Patent Publication Number: US-10322335-B1

Title: Finger flick ball game

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     No federal government funds were used in researching or developing this invention. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     SEQUENCE LISTING INCLUDED AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention is a game wherein a ping pong ball is flipped with the player&#39;s finger to contact one or more targets. 
     Background of the Invention 
     Games for amusement involving the flicking of a ball up onto a board, through obstacles or at targets have been long known. In particular, pinball games involve the flicking of a ball using hand-operated flippers, wherein the player attempts to aim the balls at multiple targets located at different points on an angled board. After each such attempt, gravity returns the ball to the bottom of the board and the player makes another attempt, until such time as the ball passes the flippers through one of several openings that remove the ball and end the player&#39;s turn. 
     Similarly, the game of pachinko, originating in Japan, operates as both a recreational and gambling device. In this type of game, a smaller ball is released with a spring-loaded hammer upward along a track, only to fall once it loses momentum. Upon falling the one or more balls travel through a maze of pins, bumpers and openings which can be assigned with point values or prizes. 
     Pinball and similar games tend to be used by taverns, arcades and restaurants as both attractive amusements to draw customers, as well as revenue-generating machines in themselves. A game of pinball or a similar machine serves to provide customers with an entertainment that will keep them in an establishment longer and thereby increase the amount of money spent in such establishment. 
     However, the intricacy and fragility of pinball, pachinko and similar mechanized games makes the machines relatively expensive to buy and maintain. Further, as videogames have permeated the markets and displaced older mechanical games, the number of service professionals for maintaining older, mechanical games has shrunk. As a result, the prevalence of functional mechanical amusement games in public establishments has waned considerably over the last two decades. When such games still exist in public spaces, they are often partially or completely nonfunctional. 
     What is needed is an affordable, simple type of mechanical amusement game for bars and restaurants that requires little or no maintenance once it has been purchased. Such a game would comprise few moving parts and little or no electrical wiring, thus pleasing patrons over a period of years without requiring service calls or the payment maintenance expenses by the owners. Such a game type is described herein below. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment, a game comprising a cabinet with a plexiglass front, a back panel, a cup secured to the back panel and an angled front panel with a ball catch embodied as a hole of a circumference allowing a portion of a ball to protrude through without exiting the cabinet. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, further comprising a cord which, when pulled, tips the cup sideways and allows the ball contained therein to fall downward within the cabinet and into the ball catch. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, wherein the cord pulls a spring-loaded lever attached to the rear of the cup, which lever tips the cup, and upon release of the cord, the spring returns each of the lever and the cup to its original position. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, wherein the cord protrudes through the angled front panel, extends upward behind the back panel and attaches to a lever behind the back panel and the lever is attached to the cup with a bolt running through the back panel such that a pull on the cord depresses the lever, rotates the bolt, and tips the cup. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, wherein the rear panel is angled toward the user, further comprising left and right catch panels and slides, combining to funnel the descending ball towards the ball catch. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, wherein the cup is overlaid by an attached, decorative plate. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, wherein no angled front panel is provided, and the ball catch is instead located in a bottom panel. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, further comprising wherein a back plate is secured to the rear of the back panel between the lever and the back panel. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, wherein the ball is a ping pong ball. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the game as described herein, wherein the player flicks the ball resting in the ball catch upward until the ball lands in the cup. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a line drawing evidencing a primary embodiment of the ball game invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a line drawing evidencing the game of  FIG. 1  with a pull cord engaged. 
         FIG. 3  is a line drawing evidencing an alternate embodiment of the game of  FIG. 1  in which no front panel is used. 
         FIG. 4  is a line drawing evidencing a rear view of the game of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention constitutes a game for amusement comprising a cabinet, back or rear board, and a cup feature. A ball, preferably a ping pong ball, or similar item is to be flicked upward within the cabinet utilizing a player&#39;s finger or a mechanical replacement for a finger, in an attempt to land the ball in a cup or similar target(s) which are preferably mounted on to the back panel or an interior surface of the cabinet. The cabinet serves to contain the ball within itself, ensuring that the ball comes to rest either in the cup or in a designated catch position either built inside of or integrated within the cabinet, from which the player may launch the ball again. 
     Any number of target types may be employed within the game. These would include, without limitation, switches, gates, tubes, bells, spinners, ramps, kickers, slingshots, rollers, and pins. 
     The game may employ one or more company or product names, logos, or other artwork allowing the game to serve as an advertising or decorative item in addition to its primary amusement function. 
     In one embodiment, the cup feature is a funnel or similar configuration with a pass-through functionality. In an alternate, preferred embodiment, the cup has a closed bottom and an accompanying mechanism is provided allowing the player to empty the cup of the ball by either tilting the cup or opening the cup bottom. In such an embodiment, the cup may be an actual beer can or replicated beer can with an open top. Such a mechanism could comprise a handle or wheel on the front of such cup feature allowing the user to twist and/or dump the cup directly. Alternatively, a remotely located switch, lever or pull cord could be located on the front, side or bottom of the cabinet, allowing the player to twist and/or dump the cup remotely. Such a remote mechanism would be attached to the cup via a cord, cable, rod, or similar means of attachment. Multiple cups or other types of targets could similarly be mounted in different locations within the cabinet. 
