Gravity Projectors Patents (Class 273/120R)
  • Patent number: 6056620
    Abstract: A marble track construction toy for assembly on a vertically-oriented planar surface. The construction toy includes chutes down which the marble can roll, pivot elements and bumpers for altering the direction of the motion of the marble, and a catch basket for retaining the marble at the terminus of the track. Each chute includes a mounting means so the chute can be mounted on the vertically-oriented planar surface with both ends of the chute oriented parallel to the planar surface. Similarly, each bumper includes a mounting means so the bumper can be mounted on the vertically-oriented planar surface with an impact surface oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface. And each pivot element has a bucket and a pivoting bucket arm, and includes a mounting means so the pivot element can be mounted on the vertically-oriented planar surface such that the bucket pivots in the plane of the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Think of it, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Zev Tobin
  • Patent number: 6042482
    Abstract: A collapsible ramp construction 10 for physically challenged bowlers and including a contoured ramp unit 11 supported by a collapsible framework unit 12. The upper end of the ramp unit 11 is provided with a ball release unit 13 which includes a ball receiving member 40 operatively associated with an actuator member 46, wherein movement of the actuator member 46 will releasably engage a bowling ball 100 from the ball receiving member 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph A. Wilds
  • Patent number: 5702108
    Abstract: A game board comprises; a table board; body parts; extrusive bodies; hollow catching bodies each of which is made in the shape of an animal's head or the like pivotally mounted to the front end of each of the extrusive bodies and has an open bottom part contacting a wall surface of the table board; driving plates each of which is put in a loose-fit so as to be reciprocatingly shiftable between the front endside and the rear end side of each of the extrusive bodies; projections each of which works so as to push up each of the catching bodies from the table board; levers each of which works so that an end thereof engaging with each of the driving plates may push, via each of the driving plates, each of the extrusive bodies out of each of the body parts when a projecting end of each of the levers is pulled; and springs each of which energises each of the levers so that the lever's end engaging with each of the driving plates may draw, via each of the driving plates, each of the extrusive bodies up to its origina
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Agatsuma Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Todokoro
  • Patent number: 5494292
    Abstract: A game device consisting of a plurality of vertically stacked, alternately rotatable disks (13, 25, 33, 41 and 49) and stationary tiers (10, 19, 29, 37, 45 and 53) each containing passageways through which a spherical game piece may pass. The disks are rotated by players in an effort to cause their respective game pieces to be the first to travel down through the device and drop into the tray (58) at the bottom. Windows (23) ape provided in the tiers so that players may track their progress through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: Mark Mileti
  • Patent number: 5354058
    Abstract: A board game comprising a game board having a planar playing surface, a goal at each opposite longitudinal end of the game board, a ramp at each opposite longitudinal end of the game board, a large target ball, a plurality of smaller projectile balls and a railing supported above the playing surface around the outer peripheral edges of a playing field. A network of channels and troughs under the game board channel the balls to desired reservoirs. Projectile balls are rolled down the ramps, onto and across the playing surface with the object of striking the target ball and driving it into the opposing goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: David R. Crecelius
  • Patent number: 5332216
    Abstract: A game has a plurality of directional elements which are attached to a vertical face in numerous arrangements to define paths along which a marble can travel. The game includes a plurality of housings which can be interconnected in a plurality of orientations with respect to one another such that openings in each pair of interconnected housings oppose and align with one another to permit the marble to travel from one housing to another through the opposing, aligned openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas D. Whipple
  • Patent number: 5314367
    Abstract: A toy (10) comprising an elongated block (12) which is carved out to form one or more patterns (30) for a path along which marbles (15) are propelled by a person's finger through a slot (17) communicating with a channel (14) in any one of such patterns (30) which are interlinked to provide continuity in rolling motion for the marbles (15). Pivoting gates (50) across the path or at intersections of the channels (14) forming patterns (30) provide means to determine the direction of motion for marbles (15), including "dead ending" the marble in its own channel. Various features in the path patterns provide impetus or an inertial bar to the marbles' motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Inventor: Nicholas E. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5199704
    Abstract: A pool ball positioning apparatus includes a wedge-shaped body with an inclined upper surface having a channel formed therein to guide a pool ball along the length of the inclined surface. Preferably, the channel has an arcuate cross-section which matches the curvature of the pool ball, and the surface is sloped at an angle of approximately 21.degree.. In use, the apparatus is positioned on a pool table and a pool ball is positioned in the channel at a predetermined position on the inclined surface. When the ball is released, it will roll across the pool table to the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventor: Raymond F. Badami
  • Patent number: 5183261
    Abstract: A bumper bowling game, combining the features and required skills of conventional billiards and bowling, includes a V-shaped table having flat outgoing and return alleyways with a concave gutter along each side thereof. The outgoing and return alleyways are joined at their distal ends by a cushioned bumper. A ball starter at the proximal end of the outgoing alleyway may be aimed by moving it laterally and pivotally and includes a starting ramp down which a ball rolls by gravity to gain sufficient speed to propel it in an outbound direction along the outgoing alleyway. When the ball comes in contact with the cushioned bumper, it is deflected and caused to travel in the opposite or return direction along the return alleyway. A number of pins, shaped like conventional bowling pins, are arranged in the same configuration as in conventional bowling at the proximal end of the return alleyway to be knocked down by the ball as it travels along the return alleyway. Scoring is the same as in conventional bowling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventor: Josef Nobi
  • Patent number: 5090699
    Abstract: A slot game utilizing coins provides an enclosed partially transparent case having at an upper end thereof input slots for placing coins into each of a plurality of vertical columns. At the lower end is positioned a coin retrieval slot the allows removal of the coins upon pulling of a handle. Between the uppermost and lowermost points on the case are disposed a plurality of horizontal rows of blocks and slots. The slots are sized to receive coins of a predetermined size. The blocks and slots of each row are individually movable horizontally to allow movement of the coins between columns, thus, facilitating passage of coins in the slots from upper to lower rows. Each row of blocks and slots may be operated for horizontal movement individually by means of slides projecting from the case along one side of its face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Tri-Tec Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Ira Friedman
  • Patent number: 5088736
    Abstract: A miniaturized pinball machine serving as a funny toy is provided. The pinball machine includes a machine body, a ball-feeding device mounted between a ball-storing room and a ball path for feeding from the room to the path a ball to be propelled by a propelling medium through the path to an inclined board, a striking device striking the ball on the board to delay and/or prevent the ball from falling into the room, and a plurality of springing devices back springing on the board the ball bumping thereagainst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Inventor: Chuan-Tien Chuang
  • Patent number: 5080592
    Abstract: A statistics teaching aid of the Quincunx type. The device includes a pinplate which has at least one movable row of pins. Shifting of the movable pinrow effectively increases or decreases the number of pinrows on the pinplate. By shifting the pinrow, an operator can alter the shape of the resulting distribution of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Inventor: Aldo A. Laghi
  • Patent number: 5066014
    Abstract: A carnival or amusement park game in which a player is challenged to keep a rolling ball to its objective descending, planar, zig-zag path by manipulating the rotation of the plane of the path. The game may be further enhanced by providing rotational steering alternatives, providing for coin operation, or by providing a device to record or signal the event of a successful play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Bob's Space Racers, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Dobson
  • Patent number: 5048832
    Abstract: A rolling ball game such as pinball comprises a playfield plus means for launching rolling balls onto the playfield. By this invention, the launching means comprises a station where a ball at rest is positioned for said launching, spring-operated manual plunger means for launching the ball from the station, and an electrically operated arm for launching the ball from the same station. Thus, the same ball can be launched by two alternative means, one of which is manually controlled, but the other of which can be automatically controlled in response to events of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Data East Pinball, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Kaminkow
  • Patent number: 4991844
    Abstract: Apparatus for playing a ball game, comprising a playing surface, a plurality of balls having an eccentric distribution of mass, and means for initiating rolling movement of the balls in a way which preserves the orientation of the eccentricity of mass distribution of the ball with respect to a rolling axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventor: David G. Derry
  • Patent number: 4953874
    Abstract: Educational marble board game for facilitating the teaching of arithmetic or other mathematical or related mainly numerical games. Marble launchers fitting upright near corners of a game board, outside a bounded generally horizontal playing surface, store marbles for use by the players. The players move player pieces along a pathway and receive instructions printed on the pathway segments. Released marbles are launched individually or together onto the playing surface, where they come to rest in respective indentations. Underneath each rest position is an answer to a question posed to the player, as by being keyed to the row and column in which the rest position indentation is located or alternatively printed directly on the playing surface alongside the marble rest position. Players are rewarded for correct answers, penalized for incorrect ones, or both, and optionally also by chance, with simulated money.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Inventor: Gary L. Golomb
  • Patent number: 4949967
    Abstract: In the tennis game board, each of the racket-supporting bodies that are reciprocally movable along each end of the base board is provided with a ball delivery member, which directly feeds the ball onto the board surface as if the ball was served by one of the racket-supporting bodies. After this, the ball on the board surface of the base board is hit alternately by the opposedly disposed racket-supporting bodies, thus enabling the game like tennis to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Masatoshi Todokoro
  • Patent number: 4900255
    Abstract: A two-stage training device for statistical studies permits the demonstration of advanced statistical principles. Balls are dropped from an upper reservoir through a maze of pins which scatters the balls into a histogram having that shape of a normal curve. The balls from individual cells of the histograms are dropped through a second maze of pins into a second set of vertical cells to form a series of histograms. Dropping subsequent sets of balls from many of the upper cells, visually demonstrates, that: "The Sum Of Normal Independent Sets Of Events Is Normal".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Aldo A. Laghi
  • Patent number: 4811953
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel structure of a ball type "figure-guessing" game, and in particularly refers to the structure of game which is composed of several cases, a base and a top plate. All cases have identical outer appearances to the naked eye, making it difficult to distinguish their differences; each case differs from the other cases only in internal structure. By random arrangement of cases by the player, a solution number is generated. The player can input his guess by placing balls in a top plate; the balls take different paths in the cases, to ultimately provide hints that enable the player to revise his guess, until his guess matches the solution of riddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Inventor: Horng-tsair Jeng
  • Patent number: 4468030
    Abstract: Game apparatus includes a bowl having a sloping floor and a receptacle centered beneath the floor, and a rotating element having an opening therein through which rolling elements may be selectively admitted or dropped into the receptacle, is disposed above the receptacle. At least two different types or colors of rolling elements are disposed on the floor and may be selectively allowed to fall into the receptacle to the intended exclusion of others of the rolling elements, thus comprising a game of skill and coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: David L. Allen
  • Patent number: 4336938
    Abstract: A game of chance including one or two balls of predetermined diameter and a gameboard wherein the gameboard defines a generally dish-shaped symmetrical central zone bounded by an outer peripheral zone defining a race path; the gameboard has a raised outer circular rim and the central zone has 52 recesses sized to receive the ball; and the recesses are arranged in 4 concentric circles containing 6, 10, 16 and 20 recesses, respectively, so that, the surface being smooth, a ball is adapted to be rolled on the raceway and, under the influence of gravity, it will enter the central zone to be received by random choice in one of a plurality of the recesses. Gate members may be provided to direct the ball from the raceway onto the central zone in a generally radial path. The recesses are provided with indicia representing conventional playing cards for purposes of scoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Glenhope Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Laroche
  • Patent number: 4320902
    Abstract: A game having a pitching track suspended above a game board is disclosed. The pitching track may be tilted thereby allowing a ball to roll downward toward a device for striking the ball. After being struck, the ball is propelled onto the game board where the ball's resting point designates a certain score. In a preferred embodiment, a struck ball is captured by a curvilinear ramp which returns the ball to the pitching track, thereby enabling a single player to practice striking the ball continuously, without interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Inventor: Arthur G. Florkey
  • Patent number: 4290605
    Abstract: A game of skill has a support housing on which there are located a plurality of independent object transfer mechanisms preferably no two which are identical. The transfer mechanisms are aligned in a sequence such that a pathway includes a plurality of discontinuities along its length which divides it into a plurality of segments. Each of the transfer mechanisms includes one segment of the pathway and some of the transfer mechanisms can also include more than one segment. This creates a discontinuity in the pathway between each of the transfer mechanisms as well as between each segment when more than one segment is found on one transfer mechanism. Each of the transfer mechanisms includes a movable portion which is moved by the operator of the game via a control mechanism attached thereto. By manipulating the control mechanisms a spherical object can be caused to travel across the pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Takao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4274630
    Abstract: A novel game apparatus requiring hand/eye coordination includes a plurality of playing pieces such as marbles having different indicia thereon such as color and a hopper for containing a supply of said marbles having an outlet. A dispenser receiving marbles in succession from said outlet is adapted to dispense marbles alternately from spaced apart dispensing positions. A receiver is provided at each dispensing position including a plurality of separate compartments of different colors and manually movable to align selected compartments into position for receiving a marble of the same color. It is an object of the game apparatus to capture all of the marbles of each color in a compartment of similar color in one or both of the manually controlled receivers as the marbles are dispensed in rapid succession from the hopper with marbles of different colors appearing in random order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Ralph J. Kulesza, Jeffrey D. Breslow
  • Patent number: 4260155
    Abstract: A marble runway type of game apparatus for children which provides amusement and requires skill and which is of the knock-down type and formed of readily interfitting parts of any suitable material and may be easily molded of any suitable plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Inventor: Anthony Jordan
  • Patent number: 4244572
    Abstract: A board game is constructed having a playing surface and an object release mechanism coordinating with the playing surface such that an object released from the release mechanism is deposited onto the playing surface. A target mechanism having an object holder located thereon moves along the playing surface. The target mechanism is driven to move in a timed sequence on the playing surface and if the object is released from the object release mechanism in coordination with movement of the target, the object will be retained on the object holder. If, however, the release of the object from the object release mechanism is not coordinated with the movement of the target, the object will miss the target and be deposited in a receptacle in the playing surface. The game is played with a plurality of objects and skill is measured by correctly depositing as many of these objects as possible in the object holder as opposed to the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1981
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Korechika Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 4210331
    Abstract: A game apparatus for use with play pieces and playable by one or more players, generally two, and including a playing area movable in a cyclical path during play by a suitable driving mechanism. The playing area has structure defining spaced play piece receiving and retention positions, which may be arranged in distinct sub-areas each having a plurality of the positions to receive and removably retain play pieces directed thereto for possible retention from one or more play piece launching stations adjacent the playing area. Selectively operable controls at the launching stations are operable by the players for directing their play pieces onto the area in an effort to score as by placing most pieces into the retention positions or in all the positions in one or more sub-areas. A stop is provided to stop movement of the playing area to permit removal of the play pieces for the starting of another game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1980
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventors: Ralph J. Kulesza, John R. Wildman, Henry Arias, Jeffrey D. Breslow
  • Patent number: 4198050
    Abstract: A competitive game device which comprises a frame having a rippled playing surface. The rippled surface is formed by a plurality of transversely extending spaced apart recesses separated by arcuately shaped transversely extending ridge portions. The various recesses are assigned scoring values and certain of the recesses also have higher scoring values than other recesses. Each player may have a plurality of balls bearing his indicia. For example, the balls of each player may be a different color. A ramp leads downwardly to the first recess and the players take turns releasing balls down the ramp and onto the rippled playing surface. In a preferred form, the values of successive recesses initially increase; however, if a player's ball goes past the highest value recess, he will get a lower score, by virtue of the ball landing in a lower scoring recess or other area such as a gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Assignee: Adolph E. Goldfarb
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Delmar K. Everitt, Ronald F. Chesley, Richard D. Frierdich
  • Patent number: 4183535
    Abstract: A game which includes a downwardly inclined primary pathway or track. The track may be serpentine and a first player attempts to roll an object such as a marble down the track. One or more interception devices are positioned along the track. These devices may take the form of a movable striker which will move, when actuated, into the path of a marble moving down the track. The striker may be operated by the opposing player through a manually actuatable control mechanism. The second player attempts to intercept the ball of the first player and divert it into a secondary pathway. The scoring of the game may depend on the ball reaching the end of the primary track or being intercepted and diverted into a secondary pathway. Preferably, the apparatus includes a pair of the inclined primary tracks leading and inclined downwardly in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Erwin Benkoe, deceased, by Elisabeth Benkoe, executrix
  • Patent number: 4156527
    Abstract: There is disclosed a board game. The board itself has three tracks with a plurality of interconnecting segments therebetween. A group of switches is provided, each adapted to be placed on the board in the region of one of the interconnecting segments. The switches serve to define an operative path from a start point to a finish point which includes selected segments of the tracks. Each player has a set of value pieces and the players take turns and alternately place their value pieces on random ones of a set of identifiable positions on the tracks. Thereafter, the players take turns and alternately place the switches on the board on a random basis until a complete operative path is defined. A marble is then rolled down the path to expose the values of the player pieces which it passes, and the players add up their respective scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1979
    Inventor: Michael I. Rackman
  • Patent number: 4135715
    Abstract: A game comprising a zig zag trackway through which a ball descends by gravity, said trackway terminating in a straight, downwardly inclined portion having a platform at its terminal end, and a plurality of construction pieces adapted to be stacked on said platform, the idea of the game being to stack a predetermined number of pieces before the ball completes its descent and rolls into the stack to cause same to collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Inventor: Steven T. Soulos
  • Patent number: 4120501
    Abstract: The game comprises first and second inclined tracks upon which balls may be placed by a player and released to roll down the tracks by gravity. Numbers on a pair of dice determine the levels at which the balls are respectively initially released. The lower ends of the tracks extend towards each other along upwardly sloped path portions to meet at a common point. The object of the game is for the player to release first the higher level ball and then after a given time interval the other ball, the player evaluating the time interval in such a manner as to cause the balls to meet at the referred to highest point of the sloped path portions to rebound from each other back onto their respective inclined tracks. If one or the other of the balls arrives at the high point of the sloped surfaces first, it will continue on over and the player will lose a point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Inventor: Roger Lee Atherton
  • Patent number: 4119312
    Abstract: A game board for play by children, in which a pertinent number of booty capturing structures modeled after the head of an animal or otherwise shaped and operated by the respective players are rushed toward the center of the board from the peripheral parts thereof to try to capture booty such as a ball which is delivered to the center of the board before the game is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Inventor: Masatoshi Todokoro
  • Patent number: 4108438
    Abstract: There is disclosed a board game. The board itself has three tracks with a plurality of interconnecting segments therebetween. A group of switches is provided, each adapted to be placed on the board in the region of one of the interconnecting segments. The switches serve to define an operative path from a start point to a finish point which includes selected segments of the tracks. Each player has a set of value pieces and the players take turns and alternately place their value pieces on random ones of a set of identifiable positions on the tracks. Thereafter, the players take turns and alternately place the switches on the board on a random basis until a complete operative path is defined. A marble is then rolled down the path to expose the values of the player pieces which it passes, and the players add up their respective sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Inventor: Michael I. Rackman
  • Patent number: 4078802
    Abstract: Game apparatus includes a three dimensional representation of a duck in which there is a pellet receiving opening in the mouth and pellet discharge opening in the lower rear of the duck. A cavity is formed internally of the duck and a plate is mounted horizontally within the cavity above the discharge opening. A hollow tube connects the pellet receiving opening with the cavity above the plate. A plurality of apertures are formed in the plate at the opposed sides thereof and extend through the plate from top to bottom. A hollow tube element depends from the plate connected in each of the plate apertures. Each such tube element has an aperture in at least the side wall closest to the adjacent internal surface of the duck. Openings are formed in the opposed sides of the duck corresponding to and aligned with the apertures in the tube elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Inventor: Michael Devellano
  • Patent number: 4076251
    Abstract: An amusement device including a simulated cheese having inlet orifices for a ball and a plurality of exit orifices some of which receive simulated mice therein, and a random distributing assembly located inside the simulated cheese for randomly directing a ball entering the inlet orifices toward one of the exit orifices. If a mouse is present in the randomly selected exit orifice, it is forced out thereof by the ball. If a mouse is not present, the ball passes through the orifice unimpeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1978
    Inventor: James R. Hornsby, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4067576
    Abstract: Apparatus for playing a game utilizing a plurality of balls and a playing device, the device comprising an upper board having spaced openings to receive one of the balls, a lower board positioned vertically below the upper board, ball receiving positions formed by projections depending from the upper board in co-operation with projections upstanding on the lower board, the projections of the upper and lower boards being provided to permit a rejected ball to pass from the vicinity of a ball receiving position to a collecting tray, and the projections on the upper and lower boards, or other projections, serving to prevent a rejected ball from entering another ball receiving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Inventors: Salman Heskel Balas, Clifton Quinton Keiller
  • Patent number: 4066263
    Abstract: Apparatus for playing a game including playing pieces and a playing device, the playing device including an upper board having spaced holes, a lower board spaced from the upper board, and playing piece supporting elements positioned between the upper and lower boards with the supporting elements being of a resilient or rigid nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Inventors: Salman Heskel Balas, Clifton Quinton Keiller
  • Patent number: 4049265
    Abstract: A toy for playing a question and answer game comprises a housing having a ball inlet and a plurality of ball outlets therein and containing an intermediate chamber into which a ball placed in the ball inlet will roll, the intermediate chamber comprising a flexible belt with a plurality of selectively alignable holes for allowing the ball to leave through one of a plurality of ball exists while closing the remaining exits from each of which exits the ball can roll to one of the ball outlets, knobs mounted on shafts extending into the housing, to which the flexible belt is secured, or a curser fixed to the belt are provided externally of the housing for moving the flexible belt so as to select one of the exits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignee: Thomas Salter Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Barnet Mackie
  • Patent number: 4039193
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of horizontally mounted circular rotatable platforms, each containing a multitude of depressions and associated indicia to facilitate visual differentration amongst said depressions, a distributor means positioned above said platforms and containing a plurality of guide channels, each communicating with a depending chute, the number of chutes corresponding to the number of said platforms, the lower end of each chute terminating above an associated platform.In playing a game utilizing said apparatus, a ball is entered into said distributor means, whereupon it is randomly routed to a depression in one of the platforms, said depression representing a means for scoring in a game played by two or more persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Inventors: Margaret Anne Slater, William Clarence Slater
  • Patent number: 4037840
    Abstract: A toy game apparatus including a game playing board with a retaining wall extending around the playing board for retaining a playing surface of complex curvature with a pair of spaced apart recessed goals located at low areas in the playing board and with the game board having inclined walls leading from the center of the board and the periphery of the board to the pair of recessed goals. In this way, the portions of the game board surrounding the goal areas converge downwardly and inwardly toward the recessed goals so that a playing piece on the game board can enter the goals through arcuate paths and at any point around the entire periphery of the goals and from any direction. A goal cup is rotatably mounted in each of the goal recesses and a striker member is operatively connected to the goal cup for rotation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignees: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Erwin Benkoe
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Erwin Benkoe, Delmar K. Everitt, Ronald F. Chesley, Richard D. Frierdich
  • Patent number: 4033585
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a game and gameboard apparatus wherein the game is played by directing a marble or similar projectile across a gameboard in a generally straight line path and wherein one or more players stationed along the gameboard attempt to strike and intercept the marble (target projectile) as the same moves across the playing board. To provide for the opportunity of interception, the gameboard of the preferred embodiment comprises a series of longitudinally spaced shooting or intercepting stations with a respective player stationed at each station. In a typical type of game, the respective players stationed along the gameboard attempt to intercept a passing target projectile as the same moves along a normal straight line course across the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Inventor: Larry W. Foreman
  • Patent number: 4032148
    Abstract: A game for use by the physically handicapped in which depressing an end of a large lever causes an elevator mechanism to raise a ball to an entry track which automatically conveys the ball to a gameboard by means of gravity. After leaving the gameboard, the ball enters a return track and automatically returns to the elevator due to gravity. The elevator includes a ball lifting surface which is inclined away from the return track and toward the entry track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1977
    Inventor: Richard E. Sanders
  • Patent number: 4028818
    Abstract: An educational apparatus for teaching subject matter relating to mechanics and for demonstrating a number of experiments. The apparatus, in kit form, consists of an assortment of balls of diverse properties, and a pair of upright, parallel, elongate members whose top edges, spaced from one another, provide a track for the balls to roll on. The track has the shape of a double declivity, symmetrically declining from opposite ends toward a center portion which smoothly joins the two slopes. A graduated scale is aligned with the track for the measurements of the distances traveled by the balls. Detents secure the balls at the top of each of the opposite ends of the track and are synchronously retractable by actuation of a remote electrical switch to release the balls simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Inventors: H. Burt Warner, Earl Cameron Kruger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4004803
    Abstract: A game apparatus involving the use of numbered cards, a closeable receiving area and an interval timer. The timer is controlled by a propelled ball which moves along the inside of an inverted conical surface disposed beneath the receiving area such that after a random interval of time the ball will fall through an aperture at the bottom of the concave surface thereby triggering a pair of spring loaded shutters which then close the receiving area. Each card has two numbers printed thereon. The first number is the number of the card, the second number indicates the number of the next card to be played. The cards are deposited in the receiving area until the shutters close thereby prohibiting further play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow
  • Patent number: 3989249
    Abstract: A golf game including a play board in the form of a putting green, and two sets of playing cards for determining the order in which players of the game arrive at the green and the distance and position each player's ball lies relative to a pin. One set of playing cards is representative of the different holes on a golf course, each card having a diagram of a particular hole including possible positions of players' shots, along with a number of hazards such as sandtraps, streams and trees. The other set of playing cards includes indicia representative of the length of the various players' shots. One hazard reference card also is provided having indicia thereon dictating the consequences which may befall a player whose shot lands in a particular hazard. The putting green includes a generally concave surface which slopes downwardly towards a hole, and includes yardage markings which permit a player to attempt to roll a ball into the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow
  • Patent number: 3989252
    Abstract: A funnel mounted on a case and connected to a tube spirally down through the case and exiting over a roulette wheel where a steel ball dropped through the funnel may land scoring a value, 100 winning, and with a slot marked 100 on the wheel to provide a sudden death game ending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc.
    Inventor: Alvin D. Mattson
  • Patent number: 3985360
    Abstract: A competitive game wherein a ball is rollably supported upon two spreadable rods above a base including scoring receptacles beneath the rods. The rods are supported by end walls through apertures therein. Terminal handles are attached, one on each end of each rod for the two opposing players to vary the space between the rods thereby moving the ball therealong. The receptacles are designated as favorable or unfavorable to a respective player. The object of the game is for each player to deposit the ball into a favorable receptacle in opposition to the adverse maneuvers of the opposing player. A scorekeeping means in the form of a peg movable between successive apertures corresponding to the point score of that player is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventor: Burton C. Meyer
  • Patent number: 3980302
    Abstract: A ball rolling game apparatus simulating a golf tee. The game apparatus includes a game board having a downwardly inclined starting ramp with ball guides thereon, and a playing surface forming a continuation of the ramp with a ball receiving aperture therein. An obstacle such as a simulated golf pin is disposed in front of the aperture, requiring the skill of a player to roll a ball down the ramp, across the playing surface, and around the obstacle into the aperture. A return trough surrounds the playing surface so that a ball which is projected down the ramp "off target" or too fast, will fall off of the playing surface into the trough. A pivotally operated ball return lever is provided to permit the player to raise the ball out of the aperture into the return trough thereby facilitating the repossession of the ball by the player. In the exemplary embodiment, the playing surface is inclined downwardly back toward the ramp and is concave in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1976
    Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates
    Inventor: Burton C. Meyer
  • Patent number: 3934881
    Abstract: A manipulative skill game apparatus in the form of a generally upright game board on which are tiltably mounted (in a series extending from the top toward the bottom of the board) a plurality of tiltable, generally horizontally extending platforms. Structure is also provided for controlling the tilting of the platforms. The game includes a plurality of balls, and the platforms are in staggered positions from side to side so that a ball rolling off one end of a platform will land on an end of a platform below it. The object of the game is to tilt the platforms so as to guide a ball from a higher platform successively to lower platforms. A feeder mechanism automatically delivers the balls one at a time in timed sequence to the uppermost platform. After a predetermined timed interval the next ball is delivered to that same uppermost platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Inventors: Adolph E. Goldfarb, Erwin Benkoe