US3048402A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1962 w. H. SCHAPER GAME APPARATUS Filed May 11, 1961 INVENTOR. W LLIAM H. czmpzz wiwmm pam- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,048,402 GAR 1E APPARATUS William H. Schaper, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Schaper Manufacturing Company, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 11, 1961, Ser. No. 109,350 11 Claims. (Cl. 27311) This invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly it relates to game apparatus for use in a game of skill in which players compete in attempting to direct a ball from an exposed deck into a selected one of a plurality of concealed runways.

it is contemplated as a general object of this invention to provide a novel game of skill which will be highly enjoyed by players of all ages.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel game apparatus through the use of which players may compete in skill, finesse and judgment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel game apparatus in which players can compete in attempting to direct a ball from an exposed deck into a selected one of a plurality of concealed runways.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my novel game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view on a reduced scale with the upper deck thereof removed and with certain other omitted parts being indicated by dotted line configuration;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken approximately along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the upper ball-directing member;

PEG. 5 is a top plan View of the lower ball-directing member; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary detailed plan View of the portion of the game apparatus indicating certain parts thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and specifically FIG. 1, it will be seen that my novel game apparatus, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, is comprised of a housing including opposed side walls 11 and 2 respectively and opposed end walls 13 and 14 respectively. The housing also includes an upper deck 15 which is generally horizontally disposed. The upper deck 15 has a platform 16 aiiixed to the upper surface thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom and this platform 16 includes a peripheral wall 17 and an upper wall element 18. It will be noted that platform 16 has an elongate curved inclined runway 19 formed therein and that this runway 19 is of generally channel shaped configuration. It will be noted that the runway 19 has upstanding opposed wall elements and the innermost wall element 17a has an opening 24 therein which communicates with the interior of the game apparatus housing.

An impeller member 21 is pivotally mounted on the upper deck 15 by means of a pivot pin 22 for substantially horizontal pivoting movement of the impeller memher about a substantially vertical axis, as best seen in FIG. 6. It will be noted that the impeller member 21 is provided with an upstanding L-shaped impeller element including a leg 23 and the leg 24 integrally joined together. Impeller member 21 is also provided with a laterally extending substantially horizontally disposed arm 25 which is movable into overlying relation with an aperture 15a formed in the upper deck. An upstanding actuator tab 26 is aifixed to the impeller member 21 to facilitate pivoting of the member.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that my novel game apparatus 10 includes a lower deck 27 integrally formed with the walls of the game apparatus housing and being disposed below the upper deck 15. It will be noted, as best seen in FIG. 3, that the lower deck 27 is inclined downwardly from the side wall 11 towards the side wall 12 and projects outwardly beyond the side Wall 12. It is also pointed out that the entire game apparatus may be constructed of a suitable rigid plastic which is preferably translucent color so that the lower deck 27 is concealed from the participants of the game. It will also be noted that the portion of lower deck 27 which projects outwardly beyond the side wall 12 is provided with an upstanding peripheral flange 28 also clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the lower deck 27 is provided with an upstanding transverse wall element 29 which is disposed in generally parallel relation with the side Walls 11 and 12 respectively and which extends from the end wall 13 and terrninates approximately centrally of the general length of the game apparatus housing. A wall element 30 extends from the inner terminal portion of the transverse Wall element 29 and is jointed at its other end to the side wall 12. A short wall element 31 extends from the end wall 13 to the side wall 12 but is spaced from the wall element 30. A pair of intermediate wall elements 32 are positioned between the wall elements 30 and 31, the latter comprising outer wall elements and it will be seen that these wall elements 30, 31 and 312 cooperate with the lower deck 27 to define runways 33, 34 and 35. It will be noted that the wall elements 32 extend beyond the side Wall 12 and are joined with the peripheral flange 28 of the lower deck 27. It will also be seen that the side wall 12 is suitably apertured as at 33a, 34a and 35a respectively so that the runways '33, 34 and 35 communicate with the exterior of the housing. Actually, the extension of the lower deck 27 together with side wall 12 and the upstanding peripheral flange: 28 constitute extensions of runways 33, 34 and 35'.

