Amusement device with apertures and timed ball release

An amusement device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a playing surface provided with a plurality of first openings, and means defining a path toward said first openings;
• a plate provided with a plurality of second openings corresponding to said first openings;
• means mounting said plate within said casing below said playing surface for movement between first and second positions wherein said pluralities of said first and second openings are aligned and non-aligned, respectively, and spring means normally biasing said plate toward said second position;
• a plurality of playing pieces capable of passing through said openings;
• a knob having teeth along the periphery thereof, means mounting said knob to said casing for rotation, a coil spring wound around said knob and having one end secured to said knob and the other end to said housing to urge said knob to rotate in one direction, said knob being provided with an abutment positioned so as to engage said plate and move same to its said first position during the rotation of said knob;
• arm means mounted to said casing to pivot between first and second positions, said arm means provided with prong means, and manually operable means for placing said arm means in its said first position;
• and
• gear train means operatively connected at one end thereof to said teeth of said knob and at the other end to said prong means of said arm means, said prong means cooperating at said other end of said gear train means to prevent movement of said gear train means when said arm is in said first position, while permitting movement of said gear train means when in said second position.