Bingo
Pinballs
Found
this about a billion years ago!!
Well
somewhere in all of my pages I have already posted
this image, but I wanted to get it out here again``
Now
that is a playfield off United’s Circus` …a playing board`
And
the most interesting thing is a couple of the patents are pre-Bingo`
Pat
No. 2,192,596
So, I wanted to post
this for two reasons`
First, to show that
Lyn was in the business and a designer a decade+ before the games`
Second, to highlight
that quite a few of the parts and ideas in the Bingos are Legacy
Description
' March A. DURANT 2,192,596
INDICATING AND' CONTROL MEANS FOR GAME APPARATUS
Filed Aug. 22, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.
H15 ATTORN Mar ch 5, 1940.. D T 2,192,596
INDICATING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR GAME APPARATUS
Filed Aug. 22 1938 s Sheets-Sheet s 9 9 Sfcp-u COIL #4 15/ P 1E L'INE ljndonlifiuran
INVENTOR.
H15 ATTORNEY.
Patented M ts, 1940
UNITED STATES INDICATING AND CONTROL MEANS FOR v GAME APPARATUS A Lyndon A.
Durant, Chicago, 111.
Application August 22, 1938, Serial
.No. 228,013
8 Claims.
This
invention relates to indicating and control means for use particularly, but not
ex- .clusively, in game and amusement apparatus, one
of the principal objects being the provision of a switching and circuit
arrangement by means of which a player may totalize a score set up in playing
the game and involving a plurality of scoring members, such, for example, as a
number of switches which have been operated by balls lodged in scoring pockets
in a ball game.
Viewed
from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide a single
totalizer operated by electrical impulses, and switching means actuated by the
player at the conclusion of the game for successively connecting the totalizer
to each one of a number of score switches having different score values so that
the totalizer will be impulsed whenever it is
connected to a score switch which has been operated, there being, moreover, a
plurality of impulsing contacts for each score switch
depending in number upon the relative score value of the switch, whereby the
total score values of all successfully operated score switches may be
registered at the will of the player.
Another
object isthe provision of automatic preselecting
means for cooperation with the aforesaidtotalizing
arrangement, or which may be used independently, if desired, whereby different
score switches will be connected in circuit for operation at different times,
the change being effected automatically each time,
preferably, the game is operated. I
Another
object is the provision of signal means coacting with
the aforesaid preselecting means for designating which score switches are in
circuit and hence constitute an objective for the player.
A further
object is the provision of switch mechanism especially suitable for use in
conjunction with the indicating and control means heretofore described and also suitable for general application.
Other
novel aspects and advantages peculiar to the invention will be brought out in
the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in
which:
Fig. l is
a top plan view of an amusement apparatus;
'Fig. 2
is a fragmentary vertical section through the apparatus of Fig. l and taken
along line 2-2 thereof;
Fig. 3 is
a fragmentary horizontal section looking upwardly at the under
side of the'playboard;
Fig. 4 is
a top plan view of the electric switching device with portions cut away to show
the stopping ratchet, as viewed in the direction of line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is
a plan view of the motor gear train of the device of Fig. 4, to reduced scale,
as viewed in the direction of line 5-5 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is
a transverse section through the electric switching means, as seen along line
6--6 of Fig. 2;
Fig. '7
is a circuit diagram for the totalizing arrangement;
Fig. 8 is
a side elevational detail of the variable time switch;
Fig. 9 is
an elevational view of the time-delay means for the device of Fig. 8 as viewed
in the direction of line 99 thereof;
Fig. 10 is
a fragmentary transverse section through a game board such as shown in Fig. 1
and illustrates one arrangement of the indicat ing lamps for the predetermined or preselected scoring means; while Fig. 11 is another circuit diagram for the
preselected score indicating arrangement.
It will
be understood that the indicating and control circuits hereinafter described
for purposes of illustration are not restricted to any particular
application in game apparatus although they are specifically described
herein in conjunction with such apparatus.
In a
preferred arrangement, the game apparatus includes a cabinet I5 having a
playboard lliin. which there may be a plurality of
exit openings or pockets l'l, each preferably
designated as having a certain score value. rality of
selectively operable devices or switches I8 are arranged beneath the playboard so as to be operated by a ball or other instrumentality used
in the game when the same entersone of the pockets
IT. A manually operated plunger is arranged to project the balls one at a time
toward the upper end of the board It for movement down the latter relative to
the various exits H, the skill of the operator being employed in lodging the
ball in the exits having the higher score values. A master control in the form
of a coin slide 20 mounted on the cabinet, is arranged for operation by deposit
of a coin therein to free a predetermined number of balls for projection by the
device IS, in a manner well known in the art. The arrangement is such that when
the master control 20 is operated, a shuffie panel 2|
(Figs. 2 and 3), slidably mounted beneath the playboard l6 and having the
switch members I8 mounted thereon, will be shifted so as to withdraw the switch
members from blocking posi- A plua
type which is preferably operated in step by step
fashion. In the illustrative embodiment, the score indicator includes a dial 23
mounted for rotation on a shaft 24 before a window 22', there being various
score indicating characters on the disc and which are presented to view before
the window as the dial is moved around. A usual form of pawl and ratchet
mechanism 25 arranged for operation by an electromagnet or solenoid 26 may be
utilized to move the dial in steps. The form of construction of the totalizer
or score indicating means is not of importance, except that it is desirable in
the present arrangement that there be an electrical operating means, such as
the solenoid 26, which may be impulsed or
intermittently energized to effect step by step indicating operation of the
totalizer.
Means
arranged for manual operation by the patron of the game to totalize his score
includes an electrically operated switching device of novel design and which is
illustrated particularly in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and schematically in Figs. 7 and
11. This switch includes a plurality of stationary contacts and movable contact
means engageable therewith, together with electrically energized driving means
for moving the movable contact, as will be pointed out hereinafter.
Referring
to Fig. 4, the electrically operated switch includes an insulating panel 30 on
which are circumferentially arranged a plurality of stationary contacts 3! and
a pair of movable contact arms 32 mounted on a shaft 33 for rotation over the
several stationary contacts. In the arrangement of Fig. 4, the inner movable
contact arm or wiper 32' is arranged to move over contact segments 34 and 34'
separated by circuit breaking interruptions 35, whereas in the circuit
arrangement shown schematically in Fig. 11. the continuous contact segments 34
are replaced by a plurality of stationary contacts 36 arranged in an inner ring
concentric with the outer contacts 3i, the purpose of which arangement
will appear hereinafter.
A
stopping ratchet 40 is keyed for rotation with the shaft 33 and the wipers (Figs.
4 and 6), there being a stopping pawl 4| arranged to engage the teeth of the
ratchet to stop the latter and the-contact wipers at positions in engagement
with the several contacts. The stopping pawl4l constitutes the armature of an
electromagnet 42 and the latter is connected in circuit with the electrical
driving means for the wiping contacts, so that when the driving means is
deenergized the wiping contacts will be arrested in proper position in
engagement with the selected stationary contact, all of which will be pointed
out more particularly hereinafter.
Means for
driving the movable contacts includes an electrically energized motor,
preferably a synchronous motor 45, the rotor 46 of which (Fig. 6) is drivingly
connected through a train of gears 41 to a driven gear 43 on shaft 33 mounted
on a frame 50 behind the main contact panel 30. A driving connection is
established between the ratchet 40 and the wiper shaft 33 by a slip clutch
arrangement including a collar 5i rigid with the shaft 33 and having a suitable
clutch washer 52 disposed for movement therewith and bearing against the face
of the ratchet plate 40 by virtue of the fact that the
ratchet 40 is slidable on the shaft 33, and the ratchet is forced by spring
means 31 against the clutch disc 52. When the ratchet 40 is freed for movement
by withdrawal of the armature pawl 4!, the wiping or
movable contacts 32 and 32' will rotate with the shaft 33. A spring 31 and nut
38 on the shaft 33 are arranged to effect firm contacting engagement of the
wipers with the stationary contacts and also to assure
firm engagement of the ratchet plate with the clutch member. The arrangement of
this driving means for the electrically operated switch is such that the motor
45 may be running while the ratchet 40 is restrained against movement by the
pawl 4| as a result of slippage in the clutch, but as
soon as the magnet 42 is energized, the ratchet 40 will be free to rotate and
the clutch arrangement 52 will take hold and cause the wiping contacts 32 to
move over the stationary contacts.
The
circuit arrangement for totalizing a score set up in playing the game of Fig.
l, is illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein the several ball-operated switches l8 each
have one contact 55 connected in common with a conductor 56 which in turn is connected
to one side of the score counting magnet or solenoid 26, the opposite side of
the latter being connected by a conductor 51 to one terminal 58 of the
secondary winding of a transformer 59. The remaining terminal 60 of the
transformer secondary is connected by a conductor 6|
t0 the shaft 33 of the electrically operated switch, and hence the wiping
contacts 32 and 32' are connected to one side of the power source.
The
remaining contacts of the several balloperated
switches l8 are variously connected to one or more of the stationary contacts
on the electricallyoperated switch depending upon the
score value of the individual ball pockets with which the ball switches are
associated. For example, the contact 62 on the first ball switch IS in Fig. 7,
corresponds to a pocket having a score value of l (10, 100, or 1000) and is
therefore connected'by a conductor 63 to only one
contact 64 of the group of .stationary contacts 3!.
The next ball switch l8 has its remaining contact 65 connected by a conductor
66 to two contacts ,61 and 68 of the group of stationary contacts 3i, the two
stationary contacts 61 and 68 being looped together by a connecter 69. The
score value of the ball pocket with which the contacts 65 are associated
corresponds to 2 (20, 200,. or 2000) and it will be
observed that there is a second switch l8 having a contact 65' also connected
to the conductor 66, because the ball pocket with which the contact 64 is
associated also has a score value of 2'or some multiple of two.
Coming
next to the contact 10 which is associated with the next ball switch l8 in Fig.
7 (the ball pocket of which has a score value of 300}, the arrangement is such
that this contact is connected, along with a contact 10' of similar value, by a
conductor II to three contacts 12, I3, and 14 on the electrically operated
switch," the latter contacts being looped together by a common conductor
15.
The
foregoing multiplication of values for the various ball switches may be carried
out indefinitely, the only limitation being as to the number of stationary
contacts available in a given instance. For example,
the ball switch l8, which is associated with the pocket having a score value of
5 or 500, is connected to five contacts 16, all looped together by a conductor
11.
In the
illustrative embodiment, the score values do not go above 588 for any given
ball pocket, but since there are a number of score
pockets having the same score values, the remaining available stationary
contacts are connected to the remaining ball exit switches in accordance with
the values of the latter in the manner heretofore described in conjunction with
the first five ball switches.
As a
result of the foregoing arrangement, and assuming that
the transformer 59 is energized and the motor 45 running, the score counting solenoid
28 will be energized by movement of the wiping contact 32 over the various
groups of stationary contacts, depending upon which'of
the ball switches I8 happens to be operated at the time. For example, when the
movable contact 32 first engages the single contact 84 connected to that one of
the ball switches I8 having the contact 82, the solenoid 28 will be impulsed once and therefore step the indicating dial once.
As the moving contact arm 32 moves over contacts 51 and 88, the totalizing
solenoid 28 will be impulsed twice provided one or
more of the ball switches I8 to which the conductor 88 is connected happen to
be operated at the time. When the contact arm 32 reaches the five contacts I8
which are all looped together, the totalizer will he stepped or impulsed five times provided one or more of the switches I8
corresponding to the ball pockets having a score value of 500 (and connected by
conductor 18 to the stationary contacts 18) happens to be operated.
A master
control circuit for controlling the energization of the electrically operated
switch, and particularly the motor 45 thereof, includes the connection of one
side of the motor 65 by a conductor 88 to one contact 8I of a manually set
master switch. The other contact 82 of this latter switch is connected to the
conductor 51 and hence to one side of the transformer or power source. The
manually set contacts 8| and 82 form part of a switching device shown in Fig.
3, and which includes a lever 83 positioned for engagement by the inner end 84
of the master control or coin slide I9 when the latter is pushed inwardly so as
to force a projection 85 against one of the contact springs 8i for movement
against the companion contact spring 82 to close the circuit from one side of
the power source or transformer 59 to the driving motor 45. The switch
operating lever 85 is locked in operated condition by the projection of the end
of a spring-urged armature 85 into a notch 81 on the end of the lever. A
resetting magnet 88 may be energized to attract the armature 88 and release the
manually set switch members 8I-82, as will hereinafter appear.
The
remaining contact of the motor 45 is-connected by a conductor 98 to a
stationary starting contact 9| in the group of contacts 3i and
also to the segments 34 and 34 which are connected together by a loop
92. There is a second starting contact 93 diametrically oppositethe
contact 9i and which is connected with the segment
34'. Assuming that the manually set switch means 8I-82
is closed, power may be connected to the motor 45 through the agency of a
manually operated switch including a pair of normally open contacts 95 and 98
arranged to be closed by operation of a push button or plunger 91 (Fig. 3)
conveniently disposed in the front of the cabinet. The contact 95 is connected
with the conductor 98 and hence with the remaining side of the motor 45 whilethe contact 88 is connected to the remaining terminal
88 of the power source or transformer. By pushing the
button 91, the motor 45 will be connected across the transformer.
The motor
45 will remain energized after the push button 81 is released by virtue of the
connection of the wiping contacts 32 with the termi-
1 ml 88 of the transformer, which arrangement is eflective
to connect the terminal side of the motor and conductor 98 with the terminal 88
of the transformer through the segments 84 and the stationary starting contact
93. Thus, the motor 45 will continue to run after the push button is released
until the wiping contact 32 reaches the interruption 35 between the segments 94
opposite the companion starting contact 9 I. The next time the push button 91
is operated, a similar locking circuit for the motor will be set up by virtue
of the connections to the starting contact 9i and segments 34. In this manner
the motor 45 may be energized by operation of the push button to cause the
movable contact to travel intermittently in steps halfway around the group of
stationary contacts.
The
clutch release magnet 42 is shunted across the motor terminals by conductors 88
and 99 so that whenever the motor is energized, the armature pawl 4| will be
disengaged from the stopping ratchet to permit rotation of the moving contacts
by the motor; the instant the power is cut off from the motor, the clutch
release magnet will be deenergized and pawl M will fallback
into stopping engagement with the ratchet 48 so as to stop the moving contacts
on one or another of the stationary contacts-in the illustrative embodiment,
either on the contact 9I or the contact 93.
Means for
automatically effecting release of the manually set switch includes the
connection of the reset magnet 88 (Figs. 3 and 7) by a conductor I88 to one
side of the transformer 58 and by conductor IM to a trip contact M2 in the
group of stationary contacts. There may be two such trip contacts disposed in
substantially diametrically opposite positions in the group where the group of
contacts is divided in half as illustrated in Fig. 7 (corresponding to two
interruptions 35 in the segments 34). The second trip contact I83 is connected
by a conductor I84 with the first trip contact I 82. By this arrangement, when
the contact 32 approaches one of the interruptions 35, it will engage the trip
con act I82 and energize the reset coil 88, thus withdrawing the latching
armature 8'! from the lever 85 so that the latter may move to normal position
with the contacts 8I and 82 open and the main motor c'rcuit
broken. It may be observed that after the wiper engages the tripping contact
I82, it moves thereafter onto the starting contact 9I before the motor circuit
is broken.
The
foregoing arrangement is therefore effec tive by operation of a master control to set up a power
circuit for the motor of the electrically actuated switch, such power circuit
subsequently being connected by operation of a manual switch, that is, the push
button 91, to energize the driving motor 45, the electrically operated switch
automatically setting up its own locking circuit so that the driving motor will
remain energized until the switch has operated a predetermined length of time.
During its operation the electrically actuated switchsuccessively contacts the ball switches of the
various exit openings and energizes a totalizer a number of times depending
upon the number of ball switches operated tion with
the circuit diagram of Fig. 7, whereby the scoring value of certain ball
pockets may be varied prior to the playing of the game, so that each time the
game is operated the scoring pockets may be assigned different values. In this
latter arrangement, an electrically actuated switch, such as shown in Figs. 4
and '7, may be used with a slight modification which replaces the segments 34
by a series of stationary contacts I05. The driving motor 55' has one of its
terminals connected by a conductor I05 to one terminal of a transformer 50',
this same terminal also being connected by conductor I01 to a pair of wiping
contacts M33 and I08 similar to the contacts 82 and
32. The remaining terminal of the motor 45' is connected by a conductor IIO to
one contact III of a variableperiod time-delay switch.
The remaining contact I I2 of this switch is connected by conductor II8 to the
remaining terminal of the transformer. Thus, when the switch contacts III and
II! are closed, motor 45' will be energized. As in the case of the arrangement
of Fig. '7, the clutch release magnet 42 is shunted by conductors H4 and H5
across the motor terminals so that whenever the motor is energized, the clutch
pawl will be withdrawn to permit the contact arms I08 and I09 to rotate.
A
variable-period time-delay switch suitable for use in the circuit arrangement
of Fig. 11 is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The contacts III and H2 are
arranged to be normally closed, the contact III, however, being moved to open
circuit position by engagement with a member I mounted on a lever arm I2I which
is pivoted as at I22. on a mounting plate I 28 situated conveniently in the
region near the inner end 85 of the master or coin slide control I5. A timedelay device in the nature of a
dashpot I is mounted on the member I23 and has a plunger rod i26 connected by
pin means I27 with an offset end portion I28 of the arm I2I. By moving the arm
I2I upwardly as viewed in Fig. 8, the dashpot will be set and the member I20
withdrawn from engagement with the contact spring I I
i, so that the latter may engage the companion
contact IIZ, thus closing the motor circuit for the electrically operated
switch.
The
length of time during which the contacts III and H2 will remain closed is
determined basically by the period of time necessary
for the dashpot plunger I25 to return to its normal position, such return rate
being substantially con; stant. The operating period
for the time-delay or dashpot means is varied by the provision of a gear I30
having an eccentric mounting I8I on a projection from the arm I2I. An operating
lever I32 is pivoted at one end as at I33 on the mounting plate I28 and has an ofiset lug I 35 pcsitioned to
engage in the teeth of the gear I30 when the lever is pushed from its normal
position toward the left against the tension of its normal spring I35. The
upper end portion I38 of the operating lever is positioned oposite
the end 84 of the master control or coin slide so that whenever the latter is
operated, the lever I32 will be moved to cause the lug I34 to engage in the
teeth of the eccentric gear I3I with a consequent movement of the arm I2I to
set the dashpot and operate the switch III and H2. Each time the lug I84
engages in the teeth of the eccentric gear, the latter will be turned so that
the stroke of the arm I2I will be varied with each operation of the coin slide,
due to the eccentric mounting of the gear I80 with relation to the driving lug
I84. In this manner, the period of time during which
the switch lII-II2 remains operated may be varied and as a consequence the
travel of the moving contacts I08 and I08 is likewise varied so that the latter
will stop on different sets of contacts I05 and 8|.
Each oi
the contacts I05 is connected by a conductor I40 to one contact I 01' one of
the ball-operated switches I8 and the remaining contacts I42 0! these switches
are connected in common to a conductor I43 and thence to one terminal I44 0!
the totalizer solenoid 25, the remaining terminal I45 01 this solenoid being
connected to the conductor I I3 and hence to the remaining terminal of the transformer
59'; thus whenever the moving contact I09 rests on one of the contacts I05
connected with the switches I8, the totalizer solenoid 25 will be energized,
provided the particular ball switch is operated.
In order to
indicate which of the ball switches is connected in circuit for energization of
the totalizer, there is provided a signal means in the preferred form of a
plurality of lamps I each having one terminal connected in common to a
conductor I5I which in turn connects with the conductor II3 to one side of the
transformer. Each of the remaining terminals of the several indicating lamps is
connected by conductor I52 to a particular one of the outermost ring of
contacts 8i. 'flius, whenever the moving contact arms
I08 and I09 come to rest on any pair of the contacts 8| and I05, the
corresponding lamp I50 will be illuminated and the corresponding ball-operated
switch I8 will be connected in a power circuit with the totalizer magnet, so
that if a ball subsequently operates that particular ball switch, the totalizer
will automatically be energized.
The
signal means or lamps I50 may be arranged in a separate group, as illustrated
in Fig.
10, in a
suitable panel I55 mounted at the upper end of the game cabinet, as in the case
of the panel 22 of Figs. 1 and 2 (and may form a part of the latter, if
desired). Each of the lamps I50 may be separated from the other and provided
with a window having the various score values corresponding thereto arranged to
be illuminated when a particular one of the lamps is energized; or, if desired,
the indicating lamps I50 may be positioned adjacent their respective ball
pockets on the playboard I0.
In
operating the arrangement of Fig. 11, the patron will deposit a coin in the
master control and shove the slide I9 inwardly to release any balls from the
pockets I1 and also to set the time-delay device
I2I-I25 so that the switch I I I-I I2 will be closed
for a certain period of time with a consequent energization of the motor 45'
during such period. The wiping contacts I08 and 509 will move from a starting
position corresponding to the last stopping point and engage one or another
pair of the contacts IOI-I05, depending upon how long the motor 45 remains
energized, this period, of course, differing with each operation of the master control
I9. When the timedelay switch contacts II I-I I2 are
finally opened, one of the lamps I50 will remain lighted and the corresponding
ball switch I8 will be connected in a power circuit with the totalizer coil 26,
and the player of the game will be apprised of the fact that a particular one
of the pockets is connected with the totalizer and
constitutes his objective.
In the event that
it is desired to combine the totalizing feature with the score assigning
feature, the conductors to the terminals 58 and 80 on the secondary of the
transformer 59 should be disconnected and connected at the terminals I and H5
in a second switching unit such as shown in Fig. 11, the totalizer coil 26, of
course, being disconnected from the terminals I and I45. In such case, the coin
slide will operate the control means of both Figs. 3 and 8.
When this
is done, operation of the coin slide I! will cause the
motor 45 of the preselecting switch of Fig. 11 to be operated in the manner
described, and as soon as the time-delay switch opens, the motor will stop.
Since there will be no balls in the pockets at this time,the totalizer circuit will not be energized.
However, if the player has succeeded in lodging balls in the pockets designated
by illumination of certain of the lamps I50, he may at the completion of the
game operate the push button 91 as described in the explanation of Fig. 7, to
start the motor 45 of the second switching mechanism connected in accordance
with the arrangement of Fig. 7, as modified, so that the totalizer will set up
his score for each of the ball switches which have been operated by lodgement of a ball in one of the pockets designed by
illumination of a corresponding lamp I 50.
The objects
and advantages of the invention may be accomplished by other arrangements and
forms of construction than that specified in the.
foregoing
description of the illustrative embodiment, and it is not intended that the
invention shall be restricted to any of the details heretofore specified,
except as may be provided in the appended claims.
Having
thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by
Letters Patent is:
1. In a
game apparatus of the type including a plurality of score switches which may be
operated or closed as a result of playing the game and further including a
master control operable by the player to condition the apparatus for use,
indicating and control means comprising: an electrically operated totalizer,
automatic commutating switch means including a driving motor therefor and
arranged for operation to connect said totalizer with various of said score
switches, means operated by said master control for energizing said driving
motor each time the game is conditioned for use as aforesaid whereby to connect
difierent score switches with said totalizer at
different times, and manually controlled commutating switch means arranged for
operation to successively connect the several score switches in circuit with a
source of electric power, such that those score switches which have been closed
or operated in playing the game as aforesaid and which have been connected by
said automatic commutating switch as aforesaid, will complete a circuit to
energize said totalizer.
2. In a
game apparatus of the type including a plurality of score switches to be
operated variously as a result of playing the game and further including a
master control operable to condition the game apparatus for play, indicating
and control means comprising: an electric totalizer and ii-source of power
therefor, a first commutating switch means operably controlled by said master
control to connect different score switches in circuit with said source of
power, and a second and manually controlled commutating switch arranged for
operation to connect said totalizer successively with said score switches in
such manner that the totalizer will be energized whenever it is connected with
one of said score switches which has been operated by playing the game as aforesaid
and which has been connected by both the first and second commutating switches
as aforesaid. p
3. In
combination with a game apparatus of the type including a plurality of score
switches operated or closed by an instrunientality
used in playing the game and a master control operable to condition the game
for play, score totalizing means comprising: an electrically operated totalizer
and manually controlled electrically operated commutating switch means arranged
in electrical circuit with said totalizer, said score switches, and a source of
electric power, all in a manner such that operation of the commutating switch
will successively connect the several score switches in circuit with the
totalizer and power source so as to energize the totalizer each time a score
switch is connected which is oper ated
or closed as aforesaid, and switch means actuated by said master control each
time the latter is operated to condition said game for play to connect said
electrically operated commutating switch means with said source of power for
manually controlled operation as aforesaid, and electrically actuated means
controlled by said commutating switch and connected to automatically render the
latter inoperative after each totalizing operation until said master control is
again operated.
4. The
combination with an amusement apparatus of the type including a plurality of
selectively operable scoring switches which may be actuated in the course of
operation ofisaid apparatus, of score-indicating
means coinrTrising an electrically operated
indicator, an electrically operated commutating switch having contacts arranged
in a power circuit with said indicator and said selectively operated switches
and effective when energized tosuccessively connect
said selectively operable switches in circuit with said indicator, said
indicator being thereby energized provided one or more of said selectively
operated switches is closed, and manually controlled switch means for
energizing said electrically operated commutating switch.
5. In a
game apparatus, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable switches
each having an assigned relative score value. a score totalizer operated in
steps by electrical impulses, a series of stationary contacts,-a number of
which are connected to each selectively operable switch depending on the
relative score value of said switch, movable contact means arranged for
movement to successively engage said stationary contacts and electrically
connected with said totalizer so as to impulse the latter upon each engagement
with one of said stationary contacts, and manually controlled motor means for
moving said movable contact means, whereby the relative score represented by
the operation of one or more of said selectively operable switches may be
indicated by said totalizer by operation of said manually controlled motor
means.
6. In an
amusement apparatus, a plurality of scoring switches arranged for operation
variously by means involved in the operation of said apparatus, an electrically
operated score indicator, a totalizing switch having a plurality of stationary
contacts connected in groups of one or more with certain of said score
switches; a source of power connected to said score indicator through said
score switches, said stationary contacts, and
.connected'thereto corresponding to the relative score value oi. the particular score switches to which the several contact
groups are connected, and manually controlled motor means for moving said
movable contact means, wherebythe indicator will be
energized each time the movable contact means engages one or more stationary
contacts whose corresponding score switch is closed, the number of times which
the indicator will be energized for any given, score switch depending upon the
number of stationary contacts connected thereto.
7. In
combination, a plurality of selectively operable switches, a score totalizer of
a type adapted to be operated by electrical impulses, an electrically operated
switch including a plurality of relatively stationary contacts connected in accordance
with a predetermined plan to said selectively operable switches in accordance
with arbitrarily assigned score values of said selectively operable switches,
said electrically operated switch including relatively movable contact means
and motor means for moving the same to successively engage said stationary
contacts,- a manually controlled switch arranged for operation to start said
motor means, circuit connec tions
through said movable and stationary con-- tact means for automatically
deenergizing and stopping said motor means after said movable contact means has
been moved a predetermined amount, and circuit connections between said
totalizer and the contact means of said electrically operated switch ior impulsing said totalizer anumber of times dependent upon which of said selectively
operable switches is closed at thetime said motor
means is started by operation of said manual switch.
8. In an
amusement apparatus 01 thetype having a plurality of
selectively-operable switches arranged to be operated by use of the apparatus,
pre-selecting mechanism comprising: an electrically operated totalizer, an
electrically operated change-over switch means arranged for operation to
connect different ones of said selectively operable switches in a power circuit
with said totalizer whereby the latter may be operated provided the selectively
operable switch thus connected is operated as aforesaid, a master control and
variable-period time-delay switch means actuated by said master control and
arranged to energize said change-over switch for difierent
periods each time the master control is actuated whereby to render different
selectively operable switches effective prior to each playing oi the game.
LYNDON A. DURANT.
This is a perfect
example`
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