WO2005120669A1

WO2005120669A1 - Amusement and training aid

Info

Publication number: WO2005120669A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2005/000080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Les Colwin
Original assignee: Les Colwin
Priority date: 2004-06-10
Filing date: 2005-06-09
Publication date: 2005-12-22

Abstract

This invention relates to an amusement and training aid which includes a body with an upper playing surface having a plurality of intersecting guiding formations thereon and a member which is engagable with the guiding formations and which is movable along the guiding formations in a selectable manner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to an amusement and training aid.

[002] Various games of skill and amusement exist. For example there is a game in which a player needs to guide at least two free-rolling balls to pre-selected retaining formations which may define the eyes of a face or like figure depicted on a playing surface.

[003] A problem which exists with this type of game is that the player, after a period of time, can become bored since the player can only play the game by guiding the free- rolling balls until they are retained within the retaining formations.

[004] A further problem is that since the balls are free-rolling, the game is often not suitable for younger players who do not necessarily possess the required skill to guide the balls into the retaining formations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[005] The invention provides an amusement and training aid which includes a body with an upper surface, a plurality of intersecting guiding formations on the upper surface of the body, and at least one member which is engagable with the guiding formations and which is movable along the guiding formations in a selectable manner by manipulating the orientation of the body,

[006] A lower surface of the body may be convex. The body, in plan, may be circular in outline. [007] The intersecting guide formations may be grooves or channels. The formations may be continuous or discontinuous. The formations may extend across each other at different angles creating various intersecting points.

[008] Retaining formations, in the form of indentations or recesses, may be provided near or at each of a plurality of the intersecting points, for retaining the member therein.

[009] The member may be of any appropriate type and for example may be a ball which is made from a suitable steel or plastics material.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment of the invention there is provided an amusement and training aid which includes a body with a convex lower surface, of circular outline, the orientation of which is variable by titling the body from a rest position on a table or other surface, at least one cover, which is engagable with the body and in or on which is formed a plurality of guiding formations, and at least one member which is engagable with the guiding formations and which is movable along the guiding formations by manipulating the orientation of the body.

[0011] The body may have a changeable playing surface with at least one map region depicted thereon. The cover may be at least partly transparent with slots or grooves therein which act as guide formations and which correspond with selected regions on the body.

[0012] The cover may include retaining formations similar to those described in connection with the first embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of an amusement and training aid; Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an amusement and training aid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Figure 1 illustrates an amusement and training aid 10 which includes a body 12 with an upper surface 14 having a plurality of intersecting guiding formations 16 thereon and at least one member 18 which is engagable with the intersecting guiding formations 16.

[0015] The plurality of intersecting guiding formations 16 are in the form of channels or grooves 20 which extend across each other at different angles to create various intersecting points 22. The guiding formations 16, in this example, are defined by hypocycloidal curves, and form a geometrically symmetrical and attractive pattern.

[0016] Retaining formations 24 are provided near or at pre-selected intersecting points 22. The member 18 is a steel or plastics ball which can be guided along the guiding formations 16 in a selectable manner until it reaches a selected retaining formation 24 in which it can be retained.

[0017] Each retaining formation 24 is in the form of a respective indentation which is slightly deeper than the channel or groove in which it is formed, as is illustrated more clearly in the insert drawings Figures 1A and 2A in Figure 1

[0018] A lower ground-engaging surface 30 of the body 12 is slightly convex as is illustrated in Figure 2. The upper surface 14 is normally substantially horizontal and circular in outline. It may however also be slightly concave.

[0019] The orientation of the body 12 may be varied by tilting the body from a rest position on a table or like surface. T0U20] Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the amusement and training aid designated 10A. A ridge 40 is formed at a periphery of the upper surface 14A of a body 12A. Two recesses 42 and 44 are provided in the ridge 40 which facilitate the removal of an alternative playing surface 46 which is formed by a flat or dished disc 48.

[0021] The surface 46 has at least one map region 50 depicted on its upper surface 49. The disc 48 fits snugly inside the ridge 40. A cover 52, which is at least partly transparent, fits over the surface 46.

[0022] The cover 52 has a plurality of intersecting guiding formations 56 therein, in the form of slots, channels or grooves, which, in this example, correspond with selected geographical regions depicted on the playing surface 46. The guiding formations 56 extend across each other at different angles creating various intersecting points 58.

[0023] At least one member 60 in the form of a plastics or steel ball is engagable with the guiding formations 56 and is movable along the guiding formations 56 in a selectable manner by tilting the body 12A to vary its orientation.

[0024] Retaining formations in the form of indentations or recesses (not shown) are provided near or at selected intersecting points 58.

[0025] In use, a player guides the ball 60 along the guiding formations 56 by tilting the body 12A to vary its orientation. Success in the playing of the game, or the use of the aid is achieved when the ball is directed to a chosen retaining formation, preferably within a prescribed time.

[0026] To add interest or variety to the use of the aid the disc 48 can be selected from a plurality of different types of discs which can carry different patterns, and then engaged with the body 12A so that its upper surface is visible through the transparent cover 52.

Claims

1. An amusement and training aid which includes a body with an upper surface, a plurality of intersecting guiding formations on the upper surface of the body, and at least one member which is engagable with the guiding formations and which is movable along the guiding formations in a selectable manner by manipulating the orientation of the body.

2. An amusement and training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the body is convex.

3. An amusement and training aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body, in plan, is circular in outline.

4. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intersecting guide formations are grooves or channels.

5. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the formations are continuous.

6. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the formations extend across each other at different angles, creating various intersecting points.

7. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein retaining formations, in the form of indentations or recesses, are provided near or at each of a plurality of the intersecting points, for retaining the member therein.

8. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the member is a ball.

9. An amusement and training aid as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ball is made from a suitable steel or plastics material.

10. An amusement and training aid which includes a body with a convex lower surface, of circular outline, the orientation of which is variable by tilting the body from a rest position on a table or other surface, at least one cover, which is engagable with the body and in or on which is formed a plurality of guiding formations, and at least one member which is engagable with the guiding formations and which is movable along the guiding formations by manipulating the orientation of the body.

11. An amusement and training aid as claimed in claim 10, wherein the body has a changeable playing surface.

12. An amusement and training aid as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the changeable playing surface has at least one map region depicted thereon.

13. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the cover is at least partly transparent.

14. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the cover has slots or grooves therein which act as guide formations and which correspond with selected regions on the body.

15. An amusement and training aid as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the cover includes retaining formations for retaining the member therein.