Abstract:
Game apparatus and methods of playing same are described. The apparatus comprises an enclosed rectangular playing surface having a plurality of target holes strategically disposed adjacent each end thereof; a plurality of target balls arranged one in proximity to each of the target holes; a plurality of U-shaped bumpers disposed one adjacent each of the target holes having its open end proximal to the transverse center line of the playing surface; a plurality of tunnels disposed to provide one, two or three tunnels astride the line of sight between a shooting point disposed outside of the half surface in which its corresponding target hole is placed and that target hole; a shooter ball; and a cue stick for propelling the shooter ball into collision with a preselected target ball.

Description:
This invention relates generally to games, and more particularly to a game of skill in which a driven ball must pass through one or more tunnels to strike a target ball in an attempt to cause the target ball to score. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Diverse types of games of trajectory skill exist in the form of marbles, billiards, and the like, in which a &#34;shooter&#34; is thrown or struck and it in turn strikes or urges toward a goal a targeted rolling or sliding object. Such existing trajectory skill games are generally played upon a bounded planar surface in which the targeted objects comprise the only trajectory obstacles. In the games of marbles, some variations allow the &#34;shooters&#34; to be risked or forfeited, while in other versions, the shooter is retrieved for iterated &#34;shooting&#34;. In billiards and the like, a player who continues to succeed with each &#34;shot&#34; can delay or prevent an opponent from taking a turn until the successful player has amassed a winning score. 
     Despite the survival and continued popularity of existing games of trajectory skill, players seek novel and newly challenging games and it is to meet that end that the present invention was conceived and developed. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a planar playing surface having a plurality of target holes strategically disposed adjacent the opposing ends of the surface separated by a transverse center line. Each target hole has a defined shooting trajectory or path past one of several points of center line intersection. Each shooting path is straddled by one or more wickets or tunnels. In play, the propelled shooter ball must pass through the tunnels correlated to the chosen target ball before it can strike the target ball and propel it into its corresponding target hole for a score. A player propels the shooter ball and controls its path by skillfully striking the shooter ball with a cuestick or the like. U-shaped bumpers are strategically disposed, one adjacent each target hole, to assist a slightly errant shooter-ball to locate its target ball and divert grossly errant shooter balls from the scoring area. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel and unique game of skill and equipment upon which and with which to play it. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel game which challenges a player&#39;s senses of trajection and touch. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new game combining the skill of billiards or pool, the interposition of multiple trajectory obstacles, and the acquisition of additional &#34;shooter&#34; objects according to scoring success during the course of the game. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a game having a plurality of scoring paths of varying difficulty, all of which must be ultimately overcome for a player to prevail. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide increased player interest and challenge, piqued by a plurality of alternative scoring strategies. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide rapid, convenient retrieval and delivery of successfully scored balls to a location adjacent the scoring player. 
     These and still further objects as shall hereinafter appear are readily fulfilled by the present invention in a remarkably unexpected manner as will be readily discerned from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which like parts bear like numerals throughout the several views. 
    
    
     THE DRAWING 
     In the drawing: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a playing surface of apparatus embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a full plan view of apparatus embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a frontal elevation of a tunnel embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric showing of a target hole, bumper and tunnel arranged in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIGS. 3 and 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a game apparatus embodying the present invention is shown at 10 and comprises a plurality of uniform size playing balls 11 defined, depending upon playing status, as shooter balls 11S and target balls 11T, motion imparting means 12, a planar playing surface 13 having first end 14 and second end 15, a plurality of first target holes 16 adjacent first end 14 in playing surface 13, a plurality of second target holes 18 adjacent second end 15 of playing surface 13, bumper strip 17 limiting lateral access to each of target holes 16, 18, a center line 19 orthogonally bisecting a longitudinal side 20 between ends 14 and 15, a plurality (not shown) of linear shooting paths exemplified by path 21; each path 21 extending respectively from a first target hole 16 adjacent end 14 across center line 19 at a point of intersection exemplified by point 22 upon playing surface 13, each linear shooting path 21 straddled by at least one tunnel 23, and an elevated bumper strip 24 circumscribing the periphery of playing surface 13. FIG. 2 further illustrates a first receptacle 25 disposed adjacent second end 15 and communicating through first collector tube means 35 with each of target holes 16 adjacent first end 14. In like manner, a second receptacle 37 disposed adjacent first end 14 communicates through second collector tube means 35 with each of target holes 18 adjacent second end 15. A typical shooting posture of a player utilizing motion imparting means 12 to strike a shooter ball 11S is shown in FIG. 2. Also shown in FIG. 2 is the spaced relationship of target hole 16, center line 19, bumper strip 17, tunnels 23, and one of linear shooting paths 21 upon playing surface 13 of game 10. While the invention contemplates other spaced relationships thereof, the relationships illustrated in FIG. 1 are particularly suitable for challenging players, with a variety of levels of difficulty in shooting along paths 21 straddled variously by one, two or three tunnels 23. Those skilled in the art will readily envision other spaced relationships, using numbers of target holes not necessarily equal to fifteen on a side, wherein non-interferring orthogonal and non-orthogonal paths may be defined. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a tunnel 23 embodied in the present invention, typically comprised of wood, plastic and the like, secured to playing surface 13 by suitable securing means such as screws 26. Tunnel opening 27 has height 28 and width 29 respectively larger than the diameter 30 of typical playing ball 11. 
