Arm wrestling apparatus

An arm wrestling apparatus comprising a handle that extends upward out of the top of a cabinet which handle is adapted at one end to be grasped in a person's hand and which is coupled at the other end to a gear mechanism that is, in turn, coupled to the exposed ends of piston rods of a pair of opposing pneumatic cylinders, which cylinders are pivotally mounted at their other ends to the frame of the cabinet. The top of the cabinet is provided with an elbow rest for users of the apparatus. An air compressor with its associated hoses, couplings, and controls provides a variable and controllable air pressure to the pair of pneumatic cylinders which, in turn, transmit a muscle-opposing force through the gear mechanism to the handle. Switches, timers and display lights are provided to control the operation and timing of the apparatus and to indicate the results of person's attempts to wrestle the machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Arm wrestling is an ancient individual sport in which persons test their 
strength and skill against one another. There is evidence of increasing 
interest in the sport of arm wrestling, and international competitions are 
held from time to time in various locations within the United States and 
in Japan and several European countries. A common problem of arm wrestlers 
and those who would adopt the sport is the lack of suitable equipment and 
opportunities to practice and to develop their strength and skills. 
Exercising machines are well known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,563 
issued on Mar. 4, 1958 to H. R. Lawton shows an exercising machine for 
simultaneously exercising the back, leg and arm muscles. This machine 
employs a pneumatic cylinder and has provisions for varying the amount of 
effort required to operate the machine. U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,403 issued on 
Feb. 20, 1968 to E. M. Carlin et. al. shows a hydraulic muscle strength 
developing apparatus equipped with an operating handle to permit a user to 
resist movement of a piston caused by the introduction of pressurized 
hydraulic fluid into the opposite end of a cylinder. U.S. Pat. No. 
3,495,824 issued on Feb. 17, 1970 to H. A. Cuinier shows a fluid resistant 
type exercising device wherein the resistance produced by a fluid flowing 
through a constriction provides a muscle-opposing force in either of two 
directions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,599 issued on July 9, 1974 to Jerry D. 
Brentham shows an exercising device comprising a handle pivotally mounted 
on a frame with a hydraulic system connected to the handle to exert a 
regulated force restraining movement of the handle. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,184,675 issued on Jan. 22, 1980 to Brent Rogerson shows a mechanical arm 
wrestler comprising a hydraulic cylinder mounted on a base and crank arm 
pivotally mounted on the base and connected through a rod to the cylinder. 
Also known in the art are dead weight devices and spring loaded devices 
for developing the muscles used in arm wrestling. The present invention 
provides a novel apparatus that is especially useful for controllably 
developing the strength and skills required in arm wrestling and for 
measuring a person's abilities and progress in this regard. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The apparatus of the present invention has all of the advantages of arm 
exerciser and arm wrestling devices known in the art for developing the 
strength and skills required in arm wrestling and for measuring a person's 
abilities and progress in that regard, and in addition it provides several 
distinct and important advantages not provided by existing devices. One 
object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows a 
user to perfectly simulate arm wrestling with another individual. Another 
object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of 
presenting accurate, precise, and quantitative information regarding a 
user's arm wrestling capabilities. Another object of the present invention 
is to provide an infinitely variable and controllable resistance against 
which a user may exercise or test his strength. Another object of the 
present invention is to provide an apparatus that is adapted for 
commercial use by persons who are casually interested in arm wrestling as 
well as those who are more seriously interested in the sport. Another 
object of the present invention is to provide a means for instantly 
presenting to the user indications and measures of his arm wrestling 
abilities. Another object of the present invention is to provide an arm 
wrestling apparatus that is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong 
and durable, accurate and precise, reliable, and well adapted for the 
purposes for which it is designed. Other objects and advantages of the 
present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the 
following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying 
drawings were in a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. It 
should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details 
disclosed, but includes all such variations and modifications as fall 
within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. 
The objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing an 
electrically controlled and pneumatically operated arm wrestling lever or 
handle that extends upward out of the top of a cabinet that houses 
mechanical and electrical components needed to operate and control the 
apparatus. The top of the cabinet is provided with an elbow rest, and a 
pair of opposing pneumatic cylinders located within the cabinet and served 
by an air compressor transmit a muscle-opposing force to the handle 
through a gear assembly. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the 
accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a 
preferred embodiment of my invention, shown generally at 1. The apparatus 
of the present invention comprises a cabinet 2 (with walls removed) having 
two sides 3, 4, a back 5, a bottom 6, a front 7, and a top 8. A portion of 
the top 8 comprises a gear mechanism support plate 9. The cabinet 2 
includes a frame 10 comprising a plurality of structural members 11-22 
such, for example, as steel angles welded or otherwise suitably joined 
together. Also provided are a backboard display box 25, an arm assembly 
26, a gear assembly 27, a pair of opposing operating pneumatic cylinders 
28, 29, a locking cylinder 30 (shown in FIG. 7), and air compressor 31, a 
coin-actuated switch 32, a handhold 33 and thumb-actuated start switch 
assembly 34, a timer 35, and a plurality of pneumatic hoses and couplings, 
solenoids, electrical switches and other assessory items hereinafter 
described in detail. A pair of cylinder support plates 40, 41 are welded 
or otherwise suitably joined to opposite sides of the frame 10, and a 
cylinder support bracket 42, 43 is welded or otherside suitably attached 
to each plate 40, 41. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the pair of opposing pneumatic cylinders 28, 29 each of 
which comprises a hollow tubular member 46, 47 having a head plate 48, 49 
welded or otherwise secured to one end 50, 51 thereof to seal the said end 
50, 51. Each head plate 48, 49 has attached thereto an ear 52, 53, for 
pivotally securing the cylinders 28, 29 by bolts 56, 57 to the cylinder 
support brackets 42, 43. A piston 60, 61 is slideably mounted within each 
hollow tubular member 46, 47. A piston rod 62, 63 is pivotally connected 
at one end 64, 65 to each piston 60, 61 and the other end 66, 67 of each 
piston rod 62, 63 extends from the rod end 68, 69 of its cylinder 28, 29. 
The rod end 68, 69 of each cylinder 28, 29 is sealed by conventional means 
to prevent the escape of high pressure air. Each piston 60, 61 and rod 62, 
63 combination is capable of reciprocating lengthwise movement within its 
tubular member 46, 47. Pneumatic hose connection 70, 71, 72, 73 are 
provided at opposite ends of each cylinder 28, 29 for the introduction of 
pressurized air from an air compressor 31. It is not necessary that the 
pneumatic cylinders 28, 29 used in my arm wrestling apparatus 1 be further 
described, since pneumatic cylinders are well known and the cylinders 28, 
29 used in my invention are of conventional construction. 
The exposed end 66, 67 of each piston rod 62, 63 is threaded and is 
provided with a cylinder pivot eye 74, 75 attached thereto. As illustrated 
in FIGS. 3A and 3B, each pivot eye 74, 75 is provided with a hole 76, 77 
which is threaded to receive the threaded ends 66, 67 of the piston rods 
62, 63. Each eye 74, 75 has an ear portion 78, 79 having a hole 80, 81 
therethrough adapted to receive a bolt 82 removeably inserted therein for 
pivotally connecting each eye 74, 75 to the other 75, 74 thus providing 
for rotational and pivotal movement of the eyes 74, 75 about the shaft 83 
of the bolt 82 held in place by a nut 85. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, the arm assembly 26 comprises a rod like handle 90 
angularly welded or otherwise attached to a handle based 91. Two 
handle-to-gear brackets 92, 93 are rigidly attached at one end 94, 95 by 
bolts 96, 97 to the handle base 91. The other end 98, 99 of each 
handle-to-gear bracket 92, 93 is rigidly attached by bolts 100, 101 to a 
first gear 102 that is rotational coupled to a second gear 103 so that the 
second gear 103 may be driven by the first gear 102 in the usual way. The 
two gears 102, 103 are mounted for rotation on gear shafts 104, 105, with 
shafts 104, 105 attached in turn, to and supported by a pair of gear side 
plates 106, 107, one of which is located on each side of the two gears 
102, 103. A pair of gear-to-cylinder brackets 108, 109 is also provided. 
One end 110, 111 of each bracket 108, 109 is rigidly attached by bolts 
114, 115 to the second gear 103. A bolt hole 116, 117 is provided through 
the other end 118, 119 of each gear-to-cylinder bracket 108, 109. The ear 
portions 78, 79 of the pivot eyes 74, 75 are inserted between the 
gear-to-cylinder brackets 108, 109; the holes 80, 81 in the ear portions 
78, 79 of the pivot eyes 74, 75 are aligned with the bolt holes 116, 117 
in the gear-to-cylinder brackets 108, 109; and a bolt 82 secured by a nut 
85 is inserted through the four holes 80, 81, 116, 117, thus coupling the 
pivot eyes 74, 75 to the arm and gear assemblies 26, 27. The gear 
mechanism support plate 9 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the 
top of the frame 10 as shown in FIG. 1. A pair of like gear assembly 
support brackets 121, 122 is provided as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In the 
illustrated embodiment, each gear assembly support bracket 121, 122 
comprises a short length of steel angle, one side 123, 124 of which is 
secured by bolts 125, 126, 127, 128 to a gear side plate 106, 107, and the 
other side 129, 130 of which is bolted to the gear mechanism support plate 
9. 
It will be readily seen that rotating the handle 90 in a counter-clockwise 
direction will cause the first gear 102 to rotate counter-clockwise on its 
shaft 104; the second gear 103 to rotate clockwise on its shaft 105; rod 
66 to slide into its cylinder 28; rod 67 to slide out of its cylinder 29; 
and the cylinder pivot eyes 74, 75 to rotate in opposite directions on the 
shaft 83 of the bolt 82. In a manner that is fully described below, a 
controlled level of pneumatic pressure is introduced into the head end 50 
of operating cylinder 28 and into the rod end 65 of operating cylinder 29 
to resist counter-clockwise rotation of the handle 90. By repeatedly 
rotating the handle 90 in opposition to increasing levels of pneumatic 
pressure in the operating cylinders 28, 29, a person may develop the 
muscles used in arm wrestling. The arm wrestling strength of an individual 
may be determined by measuring the maximum pneumatic pressure against 
which such individual may successfully operate the arm or the number of 
times he or she can overcome a prescribed level of pneumatic pressure with 
some specified time interval. 
An air compressor 31 and an air pressure regulator assembly 140 are mounted 
within the cabinet as illustrated in FIG. 1. The pressure regulator 
assembly 140, shown in greater detail in FIG. 5, comprises a regulator 
mounting bracket 141 bolted or otherwise secured to the cabinet 2, a 
commercially available air pressure regulator 142 having a pressure 
control rod 143 projecting from one end 144 thereof, a roller bracket 147 
mounted on the exposed end 146 of the said rod 143, a roller 145 
rotationally mounted within the said roller bracket 147, a cam 148 rigidly 
mounted on a shaft 149 that is supported for rotational movement about its 
longitudinal axis in a pair of bushings 150, 151 positioned in the 
regulator mounting bracket 141. The shaft 149 is provided with a knob 152 
attached to one end 153 thereof. The knob 152 is positioned external to 
the cabinet 2 and is adapted to be conveniently reached and turned by a 
user of the arm wrestling apparatus 1 to adjust the level of 
muscle-opposing pneumatic pressure in the operating cylinders 28, 29. The 
output of the compressor 31 is coupled in the conventional manner to the 
regulator 142 by means of an air hose 154 that terminates in a hose 
coupling 155. An output hose 156 (not shown) coupled to the output of the 
regulator 142 provides pressurized air for the pneumatic system. 
FIG. 6 is a rear view in perspective of a limit switch assembly comprising 
a win indicator limit switch 228, a win centering limit switch 231, a loss 
centering limit switch 221, and loss indicator limit switch 216. Each 
switch 228, 231, 221, 216, is provided with a depending arm 240, 241, 242, 
243 by which the switch 228, 231, 221, 216 may be operated by the shaft 83 
of the bolt 82 that couples the pivot eyes 74, 75, together. Reciprocating 
movement of the pistons 60, 61 and rods 66, 67 within their respective 
operating cylinders 28, 29 causes the bolt 82 to swing through an arc as 
the operating cylinders 28, 29 pivot on the shafts of the bolts 56, 57 
that couple them to their respective support brackets 42, 43. The 
functions and operations of the limit switches 228, 231, 221, 216 are 
described below. 
