GB2033762A

GB2033762A - Picking-up game

Info

Publication number: GB2033762A
Application number: GB7934404A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority date: 1978-11-06
Filing date: 1979-10-04
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: GB2033762B; FR2440758A1; DE7931161U1; NL7907808A; JPS5567782U; DE2944481A1; JPS5640473Y2; ES485662A1; MX149642A

Abstract

A piece-capturing game has a central platform 14 for placement of peanut playing pieces 10 thereon. The platform 14 is selectively moveable by game players to bounce one of the pieces 10 into a cup-like ring 50. Two playing members 62, 64 are pivotally mounted on the base structure 12 and spring biassed upwardly. When the member 62, 64 is pivoted downwardly by the player, a flexible ring 70, 72 grips the outer surface of a peanut 10' positioned in the cup-like ring 50 and holds it. The cup-like ring 50 is raised by a cam when the hoop 66, 68 of an elephant 62, 64 is lowered. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Amusement game This invention relates to an amusement game and, more particularly, to a competitive amusement game in which a player selectively moves a playing member pivotally mounted on a base structure toward a platform for picking up playing pieces located thereon so as to accumulate points.

According to the present invention, there is provided an amusement game comprising: a plurality of playing pieces; a base structure having platform means for placement of playing pieces thereon; and at least two playing members pivotally mounted on the base structure and having means for picking up playing pieces placed on the platform means.

In a preferred embodiment, the playing pieces are configured to represent peanuts, the playing members are configured as elephants, and the platform means configured as a circus-type arena or pit.

The accompanying drawings, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the amusement game made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a partially fragmented side view of the amusement game of Fig. 1, illustrating in particular the association of the playing members and the platform means with the control and actuating mechanisms within the base structure and the movements imparted to the various components of the game; Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the platform means of the amusement game taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of one section of the platform means and the manual actuating mechanism for moving the platform section in an up-and-down movement;; Figure 5 is a fragmented and enlarged perspective view of the hoop and flexible inner gripping ring of a playing member in a position just prior to engaging a playing piece held by the cup-like member of the platform means; Figure 6 is a fragmented and enlarged perspective view of the hoop and flexible inner gripping ring of a playing member in picking-up engagement with a playing piece; Figure 7 is a fragmented and exploded perspective view of the configuration and intercooperation of the lower portion of a playing member, a plate for pivotal mounting on the base structure and for detachably mounting the playing member, the two control plates for slidable movement in a track formed within the base structure, a spring for biasing the two control plates, and the inner cylinder of the cup-like member.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompaying drawings.

In accordance with the invention and as shown in Fig. 1, the amusement game includes a plurality of playing pieces, commonly designated by the reference numeral 10, and a base structure 1 2 having platform means.

As herein embodied, the platform means comprises a platform 1 4 movably mounted in the center of the structure 1 2 for placement of the playing pieces 10 thereon. The platform 14 is formed of two independently movable contiguous sections 14' and 14". To maintain the two platform sections in position during reciprocal up-and-down movement, the platform sections are configured to fit within an inner recessed portion 1 6 of the base structure 1 2 and in addition have guide means. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 by reference to one of the platform sections 14', the guide means comprises a pair of guide rods 1 8 and 20 reciprocally mounted in fixed cylinder-type guide rod support members 22 and 24 respectively.Stopper projections 26 and 28 are formed on the sides of the platform section and engage the bottom of the inner portion 1 6 of the base structure to limit the upward movement of the section 14' to a predetermined level. It can be seen from Fig. 4 that platform section 14' has a semi-circular hole 30 formed on the side facing platform section 14". Section 14" has a similar semicircular hole configuration. The purpose of this center hole formation is described in detail hereinafter.

For moving the platform sections 14' and 1 4" up and down, platform actuating means is provided operatively connected to platform sections 14' and 14" and manually operable by game players. As herein embodied, the platform actuating means comprises a pair of separate levers, each lever being operatively connected to a respective platform section.

One of the levers 32 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in association with the platform section 14'.

