US3781010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Basketball game amusement device
Assignee: Epoch Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-03-07
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1992-03-07
Abstract
Abstract A basketball game amusement device featuring a playing surface simulating a court and provided with a plurality of openings defining shooting positions. Elevated basket goals are located at each end of the playing surface. A plurality of rods are pivotably mounted below the playing surface, each rod terminating at one end in a button which when depressed raises the flange of the opposite end upwardly through one of the openings. As the ball falls into one of the openings within the playing surface, each of the players depresses his button corresponding to the opening causing the flanges of the rods to move upwardly within the opening to strike the ball. Each player fights for position to either use the flange of his rod to shoot the ball into his opponent''s basket or block his opponent''s shot. The buttons of each player are numbered to correspond to the openings within the playing surface. A clear plastic cover or dome keeps the ball in play.
Inventors
- 👤 T Matsumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:30
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/06; A63F7/0604; A63F7/0612; A63F7/22; A63F7/24; A63F7/2409; A63F7/2418; A63F7/249
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
585 words
A basketball game, comprising: a housing; a playing surface formed at the top of said housing, said surface being provided with a first plurality of openings at one end thereof and a second plurality of openings at the other end thereof, said first and second pluralities of openings being equal in number, that portion of said surface located between said first and second pluralities of openings including groups of adjacently disposed walls sloping downwardly from the top of said surface and terminating downwardly in A third plurality of openings corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings; a first plurality of rods corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an upraised flange, said buttons protruding upwardly through said first plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges positioned below said third plurality of openings, means mounting said first plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said up-raised flanges of said first plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings; a second plurality of rods corresponding in number to said second plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an up-raised flange, said buttons protruding upwardly through said second plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges being positioned adjacent the corresponding up-raised flanges of said first plurality of rods and below said third plurality of openings such that with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings there are positioned up-raised flanges of both said first and second pluralities of rods, means mounting said second plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said upraised flanges of said second plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings, thereby permitting opposing players by depressing said buttons corresponding to said first and second pluralities of rods to compete with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings; a first set of indicia adjacent said first plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, a second set of indicia adjacent said second plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, and a third set of indicia including all of said first and second indicia, the part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said first set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said first set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said first set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said first plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings, the remaining part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said second set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said second set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said second set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said second plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings; basket goals positioned at the ends of said playing surface; and a transparent dome positioned above said playing surface and attached to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
585 words
A basketball game, comprising: a housing; a playing surface formed at the top of said housing, said surface being provided with a first plurality of openings at one end thereof and a second plurality of openings at the other end thereof, said first and second pluralities of openings being equal in number, that portion of said surface located between said first and second pluralities of openings including groups of adjacently disposed walls sloping downwardly from the top of said surface and terminating downwardly in A third plurality of openings corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings; a first plurality of rods corresponding in number to said first plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an upraised flange, said buttons protruding upwardly through said first plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges positioned below said third plurality of openings, means mounting said first plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said up-raised flanges of said first plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings; a second plurality of rods corresponding in number to said second plurality of openings, each of said rods terminating at one end thereof in a button and at the other end thereof in an up-raised flange, said buttons protruding upwardly through said second plurality of openings and said up-raised flanges being positioned adjacent the corresponding up-raised flanges of said first plurality of rods and below said third plurality of openings such that with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings there are positioned up-raised flanges of both said first and second pluralities of rods, means mounting said second plurality of rods for rotation within said housing and below said playing surface such that as said buttons are depressed said rods rotate causing said upraised flanges of said second plurality of rods to move upwardly through said third plurality of openings, thereby permitting opposing players by depressing said buttons corresponding to said first and second pluralities of rods to compete with respect to selected openings of said third plurality of openings; a first set of indicia adjacent said first plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, a second set of indicia adjacent said second plurality of openings corresponding to said buttons protruding therethrough, and a third set of indicia including all of said first and second indicia, the part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said first set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said first set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said first set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said first plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings, the remaining part of said third set of indicia corresponding to said second set of indicia located adjacent said third plurality of openings and aligned respectively with the corresponding indicia of said second set of indicia and visible to the user of said buttons corresponding to said second set of indicia so as to correlate said buttons protruding through said second plurality of openings with said third plurality of openings; basket goals positioned at the ends of said playing surface; and a transparent dome positioned above said playing surface and attached to said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |