US3008712A - Pistol draw game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 14, 1961 Filed May 2, 1958 R. o. KONOPKA 3,008,712

PISTOL DRAW GAME APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Rum-mm: o. KQNOPKA 7% mu; ,mm ATTO QMEYS 1951 R. o. KONOPKA PISTOL DRAW GAME APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1958 INVENTOR. 'Rscnmzo O. KQNOPKA Arr TOBNEYS Nov. 14, 1961 R. o. KONOPKA 3,008,712

PISTOL DRAW GAME APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Tie-.6 2

INVENTOR. Emu-mac O. KoNom A ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,008,712 PISTOL DRAW GAME APPARATUS Richard 0. Konopka, Cleveland, Ohio (679 Sterling Road, Wickliife, Ohio) Filed May 2, 1958, Ser. No. 732,547 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to an electrical game apparatus based on the ability of a player to draw a pistol from its holster in a minimum period of time.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved game apparatus based on the ability of a single individual or two competing individuals to rapidly draw a pistol from its holster and move the pistol into firing position, the apparatus being simple in construction, being relatively compact in size, and providing a high degree of entertainment in its use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved game apparatus based upon the ability of a single individual or of a pair of contestants to draw pistols from their holsters in a rapid manner, the apparatus involving inexpensive components, being durable in construction, and simulating the conditions actually present in the use of pistols in a dueling encounter between a pair of individuals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved electrically operated amusement device which may be employed by an individual to improve his skill in rapidly drawing a pistol from its holster and moving it to firing position, as well as being suitable for use by a pair of contestants in a match to determine which of the contestants draws his pistol more rapidly, the apparatus providing a considerable amount of entertainment, as well as being useful in training individuals to handle actual weapons.

Further obiects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the manner in which a game apparatus according to the present invention is employed by a pair of competing individuals to determine which contestant draws his pistol more rapidly from its holster.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections of the components of the game apparatus employed in FIGURE 1, the apparatus being set for use by a single individual to test the speed at which the individual can draw his pistol from its holster and move it into firing position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side 'elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of one of the pistol-simulating members employed in the apparatus of FIGURES l and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the pistol member in vertical position, namely, the position assumed thereby in the holster before the pistol member has been moved to firing position.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a main controlling and indicating unit, designated generally at 11, said unit comprising a generally rectangular housing 12 having a removable top wall 13 on which are mounted the various indicating lamps and the control member of the apparatus. Thus, respective indicating lamps 14 and 15 are mounted on the opposite end portions of top wall 13, and an additional indicating lamp 16 is mounted on the intermediate 3,008,712 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 portion of one side margin of said top wall. A vertical shaft 17 extends through and is rotatably mounted in the top wall 13, said shaft being provided at its top end with a pointer knob 18 which is rotatable over a circular dial '19 inscribed on said top wall concentric with the axis of shaft 17.

Dial 18 is suitably calibrated in time units, for example, seconds, as shown in FIGURE 2, whereby the knob 18 may be rotated from its 01f position to a position corresponding to a designated number of seconds. The dial 19 also is inscribed with a draw position to which the knob 18 may be rotated, for a purpose presently to be described.

Shaft 17 is preferably of insulating material, but has secured to its lower end a sector plate 20 of conducting material, said sector plate being formed at the opposite ends of its peripheral portion with respective radially extending lugs 21 and 22. Secured to the under side of the top wall 13 is a depending insulating block 23 having respective pairs of normally engaging resilient contact strips 24, 25 and '26, 27 secured to its opposite ends, the inner resilient contact strips 25 and 27 depending respectively into the path of movement of the respective lugs 22 and 21, and being arranged so that when the knob 18 is rotated to its off position, as seen in FIGURE 2, the lug 21 engages the depending resilient contact strip 27 and disengages said contact strip from its cooperating contact member 26. Similarly, when the knob 18 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to its draw position, the lug 22 engages the depending resilient contact strip 25 and disengages said contact strip 25 from its associated contact member 24.

Secured to the bottom wall of housing 12 in axial alignment with the shaft 17 is an upstanding post member 28 in which is journaled a vertical conductive shaft member 29, said vertical shaft member being axially aligned with the shaft 17 and rising above the post member 28 towards the lower end of said shaft member 17. Rigidly secured to the top end of the shaft element 29 is a conductive contact arm 30, said contact arm having an upstanding contact lug 31 at its outer end. Lug 31 is located so as to conductively engage with the bottom surface of the sector plate 20 responsive to a suflicient clockwise rotation of arm 30, as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 6.

