US4784387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-02-01
•
Granted: 1988-11-15
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Expires: 2008-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A game is provided for educational and recreational use which includes an outer housing with a cut out opening, having a main drive gear and a plurality of ball control gears around the cut out. A spring impelled pop up plate is provided within the housing onto which magnetically retained gear devices are placed to provide gear trains between the main drive gear and the ball control gears for rotation and discharge of balls used with the game. The plate position is controlled by a timer to cause the plate to pop up at the end of a predetermined time interval and to break up the gear trains formed by the gear devices. The game can then be reset for the same or for a different time interval.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas K. Liversidge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:45
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/06; A63F9/08; A63F9/0803; A63F9/0819
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
An educational and recreational game comprising a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, side wall and a top wall with a cut out opening, drive gear means mounted to said top an having a drive gear which projects into said cut-out opening, at least one ball control gear means around said cut out opening mounted to said top plate and having a gear which projects into said opening, a pop up plate in said cut out opening, said pop up plate having cut-outs spaced to accomodate said gears from said drive gear means and said ball control means, said top plate having openings for insertion of balls, said ball control gears having openings for positioning below said top plate openings to selectively permit said balls to pass therethrough, ramp means below said top plate openings to receive said balls, latch means for engagement with said pop up plate, timer means to release to said latch means and cause said pop-up plate to move upwardly, a plurality of gear devices for engagement with said drive gear and said ball control gear to form at least one gear train for rotation of said ball control gears, magnetic means to releasably restrain said gear means on said top plate, and ball means for use with said game.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
An educational and recreational game comprising a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, side wall and a top wall with a cut out opening, drive gear means mounted to said top an having a drive gear which projects into said cut-out opening, at least one ball control gear means around said cut out opening mounted to said top plate and having a gear which projects into said opening, a pop up plate in said cut out opening, said pop up plate having cut-outs spaced to accomodate said gears from said drive gear means and said ball control means, said top plate having openings for insertion of balls, said ball control gears having openings for positioning below said top plate openings to selectively permit said balls to pass therethrough, ramp means below said top plate openings to receive said balls, latch means for engagement with said pop up plate, timer means to release to said latch means and cause said pop-up plate to move upwardly, a plurality of gear devices for engagement with said drive gear and said ball control gear to form at least one gear train for rotation of said ball control gears, magnetic means to releasably restrain said gear means on said top plate, and ball means for use with said game.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A game as defined in claim 1 in which said ball control gears having location indica thereon and said top plate having openings for viewing said indicia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A game as defined in claim 1 in which said gear devices are of different size.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A game as defined in claim 1 in which said pop up plate is of non-magnetic metallic material and said gear device includes a magnetized portion for engagement with said pop up plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A game as defined in claim 1 in which said pop up plate is of magnetized material and said gear device includes a non-magnetic metallic portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A game as defined in claim 1 in which said ramp means includes a detachable base plate with two ramps that extend around the inside periphery of said housing and terminate adjacent said front wall, and a trough is provided on the front of said front wall in communication with said ramps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-15 | 1992-05-16 | 1992-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-15 | 1996-05-16 | 1996-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-05-16 | 2000-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |