Patents by Inventor Cecil A. Poythress

Cecil A. Poythress has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4871055
    Abstract: An amusement device has a large transparent circular funnel element having a convexly flared inner wall and an outlet. A hemispherical reflector has a concentric opening and is disposed below and spaced apart from the funnel element with the outlet extending through the opening. The funnel element is supported by a circular container. A transparent hemispherical plastic dome covers the funnel element and includes a pair of coin chutes molded therein. A coin placed at the top of a chute and released is guided to roll down the chute to be tangentially injected through an opening in the dome to roll on edge around the funnel surface. The reflector causes the rolling coin to appear to be floating in air and produces a reflection of the coin. The coin will spiral downward and drop through the outlet. A gong is mounted below the outlet and is struck by the coin. The container includes a door in its sidewall for access to a coin collection tray disposed beneath the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Inventors: Cecil A. Poythress, Ronald Wharton