US3743291A

US3743291A - Simulated volleyball game

Info

Publication number: US3743291A
Application number: US00163972A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Maeda
Original assignee: Entex Industries Inc
Current assignee: Entex Industries Inc
Priority date: 1971-07-19
Filing date: 1971-07-19
Publication date: 1973-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-03

Abstract

A manually operated game arrangement simulating the game of volleyball. A playing surface is provided and a ball guide wall extends around a periphery of the playing surface. A divider wall extends across the playing surface and terminates in a spaced apart relationship to the ball guide wall to define a ball transfer passageway therebetween and the divider wall divides the playing surface into a first playing area and a second playing area. A first ball service projector is mounted on the playing surface and is adjacent a first end of the ball guide wall in the first playing area and a second ball service projector is mounted on the playing surface and is adjacent the second end of the ball guide wall in the second playing area and remote from the first ball service projector. A plurality of independently manually operated ball strike devices are provided in each of the first and second playing areas. A ball is served by the first ball service projector and moves adjacent to the ball guide wall and enters the second player area. Independent manual operation of one plurality of ball strike devices in the second playing area by one player causes a hammer to strike the ball when it comes in ball striking relationship thereto to drive the ball back into the first playing area. In the first playing area the process is repeated by the other player to drive the ball back into the first playing area. This continues until the ball is missed by one or the other of the players and then the ball is once more served to repeat the playing process.

Description

nited States Patent [191 Maeda [21] Appl. No.: 163,972

[52] US. Cl. 273/85 C, 273/85 E, 273/121 R [51] Int. Cl. A63! 7/06 [58] Field of Search 273/85, 94, 121

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,945,798 2/1934 Barry 273/121 R 3,404,888 10/1968 Lally et a1... 273/121 A 3,582,074 6/1971 Menotti 273/121 A 3,642,280 2/1972 Llorens 273/94 R 3,194,559 7/1965 McCutcheon... 273/121 R 2,167,847 8/1939 Olken 273/85 E 2,668,057 2/1954 Fry 273/85 E 2,610,058 9/1952 Hooker 273/121 A 2,048,944 7/1936 Munro et a1. 273/121 D X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,373,806 8/1964 France 273/121 A 1,392,406 2/1965 France 407,183 3/1934 Great Britain 273/121 D Primary Examiner--Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Paul E; Shapiro Attorney-Don B. Finkelstein [451 July 3, i973 5 7] ABSTRACT ing surface and terminates in a spaced apart relationship to the "ball guide wall to define a ball transfer passageway therebetween and the divider wall divides the playing surface into a first playing area and a second 1 playing area. A first ball service projector is mounted on the playing surface and is adjacent a first end of the ball guide wall in the first playing area and a second ball service projector is mounted on the playing surface and is adjacent the second end of the ball guide wall in the second playing area and remote from the first ball service projector. A plurality of independently manually operated ball strike devices are provided in each of the first and second playing areas. A ball is served by the first ball service projector and moves adjacent to the ball guide wall and enters the second player area. Independent manual operation of one plurality of ball strike devices in the second playing area by one player causes a hammer to strike the ball when it comes in ball striking relationship thereto to drive the ball back into the first playing area. In the first playing area the process is repeated by the other player to drive the ball back into the first playing area. This continues until the ball is missed by one or the other of the players and then the ball is once more served to repeat the playing process.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUJuL 3 I975 3.743.291

sum

2 or 4 //v l/EN 7'0/2 TA KE TORA MA EDA PAIENIEDJUL 3197a 3.743291 m/ VEN TOR 774/(5 TORA MA 50A A WO/Q/VE Y5 SIMULATED VOLLEYBALL GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the game art and more particularly to a game arrangement of the type simulating the game of volleyball.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many type of toy and game arrangements utilized in the past have incorporated provisions for manual operation of structure to strike a ball and move the ball over a ball playing surface wherein the ball moves either in preselected paths or in random paths and, generally, after the manual operation moves by gravity forces. Typical of such prior art toys and games arrangements operable by one player are the conventional pin ball type of games.

Other types of prior art game arrangements of the same class have incorporated structure for allowing opposing players to strike a ball by manual operation of preselected structure thereby moving the ball from one playing area to another. However, there has generally not been provided a manually operated game arrangement of the type simulating the game of volleyball which may be played by anywheres from two to, for example, six players on each side. Such a game arrangement, of course, should closely simulate the real game of volleyball. That is, there should be provisions for independent manual operation of structure for driving the ball from one side of the ball playing surface to the other, there should be manually operable structure for serving the ball from one service area into the opposite playing area and there should also be provisions for structure simulating a net which divides the playing surface into the first and second playing areas, over which the ball must pass to move from the first playing area of the ball playing surface to the second playing area of the ball playing surface. Preferably, the structure for moving the ball from one playing area to the other, including the service structure, should be independently manually operable so that, for example, the game arrangement may be played in accordance with, as close as possible, the accepted rules governing the actual game of volleyball. As is known, the most important of these rules provides for service from regions outside the playing area proper, allow only a maximum of three hits of the ball while the ball is in one of the playing areas before it must be driven into the other playing area and the ball cannot be hit by the same player twice in a row.

These desiderata have not been achieved in prior art game arrangements and, accordingly, there has not generally been available a game arrangement for providing simulation of the real game of volleyball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game arrangement simulating the game of volleyball.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game arrangement simulating the game of volleyball in which, as close as practical, the basic rules governing the game of volleyball are also utilized and practiced in the game arrangement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game arrangement simulating the game of volleyball which may be played by opposing teams wherein each team may comprise one or more players.

The above and other objects are achieved, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by providing a case means having a plurality of walls. Each of the walls has an interior surface and an exterior surface and the interior surfaces of the walls, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, define a cavity. At least one of the walls has a plurality of apertures therethrough that provide communication from regions external the cavity into the cavity. An exterior surface of one of the walls defines a ball playing surface.

An arcuate ball guide wall is positioned around a preselected peripheral edge of the ball playing surface. A divider wall is positioned on the ball playing surface and, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is a linear wall simulating the net in the true game of vol leyball. The divider wall has a first end that is spaced apart from the arcuate ball guide wall and defines a ball transfer passageway on the ball playing surface therebetween. The second end of the divider wall is remote from the first end and positioned in a ball return portion of the ball playing surface. The divider wall divides the ball playing surface into a first and second playing area.

A first manually operated ball service means is on the case means and is adjacent to a fiirst end of the arcuate ball guide means in the first playing area. A second manually operated ball service means is on the case means adjacent the second end of the arcuate ball guide wall in the second playing area. Each of the first and second manually operated ball service means move a ball along the ball guide wall for a preselected distance, through the ball transfer passageway and into the opposite playing area.

A first ball playing means is in the first playing are and the first ball playing means generally comprises a first plurality of independently manually operable ball strike means mounted in spaced apart relationship to each other intermediate the first end of the arcuate ball guide wall and the second end of the divider wall. A second ball playing means is in the second playing area and generally comprises a second plurality of independently manually operable ball strike means mounted in spaced apart relationship to each other and intermediate the second end of the arcuate ball guide wall and the second end of the divider wall. Each of the first plurality of ball strike means and each of the second plurality of ball strike means are adapted, upon manual operation, to strike a ball passing within ball striking relationship thereto and thus move the ball through the ball transfer passageway into the opposite playing area.

When a ball is missed by the player or players operat' ing the ball strike means the ball returns to the ball return portion of the ball playing surface from which it is removed and replaced adjacent to one or the other of the ball service means so that play may be resumed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other embodiments of the present in vention may be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a game arrangement, according to the present invention, of the type simulating the game of volleyball;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a,plan view of a preferred arrangement for a ball playing means according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10, in which there is provided a case means 12. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown on FIGS. 1 and 2 the case means 12 is generally comprised of a base 14, a pair of upstanding side walls 16 and 18 in spaced apart relationship coupled to the base 14, and upstanding forward wall 20 coupled to the base 14 and an upstanding backwall 22 coupled to the base 14 and in spaced apart relationship to the forward wall 20. An intermediate plate 25 is mounted on the pair of spaced apart side walls 16 and 18, forward wall 20 and back wall 22 and define therewith a cavity 24. The side wall 16 has an interior surface 26 and an exterior surface 28. Side wall 18 has an interior surface 30 and an exterior surface 32 and an interior surface 30.

Forward wall 20 has an exterior surface 34 and an interior surface 36. Back wall 22 has an exterior surface 38 and an interior surface 40. The base 14 has an exterior surface 42 and an interior surface 44. The intermediate plate 25 has an interior surface 46 and an exterior surface 48. The interior surfaces 26, 30, 36, 40, 44 and 46 define the cavity 24. The exterior surface 48 of the intermediate plate means 25 defines a ball playing surface.

