Number-combination selector

Claim 1

In a bingo-ball-blower apparatus of the type used for randomly selecting numbers in a game of chance, wherein the apparatus includes a transparent storage chamber in which a plurality of lightweight numbered balls are initially blown about and the chamber has a selection tube that extends vertically upwardly through a ceiling of the chamber, whereby the tube can be vented to the atmosphere to permit balls to randomly rise through it, the improvement comprising a hood that fits atop the apparatus, wherein said hood includes a lower access hole through which an upper, open end of the tube extends; a spring-biased selector means that normally straddles and entirely blocks the tube's open end to prevent balls from rising through the tube, but which can be manually pivoted to uncover the open end and allow a ball to pop up the tube and which then can be released to spring back and kick the ball away from an overlying finger trap mechanism during its return movement; an inclined ramp that is adjacent to the tube's upper end and which is adapted to receive the kicked ball to feed it downwardly; and a clear display chute that is adapted to catch the ball from the ramp and allow it to be viewed by a user.

Claim 6

An apparatus comprising: a. transparent box-like enclosure in which a plurality of lightweight balls are stored, said enclosure having a top, bottom and four sides; b. an electrically operated fan connected in fluid communication with an opening in the bottom of the enclosure, whereby air from the fan blows the balls about randomly within the enclosure; c. an open-ended vertical tube that extends upwardly from the interior of the enclosure through its top, wherein a bottom end portion of the tube includes a frusto-conical guide for guiding balls into and through the tube; d. a trap mechanism that is affixed to the top of the enclosure to control a ball as it leaves a top portion of the tube, wherein the trap mechanism comprises an inverted L-shaped finger with the horizontal portion of the "L" being spaced apart from and overlying the open top end of the tube that extends through the enclosure's top; e. a spring-biased, pivotable, elongated selector arm having an integral end portion that is designed in size and shape to normally straddle and block the tube's open top end to prevent balls from rising through the tube, whereby said arm can be manually pivoted to uncover the tube's upper end and allow a ball to pop up the tube and then can be released to spring back and kick the ball away from the overlying finger trap mechanism during the arm's return movement; f. an inclined ramp that is adjacent the tube's upper end, which receives the kicked ball to feed it downwardly; and g. a clear display chute that catches the balls from the ramp and allows them to be viewed by a user, wherein the chute includes a hinged gate that normally blocks an opening between the chute and the enclosure, and the gate has a spring-biased lever that can be pivoted to swing open the gate and thus unblock the opening to permit a displayed ball in the chute to re-enter the enclosure.

Claim 7

An apparatus comprising: a. transparent box-like enclosure in which a plurality of lightweight balls are stored, said enclosure having a top, bottom and four sides; b. an electrically operated fan connected in fluid communication with an opening in the bottom of the enclosure, whereby air from the fan blows the balls about randomly within the enclosure; c. an open-ended vertical tube that extends upwardly from the interior of the enclosure through its top, wherein a bottom end portion of the tube includes a frusto-conical guide for guiding balls into and through the tube; d. a trap mechanism that is affixed to the top of the enclosure to control a ball as it leaves a top portion of the tube, wherein the trap mechanism comprises an inverted L-shaped finger with the horizontal portion of the "L" being spaced apart from and overlying the open top end of the tube that extends through the enclosure's top; e. a spring-biased, pivotable, elongated selector arm having an integral end portion that is designed in size and shape to normally straddle and block the tube's open top end to prevent balls from rising through the tube, whereby said arm can be manually pivoted to uncover the tube's upper end and allow a ball to pop up the tube and then can be released to spring back and kick the ball away from the overlying finger trap mechanism during the arm's return movement; f. an inclined ramp that is adjacent the tube's upper end, which receives the kicked ball to feed it downwardly; and g. a clear display chute that catches the balls from the ramp and allows them to be viewed by a user, wherein the chute includes a hinged gate that normally blocks an opening between the chute and the enclosure, and the gate has a spring-biased lever that can be pivoted to swing open the gate and thus unblock the opening to permit a displayed ball in the chute to re-enter the enclosure.

Claim 9

An apparatus comprising: a. a transparent box-like enclosure in which a plurality of lightweight balls are stored, said enclosure having a top, bottom and four sides; b. an electrically operated fan connected in fluid communication with an opening in the bottom of the enclosure, whereby air from the fan blows the balls about randomly within the enclosure; c. an open-ended vertical tube that extends upwardly from the interior of the enclosure through its top; d. a spring-biased selector means that normally straddles and entirely blocks the tube's open end to prevent balls from rising through the tube, but which can be manually pivoted to uncover the open end and allow a ball to pop up the tube and which then can be released to spring back and kick the ball away from an overlying finger trap mechanism during its return movement; e. an inclined ramp that is adjacent to the tube's upper end and which receives the kicked ball to feed it downwardly; and f. a clear display chute that catches the balls from the ramp and allows them to be viewed by a user.

Claim 10

An apparatus comprising: a. a transparent box-like enclosure in which a plurality of lightweight balls are stored, said enclosure having a top, bottom and four sides; b. an electrically operated fan connected in fluid communication with an opening in the bottom of the enclosure, whereby air from the fan blows the balls about randomly within the enclosure; c. an open-ended vertical tube that extends upwardly from the interior of the enclosure through its top; d. a spring-biased selector means that normally straddles and entirely blocks the tube's open end to prevent balls from rising through the tube, but which can be manually pivoted to uncover the open end and allow a ball to pop up the tube and which then can be released to spring back and kick the ball away from an overlying finger trap mechanism during its return movement; e. an inclined ramp that is adjacent to the tube's upper end and which receives the kicked ball to feed it downwardly; and f. a clear display chute that catches the balls from the ramp and allows them to be viewed by a user.

Claim 14

A method of randomly selecting numbers in a game of chance, said method comprising: a. blowing a plurality of lightweight, numbered balls within the enclosed storage chamber of a bingo-ball blower; b. blocking the upper open end of a vertical discharge tube of the blower with an overlying, spring-biased selector arm to prevent the balls from rising up the tube; c. pivoting and holding the selector arm away from the tube to unblock the tube's open upper end and allow a ball to pop up the tube; d. releasing the arm to allow it to spring back to its position described in step b so that it kicks a ball away from the tube's upper end and onto an adjacent ramp; and e. feeding the ball downwardly, via gravity, from the ramp into a display chute that catches the ball and allows it to be viewed by a user.

Claim 15

A method of randomly selecting numbers in a game of chance, said method comprising: a. blowing a plurality of lightweight, numbered balls within the enclosed storage chamber of a bingo-ball blower; b. blocking the upper open end of a vertical discharge tube of the blower with an overlying, spring-biased selector arm to prevent the balls from rising up the tube; c. pivoting and holding the selector arm away from the tube to unblock the tube's open upper end and allow a ball to pop up the tube; d. releasing the arm to allow it to spring back to its position described in step b so that it kicks a ball away from the tube's upper end and onto an adjacent ramp; and e. feeding the ball downwardly, via gravity, from the ramp into a display chute that catches the ball and allows it to be viewed by a user.