US3807735A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Game apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3807735A
US3807735A US00229004A US22900472A US3807735A US 3807735 A US3807735 A US 3807735A US 00229004 A US00229004 A US 00229004A US 22900472 A US22900472 A US 22900472A US 3807735 A US3807735 A US 3807735A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
playing surface
ball
propelling device
ball propelling
over
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00229004A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
G Barlow
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Glass Marvin and Associates
Original Assignee
Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Glass Marvin and Associates filed Critical Glass Marvin and Associates
Priority to US00229004A priority Critical patent/US3807735A/en
Priority to CA160,347A priority patent/CA963930A/en
Priority to IT47555/73A priority patent/IT976776B/it
Priority to GB139073A priority patent/GB1385462A/en
Priority to DE2305724A priority patent/DE2305724A1/de
Priority to FR7304413A priority patent/FR2173532A5/fr
Priority to JP48022603A priority patent/JPS5125185B2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3807735A publication Critical patent/US3807735A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63D—BOWLING GAMES, e.g. SKITTLES, BOCCE OR BOWLS; INSTALLATIONS THEREFOR; BAGATELLE OR SIMILAR GAMES; BILLIARDS
    • A63D15/00—Billiards, e.g. carom billiards or pocket billiards; Billiard tables
    • A63D15/08—Cues
    • A63D15/083—Means, integrated in the cue, for actuating the ball, e.g. springs

