Combined game of chance and skill

Abstract

A game of skill which is a modified form of the popular card game known as blackjack. The game includes a playing field having a circular ball-traversing course provided with successive ball-receiving pockets adapted to receive an indicating ball when propelled therealong by a striker ball. The striker ball is attached to the end of a radially-extending, resilient actuating arm centrally mounted on the playing field and propels the indicating ball so that it comes to rest in one of the ball-receiving pockets. Outwardly of each of the pockets there is a corresponding indicia of a playing card.

Description

This invention relates generally to a combined game of chance and skill and, more particularly, to a game which is a modified form of the popular card game known as blackjack.

Throughout the years various card games have become popular and played by both children and adults. One such popular card game is blackjack in which each player is randomly dealt cards with the object of obtaining a maximum score of 21 points. After the first two cards have been dealt to each player, the player then has the option of obtaining additional cards to bring his or her score as close to 21 as possible without going over.

Although the foregoing game has substantial play value and is interesting and intriguing both to children and adults, still further excitement could be generated by introducing further player controls which would determine the play of the game. As a new dimension or variable is added to the player's skill or control, further variance and modifications of such games can be created which will have enhanced play value and substantial consumer interest.

The present invention is directed to a modified form of the game of blackjack. More particularly, instead of each player being dealt cards at random, as in blackjack, a card selector or ball-propelling device is used to determine which card each player will receive. In the play of the game, an indicating ball is propelled by the novel ball-propelling device towards ball-receiving pockets each of which has indicia corresponding to a playing card. Accordingly, rather than being dealt cards at random, each player has the opportunity of using his or her skill to propel the indicating ball and shoot for particular cards to maintain his or her score below 21 points. In this manner, a new dimension of skill has been added to the play of the conventional game of blackjack and enhances the play value thereof by lending greater interest and excitement to this well-known game.

Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide a combined card game of chance and skill which is like the conventional game of blackjack, but has an interesting and new dimension of skill and control in the play thereof. In its commercial form, the game is portable, is of relatively simple construction, is readily manufactured by mass production techniques at relatively low cost and includes a number of simple and relatively indestructible components.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a combined game of chance and skill which includes a playing field having a circular ball-traversing course provided with successive ball-receiving pockets adapted to receive an indicating ball when propelled therealong. A card selector or ball-propelling device in the form of a hub centrally mounted on the playing field which supports a radially-extending, resilient actuating arm is provided with a striker ball at the end thereof. The ball-propelling device is used to propel the indicating ball along the circular course so that it comes to rest in one of the ball-receiving pockets. Outwardly of each the pockets indicia are provided corresponding to a playing card. In addition, personalized means, such as differently colored flags, are provided for each of the players to enable each player to identify the particular ball-receiving pocket and corresponding card into which the indicating ball is propelled when the player takes his turn.

As in the conventional game of blackjack, the object of the present combined game of chance and skill is for each player to obtain as close to a maximum score of 21 points as possible without going over. After the first two cards have been selected by the card selector or ball-propelling device, the player then has the option of shooting for those additional cards which will bring his or her score as close to 21 points as possible without going over. Accordingly, in the game of the present invention, the player may improve his or her shooting skill to improve the chances of obtaining desired cards, whereas in the conventional game of blackjack, the most each player can do is to look and see which cards have already been dealt in order to determine what the probability is of his being dealt a desired card. Accordingly, a new dimension of skill and control has been added to the conventional game of blackjack which thereby enhances the play value thereof. Of course, the present game may be used to play any other card games in which cards are dealt at random. In addition, the indicia of this game may be changed so that the apparatus may be used to play a wide variety of games including, for example, but without limitation, versions of bingo, word games and the like.

The above description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a representative form of the present invention, with a group of playing card indicia and playing balls being shown therein for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, partially broken away, taken substantially along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating impact between the striker ball and indicating ball on the ball-traversing course;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating further details of the ball-propelling device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view, showing in detail the interior of the centrally mounted hub of the ball-propelling device of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, illustrating the center of the playing field with the ball-propelling device removed therefrom.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustrative game embodying features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a game board 12 having a playing field 14 and a rotatable ball-propelling mechanism 16 mounted thereon for propelling an indicating ball 18. The playing field 14 further includes a circular ball-traversing course 20 having successive ball-receiving pockets 22 formed in game board 12 and adapted to receive indicating ball 18 when propelled therealong by ball-propelling mechanism 16, in a manner which will be described below.

In this illustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed for the play of blackjack, four chip-storing areas 24 for each of four players are provided at the corners of game board 12. In addition, at each of the corners of game board 12 there are provided a plurality of slots 26 for the receipt of personalized identification means, such as differently colored flags 28, for a purpose which will be described below.

As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 3, ball-traversing course 20 is defined on its inner side by circular wall 30 and on its outer side by curved wall 32, with inner wall 30 and outer wall 32 being joined by ball-receiving pockets 22 to complete the formation of the circular ball-traversing course 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the ball-receiving pockets 22 are slightly slanted towards the center of game board 12. In this manner, when indicating ball 18 is initially propelled along the ball-traversing course 20, centrifugal force will maintain it in contact with outer wall 32 until it loses sufficient speed, at which time, due to the slant of ball-receiving pockets 22, indicating ball 18 will shift inwardly and traverse inner wall 30 until it comes to rest in one of the ball-receiving pockets 22.

Moving outwardly from outer wall 32, there is provided a continuous groove 34 formed in the upper surface of game board 12 for receipt of personalized flags 28. Each player is provided with a plurality of flags 28, with some personalized means included thereon to identify that player. When indicating ball 18 comes to rest in one of the ball-receiving pockets 22, the player removes one of his personalized flags 28 from slots 26 and inserts it within groove 34 at a point directly outwardly of the pocket 22 in which indicating ball 18 has come to rest. In this manner, a record will be maintained of the pockets which each player has selected. Outwardly of groove 34, there is also formed in the upper surface of game board 12, a continuous circular depression 36 for the receipt of appropriate indicia means. In this illustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed for the play of blackjack, playing card indicia 36a are placed within depression 36 in a manner such that each of the ball-receiving pockets 22 has a corresponding playing card indicia 36a located outwardly therefrom.

In order for the player to propel indicating ball 18 along the ball-traversing course 20, there is provided a ball-propelling mechanism 16, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3. The ball-propelling mechanism 16 includes a hub 40 centrally mounted on game board 12, a radially-extending, resilient or flexible actuating arm 42 attached to hub 40 at 42a, and a striker ball 44 attached to the end of actuating arm 42. The central hub 40 is provided with a downwardly extending stud 40a which is received within an aperture 12b formed in the center of game board 12. Suitable biasing means are provided, such as spring 40b, to maintain central hub 40 slightly above the surface of game board 12. In addition, game board 12 is provided with a circular guide 12c which coacts with extension 40c formed on the outer edge of central hub 40. In this manner, when hub 40 is rotated with respect to game board 12, extension 40c will ride over and be guided by guide 12c. Between guide 12c and inner wall 30, the game board 12 is provided with a flat portion 12a. In addition, game board 12 is provided with an additional central support 12c in case any pressure is applied to the center of game board 12.

The present invention is also provided with a locking feature for positioning ball-propelling mechanism 16 at a starting position in each of four quadrants or playing sectors of game board 12, the four quadrants being shown by the dotted line positions of actuating arm 42 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the locking feature includes four cutout portions or slots 40d formed within extension 40c which coact with four ramps 12d formed on guide 12c in game board 12. More particularly, the interior or underside of central hub 40 may be clearly seen in FIG. 4. Extension 40c is not continuous and is divided into four quadrants by the cutout portions or slots 40d which correspond to the four quadrants into which game board 12 is divided. In addition, FIG. 5 shows the upper surface of game board 12 with central hub 40 removed therefrom. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 5, guide 12c is of a continuous configuration and the upper surface thereof is provided with four ramps 12d which correspond to and are to be received within slots 40d formed in extension 40c. These four ramps 12d and slots 40d correspond in number to the four playing sectors or quadrants into which game board 12 is divided. It will be understood of course that this is by way of example only, and that game board 12 may be divided into any number of playing sectors with an appropriate number of ramps and slots provided as locking features for each sector. For example, it is possible to employ a single slot which operates with each of four ramps.

Accordingly, in the play of the game, the player who is about to shoot to obtain additional card values, rotates ball-propelling mechanism 16 into the starting position in his quadrant of game board 12, the starting positions being shown by the dotted line positions of actuating arm 42 in FIG. 1. The player rotates central hub 40 in a counterclockwise direction on guide 12c until the four slots 40d "click" into position by engaging the four ramps 12d, respectively, overcoming the bias of spring 40b. In this manner, central hub 40 and ball-propelling mechanism 16 will be locked into the starting position in that player's quadrant of game board 12.

