WO2013026562A1

WO2013026562A1 - Ball game

Info

Publication number: WO2013026562A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/003531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herbert Buchberger
Original assignee: Herbert Buchberger
Priority date: 2011-08-19
Filing date: 2012-08-20
Publication date: 2013-02-28
Also published as: EP2744578A1; JP6022571B2; AT12827U1; JP2014527440A; EP2744578B1

Abstract

Depicted is a ball game, which comprises a track that is inclined at least in the operating state, said track being delimited on all sides by a start unit (2) for the inlet of a ball onto the track, by a goal unit (3) for catching a ball from the track, and by delimiting walls (4). In order to avoid complex goal units comprising a plurality of areas for a track, it can be provided that a plurality of identical tracks that comprise components for deflecting a ball, are arranged separately from one another in an adjacent or superposed manner, wherein for each track a timekeeping system is provided, with which by means of at least one sensor the run time can be measured that a ball requires for running through a predetermined section of a track between the start unit (2) and the goal unit (3).

Description

BALL GAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a ball game having at least one run-inclined path demarcated by launching means for inserting a ball into the track, a target for collecting a ball from the track, and boundary walls.

STATE OF THE ART

Such constructions have been known for a long time, for example from the GB

191024805 A, where a horizontal starting plane is provided, which merges into an inclined track, which has boundary walls on both sides. The lower end of the inclined track merges into a horizontal, substantially circular plate which is bounded both circumferentially and within the plate by further

Limits is divided into several areas. A ball, which is triggered by the start plane inclined path, runs on the track on the plate and randomly in one of the areas. The game outcome is thus determined by which area the ball rolls into.

Other games have side by side a plurality of identical, vertically arranged, mutually separated webs with internals, wherein the target device for the collection of disks of a web is divided into several areas, see for example the US 5,016,879 A. The game output is determined here on the one hand for each web in which area the disk comes at the end, with each area being randomly assigned a rating, on the other hand the results of several tracks are combined together on the basis of predetermined rules.

An object of the subject invention is to provide a ball game in which the game outcome is determined other than by the random spatial location of the ball after passing through the web. This allows elaborate collecting devices with multiple areas and the associated complex evaluation to determine the game outcome can be avoided.

CONFIRMATION COPY PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved in that several identical tracks, which

Have baffles for deflecting a ball, separated from each other

are arranged side by side or one above the other, wherein for each track a time-keeping is provided, with which by means of at least one sensor the transit time can be measured, which requires a ball for passing through a predetermined portion of a lane between starting device and target device.

Depending on the random point of impact of a ball on the internals of the respective track, the ball of one track will take longer to pass through a given portion of the track (which typically includes the entire track) than the ball of another track. By means of timekeeping, the travel time of the ball which it requires for the given section is measured for each track. The game outcome is thus determined not by the spatial location of the ball after passing through the web, but by the time required to travel the web or a portion of the web.

Thus, it is possible to bet on a particular outcome, such as on which orbit the ball will have the shortest or the longest run time.

Thus, it is also not necessary that the target device of a web has a plurality of separate regions in which the ball can come to rest. The aiming device will typically have a single area in which the ball exiting the end of the track will be caught.

There are at least two lanes provided, there is basically no limit to the number of lanes, but more than ten lanes make little sense, because the audience can not overlook so many lanes. Often, therefore, for example, six or eight tracks side by side or on top of each other

arranged.

As a rule, the tracks will be mounted next to each other at the same height, so that the spectator can recognize which ball is currently the fastest, that is, which is further up or down, during the game play. The viewer stands in front of the tracks and looks along the direction of the ball of the or the target devices to or to the starting devices up.

However, the webs can also be arranged congruently one above the other. The viewer then sees from the side on the tracks, as the balls move from the right (or left) from the top of the starting devices to the left (or right) below in the target facilities.

In addition to the running time for the entire section, one or more intermediate times could also be measured, for which purpose the timekeeping must be such that a time measurement can also be carried out at at least one point within the predetermined section, for example by arranging a sensor within the predetermined section the sensor detects the passage of a ball through the cross section of the web.

In order to be able to ascertain the shortest or longest running time simply and quickly, a computing unit can be provided with which the transit times measured by the timekeeping can be detected by balls of all webs and compared with one another. This arithmetic unit would possibly also the

Record split times.

The web can be a flat board in the simplest case. In this case, the ball game can have side by side arranged a frame structure, which comprises at least the boundary walls between the tracks, the board can be positively inserted into this frame construction. In this way, the webs can be quickly exchanged for other webs with a different arrangement of the baffling fixtures. Further attachment of the webs to the frame construction, such as by screws, bolts or the like, is then not necessarily required, but can be done in addition, about to keep a deformation of the webs by arranged over the tracks headlights back.

The tracks or the boards, which form the tracks, but could also be equipped with elevations or depressions. If these are provided only on the upper side of the board, which forms the track or running surface for the balls, but the underside of the board is flat, the boards could also be positively inserted into the frame construction. Regardless of their shape, the boards can be made of wood, metal or plastic, such as PVC. To a different influence of the

To exclude ball speed due to the material of the web, all boards used in a game run should be of the same material.

Preferably, the web has a plurality of pins as internals for deflecting a ball. Preferably, metal pins are used, but it can also be used plastic pins. The pins are normal to the web, especially normal to the board arranged. The shaft of the pins should protrude by more than half of the diameter of the balls used from the web to ensure a deflection normal to the pin. Depending on the distance between the pins to each other two pins form a barrier against a ball or let them through. The tracks with the internals are made by a precision machine, so that several

Railways are actually as identical as possible.

A barrier for bullets may also be formed by the web having one or more ribbons stretched over pins as internals for deflecting a ball. If the bands are elastic, as is the case with rubber bands for example, this can - in addition to the function as a barrier - diverse

Recoil effects with respect to the balls occur.

Another type of barrier can be made by attaching a wheel to a pin so that a ball does not reach the pin, but sticks to extensions of the wheel, thereby rotating the wheel and thereby causing the ball itself to move and move changes.

Of course, other passive internals to change the

Movement direction and / or to change the speed of the balls, in particular for braking the balls, possible, such as metal or plastic strips. Also active installations, which when touched by the ball with these force

Throwing away are conceivable. Such baffles are known as flippers and are referred to as bumpers ("bumpers") .The bouncing is effected by a metal ring in the beating tower, which is above the ball when at rest Cylinder coil with high force and under the impact tower Speed is pulled down and thereby hurls the ball away from the beating tower.

In order to change the behavior of the balls at different game passes, it can be provided that the inclination of the tracks is adjustable. This can be achieved, for example, by virtue of the fact that the webs and / or the frame construction carrying the webs are adjustable, in particular pivotable, relative to a stationary base body. The inclination of the tracks opposite the

Horizontally is meaningfully more than 10 °, because otherwise the ball often gets stuck or rolls only very slowly, and can be up to 90 °. However, the inclination is preferably in the range of 30 ° to 70 °, in particular, three different fixed settings at 30 °, 45 ° and 70 ° may be provided.

The inclination can, for example, either mechanically over a fixed predetermined

Resting or steplessly adjusted by means of a hydraulic. In the latter case, different positions could be stored and automatically set in the arithmetic unit.

In or near the starting device, a flap is provided in the simplest case, which releases the path to the web, wherein the flap by means of an electrical signal is apparent. This signal can for example be generated manually via a push button or by an input via the arithmetic unit. The signal then triggers the simultaneous opening of the flaps of all tracks. It would also be possible to provide a lever with which the flaps of all tracks are opened manually at the same time. For automatically closing the flaps, either magnets or mechanical devices can be provided. The former can also be operated by push button (or via the arithmetic unit) and electrical signal, the latter manually via the lever with which the flaps are also opened.

An embodiment of the invention provides for each lane an illumination which is aligned along the lane, thus illuminating along the lane. This can be switched on, for example, by opening the flap or triggering the timekeeping at the beginning of the section and switching it off by switching off the timing at the end of the section. Thus, for the viewer, on the one hand, the path of the ball along the web is easy to observe because it is illuminated, on the other hand is visible to the spectator on which orbit the ball has already reached the target and on which not yet.

In addition, one of them independent lighting of each individual web may be provided, which is coupled to the arithmetic unit and depending on the game output, such as the rank of the balls on the individual lanes, is turned on. For example, this lighting flashes only on the track with the fastest ball of a game, or in addition - in a different color - on the track with the second fastest ball or additionally - again in a different color - on the track with the third fastest ball. This can be through

different colored LEDs can be realized.

An advantage is also a display for simultaneous display of the measured transit times of all tracks. This means that all maturities can be recognized at a glance. The display can be in the form of a screen. This can be arranged for example in or on the stationary base body.

In addition to the durations, the ad can indicate the particular rank the balls of each lane have reached, that is, rank 1 for the fastest ball, rank 2 for the second fastest, and so on.

The method for operating a ball game according to the invention provides that in the starting devices of at least two tracks a ball is inserted, that the balls, such as by simultaneously opening flaps, from the

Starting devices are inserted into the respective lane, whereby at the same time begins the measurement of the time by the timekeeping,

that the measurement of the transit time for a web is stopped after passing a sensor of timekeeping by the ball, and

that a game result is output based on the measured durations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. It shows

1 is a side view of the ball game according to the invention with juxtaposed webs,

2 is a front view of the ball game of FIG. 1,

3 is a plan view of the ball game of FIG. 1, 4 is a perspective view of the ball game of FIG. 1,

5 shows a path in the form of a flat board in a perspective view,

6, the web of FIG. 5 in plan view,

Fig. 7 shows a side view of a ball game according to the invention with superposed webs.

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Fig. 2, the front view of a ball game according to the invention is shown. It comprises a fixed body 7, which can be placed on the ground or on a table. On this base body 7 near the front of the frame structure 6 is fixed by means of a hinge 11. The frame structure 6 consists essentially of seven parallel and equally spaced boundary walls 4, which are interconnected by means of connecting plates 14, 15. On the upper connection plate 14 then the starting devices 2 can be plugged, on the lower connection plate 15, the target devices 3 can be plugged. The flaps 9 a, which are shown here in the closed position, prevent rolling in balls of the starting devices 2 in the web 1. They are by a

Damper control 16 opened and closed.

In addition to the flaps 9a, a slider 9 is optionally provided in this embodiment for each lane, which is arranged above (ie on the side facing away from the web 1 of the flap 9a) and is shown in the closed position. This allows a further step in the course of the game: when the balls are inserted into the starting devices 2, then they roll up to the slide 9. Only before the start of the balls, the slider 9 are opened and the balls can roll to the flap 9a. Only when the flaps 9a are opened, the balls reach the tracks. 1

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the ball game of FIG. 1, one looks from obliquely above on the ball game. In the main body 7, a display 10 is arranged for the game result in the form of a screen. With a push button 13, the game can be started, the signal generated by the push button 13 causes via the flap control 16, the opening of the flaps 9a. These will be around Folded down 90 °, so that they are in a plane with the not visible here tracks.

The starting devices 2 for all webs are here designed as one part, which forms a bottom and three sides closed box for each track in continuation of the two adjacent boundary walls 4. The two side walls of a box continue the boundary walls 4 to the common rear wall of all boxes. Likewise, the target devices 3 for all webs are here embodied as a part which for each web is in continuation of the two adjacent ones

Boundary walls 4 forms a bottom and closed on three sides box. The two side walls of a box continue the boundary walls to the common back wall of all boxes.

The bottom of the boxes forming the starting means 2 can

Have wells to set one or more defined starting positions of the ball behind the flap 9a. Thus, parallel to the web and parallel to each other several grooves may be provided so that the ball then rolls in one of the grooves to the flap 9a forward. To set exactly a defined starting position of the ball, approximately in the middle of the web 1, a single recess may be provided per box, which tapers from the rear wall of the starting means 2 to the center of the flap 9a, so that the ball from the rear wall only can roll in a position in the middle in front of the flap 9a.

In the case of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4, where the flaps 9a are folded forwards in the direction of the webs 1, these depressions can also be seen in the rear wall (which faces away from the web 1 in the closed state of the flap 9a and in the open state the flap 9a forms with this a plane) the flap 9a be embedded. The flap 9a could thus have in its back wall a plurality of similar recesses, such as grooves, wherein the ball in the

Starting device rolls into a specific depression and along which it rolls after opening the flap 9a in the web 1. In diesem Fall wird der Klappe 9a in die Bahn 1 einstückig. Or the rear wall of the flap 9a, a single recess could be provided, which tapers in the closed state of the flap 9a from bottom to top, so that the ball after opening the flap 9a in this recess only in a position in the middle of the flap 9a and so that it can roll into the middle of the web 1. At the bottom of the frame structure 6, a pivotable bracket 12 is mounted, which fasten in different notches two on the base body 7

Retaining strips 17 can be sunk to determine the inclination of the frame structure 6 and thus the tracks.

In Fig. 1, the side view of the ball game according to the invention is shown, in Fig. 3, the top view. Here are also the inserted tracks 1, which are here in the form of flat boards, shown, but without internals.

In the case of the embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 4, a transparent cover, may be provided, for example in the form of a glass plate which covers all webs 1 and thus prevents any influence from the outside on the running of individual balls.

The illumination of the individual webs, which at the beginning of the measurement of the

Run time turns on and off after completion of the delay measurement, can be realized by a lamp in the rear wall of the box, which form the starting devices 2.

The illumination for indicating the rank that a ball of a track 1 has reached can be realized by a plurality of differently colored LEDs which are mounted in the boundary walls 4 on both sides along the track 1.

The installations of the webs 1 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which shows a web 1 in the form of a flat board in a perspective view and in plan view. The web 1 has as internals pins 5, wherein each pin is shown in Fig. 6 as a small circle or dot. To two or more pins 5 bands 8 can be stretched, which serve as an obstacle for the rolling down balls and are shown here as a line or polyline. In practice, here annular

Rubber bands are used, which are simply clamped around two pins 5. On a pin 5 and a wheel 18 may be plugged so that it is rotatable about the pin 5. Similar to a water wheel, it has extensions on which the ball hangs, the wheel 18 rotates, changing its own speed and direction.

The reference numeral 19 denotes the measurement area for the intermediate time. The reference numeral 20 denotes the measuring range for the transit time. Here, a sensor must be provided in each case, for example in the boundary wall 4, which the

Passing a ball can detect, such as a light barrier. The lighting of the tracks, which is not shown here, can be a single

Be light and be provided approximately in the rear wall of the starting devices 2, so that the light cone runs parallel to the web The switch for the lighting is connected to the flap control 16 so that the lamp turns on when the flaps 9a are opened. It turns off when the sensor from the measuring range 20 detects the passage of a ball.

Fig. 7 shows the side view of a ball game according to the invention

superimposed webs 1. Here are six identical webs 1, those of FIGS. 5 and 6, parallel to each other and congruent, so aligned with each other, arranged one above the other and fixed with a longitudinal edge to a base plate 21. This can again be done by means of positive connection, such as corresponding recesses in the base plate 21, so that the tracks can be easily replaced.

The webs 1 are normal to the base plate 21. The starting devices, which would have to be arranged here on the right edge of the webs 1, the flaps and the target devices, which should be arranged on the left edge of the webs 1, are not shown. In any case, in this embodiment, a transparent

Cover should be provided parallel to the base plate 21 along the other longitudinal edges of the webs 1, so that the balls can not fall out of the tracks 1 forward (from the base plate 21).

In operation, the base plate 21 remains vertical, but is tilted to the bottom left, so that the tracks 1 are inclined to the bottom left and on each track alone due to gravity, a ball from top left to bottom right can roll. The timekeeping, the lighting, the means for inclining the tracks and the game are analogous to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 are provided.

The width of the web 1 is in all variants usually a

Many times the ball diameter, about 5 to 15 times, especially about 10 times. In the present examples of Figs. 1-7 is the

Ball diameter about 1 cm and the width of the web 1 about 10 cm.

The length of the web 1 is generally a multiple of the width, but at least three times, for example 10 times to 20 times. In the present examples of FIGS. 1 to 7, the length of the web is 140 cm, that is about 14 times the width. The ball will usually be a metal ball, in particular a full metal ball, such as a full steel ball. This can complete many game passes without damage or change in shape. Of course, solid or hollow spheres of other materials, such as plastic, can be used.

