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US3931972A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tiltable surface game toy

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-02
•
Granted: 1976-01-13
•
Expires: 1995-04-02
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Abstract

Abstract A tiltable surface game toy includes an open top housing assembly and mounted therein a universally tiltable open top insert assembly. Upright guides within the housing assembly guide vertically adjustable lifters with handles which project laterally outward through slots in the end walls of the housing assembly. Said lifters supportably engage the undersurface of the insert assembly. Selective vertical manual movements of one or more lifters are adapted to variably adjust the insert assembly to any resultant angle relative to a horizontal plane throughout 360° selectively. Game board indicia is provided upon the insert assembly bottom wall to receive a series of variably spaced targets or obstacles. A ball initially disposed on the indicia is movable thereover relative to the insert assembly walls in various directions depending upon the resultant tilt of the insert assembly so as to strike or not strike said targets or obstacles.

Inventors

  • 👤 James M. Fabian

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 08:52
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/22; A63F7/36; A63F7/38; A63F7/386

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 226 words
In a tiltable surface game toy, an open top housing assembly mountable upon a support and including side, end and bottom walls; a universally tiltable open top insert assembly loosely disposed within the said housing assembly and including side, end and bottom walls; a pair of upright spaced corner guides secured adjacent each of the internal corners of said housing assembly to its respective side and end walls; a vertically adjustable lift means guidably mounted between said corners and guides respectively; outwardly extending arm means secured to each said lift means projecting outwardly through a coresponding upright slot in the end walls of the housing assembly and terminating in a handle; said lift means supportably engaging the undersurface of said insert assembly at the corners thereof, whereby selective manual vertical adjustments of one or more of said lift means are adapted to angularly tilt the bottom wall of the insert assembly to any resultant angle with respect to a horizontal plane throughout 360°, selectively; there being game board indicia upon said insert assembly bottom wall; a series of variably spaced targets or obstacles mounted on said indicia; and a ball initially disposed on said indicia, movably thereover in various directions relative to the insert assembly walls, depending upon the resultant tilt of said insert assembly bottom wall, so as to strike or not strike said targets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 226 words
In a tiltable surface game toy, an open top housing assembly mountable upon a support and including side, end and bottom walls; a universally tiltable open top insert assembly loosely disposed within the said housing assembly and including side, end and bottom walls; a pair of upright spaced corner guides secured adjacent each of the internal corners of said housing assembly to its respective side and end walls; a vertically adjustable lift means guidably mounted between said corners and guides respectively; outwardly extending arm means secured to each said lift means projecting outwardly through a coresponding upright slot in the end walls of the housing assembly and terminating in a handle; said lift means supportably engaging the undersurface of said insert assembly at the corners thereof, whereby selective manual vertical adjustments of one or more of said lift means are adapted to angularly tilt the bottom wall of the insert assembly to any resultant angle with respect to a horizontal plane throughout 360°, selectively; there being game board indicia upon said insert assembly bottom wall; a series of variably spaced targets or obstacles mounted on said indicia; and a ball initially disposed on said indicia, movably thereover in various directions relative to the insert assembly walls, depending upon the resultant tilt of said insert assembly bottom wall, so as to strike or not strike said targets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
In the game toy of claim 1, said lift means being a block, and a ball bearing mounted upon the top of each lift block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
In the game toy of claim 1, the outer surface of the side and end walls of the insert assembly being tapered upwardly and inwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
In the game toy of claim 1, laterally spaced spacers upon the side and end walls of the insert assembly adjacent its bottom wall, loosely engaging the corresponding walls of the housing assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 46 words
In the game toy of claim 1, a sheet metal strip overlying the bottom wall of said insert assembly; said game board indicia overlying said strip; said targets including a magnetic portion retainingly engaging said strip and indicia during tilting thereof, until struck by said ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
In the game toy of claim 5, said indicia including a series of variably spaced locating spots for said targets, said targets being in the form of upright pins overlying said spots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
In the game board of claim 1, the bottom wall of said insert assembly being transversely arcuate in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
In the game toy of claim 1, a reaction handle projecting outwardly from the end walls of the housing assembly adjacent its corners to facilitate variable manual movements of the lift means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 108 words
In the game toy of claim 1, a fulcrum upon the bottom wall of the housing assembly centrally thereof; a tilt-control arm intermediate its ends pivoted upon said fulcrum; an upright insert assembly actuator bar at the inner end of said tilt control arm; the other end thereof extending through an upright slot in one end wall of the housing assembly and terminating in a handle; whereby, from one end of the housing assembly a player can remotely elevate the opposite end of said insert assembly, or prevent any opposing player from dominating control of the ball at one end of the playing surface under his hand control.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
In the game toy of claim 9, there being an additional tilt control arm similarly fulcrumed upon said housing assembly and extending from its opposite end.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US471706A Cited
US700589A Cited
US2562126A Cited
FR1057725A Cited
US3090622A Cited
US3479033A Cited
US3751038A Cited
US3787055A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-01-12 1979-07-14 1980-01-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-01-12 1983-07-14 1984-01-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-01-12 1987-07-14 1988-01-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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