US2510380A - Moving target game - Google Patents

Description

`Inune 6, 1950 l I G. CLIFFORD 2,510,380'

MOVING TARGET GAME Filed Aug. s, 1947 fs sheets-sheet 1 5 l yINVENTOR. J7 @eoye @Zz'ffo ra G ATTORNEYS June 6, 1950 G. CLIFFORD MOVING TARGET GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1947 INVENTOR, emye CZE' 7007*'2r ll/ll//A//l Mami/V50. 4

ATTI] RNEYS June 6, 1950 l I G. CLIFFORD 2,510,330

MOVING TARGET GAME Filed Aug. 8, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 O O 2l 56 INVENTOR'.

@orge 727% raf l fl '1 E* ATI'DRNEYB Patented June 6 1950 UNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE 2,510,380 MOVING TARGET GAME George Clifford, Mount ClemenspMicli. Application August 8, 1947, Serial No. 7 67,476

2 Claims. (o1. 27s- 105m This invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to devices of this character comprising one or more moving targets.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a moving target which will pass through the target area .a predetermined number of times at substantially constant speed. y

It is another object of the invention to provide means for resetting any target which has been hit during its passage throughthe target area.

. Still another object of the invention is to provide score registering mechanism which will automatically maintain a `cumulative score which increases each time that a target has been hit.

It is a feature of the invention that the score registering mechanism will respond selectively to targets of different sizes providing an increased score for striking the smaller target.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hazard within or adjacent tothe target arca which will reset the score previously made by a player to zero if the hazard should be inadvert ently struck instead vof the target.

Other and further objects willbecome apparent upon reading'. the following specification together with the accompanying `drawing forming apart hereof. i l

Referringto the drawing: I

Fig. l shows aview in elevationof an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is `a rear View in shown 'in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. d is a sectional view in elevation, partly broken away, similar to the view in Figi taken along the line l--ll of Fig. 2, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View in elevation taken on elevation of the device Athefline 5--5 of Fig. l looking inthe direction of the arrows. g

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in elevation taken along the line 6-8 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 'l is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuit used in practicing the invention.

Fig. 8 is a rear view of a-small target member.

Fig. 9 is a rear View of the larger target member.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the larger target in its knocked `down or reclining position illustrating operation `of the selective scoring feature of the invention; f

Fig. 1l is an end view of the small target shown .2, Y in Fig. 8 illustrating the contact closure which occurs when the target is struck. y Y Y Fig. 12 is a plan View of the smaller target shown in Fig. 8, showing the target in a knocked down position and illustrating the increased scoring feature which results from striking the smallertargetmy Y .Y

Referring to Fig. 1, a base 204is adaptedto house and to support the operating mechanism. A vertical back board 2l presents a .woodland scene or any other suitable background on the forward surface and in the rear itsupports the scoring mechanism. To add to the realistic effect, miniature trees/22 areprovided inthe front of the device.

The target area. extends between the trees 22 and in Fig. 1, the smaller vtarget 24 which'is shown in the shape of a rabbit, is indicated as passing through the scoring area. The r trees 22 at either side ofthe target areaare shown arranged to operate asa hazard by mounting them to be rotated when struck( This is described in greater detail below. In this' manner, a player is penalized for an unusually wild shot by loosing any score he may have previously made.

Referring to Fig. 2, the base comprises a slot 26 in the form of a continuous track with roundedL ends beneath which passes an endless belt 21 carrying the two target members 2,4 and 25. The belt 2l is supported by the pulleys 28 and 29, pulley 29 being driven by a further pulley 3B mounted on the same shaft. Driving pulley 30;

is operatively connected by belt v3l to a smaller pulley 32 mounted on the shaft with motor 33.

When motor 33 is energized, beltV 2l passes over to a vertical position by a ramp 10 which may best be seen in Fig. 4, which will lift the target from its struck or reclining position gradually to a point where it will be restored to vertical by the centrifugal forcevexertedon the target member as it swings around pulley 28 inreturning to the rear 'of the Vback board 2l.- Thus, each one of the target members, if struck, will be automatically restored to vertical position for the next shot.

