US3023003A - Toy game gun and table including ball control - Google Patents

Description

R. B. HAYTER Feb. 27, 1962 TOY GAME GUN AND TABLE INCLUDING BALL CONTROL Filed Nov. 24, 195 8 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Q/a/mrd 5. flay @qrroR 4 Feb. 27, 1962 R. B. HAYTER 3,023,003

TOY GAME GUN AND TABLE INCLUDING BALL CONTROL Filed Nov. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. R/chdfid 5. Hayfer 7 17/ E g m'roklv 4 United States Patent This invention relates to a game assembly and has for its primary object to provide toy structure which serves not only as amusement means but also has educational value for young and Old persons alike.

It is a further important object of the invention to provide a toy assembly comprising a number of cooperaole units which permit various types of games to be played while at the same time assuring that the play time is not wasted by virtue of the inherent educational features of the game components.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a game board having a novel ball control unit mounted thereon for guiding balls along a selected path of travel onto the game board, as well as an improved gun for imparting movement to the balls in a direction toward the game board whereby the player may utilize the equipment to play a substantially unlimited number of difierent types of games and with the different components of the assembly constructed in a manner to encourage the persons skill during successive playing periods while also teaching the player, particularly if the same is in a younger age bracket, various important educational facts.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a toy assembly as referred to, having a number of mutually cooperable components permitting the player or players to employ the'separate units in a number of ways, whereby 7 interest is maintained over a long period of time and maximum utilization of the equipment is assured.

Other important objects of the invention relate to the provision of a toy assembly wherein certain of the units include a novel ball control swingably mounted on a game board in a manner to permit the player to direct balls or the like onto thegame board in selected directions to thereby push over objects initially placed on the game board or to cause the balls to become emplaced within recesses provided within the upper surface of the game board; to a ball control as described above wherein more than one han may be directed onto the game board substantially simultaneously; to a ball control comprising a funnel-shaped member serving to guide the balls onto the game board in a selected direction upon displacement of such balls from a support adjustably carried by the funnel-shaped member; to an improved toy gun having a projectile therein adapted to cause balls or the like disposedon the support of the ball control unit to be displaced therefrom in a direction to be guided onto the board when the gun is actuated to cause the projectile thereof to be ejected from the barrel of the gun; to a toy gun as referred to above constructed in an improved manner to assure long life of the same and provide amusement to various ages of children by virtue of the many ways in which the gun can be utilized; to a toy assembly wherein the game board is adapted to have a number of educational indicla on the upper face thereof to teach the players educational facts during playing of games; and to other important objects which will become obvious or be explained more fully as the following specification progresses.

' 3,023,003 Patented Feb. 27, 1952 In the drawings: 7

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of certain components of the instant toy assembly and particularly illustrating the game board and ball control normally pivotally mounted thereon, certain parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken substantially on the irregular line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; i 7

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a toy gun constitut ing one component or" the present toy assembly;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken substantially on the lines 5-5 and 66 respectively of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged, detailed, vertical, cross-sectional view of the gun shown in FIG. 4; and

PEG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of PEG. 7. v v

A toy assembly broadly designated 10 and illustrated in the drawings in its preferred form includes as basic components, a game board 12 a ball control unit 14 and a toy gun l6.

Game board 12 comprises a flat panel 18 constructed of wood, reinforced cardboard, fiberboard, or equivalent sub-stances and normally supported in a substantially horizontal position by collapsible legs 26 each positioned at a corresponding corner of panel 18. 7 Panel 18 is rectangular in configuration and is surrounded by an upright, continuous rail 22 secured to the peripheral margin of panel 18 by virtue of groove 24 in the normally inner surface of rail 22 receiving the defined margin of panel 18.

.tration only, game board 12 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as having four groups of circles 28, 30, 32 and 34, each arranged in substantially triangular configuration. and having the name of one of the States therein-as well as the capital of such State if so desired, Each of. the groups of circles 28, 34B, 32 and 34 has twelve circles therein, while a central circle 36 is provided to complete the fortynine States of the Union. In order to increase the educational value of the informationplaced within the circles of groups 28, 3t), 32 and 34, as Well as circle 3.6,th'e different States are grouped into geographical areas indicated North, West, South and East, with the Statesin such areas placed within corresponding circles of the groups so designated. For example, asshown FIG. 1,

circles 28 are designated West, groups of circles 3!! labeled South, circles 32 designated East, while groups of circles 34 have the Northern States therein and centralcircle 36 has the name Alaska placed therein.

For reasons to be made clearer hereinafter, it iss also preferred that a pair of series 38 and 4,0 of depressions 42 be formed in the upper face 26 of panel 18 in staggered, offset relationship along opposed, parallel, longitudinal margins of game board 12. Depjressidns 42 are preferably semispherical in configuration so that balls or the like may be emplaced within the same. i I

Ball control unit 14 adapted to be utilized in conjunction with game board l2'comprises a tubular, substantially funnel shaped member 44 constructed of a sheet of flexible material such as polyethylene or like, with opp edges thereof o ppe t prese the illus- P1655 or the l ke A ball support broadly designated 46 is mounted on the end 48 of funnel-shaped member 44 having the largest diameter, and includes a main hall support arm 56 preferably constructed of suitable synthetic resin mate- 'rial and having a relatively shallow, semispherical, up-

wardly facing depression 52 adapted to receive a small portion of a spherical object such as a rubber ball 54.

Means for mounting 50 within end 48 of member 44 comprises a fiat-headed, threaded bolt 56 extending through an opening 58 in arm 50 as well as through a perforation 60 in the wall of member 44. Head 62 of bolt 56 flatly engages the normally uppermost surface of arm 50 while the threaded segment 64 of bolt 56 is complementally received within a bore 66 in cylindrical pivot element 68, also constructed of synthetic resin material. A pivot pin segment 70 integral with element 68 and in alignment with the axis of the latter is adapted to be rotatably disposed within one of the openings 72 provided therefor in panel 18 adjacent respective margins thereof. A rubber washer 74 surrounding pin segment 70 and engaging the proximal shoulder surface of pivot element 68 is normally disposed between the latter and face 26 of panel 18 when pin segment 70 is positioned Within one of the openings 72.

A secondary ball mount broadly numerated 76 is also attached to arm 50 and includes an extension 78 joined to the upper face of arm 50 intermediate end 80 thereof and bolt 56, by a suitable adhesive. As best shown in FIG. 1, extension 78 projects laterally from arm 50 and has a tubular component 82 attached to the outer end thereof remote from arm 50 in an upright position as illustrated in FIG. 3. The upper edge 84 of component 82 is beveled to present a substantiallyfrusto-conical sup- .port for ball 54 or a second ball 85 if so desired. Note should be taken of the fact that when a second ball 85 is mounted on ball support 46, ball 85 is disposed above and to one side of ball 54. Also, it can be seen that the outer end 80 of arm 50 projects outwardly from end 48 of member 44, and an aperture 86 is provided in end 80 of arm 50 for reasons to be explained more fully hereinafter. Although member 44 may be of any desired length, it is particularly contemplated that the same be of such length that the small diameter end 88 thereof clears rail 22 when member 44 is swung about the axis of pivot pin segment 70 of element 68.

Means for displacing balls 54 and 85 from support 46 in a novel manner preferably comprises toy gun 16 having a main cylindrical barrel 90 and a control assembly releasably connected thereto at the end 92 of barrel 90 and broadly indicated 94. The major elements of gun 16 are constructed of moldable, synthetic resin material to thereby lower the cost of production of gun 16 and also assuring a long useful life of the same.

Control assembly 94 is formed of two opposed sections 96 and 98 normally maintained in assembled relationship by a screw 100 passing through section 98 and received within section 96.

Each of the sections 96 and 98 has a handle portion 102 as well as a semicylindrical segment 104, with opposed segments 104 cooperating to present a cylindrical portion adapted to be telescoped within end 92 of barrel 90, as clearly shown in FIGS. and 7. A plurality of metal screws or the like (not shown) are preferably employed to maintain barrel 90 in releasable engagement with control assembly 94.

Means for ejecting a spherical projectile 106 from barrel 90 when such projectile is positioned within the same comprises a piston unit broadly designated 108 having a first circular disc 110 provided with a transversely concave, substantially semispherical depression 112 facing toward the outer end 114 of barrel remote from control assembly 94. A second disc 116 disposed rearwardly of disc 112 toward control assembly 94, concentric with disc and normally spaced from the latter, is of substantially equal diameter to disc 110. A crossbar 118 is interposed between discs 110 and 116 and has a pair of opposed recesses 120 intermediate the ends thereof and of sufficient size to receive respective discs 11%) and 116, as best shown in FIG. 5. A tie fastener 122 extending through aligned openings in discs 110 and 116, as well as crossbar 118, is disposed perpendicularly to the latter and has a fiat, outer head 124 engaging the outer concave face of disc 110 and an enlarged segment 126 on the opposite end thereof engaging the outer surface of disc 116 away from crossbar 118.

Opposed, outer ends of bar 118 extend through corresponding elongated slots 128 in barrel 90 and extending longitudinally of the latter, with semicylindrical segments 104 of handle portions 102 having notches 130 therein aligned with slots 128 when barrel 90 is telescoped over semicylindrical segments 104. Crossbar 118 is reciprocable in slots 128 and notches 130 and means for biasing crossbar 118 and thereby discs 110 and 116 toward end 114 of barrel 90 comprises a pair of coil springs 132 hooked over respective outer ends of crossbar 118 externally of barrel 90 and extending longitudi nally of the latter within respective tubes 134 suitably secured to the outer surface of barrel 90, with a plane through the axes of tubes 134 being substantially perpendicular to a plane through the points of interengagement of handle portions 102. The ends of coil springs 132 remote from crossbar 118 are hooked within perforated elements 136 and integral with stops 138 which are of slightly greater diameter than the inside diameter of tubes 134 whereby, when coil springs 132 are hooked into elements 136 and the latter are telescoped within corresponding tubes 134, stops 138 engage the outer edge margins of respective tubes 134 to cause springs 132 to bias crossbar 118 toward the outer end of barrel 90. Semicylindrical sections 140 overlying slots 128 and aligned with respective tubes 134 serve to protect piston unit 108 and also provide clearance for movement of crossbar 118 within slots 128, it being noted that the ends of tubes 134 adjacent piston unit 108 terminate at the commencement points of slots 128. Resilient bumpers 142 attached to crossbar 118 in positions to engage barrel 90 at the terminal points of slots 128 remote from control assembly 94 serve to prevent crossbar 118 from being damaged when moved toward end 114 of barrel 90 by springs 132, and also eliminate noises incident to interengagement of crossbar 118 and barrel 90.

Trigger mechanism broadly designated 144 for releask ably maintaining piston unit 108 at the inner end of its path of travel includes a substantially L-shaped trigger 146 pivotally mounted on section 96 by a pin 148 secured to handle portion 102 of section 96 and rotatably received by trigger 146, it being noted that the normally lowermost portion of trigger 146 is disposed to be moved by a person with his forefinger during grasping of handle portions 102 of control assembly 94, while the upper, normally horizontal portion of trigger 146 underlies cylindrical segments 104 of sections 96 and 98.

