US1316819A - Planoaraph co - Google Patents

Description

H. S THOMAS. AMUSEMENT'DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3 19I9- 1 ,3 1 6 81 9. v Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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H. S. THOMAS.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 3.1919. 1,316,81 9. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TH'B COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII C0. WASHINGNN, D. C.

H. S. THOMAS.

- AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1919.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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mussmem DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1919. 1,316,819. PatentedSept. 23, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- HUGH S. THOMAS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed April 3, 1919. Serial No. 287,107.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HUGH S. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residin at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to amusement devices designed particularly for use in concessions at summer resorts or the like, and has for an object to provide means consisting primarily of a plurality of figures of animals or the like mounted for movement along tracks in parallelism through the medium of any suitable power means, and

a separate means operable by the patrons and individually operable to control the speed or rate of motion of the figure assigned to each patron.

Another object of the invention isto provide an amusement device having the characteristics above set forth in which a plurality of controlling means are provided for use by the patrons of the device in the form of a wheel or handle adapted to be rotated by the several patrons and a governor mechanism operated thereby to change the speed of movement of the traveling figures uniformly in proportion tothe speed of rotation of the controlling device up to a certain point, and thence inversely relative to the speed of rotation of the controlling devices for the purpose of insuring more or less difficulty'upon the part of the patron to obtain maximum speed of the figures and consequently to arouse and retain the interest in the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a controlling means for amusement devices having the characteristics set forth above and including crowned pulleys around which cords or other flexible elements are wound by power means for the purpose of causing travel of the figures, and a rotating manual operable means associated with the governor means for causing the cables to wind either at the maximum or minimum diameter of the pulley according to the speed of the governor and controlling mechanisms whereby to vary the speed of travel of the figures.

.A still furth object f the invention is to provide an elctrically operable means to indicate visibly the number of the figure first arriving at the goal.

In addition to the foregoing, this invention comprehends improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar and corresponding parts are designated by the same characters of reference throughout the several views in which they pp Figure 1 is a view in horizontal section of an amusement device embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a View thereof in transverse and vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a view inside elevation partly in section of the controlling portion of my improvement.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line Jr-l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical elements of my improvements in their various connections.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a circuit closing switch and Fig 7 is a detail view of a magnetic latch.

1th reference to the drawings, 10 indicates a shed or the like designed to contain the traveling figures forming a part of this apparatus. A pair of shafts 11 and 12 are extended transversely of the shed at opposite ends and suitably journaled for rotation, and mounted upon said shaft are pulleys l3 and 14 respectively. An inclined support 15 is provided within the shed extending substantially from end to end and formed with track ways 16 to support a plurality of figures 17 which' may be in the form of horses or other animals. Cables 18 are passed over the pulleys 14 and connected at one end to the figures and at their opposite ends with weights 19 designed to urge the figures toward the right hand end of the shed or at a startlng position. Cables 20 are connected to the opposite ends of the figures and then pass over the pulleys 13, and thence over pulleys 21, extended from withoutthe shed to a bank of pulleys 22, and then the cables are dip indi idually O a P 1 rality of pulleys 23 arranged in spaced relation at the rear of a counter 24 located forwardly of the shed in parallelism thereto. Located beneath the counter is a controlling mechanism comprising a plurality of units, one unit being shown in detail in Fig. 3. It will be apparent that a shaft 25 is extended longitudinally of the counter and mounted upon the shaft at various points, spaced there-along are crowned pulleys 26, corresponding in number to the number of figures 17 employed. Said pulleys are loosely mounted upon the shaft, and the ends of the cables 20after passlng around the pulleys 23 are secured to the said pulleys whereby when the pulleys are set in motion the cables will be wound thereupon to cause the figures 17 to travel from the right hand end of the shed toward the left along the track ways. Each pulley 26 is provided with a sleeve 27 having an enlargement 28, and said sleeve is Ournaled within a bearing 29 supported upon the floor of the counter. The left hand end of the shaft 25 is squared as at 30 and is slidably inserted in a sleeve 31 which is secured in turn to the shaft of a motor or other source of power 32. The opposite end of the shaft 25 is slidably mounted in a bearing bracket 33, and a collar 34 is'secured to the shaft. A coiled spring 35 is interposed between the bearing bracket 33 and the collar 34 to normally urge the shaft toward the left. In order to retain the shaft in an adjusted position when shifted to the right for a purpose which will be presently noted I provide a mechanism consisting of a support 36 upon which a lever 37 is fulcrumed. having the lower end thereof connected by means of a link 38 to a collar 39 loosely mounted upon the shaft. A collar 40 is fixedly secured to the shaft and bears against the collar 39. Also pivotally connected to the collar 39 is latch arm 41 having one end formed with a hook portion to engage a keeper 42 forming part of a magnetic latch shown in detail in Fig. 7. The keeper 42 is pivotally mounted and depending therefrom is a core 43 whichdepends into a solenoid 44, a coiled spring 45 surrounding the core engages a pin 46 secured thereto to urge the keeper 42 up ward. A pin 47 extending laterally from the latch arm 41 rests upon the extension of the shaft 25 to retain the latch arm in an elevated position. One end of each pulley 26 is formed with a flange 48 which is formed with oppositely disposed notches, and secured to the shaft opposite each flange 48 is a collar 49 having oppositely extend ing pins 50 designed to enter the notches of the flange when the shaft 25 is shifted to the right to thereby simultaneously look all 1 the pulleys to'the shaft.