Secured to the block 23 is a further contact member 32 having a horizontal lower flange portion 33 disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane as the sector plate 20 and therefore being conductively engageable by the rounded top end portion of the lug '31 as said lug '31 rotates in a clockwise direction toward the sector plate 20.

. Rigidly secured to the upper portion of the shaft element 29 below the arm 30 is a relatively large disc member 34 which is frictionally engaged at its peripheral edge by a friction roller 35 secured on a vertical shaft element 36 journaled to a horizontal bracket arm 37 which is in turn pivoted for horizontal rotation at an upstanding supporting post 38 secured to the bottom wall of housing 12. Designated at 39 is a relatively large friction wheel which is rigidly secured to the roller 35 and which is frictionally and drivingly engaged by a rubber drive sleeve 40 mounted on the shaft of a vertically arranged electric motor 41 of the miniature type, said electric motor 41 being mounted on a'bracket 42 pivoted to a vertical pin member 43 rigidly secured to and extending upward: ly from the bottom wall of housing 12. A coiled spring 44 connects the bracket 42 to a point on the bottom Wall of housing 12 located between the post member 28 and the pin 43, biasing the bracket member 42 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 6, thus urging the drive sleeve 40 into driving engagement with the relatively large friction wheel 39 and exerting a biasing I force on the bracket 37 urging the friction roller 35 into 3 driving friction contact with the periphery of the relatively large disc member 34.

The frictional engagement of the driving roller 35 with the periphery of disc 34- is of a substantially positive nature so that lordinarly the disc 34 will rotate through a Specific angle responsive to the energization of motor 41 for a predetermined period of time, whereby the elements substantially constitute a timing mechanism wherein the amount of time required for a contact member 31 to travel between the stationary contact member 33 and the conductive sector plate will be determined by the setting of the sector plate, as indicated by the position of the pointer knob 18 on the dial 19.

The housing 12 is preferably made of suitable conductive material, such as sheet metal or the like, so that it may be utilized as a ground and may be included in the electrical circuits of the apparatus. Thus, a first flashlight battery 45 is mounted in a corner portion of the housing 12 adjacent the motor 41, said housing being resiliently clamped between an end wall of the housing and spring clip 46 secured to the bottom wall of the housing, as shown in FIGURE 6. The center contact terminal of the battery 45 is engaged by a resilient contact clip element 48 which is insulated from the housing 12 and which is connected by a wire 49 to one terminal of the electric motor 41. The casing of the battery 45 is engaged by a grounded resilient terminal arm 47. The remaining terminal of the motor 41 is connected by a wire 50 to the contact arm 26. The resilient contact arm 27 is grounded to the housing 12 by a wire 51. Thus, the motor 41 will be energized from the flashlight battery 45 responsive to the closing of the contact elements 26 and 27, namely, when lug 21 disengages from the end of the contact element 27 as the knob 18 is rotated from its #01? position in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 2.

A generally U-shaped supporting bracket 53 is secured to the under side of top wall 13, and mounted on the respective vertical arms of the bracket 53 in coaxially aligned relationship are a pair of electromagnets 54 and 55 defining an air gap between the opposing inner ends of their cores. An insulating block 56 is secured between the upper portions of the vertical arms of bracket 53, and secured to said block is a depending resilient armature 57 of suitable magnetic material which extends between and which is normally spaced substantially midway between the opposing inner ends of the cores of the electromagnets 54 and 55.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 5, the armature 57 may be flexed in either direction, depending upon which electromagnet is the first to attract same. Thus, if electromagnet 54 is energized, the armature 57 will be swung to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 5, greatly increasing the air gap between the armature and the core of the opposing electromagnet 55, so that if the electromagnet 55 is subsequently energized itwill be ineffective to attract armature 57. Conversely, if the electromagnet 55 is the first to be energized, the armature 57 will be swung to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 5, and thereafter electromagnet 54 will be ineffective to attract the armature.

Secured in the bight portion of the bracket 53 is an insulating block 58 in which are adjustably engaged a pair of opposing horizontal contact screws 59 and 60 which are located on opposite sides of the lower end portion of the flexible armature 57, as shown in FIGURE 5. When the armature 57 is swung to the left, responsive to initial energization of electromagnet 54, the armature conductively engages the end of the contact screw 59. Conversely, when the armature 57 is swung to the right, responsive to the initial engagement of the electromagnet 55, the armature engages the contact screw 60.

A pair of simulated pistols 61 and 62 are provided, each pistol including a trigger member 63 which is pivoted in the body of the pistol, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, each trigger member beingprovided with a contact elemerit 64 which is normally spaced from but which is conductively engageable with an opposing contact element 65 mounted in the pistol. The trigger 63 is biased away from the contact element 65, namely, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 3, by a coiled spring 66 connected between the inner arm 67 of the trigger lever 63 and the adjacent inner wall portion 68 of the pistol. Pivoted in the cavity 69 containing the trigger lever is a pendulum member '70 which is formed at one end with a weight 71 and at the other end with a flattened portion 72, said flattened portion 72 normally lockingly engaging against the edge of the trigger arm extension 67, as shown in FIGURE 4, when the pistol is in its holstered, substantially vertical position. Thus, the pendulum weight 71 acts to maintain the pendulum lever in a locking position as long as the pistol is in a substantially vertical position, but rotates in the cavity 69 from the position of FIGURE 4 to the position of FIGURE 3 when the pistol is elevated from its vertical position to its substantially horizontal firing position of FIGURE 3, whereby to release the trigger lever 63 and allow the trigger lever to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4, whereby to cause contact element 64 to conductively engage contact element 65. It will be noted that the trigger lever 63 is locked against rotation while it is in the position shown in FIGURE 4, whereby the contacts 64 and 65 cannot be closed.

A flexible cable containing a pair of conductors 73 and 74 is provided with the simulated pistol 61, and a similar flexible cable, containing a pair of flexible conductors 75 and 76 is provided with the simulated pistol 62. The conductors 73 and 74 are respectively connected electrically to the contacts 64 and 65 of the simulated pistol 61, and the conductors 75 and 76 are similarly electrically connected to the trigger-controlled contact elements of the simulated pistol 62.

The cable containing the conductors 73 and 74 is designated at 77 and is provided at its end with a two-prong plug 78 which is engageable in a female socket 79 provided in one end wall of housing 12. The flexible cable containing the conductors 75 and 76 is designated at 80 and is provided similarly with a two-prong plug 81 engageable in a female receptacle 82 mounted in the opposite end wall of housing 12, as is clearly shown in FIG- URE 5. The terminals of the receptacle 79 are designated'respectiv'ely at 83 and 84, and the terminals of the receptacle 82 are designated respectively at 85 and 86, as shown in FIGURE 2.

Designated at 87 is a flashlight battery which is mounted in the housing 12' and secured against a longitudinal wall thereof by a conventional spring clip 88. The center contact of the flashlight battery 87 is engaged by a contact clip 89 suitably insulated from the housing, and connected by a wire 90 to the stationary contact member 32. The casing of the flashlight battery '87 is conductively engaged by a spring contact arm 91, which is suitably insulated from the housing 12 and which is connected to a wire 92.

A pair of additional flashlight batteries 94 and 95 are secured to the bottom wall of housing 12 by a spring'clip holder 96, as shown in FIGURE 6, the batteries being connected in series by suitable resilient connector spring 97, as shown, said spring 97 being secured to and being suitably insulated from an end wall of housing 12. The casing of the flashlight battery 94 is conductively engaged by a grounded spring clip 98. The center contact'of the remaining flashlight battery 95 is conductively engaged by a contact spring 99 which is secured to but is suitably insulated from the bottom wall of housing 12, said contact arm 99 being connected by a wire 100 to a wire 93 connecting female receptacle terminals 86 and 84.

One terminal of the intermediate lamp 16 is connected by a wire 101 to the wire 92. The remaining terminal of the lamp 16 is conductively connected to the shaft 29 by a wire 102 and a conductive bracket 103 securedin the upstanding post member 28 and being provided internally with a bearing seat in which is disposed a conductive ball bearing 104 on which the shaft 29 is conductively and rotatably engaged.

Wire 102 is connected to wire 100 by a wire 106.

Sector plate 20 is connected by a wire 110 to the contact'arm 24. The cooperating contact arm 25 is connected by a wire 111 to the female receptacle terminal 83. One terminal of the electromagnet 54 is connected by a wire 112 to the wire 111, and the other terminal of said electromagnet is connected to ground by a wire 113. The armature 57 is connected by a wire 114 to the wire 90.

One terminal of the opposing electromagnet 55 is connected by a wire 115 to the terminal 85 of the female receptacle 81, the remaining terminal of the electromagnet 55 being connected to ground by a wire 116.

The stationary contact '59 is connected by a wire 116' to one terminal of the left signal lamp 14, and the stationary contact 60 is connected by a wire 117 to one terminal of the right signal lamp 15. The remaining terminals of the left and right signal lamps 14 and 15 are connected to the wire 92 by respective wires 118 and 119.

When the apparatus is to be employed by two opposing contestants to determine which one can draw his pistol more rapidly, the apparatus is arranged substantially as shown in FIGURE 1, namely it is placed on the floor between the two opposing contestants. Each. contestant wears a holster, the respective simulated pistols 61 and 62 being contained in the holsters. The knob 18 is rotated from its off position to the draw position illustrated in FIGURE 2, whereby the contact arm 27 is allowed to engage its cooperating contact arm 26, and whereby the lug 22 engages the end of the resilient contact arm 25, causing the contact arm 25 to disengage from its cooperating contact arm 24. The closure of the contacts 26 and 27 energizes the timing motor 41 through a circuit comprisingthe positive terminal of battery 45, wire 49, the motor winding, wire 50, contact arm 26, contact arm 27, wire 51 and ground, the negative terminal battery 45 being grounded. Shaft 29 is thus rotated in I a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, whereby the contact arm 30 is rotated therewith. When theupstanding lug 31 of thecontact arm 30 engages the stationary contact flange 33 a circuit is completed energizing the center signal lamp 16, comprising the negative terminal of battery 87, wire 92, wire 101, the lamp 16, wire 102, shaft 29, contact arm 30, flange 33, wire 90 and the positive terminal of battery 87. Thus, the lamp 16 is energized for a short period of time, giving the contestants the signal to begin to draw their pistols.

The contestant who succeeds in closing the contacts of his pistol first energizes the corresponding signal lamp 14 or 15, signaling that he is the winner of the contest. Thus, assuming the player using the pistol 61 to be the first to succeed in drawing his pistol from its holster and elevating same to a horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 3, the closure of the contacts 64 and 65 energizes the electromagnet 54 by a circuit comprising the positive terminal of battery 95' (in series with battery 94 whose negative terminal is connected to ground by the wire 98), the wire 100, the wire 93, wire 74, the contacts 64, 65., the wire 73, the wire 111, the wire 112, the winding of the electromagnet and the grounded wire 113. Armature 57 is flexed to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 2, preventing the opposing electromagnets 55 from thereafter actuating same. Armature 57 engages contact 59 and causes the left lamp 14 to become energized by a circuit comprising the negative terminal of battery 87, the wire 92, the wire 118, the 'lamp 14, the wire 116', the contact 59, the armature 57, the wire 114, the wire 90, and the positive terminal of battery 87. If the other player is successful in being the first to draw and close the set of contacts, the right lamp 15 will be energized to the exclusion of the other lamp in a similar manner. Thus,

if the contacts of the pistol 62 are the first to be closed, the electromagnet 55 will be energized from the batteries 94, by a circuit including the wires 75 and 76, and the right lamp 15 will be energized by a circuit com-prising the positive terminal of battery 87, the wire 90, the wire 114, the armature 57, the stationary contact 60, the wire 117, the lamp 15, the wire 119, the wire 92, and the negative terminal of battery 87. I

If the apparatus is to be employed by a single person to test his ability to draw a pistol rapidly and within a predetermined period of time, the operator sets the knob 18 to a designated time period on the dial 19. The rotation of knob 18 from the off position to said designated time value on the dial 19 closes the contacts 27 and 26, energizing the motor 41, whereby shaft 29 begins to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The setting of the knob 18 moves the sector plate 20 to a position corresponding to the designated time period indicated on the dial 19 and allows contacts 24 and 25 to close. Thus, when the contact lug 31 engages the flange 33, the center lamp 16 is energized, providing the starting signal for the person using the apparatus. Thereafter, if the person using the apparatus is successful in closing the contacts of the pistol 62 employed for this purpose before lug 31 engages the underside of the sector plate 20, the lamp 15 will become energized by a circuit similar to that previously described, namely, the positive terminal of battery 87, wire 114, armature 57, stationary contact 60, wire 117, the lamp 15, the wire 119, the wire 92, and the negative terminal of battery 87 However, if the lug 31 engages the underside of the sector plate 20 before the contacts of the pistol 62 are closed, the left lamp 14 will be energized, excluding energization of the right lamp 15.

Thus, when lug 31 engages the underside of the sector plate 20, the electromagnet 54 becomes energized by a circuit comprising the positive terminal of the series-connected batteries 95, 94, the wire 100, the wire 106, the wire 102, shaft 29, the contact arm 30, the sector plate 20, the wire 110, the contacts 24;and 25 which are in their closed positions, the wire 111, the wire 112, the winding of the electromagnet 5'4, and the grounded wire 113, the negative terminal of the series-connected batteries 94, 95 being grounded, so that a complete circuit is thus defined. Therefore, the armature 57 engages the contact 59, energizing the left lamp 14 by the circuit previously described, and preventing subsequent energization of the right lamp 15.

When the contact lug 31 rotates out of contact with the sector plate 20, as it continues to rotate by the action of the timing motor 41, the circuit to the electromagnet 54 is opened, allowing the armature 57 to return to its neutral position, assuming the trigger-controlled contacts of the pistol 62 to be opened. Thus, the person using the apparatus may continue to make repeated attempts to defeat the time setting as the apparatus continues in operation. It will be noted that the effect of the closed contacts 25 and 24 is to substitute a designated time period, namely, the time required for lug 31 to travel from the angular position of flange 33 to the angular position of the leading edge of sector plate 20, for the time which an opponent would require to draw the pistol 61 and close its contacts. This time period can be adjusted by adjusting the angular position of the sector plate 20 by means of the knob 18, as above described.

'While a specific embodiment of an electrical game apparatus has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pistol draw game apparatus to determine the ability of players to draw a pistol from its holster and operate its trigger in a minimum period of time, a pair of holsters adapted to be worn by players, respective simulated pistols normally housed in the holsters in vertical positions and being removable therefrom and being movable to substantially horizontal positions, each pistol having a movable trigger and a normally open switch operable to closed position by said trigger only when the pistol is in a substantially horizontal position, a relay device having opposing windings and a movable pole disposed between said windings and being movable toward one or the other winding in accordance with which winding is first energized, opposing contacts engageable by said pole, first and second signal devices, means to respectively energize said signal devices through said pole and one or the other of said contacts, a source of current, respective circuit means connecting said windings to said source of current through the switches in the simulated pistols, an electrical starting signal to notify the players to commence drawing the pistols from the holsters, an auxiliary current source, manually settable time delay switch means, circuit means connecting said starting signal to said auxiliary current source through said manually settable time delay switch means, whereby said starting signal will become energized a predetermined time after said time delay switch means is operated, further manually settable time delay switch means, and means to at times substitute said further manually settable time delay switch means for the switch in one of the simulated pistols, whereby the other pistol may be employed by a player to test his ability to draw the pistol within a lesser period of time than that established by the setting of said further manually settable time delay switch means.

2. In a pistol draw game apparatus to determine the ability of players to draw a pistol from its holster and operate its trigger in a minimum period of time, a pair of holsters adapted to be worn by players, respective simulated pistols normally housed in the holsters in vertical positions and being removable therefrom and being movable to substantially horizontal positions, each pistol having a movable trigger and a normally open switch operable to closed position by said trigger, means looking the trigger against movement when the pistol is in a substantially vertical position but being movable by gravity to release the trigger when the pistol is in a substantially horizontal position, a relay device having opposing windings and a movable pole disposed between said windings and being movable toward one or the other winding in accordance with which winding is first energized, opposing contacts engageable by said pole, first and second signal devices, means to respectively energize said signal devices through said pole and one or the other of said contacts, -a source of current, respective circuit means connecting said windings to said source of current through the switches in the simulated pistols, an 'electrical'starting signal to notify the players to commence drawing the pistols from the holsters, an auxiliary current source, manually settable time delay switch means, circuit means connecting said starting signal to said auxiliary current source through'said manually settable time delay switch means, whereby said starting signal will become energized a predetermined time after said time delay switch means is operated, further manually settable time delay switch means, and means to at times substitute said further manually settable :time delay switch means for the switch in one of the simulated pistols, whereby the other pistol may be employed by a player to test his ability to draw the pistol within a lesser'period of time than that established by the setting of said further manually settable time delay, switch means.

3. Ina pistol draw game apparatus to determine the abilities of two opposing players to draw a pistol from its holster and operate its trigger in a period of time, a pair of holsters adapted to be worn-by the respective opposing players, respective simulated pistols normally housed in the holsters and being removable therefrom and being movable to substantially horizontal positions, each pistol having a movable trigger and a ing contacts engageable by said pole, first and second signal devices, means to respectively energize said signal devices through said pole and one or the other of said contacts, a source or current, respective circuit means connecting said windings to said source of current through the switches in the simulated pistols, an electrical starting signal to notify the players to commence drawing the pistols from the holsters, an auxiliary current source, a rotary switch'arm, a stationary contact engageable by said switch arm, a timing motor drivingly coupled to said switch arm, circuit means connecting said starting signal to said auxiliary current source through said switch arm and stationary contact, means to energize said timing motor, and means to energize said starting signal and thereby notify the players to commence drawing the pistols from the holsters after a predetermined period of energization of said timing motor.

4. In a pistol draw game apparatus to determine the ability of players to draw a pistol from its holster and Operate its trigger in a minimum period 0t time, a pair of holsters adapted to be worn by players, respective simulated pistols normally housed in the holsters and being removable therefrom and being movable to substantially horizontal positions, each pistol having a movable trigger and a normally open switch operable to a closed position by said trigger only when the pistol is in a substantially horizontal position, a relay device having opposing windings and a movable pole disposed between said windings and being movable toward one or the other winding in accordance with which winding is first energized, opposing contacts engageable by said pole, first and second signal devices, means to respectively energize said signal devices through said pole and one or the other of said contacts, a source of current, respective circuit means I connecting said windings to said source of current through the switches in the simulated pistols, an electrical starting signal to notify theplayers to commence drawing the pistols from the holsters, an auxiliary current source, a rotary switch arm, a stationary contact engageable by said switch arm, a timing motor drivingly coupled to said switch arm, circuit means connecting said starting signal to said auxiliary current source through said switch arm and said stationary contact, means to energize said timing motor, whereby to energize said starting signal and notify the players to commence drawing the pistols from the holsters after a predetermined period of-energization of said motor, a manuallysettable conductive rotary member adjustable relative to said stationary contact around the same axis as said rotary switch arm and being engageable by said switch arm a settable time period after the switch arm engages said stationary contact, and means to at times substitute said rotary switch arm and manually settable rotary member for the switch in one of the simulated pistols, whereby the other pistol may be employed by a player to test his ability to draw the other pistol a lesser period of time than that established by the setting of said rotary memher.

5. In a pistol draw game apparatus to determine the ability of players to draw a pistol from its holster and operate its trigger in a minimum period of time, a pair of holsters adapted to be worn by players, respective simulated pistols normally housed in the holsters and being removable therefrom and being movable to substantially horizontal positions, each pistol having amovable trigger and a normally open switch operable to a closed position by said trigger, a weighted locking lever pivoted in the pistol and being lockingly engageable with the trigger to hold the trigger against movement when the pistol is in 9 a substantially vertical position but being rotatable by gravity to release said trigger when the pistol is in a substantially horizontal position, a relay device having opposing windings and a movable pole disposed between said windings and being movable toward one or the other Winding in accordance with which winding is first energized, opposing contacts engageab'le by said pole, first and second signal devices, means to respectively energize said signal devices through said pole and one or the other of said contacts, a source of current, respective circuit means connecting said windings to said source of current through the switches in the simulated pistols, an electrical starting signal to notify the players to commence drawing the pistols from the holsters, an auxiliary current source, a rotary switch arm, a stationary contact engageable by said switch arm, a timing motor drivingly coupled to said switch arm, circuit means connecting said starting signal to said auxiliary current source through said switch arm and stationary contact, means to energize said timing motor, whereby to energize said starting signal and notify the players to commence drawing the pistols ttrom the holsters after a predetermined period of energization of said timing motor, a manually settable conductive rotary member adjustable relative to said stationary contact around the same axis as said rotary switch arm and being engageable by said switch arm a settable time period after the switch arm engages said stationary contact, and means to at times substitute said rotary switch arm and manually sett-able rotary member for the switch in one of the simulated pistols, whereby the other pistol may be employed by a player to test his ability to draw the other pistol within a lesser period of time than that established by the setting of said rotary member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 908,982 Ely Jan. 5, 1909 1,857,629 Epstein et a1. May 10, 1932 2,710,754 Varney June 14, 1955 2,749,125 Ream June 5, 1956

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