DE3931182C1 - Triangular frame for sports - has spherical ball sliding on sloping strut fitted with compression spring at lower end - Google Patents

Abstract

The vertically located, triangular frame (10a, 10b) which is produced of cylindrical tubing, is provided with a spherical body (20) which has a slide location on the inclined frame section (10a). A compression spring (12) at the bottom end of the incline (10) is used to propel the body up the incline. A number of vertical tubes (24a-24c) below the incline, also carry sliding balls (28) and compression springs. The object of the game is a collision between the balls which move up the inclined and vertical tube sections. USE/ADVANTAGE - Game for indoor or outdoor use tests the judgement and reaction of the players.

Description

Play equipment for children and teenagers as they play places, sports and leisure facilities are set up known in various embodiments. You serve especially the playful activity, also perform partly also for gymnastics and trimming purposes. Exemplary climbing frames, seesaws and slides are mentioned.

As a rule, the playgrounds are similar, that is, in essentially the same play equipment is installed. This inevitably leads to one over time letting interest in the children.

From US-PS 30 72 409 is a (table) game device with two Guide rails known, which are anchored in place at their ends are and along each one, the guide rail outstanding, a central through opening for the guide rail-bearing body is slidably guided, the one arranged in the end region of the guide rail Device can be acted upon kinetically.

With this game, kinetic forms of play are possible, as they are increasingly preferred, the well-known game is based however, only on a random basis. To the creative There is an increasing need to promote children's activity after games where it depends on the responsiveness of the Player arrives.

Such games are known in principle (for example US-PS 32 04 956).

The object of the invention is, however, a novel game device to provide with the game forms provided in particular the responsiveness of the players promote and both outdoors, for example in playgrounds, but can also be used as a table game at home.  

In its most general embodiment, the Invention a game device of the generic type with the characteristics of the characteristic part of Claim 1 before.

With such a game device, the first Bodies arranged along the path of the guide rail the guide rail are moved, as is the Body slidably arranged on the other guide rail is. The aim of the game is to put the body on the first  "Intercept" the guide rail along its path, by turning the body of the further guide rail into one such a time moved away from the starting position is that it will take the place of the shortest at that very moment Distance between the guide rails is reached, in which the body of the first guide rail attached to this Body arrives so that the further path of the body the first guide rail is hindered.

So it's a "strategic game," where it depends on the player's responsiveness arrives, the body of the further guide rail kinetically acted upon. He must be the player who Sets the body in motion on the first guide rail, watch and timed his body and on the way with such energy that both bodies at the point of the smallest distance the guide rail. Does he react too early or too late, the body is on the further guide rail either past the "target" or the body on the first guide rail has the potential Contact point not yet reached.

The movement of the body along the guide rails can be done in different ways. In the simplest In this case, the bodies are pushed away by hand. Prefers is the body via appropriate spring elements to act kinetically.

The springs can, for example, around the free ends the guide rails are guided compression springs. The each body is then in the resting position End of the guide rail on the compression spring. A Person then grabs the body, pushes with the body  the compression spring together and then lets go of the body, so that with the help of the spring force along the Guide rail is catapulted.

The player who takes the Body actuated on the other guide rail.

The concrete geometric design of the leadership seemed and body can also be different Way.

In particular with a gaming device for installation in an outdoor playground will be the guide seemed to be in the ground at least at one of their ends firmly anchored. It is obvious that the leadership rail must then have an angle to the floor. The additional rail is arranged so that it the path of the body of the first guide rail crosses the described way.

The guide rails can be advantageous Embodiment of the invention also with both ends be fixed in the ground and are then otherwise preferably curved, for example semicircular shaped, trained.

The further guide rail runs below the first guide rail, with an assignment of the guide seemed special at an angle of 90 degrees is advantageous.

Are the guide rails at both ends with ent speaking spring elements formed, can operate the gaming device from both sides,  the body going from right to left and is then moved from left to right.

It is also possible to have several additional guide rails to be spaced apart, then automatically results in an embodiment in which the other guide rails a different one Distance to the "launch site" of the body of the first Have guide rail. Are accordingly the response times requested by the players below different. The player who is the "launch site" another guide adjacent to the first guide rail rail operated, must react particularly quickly, because the body is the first to guide this area rail reached during a player playing a further guide rail operated by the "launch place "the first guide rail further away is, has more time to go to the "launch" of the body along the first guide rail react.

A particularly simple form for the body represents a ball. If the ball has a central hole on, the guide rail, which is then preferred also has a circular cross-section the opening in the ball are passed through and the ball can be particularly light and with less Friction can be moved along the guide rail.

Especially for an outdoor game the guide rails should, for example a stainless steel while the body (Balls) are made of plastic or rubber, for example can. Definitely should be a softer for the body  Material used to prevent injury for the children as far as possible.

Different constructional designs are available explained in more detail in the exemplary embodiments.

As mentioned at the beginning, the gaming device should not only can be used outdoors, but also at home as Table game device can be used. It follows a correspondingly smaller dimension inevitably the basic structure remains unchanged.

For this area of application, the invention provides an alternative embodiment, the body kinetically applied via leaf springs. Here the leaf springs can be used as punched tongues inside a plate made of metal or plastic be, with the plate spaced from a floor is arranged horizontally. The tongues can go through radial slots arranged at a distance from one another, starting from the peripheral surface of the plate then, preferably openings in the tongue area are arranged, protrude through the guide rails, the openings having a smaller diameter than the associated body so that this is at rest on the tongues above the corresponding opening lie on. By bending the tongues and then A kinetic energy is then released onto the Transfer body so that this along the guide rail is moved.

This embodiment is also described below of an illustrated example explained.  

The game device is particularly simple and safe, it can be designed in different sizes and therefore be used for different purposes. It offers a completely new way of playing in which a variable assignment of the individual components differed game situations (reaction times) set can be.

Various embodiments are shown in the drawing sometimes shown in a highly schematic way. Show

Fig. 1 is a side view of a first form of execution of a game apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a constructive modification of the game device according to Fig. 1, also in a side view;

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the game apparatus in a side view;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a game machine for use as a table toy,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an out with leaf springs formed plate of the game device according to Fig. 4.

In the figures, the same or equivalent Components shown with the same reference numerals.  

The game apparatus according to Fig. 1 consists of a first guide rail 10, which is formed with a circular cross section and is formed between its free end 12, 14 which are firmly anchored in the bottom 16 of semi-circular shaped. Compression springs 18 are arranged on the free ends 12 , 14 of the guide rail 10 , which encompass the guide rail 10 . The compression springs 18 are firmly anchored to the guide rail 10 at their bottom end.

A ball 20 having an opening formed corresponding to the angle of curvature of the guide rail 10 through hole 22 is disposed slidably on the guide rail 10 degrees.

The guide rail 10 is made of stainless steel, the ball 20 is made of rubber.

At an angle of 90 degrees to the level of the guide rail 10 extends a further guide rail 24 , which is also semicircular and anchored with its free ends in the floor 16 . Compression springs 26 are also seated on the free ends and are attached to the bottom of the guide rail 24 . Here, too, a ball 28 with a central curved through opening is arranged on the guide rail 24 so as to be slidable.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the guide rail 24 runs below the guide rail 10 , the shortest distance between the guide rails 10 , 24 being indicated by "A".

The distance "A" is so large that both the ball 20 and the ball 28 can each be guided past this position alone, but collide with one another, provided that both reach this point at the same time. This means that the task and purpose of the gaming device are predetermined at the same time.

The game is played with two players. The first player is responsible for moving the ball 20 along the guide rail 10 , while the second player moves the ball 28 along the guide rail 24 .

The game begins with the first player pressing the ball 20 against the spring 18 and compressing it together. The moment he releases the ball 20 , the ball 20 is kinetically acted upon by the force of the spring 18 and catapulted along the guide rail 10 in the direction of the arrow. On its path of movement, the ball 20 passes the “crossing point” with the guide rail 24 .

It is the second player's task to apply kinetic energy to his ball 28 in the same way as the first player and to set it on the path at such a time that the ball 28 takes the place of the shortest distance at the exact moment "A" with respect to the guide rail 10 is reached, in which the ball 20 is passed there, so that the ball 28 strikes the ball 20 laterally and this prevents further movement along the guide rail 10 . In the case of contact, a force acting against the previous direction of movement is exerted on the ball 20 by the ball 28 , which then leads the ball 20 back to the starting position. Only in the extreme case, where the ball 28 hits the ball 20 exactly at an angle of 90 degrees, could this come to a standstill at the highest point of the circular arc of the guide rail 10 . In this case, the ball 20 would have to be returned by hand.

If the guide rail 24 is not arranged exactly below the highest point of the guide rail 10 , but laterally offset somewhat, this theoretical case is omitted because the ball 20 can definitely be returned along the slope of the guide rail 10 along with the ball 28 the guide rail 24 will be returned.

Has the second player shot his ball 28 too soon or too late, the ball 20 reaches the point of the smallest distance between the two guide rails 10 , 24 at a time when the ball 28 has already left this point or has not yet reached it ; accordingly, the balls 20 , 28 are not contacted and the player has lost this game.

An alternative embodiment of the gaming device according to FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. Here, a plurality of further guide rails 24 a to d are arranged next to one another at a distance below the guide rail 10 . The construction of the guide rails 10 , 24 a to d corresponds to that according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1.

The purpose of the modified embodiment according to FIG. 2 is to provide 20 different reaction times for the second player by the different from the guide rails 24 a, d from the launching point of the ball 20 . It is apparent that the player moves to the guide rail 24 d, the ball 28 has a shorter response time is available, shoot the ball 28 ERS, as the player on the guide rail 24 must shoot the ball 28 a.

