05/193092

08/28/1973

10/27/1971

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Bally Manufacturing Corp. (Chicago, IL)

273/124A

273/129R

A63D13/00; A63F7/00

273/119,129,123RA,124RA,125RA,85E

Pinkham, Richard C.

Brown, Theatrice

I claim

1. In combination with a ball rolling game of the type generally comprising a substantially horizontally extending playing board as an underlying support for a rollable ball therealong, said playing board including at least one relatively stationary target generally extending along a vertical axis and negotiatable by a said rolling ball, the improvement comprising a ball sweeper apparatus located in proximity with the target and the two together occupying a minor areal portion of the playing board, said ball sweeper apparatus having a stable stationary normal-condition and being capable of moving toward and making physical contact with a rolling ball as it approaches the vicinity of the target and ball sweeper apparatus proximal combination and also capable of deflecting the physically contacted ball in the longitudinal horizontal direction rearwardly toward the target, said ball sweeper apparatus comprising:

2. The ball sweeper apparatus and game combination of claim 1 wherein the actuation means is actuatable for a brief finite duration; and wherein there are return means to automatically restore the support means to normal-condition after the actuation means has caused the frontal-deflector commencing at normal-position to be briefly changed in elevation.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the actuation means is initiatable remotely from the playing board minor areal portion defined by the ball sweeper apparatus and target proximal combination.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the initiation means includes switch means located remote from the said minor areal portion and accessible to the playing board operator's station; and wherein the actuation means comprises a briefly electromagnetically actuatable solenoid located nearer said minor areal portion and adapted to influence the said frontal-deflector through the support means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the proximal target comprises a vertically extending opening through the playing board; and wherein the ball sweeper apparatus includes orientation means for rearwardly directing the horizontally rearwardly deflected ball along a strokeway transversely and longitudinally defined by the rearwardly movable overlying frontal-deflector thereby permitting the operator to affirmatively remove the ball from the playing board through said vertical opening.

6. The ball sweeper apparatus and game combination of claim 1 wherein at the ball sweeper normal-condition the frontal-deflector at normal-position is located above the playing board and longitudinally forwardly of the said relatively stationary proximal target, the support means at normal-condition extending generally rearwardly and downwardly from the attached frontal-deflector toward said proximal target.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the transversely extending frontal-deflector member during its rearward longitudinal movement is spaced above and remains substantially parallel to a substantially horizontal longitudinal-axis located along the playing board whereby the frontal-deflector during its said longitudinally rearward movement toward the proximal target defines a horizontally longitudinally extending strokeway the plan area of which overlies the playing board.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the ball sweeper apparatus includes orientation means for rearwardly directing the horizontally rearwardly deflected ball predominately along the said strokeway defined by the rearwardly movable overlying frontal-deflector.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the support means comprises a pair of transversely separated elongate arms, forward portions of said arms being attached to the frontal-deflector on opposite transverse sides of said longitudinal axis.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the orientation means includes a pair of longitudinally extending upright skirts attached to the respective parallel elongate arms and located at the forward portions thereof, said upright skirts remaining above the playing board during rearward longitudinal movement of the frontal-deflector.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the support means commencing at the normal-condition together with the attached frontal-deflector are firstly markedly forwardly movable and then downwardly movable toward the playing board thereby forwardly extending the effective ball control range of said ball sweeper apparatus.

12. In combination with ball rolling game of the type generally comprising a substantially horizontally extending playing board as an underlying substrate for a rollable ball therealong, said playing board including at least one relatively stationary target extending generally along a vertical axis and negotiatable by a said rolling ball, the improvement comprising a ball sweeper apparatus located in proximity with the target and the two together occupying a minor areal portion of the playing board, said ball sweeper apparatus having a stationary stable normal-condition and being capable of moving toward and making physical contact with a rolling ball as it approaches the vicinity of the target and ball sweeper proximal combination and also capable of deflecting the physically contacted ball in the longitudinal horizontal direction rearwardly toward the target, said ball sweeper apparatus comprising:

