GB2185899A - Toy basketball game - Google Patents

Abstract

A toy basketball game comprises a base 1 having a playing area and a respective ball-receiving basket 9, 10 located at and above each end of the playing area. The playing area is provided with a plurality of cavities 3 from which a ball P can be driven towards one or other of the baskets 9, 10 by means of an air jet from a respective nozzle 8 provided in each of the cavities 3. The air jets are created by depression of associated bellows. Drive of the ball P by a jet F by one player can be deflected by a jet F' by the other player. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy basketball game This invention relates to a toy basketball game.

There are already several toys for the purpose of playing the game of basketball, most of them having mechanical means of the lever type or similar for driving the bali, these games generally comprising a base with several ball-receiving cavities from which the ball is driven by associated motion of levers.

These already known toys, in addition to the complexity of their general structure and control means which make the toys expensive and heavy, suffer the serious drawback that if one player makes several consecutive moves with the intention of scoring a goal by directing the ball into a basket, the other player cannot obstruct the ball and cannot enter into the game until a basket is scored or the ball falls into one of the cavities assigned to the ball controls of the said other player.

The present invention aims to overcome the above drawback by providing a toy basketball game in which two or more players participating in the game can continually play because they either have the ball or have the opportunity of snatching it from their opponent or of deflecting the ball from the path driven by another player.

According to the invention, there is provided a toy basketball game comprising a base having a playing area and a respective ball-receiving basket located at and above each end of the playing area, wherein the playing area is provided with a plurality of cavities from which a ball can be driven towards one or other of the baskets and wherein ball driving is achieved by means of an air jet from a respective nozzle provided in each of said cavities, said air jets being created by depression of associated bellows.

Preferably, each cavity is provided with a nozzle connected to a bellows by a duct. According to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of bellows are provided, each bellows being connected to one or more nozzles by a duct or ducts.

The toy basketball game according to the invention is therefore based on ball driving by means of air jets provided by the players with a bellows type control so that when the ball is in the air the two opponent players can perform against the ball to deflect it from its path and thus each player has an equal opportunity to snatch the ball from his opponent and to prevent the ball from entering the basket and thus of preventing the opponent from scoring.

The toy basketball game according to the invention does not contain any mechanism and with a single control, air driving towards one or more of the nozzles provided in each of the cavities can be obtained, said nozzles being conveniently guided according to their location in the cavities.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure lisa partially fragmented side elevation of one embodiment of a toy basketball game according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the game shown in Fig.

1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the toy basketball game according to the invention comprises a base 1 having a peripheral face or handrail, a plurality of cavities 3, conveniently distributed in accordance with basic rules of the game of basketball, and playing lines 4 marked on the base 1.

At both sides of base 1 there are three controls 5a, 5b, Sc and 5a'; 5b', 5c' formed by respective pushbuttons which are arranged to operate respective bellows 6 which via flexible ducts 7 are arranged to drive air through nozzles 8 located in associated holes 8' at the bottom of the cavities 3.

The cavities 3 are suitably inclined to direct the respective air jets from the nozzles 8 towards the areas at which respective baskets 9 and 10 are provided at the ends of the base 1. The baskets 9 and 10 are mounted on respective boards or panels 11 which in turn are mounted on respective arms 12 which are secured to the fence or handrail 2 of the base. Scoreboards 13 are mounted on the boards or panels 11 to extend above the upper edge thereof.

Two or more players can participate in the game according to the invention and each pushbutton or control is connected to two nozzles, so that when a player throws the ball P from a cavity 3 as can be seen by the arrow F in Figure 1, the opponent player, by depressing the associated control can direct a jet of air F' at the ball when it is in the air by depressing an appropriate one of his pushbuttons or controls and in this way can deflect the ball from its initial path towards the opponent's basket or into one of the cavities 3. Thus, by suitable depression of the pushbuttons or controls 5a, 5b, Sc and 5a', 5b', 5c' the players can play a game of basketball.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The toy basketball game according to the invention can be manufactured in any suitable shape or size, with the most suitable means and materials and with any suitable accessories which may be deemed necessary or desirable.

1. A toy basketball game comprising a base having a playing area and a respective ball-receiving basket located at and above each end of the playing area, wherein the playing area is provided with a plurality of cavities from which a ball can be driven towards one or other of the baskets and wherein ball driving is achieved by means of an air jet from a respective nozzle provided in each of said cavities, and air jets being created by depression of associated bellows.

2. Atoy basketball game according to claim 1, wherein each cavity is provided with a nozzle connected to a bellows by a duct.

3. Atoy basketball game according to claim 2,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Toy basketball game This invention relates to a toy basketball game. There are already several toys for the purpose of playing the game of basketball, most of them having mechanical means of the lever type or similar for driving the bali, these games generally comprising a base with several ball-receiving cavities from which the ball is driven by associated motion of levers. These already known toys, in addition to the complexity of their general structure and control means which make the toys expensive and heavy, suffer the serious drawback that if one player makes several consecutive moves with the intention of scoring a goal by directing the ball into a basket, the other player cannot obstruct the ball and cannot enter into the game until a basket is scored or the ball falls into one of the cavities assigned to the ball controls of the said other player. The present invention aims to overcome the above drawback by providing a toy basketball game in which two or more players participating in the game can continually play because they either have the ball or have the opportunity of snatching it from their opponent or of deflecting the ball from the path driven by another player. According to the invention, there is provided a toy basketball game comprising a base having a playing area and a respective ball-receiving basket located at and above each end of the playing area, wherein the playing area is provided with a plurality of cavities from which a ball can be driven towards one or other of the baskets and wherein ball driving is achieved by means of an air jet from a respective nozzle provided in each of said cavities, said air jets being created by depression of associated bellows. Preferably, each cavity is provided with a nozzle connected to a bellows by a duct. According to one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of bellows are provided, each bellows being connected to one or more nozzles by a duct or ducts. The toy basketball game according to the invention is therefore based on ball driving by means of air jets provided by the players with a bellows type control so that when the ball is in the air the two opponent players can perform against the ball to deflect it from its path and thus each player has an equal opportunity to snatch the ball from his opponent and to prevent the ball from entering the basket and thus of preventing the opponent from scoring. The toy basketball game according to the invention does not contain any mechanism and with a single control, air driving towards one or more of the nozzles provided in each of the cavities can be obtained, said nozzles being conveniently guided according to their location in the cavities. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure lisa partially fragmented side elevation of one embodiment of a toy basketball game according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the game shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows. Referring to the drawings, the toy basketball game according to the invention comprises a base 1 having a peripheral face or handrail, a plurality of cavities 3, conveniently distributed in accordance with basic rules of the game of basketball, and playing lines 4 marked on the base 1. At both sides of base 1 there are three controls 5a, 5b, Sc and 5a'; 5b', 5c' formed by respective pushbuttons which are arranged to operate respective bellows 6 which via flexible ducts 7 are arranged to drive air through nozzles 8 located in associated holes 8' at the bottom of the cavities 3. The cavities 3 are suitably inclined to direct the respective air jets from the nozzles 8 towards the areas at which respective baskets 9 and 10 are provided at the ends of the base 1. The baskets 9 and 10 are mounted on respective boards or panels 11 which in turn are mounted on respective arms 12 which are secured to the fence or handrail 2 of the base. Scoreboards 13 are mounted on the boards or panels 11 to extend above the upper edge thereof. Two or more players can participate in the game according to the invention and each pushbutton or control is connected to two nozzles, so that when a player throws the ball P from a cavity 3 as can be seen by the arrow F in Figure 1, the opponent player, by depressing the associated control can direct a jet of air F' at the ball when it is in the air by depressing an appropriate one of his pushbuttons or controls and in this way can deflect the ball from its initial path towards the opponent's basket or into one of the cavities 3. Thus, by suitable depression of the pushbuttons or controls 5a, 5b, Sc and 5a', 5b', 5c' the players can play a game of basketball. The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment but modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The toy basketball game according to the invention can be manufactured in any suitable shape or size, with the most suitable means and materials and with any suitable accessories which may be deemed necessary or desirable. CLAIMS

1. A toy basketball game comprising a base having a playing area and a respective ball-receiving basket located at and above each end of the playing area, wherein the playing area is provided with a plurality of cavities from which a ball can be driven towards one or other of the baskets and wherein ball driving is achieved by means of an air jet from a respective nozzle provided in each of said cavities, and air jets being created by depression of associated bellows.

2. Atoy basketball game according to claim 1, wherein each cavity is provided with a nozzle connected to a bellows by a duct.

3. Atoy basketball game according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of bellows are provided, each bellows being connected to one or more nozzles by a duct or ducts.

4. Atoy basketball game substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.