U.S. patent number 3,818,628 [Application Number 05/302,718] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-25 for object-lifting device including means for metering objects from storage station to pickup station.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ideal Toy Corporation. Invention is credited to Burt Ensmann, Henry Hinz.
United States Patent |
3,818,628 |
Ensmann , et al. |
June 25, 1974 |
OBJECT-LIFTING DEVICE INCLUDING MEANS FOR METERING OBJECTS FROM
STORAGE STATION TO PICKUP STATION
Abstract
A toy for separately and automatically raising individual toy
balls from a first level to a higher level in order to produce
kinetic energy in the, which includes a ball storage station and a
ball pickup station, with means provided adjacent the pickup
station for lifting the ball from the pickup station to a higher
position in the device wherein it is discharged along an inclined
ramp to produce kinetic energy therein. One or more individual
balls are supplied to the storage station and a metering device is
provided between the storage station and the pickup station for
selectively permitting passage of individual balls from the storage
station in response to the presence of a ball at the storage
station and to the presence of the lifting means at the pickup
station. Drums may be placed near the storage station and ramp exit
so that balls may be fed to the former and from the latter by
rebounding off the drums. A game may be played by players
attempting to cause a ball to complete an entire path of travel.
The lifting means may be an arm rotating in a vertical plane and
driven by a suspended weight.
Inventors: |
Ensmann; Burt (Flushing,
NY), Hinz; Henry (Huntington, L. I., NY) |
Assignee: |
Ideal Toy Corporation (Hollis,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23168934 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/302,718 |
Filed: |
November 1, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/173; 446/168;
273/342 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
7/00 (20130101); A63F 7/3622 (20130101); A63H
33/3044 (20130101); A63F 2250/18 (20130101); A63F
7/249 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63H
33/30 (20060101); A63F 7/00 (20060101); A63h
029/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;46/43,42,40
;273/12R,109,144A,95R,101 ;40/106.25 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Shay; F. Barry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rabin, Esq.; Richard M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for raising an object from a first level to a second
higher level comprising, a base, a vertically extending support
member operatively connected to said base, an arm, means rotatably
mounting said arm on said base for rotational movement in a
vertical plane through at least one complete 360.degree. arc, and
means on said arm for engaging an object at said first level and
retaining the object therein during rotational movement of said
retaining means with said arm from said first level adjacent the
base to said second higher level substantially diametrically
opposite said first level, and means responsive to the presence of
an object adjacent said first level for selectively rotating said
arm through at least a portion of said 360.degree. arc between said
first and second levels, whereby said object is raised from said
first to said second level.
2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating means
responsive to the presence of an object comprises a latch member
operatively associated with said arm at said first level for
normally preventing rotation of said arm and being responsive to
the presence of an object at said first level to release said arm
and said latch member and gravity actuated drive means operatively
connected to said arm for rotating the latter upon release of said
latch member.
3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said latch member
comprises a ramp pivotally mounted on said base for pivotal
movement in substantially the same plane as said arm, said ramp and
said arm having opposed cooperating abutment surfaces located to
normally contact each other when said retaining means is at said
lower level to prevent rotation of said arm, said ramp pivoting
away from said retaining means when an object thereon is adjacent
said retaining means, thereby to release engagement of said
abutment surfaces to permit rotation of said arm under the
influence of said gravity actuated drive means.
4. A device for raising an object from a first level to a second
higher level comprising, a base, a vertically extending support
operatively connected to said base, an arm, means for rotatably
mounting said arm on said base for rotary movement in a vertical
plane, means on said arm for engaging an object at said first level
and for retaining the object on said arm during movement of said
engaging and retaining means with said arm from said first level
adjacent said base, to a second higher level substantially
diametrically opposite to said first level, means normally biasing
said arm in rotation, and latch means adjacent said base adapted to
cooperate with said arm when said engaging and retaining means is
at said first level to prevent rotation of said arm under the
influence of said biasing means, said latch means being responsive
to the presence of an object at said first level for releasing said
arm whereby said engaging and retaining means engages said object
and retains it as said arm is rotated, thereby lifting said object
to said second level.
5. The device as defined in claim 4 including means at said second
level for discharging an object moved thereto by said arm means
from said device.
6. The device as defined in claim 5 wherein said discharge means
comprises a ramp extending downwardly from said second level.
7. A device for converting the potential energy of a first object
into kinetic energy in a second object comprising, a base, a
vertically extending support mounted on said base, an arm member,
means for rotatably mounting said arm member on said support for
rotational movement through at least one 360.degree. arc, said arm
member including carriage means for supporting a second object
during rotation of said arm member thereby to transport said second
object from a position adjacent said base to a higher position
along said vertically extending support, and means for rotating
said arm member through a 360.degree. arc including a first
weighted object and means operatively connecting said first object
to said arm member for rotating the latter through said at least
one 360.degree. arc as said first object moves downwardly under the
influence of gravity, and a ramp extending downwardly from said
higher position towards said base whereby as said arm member is
rotated by said first object, said second object is raised from its
position adjacent said base to said higher position wherein it is
discharged from said device along said ramp and potential energy of
said first object is converted to kinetic energy in said second
object.
8. The device as defined in claim 7 including latching means for
holding said arm in a fixed position against the bias of said
rotating means when said carriage means is adjacent said base, said
latching means being responsive to the presence of said second
object thereon adjacent said carriage means to release said arm and
permit rotation thereof to lift said second object to said higher
level.
