US3643955A

US3643955A - Skill-type game

Info

Publication number: US3643955A
Application number: US865288A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey D Breslow
Original assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Current assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date: 1969-10-10
Filing date: 1969-10-10
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22
Also published as: CA920159A; DE2049489A1; JPS494495B1; GB1262058A; AU2080270A

Abstract

A skill-type game which comprises motive means for propelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals in a plurality of angular directions toward a plurality of receiving positions disposed angularly about the motive means. The receiving positions have gates normally blocking the entrance thereto and the gates are selectively movable by a player to open the entrance to the receiving positions in an attempt to ''''catch'''' the propelled objects.

Description

I United States Patent Breslow Feb. 22, 1972 [54] SKILL-TYPE GAME [72] Inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glas & Associates [22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 865,288

[52] 273/11911, 273/111,273/l29 [51] ..A63d 3/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..273/108,l11, 115,116,119, 273/121,127, 129, 123

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,978 11/1962 Burch ..273/1l9 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 400,093 10/1933 Great Britain ..273/119 R 381,521 10/1932 Great Britain ..273/l19 R 425,746 3/1935 Great Britain ..273/1 19 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown Att0rney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [57] I ABSTRACT A skill-type game which comprises motive means for propelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals in a plurality of angular directions toward a plurality of receiving positions disposed angularly about the motive means. The receiving positions have gates normally blocking the entrance thereto and the gates are selectively movable by a player to open the entrance to the receiving positions in an attempt to catch the propelled objects.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEnrwaz I972 3, 643.955

52$ 2 H a I mvEN'foR BmWmm am TORNEYS SKILL-TYPE GAME BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a skill-type game designed for the entertainment of the player, particularly children, and for developing dexterity and cooperation for the individual player as well as competition between a plurality of players.

There are various entertaining skill-type games presently available which have projectiles or the like which are projected toward for the projectiles, and normally having means for scoring the game. Still other games have objects which are propelled toward home or receiving positions randomly spaced and variably scored to provide an entertaining game, but which is played solely on the principle of change. The game of the present invention is a skill-type game wherein the objects or projectiles are propelled in random intervals toward receiving or home positions, and wherein a degree of skill is required by a player so as to catch the object at his home or receiving position.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a game of the character described which includes motive means for propelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals toward a receiving position spaced outwardly from the motive means and in the path of the propelled objects. A blocking means normally is positioned between the motive means and the receiving position to prevent the objects from entering the receiving position. Means are provided operable by a player to selectively move the blocking means out of its blocking position to permit the objects to enter the receiving position as a player attempts to catch the propelled object.

Another object of the invention isto provide a game as set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the motive means propels objects outwardly therefrom in a plurality of angular directions at random intermittent intervals toward a plurality of receiving positions (and associated blocking means) disposed angularly about the motive means at equal spacing therebetween and equidistant from the motive means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the motive means comprises a rotating member which projects the objects outwardly therefrom by a combination of collision with the objects and centrifugal force. The rotating member has a tortuous path along which the objects are propelled so as to enhance the random capabilities of the motive means.

In the form of the invention shown herein, a generally flat, horizontal base portion mounts the motive means generally centrally thereof and along which the objects are propelled. The'receiving positions are disposed on the base member about the motive means and the blocking means comprise gate members pivoted on horizontal shafts and disposed between the motive means and the receiving positions. The gate members hang by gravity from their respective horizontal shafts and the shafts have extension portions for grasping by players to rotate the gates to unblock the receiving positions in an attempt to catch the randomly propelled objects. Preferably, the base portion is slanted downwardly from the receiving positions toward the motive means so that the objects return to the motive means if blocked by the gate members.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a skill-type game embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially cutaway and on an enlarged scale, of the game shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 3- 3 ol'FlG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings includes a flat, generally horizontal, irregularly shaped base portion, generally designated 10, which is supported above a subjacent supporting surface by an annular base rim I2 (FIG. 3). An upstanding peripheral wall 14 extends vertically upwardly from the base portion 10 about the entire marginal edge thereof. The irregularly shaped base portion 10 and upstanding wall 14 define a plurality (four shown in the drawings) of home or receiving positions, generally designated 16, which are equally spaced about and equidistant from a motive means, generally designated 18, disposed generally centrally of the base portion 10. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the base portion 10 defines a surface 20 (FIG. 3) along which objects 22 (shown as marbles or the like in the drawings) are propelled by the motive means 18 outwardly therefrom toward the receiving positions 16. The upstanding wall 14 about the periphery of the base portion I0 prevents the objects from being propelled away from the playing area defined by the surface 20 of the base portionl 0.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the motive means 18 comprises a rotating member which propels the objects 22 outwardly therefrom toward the receiving positions 16. The motives means shown in the drawings includes a generally horizontal disc shaped portion 24 having a central cylindrical-shaped hub portion 26 which is disposed over and receives a spike-shaped pivot rod 28 which extends upwardly from the center of the base portion 10. The lower portion of the hub 26 and the pivot rod define bearing surface portions 30 to facilitate ease of rotation of the disc portion 24 and to maintain the disc portion substantially horizontal. The cylindrical hub portion 26 has an upstanding handle portion 32 which projects upwardly beyond the disc portion 24 generally concentric with the axis of the pivot rod2 8 for grasping by a player to spin or rotate the motive means and thereby propel the objects 22 outwardly therefrom, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Depending from the underside of the disc portion 24 of the motive means are a plurality of boss portions 34 randomly spaced about the underside of the disc portion 24. As will be described below, these depending boss portions 34 are caused to impact or collide with the objects 22 as the motive means rotates to propel the objects in various directions until one or more of the objects are propelled outwardly from the motive means 18 toward the receiving positions 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, the random orientation of the impacting boss portions 34 are shown and their direction of movement, as the disc portion 24 rotates in the direction of arrow A, are shown by the dotted arrows B. It thus can be seen that the rotating movement of the boss portions 34 define a tortuous path beneath the disc portion 24 along or between which the objects 22 are propelled until the objects, totally at random and at intermittent intervals, are projected outwardly from the center of the base portion 10 toward the receiving positions 16.

An upstanding rim 36 may be disposed about the handle portion 32 of the motive means, with a hole 38 in the disc portion 24 within the annular rim 36 so that a player may drop an object 22 through the hole as the motive means is rotated to load another object into the motive means for propulsion toward one of the receiving positions.

Preferably, the top surface 20 of the base portion 10 is slanted downwardly from the receiving positions 16 toward the center of the base portion 10 (as best seen in FIG. 3) so that the objects 22 return to the motive means if they are not caught" at the receiving positions '16, as described below.

Each receiving position 16 normally is blocked by vertical gates 40 which-are fixed to and depend downwardly from pivot shafts 42 which are joumaled in the upstanding wall I4 in front of each receiving position 16 between the receiving position and the motive means 18. The pivot shafts 42 each have extension portions 42a for grasping by a player to rotate the gates upwardly to unblock the receiving positions 16 in an attempt to catch an object which is propelled toward the receiving position.

Each receiving position 16 may be provided with means for scoring the game and, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, an outwardly extending flange 44 is mounted to top of that portion of the wall 14 which bounds the respective receiving position and the flange is provided with a plurality of holes 44a for receiving a peg 46 which may be moved about the flange in the various holes with the holes being used to score the game.

In playing the game, one or more objects 22 are placed beneath the disc portion 24 of the motives means at the center of the base portion either through the hole 38 or around the underside of the disc portion 24. A player then grasps the handle portion 32 of the motive means and rotates the disc portion 24 whereby the innermost impacting boss 34 (as seen in FIG. 2) impacts an object and starts the object to bounce back and forth within the tortuous path defined by the rotating bosses 34. Eventually the object will be propelled outwardly toward one of the receiving positions 16 and the player must pivot the respective gate 40 upwardly so as to permit the propelled object to enter the receiving position. Additional skill is required when a player has caught his first object 22, as shown at the receiving position in FIG. 3. He then must hold that object at the receiving position (because of the tendency of the object to roll down the slanted surface 20 of the base portion 10) and not open the gate until the last instant to catch a second, third, and so on, object propelled by the motive means 18. If the player holds the gate open too long, his previously caught objects 22 will escape from his receiving position and his score is reduced.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

l. A skill-type game comprising a board including motive means for propelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals, means defining an object receiving portion on said board which is spaced outwardly from said motive means and in the path of the propelled objects, said portion being inclined downwardly toward the center of said board and constructed and arranged to loosely receive a plurality of said objects in a generally, freely movable condition relative to ingress to and egress from said portion; blocking means normally in position blocking and receiving portion to prevent said objects from entering thereinto or leaving therefrom; and means operable by a player to selectively move said blocking means out of said blocking position to permit said objects to enter the receiving portion as the player attempts to catch the propelled objects while preventing an object rolling down said inclined board toward said propelling means.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein said motive means propels objects outwardly therefrom in a plurality of angular directions at random intermittent intervals, and including a plurality of said receiving positions and associated blocking means disposed angularly about said motive means.

3. The game of claim 2 wherein said plurality of receiving positions and associated blocking means are disposed at equal spacing about the equidistant from said motive means.

4. The game of claim 2 wherein said motive means comprises a rotating member which propels said objects outwardly therefrom.

5. The game of claim 4 wherein said rotating member has means defining a tortuous path along which said objects are propelled so as to enhance the random capabilities of said motive means.

6. The game of claim 2 including a generally flat base portion on which said motive means is mounted generally centrally thereof and along which said objects are propelled, with said receiving positions disposed on the base portion about the motive means, and said blocking means comprises ate members disposed between said motive means and sai receiving positions.

7. The game of claim 6 wherein said gate members are pivoted on horizontal shafts mounted about said base portion, said shafts having extension portions for grasping by a player to pivot the gates to unblock the receiving positions.

8. The game of claim 6 wherein said base portion has means defining a generally horizontal surface extending between said motive means and said receiving positions along which said objects are propelled, said surface slanting downwardly from the receiving positions to the motive means so that the objects return to the motive means if blocked by said gates.

9. The game of claim 6 wherein said plurality of receiving positions and associated gates are disposed at equal spacing about the equidistant from said motive means.

10. The game of claim 6 wherein said motive means comprises a rotating member which propels said objects outwardly therefrom.

11. The game of claim 10 wherein said rotating member has means defining a tortuous path along which said objects are propelled so as to enhance the random capabilities of said motive means.

12. The game of claim 10 wherein said rotating member is mounted on the base member on a vertical pivot axis and including a handle portion projecting upwardly therefrom concentric with axis for grasping by a player to spin or rotate said member.

Claims

1. A skill-type game comprising a board including motive means for propelling objects outwardly therefrom at random intermittent intervals, means defining an object receiving portion on said board which is spaced outwardly from said motive means and in the path of the propelled objects, said portion being inclined downwardly toward the center of said board and constructed and arranged to loosely receive a plurality of said objects in a generally, freely movable condition relative to ingress to and egress from said portion; blocking means normally in position blocking and receiving portion to prevent said objects from entering thereinto or leaving therefrom; and means operable by a player to selectively move said blocking means out of said blocking position to permit said objects to enter the receiving portion as the player attempts to catch the propelled objects while preventing an object rolling down said incliNed board toward said propelling means.

6. The game of claim 2 including a generally flat base portion on which said motive means is mounted generally centrally thereof and along which said objects are propelled, with said receiving positions disposed on the base portion about the motive means, and said blocking means comprises gate members disposed between said motive means and said receiving positions.