Marble ramp game

Abstract

A marble jump game includes a base, a tube, a marble track, and a plurality of targets. The tube is configured to be removably secured to a corresponding tube of a receiving tube of a marble run module having a receiving tube. The tube defines an axial direction, and is supported at least indirectly by and above the base. The marble track is affixed to the tube, and extends from a first end to a marble exit. The marble track is configured such that when the axial direction is vertically oriented, a marble placed on the marble track proximate the first end traverses the marble channel and exits through the marble exit. Each target of the plurality of spaced-apart targets is with a game value. Each target has a fixed position relative to the others of the plurality spaced-apart targets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a game, comprising:
 a) positioning a plurality of targets, each target associated with a corresponding value in the game;   b) positioning a marble run module having a marble track having a marble exit and defining an exit direction, such that the exit direction corresponds to a position of at least a first target of the plurality of targets;   c) disposing, by a first player, a marble in the marble channel such that marble rolls through the marble channel and marble exit, and travels through the air toward at least one of the plurality of targets; and   d) assigning the value associated with the at least one of the plurality of targets if the marble engages the at least one of the plurality of targets.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of targets includes a plurality of holes in a platform, and wherein step d) further comprises assigning the value associated with the at least one of the plurality of targets if the marble engages the at least one of the plurality of targets by passing through a first hole defining the at least one of the plurality of targets. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the platform includes indicia proximate each of the plurality of holes, each of the indicia representative of the value in the game associated with a proximate one of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the value in the game is a numerical point value, and wherein each of the plurality of holes is associated with one of a plurality of numerical point values. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein step a) further comprises positioning the platform such that the platform is disposed against at least one wall extending above a vertical level of the platform. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the value in the game is a numerical point value, and wherein each of the plurality of targets is associated with one of a plurality of numerical point values. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first target is larger than a second target, and the second target has a second numerical point value that is greater than a first numerical point value associated with the first target. 
     
     
         8 . A marble run ramp module, comprising:
 a tube configured to be removably secured to a corresponding tube of a marble receiving tube of a marble run module having a receiving tube, the tube defining an axial direction;   a marble track affixed to the tube that extends from a first end to a marble exit, the marble track configured such that when the axial direction is vertically oriented, a marble placed on the marble track proximate the first end traverses the marble track and exits through the marble exit such that the marble travels through the air at a vertical height equal to or exceeding a first vertical height of the exit marble exit for at least two inches with respect to a horizontal direction extending away from the first end and the marble exit.   
     
     
         9 . The marble run ramp module of  claim 8 , wherein the marble track further comprises a downward sloped portion and a launch portion, wherein the downward sloped portion extends generally at a first average slope with respect to the horizontal direction, and wherein at least a part of the launch portion extends from the downward sloped portion at a second average slope with respect to the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         10 . The marble run ramp module of  claim 9 , wherein the downward sloped portion includes a substantially constant sloped portion having a length of at least twenty centimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The marble run ramp module of  claim 9 , wherein the second average slope is positive with respect to the first horizontal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The marble run ramp of  claim 9 , wherein the tube extends below the downward sloped portion such that the axial direction extends through the marble track. 
     
     
         13 . The marble run ramp module of  claim 8 , further comprising a vertical receiving tube configured to engage an exit tube of a different marble run module. 
     
     
         14 . The marble run ramp module of  claim 8 , wherein the tube extends below the marble channel such that the axial direction extends through the marble channel. 
     
     
         15 . A marble jump game, comprising:
 a base;   a tube configured to be removably secured to a corresponding tube of a receiving tube of a marble run module having a receiving tube, the tube defining an axial direction, the tube supported at least indirectly by and above the base;   a marble track affixed to the tube and extending from a first end to a marble exit, the marble track configured such that when the axial direction is vertically oriented, a marble placed proximate in the marble channel proximate the first end traverses the marble track and exits through the marble exit;   a plurality of spaced-apart targets, each target associated with a game value, each target having a fixed position relative to the others of the plurality spaced-apart targets.   
     
     
         16 . The marble jump game of  claim 15 , further comprising a platform having a plurality of holes therethrough defining the plurality of spaced-apart targets. 
     
     
         17 . The marble jump game of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of walls extending upward from at least a portion of the perimeter of the platform. 
     
     
         18 . The marble jump game of  claim 16 , wherein the platform includes indicia proximate each of the plurality of holes, each of the indicia representative of the value in the game associated with a proximate one of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         19 . The marble jump game of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one spacer tube configured to be coupled between the base and the tube. 
     
     
         20 . The marble jump game of  claim 15 , wherein the marble channel further comprises a downward sloped portion and a launch portion, wherein the downward sloped portion extends generally at a first average slope with respect to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and wherein at least a part of the launch portion extends from the downward sloped portion at a second average slope with respect to the horizontal direction.