Sidewinder amusement game

Claim 2

A tiltable table apparatus for a ball rolling game comprising a bottom panel joining a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel, a table supporting means attached at a bottom end to the bottom panel and at a top end pivotally to a planar tiltable table, the tiltable table having an elongated zig-zag pattern containing a single track for a ball, an upper portion of the track having side support means for preventing the ball from leaving the track, and a lower portion of the track being devoid of side support means so that the ball can fall from the track to the bottom panel if the table is improperly controlled by a game player, an object target located in the lower portion of the track, the table being partially rotated about a central longitudinal axis by manipulation of a control means by a game player, the table having a downward slope from its upper portion to its lower portion, and the control means attached to a connecting means engaged to the table.

Claim 3

A tiltable table apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the table supporting means is an upwardly projecting strut engaged at an upper end to a pivotal bracket attached to a lower surface of the tiltable table.

Claim 4

A tiltable table apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the side support means for the upper portion of the track is a rail along each side edge of the track.

Claim 5

A tiltable table apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the object target is a hole in the table of sufficient diameter to accommodate the ball.

Claim 6

A tiltable table apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the control means is selected from the group consisting of a wheel and a lever.

Claim 7

A tiltable table apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the control means is attached to a first shaft axially attached to a second shaft engaged to a universal joint, the universal joint attached by a plate to a lower surface of the tiltable table located under the upper portion of the table.

Claim 8

A tiltable table apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the control means optionally engages through a shaft to a lower or upper gear, the lower gear being supported under tension by a pair of springs attached to the bottom panel.

Claim 9

A tiltable table apparatus for a ball rolling game comprising a bottom panel joining a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel, a tiltable table having an elongated serpentine track for a ball, the track spaced above the bottom panel, the track having an upper portion with a side support structure for preventing the ball from leaving the track, and a lower portion of the track having an object target for receipt of the ball, the track having a downward slope from the upper portion to the object target, the table being partially rotated about a central longitudinal axis through manipulation of a hand control element by a game player, the upper portion of the table being attached by a connecting element to the control element and the lower portion of the table being supported by a strut pivotally attached at an upper end to an underside of the table and at another end to the bottom panel.

Claim 10

A tiltable table apparatus for a ball rolling game comprising a bottom panel joining a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel, a tiltable table having an elongated serpentine track for a ball, the track spaced above the bottom panel, the track having an upper portion with a side support structure for preventing the ball from leaving the track, and a lower portion of the track having an object target for receipt of the ball, the track having a downward slope from the upper portion to the object target, the table being partially rotated about a central longitudinal axis through manipulation of a hand control element by a game player, the upper portion of the table being attached by a connecting element to the control element and the lower portion of the table being supported by a strut pivotally attached at an upper end to an underside of the table and at another end to the bottom panel.

Claim 11

The tiltable table apparatus according to claim 8 wherein an array of lights is attached along an exterior edge of the table.

Claim 12

The tiltable table apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the object target contains a relay switch to activate a digital musical recording, light or bell when the ball enters the object target.

Claim 13

The tiltable table apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the bottom panel slopes downwardly from the back to the front to allow a ball to roll to the front panel when it leaves the table.

Claim 14

The tiltable table apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a ball release mechanism activated by a metal coin or token releases a ball to the upper portion of the track.

Claim 15

An amusement park game testing the hand-eye coordination skills of a player, the game comprising; a single planar path for a rolling ball, said path further defining a series of zig-zag curves about a central axis and being tilted so as to have an upper point of beginning on one end and a lower objective point on the other end; said planar path being further adapted with a side support at an upper portion of the path the upper portion of the path being supported from below to facilitate the partial rotation of said planar path in either direction about said central axis and to support the weight of said path about said central axis; said planar path being further adapted with a control means near said upper point of beginning in order to permit a player to control the rotation of said path; and a target at said objective point for receiving said rolling ball.

Claim 16

An amusement park game testing the hand-eye coordination skills of a player, the game comprising; a single planar path for a rolling ball, said path further defining a series of zig-zag curves about a central axis and being tilted so as to have an upper point of beginning on one end and a lower objective point on the other end; said planar path being further adapted with a side support at an upper portion of the path the upper portion of the path being supported from below to facilitate the partial rotation of said planar path in either direction about said central axis and to support the weight of said path about said central axis; said planar path being further adapted with a control means near said upper point of beginning in order to permit a player to control the rotation of said path; and a target at said objective point for receiving said rolling ball.

Claim 17

The game according to claim 13 wherein the control means further comprises a steering wheel in axial, rotational communication with the planar path central axis through a rotational transmission system.

Claim 18

The game according to claim 14 wherein the rotational transmission system further comprises one or more adjustable gears to set either the ratio or direction of rotation between the planar path and the steering wheel.

Claim 19

The game according to claim 13 wherein the target is a hole at the objective point, the hole sufficiently wide in diameter to receive the ball.

Claim 20

An amusement park game apparatus testing the hand-eye coordination skills of a player, the game apparatus having a game control elements comprising, an extended longitudinal planar path for a rolling ball, the path further defining a series of zig-zag curves about a central axis the planar path being tilted so as to have an upper point of beginning and a lower objective point; the planar path being further adapted with a support at some point along the path to facilitate the partial rotation of the planar path in either direction about the central axis and to support the weight of the path; the planar path being further adapted with a control means near the upper point of beginning in order to permit a player to control the rotation of the path; and a target at the objective point for receiving the rolling ball; and the game housing having a a mounting frame supporting the planar path within the frame, control elements at a front portion, and enclosing the planar path without obstructing the observation of the planar path from a player.

Claim 21

An amusement park game apparatus testing the hand-eye coordination skills of a player, the game apparatus having a game control elements comprising, an extended longitudinal planar path for a rolling ball, the path further defining a series of zig-zag curves about a central axis the planar path being tilted so as to have an upper point of beginning and a lower objective point; the planar path being further adapted with a support at some point along the path to facilitate the partial rotation of the planar path in either direction about the central axis and to support the weight of the path; the planar path being further adapted with a control means near the upper point of beginning in order to permit a player to control the rotation of the path; and a target at the objective point for receiving the rolling ball; and the game housing having a a mounting frame supporting the planar path within the frame, control elements at a front portion, and enclosing the planar path without obstructing the observation of the planar path from a player.

Claim 22

The game according to claim 17 wherein the mounting frame further comprises; a front, two sides, and rear upright panels defining a rectangular cross-section; a lower interior panel connecting all the upright panels and tilted at a slope so as to facilitate the rolling of a ball from any point on the interior panel to a designated point adjacent to the upright front panel; the upright front panel being further adapted near its top with a mounting apparatus for control elements; the lower interior panel being further adapted to support and receive a pivotal support for the planar path; and the mounting frame being constructed with dimensions suitable to house the planar path point of beginning near the front panel, the objective point near the rear panel and the extended longitudinal length of planar path between the side panels.

Claim 23

The game according to claim 18 wherein the front panel is further adapted with a releasable gate to permit a ball to be retrieved from a point through the front panel and the lower interior panel is adapted with one or more sloping surfaces so that a ball falling upon the lower interior panel will roll to the gate.

Claim 24

The game according to claim 19 wherein the releasable gate is in control communication with a coin activation device.