Toy game apparatus and method of playing

• US 9,192,838 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Bazarko, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US13/760,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20130207346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 273/110, 273/113, 273/118.R, 273/127.R, 273/351, 273/354, 273/355, 273/357, 273/378, 273/380, 273/405
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/06 Ring or disc tossing games , e.g. quoits; Throwing or tossing games, e.g. using balls; Games for manually rolling balls, e.g. marbles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/04 Card games combined with other games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/3637 Concave
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/02 using falling playing bodies or playing bodies running on an inclined surface, e.g. pinball games bagatelle or similar games A63D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/2472 Projecting devices with actuating mechanisms, e.g. triggers, not being connected to the playfield
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/2481 with a projection mechanism actuated by a spring or other elastic member
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/305 Goal posts; Winning posts for rolling-balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/306 with a score counter
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/3622 Specially shaped rolling boards for the balls, e.g. ball tracks

Abstract

A ramp for launching an object at a target is provided, the ramp having: a release mechanism mounted to the ramp for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the release mechanism is configured to retain the object with respect to the ramp when it is in the first position and wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the object when the release mechanism is in the second position; and wherein the release mechanism further comprises an arm member pivotally mounted to the ramp and the arm member has a plurality of features each spaced from each other and extending from the arm member above a surface of the ramp when the release mechanism is in the first position.

Claims

1. In combination, a ramp and a target, the ramp being configured to launch an object at the target, the ramp comprising:

a release mechanism that is movably mounted to the ramp for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the release mechanism is configured to retain the object with respect to the ramp when it is in the first position and wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the object when the release mechanism is in the second position; and

wherein the target has first member pivotally mounted to a second member for movement between a first target position wherein the first member is further away from the second member and a second target position wherein the first member is closer to the second member, and a target release mechanism configured to retain the first member in the first target position by engaging a portion of the first member and wherein the target release mechanism is configured to release the first member and allow it to travel towards the second target position from the first target position when the target release mechanism of the target has been actuated by the object released from the ramp.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism of the ramp further comprises an arm member pivotally mounted to the ramp wherein a plurality of features of the arm member protrude from a surface of the ramp when the release mechanism of the ramp is in the first position.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the plurality of features are positioned along the arm member in a spaced fashion such that different levels or height of securement of the object with respect to the ramp is provided.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein a portion of the release mechanism is movably received within a slot of the ramp as the release mechanism of the ramp moves between the first and second position.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein release mechanism of the ramp is spring biased into the first position.

6. The combination of claim 2, wherein the plurality of features of the arm member are configured to engage an opening located on a lower surface of the object when the release mechanism is in the first position.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the target is configured to resemble a creature and the first member and the second member cooperate to define an open mouth of the creature when the first member is in the first target position.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the target further comprises a cavity configured for receipt of the object therein and wherein a contact member of the target release mechanism of the target is located within the cavity.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the first member of the target is spring biased into the first position.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein the object is slidably propelled downwardly along a surface of the ramp when the release mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position.

11. A ramp for launching an object at a target, comprising:

a release mechanism mounted to the ramp for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the release mechanism is configured to retain the object with respect to the ramp when it is in the first position and wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the object when the release mechanism is in the second position; and

wherein the release mechanism further comprises an arm member pivotally mounted to the ramp and the arm member has a plurality of features each spaced from each other and extending from the arm member and protruding through a surface of the ramp when the release mechanism is in the first position.

12. The ramp as in claim 11, wherein the plurality of features of the arm member are positioned along the arm member in a spaced fashion such that different levels or height of securement of the object with respect to the ramp is provided.

13. The ramp as in claim 11, wherein a portion of the arm member is movably received within a slot of the ramp as the release mechanism of the ramp moves between the first and second position.

14. The ramp as in claim 13, wherein the release mechanism of the ramp is spring biased into the first position.

15. A ramp for launching an object at a target, comprising:

a release mechanism mounted to the ramp for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the release mechanism is configured to retain the object with respect to the ramp when it is in the first position and wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the object when the release mechanism is in the second position; and

wherein the release mechanism further comprises an arm member pivotally mounted to the ramp and the arm member has a plurality of features each spaced from each other and extending from the arm member above a surface of the ramp when the release mechanism is in the first position, wherein the plurality of features of the arm member are positioned along the arm member in a spaced fashion such that different levels or height of securement of the object with respect to the ramp is provided, and wherein each of the plurality of features of the arm member are configured to engage an opening located on a lower surface of the object when the release mechanism is in the first position.

16. A method of playing a game, comprising:

releasably securing an object with respect to a ramp via a release mechanism that is movably mounted to the ramp for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the release mechanism is configured to retain the object with respect to the ramp when it is in the first position and wherein the release mechanism is configured to release the object when the release mechanism is in the second position;

launching the object at a target by moving the releasable mechanism of the ramp to the second position;

awarding a player a score if the player launches the object into a cavity of a target such that a first member pivotally mounted to a second member of the target moves from a first target position wherein the first member is further away from the second member to second target position wherein the first member is closer to the second member, wherein the first member of the target is retained in first target position by a target release mechanism and wherein the target release mechanism is configured to release the first member from the first target position and allow it to travel towards the second target position from the first target position when the target release mechanism of the target has been actuated by the object received in the cavity of the target; and

determining a winner of the game by determining which player after a predetermined amount of turns has accumulated the greatest score.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the release mechanism of the ramp further comprises an arm member pivotally mounted to the ramp wherein a plurality of features of the arm member protrude from a surface of the ramp when the release mechanism of the ramp is in the first position.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the plurality of features are positioned along the arm member in a spaced fashion such that different levels or height of securement of the object with respect to the ramp is provided.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein a portion of the arm member is movably received within a slot of the ramp as the release mechanism of the ramp moves between the first and second position.

20. The method as in claim 17, wherein the target is configured to resemble a creature and the first member and the second member cooperate to define an open mouth of the creature when the first member is in the first target position.