Disk Game Having Moveable Gate Means To Block Target Openings

Abstract

A skill-type game having a generally flat, horizontal playing surface over which an object is propelled by one player toward a pair of spaced-apart "home" or receiving positions on the base support along one edge of the playing surface. A manually held and movable gate member is operable by a second player for blocking the receiving positions but permitting only one position to be blocked at any one time. The first player propels the object toward the receiving positions in an attempt to cause the object to enter one or the other of the receiving positions while the second player moves the gate member to block one or the other of the receiving positions in an attempt to prevent the object from entering either of the receiving positions.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a skill-type game designed for the entertainment of the player, particularly children, and for developing dexterity and coordination for the individual player as well as competition between a plurality of players.

There are various entertaining skill type games presently available which have projectiles or the like which are projected toward target areas which have a plurality of receiving positions for the projectiles, and normally having means for scoring the game. Competition is provided by acquiring desired scores. Still other games have objects which are propelled toward receiving positions randomly spaced and variably scored to provide an entertaining game, but which is played solely on the principle of chance. The game of the present invention is a skill-type game wherein objects or projectiles are propelled by one player toward receiving or "home" positions, and wherein a degree of skill and coordination is required by a second player in an attempt to prevent the objects from entering the "home" or receiving positions.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new skill-type game of the character described for developing dexterity and coordination for the individual player as well as competition between a plurality of players.

In carrying out the objects of this invention, a skill type game is provided comprising a base support, means defining at least a pair of spaced-apart "home" or receiving positions on the base support, manually held and movable gate means operable by one player for blocking the receiving positions but permitting only one position to be blocked at any one time. Means operable by a second player are provided for propelling an object toward the receiving positions in an attempt to cause the object to enter one of the receiving positions, while one player moves the gate means to block one or the other of the receiving positions in an attempt to prevent the object from entering either of the receiving positions. Preferably, the gate means comprises a single gate member mounted on the base support for reciprocating movement between positions blocking the spaced-apart receiving positions.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the base support includes means defining a generally flat, horizontal playing surface over which the object is propelled by a player. The playing surface is bounded by upstanding wall means along the marginal periphery thereof and the receiving positions are defined by a pair of horizontally spaced openings in the upstanding wall means. The gate member comprises a single vertical gate positioned on the base support for reciprocating generally horizontal movement between positions blocking the spaced openings and means are provided on the base support for guiding the gate member between said positions.

In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, at least one obstacle is provided on the playing surface spaced from and generally in front of the receiving positions, the obstacle preferably takes the form of a hole or recess in the playing surface into which a propelled object may fall if not accurately directed over the playing surface by a player toward the receiving positions. Preferably, the object comprises a pucklike projectile and a player uses a stick member for moving the pucklike object over the playing surface.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skill-type game embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one corner of the game shown in FIG. 1, showing particularly the reciprocating gate member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings includes a base support, generally designated 10, a portion of which defines a generally flat, horizontal playing surface 12 over which a pucklike object 14 (FIG. 1) is propelled or moved by one player using a stick member 16 (FIG. 1) which may take any desired shape. The playing surface 12 is bounded by upstanding wall means 18 about the marginal periphery thereof.

At least one pair of spaced apart "home" or receiving positions are defined by horizontally spaced openings 20 in the upstanding wall means 18 along the edge of the playing surface 12. In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the playing surface 12 is generally square with rounded corners and four pairs of openings 20 are formed in the upstanding wall means 18, one pair along each of the four sides of the playing surface.

One or more obstacles may be provided on the playing surface spaced from and generally in front of the receiving positions 20. In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the obstacle comprises a hole or recess 22 disposed generally centrally of the playing surface 12 and into which the pucklike objects or projectiles 14 may fall if the player utilizing the stick member 16 is not accurate in his "shots".

A slidable gate member, generally designated 24, is disposed on the outside of the wall means 18 for reciprocating movement back and forth in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 1) for blocking one or the other of the receiving positions defined by the openings 20. One gate member 24 is provided for each pair of openings 20 along each of the four sides of the base member 10. In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the gate member 24 includes a generally vertical planar gate portion 24a movable between positions blocking one or the other of the openings 20 in the vertical wall means 18, and a handle portion 24b for grasping by a player so as to move the planar gate portion 24a in the direction of arrow A. It can be seen that the gate portion 24a of the gate means 24 is of a size whereby only one of a pair of openings 20 may be blocked at any one time. A troughlike guiding means, generally designated 26, is disposed on the outside of the wall means 18 about the area of each pair of openings 20 for guiding the gate means 24 along the outside of the wall means 18 between positions behind the respective pairs of openings 20.

The object of the game is for the player who is handling the stick member 16 to propel or move one or more of the pucklike objects 14 over the playing surface 12 and into one of the "home" or receiving positions 20 without having the puck fall into the obstacle recess or hole 22. Any number from two to five players may play the game. When five players participate at one time, four gate means 24 are provided for each of the four pairs of openings 20 along the four sides of the square playing surface and the fifth player handles the stick member 16 to propel the pucklike objects 14 toward the openings 20 in an attempt to cause one or more of the objects to enter one of the openings, while the other players operate gate members 24 to block one or the other of their respective pair of receiving positions defined by the openings 20 in an attempt to prevent the objects 14 from entering either of their respective receiving positions or openings 20. Any number of scoring schemes may be devised by awarding the player who handles the stick member 16 when he scores a puck 14 into one of the openings 20 and penalizing said player when the puck falls into the central hole or recess 22. Each of the four players handling the gate members 24 also may be rewarded or penalized depending on whether they are able to block the puck at their respective receiving positions 20. The players may take turns handling the stick member 16 in schemes which may depend on the score, or the success or failure of the other players to block the pucklike objects 14 at their receiving positions.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

We claim:

1. Game apparatus comprising a playing board, wall means extending vertically upward from the playing board surface around the entire periphery thereof, said wall means defining with said playing board surface a generally rectangular playing area having curved corner portions at the junctures of the four sides, means defining a pair of spaced-apart openings in said wall along each of the four sides in communication with the playing surface, a manually movable gate means associated with each said pair of wall openings, said gate means being of a size such that it is effective to block only one of said pair of openings at a time, a playing piece adapted to be propelled along said playing surface, and means adapted to be held by a player and manipulated to propel said playing piece across the playing surface in an attempt to move said playing piece through one of said sidewall openings.

2. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means defining an opening in the center of said playing board surface.

3. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a troughlike guide means secured to the outer surface of said wall means adjacent each said pair of openings therein to provide a guide for the movement of said gate means.