GB2133991A - Game apparatus with momentum transfer array - Google Patents

Abstract

Players use shooting mechanisms (32) in an attempt to propel shooting balls (13) along inclined trough-like structures (26) into sockets (24) on opposite sides of an array of contacting spherical momentum transfer members (12). The propelled balls can transfer their momentum through the array to displace an opponent's shooting balls from the sockets on his side of the array. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game with momentum transfer array Background of the Invention The present invention relates to games of the type in which players compete to be the first to propel a number of balls into sockets.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an entertaining game by which players compete to be the first to propel a number of shooting balls into a row of adjacent sockets while displacing any similar shooting balls that their opponent may have propelled into his adjacent sockets via momentum transfer through an array of momentum transfer members between the rows of sockets.

The game according to the present invention comprises a frame of a suitable polymeric material inciuding a central platform having an upper surface, and means for supporting the ordered array of momentum transfer members along the surface with the peripheries of adjacent transfer members in the array in contact, while affording limited movement of the transfer members in the array. The platform has sockets along the surface, each of which sockets is adapted to receive a shooting ball, and has rows of such sockets along opposite sides of the array, with each socket in each row positioned so that the periphery of the adjacent transfer member in the array can contact the periphery of one of the shooting balls in the socket.Trough-like structures extend away from the sockets on the opposite sides of the array, each of which trough-like structures has an upper surface inclined away from the sockets and adapted to contain the shooting balls in the trough-like structure between the adjacent sockets and its opposite end. Separate shooting means are provided at the ends of each troughlike structure that are adapted to be individually manually activated-for propelling the shooting balls toward the adjacent sockets along the upper surfaces of the trough-like members.

To play the game, each player starts with a number of the shooting balls in his trough-like structure equal to the number of sockets on the adjacent side of the array. The players then manually activate their shooting means in an attempt to propel their shooting balls into those sockets, while the shooting balls which are not retained by the sockets roll back to the shooting means because of the inclined upper surface of the trough-like members. Should one player propel one or more of his shooting balls into the adjacent sockets, the other players can impact the central array of transfer members or one of his shooting balls already in one of his sockets adjacent the array which will transfer the momentum of the impacting shooting ball (which may then stay in one of the sockets) to that player's shooting balls to dislodge them from the sockets.The game can be played, for example, until one player is successful in propelling all of his shooting balls into the adjacent sockets, whereupon he is the winner.

Brief Description of the Drawing The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing where like numbers refer to like parts in several views, and wherein: Figure 1 is a top plan view having parts broken away to show details of a game according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximateiy along line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing action of shooting balls and momentum transfer members in the game of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing means of attachment between parts of the frame of the game of Figure 1.

Detailed Description Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a game according to the present invention generally designated -by the reference numeral 1 0.

The game 10 includes a plurality of hard resiliently elastic spherical momentum transfer members 12, and a plurality of hard resiliently elastic spherical shooting bails 13 which may be the same size and shape as the transfer members 12. Both the transfer members 12 and the shooting balls 1 3 may be of any suitable resilient elastic material and may be different in colors for identification.Also included is a frame 14 which comprises a central platform 1 6 having a square upper surface 18, and means comprising spaced sockets 20 and spaced upwardly projecting pins 22 along the surface 1 8 for supporting an ordered rectangular array of nine of the transfer members 1 2 with the peripheries of adjacent transfer members 12 in contact, while affording limited movement of the transfer members 12 within the array along the surface 1 8. The platform 1 6 also has a row of sockets 24 along each side of the array, each of which sockets 24 is adapted to receive any one of the shooting balls 1 3 with each socket 24 in each row positioned so that the periphery of the adjacent transfer member 1 2 in the array can contact the periphery of one of the shooting balls 13 in the socket 24. The frame 14 also includes four trough-like structures or troughs 26 with each trough 26 extending normally away from the row of sockets on a different side of the array. Each trough 26 has an upper surface 28 inclined downwardly away from the adjacent row of the sockets 24 and has upwardly projecting side walls 29 flanking the surface 28 that retain the shooter balls 13 on the inclined surface 28 of the trough 26 between the adjacent row of sockets 24 and an opposite end 30 of the trough 26.A ballshooting mechanism 32 is disposed at said opposite end 30 of each trough 26, so that the four shooting mechanisms 32 provide separate means adapted to be individually manually activated for propelling the shooting balls 1 3 toward the adjacent sockets 24 along the inclined surfaces 28.

Each ball-shooting mechanism 32 comprises an inverted cup-like housing 34 mounted on one of the troughs 26 for rotation about its axis which is oriented at a right angle with respect to the inclined surface 28 of the trough 26, which housing 34 essentially closes a space between the ends of the side walls 29 of the trough 26. The housing 34 has an opening 36 along the inclined surface 28 adapted to receive one of the shooting balls 13, and has a spring member 38 having one end fixed on the housing 34, a central portion aligned with the opening 36, and a manually engageable end portion 40 projecting from the periphery of the housing 34, and adapted to be manually deflected generally away from the platform 1 6 and released so that the spring member 38 can propel a shooting ball 13 in the opening 36 toward the sockets 24 and the array.

While the ball-shooting mechanisms 32 illustrated are preferred, it will be appreciated that many other known ball-shooting mechanisms could be substituted.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the frame 14 may also include a cap plate 42 extending across and being coextensive with the upper surface 1 8 of the platrorm 16, and having a periphery edge projecting toward the surface 1 8. The cap plate 42 is mounted on the platform 1 6 via pins 44 projecting from the cap plate 42 and slidably received in cylindrical sockets on the platform 1 6 for movement in a direction perpendicular to the surface 18 between (1) a play position (Figures 2 and 4) spaced from the array and shooting balls 1 3 in the sockets 24, which play position allows the game 10 to be played; and (2) a storage position (not shown) with its lower surface contacting and containing the array and the shooting balls 13 in the sockets 24.

To facilitate storage, the troughs 26 are releasably attached to the platform 1 6 via spaced pairs of spaced lugs 46 projecting from each trough 26 that will resiliently spread to engage or disengage a rod 48 fixed on the platform 16.

To play the game 10, each player starts with three of the shooting balls 1 3, one for each of the sockets 24 on the adjacent side of the array. All of the players then manually activate and rotate their ball-shooting mechanisms 32 in an attempt to propel their three shooting balls 1 3 into the adjacent row of sockets 24, while the shooting balls 13 which do not fall into the sockets 24 roll back to the shooting mechanism 32 along the inclined surface 28. Should one player propel one or more of his shooting balls 13 into the adjacent sockets 24, the other players can impact the central array of transfer members 1 2 or one of his shooting balls 13 already in one of his sockets which contacts the array which will transfer the momentum of the impacting shooting ball 13 (which may then stay in one of the sockets) to that player's shooting balls 13 to dislodge them from the sockets 24. The game can be played, for example, until one player is successful in propelling all of his shooting balls 13 into the adjacent sockets 24, whereupon he is the winner.

Claims (6)

1. A game comprising: a plurality of hard elastic momentum transfer members; a plurality of hard elastic shooting balls; a frame comprising a central platform having an upper surface and means for supporting said transfer members in an ordered array along said surface with the peripheries of adjacent transfer members in contact while affording limited movement of said transfer members within- said array, said platform having sockets along said surface each adapted to receive one of said shooting balls and having rows of said sockets along opposite sides of said array, with each socket positioned so that the periphery of the adjacent transfer member can contact the periphery of one of the shooting balls in said socket, and trough-like structures extending away from the sockets on said opposite sides of said array, each trough-like structure having an upper inclined surface inclined downwardly away from said sockets and having side wall means adapted to retain said shooting balls on said inclined surface between the adjacent sockets and an opposite end of said trough-like structure; and separate means at said opposite ends of said trough-like structures adapted to be individually manually activated for propelling said shooter balls toward said adjacent sockets along said inclined surfaces.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein said transfer members are spherical, and said array is rectangular and has three transfer members along each side.

3. A game according to claim 1 wherein said array is rectangular, said platform has a row of sockets along each side of said array, and said frame includes four trough-like structures each extending away from a different side of said array.

4. A game according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3 wherein said separate means adapted for manual activation are pivotable to afford propelling said shooter balls toward any one of the sockets in said adjacent row.

5. A game according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3 wherein said frame and said trough-like members are releasably engageable, and said frame further includes a cap plate extending across said surface and having a peripheral edge projecting toward said surface, said cap plate being mounted on said platform for movement in a direction perpendicular to said surface between a play position spaced from said array and shooter balls in said socket, and a storage position contacting and retaining said array on said upper surfaces and said shooter balls in said sockets.

6. A game as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.