13. The target and ball sweeper apparatus combination of claim 12 wherein the substantially horizontal transversely extending frontal-deflector at normal-position is located a finite given-elevation above and substantially parallel to the playing board when the ball sweeper is at said normal-condition; and wherein the guidable association means allows the attached frontal-deflector commencing at normal-position to move firstly also upwardly away from the playing board by a factor of at least one-fourth said finite given-elevation while remaining substantially parallel to the playing board, thereby permitting the frontal-deflector to serve as a guard for the target when a ball having a diameter larger than said finite-elevation approaches the ball sweeper at normal-condition.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein the support guidable association means includes at least one longitudinally extending rail attached to the playing board and located therebelow, the support means rearward portion carrying a transversely extending slider that is reciprocatably associated along the said rail, rearwardly biased return means for continuously resiliently urging the support means rearwardly toward the normal-condition thereof, an ear rigidly attached to the support means and also pivotably attached to the slider with a transverse pin, said ear including a transversely extending lobe, and an upwardly contoured tracking means attached to the playing board and adapted to track the ear lobed portion as said support means through said slider moves forwardly along the longitudinally extending rail thereby allowing the attached frontal-deflector to move firstly forwardly and upwardly.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the contoured tracking means includes an upwardly and forwardly extending ramp like rearward part and a substantially horizontal forward part; wherein the actuation means comprises a briefly electromagnetically actuatable solenoid and armature assembly, said assembly being pivotably associated wth an elongate lever-arm that is pivotably attached to and depends from the said support means lobed ear.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the contoured tracking means is an elongate rigid strip providing both the forward and rearward parts, said strap at the horizontal forward part thereof being pivotably movable about a transverse axis, upwardly yieldable spring means for downwardly urging the tracking means ramp part, the transversely extending ear lobe being disposed in elevation above said ramp when the support means is at normal-condition; and wherein the support means also comprises a pair of transversely separated opposed arms, forward portions of said opposed arms being attached to transversely separated locations of the frontal-deflector, each of said arms being provided with an angular bend located above the frontal-deflector when the support means is at normal-condition, an upright rearward portion of the respective arms passing downwardly through longitudinally extending slotted potions of the playing board that are located on opposite transverse sides of a longitudinal-axis extending from the target along the playing board and toward the overlying frontal-deflector.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the proximal target comprises a vertically extending opening through the playing board and located between the said slotted portions thereof; wherein there is a co-parallel pair of said longitudinally extending rails and located on opposite sides of said target and below the playing board, the said transversely extending slider being attached to the upright rearward portion of the respective angular arms and being reciprocatably associated along the respective rails to ensure that the frontal-deflector remains substantially perpendicular to the underlying longitudinal-axis; and wherein the pivotal connection between the armature and solenoid assembly and the said at least one depending elongate lever-arm comprises a generally U-shaped push-rod that is pivotably connected to the armature and also to said lever-arm below the support means lobed ear.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein there is a frame like housing for said ball sweeper apparatus and including a substantially horizontal roof-panel removably attached to the underside of the playing board together with a front-panel and a rear-panel depending from the roof-panel; wherein each of the longitudinally extending rails passes through and is secured to the front-panel and the rear-panel; wherein a medial portion of the track is pivotably attached to the frame immediately below the roof-panel thereof, said track ramp part being resiliently urged toward the frame front-panel; and wherein there are spring means connecting the lobed ear to the transversely extending slider.

19. The combination of claim 1 wherein the support means commencing at said normal-condition together with the entire attached frontal-deflector are firstly markedly upwardly forwardly movable and then downwardly movable toward the playing board.

There are in the prior art numerous ball rolling games of the type generally comprising a substantially horizontally extending playing board for rolling a spherical ball therealong. The substantially horizontal playing board commonly includes a plurality of generally vertically extending targets for the rolling ball, such as holes in the playing board whereby a ball might fall downwardly therethrough, or such as bumpers, electrical contacts, or similarly upwardly extending targets. In some ball rolling games, such as the so-called "pinball" games, a rectangular playing board slopes slightly downwardly forwardly toward the operator's station. Oftentimes, operator controlled pivotal upright "flippers" are employed to propel the rolling ball away from the operator's station primarily in order to keep the ball rolling for a longer time throughout the playing board areal extent. "Flippers" ordinarily remain a constant elevation from the playing board, both when at rest and when pivotably moving about the vertical axis thereof. With such "flippers," the force applied therewith extends in some tangential direction from the "flipper's" vertical pivot axis, depending upon the ball-to-"flipper" incidence angle. Further, pivotal "flippers" are usually made of resiliently compressive structural materials, which makes the "flippers" tangentially directed forces exceedingly difficult to predict, and hence they are practically useless for reboundably propelling a rolling ball to ward a desired target. Moreover, "flippers" are ordinarily located too remote (at least about five ball diameters) from the tangentially nearest target, which further detracts from the use of "flippers" for this purpose.

It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to provide, for ball rolling games of the playing board and target varieties, an improved means for directing the rolling ball toward a target.

It is another general object to provide for ball rolling games an improved means for directing the rolling ball onto a target, said improved means being employed in proximally located combination with a selected game target and being capable of affirmatively drawing or sweeping a rolling ball longitudinally rearwardly toward the said selected target.

It is a further object to provide for ball rolling games a ball sweeping apparatus employed in proximally located combination with a game target, the two together comprising a minor areal portion of the playing board, and the ball sweeper apparatus being capable, with respect to a ball approaching the said minor areal portion, of affirmatively deflecting a rolling ball toward the longitudinally rearwardly positioned proximal target.

It is another object to provide a ball sweeping apparatus of the class described that can be remotely controlled and repeatedly reliably operated from the ball rolling game operator's station.

It is a further object to provide a ball sweeping apparatus that is also capable of functioning as a temporary guard or barrier to the proximal target thereby providing unusual scoring procedures for the ball rolling game.

It is yet another object to provide a ball sweeping apparatus wherein special embodiments are adapted to preliminarily leap forwardly of the target to contact and rearwardly longitudinally deflect an approaching ball whereby the effective ball control area is forwardly extended from the apparatus' stationary normal-condition.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will become more apparent as this description proceeds, the ball sweeper apparatus of the present invention, which is employable in proximal combination with a selected relatively stationary target of the generally horizontal playing board of a ball rolling game, generally comprises a substantially horizontal transversely extending frontal-deflector member that is located at a stationary normal-position when the ball sweeper is at a stable stationary "ready" normal-condition, together with a support means attached to the frontal-deflector and being movably guidably associated with the playing board in the longitudinal and vertical directions so that when a rolling ball approaches the vicinity of the target and ball sweeper combination, a remotely positioned operator can cause actuation of same and the frontal-deflector moves longitudinally rearwardly while also deflecting a thusly contacted rolling ball toward the target, said ball sweeper also preferably including: longitudinally effective orientation means for the rearwardly deflected ball; remote control means for actuating the ball sweeper; optional capability of functioning as a temporary guard or barrier to the target; and means for causing the ball sweeper to preliminarily leap forwardly away from the target before contacting the rolling ball thereby forwardly extending the apparatus' effective ball control area.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a general type ball rolling game having a substantially horizontal playing board and uprightly extending targets and with which the ball sweeper apparatus embodiments might be employed.

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the FIG. 1 top plan view showing in particular a simplified embodiment of the ball sweeper apparatus employed in proximal combination with a target of a typical ball rolling game, portions of the playing board being removed.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinally extending sectional elevational view taken along lines 3--3 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of another and more sophisticated embodiment of the ball sweeper apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinally extending sectional elevational view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transversely extending sectional elevational view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

Turning initially to FIG. 1 which shows in top plan view a typical ball rolling game of the prior art as G and generally comprising a substantially horizontally extending playing board B as an underlying substate of a braod area (herein rectangular) for a rollable ball R therealong. The generally horizontal playing board B, which typically slops gently downwardly from its far-end BF to its near-end BN (at which the operator is usually positioned), is commonly provided with a plurality of vertically extending targets that ordinarily have a relatively stationary position with respect to the playing board. For example, in FIG. 1, five vertically extending targets are arbitrarily employed including two targets as holes J and M through the playing board B, and three other stationary targets extending vertically upwardly of the playing board B including herein pyramid C, cylindrical peg D, and bumper-switch T. There is customarily a ball entrance lane L whereby the operator at board near-end BN (utilizing a spring-loaded plunger P) can horizontally propel a ball R along L toward far-end BF to commence the ball rolling game activity. Oftentimes the ball rolling games are provided with one or more "flippers" A that are vertically extending ball propelling devices pivotal about an offset vertical pin and the "flipper" remaining during pivotal movement at a constant elevation of less than about one-quarter inch from the playing board B. Accordingly, the operator from a remote location AA can actuate the "flipper" A to propel radially remotely away therefrom a spherical ball R, thus temporarily preventing the ball from reaching outlet-lane E thereby extending the game duration. It is an almost impossible task for operators to maneuver a rolling ball onto a target through such "flippers," because there is only a momentary and tangential contact with the ball and the target is ordinarily located at least five ball diameters forwardly away from the "flipper."