A substantially L-shaped latch 150 is pivotally mounted on the upermost horizontal portion of trigger 146 at the outer end thereof, it being noted that latch 150 has a laterally projecting leg 152 adapted to extend through an opening 154 presented by suitable aligned notches in barrel 90 and respective semicylindrical segments 104 of handle portions 102 of control assembly 94. As indicated in FIG. 7, a coil spring 156 housed within trigger 146 and normally bearing against latch 150 biases the latter about pivot point 158 in a direction to move leg 152 of latch 150 through opening 154 and into a position to engage disc 116 between the latter and disc 110. Beveled surface 158 on leg 152 facilitates movement of the lower guide 160 secured to disc 116 over the upper end of leg 152. Another guide 161 in opposed relationship to guide 160 maintains discs 116 and 110 in coaxial relationship with barrel 90, and opposed grooves 162 in semicylindrical segments 104 slidably receive respective guides 160 and 161. Guide 160 has a downwardly facing, beveled surface 164 adapted to engage surface 158 to facilitate swinging f latch 150 downwardly against the action of spring 156 to permit leg 152 to move into engagement with disc 116 between the latter and disc 110, as outlined above.

A crank 166 pivotally mounted on handle portion 104 of section 96 by a pin 168 has an outer leg 170 provided with an upwardly facing notch 172 engageable with the lower end of trigger 146 as shown in FIG. 7. Coil spring 174 interposed between trigger 146 and the normally upright leg portion 176 of crank 166 biases trigger 146 toward a position with the upper, normaily horizontal portion thereof abutting semicylindrical segments 104 and also moving leg portion 170 into engagement with trigger 146 with the lower end thereof received within notch 1'72. Thus, it can be seen that trigger 146 cannot be actuated until after crank 166 has been swung to a location with notch 172 clearing the lower end of trigger 146.

An L-shaped lever element broadly designated 178 is pivotally carried by handle portion 102 of section 96 and has an elongated, normally downwardly extending handle portion 180 and an inner portion 182 substantially at right angles to handle portion 180. A flexible chain or the like 183 interconnects the outer end of inner portion 132 of lever element 17% with enlarged segment 126 of tie fastener 122. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the upright leg portion 176 of crank 166 is disposed to be engaged by handle portion 180 of lever element 178 when the latter is swung toward trigger 146. A stop 184 forming a part of handle portion 102 of section 96 and disposed between trigger 146 and upright leg portion 176 of crank 166 serves to limit the extent of pivoting of trigger 146 and crank 166 about respective axes thereof.

Projectile 106, which is preferably in the nature of a rubber ball, has an elongated, extensible element 186 connected thereto and which extends through an open- -ing 188 in barrel 96 and the outer end thereof being releasably connected to a perforated bracket 190 secured to the outer face of barrel 90.

It can now be recognized that many types of amusing and educational games may be played with toy assembly utilizing the various components either singiy but preferably in combination to thereby increase the educational value of the game and also, increase the skillful manipulation of the various units.

The manner in which all of the components are utilized to play different games will be described in detail with respect to a limited number of types of games, but it is to be understood that one of the features of the present invention is the fact that an almost unlimited number of different games may be played With the instant toy assembly.

One type of game suitable for relatively young children involves the placement of various objects such as plastic toy soldiers or other objects capable of being knocked over, on the upper face 26 of panel 13 in spaced relationship to control unit 14 when the latter is disposed at one end of game board 12, as shown in FIG. 1. After placement of the objects such as toy soldiers in selected positions on game board 12, a rubber ball 54 is placed on arm 50 of ball support 46 in a position to be displaced therefrom and directed through funnelshaped member 44- onto the upper face 26 of board 12. Note should be taken of the fact that the position of ball 54 relative to end 48 of member 44 may be changed by rotating arm 50 about the axis of bolt means 56. After member 44 has been shifted to a de sired direction relative to board 12 and as member 44 is pivoted about pivot pin segment 70 of pivot element 68, projectile 106 is moved into a position within barrel 90 and engaging disc 116 of piston unit 108. Handle portion 180 of lever element 178 is grasped and rotated about the axis of pivoting thereof to a position as illustrated in dotted line in FIG. 7, whereupon inner portion 182 of lever element 178 pulls piston unit 108 rearwardly and into semicylindrical segments 104 of control assembly 94 by virtue of the chain element 183 connected to enlarged segment 126 of tie fastener 1 22. As piston unit 108 is moved rearwardly by lever element 178, guide 161 sliding in a respective groove 162, slides over the upper end of leg 152 of latch 150, with leg 152 engaging disc 116 between the latter and disc 110.

