US3853324A

US3853324A - Combined game of chance and skill

Info

Publication number: US3853324A
Application number: US00405469A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Brady; L Reiner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-11
Filing date: 1973-10-11
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10
Also published as: DE2448624A1; FR2246292B3; ES430937A1; FR2246292A1

Abstract

A combined game of chance and skill which is a modified form of the popular game known as bingo. The game includes a circular playing field, a longitudinal alley extending therefrom and a ball-propelling mechanism mounted at one end of the alley for propelling small and large indicating balls along the alley and onto the playing field. The playing field includes an outer member and an inner disc which are rotatably driven in opposite directions. The outer member is provided with a plurality of indicia-carrying partitions which are spaced to trap the large indicating ball which is propelled onto the playing field but are spaced to allow the small indicating ball to pass through the partitions and onto the inner disc. The inner disc is provided with a plurality of indicia-carrying, ball-receiving pockets adapted to receive the small indicating ball which passes through the partitions.

Description

United States Patent Reiner et al.

COMBINED GAME OF CHANCE AND SKILL Inventors: Lawrence L. Reiner, Hickory Ln.,

Woodbury, L.I., NY. 11797; William A. Brady, 201 Cross St., Fort Lee, NJ. 07024 Filed: Oct. 11, 1973 Appl. No.: 405,469

US. Cl 273/142 E, 273/119 A, 273/142 F Int. Cl. A63f 5/02 Field of Search 273/118-126,

273/142 E, 142 F,142 G, 135 B, 135 BC References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1971 l-loyt 273/119 R X 4/1921 Gotsche 273/142 E X 5/1925 Jarvis 273/119 R X 1l/l973 Breslow 2 73/119 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2/1924 I Great Britain.... 273/118 D Primary Examinep-Paul E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or FirmAmster & Rothstein [5 7] ABSTRACT A Combined game of chance and skill which is a modified form of the popular game known as bingo. The game includes a circular playing field, a longitudinal alley extending therefrom and a ball-propelling mechanism mounted at one end of the alley for propelling small and large indicating balls along the alley and onto the playing field. The playing field includes an outer member and an inner disc which are rotatably driven in opposite directions. The outer member is provided with a plurality of indicia-carrying partitions which are spaced to trap the large indicating ball which is propelled onto the playing field but are spaced to allow the small indicating ball to pass through the partitions and onto the inner disc. The inner disc is provided with a plurality of indiciacarrying, ball-receiving pockets adapted to receive the small indicating ball which passes through the partitions.

18 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEL mac 1 01914 sum 10F PATENTEL DEC] 0 I974

sum

2 or 5 III 1 COMBINED GAME OF CHANCE AND SKILL This invention relates generally to a combined game of chance and skill and, more particularly, to a game which is a modified form of the popular game known as bingo.

Throughout the years, various forms of the game of bingo have become popular and are played by both children and adults. In one popular form of the game of bingo, each player is provided with one or, more bingo cards and bingo card markers with each of the cards having various letter/number combinations arranged in columns (for example: B 6). In a random manner, various letter/number combinations are selected and all the players who have those particular combinations on their cards place a bingo card marker on the appropriate square. The play of the game continues until one of the players fills any row of five squares, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, on his or her bingo card at which point he or she is declared the winner of the game.

Although the foregoing game has substantial play value and is interesting and intriguing both to children and adults, still further excitement could be generated by introducing further player controls which would determine the play of the game. As a new dimension or variable is added to the players skill or control, further variants and modifications of such games can be created which will have enhanced play value and substantial consumer interest. I

The present invention is directed to a modified form of the game of bingo. More particularly, instead of each letter/number combination being selected at random, as in' the conventional game of bingo, the apparatus of the present invention is used to select the particular letter/number combinations with the game apparatus allowing the players to utilize their skill in effecting the outcome of the selection. In the play of the game, indicating balls are propelled by a ball-propelling mechanism onto a rotating playing field having two sets of ball-receiving pockets, each of which has letter or number indicia corresponding thereto. More particularly, each player utilizes his skill and timing in operating the ball-propelling mechanism to shoot for a particular letter/number combination which appears on his or her bingo card or cards, by first shooting a small ball into one set of pockets to select the letter desired, and then shooting a large ball into the other set of pockets to select the number desired. Accordingly, the letter/number combination selected by the player is indicated by the position of the balls in the two sets of pockets. Accordingly, rather than the letter/number combinations being selected completely at random as in the conventional game of bingo, each player has the opportunity .of using his or her skill to propel the small and large indicating balls and shoot for desired letter/number combinations to fill in the squares on his or her bingo card. In this manner, a new dimension of skill has been added to-the play of the conventional game of bingo and enhances the play value thereof by lending greater interest and excitement to this well-known game.

Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide a combined game of chance and skill which is like the conventional game of bingo, but has an interesting and new dimension of skill and control in the play thereof. In its commercial form, the game is portable, is of relatively simple construction, is

readily manufactured by mass production techniques at relatively low cost and includes a number of simple and relatively indestructible components.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a bame board having a circular playing field which includes two rotatably driven members, which may be driven to rotate in the same direction or in opposite directions, with each member having ball-receiving pockets and corresponding indicia.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of thepresent invention, there is provided a combined game of chance and skill which includes a circular playing field, a longitudinal playing alley extending therefrom and a ballpropelling mechanism mounted at the end of the alley for propelling small and large indicating balls along the alley and onto the circular playing field. The playing field includes an outer member and an inner disc which may be rotatably driven in the same or opposite directions. The outer member is provided with a plurality of indicia-carrying partitions which fonn ball-receiving pockets which are spaced to trap the large indicating ball which is propelled onto the playing field but are spaced to allow the small indicating ball to pass through the partitions and onto the inner disc. The inner disc is provided with a plurality of indicia carrying, ballreceiving pockets adapted to receive the small indicating ball which passes through the partitions.

As in the conventional game of bingo, the object of the present combined game of chance and skill is for a player to fill any row of five squares, horizon tally, vertically or diagonally, on his or her bingo card. However, in the game of the present invention, a player may improve his or her shooting skillto improve the chances of obtaining desired letter/number combinations, whereas in the conventional ganie of bingo, the player has no control over determining or selecting the letter/- number combinations, which are randomly selected. Accordingly, a new dimension of skill and control has been added to the conventional game of bingo which thereby enhances the play value thereof. Of course, the present game apparatus may be used to play any other game in which a dual selection must be made. In addition, the indicia of this game may be changed so that the apparatus may be used to play a wide variety of games including, for example, but without limitation, versions of card games, word game-s and the like.

The above description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully. understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. [is a plan view of a representative form of the present invention, with playing accessoriesand playing balls being shown therein for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the master tally board;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing in detail the Lazy Susan arrangement for pivoting the game board;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view, partially broken away, to illustrate various details of the rotatable playing field and the drive therefor;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the game board and ballpropelling mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 66 in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the storage compartments and the ball-propelling mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially along the line 77 in FIG. 4 and looking in'the direction of the arrows, showing details of the switching-arrangement for supplying power to the drive for the rotatable playing field.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustrative game embodying features of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a game board 12 including a circular playing field 14, a longitudinal playing alley 16 extending therefrom and a ball-propelling mechanism 18 mounted on one end of alley 16 for propelling various size indicating balls 20 along alley l6 and onto playing field 14. In this illustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed for the play of bingo, additional accessories include a suitable number of bingo cards 22, conventional bingo card markers 24, a supply of playing chips 26, and a set of tally pegs 28, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The constructional details of game board 12 are best seen in FIGS. 4, and 6. The game board 12, which may be a one-piece plastic molding, includes a circular frame member 30 being formed with a step-like depression 32 and a mounting shaft 32a in the center thereof and a longitudinal frame member 34 extending from one side 30a of circular frame member 30. Longitudinal frame member 34 is constructed to include two

side members

36, 38 which define the longitudinally extending playing alley l6 therebetween. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4,

side members

36, 38 are provided with

respective storage compartments

36a, 38a and respective removable covers or lids 36b, 38b. In this particular embodiment, storage compartment 36a may be used to store bingo card markers 24 and playing chips 26 and storage compartment 38a may be used to house power cells or batteries 40a, 40b, for a purpose to be explained.

