Wiggle table electronic ball game device

• US 4,030,555 A
• Filed: 03/15/1976
• Issued: 06/21/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John G. Boyce, Richard G. Boyce
• Original Assignee: John G. Boyce, Richard G. Boyce
• Inventors: Boyce, John G., Boyce, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/666,939
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 273/110, 273/121 R, 273/121 A
• US Class Current: 273/110
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/386 Rolling boards adapted to be rocked during play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3297 Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes

Abstract

A game of skill device housed within a cabinet and pivotally supported by a vertical pedestal. A field of play is supported by the cabinet, and a coupling member enables the field of play to be tilted in any direction respective to the pedestal, so that the cabinet can be moved in any direction, thereby tilting the field of play and causing the ball to be gravitated in the direction of tilt. The field of play includes bumpers, lights, and electronic circuitry which enhances the game by the provision of background sounds and illuminated devices suitable to the action of the game.

Claims

1. A game of skill device comprising a cabinet, a field of play supported within said cabinet, a ball freely supported upon said field of play and movable by gravity upon the surface thereof;

a pedestal pivot means interposed between said cabinet and said pedestal, means urging said field of play into a horizontal position and which yieldably resists movement in any direction away from a horizontal position;

a stop means for limiting the magnitude of angular displacement toward which said field of play can be urged in a direction away from a horizontal position;

and means forming a lock device by which said field of play can be locked into a fixed position respective to said pedestal whereby said field of play can no longer be tilted in a direction away from said locked position;

said lock device includes a magnetically actuated armature, means by which said armature is removably captured between said cabinet and said pedestal at a location spaced from said pivot means in such a manner that relative movement therebetween can be effected only when the armature is displaced from captured relationship respective to said cabinet and pedestal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said pedestal includes a base from which there upwardly extends a vertical support member, said resilient pivot means being interposed between said support member and said cabinet;

a swivel means interposed between said cabinet and said pedestal for enabling said field of play to be rotated axially about said pedestal.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said cabinet includes a downwardly converging skirt having a lower peripheral edge which encircles and is spaced from said pedestal;

said stop means being a resilient member interposed between said lower peripheral edge and said pedestal, said resilient member being affixed to said lower peripheral edge and spaced from said pedestal.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said cabinet includes an upper member having a lower edge portion made in the form of a polygon from which there downwardly converges a skirt member made in the form of an inverted frustum of a pyramid;

said field of play being arranged on an upper visible surface of said upper member;

said upper member being affixed to said resilient pivot means;

said pedestal having a lower base member from which there upwardly extends a tubular member, said resilient pivot means being affixed to said tubular member;

a swivel means interposed between said base and said upper member for enabling said cabinet to be rotated about the longitudinal central axis of said tubular member.

5. A game structure having a tiltable field of play upon which a ball is supported and moved by gravitational force in response to said field of play being tilted away from a horizontal position;

said game structure includes a cabinet, means supporting said field of play within said cabinet;

means forming a pedestal for supporting said field of play;

means forming a resilient coupling, a stop means;

said resilient coupling being affixed to said pedestal, means by which said field of play is affixed to said resilient coupling such that said field of play yieldably resists movement as it is tilted in any direction away from the horizontal to thereby enable a ball supported on said field of play to be gravitated in any direction;

said resilient coupling further including means urging said field of play into a horizontal position;

said stop means being arranged to limit the magnitude of displacement of said field of play away from a horizontal position;

a locking means connected to prevent said field of play from being moved relative to said pedestal;

a protective means for preventing access to said locking means;

said protective means being a closure means which is captured between said pedestal and said cabinet.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said lock device includes an electromagnet and an armature, said armature being movable towards and away from said electromagnet in response to energization thereof, means by which said armature is captured between said cabinet and said pedestal at a location spaced from said pivot means in such a manner that relative movement therebetween can be effected when the armature is displaced from captured relationship respective to said cabinet and pedestal.

7. The structure of claim 5, and further including swivel means interposed between said field of play and said pedestal such that said field of play can be rotated axially respective to a line drawn normally thereto, while at the same time said field of play can be tilted.

8. The structure of claim 5, wherein said cabinet has a downwardly converging, circumferentially extending skirt member, said skirt member having a lower, inwardly directed wall member spaced from said pedestal and positioned below said resilient coupling;

and, a lock means interposed between said pedestal and said inwardly directed wall member.

9. A game structure having a tiltable field of play upon which a ball is supported and moved by gravitational force in response to said field of play being tilted away from a horizontal position;

said game structure includes a cabinet within which said field of play is housed;

means forming a pedestal for supporting said field of play;

means forming a resilient coupling;

said resilient coupling being affixed to said pedestal, means by which said field of play is affixed to said resilient coupling such that said field of play yieldably resists movement as it is tilted in any direction away from the horizontal to thereby enable a ball supported on said field of play to be gravitated in any direction;

said resilient coupling further including means urging said field of play into a horizontal position;

said cabinet has a downwardly converging, circumferentially extending skirt member, said skirt member includes a lower, inwardly directed wall member spaced from said pedestal, and positioned below said resilient coupling to form part of a stop means; and

, a lock means interposed between said pedestal and said inwardly directed wall member.

10. The structure of claim 9 and further including a protective means for preventing access to said locking means;

said protective means being a closure means which is captured between said pedestal and said cabinet.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said lock device includes a locking plate;

means forming a recess within a lower marginal edge of said skirt member, said locking plate being concentrically arranged respective to said recess and to said tubular member;

said locking plate being of annular construction and being slidably received about said tubular member and removably received within said recess; and

, means for moving said locking plate into and out of said recess.

12. A game of skill device comprising a cabinet, a field of play supported within said cabinet, a ball freely supported upon said field of play and movable by gravity upon the surface therof;

a pedestal, a resilient pivot means interposed between said cabinet and said pedestal means for urging said field of play into a horizontal position and which yieldably resists movement in any direction away from a horizontal position;

stop means affixed to said cabinet and spaced from said pedestal for limiting the magnitude of angular displacement toward which said field of play can be urged in a direction away from a horizontal position;

and means forming a lock device by which said cabinet is locked into a fixed position respective to said pedestal whereby said field of play can be no longer be tilted in a direction away from said locked position;

said cabinet includes an upper member having an upper visible surface and a lower edge portion made in the form of a polygon from which there downwardly converges a skirt member made in the form of an inverted frustum of a pyramid;

said field of play being arranged on an upper visible surface of said upper member;

said upper member being affixed to said resilient pivot means;

said pedestal having a lower base member from which there upwardly extends a vertical support member, said resilient pivot means being affixed to said vertical support member;

a swivel means interposed between said base and said upper member for enabling said cabinet to be rotated about the longitudinal central axis of said tubular member;

said lock device includes a locking plate;

means forming a recess within a lower marginal edge of said skirt member, said locking plate being concentrically arranged respective to said recess and to said vertical support member;

said locking place being of annular construction and being slidably received about said vertical support member and removably received within said recess; and

, means for moving said locking plate into and out of said recess.