Ball Target Game

Abstract

A skill-type game utilizing a raised bucket having a plurality of openings in its wall and a ramp extending from each opening to a playing surface. Competing players propel their own ball toward the bucket and thence up a ramp and into the bucket.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a skill-type game designed for entertainment, but requiring some degree of skill and dexterity, and involving competition between a plurality of players.

The game will be best understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the game as it would be played in the preferred manner;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the target bucket and ramp means;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary plan view taken at line 2A--2A of the lower end of a ramp;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the axis of the target bucket; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bucket with portions broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a target bucket 10 comprises a wall or body portion 12 and an optional cover 14 hinged to the body. The bucket is raised from the playing surface by ramp assemblies 16 as will be described hereinafter. The body portion 12 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 18 positioned adjacent the bottom wall 20. If desired, hinged gates 22 may be utilized to permit entry of a ball 23 (FIG. 3) into the bucket, but then to swing down by force of gravity to prevent egress of the ball from the bucket.

The ramp assemblies 16, one for each opening 18, include a ramp 24 and a support bracket 26 preferably welded to the ramp to maintain fixed angularity thereof relative to a playing surface. A brace 28 (FIG. 2) interconnects the support bracket 26 and the upper end 29 of the ramp and is provided with a support arm 30. When, now, a plurality of three or more ramp assemblies are circumferentially spaced, the bucket 10 may be supported on arms 30 such that the ramp end 29 is placed adjacent to and in communication with its related opening 18. The game, therefore, when not in use, may be easily disassembled and will require only a small storage area.

The game may be played outdoors on a lawn or indoors on a rug and spikes 32 secured to each support bracket may be utilized to grip the grass or the nap of the rug and hold the ramps and bucket in position once the game is set up. As seen in FIG. 1, each player strikes one of a plurality of player color-coded balls 32 with a generally "L" or "J" shaped club 34 with the object of the game being to move the ball from a designated starting point into the bucket in the least number of strokes. If preferred, the balls may be thrown or rolled by hand and this type of play may be desired by small children. The balls 23 preferably are formed of wood but could, if desired, be made of plastic or rubber. To prevent balls in the bucket from blocking a gate, the bottom wall 20 may be provided with ball receiving dimples or may be dished as best seen in FIG. 3. The cover 14 will prevent a ball which is forcefully propelled through an opening 18 from bouncing out of the bucket or from knocking a previously scored ball out of the bucket.

Claims

I claim:

1. A game adapted for use on a playing surface, comprising a bucket having a circumferential body portion and a bottom wall; a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in the body portion adjacent said bottom wall; a separate ramp assembly for each opening, each ramp assembly including a ramp extending angularly upward from the playing surface, a bracket adapted to support the ramp, a horizontally disposed support arm at the upper end of the ramp, each of said ramps communicating with an associated opening when the bucket is placed on and is supported by said support arms; and a plurality of balls moveable by a plurality of players up said ramps and through associated openings into the bucket, said bucket being of a size to hold a plurality of said balls simultaneously.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein the bottom wall is dished so that a ball entering an opening rolls toward the center of the bucket to make room for other balls entering through the same opening.

3. A game according to claim 1 and including a cover hinged to said body portion to form a top closure to prevent balls from bouncing out of the bucket during play of the game.