US3554547A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amusement game apparatus
Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corp
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Filing: 1967-12-22
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1987-12-22
Abstract
Abstract In simulated amusement game apparatus, e.g. a football game, a manual control module having three degrees of motion is selectively operative by mechanical or electrical means to actuate a pulley cord system to cause a manikin playing piece to travel in different directions and at different speeds over a playing field composed of guide tracks having an especial crosssectional structure, the said module also being operative to cause the playing piece to move in situ to strike a ball or the like independently of the travelling movements thereof. Supplements to the subject: manikin figures are carried by a novel shuttle structure including a slide reciprocable to rotate a cam table, the slide being actuated by causing an effective elongation of the drive cable which travels the shuttle, such elongation being wholly independent of any travel motion of the shuttle and any power means utilized in connection therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard I Vedeen
- 👤 Joseph E Lally
- 👤 Herman L Seiden
- 👤 Freida B Administrator Seiden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:20
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/06; A63F7/0684
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
In amusement apparatus of the type having a playing figure guided for travel over a predetermined course, motor driven shaft means supplying motive power for such movement, carriage means supporting said figure for said guided travel and for another motion relative to the carriage means, together with track means defining said course and supporting said carriage means for travel as aforesaid; improvements including: the combination with a carriage and a playing figure carried thereby of carriagetravelling means comprising reversely-travelling cable means and pulley means for moving the carriage over said course; control means including a manually-operable member having a first mode of reverse operations and driving means actuated thereby to connect driving power of corresponding directional character from said shaft means to said pulley and cable means for effecting corresponding reverse travel of the carriage; a movable element carried with the carriage and means yieldingly urging the said element to a normal position relative to the carriage; means attaching one part of said cable means to said movable element, and means attaching another part of said cable means to the carriage; said control means having a second mode of operation under control of said manually-operable member and independent of said first mode of operation for moving a part of said pulley means from a normal position to elongate the path of travel of said cable means, said movable element of the carriage being movable from said normal position to permit such effective elongation of the cable means to travel said elongated path and move the carriage, notwithstanding, responsive to actuations of said control means in said first mode; and means drivingly interconnecting said movable element and said playing figure on the carriage for producing a motion of the latter in situ on the carriage responsive to movements of said movable element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
In amusement apparatus of the type having a playing figure guided for travel over a predetermined course, motor driven shaft means supplying motive power for such movement, carriage means supporting said figure for said guided travel and for another motion relative to the carriage means, together with track means defining said course and supporting said carriage means for travel as aforesaid; improvements including: the combination with a carriage and a playing figure carried thereby of carriagetravelling means comprising reversely-travelling cable means and pulley means for moving the carriage over said course; control means including a manually-operable member having a first mode of reverse operations and driving means actuated thereby to connect driving power of corresponding directional character from said shaft means to said pulley and cable means for effecting corresponding reverse travel of the carriage; a movable element carried with the carriage and means yieldingly urging the said element to a normal position relative to the carriage; means attaching one part of said cable means to said movable element, and means attaching another part of said cable means to the carriage; said control means having a second mode of operation under control of said manually-operable member and independent of said first mode of operation for moving a part of said pulley means from a normal position to elongate the path of travel of said cable means, said movable element of the carriage being movable from said normal position to permit such effective elongation of the cable means to travel said elongated path and move the carriage, notwithstanding, responsive to actuations of said control means in said first mode; and means drivingly interconnecting said movable element and said playing figure on the carriage for producing a motion of the latter in situ on the carriage responsive to movements of said movable element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said track means consists in a set of elongated track members mounted in side-by-side parallelism at least in pairs, each track member having a vertical web surmounted by a crosswise top web defining a part of the playfield surface, track formations running along the opposite sides of the vertical web beneath the top web for supporting engagement with one of said carriage means for travel back and forth between a said pair of track members, and mounting means on said vertical web spaced below said track formations for engagement with a support for said set of track members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein there is further provided a yieldable stop gate means at the opposite ends of said set of track members and having the form of an elongated blocking member extending in a direction laterally across the ends of the track members and mounted for movement from a normal blocking position in which it obstructs the departure of the carriage means from said track formations, to a nonblocking position permitting such departure; and spring means acting on said blocking member yieldingly maintaining the same in said normal blocking position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The construction of claim 2 wherein said carriage comprises a body having elongated grooves on opposite sides thereof, one such groove on each side being in parallel alignment with another each of which glidingly receives one of two said track formations on confronting sides of an appertaining pair of said track members; another pair of said grooves on the carriage body slidably receiving said movable element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further characterized in that each said carriage body includes formations defining a plate seat and said playing figure is provided with a cam plate receivable in said seat and disposed normally to the axis of movement of the playing figure and in approximate parallelism with the plane of movement of said movable element; interacting means on the movable element and plate radially offset from said axis and effecting rotative motion of the plate and playing figure responsive to reciprocatory motion of said movable element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first mode of operation is angular in different directions from a neutral position, and said second mode of operation is linear with respect to said neutral position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said shaft means comprises a pair of countershafts spaced apart in parallelism and motor driven in reverse directions; and said cable means and pulley means therefore comprise a jointly rotatable friction wheel and pulley wheel movable by said control means in the first mode of operation thereof from a neutral position in between said countershafts to engage said friction wheel drivingly with one or the other of said countershafts and travel said cable means accordingly in one or the other direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 further characterized in that said pulley means includes two pulley members over which said cable means is trained in connection with the carriage means as aforesaid, and one of said pulley members is the same as that which is jointly movable with said friction wheel, said last-mentioned pulley member and friction wheel being disposed in juxtaposition with both said countershafts for motion as a unit in opposite directions from a neutral nondriving position to driving positions in which engagement of the friction wheel with one or the other of the countershafts is effected responsive to reverse operation of said control means in the angular mode thereof; the second pulley member being movable between normal and off-normal positions to produce effective elongation of the cable means as aforesaid; and means providing an actuating connection between said control means and said second pulley member for transmitting control movement from the control means in its said linear mode to move the second pulley member to its off-normal position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pulley means includes first and second pulley members over which said cable means is trained in moving the carriage means as aforesaid; a first one of said pulley members Having a driving wheel jointly rotatable therewith and means mounting the same and said first pulley member for movement in opposite directions from a neutral position to reverse driving positions with said wheel in engagement with one of two reversely rotating shaft members which are components of said shaft means; means mounting said second pulley member for movement from a normal to an off-normal position to produce effective elongation of the cable means as aforesaid in one of said positions; means operable to move the second pulley member to said off-normal position; means actuated under control of said control means in the second mode thereof to transmit an opening effort to said means for moving the second pulley member as aforesaid to produce the said effective elongation of the cable means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
In amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for change-direction travel over a course relative to a playfield; a playing component mounted for movement on the carriage; an actuating member movable on the carriage and means connecting the same with the playing component to move the latter responsive to movement of the actuating member; a pulley belt connecting with the carriage to travel the same over said course; means for travelling the pulley belt to travel the carriage; and means for imparting another motion to the pulley belt which is effective independently of the travelling motion thereof for the purpose of moving the actuating member and thereby moving the playing component on the carriage without regard to the motion or direction of travel of the carriage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
In amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for change-direction travel over a course relative to a playfield; a playing component mounted for movement on the carriage; an actuating member movable on the carriage and means connecting the same with the playing component to move the latter responsive to movement of the actuating member; a pulley belt connecting with the carriage to travel the same over said course; means for travelling the pulley belt to travel the carriage; and means for imparting another motion to the pulley belt which is effective independently of the travelling motion thereof for the purpose of moving the actuating member and thereby moving the playing component on the carriage without regard to the motion or direction of travel of the carriage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
In amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for travel relative to a playfield; a pulley system for the carriage including a pulley belt having opposite end portions, means attaching one said end portion to the carriage; an operating member shiftable between normal and off-normal positions on the carriage; means yieldingly urging said operating member to said normal position; means connecting the other end portion of the pulley belt to said operating member; pulley means at spaced positions around which the pulley belt is trained to travel the carriage; the pulley means at a particular one of said positions being shiftable between normal and off-normal positions to lengthen, in effect, the distance between the ends of the pulley belt in the off-normal position; means urging the shiftable pulley means to said normal position; a game component movably mounted on the carriage and means providing driving interconnection of said component with said operating member; control means operable to shift the shiftable pulley means between said normal and off-normal positions; and means operable to connect driving power to said pulley system for travelling said belt and carriage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
187 words
In amusement apparatus, a carriage and means supporting the same for travel relative to a playfield; a pulley system for the carriage including a pulley belt having opposite end portions, means attaching one said end portion to the carriage; an operating member shiftable between normal and off-normal positions on the carriage; means yieldingly urging said operating member to said normal position; means connecting the other end portion of the pulley belt to said operating member; pulley means at spaced positions around which the pulley belt is trained to travel the carriage; the pulley means at a particular one of said positions being shiftable between normal and off-normal positions to lengthen, in effect, the distance between the ends of the pulley belt in the off-normal position; means urging the shiftable pulley means to said normal position; a game component movably mounted on the carriage and means providing driving interconnection of said component with said operating member; control means operable to shift the shiftable pulley means between said normal and off-normal positions; and means operable to connect driving power to said pulley system for travelling said belt and carriage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the operating member is linearly shiftable in the general direction of travel of the cable means, and said urging means is a spring pulling said operating member into the said normal position thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said driving interconnection means comprises a pivoted member on the carriage and means providing a pin and slot eccentric drive between said member and game component such that linear shift of the operating member imparts a rotative motion to the game component which is independent of the motion of the carriage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
124 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said spaced pulley means includes a pulley member rockable in a direction tending to elongate the distance between itself and a second pulley member spaced therefrom and therefore tending to elongate the path over which said cable means must travel, whereby the requisite tractive effort is applied to shift the operating member from said normal position in a particular one of the directions of rocking motion of said rockable pulley member, and is relaxed by rocking of the pulley member in the direction opposite to said particular direction to permit return of the movable element to the normal position, said cable means being free to travel over the pulley members in all positions of the rockable pulley member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein said control means includes a manually-movable control device having a control connection with said rockable pulley member effective responsive to movement of said device to rock the rockable pulley member to exert and relax the said tractive effort selectively on said operating member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein said driving power is derived from motive means including a pair of parallel spaced-apart countershafts driven reversely by motor means, and said control device comprises a drive wheel coacting with said second pulley member movable selectively by manual movement of the control device to dispose the wheel in driving engagement with one or the other of said counter shafts and said second pulley member is drivingly interconnected with said cable means, whereby the latter and therefore the carriage may be reversely travelled relative to said course.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said carriage is supported for travel between spaced track members defining a trackway and having opposite terminal portions, there being a movable gate element at each terminal portion spring-urged into a normal position in which it blocks escape movement of the carriage from the end of the trackway, said gate element being movable from said normal position to a release position in which it does not block escape of the carriage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
306 words