The ball sweeper apparatus of the present invention is, unlike "flippers" of the prior art, capable of making contact with and then rearwardly and longitudinally deflecting the contacted ball toward a proximally located target. As is alluded to in FIG. 1, the ball sweeper apparatus (S, SS) is located in close proximity to the vertically extending target (e.g., hole M along axis MA), the two together occupying a minor areal portion of the playing board B. The ball sweeper apparatus includes a frontal-deflector member (10; 100) having a transversely extending length of at least one or two ball diameters together with support means guidably movably associated with the playing board in the vertical and longitudinal directions. Thus, commencing from the ball sweeper stationary normal-condition (indicated in solid line in FIG. 1), the frontal-deflector is capable of making contact with and rearwardly longitudinally deflecting a rolling ball (indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 1) toward the target of the proximal combinations. As is particularly evident from the double-arrowed directional lines of FIGS. 1 and 2, which indicates that the directional path of a randomly rolling ball R might not necessarily intersect the target (M), nevertheless the ball sweeper apparatus frontal-deflector will sufficiently deflect the ball path in the longitudinal rearward direction and toward the target. Preferably, the ball sweeper apparatus is controllably actuatable remotely from its playing board location M. Herein, such remote actuation might be through a push-button K located at the playing board near-end BN, and connected to solenoid 25, as through intervening electrical conductors 85-88.

Turning now to the FIGS. 2 and 3 detail views which relate to a simplified embodiment S of the ball sweeping apparatus of the present invention. Although embodiment S is arbitrarily employed in combination with hole target M extending along vertical-axis MA, it is to be understood that it might also be employed at selectable targets, C, D, J, or T, in analagous fashion. As had been previously mentioned, the ball sweeper apparatus is effective relative to a rolling ball at a minor areal portion of the game board, said area being immediately adjacent to its proximal target, e.g., near hole M.

There is a horizontal transversely extending frontal-deflector 10 that transversely exceeds at least one or two diameters of ball R. As indicated in solid line in FIGS. 1-3, the ball sweeper has a stationary or "ready" stable normal-condition wherein the frontal-deflector is at normal-position. The ball sweeper also includes attached to the frontal-deflector a support means that is movably guidably associated with the playing board B in the longitudinal (parallel to 3--3) and the vertical (parallel to MA) directions whereby the frontal-deflector 10 commencing from "ready" normal-position is also movable longitudinally rearwardly and vertically as indicated in phantom line in FIGS. 1-3. Thus, for example, assuming a rolling ball R approaches the general vicinity of the ball sweeper S at ready normal-condition, as along a double-arrowed pathway which need not necessarily intersect target M, the frontal-deflector 10 can be moved in elevation downwardly to contact ball R while also being moved longitudinally rearwardly to deflect ball R toward target M. As best seen in the FIGS. 1 and 2 play views, there is a generally rectangular area of the underlying playing board B "sweepable" by longitudinally rearwardly movable frontal-deflector 10.

The support means for ball sweeper embodiment S comprises a pair of parallel elongate arm members 21 and 22 passing through playing board apertures 27 and 28, respectively, and located on opposite transverse sides of target M and longitudinal-axis (3--3). The transversely separated linear arms 21 and 22 herein remain at a 45° angle with respect to playing board B, and the forward portions of the respective arms 21 and 22 (which are attached to the transversely separated ends of frontal-deflector 10) are located forwardly of target M. Connecting the rearward portions of arms 21 and 22 is a tranversely extending connector-bar 23.

Located rearwardly of target M and below playing board B is a briefly electrically actuated magnetic solenoid 25 (having an automatic conventional de-energizer), said solenoid 25 being attached to playing board B with depending bracket 25A. Electrical energy is supplied to solenoid 25 from an external source (not shown) and through conductor wires (such as 87-88) passing to remote control K at the game board operator's station, e.g., adjacent BN. There is an armature 24 for solenoid 25 extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom toward and rigidly connected to a connector-bar 23 between arms 21 and 22. Armature 24 is thus co-movable with and remains coparallel with arms 21 and 22. An elongate helical spring 26 (herein parallel to elements 21, 22, and 24) is connected to connector-bar 23 and also to the underside of playing board B immediately rearwardly of target M. Thus, as is indicated in phantom line in FIGS. 2 and 3, as the solenoid is energized, as from remote control K, the armature 24 moves rearwardly and downwardly bringing with it the support means 20-23 and the attached frontal-deflector 10. Solenoid 25 might become internally automatically de-energized, as by the connector-bar 23 at phantom line contacting conductor leaves 85 and 86. At this juncture, the return means spring 26 causes armature 24, the support means 20-23, and the attached frontal-deflector 10 to move upwardly forwardly thereby restoring ball sweeper S to "ready" normal-condition. Of course, it is during the temporary brief energization of solenoid 25 that the frontal-deflector 10 contacts and rearwardly deflects rolling ball R toward target M.

There are preferably orientation means to transversely define the rearward longitudinal path of the deflected ball. Such orientation means might take the form of transversely separated longitudinally extending members for longitudinally urging the rearwardly deflected ball toward the target. Herein, there are depending skirts 17 and 18 attached to the forward portion of the respective arms 21 and 22 and to the opposite transverse ends of frontal-deflector 10. Skirts 17 and 18 each has its lower terminus at the convergent forward-lower end 10A of frontal-deflector 10 whereby skirts 17 and 18 remain above playing board B, even during actuation of the sweeper apparatus. The transverse distance from target M to each skirt is preferably less than one diameter of spherical ball R to assure contact of ball R with the proximal target.

A more sophistocated ball sweeper apparatus as the embodiment SS of FIGS. 4-6 will now be described. A preferred such sophistocated embodiment has the additional capabilities of: providing at the apparatus normal-condition a temporary guard or barrier to the proximal target; and of being capable (commencing from normal-condition) to leap preliminarily longitudinally forwardly of the proximal target thereby forwardly extending the apparatus ball control area. The FIG. 4 perspective schematic view will provide a better understanding of these unique capabilities as exemplified by ball sweeper apparatus SS, and FIG. 4 will be discussed before attention is turned to the FIGS. 5 and 6 detail views. The proximal target arbitrarily selected is a circular opening M extending vertically along MA through playing board B, the opening M diameter slightly exceeding the sphere R diameter. Playing board B is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots BL and BR therethrough extending parallel to and on opposite transverse sides of longitudinal-axis LA; the longitudinal lengths of slots BL and BR are substantially equal and exceed the diameter of hole M. The transversely extending frontal-deflector at its solid line normal-position 100 (and afforded at the solid lines support means normal-condition 121-122) is substantially parallel to baord B and spaced therefrom a finite given-elevation FE, FE being preferably less than the ball R diameter whereby the frontal-deflector at normal-position might temporarily serve as a target barrier. At the frontal-deflector normal-position and at the support means normal-condition 121-122, the support means rearward portions 125 and 126 extend downwardly through the rearward portion of the respective slots BL and BR to the guidable association means (e.g., 38-39, 50-51, 60, etc.) with and located below playing board B.

The ball sweeper apparatus has a stionary normal-condition, indicated as SS and the solid lines in FIGS. 4-6, wherein the apparatus remains stably "ready" for an indefinite period of time until actuated by the remotely stationed operator (as through switch K and conductors 85-88). As indicated by broken lines and lengend SSB (and further analagous numerical suffixes-B), embodiment SS through the guidable association means will enable the frontal-deflector commencing at normal-condition 100 to move preliminarily upwardly and/or longitudinally forwardly before the frontal-deflector is in position to longitudinally rearwardly deflect the ball toward the target. The upward type prepatory movement for the frontal-deflector might be afforded through a contoured tracking means component of the guidable association means, such as sturdy strap 60 having a forwardly upward incline 61, while the longitudinally forward type prepatory movement might be afforded through a longitudinally extending rail guide portion, such as slider 40-42 associated along rail 38. Both type prepatory movement are included within embodiment SS and through the media of contoured tracking means 60 and the longitudinal rail guide 38. Thus, assuming that a rolling ball R approaches the vicinity of target M and apparatus SS at normal-condition and with the frontal-deflector at normal-position 100 (at some given-elevation FE above board B), the frontal-deflector can firstly move briefly forwardly longitudinally from target M and also upwardly (to some higher elevation FEA) whereby the apparatus briefly assumes a transitory condition SSB with frontal-deflector at 100B. Then, assuming that the vertical axis of ball R lies between 100 and 100B, when the frontal-deflector moves longitudinally rearwardly from prepatory transitory condition 100B, ball R will be rearwardly longitudinally deflected thereby and generally toward proximal target M. If the elevation FEA for the frontal-deflector transitory condition 100B be greater than the diameter of ball R, then the guidable association means might cause the frontal-deflector to drop abruptly from transitory condition 100B to an ephemeral condition 100C thereby ensuring that the frontal-deflector, as it longitudinally rearwardly re-approaches normal-position 100 from 100C, will actually rearwardly deflect ball R. There are actuation means, such as the briefly actuatable armature and solenoid assembly 24-25, to cause the frontal-deflector to move from normal-condition 100 to 100B, and there are return means, such as spring 46, to automatically restore frontal-deflector from 100C to "ready" normal-position 100.

Having now generally described the structure and operation of apparatus embodiment SS in conjunction with the FIG. 4 schematic view, the detailed views (FIGS. 5 and 6) thereof will now be treated. The immediately following paragraphs will structurally describe the ball sweeper apparatus SS primarily at its normal-condition (indicated in solid line in FIGS. 4-6), thereby enabling the reader to readily appreciate the positions of the component parts at the apparatus transitory condition SSB (indicated in phantom line). The support means herein comprises a pair of transversely separated angular arms 121 and 122, the respective linear parallel rearward portions 125 and 126 extending vertically through the respective board slots BL and BR. The linear forward portions 123 and 124 of the respective arms 121 and 122 intersect the rearward portions 125 and 126 at coelevation angular bends 127 and 128 which together provide the support means upper extremity 127-128. The forward extremity of the respective linear forward portions 123 and 124 (which are spaced on opposite transverse sides of longitudinal-axis LA) are rigidly attached to transversely separated locations of frontal-deflector 100. Linear forward portions 123 and 124 preferably slope downwardly forwardly of the respective bends 127 and 128 to provide a longitudinal orientation means for the ball, and accordingly, the frontal-deflector at normal-position 100 (at given-elevation FE) is located below zenith 127-128.

The guidable association means between the support means 121-122 and the playing board B (e.g., rails 38-39, tracking means 60, etc.) and the actuation means (e.g., armature 25 and solenoid 24) are preferably supported within a frame-like housing 30 located below playing board B and attached thereto as by screws 30A. Herein, housing 30 comprises a horizontal roof-panel 31 that is attached against the underside of board B as by said screws 30A. Roof panel 31 is transversely confined between slots BL and BR and is provided with an elongate cut-out portion that extends along longitudinal-axis LA so as not to block hole target M. A recessed ball-drop 37 is attached to and extending between panels 31 and 33. There is an upright rear-panel 32 attached to and depending from roof-panel 31, and also an upright front-panel 33, similarly attached to and depending from said roof-panel. An armature 25 is attached to and extends horizontally rearwardly of front-panel 33. A horizontal floor-panel 34 is attached to and extends forwardly of the rear-panel lower terminus, floor-panel 34 including a pair of depending perforate flanges 35.

There is at least one elongate rail that positioned below playing board B and extending longitudinally parallel to longitudinal-axis LA. Herein, there is a pair of substantially horizontal parallel rails 38 and 39 located at common elevation below playing board B, each rail passing through and being secured to the housing panels 32 and 33. The support means 121-122 is longitudinally reciprocatable along the relatively stationary respective rails 38 and 39 as through a transversely extending slider 40 that is reciprocatably slidable along said rails 38 and 39. Herein, transversely extending slider 40 comprises a substantially horizontal transversely extending base 41 having integrally connected transversely separated upturned slider-lugs 42 and 43 that are slidably engaged along the respective rails 38 and 39. Slider 40 also integrally includes upturned ends 44 and 45 located respectively transversely beyond said rails. The lower portions 125 and 126 of the respective support means arms 121 and 122 are integrally attached to members 50 and 55, respectively; the transversely separated members 50 and 55 are pivotably attached to the slider 40 at its upturned ends 44 and 45 with the transversely extending pivot pins 58 and 59. There is a spring return means 46 connected from slider 40 to rear-panel 32. A pair of transversely separated elongate lever-arms 78 and 79 are pivotably attached to and depend from the respective pivot pins 58 and 59.

