US2123095A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1.938. D. J BURLO 2,123,095

GAME APPARATUS Filed March 18, 1937A gli] l 5 l x0 7` 1: l e o/o o/ o o o/a x o o o o o n o o 15ML. n.

7?-- w I 17o/ cio o/o o-o o'o o oca/oo Olo o (lo 0 4 Patented July 5, 1938 PATENT *oi-Fica 2,123,095 GAMEAPPARATUS Dennis .'I. Burlo, Green Bay, Wis.

Application March 18, 1937, Serial No. 131,715

3 Claims.

This invention relates to game apparatus and it aims generally to provide a structure having a plunger actuated ball which is more fascinating and interesting than heretofore and requires greater skill.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ment 24.

description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure l, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the device employs a base or platform as at Ill preferably supported so as to have its rear end slightly higher than the front, as shown in Figure 2. It may be supported in any suitable manner as by means of permanent, removable or portable legs or a stand II.

Base I0 may be of any suitable material, for instance metallic, and it has a marginal upstanding wall I2, integral therewith, if desired, which wall conforms to the contour of the base and at the forward end has a convex or rounded portion I3 while at the other end the wall is straight as at I4.

A. panel I5 is disposed centrally on the upper surface of the base I0, having its forwardV end rounded at I6 and spaced from the wall I3. On opposite sides of the panel I5, rows of pegs II are provided. At the rear end of the panel, a housing IB is provided having an opening I9 in the top thereof through which balls 2E) may be manually dropped into the path of a projector or plunger 2l. Such plunger is manually operable, having a knob 22. It also has a stem 23 slidable through the wall I4 and at its forward end has an abut- Surrounding the stem 23 and engaging the abutment 24 and wall I4 is an expansive coil spring 25. The front wall of the housing I8 has an opening 26 therethrough through which the ball 2i! is adapted to be projected upon retraction of the plunger 2| against the tension of spring 25, and subsequent release of the plunger. `The balls'20 which are used, are of a diameter which may pass between adjacent pegs I l. Guards 2l having portions 21 extending laterally in opposite directions are provided in front of the opening 26, the ball being projected `be- 5 tween the guards Vand the oppositely extending portions 21 deilecting the ball if returned before leaving the panel. Spaced slightly forwardly of the guards, is a relatively low transverse barrier 28 extending above the surface of the panel I5. 10 If the ball is projected with suiicient force to pass the barrier 28, it will constitute a go while if it does not pass the barrier 28, the player will be entitled to another go.

Longitudinal partitions 29 are provided on op- 15 posite sides of the panel, dividing the interior space into outer runways 30 and inner runways 3 I, it being noted that the panels terminate short of the round wall I3.

Any desired rules may be followed in playing the game and I prefer that projected balls which return through the passageways 3I, either after hitting the curved wall I3 or by passing between pegs I'I, shall not count in scoring while the balls which succeed in traveling down the passageways 30 to the wall I4 shall count in scoring.

To render the scoring more difficult and entertaining, depressions may be provided as at suitable locations in the base Ill designed to receive and hold the balls when they do not have suiiicient force to roll out of the depressions. A ball so trapped, preferably does not enter into the scoring. It is optional whether or not these depressions 32 are provided. Coil springs 33 may be disposed in them to contact the balls and such coil springs may be connected to stems 34 slidably mounted in openings 35 of the base. Suchv stems 34 may be engaged from below and raised to also raise the springs 33 and move the balls 20 out of the depressions when desired. 40

At the rear end, each of the passageways 30 and 3l has an opening through the base I0 so that the balls 20 lodging therein may be removed. Such openings are normally closed by means of doors 36, pivoted to swing downwardly as at 31, and normally held closed by means of hook latches 38, pivoted at 39 to the wall I4, and movable to and from beneath the doors 36 to permit opening thereof and to hold them in closed position.

Glass or other transparent panel may be disposed over the entire structure as at 40, retained in a groove 4I within the wall I2 and such panel may have an opening 42 therethrough in registry with that at I9, for deposit of the balls 20 into the receptacle I8.

The panel l5 may be of wood but obviously like the other parts, may be made of any suitable material. Also, the complete apparatus may be ornamented in any suitable manner with exposed metal parts such as the hook latches 3B and knob 22, being chromium plated, if desired.

Various additional changes may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:-

1. Apparatus of the class described having a base, a panel disposed thereon narrower than the base and providing spaces on opposite sides of the panel, a casing at one end of the panel, ball projecting means in said casing, the casing having an opening therethrough for deposit of a ball for engagement by said projecting means, said casing also having an opening in its front wall for projecting the ball, guard means extending from the casing on each side of the front opening therein between which the ball may pass, said guard means having portions extending in opposite directions to deflect Aa returning ball from the panel, and partitions on the base and on opposite sides of the panel dividing the space into passageways to receive the ball.

2. Game apparatus of the class described having a base, an attenuated panel of less width than the base superposed thereon, the side edges of said panel forming shoulders with the base spaced inwardly from the sides of the base over which a ball is adapted to travel, means extending from one end of said base on opposite sides of the panel in combination with the marginal edge of the panel dividing the device into passages over the base, said panel and said means terminating short of the other end of the apparatus.

3. Game apparatus of the class described having a base, an attenuated panel of less width than the base superposed thereon, the side edges of said panel forming shoulders with the base spaced inwardly from the sides of the base over which a ball is adapted to travel, means extending from one end of said base on opposite sides of the panel in combination with the marginal edges of the panel dividing the device into passages over the base, said panel and said means terminating short of the other end of the apparatus, and said panel having rows of pegs at opposite edges thereof spaced apart suiciently for passage of the ball therebetween.

DENNIS J. BURLO.

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