Tethered ball poker game
United States Patent [191 Reiner 1 1 TETHERED BALL POKER GAME [76] Inventor: Lawrence L. Reiner, 1 Hickory Ln.,  
 Woodbury, NY. 11797 [22] Filed: Jan. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,840  
 [52] US. Cl 273/119 R; 273/129; 273/1 R [51] Int. Cl A63d 13/00; A631 7/10 [58] Field of Search 273/119 A, 119 R, 123 A,  
 273/123 R, 129, 38,118 R, 102 B; 35/19 R 51 Apr. 15, 1975 OTHER PUBLICATIONS The Hecht Col, Catalogue, 1971, pg. 39.  
 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Amster &amp; Rothstein [57] ABSTRACT A game of skill which is an improvement upon the variety of impact-transfer device games. A playing area contains a field of ball-capturing scoring depressions. An impact-transfer device, mounted for 360 adjustment about the playing area, includes a swingably mounted striker ball for propelling a succession of playing balls onto the playing area from desired locations about the playing area. A pivotable, relatively stationary impact-transfer object may be included in the impact-transfer device. The game may be set up to play poker, bingo, tic tac toe, anagrams or any one of a variety of games of skill.  
 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDA R 1 W5 3. 877. 6539 saw 1 5 2 PATENTEDAFR I 51975 sum 2 or z O a o k a a? m mu .7 I!!! .illn-Er Ill TETI-IERED BALL POKER GAME The present invention relates generally to games of skill, and in particular to a tethered ball game in which a plurality of playing balls are projected onto a game board during the play of the game.  
  Various games of skill have been available for play by both children and adults in which one or more playing balls are propelled onto a game board or field, and depending upon the skill of the player, the game proceeds and is scored. Of recent times, a number of games have been placed on the market in which a tethered ball is employed either directly, or through a stationary impact-transfer ball, to propel the playing balls onto the playing field. For example, one such game involves the play of pool in which the playing field is in the form of a miniature pool table having pockets and the pool balls are struck, in accordance with the skill of the player, by the propelling of a cue ball onto the pool table from a fixed location at one side thereof by a cue ball launching mechanism including a tethered striker ball. Another example of a tethered ball game is a variation of skee ball in which a tethered ball-launching device is employed to propel scoring balls up a ramp toward a target consisting of a plurality of concentric ball capturing depressions.  
  Although the foregoing games have substantial play value and are interesting and intriguing both to children and adults, still further excitement could be generated by introducing further player controls which would determine the play of the game. As a new dimension or variable is added to the players skill or control, further variants and modifications of such tethered ball games can be created which will have enhanced play value and substantial consumer interest.  
  It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved game of skill which provides a further dimension of skill and control to the player thereby facilitating the creation of various tethered ball games of enhanced play value.  
  I have found that a wide variety of new and/or improved tethered ball games can be created by mounting the tethered ball and the associated playing ball or balls for movement about the playing field to various locations determined by the player which permits the player to initially establish the direction of approach of the playing balls onto the playing field. Thus, by initially adjusting the tethered ball launching mechanism relative to the playing field for the particular scoring which the player desires to achieve, the player can then proceed from that adjusted position to launch a ball onto the playing field to score in accordance with the rules for play of the game.  
  Accordingly, it is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a game of skill in which the impact-transfer device which propels playing balls onto the playing surface is adjusted on a 360 basis about the playing surface such that playing balls may be launched from any direction onto the playing surface. Advantageously, this ball launching mechanism may be used to play a wide variety of ball games including for example, but without limitation, versions of poker, bingo, word games and the like.  
  In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a game which comprises a game board having a playing surface adapted to receive a plurality of playing balls. An impact-transfer device is movably mounted on the playing surface and is adjustable to various locations about the playing surface. Provision is made on the impact-transferring device for supporting one or more playing balls in impact-transfer relation to the impact-transfer device which preferably includes a tethered striker ball. Thus, after adjustment of the impact-transfer device, the same may be operated to propel playing balls onto the playing surface from locations determined in the first instance by the adjustment of the impact-transfer device in relation to the playing surface.  