     In FIGS. 4 and 5, the association of a target hole 16 with its corresponding bumper 17 which limits the access of the playing ball 11 to hole 16 along linear shooting path 21. Screws 31 protrude upward through playing surface 13 to fasten bumper 17 thereto. A first end of a connector tube 35 descendingly communicates below playing surface to a receptacle 25 (see FIG. 2). During play of the game, a target ball 11T is quiescently emplaced upon playing surface 13 at a point 34 which lies on shooting path 21 in close proximity to target hole 16. A shooter ball 11S is propelled by the player to successfully strike target ball 11T and propel the target ball 11T into target hole 16. Ball 11T thereafter is drawn by gravity into and through connector tube 35 to receptacle 25 from which it can be readily retrieved for a later shot. If the trajectory of shooter ball 11S does not sufficiently adhere to shooting path 21, shooter ball 11S strikes and is deflected by one or more interposed tunnels 23, and thus fails to strike or impart sufficient momentum to target ball 11T to cause it to reach and descend into target hole 16. Greater precision of aim and shooting is required for a player to successfully traverse a plurality of tunnels 23 without bumping or deflection than is required to traverse a single tunnel 23. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the descent of successfully scored target balls 11T from target holes 18 to receptacle 37 through sloping collector tube 36. 
     In one method of play utilizing the described apparatus, the rules are: 
     One player is assigned sixteen balls 11 of a first color, and the second player is assigned sixteen balls 11 of a second color. Fifteen of the first color balls 11 are quiescently emplaced in close proximity to each of the fifteen target holes 16 adjacent first end 14 along shooting paths 21. Fifteen of the second color balls 11 are similarly disposed in close proximity to each of the fifteen target holes 18 adjacent second end 15 along shooting paths 21. The one remaining ball 11 of each color is initially defined as a shooter ball 11S, and the initially emplaced balls 11 are defined as target balls 11T until such event that they are successfully driven into their respective target holes, whereupon each successfully driven target ball 11T becomes a shooter ball 11S for the player identified with said ball. 
     A choice is made by lot as to which player shall be first shooter and the other player becomes second shooter. 
     The shooter places his shooter ball 11S upon the playing surface 13 on the opposite side of center line 19 relative to the target ball at which he intends to shoot. Typically, the first shooter attempts said emplacement at his closest estimate to a line approximating the shooting path 21 corresponding to the target hole 16,18 which he has selected for an attempted score. The first shooter, by use of cuestick-like motion-imparting means 12 strikes shooter ball 11S, attempting to direct his blow with a precise direction and amount of force. Thus propelled, shooter ball 11S travels along shooting path 21, and successful in passing through corresponding straddling tunnels 23, collides with and drives the respective target ball 11T into its corresponding target hole 16,18. 
     If the first shooter&#39;s initial attempt to score is successful, he/she retrieves both the initial shooter ball 11S and the successfully driven target ball 11T, which now becomes defined a shooter ball 11S. Using his accumulated shooter balls 11S, the first shooter attempts in the same manner as above described to successfully drive another undriven target ball 11T to a scoring position. The player accumulates on each successful turn all of his previously employed shooter balls 11S plus all of the target balls 11T he has scored, retaining through each successive turn his right to use them again. 
     If, however, the first shooter exhausts his supply of shooter balls 11S without successfully driving a single target ball 11T into a scoring, his turn ends, and he must clear all of his shooter balls 11S, if any remain on the playing surface 13, to clear the surface for his opponent&#39;s turn. 
     The second shooter begins his first turn in the same manner as did the first shooter, aiming at balls 11T of the color assigned to him, and accumulating additional shooter balls 11S upon successful drives. The second shooter&#39;s turn ends in the same manner as did the first, that is, when he exhausts his supply of shooter balls 11S without successfully driving a target ball 11T into its corresponding hole. Turns alternate until one player has successfully converted all of his target balls 11T into shooter balls 11S. 
     In one embodiment of this game, denominated &#34;Home Game&#34;, a winning condition is achieved by the first player to successfully drive his last remaining target ball into its corresponding target hole. 
     In another embodiment of this game, denominated &#34;Double Edge&#34;, when the first-finishing player successfully drives his last undriven target ball into a scoring position, the opponent is given an opportunity to score his (the opponent&#39;s) remaining undriven target balls. If successful, the opponent has earned a tie game. However, if the opponent player fails to successfully score all of his remaining target balls, the first-finishing player is then permitted at attempt to score the opponent&#39;s remaining target balls, and if he is successful in scoring any one of them, he wins. 
     Still another embodiment of the game, denominated &#34;Point Game&#34;, assigns one point to each target ball successfully sunk or scored by a shooter ball which passes under a single tunnel, two points if the shooter ball passes through two tunnels, and three points if achieved through three tunnels. Winning condition is achieved by the first player to amass fifteen points. 
     Yet another variation of the method of play, denominated &#34;Alternate Home Game&#34;, is played in a fashion similar to the &#34;Home Game&#34;, previously described, with the additional feature that approximately one-half the balls of each color are alternately intermixed at each end of the playing surface thereby causing the shooting player not only to aim at a target ball of his identified color but also to avoid inadvertently scoring his opponent&#39;s target ball. Driving an opponent&#39;s target ball into its target hole is credited to the opponent&#39;s score. 
     Other embodiments involve combinations and permutations of the above-described methods of scoring also add to player interest and challenge. Further, the number of holes and associated tunnels can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     It is further understood that the apparatus and methods herein described and illustrated are quite suitable for but are not limited to a standard pool table size (4&#39;×8&#39;). Smaller tables which maintain the various geometric relationships between the shot line and the holes as herein described are equally suitable to provide the contemplated pleasure and challenge. 
     From the foregoing, it is apparent that a device has been herein described and illustrated which fulfills all of the aforestated objectives in a remarkably unexpected fashion. It is of course understood that such modifications, alterations and adaptations as may readily occur to the artisan confronted with this disclosure are intended within the spirit of this disclosure which is limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.