Located beneath the counter are a plurality of controlling units corresponding in number to the number of pulleys 26, each unit consisting of a vertical standard 51 supporting a vertical shaft 52 for rotation, at its upper end, the upper end of the shaft extending through the counter 24 and provided With either a crank arm or as shown wheels 53 carrying eccentrically mounted handles 54. Mounted upon each shaft 52 is a governor mechanism comprising a pair of oppositely extending arms 55 carrying pivota-lly connected links 56 upon the outer ends of which are mounted weights 57. Also pivotally connected to the links 56 are other links 58 forming a toggle joint, said links 58 being connected at their opposite ends to a collar 59 which is slidably mounted upon the shaft 52, and formed with said collar 58 is a grooved flange 60. An extension 61 is formed upon the standard 51 to support a bell crank, one arm 62 of which is extended toward the flange 60 and provided with a pin 63 which enters the flange collar whereby vertical movement of the collar will rock the bell crank. The other arm of the bell crank is extended toward the pulley 26 and is provided with an opening 64 through which the cable 20 must pass before being wound about the pulley 26. It will be observed that the apertured end of the bell crank is designed to sweep across the face of the pulley from one end to the other for a purpose to be presently noted.

In operation, the motor or other source of power 32 is set in motion and kept continually in motion throughout the period the apparatus is in use. In order to start motion of the figures the operator grasps the lever 37 rocking the same so as to shift the shaft 25 to the right until the latch arm 41 is engaged upon the keeper 42. This movement will bring the pin 50 of the collars 49 into simultaneous engagement with the flanges 48 to thereby set the pulley 26 in motion. Obviously, the cables 20 are now wound about the pulleys 26 causing the figures to move toward the left. At the beginning of the operation each patron is assigned to one of the wheels 53. It is intended that the patron rapidly rotates the wheel 53 whereupon the governor balls 57 will fly out and rock the bell crank so as to dispose the arm 63 thereof more or less centrally of the pulley. Obviously, the cable 20 will be wound upon the larger diameter of the pulley unless the speed of rotation of the wheel 53 is increased unduly whereupon the cable will wind upon the other end of the pulley or upon the smaller diameter and obviously the speed of movement of the figure will decrease. If the patron is skilful enough to keep the cable winding upon the largest portion of the puley a maximum speed of motion of the figure will be obtained and hence, those patrons most skilfully operating their; controlling '-0 the shed than those patrons who are less skilful and who cannot obtain a requisite speed of rotation of the wheel 53.

I am aware that devices of the character above set forth have been heretofore suggested in which the figures are operated or caused to travel directly by power furnished by operation of the patrons operating devices, but I am not aware that any means has heretofore been provided for causing travel of the figures by power means, with a separate means operable by each patron for controlling the speed of movement of the figures.

In addition to the foregoing mechanism I have devised a means to automatically arrest motion of the shaft 25 or pulley 26 when one of the figures first reaches its ultimate destination. To this end I have devised an electrical system of devices shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5 in which A indicates a plurality of circuit closers, each comprising a switch :arm 65 pivotally mounted as at 66 and normally resting against a stoppin 67, said switch arm being held in engagement with the stop pin by means of a coiled spring 68 which is connected at one end to a pin mounted upon the arm and at its opposite end to a pin extending from the base plate 69 which supports the switch.

