Abstract: A housing is provided having multiple openings in its front wall each opened and closed by a closure positioned by a pneumatic cylinder. Each closure, when retracted from its opening, provides a target for the pitcher. A programmable controller in the housing permits the preselection and dwell time of the cylinders to be actuated and for the presentation of an array of targets in and out of a strike zone. A thrown ball impacting a retracted closure momentarily closes a switch to provide a signal to a counter. A ball return mechanism provides a partial vacuum in a ball receptacle at the pitcher's mound to retrieve balls from the interior of the housing. A remote control is provided to permit operation of the apparatus remote from the apparatus housing.

Abstract: A dart game is shown having an automatic player change feature that is implemented by software wherein the software discriminates between dart hit impacts and non-dart hit impacts on the scoring segments of a dart head. The dart game includes a controller that determines the occurrence of an event representing the actuation of a scoring segment of the dart head. The controller determines whether a scoring segment is actuated by a dart hit impact or a non-dart hit impact by monitoring the time that the scoring segment remains actuated. If the scoring segment is actuated for only a short, but stable period of time, the impact is determined to be a dart hit. However, if the scoring segment is actuated for a longer period of time, the impact is determined to be a non-dart hit impact.

Abstract: A parachute game includes a hand-tossable parachute assembly that is held by a player and is tossed at a target hoop. The parachute assembly comprises at least one hemispherical canopy attached to a body portion by a number of conically arrayed cords. The body portion includes at least one ring at its top end for cord attachment. In one embodiment, the body portion includes axially-placed stabilizing vanes. At its bottom side, the body portion may have defined therein a concave depression to assist in retarding the free fall of the body as it travels through the air. The target may either be a single marker or may be a series of concentric markers. Alternatively, the target may be a sheet that appears to be a view of land and may include miniature vehicles, buildings, monuments, pools of water, natural elevations and the like. An announcing system may be provided to alert the player as to the scoring of points. The body of the assembly may have the shape of a space craft, a human or an imaginary alien.

Abstract: A beacon target comprises an ignition device and a gas supply device received in a case body, and a movable target mounted outside the case body. The front portion of the case body is separated as a gas chamber and its leading end having a transparent panel for displaying gas explosion effect within the gas chamber. The rear portion of the case body is a room for receiving each of said devices. When the movable target is hit by a bullet, the bottom end of the target will press down both micromotion switches and simultaneously actuate the ignition device and gas supply device. The gas chamber at the leading end of the case body is filled with fuel gas which is triggered by the ignition device to accomplish intensive sound and lighting effect of explosion at a twinkling eye and a kind of beacon target with shaking result is accomplished thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impact-responsive vest having a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between other layers and connected by wire leads to a control module. The control module includes a programmable read-only memory having parameters identifying, through the amplitude of a signal impact, forces produced by paint ball impacts which are compared with impact signals from the vest. When a match is found, the compare circuit sends a signal to an audible alarm to alert the wearer that he or she has been hit by a paint ball. The control module is compact and is worn by the vest-user. Also disclosed is a remote reset module to provide a reset signal to the control module once the alarm has been activated.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention comprises a backboard; a matrix of panels representing a strike zone; springs for resiliently biasing each of the panels outwardly from the backboard; switches mounted to the backboard behind the panels, whereby the impact of a pitched ball will move the panel inwardly towards the backboard causing the switch to momentarily close; a horizontal array of red, yellow and green lamps mounted to the backboard adjacent the top of the backboard, one lamp in vertical alignment with each of the columns of panels; a left vertical array of red, yellow and green lamps mounted to the backboard adjacent the left edge of the backboard, one lamp in horizontal alignment with each row of panels; a right vertical array of red, yellow and green lamps mounted to the backboard adjacent the right edge of the backboard, a power source; and electrical wiring to connect the power source, switches and lamps.

Abstract: Gaming layout arrangements having jackpot areas and methods therefor are provided in accordance with the present invention. One or more geometric forms are established on a traditional gaming layout where markers such as dice are employed in normally playing the game. When a marker employed in playing the game happens to land within a geometric form associated with a jackpot, a jackpot condition is defined. The size, shape, number and value of each geometric form may be varied to define the value and probability of achieving a jackpot condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a projectile target game of the dart type which has individual player score keeping apparatus that includes a pair of nonrotatable shafts around which are loosely carried continuous belts which have an opaque background through which transparent numbers have been formed. Each digit of a number has a width substantially greater than the digits height. The continuous belt passes between a light source and a unidirectional magnifying lens which magnifies only the height dimension of the number's digits. The continuous belt is provided with score advance openings that are exposed via a slot in the face of the game that supports the target. The score advance openings are adjacent the transparent numbers such that a score may be made to appear in the magnifying lens. The target of the dart game is a dart board which has a unique bullseye target deflection detection mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for sensing the impact of a projectile. The apparatus includes a target which is a bladder having a predetermined normal volume which is reduced in size upon impact by a projectile. The bladder has an outlet in communication with atmospheric air for providing an escape for a pulse of fluid from the bladder when the bladder volume is reduced in response to impact by a projectile. Resilient foam is disposed within the bladder urging it toward its normal volume after impact by a projectile. A sensor is connected to the bladder for sensing a pulse of air escaping from the bladder.

Abstract: A game machine has a plurality of targets which unpredictably come out and disappear from their corresponding holes at the surface of a table on a game stand. A player can only strike targets which are positioned above the surface thereof. A main shaft is provided with the target on its upper end and is supported by bearings in such a manner that it can rotate and move up and down. A plunger disposed at the periphery of the main shaft is magnetically attracted by an electromagnetic solenoid. When raised, the main shaft always faces a predetermined direction due to an action of permanent magnets. Hitting of the target can be detected by monitoring abrupt large fluctuations in current flowing through the solenoid during a period of time that the target is caused to appear above the table.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing a game of chance which comprises a participator area for accommodating a plurality of players, at least one receptacle within the participator area, a projectile which can be directed by a player from the participator area into the receptacle, and a display. The receptacle defines a plurality of separate recessed regions to each of which is assigned one number or color, and the display has a plurality of display conditions corresponding respectively to the different numbers or colors of the recessed regions. Each region is provided with a switch which is actuated by the projectile when it is in that region to place the electrically interconnected display in the display condition corresponding to that region. Betting layouts are provided for the participants, with each layout containing various options for betting, and the odds or payoff for each option.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing a game of chance comprises a participator area for accommodating a plurality of players, a receptacle spaced from the participator area, a projectile which can be directed by a player from the participator area into the receptacle, and a display. The receptacle defines a plurality of separate regions to each of which is assigned one member of a set of possible play results, and the display has a plurality of display conditions corresponding respectively to the different members of the set of possible play results. Each region defined by the receptacle is provided with an electrical switch detector which is actuated by the projectile when it is in that region to place the electrically actuated display in the display condition corresponding to that member of the set of possible play results which is assigned to that region.

Abstract: A paddle or bat for hitting a ball has a head formed by a rigid layer, a network of open mesh strands on the layer and an elastically deflectable sheet in front of the network and forming a surface for hitting a ball. When a ball is hit, the sheet deflects through the network and engages the base layer's front surface. The contact between the parts and its location can be used to actuate a signal for indicating a score.