Improvements in Coin-controlled Mechanical Game Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-controlled Mechanical Game Apparatus.
I, HARRY GEEN BUCKNELL, of 20, Earlsmead Road, South Tottenham, London,
N., Jeweller, 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 improvements in coin-controlled mechanical game
apparatus, and consists in providing a game apparatus in which the action of a
pre-determined coin allows of certain mechanism being brought into operation
for the purpose of projecting a ball, balls, or their equivalent on to a raised table
containing pockets distinguished by means of numerals or their equivalent. The
object of the invention is the provision of a mechanical game apparatus of an
automatic nature suitable for use in hotels, railway stations, private houses and
other places, which shall be interesting and attractive, and while possessing a
certain element of chance, shall at the same time call for a considerable amount of
skill upon the part of the players.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the
subjoined description.
In order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying
sheet of illustrative drawings, wherein :-
Fig. 1, is an elevational view of the complete apparatus, a portion of the case
being broken away in order to more clearly shew the mechanism.
Fig. 2, being an elevational view of the upper or table portion of the apparatus,
Fig. 3, is a plan view of the same, while Fig. 4, is a plan view partly in section
of a portion of the apparatus on a larger scale.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts wherever occurring in the several figures, a represents a case of
suitable form, which may be designed to stand upon a counter, table or the like,
or upon the floor of a room.
Within this case a are arranged two vertical pillars having pivotted to each
an arm 6 which terminates in a semi-circular enlargement b¹ one side of which
is flanged as shewn. Springs are provided to maintain these arms in an approxi-
mately horizontal position.
The cover of the case a has a slot for the reception of a pre-determined coin,
such slot communicating with an inclined shoot e, the lower end of which coincides
with, and is opposite, the space between the ends of the two arms b, when the
latter are in their normal position (Fig. 1).
A plunger-rod f is pivotally connected to one of the arms b, such rod projecting
through an opening in the cover d and being provided with a knob f¹
9 represents a table which normally rests in a recess or counter sinking in the
cover d, such table being of conical form for the greater part of its height.
Around the upper part of the said table is provided a gallery h divided into a
number of pockets or compartments h¹, a similar gallery i being provided around
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page_text: the lower part of the table g, such lower gallery i also being divided into a number
of pockets to coincide with those in the upper gallery h. Depending from
the centre of the base of the table g is a rod having at its lower extremity au
enlargement j, such rod passing through an opening in the cover d.
A curved rod is connected to one of the arms b, such rod having at its free end
au enlargement which, when the arms are in the normal or in-operative
position, abuts against the enlarged end of the rod j.
The two sets of pockets or compartments h¹ and ¹ are distinguished by
numbers, as shewn, or by their equivalent.
The
In operation, the pre-determined coin is inserted into the slot provided for its
reception in the cover d, such coin sliding down the curved shoot e and on
reaching the end thereof naturally, by gravity, falls into the flanged enlarged
ends of the arms b, which ends 6' coincide with the end of the shoot e.
plunger-rod is then depressed, which causes the arms holding the coin / between
them, to also be lowered until the coin is released, whereupon (the pressure being
f) the springs c immediately return the
removed sharply from the plunger-rod so doing, cause the rod & to force the
said arms to their normal position and
depending rod, and the table g with it, upward in such a manner as to project
balls me, which repose in the pockets of the lower gallery, on to the inclined top
of the table g, whence they gravitate down into the pockets of the upper
gallery. The table is provided with a glazed cover g, the sides of which may,
if desirable, fit closely against the outer sides of the gallery i, in order to prevent
the balls m falling outside the pockets in such lower gallery.
I am aware that coin-freed mechanism for projecting objects upwards similar
to that shewn and described, is already known, so therefore do not lay claim
broadly to the use of the mechanism for actuating the balls.
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:
In a coin-controlled mechanical game apparatus of the kind described, the
table g of conical form, the apex being uppermost, said table having an upper
gallery divided into pockets h, and a lower gallery similarly divided into
pockets, said pockets being distinguished by numerals and designed to receive
balls m, substantially as and for the purpose described, and as shewn by the
drawings.
Dated this 6th day of January 1899.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.