9. The device as defined in claim 8 including metering means for
supplying second objects to said latching means, and means for
actuating said metering means in response to the approach of said
carriage means adjacent said base and said latching means.
10. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said rotating means
comprises an arbor rigidly connected to said arm member at the axis
of rotation thereof, a flexible connector secured at one end to
said arbor and at its opposite end to said first object, and a
pulley freely rotatably mounted on said support member above the
axis of rotation of said arm member, said connector being guided
over said pulley intermediate its ends and being adapted to be
wound on and unwound from said arbor whereby upon rotation of said
arm member in a first direction said connector is wound on said
arbor and, upon release of said latching means, said first object
moves downwardly under the influence of gravity to unwind said
connector from said arbor and thereby rotate said arm member in a
direction opposite to said first direction.
11. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said arm member is
rotatably mounted intermediate its ends and has one said carriage
means mounted at each end thereof for respective cooperation with
said latching means adjacent said base.
12. The device as defined in claim 11 wherein said latching means
includes a second ramp having first and second end portions and
being pivotally mounted on said base intermediate said end portions
for pivotal movement in substantially the same plane as said arm
member, with said first end portion thereof being located adjacent
said metering means and said second end portion thereof being
located in position adjacent the path of travel of said carriage
means, said second ramp and said carriage means having opposed
cooperating abutment surfaces located to normally contact each
other when said carriage means are adjacent to the second end
portion of said second ramp, and means normally maintaining said
second ramp at an incline between the first and second end portions
thereof, whereby when a second object is supplied to said second
ramp it moves down said second ramp towards said second end
portion, causing said second end portion to pivot downwardly with
respect to said arm member, thereby releasing the engagement of
said abutment surfaces on said second ramp and carriage member to
permit rotation of said arm member under the influence of said
rotating means.
13. The device as defined in claim 12 wherein said second ramp has
a recessed track therein adjacent said second end portion and said
carriage means each have a finger portion received in said track
when the abutment surfaces on the second ramp and said carriage
means are in contact with each other whereby, upon pivoting of said
second ramp, the second object thereon is engaged by said finger
and lifted thereby for movement with said carriage means upon
rotation of said arm member.
14. The device as defined in claim 13 wherein said metering means
includes means for storing a plurality of said second objects and
having a second object discharge end through which only a single
second object may pass, a metering gate pivotally mounted on said
base for movement between a first position adjacent said discharge
end and a second position adjacent said second ramp, said metering
gate having an aperture therein through which a second object
passes from said discharge end when said gate is in said first
position and a wall portion preventing passage of a second object
from said discharge end when said gate is in said second position,
and second latching means for normally maintaining said gate in
said second position and for releasing said gate in response to the
approach of said carriage means adjacent said base and said first
latching means whereby said gate pivots from said second position
to said second position to permit passage of a first object
therethrough to said first mentioned latching means.
15. The device as defined in claim 14 wherein said second latching
means comprises a pivotally mounted latch arm having a support
platform formed thereon for supporting said gate in said second
position and having its center of gravity located to bias said
latch arm towards said gate for supporting engagement of said
support platform with said gate, said latch arm and said carriage
means having cam surfaces formed thereon for cooperating as said
carriage means approaches said base and said first mentioned
latching means to momentarily pivot said latch arm away from said
gate, against the bias of its center of gravity, whereby said gate
moves from its second to its first position to permit a second
object to pass through said aperture to said first mentioned
latching means.
16. The device as defined in claim 15 wherein said aperture and
latch arm are located in predetermined relative positions, whereby
as a second object passes through said aperture the weight thereof
causes said gate to pivot from its first to its second position,
wherein said latch arm pivots towards said gate under the bias of
its center of gravity to support and maintain said gate in said
second position.
17. The device as defined in claim 9 wherein said second objects
comprise balls.
18. A device for separately and automatically raising individual
toy balls from a first level to a higher level, said device
comprising, a ball storage station, a ball pickup station, means
adjacent said pickup station for lifting a ball from said pickup
station to a higher position in said device above said pickup
station, metering means between said storage station and said
pickup station for selectively permitting passage of a ball from
said storage station to said pickup station, and means for
actuating said metering means in response to the presence of a ball
at said storage station; and means at said pickup station for
preventing operation of said lifting means in the absence of a ball
at said pickup station.
19. The device as defined in claim 18 including an inclined ramp
extending downwardly from said higher position for converting the
potential energy of a ball at said higher position to kinetic
energy.
20. The device as defined in claim 18 wherein said metering means
includes a metering gate pivotally mounted in said device for
movement between first and second positions and having its center
of gravity located to bias said gate into its first position, said
gate having an aperture therein through which an individual ball
from said storage station passes when said gate is in said first
position and a wall portion which prevents passage of balls from
said storage station when said gate is in said second position,
latch means for normally engaging and maintaining said gate in said
second position, and means for selectively and momentarily
releasing said latch means to permit said gate to pivot from said
second to said first position whereby a ball at said storage
station enters said gate at said first position and causes said
gate to pivot back to its second position wherein said gate is
again engaged by said latch means and discharges said ball to said
pick-up station.
21. The device as defined in claim 20 wherein said latch means
comprises a pivotally mounted latch arm having a support platform
formed thereon for supporting said gate in said second position and
having its center of gravity located to bias said latch arm towards
said gate for supporting engagement of said support platform with
said gate, said releasing means being adapted to momentarily pivot
said latch arm away from said gate to permit said gate to return to
its first position, said support arm thereafter automatically
returning to its original position for support of said gate under
the bias of its center of gravity.
