US2404652A - Bounce ball game - Google Patents

Description

y 1946 z. PLEBANEK 2,404,552

BOUNCE BALL GAME FiledApril 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l mirzvenio leorzg d ZPZemzek Y i filer/29.

July 23, 19 L. z. PLEBANEK 2,404,652

BOUNCE BALL GAME Filed April 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiwent or a WM Leozzarg zPleanek Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OSFFICE Leonard Z. Plebanek, Chicago, 111., assignor of one-third to Charles J. Strebel, and one-third to Anthony Bird Application April 1, 1944, Serial No. 529,136

V 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a bounce ball game which may be substituted for the usual pin ball game and concerns itself primarily with a structure in which the balls are projected into space for descension upon a platform from which they are adapted to bounce toward a target having a plurality of target holes toward any one of which the ball may be projected for registering a score.

It is an object of this invention to provide in such a game a certain amount of skill in the provision of a rotatable projector or cannon which is adapted to be swung in azimuth and sighted upon any desired target hole or adjusted thuswise that the projected ball will pass thru the desired target hole.

It is a further object of this invention to pro vide means for returning the projected balls to the proper position for permitting the same to be again projected from the cannon.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference characters refer to similar features in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken in a longitudinal direction thru an apparatus involving this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken thru the ball projecting mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus with a part of the cover broken away and Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In referring to the drawings, it will be noted means as is well known in the art. The balls that pass thru target holes are adapted to return thru a hole 8a in the target panel and travel over circuitous paths on the floor 1 as they strike the pins 12 thereon until they drop or descend thru an aperture I-3 in the floor I and fall upon the return runway floor 6.

The halls descending thru the apertures l3 are adapted to operate electric switches M for controlling scoring means as is common in such apparatus. These switches are carried by the bottom of the runway floor 6 which it will be noted slopes downwardly toward the :frontend of the aparatus whereby the balls are caused to rollby gravity toward the front end of the apQ- paratus against the guide I5 (Figs. 3 and 4). The guide I5 which may be in the form of a low wall or rib has a passage l6 toward which the lateral portions of the guide converge as shown in Fig. 3.

The passage I6 is normally closed or obstructed by a finger H which prevents the balls from entering said passage 16. Before a ball from the runway floor 6 can enter the passage IE1, it is necessary to push the finger ll rearwardly in its guide slot [8 in the floor 6 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The finger I! is on the end of an angular rod I9 attached to a slide 20 slida-bly mounted in a coin box bearing 21 and provided with a coin slot 22. The slide 20 is connected by a spring 23 with the wall of the casing and its return or outward movement is controlled by a dash pot 24 connected thereto. This dash pot is designed to retard the return movement of the slide 20 to such an extent that five balls will that the operative parts of the invention are housed in a casing 5 having a transparent cover 5a which extends downwardly a considerable distance at the front end of the casing in ordei to bring the projector into view from the exterior for sighting purposes. This casing is provided with a lower runway floor 6 for receiving the balls from an upper runway fioor l.

A target plate or panel 8 rises from the runway floor I at a rearward slope. This target plate is provided with target hole 9 thru which the players try to have the balls pass after they pass or bounce from the floor 1 which is provided with a steel insert I'll upon which theballs area dapted to drop for bouncing toward the panel target. The balls that pass thru target holes are adapted to close electric switches II that control scoring pass from the playingfield into the passage [6 before the passage is again obstructed by the finger. These five balls may be obtained by the insertion of a coin and may be used to constitute a players allotment.

The passage 16 communicates laterally with the lower portion of a bore 25 in a tube-like member 26 and a rotatable projector orcanncn 21 which rotatably telescopes in the upturned end of said member as shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the upper end of the member 26 curves and that the projector 21 extends vertically for a distance and then curves into a straight por tion 21a which is slightly tilted in an upward direction for retaining the balls in the bore of the projector by friction. The curved portions of the bore allow the balls to freely move therein. It will be noted that the bore 25 is normally filled with balls 28 so that an impact from one to the other can be used for discharging them one at a time from the projector 21.

an impact ball in that it is never projected but always remains in contact with the plunger head. To maintain said ball 28a in its impact position,

suitable projections or lugs 3| are preferably pr-' 29 and release the same, whereby the spring 39 will snap the plunger back. and cause its head 29a to strike the first ball 28a and impart an impact to the series of balls for discharging the foremost ball in the series. The discharged ball will take a trajectory similar to the dotted line 48 shown in Fig. 1 and descend upon the bouncing platform Ill from which it will bounce toward the target panel along a line indicated by the reference 49 and enter a target hole 9 and eventually registering a score provided, of course, that the i player made a perfect shot. To fire the second vided in the bore 25 slightly in advance of said I ball 28a as shown in Fig. 2. When the plunger 29 is pulled outwardly and released, the spring 30 which has been put under tension, will snap the plunger back and cause its head 29a to strike the ball 28a and impart to it an impact which will be transmitted thru the whole series of balls and cause the end or furthermost ball to be discharged vfrom the projector and descend upon the receiving plate I0 and bounce therefrom toward the target panel or a target'hole therein depending upon the skill of the played in adjusting the projector as will later more fully appear.

After a ball has been discharged, it is necessary to advance the series of balls in the bore 25 the distance of the diameter of one ball in order to bring the outermost all into discharging position. Mechanism for accomplishing this purpose has been provided in the provision of a rock pawl 32 which is secured upon a rock shaft 33 below the floor 6. This pawl 32 extends thru a suitable slot 34 (Fig. 2) in the floor 6 and is adapted for engaging the ball adjacent the impact ball 28a and shift the same with the entire series ahead into the position shown in Fig. 2 whereby a space is provided between the first two balls for the entrance of a ball by gravity from the passage It as shown in Fig. 2. A holding pawl 35 which is pivoted to the'wall of the tube-like member 25 extends thru a slot 36 therein and holds the series of balls in their advanced position by its contact with the lowermost ball in the advanced series. A hand operated rod 31 which extends thru the front wall of the casing is connected to the rock shaft 33 by means of the crank arm 38. A coil spring 39 connects said rod 3! with the casing for normally drawing and holding the shaft 33 and pawl 32 in inoperative position, The series of advanced balls are held in proper position by a spring pressed friction pad 21b mounted in a slot cut in the end of the projector 21 and supported by a leaf spring 210 (Fig. 1).

The projector 21 in addition to its telescopic bearing is rotatably mounted in a bearing 40a on a bracket 40 supported upon the runway floor 6. A suitable gear 4| is secured upon the projector 21 between the bearings and this gear is engaged by a small gear or pinion 42 (Fig. 3) fast upon an operating rod 43 journalled in a bearing 44 on said bracket 40 and extending thru the front wall of the casing where it is provided with-an operating handle 45.

ball, the player must push the rod 31 inwardly and swing pawl 32 rearwardly and advance the series of balls minus the ball 28a the distance of one ballas shown in Fig. 2. A ball from the passage I6 will now roll by gravity into the vacant space between the ball 28a and the first ball in the advanced series thereby loading the apparatus for a second shot. In this manner, a player may fire five balls from the projector.

After five balls have been fired as. above explained, it becomes necessary to replenish the supply passage I6 by inserting a coin and pushing By turning the operating handle 45 and its gear 42, the projector 21 will be rotated in azimuth. The straight portion 21a of the projector is preferably provided with a sighting barrel or portion 46 (Fig. 1) having a sight 4'! thereon.

In Figures 1, 3 and 4, the apparatus is shown with five balls in position for a player to make five shots.- Such player will adjust the projector, if necessary. and sight the same upon one of the target holes 9. He will then pull out the plunger the slide 20 inwardly to open the mouth of the passage for the entrance of the five fired balls which shall have been returned, before another operation.

Thus by inserting a coin, and pushing in the slide 20, a player puts the machine in position for firing'five balls as heretofore explained. It is hence unnecessary to employ an attendant in connection with the use of such an apparatus.

Then the features of sighting the projector at the target and firing the balls therefrom into space for descending and bouncing in the direction of the target produces a far more interesting game than the common form of. pin .ball game now in use. Thru theadjustments of the projector, a certain amount of skill comes into play which greatly enhances the value of the game.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various details of construction may be varied Without departing from the principles of this invention so I do not propose limiting thepatent byranted thereon otherwise than necessitated the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a device of the class described, a ball projecting mechanism including a member having a bore for receiving a series of balls in contacting relation, means for projecting said balls, a'runway floor for receivingsaid balls after projection, means defining a ball guideway from said runway floor to the bore in said member, means for controlling said guideway for thepassage of a pre determined number of balls, means for advancing said series of balls in said bore, means for retaining said series in such advanced positionv and means for advancing a ball from said guideway into said bore into contacting relation with said series.

2. In a device of the class described, a ball projector having a bore for receiving a series of balls in contacting relation, means for projecting said balls one at a time, a return runway for the projected balls including a passage leading to said bore, means for controlling said passagefor the passage of a predetermined number of balls,

' LEONARD Z. PLE BANE K,

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