Disposed behind top of the target member when it is in the target area, is a pair of electrical contact bars 34 and 35. Bar 35 is broken into two segments with a gap between the segments constituting the bars`35 and 35. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be Seen `that the smaller tar-l get 24 is provided with a single bridging contact,

member 33 adapted to bridge the bars 34 and 35 whenever the smaller target is struck. Upon reaching the gap between the bars 35 and 35', the circuit is interrupted and is closed again when the contact member 35 bridges bars 34 and 35. This supplies two consecutive impulses to the scoring mechanism thereby providing an increased score for hitting the smaller target.

In the larger target, illustrated in Fig. 9, -a bifurcated contactmember 37 is provided andis of such width which will bridge contact bars 34 and 35 and Iwhich will bridge the gap between bars 35 and 35 to engage contact bar 35 before breaking contact with contact bar 35. Inthis manner a single impulse is delivered to the scoring mechanism, upon striking the larger target member 25. v

Referring to Fig. 3, the score registering mechanism comprises an 11 position wheel with translucent indicia disposed therein. These indicia bengfshown numbered to indicate by this consecutively from zero to one hundred inclusive. Small incandescent lamp 33 is disposed to illuminate the particular` numberV corresponding to the score. The scoring wheel y39 is adapted to be retained in its advanced position by 'av pawl t0 which may be retracted by energization of-magnet 4l. Scoring wheel 39 is advanced by ratchet WheeliZ which :isadapted for :engagement with ratchet arm 43 and which is actuated by solenoid 54. Compression spring 45: urges ratchet arm Q3 to its normal position-after,deenergization of solenoid 44. Magnet 46, kwhen energized, attracts the end .4l of arm .48 whichis pivoted at 49 and which raises the end of ratchet levers disengaging it from ratchet wheel 52 thus permitting the scoring whee1z39 to turn toits normal position under the influence of'spiral restoring spring G9. g

Astoppin 581 is adapted for engagement with a -xed stop membertl in both .thezeroz'and one hundred scoring 'positions andzserve'siLta limit the travel of scoring Wheel 39. z x

yDisposed beneath either or both of the target members is a .pin or actuating member 52.1which is arranged; to engage star wheelxzeach ytime that any` target member. .provided Withisuch .a pin passes the Starwheel;V Thisl .advances the Wheel vby one tooth. The lmachine .is placed in operation by lpressingV button 54 and at r'.the end-V ofg-a predetermined nuinber'orfavtarget passages (le-'-V term-ined by the number vteeth-ofthe rstar wheel,

theirnachinewill stop. Thiscounts and thus lim-# its -the number of opportunities vwhichagplayer. ina-y sheotat-a moving'targetf- :Pressing Vof button-5fi operates toggle switch- 55 andcloses contacts 55 duringv the short intervalwhile button Ellis pressed down tothe maximum extent. When pressure is removed-from buttorr54j,` armY 57 rises slightly openingcontacts 55 but/not sufficiently tdrestore toggle switch 55. Y Contacts-55 are ar-v ranged te-restore the, scoring mechanism to zero andv contacts 55 are -connectedto control the motor and other power suppliedto theV machine.` Ater the predetermined number 'of actuations by pini-'52, star wheel -53 which rotates arm -58 causes member 59 to disengage arm allow-ing retractile spring 66 to restore toggle switch 55 to its nermal position.

The -trees22 are pivotally mounted at 61| and carry a moving Contact member 62- fad'aptedfor engagementwitheither contact. member 33er EL A front boardimember 65 is similarly pivotallly supportedf--together withY the treesy 22. if

the.'- treesl are 'strukl'fbyf'a vplayerjthey will be moved toward back board 2l causing closure or contacts 62 and 63. If the front board 65 is struck, this will move in the trees in the opposite direction to close contacts 62 and 64. Contacts 62, 63 and 64 are included in the resetting circuit of a score registering mechanism so that any score previously registered by a player will be restored to Zero upon striking either the trees 22 or the iront board 65. As previously noted, this serves as a penalty against a player who makes an unusually wildl shot.

Referring to Fig. '7, the wiring drawing or" the electrical circuit is shown. Power is supplied to the machine through a cord 66 and conductor '6l thereof passes through toggle switch 55 which controls all of the power for the machine. Upon pressing button 54 all the Way down, toggle switch 55 is actuated to the On position energizing motor via conductors 61 and 68. At the same time, the primary oi a step down transformer 59 isenergized providing low voltage for theoperationaof the-machine. The use ci low voltageiisdesirablef-since there are exposed ourn rent carrying .parts which may inadvertently be touched by'one'of theplayers and this minimizes the danger -of shock. When button 54 is pressed all the way down, it momentarily closes contacts 55 while pressure is maintained on button 54. Closure or contacts 55V energizes reset magnets lll and d8 -via conductors '15,1% and'Z. Energization ofv Winding llvcauses bar Sto lift ratchet levez` 43out-of engagement vwith the teeth ci ratchet wheel 42 vso that there will be no'Y interference with theteeth as thescoring wheel returns to zero. Energization-of .magnet `lli withdraws pawl d5 fromlthe peripheralteeth roi scoring Wheel 53 thus permitting .spiral'spring i2 to return wheel 3S to its zero or initial position determined by engagement between stop pin 5E! and stop pin 5i.

lUnder vthe Aconditions just described, the targets passv successively before the target area and each time Yal target carrying a pin or actuating member 52 passes star wheel 53, thestarrwheel is .advanced one notch.r The star wheel mechanism limits the total number of times that a target will pass before the target area'. Each time the large target is struck, a single impulse will be delivered to the scoring mechanism advancing the score by ten points in the embodiment illusn trated. The single score is the result of the bridging action of the bifurcated Ymember 3l which is not affected by the gap between the 'bars 35 and 35. if the small target 34 is struck, the Single Contact 3b interrupts the scoring circuit again upon passing the gap between the bars 35 While various changes may be made in the' detail construction',v it' shall be understood that such changes shall be withinthe spirit and scopel ofthe present invention 'as dened by the appended claims. 7

l claim:

in ader/ice of the class described, an endless power operated'means disposed to drive the bel-t at substantially constant velocity, a plurality of normally vertical target members carried by the belt-eachl having' a contact member secured thereto, the width of the contact member on one of the target members being greater than that on one of the other target members and each target member being adapted to be struck by a player when within a predetermined target area and further adapted to assume a reclining position when so struck, xed contact means adapted for temporary engagement with the contact mem-` ber when the target is in a reclining position and shaped to produce a lesser number of contact closures upon engagement with the wider contact member than by engagement with the narrower member an actuating member carried by the belt and operation terminating means responsive to each passage of the actuating member and disposed after a predetermined number of such passages to de-energize the power operated means. f

2. In a device of the class described, an endless belt, power operated means disposed to drive the belt at substantially constant velocity, a plurality of normally vertical target members carried by the belt each having a contact member secured thereto, the width of the contact member on one of the target members being greater than that on one of the other target members and each target member being adapted to be struck by a player when within a predetermined target area and further adapted to assume a reclining posi-V tion when so struck, xed contact means adapted for temporary engagement with the contact member when the target is in a reclining position and shaped to produce a lesser number of contact closures upon engagement with the wider contact member than by engagement with the narrower member erecting means disposed to restore a reclining target to its normal vertical position after engagement with the xed contact means, an actuating member carried by the belt, and operation terminating means responsive to each passage of the actuating member and disposed after a predetermined number` of such passages to de-energize the power operated means.

GEORGE CLIFFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,672,692 Schierburg June 5, 1928 2,125,353 Mattson Aug. Y2, 1938 2,155,929 Breitenstein Apr. 25, 1939 2,161,012 Breitenstein et al. June 6, 1939

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