The rearward portion of armature 24 is pivotably connected to the respective lever-arms 78 and 79 below pivotal connections 58-59, as through U-shaped connector 84 passing through armature 24 and having transversely separated terminii 84R passing through the lever-arms 78 and 79 below axis 58-59. Thus, as solenoid 25 is actuated by the remote operator, as through conductor wires 87 and 88, armature 24 is movable forwardly to bring slider 40 and the support means 121-122 forwardly along rails 38-39. There is preferably a pair of leaf spring type electrical leads 85 and 86 extending upwardly from solenoid 25 within the longitudinal path of slider 40 and conductively intervening between the respective wires 87 and 88. Accordingly, when the remotely located operator energizes solenoid 25 through conductors 87 and 88, the forwardly displaced slider 40 at 43 moves leaf 86 against leaf 85 thereby de-energizing solenoid 25 whereby return spring 46 automatically rearwardly retracts the support means 121-122 to normal-condition. Herein, a U-shaped connector 94, similar to connector 84, has its transversely separated terminii 94R pivotably attached to the lower ends of lever-arms 78-79 and its medial portion pivotably attached to flanges 35 to stabilize said pivotably movable lever-arms.

The contoured tracking means, which allows the frontal-deflector commencing at normal-position 100 to be increased in elevation during its said preliminary forward longitudinal travel, preferably comprises a rigid strip 60 having a substantially horizontal forward part 62 and an upwardly forwardly inclined rearward part 61. Rigid strap 60 near its forward end 62A has an integrally connected transversely extending pivot-rod 64 that is pivotably secured to a depending flange 31A of roof-panel 31. Moreover, rigid strap 60 at the juncture 63 of said contours 61 and 62 has an integrally connected transversely extending rest-pin 65 that is loosely surrounded by flange 31E that depends from said roof-panel. There is a spring means 68 extending from rest-pin 65 to front-panel 33 thereby allowing the pivotal tracking means 60 to be resiliently liftable at rest-pin 65 and at ramp 61. The rearward end 52 of ear member 50 is rigidly attached to the lower end of the support means at 126 and extends longitudinally forwardly therefrom, the ear forward end integrally carrying a transversely extending lobe 51 that overlies tracking means 60 and is disposed in elevation slightly above ramp 61 and below juncture 63. Ear 50 has an integral depending finger 53, and a spring 54 connects finger 53 to slider 40 at 41.

As slider 40, members 50 and 55, and pivot pins 58-59 are made to move forwardly along rails 38-39, ear lobe 51 rides forwardly along the track means upper side contour thereby causing the support means 121-122 to pivot about pivot pins 58-59. Specifically, as ear lobe 51 moves forwardly along ramp 61, ear 50 (and coincidentally the support 121-122 and ear 55) pivots upwardly and rearwardly about transverse axis 58-59 and upon reaching track juncture 63 the frontal-deflector reaches its zenith elevation (the elevation FEA). Then, as ear lobe 51 proceeds forwardly along flat contour 62, the support means 121-122 also continues forwardly, without further pivoting about axis 58-59, whereby the frontal-deflector remains at constant elevation until it reaches the transitory condition 100B, whereupon ear lobe at condition 51B is at the track forward terminus 62A. When ear lobe 51 drops abruptly downwardly from the track forward terminus 62A to ephemeral condition 51C, the frontal-deflector also abruptly moves to lower ephemeral condition 100C. By virtue of spring 54, the support means at ephemeral condition SSC (121C-122C) is made parallel to the normal-condition 121-122. Substantially simultaneously at this point, solenoid 25 is de-energized through slider 40 at leaves 85-86; thus, restoration means 46 allows the support means to move longitudinally rearwardly from ephemeral condition 121C-122C to normal-condition 121-122 and along rails 38-39 (while ear lobe 51 travels rearwardly along the underside of upwardly pivotal track 60). During this rearward restoration movement, ball R is deposited by the frontal-deflector (aided by the orientors 123-124) into proximal hole target M and received into depression 37. This brief actuation through solenoid and armature assembly 24-25 can be repeated by the operator whenever a ball R approaches the vicinity of the ball sweeper apparatus and target proximal combination.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the ball sweeper apparatus will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.