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A pool type game which includes a playing surface over which balls or the like may be propelled, with a plurality of ball receiving pockets disposed about the playing surface and a bumper rail surrounding the playing surface.
  • a ball propelling device is pivotally mounted for 360 rotation on the playing surface and is spaced from the bumper rail for propelling balls over the surface in any direction away from the propelling device.
  • the propelling device has an impact member which may be selectively cocked and released for striking a ball to propell the ball over the playing surface.
  • a rotating knob is disposed outside of the playing surface and is connected by linkage under the playing surface for rotating the ball propelling device.
  • a depressable button also is disposed outside of the playing surface and is connected by linkage under the playing surface for releasing the impact member when in its cocked position.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool type game apfor the entertainment of the player, and for developing dexterity and coordination for the individual player, as well as competition between a plurality of players.
  • the invention relates more particularly to game boards of the surface projectile type which require skill both in aiming and in manipulating the propulsion force, and specifically to such a game board in the nature of a pool type device.
  • pool type games normally include a playing surface over which balls may be propelled toward one or more pockets disposed at selected positions about the playing surface, particularly at the corners thereof.
  • Cushion or resilient type rail means substantially surround the playing surface and pockets and against which balls are bounced toward other balls or toward the pockets.
  • elongate shafts commonly called cue sticks, are utilized by players of the game as propulsion means for manual movement longitudinally thereof to strike a ball with one end of the cue stick.
  • a ball propelling device is pivotally mounted for 360 rotation on the playing surface and is spaced from the bumper rails for propelling balls over the playing surface in any direction away from the propelling device into contact with other balls or the rail means or into one of said pockets.
  • the ball propelling device includes an elongated plunger member in the form of a ratchet bar which defines an impact member spring biased toward an extended position for engaging or striking a ball to propel the ball over the playing surface.
  • Cocking means in the form of a pawl member is provided engageable with the teeth on the ratchet bar, or-impact member, to selectively cock the impact member in a retracted position, and means is provided to selectively release the impact member by lifting the pawl off of the ratchet bar and permitting the bar, or impact member, to be biased to its extended position for striking a ball.
  • the knob being disposed on the base structure of the device outside of the playing surface for manipulation by players of the game to thereby pivot the paratus embodying the concepts of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the pool type game apparatus of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale, with a portion of the playing surface broken away to facilitate the illustration of the subjacent supporting structure;
  • FIG. 3 is a broken away vertical section taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 6 is a broken away partial perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the apparatus, with the playing surface and perimeter lip removed to facilitate the illustration;
  • FIG. 7 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 8- is a horizontal sectiontaken generally along the line 8 -8 of FIG. 7.
  • the pool type game apparatus of the present invention includes a playing surface 10 which is surrounded by bumper rails, generally designated 12, with a plurality of ball receiving pockets 14 disposed at selected positions about the playing surface 10.
  • a ball propelling device, generally designated 16, is pivotally mounted by means (to be described ingreater detail hereinafter) for 360 rotation on the playing surface 10.
  • the ball propelling device is spaced from the bumper rails 12 for propelling-balls 18, or the like, over the playing surface in any direction away from the propelling device 16 into contact with other balls 18 or the bumper rails 12, ordirectly into one of the pockets 14,
  • the ball propelling device 16 is actuated and pivoted by means which include portions, indicated generally at 20 in FIG. 1 and to be described in greater detail hereinafter, disposed outside of the playing surface 10 so that the ball propelling device 16 can both be actuated and pivoted without a player actually touching the same by extending his hands or arms over the playing surface.
  • the portions 20 are connected by linkage beneath the playing surface 10 for actuating and pivoting the ball propelling device 16.
  • the portions 20 are disposed on top of a pcrimeter lip 22 surrounding the playing surface 10 and beneath which the bumper rail means 12 is disposed.
  • the bumper rails 12 comprise a flexible resilient band 24, fabricated of rubber or other elastic material, each wrapped around a pair of supporting posts 26.
  • One of the resilient bands 24 extends between each of the pockets 14.
  • a rigid supporting rod 28 is received in notches 30 at the top of the posts 26 and provides supporting means therebetween.
  • channels 42 extend between the corner pockets and side pockets of the apparatus and have bottom walls 42a which are inclined downwardly toward vertical cam surfaces 32b which guide the balls into accumulation positions defined by channel support portions 34 of the base structure of the apparatus.
  • the playing surface 10, in an exemplary embodiment ,of the invention, is fabricated of a thin, sturdy sheet material 36 (see FIGS. 2 and 7) which is covered'with felt 37 (FIG. 7) or like material and which is disposed on top of a plurality of rigid supporting cross rails 48a, longitudinal rails 48b and diagonal rails 300 of the base structure of the apparatus.
  • the ball propelling device 16 is best shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8 and includes a housing portion 40 within which an impact member 42 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the direction of arrow 44 (FIG. 7).
  • the impact member 42 is biased by a coil spring 46 toward an-extended position for engaging or striking a ball 18 and propelling the ball over the playing surface 10.
  • the impact member 42 comprises a ratchet bar having ratchet teeth 48 which is engageable by a tooth portion 50 of a pawl member, generally designated 52.
  • the pawl member 52 is pivoted by a pin 54 to the sides of the housing 40.
  • a leaf spring 56 engages a saddle portion 58 of the pawl member 52 to bias the tooth portion 50 thereof into engagement with the ratchet teeth 48 of the impact member 42.
  • the impact member 42 may be selectively cocked by pushing the outer end thereof inwardly of the housing 40 to a retracted or cocked position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 where the pawl member 50 holds the impact member 42 in its cocked position against the biasing of spring 46.
  • the tooth portion 50 of the pawl member 52 must be lifted off of the ratchet teeth 48 of the impact member against the biasing of the leaf spring 56, whereby the coil spring 46 biases the impact member toward its extended position for propelling a ball ,18 over the playing surface 10.
  • the means for lifting the pawl member will be described hereinafter.
  • the housing portion 40 of the ball propelling device is pivoted on the playing surface by means of a downwardly depending hollow shaft portion 60 which is received in an annular bearing 62 (FIG. 7) received in complementary recesses in the playing surface (i.e. felt 47, sheet 36 and rib 3811).
  • a cup gear member 64 is press fit onto the lower end of the shaft portion 60 of the housing 40, with the gear teeth 64a thereof pointing downwardly.
  • a knob 66 is rotatably mounted on the perimeter lip 22 by means of a downwardly depending hollow shaft 66a which has a cup gear member 68 at the lower end thereof.
  • the gear member 68 has downwardly pointed gear teeth 68a.
  • a connecting rod 70 is journalled in downwardly depending brackets 72 (FIG. 7) on the underside of the apparatus and has gear members 70a and 70b on opposite ends thereof in mesh with the teeth of the cup gear members 64 and 68, respectively.
  • the means for selectively releasing the impact member 42 by raising the pawl member 52 is best shown in FIG. 7.
  • Such means includes a button 74 received in a recess 76 in the top of and centrally of the rotating knob 66.
  • the knob 74 is disposed on top of a plunger 78 for vertical reciprocation in the direction of arrow 80, the plunger extending through the hollow shaft portion 66a.
  • the lower end of the plunger has a disc portion 82 which rests on one end of a lever member 84 which rests in the brackets 72.
  • a pin member 86 extends through the hollow shaft portion 60 of the housing 40 of the ball propelling device 16 and has a disc portion 88 which rests on the opposite end of the lever 84.
  • a plurality of ratchet teeth 48 are provided over a given length of the impact member 42 in order to provide means for varying the impact force to be effected on a ball 18.
  • the impact force will be determined by the particular position at which the pawl tooth will be placed along the series of ratchet teeth. The farther to the left (as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8) that the pawl tooth 50 is positioned to cock the impact member, the greater will be the kinetic energy stored in the spring 46 and consequently the greater the impact force of member 42 when the pawl tooth 50 is lifted ofiof the ratchet bar.
  • a pair of guide rails 90 are secured to the sides of the housing 40 and extend horizontally therefrom in the front thereof to direct a propelled ball 18 in a generally straight path away from the ball propelling device 16.
  • a pool type game apparatus which includes a base structure defining a gameboard having a playing surface over which balls may be propelled, a plurality of ball receiving pockets disposed at selected positions about the playing surface, bumper rail means substantially surrounding the playing surface, a peripheral lip on top of said base structure substantially surrounding the playing surface, a ball propelling device pivotally mounted on said playing surface spaced from said bumper rail means and including a ball propelling element for propelling balls over the playing surface away from the ball propelling device into contact with other balls or the rail means or into one of said pockets, actuating means for said ball propelling device including a rotating portion disposed on the top of said peripheral lip outside of said playing surface for manipulation by players of the game to effect rotating of said ball propelling device without touching the ball propelling device or extending ones hands or arms over the playing surface, said rotating portion including a knob rotatably mounted on said peripheral lip for rotation about a generally vertical axis and connected by linkage extending beneath said playing surface to the ball propelling device to rotate the ball propelling device in response to rotation of the knob,

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  • Pinball Game Machines (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US00229004A 1972-02-24 1972-02-24 Game apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3807735A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00229004A US3807735A (en) 1972-02-24 1972-02-24 Game apparatus
CA160,347A CA963930A (en) 1972-02-24 1973-01-02 Game apparatus
IT47555/73A IT976776B (it) 1972-02-24 1973-01-08 Perfezionamento nei dispositivi da gioco di abilita
GB139073A GB1385462A (en) 1972-02-24 1973-01-10 Game apparatus
DE2305724A DE2305724A1 (de) 1972-02-24 1973-02-06 Billardartiges spielgeraet
FR7304413A FR2173532A5 (it) 1972-02-24 1973-02-08
JP48022603A JPS5125185B2 (it) 1972-02-24 1973-02-24

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00229004A US3807735A (en) 1972-02-24 1972-02-24 Game apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3807735A true US3807735A (en) 1974-04-30

Family

ID=22859441

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00229004A Expired - Lifetime US3807735A (en) 1972-02-24 1972-02-24 Game apparatus

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3807735A (it)
JP (1) JPS5125185B2 (it)
CA (1) CA963930A (it)
DE (1) DE2305724A1 (it)
FR (1) FR2173532A5 (it)
GB (1) GB1385462A (it)
IT (1) IT976776B (it)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3923305A (en) * 1974-02-04 1975-12-02 Lawrence L Reiner Combined game of chance and skill
US4437664A (en) 1981-11-30 1984-03-20 Wico Corporation Pin ball game with oscillating shooter

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5925426Y2 (ja) * 1977-04-20 1984-07-25 政一 神田 玉弾きゲ−ム用遊戯台

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US464887A (en) * 1891-12-08 Game-board
US592221A (en) * 1897-10-19 Ball-trap
US820367A (en) * 1903-12-30 1906-05-08 Automatic Game Table Company Game-table.
FR406430A (fr) * 1908-09-10 1910-01-29 Celestin Leopold Gasselin Jouet : canon central à détente pneumatique
US1157909A (en) * 1914-09-02 1915-10-26 James J Teague Spring billiard and pool cue.
US1385677A (en) * 1920-09-11 1921-07-26 Howard W Gillette Game

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US464887A (en) * 1891-12-08 Game-board
US592221A (en) * 1897-10-19 Ball-trap
US820367A (en) * 1903-12-30 1906-05-08 Automatic Game Table Company Game-table.
FR406430A (fr) * 1908-09-10 1910-01-29 Celestin Leopold Gasselin Jouet : canon central à détente pneumatique
US1157909A (en) * 1914-09-02 1915-10-26 James J Teague Spring billiard and pool cue.
US1385677A (en) * 1920-09-11 1921-07-26 Howard W Gillette Game

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3923305A (en) * 1974-02-04 1975-12-02 Lawrence L Reiner Combined game of chance and skill
US4437664A (en) 1981-11-30 1984-03-20 Wico Corporation Pin ball game with oscillating shooter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2305724A1 (de) 1973-08-30
IT976776B (it) 1974-09-10
FR2173532A5 (it) 1973-10-05
GB1385462A (en) 1975-02-26
JPS4898936A (it) 1973-12-15
JPS5125185B2 (it) 1976-07-29
CA963930A (en) 1975-03-04

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