Gaming apparatus having manually controllable operating speed

Claim 2

In an apparatus of the type wherein a rotatable shaft is journaled at opposite ends in a frame structure and has a ratchet wheel attached to one end portion of the shaft, a mechanism for driving a shaft to impart an initial speed of rotation that is directy proportional to the force that is applied to an operating handle by operator manipulation, said mechanism including a latch means which, when actuated, releases said mechanism for movement from a rest position in a first direction into engagement with said ratchet wheel for contacting and rotating said wheel and shaft through a first predetermined arc, an actuating means for actuating said latch means comprising an electrically energizable coil attached to said frame structure and adjacent said latch means when said mechanism is in its rest position, said frame structure including a protrusion for contacting a cam surface of said mechanism before said arc is completed and disengaging the same from said ratchet wheel, said shaft thereafter rotating at a speed proportional to the speed imparted to said wheel and shaft before disengagement.

Claim 3

A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanism is carried by said shaft and is rotatable relative thereto from a rest position through a second predetermined arc, said second arc being larger than said first arc.

Claim 4

A mechanism as defined in claim 2 further comprising: plate means freely rotatable about said shaft and having a forward drive surface that is engaged by a drive member operatively associated with said operating handle; drive arm means pivotally carried by said plate means and having at least one contact surface engageable with said ratchet means when pivoted into engagement therewith, said drive arm means including means for biasing said drive arm means toward engagement with said ratchet wheel, said latch means carried by said plate means for retaining said drive arm means out of engagement with said ratchet wheel and for releasing said drive arm means when actuated; and means attached to said frame structure for actuating said latch means in response to activation thereof.

Claim 5

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 including means for biasing said plate means to its rest position upon disengagement of said mechanism from said ratchet wheel.

Claim 6

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 including first stop means attached to said frame structure for limiting the rotation of said plate means to the end of said first and second arcs, the ends of each of said arcs being at an identical location.

Claim 7

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 including second stop means attached to said frame structure for stopping said plate means at said rest position when said plate means returns thereto.

Claim 8

A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch means comprises an angled member pivotable about an axis, said angled member being fabricated of a ferromagnetic material and having one end portion contacting said drive arm means when it retains the same, said latch means releasing said drive arm means when said latch means is pivoted so that said one end portion is moved out of contact with said drive arm means in response to said actuating means being activated, said latch means including latch biasing means for biasing said latch toward contact with said drive arm means.

Claim 9

A mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said electrically energizable coil is attached to said frame structure adjacent the end portion opposite said one end potion and adapted to attract said opposite end and thereby pivot said latch means when energized.

Claim 10

A drive mechanism for initiating rotation of a shaft to an initial rotational speed that is proportional to the speed of a drive member engaging the mechanism, comprising: plate means rotatable about an axis and having a forward drive surface that is engaged by and is moved from a rest position by the drive member during the initiation of rotation; ratchet means connected to said shaft and adapted to rotate the shaft when said ratchet means is rotated; drive arm means pivotally carried by said plate means and having at least one contact surface engageable with said ratchet means when pivoted into engagement therewith, said drive arm means including means for biasing said drive arm means toward engagement with said ratchet means; latch means carried by said plate means for retaining said drive arm means out of engagement with said ratchet means and for releasing said drive arm means when operated; means for operating said latch means to release said drive arm means in response to activation thereof; means for disengaging said drive arm means and for resetting said latch means upon rotation of said plate means through a first predetermined arc; and, said plate means including a return drive surface that is engageable by said drive member only when said drive member returns to its rest position.

Claim 11

A drive mechanism for initiating rotation of a shaft to an initial rotational speed that is proportional to the speed of a drive member engaging the mechanism, comprising: plate means rotatable about an axis and having a forward drive surface that is engaged by and is moved from a rest position by the drive member during the initiation of rotation; ratchet means connected to said shaft and adapted to rotate the shaft when said ratchet means is rotated; drive arm means pivotally carried by said plate means and having at least one contact surface engageable with said ratchet means when pivoted into engagement therewith, said drive arm means including means for biasing said drive arm means toward engagement with said ratchet means; latch means carried by said plate means for retaining said drive arm means out of engagement with said ratchet means and for releasing said drive arm means when operated; means for operating said latch means to release said drive arm means in response to activation thereof; means for disengaging said drive arm means and for resetting said latch means upon rotation of said plate means through a first predetermined arc; and, said plate means including a return drive surface that is engageable by said drive member only when said drive member returns to its rest position.

Claim 12

A mechanism as defined in claim 9 including means for biasing said plate means to its rest position upon disengagement of said mechanism from said shaft.

Claim 13

A mechanism as defined in claim 9 including first stop means for limiting the rotation of said plate means through a second predetermined arc larger than said first arc.

Claim 14

A mechanism as defined in claim 12 including second stop means for stopping said plate means at said rest position when said plate means returns thereto.

Claim 15

A mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said plate means is carried by and is freely pivotable about said shaft.

Claim 16

A mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said latch means comprises an angled member pivotable about an axis, said angled member being fabricated of a ferromagnetic material and having one end portion contacting said drive arm means when it retains the same, said latch means releasing said drive arm means when said latch means is pivoted so that said one end portion is moved out of contact with said drive arm means in response to said operating means being activated, said latch means including latch biasing means for biasing said latch toward contact with said drive arm means.

Claim 17

A mechanism as defined in claim 14 wherein said operating means comprises an electrically energizable coil position adjacent the end portion opposite said one end portion and adapted to attract said opposite end portion and thereby pivot said latch means when energized.

Claim 18

A mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said disengaging means comprises a cam surface positioned relative to said drive arm means to disengage the drive arm means from said ratchet means during movement of said drive arm means through said first predetermined arc.

Claim 19

A mechanism for initially driving a shaft for continued rotation subsequently of the initial driving thereof, the shaft carrying a plurality of indicia bearing reels, the shaft being journaled in a frame structure, the reels being driven by the shaft when the shaft is driven in a first rotational direction and being rotatable relative to the shaft in the opposite rotational direction, said mechanism being driven by a drive member engageable therewith, the speed of said drive member being variable and determined by an operator manipulating an operating handle operatively connected to said drive member, said mechanism comprising: ratchet means having teeth along the circumference thereof, said ratchet means being fixedly attached to said shaft and adpated to drivingly rotate the same; plate means that is rotatable about an axis from a rest position to an end position, said plate means having at least one drive surface for engagement by said drive member in response to manipulation of the operating handle; drive arm means pivotally attached to said plate means and having a contact surface engageable with the teeth of said ratchet means when said drive arm means is pivoted toward said engagement, said drive arm means including biasing means for normally biasing said drive arm means toward said engagement; latch means carried by said plate means for retaining said drive arm means out of engagement with said ratchet means teeth and for releasing said drive arm means when operated; means attached to the frame structure adjacent said latch means when said plate means is in its rest position for operating said latch means to release said drive arm means in response to activation thereof; means for disengaging said drive arm means and for resetting said latch means upon rotation of said plate means through a first predetermined arc.

Claim 20

A mechanism for initially driving a shaft for continued rotation subsequently of the initial driving thereof, the shaft carrying a plurality of indicia bearing reels, the shaft being journaled in a frame structure, the reels being driven by the shaft when the shaft is driven in a first rotational direction and being rotatable relative to the shaft in the opposite rotational direction, said mechanism being driven by a drive member engageable therewith, the speed of said drive member being variable and determined by an operator manipulating an operating handle operatively connected to said drive member, said mechanism comprising: ratchet means having teeth along the circumference thereof, said ratchet means being fixedly attached to said shaft and adpated to drivingly rotate the same; plate means that is rotatable about an axis from a rest position to an end position, said plate means having at least one drive surface for engagement by said drive member in response to manipulation of the operating handle; drive arm means pivotally attached to said plate means and having a contact surface engageable with the teeth of said ratchet means when said drive arm means is pivoted toward said engagement, said drive arm means including biasing means for normally biasing said drive arm means toward said engagement; latch means carried by said plate means for retaining said drive arm means out of engagement with said ratchet means teeth and for releasing said drive arm means when operated; means attached to the frame structure adjacent said latch means when said plate means is in its rest position for operating said latch means to release said drive arm means in response to activation thereof; means for disengaging said drive arm means and for resetting said latch means upon rotation of said plate means through a first predetermined arc.

Claim 21

A mechanism as defined in claim 17 wherein said plate means is carried by and is freely pivotable about said shaft.

Claim 22

A mechanism as defined in claim 17 wherein said latch means comprises an angled member pivotable about an axis, said angled member being fabricated of a ferromagnetic material and having one end portion contacting said drive arm means when it retains the same, said latch means releasing said drive arm means when said latch means is pivoted so that said one end portion is moved out of contact with said drive arm means in response to said operating means being activated, said latch means including latch biasing means for biasing said latch toward contact with said drive arm means.

Claim 23

A mechanism as defined in claim 19 wherein said operating means comprises an electrically energizable coil positioned adjacent the end portion opposite said one end portion and adapted to attract said opposite end portion and thereby pivot said latch means when energized.

Claim 24

A mechanism as defined in claim 17 wherein said disengaging means comprises a cam surface positioned relative to said drive arm means to disengage the drive arm means from said ratchet means during movment of said drive arm means through said first predetermined arc.

Claim 25

A mechanism as defined in claim 17 including means for biasing said plate means to its rest position upon disengagement of said mechanism from said shaft.

Claim 26

A mechanism as defined in claim 17 including first stop means for limiting the rotation of said plate means through a second predetermined arc larger than said first arc.

Claim 27

A mechanism as defined in claim 17 including second stop means for stopping said plate means at said rest position when said plate means returns thereto.