Patent Abstract:
A missile responsive amusement apparatus comprising a target mounted upon one end of an elongated target arm, the latter being pivotally mounted to a box-like frame, whereupon when a missile strikes the target, the target arm pivots in a direction causing its other end to engage and rotate a latch bar for lifting latching teeth out of notches located in a pair of spindle cams, thereby releasing a spindle bar to which a seat is attached for rotation in a direction causing the seat to swivel downward for dropping a person sitting thereupon into a tank of water below the seat. Thereafter, via spring biasing of the spindle cams and target arm, the apparatus can be reset by rotating the seat upward until it latches in its upright position via the latching teeth engaging the notches of the spindle cams attached to the spindle bar, while concurrently causing the latching bar to rotate for pivoting the target arm back to its &#34;cocked&#34; or &#34;ready&#34; position.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the present invention relates generally to amusement devices and systems, and more specifically to such devices and systems that are responsive to a missile such as a ball striking a target for causing a seat or platform to swivel downward, dropping therefrom an object or person sitting upon the seat prior to the missile striking the target. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In Gaus, U.S. Pat. No. 1,991,610, a complicated mechanical apparatus is disclosed for dropping a person from a seat into a pool of water upon the striking of a ball or like missile on a target. The mechanism includes a plurality of bevel gears, level arms, rods, and so forth, for concurrent with the seat moving downward to drop the person, causing an animated object to move toward the person as he drops into the water. 
     In Abraham et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,262,704, when a target is struck by a missile, a rod having one end connected to the target is moved in a manner for unlatching a mechanism holding, at a height, an animated object, for permitting the object to fall downward via a guided slotway. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a target mounted upon one end of an elongated and pivotally mounted target arm, whereupon the striking of a missile against the target, the target moves in a direction causing the other end of the target arm to engage and rotate a latching bar means in a direction for releasing latching cam means, in turn causing a seat associated therewith to swivel downward for dropping a person or other object into a water tank, whereafter means are provided for automatically resetting the present apparatus by merely rotating the seat back to its original, upright and latched position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be hereinafter more specifically described with reference to some exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawing wherein like items are indicated by the same reference designation: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, from the right, of a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view, from the right, showing more details than FIG. 1 of certain components; 
     FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view, from the rear, showing the target tripping mechanism and seat asssembly; 
     FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view, of a portion of the right side of the tripping mechanism; 
     FIG. 5 is a rear detail view of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial detail view, of the left side, of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial detail view, of the right side, of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial detail view, of the front, of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded front perspective detail view from the right of the water tank of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded front perspective detail view from the left of a portion of the seat assembly of the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the construction of a latching tooth of the invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the drain assembly for the water tank of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention was actually reduced to practice by the present invention as shown in the FIGS. 1 through 12, and with reference to Table 1 showing the material and dimensions used for substantially each item. Although specific materials, dimensions, and hardware are indicated in Table 1, such indications are for purposes of example only and not meant to be limiting, in that different dimensions, hardware, and materials may be substituted therefore without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 through 7, and Table 1, the various items of the invention are either welded or bolted together, or otherwise secured. A canopy 45 is provided for shielding a person sitting on seat 8 from the sun, and for cosmetic purposes. Typically, the frame is fabricated from steel tubing and angle iron, for example. 
     
                                           TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________REF.                     REF.NO. DESCRIPTION          NO. DESCRIPTION__________________________________________________________________________ 1  1 ea. @ 1/8&#34; × 48&#34; × 48 &#34; * ALUMINUM                    27  1 ea. @ 11/2&#34; × 11/2&#34; × 16 ga.                        × 5&#39;0&#34; STEEL                        TUBE 2  1 ea. @ 3/16&#34; × 47 3/4&#34; × 48&#34; *                    28  1 ea. @ 1&#34; dia. × 55&#34; × 171/2&#34;                        STEEL    ALUMINUM                 LATCH BAR 3  4 ea. @ 11/2 dia. × 4&#39;3&#34; *                    29  1 ea. @ 1&#34; × 1&#34; × 14 ga. ×                        18&#34; STEEL    ALUMINUM TUBE            ANGLE 4  3 ea. @ 21/2&#34; × 21/2&#34; × 3/16&#34;                    30  2 ea. STEEL LATCHING TEETH    ALUMINUM ANGLE 5  4 ea. @ 1&#34; dia. × 2&#34; LONG × 1/4&#34;                    31  2 ea. @ 3/8 &#34; × 21/4&#34;  CAM BOLT, NUT    EYEBOLT                  &amp; LOCK WASHER 6  4 ea. SPRINGS        32  4 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 11/4&#34; STAINLESS HEX                        BOLT,                        NUT, &amp; LOCK WASHER 7  2 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 1&#34; × 1&#34; HARDENED                    33  12 ea. @ 11/4&#34; × 11/2&#34; HEX BOLT, NUT,    STEEL D NOTCH STOPS OR STEPS                        &amp; LOCK WASHER 8  1 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 16&#34; × 44&#34; *                    34  24 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 11/4&#34; STAINLESS STEEL    ALUMINUM SEAT            HEX BOLT NUT, &amp; LOCK WASHER 9  5 ea. @ 1&#34; BALLBEARING PILLOW                    35  8 ea. @ 3/8&#34; × 21/2&#34; CAM BOLT, NUT,    BLOCK                    &amp; WASHER10  1 ea. @ 1&#34; dia. × 48&#34; *                    36  68 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 11/4&#34; STAINLESS STEEL                        HEX    ALUMINUM BAR             BOLT, NUT, &amp; LOCK WASHER11  2 ea. @ 1&#34; × 51/2&#34; * ALUMINUM                    37  6 ea. @ 3/8&#34; × 21/2&#34; CAM BOLT, NUT,    LATCH SPINDLE            &amp; WASHER12  1 ea. @ 48&#34; × 48&#34; × 236. ACRYLIC                    38  2 ea. @ 3/8&#34; × 2 3/4&#34; CAM BOLT, NUT,    PLASTIC (CLEAR)          &amp; WASHER13  1 ea. @ 471/2&#34; × 48&#34; × 1/2&#34; ACRYLIC                    39  1 ea. @ 3/32&#34; × 2&#34; × 47&#34; *                        ALUMINUM    PLASTIC (CLEAR)14  1 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 11/2&#34; × 2&#34; × 4&#39;5&#34;                    39&#39; 2 ea. @ 3/32&#34; × 2&#34; × 451/2&#34; *                        ALUMINUM    STEEL ANGLE15  4 ea. @ 1&#34; × 1&#34; × 16 ga. × 9&#39;0&#34;                    40  8 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 2&#34; × 4&#34; *                        ALUMINUM ANGLE    STEEL TUBE16  2 ea. @ 1&#34; × 2&#34; × 1&#34; × 16&#34; × 1/4                    41  1 ea. @ 1/4&#34; × 3&#34; × 7&#34; ×                        3&#34; STEEL    STEEL CHANNEL            BRACKET17  4 ea. @ 3&#34; × 31/2&#34; × 1/4&#34; STEEL                    42  1 ea. @ 3/4&#34; × 3/4&#34; × 5&#39;0&#34;                        × 16 ga.    WINDOW BRAZE             TARGET ARM18  4 ea. @ 1&#34; × 1&#34; × 1/8&#34;× 4&#39;0&#34;                    43  1 ea. @ 10&#34; dia. × 16 ga TARGET    STEEL ANGLE WINDOW FRAME19  8 ea. @ 1&#34; × 1&#34; × 1/8&#34; × 4&#34;                    44  DRAIN BUSHING (1&#34; TANK ADAPTER)    STEEL ANGLE FRAME BRACKET20  4 ea. @ 1&#34; × 1&#34; × 16 ga. × 4&#39;2&#34;                    45  1 ea. @ 7&#39;6&#34; × 4&#39;6&#34;  CANOPY    STEEL TUBE21  3 ea. @ 1&#34; × 1&#34; × 16 ga. × 4&#39;0&#34;                    46  4 ea. @ 1/2&#34; × 3/16&#34; COUNTERSUNK BOLT    STEEL TUBE22  8 ea. @ 1&#34; × 2&#34; 1/8&#34; × 4&#34; STEEL                    47  1 ea. @ 1&#34; × 2&#34; × 1&#34; × 4                        3/4&#34; × 1/4&#34;    ANGLE FRAME BRACKET      STEEL CHANNEL23  1 ea. @ 1&#34; × 1&#34; × 16 ga. × 4&#39;1/2&#34;                    48  1 ea. @ 1&#34; × 41/2&#34; VERTICAL SHAFT    STEEL TUBE24  2 ea. @ 11/2&#34; × 11/2&#34; × 16 ga. × 9&#39;2&#34;                    49  1 ea. ALUMINUM LADDER    STEEL TUBE           50  2 ea. RUBBER BUMPER25  1 ea. @ 11/2&#34; × 11/2&#34; × 16 ga. × 4&#39;3&#34;                    101 1 ea. 1&#34; × 3&#34; PIPE NIPPLE    STEEL TUBE26  2 ea. @ 11/2&#34; × 11/2&#34; × 16 ga. × 47                    103&#34;                        1 ea. 1&#34; GATE VALUE    STEEL TUBE               *  606-T6 TEMPERED ALUMINUM__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     As shown in FIG. 8, the front of the target apparatus of the invention further includes a clear or transparent shield 12 of acrylic plastic, for example, for protecting a person sitting on seat 8 from being struck by an errant ball or like missile thrown at target 43. One example of a method of mounting the shield 12 is via use of the hardware indicated, including window frame 18 and window brazes 17. Also, the front panel 13 of the water tank (see FIG. 9) is fabricated from a clear or transparent material such as acrylic plastic, for example. The transparent shield 12 and panel 13 permit observers to see a person sitting on the seat 8, and falling into a tank of water subsequent to a missile striking target 43, as will be described. The sides 2&#39; and back 2, and the bottom 1, of the water tank are fabricated from aluminum sheets, and assembled together, as shown in FIG. 9, using aluminum tubing 3, angle 4, struts 39, 39&#39;, and angles 40. Appropriate sealing material is used around the seams of the water tank to make it leak proof. A tank adapter 44 is mounted through the back panel of the tank near the bottom panel 1, as shown. FIG. 12 shows a pictorial of the drainage system 44, 101, 103, that protrudes from the outside surface of the back panel 2. Rubber stops 50 are included on the upper inside surface of the back panel 2 for dampening the fall of the seat 8. In FIG. 10, the seat assembly includes a seat 8 welded to a bar 10 (also see FIGS. 2 and 3). The latch spindles 11 are welded to the spindle bar 10 proximate its ends, respectively, as shown. Ballbearing pillow blocks 9 are used to rotationally secure the ends of the spindle bar 10 to the inside surface of the frame 24. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 and 11, latch teeth 30 are fabricated from steel members 30&#39;, 30&#34;, 30&#34;&#39; via welds W as shown. An eyebolt 5 is welded to one of members 30&#34;&#39; as shown, with the ends of members 30&#34;&#39; being welded to latch bar 28, and positioned as shown. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a target 43 is rigidly mounted upon an extreme end of a target arm 42. A vertical shaft 48 is rigidly attached to the underside of target arm 42 near the latter&#39;s other end, with the end of the shaft 48 being rotationally mounted via a bushing 9 to a protruding end of a cross member 27, as shown. The horizontally aligned portion of latch bar 28 is mounted via bushings or ballbearing pillow blocks 9, and channels 16 to vertical members 24. One end of latch bar 28 is bent at about ninety degrees and oriented as shown for engaging an end portion of target arm 42. A U-shaped bracket 41 is mounted to cross member 27 as shown, for providing a stop means for limiting the movement of target arm 42 and latch arm 28 which are moveable between the upright arms of bracket 41. Springs 6 are mounted between one arm of bracket 41 and eyelets 5 on either side of vertical shaft or pivot arm 48, as shown, for urging target arm 42 against the end of the bent portion or vertically oriented portion of latch arm 28. Other springs 6 are mounted between eyelets 5 attached to latch spindles 11 and their associated latching teeth 30, respectively, for urging the latching teeth 30 against their associated latch spindles 11. Such spring biasing ensures that the latching teeth 30 firmly engage the notch stops 7 (see FIG. 10) of latch spindles 11, respectively, for ensuring that the seat 8 is firmly latched into its upright position in the ready or cocked state of the present target apparatus invention. Also, the combination of the spring biasing of the target arm 42, and latch spindles 11 with associated latch teeth 30, provides for automatic resetting of the apparatus by merely raising the seat 8 to its latched position, as will be described below. 
     In operation, water is placed in the water tank, and the seat 8 is latched into its upright position as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. A person climbs a ladder 49 (partially shown in FIG. 1) and sits on seat 8 above the water tank. When a ball or like missile strikes target 43, the associated end of target arm 42 moves back, causing its other end to move foward and rotate latch arm 28 in a direction for lifting the latching teeth 30 away from the notch stops or surfaces 7 of the spindle latches 11, respectively, permitting the seat 8 to swivel downward, dropping the person seated thereupon into the water. The spindle latches 11 will also rotate in the same direction as the seat. When seat 8 so swivels downward or drops it will strike the rubber stops or bumpers 50 mounted on the back of the tank, as previously mentioned. The present target apparatus is thereafter reset by raising up the seat 8 until the latching spindles 11 rotate back to a position permitting the latching teeth 30 to drop down against the notch stops 7, respectively, thereby completing the latching or cocking operation. As the latching teeth 30 so drop into their respective latching positions with their associated latch spindles 11, latch arm 28 is automatically rotated and moves the target arm 42 back into its cocked position. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, other embodiments may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art which fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0