FIG. 7 illustrates a pneumatic locking cylinder 30 comprising a hollow 
tubular member having a sealed head end having provided therein a 
pneumatic hose connector 250 adapted to receive pressurized air into the 
said head end, a piston slidably mounted within the said hollow tubular 
member for reciprocating lengthwise movement therein, a piston rod 252 
attached to one end of the said piston and adapted at the other end to 
extend outside of the said cylinder and to be inserted into a hole 253 
through a gear side plate 106 and the second gear 103 to engage and lock 
the second gear 103, and a retaining spring 254 adapted to retain the 
piston rod in a retracted position within the cylinder. Air may be 
introduced into the head end of the cylinder with sufficient pressure to 
overcome the resistance of the retaining spring 254, thereby forcing the 
rod 252 out of the cylinder and the end thereof to enter the hole 253 in 
the gear side plate 106 and second gear 103 thereby locking the gear 
assembly. Removal of air pressure in the head end of the cylinder allows 
the retaining spring to return the rod 252 to its retracted position 
within the cylinder, thereby unlocking the gear assembly. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10, a right-handed user of the arm wrestling 
apparatus 1 of my invention stands or sits in front of the apparatus 1, 
places a coin in the coin operated switch 32, grasps the handhold 33 with 
his left hand, places his right elbow on an elbow rest 36 on the top 8 of 
the cabinet 2, grasps the handle 90 is his right hand, exerts a force on 
the handle 90 with his right hand to rotate the handle 90 in a 
counter-clockwise direction, and pushes the start button 34 with his left 
thumb. Pressurized air in the head end 50 of the first operating pneumatic 
cylinder 28 and in the rod end 65 of the second operating pneumatic 
cylinder 29 will oppose the force exerted on the handle 90 by the user's 
right hand. The user may be overcome by the opposing pressure, in which 
case the handle 90 will rotate in a clockwise direction, and after a 
prescribed amount of clockwise rotation the handle 90 will engage and trip 
the loss indicator limit switch 216, hereinafter functionally described. A 
successful user will overcome the resistance, and rotate the handle 
counter-clockwise, and after a prescribed amount of counter-clockwise 
rotation the handle 90 will engage and trip a win indicator limit switch 
228, also hereinafter functionally described. If the user "loses" to the 
machine, a loss indicator light comes on and if he or she "beats" the 
machine, a win indicator light comes on, along with a second light 
indicating the level-of-difficulty, which is measured in terms of the 
level of air pressure overcome by the user. After a win or loss is 
registered, the handle is automatically returned to a vertical position 
for another try. A user may repeat the sequence until the time set on the 
timer 35 expires. The top 8 of the cabinet 2 is provided with pads 37, 38 
of resilient material for the comfort and convenience of users. 
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic system comprising an air 
compressor 31, an air pressure regulator 140, first and second operating 
pneumatic cylinders 28, 29, and a locking cylinder 30, all interconnected 
in the manner shown by air lines 162, 163, 164, 165, 166. The compressor 
31 and regulator 140 provided an infinitely controllable pressure 
regulated air supply to a primary line 163 having three branch lines 164, 
165, 166 at points 170, 171, 172 along its length. A first branch line 164 
supplies pressurized air to the rod end 64 of the first operating cylinder 
28 and to the head end 51 of the second operating cylinder 29 through a 
check valve 160 in line with a normally open first solenoid operated valve 
167. A second branch line 165 supplies pressurized air to the head end 50 
of the first operating cylinder 28 and to the rod end 65 of the second 
operating cylinder 29 through a check valve 161 in line with a normally 
open second solenoid operated valve 168. A third branch line 166 supplies 
pressurized air to the head end of the locking cylinder 30 through a third 
normally opened solenoid operated valve 169. I employ commercially 
available solenoid operated valves having escape ports that operate when a 
valve is closed to release pressurized air in the line. 
