Interactive funnel amusement device
First Claim
1. An amusement device comprising:
- a funnel having a substantially circular cross-section, an interior surface, a first opening, and a second opening, wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening and is oriented vertically above the second opening, the funnel sloping downward and inward from the first opening to the second openinga pivotably adjustable guide for aiming a rollable object in one of a plurality of trajectories along the interior surface of the funnel such that the object rolls approximately from the first opening down to the second opening in a substantially spiral manner; and
a target located on the interior surface of the funnel, wherein the object is capable of interacting with the target as the object rolls down the funnel.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an interactive funnel amusement device. The interactive funnel amusement device allows a user to interact with the interactive funnel amusement device to a greater extent than prior art funnel devices. In one embodiment, the interactive funnel amusement device includes a funnel and a target. The target is located on an interior surface of the funnel such that when an object is rolled along the interior surface of the funnel the object is capable of interacting with the target. The interactive funnel amusement device can also include an adjustable guide. The adjustable guide is capable of guiding the object along one of a number of trajectories along the funnel such that the object rolls around the interior surface of the funnel in a substantially spiral manner. The adjustable guide can also be used to aim the object along a trajectory that causes the object to interact with the target located on the interior surface of the funnel. The trajectory of the object may be varied along the horizontal plane, vertical plane and in the angular orientation of the object.
72 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An amusement device comprising:
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a funnel having a substantially circular cross-section, an interior surface, a first opening, and a second opening, wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening and is oriented vertically above the second opening, the funnel sloping downward and inward from the first opening to the second opening a pivotably adjustable guide for aiming a rollable object in one of a plurality of trajectories along the interior surface of the funnel such that the object rolls approximately from the first opening down to the second opening in a substantially spiral manner; and a target located on the interior surface of the funnel, wherein the object is capable of interacting with the target as the object rolls down the funnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An amusement device comprising:
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a funnel having a substantially circular horizontal cross-section, an interior surface, a first opening, and a second opening, wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening and the first opening is oriented above the second opening, the funnel sloping from the first opening to the second opening such that an object capable of rolling rolls around the interior surface in a substantially spiral manner in a direction from the first opening toward the second opening; and a pivotably adjustable guide for introducing the object on one of a plurality of trajectories along the interior surface of the funnel, each trajectory moving the object in a substantially spiral manner. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. An amusement device comprising:
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a funnel having a substantially circular horizontal cross-section, an interior surface shaped between a first elevation and a second elevation such that a playing piece moves around the interior surface in a substantially spiral manner in a direction from the first elevation toward the second elevation; a target located on the interior surface of the funnel, wherein the object is capable of interacting with the target as the object rolls down the funnel; and a pivotable adjustable guide for introducing the object on one of a plurality of trajectories along the interior surface of the funnel each trajectory being provided in a substantially spiral configuration. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A guide for use in an amusement device, the guide comprising:
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a guide member having a proximal end and a distal end; a channel substantially extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the guide member, wherein the guide member guides a first substantially disc-shaped object having a first size through the channel such that the first disc-shaped object is in play in the amusement device; a rejecter disposed adjacent to the channel such that the rejecter is capable of rejecting a second disc-shaped object, the object having a second size that is smaller than the first size, traveling through the channel; and a rejection barrier positioned relative to said rejecter, wherein when the rejecter rejects the second disc-shaped object the second object is directed away from the distal end of the guide by the rejection barrier such that the second disc-shaped object does not interact with the amusement device to provide amusement. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An extended guide for guiding an object along a plurality of trajectories in an amusement device, the guide comprising:
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a guide portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a first channel, the channel substantially extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the guide portion, wherein the guide portion guides an object through the first channel from the proximal end to the distal end along a first trajectory; and an extended portion having a proximal end and a second channel, the proximal end of the extended portion being coupled to the distal end of the guide portion to receive the object from the guide portion, wherein the extended portion guides the object along the second channel by redirect the object from the first trajectory to a second trajectory, wherein the extended guide is pivotably adjustable to guide the object onto a playing field of the amusement device along one of the plurality of trajectories. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method for providing an amusement funnel device, comprising:
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providing a substantially circular funnel having an interior surface, wherein an object may roll along one of a plurality of trajectories on the interior surface of said funnel in a substantially spiral manner; a pivotably receiving the object in an adjustable guide; and adjustable guiding the object in said adjustable guide on a selected trajectory along the interior surface of the funnel in a substantially spirial manner, the selected trajectory of the object alone the interior surface of the funnel being determined based on a position of said adjustable guide selected by a player of the amusement device. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. An amusement device comprising:
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a funnel means for providing a surface for an object to roll in a substantially spiral manner from a first elevation to a second elevation, wherein the first elevation is higher than the second elevation; a pivotably adjustable guide means for aiming the object on one of a plurality of trajectories along the surface of the funnel means; and a target means located on the funnel means for interacting with the object.
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Specification