Corresponding to the curvature of the rail 10 , the rails 24 a to d have a different height. In the event that the ball 20 could be passed unhindered from one free end 12 to the opposite free end 14 , the game can then be continued in the opposite way, since the free end 14 is also formed with a corresponding compression spring 16 . The same naturally applies to the way of playing on the guide rails 24 a to d.

In Fig. 3, the first guide rail 10 is no longer curved, but has a first linear arm 10 a, which extends at an angle α to the floor 16 , which is followed by a second vertical arm 10 b, which is anchored in the floor 16 is. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, in turn, several (here: three) further guide rails 24 a to c are arranged below the guide rail 10 ( 10 a), the further guide rails 24 a to c having a different overall height in order to guide the arm at an angle 10 a to take into account and to form an equal distance "A" between the corresponding guide rails at the intersections (as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2).

The guide rails 24 a to c are otherwise designed analogously to the guide rails 24 a to d according to FIG. 2.

In this embodiment, the ball 20 is fired from the first end 12 until it reaches an upper stop 30 in the connecting region of the arms 10 a, 10 b, unless it was intercepted beforehand by the ball 28 . The ball 20 is then along the guide rail 10 (arm 10 a) returned to the starting position and the game can now be continued so that the task of the players on the guide rails 24 a to c is their balls 28th to shoot at such a time that the ball 20 is repeatedly subjected to a new kinetic energy to catapult it towards the stop 30 .

The embodiment according to FIGS. 4, 5 is very similar to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, but here designed as a table toy.

It has a base plate 32 on which the guide rails 10 , 24 are fastened analogously to FIG. 1.

At a distance from the base plate 32 , a plate 34 is arranged which sits on central spacers 36 which are attached to the base plate 32 .

As can be seen in FIG. 5, two slots 36 a, b each extend from the circumferential surface of the plate 34 , which form a tongue 40 between them.

A total of four pairs of slots 38 a, 38 b are arranged approximately at an angle of 90 degrees to one another, so that a total of four tongues 40 are formed.

Elongated openings 42 are further arranged in the tongues 40 , through which the guide rails 10 , 24 protrude, as shown in FIG. 4.

From a comparison of FIGS. 4, 5, it follows further that the width of the openings 42 is larger than the diameter of the guide rails 10, 24, but smaller than the diameter of the balls 20, 28 so that these in the starting position on the associated tongues 40 rest ( Fig. 4).

The plate 34 is preferably made of plastic or metal, so that the tongues 40 have a certain elasticity to take over the function of leaf springs. In order to move the balls 20 , 28 along the guide rails 10 , 24 , the tongue 40 is simply pressed down with a finger and then released. The associated ball is catapulted along the corresponding guiding rail.

The mode of operation of the game otherwise corresponds to that described with reference to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1. Of course, this embodiment can also be structurally modified in a variety of ways, for example in the sense of the embodiments according to FIGS. 2, 3.

Claims (13)

1. Play device with a first guide rail ( 10 ), along which a, the guide rail ( 10 ) at least partially projecting body ( 20 ) is slidably guided, and at least one further guide rail ( 24 , 24 a to d), along which another , The guide rail ( 24 , 24 a to d) at least partially projecting body ( 28 ) is slidably guided, characterized in that the further guide rail (s) ( 24 , 24 a to d) at an angle to and at a distance is (are) arranged below the first guide rail ( 10 ), and the shortest distance between the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) is such that the bodies ( 20 , 28 ) touch at this point when they meet. 2. Game device according to claim 1, wherein the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) at their free ends ( 12 , 14 ) are fixedly anchored. 3. Game device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) between their free ends ( 12 , 14 ) are curved. 4. Game device according to claim 3, wherein the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) between their free ends ( 12 , 14 ) are semicircular. 5. Game device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the body ( 20 , 28 ) are designed as balls with a central through opening ( 22 ) through which the respective guide rail ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) extends . 6. Game device according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which in the free end regions of the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) springs ( 18 , 26 , 40 ) for kinetic loading of the body ( 20 , 28 ) and guidance are arranged along the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d). 7. Game device according to claim 6, wherein the springs ( 18 , 26 ), the free ends ( 12 , 14 ) of the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) are encompassing compression springs. 8. Game device according to claim 6, wherein the springs ( 40 ) on or immediately next to the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) are leaf springs. 9. Game device according to claim 8, wherein the leaf springs ( 40 ) are part of a plate ( 34 ) which is arranged substantially horizontally and through which the guide rails ( 10 , 24 ) project freely with their free ends. 10. Game device according to claim 8 or 9, in which the leaf springs ( 40 ) are designed as exposed tongues from the plate. 11. Game device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the further (n) guide rail (s) ( 24 , 24 a to d) is (are) offset by 90 degrees to the first guide rail ( 10 ). 12. Game device according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the location of the smallest distance (A) between the guide rails ( 10 , 24 , 24 a to d) lies outside the center of the longitudinal extension of the first guide rail ( 10 ). 13. Game device according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which a plurality of further guide rails ( 24 a to d) are arranged parallel to one another at a distance.