Patent GB-440177-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for playing a game simulating golf
IPC: A63F7/06
Filed: 1934-03-21
Abstract: 440,177. Games simulating golf. SIMON, L. J., Riverside Works, Hertford Road, Barking, Essex. March 21, 1934, No. 8511/33. [Class 132 (ii)] In apparatus for a game simulating golf to be played by one or more players, a golf ball, anchored to a cord wound on a drum, is adapted when struck to rotate the drum and tension a spring, means driven by the spring being provided to control an indicator and thereby afford an indication of the force of the blow imparted to the ball. As shown, a golf ball 4, Fig. 1, is tethered by a cord 3 that passes through a guide-arm 31<a> and is wound around a drum 2. Before each stroke, the cord is wound on to the drum by rotation of a hand-crank 24, axial movement of which to engage a clutch 25 also serving through a lever 27 to brake the cord. The stroke rotates the drum in reverse direction and, through a ratchet 13 and pin 14, rotates a shaft 5, thus stressing a spiral spring 7 and idly moving a slidable contact 18 over a series of spirally-arranged contacts 17<1>. Backward rotation of the shaft being prevented by a detent 11, the spring 7 serves to rotate a gear 8 to which its outer end is connected. Rotation of the gear 8 effects two functions : firstly, through pinion 10 and governor-plate 31 to close a main switch 30 and secondly, to rotate the plate 17 carrying the contacts 171 back to its normal position relative to the contact 18. The contacts 17<1> as they brush past the contact 18 serve to energize one of two magnets 42, Fig. 5, a number of times proportional to the strength of the stroke. The magnet 42 is selected by a manually-operated switch and acts through a ratchet mechanism and endless chain 48 to move a pointer 50 over a representation of a golf " hole " Fig. 9, carried by two rollers 51 and changeable by rotation thereof. The guide arm 31<a> for the tethering cord 3 is universally pivoted and serves when the ball is pushed or pulled to operate a brake lever 38<a>, or when the ball is lofted to operate a lever 39, both levers being adapted to bear on the drum 2 and thus reduce the movement of the selected pointer. In addition, the sideways movement of the guide arm, through contacts 35, 36, Fig. 1, operate indicators 72, Fig. 5, to show the lateral part 76, Fig. 9, of the course in which the ball is assumed to land and thus determines the selection of the kind of club for the ensuing stroke. If the ball is struck so wide that no contact 35 is engaged with the contact 35, the operating circuit for the pointers is broken. Mechanism is provided to compel the use of a lofted club in the event of a pointer coming to rest over areas 78, Fig. 9, representing bunkers. For this purpose, four devices G, Figs. 5 and 7, are provided, each comprising a plate 55 adjustable in slots 53 for alignment with the bunkers. A plate 61 is pivoted to each plate 55 and is urged by a spring 71 into a position in which it contacts a switch-arm 57. Pivoted on a stud 60 to the plate 61 is an arm 58 inclined by a spring 70 into the path of one of the pointers 50. The arm 58 carries a switch 59 arranged in parallel with the switch 57 in the circuit of the associated pointerpropelling magnet 42. The closing of main switch 30, Fig. 1, energizes a solenoid 56, Fig. 7, to elevate a core 63 and lock the plate 61 in position. For normal strokes, this position is that in which switch 57 is closed, so that the opening of switch 59 by the passage of the pointer 50 is ineffective. However, if the shot is played from a bunker area, the arm 58 is depressed by the pointer prior to the stroke being made, this movement being communicated to the plate 61 which becomes locked in a position in which the switch 57 is open. Now, when the pointer opens the switch 59 the pointer-operating circuit will be broken. However, if the ball is lofted, the consequent rocking of arm 31<a>, Fig. 1, is communicated through a longitudinal projection on a shaft 68, Fig. 7, to the plate 61 prior to its being locked, with the result that the switch 59 is moved in closed condition to a position in which the pointer moves ineffectively over it. The degree of loft necessary to accomplish this effect is variable by adjusting an arm 65 that controls the angle of the arm 58 relative to the plate 61. In a modification, the pictorial representation of the course may be projected on a screen, or the index projected on to a fixed representation, or the representation may be made movable with respect to fixed pointers.