US3066937A - Simulated table football game - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1962 e. PFLUGMANN SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME Filed June 2, 1960 12 Sheets-Sheet l I IIVENTOR W Q T' M mwlssaik our .dhulll, t

Dec. 4, 1962 Filed June 2, 1960 G. PFLUGMANN SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 //vv EN TO 7? H Maul/8. W

Dec. 4, 1962 SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME Filed June 2. 1960 G. PFLUGMANN 3,066,937

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Dec. 4, 1962 G. PFLUGMANN SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 2, 1960 INVENTOP 5% "W H A Dec. 4, 1962 G. PFLUGMANN SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1960 /N VEN TOP G. PFLUGMANN 3,066,937

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SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME Filed June 2, 1960 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 lglI/gENTOR WM 7"? 7 Dec. 4, 1962 G. PFLUGMANN SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME l2 Sheets-Sheet, 8

Filed June 2, 1960 INVENTOR G. PFLUGMANN SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME Dec. 4, 1962 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed June 2. 1960 Fig. 72

INVENTOR l2 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed June 2, 1960 9 a0 93 @93 .92 1.9 PINVENTOf W5. gran/k Dec. 4, 1962 PFLUGMANN 3,066,937

SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME Filed June 2, 1960 12 Sheets-Sheet ll I 2 82 v I 9 INVENTQR fi w AWS. W4

Dec. 4, 1962 e. PFLUGMANN 3,066,937

SIMULATED TABLE FOOTBALL GAME Filed June 2, 1960 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Fig. 7.9

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ilnited grates This invention relates to simulated football games in which a light ball is propelled towards the goal of the opponent by air, and more specifically to a simulated table football game in which. figures representing players are arranged stationary on the game board and to each of which figures a bellows is coordinated to be operated indirectly or directly by hand from the side of the game board, and an air passage leads from each of said bellows to the base of each of said figures where it terminates in openings directed towards the goal of the opponent.

Such simulated table football games are already known in principle and it is the object of the invention to improve the known games with a view to enabling the ball to be manipulated after a goal has been scored so as to avoid the necessity of picking it up by hand in order to bring it back into play. This is of great advantage when the game board is covered for example by a pane of glass or the like to protect it against damage and dust.

In order to attain the object of the invention, means are provided which enable the ball to be returned pneumatically on to the game board and brought into the middle thereof, especially after a goal has been scored, for example by actuating a bellows specially provided for this purpose. With this object in view, an aperture is provided preferably behind each goal on the game board into which aperture the ball drops and is conducted into a conduit extending from each aperture and serving for guiding the dropping ball to a place where it is received and held but from which it can be pneumatically returned directly onto the game board.

Another advantageous form of construction is obtained if the place where the ball is held after a goal has been scored can guide the ball on to an ejection place after it has been first moved mechanically. This means of moving of the ball to the place of its ejection can be blocked and made dependent upon the insertion of a coin. The game thus becomes a coin-controlled amusement machine. Thereby the mechanism can be so designed that the blowing of the ball onto the game board always be comes locked when a predetermined number, say five goals, have been scored or after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. Only when a coin is inserted, is it possible to continue the game by enabling more balls to be blown successively onto the game board. Many constructional designs are possible for a coin-controlled amusement machine of the kind in question.

The invention is hereafter explained in detail with the aid of several forms of construction illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings. Therein the simulated table football game is shown as a coin-operated or controlled automatic machine using for example in FIGS. 1 to 7 the inserted coin as drop weight for releasing the automatic mechanism and in FIGS. 8 and 9 as a coupling member for actuating a lever. The automatic mechanism then remains operative until a predetermined number of goals has been scored. In the example illustrated in FIGS. to 14 the automatic mechanism is re leased for a predetermined period of playing time. FIGS. to 17 show another form of construction for playing successively with a predet rmined number of balls. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an automatic simulated table football game according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

atent EQQ FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of FIG. 5 showing on a larger scale the arrangement for returning the ball onto the game board;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line V--V of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is another Vertical section but taken on line VII-VTI of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a similar section to FIG. 7 but showing a construction in which the inserted coin serves as coupling member for the mechanical release of the automatic mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a firagmentary side elevational view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of the arrangement of an automatic machine which serves to release the automatic mechanism for a predetermined time after the insertion of a coin;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken on line XII-XII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the line XIIIXIII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a similar view but taken on the line XIV XIV of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 15 to 17 are fragmentary side, plan and rear views respectively of a modified form of construction in which on the insertion of a coin a predetermined number of balls are released successively by pressing a key, and

FIGS. 18 and 19 are fragmentary views of two different forms of keys for indirectly actuating the bellows.

The automatic simulated table football game illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a box-shaped housing 1 which is closed by a cover 2 and accommodates in its interior a device for returning the ball on to the game board. The cover 2, which is preferably made to swing open on hinges and can be kept closed by a lock (not shown), forms a game board 3 on which a plurality of player figures 4 are distributed so that half of these figures face each of the opposing goals 6. These figures 4 are eachmounted on a hollow base 5 fixed on the game board 3 and each provided with holes directed towards the opponents goal 6 and serving as nozzles for ejecting air for propelling the ball. The compressed air necessary for this purpose is produced by actuating a plurality of bellows 7 arranged along the two longitudinal sides of the game board on the cover 2 and is conducted through a passage 8, one passage being coordinated to each bellows and leading to one of the player figures 4. The game board itself is surrounded by a frame 9 sloping down towards the game board carrying on its upper edge a cover pane 1d of glass or other transparent material and at the same time giving the impression of a stadium. A counting device 11 may be provided on each side of the game board for recording the number of goals scored by each side.

An aperture 12 is provided in each goal 6 behind the goal line, through which the ball can drop when a goal has been scored. A sleeve 13 or the like extends downwards from this aperture 12 and has at a suitable height a dished bottom 14 serving for catching the ball and bringing it through a hose or similar conduit 15 to an arrangement for returning it onto the game board.

This arrangement comprises as an essential part an additional bellows 16 arranged for example on the side wall of the housing 1 and connected to a blow nozzle 18 by means of a tube conduit 17. A guide tube 19 arranged above the nozzle 18 then returns on to the surface of the game board the ball which is blown against for this purpose from below. The guide tube 19, however, preferably only extends up to the underside of the cover 2 and here has an extension in the form of a second tube 21 mounted above an aperture 20 in the cover and provided at its upper end with an ejection aperture 22 directed towards the middle of the game board. This presents the advantage that the cover 2 of the housing 1 can be swung open without hindrance for the purpose of carrying out repairs or emptying a coin receptacle disposed inside the housing 1.

In order to ensure that the simulated table football game is rendered ready for use only after the insertion of a coin and only remains in this state until a predetermined number of goals, for example five, have been scored, a disc 23 preferably with a knurled periphery is rotatably mounted on an axle 24 fixed on a bottom piece 25 of the housing'l. At the same time the arrangement is such that *a portion of the disc 23 projects in segment shape through a slot 27 provided in a plate 26 so that it can be turned about its axle by one of the players. The disc 23 is provided on its upper side near its edge with figures to which indicate to the player the number of balls which have been played (FIG. 6). Furthermore the rotary disc 23 is provided with bores 28 located radially to the figures but nearer the pivot axle 24, which bores serve for receiving, after a goal has been scored, the ball arriving from the goal 6 through a hose conduit 15 and a T-piece 29. The bores 28 are closed at the bottom by a disc 3% fixed on the axle 24 and having a single bore 31 under which the nozzle 18 is arranged and to the bottom of which the hose conduit 17 is connected which leads to the bellows 16 provided on the outer side of the plate 26. If this bellows 16 is pressed an air impulse is produced in the conduit 17 which blows a light ball 32 resting on the nozzle 18 upwards through the guide tube 19 and, thus conveys it on to the game board. A blade spring 35 fixed on the plate 26 and provided with a bent up free end and a hole 34, cooperates withstopslor cams 33 arranged on the rotary disc 23 and on the one hand prevents the disc 23 from being turned in the wrong direction while on the other hand ensuring accurate central registration of the bores 28 under the guide tube 19 and the T-piece 29.

