US3856303A

US3856303A - Basketball game

Info

Publication number: US3856303A
Application number: US00350307A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Payne; V Gambello; J Molnar
Original assignee: Tudor Games Inc
Current assignee: Tudor Games Inc
Priority date: 1973-04-12
Filing date: 1973-04-12
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24

Abstract

A parlor type indoor basketball game including a simulated basketball court and a plurality of maneuverable ball propelling mechanisms including playing pieces activated by push rods slidably disposed under the court and adapted to be operated at each end of the court by opposing players for bringing the ball toward a basket at one end of the court or the other. Additional mechanism in the form of an inclined ramp is employed which in conjunction with the ball propelling mechanism serves to raise the ball upwardly from the floor of the court in the general direction of the basket for a possible score.

Description

United States Patent n91 Payne, Jr. et a1.

[ Dec. 24, 1974,

[ BASKETBALL GAME [75] Inventors: Calvin L. Payne, Jr.,

Hastings-on-Hudson; Vincent J. Gambello, New York, both of N.Y.; John A. Molnar, Fairfield, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Tudor Games, Incorporated,

Brooklyn, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.1 350,307

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/85 B [51] Int. Cl A63f 7/10, A63f 7/14 [58] Field of Search 273/85, 119 R, 129

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 871,122 8/1953 Germany 273/85 F 1,544,129 9/1968 France 273/85 F OTHER PUBLICATIONS Sears Christmas Book 1968, 9/14/68, p. 469, Basketball with Pro-League Action, 79N65273L.

Primary Examiner'Paul E. Shapiro 57 ABSTRACT A parlor type indoor basketball game including a simulated basketball court and a plurality of maneuverable ball propelling mechanisms including playing pieces activated by push rods slidably disposed under the court and adapted to be operated at each end of the court by opposing players for bringing the ball toward a basket at one end of the court or the other.

Additional mechanism in the form of an inclined ramp, is employed which in conjunction with the ball propel- 1 ling mechanism serves to raise the ball upwardly from the floor of the court in the general direction of the basket for a possible score.

v 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUBEB24I974 3,856,303

sum 2 of 2 z" WM BASKETBALL GAME by a framework in which is mounted a plurality of ball propelling mechanisms. The board itself provides an irregular surface containing various ramps from which a ball may be directed toward a basket by the same mechanism used to propel the ball along the surface of the board. The inclination of the ramps is dependent on its proximity to the end of the court toward which it is oriented and at which the basket is located. The players skill is called on to use the mechanism not only to propel the ball successfully into a ramp, but to employ further the mechaism to cause its ejection therefrom with sufficient velocity to bound off a backboard on which the basket is mounted so as to go through the basket for a score.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved indoor board game, the play of which is simulative of the game of basketball. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be appreciated on reading the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the operating mechanism and is taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view and is taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

Referring the the drawings, a simulated basketball court is shown comprising an irregular board surface or playing field 12 is bounded by a frame 14 having

end pieces

16 and 18 at each end of the court. Clamp ed between the board surface 12 and

end pieces

16 and 18 are transparent backboards 20 having embossed target areas 24 on which are mounted baskets 22. The board surface 12 has formed thereon a plurality of raised portions 26 and depressions 28 to receive rebounds at each end of the court. Also formed on the board surface 12 are a plurality of ramps 30. The ramps 30 are oriented toward respective backboards 20 and will receive the ball as it rolls off one of the raised portions 26. The angle of inclination of each ramp 30 nearer the end of the court to which it is directed is dependent on its proximity to the basket at that end.

In each

end piece

16 and 18 there are inserted a plurality of slidable ball surface propellers each comprising a turning and push-pull knob 32 mounted on shaft 34 at one end thereof outside the

end pieces

16 and 18. The inner end of the shaft 34 is rotatably supported by a holder element 36 having bevel gear 38 mounted on the end thereof. Bevel gear 38 engages bevel gear 40 which is mounted on vertical shaft 42 .rotatably supported by the holder element 36.

Bearing portion 44 of the holder element 36 is guided within slots 46 in the board surface l2'and slidably supported thereon through ears 48 extending laterally of the holder element above and below the board surface 12. Vertical shaft 42 extends above the board surface 12 to support the simulated players 50 having extensions 52 for striking ball 54. I

In operation, the instant game is played by two players who have available to themselves a plurality of ball propelling rods 34 which are intended to be used to work the ball 54in the general direction of the scoring basket. At the start of the game the ball 54 is placed in center depression 56. It is the object of the game to push the ball into one of the ramps 30 provided in the board surface 12 of the game from which it may be raised off the surface of the board toward the target area of the backboard and desirably reflected into the mounted basket for a score depending on the force used to eject the ballfrom its ramp. The raised portions 26 aid in rolling the ball into one of the ramps while the depressions 28 are provided to receive rebounds after a missed basket.

Various modifications of the invention may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An indoor basketball game comprising a board surface havinga plurality of slots and ramps in said surface, slidable ball propelling rods disposed underneath said surface, means for supporting the operative end of said rods, said means extending through said slots and having ball contacting arms operable rotatively and in translation by means of said rodsto contact a ball over said surface, and a simulated basket mounted over each end of the board surface, a plurality of ramps disposed on the board surface having an upwardly inclined, elongated and relatively narrow ball guiding surface consti? tuting a passage oriented inthe direction of one of said baskets, said passage having an upwardly inclined slope the angle of which is dependent on the distance from the basket toward which it is oriented, said ramps being open ended and having its ball entering and lowermost end located on the level of said board surface.

2. A game as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid surface is provided with a plurality of raised portions for facilitating the placement of the ball in one of said ramps. 3. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein rebound depressions are provided at each end of the board.

4. A game as defined in claim 2 wherein rebound depressions are provided at each end of the board.

Claims

1. An indoor basketball game comprising a board surface having a plurality of slots and ramps in said surface, slidable ball propelling rods disposed underneath said surface, means for supporting the operative end of said rods, said means extending through said slots and having ball contacting arms operable rotatively and in translation by means of said rods to contact a ball over said surface, and a simulated basket mounted over each end of the board surface, a plurality of ramps disposed on the board surface having an upwardly inclined, elongated and relatively narrow ball guiding surface constituting a passage oriented in the direction of one of said baskets, said passage having an upwardly inclined slope the angle of which is dependent on the distance from the basket toward which it is oriented, said ramps being open ended and having its ball entering and lowermost end located on the level of said board surface.

2. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein said surface is provided with a plurality of raised portions for facilitating the placement of the ball in one of said ramps.

3. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein rebound depressions are provided at each end of the board.