Patent US4772024A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4772024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game of chance device
Assignee: SCHWEND FRED N MIRA LOMA RIVERSIDE CA
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Filing: 1987-05-15
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Granted: 1988-09-20
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Expires: 2007-05-15
Abstract
Abstract Inclined chutes are filled with game balls of different colors or other visual characteristics. The underlying wall of each chute is formed of elastomeric material with openings therein of smaller diameters than the diameters of the balls so that the balls may roll down the chute and rest against each other and against a stop under the influence of gravity. Depressible plungers aligned with the openings may be selectively depressed to displace underlying balls through the openings from which they are guided to a display station.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfred M. Werner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:14
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/04; A63F7/22; A63F7/36; A63F7/40; A63F2007/4031; A63F2007/4043; A63F2250/00; A63F2250/18; A63F2250/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A game device comprising a guide chute having a lower end and an upper end, a delivery chute, said chutes having a common wall of resilient material, said wall having spaced openings therein, means forming a stop adjacent said lower end of said guide chute, said game pieces being effective to move along said guide chute and against each other and said stop by gravity, said game pieces being larger than said openings, a plurality of depressible plungers arranged along the length of said guide chute, means supporting said plungers in line with respective ones of said openings whereby depression of any one of said plungers will displace an aligned one of said game pieces through one of said openings and into said delivery chute, and means forming a registering station, said delivery chute being effective to guide a displaced one of said game pieces to said registering station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A game device comprising a guide chute having a lower end and an upper end, a delivery chute, said chutes having a common wall of resilient material, said wall having spaced openings therein, means forming a stop adjacent said lower end of said guide chute, said game pieces being effective to move along said guide chute and against each other and said stop by gravity, said game pieces being larger than said openings, a plurality of depressible plungers arranged along the length of said guide chute, means supporting said plungers in line with respective ones of said openings whereby depression of any one of said plungers will displace an aligned one of said game pieces through one of said openings and into said delivery chute, and means forming a registering station, said delivery chute being effective to guide a displaced one of said game pieces to said registering station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A game device as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide chute and said delivery chute extend parallel to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A game device as defined in claim 2 wherein said chutes extend at an angle to the horizon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A game device as defined in claim 1 wherein different ones of said game pieces have different visual characteristics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A game device as defined in claim 1 comprising means for returning said game pieces from said registering station to said upper end of said chute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A game device as defined in claim 1 comprising a return chute extending between said registering station and said upper end of said first mentioned chute, and means for returning said game pieces from said registering station along said return chute to said upper end of said first mentioned chute.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A game device as defined in claim 1 comprising a return chute extending between said registering station and said upper end of said first mentioned chute, said return chute, being at least substantially filled with said game pieces, and means for moving a said game piece that is at said registering station into one end of said return chute whereby to cause a game piece at the opposite end of said chute to advance into said first mentioned chute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
250 words
A game device comprising a plurality of guide chutes arranged side by side, each of said chutes having a lower end and an upper end, a plurality of delivery chutes, respective ones of said guide chutes and said delivery chutes having a common wall of resilient material, said wall having spaced openings therein extending between said guide chutes and respective ones of said delivery chutes, a plurality of game pieces of different visual characteristics in said guide chutes, said game pieces being effective to move along guide chutes and against each other and said stop means by gravity, said game pieces being larger than said openings, a plurality of depressible plungers, means supporting said plungers in line with respective ones of said openings in said guide chutes whereby depression of any of said plungers will displace an underlying said game piece through an aligned one of said openings and into a respective one of said delivery chutes, means forming a registering station, said delivery chutes being effective to guide displaced ones of said game pieces to said registering station, return chutes extending between said registering station and different ones of said guide chutes, said return chutes being at least substantially filled with said game pieces, a manually operable member, and means responsive to operation of said member for moving said game pieces at said registering station into said return chutes whereby to move said game pieces at the upper ends of said return chutes into said (first mentioned) guide chutes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
250 words
A game device comprising a plurality of guide chutes arranged side by side, each of said chutes having a lower end and an upper end, a plurality of delivery chutes, respective ones of said guide chutes and said delivery chutes having a common wall of resilient material, said wall having spaced openings therein extending between said guide chutes and respective ones of said delivery chutes, a plurality of game pieces of different visual characteristics in said guide chutes, said game pieces being effective to move along guide chutes and against each other and said stop means by gravity, said game pieces being larger than said openings, a plurality of depressible plungers, means supporting said plungers in line with respective ones of said openings in said guide chutes whereby depression of any of said plungers will displace an underlying said game piece through an aligned one of said openings and into a respective one of said delivery chutes, means forming a registering station, said delivery chutes being effective to guide displaced ones of said game pieces to said registering station, return chutes extending between said registering station and different ones of said guide chutes, said return chutes being at least substantially filled with said game pieces, a manually operable member, and means responsive to operation of said member for moving said game pieces at said registering station into said return chutes whereby to move said game pieces at the upper ends of said return chutes into said (first mentioned) guide chutes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-20 | 1992-03-21 | 1992-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-20 | 1996-03-21 | 1996-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-20 | 2000-03-21 | 2000-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |