US1200062A - Pocket-billiard or pool table appliance. - Google Patents

Description

A. F. WHEELER.

POCKET BILLIARD 0R POOL TABLE APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-24, I9I6- Patented 00$. 3, 1916 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 .IlLU l I I I'll zrzns can Prwmumo WASHING 11m. n, cy

A. F. WHEELER. POCKET BILLIARD 0R POOL TABLE APPLIANCE.

Patented )ct. 3,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. E916.

.. WAsHlNuroN. a. c.

A. F. WHEELER. POCKET BILLIARD 0R PO0L TABLE APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 24,1916- Patented Oct; 3, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

ALBERT FAYEL WHEELER, OLE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

POCKET-BILLIARD OR POOL TABLE APPLIANCE.

Application filed March 24, 1916.

1 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT FAYEL WVHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain newv and useful Improvements in Pocket-Billiard or Pool Table Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pool or billiard ball racks particularly adapted to be applied directly to pool or billiard tables for automatically collecting and selectively racking the balls as the latter are shot into the pockets of the table.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the nature stated which may be easily and readily applied to existing pool and pocket billiard tables Without any change in the structure of the tables and without the necessity of employing an expert mechanic to perform the task.

Another object resides in the provision of a rack of the nature stated embodying among other characteristics structural features whereby the balls may be directed selectively onto different shelves and retained temporarily thereon, I or passed entirely through the appliance during the progress of the game. L I 1 Another object is to provide a rack of the character stated wherein each player may select one of a plurality of shelves on which the balls shot into the pockets may be collected and retained during the progress of the game, so that at the end or during the game, by reference to the shelf of each player, the number of balls made by each player may be easily and readily determined, or the aggregate numbers of the balls calculated, the structure being such that, while the balls are not liable to roll ofi' of the shelves, one or more balls may be readily shelves having communication atone of their ends with a passageway and at their opposite ends having discharge openings, with means constructed and arranged to divert a ball or balls from the passageway onto the various shelves interchangeably and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Serial No. 86,435.

from which shelves they may be discharged separately or simultaneously through the instrumentality of gates which may be actuated separately or together.

A still further object resides in the provision of an appliance of'the nature stated, embodying among other characteristics, a plurality of shelves adapted to receive and retain balls temporarily, the appliance including a guide-way which is normally maintained closed, and a passageway interposed between the guide-way and theplurality of shelves, with means disposed in the path of the guide-way for manipulation to release simultaneously balls from. the guideway and permit them to enter the passageway and be diverted from the passageway onto the shelves interchangeably.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In'the drawings :Figure l is a perspective View of my invention illustrated as applied to a pocket billiard or pool table. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through my improved rack.- Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line w-w of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 taken on the line 1 g of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of one of the slides operable for projection into and out of the passage between the guide-way and the shelves designed to divert balls from the passage-way onto one of theracking shelves.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference character A indicates a pocket billiard or pool table of any well known or improved, variety, provided with pockets 10 which have communication with a run-way 11 usually provided for the purpose of leading the balls 12 to one end of the table, and the present invention is designed to be substituted for the contrivance generally used at the outer end of the run-way for collecting the balls.

To the above end the reference character B indicates the casing of my improved rack provided with sides 12 and 13, and which is open at its front and at its rear. This casing may be composed any suitable material and it may be secured to the table A in any suitable manner. A vertical partition 14 is arranged within the casing adjacent the front thereof extendin from side to side 1 J t) of the casing. This partition is provided adjacent the side 12 of the casing with alining vertical. slots 15, 16, 17 and 18 and adjacent the side 13 of the casing the partition 14 is provided with a plurality of vertically alining horizontal slots 19, 20 and 21. These slots are provided for a purpose presently explained.

A horizontally disposed shelf 22 is connected to the sides of the casing A near the bottom of the latter between the front edge of the casing and the aforesaid vertical Jartition 14. A horizontal partition 23 is arranged in the upper portion of the casing and supported between the sides of the lat ter directly over the top of the vertical partition 14. On this horizontal partition 23 are curved walls 24 and 25 spaced apart to form a guide-way C which communicates with the aforesaid run-way 11 leading from the various pockets of the table so as to convey the balls 12 to a circular or other opening 26 formed in the aforesaid horizontal partition 23 adjacent the side 13 of the casing B, there being a slightly inclined or beveled facing 27 on the bottom of the guideway C to facilitate travel by gravitation of the balls 12 through the. same toward said opening 26.

A vertical partition 28 is arranged in the front part of the casing B slightly spaced from the side 13 of the casing and which is connected to the aforesaid vertical partition 14 and to the partition 23 and shelf 22, respectively, forming a passage-way D for the balls 12 which, in this particular instance,

drop into the passage-way D from the guideway C through said opening 26. The passage-way D, while shown as arranged to per iit the balls to drop thereinto, may be arranged differently but, in the preferred form of my invention, this passage-way is to be arranged as herein shown and described.

Connected to the vertical partition 28 and the side 12 of the-casing B are shelves 29, 30 and 31, each of which has its upper face slightly inclined toward the side 12 of the casing and also slightly inclined from its outer to its inner edge, having its end adjacent the side 12 of the casing concaved, as shown, with the concaved' portions of the shelves provided with circular or other openings 32, 33, and 34, respectively. The shelves 22, 29, 30 and 31 may be ctherwise formed and disposed so long as provision is made to prevent the balls accidentally rolling over the outer edges of the shelves, if

desired, and so long as provision is made to provide for a gravitating movement of the balls on the shelves from the passage way D toward the openings in the shelves adjacent the side 12 of the casing. The spaces between these shelves 22, 29, 30 and 31 communicate with the aforesaid passageway D through openings 28 in the partition 28.

A vertically sliding gate 35 is mounted in the guide-way C. The walls 24 and 25 of the guide-way may be provided with slots 36 in which the gate 35 may slide. This gate is designed to check the movement of the balls 12 in the guide-way C as they enter the latter from the run-way 11 until it is desired to permit the balls to pass through the opening 26 into the passage-way D. This gate is held normally in closed position by means of a lever 38 pivoted at 39 in the casing B and to which said gate 35 is con nected at 40, the lever 38 passing throu h a slot 41 in the wall 24 of the guide C and which extends at its outer end over the aforesaid opening 26 in the partition 23. The free end of this lever 38 is enlarged, as indicated at 38, for the purpose of weighting the outer end of the lever to hold the same normally down and thereby maintain the gate 35 normally closed, thereby obviating the use of a spring or other similar element to maintain the gate normally closed and to insure the lever 38 assuming its normal downward position, although, if desired, a spring may be substituted for the weighted end 38.

To arrest movement of the balls 12 on the various shelves 22, 29, 30 and 31, 1 provide a gate for each shelf. These gates are indicated at 42, 43, 44 and 45 and are adapted to swing in the resceptive vertically disposed alining slots 15, 16, 17 and 18, the inner ends of these gates 42 to 45,inclusive, being pivoted at 46 in a suitable support 47 confined withinthe casing and disposed in the rear of the aforesaid vertical partition 14. These gates have. their outer ends slidably mounted in slots 48, 49, 50 and 51, respec tively, of an operating device, preferably in the form of a strip 52 slidably mounted in the upper and lower brackets 53 and 54, respectively, and which may be slidably manipulated in said brackets through the convenience of a knob or other suitable device 55 located preferably at the upper end of the strip 52. By virtue of the slots 48 to 51, inclusive, in the strip 52, each of the gates 42 to 45, inclusive, may be operated singly by simply shifting the respective gate on its pivot and thereby permitting the ball or balls on a respective shelf to drop through the corresponding discharge opening adjacent the side 12 of the casing. For instance, if the gate 42 be shifted in the slot 15 on its pivot 46, the balls 12 will be permitted to run off of the shelf 29 and through the opening 32 therein and drop through the openings 33 and 34 of the shelves 30 and 31, respectively, onto the shelf 22 and finally pass out through the opening 56 in the side 12 of the casing into a suitable receptacle, which may be located adjacent said opening 56. A strip 56 may connect the shelves 31 and 22 at the front between the side 12 and the strip 52 to prevent accidental bouncing of the balls off the outer longitudinal edge of the shelf 22. It will, therefore, be clear that balls on the shelf 30 may be similarly released therefrom so that they may pass out through the opening 56 in the side 12 of the casing. If it be desired to release all of the balls from all of the shelves, all of the gates may be raised simultaneously by an upward movement of the strip 52, which, when released, will drop to normal position, thereby preventing the escape of balls from the shelves as will be understood.

' It is now understood how the balls are released from the various shelves and it will be explained how the balls are diverted from the passage-way D onto the respective shelves. To this end I provide means for releasing the balls from the guide-way C to permit them to enter the passage D and simultaneously project means into the passage-way D to divert the balls from the passage-way selectively onto the shelves according to which shelf it is desired to clivert the balls. This may be accomplished by disposing in the rear of the vertical partition 14 and at a right angle thereto a vertical partition 57. Connected to the rear edge of the verticalpartition 57 and the adjacent side 13 of the casing are sets of guides each including upper and lower strips 58 and 59, the space between the guide strips 58 and 59 of each guide being arranged in horizontal alinement with the aforesaid horizontally disposed slots 19, 20 and 21 in the vertical partition 14. These sets of guides are adapted to slidably support the slides 60, 61 and 62 adapted for sliding.

movement in said sets of guides through the respective horizontally disposed slots 19, 20 and 21 in the vertical partition 14 against the strips 63, disposed to limit the outward movement of the slides and to cooperate therewith for the purpose of preventing the balls dropping on the slides from accidentally leaving the casing. The outer ends of these slides 60, 61 and 62 are preferably concaved as shown to facilitate diverting the balls onto the respective shelves with which the slides coiiperate. Any suitable means may be provided for projecting these slides 60, 61 and 62 across the passage-way D. In one embodiment of the invention the slides are projected across the passage-way and retracted therefrom through the instrumentality of a series of levers. In this particular embodiment of slide operating means, the levers are each adapted to lift the lever 38 to release the balls from the guide-way C and simultaneously to project a slide across the passage-way to release the ball in its movement through the passage-way and to divert the ball onto the shelf selected or desired to take the ball or balls as the case may be.

Assuming that a player who has selected shelf 29 as his rack to receive the balls made by him during the progress of the game and the player has shot one ball into a pocket which has found its way into the guide-way C and been arrested therein by the gate 35 and this particular player desires to rack the ball made by him, he will actuate the lever 63 projecting through the front of the casing at the upper portion thereof. This lever 63 is pivoted on a shaft 64 secured in the partition 57 and the side 13 of the casing B and has an extension 65 whose free end is loosely fitted in a slot 66 in the slide 60. The upward thrust of the lever 63 in its guide 63 causes it to engage the under side of the weighted part 38 of the lever 38 and lift the same. At the same time, the extension 65 of the lever 63 causes the forward movement of the slide 60, resulting in the slide 60 being projected across the passageway I) into coiiperative relation with the respective strip 63. The gate 35 being carried by the lever 38 the upward movement of the lever causes the gate to be opened at the same time that the slide 60 is projected across the passage-way D. The ball 12 in the guide-way C is then permitted to pass through the opening 26 into the passageway D. The ball engaging the slide 60 is thereby diverted onto the shelf 29 and rolls on the. latter until it engages the gate 42 or another ball in engagement with the gate 42, where it remains until it is desired to take. the balls off the shelf 29 over the side edge thereof, or permit them to pass through the opening 32 in the shelf 29, in which event, it, or as many balls as were on the shelf 29, would pass through openings 33 and 34 and out through the opening 56 in the side 12 of the casing. Assuming that the next player shooting has selected shelf 30 as his rack and assuming that he has shot one or more balls into the pockets of the table and that the same has rolled to the guide-way C, the former player has released his hold on the lever 63 and the weighted end 38 of the lever 38 has caused it, the gate 35, and the slide 60 to assume normal positions, the second player gives an upward thrust to the short operating lever 67 in its guide 67. The lever 67 is pivoted on the shaft 68 supported by the partition 57 and the side 13 of the casing. This operating lever 67 has an extension 69 which &

