US2269256A - Gun game - Google Patents

Description

J. F. EAKINS Jan. 6, 1942.

GUN GAME 3 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed Deo. 30, 1936 Jan. 6, 1942. J F EAK|N5 2,269,256

GUN GAME Filed Deo. so, 1936 s sheets-sheetz J. F EAKINS Jan. 6, 1942.

GUNl GAME Filed Dec.. 5o, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED sTATEs-PATENT OFFICE GUN GAME John F. Eakins, Evanston', Ill., assignor to Albert G. McCaleb, Evanston, Ill.

I Application December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,210 1 Claim. (Cl. ,T13-101.1)

unexpectedly. The energization of a target is indicated by the illumination of a lamp associated therewith. Each target has a photoelectric cell which is operatively connected to the remaining apparatus only when the circuit of its associated lamp is completed.

The game apparatus comprises sound means responsive to a successful shot, Visual means for indicating the number `of successful shots, and other features which will hereinafterbe fully described with reference to the embodimentl of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the game apparatus; f

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View and wiring diagram;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through part of the apparatus, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail View, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail View, taken on the line 6-6 of Figs. 4 and 5, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail View, taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I designates a cabinet located at the butt of the range. This cabinet serves as a support for the gun II when the same is not in use. The gun is secured to the cabinet I0 by means of a cable I2, which includes a plurality of conductors which will hereinafter be described.

Upon the cabinet I0 is a coin slide I3 of known type. When a .coin of the appropriate denominaapparatus may be designed for any desired number, either of targets or of shots permitted forl the payment of one coin.

'I'he targets I4 may be formed 'to simulate flying ducks, or anyotherappropriate form of target may be employed. The targets I4 may suitably be transparent `igures arranged upon a black background on a sheet of glass I5. The'sheet of glass I may suitably form the front wall of a box-like frame I6 which may, for example, be

supported ona wall. Within the box-like frame I6 are provided housings Il, one foreach of the targets I4; Each housing I1 includes an incandescent lamp I8 and a'photoelectric cell I9. The' photoelectric cell I9 is enclosed within a housing so that it is noli; illuminated by the lamp I8.

The lhousing 20 comprises a forwardly, projecting tubular portion V2I which isV directed outwardly towards'the target I4. When the lamp I8 of a target is illuminated, the whole target; is seen as a bright object with the exceptionof a portion corresponding to the tube 2l, which is dark and serves as the'object to be aimed at.

Also contained Within 'the box-like frame is a sound producing device 22 of the general form of a bellows, provided with a Vreed structure 23 which is caused to emit a sound when the bellows is contracted. The bellows is adapted `to be contracted by the movement of an armature 24'into a solenoid 25 When that solenoid'is energized; The bellows 22 may include a spring 26 which tends to return the bellows to initial position when the solenoid 25 is no longer energized.

The gun II comprises a barrel 21 through Whichlight is adapted to be projected from an incandescent lamp- 28 located Within the gun. A

matically almost immediately after it is closed lens 29 may be located in the barrel `2`I so `as to concentrate the'beam of light into small compass. The trigger 3D controls a switch 3I -of any suitable type which is adapted to open autoby Ithe trigger 30. The switch 3I and lamp 28 are in series and are provided withleads 32 and tion is inserted by means of the coin slide I3,

33 which are located within the cable I2. The cabinet I0 is connecte-d lto the box-like frame I6 by means of a cable 34 and electric energy may be supplied to the cabinet IU by means of leads 35 and 36 from any suitable source.

The remainder of the apparatus is located .within the cabinet I0. Thus, a switch drum 31 is rotatably mounted within the cabinet IIJ. This drum may be of any suitable construction, but it is preferred' to construct it as shown in Fig. 5. As shown in thisV figure the drum comprises a peripheral member 38 upon which is carried a cylinder of insulation 39. A metallic. sleeve or cylinder 40 is mounted over the cylinder 39, and a cylinder 4I of insulation is mounted over the metal cylinder 40.

Five circumferential series of plugs 42 are threaded into the cylinder 4I so that they lie flush therewith and make contact with the metal cylinder 40. The plugs 42 of the various circumferential series are staggered in the circumferential direction of the drum, as shown in Fig. 4. A plurality of brushes 43, corresponding in number to the number of targets I4 and the number of circumferential series of plugs 42, is carried,

by strips of insulation 44 carried by Ithe cabine-t. Owing to the irregular manner of locating the plugs 42 on the surface of the drum, only one of these plugs will make contact with one of the brushes 43 at any time. Furthermore, the number of plugs 42 is sufficiently great that the order in which the contacts 42 engage the brushes 43 is quite irregular. Thus, if we number the various circumferential series of plugs 42 in the downward direction, as viewedin Fig. 4, then the brushes will be energized in the following order: 4, l, 2, 3, 5, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 3, l, etc. The order in which the brushes are energized controls the order in which the targets are energized and illuminated and, consequently, the player receives no warning as to which target is going to be energized next during the operation of the game.

Means are provided whereby the drum 31 is rotated for a certain amount each time that a coin is inserted to release the apparatus for play. Thus, I may pivotally mount on the coin slide I3 a laterally projecting dog 45 which is pressed against a stop 46 into the position shown in Fig. 4, by means of a coil spring 41. When the coin slide I3 is forced inwardly the dog 45 strikes the upper end of an arm 48 pivotally mounted on the shaft 49 of the drum 31. A spring 58, secured to a stationary frame within the cabinet and to the lower end of the arm 48, tends to hold this arm in the position shown in Fig. 3 with a projection 5I of the arm in contact with a stationary stop 52. When the coin slide I3 approaches the innermost end of its stroke, as shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 3, the dog 45 clears the arm 48 so that it sharply resumes its normal position under the influence of the spring 50.

The arm 48 carries a pawl 53 which is adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 54 which is rigid with the drum 31. During this return movement of the arm 48, the pawl 53 engages the ratchet wheel 54 and causes the drum 31 to rotate rapidly in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. When the arm 48 is thrown to its outermost position, as shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 3, it displaces the lever 55 forwardly for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The drum 31 is adapted to be driven step by step in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by means of a solenoid 56. This solenoid v cooperates with an armature 51 which is pivotally connected to an arm 58 pivotally mounted on the shaft 49. The arm 58 has pivotally mounted thereon a pawl 59 which is adapted to cooperate with a ratchet wheel 60 which is rigidly connected to the drum 31. Also rigidly mounted on the shaft 49 is a star wheel 6I which is adapted to be engaged by a rod 62 so as to cause the drum 31 to be located in any one of a plurality of definite positions. Each of these definite positions brings one of the plugs 42 into contact with one of the brushes 43.

The rod 62 is pivotally connected to a plunger 63 of a dashpot cylinder 64. The rod 62 is also pivotally connected to a lever 65 which is mounted on a fixed pivot. A spring 66, connected to the lever 65 and to a stationary point, biases the spring 65 so as to force the pointed end of the rod 62 against the periphery of the star wheel 6I. On the underside, the coin slide I3 has pivotally mounted thereon a dog B1. When the coin slide I3 is forced inwardly, the `dog 61 engages the lever 65 and forces the rod 62 away from the star wheel 6I. As the inward movement of the coin slide I3 is continued, the lever 65 clears the dog 61 and the spring 66 tends to carry the rod 62 back into cooperative relation with the star wheel 6I. Owing to the action of the dashpot 64, some time elapses before the rod 62 thus returns and the drum 31 is adapted to rotate freely for a short time before it is again arrested by the rod 62.

The cabinet I0 also contains two counting devices 68 and 89. The counting device 68 is a main switch mechanism which regulates the number of shots which may be fired for each coin. It comprises a ratchet wheel 10 which is biased in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a spring 1 I. The ratchet wheel 1I) rigidly carries a switch arm 12 which is adapted to cooperate with the contacts 13. The contacts 13 are connected in series and correspond in number to the number of shots permitted for one coin which, in the present embodiment of the invention, is ve.

The lever 55 carries a pawl 14 which cooperates with the ratchet 1U and is adapted to prevent rotation of this ratchet under the influence of the spring 1I. When, however, the lever 55 is displaced by the arm 48 in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3, the pawl 14 is moved away from the ratchet wheel 18 and, consequently, the spring 1I moves the ratchet 1U and switch arm 12 into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, at which position they are arrested by a stop 15. In this position the switch arm 12 is in engagement with the first contact 13.

The lever 55 is held in its normal position by a spring 16. A lever 11 is pivotally mounted adjacent the ratchet wheel 10 and carries a detent 18. The lever 11 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2, by means of a spring 8|, with the detent 18 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 10. The armature 19 of a solenoid 80 is pivotally connected to the lever 11. When the solenoid 8D is energized, the lever 11 moves downwardly and engages the ratchet wheel 10, causing it to rotate so as to move the switch arm 12 one step-that is, from one contact 13 to the next contact. The last step moves the arm 12 away from all the contacts 13 and the circuit of the machine is broken, as will hereinafter be described.

The lever 55 is connected by a link 82 to another pivot lever 83. This lever carries a pawl 84 which cooperates with a ratchetwheel 85 of the counting mechanism 69 in the same manner as the pawl 14 cooperates with the ratchet wheel 10. A switch arm 86 is rigidly carried by the ratchet wheel and is` adapted to reach an initial position determined by a stop 81 under the influence of a spring 88, when the lever 83 is moved simultaneously with the lever 55 on the insertion of a coin and the actuation of the coin slide I3. The ratchet wheel 85 is adapted to be rotated step by step in the opposite directionthat is, the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, by means of a detent 89 carried by a pivoted lever 90. The lever 90 is actuated by a solenoid 9I, thev number of shots permitted by the insertion of l each coin. In this embodiment that number is 5. When the lever 83 is swung in the manner described, the spring 88 throws the switch arm 86 into the yposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the solenoid 9| yis energized, which occurs when the marksman makes a hit, the arm 86 is moved into engagement with the rst contact 94. At each successive hit the arm 86 is moved into engagement with the next contact 94. Each of the contacts 94 is connected to a signal lamp 95, these lamps being suitably arranged on the cabinet I so as to indicate visually the number of hits which have been made by the marksman.

The cabinet I0 also includes an amplifier 96 which is connected in the manner hereinafter described. 'Ihe power line 35 is connected directly to the amplifier 96 to supply energy thereto. The power line 36 is connected through electromagnets 91 to the lamps I8. The other terminals of these lamps are connected individually to the brushes 43. The power line 36 is also connected through pole 98 and pole 99 of a double pole switch to the solenoid 25 and the solenoid 9|, respectively. 'I'he other terminals of these solenoids are connected to the power line 35. The powerline 36 is 'connected to the switch arms 86 and 12, respectively. The contacts 13 are connected to a brush |00 which is in continual engagement with the cylinder 40 of conductive material and, consequently, with the plugs 42 which make Contact with the brushes 43. The contacts 13 are also connected to the lead 32 previously referred to, and to the other power terminal of the amplifier 96. The power line 35 is connected to terminals of the signal lamps 95 and to one terminal of the solenoid 80.

The output of the amplifier 96 is connected to an electromagnet |0| which is adapted, when energized, to move the poles 98 and 99 to closed position. One conductor |02 of the input circuit of the amplifier is connected to each of the photoelectric cells |9. The other terminals of these cells are connected through switches |03 to the other line |04 of the input circuit of the amplier. electromagnets 91, each switch |03 being associated with the electromagnet 91 in series with the lamp I8 which is associated with the particular photoelectric cell I9 controlled by that switch |03.

A time delay switch |05 is inserted in the line 32 so as to prevent operation of the gun until the tubes of the amplifier have warmed up to an operating temperature.

The operation is as follows. Initially, the position of the main switch arm 12 is that shown in Fig. 2. The switch arm 86 is normally found in a position indicating the score of the last player. Thus, it is shown in a position which completes a circuit through the third lamp 95, indicating the previous marksman has made three hits. This circuit is completed from power line 36, switch arm 86, third contact 94, third lamp 95 and power line 35. To free theapparatus for shooting, it is necessary to insert a coin in the coin slide I3 and to push the coin slide inwardly into the position indicated in dotted The switches |03 are associated with the lines in Fig. 3. In so doingfthe arm 48 is pushed into the position shown in dash'andy dot lines in Fig. 3 and is released so that it swings rapidly into its initial positionunder the influence of the spring 50. v

The pawl53 carried bythe arm 48 causes the drum 31`to spin. The rod'62 is held out of engagement with the star wheel 6I so as to enable this spinning to take place. After aA short time. however, the arm 62 moves into engagement with the star wheel 6l and holds the drum 31 in one kof its predeterminedpositions with one of the brushes 43 in engagement with one of the plugs 42. As shownin Fig. 4, for example, the third brush is in engagement with the third yplug 42.

The movement of the arm- 48 displaces they lever 55, with the result that the pawls 14 and 84 are withdrawn from their ratchet wheels and these wheels rotate under the influence of their springs so as to bring the switch arm 12 into engagement with the rst of the contacts 13 and the switch arm 86 out of engagement with all of the contacts 94. The particular lamp which was illuminated now goes o-ut and the main switch constituted by the switch arm 12, completes a circuit through the particular lamp I8 associated with the third brush 43. 'Ihe completion of the energization of this lamp circuit energizes the associated electromagnet 91 and closes the switch |03 which connects the photoelectric cell I9 associated with that particular lamp I8 to the amplifier 96.

When the main switch arm 12 closes the main circuit, the power circuit of the amplifier 96 is completed and the tubes warm up. When this occurs, the delay switch |05 closes and the gun now can be aimed and operated so as to project a flash. If the markman directs the gun correctly, the projected ash impinges upon the photoelectric cell I9 of the particular object which is energized. That energization is indicated to the marksman by the illumination of one of the objects. When the marksman pulls the trigger to lilluminate the lamp 28, the circuit through the lamp is completed through the solenoids 56 and 80. The result is that the drum 31 is rotated one step by means of the pawl 59 and ratchet wheel 60 so that a different target is illuminated. Thus, a new target is presented whether or not the marksman has `been successful in hitting his target, and which particular target is thereupon energized is unknown to the marksman until the target is energized as shown by its illumination. If the marksman is successful, the input circuit of the amplier receives an impulse from the photoelectric cell, which impulse is amplied and is suicient to energize the electromagnet IOI, closing the circuits through the solenoid 25 and the solenoid 9|.

The energization of the solenoid 25 operates the bellows 22, which causes the emission of a sound to indicate a hit. The energization of the solenoid 9| causes the switch arm 86 to move one step inthe clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. Consequently, when the iirst hit is made, the first lamp 95 becomes illuminated, when the next hit is made the second lamp 95 is illuminated, and so on. Each time the trigger 30' is pulled to emit a flash, the solenoid 89 is energized and the switch arm 12 moves step by step in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, When 5 shots have been red, the switch arm 12 moves away from all of the contacts 13 and the main circuit of the apparatus is opened and the apparatus cannot be used until a further coin is inserted by the coin slide I3.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an apparatus in which a plurality of targets are energized in succession, the order of succession being unknown to the marksman in advance. Furthermore, my apparatus provides for the presentation of a new target each time the gun is fired, Whether the aim has been successful or not. It is also to be noted that in this game a successful hit is indicated both by sound-pro ducing means and by Visual means.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

. In a gun game apparatus, in combination, a plurality of 'targets adapted to be energized one at a time, a circuit connected to each target, a contact drum having a plurality of contacts adapted to complete said circuits one at a time, said contacts being arranged irregularly upon the drum, a coin slide for freeing the apparatus for play, and means cooperating with the coin slide for rotating the drum to a random initial position. l

JOHN F. EAKINS.

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