US3539188A - Tilt top pool - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Inventor Robert E. Salverda,

2118 N. Dale St., St. Paul, Minn. 55113 Appl. No. 747,739 Filed July 25, 1968 Patented Nov. 10, 1970 TILT TOP POOL 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 273/110, 273/ 1 13 Int. Cl. A63f 7/16 Field oi'Search 273/1 10, 109, 1 13, l 15 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,522,782 9/1950 Glickman 273/110X Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Thomas Zack Attorney-Robert M. Dunning ABSTRACT: A game is provided including a base and a platform slidably and tiltably supported on four parallel pins extending upwardly from the base. Springs normally support the platform horizontal. A pair of levers are mounted on aligned axes to the base of each side of the platform. Flexible means connect one lever on each side of the platform to a corner at the opposite side of the platform to tilt the opposite corner downwardly upon pivotal movement of the lever, and flexible means connect the other lever on each side of the platform to the corner diagonally opposite that to which the first lever is connected. A wall defines a playing area on the platform, and a marble on the platform may be rolled by tilting the platform.

TILT TOP POOL This invention relates to an improvement in game and deals particularly with a game having a platform which may be tilted in various directions by the players to control the movement of the ball or marble on the platform.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a game of skill which is usually designed foroperation by two players, although, it is possible for four players to play. In general, the device comprises a base panel having a series of upwardly extending supports thereupon. A platform is mounted upon these supports in such a manner that the platform may tilt in any direction while still supported. Coil springs or similar resilient means support the platform so that it is normally substantially horizontal. A wall of some type encircles at least a portion of the platform so as to retain a ball or marble on the surface of the platform. The platform is provided with one or more apertures or pockets into which the ball or marble may drop. The purpose of the game may be either to have one player attempt to roll the marble into one of the apertures or indentations while the other player tries to prevent such action, or may be to have one player attempt to direct the marble into one aperture or indention while the other player attempts to guide the marble into another aperture or indentation. Regardless of the manner in which the game is played, the platform is tiltable by the players, and the object is to roll the ball or marble on the surface of the platform in a desired direction.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a platform which is supported by a series of springs which permit any portion of the platform to be tilted downwardly. Levers are provided designed for operation by the players. The levers are connected by flexible members to corners of the platform. By pressing the levers on one side of the base. panel downwardly, diagonally opposite corners of the platform may be tilted downwardly. By operation of one of the levers, the platform may be tilted downwardly in a manner to roll the marble toward one-corner of the base panel, and by operating the other, the diagonally opposite corner is lowered. When both players are operating the levers, the ball may move in any direction on the platform by proper manipulation.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a game of the type described including a platform which is preferably in the shape of an eight sided or eight pointed star,. alternate points of which are supported by springs encircling upwardly extending rods which extend loosely through the platform. Levers are provided on each of two opposite sides of the base panel, these levers being pivotally anchored to the base panel. Each lever is connected by a flexible member to a portion of the undersurface of the platform. The flexible means extends through a suitable guide on the base panel, so that operation of the levers acts to pull the connected portion of the platform downwardly toward the base panel. The platform is supported normally in a substantially horizontal position. However, by operation of the levers, the diagonally opposite corners of the platform may be either singly or in combination drawn downwardly so as to tilt the platform.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a platform area on the surface ofthe platformwhich is preferably square in outline with the corners of the square intermediate the points of the star-shaped platform which are mounted upon the springs. With this arrangement, opposite corners of the playing area are directed toward the players on opposite sides of the base panel. As a result, the points at which the platform is lowered are intermediate the corners of the playing area, thus further complicating the manner in which the ball tends to roll.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forthin the following specification and claims.

in the drawings forming a part ofthe specification are:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the game, showing the general arrangement of parts therein;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the game; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the game.

The game is indicated in general by the letter A. The game includes a base panel 10 which is shown as being of rectangular form, although the shape of the base panel is unimportant, as it merely acts as a support for the various parts of the device. Extending upwardly from the base 10, I provide four supporting pins 11 which are arranged at the corners of a square.

A platform 12 forms the surface upon which the ball or marble B may roll. The platform 12 may also vary somewhat in shape, as it is possible to make this platform circular in outline if it is so desired. In the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the platform 12 is in the shape of an eight pointed star, the points of the star being equally angularly spaced. The shape of the platform 12 may be described as comprising the shape of two squares of equal size having a common center and with the corners of one square at 45 angle from the corners ofthe other.

Two opposite sides 13 on the platform 12 are shown as being parallel to the end edges l4 of the base panel 10. The other sides of the star-shaped platform are parallel to'the longitudinal edges or sides 16 of the base panel 10. Intermediate points 17 of the star-shaped platform are directed toward the ends 14 of the base panel, while the remaining points 19 of the platform 12 are directed toward the longitudinal sides li6of the supporting platform. The platform 12 is supported at a predetermined elevation above the base panel by means of compression springs 20 encircling the pins 11. The springs 20 are of equal length and equal compressibility so that when the base panel 10 is resting upon a horizontal surface, the platform 12 is supported upon a parallel horizontal surface.

The corners l7 and 19 of the platform 12 are provided with upwardly extending stakes or pins 22 and 23 which support cords or resilient bands in 24 vertically spaced relationship. In

other words, the upper surface of the platform 12 somewhat similates a boxing ring or wrestling ring which is located diagonally with respect to the end edges 14 of the panel 10 as indicated in the drawings. 1 I Y The platform 12 is provided with one or more apertures or indentations 25 into' which a ball such as B may extend. Depending upon the manner in which the game is played, the apertures or indentations 25 may be of sufficient size to permit the ball or marble B to pass entirely therethrough, or may be merely deep enough to permit the ball or marble to normally rest therein when properly guided by the players.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the platform 12 is resiliently supported by the base panel 10 on a horizontal plane, and in order to propel the ballot marble 'B on the surface of the platform 12, means must be provided for tilting the platform in any direction.

Two angle brackets 26 are mounted upon the base panel 10 near each of the opposite ends 14 thereof. Each angle bracket 26 includes a horizontal flange 27 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the base panel 10, and a vertical flange 29 extending upwardly from one end thereof. The upwardly extending flanges 29 at opposite ends of the base panel '10 are aligned, and the horizontal flanges 27 at each end of the base panel 10 are also aligned. Levers 30 and 30a are pivotally supported by pivots 31 to the angle brackets 26 at one end of the base-panel 10. Cords or similar flexible means indicated at 34, and 34a are connected at 35 to the levers 30 and 30a, the points of connection 35 being spaced upwardly above the pivots 31. The cord 34 extends downwardly through a direction changing means such as a screw eye 36 extending upwardly from the panel 10, the cord 34 being anchored at 37 to a point on the platform 12 above the screw eye 36 and near the aperture through which one of the rods 11 extends. The cord 34a extends from the lever 30a through a screw eye 36a extending upwardly from the base panel 10, the cord 34a being anchored at a point 37a above the screw eye 36a and near the aperture through which one of the rods 11 extends at the rear end of the base panel. The anchoring points 37 and 37a are at diagonally opposite corners of the platform 12.

In a similar manner, flexiblecords or wires 39 and 390 are anchored at 40 to the levers 32 and 32a at points spaced well above the pivots 33. The cord 39 extends through direction changing means such as a screw eye 42 extending upwardly from the surface of the panel 10, the cord 39 being anchored at 43 to the undersurface of the platform 12 above the screw eye 42 and near the aperture where the pin 11 extends through the platform at the opposite end thereof.

The flexible cord 39a extends through a screw eye 42a extending upwardly from the surface of the panel 10, the cord 39a being anchored at 43a to the undersurface of the platform above the screw eye 42a and near the aperture through which one of the rods 11 extends at the rear end of the base panel. The anchoring points 43 and 43a are at diagonally opposite ends of the platform 12.

As will be evident from an examination of the drawings, the levers 30, 30a, 32 and 32a may be generally L-shaped in form with the handle end 43, 43a, 44 and 44a of the levers 30 and 32 extending generally horizontally and in a direction away from the platform 12. As a result, downward pressure on the handle end 43 of the levers 30 and 30a tend to rotate these levers in a counterclockwise direction about their pivots 31, this action tilting the corresponding corners of the platform toward the base panel 10. Similarly, downward pressure upon the handle ends 44 of the levers 32 and 32a acts to pivot these levers about their pivots 33 in a clockwise direction, exerting a pull upon the cords 39 and 390 which tends to tilt the corresponding corners of the platform 12, downwardly toward the base panel 10.

By proper manipulation of the levers 30 and 32, the table 12 may be tilted in any direction. While the manner of playing the game may vary, it is obvious that a tiltable platform is provided in which either of the players may tilt diagonally opposite corners of the platform downwardly from its normal horizontal position, and neither player has means of tilting the remaining opposite corners of the table upwardly beyond horizontal position. By proper operation of the levers, the ball or marble B may be rolled in any desired direction upon the platform. However, as one player manipulates the position of the platform the other player may counteract the movement by means of a similar operation of the control levers. As a result, a game is provided which is entertaining to play, and which at the same time requires skill to manipulate most effectively.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of the construction and operation of my improvement in game and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lclaim:

l. A game including: a base; a plurality of spaced vertical parallel pins fixed to said base and extending upward therefrom; a generally horizontal playing platform slidably and tiltably supported on said pins above said base; vertical spring means attached to said base and engaging said platform to normally maintain said platform in a substantially horizontal plane; at least one pair of player actuated levers hingedly secured to one end of said base with their axes aligned; elongated flexible means connecting each said lever to points on the platform diagonally opposite from one another whereby the actuation of one said lever causes the diagonally opposite end of the platform to tilt downward as its respective end slides and tilts onthe associated pin.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including a pair of second player actuated levers secured to the other end of the base with their axes aligned, and second elongated flexible means connecting each said second lever to points on the platform in diagonally opposite relation and spaced from the points of connection of said first named flexible means with said platform.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which said player actuated levers are generally L-shape d with one end hin ed to said base and the other end extending generally para el to said base.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said base is generally rectangular and said pins are substantially equally spaced both longitudinally and transversely thereof.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said springs encircle said pins between said base and said platform.

6. The structure of claim 1 and in which platform is in the shape of an eight pointed star, and said pins extend through alternate points of the star.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which a point of each star extends substantially between the levers of each pair.

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