It will be noted that the end wall 13 has its central portion 13a offset inwardly with opposite ends thereof 13!) diverging outwardly from the central portion 13a. The central portion is provided with a central slot and is also provided with an arcuate bulge 13d as best seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The central portion 14a of the end wall 14 is also offset inwardly and opposite end portions 14b of the wall 14 diverge outwardly from the central portion and are joined to the side walls 11 and 12 respectively. The central portion 14a of the wall 14 is also provided with a slot 140, as best seen in FIG. 3, and the central portion has an arcuate bulge 14d projecting outwardly therefrom as best seen in FIG. 2.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the offset portion 14a of the end wall 14 has an inwardly extending substantially horizontally disposed bracket member 36 spaced above the lower deck 27 and having a pivot pin 37 aflixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. A pivot pin 37 is provided with a reduced end portion 38, as best seen in FIG. 3, the function of which will be described hereinbelow.

Means are also provided for causing a ball element or the like, impelled through the opening 20, to be directed into one of the runways 33, 34 or 35 respectively. To this end, my novel game apparatus includes a balldirecting mechanism which includes a substantially flat lower ball-directing member 39 which may also be constructed of suitable rigid plastic material and which is provided with an aperture 40 adjacent one end thereof through which a pivot pin 37 is inserted. The lower ball directing member 39 is also provided with an actuating extension 41 which projects through the slot 130 and has a depending grip 41a depending therefrom. This lower ball-directing member is also provided with a pair of openings 42 which are arranged in staggered relation as clearly seen in FIG. 5. It will also be noted that one side of the irregularly shaped ball directing member 39 is recessed as at 43 and that the end portion of the ball-directing member adjacent the actuating extension 41 is also arcuately recessed as at 44. An upstanding tab 45 is affixed to the lower ball-directing member 39 and in close proximity to one of the openings 42. The lower ball-directing member also includes a laterally projecting, indicia-bearing arm 46 which has the indicia or words Rock, Paper, Scissors printed thereon.

The ball-directing mechanism also includes an upper ball-directing member 47 which is provided with an aperture 48 somewhat smaller than the aperture 4th: in the lower ball-directing member 39 and through which the reduced portion 38 of pivot pin 37 extends. Thus, it will be seen that the upper ball-directing member 47 is mounted in superimposed interengaging relation upon the lower ball-directing member 39 and is shiftable relative thereto. The upper ball-directing member 47 is provided with an actuating extension 4% which projects outwardly through the slot 140 and the end wall 14. The upper ball-directing member 47 which is of substantially channel-shaped configuration has upstanding side wall elements and it will be noted that the lower Web portion has an elongate recess 51 formed therein. The upstanding side wall elements 50 are also interconnected adjacent their respective ends by a small top web 52 and it will be noted that the upper ball-directing member 47 is provided with an indicia bearing arm 53 which projects laterally therefrom. This arm 53 also bears the indicia Rock, Paper, Scissors and has an arcuate outer end. The outermost terminal portion 46a of the indicia bearing arm 46' for the lower ball-directing member 39 extends upwardly above the general plane of the arm 46 and has an arcuate inner edge. This inner edge accommodates the arcuate terminal portions of the indicia bearing arm 53 of the upper balldirecting member 47. It will be noted that while the indicia bearing arm 53 of the upper ball-directing member 47 is disposed upon the indicia bearing arm 46 of the lower ball-directing member 39, the latter is supported by a small bracket platform 11a integrally formed with the side wall 11 as best seen in FIG. 3.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the arcuate bulge 13d of the end wall 13 and the arcuate bulge 14d of the end wall 14 are each provided with the indicia, Rock, Paper and Scissors and that the actuating handle for the respective upper and lower balldirecting members also function as a pointer element.

When playing the game, players will be positioned at adjacent ends 13 and 14 and it will be noted that the upper deck 13 overhangs the arcuate bulges of the end walls and the indicia associated therewith and also conceals the actuating extension of each of the ball-directing members.

The game is played with a playing ball element indicated by the reference character B and the purpose of the game is to win more of the ball elements than the opposing player. When a ball, after being impelled through the opening 20, is discharged into the runway closest ad jacent the player, that player then wins the ball element. Each player, therefore, manipulates his associated balldirecting member before the ball is impelled by the impeller through the opening 20. If one pointer extension points toward Paper and the other pointer is directed toward Rock, then the ball element is discharged into the runway of the player having his pointer extending forward to Paper. If the pointers are on Rock and Scissors, respectively, then the ball element will be iii discharged into the runway closest the player who selected Rock. However, if the pointers are on Scissors and Paper, the ball will be discharged into the runway adjacent the player selecting Scissors. The player winning the most ball elements, of course, wins the game. Therefore, if the player adjacent the end wall 13 positions the extension pointer towards Paper and the player adjacent the end wall portion 14 positions his pointer adjacent the Scissors then the ball will be discharged into runway 33 and through the aperture 33a in the side wall 12. If the player adjacent the end wall 13 had positioned his pointer towards Paper and his opponent had positioned his actuating extension pointer towards .ock, then the ball would have been discharged onto runway 35. If both of the players have their respective actuator extension pointers directed towards Paper, for example, the ball element will be discharged into runway 34 and neither player will win the ball. It will be seen that the particular positioning of the actuator extension causes the upper ball-directing member 47 to be so disposed upon the lower ball-directing member 39 that the ball element will be guided and discharged through one of the openings 42 in the lower ball-directing member 39 or be directed for discharge from the recess terminal portions 44 or the recessed side 43 of the lower ball-directing member.

When the game is played, the ball element will be positioned in the runway 19 and will be allowed to roll down the runway since the latter is inclined and will encounter the leg 24 of the impeller 21. In this connection, the arm 25 will be disposed in overlying relation with respect to the aperture 1511 so that the particular indicia on the indicia-bearing arms 46 and 53 of the upper and lower ball-directing members respectively will be concealed. The tab 26 will be pivoted about the pivot pin 22 and the ball will be impelled through the opening and will fall upon the upper ball-directing member and will be directed between the upstanding side wall elements 50 thereof and then will fall through the aperture 51 in the upper ball-directing member. In this connection, it will be noted that if the upper ball-directing member is positioned laterally of the openings 42 in the lower balldirecting member, the lower ball-directing member cooperates with the upper ball-directing member so that the ball will be discharged through one of the recesses 44 in the terminal portion of the lower ball-directing member. When the game is played, it will be noted that the actuating extensions and the respective indicia associated with the actuating extensions of each of the ball-directing members will be concealed from opposing players so that one player will attempt to outguess and outmaneuver his opponent.

It will be seen from the preceding paragraphs that I have provided a game apparatus which is not only novel but one which may be enjoyed by children and adults.

It will also be noted from the foregoing description that through the use of my novel game apparatus, players may compete in skill, finesse and judgment to thereby add to the enjoyment of their moments of leisure.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, detail, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the general scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Game apparatus comprising an upper deck having an opening therein and having an elongate runway communicating with said opening, a player-concealed lower deck secured to said upper deck spaced therebelow, a plurality of runways arranged in side-by-side relation on the upper surface of said lower deck and extending outwardly to one side thereof, a ball-directing mechanism inter-posed between said decks including a pair of interengaging ball-directing members arranged in upper and lower relation and being mounted for relative shifting movement therebetween, one of said members having a plurality of openings therein arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other and each opening communicating with one of said plurality of runways, the other of said members cooperating with said one member upon relative shifting movement of said members to cause a ball moved along the runway of said upper deck and impelled through the opening in the latter to be directed through a preselected one of said openings in said one member and into its associated lower deck runway.

2. Game apparatus comprising an upper deck having an elongate runway on the upper surface thereof terminating in an opening formed in said deck, a player-concealed lower deck secured to said upper deck and being spaced therebelow, a plurality of runways arranged in side-byside relation on the upper surface of said lower deck and being inclined outwardly to one side thereof, a ball-direct ing mechanism interposed between said decks including a pair of substantially horizontally disposed ball-directing members arranged in upper and lower interengaging relation and being pivotally mounted for relative pivotal movement therebetween, one of said members being dissposed in obstructing relation with respect to said plurality of runways and having a plurality of openings arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other, each opening communicating with one of said plurality of runways, the other of said members cooperating with said one member upon relative pivoting movement of said members for causing a ball moved along a runway of said upper deck and impelled through the opening in the latter to be directed through a preselected one of said openings in said one member and into its associated lower deck runway.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 and an impeller member shiftably mounted on said upper deck member adjacent the opening in the latter and being shiftable to impel a ball through the upper deck opening.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the runway in said upper deck is inclined towards said opening and is of channel-shaped configuration having upstanding walls, the opening in said upper deck being formed in one of said runway walls.

5. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said ball directing members are mounted for horizontal pivotal movement about a common vertical axis.

6. Game apparatus comprising an upper deck having an elongate channel-shaped runway thereon and having an opening adjacent one end of said runway and communicating therewith, a player-concealed lower deck secured to said upper deck and spaced therebelow, said lower deck having a plurality of runways arranged in sideby-side relation thereon and being inclined outwardly to one side thereof, a ball-directing mechanism interposed between said decks for guiding a ball from said upper deck runway to a preselected one of the runways in the lower deck, said ball-directing mechanism including a lower ball-directing member disposed in overlying obstructing relation to said plurality of runways and being mounted for horizontal pivoting movement relative to said last mentioned runways, said lower ball-directing member having a plurality of openings therein arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other and each opening overlying one of said plurality of runways in communicating relation therewith, an upper ball-directing member positioned upon said lower ball-directing member and being pivotally mounted for horizontal shifting movement relative thereto, said upper ball-directing member having an elongate opening therein selectively positionable into registering relation with each of the openings of said lower ball-directing member, said upper ball-directing member cooperating with said lower member upon relative pivoting movement of said members to cause a ball moved along the runway of said upper deck and impelled through the opening in the latter to be directed through a preselected one of said openings in said one member and into its associated lower deck runway.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said upper and lower ball directing members are mounted for horizontal pivoting movement about a common vertical axis.

8. Game apparatus comprising a housing including upstanding peripheral walls and a generally horizontal upper deck, said upper deck having an elongate inclined runway thereon terminating at one end in an opening formed in said deck, a player-concealed lower deck secured to said peripheral walls and spaced below said upper deck, said lower deck having a plurality of inclined runways arranged in side-by-side relation thereon and extending outwardly through one side wall thereof, a ball-directing mechanism interposed between said decks for guiding a ball from the runway in the upper deck through said opening in the latter to a preselected one of the runways on the lower deck, said ball-directing mechanism including a lower ball-directing member disposed in overlying obstructing relation to said runways and being mounted for pivotal movement relative to the latter, said lower balldirecting member having a plurality of openings therein and arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other and each communicating with one of said plurality of runways, an upper ball-directing member positioned on said lower ball-directing member and being mounted for horizontal pivoting movement relative thereto, said upper member cooperating with said lower member upon relative pivoting movement of said members to cause a ball moved along the runway of said upper deck and impelled through the opening in the latter to be directed through a preselected one of said openings in said one member and into its associated lower deck runway.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 and an impeller member pivotally mounted on said upper deck in close proximity to the opening therein for impelling a ball through said upper deck opening.

10. The structure as defined in claim 8 and wherein said upper and lower ball directing members are mounted for horizontal movement about a common vertical axis.

11. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said upper and lower ball-directing members are provided with actuating handles projecting outwardly from opposite peripheral wall portions of said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 971,726 Bryant Oct. 4, 1910 2,668,057 Fry Feb. 2, 1954 2,810,579 Hickey Oct. 22, 1957 2,899,206 Carter Aug. 11, 1959

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