GB2184954A - Rolling ball toy - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy 10 comprises two strings 20 which when held taut form a pair of parallel rails along which a ball 30 may roll. When the strings are relaxed from their taut state, the ball will fall from the strings toward a plurality of targets 31a-e. It is an object of the game to release the tension on the strings so as to hit a target with the ball. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rolling Ball Toy This invention relates to apparatus for playing a game wherein the object is hit a target with a ball.

Many such toys and games are known in which various difficulties and obstacles make the task of hitting a target with a ball more or less difficult for the player. These games have the advantage that in addition to providing the player with fun and enjoyment, they also teach a degree of hand and eye co-ordination since the skill required can be considerable.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides apparatus for playing a game, comprising two spaced supports, a pair of flexible strands extending between said supports, means associated with at least one of said supports for holding said strands taut between said supports in the manner of a pair of rails on which a ball may roll, and a plurality of targets spaced along and beneath the said strands, when taut, upon which a said ball may be dropped by relaxing the said strands.

With this arrangement when the strands are held taut they form a pair of parallel rails along which the ball may roll. When they are relaxed the ball will fall from the strands and, hopefully, onto one of the targets.

In a preferred embodiment the strands are held taut by means of a pivotable lever to which the strands are fixed, so that when the lever is pivoted the strands are held taut and when the lever is released the strands relax.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a generally rectangular box having at least one transparent wall, and the supports comprise opposed end walls of said box.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of apparatus according to the invention with the strands held taut, Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the embodiment of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, Figs. 3A and 3B are respectively views arrows IIIA and 1118 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the strands in their relaxed condition.

Referring to the Figures, apparatus 10 comprises a rectangular box formed from side walls 14, 15 (Fig.

2), end walls 12, 13, base 16 and cover 11 (Fig. 3). At least some, and preferably all but the base 16, of these walls are formed of transparent plastic, such as perspex, so that the interior of the box can be readily seen.

Disposed within the box are a pair of flexible strands such as strings 20. These strands are anchored to end wall 12 at a lower portion thereof and extend to the opposite end wall 13 through which they pass at a higher portion thereof and are connected to means 22 able to hold the strands taut in a tensioned state. As will be seen from Fig. 2 in particular the strings, at least when tensioned, extend parallel to the side walls 14, 15 and are spaced a distance 1 from the nearest side wall 14, 15. This distance 1 is generally about 1/3 the distance between the side walls.

Tensioning means 22 comprises a crank lever 23 which is pivotable about a shaft extending between two support plates 21 which are in turn affixed to the end wall 13. The strings are attached to one end of the crank lever so that when the lever is pivoted in a clockwise direction the strands are put under tension and held taut. This pivoting is achieved simply by applying a force to the long arm of the crank lever so that the position shown in Fig. 3 is achieved. When this force is released the lever rotates in an anti-clockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 4 wherein the strings are in their relaxed condition.

When the strings 20 are held taut they act as a pair of parallel rails along which a metal ball 30 may roll.

However when the tension of the strings is released the strings will relax to the position shown in Fig. 4 and will be unable to support the weight of the ball which will fall from the strings towards the base 16.

The object of the toy is to release the tension from the strings at such a time that the ball falls onto one of a number of targets such as cups 31 are These cups are disposed in a line on the base 16 directly beneath the tensioned strings 20. This object could of course be achieved in several different ways. For example the toy could be held still and the ball allowed to roll down the slope of the tensioned strings until the tension is released to drop the ball, hopefully at the right time.

Alternatively the toy may be tilted from side to side, with the ball on the tensioned strings, until the ball is directly over a cup, at which point the tension is released. If this method of playing the game is preferred it is of course not necessary for the strings to be mounted at an angle to the base.

The cups 31 aye need not all be the same size. if they are different sizes then the difficulty in dropping the ball into a particular cup will depend on the size of the cup. It would be possible to associate each cup with a different number of points which may be scored when a ball is successfully dropped into the cup.

In order to prevent damage to the plastic end wall 12 when it is repeatedly struck by the metal ball 30, the end wall is provided with a pair of soft resilient buffers 32, Fig. 3A, which are capable of absorbing the impact of the metal bail after it has rolled down the tensioned strings.

Access to the interior of the box is provided so that after a successful or unsuccessful drop of the ball, the ball may be recovered and replaced on the tensioned strings. To provide this access the cover 11 may be openable or removable, or even may be dispensed with entirely. However it will be appreciated that access may be gained to the interior of the box by any suitable method, for example a side wall 14, 15 may be openable or removable.

Clearly variations of the method of playing with the apparatus are possible. Instead of the player releasing the tension on the strings at a desired time, this may be done automatically after a certain time (predetermined or otherwise) by means of a timing device. It would then be up to the player to ensure that the ball is in the correct place when the tension is released.

It is to be clearly understood that there are no particular features of the foregoing specification, or of any claims appended hereto, which are at present regarded as being essential to the performance of the present invention, and that any one or more of such features or combinations thereof may therefore be included in, added to, omitted from or deleted from any of such claims if and when amended during the prosecution of this application or in the filing or prosecution of any divisional application based thereon.

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for playing a game, comprising two spaced supports, a pair of flexible strands extending between said supports, means associated with at least one of said supports for holding said strands taut between said supports in the manner of a pair of rails on which a ball may roll, and a plurality of targets spaced along and beneath the said strands, when taut, upon which a said ball may be dropped by relaxing the said strands.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for holding the strands taut comprises a pivotable lever and said strands are fixed at one end of said lever, whereby when said lever is pivoted in one direction said strands are held taut, and when said lever is pivoted in the other direction said strands are allowed to relax.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 comprising a generally rectangular box having at least one transparent wall, wherein said supports comprise opposed end walls of said box.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein said targets are of differing sizes.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein said targets are the same size.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said strands are held taut for a period of time determined by an automatic timing means.

7. Apparatus for playing a game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.