  The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a representative form of the present invention, with a group of cards and playing balls being shown therein for illustrative purposes;  
  FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the ball-capturing scoring depressions in the playing field shown completely in FIG. 1, with several illustra tive game-playing indicia shown thereon, particularly for the play of either poker or bingo;  
  FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, taken from the right of FIG. 1, showing details of the adjustable ball launching mechanism incorporated in the present game;  
  FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the ball launching mechanism with the full lines showing one position of adjustment for the ball launching mechanism with the tethered striker ball approaching a stationary impact-transfer ball and with the dotted lines showing a position for a playing ball as such ball might be propelled onto the playing field and with the further dotted lines showing a further position of adjustment of the aiming device incorporated in such ball launching mechanism; and,  
  FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further detailsof the game board and ball launching mechanism, with the dotted line showing the path of approach of the tethered striker ball and with the further dotted line showing a typical ball entering the playing field.  
  Referring now specifically to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustrative game embodying features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a game board 12 including a playing field 14 and an adjustable ball launching mechanism 16 for launching one or more playing balls, for example from the group of balls B, onto the playing field 14. In this illustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed for the play of poker, the additional accessories include a stack or deck of cards C, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.  
  The constructional details of the game board 12 are seen best in FIGS. 1, 3 and S. The game board 12, which may be a one piece plastic molding, includes a flat circular top wall 18 which is supported by a depending cylindrical supporting wall 20 which is adapted to rest on a table top T or the like. Extending about the top wall 18 inwardly of the depending supporting wall 20 is an endless trough or guideway, generally designated 22, which serves a number of functions including initially storing playing balls when not in use, capturing playing balls as they are propelled across the playing surface and miss scoring depressions and mounting the adjustable ball launching mechanism 16. The construction of the trough 22 and cooperating mounting parts on the ball launching mechanism 16 is such that these several functions can be achieved, yet the balls B are free to occupy any portion of the trough and the ball launching mechanism 16 is free to move to any position of angular adjustment relative to the playing field 14. Specifically, the trough 22 includes spaced upstanding curved guide walls 24, 26, which are concentric and extend around the entire circumference of the game board 12 to define a guideway 28 which serves to mount the ball launching mechanism, as will be de scribed. At its upper end circumferentially extending wall 24 is joined to the supporting wall 20 by a marginal flange 30. At its upper end circumferentially extending wall 26 adjoins the top wall 18 of the game board. At their lower ends, walls 24, 26 are integrally formed with inwardly directed flanges 32, 34 which support a trough body 36 which is semi-spherical in cross-section and extends about the entire circumference of the game board. As will become apparent as the description proceeds, flanges 32, 34 recess the walls 24, 26 of the guideway radially inwardly and outwardly relative to the trough body 36 a distance sufficient to accommodate the depending mounting shoes of the ball launching mechanism, to be subsequently described.  
  The playing field 14 comprises a regularly spaced field of ball capturing scoring depressions 38. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the playing field is shown as a square of five columns of five rows each located substantially centrally within the top wall 18 providing for a total of twenty-five depressions 38. As the depressions 38 are all substantially alike, only the representative depression 40 at the center of the field will be described. Depression 40 includes a generally vertical mouth defining lip 42 joining the top wall 18 at its upper end and having a radially and inwardly extending conical flange 44 at its lower end. The radially inward end of the flange 44 adjoins the top ofa generally hemispherical pocket 46 at its periphery. The radius of the pocket 46 closely approximates the radius of the playing balls B in order to snugly receive any of the playing balls which enter the depressions, having been captured by the lip 42 which has a radius substantially greater than the radius of the playing balls. The center of curvature of the pocket 46 appears without and above the pocket thereby facilitating removal of any captured playing balls B from the depressions. Any balls which are received are held with their centers without and above the pockets center thereby rendering them easily removable. A rigid hollow cylindrical supporting leg 47 is formed at the lowest end of the central pocket 46 and extends downward to the level of the bottom of the wall 20 to aid in supporting the top wall 18.  
  FIGS. 3, 4 &amp; best show the constructional details of the ball launching mechanism 16 which includes an elongated horizontal base wall 48 which is generally arcuate and has an inner edge 50 on a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of the top wall 18 and an outer edge 52 on a radius of curvature approximately equal to that of the supporting wall 20. The radial extent of the base wall 48 is such that its inner edge 50 is supported by the radially outermost end of the top wall 18 when the ball launching mechanism 16 is in place about the game board 12. A depending wall 54 is formed at the outer edge 52 of the base wall 48 and overlies the marginal flange 30 which is connected to the supporting wall 20. Arcuate depending mounting shoes 56 and 58 are spaced radially beneath the base wall 48, have radii of curvature compatible with guide walls 24 and 26, and a vertical extent which permits their support by flanges 32 and 34 thus providing guidance and lateral stability for location of the launching mechanism 16 about the playing field 14. A pair of depending end walls 60 are spaced circumferentially apart beneath the launching mechanism 16 and adjoin the lower end of the base wall 48, the radially outermost end of the shoe 58 and the radially innermost end of the shoe 56. The end walls 60 provide rigidity and define an arc 62 with a radius of curvature somewhat greater than the radius of any of the playing balls B and approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the trough body 36 to facilitate the movement of the launching mechanism 16 within the trough 22 despite the presence therein of one or more playing balls as discussed previously.  
  A hanger 64 is attached to the upper end of a pair of metal frame legs 66, 68 which diverge downwardly and are removably inserted into the base wall 48. A relatively thin, narrow aiming pointer 70 is pivotally secured to the base wall 48 by a pin 72 which extends downwardly through the pointer, into the base wall 48 and upwardly above the pointer where an impacttransfer ball 74 is held relatively stationary thereby with respect to the ball launching mechanism 16. A depending finger piece 76 forms the radially outermost portion of the pointer 70 and is used to pivot the pointer about the pin 72 to adjust the pointer with respect to the playing field 14 once the launching mechanism has been positioned at the desired location about the playing field. A seat 78 is formed in the radially inward upper side of the pointer 70, has a center which is located a distance from the center of the pin 72 approximately equal to the diameter of the playing balls B, and has generally upwardly extending side walls (see FIG. 4) which diverge from one another in the direction of the impact-transfer ball 74. The ramp-like construction of the seat 78 urges a typical playing ball 80 of the group of playing balls B into impact-transfer relation with the impact-transfer ball 74 when the playing ball 80 is placed upon the seat 78 for operation of the ball launcher 16.  
  A striker ball 82 is tethered to the hanger 64 by means of a cord 84 fixedly attached to both the hanger and the striker ball and of a length adjustable to position the striker ball 82 colinearly with respect to the impact-transfer ball 74 and successive playing balls B. The base wall 48 of the launching mechanism 16 includes a recess 86 (see FIG. 3) within its uppermost side of a shape to permit adjustment of the pointer 70 to various angled positions (for example as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 4) while simultaneously permitting the physical mounting of the pointer relatively close to the top wall 18. This mounting assures a relatively smooth entry of a played ball onto the playing field 14 and prevents any substantial bounce.  
  In a typical use, the apparatus described can be set up to play a variation of the card game of poker. A type of high card is poker is possible using only the playing card values 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of each of the four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs &amp; spades). Some of the playing card values or indicia are associated with the depressions 38 and the remaining values or indicia from the selected card distribution are associated with the playing cards C.  
  As noted previously, in the illustrative embodiment described, depressions appear within the top wall 18 to form the playing field 14. A typical depression as seen in FIG. 2 might have indicia 88 representing the King of diamonds in association therewith. The values for the indicia are chosen from the ranking cards mentioned, with six of each of the four suits for a total of 24 different indicia. The central depression might carry indicia designating a Joker for use as any value of 7 through Ace in any suit when a player is able to occupy that central depression with a playing ball B. The remaining, corresponding playing card indicia from the group of 7 through Ace in the four suits not distributed about the depressions would be carried by the cards C with two cards of each suit. The balls B could be arranged with four sub-groups of three balls each with each sub-group carrying like markings of either color or pattern.  