Lever 32 has a main body portion 34. Pivoting pins 36 and 38 extend outwardly from the body 34 and are inserted into position in pivoting support members 40 and 42 fixedly mounted to the inside surface of the base structure 1 2. At a first end of the lever 32 there is provided an actuating rod 44 extending upwardly for engagement against the lower portion of the platform section 14'. The lever 32 has a push-button 46 formed on the other end which extends from the base structure 1 2 for manual movement by a game player. The lever 32 is pivotally mounted on the members 40 and 42 such that when the push-button 46 is manually moved downwardly by a game player, the engaging rod 44 moves upwardly to push the platform section 14' upwardly until stopper projections 26 and 28 abut against inner portion 16.The second lever has the same structure as lever 32. For example, the lever for platform section 14" would have a separate push-button 48 as shown in Fig. 1. It can be seen that push-buttons 46 and 48 are mounted on opposite sides of the base structure 12 for manual manipulation by opposing players using the amusement game. Preferably, the push-button adjacent the platform section on the base structure operates that section. Thus, push-button 46 would move platform section 14' up and down while button 48 would move platform section 14" up and down.

As herein embodied, the platform means further comprises a cup-like member 50 in the center of the platform 14 for holding a playing piece 10 in an upright position. To accommodate this cup-like member, the platform sections 14' and 14" are formed having the semicircular holes previously described. The configuration of the platform sections 14' and 14" provides a through-hole in the center of the platform to allow the cup-like member to be positioned through the platform sections and mounted onto the base structure. Preferably, the cup-like member 50 comprises an outer hollow cylinder 52 fixedly mounted to the inside of the base structure 12, as best shown in Fig. 2. A second cylinder 54 is reciprocally mounted for up-and down movement within the outer cylinder 52.Cylinder 54 has a recessed floor 56 toward its end which extends out of the base structure 12 for holding a playing piece 10. The playing piece 10 is held by the inner cylinder 54 in an upright position with a major portion of the playing piece exposed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, when cylinder 54 is moved upwardly out of the cylinder 52. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the inner cylinder 54 has at its lower end angular projections 58 and 60 extending sidewards from the outer surface. These angular projections 58 and 60 will abut against the bottom of the outer cylinder 52 to limit movement to a predetermined level when the cylinder is moved upwardly. This is best seen in Fig. 2. The overall configuration and cooperation of the components of the cup-like member 50 is illustrated by reference to Figs.

1-2, 5 and 7. To place a playing piece 10 in the inner cylinder 54 of the holding member 50 during operation of the game it is moved from a position on the platform 14. To achieve this, platform sections 14' and 14" are selectively moved up and down by actuation of the push-buttons 46 and 48 by the game players. Movement of the platform sections 14' and 14" in turn causes the playing pieces 10 located thereon to bounce around.

One of the playing pieces ultimately is bounced sufficiently into the cup-like member 50.

In accordance with the invention, the amusement game further comprises at least two playing members pivotally mounted on the base structure and having means for picking up playing pieces placed on the platform means. As herein embodied, there are two playing members 62 and 64, configured as elephants, which are pivotally mounted on the base structure 1 2 at opposite sides of the platform 1 4. Picking-up means comprises hoops 66 and 68 respectively mounted on the playing members 62 and 64 at the ends of the elephant trunks. The hoops 66 and 68 have inner rings 70 and 72 respectively formed of flexible material for engaging and gripping a playing piece 10.To ensure a firm gripping of the playing piece, the inner ring of each hoop has teeth 74 which are formed as an integral part of the flexible material and which bend to move over the outer surface of a playing piece 10 when the ring engages the playing piece. The playing piece 1 0, in turn, is configured in a manner whereby there is formed an indentation 76 formed on the outer surface of each playing piece 10 for gripping by the teeth 76. When the bent teeth 74 moving over the piece reach the indentation, the teeth return to their normal extension and securely hold the playing piece 10 in position.

The configuration of the flexible inner rings 70 and 52 and the playing pieces 10 are best illustrated by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. As will be described in further detail hereinafter, one of the gripping rings 70 and 72 will engage and grip a playing piece 10 located on the inner cylinder 54 of the holding member 50 when the respective playing member 62 or 64 is pivoted downwardly and the respective hoop 66 or 68 is moved toward the cup-like member 50 so that the ring engages the playing piece located thereon.

In the preferred embodiment, the playing members further include plates 78 and 80 on which are respectively mounted on the top portion thereof the elephant members 62 and 64. Preferably, each of the elephant members 62 and 64 are detachably mounted to their respective plates 78 and 80. Reference is now made to playing member 64 and plate 80 to illustrate the detachable mounting means, as shown in Fig. 7. A mounting plate 82 is provided at the bottom of playing member 64 which has a configuration that mates with a track 84 formed on the surface of the plate 80. When the plate 82 is fully positioned in the track 84, a snap-lock mechanism 86 integrally formed on the plate 82 holds the playing member 64 in its platform plate 80. To release the elephant member 64, the snap-lock mechanism 86 is manually pushed downwardly and the plate 82 slid out of the track 84.

Each of the platform plates 78 and 80 are pivotally mounted to the base structure 1 2.

This is easily achieved by using pivoting rods 88 and 90 which are respectively mounted to the plates 78 and 80 and which are sup ported by corresponding rod holders 92 and 94. Extending from the underside portion of platform plates 78 and 80, there is provided respective pivoting levers 96 and 98, the function of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. For pivoting the playing members so as to move the picking-up means toward the platform 1 4 for picking up playing pieces, manual actuating means is operatively connected to each of the playing members and operable by the game players. As here embodied, the actuating means comprises portions 100 and 102 extending from the sides of respective plates 78 and 80 which are formed as buttons.Each of these buttons can be manually pushed by the game players to move one of the plates 78 and 80 down wardly. This in turn moves the corresponding hoop 66 or 68 moves toward the cup-like member 50 for picking up a playing piece 10 located in the inner cylinder 54.

To facilitate the picking up of a playing piece by the hoop of one of the playing members, the amusement game further comprises means operatively connected to the inner cylinder 54 of the cup-like member 50 and each of the playing members 62 and 64 for raising the inner cylinder 54, and the playing piece located thereon, simultaneously as a playing member is pivoted when manually actuated by a game player to move the gripping hoop of that playing member toward the cup-like member.

As herein embodied, the means for raising the inner cylinder 54 comprises, as best seen in Fig. 7, a pair of control plates 104 and 106 which are slidably mounted inside of the base structure 1 2. Preferably, a track 108 is formed on an inside surface of the base structure 1 2 and the control plates 88 and 90 are slidably positioned on that track adjacent to each other. To ensure that the control plates 104 and 106 are maintained in position on the track 108, guide pins 110 and 11 2 are formed at opposite ends of the track and are respectively inserted into elongated guide holes 114 and 11 6 which are respectively formed on the control plates 104 and 106. In addition, side guide members 117 may be provided.The control plates 104 and 106 are mounted in the track 108 so as to have their respective first ends 11 8 and 1 20 positioned in opposite directions to each other. A spring 1 22 is connected to the control plates in a manner to urge the first ends 11 8 and 1 20 inwardly towards the center of the base structure. The first ends 11 8 and 1 20 are of a configuration as illustrated in Figs. 7 so that they engage the levers 96 and 98 in a manner that when the spring 1 22 urges the first ends inwardly towards the center of the base structure, the platform mounting plates 78 and 80 are biased into a normally upwardly extended direction as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The control plates 104 and 106 have respective second ends 1 24 and 1 26 which are engageable with the lower portion of the inner cylinder 54 which extends into the base structure 1 2. To move the cylinder 54 up and down, the second ends 1 24 and 1 26 are formed in upwardly extended angular projections which are engageable respectively with the side angular projections 58 and 60 formed on the lower portion of the inner cylinder 54 as previously described. This is best illustrated by reference to Figs. 2 and 7.

Accordingly, when the buttons 100 and 102 are pushed by the players to move the platforms 78 and 80 downwardly, the pivoting levers 96 and 98 of the platform plates are moved outwardly to urge the respective first ends 11 8 and 1 20 of the control plates outwardly. This, in turn, moves the second ends 1 24 and 1 26 of the control plates inwardly into engagement with the angular projections 58 and 60 of the inner cylinder 54. Movement of the angular ends 1 24 and 1 26 against angular projections 58 and 60 raises the inner cylinder 54.In doing so, the playing piece held by the inner cylinder 54, such as piece 10' depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, is elevated in a manner to allow engagement of the flexible inner gripping ring 70 or 72 of the playing member which first reaches the playing piece. As manual pressure is released from the buttons 100 and 102, the biasing of the spring 1 22 urges the second ends 1 24 and 1 26 outwardly, thus allowing the inner cylinder 54 to return to its initial lowered position. The spring bias also urges the first ends 11 8 and 1 20 inwardly to return the playing members 62 and 64 to their normally upwardly extended positions.It can be seen that actuation of only one button 100 or 102 will still cause the inner cylinder 54 to be raised by the separate movement of the corresponding control plate 104 or 106 against the lower portion of the cylinder 54. In other words, both buttons 100 and 102 need not be actuated to raise cylinder 54.