As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, an abutment member 30a is formed in the upper portion of inner wall 30 in each of the four quadrants, so that each player in his turn may bring flexible actuating arm 42 to bear against abutment member 30a at the starting position for that player. Supports 20a are also formed in ball-traversing course 20 in each of the four quadrants so that indicating ball 18 may be placed thereon so that a definite relationship is provided between indicating ball 18 and striker ball 44 for each of the players. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the player grasps striker ball 44 and bends flexible actuating arm 42 about abutment member 30a. The degree to which flexible actuating arm 42 is bent about abutment member 30a will control the distance which indicating ball 18 is propelled and thereby determine which pocket 22 will be obtained by the player. Further, it will also be clear that the player has the opportunity of improving his skill by determining to what degree flexible actuating arm 42 should be bent about abutment member 30a in order to propel indicating ball 18 to a desired pocket 22. In this manner, the game of the present invention allows the player to improve and utilize his skill in shooting for desired pockets 22 and corresponding card values as shown by indicia 36a, whereas in the conventional game of blackjack, the cards are dealt completely at random and the player has no opportunity of controlling the play of the game or of improving his skill.

When the player has bent flexible actuating arm 42 about abutment member 30a to the desired degree, by holding striker ball 44, the player then releases striker ball 44 to impact with indicating ball 18 and propel it along ball-traversing course 20. As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, striker ball 44 is provided with a flat or cutoff portion 44a. In this manner, striker ball 44 will not engage pockets 22 as it springs back and forth after it has been released by the player. As indicating ball 18 traverses course 20, centrifugal force will maintain it at the outer edge of course 20 adjacent outer wall 32. As indicating ball 18 slows down, it will shift inwardly and traverse course 20 adjacent to inner wall 30 until it comes to rest in one of the ball-receiving pockets 22, as shown by the representative dotted line position of indicating ball 18a in FIG. 1. The pocket 22, in which indicating ball 18 comes to rest, will determine that the corresponding playing card indicia 36a and its card value is assigned to that player. The player will then remove one of his personalized flags 28 from slots 26 and insert it in groove 34 adjacent the particular ball-receiving pocket 22 obtained and corresponding playing card indicia 36a, as shown by representative flag 28 adjacent indicating ball 18a in FIG. 1

The rules of the game require that each of the players project indicating ball 18 at least through one quadrant of playing card indicia 36a. In this manner, it will avoid the possibility of a player slightly impacting indicating ball 18 to traverse only a few pockets to the one desired.

Naturally, any of a wide variety of games may be played with the apparatus of the present invention, with ball-propelling mechanism 16 being used as the selector.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may be used in other specific forms or games without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A combined game of chance and skill comprising a game board including a substantially circular ball-traversing course having ball-receiving pockets adapted to receive an indicating ball when propelled along said course, said circular ball-traversing course being defined by two concentric walls formed in said game board and connected by said ball-receiving pockets, an indicating ball on said course between said walls, ball-propelling means operable by a player to propel said indicating ball along said course to come to rest in one of said ball-receiving pockets, said ball-propelling means including a rotatable support centrally mounted on said game board, a radially-extending resilient actuating arm carried by said support and striker means carried at the end of said actuating arm, means for maintaining said support stationary relative to said game board upon actuation of said actuating arm, said striker means carried by said arm and extending over said course in position to contact and propel said indicating ball in a generally circular path along said course and indicia means for each of said ball-receiving pockets.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein said support is rotatable with respect to said game board such that said ball-propelling means may be adjusted to various starting positions about said game board.

3. A game according to claim 2 wherein said support and said game board are provided with coacting guide means for guiding the rotation of said support with respect to said game board.

4. A game according to claim 1 wherein one of said concentric walls includes means formed thereon which coact with said ball-propelling means to propel said indicating ball

5. A game according to claim 1 further including means for locking said support at a starting position on said game board.

6. A game according to claim 5 wherein said locking means includes means formed on said game board for engagement with means formed on said support to thereby lock said support into said starting position on said game board.

7. A game according to claim 1 wherein said striker means is constructed such that contact with said ball-receiving pockets is avoided when said ball-propelling means are operated by the players.

8. A game according to claim 1 wherein said indicia means are in the form of playing cards which correspond to and are positioned adjacent each of said pockets.

9. A game according to claim 8 further including means personalized to each of the players enabling such players to identify the particular ball-receiving pocket and corresponding playing card in which said indicating ball comes to rest for one or more turns for such player.

10. A game according to claim 9 wherein said personalized means includes identifying elements which are adapted to be positioned adjacent a ball-receiving pocket.

11. A game according to claim 10 wherein said game board includes means for storing said identifying elements when not in use and means for storing playing chips for each of said players.

12. A game according to claim 1 wherein said game board is divided into a plurality of playing sectors, with each of said playing sectors including a starting position.