The pin 70 extending from the base plate is located directly beneath the fulcrum point 66 so that the spring passing above the center 66 will retain the switch arm in either a right or left hand position according to the direction in which it is swung. One of these switch devices is located above each track of the run Way 15, and each figure is provided with a laterally extending pin 71 whereby when a figure reaches its maximum point of travel to the left the pin will engage the arm 65 to move-the latter toward the left and into engagement with a pair of spaced contacts 72 and 73. I also provide a plurality of magnetic circuit closers indicate-d generally at B, attention being called to the fact that the circuit closers .A as well as B correspond in number to the number of figures 17 employed. Each circuit closer B comprises a switch arm 74 'fulcrumed as at '75 and normally held against a right hand contact plate 76 through the medium of a dead center spring connection similar to the spring device shown in connection with the switches A Fig. 6. Each switch arm 7 4 is provided with an armature adapted to be attracted by an electro-magnet 77 whereby when the latter is energized the arm is attracted toward the-leftinto engagement with a contact plate .78, the engagement thereof withthe contact plate 76 being simultane ously broken. :I also provide a plura'lity of signal devices, preferably in the form of .it will be noted that the connections thus established are such that a lead 80 is extended from each contact plate 78 to its corresponding lamp 79 in the bank. Also, the fulcrum point 7 5 of each switch arm 74 is connected by means of a lead 81 to the next adjacent contact plate 76 of the next adjacent switch device B. Each contact plate 7 2 of the series of switches A is connected by means of a lead 82 to oneterminal of the electro-magnet 77 of an adjacent circuit closer of the series B, the circuit closers A and B being arranged in pairs for cooperation. A source of electric current is indicated at 83, and one terminal thereof is connected to one terminal of the solenoid 44 mentioned above by means of a lead 84, the other terminal of the solenoid 44 being in turn connected with each of the contact plates 73 by means of a lead 85. The arm 74 of the end circuit closer of the series B is then connected by means of a lead 86 to said terminal of the source of current source of current is connected at the one hand by means of a lead 87 to all of the in candescent lamps 79 and on the other hand by means of a lead 88 to each one of the arms 65 of the series of circuit closers A. Also, said terminal of the source of current 83 is connected by means of a lead 89 to the lead 85, said lead 89 having interposed therein a push button or other form of circuit closer 90. Each of the heretofore unmentioned terminals of the electromagnets 77 of the circuit closers B are then connected together or to a common lead 91 and said lead in turn connected'to the plate 76 of the first circuit closer of the series B. The circuit closers of the series A and B are located at the left hand end of the run way 20 and at the opposite end of the shed there is mounted a transversely extending shaft 92 carrying a plurality of pulleys 93 around which cables 94 are passed, said cables being connected at their opposite ends to the arms 65 and 74 of the circuit closers whereby when the shaft is rotated all of the arms may be simultaneously drawn to the right to bring operations take place one of which is the transmission of current from the source of current 83 through the lead 84: to solenoid a l, energizing the latter so as to draw down the core I3 and subsequently disengage the keeper 42 from the latch arm 41 thereby permitting the shaft 25 to move to the left under the influence of the spring 35 to simultaneously disconnect all the pulleys 26 from the shaft and thus immediately arrest motion of the figures. The current returns through the lead 85 into the contact 73 of the circuit closer which was first actuated, then returning through the arm and lead 88 back to the battery or source of current. Also, current travels from the battery 83 through the lead 86 into the arm 74: of the endmost circuit closer of the series B, and through the cont-act 76 to the next arm 7L and so on passing from one circuit closer to another to the contact 76 of the right hand circuit closer, thence returning through the lead 91 to the electromagnet 77 and thence through a certain one of said electric magnets traveling to the contact plate 72 of the circuit closer A which was actuated, thence through the arm 65 thereof and lead 88 back to the source of current. Obviously, the eleetro-magnet 77 which was energized will draw over the arm 7% and immediately break the circuit thus established but immedi ately establish another circuit by contacting said arm with the adjacent contact plate 78. In this manner an illuminating circuit will be established whereby current flows from the battery through the lead 86 and arm 74: of the actuated switch B, thence into the contact plate 78 to the lead 80 and lamp 79 in said circuit, returning through the leads 87 to the source of current. It will be obvious that immediately one of the circuit closers of the series B becomes actuated the cOntr0lling circuit therefor is broken and should one of the other figures 17 immediately reach its destination or shortly thereafter it will be unable to result in an illumination of any other of the lamps 79 because of the dis establishment of the controlling circuit.

Thus, it will be seen that I have devised a novel form of amusement apparatus of the type set forth wherein the figures are operated entirely through power means thereby relieving the patron of fatigue which is a disadvantage of apparatus of this kind heretofore provided at the same time supplying the patron with ample means for controlling the movement of the figure assigned to him. It will furthermore be seen that I have devised a novel form of electrically operable means for immediately arresting motion of the apparatus upon the arrival of the foremost figure at its destination and for simultaneously indicating visibly the number of the winning figure. Other advantages will be readily apparent to those familiar with this art. i

l/Vhile I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity,

I realize that in practice various, alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction, or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the means including governor mechanism manually operable to vary the speed of travel of the figures.

2. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power means for moving all of said figures, and a plurality of controlling mechanisms each including a manual operable governor mechanism for controlling the application of power to its associated figure.

3. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power mechanism for moving all of said figures, and a plurality of controlling mechanisms corresponding in number to the number of figures in each controlling mechanism including a manually operable and rotatable governor mechanism for varying the application of power to its associated figure.

4. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power means fordriving all of said figures, and a plurality of controlling mechanisms corresponding in number to the number of figures each including a shaft, a wheel manually rotatable, and a governor mechanism of the toggle and ball type operable by centrifugal force to actuate the controlling mechanism to vary the application of power to its associated figure.

5. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power mechanism for moving said figures including flexible elements forming connections between the power mechanism and figures, a winding mechanism for winding the flexible elements, and controlling mechanism for controlling the winding mechanism to vary the application of power to the figures.

6. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a uni tary power means for driving the same, including flexible elements connecting the power means with the figures, a pluralityof winding mechanisms corresponding in numher to the number of figures for winding the flexible elements, and a. plurality of controlling means one for each winding mecha nism to control movement of the latter to vary the application of power to the figures and consequently vary the speed thereof.

7 In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a uni tary power mechanism including flexible elements connecting the latter with the figures, a plurality of winding mechanisms corresponding in number to the number of figures and operable by the power means, and a plurality of governor mechanisms one for each winding mechanism manually operable to control movement of the latter whereby to vary the application of power to each figure.

8. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power mechanism for driving same including flexible elements connecting the power mechanism with the figures, a plurality of winding mechanisms one for each figure for taking up the flexible elements, and a governor mechanism for each winding mechanism for controlling movement of the latter.

9. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power mechanism for moving the same including flexible elements connecting the power mechanism with the figures, a plurality of winding mechanisms for taking up the flexible elements and corresponding in number to the number of figures, and a plurality of manually operable and governor mechanisms having connections with its respective winding mechanism whereby to control the latter to consequently vary the speed of winding of the flexible elements to vary the speed of travel to its associated figure.

10. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power mechanism for moving the figures including flexible elements connecting the same, winding mechanisms for the flexible elements, a controlling mechanism for each winding mechanism to control the rate of winding, and manually operable governors for actuating the controlling means.

11. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power means for moving said figures including flexible elements connecting the same, a means for each figure to wind its associated flexible element, a plurality of controlling means, each including an oscillatable arm engaging one of the cables to shift the same to vary the speed of winding, and a plurality of manually operable governor means for actuating said oscillatable arms.

12. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power mechanism, a plurality of flexible cables connecting the power mechanism with the figures, a plurality of winding mechanisms for winding said cables, a plurality of winding controls including oscillatable arms each engaging one of the cables to shift the same to vary the speed of winding, and a plurality of governor mechanisms including rotatable shafts manually rotatable, toggle member governor mechanisms ineluding shiftable collars movable by the toggle mechanism, and means connecting said oscillatable arms with the respective shiftable collars.

13. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a power means for moving said figures, flexible elements connecting the power means with the figures, a plurality of winding means corresponding in number to the number of figures for winding said flexible elements, a plurality of controlling means for controlling the speed of winding of the flexible elements, a plurality of governor mechanisms for operating the controlling means, and a clutch mechanism for establishing communi cation between the power means and said ,Winding means.

14:. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of movable figures, a power means for operating the same including flexible elements connecting power means with the figures, a plurality of controlling means for controlling the rate of winding of the flexible elements, a plurality of governor mechanisms for operating said controlling means, and a plurality of clutch mechanisms simultaneously operable to connect the power means with the respective winding mechanisms.

15. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power means for operating the same, a shaft, a plurality of pulleys looselymounted thereon, flexible elements connecting said pulleys with the figures, means for varying the rate of winding of said cables upon the pulleys, and manually operable means for operating said controlling means.

16. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power means for driving the same, a shaft, a plurality of pulley loosely mounted upon the shaft, flexible elements connecting said pulleys with their respective figures, manually operable means forvarying the speed of winding of the cables upon their pulleys, and a plurality of clutch mechanisms simultaneously connecting the pulleys with the shaft.

17. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power means for driving the same, a shaft, a plurality of pulleys loosely mounted v upon the shaft, a plurality of controlling rality of relatively movable figures, a unitary power means for operating the same, a longitudinally movable shaft, a plurality of pulleys mounted thereon, flexible elements connecting the pulleys with the figures,

means for varying the speed of Winding of the flexible elements upon the pulleys, means for moving said shaft, and a plurality of means operable upon movement of said shaft to connect the latter with their respective pulleys.

19. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a longitudinally movable shaft, a plurality of pulleys mounted on said shaft, flexible elements connecting said pulleys with the figures, a flange carried by each pulley having a plurality of notches therein, means for preventing longitudinal movement of the pulleys, a plurality of pinscarried by the shaft for engagement with the notch collar, means for shiftin the shaft to cause such engagement to lock the pulleys to the shaft, and continuously operating means for rotating the shaft.

20. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a longitudinally movable shaft, a plurality of pulleys loosely mounted upon the shaft, flanged sleeves carried by the pulleys, bearings supporting the sleeve whereby to permit rotation of the pulleys but to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, a clutch me nber carried by each pulley, an associated clutch member for each of said first mentioned clutch members mounted upon the shaft, resilient means acting upon the shaft to retain the clutch members in disengaged position, manual operable means for shifting the shaft to cause engagement between the clutch members, and a continuously operating means for rotating the shaft.

21. In an amusement device, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a longitudinally movable shaft, a plurality of pulleys carried thereon, flexible elements connecting said pulleys with the figures, a plurality of clutch mechanisms operable when the shaft is shifted to cause engagement thereloetween to lock the pulleys to the shaft, resilient means urging the shaft toward a clutch disengaging position, means for shifting the clutch, a latch mechanism for retaining the shaft in shifted position, means for varying the speed of winding of the cables upon the pulleys, a continuously operating means i for rotating the shaft, and means for disengaging the latch mechanism to permit the shaft to return to normal position.

22. In an amusement device, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a plurality of crowned pulleys, flexible elements wound upon the pulleys and connected to the figures, means for rotating the pulleys, and means for causing the cables to wind upon different portions of the pulley to vary the relative movement of the figures.

23. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a plurality of crowned pulleys, flexible elements wound upon the pulleys and connected to the figures, means for constantly rotating the pulleys, and a plurality of manually operable means one for each pulley to shift the fieXible elements along the pulleys to thereby vary the relative speed of travel of the figures.

24. In an amusement device, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a plurality of pulleys larger in diameter at their intermediate portion and smaller in diameter at their end portion, flexible elements wound upon the pulleys and connected to the figures, means for rotating- "the pulleys, and manually operable means engaging the cables to cause the same to wind at either the larger or smaller diameter of the pulleys accordingly as the manually operable means is manipulated to thereby vary the relative speed of travel of the figures.

25. In an amusement device, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a plurality of pulleys having curved surfaces to provide a larger diameter at their intermediate portions and smaller diameters at their end portions, flexible elements wound upon the pulleys and connected to the figures, a plurality of manually operable governor mechanisms, and means associated with the governor mechanism and connected to the cables to cause the latter to wind upon the larger or smaller portions of the pulleys accordingly as the governor mechanism is rotated faster or slower to thereby vary the relative speed of travel of the figures. 26. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a plurality of crowned pulleys, flexible elements wound upon the pulleys and connected to the figures, means for rotating said pulleys, a plurality of oscillatable arms having apertures through which the cable passes, and a governor means for each oscillatable arm manually operable to lock the arms wherebv to cause the cable to wind upon the larger or smaller diameters of the pulleys depending upon the speed of rotation of the governor mechanisms to thereby vary the speed of travel of the figures.

27. In. an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, means for moving said figures, and a manually operable means, operable to increase the speed or movement of the figures in proportion to the speed of operation of the manually operable means up to a predetermined point, and thence to cause a decrease in speed of the figures upon a continued increase in speed of the manually operable means.

28. In an amusement apparatus, a movable figure, means for moving said figure, and a manually operable means for varylng the speed of travel of the figure in proportion to the speed of manipulation of the operating means, up to a predetermined point and for causing variation of speed of travelin proportion to the speed of manipulation of the controlling means when the movement of the latter is operated at a speed beyond said predetermined point.

29. In an amusement apparatus, a movable figure power means for moving said figure, and a manually operable means for varying the speed of travel of the figure in proportion to the speed of manipulation of the manually operable means up to a certain speed of movement of the said manual operable means, and for causing a decrease in speed of the figure upon a further increase in speed of operation of the manual means and beyond the predetermined point of speed of the latter.

30. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a shaft, a pulley mounted thereon, a flexible cable passed around the pulley and connected to the figure, a bell crank having an aperture at one end to receive the cable and mounted 'to permit said apertured end to sweep across the face of the pulley a vertical shaft, a collar slidably mounted on the shaft, a connection between the other arm of the bell crank and said collar, a ball governor mounted on said shaft and connected to the collar whereby to shift the latter during rotation of the shaft in one direction or the other, means for rotating the shaft, and means for rotating the first mentioned shaft.

31. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality ofrelatively movable figures, a longitudinally movable shaft, a plurality of pulleys loosely mounted thereon, clutch members between the shaft and pulleys, means for rotating the shaft, means for shifting the shaft to engage the clutches, a latch member on the shaft, a keeper pivotally mounted to engage the latch member to retain the shaft in shifted position, and means operable when one of the figures has reached its destination to actuatethe keeper torelease the shaft, and resilient means for returning the shaft to normal position.

32. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of relatively movable figures, a shiftable shaft, pulleys thereon, means connecting 38. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of movable figures, a plurality of circuit closers each engageable by its cooperating figure a plurality of signals, and a source of current connecting the same whereby the actuation of one circuit closer will complete the circuit through its correlated signal to cause the latter to display.

34. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of movable figures, a plurality of circuit closers one for each figure, a plurality of signals in circuit with said circuit closers, and means operable when one of said circuit closers is actuated to complete a circuit through its correlated signal to display the latter and to simultaneously break the circuit through the remaining circuit closers to prevent display of any of the other signals.

35. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of movable figures, a plurality of track circuit closers one for each figure engageable thereby, a plurality of magnetically operable secondary circuit closers in circuit with the first circuit closer circuit including electrically operable signals in circuit with the second circuit closers and a source of current for said circuits whereby the movement of one of the first circuit closers to closed position will energize the corresponding circuit closers of the second series to complete the circuit through the signal asso-- ciated therewith and simultaneously break the circuit through said second circuit closers to prevent the actuation of any of the remaining members thereof.

36. In an amusement apparatus, a plurality of movable figures, a plurality of circuit closers one for each figure engageable thereby, a second series of circuit closers connected one to another in series, magnetic means for moving the second series of circuit closers to closed position, said magnetic means being in circuit with the first circuit closers and a source of current and circuit including'signals connected to said second series of circuit closers whereby the movement of any of the first circuit closers to closed position will initially energize its corresponding electrical magnet to move its corresponding member of the second series of circuit closers to closed position to simultaneously establish a circuit through the correlated signal and at the same time break the series circuit through said second series of circuit closers to prevent a further actuartion of any member of second series of circuit closers.

87. A magnetic latch including a, pivoted latch member, a core depending therefrom, a solenoid surrounding the core, a pin extending through the core, and a spring interposed between said pin and the solenoid to normally retain the latch member in an 10 upward position, the latter being lowered when the solenoid is energized.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature inpresence of a Witness.

Witness WM. ZEAMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). 0.

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