     In a primary embodiment, the cabinet is rectangular with a flat bottom panel, such that it may be either mounted on a call or situated on top of a level surface. The cup is box-shaped with the upper side open and centered in an upper portion of the back panel, to which the cup is attached by a twistable cup bolt secured with a cup bolt nut. Such bolt proceeds through corresponding bolt holes in a moveable lever, a back plate mounted on the rear surface of the back panel, a hole in the back panel and finally the cup itself. In this embodiment, the cup bolt is immovably attached to the lever and the cup, but allowed freedom to twist within the bolt holes in the back panel and back plate. Thus, the movement of the lever serves to twist the bolt, and then twist the cup on the other side of the back panel, thereby dumping the ball and allowing it to fall through the cabinet and return to the ball catch for another launch. 
     This primary embodiment, further comprises a cabinet with triangular catch panels in each lower corner, each such catch panel with a catch slide. The two catch slides together form a funnel to direct the ball as it drops towards a center portion of a front panel. This front panel is angled upward towards the front of the game and, together with the funnel shape of the catch slides, provides a bottom area into which the ball will finally come to rest. An appropriately-sized ball catch hole is drilled through such front panel, allowing a portion of the ball to protrude outward towards the user, thus allowing the user to flick the ball from outside the cabinet to launch it again towards the cup. In one embodiment, the ball catch hole has a semicircular finger-sized protrusion on one side, allowing for insertion of a user&#39;s finger. 
     Optionally, the cabinet may include a plexiglass front component for keeping the ball within the cabinet while allowing the user to see the action. In a preferred embodiment, the plexiglass is inserted into a groove running along the inside of the cabinet sides and tracking the line of the game front. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the cabinet may forego the use of an angled front panel, instead placing the ball catch hole directly into the center of the lower panel. In this cabinet configuration, the cabinet may be laid down on an angled surface for play. 
     In another alternate embodiment, one or more targets may employ noise or light characteristics, whether mechanical or electric. In one such embodiment, one or more mechanical bells may be used as or within targets. In another, a target may comprise a switch signaling, by motion-activation or otherwise, the illumination of a light or emission of noise from an electric speaker. 
     Materials to be used for the cabinet would be either solid wood, particle board or a similar non-wood composition, or plywood for the back panel. Such plywood dimensions may range from 1/16″ to ½″, with a preferred thickness of ⅛″. Any appropriate commercial-grade plastic would be an acceptable substitute for any wood material. 
     Components of the cabinet may be combined using any known woodworking technique, including the use of tongue-in-groove placement, slotting, and the use of pegs, screws or other known hardware for connection. Adhesives are also a preferred connective mechanism, either alone or in combination with the aforementioned techniques. If plastic is used, a single, integrated cabinet could be made using injection molding or a similar technique. Thicknesses of the various panels may range from ¼″ to 2″, with a preferred thickness from ½″ to 1″. 
     Materials to be used for non-cabinet components such as the cup, lever, back plate, and associated hardware would be either commercially known metals or comparable plastic. 
     As described, the game can either be hung on a wall, set on a tabletop, countertop or bartop for play. If wall-hung, a preferred method of hanging is by using a French cleat. The game may also comprise a plate or other decorative cover overlaying the cup, for example to resemble a beer can. The game may also comprise other ornamentation, such as logos of the products being sold in a given establishment, in order to serve an advertising function. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of game  1 , surrounded by a cabinet comprised of top panel  2  with a left end connected to left panel  4  and a right end connected to right panel  5 , together comprising the cabinet sides. Left panel  4  and right panel  2  are connected at their opposite ends to the corresponding ends of bottom panel  6  (not pictured). Back panel  3  is attached across the length of each of top panel  1 , left panel  4 , right panel  5  and bottom panel  6 . The left panel forward edge  19  and right panel forward edge  21  each flare outward away from the back panel  6  as they approach the bottom panel before each reaches a corner  20 , 23  and retreats at an angle back toward the bottom panel  6 , forming left panel cutback  22  and right panel cutback  26 , respectively. 
     Front panel  7  is embodied as a rectangle comprising ball catch  29  in its center and running across bottom panel  6  and between left panel cutback  22  and right panel cutback  26 . Back panel  3  comprises a slope  27  angling towards the front panel  7  and approximately corresponding to the outward flare  20 ,  24  of the side panels, for the purpose of catching and directing ball  28  towards ball catch  29 , embodied as a circular hole located in the center of the front panel. 
     A triangular left catch panel  9  is fitted into the left corner formed by left panel  4  and front panel  7 , with left catch slide  8  (not pictured) running between the catch panel side opposite the corner and the corresponding portion of the back panel  3 . In the opposite right corner, a corresponding right catch slide  10  and right catch panel  11  are located. Together with the back panel, the two catch slides serve to catch the dropping ball  28  and direct it towards the ball catch  29 . 
     Finally, a plexiglass groove  40  is shown as being cut into the left and right panels  4 , 5 , tracking the line of the front of each such panel. As the cabinet is assembled, a clear plexiglass cover  41  (not annotated) will be slid into such groove, with such plexiglass cover trapping the ball inside the cabinet while allowing the user to see it. 
     In  FIG. 1 , cup  16  is a cylindrical compartment embodied as a beer can with an open mouth  39  facing upward in the default position. Cup  16  is located approximately in the center of the back panel  3  and is attached thereto utilizing a cup bolt  17  (not pictured) extending through cup bolt hole  30  and secured with cup bolt nut  18 , allowing the cup  16  to swivel in response to the action of cord  13 . Cord pull  12  is located on the end of cord  13 , pictured as emanating from cord pull hole  14  in front panel  7 . The cord then extends behind the back panel  3  to and through cord entry hole (not pictured) for ultimate attachment to lever  32  behind the rear panel, such that a user pulling such cord will cause the lever to depress, turning the bolt and forcing the cup to swivel. Lever  32  is mounted on back plate  35 , which is arranged between the lever and rear panel. 
     In the event that ball  29  is located within the cup, pulling the cord will depress the lever and twist the bolt through the back plate, rear panel and the ball will be released from the cup mouth upon such swivel action, after which it will fall downward and eventually become lodged in ball catch  29 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a rear view of the lever  32  mechanism game of  FIG. 1 , evidencing the attachment of the cup to back panel  3  utilizing cup bolt  17 , the head of which is visible, with the cup bolt extending sequentially through the lever bolt hole  34 , the back plate bolt hole  39 , the back panel bolt hole  40  and the cup bolt hole  30 . The cup bolt is secured using the cup bolt nut  18 , not pictured, against the interior surface of the cup. The cord  13  is pictured attached to cord lever hole  15  in the lever  32 , with the spring  35  extending from the back plate spring hole  37  to the lever spring hole  33 . The back plate is mounted on the rear surface of the back panel using back plate screws  38 . 
       FIG. 2  is a second illustration of the game of  FIG. 1 , wherein the user has pulled cord pull  12 , thus pulling cord  13  down, depressing lever  32  and tilting cup  16  so that the ball  28  is released from the cup mouth  19 . As pictured, the ball will fall onto right catch slide  10  and be guided downward towards the ball catch  29  in front panel  7 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a second embodiment of game  1 , in which no front panel is used and the ball catch  29  is instead centered within the bottom panel  6 . The absence of a front panel also obviates the need for a back panel slope, as the ball  28  releases in a directly downward path from the cup  16  upon swiveling engaged by cord  13 . Aside from these distinctions, the embodiment of  FIG. 3  and parts contained therein otherwise correspond to those of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the game of  FIG. 1 , showing the rear of back panel  3  with cord  13  extending through cord pull hole  14  and then to cord lever hole  15 . Lever  32  is attached to back plate  35  with cup bolt  17 , while back plate is mounted on the back panel with back plate screws  38 . One end of spring  34  is attached to back plate spring hole  36  and the other spring end is attached to lever spring hole  33 , such that the spring will extend when the cord is pulled and the lever depressed, then return the lever to its default position when the cord is released. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           1  Game 
           2  Top panel 
           3  Back panel 
           4  Left panel 
           5  Right panel 
           6  Bottom Panel 
           7  Front Panel 
           8  Left catch slide 
           9  Left catch panel 
           10  Right catch slide 
           11  Right catch panel 
           12  Cord pull 
           13  Cord 
           14  Cord pull hole 
           15  Cord lever hole 
           16  Cup 
           17  Cup bolt 
           18  Cup bolt nut 
           19  Left panel forward edge 
           20  Left panel flare 
           21  Left panel corner 
           22  Left panel cutback 
           23  Right panel forward edge 
           24  Right panel flare 
           25  Right panel corner 
           26  Right panel cutback 
           27  Back panel slope 
           28  Ball 
           29  Ball catch 
           30  Cup bolt hole 
           31  Decorative plate 
           32  Lever 
           33  Lever spring hole 
           34  Spring 
           35  Back plate 
           36  Back plate spring hole 
           37  Back plate screw holes 
           38  Back plate bolt hole 
           39  Cup mouth 
           40  Plexglass groove 
           41  Plexiglass cover (clear) 
       
    
     The references recited herein are incorporated herein in their entirety, particularly as they relate to teaching the level of ordinary skill in this art and for any disclosure necessary for the commoner understanding of the subject matter of the claimed invention. It will be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the above embodiments may be altered or that insubstantial changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is determined by the scope of the following claims and their equitable equivalents.