Year: 1890

page_text: being date of first Foreign Application (in 25th Apr., 1890
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 4th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1890
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is an improvement in game apparatus, relating particularly to an
improved raffle-box.
The invention consists in the novel construction of the controlling-wheel, and
in the construction for supporting, securing, and operating such wheel and the
numbered disks.
The invention consists, further, in the novel constructions and combinations of parts,
as will be hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved raffle-box.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the lid being removed.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on about line 3, 3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section on about line 4, 4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the controlling-wheel, one of the side disks being removed.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of the shaft-rod.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of the controlling-wheel, and
Fig. 8 shows two of the figured disks.
In the construction shown I provide a case A, comprising base B, sides C C,
ends D, and top B¹, the sides C being provided with coincident sight-
openings (and with bearings at C2 for the shaft-rods E. These rods E have at their
ends smooth round portions e, and are provided next to said smooth ends with threaded
portions e¹ to receive the clamping-disks F. On these shaft-rods, between clamping-
disks F, I support the controlling-wheels G, the hub or pulley H, and the figured
disks I, said parts G, H, and I being clamped together in the arrangement shown by
the disks F threaded on the shaft-rod, as shown.
It will be understood from Figs. 1, 2, and 8 that each of the disks has a series of
figures or characters which are arranged to be exposed alternately through the
openings C. By preference the characters on one disk I correspond to the usual
dice-spots, while the opposite disk I or disk on the same shaft is provided with
the ordinary numerals or figures. Now the disk I on the same shaft may be adjusted
to expose on one side dice-spots corresponding in number to the figure or numeral
shown on the opposite side; or the disks may be adjusted to expose on one side dice
spots differing in number from the figure or numeral shown on the opposite side, the
manner of securing the parts upon the shaft-rod permitting the independent adjustment
of the disks on the same shaft-rod as may be desired. The object of the adjustable disks
is to either have like readings on both sides or to have two distinctly different readings

page_text: with one movement. The hub or pulley H is preferably provided with rubber rings
or other suitable cushions for engagement by the free ends of the swinging armis,
as will be presently described.
The wheel G, which for convenience of reference I call the "controlling-wheel,"
is an important feature of my invention, and I do not desire to be limited,, with
respect to such wheel, to the use thereof in the particular construction of game
apparatus shown, as it may be used in various kinds of game apparatus in
which it is desired to employ a wheel which on being turned will, in stopping, be
caused to stop in some one of a series of predetermined positions. I make this
wheel with a rim-plate g, having a series of seats g₁ for the weight-ball J, such
seats being preferably formed, as shown, by perforating the plate, which may be
conveniently formed by punching or in other suitable manner. This construction-
that is to say, a rim-plate for a controlling-wheel of a game apparatus, having
openings formed through it which form seats for the weight-ball-is a distinctive and
important feature of the invention, as it affords convenient efficient seats for the ball,
which can be produced at the minimum cost. The wheel G also has a side disk or disks g²,
preferably two, as shown, and arranged one at each side of the plate g and having in
their inner faces circular grooves 93, which receive the opposite edges of the rim-
plate. Now this is also an important and distinctive feature of my invention-
namely, the provision in a controlling-wheel of a rim-plate having seats for the
weight-ball, and having its edge or edges held in a circular groove in a side disk
or disks, as such construction may be easily and cheaply made, and quickly fitted
together or taken apart, as may be desired. The disks are preferably of wood,
but may be made of any other suitable material, and the rim-plate may be made of
any suitable sheet metal, the ordinary sheet-tin being found to answer all purposes;
but it will be understood that such rim-plate may be made of suitable cardboard, a
thin sheet or veneer of wood, or other suitable material, as
desirable.
may be found
To operate the shafts, I provide swinging arms K, pivoted at their lower ends,
having their upper ends arranged to engage hub or pulleys H, and the operating
connection L, joined to arms K above their pivots. By preference the arms K are
pivoted to the side of a bar M, extended from end to end of the case, and the con-
nection L fastens to such arms by means of screws N, which project at n from the side
of the arms and serve by engaging the top of bar M to limit the movements of the
arms in opposite directions. The connection L is preferably a wire extending at
its ends beyond the ends of the case and having hand-knobs 1, by which it may
be drawn in one or the opposite direction. It will be noticed from Fig. 3 that the
arms K are of different widths at their upper ends, the arm at the right being the
widest and that in the middle narrower than the one at the right, but wider than
the one at the left. The purpose of this is to cause the arms to operate their wheels
differently, so that as the operating connection is drawn in one and then in the
opposite direction it will not have a tendency to duplicate combinations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An improved controlling-wheel for game apparatus, having a rim-plate
suitably supported and perforated to form seats for the weight-ball by which the
position of the wheel is controlled, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a game apparatus, the improved controlling-wheel herein described and
shown, consisting of the rim-plate perforated at intervals to form seats for the ball, and
the side disks having grooves arranged to receive the opposite edges of the rim-plate,
substantially as set forth.
3. The improved game apparatus herein described, consisting of the case having
sight-openings C, the shaft-rods E, the wheels G, supported on said rods and con-
sisting of perforated rims and grooved side pieces and weight-balls operating in said
wheels, the hub or pulleys H on said shaft-rods having cushions h, the figured disks I

page_text: on said shaft-rods E, the pivoted swinging arms K, and the operating connection, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The improved game apparatus substantially as herein described, comprising the
case having in its opposite sides sight-openings, the figured disks arranged in said
case, fixed on a common shaft and provided on their outer faces or sides with dice-
spots, figures, or the like arranged to show through the openings in the opposite
sides of the case, and devices for turning the said disks, all substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
5. In a game apparatus substantially as described, the combination of the case
having in its opposite sides sight-openings, the shaft journaled in said case, the
figured disks supported on the said shaft and having on their outer faces dice-spots,
figures, or the like arranged to show through the openings in the case, and
clamping devices by which said disks may be secured on the shaft in different relations,
whereby the disks on the same shaft may be caused to show through their respective
openings dice-spots, figures, or the like of different values, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
6. In a game apparatus substantially as described, the combination of the rod having
threaded portions near its end, the controlling-wheel, pulley or hub H and the figured
disk supported on said shaft-rod between the said threaded portions, and the clamp-
disks threaded on the shaft, whereby the controlling-wheel, pulley H, and the
figured disks may be clamped in any desired relation, all substantially as described and
for the purposes set forth.
1sted this 4th day of October 1890.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.