Basketball game

• US 4,805,917 A
• Filed: 08/13/1987
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pop-A-Shot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pop-A-Shot Incorporated
• Inventors: Cochran, Ken C., Frye, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US07/084,849
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 273/397, 273/1.5, 273/179, 273/125 A, 273/182 A, 273/122 A, 273/352, 273/395, 273/396, D21/201
• US Class Current: 273/397
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2063/001 Targets or goals with ball-returning means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/025 Installations continuously collecting balls from the playing areas, e.g. by gravity, with conveyor belts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball

Abstract

An arcade type basketball game comprising a framework and basket and a gate for controlling access to the balls. The gate is mounted to a shooting window having an opening for passage of the balls. A gate bar is moveable to a position blocking the opening and is coupled with a pair of solenoids with vertically extendable and retractable plungers. Rigid upper and lower return boards are forwardly inclined for returning the balls more quickly to the player by reducing the vertical component of the ball movement. Netting and vinyl coupled with the framework prevent the balls from bouncing away.

Claims

1. A basketball game comprising:

a framework having front and rear portions;

a basket mounted on the rear portion of the framework;

partition coupled with the framework and positioned between the front and rear portions of the framework, said partition having an opening for passage of said balls;

a gate bar coupled with said partition said gate bar being moveable between a first position allowing said ball to return to the front portion and a second position blocking said return;

a solenoid coupled with said partition and positioned above said opening;

said solenoid comprising a vertically extendable and retractable plunger coupled with said gate bar for moving the gate bar between said first and second positions;

means coupled with said framework for returning a ball from the rear to the front portion after a shot attempt; and

wherein said return means comprises a forwardly inclined rigid chute positioned between said gate and the front portion of the framework.

2. The invention of claim 1, including a second solenoid coupled with said partition and positioned above said opening and having a vertically extendable and retractable plunger coupled with said gate bar.

3. The invention of claim 2, including a protective shield enclosing said solenoids for protecting the latter from impact from said ball.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein said ball return means comprises a flexible fabric coupled with the framework along sides thereof to funnel the ball to the gate.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said ball return means comprises a rigid return board positioned between said rear portion of the framework and said gate.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said rigid chute includes upwardly extending side rails for maintaining said ball on the chute.

7. A basketball game comprising:

a framework having front and rear portions;

a basket coupled with said rear portion of the framework;

means coupled with said framework for returning a ball from the rear to the front portion after a shot attempt;

a partition coupled with said framework between the front and rear portions and having an opening for passage of said ball; and

a gate coupled with said partition and comprising a solenoid mounted above said opening and a gate bar, said solenoid including a vertically extendable plunger coupled with said gate bar, wherein said gate bar is moveable by extension and retraction of said plunger between a first position blocking passage of said ball through the opening and a second position allowing said passage.

8. The invention of claim 7, wherein said return means comprises a forwardly inclined rigid chute positioned between said gate and the front portion of the framework.

9. The invention of claim 7, wherein said ball return means comprises a flexible fabric coupled with the framework along sides thereof to funnel the ball to the gate.

10. The invention of claim 7, wherein said ball return means comprises a rigid return board positioned between said rear portion of the framework and said gate.

11. The invention of claim 7, wherein said rigid chute includes upwardly extending side rails for maintaining said ball on the chute.

12. The invention of claim 7, including a second solenoid positioned above said opening and having a vertically extendable and retractable plunger.

13. The invention of claim 7, including a protective shield enclosing said solenoid for protecting said gate from impact from said ball.