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 and as was described above for the preferred embodiment, playing members 62 and 64 are configured as elephants. In turn, the playing pieces 10 are configured to represent peanuts while the platform 1 4 is mounted on the base structure and configured as a center circus corral or arena with the platform sections 14' and 14" forming the floor of the arena on which the plurality of peanut playing pieces 10 are placed. The cup-like member 54 is formed as a center ring on the platform floor 14. An upwardly extending outer wall 1 28 surrounds the platform floor for containing the peanut playing pieces 10 therein. The platform plates 78 and 80 are mounted on the base structure 1 2 in a configuration of a raised circular circus platform or dais on which the elephants are standing.

In the preferred embodiment of this amusement game, the object would be, for example, to have a game player score the most points by capturing or seizing the peanut playing pieces placed in the platform corral or arena.

Each player is assigned an elephant playing member. To start the game, the game players rapidly push their respective buttons 46 and 48 adjacent the elephant playing members to move the platform sections 14' and 14" up and down, thus making the peanut playing pieces 10 bounce around in the corral until one of the playing pieces 10 bounces into the center ring 50. When this occurs, the game player pushes the actuating button 100 or 102 for his playing member to move that playing member downwardly so that the gripping hoop of the elephant is rapidly moved toward the playing piece located on the center ring. The game player who is the quickest to move his hoop into position over the peanut will grip the peanut with the flexible inner ring of the hoop and return the peanut in the hoop as the player releases the actuating button for his playing member.As each peanut playing piece is captured by one of the respective playing members, it is removed from the elephant hoop and retained until the end of the game. The game is over when a predetermined number of the game.

The game is over when a predetermined number of the playing pieces has been captured.

Normally, this would be when all of the playing pieces in the circus arena or corral have been removed. When all the playing pieces are gone, each game player's score is tallied and the player with the most points wins. For example, each playing piece can be given a single point. On the other hand, the playing pieces can be given a single point. On the other hand, the playing pieces 10 can be identified with different colors or numerical numbers so that the playing pieces with different colors or different numbers are worth different points.

In view of the foregoing written description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, it is seen that there is provided a game device which is amusing and competitive for the players. It is further seen that the amusement game is durable and one simple in construction and in assembly to provide low-cost, mass-volume production. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made in the amusement game in accordance with the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An amusement game comprising: (a) a plurality of playing pieces; (b) a base structure having platform means for placement of playing pieces thereon; and (c) at least two playing members pivotally mounted on said base structure and having means for picking up playing pieces placed on said platform means.

2. The amusement game of claim 1, further comprising actuating means operatively connected to said playing members and operable by game players for pivoting said members to move said pick-up means toward-said platform means for picking up playing pieces.

3. The amusement game of claim 1, wherein said platform means includes a platform for placement of playing pieces thereon mounted on said base structure for up-anddown movement and wherein the game further comprises actuating means operatively connected to said platform and operable by game players for moving said platform up and down.

4. The amusement game of claim 3, wherein said playing pieces are bounceable off said platform by movement of said platform and wherein said platform means further comprises a cup-like member in the center of the platform for holding a playing piece bounced into said cup-like member by the upand-down movement of the platform, and wherein said pick-up means of a playing member picks up a playing piece located in said cup-like member when moved towards said platform means.

5. The amusement game of claim 4, wherein the platform has two individually movable contiguous sections, and wherein said platform actuating means comprises a pair of levers pivotally mounted within the base structure, each lever having one end operatively connected to a respective platform section and the other end formed as a pushbutton extending from the base structure for manual movement by a game player, and wherein said cup-like member is mounted on said base structure independently of said platform and extends through a center hole formed between said platform sections.

6. The amusement game of claim 4 or 5, wherein said pick-up means comprises a hoop positioned at the outer end of each playing member, said hoop having a flexible inner ring for gripping and holding a playing piece located on the cup-like member when moved into engagement with the outer surface of said playing piece.

7. The amusement game of claim 5 or 6, wherein said cup-like member includes an outer hollow fixedly-mounted cylinder and a cylinder slidably mounted within said outer cylinder having a recessed floor for holding a playing piece and wherein the game further comprises means operatively connected to the inner cylinder and each playing member for raising said inner cylinder and a playing piece located thereon simultaneously as a playing member is pivoted by a game player to move the respective pick-up means towards said cup-like member.

8. The amusement game of claim 2, 6 or 7, wherein each playing member is normallybiased to an upwardly extended position, the playing member being urged against the upward bias downwardly toward the platform means when manually actuated by a game player.

