US2724594A - Skee ball game apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1955 L. B. ANDERSON SKEE BALL GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shee t 1 Filed July 24, 1955 /Z INVEN TOR. LESLIE B. JIVBEEJOM Arr-maven.

Nov. 22, 1955 L. B. ANDERSON SKEE BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed July 24. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 011 j 2,724,594 SKEE BALL GAME APPARATUS Leslie B. Anderson, Hollywood, Fla. Application July 24, 1953, Serial No. 369,992

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-95 i p This invention relates to gamedevices, and more particularly to an improved skee ball apparatus.

A main object of the invention isto provide a novel and improved game apparatus for use in playing a game of the type in which a ball is rolled by the player and the ball is projected by engagement with a ramp at the rear end of the alley into a scoring pocket, the ball being thereafter returned to the front of the alley through a passage in the alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved skee ball game apparatus which may be folded to a substantially reduced volume for transportation or storage, the improved apparatus being simple in construction, being easy to set up, and being readily adjustable to provide a desired angular arrangement of the scoring openings relative to the main alley portion of the game device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved foldable skee ball game apparatus which is of relatively inexpensive construction, which is exceedingly durable, and which may be rapidly and easily set up for use from its folded position, the apparatus being of substantial length when set up for use but being foldable to a relatively small volume so that it maybe easily trans ported on a trailer or other similar vehicle.

t Further, objects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved skee ball game apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown set up for use.

Figure 2 is a rear end elevational view of the game apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the skee ball game apparatus of Figures land 2 shown folded to an inoperative position for transportation or storage.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational detail view showing the turn buckle connection between one of the supporting cables and the top edge of the side of the alley of the game apparatus of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational detail view, partly in cross section, showing the hinged connection between the housing member containing the scoring apertures and the top edge of the transverse ramp element at the rear end of the alley, also illustrating the means for adjusting the angular position of said housing element relative to the alley.

Referring to the drawings, the improved skee ball game apparatus is designated generally at 11 and comprises an elongated alley 12 of generally rectangular shape having the side walls 13, 13, the front vertical wall 14 and the upstanding transverse ramp 15 at its rear end. The rear wall of the alley, designated at 16 is centrally apertured and communicates with a chute 17 formedin the lower portion of a housing 18 which is hinged to the top edge of the transverse ramp 15 at 19, 19, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The chute 17 communicates through Patented Nov. 22,1955

the aperture in the rear wall of the alley with the interior of the alley, the bottom of the alley being inclined toward the front wall 14 so that balls entering the rear portion of the alley through the chute 17 will roll toward the front wall 14. The intermediate portions of the front wall 14 and the bowling surface 20 of the alley are formed with the respective connecting notches 21 and 22 defining an aperture through which the balls may be retrieved by the player.

The housing 18 is provided at its bottom corners with the respective adjustable stop screws 23 engageable with t the rear wall of the alley 12 to adjustably limit the degree of clockwise rotation of the housing 18 from the folded position thereof shown in Figure 3 to the operative position thereof shown in Figures 1 and 5, to provide a desired angular relation of the inclined scoring wall 24 of the housing relative to the bowling surface 20 of the alley 12. The inclined scoring wall 24 of housing 18 is formed will the scoring apertures 25 arranged in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, and secured to the scoring panel 24 adjacent said apertures are the respective ball-retaining baffles 26 and 27, the bafiles 26 being circular in shape and surrounding the upper scoring apertures 25, and the bafiles 27 being semicircular in shape and being disposed subjacent the lower scoring apertures, as illustrated in Figure 1. The scoring housing 18 is provided with suitable register means of conventional construction having trigger elements arranged below each scoringaperture, said trigger elements being connected to the register mechanism so as to provide a scoring indication on the score-indicating board 28 at the top end of thehousing 18 when a ball is received in a scoring aperture 25 or 26.1. This structure forms no part of the present invention and is well known per se. Hence, the details thereof are not specifically illustrated and described herein.

Secured to the respective side walls of the housing 18 and projecting forwardly therefrom, when the apparatus is set up in the manner illustrated in Figure l, are the respective bar members 29, 29 which are connected to the top edges of the side walls 13, 13 of the alley 12 by means of respective flexible cable members 30, 30 and turnbuckles 31, 31. The cables 30, 30 may be tightened by means of the turnbuckles 31, 31 to support the housing 18 in its adjusted position after the adjusting screws 23 have been rotated to provide the desired angular relationship of the scoring board 24 to the bowling surface 20.

