US3857567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bumper pool game with impact responsive actuation-deactuation structure for marking and unmarking of selected bumper elements
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-02-21
•
Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1993-02-21
Abstract
Abstract Game apparatus comprises a plurality of targets, disposed on a playing surface, and marking circuitry coupled to light bulbs associated with the targets. The marking circuitry is actuable upon the closing of normally open switches to mark at least one target to be distinguishable from other targets, until that target is struck by a striking element movable upon the playing surface. Marking selection structure in the form of a movable programmer member controls the sequence of marking of targets and includes an array of cam elements for closing the marking circuit switches. The position of each cam element on the programmer member determines to which target marking circuit the cam relates and at what point in the target marking sequence such relating occurs. Each target includes a flexible contact member which, upon collision of a striking element with the target, flexes to connect electrically with a selection circuit contact, thereby closing a switch in a selection circuit. The selection circuit is coupled to a solenoid having a movable armature biased to engage a ratchet mechanism, associated with the programmer member, to prevent motion of the latter member. Closing of the selection circuit switch after collision of a striking element with a marked target results in a disengagement of the armature from the ratchet mechanism, thus permitting incremental motion of the programmer member under the influence of a power source coupled thereto, until a cam element on the programmer member causes closing of a marker circuit; a contact associated with the programmer member cam element concurrently disengages to open a solenoid switch in the selection circuit and deactivates the solenoid, thereby engaging the solenoid armature with the ratchet mechanism. The cycle is repeated until the game is over. In apparatus with depletable power source, such as a windable power spring coupled to the programmer member, a warning indicator coupled to a warning circuit is actuated by a warning circuit cam element, disposed upon the programmer member, which closes a warning switch.
Inventors
- 👤 A Goldfarb
- 👤 E Benkoe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:17
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F7/00; A63F7/22; A63F7/30; A63F7/305; A63F7/3065; A63D; A63D15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
Bumper pool game apparatus comprising: a rollable striking element; a substantially horizontal playing surface for the striking element to roll upon, the playing surface having a periphery; wall means disposed at the periphery of the playing surface and comprising a boundary therefor to confine the striking element, the wall means being configured to provide access to the playing surface from above the surface for permitting play thereon; a plurality of bumper means for being struck by the striking element, the bumper means being disposed in an arrangement at the playing surface and extending thereabove; marker means on the bumper means, the marker means being actuable to mark the bumper means to distinguish the latter means from unmarked bumper means and thereby indicate the next bumper means to be struck by the striking element; and control and selection means coupled to the bumper means and to the marker means, and being responsive to impact of the striking element upon a marked bumper means to: a. deactuate the marker means of that bumper means, b. select the next bumper means to be struck by the striking element, and c. actuate the marker means on the selected bumper means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
Bumper pool game apparatus comprising: a rollable striking element; a substantially horizontal playing surface for the striking element to roll upon, the playing surface having a periphery; wall means disposed at the periphery of the playing surface and comprising a boundary therefor to confine the striking element, the wall means being configured to provide access to the playing surface from above the surface for permitting play thereon; a plurality of bumper means for being struck by the striking element, the bumper means being disposed in an arrangement at the playing surface and extending thereabove; marker means on the bumper means, the marker means being actuable to mark the bumper means to distinguish the latter means from unmarked bumper means and thereby indicate the next bumper means to be struck by the striking element; and control and selection means coupled to the bumper means and to the marker means, and being responsive to impact of the striking element upon a marked bumper means to: a. deactuate the marker means of that bumper means, b. select the next bumper means to be struck by the striking element, and c. actuate the marker means on the selected bumper means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises marking termination means for deactuating the marker means of the struck bumper means; and selection means for selecting the next bumper means to be struck by the striking element, and for actuating the marker means on said selected bumper means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the selection means comprises actuating means, the actuating means being movable to actuate the marker means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3 further including marking circuit means, the marking circuit means being coupled to the marker means to actuate the latter means in the presence of electric current in the marking circuit means, and further including contact means, the contact means being coupled to the marking circuit means and being movable to close the marking circuit means, and wherein the actuating means of said selection means are engageable with the first contact means to close the marking circuit means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3 further including motive means coupled to the selection means for moving the latter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the selection means actuate the marker means in a predetermined sequence unrelated to said arrangement of bumper means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein the marking termination means includes marking termination circuit means and further includes electromechanical means connected to the marking termination circuit means, the electromechanical means being actuable to engage the selection means to control motion thereof, and further including marking termination switch means coupled to the marking termination circuit means and closeable to permit current in the latter means to actuate the electromechanical means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7, further including displaceable means disposed upon the bumper means, the displaceable means being displaceable upon impact of the striking element with the bumper means, and wherein the marking termination switch means comprises contact pair means, including first marking termination contact means and second marking termination contact means movable with respect to each other, the first marking termination contact means being connected to the displaceable means, the displaceable means being positioned so that the first marking termination contact means contacts the second marking termination contact means upon displacement of the displaceable means due to the impact of the striking element with the bumper means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein the marking termination means includes switch means besides said first mentioned marking termination switch means, the second mentioned switch means being coupled to the input of the electromechanical means and being normally closed, and further including switch opening means for opening the second mentioned switch means, the switch opening means being movable to engage the second mentioned switch means and to open the latter means prior to actuation of said marking circuit means by said actuating means of said selection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein the bumper means includes resilient means disposed on said housing and configured to rebound the striking element away from the bumper means for preventing the displaceable means from excessively absorbing momentum from the striking element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said marking termination circuit means includes SCR means coupled to the output of said electromechanical means, the gate of the SCR means being connected to the output of said first mentioned switch means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bumper means comprises housing means and the marker means comprises bulb means disposed in the housing means, the housing means being translucent, and wherein actuation of the marker means comprises illumination of thE bulb means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including hand held cue means for impelling the striking element to roll upon the playing surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
209 words
Bumper pool game apparatus comprising: a horizontal playing surface for accommodating motion of a striking element; resilient wall means bounding the playing surface to confine the striking element and being configured to provide access to the playing surface from above the surface for permitting play thereon; a plurality of bumper means for being struck by a striking element, the bumper means being disposed at the playing surface in an arrangement such that for each bumper means at least three paths leading thereto are obstructed by others of said bumper means; marker means coupled to the bumper means, the marker means being actuable to mark the bumper means to distinguish marked bumper means from unmarked bumper means; marking termination means for deactuating marked marker means, the marking termination means being coupled to the marker means, and being responsive to impact of a striking element upon a marked bumper means to deactuate the marker means of the marked bumper means; and selection means coupled to the marker means and being responsive to said impact for selecting a bumper means to be marked and for actuating the marker means on said selected bumper means, said selection being in a sequence having no readily discernible relation to the arrangement of the bumper means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
209 words
Bumper pool game apparatus comprising: a horizontal playing surface for accommodating motion of a striking element; resilient wall means bounding the playing surface to confine the striking element and being configured to provide access to the playing surface from above the surface for permitting play thereon; a plurality of bumper means for being struck by a striking element, the bumper means being disposed at the playing surface in an arrangement such that for each bumper means at least three paths leading thereto are obstructed by others of said bumper means; marker means coupled to the bumper means, the marker means being actuable to mark the bumper means to distinguish marked bumper means from unmarked bumper means; marking termination means for deactuating marked marker means, the marking termination means being coupled to the marker means, and being responsive to impact of a striking element upon a marked bumper means to deactuate the marker means of the marked bumper means; and selection means coupled to the marker means and being responsive to said impact for selecting a bumper means to be marked and for actuating the marker means on said selected bumper means, said selection being in a sequence having no readily discernible relation to the arrangement of the bumper means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said sequence provides that a bumper means marked by said marker means successive to the previously marked bumper means is substantially frequently other than a bumper means closest to the previously marked bumper means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention as set forth in claim 15 wherein the marking termination means includes marking termination circuit means and further includes electromechanical means connected to said marking termination circuit means and being actuable to engage the selection means to control motion thereof, and further including marking termination switch means coupled to the marking termination circuit means and closeable to permit current in the latter means to actuate the electromechanical means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 further including marking circuit means coupled to the marker means, the marking circuit means actuating the marker means when electric current is present in the marking circuit means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as set forth in claim 17 wherein the marking circuit means includes marking circuit switch means closeable to close the marking circuit means and wherein the selection means comprises actuating means, the actuating means being movable to reach actuation positions to close the marking circuit switch means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention as set forth in claim 18 wherein the actuating means comprise an array of index means, and wherein the index means and said switch means are relatively positioned so that the position of an index means determines the sequence of closing of the switch means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as set forth in claim 18 wherein the selection means comprises a movable support means having a generally circular surface and wherein the index means are mounted upon the surface of the support means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said bumper means are disposed in an array including a centrally disposed bumper means and a plurality of peripherally disposed bumper means.
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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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |