Patent GB-190500919-A (GB)
Title: A New or Improved Game.
Inventor: ROYER PAUL
Filed: 1905-01-17
Granted: 1906-01-17
Abstract: 919. Royer, P. Jan. 17. Race games; scoring and marking; games played with model animals, electrical appliances, and magnets. - Relates to a game of skill in which the players operate buttons so as to control electrically the speed of motors, which move around concentric tracks c, Fig. 1, and which carry, by means of an upright needle &c., representations of animals such as dogs &c. The object of the players is to bring these animals in line with an animal such as a fox &c., which is driven in a similar manner, but at a constant or regulated speed, over the central track c<1>. Each track c is covered with a cloth or brushwood, except for four spaces a, arranged so that the players' dogs appear in turn, so that each player sees his animal for only short intervals of time ; in order, therefore, to bring his animal level with the central one, which is visible except when it passes under a lair b, each player has to gauge the speed of the central one. Before starting the game, each player deposits money in slots, which lead by way of shoots 10, Fig. 13. to compartments 10<1> of a cash-box 9, from which the money is taken by an attendant, part of it being placed in a till, and the aperture of which is normally closed by a pivoted plate, which, when moved to give access to a slot in the till, completes the circuit to a number of electro-magnets h, Fig. 5, and by this means sets in motion the motors d which carry the animals. At the same time, a signal device is operated to indicate the commencement of the game. The electro-magnets h operate by attracting spring arms g, which, by contacting with metal parts i, j, complete circuits to the motors d. Normally, in the stationary position of the cars, the arms g are kept out of contact with both connexions i, j by means of hooks k attached to the motors ; but, when the magnets h are energized, the arms g contact with the parts j, and the motors commence running At the commencement, each motor d acts on a ratchetwheel f, Fig. 6, and rotates it through one tooth, and so causes a spring arm f<3> to leave a dead contact f<2> and to connect it with a contact f<2> which is in circuit with the magnet h ; so the arm g remains on the contact j until, at the commencement of the third revolution of the motor, the arm f<3> again presses against a dead contact, and the current to the electro-magnet being cut off, the arm g moves, by spring action, into contact with the part i, and then, at the completion of the third revolution of the motor, the book k breaks the circuit and the motor stops. The current is reduced before the end of the revolution by means of resistances which are inserted between the rails. The speeds of the motors carrying the dogs can be varied by turning knobs which are arranged to add resistances to, or short-circuit resistances from, the circuit. In order to indicate the winner of the game, an indicator board, Fig. 2, is provided with indicators 2 to indicate when the motors d pass over certain contacts q of the tracks c<1>, and with indicators 3 to indicate if, at the same time, the central motor d was passing over a similar contact q<1>. The contacts q, q<1> close a circuit to the indicator when a brush e, Fig. 5, on the motor contacts with two insulated metal wires r, s, Fig. 12, which form the contacts q. A button has to be pressed in order to complete the circuit to the indicator, and if, when this button is pressed, both indicators 2, 3 rise, the player whose dog is in line with the fox is declared the winner. If only one indicator is actuated, the current to one player's motor is cut off, but, when the game is won, all the motors are brought to rest and a signal is rung. The indicators can be re-set by means of a pneumatic device which acts on levers 26 connected by cross-rods 27, and coupled together by means of rods 29. The rods 27 raise the indicators, and they are then held by spring hooks. The top indicators 3 may set in motion a musical-box or a phonograph. In order to indicate the number of laps traversed by the motor d that carries the fox, the motor is caused to actuate a ratchet-wheel, with six teeth, the wheel driving by suitable gearing a lamp having six faces. In order to give change to the players, or to deliver a prize to the winner, each player is provided with a compartment 4, Fig. 23, which can be put into communication, by means of a lever acting on a shutter 18, with a shoot 6, into which coins can be placed and from which they are discharged by means of a spring-actuated plunger. Coins not reaching the chamber 4 return to the cash-box. The bottom of the shoot 6 may be formed of glass 21 supported by a cork layer 22. The plunger may be pulled back directly against a spring ; or motion may be transferred to the plunger rod 24, Fig. 26, by means of a forked bar, which moves on a guide 23 and engages a notch in the bar 24. The forked bar can be moved by means of a cord passing over a pulley. The shoot 6 may be replaced by a basket travelling on a cable, or by a plate carried by a motor. The game may be arranged as a shooting game, in which case the object aimed at may be fixed, and, when the double contactbutton is operated, a gun may be caused to be discharged. The object moving on the central rail can be controlled by a player. Various animals may be represented, and the animals may be driven by air or other motors, or by other means, such as magnets, and other arrangements of games may be played. The tracks may take the shape of a cafÚ table or clock; and the apparatus may be coin-freed. The apparatus may be used for games of skill resembling " baccarat" and " chemin de '' fer," in which case the animals carried by the motors d are replaced simply by coloured marks. In this case, the players could be arranged in two sides. The game may take the form of a race of balloons arranged in the ceiling and bidden by clouds, or races of motor or other boats hidden by waves &c. According to the Provisional Specification, the starting of the motors, and the switching in of the various speeds that the player can utilize, are automatically effected by electromechanical means when a coin is introduced into the apparatus.