engagement with the notched portion 75 of the cam 74 torelease the movableV parts of the apparatus may be varied by adjusting the latch pin 73 axially of the slot 88 by means ofthe set screws 89 and 90.

The counterweight'ed arm 48 of the member 47 v has a counterweight sleeve 94 slidably adjustable thereon by means of a pin and slot connection 91-92 (Figs. 8 and 14) and by adjusting thel sleeve 91 axially along the arm 48 the weight of the animal character 2l and its supporting structure 453-51, etc., located Vabove the-frame 43 and shaft 46, may be properly balanced. v

While I have illustrated and describedthe preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eifect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precised details of construction setfOrth, but desire to avail myself of such variaingsaid supporting structure in raisedV position against the -force of gravity so as Vto support an object thereon; means actuated by a missil striking said target to release said latching means and said supporting structure so that the latter may drop by gravity and dislodge said object therefrom; and means actuated by the movement of said-supportingstructure to move said animal character in the direction of the said object, thus disiodged from said supporting structure.

2. In an amusement apparatus, the combinaallow said seat to dropby gravity and dislodge the man therefrom; and means actuated bythe movement of said seat to move said animal character in the direction of the man thus dislodged from said seat.

3. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of: an upright target; an animal character; a pivotally mounted seat disposed above said animal character and adapted to support a man thereon; means normally latching said seat in a raised, horizontal position against the force of gravity so as to support a man thereon; means actuated by a missile striking said target to release said latching means so as to allow said seat to drop by gravity and dislodge the said man therefrom; and means actuated'by the aforesaid downward movement of said seat to move said animal character in the direction of the man thus dislodged from said seat.

4. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of: an upright target; an animal character;

a pivotally mounted seat disposed above said animal character and adapted to support a man thereon; means normally latching said seat in a raised, horizontal position against the force of gravity so as to support a man thereon; means actuated by a missile striking said target to release said latching means so as to allow saidseat to drop by gravity and dislodge the said man therefrom; means actuated by Vthe aforesaid downward movement of said seat to move said animal character in the direction ofthe man thus dislodged from said seat; and means for resetting the aforementioned parts in their initial positions; said resetting means including'a ladder by which the man dislodged from saidV seat` may climb up toward the latter.

5. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of: a target; an animal character; pivotally mounted means for supporting a man above the said animal character; means normally latching the said supporting means in position to support a man thereon against-the attraction of gravity; means actuated by a missile striking said target lto release said latching means from latching engagement with said supporting means so as to allow the said supporting means to drop by the attraction of gravity and dislodge the man therefrom; and means actuated by the said dislodging or dropping movement of said supporting means to move saidanimal character in the direction of the man thus dislodged from said supporting means.

6. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of: a target; an animal character; pivotally mounted means for supporting a man above the said animal character; means normally latohing the .said supporting means in position to support a man thereon against the attraction of gravity; means actuated by a missile striking said target to release said latching means from latching engagement with said supporting means so as to allow the said supporting means to drop by the attraction of gravity and dislodge the man therefrom; means actuated by the said dislodging or dropping movement of said supporting means to move iard animal character in the direction of the man thus dislodged from said supporting means; and means for resetting the aforementioned parts into their initial positions; said resettingV means including a ladder by which the man dislodged from said supporting means may climb upwardly toward the same.

7. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of; va target; pivotally mounted means for supporting a man abovesaid target against the attraction of gravity; means normally latching the said supporting means in position to support a man thereon against the attraction of gravity;

means actuated by a missile striking said target to releasersaid latching means from latching engagement with said supporting means, so as to i to move an object in the direction of the man disvlodged from said supporting means.

8. In an amusement apparatus, the combination of: a target; pivotally mounted means forsupporting an objectabove saidvv target; means actuated by a missile striking said target and coacting with said supporting means to dislodge said object from said supporting means; and means actuated by the said missile striking said'ftarget to move an object in the direction of the said rst-named object thus dislodged from said supporting means.

- PAUL F. GAUS.

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