  To initiate play, two of the Cards C are dealt in turn to each of the players and are maintained concealed from the other players throughout the game. Each player is supplied with a group of three like-designated playing balls B. A player is chosen to initiate play by any of a number of possible methods and the first player places one of his playing balls upon the seat 78 which, due to its ramp-like construction, brings it into impact-transfer relation with the impacttransfer ball 74. The first player then moves the ball launcher 16 to a location about the playing field 14 by sliding it in the trough 22 until it reaches a location which he considers most favorable. The location of the particular depression 38 containing the indicia which he will aim for is the one he feels would complete the best poker hand&#34; when combined with the playing cards he has been dealt. (In order to assist the players in determining the ranking of the standard poker hands, a card containing such rankings might be supplied to each player to enable him to better determine which of the depressions he should aim for.)  
  Once the desired position about the playing surface has been reached, the pointer 70 is pivoted on the pin 72 and the playing ball 80, in impact-transfer relation with the impact-transfer ball 74 is directed toward the desired depression. The striker ball 82 is moved radially outward from the game board 12 while maintaining the cord 84 taut in order to ensure a degree of predicability in contacting the impact-transfer ball 74. The striker ball 82 is then either released or propelled forward as indicated by the directional arrow A (FIG. 5). The striker ball 82 strikes the impact-transfer ball 74 which transfer the impact to the playing ball 80 in impact-transfer relation therewith. The ball 80 is propelled onto the playing field 14 toward the depressions 38 in the direction indicated by the arrow R. If the player is skillful in his play, the ball which is propelled onto the playing field will be captured by a mouth defining lip of the desired depression, be transferred by gravity and the radially inwardly extending flange of that depression to be snugly received by its pocket.  
  If a player is not skillful, the playing ball which is propelled onto the playing field may land in the wrong depression or overshoot the field and land in the trough 22. Balls which overshoot the playing field do not add to the value of that players hand.  
  When each of the players in turn has had an opportunity to propel each of his three playing balls B onto the playing field, each player may select one or more of his played balls and elect to attempt to reach a more favorable scoring depression. Alternatively the player may decide to leave the playing balls in the position attained. Upon completion of this subsequent playing period, each player reveals his concealed playing cards C to all of the other players. The holder of the best hand is declared the winner.  
  In another illustrative example of the use of the apparatus of the present invention, the indicia about each of the despressions might represent values for use in playing bingo, as shown by the reference numerals in FIG. 2. In this illustrative embodiment, a larger number of playing balls B might be supplied and the cards C would contain rows and columns with the word bingo across the top and columns of numbers aligned beneath each of the letters. Each player in turn would then have an opportunity to propel a playing ball onto the playing surface in-an attempt to have the ball occupy a depression carrying numerical and alphabetical indicia corresponding to those on his playing card. According to the usual rules obtaining in bingo, the first player to complete a row or column on his card would be declared the winner.  
  Naturally, any of a wide variety of board games, e.g., tic-tac-toe or word games may be played with the apparatus herein described being used as a selector.  
  As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may be used in other specific forms or games without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. For example, the presently illustrated circular shape of the playing field and surrounding trough could be made generally oval. Also, the aiming pointer with the impact-transfer object may be removed and the striker ball used to propel a playing ball onto the playing surface by direct impact-transfer. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. A game comprising a generally circular game board having a playing surface adapted to receive a plurality of playing balls, said playing surface having a field of playing-ball capturing depressions therein, an impact-transfer device including a striker ball and means for swingably mounting said striker ball relative to said impact-transfer device, means for movably mounting said impact-transfer device at various locations about the circumference of said circular playing surface and means for supporting one of said playing balls in impact-transfer relation to said impact-transfer device striker ball, said means for movably mounting said impact-transfer device including guide means extending about the circumference of said game board for guiding said impact-transfer device about the circumference of said playing surface, said guide meansincluding a trough and means on said impact-transfer device extending into said trough for guiding said impact-transfer device 360 about said game board, said playing ball supporting means being movable with respect to said playing field, said impact-transfer device striker ball being operable to propel said one playing ball onto said playing surface from a location determined by the position of said impact-transfer device about the circumference of said playing surface.  
  2. A game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said field comprises regularly spaced depressions located substantially centrally upon said playing surface.  
  3. A game comprising a game board having a playing surface, said game board having a circumference and being adapted to receive a plurality of playing balls, an impact-transfer device, means for movably mounting said impact-transfer device for 360 movement about said circumference at various locations about said playing surface and means for supporting one of said playing balls on said impact-transfer device in impacttransfer relation to said impact-transfer device, said impact-transfer device including an impact-transfer ob ject which is stationary with respect to said impacttransfer device, said playing ball-supporting means being constructed and arranged to support said one playing ball in an impact-transfer relation to said impact-transfer object and means for striking said impacttransfer object to propel said playing ball onto said playing surface from a location determined by the position of said impact-transfer device about said playing surface.  
  4. A game in accordance with claim 3 wherein said playing surface is generally circular and has a field of playing-ball capturing depressions therein.  
  5. A game in accordance with claim 4 wherein said field comprises regularly spaced depressions located substantially centrally upon said playing surface.  
  6. A portable game comprising a generally circular game board which defines a playing surface adapted to receive each of a plurality of playing balls in each of a field of ball-capturing depressions, an impact-transfer device including a striker ball and means mounted on said impact-transfer device for swingably supporting said striker ball relative to said impact-transfer device, means for removably mounting said impact-transfer device for guided 360 movement about the circumference of said playing surface, means for supporting one of said playing balls in impact-transfer relation to said impact-transfer device striker ball and means for operating said impact-transfer device striker ball to propel said one playing ball onto said field of ball-capturing depressions from a location about the circumference of said playing surface.  
  7. A game in accordance with claim 6 including indicating means in association with each of said ballcapturing depressions for assigning a value to each of said depressions and a plurality of game cards with indicating means thereon whereby each of said game cards is assigned a corresponding value.  
  8. A game in accordance with claim 7 including alphabetical indicating means in association with each of said ball-capturing depressions for assigning an alphabetical value to each of said depressions, each of said game cards having an alphabetical indicating means thereon substantially identical to the alphabetical indicating means assigned to each of said respective depressions.  
  9. A game in accordance with claim 7 including numerical and alphabetical indicating means in association with each of said ball-capturing depressions for assigning a numerical and alphabetical value to each of said depressions, each of said game cards having a numerical and an alphabetical indicating means thereon substantially identical to the numerical and alphabetical indicating means assigned to each of said respective depressions.  
 10. A portable game comprising a generally circular game board which defines a playing surface adapted to receive each of a plurality of playing balls in each of a field of ball-capturing depressions, means for removably mounting an impact-transfer device for guided 360 movement about the circumference of said playing surface, means for supporting one of said playing balls in impact-transfer relation to said impact-transfer device and means for operating said impact-transfer device to propel said one playing ball onto said field of ball-capturing depressions from .a location about the circumference of said playing surface, said game including playing card indicating means in association with each of said ball-capturing depressions whereby a playing card value is assigned to each of said depressions a plurality of game cards, each of said game cards having a playing card indicating means thereon substantially identical to the playing card indicating means assigned to each of said respective depressions.  
  11. A game comprising a game board having a playing surface adapted to receive a plurality of playing balls, an impact-transfer device, means for movably mounting said impact-transfer device at various locations about said playing surface and means for supporting one of said playing balls in impact-transfer relation to said impact-transfer device, said impact-transfer device including an impact-transfer object which is stationary with respect to said impact-transfer device, means for supporting said one playing ball in an impact-transfer relation to said impact-transfer object, said last named means defining a seat with generally upwardly extending side walls which diverge in the direction of said impact-transfer object, and means for striking said impact-transfer object to propel said playing ball onto said playing surface from a location determined by the position of said impact-transfer device about said playing surface.