Pick-Up Game

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to amusement devices and, more specifically, to a pick-up game in which the objects to be picked up undergo compound movement to increase the level of difficulty of the game.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are presently known fishing games in which a fish is picked up by placing a bait in the mouth of the fish when it is in an open position. When the mouth closes, the bait and fish are coupled so that the fish can be picked up.

This type of game is relatively simple and can be played by only one player at a time. Thus, the game is one which can become easily tiresome, due principally to the low level of difficulty of the game.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pick-up game in which objects to be picked up undergo compound movement, thereby rendering same more difficult to pick up.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pick-up game which can be played by two or more players simultaneously, thus enhancing the interest and competitiveness of the game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pick-up game which is relatively simple in construction and cost effective to produce.

These and other objects of the invention are met by providing a pick-up game which includes a base, a shell rotatably mounted on the base, a plurality of pintles mounted for reciprocating movement on the shell, drive means for rotating the shell, means coupled to the base for reciprocating and rotating the pintles, and a plurality of pick-up figures, each carried by a corresponding one of the pintles.

Preferably, pick-up hooks are provided for each player. The pick-up figures are shaped to resemble monsters and have an opening formed at the bottom thereof and a pair of elastic arms capable of being grasped by the pick-up hooks.

These and other features and advantages of the pick-up game according to the present invention will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a base portion of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing one of the pick-up figures and its corresponding pintle; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the pick-up game of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a pick-up game according to the present invention is generally referred to by the numeral 10 and includes a base portion 12 which has a generally circular shape with an annular rim which circumscribes a flat circular bottom. The circular bottom, designated by the numeral 14 in FIG. 3, is recessed from the rim portion 16.

A shell 18 is rotatably mounted on the base portion 12 and is driven rotatably in the circular bottom 14. The rotatable mount is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein a mounting post 20 integrally formed with the shell 18 is rotatably mounted on a central projection 22 of the base portion 12, and secured thereto by a bolt 22a.

The shell 18 has a generally disk-shape with a circular lower peripheral edge 24 which is provided with gear teeth which mesh with a drive pinion (to be described later).

Two sets of holes 26 and 28 (see FIG. 2) are formed respectively on two different radii from the rotation axis of the disk 18. The set of holes 26 are formed on a first radius, meaning that the center of the holes lie on the same radius from the rotation axis of the shell 18, while the set of holes 28 lie on a second, larger radius. Each radius defines an orbital path for each set of pintles for orbiting around the rotational axis of the shell. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four holes in each set, with the four holes of each set being equally spaced around the rotation axis of the disk 18. Since there are four holes, the holes are spaced at 90.degree. intervals. Moreover, the two sets of holes are staggered so that one of the holes 26 lies on a vector which falls between two of the holes 28. This provides an even spacing of the holes across the upper surface of the disk 18.

Each of the holes 26 and 28 opens into a cylindrical support 30 which is integrally formed with the shell 18 and extends downwardly towards the circular bottom 14 of the base portion 12. A plurality of pintles 32 are mounted for reciprocating movement on the shell 18. An enlarged cylindrical portion 34 of the pintles 32 is loosely slidable in corresponding cylindrical supports 30. A pinion gear 36 is formed on the periphery of the cylindrical portion 34 and a spherical tip 38 is provided on the end of the cylindrical portion 34 so as to slidably engage the circular bottom 14 of the base portion 12. The upper portion of each pintle 32 has a reduced diameter and extends upwardly from the surface of the shell 18. A plurality of pick-up FIGS. 40 (see FIG. 4) are carried respectively by the upstanding pintles 32. Each FIG. 40 has a pair of arms 42 which are capable of being hooked by pick-up hooks manipulated by players of the game so as to remove the FIGS. 40 from their corresponding pintles 32. Each FIG. 40 has a central cavity 44 which has an opening at the bottom of the FIG. 40 for receiving a distal end of the pintle 32.

A battery compartment 46 stores a battery power source which powers an electric motor 48. A cover 46a is releasably attached to the base portion 12 over the battery compartment 46. An opening 50 is provided in the base portion 12 near the battery compartment 46 providing access for a power on/off switch 52. When the motor 48 is switched on by the switch 52, a worm gear 54 coupled to the output shaft of the motor 48 rotates gear 56 which is coaxially mounted with a pinion 58. The pinion 58 protrudes through an opening 60 (see FIG. 3) provided in the base portion 12. The pinion 58 meshes with the peripheral edge 24 of the shell 18 to impart rotational movement in the shell 18.

As the shell 18 rotates, the centers of the first set of holes 26 travel over a first radius 26a illustrated in FIG. 3, while the centers of the second set of holes 28 travels over a second radius 28a.

Referring to FIG. 3, each radius 26a and 28a is provided on opposite sides thereof with arcuate rack segments 62 and 64, each rack segment having teeth which oppose the corresponding radius. Each rack segment 62 and 64 extends upwardly from the bottom 14 of the base portion 12 and is preferably integrally formed with the base portion. The rack segments are preferably of varying length and are disposed asymmetrically around the rotational axis of the shell 18. As a result, the pinion 36 of each pintle 32 meshes intermittently with the rack segment 62 and 64 so as to be rotated in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction. The pintles are thus rotatable in two opposite directions, while simultaneously orbiting around the rotational axis of the shell 18. Since the pick-up FIGS. 40 are carried by the pintles, they too orbit and rotate in opposite directions. While the orbiting motion is carried out so long as the motor 48 is energized, the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of each pintle and FIG. 40 carried thereon occurs intermittently whenever the pinion 36 meshes with an arcuate rack segment 62 or 64.

Arcuate camming segments 66 are formed on the two radii 26a and 28a at irregular intervals and of varying length at positions which preferably do not overlap with the positions of the arcuate rack segments 62 and 64. Thus, when the pintles 32 are not rotating due to the rack segments 62 and 64, they are caused to reciprocate by sliding along an upwardly projecting surface of the camming segments 66. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the tip 38 of the pintle 32 slides along the sloping surface 66a of the camming segment 66, thus causing the pintle 32 to move upwardly. After advancing over the flat surface 66b, the pintle falls downwardly into a notch 66c formed in the camming segment 66, whereupon the tip 38 is forced over another sloping surface so as to once again move upwardly. The effect is to cause the pintle to reciprocate when the pinion 36 is disengaged from the rack segments 62 and 64. It is possible, however, to overlap the arcuate rack segments 62 and 64 with a camming segment 66, so that while the pintle 32 is on the sloping surface 66a the pintle can be rotated by the pinion 36 until the pinion becomes separated from the teeth of the rack 62 or 64. Thus, the pintle is capable of rotating during at least a portion of its reciprocating movement, so that rotating and reciprocating movement are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

The game includes, as shown in FIG. 1, pick-up hooks 68 which have handles 70 and hooked end portions 72, with the hooked end portions 72 being pivotally connected to a main shaft portion 74 at a swivel joint. The object of the game is to pick up the FIGS. 40 with the pick-up hooks 68 by hooking the arms 42 of the FIGS. 40. The arms are integrally formed with the body of the figures, which are molded of soft vinyl chloride base resin so that the arms are flexible and resilient. Also, the surfaces of the figures have great frictional resistance so that they can be easily adhered to synthetic resins, etc.

Preferably, the FIGS. 40 are shaped to resemble monsters with open mouths which can be hooked by the pick-up hooks, so that the player has the option of hooking the mouth or the arms of the FIG. 40.

The compound movement of the FIGS. 40 due to the reciprocation, rotation and orbiting movement of the pintles 32 makes it difficult for the player to pick up the FIGS. 40 with the pick-up hooks 68. This difficulty adds to the enjoyment of the game, which can be played in various modes. For example, a single FIG. 40 can be placed on one of the pintles 32, and multiple players can use the pick-up hooks 68 simultaneously to attempt to be the first to pick up the single FIG. 40. Other variations of the game can be envisioned easily, and all are included within the scope of the present invention.

Numerous modifications and adaptations of the present invention will be apparent to those so skilled in the art and thus, it is intended by the following claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.