US3770272A

US3770272A - Tethered ball propelling apparatus, targets, and scoring markers

Info

Publication number: US3770272A
Application number: US00214280A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Olivier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-12-30
Filing date: 1971-12-30
Publication date: 1973-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-06

Abstract

A game of skill consisting of a kit-box containing parallel rows of tracks each with a numbered scale thereon, a detachable marker for each track and a separable propelling device operated by the player and comprising a bowl mounted on a support, said bowl provided with a cylindrical vertical passage and numbered holes, in the shape of cups, surrounding said passage, the propelling device consisting of a piston on the top of which is fixed an elastic band connected to a ball, which is required to fall into one of the cups when propelled by the piston set in action by the player, who, after his turn is over, moves the marker by the number of points equal to the number marked on that particular cup.

Description

United States Patent [191 Olivier Nov. 6, 1973 1 TETHERED BALL PROPELLING 7 3,679,208 7/1972 Carrano 273/144 R APPARATUS, TARGETS, AND SCORING f; g an MARKERS 2,784,970 3/1957 Heiner 273/94 R [76] Inventor: Gabriel Olivier, 4 Chemin du P1313116 1003, Vaud, Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham swltzel'land Assistant ExaminerMarvih Siskind 22 Filed: Dec. 30 197 Att0rney-Emory L. GI'Off el al.

[21] Appl. No.: 214,280 .[57] ABSTRACT I A 1 k1] on t'n of k't-bo ntainn am]- [52] 273/97 273/144 273/134 lel iia z s f traclfs ez a cfh w ith snumb rt a scale tl e reon, 124/11 124/13 R a detachable marker for each track and a separable Fleld of Search R, 97, p p i g device p a the p y and p i 273/101 144 144 138 94 ing a bowl mounted on a support, said bowl provided 134 134 3 124/16 17 with a cylindrical vertical passage and numbered holes,

in the shape of cups, surrounding said passage, the pro- [56] Reerences C'ted pelling device consisting of a piston on the top of which UNITED STATES PATENTS is fixed an elastic band connected to a ball, which is re- 795,049 7/1905 Maier 273/95 R quired to fallinto one of the cups when propelled by 3,358,998 12/1967 Goldfarb 273/95 R the piston set in action by the player, who, after his turn 3,423,090 l/l969 Pfund n 273/134 G is over, moves the marker by the number of points 3,672,676 6/1972 Goldfarb 273/101 equal to the number marked on that particular 2,140,193 12/1938 Weinberger... 273/94 R v 1,025,465 5/1912 Hill 273/101 5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures RF 3' 52 Y 3O |7/' 4 Pmimtuuuv 61975 3770.272

FIG. 3.

Y i 3 J II I N I q 4 FHE HSH EHE FIG. 4.

VIII/1,1111, 9

. l TETHERED BALL PROPELLING APPARATUS, TARGETS, AND SCORING MARKERS The present invention concerns a game of skill. It is distinctive in so far as it consists of a kit-box containing parallel rows of tracks with a numbered scale, a detachable marker for each track and a separable propelling device worked by the player and made of a cylindrical box or bowl mounted on a support, the box in its central part being provided with a cylindrical vertical passage and numbered holes in the shape of cups, surrounding said passage, the propelling device consisting of a piston on the top of which is fixed an elastic band connected to a ball, which is required to fall into one of the cups when propelled by the piston set in action by the player, who, after his turn is over, moves the marking pointer by the number of points equal to the number marked on that particular cup.

The attached drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment together with a modification of this game of skill which constitutes the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view along the line I--I in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 with the kit-box cover having been removed;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate, on an enlarged scale, the detachable marker placed on a track;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view following the line IV--IV of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show one form of propelling device, FIG. 7 being a vertical sectional view along the line VII- VII of FIG. 8, and FIG. 8 being a plan view of FIG.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a variation of the propelling device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8; FIG. 9 being a vertical sectional-view following the line IX--IX of FIG. 10 and FIG. 10 being a partial sectional view of FIG. 9.

The game of skill in working order shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 consists of a kit-box l of which the bottom 2 is provided with a transverse partition. 3 which divides the box into

compartments

4 and 5. In compartment 4 of the kit-box the game itself is placed while compartment 5 is intended for accommodating the games accessories. The kit-box is provided with a cover 6.

Between the partition 3 andthe side wall 7 of the kitbox 1 are placed six parallel tracks 8. The middle of track 8, which is rectangular in shape, has on its upper face a serrated surface 9, in the form of 'a rack-bar, for supporting the marker 10 (FIGS. 4 to 6), consisting of a platform 11, on which is fixed the figurine of a racehorse 12. One of the side edges of the platform 1 1 contains a v-shaped opening 13, exposing to view, when the pointer 10 is placed on track 8, a mark r for spring 19 in the shape of a pincer, the lever and the spring being able to rotate on a common-axle 20. The end-part 21 of the spring 19 is in contact with a pushbutton 22 which is situated on the sloping side 23 of the pedestal 15.

The lever 18 is provided with a beak 24, in the shape of a hook. The break engages in the notch 25 of a piston 26 fixed to the column 16, said column being screwed to the lower side of the bowl 17.

The bowl 17, cylindrical in shape, contains, in its middle a passage situated in the extension of the colurnn l6, and includes four cups 29 bearing numerals 1-4 distributed in the shape of a cross between the central passage 28 and the surrounding side wall 30 of the bowl 17. I

On the head of the piston 26 is fixed one end of the elastic band 31, the other end of which is joined to a ball 32 shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 7 and 9.

The pedestal l5 and the bowl containing cups 29 forming the propelling device 14 are placed inside the compartment 5 of the kit-box l in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

In order to play the game of skill herein described, thevbutton22 is pushed in the direction of the arrow f (FIG. 7). This action will free the beak 24 from the notch 25, which will move the piston 26 upward by the release of the spring 27 and finally it will project the ball 32 tethered by the elastic band 31, upwardly and into one of the cups 29. The number marked on this example, the number 19 shown in (FIG. 5) engraved on the bottom of the kit-box by the side of the related track. Each track is thus given its own marking scale numbered from 1 to 50 as shown in FIG. 2.

The game is played by utilizing the propelling device I cup will indicate to the player who is, for example, allotted track 8 note FIG. 2, by how many points he can advance the marking pointer 10, this move being calculated as seen at point r through the v-shaped opening 13. The player whose pointer 10, corresponding to the track allotted to him, arrives first at the number 50, has won the game. ethered A variation of the propelling device 14 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein the pedestal 15 of the propel-- ling device may be replaced by an inflatable bulb 33, fixed on the lower side of the column 34, this column being screwed to the box of the cups 17. When the bulb is pressed the piston 35 provided with a guiding cylinder 36 will hurl the ball 32 in the same manner as described above. I

With the exception of the two springs 19 and 27 which are made of metal, all other components of this game are made of plastic material.

The game of skill has a special advantage in being made in sections making it easy for packaging and storing.

I claim:

1. A game of skill comprising a kit-box including a plurality of parallel rows of tracks therein, a numbered scale on the bottom of said kit-box beside each of said tracks a detachable marker movably mounted on said tracks, means for indicating the distance said marker is to be moved along its related track, said means including a propelling device comprising a pedestal including a hollow supporting column and a hollow base, a bowl member on the top of said supporting column, said bowl member having a central opening communicating with said supporting column and a plurality of numbered cups surrounding said central opening, a lever pivotally mounted in the base of said pedestal, said lever including a hook at one end and a push button engaging its opposite end, a piston slidably mounted in said supporting column and base, said piston having a notch at its lower end, first spring means normally urging said piston upwardly through the central opening in said bowl member, second spring means normally biasing said lever so that its hook engages in the notch in the lower end of said piston when said piston is in its inactive position, a ball tethered to the top of said piston and housed within said central opening in the bowl member when said piston is in its inactive position, whereby upon pressing said push button the hook of said lever is released from engagement with said notch, said piston is urged upwardly by said first spring means and said ball is propelled upwardly to fall into one of said numbered cups indicating the number of points on said scale the markeris to be moved.

2. A game of skill according to claim 1 wherein said kit-box includes a transverse partition providing two compartments, one of said compartments containing said parallel rows of tracks and the other of said compartments housing said propelling device. I

3. A game of skill according to claim 2 wherein the upper surface of said tracks is serrated.

4. A game of skill according to claim 1 wherein said bowl member is detachably mounted on said supporting column.

5. A game of skill according to claim 1 wherein said marker includes a platform on which a figurine is fixed, said platform having a V-shaped opening in one edge number thereon.

Claims

1. A game of skill comprising a kit-box including a plurality of parallel rows of tracks therein, a numbered scale on the bottom of said kit-box beside each of said tracks a detachable marker movably mounted on said tracks, means for indicating the distance said marker is to be moved along its related track, said means including a propelling device comprising a pedestal including a hollow supporting column and a hollow base, a bowl member on the top of said supporting column, said bowl member having a central opening communicating with said supporting column and a plurality of numbered cups surrounding said central opening, a lever pivotally mounted in the base of said pedestal, said lever including a hook at oNe end and a push button engaging its opposite end, a piston slidably mounted in said supporting column and base, said piston having a notch at its lower end, first spring means normally urging said piston upwardly through the central opening in said bowl member, second spring means normally biasing said lever so that its hook engages in the notch in the lower end of said piston when said piston is in its inactive position, a ball tethered to the top of said piston and housed within said central opening in the bowl member when said piston is in its inactive position, whereby upon pressing said push button the hook of said lever is released from engagement with said notch, said piston is urged upwardly by said first spring means and said ball is propelled upwardly to fall into one of said numbered cups indicating the number of points on said scale the marker is to be moved.

2. A game of skill according to claim 1 wherein said kit-box includes a transverse partition providing two compartments, one of said compartments containing said parallel rows of tracks and the other of said compartments housing said propelling device.

5. A game of skill according to claim 1 wherein said marker includes a platform on which a figurine is fixed, said platform having a V-shaped opening in one edge overlying said numbered scale to expose a particular number thereon.