Magnetic game structure

Abstract

A game structure such as for play by several persons on a table testing the skill of the players relative to dropping markers into subjacent receivers. The markers may comprise magnetic elements with control of the movement thereof being effected by the user through the medium of a suitable magnet. The receivers are spaced at different distances from the playing surface so as to require corresponding increase in the skill of the players as a function of the spacing. The game may be provided with suitable scoring means correlated with the degree of skill involved with the different receivers. The game may include a plurality of sets of receivers to permit play by a corresponding plurality of different players.

I claim: 
     
       1. A game structure comprising: a flat, transparent panel; means for peripherally supporting said panel to extend horizontally; a plurality of magnetizable playing pieces; support means for receiving and removably storing said magnetizable playing pieces closely subjacent said panel; magnetic means for manipulation superjacent said panel for attracting said pieces, said support means being disposed sufficiently close to said panel to permit said magnetic means to attract said playing pieces on said support means seriatim with said panel disposed therebetween, and permitting lateral movement of said pieces from said support means along the underside of the panel as a result of corresponding lateral movement of said magnetic means along the top side of the panel; and a plurality of upwardly opening cup elements disposed in a preselected arrangement spaced at different distances below said panel adapted to catch a playing piece dropped respectively accurately into the center of the elements. 
     
     
       2. The game structure of claim 1 wherein all of said cup elements are fixedly positioned relative to said panel. 
     
     
       3. The game structure of claim 1 wherein said panel and said panel supporting means cooperatively define said support means for removably storing said magnetic means. 
     
     
       4. The game structure of claim 1 wherein at least three of said cup elements are spaced progressively at increasing distances from said panel along a preselected line. 
     
     
       5. The game structure of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a shelf spaced subjacent one edge of said panel and adapted to receive and removably carry said playing elements. 
     
     
       6. The game structure of claim 1 wherein said storing means comprises a shelf spaced subjacent one edge of said panel and adapted to receive and removably carry said playing elements and means carried by said shelf for spacing said playing elements thereon. 
     
     
       7. A game structure comprising: a flat, transparent panel; means for peripherally supporting said panel to extend horizontally; a plurality of magnetizable playing pieces; means defining a plurality of recesses opening horizontally and upwardly subjacent said panel for receiving and removably storing said magnetizable playing pieces closely subjacent said panel; magnetic means for manipulation superjacent said panel for attracting said playing pieces, said support means being disposed sufficiently close to said panel to permit said magnetic means to attract said playing pieces in said recesses along the underside of the panel as a result of corresponding lateral movement of said magnetic means along the top side of the panel; a wall element spaced below said panel; and a plurality of upwardly opening cup elements on said wall element disposed in a preselected arrangement spaced at different distances below said panel adapted to catch a playing piece dropped respectively accurately into the center of the elements. 
     
     
       8. The game structure of claim 7 wherein said wall element extends angularly to the flat plane of said panel. 
     
     
       9. The game structure of claim 7 wherein said wall element defines a high portion subjacent the midportion of said panel and end portions extending downwardly from said high portion. 
     
     
       10. The game structure of claim 9 wherein said wall element end portions are substantially planar. 
     
     
       11. The game structure of claim 7 wherein said panel defines a transverse centerline, and said wall element and the spacing of said cup element below said panel are symmetrical about a transverse vertical plane defined by said transverse centerline of said panel. 
     
     
       12. A game structure comprising: a flat, transparent panel; means for peripherally supporting said panel to extend horizontally; a plurality of magnetizable playing pieces; means defining a plurality of recesses opening horizontally and upwardly subjacent said panel for receiving and removably storing said magnetizable playing pieces closely subjacent said panel; magnetic means for manipulation superjacent said panel for attracting said playing pieces, said support means being disposed sufficiently close to said panel to permit said magnetic means to attract said playing pieces in said recesses along the underside of the panel as a result of corresponding lateral movement of said magnetic means along the top side of the panel; a wall element spaced below said panel; and a plurality of upwardly opening cup elements on said wall element disposed in a preselected arrangement spaced below said panel adapted to catch a playing piece dropped respectively accurately into the center of the elements. 
     
     
       13. The game structure of claim 12 wherein said means defining a plurality of recesses includes means for spacing the playing pieces parallel to said panel. 
     
     
       14. The game structure of claim 12 wherein said means defining a plurality of recesses comprises a shelf spaced subjacent one edge of the panel. 
     
     
       15. The game structure of claim 12 wherein said means defining a plurality of recesses comprises a shelf spaced subjacent one edge of the panel and further defining a flat ledge extending parallel to the panel and toward the portion of the panel overlying the cup elements. 
     
     
       16. The game structure of claim 12 wherein said recesses are provided in a row along substantially one entire edge of the panel. .Iadd. 
     
     
       17.  A game structure comprising: a panel defining an inner side and an outer side;   a plurality of magnetizable playing pieces;   means defining a plurality of recesses adjacent said panel opening parallel and toward said panel for receiving and removably storing said magnetizable playing pieces closely adjacent said panel;   magnetic means adapted for manipulation adjacent said panel for attracting said playing pieces, said means for receiving and storing said playing pieces being disposed sufficiently close to said panel to permit said magnetic means to attract said playing pieces in said recesses along the inner side of the panel, lateral movement of the playing pieces along the inner side of the panel being caused as a result of corresponding lateral movement of said magnetic means along the outer side of the panel; and   scoring means disposed for engagement by the moved playing pieces upon release thereof from said magnetic means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said means defining a plurality of recesses includes means for spacing the playing pieces apart a preselected distance to permit attraction of a single playing piece at a time by the magnetic means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said means defining a plurality of recesses comprises a shelf spaced adjacent   
     
     
        one edge of the panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  The game structure of claim 17 wherein said means defining a plurality of recesses comprises a shelf spaced adjacent one edge of the panel and further defines a flat ledge extending parallel to the panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said recesses are provided in a row along one edge of the panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said panel and recess defining means further cooperatively define a channel extending along one edge of the panel and opening parallel to the panel away from said edge, said channel and recesses opening upwardly to receive said playing pieces as an incident of tipping of the game structure to dispose said one edge lowermost. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said panel is flat. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said panel is transparent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said scoring means is spaced inwardly of said panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said moved playing pieces are delivered from said magnetic means to said scoring means by a movement inwardly away from said 
     
     
        panel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  The game structure of claim 17 wherein said panel and recess defining means further cooperatively define a channel opening parallel to the panel, said recesses opening into said channel to receive said playing pieces one each as an incident of tipping of the game structure to dispose said channel to open upwardly. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said panel and recess defining means further cooperatively define a channel opening parallel to the panel, said recesses opening into said channel to receive said playing pieces one each as an incident of tipping of the game structure to dispose said channel to open upwardly, said playing pieces being spherical, said recesses being arranged in a row and having a depth approximately the diameter of said spherical playing pieces whereby the respective playing pieces may roll on top of previously deposited playing pieces in said recesses in moving longitudinally through said channel to be received in empty recesses of said row. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The game structure of claim 17 wherein said panel and recess defining means further cooperatively define a channel opening parallel to the panel, said recesses opening into said channel to receive said playing pieces one each as an incident of tipping of the game structure to dispose said channel to open upwardly, said playing pieces being spherical, said recesses being arranged in a row and having a depth slightly less than the diameter of said spherical playing pieces whereby the respective playing pieces may roll on top of previously deposited playing pieces in said recesses in moving longitudinally through said channel to be received in empty recesses of said row. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The game structure of claim 17 wherein the means defining the recesses and the scoring means are formed integrally as a plastic molding. .Iaddend.