Skee-ball apparatus including ball ejection targets

Claim 2

A game for use with a plurality of projectiles which are adapted to be rolled or otherwise projected into the game which comprises a frame having first and second sets of apertures formed therein, said sets respectively defining a plurality of independent projectile ejection and scoring openings and a plurality of independent actuator members mounted on said frame, said actuator members being respectively operatively and independently associated between individual apertures in said first and second sets; and each independent actuator including stop means for preventing a projectile from passing through its associated scoring opening and associated means for removing only its associated stop means from its associated scoring opening in response to the projection of a projectile into the associated ejection opening, thereby to permit a projectile to fall through said scoring opening, without affecting the stop means of any other actuator in the game.

Claim 3

A game comprising a frame having a playing surface, means for supporting said frame with said playing surface in an inclined position, and means for forming a plurality of independent scoring areas on said playing surface; said playing surface having first and second sets of apertures formed therein; respectively defining a plurality of individual projectile scoring and ejecting openings, said individual scoring openings being respectively located in said scoring areas adjacent the lower portions of the scoring areas when said playing surface is in its inclined position, and said ejection openings being located adjacent to but outside of said scoring areas; a plurality of balls adapted to be projected on to said playing surface, and a plurality of independent actuator members mounted on said frame below said playing surface, said independent actuator members being respectively operatively and independently associated between individual apertures in said first and second sets and each independent actuator member including stop means for preventing a ball from passing through its associated scoring opening and associated means for removing only its associated stop means from its associated scoring opening in response to the projection of a ball into its associated ejection opening, thereby to permit a ball to fall from the scoring area through the scoring opening without affecting the stop means of any other actuator in the game.

Claim 4

A game comprising a frame having a playing surface, means for supporting said frame with said playing surface in an inclined position, and means for forming a plurality of independent scoring areas on said playing surface; said playing surface having first and second sets of apertures formed therein; respectively defining a plurality of individual projectile scoring and ejecting openings, said individual scoring openings being respectively located in said scoring areas adjacent the lower portions of the scoring areas when said playing surface is in its inclined position, and said ejection openings being located adjacent to but outside of said scoring areas; a plurality of balls adapted to be projected on to said playing surface, and a plurality of independent actuator members mounted on said frame below said playing surface, said independent actuator members being respectively operatively and independently associated between individual apertures in said first and second sets and each independent actuator member including stop means for preventing a ball from passing through its associated scoring opening and associated means for removing only its associated stop means from its associated scoring opening in response to the projection of a ball into its associated ejection opening, thereby to permit a ball to fall from the scoring area through the scoring opening without affecting the stop means of any other actuator in the game.

Claim 5

The game as defined in claim 2 wherein said actuator members each comprise a lever pivotally mounted for movement in a plane below and parallel to said playing surface, and said stop means each comprise an enlarged surface portion formed on their associated levers normally located below their associaTed scoring openings.

Claim 6

The game as defined in claim 3 wherein said frame includes a plurality of guide chutes formed therein respectively associated with said ejection openings to receive balls projected into said ejection openings and a common ball discharge opening communicating with each of said guide chutes, said removing means each comprising extension portions of said levers extending respectively into said chutes for respective engagement by the balls projected into their associated ejection openings whereby a ball rolling in any of said chutes towards said discharge opening engages the lever extension associated with that chute and pivots that lever in a first direction thereby to move the enlarged supporting surface portions of the pivoted lever from below its associated scoring opening to permit a ball in the scoring area associated with the pivoted lever to pass through the scoring opening therein.

Claim 7

The game as defined in claim 4 wherein said levers are weighted to return under the influence of gravity to their initial positions wherein said enlarged supporting surfaces thereof are below their associated scoring openings.

Claim 8

The game as defined in claim 4 wherein said frame has a common guide chute formed therein extending below each of said scoring apertures and a second ball discharge chute communicating with said common guide chute.

Claim 9

The game as defined in claim 6 wherein said levers each include a projection formed therein in a predetermined position selected to be located in said common chute in the direction of travel of a ball moving therein when the lever is pivoted in said first direction by a ball rolling in its associated guide chute whereby a first ball held in one of said playing areas by a lever''s enlarged support surface initially falls through that lever''s scoring opening when a second ball enters that lever''s associated ejection opening and engages the lever''s extension causing the lever to rotate in said first direction; then said first ball engages the lever''s projection to rotate the lever in an opposite direction to return said lever''s enlarged support surface to its initial position below its associated scoring opening.

Claim 10

The game as defined in claim 7 including means for selectively preventing discharge of balls from said second ball discharge chute.

Claim 11

The game as defined in claim 7 wherein said frame has a plurality of pockets formed therein adjacent said common chute for receiving said lever projections out of said common chute when the levers are in their initial position.

Claim 12

The game as defined in claim 7 wherein said frame has front and rear edges and said frame supporting means supports the frame with said rear edge at a higher elevation than said front edge; said front edge of said frame including a ramp formed thereon extending towards and to a level above said playing surface whereby said balls may be rolled up said ramp onto said playing surface.

Claim 13

The game as defined in claim 10 wherein said scoring openings are arrayed in a straight line extending generally perpendicularly to said front edge and said ejection apertures are arrayed in an arc adjacent said rear edge and opening towards said front edge.

Claim 14

The game as defined in claim 11 wherein said frame has integral pockets formed therein separating said ejection openings from each other.

Claim 15

The game as defined in claim 12 wherein said frame includes upper and lower frame sections, said upper frame section defining said playing surface and said lower frame section having said chutes formed therein and being operatively connected to said upper frame section below said playing surface.

Claim 16

The game as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for forming a plurality of independent scoring areas on said playing surface comprises a plurality of concentric annular wall members.

Claim 17

The game as defined in claim 14 wherein said sets of apertures each comprise three apertures and said means for forming a plurality of independent sCoring areas comprises three concentric wall members.

Claim 18

A game comprising a frame having first and second frame portions operatively interconnected in spaced parallel relation to each other, with said second frame portion being located below said first frame portion, said first frame portion defining a playing surface having front and rear edges and first and second sets of apertures formed therein respectively defining a plurality of individual scoring and ejection openings; said second frame portion having a common ball guide chute located below each of said scoring openings, a plurality of ejection ball guide chutes respectively located below said ejection openings, and a pair of discharge openings respectively communicating with said common guide chute and said ejection ball guide chutes; means for supporting said frame in an inclined position with said rear end at a higher elevation than said front end; a plurality of balls adapted to be projected onto said playing surface and into said scoring and ejection openings; and a plurality of independent scoring actuator levers pivotally mounted in said frame for rotation between first and second positions in planes below and parallel to said playing surface; said actuator levers having enlarged first end portions respectively located below individual scoring openings when said levers are in their first positions to prevent balls from passing onto and through said scoring openings and second end portions each having extensions formed thereon, said lever extensions respectively located to extend into individual ejection ball guide chutes in the path of travel of balls rolling therein when said levers are in their first position, thereby to associate said scoring and ejection openings in pairs, whereby a ball projected into an ejection opening falls therethrough into the ejection guide chute associated with that ejection opening, rolls down that chute and engages the lever extension associated therewith causing said lever to rotate from its first to its second position wherein the enlarged first end portion of the lever is remote from its associated scoring opening, thereby permitting a ball located at that scoring opening to fall therethrough into said common guide chute.

Claim 19

A game comprising a frame having first and second frame portions operatively interconnected in spaced parallel relation to each other, with said second frame portion being located below said first frame portion, said first frame portion defining a playing surface having front and rear edges and first and second sets of apertures formed therein respectively defining a plurality of individual scoring and ejection openings; said second frame portion having a common ball guide chute located below each of said scoring openings, a plurality of ejection ball guide chutes respectively located below said ejection openings, and a pair of discharge openings respectively communicating with said common guide chute and said ejection ball guide chutes; means for supporting said frame in an inclined position with said rear end at a higher elevation than said front end; a plurality of balls adapted to be projected onto said playing surface and into said scoring and ejection openings; and a plurality of independent scoring actuator levers pivotally mounted in said frame for rotation between first and second positions in planes below and parallel to said playing surface; said actuator levers having enlarged first end portions respectively located below individual scoring openings when said levers are in their first positions to prevent balls from passing onto and through said scoring openings and second end portions each having extensions formed thereon, said lever extensions respectively located to extend into individual ejection ball guide chutes in the path of travel of balls rolling therein when said levers are in their first position, thereby to associate said scoring and ejection openings in pairs, whereby a ball projected into an ejection opening falls therethrough into the ejection guide chute associated with that ejection opening, rolls down that chute and engages the lever extension associated therewith causing said lever to rotate from its first to its second position wherein the enlarged first end portion of the lever is remote from its associated scoring opening, thereby permitting a ball located at that scoring opening to fall therethrough into said common guide chute.

Claim 20

The game as defined in claim 16 including a plurality of concentric annular wall members located on the playing surface on said first frame portion defining individual scoring areas and wherein one of said scoring openings is located in each of said scoring areas adjacent the lowermost portion thereof in the inclined position of the frame whereby balls projected into the scoring areas gravitate to positions over the scoring openings for support by said enlarged first end portions of the lever.

Claim 21

The game as defined in claim 17 wherein said first frame portion has a plurality of pockets formed therein in a generally arcuate array adjacent the rear end thereof with said ejection openings being respectively located in said pockets.

Claim 22

The game as defined in claim 18 wherein each of said levers includes a projection formed thereon in a predetermined position selected to be located in said common chute in the direction of travel of a ball moving therein when the levers are in their second positions whereby a ball falling through a scoring opening as a result of the lever associated with that opening being pivoted to its second position engages the projection of said associated lever and rotates the lever from said second to said first position as the ball rolls down said common chute, thereby to return the lever to its first position.

Claim 23

The game as defined in claim 19 wherein said levers are weighted to return under the influence of gravity to said first position from said second position.

Claim 24

The game as defined in claim 20 including means for selectively preventing discharge of balls from the discharge opening in the frame communicating with said common chute.

Claim 25

The game as defined in claim 21 including a ramp at the front edge portion Of said frame extending toward said playing surface and having a rear edge located at a level above said playing surface whereby said balls may be rolled up said ramp onto said playing surface.