Apparatus for playing by means of launching projectiles

The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing by means of launching projectiles, comprising at least one projectile propulsion device for propelling projectiles which slide on a playing surface; a raised substrate below which the launched projectiles circulate; and a set of playing pieces, the substrate being provided with means for the detachable support of the mentioned playing pieces comprising a pedestal on which at least one playing piece is stably placed; and a corresponding actuation lever, rotatably mounted with respect to the substrate, the power arm of which extends below the substrate and is susceptible to being hit by one of the propelled projectiles, forcing the lever to suddenly rotate about its rotation shaft such that it drives the rotating pedestal or the piece placed on it.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application relates to and claims the benefit of priority from Spanish Patent Application number P 201030903, filed on Jun. 10, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for playing by means of launching projectiles, of the type comprising one or several projectile propulsion devices, a playing surface on which the propelled projectiles slide, a raised substrate covering the playing surface, below which the launched projectiles circulate, and a set of playing pieces which are placed on said substrate in order to somehow be knocked down or displaced by the propelled projectiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Patent document EP 1976603 discloses an apparatus for playing by means of launching projectiles in the form of balls comprising two ball propulsion devices and a playing surface on which the projected balls slide.

The apparatus has a horizontal substrate that is raised with respect to the playing surface, provided with a series of apertures in which the playing pieces are inserted with a certain tightness such that they remain erect while they are duly inserted in the substrate and the pegs of the pieces housed in the apertures of the substrate project or protrude below the level of said substrate.

In the game, the propulsion devices must be operated so that the launched projectiles hit the pegs of the aforementioned pieces, such that they cause them to be dislodged from the apertures of the substrate and accordingly, the playing pieces do not remain erect, being able to notify the players that a projectile has hit one of the pieces.

The apparatus described above has several drawbacks that the present invention seeks to resolve.

Firstly, it is observed that the pieces are not satisfactorily released or dislodged from the substrate when hit by a ball. This is because the main component of the force transmitted by a ball when it hits the peg of a piece follows a direction that is essentially parallel to that of the path of the ball, in other words essentially perpendicular to the peg of the piece, whereas in order to dislodge a piece, the ideal direction that the force must follow is vertical, in the direction in which the peg must be displaced in order to dislodge it from its corresponding aperture. Accordingly, despite the fact that a peg is hit by a ball it is possible that the corresponding piece is not duly dislodged from the substrate.

In addition, despite the fact that a piece is dislodged from the substrate, it is knocked down on the same substrate, making it difficult to see the game when the substrate is transparent.

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is an apparatus in which when the projectiles reach a predetermined target it is assured that the associated playing piece or pieces are dislodged from the substrate. Another objective of the present invention is an apparatus whereby said dislodged pieces do not remain on the substrate, or at least on the part of the substrate arranged immediately above the playing surface.

According to another objective of the present invention, a suitable solution is sought so that rather than the pieces being merely knocked down, they are flung out of or expelled from their original position with sufficient force so that they fall off the substrate, increasing the feeling of having hit the target.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus according to the invention is of the type comprising at least one projectile propulsion device for propelling projectiles such as discs or balls, and a playing surface on which the propelled projectiles slide or above which the said propelled projectiles skim, the apparatus further comprising a raised substrate covering the playing surface, below which the launched projectiles circulate, and a set of playing pieces, the substrate being provided with means for the detachable support of the mentioned playing pieces.

Essentially, the apparatus of the invention is characterized in that said means for the detachable support of the playing pieces comprise a pedestal on which at least one playing piece is stably placed; and an actuation lever, rotatably mounted with respect to the substrate, the power arm of which extends below the substrate and is susceptible to being hit by one of the propelled projectiles, forcing the lever to suddenly rotate about its rotation shaft, the actuation lever being provided with pushing means which, when the mentioned rotation of the actuation lever takes place, displace the pedestal or directly the piece or pieces placed on it enough to cause the detachment of said pieces with respect to the corresponding pedestal.

According to a variant of the invention, the pedestal on which at least one playing piece is stably placed is a rotating pedestal, rotating with respect to the substrate, and the pushing means of the actuation lever drive the rotating pedestal to cause the rotation thereof and to expel the playing piece or pieces placed on it.

According to another feature of this variant, the rotating pedestal and the corresponding actuation lever are independent bodies with the capacity to rotate about respective parallel, preferably horizontal, rotation shafts such that when the rotating pedestal is driven, the piece or pieces placed on it are catapulted off the substrate.

According to another feature of the invention, the power arm of the actuation lever comprises an end portion in the form of a plate, oriented essentially transverse to the straight path joining the propulsion device with the actuation lever, and the front face of which is intended for being hit by the projectile.

The rear face of the plate of the power arm of the actuation lever, opposite the face which is intended for being hit by the projectile, preferably has a convex-curved cross-section for the purpose of preventing the projectiles from being able to be stably supported against the mentioned rear face.

According to another feature, the pedestal being a rotating pedestal, the actuation lever is a lever of the first order provided with a resistance arm carrying out the function of the pushing means, pushing and driving the rotating pedestal when the actuation lever rotates as the power arm is hit by a projectile.

According to one embodiment, the actuation lever is made of a single part, being provided with two opposing cylindrical projections which, like a shaft, fit in respective bushes formed in the substrate to guide the rotational movement of the actuation lever.

According to another feature of interest, the resistance arm forms an angle with the power arm, and the actuation lever is configured such that it adopts automatically and due to the effect of gravity a stand-by position in which the resistance arm is in contact with the lower part of the rotating pedestal.

According to another feature of the invention, the actuation lever is provided with a front flange cooperating with a corresponding protrusion of the substrate acting like a stop to prevent the actuation lever from exceeding a predetermined angular position upon rotating in the direction opposite to that of its actuation on the pedestal.

According to another feature of the invention, the rotating or non-rotating pedestal is provided with at least one aperture in which a peg or projection provided on the playing pieces tightly fits.

In another variant of interest of the invention, when the pedestal is fixed, the peg or projection of the playing piece sticks out through the lower mouth of the aperture of the pedestal and the pushing means of the actuation lever comprise an upper cam arranged immediately below said projection, the profile of which is suitable for transmitting the rotational movement of the actuation lever to the projection, which acts like a cam follower, raising it and accordingly dislodging the piece from the aperture.

In another variant of the invention, the rotation shaft of the actuation lever is horizontally displaced with respect to the peg or projection of the piece, the length of the power arm of said actuation lever being sufficient so that when the rotation of the mentioned actuation lever takes place, the latter strikes the peg or projection of the piece, raising it and accordingly dislodging the piece from the aperture.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus intended for two players, it comprises at least a first and a second projectile propulsion devices, both operable and placed mutually facing one another at respective ends of the playing surface, a first group and a second group of means for the detachable support of the playing pieces being distinguished, each associated with a corresponding propulsion device such that the projectiles propelled from the first propulsion device can reach the front face of the actuation lever of any of the means for the detachable support of the pieces of the first group following a straight path, forcing said lever to rotate in the direction in which it displaces its corresponding pedestal, and such that the projectiles propelled from the second propulsion device (3b) can reach the front face of the actuation lever of any of the means for the detachable support of the pieces of the second group following a straight path, forcing said lever to rotate in the direction in which it displaces its corresponding pedestal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1shows an apparatus1comprising a first and a second projectile propulsion devices3aand3b,respectively, both operable and placed mutually facing one another at respective ends of a playing surface4(seeFIGS. 4ato4d) on which a transparent substrate5is arranged in which a first and a second groups of means for the detachable support7and7′ of playing pieces6are distributed, in each of which a corresponding playing piece6which is originally maintained erect on the substrate5is detachably coupled.

The apparatus1is suitable for playing by means of launching projectiles and such that the operator of the propulsion device3acan propel projectiles against any one of the means for the detachable support7of playing pieces6of the first group to cause the detachment of the associated pieces6, and such that the operator of the propulsion device3bcan propel projectiles against any one of the means for the detachable support7′ of playing pieces6of the second group to cause the detachment of the associated pieces6. Conventionally, whoever dislodges the greater number of pieces6wins the game.

Each of the means for the detachable support7,7′ of the pieces6is placed in an opening5aof the substrate5, and it comprises, according to the variant depicted inFIG. 2, a pedestal8, rotating with respect to the substrate5, provided with an aperture8ain which a peg or projection6aof a playing piece6tightly fits; and a corresponding actuation lever9, also rotatably mounted with respect to the substrate5, the power arm10of which extends below said substrate5.

It is observed in the depicted variant that the pedestal8and the corresponding actuation lever9are independent bodies with the capacity to rotate about respective horizontal rotation shafts13and12.

The operation of the means for the detachable support7of the pieces6is explained in greater detail below:

Starting from the situation depicted inFIG. 4a, in which the rotating pedestal8adopts an essentially horizontal position, when a projectile2, depicted in the form of a ball, sliding on the playing surface4or skimming the said playing surface4hits the power arm10of the actuation lever9, said actuation lever9is suddenly displaced and rotates about its horizontal shaft12in the direction indicated by the arrows A ofFIGS. 4bto4d. It is observed that the resistance arm11of the actuation lever9is raised and, by pushing, displaces the rotating pedestal8(seeFIGS. 4bto4d), forcing it to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow B ofFIG. 4babout its rotation shaft13. In practice, the force exerted by the projectile2on the actuation lever9causes the rotating pedestal8to be driven such that the piece6placed on it is catapulted, being detached from the pedestal8. In addition, upon rotating the pedestal8in the direction opposite to the actuation lever9, the piece6is launched in the direction followed by the projectile2, being launched off the substrate5. To favor this result, it is preferably to arrange the means for the detachable coupling7,7′ of the pieces6in the contour of the substrate5.

Returning toFIG. 2, it is observed that the power arm10of the actuation lever9comprises an end portion in the form of a plate performing the function of a target in order to make the game less difficult. Said plate is preferably oriented essentially transverse to the straight path joining the associated propulsion device3aor3bwith the actuation lever9. It is further observed that the rear face9bof the power arm10of the actuation lever9, opposite the front face9athat is intended for being hit by the projectile2, has a convex-curved cross-section for the purpose of preventing the projectiles2from being able to be stably supported against the mentioned rear face9b.

In the depicted example, the actuation lever9is made of a single part, being provided with two opposing cylindrical projections9cwhich, like a shaft, fit under pressure in respective bushes14formed in the substrate5to guide the rotational movement of the actuation lever9, as shown inFIG. 3. Similarly, the rotating pedestal8is also provided with respective cylindrical projections8cintended for fitting in corresponding recesses or bushes16also formed in the substrate5. To prevent the dislodging of the projections9cand8cof the actuation lever9and of the pedestal8, respectively, from the recesses or bushes14and16formed in the substrate5, a frame15blocking the opening of the bushes14and16, also being an adornment and hiding the contour of the opening5aof the substrate5housing the assembly formed by the actuation lever9and the pedestal8is arranged on the substrate5.

It is further noted that the actuation lever9is configured such that it adopts automatically and due to the effect of gravity a stand-by position in which its resistance arm11, which forms an angle with the power arm10, is in contact with the lower part of the rotating pedestal8when the latter adopts its horizontal position before the actuation lever9is hit by a projectile2. Concerning the rotating pedestal8, after being displaced by the actuation lever9, it generally adopts a knocked down position about its rotation shaft13, supported on an inner edge of the frame15, or due to the rebound effect upon striking the mentioned frame15it automatically adopts its original horizontal position again. For the purpose of preventing the weight of the pedestal8, or any force exerted from outside the substrate5, from being able to displace the actuation lever9from its stand-by position in a rotation direction opposite that of the arrow A ofFIG. 3a, it is observed that the actuation lever9is provided with a front flange9dcooperating with a corresponding protrusion17of the substrate5, which is projected downwards and acts like a stop, preventing the actuation lever9from exceeding a predetermined angular position upon rotating in the aforementioned direction, opposite that of its actuation on the pedestal8.

Naturally, the operation of the apparatus does not change in the event of orienting the rotation shaft of the actuation lever9and of the pedestal8such that they are arranged forming an angle with the horizontal. Nevertheless, the horizontal orientation is what produces a greater effect on the users of the apparatus1indicating that they have hit the target, because the pieces6are catapulted (seeFIG. 5), reaching a maximum distance off the substrate5.

FIGS. 6 and 8depict second and third embodiment variants of the invention, the means for the detachable support of the playing pieces6of which differ from the variant explained above in that the pedestal8is fixed. Said pedestal8, also provided with a corresponding aperture8ain which a peg or projection6aof provided on the playing pieces6tightly fits, can be formed in the substrate5itself, forming an integral part therewith, or it can be formed in a separate body coupleable to the substrate5.

In any case, it can be observed in both variants that the peg or projection6aof the playing piece6sticks out through the lower mouth of the aperture8aof the pedestal8so that the projection6acan directly contact the actuation lever to displace the playing piece6when said lever is forced to rotate as it is hit by a projectile2. The variants ofFIGS. 6 and 8differ from one another in the shape and arrangement adopted by the pushing means of said actuation lever9.

In the variant ofFIG. 6, the actuation lever9is rotatably mounted about the rotation shaft12. To do so, it is envisaged that the actuation lever9be provided with respective cylindrical projections9cthat are housed in corresponding bushes or recess provided for that purpose either in the substrate5or in the frame15which, like in the variant ofFIGS. 1 to 5, is placed in a corresponding opening5amade in the substrate5.

In the sequence ofFIGS. 7ato7d, it is observed that the peg or projection6aof the playing piece6sticks out through the lower mouth of the aperture8a(seeFIG. 7d) of the pedestal8, and that the rotation shaft12of the actuation lever9is horizontally displaced with respect to the peg or projection6aof the piece6, the length of the power arm10of said actuation lever9being sufficient so that when the rotation of the mentioned actuation lever9in the direction indicated by the arrow A ofFIG. 7btakes place, the latter strikes the peg or projection6aof the piece6, raising it and accordingly dislodging the piece6from the aperture8a.In summary, the pushing means of the actuation lever9are formed by a rear end portion of the power arm10of the actuation lever9itself.

In the variant ofFIG. 8, the rotation shaft of the actuation lever is placed essentially in the vertical projection of the peg6aof the piece6. It is observed that the pushing means of the actuation lever9are formed by an upper portion configured in the form of a cam18which is arranged immediately below said projection6a.As shown in the sequence ofFIGS. 9ato9d, the profile18aof the cam18is designed to transmit the rotational movement of the actuation lever9, in the direction indicated by the arrows A ofFIGS. 9band9c, to the projection6a,which acts like a cam follower, causing it to be raised and the piece6accordingly being dislodged from the aperture8a.