22. A device for separately and automatically raising individual
toy balls from a first level to a higher second level therein to
produce kinetic energy in said balls, said device comprising, a
base, a ball storage station, a ball pickup station at said first
level, a vertical support member mounted on said base and extending
therefrom to said second higher level, a ball discharge ramp
extending downwardly from said higher level for converting the
potential energy of a ball at said higher level into kinetic
energy, a transfer arm, means for rotatably mounting said transfer
arm on said vertical support member intermediate its ends for
rotation in a vertical plane, said transfer arm having a pair of
ball carriage members respectively located at opposite ends thereof
and positioned to pass through said pickup station and adjacent
said ramp at said higher level during rotation of said arm,
metering means located between said storage station and said pickup
station for selectively permitting passage of a ball from said
storage station to said pickup station, and means for actuating
said metering means in response to the presence of a ball at said
storage station and to the presence of a carriage member at said
pickup station, means for rotating said transfer arm, and means at
said pickup station for engaging a carriage member adjacent thereto
and preventing rotation of said transfer arm in the absence of a
ball at said pickup station whereby, when a ball is present at said
storage station and a carriage member is engaged with said means
for preventing rotation of said transfer arm, a ball at said
storage station will pass through said metering means to said
pickup station, enter said carriage member, and be lifted thereby
upon rotation of said transfer arm to said higher position wherein
continued rotation of said transfer arm is prevented by engagement
of the other of said carriage members with said rotation preventing
means, said metering means preventing passage of another ball to
said pickup station until the arrival of said other carriage member
at said pickup station.
23. The device as defined in claim 22 wherein said means for
preventing rotation of said transfer arm includes a second ramp
having first and second end portions, and being pivotally mounted
on said base intermediate said end portions for pivotal movement in
substantially the same plane as said transfer arm, with the first
end portion thereof being located adjacent said metering means and
the second end portion thereof being located in position adjacent
the path of travel of said carriage members, said second ramp and
said carriage members having opposed cooperating abutment surfaces
located to contact each other when said carriage members
respectively enter said pickup station adjacent the second end
portion of said second ramp, and means normally maintaining said
second ramp in a downwardly inclined configuration between the
first and second end portions thereof with the abutment surface of
said second ramp in the path of travel of the abutment surfaces of
said carriage member while permitting rotation of said second ramp
in a direction to release engagement between said abutment
surfaces, whereby when a ball is discharged from said storage
station through said metering means, it engages the first end
portion of said second ramp and rolls down said second ramp towards
the second end portion thereof causing said second ramp to pivot
and move said second end portion downwardly with respect to said
transfer arm, thereby releasing the engagement of said abutment
surfaces to permit rotation of said transfer arm.
24. The device as defined in claim 23 wherein said metering means
includes a metering gate pivotally mounted on said base for
movement between a first position adjacent said storage station and
a second position adjacent the first end portion of said second
ramp and having its center of gravity located to bias said gate
into its first position, said metering gate having an aperture
therein through which a ball passes from said storage station when
said gate is in said first position and a wall portion preventing
passage of a ball from said storage station when said gate is in
said second position, and latch means, normally maintaining said
gate in said second position, for releasing said gate in response
to the approach of one of said carriage members adjacent the second
end portion of said second ramp whereby said gate pivots from said
second position to said first position to permit passage of a ball
therethrough onto said second ramp.
25. The device as defined in claim 24 wherein said latch means
comprises a pivotally mounted latch arm having a support platform
formed thereon for supporting said gate in said second position and
having its center of gravity located to bias said latch arm towards
said gate in position for supporting engagement of said support
platform with said gate, said latch arm and said carriage members
having cooperating cam surfaces formed thereon, said cam surfaces
being positioned to engage each other as a carriage member
approaches said second end portion of said ramp to momentarily
pivot said latch arm away from said gate, against the normal bias
of the center of gravity of the latch arm, whereby said gate moves
from its second position to its first position to permit a ball at
said storage station to enter said gate and pivot the same to its
second position wherein the ball is discharged onto said second
ramp.
26. The device as defined in claim 25 wherein said second ramp has
a recessed track formed therein adjacent said second end portion
and said carriage members each have a finger portion received in
said track when the abutment surfaces on the second ramp and
carriage member are in engagement, whereby, upon rotation of said
ramp as a ball moves from the first end portion to the second end
portion thereof, the ball engages said finger and enters said
carriage member to be lifted thereby to said higher level upon
release and rotation of said transfer arm.
27. The device as defined in claim 26 wherein said means for
rotating said transfer arm includes an arbor rigidly connected to
said transfer arm at the axis of rotation thereof, a flexible
connector secured at one end to said arbor, a weighted object
secured to the opposite end of the connector, and a pulley freely
rotatably mounted on said vertical support member, above the axis
of rotation of said arm member, said flexible connector being
guided over said pulley intermediate its ends and being adapted to
be wound on and unwound from said arbor whereby, upon rotation of
said transfer arm in a first direction, said connector is wound on
said arbor to raise said weighted object and, upon release of said
means for preventing rotation, said weight moves downwardly under
the influence of gravity to unwind said connector from said arbor
and rotate said transfer arm in a direction opposite to said first
direction, thereby converting the potential energy of said weighted
object to kinetic energy in said balls.
Description
The present invention relates to a device for automatically lifting
toy balls and in particular to a lifting device which is adapted to
automatically raise individual toy balls from a lower level to a
higher level and to produce kinetic energy therein for use in
playing a game.
The lifting apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be
utilized in toys or toy games in which it is necessary to produce
kinetic energy in a toy ball for use in playing the game. In
previously proposed toy games in which kinetic energy of a ball is
required to play the game, the ball or balls are normally initially
raised manually to an elevated position and thence discharged
vertically downwardly, or along an inclined ramp, to produce the
kinetic energy in the ball. Thus, the kinetic energy in the ball is
only equal to that which is provided at the initiation of the game,
when the ball was placed in its highest position, and it was not
possible to increase the kinetic energy in the ball, or to provide
additional kinetic energy, during the course of the play action
without the interference of a human intermediary lifting the ball
to a higher position.
One suggested solution to this problem, which may be applicable, is
the provision of a separately powered motive means to drive a
lifting device in an intermediate portion of the game, thereby to
raise the balls to a higher position in order to produce additional
kinetic energy. However, such motive means normally are in
continuous operation and therefore would run even in the absence of
the presence of a ball to be lifted. This, of course, is
undesirable since it is a waste of power during the intervals
between movements of individual balls to the lifting device.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to lift
individual toy balls from a first level to a higher level in
response to the presence of a ball at the lifting device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to meter individual
balls at a lifting device thereby to present only a single ball to
a lifting member when the lifting member is in position to perform
its lifting function.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device
which is adapted to automatically raise individual toy balls and
which converts the potential energy of a weighted object to
potential energy in the toy balls, which are lifted from a first
position to a higher position under the influence of the weighted
object.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting
device for toy balls which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture
and produce.
Yet another object of the present invention is to produce a device
for lifting toy balls and producing kinetic energy therein, which
device is relatively simple in operation and durable in use.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a device is
provided for separately and automatically raising individual balls
from a first level to a higher level therein, in order to produce
kinetic energy in the balls, while expending energy in the motive
means used to lift the balls only during the lifting operation. In
one embodiment, the device includes a base on which a ball storage
station and a ball pickup station are located. The ball pickup
station is at a first or lower level in the device, adjacent the
base, and adjacent a vertical support member mounted on the base
and extending therefrom to a second higher level. A ball discharge
ramp extends downwardly from that higher level towards the base to
convert the potential energy of a ball lifted to the higher level
into kinetic energy as the ball rolls down the ramp.
Individual balls are lifted from the pickup station to the higher
level of the device by a transfer arm which is rotatably mounted
intermediate its ends for rotation in a vertical plane on the
vertical support member. The transfer arm has ball carriage members
located at opposite ends thereof and positioned to pass through the
pickup station of the device and adjacent the ramp at the higher
level during rotation.
A metering device is located between the storage station and the
pickup station for selectively permitting passage of individual
balls from the storage station to the pickup station in response to
the presence of a ball at the storage station, in conjunction with
the presence of one of the transfer arm carriage members at the
pickup station, wherein it is in position to receive a ball passed
from the storage station by the metering device.
The transfer arm is rotated to lift a ball in one of its carriage
members from the pickup station to the higher level in the device
by a gravity operated drive means. The drive means normally biases
the transfer arm in rotation, however, means is provided at the
pickup station for preventing rotation of the transfer arm until a
ball has passed the metering device and entered the carriage
member. Thus, by this construction, when a ball is present at the
storage station adjacent the metering device, and a carriage member
simultaneously is located at the pickup station and held against
rotation by the rotation preventing means, the ball at the storage
station will pass through the metering device to the pickup station
and enter the carriage member. Thereupon, the transfer arm is
released by the rotation preventing means and rotated under the
influence of the gravity drive member to lift the ball from the
pickup station to the higher level, wherein it is discharged onto
the discharge ramp of the device. The ball then rolls down the
ramp, converting its potential energy into kinetic energy for use
in playing the game in which the device is utilized.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this
invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of
an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lifting device constructed in
accordance with the present invention, showing the use of the
device in one type of ball game;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the lifting device
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the ball metering device
and pickup station, showing the configuration of the elements
thereof as a carriage member on the transfer arm approaches the
pickup station;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, showing
the configuration of the elements of the metering device
immediately after the carriage member has reached the pickup
station;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the metering device illustrating
the configuration of the components thereof immediately prior to
the arrival of a carriage member at the pickup station;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 showing the
configuration of the elements of the metering device immediately
after a carriage member arrives at the pickup station;
FIG. 7 is a plan view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 8 is a plan view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 2.
Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1
thereof, it will be seen that a toy lifting device 10, constructed
in accordance with the present invention, is utilized in a game in
which a series of balls 12 are to be moved along a predetermined
path of travel into a receptacle 14. In the illustrated game, balls
12 are initially started along their path of travel from a ramp
(not shown) or by tossing, onto a drum 16 having a resilient top 18
on which balls 12 will bounce. These balls may be formed of
plastic, rubber, or any convenient material; however, in the
preferred embodiment of the game, balls 12 are formed of nickel
plated steel.
Preferably, a series of drums 16 can be arranged along a
predetermined path of travel so that balls 12 will bounce from one
drum to another along the path. Ultimately, the kinetic energy of
the balls decreases because of energy losses due to bouncing and
the like; therefore, to extend the play of the game, the kinetic
energy of balls 12 must be restored or increased. Accordingly,
device 10 is provided to intercept the balls 12 along their path of
travel and to raise them to an elevated position thereby to
increase their potential energy and to convert that energy into
kinetic energy for use in continuing the game.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing, balls 12 are received in a
funnel or container 20 to begin their movement through lifting
device 10. From funnel 20, balls 12 pass through a storage station
22, and a metering device 24 which discharges individual balls to a
ramp or treadle 26 at a pickup station 28. Lifting device 10 also
includes a vertically extending support column or member 30 on
which a transfer arm 32 is rotatably mounted intermediate its ends.
Transfer arm 32 has ball carriage members 34 formed integrally
therewith at the opposite free ends of the arm. These carriage
members, as more fully described hereinafter, are adapted to
receive a ball 12 at pickup station 28 and to carry the ball to a
higher elevation or platform 36 at the top of column 30.
As more fully described hereinafter, individual balls 12 are
discharged from storage station 22 by metering device 24 only in
response to the presence of a ball at the storage station and the
simultaneous presence of a carriage member 34 at pickup station
28.
Transfer arm 32 can be rotated in any convenient manner, but
preferably is rotated by a gravity actuated drive mechanism 38
which normally biases arm 32 in rotation in a clockwise direction.
However, rotation of arm 32 is prevented at pickup station 28 by
the cooperation of treadle 26 and carriage member 34, in the
absence of the presence of a ball at the pickup station. In this
manner, the expenditure of energy from drive mechanism 38 is
avoided during those times in which no ball is present at the
pickup station.
Once a ball is lifted from pickup station 28 to platform 36, it is
discharged from the carriage member, due to the slightly inclined
configuration thereof, onto platform 36. That platform communicates
with, or forms part of, a ramp 39 along which balls 12 roll from
the platform. (Preferably ramp 39 is formed integrally with support
30 as a one-piece molded plastic structure.) As a result, the
potential energy of a ball 12 is increased by lifting of the ball
by arm 32 from pickup station 28 to platform 36 and this potential
energy is converted to kinetic energy as the ball rolls down ramp
39. This kinetic energy of the ball can thence be utilized to
continue the game without the interference of any human
intermediary stopping the ball and lifting it to increase its
potential energy.
In the illustrative embodiment of the invention the ball 12 is
discharged from ramp 39 to a drum 16 from which the ball bounces to
an additional drum or drums (not shown) along a predetermined path
of travel, and ultimately into receptacle 14. As will be apparent,
the object of the illustrated game in which lifting device 10 is
utilized is to place drums 16 and lifting device 10 along a
predetermined path of travel and to have one or more balls 12
traverse the course or path defined by the drums and lifting device
from a starting point to bucket 14. When the ball, or predetermined
number of balls, complete an entire path of travel and are
contained in receptacle 14 the game is won.
In greater detail, lifting device 10 includes a base 40 having a
raised platform section 42 formed integral therewith or secured
thereto, which defines storage station 22. Receptacle or funnel 20
is mounted on platform 42 in any convenient manner so that a ball
12 projected into the funnel will pass through the neck 44 thereof
onto upper surface 46 of the platform. This surface includes a
recessed track 48 adapted to receive and guide balls 12 from neck
44 to metering device 24. For this purpose the lower surface of
track 48 may be slightly inclined from neck 44 of funnel 12 to
metering device 24, so that the balls will roll towards the
metering device under the influence of gravity.
As mentioned, metering device 24 is adapted to meter or transfer
individual balls from storage station 22 to pickup station 28 in
response to the presence of a ball at the storage station adjacent
the metering device. This is accomplished by the use of a pivoted
metering arm or gate 50, illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 2-4.
Gate 50 is pivotally mounted on a baffle or cover plate 52 by a
pivot pin 54 or the like located intermediate the ends of the gate.
Baffle plate 52 is mounted in any convenient manner on base 40, as
for example by means of a pair of projections 56 (see FIG. 3)
received in recesses formed in the base. Gate arm 50 and baffle
plate 52 are located in predetermined position with respect to each
other and to support platform 42, as will appear more fully
hereinafter.
Gate 50 has an aperture 58 formed in one end thereof, see FIGS.
3-6, and is constructed so that its center of gravity is located to
the right of pivot 54 whereby the gate is normally biased by
gravity to rotate in a generally clockwise direction. Rotation in
this direction is limited by engagement of the upper portion of tne
top edge 60 of the arm with the return flange 62 of baffle 52. In
this position (FIGS. 4 and 6) aperture 58 is located in alignment
with the track 48 of platform 42 so that a ball in track 48 will
pass through aperture 58. In the illustrative embodiment of the
invention, aperture 58 is defined by a relatively wide peripheral
wall 64, so that a ball rolling from track 48 into aperture 58 will
roll onto the base of wall 64. The additional weight of the metal
ball in aperture 58 will cause gate 50 to pivot from the upper
position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 (and in dotted lines in FIG.
2) to a relatively horizontal position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5
(and in phantom lines in FIG. 2). In this position aperture 58 is
located in alignment with an aperture 66 formed in baffle plate 52
by a cylindrical neck 68 formed therein. As a result, a ball 12 at
storage station 22 is moved from track 48 into aperture 66 and
passes therefrom to the pickup station as described
hereinafter.
It is noted that gate 50 includes an upper rear wall portion 70,
which, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, will prevent passage of a ball 12
out of track 48 when the gate 50 is in its horizontal position.
Thus the gate is constructed to permit only one ball at a time to
be passed from storage station 22 to pickup station 28.
Gate 50 is normally held in its horizontal position (FIGS. 3 and 5)
by a latching mechanism 72. This mechanism also cooperates with
carriage members 34, on transfer arm 32, to momentarily release
gate 50 and permit it to return to its inclined position (FIGS. 4
and 6), wherein a ball 12 may pass through the aperture 58. Latch
mechanism 72 includes a vertically extending arm 74 which is
pivotally mounted at 76 on base 40 for rotation in a plane which
extends generally perpendicular to gate 50. Arm 74 includes a
generally horizontally extending cam portion or arrowhead 78, seen
most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, which extends above the right end 80
of gate 50. Preferably, arm 74 is constructed so that its center of
gravity is forward of pivot 76, so that the arm is normally biased
for rotation in the direction of arrowhead 78 under the influence
of gravity. Arm 74 also includes a support platform 82 formed
thereon and providing a support surface 82' which is adapted to
engage the lower surface 84 of gate 50 when the gate is in its
horizontal position.
At the beginning of the game latch arm 74 is initially manually
rotated away from gate 50, i.e., it is rotated into the drawings,
as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, so as to disengage support surface 82'
from the lower surface 84 of gate 50, thus permitting the gate to
rotate to its inclined position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. This
rotation of latch arm 74 away from gate 50 will also occurr
automatically upon winding of arm 32, as more fully described
hereinafter. In addition, transfer arm 32 is set in the position
illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 4 so as to receive a ball at the
pickup station after it passes through the metering device. In this
condition, when a ball 12 enters funnel 20, it passes through neck
44 into the track 48 of platform 42 and thence into aperture 58 of
gate 50. As mentioned, because of the weight of the ball in
aperture 58, gate 50 rotates in a generally counterclockwise
direction so as to permit ball 12 to pass through opening 66 in
baffle plate 52 and from there to pickup station 28. As lever arm
50 thus moves to its horizontal position, latch arm 74 rotates
forwardly, under the influence of gravity and due to the location
of its center of gravity, to position support surface 82' beneath
surface 84 of the gate arm. Thus, when ball 12 in aperture 58
passes therefrom into the aperture 66 of baffle 52, gate 50 begins
to rotate in a clockwise direction, due to the location of its
center of gravity. As this occurs, surface 84 engages surface 82'
and further rotation of the gate 50 is prevented. As a result, gate
50 is maintained in its horizontal position preventing further
discharge of balls 12 from storage station 22 because the wall 70
of the gate blocks the end of track 48.
From aperture 66 in baffle 52, the ball 12 passes onto the end 86
of the pivoted treadle or ramp 26. This treadle is pivotally
mounted between a pair of posts 90, formed integrally with platform
40, along a pivot axis 92 extending generally perpendicular to gate
50 and located so that the treadle is adapted to pivot in
substantially the same plane as the plane of rotation of transfer
arm 32. The configuration of treadle 26 is such that its center of
gravity is located to the left of pivot 92, as illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2, so that the treadle is normally biased for rotation in a
counterclockwise direction. This rotation is limited by a leg 94
formed at the end 86 of the treadle which leg thus maintains the
treadle in a relatively stable configuration with the upper surface
96 thereof located at an incline between aperture 66 and pickup
station 28.
Treadle 26 also includes an upstanding front baffle wall 98 which
prevents inadvertent discharge of a ball from aperture 66 off of
the treadle. Thus, wall 98 forms a capturing chamber or the like
for balls 12 passing through aperture 66 to insure that the balls
are maintained on the upper surface 96 of the treadle. In addition,
treadle 26 is provided with a recessed track 100 (FIGS. 1 and 7)
which guides the balls in a straight line from the end 86 and wall
98 of the treadle to the end of pickup station 28, i.e., adjacent
the end 102 of the treadle.
Treadle 26, in addition to providing a portion of a path of travel
for balls 12 between the metering mechanism 24 and pickup station
28, cooperates with ball carriage members 34, on the ends of
transfer arm 32, to prevent rotation of the transfer arm until such
time as a ball has passed through the metering device and has
passed to the end 102 of the treadle. To accomplish this, carriage
members 34 are provided with elongated fingers 104 which are
adapted to be received in the slot 100 of treadle 26 when arm 32 is
in a vertical configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. In
addition, fingers 104 include an abutment surface 106 on the lower
side thereof which is adapted to engage the forward edge or
abutment surface 108 of treadle 26 when the treadle is in its
normal position, illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. By
this construction, rotation of arm 32 in its normal clockwise
direction under the influence of the drive mechanism 38 is
prevented by the engagement of abutment surfaces 106 and 108.
However, when a ball 12 is discharged from aperture 66 onto treadle
26, and rolls along track 100 towards the end 102 of the treadle,
the weight of the ball overcomes the weight of the treadle and
thus, as the ball approaches end 102, it causes treadle 26 to
rotate in a clockwise direction (into the configuration illustrated
in phantom lines in FIG. 4), thereby moving abutment surface 108
downwardly with respect to abutment surface 102. This causes ball
12 to become engaged with finger 104 and permits drive mechanism 38
to rotate the arm 32 in a clockwise direction.
As finger 104 lifts ball 12 upon rotation of arm 32, and moves away
from treadle 26, the treadle returns to its solid line position,
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, under the influence of gravity, and
thus returns abutment surface 108 to its normal position in the
path of travel of the fingers 104 of the transfer arm. Thus, as the
next finger 104 on arm 32 approaches pickup station 28, its
abutment surface 106 will engage surface 108 to prevent continued
rotation of the arm. Simultaneously, because the carriage members
34 are located at diametrically opposed ends of the arm 32, the
carriage member 34 with the previously picked up ball 12 will
deliver ball 12 at the upper end of support member 30 and discharge
it onto platform 36.
The configuration of carriage members 34 is such that the carriage
members include an exterior curved wall 110 (FIG. 8) which will
guide the ball 12 into platform 36. It is noted that the ball 12
will move of its own accord when arm member 32 reaches the top of
support 30 because the ball will retain some momentum even though
the arm 32 is stopped. Thus, that momentum will project the ball
forwardly against wall 110 so that it will be guided into platform
36 and from there to ramp 39. Accordingly, it is seen that the
drive means used to rotate arm 32 is only active during the time
period in which a ball is transported from the pickup station to
the platform 36.
Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, it is noted that
after the engagement of surfaces 106 and 108 is released, so that
arm 32 rotates in a clockwise direction, gate 50 and treadle 26 are
in their solid line positions illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, no ball
at the storage station 22 can pass through the metering device to
the treadle. In order to release gate 50 to permit the next ball to
pass to the pickup station, carriage members 34 are provided with
cam members 112 on the surfaces 114 thereof which cooperate with
arrowhead 78 of latch arm 74. As seen in FIGS. 5-7, cam members 112
are generally T-shaped members whose stem portions 116 are directed
towards metering mechanism 24 and thus towards latch arm 74.
Arrowhead 78 of latch arm 74 is constructed so as to project (FIG.
7) into the path of travel of cam stem 116 as carriage member 34
passes through pickup station 28. Thus, the free edge 118 of
T-shaped cam member 112 engages the forward inclined surface 120 of
arrowhead 78 and causes latch arm 74 to pivot rearwardly to the
dotted line position thereof shown in FIG. 7. It is noted that stem
116 is located on surface 114 in a predetermined position so that
this movement of arm 74 occurs just prior to engagement of abutment
surfaces 106 and 108. In this position, support surface 82' is
disengaged from the lower surface 84 of gate 50 so that the gate
moves to its inclined position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. Thus,
the device is in position to permit another ball 12 to pass through
the metering mechanism and be raised by transfer arm 32.
It is noted that the rearward rotation of arm 74 is limited by the
provision of an upstanding post 122 on base 40 and a rearwardly
extending arm 124 cooperating therewith and extending from arm 74.
Post 122 and arm 124 are located so that the center of gravity of
arm 74, even in its tilted position, is forwardly of pivot points
76. Thus, as soon as stem 116 of cam member 112 passes point 126 of
arrowhead 78, arm 74 will tend to rotate forwardly to position its
support surface 82 beneath the lower surface 84 of gate 50.
However, if no ball is present at storage station 22, gate 50 will
remain in its inclined position, illustrated in FIG. 3 of the
drawing, and forward rotation of arm 74 will be prevented by an
abutment member 127 formed on gate 50, which engages the protrusion
82 on arm 74 that defines support surface 82'. This prevents
protrusion 82 from moving over the top of gate 50 wherein it would
prevent movement of the gate to its horizontal position.
Accordingly, it is seen that with gate 50 in this position, when a
ball 12 arrives at storage station 22 it can enter aperture 58 of
gate 50. This causes the gate to pivot to its relatively horizontal
position. At that position, arm 74 is free to rotate forwardly,
under the influence of gravity, so as to position its support
surface 82 beneath surface 84 of gate 50, thereby to support the
gate in its horizontal position. In that position the gate 50 will
block movement of any other ball at the storage station through the
metering mechanism until the next carriage member moves into pickup
station 28. It is noted that this forward rotation of arm 74 is
limited by a vertically extending post 129 which engages an
extension 129' on arm 74 when the arm is in the proper position to
support gate 50, as seen in FIG. 5.
Carriage members 34, illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8,
are, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, formed
integrally with transfer arm 32. These carriage members include a
base 130 which is partially surrounded by a peripheral wall 110.
Thus, as arm 32 rotates upwardly, after receiving a ball 12 at
pickup station 28, the ball rests against the back 132 (FIG. 4) of
finger 104 and against the free end 134 of arm 32. As arm 32
continues in rotation, so that the ball 12 is lifted more than
halfway towards platform 36, the ball 12 rolls down slightly along
the rear portion 132 of finger 104 and engages platform 130 upon
which the ball rests until the arm 32 comes to a stop in its
vertical position, with carriage member 34 adjacent platform
36.
As mentioned, transfer arm 32 is normally biased for rotation by a
gravity actuated drive mechanism 38. This drive mechanism includes
a weighted object, such as a ball 136, which is connected to one
end of a flexible cable, string or the like 138. The ball 136 is
formed with sufficient weight to effect rotation of arm 32 as
described hereinafter. The opposite end of cable 134 is secured to
an arbor 140 which is formed integrally with transfer arm 32, along
the axis of rotation of the arm. The interior of the arbor is
pivotally mounted on vertical support 30, in any convenient manner,
so that both arm 32 and the arbor are rotatably mounted on the
support member. In addition, a pulley 142 is freely rotatably
mounted at the upper end of vertical support 30, with cable 138
being guided thereover between arbor 140 and ball 136.
By this construction arm 32 may be manually rotated in a
counterclockwise direction so as to wind cable 138 on arbor 140 and
thereby lift ball 136 to a position adjacent pulley 142.