9. The amusement game of claim 8, wherein said inner cylinder raising means comprises a pair of control plates slidably mounted on the inside of the base structure, each control plate having a first end engaging a portion of one of the playing members extending into the base structure, and a second end engaging a portion of the inner cylinder extending into the base structure wherein each control plate is spring biased to urge the engaged playing member into a normally upwardly extended direction and is slidably moved against that spring bias to urge the inner cylinder upwardly by the pushing of the playing member against the control plate when said playing member is manually actuated by a game player.

1 0. The amusement game of claim 9, wherein said control plate is moved back to its original position by the spring bias to lower the inner cylinder to its original position and to raise the scoring member to its original upwardly extended position when the game player releases his manual actuation of the playing member.

11. The amusement game of claim 9, wherein each of said playing members includes a plate for mounting the playing member on the top portion thereof, said plate being pivotally mounted to the base structure and having an extended side portion formed as a button for manual pushing by the game player and a lever extending from the underside portion of the plate into the base structure for engagement with the first end of a control member.

1 2. The amusement game of claim 11, wherein said playing member is detachably mounted to the top portion of the respective plate.

1 3. The amusement game of claim 11, wherein said playing members are two in number and wherein a track is formed on the inside of said base structure and wherein said pair of control plates are reciprocally mounted adjoining each other on said track and have their corresponding first and second ends positioned in opposite directions and wherein a spring is connected to said control plates to urge the first ends of said control plates inwardly toward the center of the base structure.

14. The amusement game of claim 6, 9 or 13, wherein said playing members comprise two playing members configured as elephants pivotally mounted on the base structure at opposite sides of said platform means, said hoops are connected to the ends of the elephant trunks, said playing pieces are configured to represent peanuts, said platform means is mounted in the center of the base structure and configured as a circus corral with the platform forming the floor on which the peanut playing pieces are placed, said cup-like member is formed as a ring in the center of said platform, and wherein said platform means further includes an upwardly extending outer wall surrounding the platform floor for containing the peanut playing pieces therein.

1 5. The amusement game of claim 5 or 14, wherein a pushbutton actuating lever for moving said platform up and down is respectively mounted on said base structure adjacent each playing member.

1 6. The amusement game of claim 6 or 14, wherein each playing piece has an indentation formed in the outer surface to ensure locking engagement with the flexible inner ring of said hoop.

1 7. An amusement game comprising: (a) a plurality of playing pieces configured to represent peanuts; (b) a base structure including (i) a platform for placement of playing pieces thereon formed of two contiguous sections for individual up-and-down movement, and (ii) a cup-like member independently mounted in the center of said platform and having an outer hollow cylinder fixedly mounted to the same base structure and a cylinder slidably mounted within the outer cylinder and with a recessed floor for holding a playing piece bounced into said inner cylinder by the upand-down movement of a platform section;; (c) two playing members configured as elephants pivotally mounted on the base structure at opposite sides of said platform and spring biased to an upwardly extended position, the playing members being urged against the upward bias downwardly toward the platform when manually moved by a game player, and wherein each playing member includes (i) a hoop positioned at the outer end of the elephant trunk with a flexible inner ring for gripping and holding a playing piece located on the cup-like member when moved into engagement with the outer surface of a playing piece held in said inner cylinder, and (ii) a plate for detachably mounting the elephant playing member on the top portion thereof, said plate being pivotally mounted to the base structure and having an extended side portion formed as a button for manual pushing by the game player to move said hoop toward said platform for picking up a playing piece located on the cup-like member and a lever extending from the underside portion of the plate into the base structure;; (d) means operatively connected to the inner cylinder of the cup-like member and said playing members for raising the inner cylinder and a playing piece located thereon simultaneously as a playing member is pivoted by a game player to move the respective hoop toward said cup-like member, wherein said means includes {it a track formed on the inside of the base structure, (ii) a pair of spring-biased control plates slidably mounted adjoining each other on said track each con trol plate having a first end engaging the lever of one of the playing members extending into the base structure and a second end engageable with a portion of the inner cylinder extending into the base structure, the first ends of the control plates being positioned in opposite directions to each other, and (iii) a spring connected to the control plates to urge the first ends inwardly towards the center of the base structure for biasing the playing members into a normally upwardly extended direction, and wherein each control plate is slidably moved against the bias of the spring to urge the inner cylinder upwardly by the pushing of the playing member against the control plate when said playing member is manually actuated by a game player; and (e) actuating means operatively connected to the platform sections and operable by the game players for independently moving the platform sections up and down, said platform actuating means including a pair of levers pivotally mounted within the base structure, each lever having one end operatively connected to a respective platform section and the other end formed as a push button extending from the base structure adjacent a respective playing member for manual movement by a game player.

18. The amusement game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.