A ball guide wall 50 is mounted on the ball playing surface 48 and has a first end 52 and a second end 54. The ball guide wall 50 is in preferred embodiments of the invention, an arcuate wall extending in a continuous curve along preselected peripheral portions of the ball playing surface 48 from the first end 52 to the second end 54 thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the arcuate ball guide 50 is transparent and may be fabricated, for example, of a transparent plastic. A divider wall 56 is mounted on the ball playing surface 48 and has a first end 58 spaced from the arcuate ball guide wall 50 to define a ball transfer passageway 60 therebetween. The divider wall 56 is preferably linear and simulates the net in the true game of volleyball and has a second end 62 remote from the first end 58 and positioned in a ball return portion 64 of the ball playing surface 48. The divider wall 56 divides the ball playing surface 48 into a first playing area 66 and a second playing area 68.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, there may also be provided on the ball playing surface 48 a first ball return wall 70 having a first end 72 in regions adjacent the first end 52 of the arcuate ball guide wall 50 and the first ball return wall 70 extends therefrom to regions adjacent the ball return portion 64. A second ball return wall 74, similar to the first ball return wall 70, may be provided mounted on the ball playing surface 48 and having a first end 76 in regions adjacent the second end 54 of the arcuate ball guide wall 50 and extending therefrom to regions adjacent the ball return portion 64.

If desired, a first inner guide wall 78 may be provided on the ball playing surface 48 in the first playing area 66 thereof adjacent to and affine to the arcuate ball guide wall 50 for a preselected distance. Similarly, if desired, a second inner guide wall 80 may be provided on the ball playing surface 48 in the second playing area 68 adjacent to and affine to the arcuate ball guide wall 50 for a preselected distance. The first inner guide wall 78 and arcuate guide wall 50 define a first service area 82 of the first playing area 66 and the second inner guide wall 80 and the arcuate guide wall 50 define a second ball service area 84 of the second playing area 68.

It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments of the present invention, the first inner guide wall 78, second inner guide wall 80, first ball return wall 70 and second ball return wall 74 are preferably transparent and fabricated of, for example, plastic. However, the first guide wall 78, second guide wall 80, first ball return wall 70 and second ball return wall 74 may be omitted in those embodiments of the present invention where desired.

The transparent coverplate means 86 may be pro vided in preferred embodiments of the present invention covering the ball playing surface 48 and spaced apart therefrom. The transparent coverplate means 86 may be fabricated from a clear plastic and, in preferred embodiments of the invention, may be formed as a unitary structure with the arcuate ball guide wall 50, divider wall 56, first ball return wall 70, second ball return wall 74, first inner guide wall 78 and second inner guide wall 80 to define therewith a transparent cover means generally designated 88. The transparent coverplate means 86 is spaced apart from the ball playing surface 48 by the upstanding walls described above.

A first ball playing means 90 and a second ball playing means 92 are mounted in the cavity 24 of the case means 12. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the first ball playing means 90 is substantially identical to the second ball playing means 92. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the structure associated with the first ball playing means 90. As shown the first ball playing means 90 comprises a plurality of ball strike means 94., individually identified at 94a, 94b, 94c, 94d, 94:: and 94f. Each of the plurality of ball strike means 94 are substantially identical. FIG. 3 illustrates the structure associated with the ball strike means 94a and, as shown, generally comprise a ball engaging hammer member 96 pivotally mounted on a first axle means 98 that is supported in the cavity 24 of the case means 14. A lever member 100 is pivotally mounted on a second axle means 103 that is supported in the cavity 24 of the case means 14 and in spaced apart relationship to the first axle means 98. The lever member 100 has a prong portion 102 on one end thereof that operatively engages the hammer member 96. A finger engaging key member 104 is coupled to an opposite end 106 of the lever member 11111 that is located on the opposite side of the second axle means 103 from the prong portion 102.

The ball strike means are manually operated and movement of the key member 104 in the direction indicated by the arrow 108 moves the hammer member 96 in the direction indicated by the arrow 1111 to engage a bail 112, shown in dotted lines in FllG. 3, that passes within ball engaging relationship thereto. In the preferred embodiments of the invention gravity forces return the ball strike means to the position shown in FIG. 3 after striking the ball. Hammer member 96 projects through an aperture 114 in the intermediate plate 25 and key member 104 projects through an aperture 116 in the intermediate plate 25. The aperture 114 is in the ball playing surface 48 of the intermediate plate 25 and the aperture 116 is outside of the ball playing surface 48. The key member 104, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, also projects through an aperture 118 in an outer portion 88' that may be fabricated as part of the transparent cover means 88.

The first axle means 98 and second axle means 103 have their ends supported in axle supports 1211 and 122 for maintaining the axle means 98 and 103 in spaced apart relationship to the interior surface 44 of the base 14 of the cavity 12.

U-shaped supports

124 and 126 may be provided to support the

members

120 and 122.

It will be appreciated that any one of the walls defining the cavity 24 may be provided with apertures therethrough to allow operation of the plurality of ball strike means 94 wherein the manually operated portion thereof is external the playing surface 48. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, generally designated 130 wherein a case means, generally designated 132, is provided with a base 134 and a forward wall 136. An intermediate plate 138, which may be similar to the intermediate plate 25, is coupled thereto to define a cavity 140 which may be similar to the cavity 24. However, in the embodiment 130 shown in FIG. 6 the forward wall 136 has an aperture 142 therethrough through which a lever member 144 of a ball strike means 146 projects finger engaging key member 148 is coupled to the lever 144 in regions external the cavity 140. The lever member 144 is mounted on an axle means 150. Operation of the ball strike means 146 in the embodiment 130 shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 except that the aperture 142 is in the forward wall 136 instead of the intermediate plate 138.

In some embodiments of the present invention it may be desirable to have the plurality of ball strike means mounted directly on an extension of the ball playing surface and thereby eliminate any necessity for a case means and a cavity within the case means to house the plurality of ball strike means. FIG. 7 shows a structural arrangement for an embodiment of the invention, generally designated 150 in which a ball strike means 152 is mounted directly on a plate 154 having a playing surface area 156 and a mounting portion 158 outside of the ball playing surface area 156. The ball strike means 152 is generally comprised of a hammer member 160 pivotally mounted on a first axle 162 supported by support means 164 away from the ball playing surface area 156 and is similar to the

supports

124 and 126 described above. A lever member 166 is pivotally mounted on a second axle 168 that is supported away from the portion 158 by support member 170 which may also be similar to the

supports

124 and 126 described above. The lever member 166 is operatively connected through prong portion 172 with the hammer member 1611. A second end 174 of the lever member 166 is on an opposite side of the axle 1611 and has mounted thereon a finger engaging key member 176. it will be appreciated that the hammer member 166, first axle 162, lever member 166, second axle 166 and key 176 may be similar to the corresponding elements described above in connection with FIGS. 35, 4 and 5, and operate in substantially the same fashion. That is, depression of the key member 1'76 in the direction indicated by the arrow 178 operativel y moves the hammer member 166 in the direction indicated by the arrow 186 to strike a ball (not shown) that is in ball striking relationship thereto. Thus, the embodiment of the invention 151) shown in FIG. 7 eliminates the necessity for a case means and a cavity and, instead, has the plurality of ball strike means directly mounted on a surface coplanar with the ball playing surface area 156.

Referring now to 1168. 1, 8 and 9, in the preferred embodiment of the invention 10 illustrated thereon, a first manually operated ball service means 196 is mounted in the cavity 24 of the case means 12 adjacent the first side wall 16. A second ball service means 192 which may be similar to the first ball service means 191) is also mounted in the cavity 24 of the case means 12 adjacent the second side wall 18.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 8 and 9 the first ball service means is manually operated and has an actuator portion 21111 having a ball engaging member 262 at one end thereof extending through an aperture 264 in in the intermediate plate 25 and extending above the ball playing surface 46 in the ball service area 64 thereof. The actuator portion 200 is slideably mounted in a guide means 218 that is coupled to the base 14 of the case means 12. The actuator portion 206 also has a gripping member 266 extending through an aperture 268 in the intermediate plate 25 in regions external the ball playing volume 63 defined by the transparent cover 68 and the ball playing surface 48 of the intermediate plate 25. An. aperture 210 is also provided in the portion 86' of the transparent cover means 66 and the gripping member 266 extends t'herethrough to allow manual gripping thereof for movement in the direction indicated by the arrow 212 against compressing a spring means 214. When the actuator portion 261) of the first ball service means 190 is moved as far in the direction of the arrow 212 as desired it is released and the compressed energy of the spring means 214 moves the actuator portion 260 in the direction indicated by the arrow 216 until the ball engaging member 262 strikes a ball 112, indicated on FIG. 8 in dotted lines. The ball moves out of the first ball service 114 and, due to centrifugal force, generally stays against the arcuate ball guide wall 60 until it drops into the second playing area 66 where it may be struck by manual operation of one or more of the second plurality of ball strike means of the second ball playing means 92. 1f the bal1 continues around the arcuate guide wall 511 until it enters the second ball service area 84 intermediate the second intermediate wall 60 and the arcuate guide wall 611 adjacent the second end 54 thereof, it may be considered out of bounds and the player operating the second ball service means 192 then serves the ball and operates the structure in a manner similar to that described above.

Referring to FIG. 1, if the ball is missed by the players operating the first ball playing means 90 or second ball playing means 92 when the ball is in the first playing area 66 or second playing area 68, respectively, the ball moves until it is stopped by either the first ball return wall 70 or second ball return wall 74 and then is directed into the ball return portion 64.

Apertures

220 and 222 are provided in the transparent coverplate 86 of the transparent cover means 88 above the ball return portion 64 and the ball may be removed therefrom and inserted in

apertures

224 or 226 in the transparent coverplate 86 that are adjacent the ball engaging portions of the first ball service means 190 and second ball service means 192, respectively.

If desired, a plurality of bumper means 226 may be dependent from the inner surface 85 of the transparent coverplate 86 of the transparent cover means 88 and one of the bumper means 226 may be intermediate each adjacent pair of the first plurality of ball strike means of the first ball playing means 90 and the second plurality of ball strike means of the second ball playing means 92. The bumper means 226 extend a preselected distance towards the ball playing surface 48 and engage the ball 112 when it passes thereby.

Since gravity is utilized to move the ball after it has been struck by the ball service means or the ball playing means in the preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown for example in FIG. 2, a support member 230 may be provided to support the ball transfer passageway 60 at a vertical elevation above the ball return portion 64.

This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. From the above it can be seen that there has been provided a manually operable game arrangement that closely simulates the true game of volleyball in both manner of play and in rules that may be applied thereto. For example, after a successful service into either the first or second ball playing areas 66 or 68 the rules may require that the ball be struck no more than three times by the first or second ball playing means 90 and 92, respectively, and also, for example, that it may not be struck by any one of the plurality of ball strike means twice in a row. The divider wall 56 simulates the net in the true game of volleyball and the

ball service areas

82 and 84 simulate the areas from which the ball is served in the true game of volleyball. The preferred embodiments of the invention has six ball strike means in each ball playing means 90 and 92. It will be appreciated that more or less than six may be included as desired. Further, the first and second ball service means 190 and 192, respectively, may be mounted on an external surface of a plate in a manner similar to that shown for the mounting of the ball strike means 152 in FIG. 7. The preselected spacing of the plurality of ball strike means in each of the first ball playing means 90 and second ball playing means 92 is such that, if desired, up to six people may play on each side, one operating each of the ball strike means. Similarly, two additional players, making a total of seven on each side, can be utilized to operate the ball service means 190 and 192. However, it will be appreciated that one person on each side may operate the plurality of ball strike means in each of the first ball playing means 90 and second ball playing means 92 as well as the first ball service means 190 and second ball service means 192. Therefore, the game may be quite successfully played by anywheres from two to fourteen players.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and variations of the present invention may be devised by those skilled in the art and the following claims are intended to cover all such variations and adaptations falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A game arrangement of the type simulating the game of volleyball and comprising, in combination:

a case means having a plurality of walls and each of said walls having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and said walls having a plurality of apertures therethrough, an exterior surface of a first of said plurality of walls defining a ball playing surface, and said plurality of walls defining a cavity, and said interior surfaces of said plurality of walls bounding said cavity, and said plurality of apertures through said plurality of walls providing communication between said cavity and regions external of said cavity;

an arcuate ball guide wall positioned on preselected peripheral edges of said case means extending outwardly from said ball playing surface for a predetermined distance therearound;

a divider wall positioned on said ball playing surface extending outwardly therefrom, and said divider wall dividing said ball playing surface into a first playing area and a second playing area, and a first end of said divider wall spaced from said ball guide wall to define a ball transfer passageway there between, and said divider wall having a second end remote from said first end thereof and said divider wall linear intermediate said first end and said second end thereof;

a first spring loaded manually operated ball service means on said case means adjacent said ball guide wall in said first playing area for moving a ball adjacent said ball guide wall through said ball transfer passageway into said second playing area;

a second spring loaded manually operated ball service means on said case means adjacent said ball guide wall in said second playing area for moving a ball adjacent said ball guide wall through said ball transfer'passageway into said first playing area;

said first ball service means mounted in said cavity of said case means and having a preselected portion thereof extending through a first portion of said plurality of apertures;

said second ball service means mounted in said cavity of said case means and having a preselected portion thereof extending through a second portion of said plurality of apertures;

a first ball playing means in said first playing area and comprising;

a first plurality of independently, manually operable ball strike means mounted in said cavity of said case means and in spaced apart relationship to each other and intermediate said ball guide wall and said divider wall in said first playing area for selectively moving a ball from said first play area through said ball transfer passageway into said second playing area, and having preselected portions thereof extending through a third portion of said plurality of apertures;

a second ball playing means in said second playing area and comprising;

a second plurality of independently, manually operable ball strike means mounted in said cavity of said case means in spaced apart relationship to each other and intermediate said ball guide wall and said divider wall in said second playing area for selectively moving a ball from said second playing area through said ball transfer passageway into said first playing area and having preselected portions thereof extending through a fourth portion of said plurality of apertures; and

a transparent cover plate means mounted on said ball guide wall in spaced apart relationship to said ball playing surface, and defining a ball playing volume therewith, and said transparent cover means having a plurality of ball accepting apertures therethrough, a first of said plurality of ball accepting apertures adjacent said first ball service means, a second of said plurality of ball accepting apertures adjacent said second ball service means, and a third of said plurality of ball accepting apertures adjacent said second end of said divider wall.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 and further comprising:

a plurality of bumper means dependent from said transparent cover plate means and extending a preselected distance toward said ball playing surface, and one of said plurality of bumper means intermediate each pair of adjacent ball strike means of said first plurality thereof and said second plurality thereof;

ball return guide wall means extending from regions adjacent each of said first and second ball service meansto regions adjacent said third ball accepting aperture in said transparent cover plate means; and

means for supporting regions of said ball playing surface adjacent said ball transfer passageway at an elevation higher than regions of said ball playing surface adjacent said third aperture in said transparent cover plate means.

3. A game arrangement of the type simulating a volleyball game comprising, in combination:

a case means having a base, a pair of upstanding side walls in spaced apart relationship coupled to said base, an upstanding forward wall coupled to said base and an upstanding back wall coupled to said base and spaced from said forward wall;

a first ball service means mounted on said base adjacent a first of said pair of side walls;

a second ball service means mounted on said base adjacent the second of said pair of side walls;

a first ball playing means comprising a first plurality of manually operable ball strike means mounted on said base adjacent said first ball service means;

a second ball playing means comprising a second plurality of manually operable ball strike means mounted on said base adjacent said second ball service means and spaced from said first plurality of ball strike means;

an intermediate plate means having an upper surface and a lower surface coupled to said pair of side walls, said forward wall and said back wall of said case means, spaced from said base and defining a cavity therewith, and said intermediate plate hav- 6 said first plurality of ball strike means and said second plurality of ball strike means, and said upper surface of said intermediate plate means defining a ball playing surface;

a transparent cover means mounted on said intermediate plate means and said transparent cover means having:

a transparent cover plate member substantially coextensive with said ball playing surface of said in termediate plate means; and

an upstanding wall member coupled to said cover plate member for maintaining said cover plate member in spaced apart relationship to said playing surface of said intermediate plate means; and said cover means and said intermediate plate means defining a ball playing volume;

said upstanding wall member of said transparent cover means comprising: an arcuate ball guide wall section extending around preselected portions of the periphery of said ball playing surface and having a first end in regions adjacent said first ball service means and a second end in regions adjacent said second ball service means;

a linear divider wall section intermediate said first plurality of ball strike means and said second plurality of ball strike means for dividing said ball playing volume into a first playing volume and a second playing volume, and said divider wall having a first end spaced from said arcuate ball guide wall to define therewith a ball transfer passageway in said ball playing volume between said first playing volume and said second playing volume, and said divider wall having; a second end remote from said first end thereof to define a ball return volume of said ball playing volume;

a first ball return wall section extending from regions adjacent said first end of said arcuate ball guide wall section to regions adjacent said second end of said divider wall section;

a second ball return wall section extending from regions adjacent said second end of said arcuate ball guide wall section to regions adjacent said second end of said divider wall section;

said transparent cover means having a plurality of ball accepting apertures the-rethrough, a first of said ball accepting apertures adjacent said first ball service means, a second of said ball accepting apertures adjacent said second ball service means and a third of said ball accepting apertures adjacent said second end of said divider wall section;

a first inner guide wall adjacent said first wall service means and affine for a preselected distance to said varcuate ball guide wall section and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom and extending between said intermediate plate means and said cover plate member of said transparent cover means;

a second inner guide wall adjacent said second ball service means and affine for preselected distance to said arcuate ball guide wall section and spaced a preselected distance therefrom and extending between said cover plate member of said transparent cover means and said intermediate plate means;

each of said first and said second ball service means having:

a ball engaging member extending through one of said plurality of aligned apertures in said intermediate plate means in said ball playing volume; and a gripping member extending through another of said plurality of aligned apertures in said intermediate plate in regions outside said ball playing volume, and said gripping member operatively connected to said ball engaging member for ball serving movement thereof; and each of said first plurality and said second plurality of ball strike means having:

ball engaging hammer member extending through another of said plurality of aligned apertures in said intermediate plate in said ball playing volume; and finger engaging key member extending through another of said plurality of aligned apertures in said intermediate plate in regions outside said ball playing volume, and said finger engaging key member operatively connected to said hammer member thereof for moving said hammer member into ball striking engagement with a ball. 4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: each of said first and said second ball service means further comprises: a guide member mounted in said cavity; an actuator portion slideably mounted in said guide member for reciprocal movement therein, and said actuator portion comprising: said ball engaging member and said gripping member; and a spring means intermediate said case means and said actuator portion. 5. The arrangement defined in claim 4 and further comprising:

a first, a second, a third and a fourth axle means mounted in said cavity of said case means; each of said hammer members of said first plurality of ball strike means pivotally mounted on said first axle means;

a first plurality of lever members pivotally mounted on said second axle means and having:

a first end operatively connected to one of said hammer members of said first plurality of ball strike means; and

a second end;

one of said finger engaging key members of said first plurality of ball strike means coupled to said second end of each of said first plurality of lever members;

each of said plurality of hammer members of said second plurality of ball strike means pivotally mounted on said third axle means;

a second plurality of lever members pivotally mounted on said fourth axle means and having:

a first end operatively connected to one of said hammer members of said second plurality of ball strike means; and

a second end;

and one of said finger engaging key members of said second plurality of ball strike means coupled to said second end of each of said second plurality of lever members.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 5 and further comprising:

means for supporting said ball transfer passageway in said ball playing volume vertically higher than said ball return volume of said ball playing volume;

and a plurality of bumper means dependent from said cover plate portion of said transparent cover means, and one of said bumper means intermediate each adjacent pair of said hammer portions of said first and said second ball strike means.

Claims

1. A game arrangement of the type simulating the game of volleyball and comprising, in combination: a case means having a plurality of walls and each of said walls having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and said walls having a plurality of apertures therethrough, an exterior surface of a first of said plurality of walls defining a ball playing surface, and said plurality of walls defining a cavity, and said interior surfaces of said plurality of walls bounding said cavity, and said plurality of apertures through said plurality of walls providing communication between said cavity and regions external of said cavity; an arcuate ball guide wall positioned on preselected peripheral edges of said case means extending outwardly from said ball playing surface for a predetermined distance therearound; a divider wall positioned on said ball playing surface extending outwardly therefrom, and said divider wall dividing said ball playing surface into a first playing area and a second playing area, and a first end of said divider wall spaced from said ball guide wall to define a ball transfer passageway there between, and said divider wall having a second end remote from said first end thereof and said divider wall linear intErmediate said first end and said second end thereof; a first spring loaded manually operated ball service means on said case means adjacent said ball guide wall in said first playing area for moving a ball adjacent said ball guide wall through said ball transfer passageway into said second playing area; a second spring loaded manually operated ball service means on said case means adjacent said ball guide wall in said second playing area for moving a ball adjacent said ball guide wall through said ball transfer passageway into said first playing area; said first ball service means mounted in said cavity of said case means and having a preselected portion thereof extending through a first portion of said plurality of apertures; said second ball service means mounted in said cavity of said case means and having a preselected portion thereof extending through a second portion of said plurality of apertures; a first ball playing means in said first playing area and comprising; a first plurality of independently, manually operable ball strike means mounted in said cavity of said case means and in spaced apart relationship to each other and intermediate said ball guide wall and said divider wall in said first playing area for selectively moving a ball from said first play area through said ball transfer passageway into said second playing area, and having preselected portions thereof extending through a third portion of said plurality of apertures; a second ball playing means in said second playing area and comprising; a second plurality of independently, manually operable ball strike means mounted in said cavity of said case means in spaced apart relationship to each other and intermediate said ball guide wall and said divider wall in said second playing area for selectively moving a ball from said second playing area through said ball transfer passageway into said first playing area and having preselected portions thereof extending through a fourth portion of said plurality of apertures; and a transparent cover plate means mounted on said ball guide wall in spaced apart relationship to said ball playing surface, and defining a ball playing volume therewith, and said transparent cover means having a plurality of ball accepting apertures therethrough, a first of said plurality of ball accepting apertures adjacent said first ball service means, a second of said plurality of ball accepting apertures adjacent said second ball service means, and a third of said plurality of ball accepting apertures adjacent said second end of said divider wall.

2. The arrangement defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of bumper means dependent from said transparent cover plate means and extending a preselected distance toward said ball playing surface, and one of said plurality of bumper means intermediate each pair of adjacent ball strike means of said first plurality thereof and said second plurality thereof; ball return guide wall means extending from regions adjacent each of said first and second ball service means to regions adjacent said third ball accepting aperture in said transparent cover plate means; and means for supporting regions of said ball playing surface adjacent said ball transfer passageway at an elevation higher than regions of said ball playing surface adjacent said third aperture in said transparent cover plate means.

3. A game arrangement of the type simulating a volleyball game comprising, in combination: a case means having a base, a pair of upstanding side walls in spaced apart relationship coupled to said base, an upstanding forward wall coupled to said base and an upstanding back wall coupled to said base and spaced from said forward wall; a first ball service means mounted on said base adjacent a first of said pair of side walls; a second ball service means mounted on said base adjacent the second of said pair of side walls; a first ball playing means comprising a first Plurality of manually operable ball strike means mounted on said base adjacent said first ball service means; a second ball playing means comprising a second plurality of manually operable ball strike means mounted on said base adjacent said second ball service means and spaced from said first plurality of ball strike means; an intermediate plate means having an upper surface and a lower surface coupled to said pair of side walls, said forward wall and said back wall of said case means, spaced from said base and defining a cavity therewith, and said intermediate plate having a plurality of aligned apertures therethrough in a preselected aligned relationship with said first ball service means, said second ball service means, said first plurality of ball strike means and said second plurality of ball strike means, and said upper surface of said intermediate plate means defining a ball playing surface; a transparent cover means mounted on said intermediate plate means and said transparent cover means having: a transparent cover plate member substantially coextensive with said ball playing surface of said intermediate plate means; and an upstanding wall member coupled to said cover plate member for maintaining said cover plate member in spaced apart relationship to said playing surface of said intermediate plate means; and said cover means and said intermediate plate means defining a ball playing volume; said upstanding wall member of said transparent cover means comprising: an arcuate ball guide wall section extending around preselected portions of the periphery of said ball playing surface and having a first end in regions adjacent said first ball service means and a second end in regions adjacent said second ball service means; a linear divider wall section intermediate said first plurality of ball strike means and said second plurality of ball strike means for dividing said ball playing volume into a first playing volume and a second playing volume, and said divider wall having a first end spaced from said arcuate ball guide wall to define therewith a ball transfer passageway in said ball playing volume between said first playing volume and said second playing volume, and said divider wall having a second end remote from said first end thereof to define a ball return volume of said ball playing volume; a first ball return wall section extending from regions adjacent said first end of said arcuate ball guide wall section to regions adjacent said second end of said divider wall section; a second ball return wall section extending from regions adjacent said second end of said arcuate ball guide wall section to regions adjacent said second end of said divider wall section; said transparent cover means having a plurality of ball accepting apertures therethrough, a first of said ball accepting apertures adjacent said first ball service means, a second of said ball accepting apertures adjacent said second ball service means and a third of said ball accepting apertures adjacent said second end of said divider wall section; a first inner guide wall adjacent said first wall service means and affine for a preselected distance to said arcuate ball guide wall section and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom and extending between said intermediate plate means and said cover plate member of said transparent cover means; a second inner guide wall adjacent said second ball service means and affine for preselected distance to said arcuate ball guide wall section and spaced a preselected distance therefrom and extending between said cover plate member of said transparent cover means and said intermediate plate means; each of said first and said second ball service means having: a ball engaging member extending through one of said plurality of aligned apertures in said intermediate plate means in said ball playing volume; and a gripping member extending through another of said plurality of aligned apertures in Said intermediate plate in regions outside said ball playing volume, and said gripping member operatively connected to said ball engaging member for ball serving movement thereof; and each of said first plurality and said second plurality of ball strike means having: a ball engaging hammer member extending through another of said plurality of aligned apertures in said intermediate plate in said ball playing volume; and finger engaging key member extending through another of said plurality of aligned apertures in said intermediate plate in regions outside said ball playing volume, and said finger engaging key member operatively connected to said hammer member thereof for moving said hammer member into ball striking engagement with a ball.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: each of said first and said second ball service means further comprises: a guide member mounted in said cavity; an actuator portion slideably mounted in said guide member for reciprocal movement therein, and said actuator portion comprising: said ball engaging member and said gripping member; and a spring means intermediate said case means and said actuator portion.

5. The arrangement defined in claim 4 and further comprising: a first, a second, a third and a fourth axle means mounted in said cavity of said case means; each of said hammer members of said first plurality of ball strike means pivotally mounted on said first axle means; a first plurality of lever members pivotally mounted on said second axle means and having: a first end operatively connected to one of said hammer members of said first plurality of ball strike means; and a second end; one of said finger engaging key members of said first plurality of ball strike means coupled to said second end of each of said first plurality of lever members; each of said plurality of hammer members of said second plurality of ball strike means pivotally mounted on said third axle means; a second plurality of lever members pivotally mounted on said fourth axle means and having: a first end operatively connected to one of said hammer members of said second plurality of ball strike means; and a second end; and one of said finger engaging key members of said second plurality of ball strike means coupled to said second end of each of said second plurality of lever members.

6. The arrangement defined in claim 5 and further comprising: means for supporting said ball transfer passageway in said ball playing volume vertically higher than said ball return volume of said ball playing volume; and a plurality of bumper means dependent from said cover plate portion of said transparent cover means, and one of said bumper means intermediate each adjacent pair of said hammer portions of said first and said second ball strike means.