Patent US3578319A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3578319A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marble pickup game with flexible manipulator
Assignee: Kohner Bros Inc
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Filing: 1968-12-20
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Granted: 1971-05-11
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Expires: 1988-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A dish-shaped concave base is provided with a plurality of openended upright tubular goal seats adjacent the outer periphery thereof. Several marbles are placed within the base and a manipulator is employed to carry a single marble from the central portion of the base to a seated position on the open end of one of the tubular goal seats. The manipulator is an elongated member having a handle at one end and at the other end, a pickup member with a cut out portion suitable for sliding under the major spherical diameter of a marble resting on the base and lifting the marble. Intermediate its ends, the manipulator is formed of a plurality of segments joined by hinges, the pivotal axes of which are all parallel. The hinges permit movement of the segments with respect to one another while maintaining all of the moving segments within the same plane transverse to the pivotal hinge axes and ideally horizontal when the game is being played. A player lifts one of the marbles from the base by the pickup member in the front of the manipulator and places the marble over and onto one of the tubular goal seats to score a point in the game.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Kohner
- 👤 Albert Stubbman
- 👤 Natalie Donna
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:20
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/30; A63F7/00; A63F7/0023; A63F3/00; A63F3/00895; A63F2003/00899; A63F2003/00908; A63F7/22; A63F7/36; A63F2007/3633; A63F2007/3637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
A dexterity pickup game, said game comprising a game base including an upwardly concave dished playing surface, said playing surface having an elevation at the center thereof which is less than at the outer periphery thereof, a plurality of spherical playing elements, each of said elements having a major diameter, said elements rolling towards the center area of said dished base when dropped upon said base from a point radially removed from said center, a plurality of goal seats positioned adjacent the periphery of said base, means on said goal seats restraining a spherical playing element placed thereon from rolling down said base towards the center thereof, an elongated playing element manipulator suitable for lifting and carrying said spherical playing elements from said base, said manipulator having two ends and including a handle at one of said ends, said manipulator being flexible intermediate said ends in a first transverse plane and relatively inflexible intermediate said ends in a second transverse plane perpendicular to said first transverse plane, said first transverse plane being adapted to be approximately horizontal when the handle is held by a person in the play of the game, the opposite end of said manipulator being free, a pickup member secured to said opposite end, said pickup member including an open pickup seat at the interior thereof, said pickup seat having a throat opening, the diameter of said pickup seat being less than the major diameter of any spherical playing element, said throat opening being wide enough to engage a single spherical playing element resting on said base by passing between the abutting contacting surfaces of said base and said playing element, said seat engaging a single spherical playing element as said pickup member is lifted vertically, said spherical playing element resting within said pickup seat when said pickup member is in a position elevated from said playing surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
A dexterity pickup game, said game comprising a game base including an upwardly concave dished playing surface, said playing surface having an elevation at the center thereof which is less than at the outer periphery thereof, a plurality of spherical playing elements, each of said elements having a major diameter, said elements rolling towards the center area of said dished base when dropped upon said base from a point radially removed from said center, a plurality of goal seats positioned adjacent the periphery of said base, means on said goal seats restraining a spherical playing element placed thereon from rolling down said base towards the center thereof, an elongated playing element manipulator suitable for lifting and carrying said spherical playing elements from said base, said manipulator having two ends and including a handle at one of said ends, said manipulator being flexible intermediate said ends in a first transverse plane and relatively inflexible intermediate said ends in a second transverse plane perpendicular to said first transverse plane, said first transverse plane being adapted to be approximately horizontal when the handle is held by a person in the play of the game, the opposite end of said manipulator being free, a pickup member secured to said opposite end, said pickup member including an open pickup seat at the interior thereof, said pickup seat having a throat opening, the diameter of said pickup seat being less than the major diameter of any spherical playing element, said throat opening being wide enough to engage a single spherical playing element resting on said base by passing between the abutting contacting surfaces of said base and said playing element, said seat engaging a single spherical playing element as said pickup member is lifted vertically, said spherical playing element resting within said pickup seat when said pickup member is in a position elevated from said playing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said manipulator Includes a plurality of segments intermediate said ends, said manipulator having a longitudinal axis extending between said ends, each of said segments being positioned on said longitudinal axis, a plurality of hinges joining said segments, each of said hinges having a pivotal axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, all of said pivotal axes being parallel to one another, each of said segments pivoting about their respective pivotal axes as said pivotal axes are inclined from a vertical orientation when said manipulator is held in an elevated, generally horizontal position by said handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said goal seats includes a member projecting up from said base, said member having an outer diameter less than said major diameter of said playing elements, said throat opening of said pickup seat being wider than said outer diameter, said goal seat member having an upwardly directed upper end, said spherical playing element seating on said upper end as said pickup member carrying said spherical playing element is lowered over said goal seat member with said pickup seat circumscribing said goal seat member beneath said upper end, said pickup seat disengaging laterally from said member through said restricted throat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein said upper end includes an inwardly downwardly sloped chamfer, said chamfer being spherically dished, the spherical dish diameter being approximately equal to the spherical diameter of said spherical playing elements, said spherical playing elements nestably removably seating upon said upper end with the outer spherical periphery thereof engaging said spherically dished chamfer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
124 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of goal sectors are positioned on said base, said goal seats are arranged in a plurality of groups, each of said groups being spaced from successive groups, each of said groups being located on a separate goal sector, each of said goal sectors being of a different color, said game further including a plurality of said playing element manipulators, each of said playing element manipulators being of a color matching that of a different one of said goal sectors, so that each player may be assigned a manipulator and attempt to position said spherical playing elements on those goal seats within the goal sector having the same color as his manipulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of scoring sectors is provided, said scoring sectors being positioned on said base, a plurality of scoring wheels, each of said scoring wheels being positioned adjacent each of said sectors, each of said scoring wheels being journaled for rotation, a cover plate, said cover plate projecting over each of said scoring wheels, said cover plate having an opening therethrough, successive scoring indicia positioned on a surface of each of said scoring wheels, a selected one of said scoring indicia being viewable through said opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pickup seat includes a chamfer, said chamfer being spherically dished, the spherical diameter of said spherically dished chamfer being approximately the same as the major diameter of said spherical playing elements, a spherical playing element being nestably removably positioned on said pickup seat with the outer spherical periphery of said spherical playing element in abutting contact with said spherically dished chamfer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the throat opening is of an arc of less than 180* said throat presenting a constriction to retain the playing element on said pickup seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pickup member includes spaced legs, the tips of said legs forming the throat opening, said tips being upwaRdly sloped and serving to retain the playing element on said pickup seat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
212 words
A dexterity pickup game comprising a base, a plurality of spherical playing elements, said base including an upper playing surface, said upper playing surface arcuately sloping downwardly from the outer periphery thereof towards the center thereof, a plurality of goal seats positioned on said base in spaced relation from the center thereof, each of said goal seats engaging a playing element emplaced thereon and restraining said playing element from rolling down said playing surface towards the center thereof, an elongate manipulator adapted to engage a single playing element resting on the central area of said playing surface and lift the same from said central area toward one of said goal seats, said elongate manipulator including a handle at one end thereof and means engaging said playing element at the opposite end thereof, said manipulator being flexible intermediate said ends in a first transverse plane and relatively inflexible intermediate said ends in a second transverse plane perpendicular to said first transverse plane, said first transverse plane being adapted to be approximately horizontal when the handle is held by a person in the play of the game, said playing element rolling down said arcuate playing surface towards the central area thereof if inadvertently dropped from said manipulator as said manipulator carries said playing element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
212 words
A dexterity pickup game comprising a base, a plurality of spherical playing elements, said base including an upper playing surface, said upper playing surface arcuately sloping downwardly from the outer periphery thereof towards the center thereof, a plurality of goal seats positioned on said base in spaced relation from the center thereof, each of said goal seats engaging a playing element emplaced thereon and restraining said playing element from rolling down said playing surface towards the center thereof, an elongate manipulator adapted to engage a single playing element resting on the central area of said playing surface and lift the same from said central area toward one of said goal seats, said elongate manipulator including a handle at one end thereof and means engaging said playing element at the opposite end thereof, said manipulator being flexible intermediate said ends in a first transverse plane and relatively inflexible intermediate said ends in a second transverse plane perpendicular to said first transverse plane, said first transverse plane being adapted to be approximately horizontal when the handle is held by a person in the play of the game, said playing element rolling down said arcuate playing surface towards the central area thereof if inadvertently dropped from said manipulator as said manipulator carries said playing element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A dexterity pickup game constructed in accordance with claim 10 wherein said goal seats project up from said base, the upper surface of said base surrounding said goal seats sloping downwardly toward said center of said upper playing surface, a playing element rolling down said sloping surface towards said center area when inadvertently dropped on said base adjacent said goal seats.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |