Abstract: An improved vacuum crane game and method. Multiple prizes are provided on a rotating turntable. A player may control horizontal movement of a vacuum pick-up device positioned above the prize area. The pick up device includes a vacuum head that may be raised and lowered relative to the turntable in a z-direction. The vacuum head is used to pick up one of the prizes using a suction force that is provided by a vacuum pump coupled to the vacuum head by a hose and located away from the vacuum head. In one embodiment, a vacuum sensor in the vacuum head may sense whether a prize is picked up. The pick-up device is moved to a dispenser area and the suction force is removed to allow the prize to fall to a conveyor device, which moves the prize to a dispenser where it is delivered to the player.

Abstract: A golf swing training device includes an aerodynamically shaped housing which may be attached by a suction cup to the upper surface of a golf club, preferably a wood because of the larger upper surface area. The housing contains a pair of batteries for selectively illuminating a light source, preferably a red LED, protruding from the top of the housing. The illuminated light source creates a visual "track" of light as the as the club is swung and helps the golfer visualize the path of the club head and the swing plane.

Abstract: An opihi picker toy (10) comprising a simulated opihi shellfish (12). A facility (14) is for securing the simulated opihi shellfish (12) to an adhering surface (16). An implement (18) is for releasing the simulated opihi shellfish (12) from the adhering surface (16). The simulated opihi shellfish (12) will be propelled upward about two inches from the adhering surface (16) by a popping effect. A component (20) is for storing the simulated opihi shellfish (12) after being removed from the adhering surface (16).

Abstract: A baseball flip toy for playing a simulated game of baseball comprising a game piece further comprising an essentially rectangular body having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion therebetween, the intermediate portion further having top and bottom walls with side walls extended therebetween; and first, second, third, and fourth plungers with the first, second, and third plungers coupled to the second end of the body and extended therefrom, and the fourth plunger coupled to the first end of the body and extended therefrom; whereby when the game piece is initially placed in operation, the first plunger is coupled to an external and generally level surface, and when a user pulls upward on the body, the first plunger is forcibly released from the surface, causing the body to ascend, thus upon its descent, when the first plunger adheres to the surface, a single base hit is declared, when the second plunger adheres to the surface, a double base hit is declared, when the third plunger adheres to t

Abstract: A board game in the general form of a circular pattern of native American symbols includes a matrix of like symbols in the center. Players toss a projectile at specific symbols in the board center, attempting to hit those symbols which match those along the periphery of the board which have been assigned to each player. Successful strikes are marked with an appropriate and distinctive marker. A player continues so long as he/she successfully hits the desired symbols, up to a maximum of six. The player is then randomly rewarded with symbol cards equal to the number of successful hits, which cards are turned face up. Those that match are placed upon the player's peripheral symbols, indicating that those have been acquired by the player and need not be acquired again. Other players may claim the first player's non-matching cards if those cards match their symbols. Other players may also challenge the first player with questions which must be answered successfully before the first player can win the game.

Abstract: An aerial dart throwing game including a hand-held dart catcher, fixed and removable targets for temporarily holding, respectively, only a first and a second projectile thrown thereagainst, and connection arrangements to selectively detach the targets to the catcher structure. The projectile preferably includes a shuttlecock-like body having a leading end with a suction cup or a Velcro.RTM. portion.

Abstract: A game includes a plurality of sets of components, each set including a string, a mounting member stationarily attachable to a playing surface and connected to one end of the string, and a body having first and second opposed ends. The string slidably passes through an aperture formed adjacent the first end of the body. The body is formed or coated with a high friction material to engage the underlying playing surface without slippage. The second end of the string is freely supported by a player. Repeated tensioning and untensioning of the string by a player causes the body to progressively advance in a stepwise manner toward the second end of the string.

Abstract: A bowling ball handling apparatus comprises a handle for a bowler to grip. A vacuum mechanism is attached to a first end of the handle for providing a vacuum to hold the bowling ball. A release mechanism is associated with a second end of the handle for releasing the vacuum when it is desired to release the bowling ball.

Abstract: A playing racket for playing the game of hit and catch with a hard smooth ball has a handle and a round frame integrally formed together, and a round elastic board secured to the disk along its periphery with a circular supporting frame which interlocks with the round frame. A front side of the board has a multiplicity of suction cups projecting therefrom adapted to catch an impinging ball and the back side of the board is used to hit the ball.

Abstract: A portable gaming device which is adaptable to simulate the action of several popular casino games. The device includes a spinning wheel rotatably mounted to a support. The spinning wheel defines an interior chamber which houses a plurality of game pieces. As the wheel is rotated, the game pieces are mixed until the wheel is stopped, whereupon one or more game pieces are displayed in a window to determine the result.

Abstract: An action game including a receptacle styled as a bathtub having a motor driven impeller in the bottom of the bathtub. Disposed above and adjacent one end of the bathtub is a tank with a hinged lid in which a plurality of different colored balls are stored. A spigot extends from the tank over one upper edge of the bathtub providing an outlet duct for the balls to pass from the tank into the bathtub. Simultaneous release of the balls from the tank and turning on of the battery motor is controlled by a handle that pivots a gate inside the tank and completes an electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. Each player is provided with a suction cup plunger having a hollow shaft handle which the player uses to pick balls of a preselected color out of the bathtub as the balls are rotated around by the impeller.

Abstract: A game apparatus (10) wherein a plunger (22) is used to try to capture tethered playing pieces (18) positioned at a particular location (17) on a game board member (16) in response to the outcome of the roll of a pair of dice (30) to win other players poker chips (40).

Abstract: A ball holding device has an elongated handle having a cavity opening at one end thereof and a passage opening to the side thereof spaced from its one end. Seated in the cavity is an elastomeric vacuum cup which has a body portion disposed in the cavity with a conduit portion extending outwardly of the passage. The cup has a passage extending from a spherical recess of the vacuum cup through the body portion and then through the conduit portion to the exterior of the handle so that a user may open or close the passage by movement of the thumb. The handle includes internal ribs which support and engage the body portion of the vacuum cup to provide firm support and engagement therefor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pictorial block puzzle capable of reproducing three different pictures. It consists of a pedestal and of a set of puzzle blocks. The pedestal has a flat upper face and a group of identical plugs projecting from its upper face; the plugs being disposed along orthogonal lines and being equally spaced from one another along those lines. The puzzle blocks are hollow cubes of equal size of which three walls illustrate a portion of one of the three pictures while the other walls are pierced with openings large enough to allow mounting of the cubes around one of the plugs of the pedestal to reproduce one of the pictures when all of the picture portions face up and are properly positioned.

Abstract: A toy mitt is provided which also may be used as a stationary target, and includes a concave plastic shell having a number of suction cups located in the front portion and including a flexible strap attached on the backside and adjustable to conform to the size of the user's hand, or for attachment to a tennis racquet or the like. The adjustable strap may be removed and suction cups may be mounted on the back of the plastic shell for the purpose of securely mounting the shell in a permanent position where it may be used as a target to receive a thrown ball. The mitt is provided in a kit form which may be assembled by the user, and then partially disassembled to convert the mitt into a target or to otherwise attach the mitt to a stick, racquet or the like to improvise games and improve various strokes in games such as tennis.

Abstract: A ball ejecting golf cup in which a golf ball comes to rest; on a vertical plunger disposed within the cup to traverse a sealed chamber, the plunger being spring-biased in an upward direction, the ball and plunger being depressible by the golfer with any suitable tool, such as the handle of his putter, with no requirement that he lean or stoop, and a device for retaining the plunger depressed for a short time, allowing the putter to be removed, and then to release the plunger to snap upwardly to eject the ball upwardly to a height convenient for the golfer to catch it. Mechanism is provided for adjusting both the time delay before the ball is ejected, and also the height to which the ball is ejected.

Abstract: Controllable response toy systems in which the response is delayed by a suitable interval. A toy is set for action by the manipulation of one of its members, such as an arm. The arm thereafter moves spontaneously from the set position, after a suitable interval, and brings about a desired action, such as the throwing of a ball. When the interval resulting from the setting action is variable, the toy gives the appearance of deciding on its own when to take action.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a base and an upright which upright is used for supporting an obstacle for a missile. The apparatus is especially useful for supporting a tennis net, but does not need to be staked into the ground, neither does it need to be formed of ponderously-weighty material. According to an embodiment of the invention, the base is hollow, the same defining a reservoir therewithin, and the reservoir is fillable with fluent material, such as water or sand, to weight the apparatus -- that it might support the missile obstacle (net, or whatever) with sufficient rigidity. Too, then, the reservoir is ventable -- to discharge the fluent material -- whereby the apparatus can be carried and stored without presenting a weight or storage problem.

Abstract: A hitting device particularly adapted for use in the practice of martial arts, such as karate, which may be mounted on a vertical wall or post and carries a desired hitting surface. The bellows portion contracts when contacted axially to absorb the impact of the hitting force. Closable vents are provided in association with the bellows portion to allow for variation of the compressibility of the bellows, thereby varying the resistance to the hitting force by the hitting device. A force indicating assembly is also mounted on the hitting device for approximately indicating to a student the hitting force applied.

Abstract: A set of hexagonal or triangular pieces adapted to the playing of variants of the game of Go on a plain unmarked surface, by laying pieces down contiguously. Each piece has means for picking it up when it is surrounded by other pieces, as by having a central hole into which the stick-like handle may be temporarily inserted. Dual pieces, each shaped as two single pieces of opposite colors joined together along a common side, are also provided.

Abstract: A golf practice and amusement apparatus for golfers to practice chipping and putting. A receptacle is provided having a hollow inner compartment which contains a mounted roll of carpet. The upper exterior surface of the receptacle is given a central recessed portion. The carpet has an upper surface, when unwound and withdrawn from the receptacle, which presents a first area adjacent the free end of the carpet having a first degree of roughness and the balance of the upper surface having a lesser degree of roughness. A flag device formed of connected concentric strips and an upstanding flag connected to the center is positionable on the upper surface of the carpet. Suction cups may be provided on the receptacle, carpet, and flag device to anchor such elements in their use positions.

Abstract: A spinning toy including a semi-spherical bowl shaped member with a portion extending upwardly over the midpoint of the spherical portion thereof thus providing a smoothly radiused interior wall portion, a spinnable member located on a vertical axis which axis is offset to the vertical axis of the bowl member when the bowl is in an upright position and the spinnable member having blades of equal lengths thereon of less dimension than the radial dimension of the bowl and a ball normally provided in the bowl below the spinnable member. The ball, spinnable member blade lengths and the axial offset of the spinnable member allow the ball to move from the bottom of the bowl past the blades of the spinnable member at locations where the axial offset of the spinnable member to the wall is the greatest and allow the ball to be supported above the spinnable member by the coaction of the blades and the wall closest to the blade tips due to the axial offset of the spinnable member.

Abstract: A marksmanship target presenting a plurality of targets to view by competing marksmen. When a marksman's missile strikes a target on a side of a shield assigned to him, that target shifts to his opponent's side. Each target is provided with a cushion adapted to strike a plate, thereby damping movement and preventing rebound of the struck target. Each target is integrally formed with a narrow, forwardly extending lip and several annularly spaced, shock absorbing ribs secured to a marginal edge of the target and connecting the target to a support arm.