Amusement Device

The present invention relates to the general class of amusement devices wherein movement of objects submerged in a fluid is promoted with the use of a pump that when actuated directs currents in the fluid into engagement with the submerged objects moving same in a desired path. With the present invention, rings having a specific gravity just slightly greater than water are directed upwardly within a transparent enclosure, by a pumping mechanism consisting of a flexible bellows, to thereafter drift slowly downwardly either to be caught by spiked goals or to be deposited either in a default area where further play is impossible or in an area whereby actuation of the pumping mechanism again directs the rings upwardly to begin drifting downwardly again.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the amusement device of the present invention illustrating the transparent enclosure, goals and the push button and bellows-like pump;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the lower portion of the present invention partly in section illustrating the mechanism operatively connecting the bellows-like pump to an opening in the bottom of the enclosure through which fluid is forced to carry the objects upwardly; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of the FIG. 1 illustrating one of the objects immediately above one of the goals and one of the objects caught on the goal.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the amusement device of the present invention features a transparent enclosure 10. Where a liquid, for example, water, is used, the enclosure 10 is provided with a top member 12 having a hole 14 through which the liquid may be poured and a stopper 16. The bottom member 18 of the enclosure 10 is provided with an opening 20 and is affixed by any suitable structure to a base 30 within which is mounted a push-button 34 protruding outwardly through an opening 32. Within the base 30 is a flexible bellows-like pump 36 operably connected to the push-button 34 with a fluid-tight seal 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a tube 38 operatively connects the bellows-like pump 36 to the opening 20 within the bottom member 18 of the enclosure 10. It is apparent that the open end 39 of the tube 38 protrudes through the opening 20.

There are two stationery goals or targets 40 which may be affixed to the walls of the enclosure 10, or as illustrated in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3, may be attached to a transparent sheet 41 slidably mounted within the enclosure. It will be apparent that by mounting the goals 40 to the sheet 41 it is possible to simplify the manufacture and assembly of the component parts. The reference numeral 34 designates generally a plurality of small rings 44 which may be of any material having a higher specific gravity than the fluid within the enclosure 10 such that the rings 44 will move through the liquid very slowly. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the object of the game is to catch as many of the rings 44 as possible on the spiked goals 40.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are also mounted to the transparent sheet 41, ramps 50 and 51, each of which terminates downwardly in abutting relationship against the bottom member 18 of the enclosure 10 in close proximity to the opening 20. The ramp 51 is connected to a generally vertically disposed support member 52 which, together with the side of the enclosure 10 defines a default trap 54.

To operate the game, the player depresses the push-button 34 which causes the bellows-like pump 36 to contract which, in turn, forces water from the bellows-like pump 36 through the tube 38 into the fluid-filled enclosure 10. The force of the upwardly moving fluid from the tube 38 creates currents in a generally upward direction. The upwardly moving currents cause any of the rings 44 located between the ramps 50 and 51 to be projected upwardly. It will be apparent that by varying the speed and force with which the push-button 34 is depressed, the player can vary the force of the currents of fluid, and in so doing regulate how high the rings 44 move upwardly within the enclosure 10, as well as regulating the length of time the rings 44 remain suspended within the fluid. After all of the fluid from the bellows-like pump 36 has been expelled through the tube 38, or the player ceases depressing the push-button 34, the currents cease and the rings 44 thereafter begin to sink downwardly toward the bottom of the enclosure 10 with three possible results. It is possible that one or more of the rings 44 may score a hit by settling over one of the spiked goals 40. Alternatively, one or more of the rings 44 may settle into the default trap 54 rendering the ring 44 inoperative in the sense that further movement of the button 34 will have no effect on such ring which is shielded from the currents being generated between the ramps 50 and 52. Finally, or more of the rings 44 may descend eventually striking the ramps 50 or 51 eventually being deposited in close proximity to the open end 39 of the tube 38 in which case the player may continue to attempt to achieve the object of the game by again pressing the push-button 34. The game is over when all of the rings 44 have either been caught by the spiked goals 40 or have fallen into the default trap 54.