Patent GB-356372-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for playing a new game
IPC: A63F7/36
Filed: 1930-07-08
Abstract: 356,372. Coin-freed game apparatus. BOWLING, J. D., 647, London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. July 8, 1930, Nos. 20666/30 and 9575/31. [Class 132 (ii).] An apparatus for playing a game wherein a golf or other ball is driven from a tee comprises a funnel-shaped device into which the ball is driven, a channel communicating with the funnel-shaped device, means connected to the channel for conveying the ball to means for registering the strength of the drive, means for retaining the ball or balls in the apparatus, and coin-freed mechanism for releasing the ball or balls to a player or players. As shown, a funnel 1 into which the ball is driven leads to a helical ball race 2 which may be in the form of a flat or conical spiral, or of zig-zag or undulating formation. The coils of the ball race are provided with a succession of apertures 4 through which the ball may fall according to its momentum. The apertures lead to channels 6 which deliver the ball to corresponding tooth-like pockets 11 in a pivoted selecter device 7. The weight of the ball rocks the selector device until the ball descends upon an ejector 11b and falls into a cup 20. The movement of the selector device is a measure of the strength of the drive and is transferred by rods 16 to a suitable registering device 13. The ball in the cup 20 rocks the levers 21, 24 and is tipped into an inclined trough 19 and comes to rest against a curved gate 28. Other balls accumulate behind the first ball. To obtain the balls for play a coin is inserted in the coin-freed mechanism 20 to release a hand-lever 29. On actuation of the hand-lever a rod 31, connected with the handlever by a connection 31a passing through the registering mechanism, rotates the gate 28 and allows a predetermined number of balls to fill the space between the gate 28 and an issuing gate 27. The return movement of the gate 28 causes a hook 33 to impart a rotary movement to the issuing gate 27 and permit the leading ball to run out of the trough for use by the player. After this delivery, the balls are subsequently delivered one at a time by the rocking movements of the pan 20 which is connected to the gate 27 by rods 25. In a modification, where the gates 27, 28 are dispensed with, a drum 41, Fig. 13, with radial plates 42 is arranged at the lower end of the trough 19, and the drum is released to deliver a ball x each time an escapement lever co-operating with pins 43 is actuated by the movement of the rocking pan 20. A detent lever 48 controlled in known manner from the coin-freed mechanism prevents further movement of the drum after the delivery of a predetermined number of balls. In order to release the first ball upon the insertion of a coin, a lever 47a is arranged so as to be raised when the detent lever 48 rises and to transmit the movement to the escapement mechanism holding the drum. The selecting device 7, Fig. 1, may be replaced by a pocketed wheel which rotates under the weight of the ball and delivers the ball to an inclined platform and thence to the tilting cup 20. The rotation of the wheel is transmitted to the registering mechanism by chain gearing.