This invention relates to game apparatus permitting the retrieval of a ball from a random location within a location-concealing chamber.
Various designs of game apparatus are known, having a random nature. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,007 describes a cat toy having a ball located behind a screen with holes formed therethrough. The intention is that a cat may play with the toy, watching the ball through the holes, but there is no arrangement for retrieving the ball through the holes. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,822 describes a game where a number of ball are randomly knocked into discrete apertures in a dish-shaped playing surface by a spinning top. The balls may be recovered from the various value apertures by a collecting device.
According to the present invention, there is provided a game apparatus comprising: a lower surface; an upper surface over lying the lower surface and spaced therefrom so as to define a concealment chamber intermediate the upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface having a plurality of apertures each of which is provided with a closure means; a ball for positioning at a random location on the lower surface and being concealed within the concealment chamber; and a retrieval device connectable to the ball and which may be used to attempt retrieval of the ball from within the concealment chamber by inserting the retrieval device through a selected one of the plurality of apertures.
It will be appreciated that the ball may be disposed at a random location on the lower surface simply by shaking the apparatus and then the retrieval device is used to attempt to extract the ball from the chamber, by inserting that device into a randomly selected opening. Depending upon the configuration of the closure, it may be necessary to open that closure before inserting the device or the device may be inserted through the closurexe2x80x94but in either case, the design of the closure should be such that the location of the ball cannot be determined visually, from an external viewpoint.
The apparatus may be associated with a game-playing board carrying appropriate markings and in that case the ball, once retrieved from the apparatus, may be employed in further game play, on that board. In this case, the apparatus may be configured so as to be connectable to and easily removable from the game-playing board.
Preferably the ball is made from a ferro-magnetic material such as steel, and the retrieval device has a magnetic end for releasable connection to the ball. Such a retrieval device is conveniently rod shaped.
Whilst the apparatus could be used separately from a game board, the apparatus may advantageously be placed on a board and the board moved from side to side by the players. These movements enable a ball placed within the apparatus to roll to an unknown random location within the chamber. The retrieval of the ball from its concealed position can then be attempted by the insertion of the retrieval device through a randomly-selected aperture in the upper surface. The apparatus thus allows the players in a game the opportunity of locating and retrieving a ball, by chance.
It is desirable that the lower surface defines a number of specific ball locating positions, such that in use the ball will normally remain in one position, but if sufficient force is applied to the device, the ball will be dislodged from this one position and move within the intermediate concealment chamber, randomly to relocate at any one of the ball locating positions. For example, the specific ball locating positions may take the form of peaks and troughs or recesses provided on the lower surface, each such ball locating position being disposed directly beneath an aperture in the upper surface.
The closure may take any of a number of forms, but preferably each closure comprises a pair of shutters hingedly connected to the upper surface, and movable between respective closed positions where they are parallel to the upper surface and cover the aperture and open positions where they permit the removal of a concealed ball. Alternatively, each closure may comprise a removable block that covers the aperture but is completely removable therefrom to permit an attempt at removal of a concealed ball.
It is preferred that the closure should conceal the location of a ball, whilst permitting the entry of the retrieval device and removal of the ball with the least amount of actions. To this end a closure that allows entry of the ball retrieval device through a hole therein and then removal of the ball without any separate opening or closing action is preferred.
Such a hole should be suitably sized to permit the passage of the retrieval device therethrough but prevent a concealed ball from being visible from outside the device. Therefore, an attempt at removal of the bail is a simple one-handed task wherein the retrieval device is inserted through the chosen hole without hindrance from the closure; if the ball is present beneath the aperture the retrieval device makes contact with the ball to permit its removal. This is achieved by pulling the retrieval device out of the aperture, the passage of the ball through the aperture serving to open the closure.
In the alternative, a closure that is not openable automatically by the retrieval device or the ball may be employed. For example, each closure may comprise a single lid hingedly connected to the upper surface and movable between a closed position covering the aperture and an open position where entry of the retrieval device and removal of a ball is permitted. Alternatively, each closure may comprise a sliding door connected to the upper surface and movable between open and closed positions. To facilitate the movement of such a sliding door, runners may be arranged on the upper surface of the device, for guiding and retaining all of the doors.
As the ball is likely to be removed during game play, a side wall of the apparatus is preferably provided with an access hatch having an openable cover, to permit the reintroduction of the ball into the intermediate chamber. In addition, the game apparatus is preferably provided with a recess on the underside of the lower surface to allow the apparatus to be positioned and secured on a game board.
In use, the apparatus is shaken randomly to position the ball within the intermediate chamber. A retrieval device is inserted through an aperture in the upper surface, either after opening the associated closure or through the closure, depending on the type of closure used. If the ball, or one of a number of balls, contained within the chamber is found beneath the aperture, the retrieval device connects to the ball and removal of the retrieval device extracts the ball from the chamber.