Patent GB-414861-A (GB)
Title: Game device
IPC: G07F17/34
Filed: 1933-05-12
Abstract: 414,861. Coin-freed game apparatus. WOLFE, G. F., 506, 5th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. May 12, 1933, No. 13902. [Class 27.] A game device of the kind wherein means are provided for shooting balls into a track associated with an apertured game table, is provided with inclined surfaces causing the ball to run from the track on to the table, and other inclined surfaces on the table to direct the balls towards and away from the apertures. As shown in Fig. 1 the device is contained in a cabinet with a glazed cover through which may be observed the movements of the table 12 which may be rotated or reciprocated by a handle 14. After placing a coin in an aperture in a slide 69 and pressing-in the slide to liberate the balls, the player by depressing a handle 15 shoots a ball tangentially into a vertical track 44, Fig. 3, whence it passes down a stationary incline 43 to the table 12 where it ultimately settles into one of the holes 35 according to the skill of the player in manipulating the table by means of the handle 14. The table is formed with inclined portions as shown in Fig. 3 and carries deflectors 45, 47 adjacent the holes, which are identified by the suit markings and numbers of playing-cards. A number of balls are shot successively on to the table and the player endeavours to play them into a predetermined combination of holes (indicated on a display face 11) thereby obtaining the automatic delivery to an open cup 18, of a prize, (displayed at an opening 17) for example a proportion of the inserted coins in a coin controlled machine. The table is rotated either through a free-wheel giving a one-way rotation, or through a clutch which may be coupled-up by a hand-operated lever to give a positive rotation in either direction. Ball-projecting device. On pressing down the shooting handle 15, Fig. 1, a spring-retracted member 62, Fig. 10, is rotated to release a catch 54 thereby allowing a spring 65 to rotate a shooter arm 52 and project the leading ball G along a channel 56, 58, and thence through a spring gate onto the playing table. During the rise of the arm 52 a follower arm 59 holds back the next ball until the return of the arm. Ball collector. The balls resting in the holes in the playing table are allowed to fall through, and are returned to the shooting mechanism, by the depression and subsequent rise of a collector pan 67, Fig. 7, which is operated by a mechanical connection 70, 73 from the coin slide. The balls run singly down a spiral track 81 as the collector pan rises. Prize-delivery mechanism. Each ball resting in a hole in the playing table closes an electric contact in circuit with a solenoid. If a suitable combination of contacts is closed the solenoid is energized and withdraws a catch to allow a compartmented prize drum to be rotated by a spring-actuated rack and thereby discharge a prize to an open cup 18, Fig. 1. The spring- actuated rack is re-set when the coin slide is pushed in to release the balls for play. Apportioning coins for prizes. The coin slide 69, Fig. 18, when pressed in, rotates a toothed wheel 100 through one step, and normally the coin after falling through the hole in the coin slide is deflected by a shutter 108 into a coin container. At each complete rotation of the toothed wheel, a long tooth 103 moves the shutter aside to allow the fifth coin to fall into one of the compartments of the prize container E.