As may be seen most clearly in FIG. 4, side members 36, '38 are also provided with

respective mounting holes

42, 44 for mounting ball-propelling mechanism 18. As shown in FIG. 6, ball-propelling mechanism 18 is in the form of a triangular-shaped arch having a hanger 46 and mounting legs 48,50 for insertion into

respective mounting holes

42, 44. Suspended from hanger 46 is a tethered ball arrangement which is adjustable with respect to its distance above playing alley 16. More particularly, the tethered ball arrangement includes a slotted member 52 having a hole 52a formed therein so that a chain 54 and a striker ball 56 attached thereto may be adjusted at various heights and suspended from hanger 46 at a suitable distance above playing alley 16. Playing alley 16 is also provided with a suitable launching spot for indicating balls 20, such as a depression 16a, which is adapted to receive indicating balls of different sizes, such as a small diameter ball 20a or a large diameter ball 20b. Accordingly, as will be explained, striker ball 56 may be adjusted to be colinear with either indicating balls 20a, 20b so that upon impact with striker ball 56, they will be propelled along playing alley l6 and onto playing field 14.

Now turning to the constructional details of circular playing field 14, these features are best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Circular playing field 14 includes a rotatably driven outer member 60 which is mounted to rotate within the step-like depression 32 and an inner member or disc 62 which is mounted to rotate within outer member 60. More'particularly, outer member 60 is constructed to have a step-like configuration which fits within step-like depression 32 and is provided at its center with a mounting tube 600 which is adapted to be coaxially mounted on mounting shaft 32a so that outer member 60 may rotate with respect to circular frame 30. Moving outwardly from mounting tube 60a, outer member 60 is also provided with a wheel-engaging surface 60b, for a purpose to be explained. In addition, on the outer circumference or rim 60c of outer member 60, there is provided a plurality of upstanding partitions 60d which are appropriately spaced to trap large indicating balls 20b but are sufficiently spaced to allow small indicating balls 20a to pass therethrough. Beyond partitions 60d, the upper surface of outer rim 600 is provided with a plurality of indicia 60e which corresponds to each of the spaces between partitions 60d. In

this illustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed for the play of bingo, indicia 602 include appropriate numbers which correspond to the numbers on bingo cards 22.

Circular playing field 14 also includes inner member or disc 62 which is mounted to rotate within outer member 60. At its center, inner member 62 is provided with a depression 62a having a mounting hole 62b formed in .the bottom thereof so that inner member 62 may be rotatably mounted on mounting shaft 32a with the upper end 32b thereof extending through mounting hole 62b. Moving outwardly from the center of inner member 62, there is provided a wheel-engaging surface 620 which is in alignment with wheel-engaging surface 60b formed on outer member 60. In addition, inner member 62 is provided with a plurality of ball-receiving pockets 62d which are separated by partitions 62e. Outwardly of pockets 62d, the upper surface of inner member 62 is provided with indicia 62f which corresponds to each of the pockets 62d. In this illustrative form of the invention, which is particularly designed for the play of bingo, five ball-receiving pockets 62d are provided and indicia 62e includes one letter from the word B-I-N-G-O assigned to each of the pockets 62d.

In the play of the game, outer member is rotated in one direction while innermember 62'is rotated in an opposite direction. The unique drive arrangement which accomplishes this is shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. More particularly, outer member 60 is directly driven by a motor-driven wheel assembly and the rotation imparted to outer rimr60 is employed to rotate inner disc 62 in an opposite direction through a motion transmitting arrangement 90 which transmits the rotational motion of outer member 60 in one direction to rotate inner member 62 in an opposite direction. The motor-driven wheel assembly 70 includes a motor 72 whose output shaft 72a engages and rotates a drive belt 74 which imparts rotational motion to a pulley 76. Mounted for rotation on pulley 76 is a driving wheel 78 which engages a circumferentially-extending vertical flange 60f formed on outer member 60. The entire motor-driven wheel assembly 70 is mounted on a platform 80 which is pivotally mounted with respect to depression 32 at 80a and to insure that driving wheel 78 remains engaged with vertical flange 60f so as to impart rotational motion thereto, pivotally mounted platform 80 is biased into engagement with the vertical flange 60f by appropriate means, such as a spring 82. Of course, it will be understood, that batteries 40a, 40b are appropriately connected by wires 40c to motor 72 to impart power thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, in this illustrative form of the invention, outer member 60 is rotatably driven in a counterclockwise direction by driving wheel 78.

As outer member 60 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, wheel-engaging surface 60b formed thereon imparts this rotational motion to motion-transmitting means 90. More particularly, motion-transmitting means 90 is provided with a central mounting hole and three radially-extending keyhole slots 90a which are adapted to be mounted on and engage mounting keys 32c formed on the upper end of mounting shaft 32a. Motion-transmitting means 90 is also provided with three radially-extending prongs or shafts 90b which are adapted to have wheels 90c rotatably mounted on the ends thereof. Accordingly, as a result of the engagement of keyhole slots 90a with mounting keys 32c, radially-extending shafts 90b do not rotate and remain stationary with mounting shaft 32a. However, as outer member 60 rotates, wheel-engaging surface 60b formed thereon imparts rotational motion to wheels 90c which, in turn engage wheel-engaging surface 620 formed on inner member 62 and transmit the rotational motion of wheels 900 to inner member 62 through frictional engagement. In order to insure that wheels 90c will frictionally engage wheel-engaging surfaces 60b, 62c, to transmit rotational motion from outer member 60 to inner member 62, the upper end of mounting shaft 32a is provided with a locking screw 32d which keeps wheels 90: and wheel-engaging surfaces 60b, 62c frictionally engaged with each other. Accordingly, it should be clear that as outer member 60 is driven in a counterclockwise direction, wheels 900 will be caused to rotate in an opposite direction, andthis motion will be transmitted to innermember 62 so that it rotates in a clockwise direction. opposite to that of outer member 60. Of course. it would also be possible to have outer member 60 and inner member 62 rotate in the same direction by simply substituting a double wheel arrangement for each of the wheels 90c.

In the usual play of the game. game board 12 will normally be placed on a flat surface, such as a table top T or the like, with a plurality of players sitting aroung the game board 12. In order for a player to take his turn, it is necessary for longitudinal playing alley 16 and the ball-propellingmechanism 18 mounted thereon to be situated in front of each player. In order to accomplish this in a simple and convenient manner, game board 12 is provided with a Lazy Susan" arrangement in which circular frame member 30 pivots as the longitudinal frame member 34 is rotated from player to player around a circle. More particularly, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, circular frame member 30 is provided with a surface engaging member 100 having a support shaft 100a which is pivotally mounted with respect to circular frame member 30. In addition, on longitudinal frame member 34, at the underside of

compartments

36a, 38a, respective

surface engaging wheels

102, 104 are rotatably mounted. In this manner, after a player has his turn, it is not necessary for the player to change position or for the game board 12 to be lifted and moved. Instead, the player merely pushes longitudinal frame member 34 toward the next player so that wheels I02, 104 rotate with respect to table top T. This will cause game board 12 to rotate so that it is in alignment with the next player. However,circular frame member 30 and playing field 14 remains situated in the center of all the players as it pivots with respect to surface engaging member 100 which does not rotate relative to table top T.

In order to supply power from batteries 40a, 40b to motor 72, a unique switching arrangement 110 is provided to bias a spring contact member 108 into and out of engagement with battery 40a. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, battery compartment 38a is provided with an end wall 38c having a channel 38d and cutout 38e formed therein. Batteries 40a, 40b are adapted to be placed in battery compartment 38a so that battery 40a is in engagement with end wall 38c and so that battery 40b is always biased into engagement with spring contact member 106. However, spring contact member 108 is mounted for movement within channel 38d so that it may be biased into and out of engagement with battery 40a by operation of switching arrangement 110 which includes a fmger engaging member 112 which protrudes through an opening 34a formed in the upper surface of longitudinal frame member 34. Finger engaging member 112 is integrally formed with a shaft 112a which is pivotally mounted with respect to frame member 34 so that finger engaging member 112 may be pivoted from the solid line position to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 7. Finger engaging member 112 is also provided with an extension 114 which engages spring contact member 108 which is constructed and mounted such that it will always remain in contact with extension 114. Accordingly, when switch 110 is pivoted into its dotted line or ON position, extension 114 will bias spring contact member 108 into engagement with battery 40a. When it is desired to turn the power off, switching arrangement 110 is pivoted into its solid line or OFF position, and spring contact member 108 will remain in contact with extension 114 as it moves away from battery 40a so that spring contact member 108 is moved out of engagement with battery 40a. In addition, switching arrangement 10 is held in its ON or OFF position by a camming arrangement which includes a camming member l12b formed on the bottom of finger engaging member 112 and a camming memher 116a which is mounted on an arm 116 in contact with camming member 112b. Accordingly, switch is held in its OFF position by engagement of camming member 112b with one side of camming member 116a and held in its ON position by operation to the dotted line position on the other side of camming member 1160.

In order to provide a clear understanding of the apparatus of the present invention, a brief description of the play of the game will now be provided. In a typical use, the apparatus described can be set up to play a variation of the popular game of bingo in which the apparatus of the present invention is used by the players to make the alphabetical and numerical selections. To prepare the game for the play of bingo, bingo cards 22, bingo card markers 24, playing chips 26 and tally pegs 28 are distributed among the players, with the left over playing chips 26 being set aside to be included as a winners pot for the first round. In addition, the ballpropelling mechanism 18 is mounted in mounting

holes

42, 44 and the height of striker ball 56 is adjusted with respect to playing alley 16 as explained above. The game board 12 is placed in the center of the players and is rotated on

wheels

102, 104 so that playing alley 16 and ball-propelling mechanism 18 face the first player. Mechanical switch 110 is operated to its dotted line or ON position so that spring contact member 108 is brought into engagement with battery 40a to complete the circuit which energizes motor 72 and causes driving wheel 78 to rotate and impart rotational motion to outer member 60. As explained above, as outer member 60 rotates, motion-transmitting means 90 including wheels 90c transfers this rotational motion to inner member 62 so that it rotates in an opposite direction.

while maintaining chain 54 taut in order to insure a degree of predictability in contacting small indicating ball 20a. The striker ball 56 is then either released or propelled forward as indicated by the directional arrow A (FIG. Although the popular game of bingo is completely one of chance, with the players having no control over the alphabetical and numerical selections, the apparatus of the present invention allows the player to use his skill in propelling indicating ball to a desired letter or number. More particularly, before striker ball 56 is released, the player can follow the rotation of inner member 62 so that as the desired pocket 62d and corresponding indicia letter 62f are coming into alignment with playing alley 16, the player can then release striker ball 56 to impact with and propel small indicating ball 200 along playing alley 16 and onto the playing field 14. Accordingly, the player may use his timing and skill to aim for the desired pocket 62d and letter 62f. However, the element of chance remains in the play of the game since the small indicating ball 20a has to pass over outer member 60 which is rotating in the opposite direction to the desired pocket 62d and, further, the element of chance is also increased since the small indicating ball 20a has to pass through partitions 60d and over rotating inner member 62 before coming to rest in one of the pockets 62d.

Accordingly, it will also be clear that a player has the opportunity of improving his playing skill with the apparatus of the present invention. More particularly, as the players skill improves, he can better determine how long it should take small indicating ball 20a to pass over the rotating outer rim 600, through partitions 60d and into the oppositely rotating desired pocket 62d. In this manner, the game of the present invention allows the player to utilize and improve his skill and timing in shooting for desired pockets 62d and corresponding alphabetical letters as shown by indicia 62f, whereas in the conventional game of bingo, the letters and numbers are selected completely at random and the player has no opportunity of controlling the play of the game or improving his skill.

Once the small indicating ball 20a comes to rest in one of the pockets 62d and the corresponding letter 62f has been selected, the player must then use ballpropelling mechanism 18 to propel the large indicating ball 20]) along playing alley 16 and onto playing field 14. In the same manner as with small indicating ball 20a, the large indicating ball 20b is placed on seat or launching spot 16a and is propelled by ballpropelling mechanism 18. Again, the player may employ his skill and timing to shoot for a desired partition 60d and a corresponding number 602 on the rotating outer member 60. However, as outer member 60 is rotating, the element of chance remains in the play of the game as large indicating ball 20b will be caused to rotate with outer rim 60c before it comes to rest between a pair of partitions 60d.

The positions of small and large indicating balls 20 determine the letter/number combination selected (for example: B 6) and the player then calls out this combination. All the players who have that particular combination on their bingo cards 22 should place a bingo card marker 24 on the appropriate square. The player shooting the combination inserts a tally peg 28 into the hole marked for that combination in the master tally board 36b, as shown in FIG. 2. The next player then uses the same procedure and the play continues around the table until'one of the players fills any row of five squares, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, on his bingo card. When this is done, he is declared the winner of the round, collecting all of the playing chips in the pot." When a player claims to be the winner, his winning bingo card must be checked by matching the squares he claims to have filled against the master tally board 36b. Master tally pegs 28 should not be removed until the winners bingo card has been verified. The game ends when, after several rounds, one player holds all the chips.

Naturally, the apparatus of the present invention may be used to play any of a wide variety of board games, e.g., any game in which two selections must be made by a player to determine the play of the game, with the apparatus described herein being used as the selector. For example, the apparatus of the present invention may be used to play card games in which one ball is used to determine the card suit and the other ball is used to determine the number or letter of the card.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention may be used in other specific forms or games without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. For example, the presently illustrated ball-propelling mechanism could be changed so that any type of arrangement is used to propel the playing balls onto the playing field. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined game of chance and skill comprising a circular playing field, first and second indicating balls, means for propelling said first and second indicating balls onto said playing field, said playing field including a first rotatable member having first ballreceiving means adapted to receive a first indicating ball, a second rotatable member located between said first rotatable member and said means for propelling said balls, said second rotatable member having second ball-receiving means adapted to receive said second indicating ball, means located on one of said rotatable members for preventing passage of said second indicating ball and permitting passage of said first indicating ball into said first ball-receiving means and means for driving said first and second rotatable members.

2'. A game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first rotatable member further includes first indicia means on to said first ball-receiving means and said second rotatable member further includes second indicia means on to said second ball-receiving means.

3. A game in accordance with claim l wherein said driving means includes first drive means for directly rotatable driving said second rotatable member, and motion-transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said second rotatable member to said first rotatable member to cause said first rotatable member to rotate in a direction opposite to said second rotatable memher.

4. A game in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second rotatable member includes a circumferentiallyextending vertical flange and said first drive means includes a motor-driven wheel for engaging said vertical flange to impart rotational motion to said second rotatable member.

5. A game in accordance with claim 4 wherein said motion-transmitting means includes a plurality of rotatable motion-transmitting wheels for frictionally engaging said first and second rotatable members.

6. A game in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first rotatable member includes a surface for frictionally engaging said motion-transmitting wheels to cause them to rotate in one direction and saidsecond rotatable member includes a surface for frictionally engaging said motion-transmitting wheels to cause said second rotatable member to be rotated in a direction opposite to said first rotatable member.

7. A game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means located on one of said rotatable members includesa plurality of upstanding members circumferentially spaced about said second rotatable member to receive said second indicating ball and to allow said first indicating ball to pass through said upstanding members and onto said first rotatable member.

8. A game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said game board further includes a longitudinally extending member which defines a playing alley adjacent said playing field.

9. A game in accordance with claim 8 wherein said ball-propelling means includes a tethered impact ball mounted on said playing alley for striking said first and second indicating balls and propelling them along said alley and onto said playing field.

10. A game in accordance with claim 9 wherein said first indicating ball is of a smaller diameter than said second indicating ball so that said first indicating ball is adapted to pass between said plurality of upstanding members and said second indicating ball is adapted to come to rest between said upstanding members.

11. A game in accordance with claim 8 wherein said longitudinally extending member includes storage compartments having removable compartment lids and wherein one of said compartment lids includes indicia means and is adapted to be used as a master tally board.

12. A game in accordance with claim 11 wherein said circular playing field is pivotally mounted on a surface engaging member and said longitudinally extending member is provided on the underside thereof with rotatable wheels adapted to engage a surface so that said longitudinally extending member may be rotated as said circular playing field pivots with respect to said surface engaging member.

13. A game in accordance with claim 11 wherein one of said compartments is adapted to house batteries, said compartment including an end wall for engaging one of said batteries and having a channel formed therein, a spring contact member mounted in said channel, and switch means engaging said spring contact member for moving said spring contact member into and out of engagement with one of said batteries.

14. In a combined game of chance and skill, a circu' lar playing field including a first rotatable member having first ball-receiving means for receiving a first indicating ball and a second rotatable member having second ball-receiving means for receiving a second indicating ball and means located on one of said rotatable members for allowing a first indicating ball to pass into said first ball-receiving means but preventing passage of a second indicating ball into said first ball receiving means, and means for driving said first and second rotatable members.

15. A game in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first rotatable member further includes first indicia means on said first ball-receiving means and said second rotatable member further includes second indicia means on said second ball-receiving means.

16. A game in accordance with claim 14 wherein said driving means includes first drive means for directly driving said second rotatable member, and motiontransmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said second rotatable member to said first rotatable member to cause said first rotatable member to rotate in a direction opposite to said second rotatable member.

17. A game in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means located on one of said ball receiving means includes a plurality of upstanding members circumferen- 'tially spaced about said second rotatable member to receive said second indicating ball and to allow said first indicating ball to pass through said upstanding members and onto said first rotatable member.

18. A game in accordance with claim 14 wherein said game board further includes a longitudinally extending member which defines a playing alley adjacent said playing field.

Claims

1. A combined game of chance and skill comprising a circular playing field, first and second indicating balls, means for propelling said first and second indicating balls onto said playing field, said playing field including a first rotatable member having first ball-receiving means adapted to receive a first indicating ball, a second rotatable member located between said first rotatable member and said means for propelling said balls, said second rotatable member having second ball-receiving means adapted to receive said second indicating ball, means located on one of said rotatable members for preventing passage of said second indicating ball and permitting passage of said first indicating ball into said first ball-receiving means and means for driving said first and second rotatable members.

2. A game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first rotatable member further includes first indicia means on to said first ball-receiving means and said second rotatable member further includes second indicia means on to said second ball-receiving means.

3. A game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said driving means includes first drive means for directly rotatable driving said second rotatable member, and motion-transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said second rotatable member to said first rotatable member to cause said first rotatable member to rotate in a direction opposite to said second rotatable member.

4. A game in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second rotatable member includes a circumferentially-extending vertical flange and said first drive means includes a motor-driven wheel for engaging said vertical flange to impart rotational motion to said second rotatable member.

6. A game in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first rotatable member includes a surface for frictionally engaging saiD motion-transmitting wheels to cause them to rotate in one direction and said second rotatable member includes a surface for frictionally engaging said motion-transmitting wheels to cause said second rotatable member to be rotated in a direction opposite to said first rotatable member.

7. A game in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means located on one of said rotatable members includes a plurality of upstanding members circumferentially spaced about said second rotatable member to receive said second indicating ball and to allow said first indicating ball to pass through said upstanding members and onto said first rotatable member.

14. In a combined game of chance and skill, a circular playing field including a first rotatable member having first ball-receiving means for receiving a first indicating ball and a second rotatable member having second ball-receiving means for receiving a second indicating ball and means located on one of said rotatable members for allowing a first indicating ball to pass into said first ball-receiving means but preventing passage of a second indicating ball into said first ball receiving means, and means for driving said first and second rotatable members.

16. A game in accordance with claim 14 wherein said driving means includes first drive means for directly driving said second rotatable member, and motion-transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of said second rotatable member to said first rotatable member to cause said first rotatable member to rotate in a direction opposite to said second rotatable member.

17. A game in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means located on one of said ball receiving means includes a plurality of upstanding members circumferentially spaced about said second rotatable member to receive said second indicating ball and to allow said first indicating ball to pass through said upstanding members and onto said first rotatable member.