Thereafter, during operation of the device, weighted ball 136,
through cable 138, biases arbor 140, and thus transfer arm 32, in
rotation in a clockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Accordingly, when a carriage member 34 is released at pickup
station 28, due to the presence there of a ball 12, weighted ball
136 will move downwardly under the influence of gravity, thereby
reducing its potential energy and utilizing the same to rotate arm
32. When a ball 12 picked up at station 28 reaches platform 36, arm
32 is stopped, as described above, and downward movement of ball
136 is also stopped. Thereafter, ball 13 is discharged through
platform 36 to ramp 39 to convert the increased potential energy of
ball 12 into kinetic energy. Accordingly, it is seen that by this
drive mechanism the potential energy of the ball 136 is converted
into potential energy of the ball 12 which in turn is immediately
converted into kinetic energy. Moreover, the potential energy of
ball 136 is only expended during the time period taken to lift a
ball 12 from pickup station 28 to a position adjacent platform
36.
As seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 8, platform 36 includes an
inclined ramp 144 having a peripheral side wall 148 formed
integrally therewith. Platform 144 extends from a position above
ramp 39 and is located to be adjacent base 130 of a carriage member
34, when the carriage member is at the top of support 30. In this
manner a ball 12 in carriage member 34 will be guided from the
carriage member by wall 110 onto ramp 144 and along the curved ramp
146 by wall 148 to a discharge end 150. This discharge end is
located adjacent a horizontal ramp section 152 which is formed as a
continuation portion of inclined ramp 39. This horizontal section
152 of ramp 39 is located a sufficient distance below the central
portion of ramp 144 so that a ball 12 may pass freely from the
horizontal section 152 to the inclined section of ramp 39. In
addition, platform 36 includes a central protrusion 154 above ramp
39 and adjacent ramp 144, which protrusion cooperates with ramp 144
and wall 148 to define an enclosed track for guiding balls 12.
In the sequence of operation and play of the game arm 32 is
initially rotated manually in a counterclockwise direction to wind
cable 138 on arbor 140, thereby raising ball 136 to its highest
position. In addition, arm 74 may be rotated manually backwardly to
permit gate 50 to move into its inclined position, and arm 32 is
adjusted so that one of the carriage members 34 is located at
pickup station 28 with its abutment surface 106 in engagement with
the abutment surface 108 on the front end of treadle 26. However,
it is noted that if arm 74 is not manually rotated backwardly in
this manner prior to winding of arm 32 in the counterclockwise
direction, the winding movement of arm 32 will automatically set
arm 74. This occurs because as arm 32 is wound, one of the carriage
members passes through pickup station 28 so that the free edge 118
of its cam member 112 engages the forward inclined surface 120' of
arrowhead 78 and thus pivots latch arm 74 backwardly. This, of
course, permits gate 50 to move to its inclined position under the
influence of its center of gravity. In any case, after arm 32 is
wound and gate 50 is set, when a ball 12 enters funnel 20, it
descends through neck 44 of the funnel onto track 48 of platform 42
and into the aperture 58 of metering gate 50. The presence of the
ball in aperture 58 causes the gate 50 to pivot counterclockwise
into its horizontal position, wherein the ball passes from aperture
58 through aperture 66 in baffle 52. Simultaneously arm 74 pivots
forwardly so as to move its support surface 82' into engagement
with surface 84 of the gate. At this point ball 12 rolls along
inclined treadle 26 to the end 102 thereof wherein it rolls against
the rear portion 132 of finger 104. As this occurs, the weight of
the ball on the end 102 of treadle 26 causes the treadle to pivot
in a clockwise direction so as to move surface 108 of the treadle
away from the abutment surface 106 of finger 104. Accordingly, arm
32 is released so that ball 136 can move downwardly under the
influence of gravity, thereby causing arm 32 to rotate and lift
ball 12 to platform 36. Meanwhile, treadle 26 moves back to its
solid line position shown in FIG. 3, due to the location of its
center of gravity and gate 50 is held in its horizontal position by
latch arm 74 to prevent discharge of any balls 12 at storage
station 22. Thus, abutment surface 108 of the treadle is placed
back in the path of travel of abutment surface 106 of carriage
member 34, so that when the empty carriage member at the opposite
end of arm 32 enters pickup station 28, its abutment surface 106
contacts surface 108 to prevent further rotation of arm 32.
Simultaneously, as the carriage member enters the pickup station,
stem 116 of cam member 112 engages the forward portion 120 of
arrowhead 78 and pivots arm 74 rearwardly with respect to gate 50.
As a result, protrusion 82 is moved rearwardly so that its surface
82' is disengaged from supporting engagement with the surface 84 of
gate 50. As a result, the gate pivots in a clockwise direction to
its inclined position, illustrated in solid lines in FIGS. 4 and 6,
wherein the aperture 58 thereof is located adjacent the end of
track 48 so that a ball at storage station 22 can pass therethrough
to initiate the sequence of operation of the device. This sequence
of operation will continue until ball 136 reaches base 40, or as
long as individual balls 12 are present at the storage station.
Accordingly, it is seen that a relatively simple and inexpensive
apparatus is provided for automatically lifting toy balls in a
game, with individual balls being lifted from a first lower level
to a higher level in response to the combined presence of a ball at
the storage station and a carriage member, used to lift the ball,
at a pickup station. Moreover, the energy used to lift the ball is
expended only during the actual lifting operation and is conserved
during those time periods between the presence of the two required
conditions.
Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has
been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings,
it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may
be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing
from the scope or spirit of this invention.
* * * * *