Abstract:
A game or toy device into which the player enters a random number is disclosed. The random number is entered by rotating a handle after which a plunger is depressed. Entry of the random number may permit free depression of the plunger and thereby allow the plunger to activate a pitching mechanism for ejecting a substance (such as water or paper confetti) in the direction of the game player.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to a children&#39;s game or toy, and more specifically to a children&#39;s game or toy wherein the selection of a random number and the application of that number to the game mechanism may cause the release of a pitching mechanism containing water or other material directed toward the game player.  
           [0002]    There are countless children&#39;s games and toys designed to amuse and occupy children (and in some cases adults also). In one class of such games, a random number or letter is selected by the player followed by the manipulation of an article or device that provides a number or letter as an output value. If the output value matches the selected random number, the player is declared a winner. Probably the simplest example of such a game is the use of cubicle die wherein each cube face depicts a number from one to six. Typically, the cube faces are marked with dots to represent the number. The game player selects a number from one to six (or higher numbers if more than one die is used) and the die is rolled along a horizontal surface until it comes to a stop with one cube face up. If the number depicted by the exposed cube face is the same as the number selected by the player, then the player is declared a winner of the game. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    The present invention may be better understood and the further uses and advantages thereof more readily apparent when considered in conjunction with the following figures in which:  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the game device of the present invention;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 illustrates the internal components of the game base illustrated in FIG. 1; and  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 illustrates the disk illustrated in FIG. 2.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0007]    Before describing in detail the particular game or toy in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of hardware components. Accordingly, the hardware components have been represented by conventional elements in the figures, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with structural details that would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a game  10  including a base  12 . A plunger  16  and a rotatable handle  18  extend above the base  12  for manipulation by the player. Also affixed to the base  12  is a support member  20  for supporting a pitching mechanism  22 . The support member  20  and the pitching mechanism  22  are joined by a hinge  24  that allows the pitching mechanism  22  to be rotated relative to the support member  20 . Affixed to the pitching mechanism  22  is a hollow cup or container  26 . Further affixed to the pitching mechanism  22  is a hook  28 . A spring member  30  is affixed near the top edge of the support member  20  as shown. Further affixed to the base is a hook  32 .  
         [0009]    As a first step in operating the game, the pitching mechanism  22  is rotated away from the base  12  as shown by the phantom representation in FIG. 1. This movement causes flexing of the spring member  30  as also shown by the phantom representation in FIG. 1. After the pitching mechanism  22  is rotated into this position, the hook  28  is engaged to the hook  32  so as to hold the pitching mechanism biased against the spring member  30 .  
         [0010]    In a second step of the game, the player chooses a random number that can range from one to about 20 or 30. In fact, any number can be chosen, but to make the game manageable the maximum chosen number should be in the range of 20 to 30. The player then rotates the rotatable handle  18  through a number of turns equal to the chosen random number. Turning to FIG. 2, it is seen that the rotatable handle  18  is affixed to a disk  38 , and rotates within a well  42  of a bottom frame member  34 . A top frame member  33  and a bottom frame member  34  of the base  12  are connected at the ends thereof by vertical members  35  and  36 . Rotation of the rotatable handle  18  turns the disk  38 .  
         [0011]    The disk  38  includes a plurality of notches  42  located around the circumference thereof. See FIG. 3. Returning to FIG. 2, there is shown an arm  44  extending from a support member  46 , which is attached to the top frame member  33 . The arm  44 , which in one embodiment is a relatively thin metallic piece, sequentially engages the notches  42  as the disk  38  is rotated by the rotatable handle  18 , which creates a detent mechanism. As the player rotates the rotatable handle  18 , each notch is in turn engaged by the arm  44 , so that the game player simply counts the number of detent actions until the chosen random number is reached.  
         [0012]    Note further from FIG. 3 that the disk  38  includes a plurality of randomly spaced holes  50 . As the disk  38  is rotated, one of these holes may be rotated into position beneath the plunger  16 . The plunger  16  is biased upwardly by a helical spring  52 , but can be pushed downwardly by the player. After the random number is entered by rotating the rotatable handle  18 , the player pushes downward on the plunger  16 . If none of the holes  50  is aligned with the plunger  16 , the plunger will simply strike the top surface of the disk  38  and return to its upward position through operation of the helical spring  52 .  
         [0013]    Alternatively, if one of the holes  50  has been rotated into position below the plunger  16 , the downward force on the plunger  16 , extends the plunger through the hole  50 , where it contacts a lever member  54 . See FIG. 2. As shown, the lever member  54  is attached at the fulcrum end to a U-shaped spring steel member  58 , which biases the lever member  54  into the position shown. In one embodiment, the rotatable handle  18  passes through the lever member  54 . In another embodiment a groove or notch can be cut into the lever member  54 , allowing sufficient clearance for the rotatable handle  18 . When the plunger  16  is depressed through a hole  50  into contact the lever member  54 , the lever member  54  rotates against the bias provided by the spring steel member  58 . This movement of the lever member  54  causes movement of the hook  32  as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2. As the hook  32  rotates about its attachment point with the support member  20 , it disengages from the hook  28  attached to the pitching mechanism  22 . At this point, the bias provided by the spring member  30  drives the pitching mechanism  22  into its equilibrium position, at which point water or another substance located within the cup or container  26  is accelerated out of the cup. Typically, during the operation of rotating the rotatable handle  18  and depressing the plunger  16 , the player will be situated in front of the game  10  and therefore, in line with the material accelerated out from the cup or container  26 . Thus the selection of the right random number may result in the player getting wet and thereby being declared a loser.  
         [0014]    As can be appreciate by those skilled in the art, several different embodiments are possible for the present invention. For instance, the spring member  30  and the spring steel member  58  can be replaced by hinge and spring mechanisms to provide an equilibrium position for the associated members while also serving to apply forces to move the associated members as required.  
         [0015]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalent elements may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation more material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.