US2596259A - Coin-operated game board and table - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1952' J. P. LEWIS, SR 2,596,259

COIN-OPERATED GAME BOARD AND TABLE Filed Feb. 17, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 1 f \W\ VA Fig. 3

' John P. Lewis, 5n

May 13, 1952 J. P. LEWIS, SR 2,596,259

COIN-OPERATED GAME BOARD AND TABLE Filed Feb. 17, 1949 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 i 0 P ;s J r '.'I'

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v v a f 7 & Inventor w J W Y I John P. Lew/s, Sn @F W N a g. Q B, @406 Patentecl May 13, 1952 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN-OPERATED GAME BOARD AND TABLE John P. Lewis, Sr., Lumberton, N. C.

Application February 17, 1949, Serial No. 76,868

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to game ap ner that the same may be shifted into a position allowing such use, as by means of an electric motor connected with the timing apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game board which, as far as the mechanical elements thereof are concerned, is protected against tampering by unauthorized persons, the game board being displayed beneath a transparent panel upon which the pawns are moved, the game board markings being on that surface of the board adjacent to the transparent panel when the board is in what may be considered 0perative position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a coin operated game board in combination with a flat topped table, so that the game board or the table per se may be selectively used, the use of the table being unimpeded by any structure thereon, since the transparent panel may be inset into the upper surface of the table.

The last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide a device of the character mentioned above which will be relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, which is safe, simple and convenient to use, and which will give generally eflicient and durable service.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of the application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a three dimensional view of the assembled device;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially upon the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is another transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the electric motor assembly and the limit switches, one part of the game board being shown in dash line in a second, or inoperative, position so as to open one of the limit switches, and being shown in full lines in the operative or playing position with the other of the limit switches opened; and,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections including the coin operated'timing mechanism and the switch operated thereby, the reversible electric motor and the limit switches for de-energizing the motor when the one part of the game board has reached operative and inoperative positions.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the differnt views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this invention includes a table having a top generally indicated by the numeral I0 and including a hinged top panel I2 connected as by hinges M to one of the skirt panels I6. There are a pair of these skirt panels I6 each of which is downwardly extended at its center portion as clearly indicated in Figure l, and another pair of skirt panels I8 is provided and a complement of legs 20 are used to support the table top preferably at a height so that the players may seat themselves at the sides of the table when playing the game. The hinged panel I2 is centrally apertured and provided with a seat 22 to allow a transparent panel 24 to be set into the hinged panel I2 so that the top surface of the table is flat. A latching device 26, preferably securable by lock and key. will be provided to hold the hinged panel I2 in closed position, that is, in a position closing the chamber within the table top defined by the skirt panels I6 and I8 and a layer of sheet material 21 extending overkthe under surface of the table top Ill, so as to prevent unauthorized access to the mechanism hereinafter described.

A pair of brackets 28 are secured to the skirt panels I6 and support a cross beam 30. This cross beam, in turn, supports a pair of opposed up-,

rights 32, which are braced by angle brackets 34 and which carry a pair of opposed brackets 36, the last mentioned brackets being bifurcated as indicated at 38 and vertically adjustably mounted on the uprights 32 by means of screws 40, as best indicated in Figure 4.

The brackets 36 terminally support the shaft 42, upon which are mounted pairs of attaching brackets 44 whereby the two complemental parts of a game board 46 are mounted for pivotal movement about the shaft 42, and it will be noted that springs 48 are arranged co-axially of the shaft 42 and connected to the parts 46 of the game board and the supporting brackets 44 so as to bias the parts 46 of the game borad to pivot upwardly into contact with the under surface of the transparent panel 24 whereby the game markings 41 are brought into registry with the panel 24 to provide a playing field for cooperation with game pieces movable over the outer surface of the panel.

A pair of flexible cables 50, preferably including extensible spring link members 52 are operatively mounted upon a reel 54 and points on the under surfaces of the parts 46 of the game board remote from the shaft 42, so that upon rotation of the reel 54 both parts 40 will be made to pivot downwardly against the action of the springs 48, or to pivot upwardly under the action of these springs, according to the direction in which the reel 54 is turned. The reel 54 is rotated by a spiral gear 56 and a worm 58 operatedby' the reversible electric motor 60 which is connected to a suitable source of power by the electric leads 62. The electric motor 60 and the parts connected directly therewith will be preferably mounted upon the cross bar 30.

A coin operated timing mechanism, generally indicated bythe numeral 64, the specific charactor of which is immaterial in this application, is suitably mounted withinthetable top sothat the coin chute 65 thereof will register with answitches in and 52 will be connected in the electrical circuit so as to de-energize the reversible electric motor 09 when the parts 46 of .the game board reach the limits of their movement. In the embodiment of this invention represented in the drawings, these limit switche are; operated by the angle arm Hi secured tothe underside of one of the parts 46 of the game board and by direct contact of another portion of the same part 49, respectively, as will be clearfro an inspection of Figure 4.

The operation of this invention will bev clearly understood from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings andthe above recited objects of this invention; recapitulation, it may be noted that at theylimit of the upward pivoting of the game boardparts 49 the electric motor will be de-energized and the pawns may be manipulated on the upper s rface of the transparent panel 24, the player" viewing the-game board through this panel; After apredetermined length of time has elapsed, the timing mechanism 64 will operate theswitchjt and the motor 60 will operatethe reel 54,;to pivot the parts 46 of the game board downwardlyaway from the transparent panel 211 and a'furtherlcoin must be inserted through theslot' fifi inthe hinged panel I2 before the electric motor can again be reversed and the game board used.

Obviously minor variation from the embodi ment described herein may be resortedt without departure from the spirit of'this invention'and the scope of the invention is to be determinedby the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 'asnewis:

registration with said panel allowing a game to be played on said game board as viewed through said panel during the time of contact and registration, a coin operated timing mechanism operalcleto shift said game board, said mechanism including a reel, a reversible motor connected in operative relation to said reel, and a cable operatively connecting said pivoted part of the game 'boardwith said reel.

2, A'jgame apparatus comprising a top panel, atmnsparentpanel set into said top panel and overwh'i'ch game pieces can be moved, means for supporting said top panel, a chamber below said top panel, a game board pivotally mounted in said a chamber, said game board having game markings thereon, coin operated means for moving saidboardinto contact and registry with the inner surface of said transparent panel, means forretracting said board from registry with said panel, and time responsive means for energizing said retracting means. I

3, In a play table having a top surface and means for supporting said surfaceat a convenient height, game apparatus comprising a transparent panel over which game pieces can be moved set into said top surface, a chamber beneath said top surface, a shaft mounted in said chamber, a

gameboard'including complemental parts, each of said Y partsbeing independently pivotally mounted-on said shaft in'said chamber, means for moving said'parts into contact and registry with said transparent surface to present a game playing field, means for retracting said parts out of contact with said panel.

4. In a. playing table having a top surface and means for supporting said surface at a convenient height, game apparatus comprising a transparent panel over which game pieces can be manipulated setinto said top surface, a chamber beneath said top surface, complemental parts of a game board each of which is independently pivotally mounted in said chamber adjacent said panel, resilient means urging said parts into contact an'diregistry with said panel to present a game .playing field, operating means for retracting sa'id'parts from contact with said panel, coin controlled 'timeresponsive means for energizing said operating means to present said playing field and to retract said parts.

JOHN P. LEWIS, 5R.

1 REFERENCES CITED The fellowing'references are of record in the file of this-fpatentr v UNITED STATES PATENTS Numbeni I Name Date 1,106,052 'Newell Aug. 4, 1914 1,183,461 Holistadt May 16, 1916 1,532,069 Oritz Mar. 31, 1925 1,900,513 Marsh Mar. 7, 1933 1,909,422 .Pa's'sell May 16, 1933 1,928,790 "Luhn Oct. 3, 1933 1,931,779 Wainwright Oct; 24, 1933 1,939,759 ,Awalt =Dec. 19, 1933 2,292,016 Scoril Aug. 4, 1942 2,484,106 Mallina Oct. 11, 1949 I FOREIGN PATENTS Number: Country Date 189,347 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1922, 748,382

France Apr. 18, 1933

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