US 4,163,558 A · Vibratory game apparatus

Abstract

A vibratory game apparatus for use with a plurality of game pieces movable over a playing surface in response to vibration thereof comprises an open top enclosure or arena for containing a group of said game pieces during play. The enclosure includes a floor which comprises a vibratory playing surface and an upstanding sidewall or fence formed around the outer periphery of the playing surface which is vibrated by means of one or more elongated elements having teeth along one edge adapted to be manipulated longitudinally back and forth with the teeth in engagement with an upper edge portion of the sidewall thereby imparting vibratory action to the playing surface via the vibrating sidewall structure. The enclosure or arena includes a plurality of inner compartments or corrals, each having a pair of fixed sidewalls angularly disposed with respect to one another and a movable wall which is manually operated by a control arm to open and close with respect to the fixed wall for corralling the game pieces in the compartment as they move around the vibratory playing surface. Each player's skill in opening and closing the movable wall of an assigned inner compartment or corral and hold a maximum number of game pieces determines the winner of the game.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A competitive vibratory game apparatus for use with one or more game pieces movable over a playing surface in response to vibration thereof, comprising:

an enclosure for containing said game pieces during play including a floor comprising said playing surface with an upstanding sidewall around the outer periphery of said surface;
a plurality of compartments inwardly of said sidewall on said playing surface, each compartment including a fixed upstanding wall portion and a movable upstanding wall portion manually operable to open and close with respect to said fixed wall portion for corralling said game pieces in said compartment;
and
a plurality of selectively operable means for vibrating said playing surface, each including an elongated element having teeth along at least one edge adapted to be manipulated longitudinally with said teeth engaging a player selected portion of said sidewall for imparting player induced vibrations to various sections of said sidewall and said playing surface to control the movement of the playing pieces.

1 more element

A vibratory game apparatus for use with one or more game pieces movable over a playing surface in response to vibration thereof, comprising:

an open topped enclosure for containing said game pieces during play including a floor comprising said playing surface with an upstanding sidewall around the outer periphery thereof;
a plurality of compartments inwardly of said sidewall on said playing surface, said compartments including a fixed upstanding wall portion including a plurality of inside walls interconnected at a common center and projecting outwardly of said center with adjacent pairs of inside walls forming fixed walls for each compartment and a movable upstanding wall member for each compartment manually operable to open and close with respect to said fixed walls for corralling said game pieces in said compartment, said movable upstanding wall portions being supported on an upstanding pivot axle at its center;
means for vibrating said playing surface including an elongated element having teeth along one edge adapted to be manipulated longitudinally with said teeth engaging an upper edge of said side wall for imparting vibration through said side wall to said playing surface;
means for supporting said enclosure above a supporting surface;
and
control arm means below said playing surface attached to each of said movable wall portions and extending outwardly beyond said side wall for manipulation to open and close said movable wall portions with respect to said fixed walls, said control arm means including a control arm for independently controlling the rotation of the pivotal axle of each movable wall portion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vibratory game apparatus

Life of this patent

Vibratory game apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12