Abstract: The sport of soccer is simulated with the aid of a representative playing field, a game ball, representative general athletes and representative goalkeepers. The general athletes are constructed from a resilient material such as cardboard, plastic, or sheet metal and are characterized by a concave-down shape defined by a leading member and a trailing member that are resiliently connected. In play, a general athlete is placed adjacent to the game ball such that its leading member abuts the ball. The player makes the athlete kick the game ball by striking a downward blow to the resilient connection, thereby propelling the leading and trailing members outward and upward and driving the abutted ball forward. A goalkeeper is constructed much like the general athlete except that it bears a first magnet. The player uses a second magnet on a control rod to drag the goalkeeper around the playing field by the first magnet.

Abstract: A toy (10) is disclosed including a spinner (34) having an annular member (38) formed of compressible material rotatably moveable relative to first and second, semiconductor walls (18, 28). A first track wall defined by walls (14, 16, 20) extends between the extremities of the first wall (18). A second track wall defined by walls (24, 26, 30) extends between the extremities of the second wall (28) parallel to and spaced from the first track wall, with the first and second track walls defining a track for rolling receipt of the balls (76). The track includes first and second inclined portions having a bell (68) at their interconnection. In operation, balls (76) compress the compressible material and are captured between the annular member (38) and the first wall (18) when the spinner (34) is rotated.

Abstract: Gaming apparatus for a table hockey-type game in which a puck is projected across a playing field by a squeeze apparatus which may be operated by the fingers of one hand. A plurality of goals may serve either as goals or barriers according to the requirements of different variations of the game. The playing field comprises a flat surface bounded by walls at the corners of which the goals are located. The squeeze apparatus comprises a pair of arms each connected to the other by a curved spring which biases the arms towards an acute angle to each other. The squeeze apparatus is also used for goal tending.

Abstract: The invention relates to a play feature for a pinball game able to assume a plurality of scoring positions. Various embodiments are disclosed, including two-position targets and four-position targets. The devices are actuated by a solenoid which cooperates with a cam to provide linear or rotary output to change the target position. The solenoids are actuated by a switch associated with the targets. The positions of the targets are sensed to provide different scoring values for each of the different positions.

Abstract: A lever having an inner impeller arm and outer actuating arm is pivoted to a portable platform. An adjustably fixed post is secured to the platform radially outward from the impeller arm. The post includes a concave surface which faces a convex surface at the end of the impeller arm. At least a portion of the surfaces are mutually congruent and spaced-apart a distance less than the diameter of a top spindle. The surfaces are resilient and grip the spindle so that relative movement between the surfaces will rotate the spindle and top. As the impeller arm is swung beyond the stationary surface, the top will be released from the surfaces and become propelled by the arm into dynamic flight.

Abstract: A toy car collision set (10) in which children attempt to crash nonsteerable unpowered cars (28, 30) at an intersection (12) when travelling in either the forward or reverse directions. The set includes at least two sets of tracks (14, 16, 22, 24) connected together at the intersection (12). A launcher (18, 20) is connected at one end of each of the tracks, and includes a piston assembly (34, 38) having a 5 to 1 compression ratio to be easily operated by a child hitting or pushing the top of the launcher. At the other end of each of the tracks, an elastic return means (26, 27) returns the launched cars along their respective tracks, if the car has not crashed at the intersection. The return means includes an elastic strip (52) stretched across the track to rebound a car striking the strip back along the direction in which it came to either strike another vehicle, at the intersection, or to be returned to the launcher for another launch.

Abstract: An automatic rebound device for a pinball game has a cylindrical pedestal portion which projects above the playfield board and carries an electric lamp therein, the pedestal having an annular attachment flange at its upper end with vertical openings therein at diametrically opposed points thereon. A hollow circular cap has a cylindrical side wall and two connecting pins projecting beyond the distal edge of the cylindrical side wall for press-fitting engagement in the pedestal openings. The side wall is dimensioned for cooperation with the pedestal to provide a chamber for the electric lamp of sufficient volume to prevent overheating of the cap.

Abstract: An aerodynamic toy adapted for spinning and throwing having a cylindrical ring with at least one retaining element thereon and a tether for engaging at least one of the retaining elements, which tether can be also gripped by the thrower's hand to enable the thrower to impart a spin to the ring thereby moving the toy in a forward direction generally parallel to the axis of spin. The spin of the cylindrical toy imparts an inertial stability and the cylindrical shape causes the ring to glide through the air over great distances.

Abstract: The post assembly comprises a one-piece post which includes a body portion with a plurality of legs protruding in one direction and having an axial bore therethrough. The legs are adapted to be forced toward one another so that they can be inserted into the opening of a playfield board of a pinball game. The assembly also includes a plug insertable in the bore from the top and then into the space between the legs to force them outwardly for embedding lateral teeth on the legs into the wall of the opening in the playfield board to hold the post in place. A lug at the top of the plug extends above the post and passes through a hole in a coverr plate and has fastening structure to accommodate a push-type fastener.

Abstract: A skill-type game is disclosed having two opposing projectile launching areas, each launching area including means for launching a projectile and a projectile receiving target area including at least one projectile-receiving upstanding channel adapted to receive a plurality of projectiles, one at a time, in stacked relation one above another. Each launching area includes means for launching a projectile upwardly from a game floor area into a channel, and means for launching a projectile along the game floor area to dislodge a lowermost projectile out of a channel.

Abstract: A bumper assembly for use in pin-ball games. The bumper assembly includes a plurality of bumpers that are connected by shafts to a kicker arm which is fixed to the core of the solenoid such that the plurality of bumpers are controlled together by the solenoid and only a single solenoid is required for all the bumpers. The playing surface and bumper are electrically conductive and are electrically connected to the solenoid. The ball played with the game is electrically conductive and will complete the electrical circuit between the bumper and playing surface to cause energization of the solenoid which will cause the bumper to move downwards and further cause the ball to be projected away from the bumper.

Abstract: A ball bumper structure primarily intended for use in pinball type games can be constructed so as to utilize first and second members mounted so as to be capable of being pivoted relative to a platform. The first member includes a bumper surface exposed at the front of the platform and the second member includes another bumper surface located opposite the first bumper surface. When an object such as a ball contacts the first bumper surface the weight of the object and/or the force of such contact is employed to move the first movable member so as to discharge a latch structure. When the latch structure is disengaged an actuation structure including an impulse drive rapidly moves the second bumper surface toward the first. These surfaces are preferably tapered so that when a ball is caught between the two bumper surfaces as the second is being moved toward the first the ball will be forced outwardly away from the bumper structure.