US3851879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game device with selectively movable panel structure
Assignee: Glass Marvin and Associates
•
Filing: 1973-11-05
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Game apparatus including a central transparent upright panel, a pair of outer transparent upright panels on opposite sides of the central panel and selectively movable generally horizontally relative thereto, a plurality of angularly disposed vertically spaced apart and inclined baffle plates between the central panel and each outer panel, and a plurality of game balls movable down the baffle plates between the panels. The outer panels are gravity biased downwardly and inwardly toward the central panel whereby the outer panels will pinch or trap a ball and prevent it from rolling down a baffle plate unless the respective outer panel is selectively moved away from the central wall thus permitting the game ball to roll down a baffle plate. The outer panels are movable relative to the central panel by means of manually operable levers mounted on a base for the game. Two players compete in manipulating their respective movable outer panel in attempting to control the downward speed of their ball along the inclined baffles so as to be the first player to have his ball reach the bottom of the structure. Should a ball be permitted to roll down a baffle too fast, it will fly off the end thereof into a losing chute area.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hicks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:12
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A game device, comprising: a base structure; a pair of generally upright panels mounted on said base structure for relative movement of at least one of said panels toward and away from the other panel; means defining a tortuous path between said panels from an upper area to a lower area thereof; a playing object for movement by gravity downwardly along said tortuous path, said playing object having a width greater than the width of at least portions of said tortuous path; and means for selectively and relatively moving said panels between a clamping position whereby said playing object is pinched and held between the panels and a release position wherein the playing object is permitted to freely move down said tortuous path under gravity whereby a player of the game attempts to control the downward motion of the playing object along the tortuous path by selectively and relatively moving said panels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A game device, comprising: a base structure; a pair of generally upright panels mounted on said base structure for relative movement of at least one of said panels toward and away from the other panel; means defining a tortuous path between said panels from an upper area to a lower area thereof; a playing object for movement by gravity downwardly along said tortuous path, said playing object having a width greater than the width of at least portions of said tortuous path; and means for selectively and relatively moving said panels between a clamping position whereby said playing object is pinched and held between the panels and a release position wherein the playing object is permitted to freely move down said tortuous path under gravity whereby a player of the game attempts to control the downward motion of the playing object along the tortuous path by selectively and relatively moving said panels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The game device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said panels is transparent to permit a player to observe the movement of the playing object along said tortuous path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The game device of claim 1, including means defining areas along said tortuous path into which said playing object will enter and thereby leave said path if said playing object is moving too fast downwardly along said tortuous path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The game device of claim 3 wherein said tortuous path is defined by baffle members disposed between said panels and at least some of the baffles having free ends off of which the playing object will fly if permitted to move too fast along the baffle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The game device of claim 4 wherein said baffles are comprised of a vertically disposed and spaced series of inclined generally horizontal individual plate members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The game device of claim 5 wherein the lower end of each of said baffle plates is disposed above and inwardly from the upper end of the immediately subjacent baffle plate whereby a playing object travelling too fast along an inclined baffle plate will overshoot the subjacent inclined baffle plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The game device of claim 6 including vertical chute means at the outer ends of said baffle plates down which the playing object will fall should it overshoot the baffle plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The game device of claim 3 wherein at least one of said upright panels is transparent to permit the player to observe the movement of the playing piece down said tortuous path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The game device of claim 1 wherein three upright panels are provided on said base including a central panel and a pair of outer panels disposed on opposite sides of said central panel for movement toward and away from the central panel, with a tortuous path defined on both sides of the central panel between the central panel and the outer panels, whereby two players of the game can compete in moving their playing pieces down their respective tortuous paths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The game device of claim 9 wherein all of said panels are transparent so that each player can observe the movement of both his own and the opposing player''s playing pieces as they move down their respective paths.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The game device of claim 10 including means defining areas along said tortuous path into which said playing object will enter and thereby leave said path if said playing object is moving too fast downwardly along said tortuous path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The game device of claim 9 including closure means about the sides and top of said panels, with top openings at the top of said closure means through which playing pieces may be deposited between said panels, and a lower target area disposed at the bottom of said closure means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A game device comprising: an enclosure affording a substantially closed passageway between spaced apart generally parallel panels, at least one of which is movable from a normal position wherein a playing piece is pinched and held between the panels and a release position wherein the playing object is permitted to freely move between the panels; an opening in the top portion of the enclosure; a playing piece of size and shape to be received into said opening and movable in said passageway only when the movable panel is in said release position; means for selectively moving the movable panel from the normal position to the release position such that a player may control and regulate movements of the playing piece between the panels; and a plurality of baffles, of lesser width than the playing piece, defining said passageway and mounted on the stationary panel whereby a playing piece deposited in the enclosure travels down the baffles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
A game device comprising: an enclosure affording a substantially closed passageway between spaced apart generally parallel panels, at least one of which is movable from a normal position wherein a playing piece is pinched and held between the panels and a release position wherein the playing object is permitted to freely move between the panels; an opening in the top portion of the enclosure; a playing piece of size and shape to be received into said opening and movable in said passageway only when the movable panel is in said release position; means for selectively moving the movable panel from the normal position to the release position such that a player may control and regulate movements of the playing piece between the panels; and a plurality of baffles, of lesser width than the playing piece, defining said passageway and mounted on the stationary panel whereby a playing piece deposited in the enclosure travels down the baffles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 13 wherein the enclosure includes an unobstructed passageway past the ends of the baffles which permits the playing piece to fall to a playing piece collecting area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 14 wherein a target area is provided at the end of the passageway, separated from said collecting area for collection of the successfully manipulated playing pieces.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |