Patent GB-420749-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for playing table games
IPC: A63D13/00
Filed: 1933-06-02
Abstract: 420,749. Table game apparatus. LOADER, W. R., 15, King's Road, Brighton, Sussex. June 2, 1933, No. 15929. [Class 132 (ii)] [See also Group XVIII] Table game apparatus comprises a board having a plurality of apertures normally closed by traps flush with the board, the traps being operably connected either individually or in groups to keys or levers operable by the player. The glass encased inclined metal or wood playing board 1 is formed with a plurality of inwardly flared apertures 2, each furnished with a flared metal bezel 3 having a flat perforated top 4 flush with the playing board. Each bezel 3 is furnished with a metal trap 5 carried on an arm 5<x> furnished with a pair of depending ears 6 pivotally mounted by a cross-pin 6<a> secured in upstanding ears 7 of brackets 7<a> the trap 5 being controlled by a spring 5b. The traps 5 are arranged in three groups each connected by a wire or catgut 8 line to a corresponding operating key 20, while one trap 5a is conneoted by a wire or line 8<a> to a key 20<a>. The wires 8, 8<a> pass over guide pins and are each connected to one end of a pivoted spring controlled lever 21 having an arm 21<a> projecting through a slot 20<b> in the corresponding key 20. Operation of more than one key 20, 20<a> at a time is prevented by mechanism shown in Fig. 5 comprising spring controlled transversely sliding pins 25 having rounded ends 25<a> which abut in alignment with the pointed lower ends of the keys 20. The apertures 2 communicate with channels 9 of wood or sheet metal which extend beneath a glazed opening 10 having scoring indications adjacent it. The floor of the ball channels 9 is slotted at 9<b> and controlled by a sliding shutter 9<c> working in lateral guides 9<d> and connected by a flexible cord or wire 9<e> to one arm 29<a> of a bell-crank lever 29 pivoted at 29<b>. One arm of the lever is connected to a spring 29<c> and the other arm is connected to a coin freed slide 30 having a slot 31 and provided with a spindle 33 having an operating knob 33<a>. The slide is controlled by a lever 34 pivoted at 35 and controlled by a spring 36 and having a pin 37 normally engaging the slide 30 to prevent movement thereof, disengagement taking place on the insertion of a coin in the slot 31. On the operation of the shutter 9<c> the balls pass through the slot 9<b> into a runway 9<f> leading to a ball lifting device, Figs. 4 and 6, comprising a plunger 40 working in a slotted tube 41 having a ball inlet aperture 42. The plunger 40 is pivoted to a pin-and-slot pivoted lever 44 engaging between pins 45 of an operating plunger 46 working in a slotted tube 47 and controlled by a spring 46<a>. On operation of the plunger 46 a ball is lifted to the top of the tube 41 from which it passes into playing position in the runway 12, and another ball is prevented from entering the aperture 42 by the sleeve 41<a> being simultaneously raised to cover it. A ball in playing position in the runway 12 is projected by a spring controlled rod 50 to be guided by the fences 11 through one or both of the light non-return swing gates 13 and 14 on to the apertured playing surface of the board provided with a spring buffer or deflector 16 and with pins 17 and spring wire fences 18. As the ball rolls over the table the player manipulates the keys 20, 20<a> to open the traps 5, 5<a> to catch the ball, but if unsuccessful the ball passes through the inwardly flared lost ball aperture 15<a> to the lost ball channel 15b. The coin-freed apparatus may be omitted together with the ball lifting device and the spring controlled rod 50, the balls being placed by hand in the runway 12 and projected by cue or rod.