Improvements in Race Game Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Race Game Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM MARSHALL, of 21, Station Road, South Shore, Blackpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Cycle Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
-:
This invention relates to apparatus for use in a race game which may be played
by two or more competitors, but it will be described as arranged for two only.
Each competitor is mounted upon a bicycle or its equivalent provided with a
rotary part adapted to be driven by the feet. In front of them is a board, plat-
Underneath the centre of the
form, or table representing a circular race course.
table are placed two vertical spindles or shafts which may be arranged co-axially
with each other, or one of them may be hollow and contain the other. Each
shaft has attached to it a horizontally extending hand or arm the end of which
carries a model of a bicycle and rider, or a horse and jockey, or the like. In
order to enable the models to be visible upon the top of the table, the latter is
formed with two concentric slots or grooves, through which pass the means of
connection between the models and the arms carrying them.
Each machine upon which the competitors are mounted is connected to one of
the spindles underneath the table by means of suitable gearing, so that rotary
motion given to the machine is imparted to its connected arm and model, and
the latter appears to run round the race track. With two riders, of course, the
one who pedalled faster, would send his model round faster, and thus win the
race. Handicaps may be arranged by moving one of the arms upon its spindle
or by rotating one of the machines until the connected model is the required
distance in front of or behind the other.
In a modified form the arms may be arranged above the surface of the table
although driven from underneath, and thus dispense with the necessity for the
concentric grooves, which, when employed, would require connecting and sup-
porting pieces in the form of arches.
Distance posts may be placed around the track, and bells may be provided at.
certain points to be operated upon the arrival or passage of the models.
The gearing between the machines and their spindles upon the board is pre-
ferably so disposed and proportioned, that the models only travel once, twice.
three or four times around the track while the machines are doing the equivalent
of a mile run. The machines, of course, are fixed or stayed to the floor or to a
platform.
When the model is in the form of a bicycle and rider, the bicycle may be so
arranged that its wheels rest upon the upper surface of the table and thus rotate
as the model moves, the riders legs being attached to connected pedals if desired.
Dated this 30th day of January A.D. 1899.

page_text: I, WILLIAM MARSHALL, of 21, Station Road, South Shore, Blackpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Cycle Agent, 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:―
This invention relates to apparatus for use in a race game which may be played
by two or more competitors, but it will be described as arranged for two only.
Each competitor is mounted upon a bicycle or its equivalent provided with a
rotary part adapted to be driven by the feet. In front is a board, plat-
form, or table representing a circular race course. Underneath the centre of the
course are placed two vertical spindles or shafts which may be arranged co-axially
with each other, or one of them may be hollow and contain the other. Each
shaft has attached to it a horizontally extending arm or hand the end of which
carries a model of a bicycle and rider, or a horse and jockey, or the like. In
order to enable the models to be visible upon the top of the table or course and
to appear to run thereon, the table is formed with two concentric slots or grooves
through which pass the means of connection between the models and the arms
carrying them.
The machines upon which the competitors are mounted are connected to the
spindles underneath the table by means of suitable gearing, so that rotary motion
given to a machine is imparted to its connected spindle, arm, and model, and the
model consequently appears to run round the race track. With two riders, of
course the one who pedalled faster would send his model round faster, and thus
win the race. Handicaps may be arranged by moving one of the arms upon its
spindle, as, for example, in a case where it is held by frictional contact only,
or by rotating one of the machines until the connected model is the required
distance in front of or behind the other.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of apparatus constructed
according to these improvements and designed for two riders or competitors.
Figure 1 represents it in vertical section.
Figure 2 shows it in sectional plan.
Figure 3 is a cross section along the line ab of Figure 2.
The apparatus is provided with two bicycles or equivalent devices A, A,
adapted to be rotated or driven by the feet, and which are geared respectively to
the concentric shafts B, C, in such a manner that the shafts are driven in the
same direction as each other when the bicycles or the like are similarly driven.
Each of these shafts carries at its upper end an arm D or E and each arm carries
at its end a model of a bicycle and rider or of a horse or the like F or G. The
models are carried by pins, wires or the like which extend through circular grooves
in the table or board H which is formed or arranged to resemble a race track.
This board H is arranged above the shafts B, and C and may be provided with
rails for the models to run on. It is thus evident that when the bicycle or
equivalents are driven the shafts B and C will be rotated, the attached arms D
and E will be carried round, and the models F and G will appear to run round
the track H. The speed of the models will of course vary according to the speed
of the machines to which they are attached and the faster rider or competitor
will win the race, in the absence of any handicap arrangements.
Many methods of connecting or gearing the bicycles to the shafts carrying the
models may be adopted, but that illustrated will be found generally convenient.
The ordinary chain wheel J of each bicycle may be carried by the ordinary

page_text: crank axle and geared to the back wheel of the bicycle in the usual manner.
Each crank axle also carries a smaller chain wheel K which is geared to a larger
chain wheel L on the front wheel of the machine. The front wheel of each
machine has attached to it a smaller chain wheel M which is geared with a larger
chain wheel N mounted in suitable bearings upon a horizontal shaft O under the
race track. One of the shafts O carries a bevel wheel P gearing with a similar
bevel wheel Q upon one of the concentric shafts B, whilst the other shaft O is
similar geared by bevel wheels R, S, with the other shaft C.
Each bicycle is carried by brackets T in such a manner that both wheels are
free to revolve, so as to render the race more realistic. Either or both of the
wheels may be loaded so as to introduce resistance.
U, U, are bridge pieces by means of which the different parts of the table or
course H are held together.
In a modified form of apparatus the arms carrying the models may be arranged
above the surface of the table or track and thus dispense with the necessity for
the bridge pieces T.
Distance posts may be placed around the track to correspond with the distances
that the bicycles would have actually been propelled, and bells may be placed at
certain points to be operated upon the passage or arrival of the models or by
an attendant. Starting and winning posts may also be provided.
The gearing between the machines and the spindles carrying the models may
be conveniently so disposed or proportioned that the models travel once, twice,
three or four times round the track while the machines are doing the equivalent
of a mile run.
It will be obvious that the apparatus may be arranged for three or more com-
potitors, by employing a greater number of bicycles or the like separately geared
to a corresponding number of concentric spindles or shafts each of which is fur-
nished with the desired model.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A race game apparatus consisting of two or more bicycles or equivalent
devices, two or more separate shafts connected by suitable gearing with the
bicycles, two or more models which are attached to the shafts, and a miniature
race track, all constructed and arranged substantially as herein before described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. A race game apparatus constructed arranged and operated substantially as
herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd dor of Santamban
D 1900
Dated this 2nd
day
of
September
D 1900
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.