New or Improved Race Game Devices, applicable in Parts as a Toy.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Race Game Devices, applicable in Parts as a Toy.
I, WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH, of 36, Brundrett Road, Chorlton-cum-
Hardy, Manchester, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide a game or amusement which
simulates horse or like racing, and involves the exercise of considerable skill
and judgement on the part of the persons taking part in the game. A further
object is to control such game by automatic coin-freed control apparatus, and
preferably of such a character that allows of the insertion of two coins so that
with two rival players the coin of the player whose horse or other racing figure
first reaches the winning post is returned to him, whilst the coin of the other
player is retained. A further object is to utilise the means 1 employ for effecting
the movement of the racing figures as a toy.
According to my invention i employ a board or table to represent the racing
course, in which I form two or more slots to admit of the passage of wires or
rods carrying racing figures. These rods are each mounted on a rocking or
oscillating carriage, with, or without wheels, and adapted to travel in the line
of the slots aforesaid. The rear of each carriage has a hinged or swing strut-
brake, and directly above each carriage is a rod or rail, extending the entire
length of the slot and racing course, and supported by links or other means
which allow it to rise and fall under the action of a plunger button and spring,.
and by pressing upon the rear of the carriage tilt such carriage, and cause
it to advance forward by each impulse of the said button.
The game consists in two persons pressing one or more of the said plunger
buttons, and endeavouring to be the first to get one of the racing figures to the
end of the slot.
The coin-freed mechanism consists, by preference, of a set of coin balances,
which look and liberate the plunger buttons. These balances are in the form
of scale pana mounted upon hinge supports and so connected with a rocking
plate or lever lying between each set of pans that upon such lever tilting in
one direction the said pans tilt to the left, and upon such lever tilting in the
other direction the said pans tilt to the right. An outlet shoot also lies between
the two pans, and an inlet shoot upon the outer side. The said plunger buttons
only operate upon the said rocking lever or plate by abutment, and the stroke
of each button is such that until the racing figures are approaching the winning
post they have no effect on the said lever, and a space lies between such buttons
and the lover, but just when almost the last impulse of one of the plunger
button's brings a racing figure to the end of the course, a small projection on
the carriage of such figure comes between the said button and lever and filling
up the space causes the next impulso of the button to be imparted to the lever,
which then instantly tilting the pans, tilts one coin into the outlet shoot and
the other coin into the inlet shoot, and so returns to the winner his coin. The

page_text: arrival of the other players horse at the winning post has only the effect of tilting
empty scale pans in the reverse direction, hence which ever racing figure arrives
first the pans are tilted accordingly.
I may adapt the racing mechanism for use with other descriptions of coin-
freed devices, or adapt. such mechanism for use as a toy, and without coin
controlling mechanism.
Dated this 10th day of November 1890
New or Improved Race Game Devices, applicable in Parts as a Toy.
1, WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH, of 36, Brundrett Road, Chorlton-cum-
Hardy, Manchester, Manufacturer, 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:—
A further
This invention has for its object to provide a game or amusement which
simulates horse or like racing and involves the exercise of considerable skill
and judgement on the part of the persons taking part in the game.
object is to control auch game by automatic com-freed control apparatus, and
preferably of a character that allows of the insertion of two coins, so that
with two rival players the coin of the player whose horse or other racing figure
first reaches the winning post is returned to him, whilst the coin of the other
player is retained. A further object is to utilise the means 1 employ for affecting
the movement of the racing figure as a toy.
To permit of the invention being more readily understood I have hereunto
appended a sheet of drawings illustrating the salient features thereof, and as
adapted for use with coin-freed control mechanism.
Fig. 1 illustrates a side sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan. Fig. 3 illus-
trates a part front elevation with the outer casing in section and shewing the
normal position of the parts comprising the coin-freed control mechanism.
Fig. 4 illustrates the sanie view, but with the parts in the position they, occupy
when the winner's coin is being returned to the winner, and the looser's com
delivered into the casing.
According to my invention 1 employ a board or table (1) representing the
racing course, in which I form two or more slots (2) to admit of the passage.
of wires or rods (3) carrying the racing figures (4), (5). The rods (3) are
mounted on rocking or oscillating carriages (6), with, or without wheels (7),
but preferably with auch wheels and adapted to travel upon a board (8) in the
line of the slots (2) by having flanges which take into grooves or slots in the
said board (8). The rear of each curriage (6) has a hinged or swing strut-
brake (9), and directly above each carriage is a rod or rail (10) extending the
entire length of the slot and racing course, and supported by links (11), or
other suitable means, which allow the rail to rise and fall under the action of
a plunger button (or plunger) (12) and spring (13), and by pressing upon the
rear of the carriage, or an upstanding knife edge (14) thereon, tilt such carriage
as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and by the brake binding on the board (8)
cause it to advance the carriage forward in the direction of the arrow by each
downward impulse of the said button.

page_text: Each plunger (12) passes through a fixed guide (15) and through the casing (16),
and each plunger is fitted with a disc or button (17) and a Hange (18), upon
which latter is a lateral projection taking through a slot in the end of the
rail (10).
With the racing figures set back to the rear end of the racing course the
game consists in two rival players manipulating the plungers (12), i.e., alter-
nately depressing and releasing such plungers, and each player endeavouring
to be the first to get one of the racing figures to the front end of the course,
the rapid succession of depressions serving to tilt the carriages, and thus impel
the racing figures forward along the slots, or course.
46
To return the rucing figures to the starting point they may be set back by
hand, or by any suitable mechanical device. In practice I find a lazy-tong "
device (19), fixed at one end, supported on wires (20) and operated by a pivoted
handle (21), with small bent wires (22) applied to the free end and lying in front
of the carriage wires (6) serves the purpose. To cushion the racing figures
when so returned I may provide spring buffers (23) as shewn by dotted lines
in Fig. 1.
The coin-freed mechanism consists, by preference, of a set of coin balances
which lock and liberates the plunger buttons. These balances are in the form of
scale pans carried by rods (24), mounted on hinge or pivot supports (25), or
they are in the form of the rods (24) only, since with the rods lying below the
coin shoots (26), (27) the pans are not necessary.
The said rods (24) are so balanced by adjustable weights (28) that the froe
ends (24) lie normally below the flanges (18), and thus lock the plungers.
Upon the insertion of coins in the shoots (26), (27) the coins fall on the
rods (24), and by their weight withdraw the ends (24) of the rods from below
the flanges (18), and thus liberate the plungers.
Upon the side of each coin shoot is a rocking plate (29) and the two plates
are connected together by a link lover (30). Each plate (29) is formed with
pegs (31) which normally lie on either side of the open edge of the shoot, and
thus normally retain the coin within the shoot and upon the balance rod (24),
but upon such plates moving to the right, or to the left, the pegs allow the
coins to fall out of the shoots.
Between the inlet shoots (26) (27) is an outlet shoot common to both, or there
are two outlet shoots (32), (33), one on either side of the casing as shewn.
To return the rocking plates (29) after dislodging the coins the link (30) is
connected to a weighted pendulous lever (34). When pans are used the plates (29)
may be pivoted to such pans, aud rise and fall with the pans, in fact, the
pegs (31) and the shoots (26), (27) constitute pans, but in lieu of being con-
nected to rods (24) they are connected to the casing (16). The manner in which
the plates (29) are operated, according to the result of the race, is as follows:-
To the front end of each carriage (6) I apply a projection (35), and below the
level of the plunger and the level on which the carriage (6) travels, I arrange
a horizontal double-armed lever (36) (see Fig. 3), which, immediately above its
axis (36), has a vertical extension (37) engaging at its free end with the
pendulous lever (34). When the carriage of say the horse (4) reaches the front
end of the course the projection (35) on it projects below the plunger (12) by
which the horse (4) is operated, and above the lover (36), and filling up the
space previously vacant causes the last downward movement of the said
plunger (12) to be imparted to the lever (36), extension (37) and lever (34),
which latter, swinging on its fulcrum, operates the link (30) and plates (29)
and dislodges the coin in the shoot (27) into the outlet (33), and the coin in
he shoot (26) into the casing (16).
When the horse (5) first reaches the front end of the course the lever (36),
extension (37) and plates (29) are tilted in a reverse manner, and dislodge the
coin in shoot (27) into the casing, and the coin in shoot (26) into the outlet (32).
Upon the rods (24) being relieved of the weight of the coins they automatically

page_text: relock the plungers, and keep such plungers locked until the next coins are
inserted.
To allow of the depression of the projections (35) they are linked to the
carriage, and the support (8) is hinged and held up elastically by a spring (38).
In lieu of the lever (36) and extension (37) boing arranged us shewn in full
lines, they may be arranged as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, i.e., the lever (36)
mounted horizontally with depending arms (39) lying in the path of the
carriages (6), and the extension (37) lying and moving horizontally. With such
arrangement the projections (35) are much shorter.
To prevent tampering with the racing figures, the racing course is or may
Le covered in by glass casing (40).
I may adapt the racing mechanism for use with other descriptions of coin-
freed devices, or adapt such mechanism for use as a toy, and without coin-
controlling mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is:
1: In race game devices, a slotted race track, a carriage below each slot in
the track carrying a racing figure and fitted with a swing or hinged strut-brake,
a rail or bar immediately above such carriage, and a plunger and spring for
alternately lowering and raising the said rail or bar, sustantially as and for the
purposes hercin set forth.
2: In race game devices the several parts set forth in claim one, in com-
bination with coin-freed mechanism adapted to bo worked with two or more coins
and to deliver the winner's coin into an outlet shoot and the looser's coin into
an enclosed casing, substantially as set forth and illustrated by accompanying
drawing.
3: In race game devices, a carriage with swing strut-brake and propelled
by the successive depressions of a bar, substantially as set forth.
4: In race game devices, the general arrangement and combination of parts,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth, and illustrated on the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of August 1900.
1st 1900
WILLIAM CHANCELLOR HAIGH,
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. Inst.P.A.,
Manchester.