Miniature ball game

Claim 2

In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playing surface, an object freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality of projectiles adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining said object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barrier means being adapted to permit a projectile to pass beyond said playing surface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, said restraining means comprising a system of return channels adapted to convey a projectile which leaves the playing surface to a said projecting means, said projecting means being aimable, and reloading means adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to said projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project a projectile, said projecting means comprising a rotatable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted to project a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface, means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammer into contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectively retain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the stored energy drives the hammer into contact with said projectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in Said turret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided with projectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of said hammer.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 in which said retaining means comprises a resilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said return channel being adapted to position a projectile below said tube so that vertical reciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 in which the playing surface is flat and generally horizontal.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3 in which the playing surface is generally rectangular, with a goal at each end and a pair of means for ejecting projectiles at each end.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 in which a said means for ejecting projectiles is mounted at each corner of said playing surface.

Claim 7

In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playing surface, an object ball freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality of smaller projectile balls adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining said object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barrier means comprising a rail placed higher than the diameter of the projectile ball and lower than the diameter of the object ball from the playing surface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, said playing surface being flat and generally horizontal, said means for projecting projectiles being mounted at each corner of said playing surface, said projecting means comprising a rotable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted to drive a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface, means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammer into contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectively retain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the stored energy drives the hammer into contact with a said projectile, and means adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to said projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project a projectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in said turret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided with projectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of said hammer.

Claim 8

In a game, a playing surface, means defining a goal on the playing surface, an object ball freely movable on the playing surface, a plurality of smaller projectile balls adapted to strike the object and thereby move it on the playing surface, means for projecting a said projectile along the playing surface, barrier means confining said object to the playing surface and surrounding said surface except at said goal, said barrier means comprising a rail placed higher than the diameter of the projectile ball and lower than the diameter of the object ball from the playing surface, means to restrain a projectile passing beyond said playing surface from leaving the vicinity of the playing surface, said playing surface being flat and generally horizontal, said means for projecting projectiles being mounted at each corner of said playing surface, said projecting means comprising a rotable turret including a projectile aiming channel, a hammer adapted to drive a projectile along said channel and onto the playing surface, means to cock the hammer and adapted to store energy to drive the hammer into contact with the projectile, trigger means adapted to selectively retain and release the hammer from cocked position whereby the stored energy drives the hammer into contact with a said projectile, and means adapted to transfer one projectile from said restraining means to said projecting means prior to each use of said projecting means to project a projectile, said projectile transfer means being actuated by said cocking means, said transfer means including a vertical tube in said turret adapted to receive a plurality of said projectiles, said turret being adapted to reciprocate vertically, said tube being provided with projectile retaining means adapted to yieldably receive a projectile upon downward reciprocation of said tube and to retain said projectile in a known position upon upward reciprocation of said tube, the uppermost projectile in said tube being thereby positioned in the path of said hammer.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises a resilient ring at the bottom of said tube, said return channel being adapted to position a projectile below said tube so that vertical reciprocation forces the tube resiliently over the projectile.

Claim 10

A game playing table including a game playing surface, goal means on said playing surface, barrier means mounted above said playing surface, said barrier means extending substantially along the entire edge portion of said playing surface exclusive of said goal means, at least one object ball on said playing surface to be hit toward said goal means for scoring purposes, at least one projectile ball projected by manually actuated projecting means for hitting said object ball, said barrier means limiting the object ball to said playing surface but permitting the passage of any of said projectile balls beyond said playing surface, restraining meAns for restraining to said table any projectile balls passing beyond said barrier means, said restraining means including inclined trough means for guiding and returning any of said passed projectile balls to the vicinity adjacent the lower portion of said projecting means, said projecting means including at least one turret having a hammer mounted on said table, each said turret including a base plate in a plane parallel to and normally substantially flush with said playing surface, said base plate including a channel for initially positioning and guiding said projectile when struck by said hammer, said turret being vertically reciprocable and having means cooperable therewith for cocking said hammer and feeding said returned projectile balls, one by one, to the base plate channel when said turret is vertically reciprocated, and means pivotally supporting said turret for pivoting the base plate in the plane of said playing surface for aiming said turret.

Claim 11

A game playing table including a game playing surface, goal means on said playing surface, barrier means mounted above said playing surface, said barrier means extending substantially along the entire edge portion of said playing surface exclusive of said goal means, at least one object ball on said playing surface to be hit toward said goal means for scoring purposes, at least one projectile ball projected by manually actuated projecting means for hitting said object ball, said barrier means limiting the object ball to said playing surface but permitting the passage of any of said projectile balls beyond said playing surface, restraining meAns for restraining to said table any projectile balls passing beyond said barrier means, said restraining means including inclined trough means for guiding and returning any of said passed projectile balls to the vicinity adjacent the lower portion of said projecting means, said projecting means including at least one turret having a hammer mounted on said table, each said turret including a base plate in a plane parallel to and normally substantially flush with said playing surface, said base plate including a channel for initially positioning and guiding said projectile when struck by said hammer, said turret being vertically reciprocable and having means cooperable therewith for cocking said hammer and feeding said returned projectile balls, one by one, to the base plate channel when said turret is vertically reciprocated, and means pivotally supporting said turret for pivoting the base plate in the plane of said playing surface for aiming said turret.