Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Receiving Payments and Permitting the Shooting of Projectiles or the like at a Target in Exchange for Euch Payments.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1840
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DAVID RICHMOND JOHNSTON, of 9, Rue des Menuisier,
Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Medical Student.]
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Receiving Payments
and Permitting the Shooting of Projectiles or the like at a Target
in Exchange for Euch Payments.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firin of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to apparatus for receiving payments and permitting the
shooting of projectiles or the like at a target in exchange therefor, that is to say, the
apparatus is designed on the deposit therein of a coin or the like, to permit the aiming
and projection of the said coin or other projectile at or into a target, and in some
instances the obtaining of an article or of information.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a suitable box or case in or
at one end of which I fix the target or other device. At the other end I provide a
gun or other suitable means for propelling or expelling the dart or projectile or its
equivalent worked in any convenient manner but so constructed that the gun or
apparatus cannot be used or operated until released by the insertion of a coin or coins
or equivalent. The gun is mounted on a ball and socket joint or other suitablo
arrangement to enable it to be pointed or directed as may be desired. The target or
targets may have an arrangement fixed to them so that, on the centre or any other
part as may be arranged being struck, a figure is exhibited or a bell or bells sounded
or other musical device operated, or an article delivered to the user of the apparatus
or other operation performed as may be desired. I may use the coin itsolf as the
projectile. The targets may be mechanical or moving or of any other kind.
I sometimes use a blow pipe to expel or propel darts or equivalents.
Dated this 4th day of Fahrmory 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Receiving Payments
and Permitting the Shooting of Projectiles or the like at a Target
in Exchange for such Payments.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to apparatus for receiving payments and giving value in
exchange therefor.
My improved apparatus is so constructed that the insertion of a coin therein permits
the shooting of the said coin or of any other suitable missile or projectile at or into a
fixed or movable target or other object.
The said target or other object to be aimed at or into, is preferably so arranged in
combination with mechanism for the delivery of cigarettes or other articles or for
effecting other operations that when but not until the coin is properly directed against
and strikes or enters the said target or other object the said delivery mechanism will
be operated or will be released so that it may be operated by hand.

page_text: Iusly provide a suitable box or case, in or at one end of which I fix the target
At the other end of the said box or case I provide a gun or cannon or equivalen
dovice for projecting or forcibly discharging the missiles or projectiles and directing
the same at the target, but so constructe that the gun, or cannon or other devic
cannot be used or operated until one or more coins or their equivalents have been
inserted into the apparatus,
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan partly in horizontal section.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the lines, ☞ Figure 1, and
Figure 3 an elevation showing one form of my improved apparatus.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line y y Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line Figures 1 and 2, and
Figure 6 is a vertical section showing a undification of my improved apparatus.
Figure 7 is a front elevation partly in vertical section showing another modification
thereof.
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figures 9 and 10 are horizontal sections showing further modifications.
Figure 11 is a front elevation partly in vertical section showing a still further
slight modification.
Figure 12 is a vertic longitudinal central section illustrating a molification of the
gun or cannon employed in the apparatus shown in the preceding Figures.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the box or case, B is the slot or aperture for the insertion of the coins into the
apparatus B, is the coin-ebute, ('(' are hoppers for containing cigarettes or other
articles to be delivered D, D, are the apertures through which the said cigarettes or
other articles are delivered.
The top and sides of the box or case & are preferably formed of glass or other
transparent material as at A The Loppers are arranged at one era of the
box or case A. At the other end of the sail box or case and upon a platform A
I mount a gun or cammon a having a sit or hole & extending 1 ngirudinary through
it of the requisite dimensions to permit the passage of a coin of the desired vaime in a
vertical position. is a slit or aperture which communicates with the hole and
which, when the gun or cannon a is in its normal position is situated directly under-
neath the coin-chute B. is a guard or guide-plate to ensure the entrance of the
coin into the lit 61. The gun or cannon is mounted upon a carriage secured to a
circular plat or turntable e pivoted at e to a standard firmly secured to the boy or
case A. The said circular plate or turntable el is arrange 1 to turn freely in an opening
provided for the purpose in the platform A are guides for steadying the
motion of the said circular plate or turntable, and is an extension of the said turn-
table arranged to move in a recess A in the said platform A and thus limit the
movement of the said gun or cannon for lateral pointing. A spring or springs d'are
provided which tend to maintain the gun or enunon a in its normal position beneath
the coin chute B¹.
is a handle fixed upon a spindle e' which is arranged to turn
freely in suitable bearings in the extension. By moving the said handle e to the
right or left the turntable c¹ can be turned or rotated through an angle sufficient for
the lateral pointing or aiming the gun or cannon. For effecting the vertical pointing
or aiming of the said gun or cannon, I provide upon the spindle e a crank-arm
which is coupled by means of a connecting rod to the short arm of a holl-crank-
lever pivoted at g' to a brackety secured to the turntable e'. The long arm of the
said bell-crank-lever is coupled by means of a connecting rod to the breach of
the gun or cannon. It will be seen that, by turning the said handle e so as to rotato
the spindle e' thereof in one or the other direction, the breech of the gun or cannon a
may be raised or lowered through the action of the crank-arm, connecting rod/
bell-crank-lever g and connecting rod and the vertical pointing or aiming thus
effected. The breech end of the gun is normally retained in its highest position by
the spring d'. a', a' are the sights for facilitating the aiming or pointing of the gun
.

page_text: or cannon. A is a window provided in the rear end of the said box or case A to
enable the person operating the device to obtain a view of the said sights a, a¹
and of the targets hereinaftor described so that he can conveniently aim the said gun
or cannon.
For discharging or projecting the coin inserted into the slit or aperture 6¹ in the
gun or cannon, I provide a ball-crank-lever i arranged to turn freely upon a shaft j
supported in the carriage c. The upper arm of the said bell-crank-lever extends into
the hole through a slit or aperture in the underside of the gun or cannon, and is
formed as hereinafter described for discharging or forcibly propelling or projecting
the said coin. The lower arm of the said bell-crank-lever i is forked and each part
of the fork is provided with a pin or projection . These projections bear against
the projecting extremities of springs & wound or coiled upon the said shaft j, the other
extremities of the said springs being firmly secured to the carriage c. I is a connect-
ing rod by means of which the upper arm of the said bell-crank-lever is coupled to
one extremity of a lever m pivoted at m³ to a bracket m² secured to the box or case A.
n is a handle which is firmly attached to or formed with a spindle n' supported in
suitable bearings in the rear of the box or case A and in a bracket n² secured to the
said box or case. Upon the spindle n' is fixed a disc o which is provided with pins
or projections o¹. One arm of the lever n extends into the path of the said pins or
projections of so that, when the disc o is rotated through the inedium of the handle n
and spindle in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 3 and 4, the said
arm of the lever m will be raised by one or other of the said pins or projections o¹ and
caused to turn the lever i about its pivot and will then be released. The upper arm of
the bell-crank-lever i is so shaped that, under normal conditions, the coin inserted into
the slit b¹ is supported upon a rounded surface of the said arm as shown in dotted
lines in Figure 2. The front of the said arm is cut away or recessed as at * for the
purpose hereinafter specified.
When the gun or cannon a has been properly sighted or aimed and it is desired to
project or discharge the coin therefrom the handle is turned so as to raise the free
extremity of the lever m by means of one or other of the pins or projections o¹ on
the disc o and thus through the medium of the connecting rod turn the bell-crank-
lever about its pivot so as to permit the coin to drop into the cut away portion or
recess of the said lover at the same time compressing the springs k hy means of the
pins When the handle n is turned sufficiently to cause the pin or projection o¹
upon the cisco which is in engagement with the lever m to release the said lever the
bell-crank-lever i suddenly resumes its normal position under the action of the
springs and the coin is forcibly projected or discharged from the gun or cannon a
through the hole b.
In the rear end of the hoppers C are provided suitable targets p the central
portions or bull's eyes of which are discs 7 fixed upon rods or spindles q¹. r, rare
push-pieces for effecting the delivery of a cigarette or other article when the delivery
mechanism is released as hereinafter described. s is a hopper situated beneath the
discs 9 and targets p for the reception of the coins discharged or projected from the
gun or cannon a. The hopper & communicates by means of an inclined plane or
chute with a money drawer or receptacle t.
For permitting the delivery of the articles from either of the hoppers C by means
of the corresponding push-piece when the corresponding disc q is struck by a coin
or projectile discharged or projected from the gun or cinnon a, I prefer to employ the
following mechanism that is to say-In the lower extremity of each of the hoppers C
is an aperture or passage C¹ beneath which is arranged a slido piece u provided with
a slot . These slide pieces rest upon a partition u provided with slots and abut
against the inner ends of the handles or push piecus r.
Under normal conditions the slot of each of the slides u coincides with the
aperture or passage Cso that the lowerinost cigaretto or other article rests in the
said slot upon the partition. When either of the slide-pieces is moved by
means of the corresponding handle or push piece so as to cause the slot u' to
coincide with the slot u³ in the partition u³, the article contained in the said slot u¹

page_text: will drop through the said slut and through the aperture D into a suitable tray D¹|
from which it can be conveniently removed by hand.
To prevent the operation of either of the Slide pieces u by means of its hamilu or
push-piece before the corresponding disc y las heen struck by a coin discharged or
projected from the gun or cannon a 1 provide upon the extremity of each slide-
piere a rol or stem which extends through the wall of the hopper and bears
against a plate or sẵn't rar pivoted at øl to a bracket n't he to the partition
thus preventie: the movement of the subespierre a A hole is formed in the
brcle, which, when the said plate or shatter is moved usile as hereinafter
de rite, the adjacent extremity of the rol or teme can pass through,
A spring is combinel with each rod or stem e for returning the slide piece a to
its normal position after it has been operated to deliver a cigarette or other article.
A plate or piece q³ is provided upon ench rod or spindle q' and is arranged to strike
against the plate or shuter e and remove it from the path of the rul or stem
the diy is struck by a coin,
at
when
The rol or stem extends through a lot in the lower end of a piece „° pivoted
to instige 21 attache I to the wils of the hopper C. Throl or stem r
is provide with a pin or and lapted to hear against the pistei, pieces when
the said rond or stem is mover inward. A spring e hears against the upper end of
the puted piece ant tends to maintain the lower end th roof in contact with the
pin or stud Akel shaped piece is pivotel at to the partition a² and is
arrang d to i vartuated by the jivotel pices when the latter, is moved by the rot
or stem e in the operation of the delivery moddanism, so that the sail hik--tripodt
piece will at mon hook or prospering on the plates and thus return the discy
to its normal [osition, fte, it has hien operated by a coin. A vibrating plate z is
provided in ach in the hopers. This patei pivot at to the said hopper
and is connected to the upp end of the rivoted piece by nems of a connecting
rod 2ª extending though snit de holes in the of this hipper C. The pate
will therefore he sit rate in each operation of the delivery mech. im by the pivotedl
речч so as to shake the cigarettes or other articles contained in the hopper and
thus obviate any liability to sticking or jamming of the said articles therein.
"
.
The box or A provid d with sitable doors for permitting arepss to the
hoppers (' and other parts of the «pparatus.
discha
this
.
coin of the
Passes down
The said gun
le
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say
proper value having been inserted through the coin it or aperture B
the chut B into the si: in the breech of the gun or cinnon «.
or cannoa is then aimed or pointed at one of the dis of the targets p by
means of the handle, the sights a and the target bring observed through the
windor X. When this is accomplished to the satisfaction of the operator,
or projects the in from the said gun or cumon by turning the
haulle If the eain thus discharged or projected from the gun or rinnon strikes
se q yo as to move it inwards, the plate or shutter ir is pushed a-ile by
he pie thus opening the aperture ², so that the operator is enabled
The delivery of a cigarete or other article from the correspon fing hopper C
into the tray D by pushing inward the handle or push-piece r.
When pressure is
removed from the handle or push-pieen 2, the slide-pieen is returned to its normal
position by the spring and another cigarette or other article drops into the
slot from the hopper ('. The coins discharged or projected from the gun or
cannon a drop into the hopper and pass down the chute to the money drawor
or receptacle, from which they can be removed when desired by unlocking and
opening the said drawer or receptacle.
me ins
to rili
K
Either of the dises y may be aimed it, and the operator may if desired strike
both of the said dises with coins di-charge or projected from the g or cannon
before operating the handles or push-pieces for the delivery of the articles from the
hoppers Neither of the said dises, however, will return to its normal or
operative position until the corresponding handle or push-piece is operated and
released.

page_text: The coin chute B' may, if desired be provided with any suitable device for pre-
venting fraudulent use of the apparatus.
I sometimes provide suitable means whereby, on the centre or other part of the
target being struck, a figure will be exhibited or a bell or bells sounded or a musical
device operated, or other operation performed as may be desired.
For this purpose I arrange an ordinary clockwork musical box with moving figures
connected by any suitable mechanism with the target so that when the said target
is struck it removes a detent or other equivalent device and allows the said musical
box to operate for a certain period. The said musical box will require winding up
at intervals.
Instead of the movable disc hereinbefore described the target may be provided with
a suitable hole or holes (Figure 6) into which the coin if properly aimed will enter
and thus release or operate mechanism for giving value in exchange for the said coin.
In this instance the discs q are dispensed with and one or more holes or apertures q*
are provided. If a coin be properly aimed and enters the said slot q° it will pass
down a chute ** and falling upon one arm or extremity of a pivoted lever wor
upon a pin or projection thereon depress the extremity of the said lever and thus
through the other arm or extremity thereof which is coupled with the plate or
shutter by means of a connecting rod w raise the said plate or shutter and perinit
the operation of the push piece as herein before described. An inclined surface
is formed moreover upon the rod or stem vso that when it is moved under the said
plate or shutter wit will further elevate the latter and permit the lever w¹ to move
so as to admit of the coin dropping down a chute into the receptacle or
drawer t.
Instead of using the coin itself as the projectile I sometimes employ an arrange-
ment such as shown in Figure 7 whereby other suitable projectiles may be caused to
enter the gun or cannon upon the insertion of a coin of the proper value into the said
apparatus.
In this modification a coin inserted into the slit or aperture B and passing down
the coin chute B will drop into a receptacle J and form a stop which prevents a
push piece K from passing through an aperture J¹ provided in the portion J³ of the
receptacle J which is arranged to slide freely upon a bracket L, and permit the said
sliding portion to be moved by the said push-piece so as to move forward the lower-
most of a series of metal or other discs M contained in a hopper N over an opening or
stop provided in the lower extremity of the said hopper, and allow the said metal
disc to drop down a chute O into the slit 6 in the gun a. When the push-piece K is
released the latter and the sliding piece J³ are returned to their normal positions by
suitable springs P, and the coin falls through an aperture provided in the
bracket L into a receptacle or drawer Q. The targets may be mechanical or moving
or of any other kind.
An inclined guide Figures 8 and 9 is sometimes used for directing the projectile
against the target, the coin or other projectile being in this case propelled by
gravity.
R is the inclined guide which is pivoted at R¹ to the case A and to a bracket R²
secured thereto and down which the coin inserted into the slot or aperture B passes
and is directed to the slit or slits 9*. S is a handle provided upon one extremity of
a screw S¹ working in a correspondingly screw threaded hole in a plate T pivoted to
the guide R. By turning the said handle in one or the other direction the inclined
guide R can be moved or pointed into any direction. The mechanism by which a
properly directed coin entering the slit or aperture q* operates to release the mechanisin
for permitting the delivery of the goods is the same as that described with reference
to Figure 6. In Figure 10 passages U are provided in either side of the target for
permitting any coin that may not enter the aperture q* in the said target to escape.
In some instances the gun or other device for directing and discharging the coins
or other projectiles is fixed and the target is made adjustable. It is obvious moreover
that I can, if desired, use a swinging or other movable target as shown in Figure 11.
V is a triangular or other suitably shaped flap or shutter having a slot or aperture Vi

page_text: preferably of smaller dimensions than the aperture 7º in the target. Th» »nid flap or
shutter is pivoted at V in such a manner the the said "-lot or aperture Vis
normally in a position coincident with the said aperture 7°. The extremity of the
said flap or shutter V extends through the box or case & so that it may best in
motion when desired and the ditheulty of directing a coin through the slot or
aperture into the slot q is thereby increa ed.
Figure 12 illustrates a modification of my invention in which provision is made for
storing up energy by means of an exterior lunile, and the discharging device is
arranged to be operated by the coin. The gun or cannon has a rearward extension
or chamber a in which is arranged to slide or move freely, a piston E the stem F of
which projects through the rear end of the said exten-ion or chamber and is provided
with a convenient handle F by means of which the said piston can les operated. Gis
a spiral spring for otheting the forward movement of the sail piston E. II is a
catch which is pivoted ar H to the extension aan 1 is provide 1 with a spring II. I
is a plate or shatter which is scented to the pist in E an closes the lit so as to
prevent the entrares of a coin until the said piston is drawn back. The operation of
this device is as follows, z. When the piston E is drawn back by means of the
handle and stem F, the spiral spring (is thereby compressed; the said piston is
then retained in position by the catch II which 'engages therewith. Upon the
insertion of a coin of the proper value into the apparatus, the sand coin will fall down
the coin-chate an 1 pass thraigh the lit 6 and wi'i rike against the sail entech El and
by depressing the same, flew the release of the piston 1., which, under the action
of the spring will be driven, forward thus firei ly projecting or discharging the
coin through the slit or bore & of the gun or cannon a,
I
"
Although I have hereinbefore described convenient and advantageons methods of
carrying my said invention into practice, it is obvious that I can somewhat further
modity my apparatus without departing from the nature of my said invention. For
instance can employ any other convenient number of targets and of koppers provided
with delivery melanism arranged to be rendered operative by the striking of the said
targets by coins or projes tiles discharge from the un or cannon. Lean employ
other convenient means for effecting the discharge of the coins or proje tiles from the
gun or cannon.
น
་་
In the place of the gun or cannon I can arrange in the fox or case, a representation
of a man with a ritle in his hands, with an open sucket at one end of rifle in which a
coin may rest. By mechanical movement the man may bring the rifle from the
vertical to the horizontal position, that is to say "present arms," and may be moved
by the operator to point the rifle und fire it with a spring. Or a gun or cannon
similar to that hereinbefore described is connected or secured to the figure of a man,
the connecting rod moving the dise being formed longer and passing through the
body of the said figure.
In some cases the gun or cannon is fixed and the target is adjustable. The said gun
or cannon being permanently pointed out of truth and the slotted target being so
arranged that it can be adjusted as far as may be possible so as to be in line or
approximately in line with the flight traversed by the projectile, and held in such a
position while the gun or cannon is being discharged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
claim -
First. An apparatus comprising one or more targets or other objects to be aimed at
or into aud a device for effecting or permitting the discharge, guiding or aiming of a
projectile or its equivalent against or into the same upon the insertion of a coin or its
equivalent into the apparatus, for the purposes above specified.
Second. An apparatus provided with a slit aperture or device for the insertion or
reception of a coin or ball or its equivalent, and having enclosed therein one or more
targets or other objects to be aimed at or into, and a device operated from the
exterior of the said apparatus, whereby, upon the insertion of a coin or its equivalent,

page_text: the said coin or other suitable projectile may be discharged guided or aimed at or
into the target or either of the targets or other objects for the purposes above
specified.
Third. An apparatus for the purposes above specified, wherein the coin-slit is
connected with a chute for conducting the coin into a cannon or other discharging
guiding or projecting device so that the said coin will serve as the projectile.
Fourth. An apparatus for the purposes above specified, provided with mechanism
for effecting or permitting the delivery of a cigaretto or other article or otherwise
giving value in exchange for the coin inserted in the apparatus, when the said coin or
other projectile strikes or enters the target or other object against which it is aimed.
Fifth. The combination of a box or case provided with one or more targets or other
objects to be aimed at or into, and with a slit or aperture for the insertion of coins,
and a gun, cannon or the like enclosed in the said box or case and provided with a slit
or aperture for the reception of the coin and with a device for discharging guiding or
projecting the said coin from the gun, cannon or the like substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Sixth. The combination of a gun or cannon enclosed in a box or case and provided
with a slit or aperture for the reception of a coin or its equivalent and with a device
for discharging guiding or projecting the said coin or the like from the gun or
cannon, one or more targets or other objects to be aimed at or into, and delivery
mechanism which will be operated or released by the striking of the target or either
of the targets or other objects by the coin or its equivalent, for the purposes above
specified.
Seventh. The combination of the target and the delivery mechanism in such a
manner that, after the said mechanism has been released by the striking of the target,
the said target will be re-adjusted by the operation of the said incchanisin substantially
as, and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth. The improved means whereby I provide for effecting the adjustment or
pointing of the gun, cannon or other projecting or guiding device from the exterior
of the box or case, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination of parts comprising the delivery-slide provided with the
rod or stem, the disc or target fixed upon the spindle and a plate or shutter arranged
to be moved aside by the said spindle to permit the operation of the delivery-slide
when, but not until the target is struck, substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of parts comprising the pivoted hook-shaped piece y, the
lever a and the projection or hook 7 on the target-spindle substantially as described,
whereby I provide for the readjustment of the target by the delivery-slide, when the
latter is operated to deliver a cigarette or other article, as above specified.
Eleventh. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings and operating as, and for the purposes,
above specified.
Twelfth. The modification of my invention in which provision is made whereby the
coin, when it falls into the gun or cannon, will effect the release of the discharging
device, substantially as described with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings, for the
purpose above specified.
Dated this 4th day of December 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, Loudon, Agents for the Applicant.