Ball transfer and capture game and method

A competitive multi-player game-playing apparatus, comprising:

• a frame means;
• a plurality of sets of balls, each set distinctively marked for association with each player;
• at least three wheels, mounted in the frame means such that each wheel is adjacent to at least one other wheel and is rotatable about a vertical axis, including at least one wheel associated with each player, and at least one wheel intermediate the player-associated wheels, each wheel including a plurality of peripheral pockets, each proportioned and arranged so as to receive and carry a ball and permit a ball to pass outwardly;
• means mounted in the frame means for effecting rotation of the wheels at a rate of rotation which generates sufficient centrifugal force such that the balls tend to move out of the pockets, and wherein the rates of rotation of the wheels, the respective sizes of the wheels, and the proportions and arrangements of the pockets are designed such that a space is formed between pockets in adjacent rotating wheels through which a ball tends to transfer;
• means on the frame means for confining the balls in the pockets in the rotating wheels other than at the transfer spaces, so that a ball will move through a path about the periphery of the rotating wheel between transfer spaces;
• and
• means mounted in the frame means for controlling transfer of balls through at least one transfer space, said control means being operable by each player,
• the controlling means comprising a plurality of gates, at least one gate associated with each player and including a vertical blocking plate, movable relative to a transfer space responsive to manual actuation so as to block or unblock the transfer space.

A game playing apparatus controlling movement of a plurality of balls along predetermined paths which intersect at two or more junctions, comprising:

• a frame;
• a wheel means mounted on said frame and including a plurality of wheels, each mounted for rotation in a common horizontal plane and with each wheel adjacent to at least one other wheel across a transfer zone, for moving said balls along circular paths around the wheels and from wheel to wheel, and including at least one wheel different in diameter from the other wheels;
• ball-holding means including a plurality of peripheral pockets sized and shaped to hold a ball and for releasing said ball through a transfer zone to an empty pocket of an adjacent wheel;
• guide means on said frame for confining the balls in said pockets of said rotating wheels other than at said transfer zones;
• motor means mounted on said frame means for simultaneously rotating all of said wheels, each at a constant speed which is synchronized with the speed of the other wheels and which is sufficient to tend to automatically move a ball out of said peripheral pockets and through said transfer zones to an empty pocket on an adjacent wheel, the different sizes of the wheels being such that pockets in adjacent rotating wheels are not aligned in the same pairs upon each complete rotation of a wheel;
• and
• manually actuated gate means in at least one of said transfer zones for blocking passage of any ball through such transfer zone.

A game playing apparatus controlling movement of a plurality of balls along perdetermined paths which intersect at two or more junctions, comprising:

• a frame;
• a wheel means mounted on said frame and including a plurality of wheels, each mounted for rotation in a common horizontal plane and with each wheel adjacent to at least one other wheel across a transfer zone, for moving said balls along circular paths around the wheels and from wheel to wheel, and including at least one wheel different in diameter from the other wheels;
• ball-holding means including a plurality of peripheral pockets sized and shaped to hold a ball and for releasing said ball through a transfer zone to an empty pocket of an adjacent wheel;
• guide means on said frame for confining the balls in said pockets of said rotating wheels other than at said transfer zones;
• drive means mounted on said frame means for rotating each of said wheels at a constant speed which is sufficient to tend to automatically move a ball out of said peripheral pockets and through said transfer zones to an empty pocket on an adjacent wheel, the different sizes of the wheels being such that pockets in adjacent rotating wheels are not aligned in the same pairs upon each complete rotation of a wheel;
• and
• manually actuated gate means in at least one of said transfer zones for blocking passage of any ball through such transfer zone, the wheels themselves include gear means for directly synchronizing their rotation at a constant rate,
• the wheels each including gear teeth on its outer periphery which are directly meshed with gear teeth in adjacent wheels, and wherein the vertical distance between the wheel gear teeth and the bottom of the wheel path is greater than the diameter of a ball.

A game playing apparatus, for directing movement of a plurality of balls, comprising:

• a frame member including upper means forming a series of at least three overlapping circular recesses having generally horizontal floor means and upstanding outer guide wall means for defining a ball raceway path such that each adjacent pair of recesses forms a figure-eight;
• at least three wheels, each mounted in one of the adjacent circular recesses for rotation about generally vertical axes, each wheel including a plurality of peripheral ball-carrying pockets for rolling the balls along said raceway, each pocket including an outwardly facing opening for discharging or receiving a ball passing through a transfer zone at the junction points on said figure-eight raceway path;
• a drive mechanism including a motor means mounted on said frame means for effecting simultaneous rotation of all of said wheels, each at a rate of rotation which generates sufficient centrifugal force such that the balls tend to move automatically out of said peripheral pockets and through a transfer zone to pockets on adjacent rotating wheels;
• and
• gate means mounted in said frame means in at least one transfer zone between adjacent rotating wheels, and including a manually actuated button member actuating the gate means to block the transfer of any balls through such transfer zone.

A method of moving a plurality of balls unidirectionally along a figure eight route having a first circular path, a second circular path and a junction therebetween, including the steps of:

• automatically by use of a motor and continuously directing certain of said balls in a linear sequence around the first path one at a time past the junction;
• automatically by use of a motor and simultaneously and continuously directing certain others of the said balls in a linear sequence around the second path one at a time past the junction;
• transferring to a different path automatically any ball passing the junction when another ball is not already occupying the different path at the junction;
• and
• selectively blocking the junction point during different spaced time periods to prevent any ball from going through said junction to a different path.