2,926,915
`March 1, 1960
`AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL MACHINE
`
`F. D. JOHNS
`
`Filed Jan. 31, 1958
`
`4 Sheets-Sheet .1
`
`LJ
`
`1r 24/VK 0.
`
`INVENTOR.
`JON/VS,
`
`'
`
`BY
`
`-
`
`ATTOQ/VEK?
`
`Intermix Media LLC Ex. 1003
`Intermix Media LLC v. RLT Acquisition, Inc.
`Case CBM2015-00154
`
`Page 1 of 7
`
`

`
`2,926,915
`March 1, 1960
`AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL MACHINE
`
`F. D. JOHNS
`
`Filed Jan. 31, 1958
`
`.4 Sheets-Sheet 2
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`
`Page 2 of 7
`
`

`
`2,926,915
`March 1, 1960
`AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL MACHINE
`
`F. D. JOHNS
`
`Filed Jan. 31, 1958
`
`4 Sheets-Sheet 3
`
`\L
`
`22 .0
`2 .0 O
`Q ..
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`' 2
`2 ‘O
`2
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`
`£84466 0.
`BY
`
`JOHNS,
`
`5'- Mm
`ATTGeA/E YS
`
`Page 3 of 7
`
`

`
`2,926,915
`F. D. JOHNS
`March 1, 1960
`AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL MACHINE
`
`Filed Jan. 31, 1958'
`
`4 Sheets-Sheet 4
`
`INVENTOR.
`rem/e 0. c/Q?/V-LS‘,
`BY
`
`Page 4 of 7
`
`

`
`United States Patent
`
`'ice
`
`2,926,915
`Patented Mar. 1, 1960
`
`2,926,915
`AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL
`MACHINE
`‘
`Frank D. Johns, Daytona Beach, Fla.
`Application January a1, 1958, Serial No. 712,498:
`3 Claims. (01. 273-95)
`
`This invention relates to target game apparatus of the
`type in which balls are projected against targets, and
`more particularly to a skee ball machine provided with
`a scoring register and having an automatic ticket-dis
`pensing mechanism associated therewith and operating
`to dispense tickets as a player reaches predetermined
`cumulative score values, the tickets being exchangeable
`for free games, prizes, or other rewards.
`A main object of the invention is to provide a novel
`and improved target game apparatus of the type includ
`ing a scoring register operating in response to the strik
`mg of the target to display respective cumulative score
`values, the ‘apparatus being provided with means for
`automatically dispensing tickets when predetermined
`cumulative score values are reached by a player, the
`apparatus being simple in construction, involving rela
`tively few parts, and being provided with means for
`preventing any ticket-dispensing action during the time
`that the register is returned to its starting position.
`. A further object of the invention ‘is to provide an
`improved ticket-dispensing ‘attachment for skee ball
`machines, said attachment involving relatively inex
`pensive components, being easy to install on a conven
`tional skee ball machine, and providing a means to
`heighten interest and entertainment derived from using
`a skee ball machine by providing a means to automati
`cally dispense tickets when the scoring register‘ of the
`machine shows predetermined cumulative score values,
`the tickets being exchangeable for prizes or free games,
`whereby a player is rewarded for his skill.
`A still further object of the invention is to provide
`an improvedtickct-dispensing attachment fora ske- ball
`machine, said attachment being‘ easy to install on a
`conventional machine, and greatly increasing the amuse
`_ment value of the machine by providing an incentive
`for attaining a high score,‘namely, by automatically dis
`pensing tickets which may be ‘exchanged for free games
`or articles of value.
`,
`Further objects 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 of a free ball machine
`provided with automatic ticket-dispensing means accord
`ing to the present invention.
`‘
`‘
`Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional
`view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
`Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view,
`similar to Figure 2, but‘taken on the line 3-—-3 of Figure
`1
`
`Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the rotary
`scoring register of the skee ball machine of Figures 1
`to 3, said view being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure ‘3.
`Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the rotary scor
`ing register, taken on the line 5—5 of Figure 4.
`Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical
`connections of the automatic ticket-dispensing mechanism
`employed in the skee ball machine of Figures 1 to 3.
`Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of
`
`2
`portions of a modi?ed form of switch-actuating means
`associated with the rotary scoring register of the skee
`ball machine.
`Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar
`to Figure 7, showing a further modi?ed form of switch
`means for energizing the ticket dispenser, which may be
`employed in a skee ball machine, according to this in
`vention.
`Figure 9 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken
`on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.
`Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevuti-onal view of a
`further modi?cation of a switch means operated by the
`rotary scoring register of a skee ball machine which
`may be employed in accordance with the present in
`
`vention.
`
`,
`
`‘
`
`15
`
`30
`
`50
`
`Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional
`view taken on the line 11—11 ofFlgure 10.
`,
`Referring to the drawings, ‘12 generally designates a
`skee ball machine of the type
`which balls are pro‘
`jected against respective targets, for example, are rolled
`along an alley 13, engaging a curved abutment 14 and
`are projected upwardly toward an inclined target board
`15. The target board is provided with respective en
`closures de?ned by upstanding wall members 16, 17, 18,
`19 and 20, de?ning enclosures which may receive the
`ball, and wherein respective score values may be regis
`tered responsive to the the reception of a. ball. The ac
`tion is transmitted to a register mechanism of a conven
`tional type, shown at 21, said mechanism comprising a
`drum to which are hinged a plurality of score-indicating
`cards 22 which are displayed through a window 23 pro
`vided on the upstanding rear portion 24 of the apparatus.
`Thus, the register ,21 may be provided with the spaced
`laterally projecting pins 25 which are engageable by a
`pawl member 26 carried on the end of a lever 27, the
`lever being rotated by conventional mechanism, not
`shown, through a link rod 28 connected to the end of
`the lever so that the lever operates responsive to the
`reception of a ball in one of the enclosures on the in
`clined scoring board 15. The pawl member 26 is moved
`down by lever 27 through a ‘distance corresponding to
`the magnitude of the score value, whereby the pawl
`member 26 on its upward stroke rotates the register
`drum in a counter-clockwise direction, ‘as ‘viewed in
`Figure 5, through an angle corresponding to said score
`value, thus allowing the associated score-indicating card
`22 to move downwardly past a retaining yoke 29 and
`rotate to a depending vertical position in which it is
`visible through the score-indicating window 23.
`The register drum is returned to its initial position
`by means of a hand lever 30 located at one side of the
`machine adjacent the forward end thereof, the lever 30
`being released by a conventional coin-actuated mecha
`nism designated generally at 31. Thus, when a player
`desires to use the machine, he drops a coin in the mech~
`anism 31, releasing the lever 30, so that it may be '
`rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position
`‘thereof shown in Figure 3. ' The lever 30 is connected
`by a link rod 32 to one arm of a bell crank 33. The
`other arm of the bell crank 33 is connected by a link
`rod 34 to a reset arm 35 which is rigidly secured to a gear
`sector 36. Sector 36 meshes with a pinion gear 37 se
`cured coaxially to the register drum, so that the drum
`is rotated to its starting position by the cooperation of
`the sector gear 36 and the pinion gear 37 responsive to
`the downward rotation of the reset arm 35.
`It will be understood that the resetting mechanism is
`conventional per se and forms no part ‘of the present
`invention.
`As will be seen from Figure 5, the reset arm 35 is car
`ried on a cam 38 which cooperates with a cam lug 39
`on the lever‘ 27 to rotate the lever so that the lever lock
`
`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`70
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`Page 5 of 7
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`

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`2,926,915 »
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`3}
`ing roller, shown at 40, disengages from between the pin
`elements 25,when the lever '27'is rotated clockwise, as
`viewed in Figure 5, namely, when the manual lever 39
`is operated,
`releasing the }register drum for return to
`starting position.
`”
`_
`'
`'
`Suitably mounted adjacent the lever 35, for example,
`anend of one of the arms of the retaining yoke 29,
`are a p‘ai_r of resilient contact arms 42 and 43, said arms
`depending adjacent an arcuate projection 44 provided on
`the
`edge of the reset lever 35. The projection 44
`engages the end portion of the contact arm 43 and nor-
`iinally causes the arm 43 to conductively engage the arm
`42, as shown in Figure 5.
`i
`As will be understood_,
`the contact arms 42 and 43
`are suitably insulated fromthe supporting arm of the
`i-staining i'0ke,s'29~
`A
`'
`9'
`‘
`' Wlieirthe reset lever 35 is rotated clockwise, as viewed
`in Figure 5, “namely, when the manual
`'lever_ 30 is
`actuated to reset the scoring register _21_~to its starting
`position; the his 4.4 ‘moves av?a.y.rro.I.n the. arm 43- r.°1¢a.s-
`ing. the arm and allowing the arm to disengage from the
`cooperating’ contact arm 42," opening the switch contacts.
`“Mounted” in the forwardend portion of the hollow
`sideiramp member 45, namely, on the’ side of the ‘ma-
`chine opposite the manually operated reset lever 30, is a
`ticket-dispensing mechanism comprising a ‘pair of co-
`operating rollers 46 and 47 between which aticket strip
`48 is engaged, the strip extending upwardly through a
`ticket slot 49 provided in the plate member 50 mounted
`in the top wall of the side ramp 45. The rollers 47 and
`46 are suitably journaled in the hollow side ramp 45,
`and a supply receptacle 51 is provided in which the
`stacked, folded ticket strip 48 is contained, as is clearly
`shown in Figure 2.» As will be readily seen, as the strip 48
`is moved upwardly between the rollers 46 and 47, the
`strip unfolds, allowing tickets to be continuously dis-
`pensed from the stackcontained in the receptacle 51.
`A As shown in Figure 2, the roller 46 is relatively large
`as compared to the roller 47 and is operated by a pawl
`arm 52 which engages the periphery of a ratchet disc
`53 rigidly secured to the roller 46 coaxially therewith,
`the pawl arm 52 beingipivoted to the top end of the
`plunger, 54 of a solenoid 55 mounted in the hollow ramp
`portion 45 subjacent the cooperating feed rollers 46 and
`47.
`'
`
`The plunger rod 54 is biased upwardly by suitable
`spring means, not shown, but
`the plunger
`is moved
`downwardly responsive to. energization of the solenoid
`55, Thus, when the solenoid 55 becomes energized, the
`plunger 54' is retractedldownwardly in the solenoid, caus-
`mg the pawl arm 52 to rotate the ratchet wheel 53 and
`the roller 46 to "an angle corresponding to that required
`to, dispense one of the tickets 48, which is accordingly
`moved upwardly through the slot 49.
`'As shownin Figure 4,
`the rotary register drum is
`mounted on a pair of brackets 60, 61, the pin elements
`25 projecting from the side of the register drum adjacent
`the bracket 69. The cooperating contact arms 42 and
`43 are likewise mounted adjacent the bracket element 60.
`Projecting outwardly from the register drum on the
`side thereof adjacent the bracket element 61 are a plu--
`rality of. horizontal pin elements 62 which are respec-
`tively engageable with a pair of normally separated resil-
`ient contact arms 63 and 64 mounted in a bracket 65
`secured to the upstanding support member 61, the con-
`tact arms 63 and 64 being suitably insulated from each
`other in the. bracket 65. The contact arm 63 extends
`upwardly a short distance beyond the top end of the
`contact arm 64,
`the arm 63 thus being located in the
`path of movement of the horizontal pin member 62.
`At predetermined positions of the rotary scoring register
`drum,_ the pin members 62 engage the arm 64 and move
`arm 63- into conductive engagement with the contact
`arm .64. Thus, the switchcontact arms 63 and 64 close
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`'
`
`'
`
`70
`
`75
`
`4
`at predetermined cumulative score values displayed
`through the window ‘23.
`Referring now to Figure d‘, 66 and 67 designate a pair
`of supply conductors which are connected to a suitable
`current supply source, for example,
`to the alternating
`current line. The conductor 66 is connected to the one
`terminal of the winding of solenoid 55. The opposite
`terminal of the solenoid winding is connerted by awire
`68 to the resilient switch arm 63. The cooperating resil-
`ient switch arm 64 is connected by a wire 69 to the
`resilient switch arm 43, normally engaged by the curved
`lug 44. The cooperating switch arm 42 is connected to
`the remaining line wire 67.
`As shown in Figure 6, the energizing circuit for the
`dispensing solenoid 55 is normally open at the resilient
`switch contact arms 63 and 64. However, when a player
`reaches a predetermined cuculative score value, as dis-
`P1a¥ss1.throI;gh th¢ Wi.n<1oW'2;3u a 1211.1 ‘Q3.-engages the
`ieat switch. -arm. 6,3 and closes ‘the. $.W,i.
`" tests 63” and
`64- thus qomplstias the energizing sirwt £9? the sols-
`noid 55, said circuit comprising. the line wire 67,
`the
`normally closed ‘contacts 42'and 43,
`wire 69,
`the
`closed switch contacts 64 and 6/3,”the' wire 63, the'wind-
`ingof solenoid‘ 55, and the remaining‘ line wire 66.
`When the solenoid winding becomes en_ergiz_—c"d,> the plung-
`er 54 is moved downwardly, causing the pawl 52 to rotate
`the ratchet wheel 53, thus’ causing the feed roller 46 to
`move a ticket through the slot 49, which may be then
`detached by the player. When another designated
`cumulative score is reached, a successive pin 62 closes
`the contacts 63 and 64, repeating »t_he above-described ac-
`tion, whereby another ticket is extended through the slot
`49. Thus, a skilful player may accumulate one ormore
`tickets as a result of reaching one or more designated
`cumulative score values.
`V
`When another player desires to use the apparatus, he
`inserts ,a coin in the release mechanism 31, releasing the
`lever 30 for reset movement, namely, for rotation in a
`counterclockwise directioi1,'aS,Yi§«VlrTcd in Figure 3. When
`the lever 30 is rotated counterclockwise to its reset posi-
`tion, the lug 4-4 is moved away from the resilient contact
`arm 43, allowing arm 43 to disengage from arm 42, open-
`ing the energizing circuit for. the dispensing solenoid 55
`at the contacts 42, 43. Therefore, as the score register
`drum returns to its starting position, the engagement of
`the pin 62 with the contact armV6w3_ cannot cause en_ergiza-
`tion of the ticket-dispensing solenoid 5_5_;.
`'
`As is well understood, after the rotary. score—indicating
`register has been returned to
`starting-_p,osition,. the lever
`30‘ is released and is returned by suitable biasing means,
`conventional per se,
`to its rearward 1po_sitio_n, shown. in
`Figure 3, whereby the curved lug
`resumes the posi-
`tion thereof shown in Figure 5‘,1closing’the contact arms
`43 and. 42,
`to reestablish the circuitof Figure, _6.
`As willbe readily understood, any suitable type of
`rotary switch means may be erinployedu to connect the
`conductors 68 and 69 at predetermined positions of nota-
`tion of the score registering drum 21, Thus, as shown in
`Figure 7, the drum 21 may be provided with radially ex-
`tending projections 62’ which are sequentially engageable
`with the top end portion «of the resilient switch arm 53
`to cause arm 63 to conductively engage the cooperating
`switch arm 64 at predetermined positionsof the drum 21,
`namely, at positions corresponding to designated.cumu-
`lative score values. This provides the same action as the
`switch structure illustrated in Figure 4.
`'
`Figures 8 and 9 illustrate another form of drurn-open
`ated rotary switch structure which may be employed to
`connect conduictors '68 and’ 69 at preldeterminedv p,ositions
`of the registe_r7d‘rum 21. Thus, spaced contact elements
`70 may beprovided in a side of the register "drum at
`points corresponding 'to_’des_i'gnated cumulative score val-
`ues, the contact ele‘m_ents‘79‘b,ein_g’ connected together by
`a common conductor 71 whichisfin turn connectedito a
`portion 72 9£»t.he. frame of the Izisehanism: the framwf
`
`Page 6 of 7
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`Page 6 of 7
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`

`
`2,926,915
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`30
`
`35
`
`5
`the mechanism being connected in any suitable manner to
`one of the conductors 63 or ‘69, for example, to the con
`. ductor 69. Mounted on a bracket 73 is a resilient con
`‘tact arm 74, the bracket 73 being suitably insulated from
`the frame of the mechanism, and the arm 74 extending
`upwardly so that its end portion may be conductively
`engaged with the contact
`carried by the register drum
`at the respective designated positions of the drum cor
`responding to the selected cumulative score values at
`The conductor
`I which it is desired to dispense tickets.
`68 is connected to the resilient contact arm 7-4, whereby
`conductor '68 is electricallyrconnected to conductor 69
`when arm 74- conductively engages one of the contacts
`70 on the side of the register drum 21.
`A further switch means‘ responsiveto the rotation of
`the register drum 21 to connect conductors 68 and 69st
`designated positions of the drum is illustrated in Figures ,
`10 and 11. As in the embodiment described in Figures
`1 8 and 9, the contacts 70 are mounted on the peripheral
`, portion of one side of the drum and are connected to the
`conductor ‘69 in the same manner as illustrated in Figure
`8. A contact arm 74' is rigidly secured to the upstanding
`support member ‘61 and is insulated therefrom in the
`manner shown in Figure 11. Thus, the arm 7-4, receives
`the shaft 89 of the drum and is insulated therefrom by
`suitable insulating bushings ‘81 and '82 which clampingly
`engage on‘ opposite side surfaces of the arm 74’ and hold
`the arm 74’ against rotation. Thus arm 74' is held
`stationary in a position extending parallel to the side of
`the drum ‘ZL-and the arm ‘74’ is provided with a contact
`element 83 at its end portion facing the drum 21 and en
`gageable with the contact element “lti.
`As shown in Figure 11, the conductor ‘68 is connected
`to the resilient contact arm 74’, whereby conductor63
`is electrically connected to conductor 69 whenevercon
`tact element ‘83 engages one of the drum contacts 70.
`This ‘occurs at designated rotated positions of the register
`drum ‘21 corresponding to the selected cumulative score
`values at which tickets are to be dispensed. As in the
`previous forms of the invention, whenever the conductor
`68 is connected to the conductor '69, except during reset
`ting action of the apparatus, the solenoid 55 becomes
`energized and dispenses a ticket.
`While certain speci?c embodiments of an improved
`ticket-dispensing mechanism associated with a target game
`apparatus have been disclosed in the foregoing descrip
`tion, it will be understood that various modi?cations with
`in 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 de?ned by the scope
`of the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`in a target game apparatus of the type including a
`‘ support, a rotary scoring drum mounted on the support
`and provided at its periphery with score indicia elements
`displayed in response to the striking of targets, and reset
`means including a manually operated reset member and
`means constructed and arranged to return said scoring
`drum to its starting position responsivegto operation of
`said reset member, an electrically operated ticket dis~
`penser, a source of current, a normally open switch lo
`cated adjacent said drum, means on thepdrum constructed
`and arranged to close said switch at a position of the
`drum corresponding to a predetermined score value, a
`?rst contact arm, a resilient second contact arm, means
`mounting said contact arms on the support adjacent said
`reset member, a projection on said reset member normal
`ly engaging said resilient contact arm and holding said
`resilient contact arm in engagement with said ?rst con
`tact arm, said projection disengaging from said resilient
`contact arm when said reset member is operated to re
`turn the scoring drum to its starting position, whereby
`said resilient contact arm disengages from said ?rst con
`tact arm, and circuit means connecting said source of
`current to said ticket dispenser through said switch and
`
`6
`said contact arms, whereby to dispense a ticket at said
`predetermined score value except during operation of said
`reset member.
`.
`2. In a target game apparatus of the type including
`a support, a rotary scoring drum mounted on the sup
`port and provided at its periphery with score indicia and
`operating in response to the striking of targets to dis—
`play respective score indicia associated with the targets,
`and reset means including a manually operated reset
`lever and means constructed and arranged to return said
`scoring drum to its starting position responsive to rota
`tion of said reset lever, an electrically operated ticket
`' dispenser, a source of current, normally separated switch
`contacts located adjacent one side of said drum, means
`on the drum closing said switch contacts at successive
`positions of the drum corresponding to predetermined
`successive cumulative score values, a source of current,
`a ?rst contact element mounted on the support adjacent
`the reset lever, a resilient second contact element mounted
`on the support between the reset lever and the ?rst con
`tact element, a projection on said lever normally engaging
`said resilient contact element and normally holding said
`resilient contact element in engagement with the ?rst
`contact element, said projection disengaging from said
`resilient contact element when the lever is rotated in a di
`25
`, rection to return the scoring drum to its starting position,
`whereby said resilient contact element disengages from
`said ?rst contact element, and circuit means connecting
`said source of current to said ticket dispenser through
`said switch contacts and said ?rst and second contact
`elements, whereby to dispense a ticket at eachof said
`predetermined cumulative score values except during
`operation of said reset lever substantially to drum
`resetting position.
`3. In a target game apparatus of the type wherein
`balls are projected against targets and including a sup
`port, a rotary scoring drum mounted on the support and
`provided with score indicia cards pivoted to its periphery
`and operating in response to the striking of the targets
`to display respective score indicia cards associated with
`said targets, and reset means including a manually oper
`ated reset lever and means constructed and arranged
`to return said scoring drum to its starting position re
`sponsive to rotation of said reset lever, an electrically
`operated ticket dispenser, a source of current, normally
`separated switch contacts located adjacent one side of
`said drum, a switch-closing member on said one side
`of the drum and rotating therewith, said member being
`constructed and arranged to close said switch contacts
`at successive positions of the drum corresponding to
`predetermined cumulative score values, a pair of resilient
`contact arms mounted on said support and depending ad
`jacent said reset lever, a projection on said lever normally
`engaging one of the contact arms and normally holding
`said one of the contact arms in conductive engagement
`with the other contact arm, said projection disengaging
`from said one of the contact arms when the lever is
`rotated in a direction to return the scoring drum to its
`starting position, whereby said one contact arm disengages
`from the other contact arm and circuit means connecting
`said source of current to said ‘ticket dispenser through
`said switch contacts and said resilient contact arms,
`whereby to dispense a ticket at each of said predetermined
`cumulative score values except during operation of said
`reset lever substantially to drum-resetting position.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`References Cited in the ?le of this patent
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`Bergoi‘fen ____________ __ Aug. 6, 1935
`Seiden ______________ __ Aug. 13, 1935
`Turrall ______________ __ Mar. 5, 1940
`
`2,010,213
`2,010,966
`2,192,873
`
`7 0
`
`381,418
`
`FOREIGN PATENTS
`-
`<
`Great Britain ____________ “Oct. 6, 1932
`
`Page 7 of 7