US3887184A

US3887184A - Hand-held and manipulated catch ball game

Info

Publication number: US3887184A
Application number: US434388A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Cavaliere
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-01-18
Filing date: 1974-01-18
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03

Abstract

A hand held, hand manipulated catch ball game assembly is disclosed comprising a ball, a ball launching ramp having an upturned end, a receptacle or basket located beyond the upturned end of the ramp, and a handle positioned at the opposite end of the ramp. The ball is placed on the ramp at the handle end, and the assembly, held by the handle, is tilted downward to roll the ball along the ramp. As the ball reaches the upturned end it is launched into the air whereupon the player manipulates the assembly to catch the ball in the receptacle.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Cavalier-e June 3, 1975 1 1 HAND-HELD AND MANIPULATED CATCH BALL GAME [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 434,388

[52] U.S. Cl 273/96 R [51] Int. Cl A63b 71/02 [58] Field of Search.. 273/96 R, 96 D, 95 R, 109 R,

273/113 R, 123 R, 96 C; 46/43 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm.1ames .I. Cannon, Jr.; James J. Cannon 5? ABSTRACT A hand held, hand manipulated catch ball game assembly is disc1osed comprising a ball, a ball launching ramp having an upturned end, a receptacle or basket located beyond the upturned end of the ramp, and a handle positioned at the opposite end of the ramp. The ball is placed on the ramp at the handle end, and the assembly, held by the handle, is tilted downward to roll the ball along the ramp. As the ball reaches the upturned end it is launched into the air whereupon the player manipulates the assembly to catch the ball in the receptacle.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure HAND-HELD AND MANIPULATED CATCH BALL GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The invention relates to toys and games and particularly to hand held and manipulated games.

2. Background of the Invention:

There are a number of toys and games which involve catching a launched ball in a basket. The well known game of basketball is the most common. Several US. Patents disclose games in which a ball or projectile is launched and caught in a basket. Among them are U.S, Pat. No. 3,092,387, showing a simulated basketball game, US. Pat No. 3,649,019, disclosing a gravity projected ball game with a manually maneuverable target opening, and US. Pat. No. 3,249,358 showing a manually manipulated pivoted projector with elevated receptacles.

All of the above show assemblies which rest on a table and/or in which the receptacle is fixed. In contrast and as will be described below, the present invention is completely hand held and manipulated allowing the user by hand movement to both launch a ball and then position and maneuver a receptacle to catch it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention may be summarized as hand manipulated catch ball game consisting ofa ball, a ball launching ramp having an upturned end, a receptacle positioned beyond the upturned end of the ramp and a handle located at the opposite end of the rampv The ball is placed on the ramp at the handle end and the assembly, grasped by the handle, tilted downward to roll the ball along the ramp. As the ball reaches the upturned end, it is launched into the air whereupon the player manipulates the assembly to catch the ball in the receptacle. The ball will assume different attitudes at launch depending upon how much the assembly is tilted, requiring skill on the part ofthe player to catch the ball in the receptacle, The parameters of the design may be varied to increase the difficulty of the catch, i.e., the size of the basket in relation to the size of the ball and the degree to which the ramp end is upturned. Further difficulty may be introduced by the player assuming unusual positions in using the device behind the back or standing on one foot, for example. The structure and use of the invention will become more apparent from the following drawing and description of the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the inventionv The FIGURE is an illustration of the preferred emhodiment of the invention. The assembly designated generally as I0 is composed of support 12. ball launching ramp 14 having side rails 16 and upturned end 18, ball 20 resting on the ramp, handle 22 attached to the support and ball recepticle 24 attached to the opposite end of the support.

In use, the assembly 10 is grasped by the handle 22, the ball 20 placed on the ramp l4 and by tilting the assembly 10 the ball is caused to roll toward the upturned end 18. Upon rolling off the upturned end 18, the ball 20 is launched into the air. The player, by skillfully manipulating the assembly 10, catches the ball 20 in the recepticle 24 successfully completing the game.

The assembly 10 may be used in a variety of positions to increase the difficulty of making the catch. For example, the game may be held'behind the back and ob served over the shoulder or in a mirror. Other positions and attitudes will be readily apparent to the user.

The size of the device is additionally a matter of choice. The ball 20 may range anywhere from a marble to a basketball and an elastic ball may add to the diffi culty of catching and keeping the ball in the recepticle 24.

Other variations in the structure and use of the device will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Accord ingly the invention is defined in the following claims,

I claim:

1. A hand held and manipulated catch ball game assembly comprising:

a Support;

a ball launching ramp attached to said support;

said ramp having ball retaining side walls and an upturned ball launching end;

a ball receiving receptical attached to said support adjacent to said upturned end; and a handle attached to said support opposite said upturned ramp end for manipulating said assembly to launch said ball into said receptacle, said handle, said ramp and said ball receiving receptacle aligned along the lon gitudinal axis of said ramp, said ball receiving receptacle having a ball receiving opening whose axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal ramp axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a

ball.

Claims

1. A hand held and manipulated catch ball game assembly comprising: a support; a ball launching ramp attached to said support; said ramp having ball retaining side walls and an upturned ball launching end; a ball receiving receptical attached to said support adjacent to said upturned end; and a handle attached to said support opposite said upturned ramp end for manipulating said assembly to launch said ball into said receptacle, said handle, said ramp and said ball receiving receptacle aligned along the longitudinal axis of said ramp, said ball receiving receptacle having a ball receiving opening whose axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal ramp axis.