US3879039A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game comprising a plurality of pivotable track members
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-22
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1994-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A game comprising a base on which there is mounted at least one track comprising at least two interconnected, relatively movable sections, said track defining a tortuous path for a marble or similar object, each of said sections being capable of being manually rotated about a pivot point in ''''see-saw'''' fashion, and a receptacle mounted on said base at one end of said track for the deposit of the marble after it has traversed the tortuous path. The game may include one or more barriers, in the path of movement of the marble, which require raising or lowering of the track sections, in order to allow passage of the marble past the barrier.
Inventors
- 👤 John E Holden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:53
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/22; A63F7/36; A63F7/38; A63F7/386; A63F7/0017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A game comprising: a. A base; b. A plurality of elongated, longitudinally aligned track members, each track member having a transverse axis and defining a plurality of channels, each channel being aligned with a corresponding channel on the next adjacent track member; c. Means interconnecting all of said channels to form a single tortuous path for a spheroid; d. Means on said base rotatably mounting each of said track members to pivot about its transverse axis; e. Means interconnecting each adjacent pair of track members comprising at least two fingers mounted in a channel on a first track member and extending into the aligned channel on the adjacent track member and at least one finger mounted to and underlying said first track member and extending under the adjacent track member, whereby movement of one of said track members about its transverse axis results in movement of each of the other track members about its transverse axis; and f. A receptacle mounted on said base to receive a spheroid discharged from said track mEmbers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A game comprising: a. A base; b. A plurality of elongated, longitudinally aligned track members, each track member having a transverse axis and defining a plurality of channels, each channel being aligned with a corresponding channel on the next adjacent track member; c. Means interconnecting all of said channels to form a single tortuous path for a spheroid; d. Means on said base rotatably mounting each of said track members to pivot about its transverse axis; e. Means interconnecting each adjacent pair of track members comprising at least two fingers mounted in a channel on a first track member and extending into the aligned channel on the adjacent track member and at least one finger mounted to and underlying said first track member and extending under the adjacent track member, whereby movement of one of said track members about its transverse axis results in movement of each of the other track members about its transverse axis; and f. A receptacle mounted on said base to receive a spheroid discharged from said track mEmbers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
173 words
A game comprising: a. A base; b. A plurality of elongated, longitudinally aligned track members, each track member having a transverse axis and defining a plurality of channels, each channel being aligned with a corresponding channel on the next adjacent track member; c. Means interconnecting all of said channels to form a single tortuous path for a spheroid; d. Means on said base rotatably mounting each of said track members to pivot about its transverse axis; e. Means interconnecting each adjacent pair of track members comprising at least two fingers mounted in a channel on a first track member and extending into the aligned channel on the adjacent track member and at least one finger mounted to and underlying said first track member and extending under the adjacent track member, whereby movement of one of said track members about its transverse axis results in movement of each of the other track members about its transverse axis; and f. A receptacle mounted on said base to receive a spheroid discharged from said track mEmbers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
A game comprising: a. A base; b. A plurality of elongated, longitudinally aligned track members, each track member having a transverse axis and defining a plurality of channels, each channel being aligned with a corresponding channel on the next adjacent track member; c. Means interconnecting all of said channels to form a single tortuous path for a spheroid; d. Means on said base rotatably mounting each of said track members to pivot about its transverse axis; e. Means interconnecting each adjacent pair of track members comprising at least two fingers mounted in a channel on a first track member and extending into the aligned channel on the adjacent track member and at least one finger mounted to and underlying said first track member and extending under the adjacent track member, whereby movement of one of said track members about its transverse axis results in movement of each of the other track members about its transverse axis; and f. A receptacle mounted on said base to receive a spheroid discharged from said track mEmbers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A game as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transverse axis is located equidistant between the opposing ends of each track member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A game as set forth in claim 1, wherein the unconnected end of the track member farthest from said receptacle has integrally formed therewith a manually graspable extension, to facilitate manipulation of said track members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A game as set forth in claim 1, including a plurality of barriers mounted on said base between at least two of said track members and aligned with at least one of said channels, whereby a spheroid will not traverse said channels from one track member to an adjacent track member when the track members are in a first position with respect to their transverse axes but will traverse when the track members are in a second such position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A game as set forth in claim 1, including an elevated barrier extending along the front of said receptacle above said pivot means.
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) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |