BASKETBALL GAME
United States Patent 3592470
A skill-type game of the type resembling a basketball game having a raised goal or basket, means operable by a first player for propelling a ball toward the basket in an attempt to cause the ball to enter the basket, and a simulated basketball player having arms movable from lower rest positions to raised positions blocking the basket. The arms of the simulated player are actuatable by a second player for movement to their raised positions in an attempt to block the ball preventing it from entering the basket, but the arms return immediately by gravity back to their lower rest positions thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the basket is blocked by the arms, thus requiring a degree of timing and coordination.
Application Number:
05/002336
Publication Date:
07/13/1971
Filing Date:
01/12/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
124/41.100, 124/16, 273/399
International Classes:
A63F7/06; A63F7/00; A63B65/12
Field of Search:
273/1R,1.5R,85E,85,85C,101,127
Primary Examiner:
Pinkham, Richard C.
Assistant Examiner:
Siskind, Marvin
Claims:
I claim
1. A skill-type game, comprising support means having means defining a goal or receiving position, means operable by a first player for propelling an object toward said goal in an attempt to cause the object to enter the goal, and guard means actuatable by a second player for blocking the goal in an attempt to prevent the the object from entering the goal, said guard means including means providing for movement thereof from a normal rest position to a blocking position on actuation by the second player and for immediate return back to the rest position thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the goal is blocked by the guard means.
2. The game of claim 1 wherein said support means has a lower base portion with said goal disposed thereabove, said guard means being mounted on the support means in a normal lower rest position below the goal and movable by actuation by said second player to a raised position blocking the goal with the guard means returning to the rest position by gravity.
3. The game of claim 2 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the goal is disposed at a level below the goal, and the guard means is disposed between the goal and the propelling means but not blocking a path therebetween when in said lower rest position.
4. The game of claim 3 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the goal includes means for adjusting the trajectory of a propelled object.
5. The game of claim 2 wherein said game is designed to resemble a basketball game with said goal comprising a backboard supporting a basket along a lower portion thereof, and said guard means is disposed in front of and below the basket between the basket and the object-propelling means.
6. The game of claim 5 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the basket is disposed at a level below the basket.
7. The game of claim 6 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the basket includes means for adjusting the trajectory of a propelled object.
8. The game of claim 5 wherein said guard means comprises a simulated basketball player having at least one arm movable between said lower and raised positions.
9. 9. The game of claim 8 including actuating means for moving the arm of the simulated player from its lower rest position to its raised position, said actuating means comprising a plunger member mounted on the simulated player for reciprocating movement, and complementary cam portions on the plunger member and the arm to urge the arm to its raised position when the plunger is moved, the cam portions being oriented so that the cam portion on the plunger bypasses the cam portion on the arm when the arm moves toward the raised position to permit the arm to immediately fall by gravity back to its lower rest position after reaching its raised blocking position.
10. Game apparatus comprising a base, a goal mounted on said base in elevated relation thereto, a playing piece adapted to be moved into said goal, means for propelling said playing piece through the air, and guard means positioned in front of said goal and including a relatively movable part which is movable through a path blocking the entrance to said goal, and means for effecting movement of said part of said goal-blocking position without maintaining said part in the goal-blocking position, whereby the player operating said movable part is unable to control the duration of time that the goal is blocked by said movable part.
11. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means for effecting movement of said goal-blocking part comprises a first element supported on the fixed portion of said guard means and movable through a predetermined path, and a second element on said movable part which is engageable by said first element as the latter moves through said predetermined path.
12. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the goal simulates a basketball goal and said guard means simulates a basketball player, and wherein said goal-blocking part is at least one arm of the player which is pivotally mounted on the players body, said first element is a vertically slidable plunger carried by the stationary body portion of the player, and said second element is a cam formed on said arm adjacent its pivot axis and in the path of downward movement of said slidable plunger when the arm is in a depending position.
1. A skill-type game, comprising support means having means defining a goal or receiving position, means operable by a first player for propelling an object toward said goal in an attempt to cause the object to enter the goal, and guard means actuatable by a second player for blocking the goal in an attempt to prevent the the object from entering the goal, said guard means including means providing for movement thereof from a normal rest position to a blocking position on actuation by the second player and for immediate return back to the rest position thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the goal is blocked by the guard means.
2. The game of claim 1 wherein said support means has a lower base portion with said goal disposed thereabove, said guard means being mounted on the support means in a normal lower rest position below the goal and movable by actuation by said second player to a raised position blocking the goal with the guard means returning to the rest position by gravity.
3. The game of claim 2 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the goal is disposed at a level below the goal, and the guard means is disposed between the goal and the propelling means but not blocking a path therebetween when in said lower rest position.
4. The game of claim 3 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the goal includes means for adjusting the trajectory of a propelled object.
5. The game of claim 2 wherein said game is designed to resemble a basketball game with said goal comprising a backboard supporting a basket along a lower portion thereof, and said guard means is disposed in front of and below the basket between the basket and the object-propelling means.
6. The game of claim 5 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the basket is disposed at a level below the basket.
7. The game of claim 6 wherein said means for propelling said object toward the basket includes means for adjusting the trajectory of a propelled object.
8. The game of claim 5 wherein said guard means comprises a simulated basketball player having at least one arm movable between said lower and raised positions.
9. 9. The game of claim 8 including actuating means for moving the arm of the simulated player from its lower rest position to its raised position, said actuating means comprising a plunger member mounted on the simulated player for reciprocating movement, and complementary cam portions on the plunger member and the arm to urge the arm to its raised position when the plunger is moved, the cam portions being oriented so that the cam portion on the plunger bypasses the cam portion on the arm when the arm moves toward the raised position to permit the arm to immediately fall by gravity back to its lower rest position after reaching its raised blocking position.
10. Game apparatus comprising a base, a goal mounted on said base in elevated relation thereto, a playing piece adapted to be moved into said goal, means for propelling said playing piece through the air, and guard means positioned in front of said goal and including a relatively movable part which is movable through a path blocking the entrance to said goal, and means for effecting movement of said part of said goal-blocking position without maintaining said part in the goal-blocking position, whereby the player operating said movable part is unable to control the duration of time that the goal is blocked by said movable part.
11. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means for effecting movement of said goal-blocking part comprises a first element supported on the fixed portion of said guard means and movable through a predetermined path, and a second element on said movable part which is engageable by said first element as the latter moves through said predetermined path.
12. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the goal simulates a basketball goal and said guard means simulates a basketball player, and wherein said goal-blocking part is at least one arm of the player which is pivotally mounted on the players body, said first element is a vertically slidable plunger carried by the stationary body portion of the player, and said second element is a cam formed on said arm adjacent its pivot axis and in the path of downward movement of said slidable plunger when the arm is in a depending position.
Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a skill-type game designed for the entertainment of the player, particularly children, and for developing dexterity and coordination for the individual player as well as competition between a plurality of players.
There presently are available several games of the general type which resemble a basketball game whereby objects, particularly balls, are propelled by the players of the game toward one or more raised baskets or goals. Most of these games provide competition determined solely by the relative skill of the players of the game in providing proper trajectory for their "shots" toward the basket so as to simply make a goal. The present invention is designed to simulate more closely the actual playing of a basketball game by providing one or more simulated players between the basket and the means for propelling the balls toward the basket and having movable arms for instantaneously blocking the basket in an attempt to prevent the propelled ball from entering the basket.
The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new skill-type game of the character described, resembling or simulating a basketball game, for developing dexterity and coordination for the individual player as well as competition between a plurality of players.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a base support and an upright support are provided. A backboard and basket are mounted on the upright support in normal orientation raised above the base support. Means operable by a first player is mounted on the base support spaced from the basket and in front of the backboard for propelling a ball toward the basket in an attempt to cause the ball to enter the basket. Between the object-propelling means and the basket is disposed a simulated basketball player having arms which are pivotally mounted for movement between normal lower rest positions toward raised positions blocking the basket and preventing the ball from entering the basket. The arms are operable by a second player of the game for movement from their normal rest or lower positions to the raised blocking positions on actuation of a plunger means operatively associated with the arms. However, the arms and the plunger means are so associated that once the arms reach their blocking positions in front of the basket, they will immediately return by gravity back to their lower rest positions thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of the time that the goal is blocked by the arms of the simulated player and thereby requiring a degree of timing and coordination in attempting to block the shot of the first player, as is required when actually playing the game of basketball.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skill-type game embodying the concepts of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view, on a further enlarged scale, looking toward the right in FIG. 2 showing the rear of the backboard and the simulated basketball player, with portions of the upright support cut away;
FIG. 4 is a section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 is a partial section taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment of the invention shown herein includes a base support, generally designated 10 (FIG. 1), and an upright support, generally designated 12. The base support 10 is generally flat so as to be placed on a supporting surface such as the top of a table. The upright support 12 comprises an arched supporting rib for supporting a backboard 14 and a goal or basket 16 in raised positions above the base support 10, with the backboard 14 and basket 16 oriented relative to each other as is customary with actual basketball arrangements.
Means (shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) are provided operable by a first player for propelling an object, such as a ball 18, toward the basket 16 in an attempt to have the ball enter the basket. This propelling means is generally designated 20 in FIGS. 1 and 4 and includes a generally hollow housing portion 22 within which is mounted a propelling leaf spring 24 by means of a pin 25, and a cup portion 26 which receives the ball 18 in position to be propelled by the leaf spring 24. At the bottom of the cup portion 26 is a hole 28 of a size to permit the ball 18 to seat thereinto and protrude therethrough but not of sufficient diameter that the ball 18 would fall through the hole. To propel the ball 18 toward the basket 16, said first player depresses the leaf spring in the direction of arrows A (FIGS. 1 and 4) so as to store energy in the leaf spring and to permit the ball 18 to seat into the hole 28. Release of the leaf spring 24 will cause the spring to move or snap in the direction of arrow B(FIG. 4) and abut against the underside of the ball 18 and cause the ball to be propelled toward the basket 16. A degree of skill is required by a player to determine and judge the amount of deflection of the leaf spring in the direction of arrow A to provide accurate trajectory for the ball 18 in an attempt to cause the ball to enter the basket 16.
A simulated basketball player, generally designated 30, is mounted on a raised portion 32 of the base support 10 and has a pair of arms 34 pivotally mounted at pins 36 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) for movement between normal lower rest positions shown in FIG. 1 and in full lines in FIG. 3, to raised blocking positions shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 3 in front of the basket 16 and between the basket and the propelling means 20 for the ball 18. The arms thus provide a guard means. As will be described hereinafter, the arms are movable from their lower rest positions to their raised positions by a second player of the game, but the arms will immediately return by gravity back to the lower rest positions thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the goal or basket 16 is blocked by the arms, thus requiring a degree of timing and coordination to block a propelled ball.
To actuate the arms 34, a vertically reciprocating plunger member 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is mounted by means of four guide bosses 42 on the back side of the simulated basketball player 30. The plunger member 40 has a rearwardly protruding, generally horizontal cam portion 44 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which abuts against a cam ear 46 on each of the arms 34 so as to bias the arms upwardly about pivot pins 36 to their blocking positions on movement of the plunger member 40 downwardly in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 3). As best seen in FIG. 2, a rearwardly protruding handle or depressing portion 48 extends away from the plunger member 40 for engagement by a second player of the game to move the plunger member 40 downwardly in the direction of arrow C. Downward movement of the plunger member 40 causes its camming portion 44 to engage or abut against the cam ears 46 on the arms 34 and thereby causes the arms to pivot about pins 3 36 in the direction of arrows D (FIG. 3) to their blocking positions. However, once the arms 34 reach their upper blocking positions, the camming portion 44 of the plunger member 40 no longer is in engagement with the camming ears 46 on the arms (as shown by the dot-dash lined positions of the arms 34 in FIG. 3) and the arms will return immediately to their lower rest positions by gravity thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the basket 16 is blocked by the arms. Stop lugs 50 are formed on the backside of the simulated player to define the lower rest positions of the arms 34 and the stop lugs 52 are provided to define the upper blocking positions of the arms (as best seen in FIG. 3).
Preferably, the engagement of camming portions 44 with cam ears 46 is momentary and requires the player to flip the plunger 40 downwardly at a fairly rapid rate in order to provide sufficient momentum to arms 34 to cause the latter to reach their fully raised position blocking goal 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the lowermost position of camming portions 44 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3.
Thus it can be seen that by providing instantaneous blocking of the goal or basket 16 by preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the basket is blocked by the arms of the simulated basketball player, an actual basketball game is closely simulated because the second player must time his actions, to move the arms 34, in relation to the "shots" by the first player using the propelling means 20.
The raised base support portion 32 may have means 54 for keeping score of the game, such as by removable score pins 56 positionable in holes 58.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
This invention relates to a skill-type game designed for the entertainment of the player, particularly children, and for developing dexterity and coordination for the individual player as well as competition between a plurality of players.
There presently are available several games of the general type which resemble a basketball game whereby objects, particularly balls, are propelled by the players of the game toward one or more raised baskets or goals. Most of these games provide competition determined solely by the relative skill of the players of the game in providing proper trajectory for their "shots" toward the basket so as to simply make a goal. The present invention is designed to simulate more closely the actual playing of a basketball game by providing one or more simulated players between the basket and the means for propelling the balls toward the basket and having movable arms for instantaneously blocking the basket in an attempt to prevent the propelled ball from entering the basket.
The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new skill-type game of the character described, resembling or simulating a basketball game, for developing dexterity and coordination for the individual player as well as competition between a plurality of players.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a base support and an upright support are provided. A backboard and basket are mounted on the upright support in normal orientation raised above the base support. Means operable by a first player is mounted on the base support spaced from the basket and in front of the backboard for propelling a ball toward the basket in an attempt to cause the ball to enter the basket. Between the object-propelling means and the basket is disposed a simulated basketball player having arms which are pivotally mounted for movement between normal lower rest positions toward raised positions blocking the basket and preventing the ball from entering the basket. The arms are operable by a second player of the game for movement from their normal rest or lower positions to the raised blocking positions on actuation of a plunger means operatively associated with the arms. However, the arms and the plunger means are so associated that once the arms reach their blocking positions in front of the basket, they will immediately return by gravity back to their lower rest positions thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of the time that the goal is blocked by the arms of the simulated player and thereby requiring a degree of timing and coordination in attempting to block the shot of the first player, as is required when actually playing the game of basketball.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skill-type game embodying the concepts of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view, on a further enlarged scale, looking toward the right in FIG. 2 showing the rear of the backboard and the simulated basketball player, with portions of the upright support cut away;
FIG. 4 is a section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 is a partial section taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiment of the invention shown herein includes a base support, generally designated 10 (FIG. 1), and an upright support, generally designated 12. The base support 10 is generally flat so as to be placed on a supporting surface such as the top of a table. The upright support 12 comprises an arched supporting rib for supporting a backboard 14 and a goal or basket 16 in raised positions above the base support 10, with the backboard 14 and basket 16 oriented relative to each other as is customary with actual basketball arrangements.
Means (shown in FIGS. 1 and 4) are provided operable by a first player for propelling an object, such as a ball 18, toward the basket 16 in an attempt to have the ball enter the basket. This propelling means is generally designated 20 in FIGS. 1 and 4 and includes a generally hollow housing portion 22 within which is mounted a propelling leaf spring 24 by means of a pin 25, and a cup portion 26 which receives the ball 18 in position to be propelled by the leaf spring 24. At the bottom of the cup portion 26 is a hole 28 of a size to permit the ball 18 to seat thereinto and protrude therethrough but not of sufficient diameter that the ball 18 would fall through the hole. To propel the ball 18 toward the basket 16, said first player depresses the leaf spring in the direction of arrows A (FIGS. 1 and 4) so as to store energy in the leaf spring and to permit the ball 18 to seat into the hole 28. Release of the leaf spring 24 will cause the spring to move or snap in the direction of arrow B(FIG. 4) and abut against the underside of the ball 18 and cause the ball to be propelled toward the basket 16. A degree of skill is required by a player to determine and judge the amount of deflection of the leaf spring in the direction of arrow A to provide accurate trajectory for the ball 18 in an attempt to cause the ball to enter the basket 16.
A simulated basketball player, generally designated 30, is mounted on a raised portion 32 of the base support 10 and has a pair of arms 34 pivotally mounted at pins 36 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) for movement between normal lower rest positions shown in FIG. 1 and in full lines in FIG. 3, to raised blocking positions shown by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 3 in front of the basket 16 and between the basket and the propelling means 20 for the ball 18. The arms thus provide a guard means. As will be described hereinafter, the arms are movable from their lower rest positions to their raised positions by a second player of the game, but the arms will immediately return by gravity back to the lower rest positions thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the goal or basket 16 is blocked by the arms, thus requiring a degree of timing and coordination to block a propelled ball.
To actuate the arms 34, a vertically reciprocating plunger member 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is mounted by means of four guide bosses 42 on the back side of the simulated basketball player 30. The plunger member 40 has a rearwardly protruding, generally horizontal cam portion 44 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which abuts against a cam ear 46 on each of the arms 34 so as to bias the arms upwardly about pivot pins 36 to their blocking positions on movement of the plunger member 40 downwardly in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 3). As best seen in FIG. 2, a rearwardly protruding handle or depressing portion 48 extends away from the plunger member 40 for engagement by a second player of the game to move the plunger member 40 downwardly in the direction of arrow C. Downward movement of the plunger member 40 causes its camming portion 44 to engage or abut against the cam ears 46 on the arms 34 and thereby causes the arms to pivot about pins 3 36 in the direction of arrows D (FIG. 3) to their blocking positions. However, once the arms 34 reach their upper blocking positions, the camming portion 44 of the plunger member 40 no longer is in engagement with the camming ears 46 on the arms (as shown by the dot-dash lined positions of the arms 34 in FIG. 3) and the arms will return immediately to their lower rest positions by gravity thereby preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the basket 16 is blocked by the arms. Stop lugs 50 are formed on the backside of the simulated player to define the lower rest positions of the arms 34 and the stop lugs 52 are provided to define the upper blocking positions of the arms (as best seen in FIG. 3).
Preferably, the engagement of camming portions 44 with cam ears 46 is momentary and requires the player to flip the plunger 40 downwardly at a fairly rapid rate in order to provide sufficient momentum to arms 34 to cause the latter to reach their fully raised position blocking goal 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the lowermost position of camming portions 44 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3.
Thus it can be seen that by providing instantaneous blocking of the goal or basket 16 by preventing any control by the second player over the duration of time that the basket is blocked by the arms of the simulated basketball player, an actual basketball game is closely simulated because the second player must time his actions, to move the arms 34, in relation to the "shots" by the first player using the propelling means 20.
The raised base support portion 32 may have means 54 for keeping score of the game, such as by removable score pins 56 positionable in holes 58.
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.