When a user is ready to use the apparatus he closes a start switch by means 
of a button 34 on the handhold 33, energerizing solenoids for the first 
and third solenoid operated valves 167, 169 thereby closing off the first 
and third branch line 164, 166. Closing of the first branch line reduces 
the air pressure in the rod end 64 of the first operating cylinder 28 and 
in the head end 51 of the second operating cylinder 29 thereby introducing 
a pressure differential in opposition to the force applied to the handle 
by the user. Closing of the third branch line releases the locking 
cylinder 30, thereby unlocking the gear assembly. 
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electrical system of the arm wrestling 
apparatus of the present invention. The electrical system comprises a 
plurality of parallel electrical circuits 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 
196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201 supplied by a pair of electrical wires 188, 
189 connected to any 120 volt, 60 cps A/C power source. 
A compressor circuit 190 comprises an air compressor 31 that supplies 
pressurized air to the above described pneumatic system. 
A lighting circuit 191 provides illumination for the backboards 25. 
A timer circuit 192 comprises a coin-operated switch 32 wired in series 
with a timer 35 having a normally open timer switch 210. The coin-operated 
switch 32 and timer 35 may be mounted at any convenient locations on or 
within the cabinet 2. 
The said timer switch 210 is wired into the power supply line 188 between 
the timer circuit 192 and a locking cylinder control circuit 193. Except 
for the air compressor and backboard lighting circuits 190, 191, no 
circuit is energized except when the timer 35 is on. 
A locking cylinder control circuit 193 comprises a locking cylinder relay 
coil 212 wired in series with a normally open start button relay switch 
211 and the timer switch 210. A normally open locking cylinder relay 
switch 213 shunts the start button relay switch 211. 
A first loss sequence circuit 194 comprises a normally closed first loss 
indicator relay switch 214 in series with a normally closed first pole 215 
of a double pole loss indicator limit switch 216, a normally closed stop 
switch 217, a normally open start button switch 218, and a start button 
relay coil 219 which operates the start button relay switch 211. The start 
button relay switch 211 shunts the start button switch 218. 
A second loss sequence circuit 195 comprises a normally open second pole 
220 of the aforesaid double pole loss indicator limit switch 216 wired in 
series with a normally closed loss centering limit switch 221 and a loss 
indicator relay coil 222, which operates the normally closed first loss 
indicator relay switch 214, and a normally open second loss indicator 
relay switch 223 which shunts the second pole 220 of the loss indicator 
limit switch 216. 
A first solenoid circuit 196 comprises a first solenoid 224 wired in series 
with the start button relay switch 211. 
A second solenoid circuit 197 comprises a second solenoid 225 parallelled 
by a loss indicator light 226, both in series with the normally open 
second loss indicator relay switch 223. 
A third solenoid circuit 198 comprises a third solenoid 227 in series with 
the locking cylinder relay switch 213. 
A first win sequence circuit 199 comprises a win indicator limit switch 228 
in series with the start button relay switch 211 and a win indicator relay 
coil 229 that operates a normally open win indicator relay switch 230. The 
win indicator relay switch 230 shunts the win indicator limit switch 228 
in the first win sequence circuit 199. 
A second win sequence circuit 200 comprises a win centering limit switch 
231 in series with the win indicator relay switch 230 and a stop relay 
coil 232 that operates the normally closed stop relay switch 217 in the 
first loss sequence circuit 194. 
A third win sequence circuit 201 comprises a win indicator light 233 in 
parallel with a plurality of level-of-difficulty lights 234, 235, 236, 237 
which level-of-difficulty lights are selectable by a rotary selector 
switch 238, all in series with the win indicator relay switch 230. 
The air compressor and backboard lighting circuits 190, 191 are energized 
anytime that the arm wrestler apparatus 1 is plugged into a power source. 
The timer circuit 192 is energized by placing a coin in and thereby 
closing the coin-operated switch 32. Current flow in the timer circuit 192 
causes the timer switch 210 in the power line 188 and locking cylinder 
circuit 193 to close. 
Momentary manual closing of the start button switch 218 in the first loss 
sequence circuit 194 will allow current flow through the circuit 194 to 
the start button relay coil 219 to operate and close the start button 
relay switch 211. Subsequent release of the start button switch 218 will 
not interrupt current flow to the start button relay coil 219 since the 
start button relay switch 211 shunts the start button switch 218 and will 
remain closed so long as the timer 35 is on and the timer switch 210, 
first loss indicator relay switch 214, loss indicator limit switch 215, 
and stop relay switch 217 are all closed. Closing of the start button 
relay switch 211 in the locking cylinder control circuit 193 when the 
timer 35 is on and the timer switch 210 is closed will allow current flow 
to the locking cylinder relay coil 212 to operate and close the locking 
cylinder relay switch 213. Subsequent opening of the start button relay 
switch 211 will not interrupt current flow to the locking cylinder relay 
coil 212. Closing of the locking cylinder relay switch 213 in the third 
solenoid circuit 198 allows current flow to the third solenoid 227 to 
close the third normally open solenoid operated valve 169 and thereby 
interrupt the flow of pressurized air to the locking cylinder 30, which 
allows the spring to retract the piston rod thereby releasing and 
unlocking the gear assembly, which will remain released so long as there 
is current flow to the locking cylinder relay coil 212 in the locking 
cylinder control circuit 193 and the locking cylinder relay switch 213 
remains closed. 
Closing of the start button relay switch 211 in the first solenoid circuit 
196 allows current flow to the first solenoid 224 which closes the first 
normally open solenoid operated valve 167 thereby interrupting the flow of 
pressurized air to the rod end 64 of the first operating pneumatic 
cylinder 28 and to the head end 51 of the second operating pneumatic 
cylinder 29, thereby introducing a pressure differential in the operating 
cylinders 28, 29 opposing the force exerted on the handle 90 by the user. 
If the pressurized air overcomes the user, the arm 90 will rotate in such 
manner as to trip the double pole loss indicator limit switch 216 thereby 
opening the first pole 215 of the said switch 216 in the first loss 
sequence circuit 194 and closing the other pole 220 in the second loss 
sequence circuit 195. Opening of the first pole 215 of the loss indicator 
limit switch 216 in the first loss sequence circuit 194 will interrupt 
current flow to the start button relay coil 219, thereby causing the start 
button relay switch 211 to open in the locking cylinder control circuit 
193, the first loss sequence circuit 194, the first solenoid circuit 196, 
and the win sequence circuit 199. Opening of the start button relay switch 
211 will have no immediate effect in the locking cylinder control circuit 
193 since the switch 211 is bypassed by the locking cylinder relay switch 
213; however when the time set on the timer 35 expires, the timer switch 
210 will open, interrupting current flow to the locking cylinder relay 
coil 212 thereby opening the locking cylinder relay switch 213. Opening of 
the locking cylinder relay switch 213 in the third solenoid circuit 198 
will interrupt current flow to the third solenoid 227 thus opening the 
third solenoid operated valve 169 and allowing pressurized air to flow to 
the locking cylinder 30 to lock the gear assembly until the start button 
switch 218 in the first loss sequence circuit 194 is again closed by 
pushing the start button 34. Opening of the start button relay switch 211 
in the first loss sequence circuit 194 will prevent further current flow 
to the start button relay coil 219 until the start button switch 218 is 
momentarily closed again. Opening of the start button relay switch 211 in 
the first solenoid circuit 196 will interrupt current flow to the first 
solenoid 224 thereby opening the first solenoid operated valve 167 and 
allowing the flow of pressurized air to the rod end 64 of the first 
operating pneumatic cylinder 28 and to the head end 51 of the second 
operating pneumatic cylinder 29, thus encouraging the handle to resume a 
vertical position. Opening of the start button relay switch 211 in the win 
sequence circuit 199 prevents current flow to the win indicator relay coil 
229, thereby preventing the occurence of a sequence of events described 
below that occur when a user overcomes the pressurized air and "wins". 
Closing of the second pole 220 of the loss indicator limit switch 216 in 
the second loss sequence circuit 195 will allow current flow to the loss 
indicator relay coil 222 to operate and close the second loss indicator 
relay switch 223 in the second loss sequence circuit 195 and the second 
solenoid circuit 197. Subsequent opening of the second pole 220 of the 
loss indicator limit switch 216 will not interrupt the flow of current to 
the loss indicator coil 222 since the second loss indicator relay switch 
223 shunts the said second pole 220. Closing of the second loss indicator 
relay switch 223 in the second solenoid circuit 197 will allow current 
flow to the second solenoid 225, thus closing the normally open second 
solenoid operated valve 169 to further aid the handle 90 in returning to a 
vertical position, and will also allow current flow to the loss indicator 
light 226, which will become illuminated to indicate the loss to the user. 
Opening of the first solenoid operated valve 167 and closing of the second 
solenoid operated valve 168 in the manner hereinabove described will cause 
the handle 90 to rotate to and through a vertical position; however, as 
the handle 90 passes through a vertical position it trips and opens the 
loss centering limit switch 221 in the second loss sequence circuit 195. 
Opening of the loss centering limit switch 221 interrupts current flow to 
the loss indicator relay coil 222 allowing the loss indicator relay switch 
223 to open. Opening of the second loss indicator relay switch 223 in the 
second solenoid circuit 197 interrupts the current flow to the second 
solenoid 225 thereby reopening the second solenoid operated valve 168 and 
introducing equal pressure into both ends of both operating cylinders 28, 
29 so that the arm 90 will remain in its vertical position. Current flow 
is also interrupted to the loss indicator light 226 causing the light to 
be extinguished. 
If the user overcomes the opposing pressurized air, the arm 90 will rotate 
in such manner as to trip and close the win indicator limit switch 228 
allowing current flow in the first win sequence circuit 199 to the win 
indicator relay coil 229 to operate and close the win indicator relay 
switch 230 in the first, second, and third win sequence circuits 199, 200, 
201. It should be noted that, after a momentary closing of the start 
button switch 218 in the first loss sequence circuit 194, the start button 
relay switch 211 is kept close throughout a cycle of use by the start 
button relay coil 219 in the first loss sequence circuit 194. 
Closing of the win indicator relay switch 230 in the first win sequence 
circuit 199 prevents an interruption of current flow to the win indicator 
relay coil 229 by a subsequent opening of the win indicator limit switch 
228, which is shunted by the win indicator relay switch 230. 
Closing of the win indicator relay switch 230 in the second win sequence 
circuit 200 allows current to flow to the stop relay coil 232 to operate 
and open the stop relay switch 217 in the first loss sequence circuit 194 
when a wire centering limit switch 231 is closed. Opening of the stop 
relay switch 217 in the first loss sequence circuit 194 interrupts current 
to the start button relay coil 219 thereby opening the start button relay 
switch 211 in the locking cylinder control circuit 193, the first loss 
sequence circuit 194, the first solenoid circuit 196, and the first win 
sequence circuit 199. Opening of start button relay switch 211 in the four 
circuits 193, 194, 196, 199 just mentioned will have the same effects 
described above when the switch 211 is opened as a result of opening the 
loss indicator limit switch 213. It should be noted, however, that the 
start button relay switch 211 will not open until the win centering limit 
switch 231 is closed in the second win sequence circuit 200. 
Closing of the win indicator relay switch 230 in the third win sequence 
circuit 201 will allow current to flow to a win indicator light 233 and to 
any one of a plurality of level-of-difficulty lights 234, 235, 236, 237 
selected by a rotary selector switch 238, thereby illuminating the lights. 
After winning, when a user releases the arm 90 it will automatically rotate 
back to and through a vertical position due to the pressurized air 
opposing the user's efforts. However, movement of the arm 90 back to the 
vertical position will momentarily close the win centering a limit switch 
231 thereby momentarily allowing current to flow to the stop relay coil 
232 in the second win sequence circuit 200 to operate and open the stop 
relay switch 217 in the first loss sequence circuit 194, interrupting 
current flow to the start button relay coil 219; opening the start button 
relay switch 211 in the locking cylinder control circuit, with no 
immediate effects for the reasons previously stated but with the delayed 
effects previously described in that circuit; interrupting current to the 
first solenoid 224 in the first solenoid circuit 196, thereby reopening 
the first solenoid operated valve 167; and interrupting current flow to 
the win indicator coil 229 in the first win sequence circuit 199, thereby 
opening the win indicator relay switch 230 in the second win sequence 
circuit 200 to interrupt current flow to the stop relay coil 232, and in 
the third win sequence circuit 201 to extinguish the win indicator light 
233 and the level-of-difficulty light 234, 235, 236, 237. At that point 
the apparatus is ready for another attempt by the user.