Game apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus, for playing a game, comprising: (i) an elongated structure with an upper wall extending in the direction from a first end to a second end and forming a top playing surface, said upper wall having therein at least one first opening and a plurality of second openings all dimensioned to permit passage of a ball rolled along said playing surface, and an upstanding wall bounding said top playing surface at least at said second end, (ii) an elongated ball guiding means disposed below said playing surface and extending towards said first end, said guiding means including a chute portion positioned below said at least one opening and inclined to cause a ball, dropping onto said chute portion, to roll therealong towards said first end, said ball guiding means including a ball support which is resiliently urged to raised position, said support being adapted to be moved downwardly to a lowered position by the weight of a ball received thereon, said ball support being elongated and extending along a major portion of the length of said chute portion such that when a ball is received on said support it is moved to lowered position for a period of time determined by the ball rolling along the support and passing off an end thereof, (iii) switch means associated with said ball support and arranged to be open when said ball support is not in lowered position, and to be closed when said ball support is not in raised position, (iv) an indicator coupled for actuation by an electric powered device, said indicator including indicator rotor elements rotatable about a common axis and frictionally drivable one from another, (v) electrical wiring connecting said switch means and said electric powered device and terminals for connection to a current source such that a current circuit is completed to said electric powered device when said switch means is closed by the presence of a ball rolling on said support.

Claim 3

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ball support is resiliently deformable.

Claim 4

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top playing surface includes a transparent window portion, and wherein said indicator is positioned below said window portion.

Claim 5

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a first rotor element rotatable about an axis, at least one second rotor element rotatable about said axis, at least two of said rotor elements having angularly spaced markings, frictional slipping drive means acting between said first rotor element and said at least one second rotor element, and an index adjacent said marked rotor elements for indicating respective markings which become aligned therewith.

Claim 6

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said index is on a said rotor element.

Claim 7

Apparatus, for playing a game, comprising: (i) an elongated structure with an upper wall extending in the direction from a first end to a second end and forming a top playing surface, said top playing surface including a window portion, said upper wall having therein at least one first opening and a plurality of second openings all dimensioned to permit passage of a ball rolled along said playing surface, and an upstanding wall bounding said top playing surface at least at said second end, (ii) an elongated ball guiding means disposed below said playing surface and extending towards said first end, said guiding means including a chute portion positioned below said at least one opening and inclined to cause a ball, dropping onto said chute portion, to roll therealong towards said first end, said ball guiding means including a resiliently deformable ball support which is resiliently urged to raised position. said support being adapted to be moved downwardly to a lowered position by the weight of a ball received thereon, said ball support being elongated and extending along a major portion of the length of said chute portion such that when a ball is received on said support it is moved to a lowered position for a period of time determined by the ball rolling along the support and passing off an end thereof; (iii) switch means associated with the ball support and arranged to be open when said ball support is not in lowered position, and to be closed when said ball support is not in raised position, (iv) an indicator positioned below said window portion and coupled for actuation by an electric powered device, said indicator comprising a first rotor element rotatable about an axis, at least one second rotor element rotatable about said axis, at least two of said rotor elements having angularly spaced markings, frictional slipping drive means acting between said first rotor element and said at least one second rotor element, and an index marked on a said second rotor element for indicating respective markings which become aligned therewith, and (v) electrical wiring connecting said switch means and said electric powered device and terminals for connection to a current source such that a current circuit is completed to said electric powered device when said switch means is closed by the presence of a ball rolling on said support.

Claim 8

Apparatus, for playing a game, comprising: (i) an elongated structure with an upper wall extending in the direction from a first end to a second end and forming a top playing surface, said top playing surface including a window portion, said upper wall having therein at least one first opening and a plurality of second openings all dimensioned to permit passage of a ball rolled along said playing surface, and an upstanding wall bounding said top playing surface at least at said second end, (ii) an elongated ball guiding means disposed below said playing surface and extending towards said first end, said guiding means including a chute portion positioned below said at least one opening and inclined to cause a ball, dropping onto said chute portion, to roll therealong towards said first end, said ball guiding means including a resiliently deformable ball support which is resiliently urged to raised position. said support being adapted to be moved downwardly to a lowered position by the weight of a ball received thereon, said ball support being elongated and extending along a major portion of the length of said chute portion such that when a ball is received on said support it is moved to a lowered position for a period of time determined by the ball rolling along the support and passing off an end thereof; (iii) switch means associated with the ball support and arranged to be open when said ball support is not in lowered position, and to be closed when said ball support is not in raised position, (iv) an indicator positioned below said window portion and coupled for actuation by an electric powered device, said indicator comprising a first rotor element rotatable about an axis, at least one second rotor element rotatable about said axis, at least two of said rotor elements having angularly spaced markings, frictional slipping drive means acting between said first rotor element and said at least one second rotor element, and an index marked on a said second rotor element for indicating respective markings which become aligned therewith, and (v) electrical wiring connecting said switch means and said electric powered device and terminals for connection to a current source such that a current circuit is completed to said electric powered device when said switch means is closed by the presence of a ball rolling on said support.