passes through a slot in the slide 60 and engages in a slot 71 in the slide 61. The upward thrust of the operating lever 67 causes the slide 61 to be projected across the passage-way D in the same manner as described with relation to the slide 60, and at he same time the lever 38 and the gate 35 are raised, as in the manner before described. The ball or balls then entering the passage-way D through the opening 26 are diverted by the slide 61 onto the shelf 30 in the same manner as described in connection with the balls being diverted onto the shelf 29. The third player, or any other player who may select shelf 31, when he has shot a ball or balls into pocket or pockets of the table A and when he desires to rack them on the shelf 31, gives an upward thrust to the short operating lever 7 2 in its guide 72. The lever 72 is pivoted on a shaft 73 mounted in the partition 57 in the side 13 of the casing B. This operating lever 72 has an extension 74 which passes through a slot 7 5 in the shelf 60 and through a slot T6 in the shelf 61 and engages in a short slot 75 in the shelf 62. The upward thrust of the lever 72 in the manner stated causes the projection of the slide 62 across the passage-way D and a simultaneous upward movement of the lever 38 and an upward movement of the guide 35, permitting he ball to enter the passage-way D and be arrested therein by the slide 62 and diverted. onto the shelf 31 as should now be well understood.

In the event that it be desired to release the balls from the guide-way C and permit them to pass entirely through the passageway D onto the shelf 22, it is simply necessaray to manipulate the lever 77 by giving it an upward thrust in its guide 77. The lever 77 is pivotally mounted on the aforesaid shaft 68. This lever 77 has not an extension and is not connected to any slide. It is formed and arranged so that an upward thrust thereon will lift the weighted end 38 of the lever 38 and thereby lift the gate This actuation permits the ball or balls in the guide-way C to pass entirely through the guide-way D and roll down the shelf 22 toward the opening 56. The balls diverted onto the shelf 22 may be arrested by the gate 45. By opening the gate 45, either by manipulating it in the slot 51 or by actuation of the strip 52, the ball or balls on the shelf 22 may pass out through the opening 56 in the side 12 of the casing. All of the balls at the same time may be permitted to roll oil the respective shelves and pass through the respective openings and out through the opening 56in the side 12 of the casing, either by separate manipulation of the gates 42, 43, 4:4 and 4:5, or by a simultaneous manipulation thereof through an upward movement of the strip 52.

The contrivance illustrated is but one embodiment of my invention. It is not my intention to limit myself to the number of shelves employed for the racking of the balls of the various players. The shelf 22 is designed to perform all of the functions of the shelves 29, 30 and 31. In other words, the shelf 22 is not designed solely to provide a means whereby a ball may be passed entirely through the contrivance. Any ball may be readily removed from any of the racks and, as stated, shelf 22 is intended to be used in the same manner as any of the other shelves, and, in the use of a device constructed in accordance with the present drawings, this shelf 22 would be used by a fourth player, the same as the other players would use the shelves thereabove. ()bviously, any number of shelves may be emuloyed and in the employment of more tl an four shelves there would be employed the necessary additional number of levers, slides and other actuating parts to divert balls from the passage-way onto the respective shelves according to the num ber of shelves employed in the contrivance. To these ends I have worded the appended claims accordingly and they are to be construed with the thought in mind that I am not limiting myself either to the number of shelves or the number of levers for di vertii'lg balls from the passage-way onto the respective shelves and that, while I may direct a ball or balls entirely through the contrivance, this is only an inc dent to my invention and not necessarily essential thereto. 7

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a simple, inexpensive, durable and eliicient appliance which may be easily and readily actuated to effectively rack the balls selectively on various shelves and that the actuating parts return automatically to normal positions after actuation and are released by the manipulator. apparent that the balls may be easily and quickly unracked or discharged from my improved appliance into a container (not shown) disposed to receive the balls from the appliance when discharged therefrom. While the passage-way D may be considered in the light of a chute or a ball-drop, I have intentionally termed it a passageway, with the understanding that it is not my intention to limit myself to the exact structure disclosed for that I contemplate making changes in the structure disclosed in so far as I may be permitted to do so under the terms and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A pocket billiard or pool rack comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, spaced shelves in the casing having communication with said passage-way, the

It will also be casing having a discharge opening therein adjacent the lowermost shelf, each shelf having a discharge opening therein, means whereby the balls may be delivered to said passage-way and simultaneously directed onto the shelves selectively, a gate arranged in advance of each of the discharge openings of the shelves, and means whereby the gates may be operated to permit the passage of the balls through the discharge openings of the shelves and out of the discharge opening in the side of the casing.

2. A pocket billiard or pool rack comprising a casing having a ball passageway therein, spaced horizontally disposed shelves in the casing having communication at one of their ends with said passageway, the casing having a discharge opening in one side thereof adjacent the lowermost shelf, each shelf having a discharge opening therein at one end thereof, means whereby balls may be simultaneously delivered to said passage-way and directed onto the shelves selectively, and means whereby the balls may be arrested in movement on the shelves to prevent discharge thereof from the shelves through the discharge openings of the shelves.

3. A pocket billiard or pool rack comprising a casing having a ball passageway therein, spaced horizontally disposed shelves in the casing having communication at one of their ends with said passageway, the casing having a discharge opening in one sidethereof adjacent the lowermost shelf, each shelf having a discharge opening therein at one end thereof, means whereby balls may be simultaneously delivered to said passage-way and directed onto the shelves selectively, means whereby the balls may be arrested in movement on the shelves to prevent discharge thereof from the shelves through the discharge openings of the shelves, and means whereby the latter means may be operated separately with relation to each shelf or simultaneously with relation to all of the shelves.

4:. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing having a vertically disposed ball passage-way therein, spaced horizontally disposed shelves in the casing having communication with said passageway, the casing having a discharge opening in one side thereof adjacent the lowermost shelf, each shelf having a discharge opening therein at one end, means whereby the balls may be delivered to said passage-way and diverted onto the shelves selectively, a gate arranged adjacent the discharge opening of each shelf to arrest movement of the balls on the respective shelves, said gates being operable independently one of another, and means whereby all of said gates may be operated simultaneously so that the balls may be-discharged through the discharge openings of the latter and out through the discharge opening in the side of the. casing.

5 An appliance of the character described comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a shelf in the casing having communication with said passageway, the casing having a discharge opening therein, a guide-way leading to and communicating with said passage-way, a gate for said guide-way, means to operate the gate to permit the passage of a ball from the guide-way into the passage-way and onto said shelf and out through the discharge opening in the casing.

6. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a shelf in the casing having communication with said passageway the casing having a discharge opening therein, a guide-way leading to and communicating with said passage-way, a gate for said guide-way, means to operate the gate to permit the passage of a ball from the guide-way into the passage-way and onto said shelf, a gate disposed adjacent the discharge opening in the casing to arrest movement of the ball on said shelf, said gate being operable to permit passage of the ball off of the shelf out through the discharge opening in the side of the casing.

7. A rack of the character described comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a guide-way having communication with said passage-way, a lever pivoted in the casing, a gate connected to the lever and normally closing said guide-way, the free end of the lever being weighted to normally move normally maintain the gate in closed position with relation to the guide-way, a plurality of spaced shelves in the casing having communication with said passage-way, each shelf having a discharge passage therein, the casing having a discharge opening therein adjacent the lower-most shelf, a plurality of slides slidably mounted in the casing in substantially horizontal alinement with the shelves for projection into and out of the passage-way, and means whereby the lever and gate may be lifted and one of the shelves projected into said passage-way whereby the balls may enter the passage-way from the guideway and be diverted onto one of said shelves, means for temporarily arresting movement of the balls on such shelf, and means whereby said arresting means may be manipulated to permit discharge of the balls through the openings of the shelves and out through the discharge opening in the casing. V

8. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing, a vertical partition in the casing adjacent one side thereof and spaced slightly therefrom to form downward and thereby a vertical passage-way, a horizontal partition in the upper portion of the casing having an opening leading into said passageway, a guide-way on said horizontal partition, a gate slidable vertically in the guide-way, a lever pivoted in the casing and connected to said gate, the free end of the lever being enlarged and lying over the opening in said horizontal partition, the enlarged end of the lever weighting the free end of the latter to maintain the gate of the guide-way normally in closed position, a plurality of spaced shelves mounted in the casing, the aforesaid vertical partition having openings therein to establish communication between the shelves and said passage-way, the casing having a discharge opening in one side adjacent the lower-most shelf, a plurality of slides mounted to be projected into and withdrawn from said passage-way opposite the shelves, each shelf having a discharge opening therein, a plurality of members pivoted in the casing to form gates to prevent the passage of balls off the shelves through the discharge openings thereof, means constructed and arranged to operate said slidable gate and to project one of said slides into said passage-way so as to permit the delivery of a ball from the guide-way intosaid passa e-way and to divert said ball onto the shelf opposite that into alinement with which said slide has been projected, and means whereby the pivoted member which cooperates with the shelf on which said ball has been placed may be operated to permit discharge of the ball off such shelf through the discharge openings in the shelves and out of the opening in the side of the casing.

9. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing having a passage-way therein, spaced shelves in the easing, the spaces between which communicate with said passage-way, the casing having a discharge opening therein adjacent the lower-most shelf, each shelf having a discharge opening therein, and means where by a ball may be delivered to said passageway and permitted to pass entirely therethrough onto the lower-most shelf, and means whereby a ball may be delivered from the guide-way into said passage-way and diverted onto the shelves selectively.

10. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing having a passage-way therein, spaced shelves in the casing, the spaces between which communicate with said passage-way, the casing having a discharge opening therein adjacent the lower-most shelf, eachlshelf having a discharge opening therein, means whereby a ball may be delivered to said passage-way and permitted to pass entirely there through onto the lower-most shelf. means whereby a ball may be delivered from the guide-way into said passage-way and diverted onto the shelves selectively, means for temporarily arresting movement of the balls on the shelves, and means whereby the arresting means may be manipulated to permit of discharge of balls from the shelves through the discharge openings thereof.

11. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing having a passage-way therein, spaced shelves in the cas ing, the spaces between which communicate with said passage-way, the casing having a discharge opening therein adjacent the lower-most shelf, each shelf having a discharge opening therein, means whereby a ball may be delivered to said passage-way and permitted to pass entirely therethrough onto the lowermost shelf, means whereby a ball may be deliverd from the guide-way into said passage-way and diverted onto the shelves selectively, means for temporarily arresting movement of the balls on the shelves, and means whereby the arresting means may be manipulated to permit of discharge of balls from the shelves through the discharge openings thereof or whereby the balls may be discharged from any one of the shelves independently of discharge of balls from any other of the shelves.

12. An appliance of the character described, comprising a casing having a ball passage-Way therein, a guide-way in the casing having communication with said passage-way, a gate normally holding the balls in the guide-way, a lever pivoted in the casing and to which said gate is connected, the casing having a discharge opening, and means for engagement with the lever to lift the same and thereby lift said gate to permit the passage of the balls from the guideway into the passage-way.

13. An appliance of the character de scribed, comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a guide-way in the casing having communication with said passage-way, a gate normally holding the balls in the guide-way, a lever pivoted in the easing and to which said gate is connected, the casing having a discharge opening, means for engagement with the lever to lift the same and thereby lift said gate to permit the passage of the balls from the guide-way into the passage-Way, and means to temporarily prevent discharge of the balls through the discharge opening of the casing.

14:. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a guide-way in the casing which has communication with the passage-way, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing and having its free end enlarged to weight the same so as to maintain the lever normally in its lowered position, a gate slidable in the guide-way and having communication with said lever and means for lifting the lever and the gate to permit the passage of the balls from the guide-way into the passage-way, the casing having a ball discharge opening.

15. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a guide-way in the casing which has communication with the passage-way, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing and having its free end enlarged to weight the same so as tomaintain the lever normally in its lowered position, a gate slidable in the guide-way and having communication with said lever, means for lifting the lever and the gate to permit the passage of the balls from the guide-way into the pas-- sage-way, the casing having a ball discharge opening, and a gate operable to arrest movement of the balls in the casing after their discharge from the guide-way and which may be operated to permit discharge of the balls through said discharge openin 16. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a guide-way in the casing having communication with said passage-way, a gate normally holding the balls in the passage-way, a shelf in the casing having communication with the passage-way, a

slide adapted to be projected across said passage-way to direct balls from the passageway onto the shelf, means for operating said slide, and means for operating said gate to permit the passage of balls from the guideway into the passage-Way.

17. An appliance of the character described comprising a casing having a ball passage-way therein, a guide-way in the easing having communication with said passage-way, means normally holding the balls in the passage-way, a plurality of shelves having communication with said passageway, a plurality of slides adapted to be projected across the passage-way to direct balls onto the respective shelves, means for operating said slides separately to direct balls from the passage-Way onto the respective shelves, and means to operate said holding means in the guide-Way to permit balls to pass from the guide-way into the-passageway.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A. FAYEL WHEELER.

Witnesses:

Jim. 0. ALLAN, 7. S. S. SAXToN.

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

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