Apparatus having memory unit

Claim 2

Memory apparatus comprising: an inclined tube having a sidewall provided with an opening therethrough spaced from the lower end thereof, the opening facing along a line extending outwardly and downwardly from the tube; means blocking said lower end and defining structure for dissipating the kinetic energy of an article gravitating to the lower end of the tube with the energy dissipation being sufficient to prevent the article from rebounding upwardly and out of said opening of the tube, the opening being disposed to permit an article to move toward said lower end and to allow a first article to be ejected through said opening when a second article is disposed between said opening and said blocking means; means concealing the lower end of the tube including the opening therethrough and means adjacent to said tube for indicating the ejection of an article therefrom.

Claim 3

Memory apparatus comprising: a tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end and provided with an opening therethrough between said ends, said tube adapted to receive articles at said upper end, whereby the articles will gravitate toward said lower end, the distance between said opening and said lower end being at least sufficient to cause an article to be ejected from the tube through said opening when one other article is disposed in said tube at its lower end; means coupled with said tube for concealing the lower end of the tube including the opening therethrough; and an indicator device adjacent to said tube for indicating the exit of an article from said tube.

Claim 4

Memory apparatus comprising: a tube having an open upper end and a closed lower end and provided with an opening therethrough between said ends, said tube adapted to receive articles at said upper end, whereby the articles will gravitate toward said lower end, the distance between said opening and said lower end being at least sufficient to cause an article to be ejected from the tube through said opening when one other article is disposed in said tube at its lower end; means coupled with said tube for concealing the lower end of the tube including the opening therethrough; and an indicator device adjacent to said tube for indicating the exit of an article from said tube.

Claim 5

Memory apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said device is spaced from said tube, and including means between said tube and said device for guiding an article toward said device from said tube.

Claim 6

Memory apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said guide means includes an inclined plate, said tube being disposed adjacent to the upper end of the plate and said device having an article-engaging portion disposed adjacent to the lower end of said plate.

Claim 7

Memory apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein thE tube end closing means comprises means for dissipating the kinetic energy of an article when the latter moves into said lower end of the tube with the energy dissipation being sufficient to prevent the article from rebounding upwardly and out of the tube through said opening.

Claim 8

Memory apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said concealing means includes structure having a hole therethrough and extending laterally from and surrounding said hole, said tube having its upper end aligned with said hole and extending downwardly from said structure.

Claim 9

In memory apparatus: a member having a number of spaced holes therethrough; a tube for each hole, respectively, the tubes having an upper end aligned with respective holes and extending downwardly therefrom, each tube having an opening therethrough spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof and adapted to receive articles inserted in the respective hole in said member, whereby the articles will gravitate toward said lower end, said member being formed to substantially conceal the lower portion of each tube including the opening therethrough; means closing the lower end of each tube, the distance between said lower end of each tube and its opening being sufficient to cause a first article in the tube at said lower end to eject a second article from the tube through said opening; an actuatable indicator device actuated in response to the movement of an article away from a respective tube along a predetermined path; and means adjacent to said tubes for directing an article along said path after the article has been ejected from a tube.

Claim 10

In memory apparatus: a member having a number of spaced holes therethrough; a tube for each hole, respectively, the tubes having an upper end aligned with respective holes and extending downwardly therefrom, each tube having an opening therethrough spaced upwardly from the lower end thereof and adapted to receive articles inserted in the respective hole in said member, whereby the articles will gravitate toward said lower end, said member being formed to substantially conceal the lower portion of each tube including the opening therethrough; means closing the lower end of each tube, the distance between said lower end of each tube and its opening being sufficient to cause a first article in the tube at said lower end to eject a second article from the tube through said opening; an actuatable indicator device actuated in response to the movement of an article away from a respective tube along a predetermined path; and means adjacent to said tubes for directing an article along said path after the article has been ejected from a tube.

Claim 11

In memory apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said directing means includes structure defining an inclined surface disposed to support articles which exit from said tubes, said device having a portion disposed adjacent to the lower end of said surface.

Claim 12

Apparatus for playing a memory game comprising: a housing having an upper member, a lower member, and a plurality of holes through the upper member; a number of player pieces, each of said player pieces being movable through the holes of said upper member; a tube for each hole, respectively, the tubes extending downwardly from said upper member and having open upper ends aligned with respective holes, whereby player pieces inserted in said holes will enter respective tubes and gravitate toward the lower ends of the tubes, said lower member closing the lower end of each tube, there being an opening through each tube at a location adjacent to and spaced from its lower end, the spacing between each opening and the lower end of the corresponding tube being such as to cause a first player piece disposed in the lower end of a tube to eject a second player piece from the tube through the corresponding opening; an indicator device adjacent to said tubes and actuated as a function of the movement of a player piece along a predetermined path; and means adjacent to the device for guiding player pieces ejected from said tubes toward said predetermined path.

Claim 13

Apparatus for playing a memory game comprising: a housing having an upper member, a lower member, and a plurality of holes through the upper member; a number of player pieces, each of said player pieces being movable through the holes of said upper member; a tube for each hole, respectively, the tubes extending downwardly from said upper member and having open upper ends aligned with respective holes, whereby player pieces inserted in said holes will enter respective tubes and gravitate toward the lower ends of the tubes, said lower member closing the lower end of each tube, there being an opening through each tube at a location adjacent to and spaced from its lower end, the spacing between each opening and the lower end of the corresponding tube being such as to cause a first player piece disposed in the lower end of a tube to eject a second player piece from the tube through the corresponding opening; an indicator device adjacent to said tubes and actuated as a function of the movement of a player piece along a predetermined path; and means adjacent to the device for guiding player pieces ejected from said tubes toward said predetermined path.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said lower member includes an inclined plate, said device having a shiftable portion disposed adjacent to the lower extremity of said plate, there being means presenting an inclined upper surface extending away from each tube and defining at least part of said guiding means.

Claim 15

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said indicator device includes a shiftable arm disposed across said path and engageable with and movable by a player piece moving along said path, and an actuatable switch element coupled to said arm and responsive to the movement thereof.

Claim 16

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein is provided a receptacle adjacent to the end of said path for receiving player pieces after the indicator device has responded to the movement thereof.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said housing is provided with means defining a collection region for player pieces when said housing and said tubes are moved as a unit fRom their normal operative positions into respective first positions permitting player pieces in the lower ends of the tubes to gravitate therefrom through corresponding openings, said region defining means having means including an article-supporting surface for causing player pieces collected in said region to move into said receptacle when said housing and said tubes are returned as a unit to their normal operative positions.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein is provided structure defining an inclined surface having a first aperture therethrough, said guide means being disposed to direct player pieces ejected from said tubes into and through said first aperture, said region defining means includes a rib spaced from said guide means, there being a second aperture between said guide means and said rib and communicating with said receptacle, said rib having an outer surface positioned to direct player pieces toward said second aperture as the housing and the tubes are returned to their normal operative positions after the player pieces have been collected in said region.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein each player piece comprises a ball.