Game apparatus and mechanical assemblies useful therein

Claim 1

IN A BALL-TYPE GAME SYSTEM, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING BOARD MEANS DEFINING ON THE TOP SIDE THEREOF A PLAYING FIELD AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE BALL-RECEIVING APERTURE THEREIN; BALL TEEING MEANS RECIPROCALLY VERTICALLY MOVABLE SELECTIVELY WITH RESPECT TO SAID BOARD MEANS TO SUPPORT A BALL IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID BALL-RECEIVING APERTURE WITH AT LEAST THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE BALL ABOVE SAID TOP SIDE OF SAID BOARD MEANS IN STRIKING POSITION; A BALL STRIKING MEANS; HOLDER MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BALL STRIKING MEANS ABOVE SAID TOP SIDE OF SAID BOARD MEANS FOR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST LOCATION BEHIND THE BALL WHEN THE BALL IS IN SAID STRIKING POSITION TO A SECOND LOCATION WHERE SAID STRIKING MEANS ENGAGES SAID BALL WHEN SAID BALL IS IN SAID STRIKING POSITION; LINKAGE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID STRIKING MEANS BETWEEN SAID LOCATIONS; A RECIPROCAL MANUAL OPERATING ARM EXTENDING BEYOND SAID BOARD; MEANS COUPLING SAID OPERATING ARM WITH SAID LINKAGE MEANS AND SAID BALL TEEING MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY VERTICALLY MOVING SAID BALL TEEING MEANS TO SUPPORT A BALL IN SAID STRIKING POSITION AND LATERALLY MOVING SAID STRIKING MEANS TO SAID FIRST LOCATION BEHIND SAID BALL WHEN SAID OPERATING ARM IS MOVED FROM A FIRST POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION; MEANS FOR URGING SAID OPERATING ARM NORMALLY IN SAID FIRST POSITION WHEREBY ONCE SAID ARM HAS BEEN MOVED TO SAID SECOND POSITION, RELEASE OF SAID ARM RESULTS IN SAID ARM RETURNING AUTOMATICALLY TO SAID FIRST POSITION; AND MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID OPERATING ARM FOR CAUSING SAID BALL TEEING MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID BALL IN SAID STRIKING POSITION WHEN SAID OPERATING ARM HAS BEEN RELEASED AND IS MOVING BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS UNDER THE ACTION OF SAID MEANS FOR URGING SAID ARM NORMALLY IN SAID FIRST POSITION.