US 4,822,045 A · Rolling ball game

Abstract

An amusement apparatus comprises a pair of spaced elongate members defining a track and a rolling member for rolling along the track under the control of an operator. The elongate members are spaced a fixed distance apart at their first ends, this end comprising the normal home position of the rolling member. The opposite, second ends of the elongate members are movable relative to one another to adjust their spacing and to control movement of the ball along the track. The second ends are preferably mounted on a transversely extending track and are moveable towards and away from one another along the track. A drive assembly drives the second ends and a control device, which is at least partially controllable by the operator, controls operation of the drive assembly. The operator must control separation of the elongate members so that the rolling member can roll from its home position to the opposite end of the track without falling through the opening between the elongate members.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An amusement apparatus, comprising:

a pair of spaced apart, elongate members defining a generally horizontal track spaced above the ground, the members having opposite first and second ends defining opposite first and second ends of the track, respectively, the first ends being spaced a fixed distance apart;
a rolling member seated on the track and moveable between opposite ends of the track;
a mounting assembly for guiding the second ends of the elongate members for movement towards and away from each other in a horizontal direction transverse to the track;
non-manual drive means for moving the second ends of the members towards and away from each other;
and
control means remote from the drive means for controlling operation of the drive means to adjust the separation of the second ends of the members to control rolling of the rolling member along the track, the control means including a player-controlled device for allowing at least partial control by the player of the drive means controlling movement of the second ends of the elongate members.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rolling ball game

Life of this patent

Rolling ball game

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13