As will be readily apparent, the player rolls the ball along the playing surface 20 toward the ramp 15, and the ball is propelled upwardly by the ramp 15 and usually engages the scoring panel 24. If the player has properly aimed the ball, the ball will enter one of the scoring apertures 25 or 26, and a score will be registered on the indicating board 28. After the ball has entered the scoring aperture, and after the registration of the score has occurred, the ball drops downwardly through the housing 18 and through the chute 17 in the lower end thereof into the rear end of the alley 12 and rolls forwardly toward the aperture defined by the notches 21 and 22, so that the player may retrieve the ball.

When the device is to be transported or stored, the housing 18 is rotated from the position thereof shown in Figure 1 to the folded position thereof shown in Figure 3, whereby the length and bulk of the apparatus are substantially reduced, thus improving the portability of the apparatus and reducing the amount of space required for the storage thereof. Thus the apparatus may be mounted on a suitable vehicle, such as a trailer or the like, and may be readily transported. When the apparatus is to be set up for use, the housing 18 is merely rotated from the full line position thereof of Figure 3 to the dotted view position thereof, and is properly adjusted by means of the stop screws 23 and the: turnbuckles 31 o providethe desired angular relat nship o the s n panel 24 relative to the bowling surface 20.

While a specific embodiment of an improved skee ball?! game apparatus has beendisclosed in the foregoing description, it will'be understood .that various modifications within the spirit .of the invention may occur to those skilled-in thev art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations'be placed on the invention except as defined by the scopeof therappended claims.

What is claimed is:v

1. Ina game of the character described, an elongated alley adapted for rolling of a ball therealong, said alley including a ramp at one end inclined for directing a ball rolled along the alley upwardly into free flight otf said end, said end having a vertical end wall formed with an aperture intermediate opposite sides of the alley, the alley having a return space opening at one end through said apertures and extending to the other end of the alley below the surface on which said ball is rolled; a scoring wall hingedly connected at one end to one end of the ramp for swinging movement about an axis extending transversely of the alley between one position in which said wall is folded to an inoperative location overlying the alley inwardly from said one end, and another position in which the scoring Wall is disposed beyond said one end of the alley and is inclined across the path traveled by a ball in free flight, for striking of the scoring wall by said ball, said scoring wall having a row of apertures through any of which said ball will gravitate, said row of apertures being aligned longitudinally and centrally of the alley, achute secured to the underside of said scoring wall in alignment with and in communicat-ion with said. row of apertures of the scoring wall, said chute being inclined correspondingly to the wall in the second named extreme position of the wall, the chute havinga lower end abutting against said vertical end wall of the alley in said second named extreme position of the scoring wall, ,said end of the chute communicating with the aperture of the alley end wall to provide a continuous passageinclined from the horizontal extending within said alley and chute in the operatively disposed position of the scoring wall.

2. In a game of the character described, an elongated alley adapted for rollingof a ball therealong, said alley including a ramp at one end inclined for directing a ball rolled along the alley upwardly into free flight oif said end, said end having a vertical end wall formed with an aperture intermediate opposite sides of the alley, the alley having a return space opening at one end through said apertures and extending to the other end of the alley below the surface on which said ball is rolled; a scoring wall hingedly connected at one end to one end of the ramp for swinging movement about an axis extending transversely of the alley between one position in which said wall is folded to an inoperative location overlying the alley inwardly from said one end, and another position in which the scoring wall is disposed beyond said one end of the alley and is inclined across the path traveled by a ball in free flight, for striking of the scoring wall by said ball, said scoring wall having a row of apertures through any of which said ball will gravitate, and row of apertures being aligned longitudinally and centrally of the alley, a chute secured to :the underside of said scoring wall in alignment with and in communication with said row of apertures of the scoring wall, said chute being inclined correspondingly to the wall in the second named extreme position of the wall, the chute having a lower end abutting against said vertical end wall of the alley in said second named extreme position of the scoring wall, said end of the chute communicating with the aperture of the alley end 'wall to provide a continuous passage inclined from the horizontal extending within said alley and chute in the operatively disposed position of the scoring wall, said scoring wall including an end wall disposed adjacent said end wall of the alley in the second named extreme position:of the, scoring wall, said end wall of the scoring wall projecting laterally beyond opposite sides of the chute, and screws threaded in the last named end wall against the alley end wall at locations spaced from the hinge axis of the scoring wall, for swingably adjusting the scoring wall about said axis, to selected positions of inclination relative to the ramp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 921,366 Conolly May 11, 1909 1,262,314 Downey Apr. 9, 1918 2,138,764 Hipwell Nov. 29, 1938 2,145,840 Thompson Jan. 31, 1939 2,326,859, Hoover Aug. 17, 1943

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