In amusement game apparatus, the combination with a pair of countershafts driven in opposite directions and a pulley cable adapted to be reversely pulled over a pair of spaced pulley wheels for moving a carriage back and forth, of control means comprising: a rockable control member including a handle engageable for rocking the same, said handle being movable in another mode independently of the rocking of said control member, said member being mounted in juxtaposition to said countershafts and including a first pulley wheel and a drive wheel operable to rotate the pulley wheel and positioned for driving engagement with one or the other of said countershafts responsive to rocking of the control member into opposite driving positions; a second pulley wheel and means mounting the same to shift to and from normal and off-normal positions at a distance from the first pulley wheel, a cable trained over said pulley wheels; guide means in between said pulley wheels in alignment with said cable; a carriage guidedly supported by said guide means, one end portion of the cable being connected to the carriage and another end portion of the cable being connected to a slide on the carriage reciprocable in the direction of travel of the cable and carriage; spring means urging the slide to a normal position inwardly of the carriage; lever means on said control member moved by said independent movement of the handle; and means providing an operating interconnecting between said last-mentioned lever means and the shiftable mounting means for the second pulley wheel for controlling shifting movement of the latter to and from said normal and off-normal positions for the purpose of exerting and relaxing force on said cable to effect movement of said slide; and a movable member operatively associated with said carriage and moved independently upon reciprocatory movement of the slide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
306 words
In amusement game apparatus, the combination with a pair of countershafts driven in opposite directions and a pulley cable adapted to be reversely pulled over a pair of spaced pulley wheels for moving a carriage back and forth, of control means comprising: a rockable control member including a handle engageable for rocking the same, said handle being movable in another mode independently of the rocking of said control member, said member being mounted in juxtaposition to said countershafts and including a first pulley wheel and a drive wheel operable to rotate the pulley wheel and positioned for driving engagement with one or the other of said countershafts responsive to rocking of the control member into opposite driving positions; a second pulley wheel and means mounting the same to shift to and from normal and off-normal positions at a distance from the first pulley wheel, a cable trained over said pulley wheels; guide means in between said pulley wheels in alignment with said cable; a carriage guidedly supported by said guide means, one end portion of the cable being connected to the carriage and another end portion of the cable being connected to a slide on the carriage reciprocable in the direction of travel of the cable and carriage; spring means urging the slide to a normal position inwardly of the carriage; lever means on said control member moved by said independent movement of the handle; and means providing an operating interconnecting between said last-mentioned lever means and the shiftable mounting means for the second pulley wheel for controlling shifting movement of the latter to and from said normal and off-normal positions for the purpose of exerting and relaxing force on said cable to effect movement of said slide; and a movable member operatively associated with said carriage and moved independently upon reciprocatory movement of the slide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
201 words
In apparatus of the class described, in combination: a pulley system including a cable trained to travel a course and cooperative drive means for travelling the cable; a carriage adapted to be moved by the cable along said course; a motion device movable with the carriage; a shiftable member on the carriage; means drivingly interconnecting the motion device and shiftable member; means yieldingly urging the shiftable member to a normal position relative to the carriage; means interconnecting said carriage with a first region of said cable; means interconnecting the shiftable membeR with said cable at a second region spaced lengthwise of the cable from said first region thereon such that the cable has a normally effective length when said shiftable member is in said normal position, and the cable has a longer effective length when the shiftable member is shifted from said normal position; control means operatively associated with said pulley system for applying and relaxing an elongating effort to the cable whereby to effect movements of the shiftable member from and back to said normal position thereof as a function of relative lengthening and shortening of the effective length of the cable for the purpose of actuating said motion device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
201 words
In apparatus of the class described, in combination: a pulley system including a cable trained to travel a course and cooperative drive means for travelling the cable; a carriage adapted to be moved by the cable along said course; a motion device movable with the carriage; a shiftable member on the carriage; means drivingly interconnecting the motion device and shiftable member; means yieldingly urging the shiftable member to a normal position relative to the carriage; means interconnecting said carriage with a first region of said cable; means interconnecting the shiftable membeR with said cable at a second region spaced lengthwise of the cable from said first region thereon such that the cable has a normally effective length when said shiftable member is in said normal position, and the cable has a longer effective length when the shiftable member is shifted from said normal position; control means operatively associated with said pulley system for applying and relaxing an elongating effort to the cable whereby to effect movements of the shiftable member from and back to said normal position thereof as a function of relative lengthening and shortening of the effective length of the cable for the purpose of actuating said motion device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1051371A
Cited
FR1507146A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |