Patent Publication Number: US-3880428-A

Title: Tilting alley games and methods of making and using the same

Description:
United States Patent [1 1 McComber [451 Apr. 29, 1975 TILTING ALLEY GAMES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME [76] Inventor: Kenneth McComber, 2994 Foxwood, St. Louis, Mo. 63042 [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 405,740  
 [52] US. Cl. 273/110; 273/120 R [51] Int. Cl. A63f 7/16 [58] Field of Search 273/110, 113, 117, 120R, 273/122 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,003,370 6/1935 Kimball 273/110 X 2.075366 3/1937 Smith 273/110 2.152872 4/1939 Cheatham, Jr 273/110 3,416,801 12/1968 McKcown 273/110 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner- Harry G. Strappello [57] ABSTRACT A tilting alley game comprising a plurality of inclined tiltable alleys disposed in proximate parallel position to each other. Apertured barriers provided between alleys. Each alley provided with ball drop holes below the respective aperture such that as a ball rolls down the inclined alley it may be successively transferred to the next adjacent alley via the aperture by appropriately tilting the alley currently traversed, or having missed the aperture the ball falls through the ball drop hole.  
 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TILTING ALLEY GAMES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION down the incline to move laterally. The present invention contemplates control of a succession of inclined surfaces to move a ball laterally from surface to surface as it moves down the incline.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention a tilting alley game is contemplated which provides a plurality of tiltable inclined alleys separated by apertured barriers such that an operator may move a ball laterally from alley to alley through said apertures as it progresses down the incline.  
  It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device which is simply and easily manufactured.  
  It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device which requires a reasonable amount of dexterity on the part of an operator to accomplish the desired goal.  
  These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details and construction and operation more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. and in which;  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a tilting alley game constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.  
  FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of an alley used in the-device shown in FIG. 1.  
  FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, FIG, 1 designates, in perspective, a tilting alley device, 1, constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.  
  As shown in FIG. 1, device. 1, comprises base means. 2, which is provided with an inclined upper portion, 3, which has mounted thereon a plurality of alley dividers, 4, each of which is provided with apertures, 5, therein. Apertures, 5, may be round as shown or rectangular. Alley dividers, 4, may be attached to base portion. 3, or integral therewith as shown in FIG. 3.  
  Disposed between successive alley dividers, 4, are tiltable alleys, 6, which comprise hollow elongated members which are provided with a flat surface, 8, and rounded surface. 7, and tilting means, 10. Alleys, 6, are provided with ball drop holes, 11, which communicate with ball return chambers. 12. Each alley is disposed between dividers, 4, in a manner such that tilting 2. means, 10, is normally &#34;elastically, constrained in an upright position by spring means, 9, in FIG. 3, such that an operator may tilt an alley by movement of tilting means, 10, however when the operator&#39;s hand is removed the tilting means, 10, will automatically return to an upright position. v  
  As shown in FIG. 1, an operator may start the game by depressing Ball start buttons, 13, which are connected to elongated. rod elements, 14, which are pivotally mounted to base, 3, by pivotal fastener, 15. At the remote ends of rod elements, 14, are attached ball carriers, 17. Ball carriers, 17, are disposed such that the ball, 18, riding therein is slightly below the alley surface, 8, until button, 13,- is depressed at which time, carrier, 17, is elevated allowing ball, 18, to leave carrier, l7, and progress downward along alley surface, 8. It is the operators goal to move ball laterally through apertures, 5, from alley, 6, to alley, 6, without the ball dropping through ball drop holes, 11. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the ball, 18, drops through a ball drop hole, 11, it is returned to the operator via ball re-&#39; turn chute, 21, which is constructed so as to incline from the center of device, 1.  
  As shown in FIG. 1, the incline of the alleys, 6, may be adjusted by bracket, 16, and fastener, 20.  
  While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement and combination of the parts and steps of tilting alley game and methods of making and using the same may be substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.  
  Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:  
 1. A ball drop game device comprising,  
 a base means, said base means provided with an inclined upper surface,  
 a plurality of elongated vertical barrier means mounted upon said upper surface of said base means, said elongated vertical barrier means thereby forming a plurality of elongated parallel channels upon the upper surface of said base means, said upper surface provided with a plurality of arcuate recesses corresponding with said channels,  
 a plurality of alley means, said alley=means provided with tilting means for laterally tilting said alley means and the alley means being tiltably mounted on said upper portion of said base means and being provided with drop holes in said alley means, said alley means disposed within said channels and said alley means provided with arcuate lower surfaces adapted to conform to the arcuate recesses,  
 ball starter means operably mounted on said base means,  
 the aforesaid barrier means provided with apertures therein, said apertures located so as to precede the aforesaid drop holes down the inclined surface such that as a ball rolls down an inclined alley means it may be successively transferred to the next adjacent alley means via the aperture by appropriately tilting laterally the alley means currently traversed. and ball return means for returning a ball to the operator.  
  2. A ball drop game device as described in claim 1 and spring means operably mounted to said tilting means and said vertical barrier means and adapted to elastically restrain said alley means in an untilted attitude.  
  3. A ball drop game device as described in claim 2 wherein said alley means are each provided with an elongated chamber therein said chamber communicating with said drop holes and said ball return means.  
  4. A ball drop game device as described in claim 3 wherein said ball return means comprises an elongated chute disposed transverse to said alley means proxi- LII Lil  
 LII  
 provided on said base means proximate the upper end of said alley means. an elongated member pivotally mounted on said base means and disposed such that it is operably attached at one end to said ball holding means and the other end is near the lower end of said alley means.