Patent GB-297128-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for playing games
IPC: G07F17/38
Filed: 1927-04-07
Abstract: 297,128. Smith, G. April 7, 1927. Games played with moving figures.-A coin freed apparatus for playing a game of cricket comprises an undulating playing field a, Fig. 1, on to wtich a ball is delivered from a vertical tube 6 after tne insertion of two coins and the actuaticn of a knob 80, Fig. 4. The ball rolls in front of a figure representing a bowler c, the arm r of which is caused by the actuation of a handle 69 to propel the ball towards a batsman d, the upper part of which is rotatable by a handle 75 to cause a bat d' to strike the ball. If the ball falls through holes in front of the wicket or in front of fielders f the batsman is out, but if it falls through boundary holes it represents a run. Ball shoots v lead from the boundary holes to a trough s and shoots w lead from the other holes to a. trough t. The balls pass from the troughs s, t through holes y, z to the upper end of a tray x leading to the ball magazine 6. The upper end of the tray is divided into two feed channels 2, 3 closed by pivoted flaps past which the returned balls are pushed by rods 33, 34 actuated through a link 32 by an eyed arm 30 on a shaft 14. The shaft 14 is actuated from the front knob 80 through a roller 83 and crank arm 85. The shaft 14 through a coin rotates a shaft 13 having an arm 40, Fig. 7, connected by a link 42 to one arm 41 of a bellcrank lever 7, 41. The arm 7 raises the balls in the magazine 6 to deliver the top ball on the playing field, the column of balls being held up by a spring-controlled detent. In a modification, Fig. 9, the position of the bat may be varied when the batsman strikes the ball. Both the batsman's arms d' are fixed to a spring-controlled rotatable shaft 88 carrying a fixed arm 89 which is provided with a roller engaging a cam 91. The cam 91 may be turned to adjust the arms d<4> by a link 92 controlled by a suitable knob. In the application to a game of hockey, the players disposed on the field in their proper positions are each constructed like a batsman and provided with a hockey stick. Depressions instead of holes are provided near each player in which the ball can rest in position to be struck by a stick. The players of each team are operate in one or more groups. Coin action, mechanical-connection.-The first coin inserted in a shoot 52 is directed by a switch piece 60, Fig. 7, pivoted at 61, to a forked return shoot at the top of which it rests on two sliding pins 56, 57, Fig. 4. The coin sets the switch 60 so that the second coin drops to a bucket 18 on the shaft 13 and rests on an arm 20 carried by the shaft 14. When the shaft 14 is rocked the arm 20 presses againt the coin to rock the shaft 13, which is held in rocked position by a detent 25 until the shaft 14 is returned. The return of the shaft 14 allows the coin to drop and frees the detent to allow the shaft 13 to return to its initial position. Returning coin.-After a game has been won, the ball is pushed past its hinged fiap. The flaps are connected to arms 45, 46 which rock respectively a shaft 15 and a frame 49 loose on the shaft 15. The shaft 15 and the frame actuate the sliding pins 56, 57 respectively so that, according to which player has won, one or other of the pins 56, 57 are withdrawn and the coin first inserted is returned to that player through his branch of the return shoot.