The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 24, 1996
Matthew F Kelly, San Ramon, CA (US);
Bryan M Kelly, Almo, CA (US);
J Richard Oltmann, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
RLT Acquisition, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US);
Abstract
A game method and apparatus includes a playing surface having a player end and a target end and a target provided at the target end. The target includes a channel on a planar target surface that is inclined and receives multiple playing pieces, such as balls, rolled across the playing surface by the player. The channel receives balls in a known configuration, such as a linear stack, such that each additional ball is directed to the channel with greater difficulty by the player due to the presence of previously-directed balls in the stack and rests on the ball immediately preceding it. The channel includes parallel rails for aligning the balls and for preventing the balls from touching the target surface. An aperture collects balls that are not received by the channel and routes the balls to the player. A release device releases the balls from the channel and into the collector. A game score and optional progressive score are based on the positions of balls in the channel.