It can be perceived that as piston unit 108 is moved rearwardly by lever element 178, guide forces latch res downwardly by virtue of interengaging beveled surfaces 158 of leg 152 and 164 of guide 160 smoothly sliding over each other.

Handle portion 130 of lever element 178 is next moved downwardly to its normal folded position as shown in FIG. 4, and toy gun 16 is in condition for firing. The gun is now aimed at ball 54 resting on arm 50 and handle portion 180 of lever element 178 is moved inwardly toward control assembly 94 in a manner to cause handle portion 180 to engage upright leg portion 176 of crank 166, whereby leg portion 170 of the same is moved downwardly permitting notch 172 to clear the lower end of trigger 146. With crank 166 swung downwardly against the action of coil spring 174, the player may press trigger 146 to pivot the same about pin 14% and move latch 150 downwardly with respect to barrel 90 and cause leg 152 of latch 150 to be moved out of engagement with disc 116. Release of piston unit 108 from trigger mechanism 144 permits springs 132 to bias crossbar 11% toward end 114 of barrel 90, whereby disc 110 engaging projectile 106 ejects the latter from the outer end of barrel 90 at a relatively high velocity. However, it can be seen that extensible el e ment 136 connected-to projectile 106 permits the latter to travel only a predetermined distanceand the same is easily recoverable by virtue of extensible element 186 being connected to bracket 190 attached to barrel As projectile 106, ejected from barrel 90, strikes ball 54, the latter is moved in a direction toward the interior of funnel-shaped member 44 and is directed onto the upper face 26 of panel 18 through end 88 of member 44.

The manner in which ball 54 passes from funnel-shaped member 44 is dependent not only upon the direction in which projectile 106 engages ball 54, but also dependent upon the initial relative position of ball 54 with respect to end 48 of member 44. If ball 54 is substantially in the center of end 48 of member 44. and further, if projectile 106 strikes a substantially direct blow against ball 54,,the latter is projected through member 44 in a substantially straight line and with a relatively high velocity.

However, if gun 901s pointed so that projectile 10 strikes ball 54 at a substantial angle with respect .to the axi of member 44, or if arm 50 has been swung to a position with ball 54 remote from the axis of member 44, it can be recognized that ball 54 tends to describe a spiral path in passing through member 44 and therefore, does not emerge from end 830i member 44 at a relatively high velocity and also a certain degree of spin is ir'npartedto ball 54.

In lieu of the above operation, another ball 85 may be placed on component 82 and the same procedure carried out. A third alternative is to place balls 54 and 85 on ball support 46 and attempt to knock both of the same through funnel-shaped member 44 by projectile 106.

Other games may also be played with toy assembly 10 by attempting to cause balls 54 and/or 85 to be deposited in one of the depressions 42 according to a predetermined pattern and if desired, various point values may be assigned to the difierent depressions to increase the interest of the game.

It can also be recognized that the groups of circles 28, 30. 32 and 34 having factual indicia thereon may be correlated with the game being played to increase the value of toy assembly 10 by virtue of making the same educational as well as providing amusement.

The utilization of toy gun 16 in conjunction with ball control unit 14 and game board 12 is of importance because in the absence of striking balls 54 and/ or 85 with a considerable force, the desired movement of balls 54 and/or 85 through funnel-shaped member 44 could not be obtained. Furthermore, it would not be practical to utilize one of the balls 54 or 85 as the projectile in gun 16 because of the fact that the ball would be directed onto game board 18 at such velocity as to pass directly over rail 22. It is to be pointed out at this juncture that although rail 22 has been illustrated as being relatively low, the height thereof may be increased to any practical level in order to assure that the balls remain on panel 18 after the same are ejected from funnel-shaped member 44.

Attention is also directed to the manner in which control unit 14 may be moved to various positions on panel 18 with respective openings 72 receiving pivot pin segment 70 of pivot element 68. Thus, not only may member 44 be moved to difierent locations on game board 12 but also the direction of member 44 relative to the board may be changed as desired in order to obtain the requisite ball direction, particularly when carom or similar type shots are required.

Another game which may be played with the instant toy assembly is to place balls or the like in all of the depressions 42 and then attempt to dislodge certain of the balls from corresponding depressions or to displace as many of such balls at one time with a single ball 54 or 85.

Although the preferred embodiment of the instant. invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof and therefore, it is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ball control unit for a game board, a tubular, open end, funnel-shaped member; means on said member adapting the same for pivotal mounting on the game board in overlying relationship thereto with the longitudinal axis of the member substantially parallel with the upper surface of the board, and the member being swingable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the game board surface; and a ball support pivotally mounted within the largest diameter end of the member and including a substantially horizontal arm provided with an upwardly facing depression adapted to receive a portion of the ball.

2. A ball control unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes a pivot element secured to said member adjacent the largest diameter end thereof and projecting laterally from the outer surface of the member, said element being adapted to be rotatably disposed within an opening in the game board adjacent the margin thereof whereby the member may be swung in a controlled are about the axis of said element.

3. A ball control unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided a secondary ball mount secured to said arm for supporting a ball in spaced relationship to said arm above and to one side of the latter.

4. A ball control unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said secondary ball mount includes an extension secured to said arm for movement therewith and projecting laterally from the same, and a normally upright tubular component secured to the outer end of the extension remote from the arm and adapted to support a ball at the upper end thereof.

5. In a toy game pistol, an elongated barrel; a piston reciprocably mounted Within the barrel in a position to engage a projectile placed within the barrel; resilient means carried by the barrel and connected to said piston for biasing the latter toward one end of the barrel to force the projectile from the same at a relatively high velocity; an elongated hand grip connected to said barrel at the end thereof opposed to said one end and projecting laterally from the barrel; a control assembly within said grip and including latch means releasably holding the piston at the innermost end of its path of travel against the action of said resilient means; trigger actuated mechanism on said hand grip and operably connected to said latch means for moving the latter to a position releasing said piston; a lever element pivotally mounted on the normally rear portion of said hand grip and including an upper portion projecting toward said piston and a lower portion extending along the longitudinal length of said hand grip in a partially exposed position and presenting the rearmost part of said hand grip; mean connecting said upper portion of the lever element to said piston for moving the latter toward said innermost position thereof against the action of said resilient means as said lower portion of the lever element is swung in a direction away from said hand grip; and a crank pivotally mounted on the control assembly in a position with one end thereof normally engaging the trigger to prevent movement of the latter in a direction releasing said latch'means, the lower portion of said lever element being engageable with the crank to rotate the latter when the lower portion of the lever element is swung toward the control assembly whereby the crank is moved to a location permitting the trigger to be actuated.

6. A toy game pistol as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lever element is of generally L-shaped configuration and said means connecting the upper portion of the lever element to said piston is an elongated flexible connector chain.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 476,046 Fuld May 31, 1892 970,018 Coleman Sept. 13, 1910 1,163,102 Morgan Dec. 7, 1915 1,266,271 Hunt May 14, 1918 1,416,593 Alexander May 16, 1922 1,454,982 Pye May 15, 1923 2,001,449 Bergstrom May 14, 1935 2,007,885 Spriggs July 9, 1935 2,481,337 Palken et a1. Sept. 6, 1949 2,837,078 Daniel June 3, 1958

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