To prevenhthe'possibility of the ball being returned on to the game board after fivegoals have been scored, a -pivotlockinglever 36 is provided having a free end 37 which can penetrate the guide tube 19 through a slot 38 therein and thereby block the passage for the ball (FIG. 6); This blocking means is actuated by an abutment or stop 48which, after the ball has been returned five times, reaches position 43 shown in dot-dash lines and, on the disc 213 being turned further in the direction of an arrow'39 (FIG. 6), strikes against a projection 41} on the locking lever 36 and turns this in the direction of an arrow 41 until it has reached position 36 shown in dot-dash lines. The other end 42 of the locking lever 36 is provided with a wedge-shaped extension 43 which, when the guide'tuhe 19 is closed, projects into a coin passage 44. If a coil 45 is inserted into a slot 46, it enters through a passage 47, provided in known manner with a coin tester into the coin passage 44, drops on to the wedge-shaped extension 43 of the locking lever 36 and moves this extension by its drop weight into position 43 (FIG. 7) shown in dotted lines, thereby clearing the guide tube 19.

The automatic simulated table football game is manipulated and operates in the following manner:

A coin 45 is first inserted in the slot 46. This passes through the passage 47 (FIG. 7) and drops in the coin passage 44 on to the wedge-shaped extension 43 of the locking lever 36. Due to its drop weight, the coin 45 pushes this wedge-shaped extension 43 to one side into the position 43 It can then drop into a receptacle placed thereunder, By this displacement of the wedgeshaped extension 43 the locking lever 36 is swung out of the position 36 shown in dot-dash lines into the position 36 shown in full lines (FIG. 6) and thereby clears the passage through the tube 19 for the ball to be blown upwards on to the game board. Hereupon the disc 23 is turned out of the 0 position in the direction of the arrow 39 until the figure l on the rotary disc 23 is exposed and directed towards the player, the cam 33 at the same time engaging in the hole 34 in the blade spring 35. The player now actuates the bellows 16, with the result that an air current is produced which passes through the hose conduit 17 to the nozzle 13 and blows the ball 32 resting on the nozzle 18upwards through a bore 28 and the guide tube 19, 21 and finally ejects it onto the playing field through the aperture 22.

The simulated table football game can now be started by each of the players selectively operating the bellows 7 arranged on his side at the edge of the game board so as to propel the ball into the goal 6 of his opponent by the impulses of air produced and passing out through nozzles in the base 5 of the player figures 4. If one player succeeds in doing this, the ball drops through the aperture 12 arranged behind the goal line and is conducted through one of the hose conduits 15 and its T- piece 29 into a bore 28 in the rotary disc 23.

To enable the ball to be returned onto the game board, one of the players must turn the disc 23 in the direction of the arrow 39 until on the upper side thereof the figure 2 has become fully visible and is directed towards the player. At the same time the next cam 33 engages in the hole 34 in the blade spring 35. As a result of this turning movement of the disc 23, the bore 23 containing the ball has been turned onwards so far that it is then centrally under the tube 19 while at the same time it is in register with the bore 31 in the stationary disc 36 under which the nozzle 18 is located onto which the ball thereby comes to rest. By again exerting pressure on the bellows 16 the ball is returned onto the game board.

The procedure above described can be repeated five times in the form of construction illustrated by way of example, after which a bore 28 is then located under the tube 19, whereas there is no longer any bore in the disc 23 located under the T-piece23. When the fifth goal has been scored the ball, although it is guided back to the T-piece 29 in the same manner, will yet then rest on the upper surface of the rotary disc 23 which has no bore at this place, and on the disc 23 being turned further it is held back by the lower part of the T-piece 29 until the bore 28 again arrives under the T-piece 29. At the same time, however, the abutment or stop 48 arranged on the disc 23 and located substantially in the position 48 36 and thereby closes the passage through the tube 19. If the disc 23 is then turned still further until the number "1 appears, the ball certainly again comes to rest on the nozzle 18 but cannot pass into the guide tube 19 in spite of the bellows 16 being operated because the lever 36 remains in its locking position until it is again moved into its open position by the insertion of another coin, as has already been described above.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 differs from that above described substantially in that the inserted coin, instead of releasing the' locking lever 36 blocking the guide tube 19 by its drop weight, in this case itself acts as coupling member between the operating knob and the releasing lever.

For this purpose the coin passage 44 is equipped with a bottom piece 49 on which the coin 45 rests on being inserted. An operating knob 50 arranged on the outer side of the automatic machine must now be pressed inwards. The coin 45 is thereby pressed towards the left (FIG. 9) by means of a rod 52 arranged on the operating knob 54} and loaded by a spring 51, and brings a two-armed lever 53 having a free arm 54 into position 53 with theresult that the free arm 54 shifts the locking lever 36 into the position 36 (FIG. 8) so that the bent brings the locking lever 36 into the position free end 37 of this lever is moved out of its blocking position in the tube 19. On the release of the operating knob this will then be returned into its initial position by the spring 51 and the coin 45 can drop into a receptacle there located. By actuating the bellows 16, the ball 32 can now be returned on to the game board.

In the examples described the duration of the playing period allowed by the insertion of a coin is determined by the number of goals scored or by the number of times the ball can be returned on to the game board after the scoring of a goal. In the case of the third embodiment hereinafter described and illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14 of the accompanying drawings, the duration of the period of play is dependent upon a period of time,

for example 5 minutes, at the expiration of which the possibility of returning the ball on to the game board is prevented.

As can be seen from these figures, the two hose con duits 15 for returning the ball after each goal has been scored terminate near their lower ends directly in the guide tube 19 so that the ball 32 after each goal is conducted directly back to the nozzle 18 and comes to rest on this so that by actuating the bellows 16 it can always be immediately returned onto the game board through the hose conduit 17 and guide tube 19, which procedure can be repeated until the predetermined period of time for play has expired when the free passage through the tube 19 for the ball is blocked.

This blocking device consists of a steel wire 56 or the like bent in U-shape and having two arms 59 and which wire is rotatably mounted at one end in a bearing 57 arranged in the tube 19 and at the other end in a bearing 58 provided at the coin passage 44. The arm 59 of this steel wire 56 is constructed to form a locking or blocking hook projecting through the slot 38 in the tube 19, whereas the other arm 60 is mounted in a slot 61 in a toothed rack 62 so that on the toothed rack 52 being shifted towards the left (FIG. 12) the arm 59 forming the blocking hook clears the passage in the tube 19 for the ball, whereas by the following displacement of the toothed rack towards the right, the passage for the ball is again blocked.

This toothed rack 62 is mounted longitudinally slidable in a housing 63 of a clockwork mechanism and can be ac tuated from outside by the operating knob 50 through the intermediary of the rod 52 and the coin 45 which after being inserted rests on the bottom piece 49 of the coin passage 44 and serves as coupling member. A locking pawl 64 arranged in the housing 63 and sliding on the upper surface of the toothed rack 52 engages, at the end of this movement, in a notch 65 in the toothed rack 62 and holds it in this position until the clockwork at the expiration of a set period of time raises the pawl 64 with the result that the toothed rack 62 is brought back into its initial position by a tension spring 66. A toothed wheel 67, which engages in the teeth of the toothed rack 62 is connected with the spring mechanism of the clock and effects the winding thereof each time the knob 59 is actuated.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17, it is again the bottom part of the T-piece 29 to which the ball 32 coming out of the goal is conducted. A short passage 68 also extends from the underside of this T-piece 29 and its lower end leads vertically downwards. Here a slide 69 is arranged against which the lowermost of the balls 32 always bears. The slide as, which is located in a recess 79 in a wall 71, has in its front portion a semicircular recess 72. A bore 73 leads from below to this recess and is in communication with the blow nozzle 18 which is mounted on the front end of the hose conduit 17. This conduit extends from the bellows 16 by the pressing of which the ball is again blown back onto the game board through the guide tube 19. This tube 19 is extended further downwards in the form of a passage 74 which is 5 likewise located in the wall 71 and leads directly to the ball resting in the recess 72.

The balls 32 are brought in succession to the place above described by the to-and-fro movement of the slide 69 in the direction indicated by a double arrow 75 and can be blown from this placeback onto the game board. When the slide 69 is pushed to the left-hand position, the lowermost ball can drop into the semicircular recess 72. As the slide 69 moves back, this ball is carried into the position shown in FIG. 15 because it can pass under an edge 76.

The to-and-fro movement of the slide 69 is effected by pressing a button 77 which is fitted on the outer side of the housing 1. Connected with this button 77 is a bolt 78 which is shifted to the left when the button is pressed. A spring 79 is mounted on the bolt 78, which spring is compressed by a pin 80 fixed in the bolt 78 and returns this bolt automatically into its initial position when the button is released.

A cross-member 81 is fixed on the bolt '78 and participates in the to-and-fro movement of the bolt. This cross-member till has a vertical slot 82 into which the coin 45 introduced from the front of the housing 1 drops through the coin passage 44. The cross-mernber 31 is also guided on a bolt 83 which is mounted in a portion 84 of the wall 71. Slidably mounted on the bolts 78 and 83 is a U-shaped member 85 which carries on the inner side of its rear arm 86 a flat bar 87 which is capable of swinging upwards about a pin 88 holding it.

As can be seen from FIGS. 15 and 16, the inserted coin 4-5 bears against the bar 87. The result thereof is that, when the button 77 is pressed inwards, the bar 87 and with -it also the Ushaped member 85 are shifted in the direction of the arrow 75 towards the left. The U- shaped member 85 is connected by an arm 89, which extends from the outside through a slot 99 in the wall 71, with the slide 69 which is thus guided to and fro when the button 77 is pressed, as long as an inserted coin 45 is held in the slot 82 of the cross member 81. At the rear end of this bolt 78 there is another spring 91 which shifts the U-shaped member 85 together with the bar 87 to wards the right into their position of rest and at the same time also entrains the slide 69 with the next ball 32, bringing this ball under the guide tube 19.

A ratchet wheel 92 is rotatably mounted in the U- shaped member 85 and engages with a pawl 93 which is mounted on a pivot pin 94 on the wall 71 so that it can swing against the action of a spring 95. The ratchet wheel 92, therefore, turns in the direction of the arrow one step further each time the U-shaped piece moves towards the left when the button 77 is pressed. This ratchet wheel 92 cannot, however, turn in the opposite direction. This is prevented by a locking pawl 96 which is also mounted on the U-shaped member 85, is urged by a pressure spring 97 constantly against the ratchet wheel 92 and thus always engages behind the next tooth and locks the ratchet wheel 92 after each feed movement. The ratchet wheel 92 also has an upwardly projecting pin 98 which, on the turning of the ratchet wheel, comes under an upwardly sloping nose 99 which is mounted on the bar 87 not far from its bearing pin 88. This bar 87 is thus swung upwards into the position indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 17. The coin 45 has then no longer any abutment in front of it so that it drops into a coin receptacle 10% and thus interrupts the connection for actuating the slide 69.

Thus by pressing the button 77 a predetermined number of balls 32 can be blown back onto the game board in succession until the coin 45 continues to drop. The above-described ball feeding device is then only again rendered operative when a fresh coin is inserted. In the example illustrated the ratchet wheel 92 is chosen having such a number of teeth that a fresh coin must be inserted after six balls have been played.

According to FIGS. 18 and 19 the bellows 7 is not a pressed directly but with the aid of keys which are arranged side by side like the keys of a piano on both longitudinal sides of the game board. According to FIG. 18 the operating keys are each constructed as a two-armed lever .rltlll which can swing about a fulcrum 162. According to FIG. 19 the keys are each constructed as a one-armed lever 1&3. In the case of the two-armed key lever 191 the bellows 7 is always pressed from below by a rounded portion ltldprojecting like a finger, whereas in the case of the one-armed key lever -3 it is pressed from above by a projection MP5. The one-armed key lever Hi3 pivots about a fulcrum 1%. The suitably arranged individual bellows 7 press air through the air passages 8 leading one to each of the player figures 4.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

41 claim:

1. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in combination, a game board having a goal at each end; a first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward one of said goals; a second plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward the other of said goals; a manually operable bellows means operatively connected to each of said nozzle means for supplying upon operation compressed air to the respective nozzle means; a ball on said game board to be propelled toward said goals by air ejectedfrom said nozzle means; a pair of ball guide means leading respectively from said goals to a location between said goals and below said game board for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said location; ball receiving means at said location; guide tube means leading from said ball receiving means upwardly to a place substantially midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; and an additional manually operable bellows means coordinated with said ball receiving means for blowing said ball from said ball receiving means through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board.

2. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in combination, a game board having a goal at each end; a first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward one of said goals; a

second plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward the other of said goals; a manually operable bellows means operatively connected to each of said nozzle means for supplying upon operation compressed air to the respective nozzle means; a ball on said game board to be propelled toward said goals by air ejected from said nozzle means; a pair of ball guide means leading respectively from said goals to a location between said goals and below said game board for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said location; ball receiving means at said location; guide tube means leading from said ball receiving means upwardly to a place substantially midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; an additional manually operable bellows means coordinated with said ball receiving means for blowing said ball from said ball receiving means through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board; blocking means coordinated with said guide tube means and movable between a rest position and a blocking position in which said blocking means prevents passage of said ball through said guide tube means; and means operatively connected to said blocking means for moving the same from said blocking position to said rest position.

3. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in

combination, a game board havinga goal at each end;

a first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said.

to a location between said goals and below said game,

board for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said location; ball receiving means at said location; guide tube means leading from said ball receiving means upwardly to a place substantially midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; an additional manually operable bellows means coordinated with said ball receiving means for blowing said ball from said ball receiving means through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board; blocking means coordinated with said guide tube means and movable between a rest position and a blocking position in which said blocking means prevents passage of said ball through said guide tube means; and coin-operated means operatively connected to said blocking means for moving the same from said blocking position to said rest position.

4. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in combination, a game board having a goal at each end;

a first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward one of said goals; a second plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward the other of said goals; a manually operable bellows means operatively connected to each of said nozzle means for supplying upon operation compressed air to the respective nozzle means; a ball on said game board to be propelled toward said goals by air ejected from said nozzle means; a pair of ball guide means having each a ball receiving end respectively located at said goals and leading from said goals toward each other and having between said goals and below said game board a common ball discharge end for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said ball discharge end; ball receiving means located beneath said ball discharge end andhaving at least one ball receiving cavity, said ball receiving means being movable between a ball receiving posie tion in which said cavity is aligned with said common discharge end of said ball guide means and a discharge position in which said cavity is displaced relative to said discharge end; moving means operatively connected to said ball receiving means for moving the same between said positions thereof; guide tube means having a lower end aligned with said cavity in the displaced position thereof and extending upwardly from said lower end to a place midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; and an additional manually opera able bellows means communicating with said cavity in said displaced position thereof for blowing said ball from said cavity through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board.

5. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in combination, a game board having a goal at each end; a first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward one of said goals; a second plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward the other of said goals;

a manually operable bellows means operatively con-,

nected to each of said nozzle means for supplying upon operation compressed air to the respective nozzle means; a ball on said game board to be propelled toward said goals by air ejected from said nozzle means; a pair of ball guide means having each a ball receivingend respectively located at said goals and leading from said goals toward each other and having between said goals and below said game board a common ball discharge end for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said ball discharge end; ball receiving means located beneath said ball discharge end and having at least one ball receiving cavity, said ball receiving means being movable between a ball receiving position in which said cavity is aligned with said common discharge end of said ball guide means and a discharge position in which said cavity is displaced relative to said discharge end; moving means operatively connected to said ball receiving means for moving the same between said positions thereof; guide tube means having a lower end aligned with said cavity in the displaced position thereof and extending upwardly from said lower end to a place midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; an additional manually operable bellow means communicating with said cavity in said displaced position thereof for blowing said ball from said cavity through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board; blocking means coordinated with said guide tube means and movable between a rest position and a blocking position in which said blocking means prevents passage of said ball through said guide tube means; and coin-operated means operatively connected to said blocking means for moving the same from said blocking position to said rest position thereof.

6. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in combination, a game board having a goal at each end; a first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward one of said goals; a second plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward the other of said goals; a manually operable bellows means operatively connected to each of said nozzle means for supplying upon operation compressed air to the respective nozzle means; a ball on said game board to be propelled toward said goals by air ejected from said nozzle means; a pair of ball guide means having each a ball receiving end respectively located at said goals and leading from said goals toward each other and having between said goals and below said game board a common ball discharge end for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said ball discharge end; ball receiving means located beneath said ball discharge end and having at least one ball receiving cavity, said ball receiving means being movable between a ball receiving position in which said cavity is aligned with said common discharge end of said ball guide means and a discharge position in which said cavity is displaced relative to said discharge end; moving means operatively connected to said ball receiving means for moving the same between said positions thereof; guide tube means having a lower end aligned with said cavity in the displaced position thereof and extending upwardly from said lower end to a place midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; an additional manually operable bellows means communicating with said cavity in said displaced position thereof for blowing said ball from said cavity through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board; blocking means coordinated with said guide tube means and movable between a rest position and a blocking position in which said blocking means prevents passage of said ball through said guide tube means; coinoperated means operatively connected to said blocking means for moving the same from said blocking position to said rest position thereof; and means coordinated with said movable ball receiving means for moving said blocking means to said blocking position thereof after a predetermined number of balls has been transferred from said discharge end of said ball guide means to said guide tube means.

7. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in

combination a game board having a goal at each end; a

first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward one of said goals; a second plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward the other of said goals; a manually operable bellows means operatively connected to each of said nozzle means for supplying upon operation compressed air to the respective nozzle means; a ball on said game board to be propelled toward said goals by air ejected from said nozzle means; a pair of ball guide means having each a ball receiving end respectively located at said goals and leading from the goals toward each other and having between said goals and below said game board a common ball discharge end for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said ball discharge end; ball receiving means comprising a disc turnable about a substantially vertical axis and being formed with a plurality of ball receiving cavities distributed equally spaced from each other along a circle concentric with said axis, said disc being arranged beneath said ball discharge end so that said cavities may be consecutively aligned with said ball discharge end during stepwise turning of said disc about said axis; guide tube means having a lower end aligned with one of said cavities when another one of said cavities is aligned with said ball discharge end, said guide tube means extending upwardly from said lower end to a place midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; additional bellows means communicating with said one cavity aligned with said guide tube means during stepwise turning of said disc for blowing a ball received in said one cavity through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board; blocking means coordinated with said guide tube means and movable between a rest position and a blocking position in which said blocking means prevents passage of said ball through said guide tube means; coin-operated means operatively connected to said blocking means for moving the same from said blocking position to said rest position thereof; and means on said disc and engaging said blocking means after said disc has been turned through a predetermined angle for moving said blocking means from said rest position to said blocking position thereof.

8. A mechanical ball game apparatus comprising, in combination, a game board having a goal at each end; a first plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward one of said goals; a second plurality of nozzle means fixedly mounted on said game board and directed toward the other of said goals; a manually operable bellows means operatively connected to each of said nozzle means for supplying upon operation compressed air to the respective nozzle means; a ball on said game board to be propelled toward said goals by air ejected from said nozzle means; a pair of ball guide means having each a ball receiving end respectively located at said goals and leading from said goals toward each other and having between said goals and below said game board a common ball discharge end for guiding said ball after the same is propelled into one of said goals to said ball discharge end; ball receiving means located beneath said ball discharge end and having at least one ball receiving cavity, said ball receiving means being movable between a ball receiving position in which said cavity is aligned with said common discharge end of said ball guide means and a discharge position in which said cavity is displaced relative to said discharge end; guide tube means having a lower end aligned with said cavity in the displaced position thereof and extending upwardly from said lower end to a place midway between said ends of said game board and laterally thereof; coin-operated moving means operatively connected to said ball receiving means for moving the same between said positions thereof and including a manually operable member, a second member spaced from said manually operable member and connected to said ball receiving means, and holding means movable between a releasing position and a holding posi- 1 1 tioniforr, holding in said latter position a coin inserted in said coin-operated means in a coupling position between said members so that, when a coin is held in said coupling position, operationof the manually operable member will move said ball receiving means from said receiving position to said discharge position thereof; means coordinated with said coin-operated moving means for moving said holding means from its coupling position to said releasing position after a predetermined number of balls have been moved from said, discharge end to said lower end of said guide tube means; and an additional manually operable bellows means communicating with said cavity in said displaced position thereof for blowing said ball from said cavity through said guide tube means onto the middle of said game board.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,123 Smith NOV. 14, 1939 2,513,728 KOci July 4, 1950 2,521,500 Braund Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 370,638 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1932 507,370 Belgium Dec. 15, 1951 1,022,020 France Dec. 10, 1952

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