US3586329A - Roll and catch toy - Google Patents

Abstract

An amusement device consisting of an arched track along which a ball is rolled from one end to the other and which has an enlarged opening at said other end through which the ball falls. A receptacle can be provided at the end remote from the end having the opening to receive the ball.

Description

O Umted States Patent 1 1 3,586,329

[72] Inventor Joseph F. Spreitzer I FOREIGN PATENTS Cassie Met 60435 646,97! 1 1/196! Canada 273/109 [21 gr p 2 1 43. 13 4/1934 Denmark 273/96 1 i e ug. 45 Patented June 22, 1971 OTHER REFERENCES Play Thlngs, 3/1960. Volume 58 N0. 3 P. 553

Prima Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [54] E AND T Assisra it Examiner-Marvin Siskind 2 Chums 6 D'awmg A!lorneyElmer L. Zwickel [52] US. Cl 273/96 R,

46/43, 273/109 [51] lnt.Cl ..A63b65/12 [50] Field of Search 273/96,

46/43 ABSTRACT: An amusement device consisting of an arched track along which a ball is rolled from one end to the other [56] References cued and which has an enlarged opening at said other end through UNITED STATES PATENTS which the ball falls. A receptacle can be provided at the end [972,587 7/1934 Fairchild 273/ I O9 remote from the end having the opening to receive the ball.

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ROLL AND CATCH TOY The invention relates to improvements in amusement devices which, in use, involve the progressive advance of a ball from one end of an arched track to the other end where it drops through an opening and may be caught in a receptacle located remote from said opening. Devices of this general nature have been disclosed in Fairchild U.S. Pat. No. l,972,587, issued Sept. 4, 1934, and Schwazenzer, US. Pat. No. 2,237,748, issued Apr. 8, 1941. In both of said prior devices a flat track is provided along which a ball is rolled from end to end, first on one side of the track and then on the other side of the track. ln the present structure the track is arched so as to require the user to progressively elevate same as the ball advances therealong toward one end where it drops through an opening and may be caught in a receptacle.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an amusement device of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide an arched track along which a ball is progressively advanced.

Another object is to provide an amusement device of the character referred to with novel means to catch a ball after it has traversed the length of the track.

Another object is to provide an amusement device of the character referred to which is not expensive or difficult to manufacture, is easy to use and is very entertaining.

Other object and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

F IG. 1 is a perspective view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are schematic views illustrating use of the device.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings and particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the amusement device comprises a track portion 11 having a handle 12 at one end. The track portion 11 is comprised of a pair of parallel wire rails 13 which may be twisted, as at 14, adjacent to the handle. The rails are spaced apart to provide a track for a ball 15 that is placed thereon by the user. To ensure the parallel relation of the rails, they may be provided with one or more braces 13a located below the top plane of the track. The ball is of a diameter greater than the spacing between the rails 13 so that said ball can be advanced, as by rolling, from the twisted area 14 to the remote end of the track. This remote end is characterized by a loop 16, formed by a bend in the rails 13, having an opening that is greater than the diameter of the ball so that the latter may, upon arriving at the loop end, fall through the loop opening.

The track 11 is arched, as shown, substantially into the shape of one-half circle and the plane of the loop 16 is disposed at an angle to the contiquous area of the track portion, all for a purpose to be apparent presently.

In use, the device is held by handle 12 substantially in the downwardly inclined position shown in FIG. 3. The ball 15 is placed on the track adjacent to the twisted portion 14. The ball immediatelystarts its descent along the arched track. As this occurs, the track is progressively elevated through the FIG. 4 and 5 positions in such manner as to seek to maintain the rolling ball near the uppermost area thereof. When the ball reaches substantially the position shown in FIG. 6, the track has been elevated into a substantially vertical position whereupon the ball falls through the loop 16. The user will then seek to catch the descending ball in a receptacle [7 that is mounted adjacent to the handle. This receptacle may be of any practical shape but preferably is frustoconical, as shown. This progressive advance of the ball along the track and its subsequent catching in the receptacle affords a source of amusement, presents a challenge to the user, and requires coordination of the hand and eye so as to avoid backrolling of the ball and assure its continuous advance to the loop end without fallin off of the track.

1. An amusement device comprising; a pair of laterally spaced wire rails cooperating with each other to form parallel tracks over which a ball is adapted to roll, said tracks being longitudinally arched to define substantially a semicircle. a handle at one end of said tracks, a loop at the other end of said tracks of a size to permit the ball to pass therethrough, and a receptacle adjacent to the handle of said tracks having a receiving opening large enough to receive a ball dropped through said loop.

2. The device recited in claim 1, in which the receptacle has a frustoconical shape with its opening at its larger end.

Claims (2)

1. An amusement device comprising; a pair of laterally spaced wire rails cooperating with each other to form parallel tracks over which a ball is adapted to roll, said tracks being longitudinally arched to define substantially a semicircle, a handle at one end of said tracks, a loop at the other end of said tracks of a size to permit the ball to pass therethrough, and a receptacle adjacent to the handle of said tracks having a receiving opening large enough to receive a ball dropped through said loop.

2. The device recited in claim 1, in which the receptacle has a frustoconical shape with its opening at its larger end.

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