FUNCTIONING OF THE INVENTION

When a game play is started, then in each case one ball is inserted into the starting devices 2 of at least two tracks. Since the bottom of each starting device 2 is just as strongly inclined as the web 1, the balls will abut against the respective flap 9a. The movement of the balls during the

Game play is done solely by gravity.

By pressing the push button 13 all flaps 9a are opened simultaneously and the balls roll from the starting devices 2 in the respective lane 1. Simultaneously with the pressing of the push button 13, the measurement of the duration begins by the timekeeping. When the flaps 13 are opened, they are folded downwards by the starting devices 2, so that they are flush with the web 1 and the balls enter the web 1 via the opened flaps 9a.

When a ball of a web 1 reaches the measuring range 19 for the intermediate time, the sensor in the measuring range 19 sends a signal to the arithmetic unit, from which the corresponding time is read from the timekeeping and output as an intermediate time on the display 10.

If a ball of a web 1 at the end thereof reaches the measuring range 20 for the transit time, the sensor in the measuring range 20 sends a signal to the arithmetic unit, from which the corresponding time is read from the timekeeping and output as runtime on the display 10.

The arithmetic unit compares at least all runtimes with each other and determines an order, so that it can be displayed on the display 10, which path has been traversed by the respective ball the fastest, the second fastest, etc., or even the slowest. Accordingly, any illumination of the web to indicate the rank of the ball can be turned on. After the sensor has detected in the measuring area 20 the passage of a ball, the measurement of the transit time is stopped by the timekeeping for this track. The ball is caught in the respective target device.

For a new game play the flaps 9a must be closed again and the balls are re-inserted into the starting devices 2. The balls can be moved from the target devices 3 into the starting devices 2 on the one hand manually. On the other hand, an automatic ball transport by means of a mechanical conveyor could be done, for example by means of conveyor belts or screw conveyors.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 train

2 starting device

3 target device

4 boundary wall

5 pen

6 frame construction

7 basic body

8 band

9 slides

9a flap

10 display

11 joint

12 straps

13 push button

14 upper connection plate

15 lower connection plate

16 flap control

17 notch bar

18 wheel

19 Measuring range for intermediate

20 measuring range for running time

21 base plate

Claims

A ball game which comprises at least one operationally inclined track (1) which is triggered by a starting device (2) for the insertion of a ball into the track, by a target device (3) for collecting a ball from the track and by boundary walls (3). 4) is completely delimited, characterized in that a plurality of identical tracks (1), which internals (5, 8, 18) for deflecting a ball, separated from each other

arranged side by side or one above the other, wherein for each track a time-keeping is provided with which by means of at least one sensor, the transit time can be measured, which requires a ball for passing through a predetermined portion of a lane between the starting device (2) and target device (3) ,

2. ball game according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one further sensor of the timekeeping is provided for determining an intermediate time within the predetermined section.

3. ball game according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a computing unit for detecting and comparing with each other the measured by the timekeeping running times of balls of all webs (1)

is provided.

4. ball game according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the web (1) is a particular flat board, which in a

Frame construction (6), which comprises at least the boundary walls (4) between the webs (1), can be inserted in a form-fitting manner.

5. Ball game according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the web (1) has a plurality of pins (5) as internals for deflecting a ball, optionally additionally one or more strained via pins bands (8) and / or on Pins attached wheels (18) as

Internals are provided for deflecting a ball.

6. ball game according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the inclination of the webs (1) is adjustable.

7. Ball game according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in or near the starting device (2) a flap (9 a) is provided, which releases the path to the web (1), wherein the flap (9 a)

electrical signal is apparent.

8. Ball game according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for each lane (1) an illumination is provided which is aligned along the path.

9. Ball game according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a display (10) for simultaneously displaying the measured

Running time of all tracks (1) is provided.

10. A method for operating a ball game according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized

in that a ball is inserted into the starting devices (2) of at least two tracks (1),

that the balls, for example by simultaneously opening flaps (9a), from the starting means (2) in the respective web (1) are let in, whereby at the same time begins the measurement of the transit time by the timekeeping, in that the measurement of the transit time for a web (1) is stopped after passing through a sensor of the time-keeping by the ball and that a game result is output based on the measured transit times.