US3656753A

US3656753A - Miniature ball game

Info

Publication number: US3656753A
Application number: US16639A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond L Juneau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-05
Filing date: 1970-03-05
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18

Abstract

A game having a playing surface with opposite goals into which a ball is to be driven by opposed players or teams is surrounded by a barrier above the level of the playing surface which confines the playing ball to the surface. A transparent cover may be used above the barrier. Each side is provided with turrets which shoot marbles or the like along the playing surface to drive the playing ball into a goal. The marbles pass under the barrier and are returned to the turrets for re-use. A number of forms of turret are disclosed, each being rotatable and capable of automatic re-supply of marbles from the return channels.

Description

United States Patent Juneau [151 3,656,753 1 Apr. 18,1972

[541 MINIATURE BALL GAME [72] Inventor: Raymond L. Juneau, 3307 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wis. 53208 22 Filed: Mar.5, 1970 211 App1.No.: 16,639

....273/119 R, 119 A, 122 R, 122 A, 273/125 R,101,'101.1,101.2,129

1,684,577 9/1923 Deacon ..273/119R 1,919,094 7/1933 Cuchran ..273/129UX Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Amold W. Kramer Attorney-Wheeler, House & Wheeler [57] ABSTRACT A game having a playing surface with opposite goals into which a ball is to be driven by opposed players or teams is surrounded by a barrier above the level of the playing surface which confines the playing ball to the surface. A transparent cover may be used above the barrier. Each side is provided 5 R f r n Cited with turrets which shoot marbles or the like along the playing surface to drive the playing ball into a goal. The marbles pass UNITED STATES PATENTS under the barrier and are returned to the turrets for re-use. A number of forms of turret are disclosed, each being rotatable 1,527,876 2/1925 Jamk ..273/119 R X l I f h 1,523,732 1/1925 Tratsch et al. ..273/122 R e m re supply fmarb es mm t 6 621,440 3/1899 Bailey et a1. ..273/101 820,367 5/1906 Roberts ..273/119 R 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures l v 3e if k /z aa i i i 76 r 62 I l T k, 20 65 11/1/1 //7777777T7;7777

PATENTEUAPR 18 1972 3, 656,753

SHEET 2 OF 3 \NVE NTO a Zn vMo/va L JUNEHU ATTO RNEYS MINIATURE BALL GAME SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION In its broadest form my invention comprises a ball game in which a larger object ball, which is confined to a playing surface by a barrier, is driven into a goal by impact with smaller projectile balls which are not confined by the barrier, the projectiles being ejected from a turret. More specifically, it comprises a level table enclosed by a raised rail which permits marble projectiles to pass beneath it to restraining means which may comprise return passages leading to turrets, so that the turrets are constantly supplied with marbles. The turrets are set in the sides or comers of the playing surface and are aimed by the players so that the ejected marbles strike a single ball confined by the barrier, with the object of causing it to enter an opposing teams goal. In the preferred form the field is rectangular with a goal at each end and two turrets at each end. The turrets may be in the comers, where they need not turn as far to cover the entire table. One or two players are on each team.

The invention also comprises the provision of a suitable turret which may rotate to shoot a projectile in any direction along the playing surface from an edge or corner of the surface. The turret is preferably seIf-reloading, in that the cocking of a hammer also adds a projectile to the magazine in the turret if one is available in the return channel. However a simpler turret may be provided in which the player reloads manually, if desired.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of the game of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a lateral cross sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through one form of turret which may be used in my invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the same turret while it is being cocked.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view through a modified form of the turret.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the turret of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a further modified form of turret with portions broken away to a vertical cross sectional view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT( S) The device of my invention consists of a playing surface 10 which is provided with opposing goals 12 into which a playing or object ball 14 may be driven. The playing field 10 is surrounded by a barrier 16 which is placed at such a height as to confine playing ball 14 to the playing surface 10 at all times. A cover 22 may also be provided, plastic transparent material being preferred. Barrier 16 is high enough so that projectile balls 18 may pass beneath it, as is most clearly seen in FIG. 2. Thus when a projectile ball 18 is fired by one of the players it is not confined to the playing surface but immediately after striking the playing ball 14 it passes beneath a barrier 16. The projectile is restrained from leaving the game side walls 87 and return channels 20 which preferably each lead to one of the turrets 30. If desired, transparent cover 22 may be provided at a level far enough above the playing surface to avoid interference. Such a cover will confine the balls to the playing surface if they rebound upwardly. This may happen when one or more projectile balls 18 strike the playing ball 14.

The turrets 30, preferably two at each end of the board, may be located in the ends, corners, or sides of the playing surface 10. They are rotatable so that a projectile ball 18, such as a marble, may be fired in any direction along the playing surface. As best shown in FIGS. 4 through 6, each turret 30 is provided with a straight aiming channel 32 whose bottom is level with playing surface 10 along which the marble is propelled. Channel 32 is on a circular rotatable platform 34 and a spring-propelled hammer 36 is supported on a pair of parallel guide rods 38 by means of journals 40 so that the stored energy in spring 42 moves the hammer in the line of channel 32 to strike projectile ball 18 and propel it onto playing surface 10. Hammer 36 is provided with a cocking lug 44. In the cocked position, the hammer lug 44 is held by detent 46 of bell crank 48. A trigger 50 in hand grip 52 is pivoted at 54 and has a lost motion connection with bell crank 48 through slot 56 in the trigger and pin 58 on the bell crank. The trigger and bell crank are biased toward the cocked position by spring 60 which is attached to trigger 50 near slot 56 and is attached at its other end to hand grip 52.

Hand grip 52 is rigidly attached to rotatable table 34 and provides a means of rotating the table to aim channel 32 in any direction along the playing surface 10.

Table 34 is supported on a central axial column 62 which is provided with a central magazine bore 64 in which projectile balls 18 may be stored and propelled upwardly one at a time to lie in channel 32. Channel 32 (and similar channels in the other embodiments) is inclined upwardly from handle '52 toward playing surface 10 so that a ball lying in channel 32 will remain at rest against a pair of stops 66, best shown in FIG. 6, preferably provided by a narrowing of channel 32 near the center of table 34. As best shown in FIG. 5, hammer 36 is near the rear margin of table 34 in its cocked position and is well back of projectile ball 18.

Column 62 is vertically reciprocatable within a lower column 68. Cylindrical column 68 is held against rotation with respect to column 62 by a pin 70 which is secured to the lower end of column 62 and reciprocates within a vertical slot 72 in lower column 68. Lower column 68 is provided with a radial shoulder 74 and upper column 62 is provided with an opposed radial shoulder 76 to limit the upward movement of column 62 within the column 68 and to assist in aligning column 62 in a precisely vertical position in its uppermost position for accurate alignment of channel 32 with playing surface 10. A spring 78 is provided between the upper end of column 68 and the lower surface of table 34 to bias the table to its uppermost position. Lower column 68 is provided with a radial flange 80 which is received within a channel 82 in base 84, which secures the turret to the floor 86 of the container for the entire game. Channel 82 is circular and permits rotation of the entire turret by means of hand grip 52.

Return channels 20 have their lowest points 20 beneath turrets 30 so that a projectile ball 18 will come to rest directly beneath upper central column 62. At the bottom of column 62 a resilient collar 88 encircles the opening to the magazine and projects slightly into the magazine. The inner diameter of the doughnut-shaped collar 88 is slightly less than the outer diameter of the projectile ball 18 (which may be a marble) but is compressible to permit ball 18 to be forced through the collar 88 as column 62 is driven downwardly by means of handle 52. The resilience of collar 88 is sufficient so that ball 18 is retained above the collar as column 62 returns to its uppermost position under the urging of spring 78 along with any other projectile balls 18 which have been retained above collar 88 in previous actuations. The distance between collar 88 and the bottom of channel 32 is just sufficient so that the uppermost ball 18 is wholly within channel 32 and is free of central column 62. The ball 18 is thus free to be driven along channel 32 when struck by hammer 36, and each downward actuation of handle 52 will provide a new ball ready to be fired as long as there are projectile balls at the low point 20' of return channel 20.

Lower column 68 is also provided with a fixed vertical blade 90 having a ramp surface 92 forming its upper margin. The ramp surface 92 engages a pin 94 on journal 40, as best shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when handle 52 is pushed downwardly to add a ball 18 to magazine 64, ramp surface 92 drives pin 94 rearwardly and carries hammer 36 back to its cocked position in which lug 44 is held behind detent 46 and spring 42 is stretched. Thus a single downward motion SUfi ICCS to bring a new marble 18 into firing position, reload magazine 64 with sufficient marbles to hold the ball to be fired at the correct elevation, and cocks hammer 36 ready for firing by pulling trigger 50.

A modified form of turret is shown at FIGS. 7 and 8. In this fonn of the device table 340 remains at the same elevation at all times and, accordingly, central column 620 is thus fastened to the base of the unit 86 by a pair of

radial flanges

800 and 800 respectively above and below base 86. The balls 18 are held'in magazine bore 640 by a different form of retainer comprising a pin 100 which extends through the wall of column 620 and is biased toward its inward position by the leaf spring 102'so that it may retract as ball 18 is pressed upwardly past it, and then returns to a position beneath the ball to support it and others which are above it.

The balls 18 enter column 620 through a side opening 104 communicating with a return channel or channels and fall onto bell crank 106 which extends through a slot 108 in column 620 and is biased by spring 110 to a position wherein the ball lifting arm 106 is in its lowest position. Bell crank 106 is supported on a pivot 112 supported on column 620 in any appropriate manner. Arm 106" of bell crank 106 extends upwardly and abuts against a lug 114 on the hammer mechanism so that when the hammer mechanism is pivoted downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, arm 106" of the bell crank drives the hammer 360 rearwardly to its cocked position and at the same time arm 106" lifts a ball 18 past detent 100, 1 elevating the topmost ball 18 into firing position in channel In this embodiment handle 520 is integral with a tube 522. Tube 522 is pivoted to table 340 at 524 and lies within channel 526 in table 340. Channel 526 opens downwardly to permit tube 522 to pivot in a vertical plane. Hammer 360 is supported on rod 528, the connection being made through slot 530 in the tube (FIG. 8) and spring 532 biases the hammer for firing. Lug 534 at the end of rod 528 extends upwardly to engage detent 536 on trigger 500 when hammer 360 is cocked. Trigger 500 is biased to the cocked position by compression spring 502 in handle 520 and pivots at 504.

A spring pressed ball detent 116 (FIG. 8) releasably holds tube 522 and handle 520 in operating position (full lines in FIG. 7) but pennits them to pivot downwardly (broken lines in FIG. 7) to cause bell crank 106 to simultaneously cock hammer 360 and raise a marble 18 to channel 320 by pushing a ball into magazine 640.

FIG. 9 shows a further modification of the turret wherein the trigger 50' and associated

parts

54, 56', 58', 44, 46', 48', and 60 are similar to those shown and described above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, except for the location of spring 60'. Hammer 36' is supported in this modification on a crescent-shaped lever 400 pivoted at 402 and having a cam 404 at the free end engageable with the bottom 86 of the container for the game to cock hammer 36' upon downward movement of table 34' upon post 406. Table 34 is rotatably and reciprocatably retained on post 406 by opposed

radial flanges

408, 408 on the table and the post, respectively. Spring 78' keeps table 34' in its uppermost position unless it is pushed down by the operator.

Projectiles or marbles 18 are supplied one at a time to channel 32'. in table 34' by loading lever 410 which has an arm 412 below table 34 to be pushed down by a vertical cocking motion of the table, a pivot 414, and a concave arm 416 to lift a marble 18 from a low point 20 of return channel 20 to channel 32' of turret table 34. Table 34 is shaped to direct marble 18 to channel 32' regardless of'its rotational position respecting channel 20, for instance by providing a slightly concave or conical surface to table 34.

Handle 52 may be shaped like a hand gun, and may be provided with sights to aim marbles 18, as may handles 52 or 520, if desired.

Any of the turrets shown may carry a barrier at the same level as barrier 16, or barrier 16 may extend in front of the turret to keep playing or object ball 14 out of the turret. If

desired, the rotatable table of the turret may also carry a lower barrier against projectiles or marbles 18 although the height of the table 34 itself tends to serve that purpose.

The invention provides a novel type of game and novel apparatus adapted to be used in such a game, including a new type of turret for firing marbles or similar projectiles which is cocked and re-supplied with projectiles in a single motion in any rotational position, a number of variations being shown. The game of my invention may take differing forms. The shape, flatness, and orientation of the parts respecting each other, and other details, may vary within the scope of the claims without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playing surface, an object freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality of projectiles adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining said object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barrier means being adapted to permit a projectile to pass beyond said playing surface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, said restraining means comprising a system of return channels adapted to convey a projectile which leaves the playing surface to a said projecting means, said projecting means being aimable, and reloading means adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to said projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project a projectile, said projecting means comprising a rotatable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted to project a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface, means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammer into contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectively retain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the stored energy drives the hammer into contact with said projectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in said turret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube provided with projectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppennost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of said hammer.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said retaining means comprises a resilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said return channel being adapted to position a projectile below said tube so that vertical reciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the playing surface is flat and generally horizontal.

4. The device of claim 3 in which the playing surface is generally rectangular, with a goal at each end and a pair of means for ejecting projectiles at each end.

5. The device of claim 4 in which a said means for ejecting projectiles is mounted at each corner of said playing surface.

6. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playing surface, an object ball freely movable on. the playing surface, a plurality of smaller projectile balls adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining said object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barrier means comprising a rail placed higher than the diameter of the projectile ball and lower than the diameter of the object ball from the playing surface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, said playing surface being flat and generally horizontal, said means for projecting projectiles being mounted at each corner of said playing surface, said projecting means comprising a rotable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted to drive a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface, means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammer into contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectively retain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the stored energy drives the hammer into contact with a said projectile, and means adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to said projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project a projectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in said turret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided with projectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of said hammer.

7. The device of claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises a resilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said return channel being adapted to position a projectile below said tube so that vertical reciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.

8. A game playing table including a game playing surface, goal means on said playing surface, barrier means mounted above said playing surface, said barrier means extending substantially along the entire edge portion of said playing surface exclusive of said goal means, at least one object ball on said playing surface to be hit toward said goal means for scoring purposes, at least one projectile ball projected by manually actuated projecting means for hitting said object ball, said barrier means limiting the object ball to said playing surface but permitting the passage of any of said projectile balls beyond said playing surface, restraining means for restraining to said table any projectile balls passing beyond said barrier means, said restraining means including inclined trough means for guiding and returning any of said passed projectile balls to the vicinity adjacent the lower portion of said projecting means, said projecting means including at least one turret having a hammer mounted on said table, each said turret including a base plate in a plane parallel to and normally substantially flush with said playing surface, said base plate including a channel for initially positioning and guiding said projectile when struck by said hammer, said turret being vertically reciprocable and having means coop'erable therewith for cocking said hammer and feeding said returned projectile balls, one by one, to the base plate channel when said turret is vertically reciprocated, and means pivotally supporting said turret for pivoting the base plate in the plane of said playing surface for aiming said turret.

Claims

1. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playing surface, an object freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality of projectiles adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining said object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barrier means being adapted to permit a projectile to pass beyond said playing surface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, said restraining means comprising a system of return channels adapted to convey a projectile which leaves the playing surface to a said projecting means, said projecting means being aimable, and reloading means adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to said projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project a projectile, said projecting means comprising a rotatable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted to project a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface, means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammer into contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectively retain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the stored energy drives the hammer into contact with said projectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in Said turret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided with projectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of said hammer.

6. In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playing surface, an object ball freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality of smaller projectile balls adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining said object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barrier means comprising a rail placed higher than the diameter of the projectile ball and lower than the diameter of the object ball from the playing surface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, said playing surface being flat and generally horizontal, said means for projecting projectiles being mounted at each corner of said playing surface, said projecting means comprising a rotable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted to drive a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface, means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammer into contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectively retain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the stored energy drives the hammer into contact with a said projectile, and means adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to said projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project a projectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in said turret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided with projectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of said hammer.

8. A game playing table including a game playing surface, goal means on said playing surface, barrier means mounted above said playing surface, said barrier means extending substantially along the entire edge portion of said playing surface exclusive of said goal means, at least one object ball on said playing surface to be hit toward said goal means for scoring purposes, at least one projectile ball projected by manually actuated projecting means for hitting said object ball, said barrier means limiting the object ball to said playing surface but permitting the passage of any of said projectile balls beyond said playing surface, restraining meAns for restraining to said table any projectile balls passing beyond said barrier means, said restraining means including inclined trough means for guiding and returning any of said passed projectile balls to the vicinity adjacent the lower portion of said projecting means, said projecting means including at least one turret having a hammer mounted on said table, each said turret including a base plate in a plane parallel to and normally substantially flush with said playing surface, said base plate including a channel for initially positioning and guiding said projectile when struck by said hammer, said turret being vertically reciprocable and having means cooperable therewith for cocking said hammer and feeding said returned projectile balls, one by one, to the base plate channel when said turret is vertically reciprocated, and means pivotally supporting said turret for pivoting the base plate in the plane of said playing surface for aiming said turret.