US3642281A

US3642281A - Rotating game with peripheral catching members

Info

Publication number: US3642281A
Application number: US26349A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Green
Original assignee: Spang Industries Inc; Today s Kids Inc
Current assignee: Spang Industries Inc; Today s Kids Inc
Priority date: 1970-04-07
Filing date: 1970-04-07
Publication date: 1972-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-15

Abstract

In a game, at least one turntable is manually or otherwise rotated on a base having fencelike structures extending upwardly therefrom above the turntable along portions of the periphery of the latter to retain a game piece on the turntable except when the game piece is centrifugally propelled toward gaps in the fencelike structure, and a catching member is movable along one or more of the gaps associated with each turntable for intercepting the game piece propelled toward the respective gap. Particular configurations are provided for the fencelike structures and for the hub of each turntable, by which the latter may be rotated, so as to increase the random character of the paths followed by the game piece in rebounding from such fencelike structures or the hub.

Description

United States Patent Green 51 Feb. 15,1972

[54] ROTATING GAME WITH PERIPHERAL CATCHING MEMBERS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,0I2,409 12/1965 GreatBritain ..273/I42R 543,795 7/1957 Canada ..273/85A Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerRichard J. Apley AttorneyLewis H. Eslinger, Alvin Sinderbrand and Curtis, Morris & Safford i [57] ABSTRACT In a game, at least one turntable is manually or otherwise rotated on a base having fencelike structures extending upvvardly therefrom above the turntable along portions of the periphery of the latter to retain a game piece on the turntable except when the game piece is centrifugally propelled toward gaps in the fencelike structure, and a catching member is movable along one or more of the gaps associated with each turntable for intercepting the game piece propelled toward the respective gap. Particular configurations are provided for the fencelike structures and for the hub of each turntable, by which the latter may be rotated, so as to increase the random character of the paths followed by the game piece in rebounding from such fencelike structures or the hub.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 16 m2 SHEET 1 OF 2 III/IL INVENTOR JOSEPH GREEN ATTORNEY PAIENTEDFEB 15 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH GREEN ATTORNEY ROTATING GAME WITII PERIPHERAL CATCHING MEMBERS This invention relates generally to games, and more particularly is directed to games of the type in which movements of a game piece or pieces are generated by rotation of a turntable or turntables on which each game piece is movably supported.

It is an object of this invention to provide a game of the described character which is made particularly entertaining by reason of the nature of the movements imparted to the game piece or pieces.

Another object is to provide a game of the described type that requires the exercise of considerable skill by the contestants.

A further object is to provide a game structure which is adapted, by the interchanging of parts thereof, to be used for the playing of several different games.

Still another object is to provide a game of the described character which is of relatively simple construction and yet is substantially indestructible so as to be suitable for long continued use.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, at least one turntable is manually or otherwise rotated on a base having fencelike structures extending upwardly therefrom above the turntable along portions of the periphery of the latter to retain a game piece on the turntable except when the game piece is centrifugally propelled toward gaps defined between portions of the fencelike structure, and a catching member is movable along one or more of the gaps in the fencelike structure associated with each turntable for intercepting the game piece when the catching member is positioned in the path of the game piece propelled toward the respective gap.

In preferred embodiments of this invention, the above men- I tioned fencelike structure is constituted by arcuate arrays of spaced apart projections extending upwardly from the base so that the game piece, when propelled centrifugally against such projections, will rebound therefrom in random paths.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, each turntable of the game has a central hub by which the turntable may be manually rotated, and such hub is of stellar or other noncircular plan form so that the game piece will also rebound along random paths when it strikes against the hub of the rotated turntable.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the game shown on FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 are enlarged detail sectional views taken along the lines 33, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively on FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a game according to another embodiment of this invention, and which includes two turntables rotatably mounted on a unitary base;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 1, but showing a game piece and catching member that may be substituted for the game piece and each catching member of the game structure appearing on FIG. 1 so that such game structure may be utilized in the playing of another game; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the game piece shown on FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that the game 10 in accordance with this invention, as there shown, generally comprises a base 11, a turntable 12, a game piece 13 and a pair of catching members 14.

When the game 10 according to this invention has a single turntable 12, as in the embodiment presently being described, the base 11, which is preferably molded of a suitably rigid plastic material, may be of circular configuration and includes a circular top wall 15, an annular sidewall 16 depending from the periphery of top wall 15 and an outwardly directed flange 17 extending from the bottom of sidewall 16 to steadily support base 11 on a tabletop or other supporting surface. A central boss 18 (FIG. 3) is formed at the underside of top wall 15 and a metal spindle 19 is securely held in boss 18, as by a tight friction fit, and projects upwardly from top wall 15. If desired. ribs 20 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) maybe also formed on the underside of top wall 15 radiating outwardly from central boss 18 to sidewall 16 for increasing the rigidity of top wall 15.

The turntable 12, which is preferably molded of a transparent, suitably rigid plastic material, includes a disc 21 having a circular periphery and a centrally located raised hub 22 which is preferably molded integrally with disk 21. Hub 22 may be hollow, as shown on FIG. 3, and is formed with an internal, centrally located socket 23 which opens downwardly to loosely receive the upper end portion of spindle 19. In order to provide a substantially frictionless rotatable mounting for turntable 12 on base 11, a ball bearing 24 is provided in socket 23, and preferably retained in the socket by a press or friction fit therein, and such ball 24 seats on the upper end surface of spindle 19 which is preferably made concave so as to accurately locate ball 24 and thereby prevent contact of the side surface of spindle 19 with the inner surface of socket 23.

The hub 22, which may be manually engaged to provide the means by which turntable I2 is made to rotate, is preferably formed with a noncircular configuration in plan form, for example, with the stellar or starlike configuration, as shown.

The game piece 13 of game 10 may be simply a circular, substantially flat disk, as shown, which is preferably constituted by a relatively thin web 25 (FIG. 6) having a relatively thicker rim 26 extending along its periphery so that, when game piece 13 is placed on the disk 21 of turntable 12, contact of the game piece with the top surface of turntable disk 21 is effected only at rim 26 of the game piece to minimize the frictional resistance to sliding movement of the game piece relative to the turntable.

In accordance with this invention, fencelike structures indicated generally at 27 and 28 on FIGS. 1 and 2 extend upwardly from top wall 15 of base 11 and project above the top surface of turntable disk 21 along major portions of the periphery of the latter and function to retain game piece 13 on turntable 12 whenever the game piece is centrifugally propelled along a path that intercepts the periphery of turntable disk 21 at the portions of such periphery along which the

fencelike structures

27 and 28 extend. Preferably, in accordance with this invention, each of

fencelike structures

27 and 28 includes an arcuate array of spaced apart projections 29 extending upwardly from top wall 15 of the base and which, as in the embodiment shown, may be in the form of posts molded integrally with wall 15 (FIG. 5) with openings or spaces 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) being provided between adjacent posts 29. Further, the spacing between adjacent projections or posts 29 in each of

fencelike structures

27 and 28 is smaller than the minimum lateral dimension of game piece 13 which minimum lateral dimension, in the case of a circular game piece, as shown, is the diameter of the game piece.

Thus, when game piece 13 is propelled centrifugally over the top surface of turntable disk 21 in response to rotation of the turntable, such game piece cannot pass between the projections or posts 29 and, upon striking such projections or posts, rebounds inwardly from the

fencelike structure

27 or 28. The spaced apart projections or posts 29 constituting each of the

fencelike structures

27 and 28 ensure that, when the game piece 13 strikes one or a pair of the projections or posts 29 it will rebound therefrom in randomly directed paths, that is, the angle at which game piece 13 rebounds back onto turntable disk 21 will be determined by the location or locations on the periphery of the game piece at which the latter contacts a projection or projections 29. This is to be distinguished from the more or less uniform rebounding, in which the angle of incidence would be equal to the angle of reflection, that would result if the

fencelike structures

27 and 28 were constituted by arcuate walls extending along the periphery of turntable disk 21 and having smooth inner wall surfaces.

Although the projections 29 of fencelike structures 27' and 28 are shown as being in the form of spaced apart posts having openings therebetween, which arrangement is preferred in order to minimize the amount of plastic material required for the manufacture of base 11, such projections 29 could be formed at the inner surface of an arcuate wall without altering the functional characteristics of projections 29 as described above.

In the above description of the structure provided for rotatably mounting turntable 12 on base 11, it will be apparent that ball bearing 24 merely rests upon the concave upper end of spindle 19 so that the turntable may be merely lifted off the base. However, in order to prevent inadvertent separation of turntable 12 from base 1 1, for example, in the event that game is inverted, certain of the projections or posts constituting the

fencelike structures

27 and 28, for example, the posts indicated at 29a (FIGS. 1 and 2) which are located at the opposite ends of each of the arcuate arrays of posts, may be located closer to the center of rotation of turntable 12 than the remainder of the posts or projections 29. Each such post 29a has a cutout 31 in its lower portion (FIG. 4) at the side of the post facing toward the center of rotation to define a downwardly facing shoulder 32 at the top of the cutout 31. When installing turntable 12 on base 11, the periphery of turntable disk 21 bears outwardly against the upper portions of posts 29a and the latter flex outwardly, due to the inherent resiliency of the plastic material constituting base 11, during the downward movement of the turntable onto spindle 19 until the periphery of turntable disk 21 is received in cutouts 31. Thereafter, shoulders 32 of post 29a slightly overhang the periphery of turntable disk 21 to retain turntable 12 in its assembled relationship to base 11. When it is desired to remove turntable 12 from base 11, posts 29a have to be flexed outwardly to free the periphery of the turntable from shoulders 32.

As previously mentioned, turntable 12 is preferably molded of a transparent plastic material so as to permit the viewing therethrough of suitable artwork printed or otherwise provided on a cardboard disk 33 resting on top wall of base 11 and having a central aperture 34 (FIG. 3) for the passage of spindle 19 therethrough. In order to positively locate cardboard disk 33 on base 11 and prevent turning of disk 33, the latter may have a plurality of tongues 35 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) projecting radially from its periphery and having arcuate cutouts to receive certain of the projections or posts 29. It will be apparent that the cardboard disk 33 may be interchanged with other similarly shaped cardboard disks bearing other art work so that, at any time, the artwork provided on disk 33 and visible through turntable 12 will be related to the nature of the game to be played with the described game structure.

Further, in accordance with this invention, the major portions of the periphery of turntable 12 along which

fencelike structures

27 and 28 extend are spaced apart to leave gaps between such fencelike structures, for example, the gaps 36 and 37 (FIG. 2) which are diametrically opposed in the em bodiment shown. Each of gaps 36 and 37 has a width substantially greater than the maximum lateral dimension of game piece 13 so that the latter can pass through each gap, and a catching member 14 is disposed in, and movable along at least one of the gaps 36 and 37, or each of such gaps as in the embodiment presently being described, so as to be selectively positionable in the respective gap for intercepting game piece 13 when the latter is propelled toward the respective gap.

In order to mount each catching member 14 on base 11 while permitting movement of the catching member along its respective gap 36 or 37, top wall 15 of base 11 has an arcuate slot 38 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) disposedvradially outward with respect to the periphery of turntable 12 and extending along each of the gaps 36 and 37. Further, each catching member 14 includes a laterally elongated base portion 39 slidably seating on top wall 15 and having an arcuate flange 40 (FIG. 3) depending from base portion 39 and slidably engaging in the respective slot 38. Each catching member 14 further includes an erect portion 41 extending from the inner edge of base portion 39 well above the top surface of turntable disk 21 and one or more webs 42 extending from the back of upright portion 41 to the top surface of base portion 39 to provide a handle by which catching member 14 may be grasped for selective movement along the respective gap 36 or 37.

If the play action ofgame 10 is intended to simulate that ofa hockey game, the diametrically opposed gaps 36 and 37 will represent the goals being defended by the opposing contestants, and the respective catching members 14 will function as goal tenders. If each catching member 14 is to function as a goal tender, as aforesaid, its upright portion 41 may be shaped to simulate the appearance of a goal tender in hockey and will have a width that is substantially less than the width of the respective gap or goal 36 or 37 so that, with the goal tender or catching member 14 positioned centrally in the respective gap, as shown on FIG. 2, the game piece 13 representing a hockey puck can pass between the centrally positioned goal tender 14 and the adjacent projections or posts 29a located at the ends of

fencelike structures

27 and 28 and defining the limits of the goal.

When using the game 10 to simulate the play action of the game of hockey, in which case the printed material on the cardboard disk 33 may consist of suitable action pictures of hockey players, the game piece or puck 13 is placed on turntable 12 and the latter is spun by manual rotation of its hub 22. By reason of the substantially frictionless mounting of turntable 12 on base 11, the manually initiated rotation of turntable 12 will persist for a relatively long duration and, during such rotation of turntable 12, game piece 13 will be centrifugally propelled over the surface of turntable disk 21 to rebound from the projections or posts 29 of

fencelike structures

27 and 28 and, on occasion, to also rebound from hub 22 which, by reason of its noncircular or stellar configuration, will direct the game piece or puck in random paths when rebounding therefrom. During such random and rapid movements of game piece or puck 13 on turntable 12, each contestant will displace his respective goal tender 14 along the goal or gap 36 or 37 and thereby seek to intercept the path of game piece 13 when the latter is propelled toward the goal or gap so as to prevent the passage of the game piece or puck through such gap. By reason of the random and rapid nature of the movements imparted to game piece 13, considerable skill is required to prevent the passage of the game piece through the goal or gap being defended, and thus the game provides an entertaining and exciting test of the relative skills of the contestants.

In the game 10 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, a single turntable 12 has been rotatably mounted on the base 11, however, games in accordance with this invention may be provided with two or more turntables rotatably mounted on a single base. For example, as shown on FIG. 7, a game 10' according to this invention may comprise two

turntables

12A and 12B each similar to the previously described turntable 12 and being similarly rotatably mounted on a suitably elongated base 11' with the top surfaces of the two turntables in a common plane and with the peripheries of turntables 12A and 128 being adjacent to each other. Further, in the game 10', the

fencelike structures

27A and 28A associated with turntable 12A, and the

fencelike structures

27B and 28B associated with turntable 12B extend along major portions of the peripheries of the respective turntables at opposite sides of the median X-X of base 11' extending through the centers of rotation of the turntables so that the gaps 36A and 36B defined between the adjacent ends of

fencelike structures

27A and 28A and

fencelike structures

27B and 28B are substantially coextensive at the center of base 11', that is, in the region where the peripheries of

turntables

12A and 12B are adjacent each other. Thus, game piece 13 can pass from one to the other of

turntables

12A and 12B through the coextensive or registering gaps 36A and 36B. In order to ensure the smooth passage of the game piece through such coextensive gaps over the entire length of the latter, base 11' is preferably provided with elevated platforms 43 having upper surfaces in the same plane as the top surfaces of the turntables and being suitably tapered, as shown, so as to fill the spaces between the peripheries of turntables 12A and 128 over the full extent of 5 gaps 36A and 368. If the adjacent end posts 29a of

fencelike structures

27A and 28B and of

fencelike structures

27B and 28A are not sufficiently close to each other to prevent the passage of game piece 13 therebetween, one or more additional posts 44 may project upwardly from raised platforms 43 between such adjacent end posts 29a.

It will further be seen that, in the game according to this invention, a catching member, which may be similar to the previously described catching member 14, is disposed in, and movable along only one of the gaps defined between the fencelike structures associated with each turntable. Thus, in the embodiment shown, a catching member 14A is disposed in, and movable along only the gap 37A defined between the

fen celike structures

27A and 28A, and a similar catching member 148 is disposed in, and movable along only the gap 378 defined between the

fencelike structures

27B and 28B.

When using the game 10, the

turntables

12A and 12B are made to rotate, for example, independently of each other in either the same or opposed directions, by manually rotating the

respective hubs

22A and 22B and, thereafter, the game 10' is played in the same manner as the previously described game 10 with the exception that the game piece or puck 13 moves from one turntable to the other during its randomly effected movements and thereby enhances the entertainment value of the game.

Although the games 10 and 10 have been described above as having a turntable 12 or turntables 12A and 128 that are manually rotated, it will be apparent that the rotation of each turntable may be effected in a conventional manner by a motor or motors disposed under the top wall of the base 11 or 11' and suitably coupled with the turntable or turntables.

In the above descriptions of the games 10 and 10', it has been assumed that the object of moving each of the catching members 14 or 14A and 148 so as to intercept the path of the game piece being propelled toward the respective gap 36 or 37 or the respective gap 37A or 378 was to prevent the passage ofthe game piece 13 through such gap, as in a simulation of the play action of the game of hockey. However, by replacing the catching members 14 or 14A and 148 in the form of goal tenders with other catching members, for example, catching members of the type indicated generally at 114 on FIG. 8, the nature of the play action can be changed. Thus, for example, each catching member 114 which is slidable along an arcuate slot 38 in a manner similar to that described above with reference to catching member 14, may have an upstanding portion 141 formed with a central aperture 45 extending through the lower portion thereof with the level of the lower edge of aperture 45 substantially corresponding to that of the top surface of the adjacent turntable. The upstanding portion 141 of catching member 114 further has laterally directed wings 46 so that the overall width of catching member 114 is approximately equal to that of the respective gap 36 or 37 or the respective gap 37A or 378.

The slot 38 for the mounting of each catching member 114 is longitudinally dimensioned so that in each of the extreme positions of catching member 114 the distance or space that may be left between a wing 46 and the adjacent end post 29a is substantially less than the minimum lateral dimension d, of the game piece 113 to be used therewith (FIG. 9).

Further, such minimum lateral dimension d of the game piece 113 is selected to be larger than the spacing D between adjacent posts or projections 29 of

fencelike structures

27 and 28, while the maximum lateral dimension d of the game piece is substantially less than the width D of the aperture 45 in catching member 114. X

If desired, the game piece 113 and catching members 114 can be employed in a so-called cat and mouse game in which the objective of each contestant is to position his catching member 114 along the respective gap between

fencelike structures

27 and 28 so that, when the path of game piece 113 propelled toward such gap is properly intercepted by the catching member 114, the game piece 113 will pass through aperture 45 of the catching member, whereas, in the absence of such proper interception, the game piece will rebound from the catching member 114 and continue in play on the turntable or turntables of the game. When the game according to this invention is to be employed as a so-called cat and mouse game, game piece 113 may be in the shape of a mouse, as shown on FIG. 9, and the upstanding portion 141 of each catching member 114 may be shaped to simulate the appearance of a cat head with the aperture 45 forming the mouth of the cat.

From the above, it will be apparent that, merely by substituting one form of catching member for another and one form of game piece for another the nature of the game to be played may be substantially altered. Further, when thus altering the nature of the game to be played, the cardboard disk 33 disposed under the transparent turntable or turntables may also be exchanged so that the printed material on such cardboard disk will be related to the nature of the game to be played.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A game comprising a base, at least one turntable rotatably mounted on said base and having a circular periphery, means by which each said turntable may be rotated, arcuate arrays of spaced apart projections extending upwardly from said base above the top surface of said turntable along at least major portions of said periphery of each said turntable, a game piece slidable on said top surface and having a minimum lateral dimension larger than the spacing between said projections so that, upon rotation of said turntable, said game piece is propelled centrifugally against said projections and rebounds therefrom in random paths, said major portions of the periphery along which the arcuate arrays of projections extend being substantially spaced apart to leave gaps between said arrays, each of said gaps having a width substantially greater than the maximum lateral dimension of said game piece so that the latter can pass outwardly through each gap from said top surface of the turntable, and a catching member mounted on said base and movable along at least one of said gaps, said catching member extending above said top surface of the turntable so as to be selectively positionable in the respective gap for intercepting said game piece when the latter is propelled toward such gap.

2. A game according to claim 1, in which said projections are constituted by posts with openings therebetween.

3. A game according to claim 1, in which each said turntable has a central hub extending above said top surface so as to be engageable by said game piece when the latter rebounds from said projections in certain of said random paths.

4. A game according to claim 3, in which said hub is manually engageable and constitutes said means by which the turntable may be rotated.

5. A game according to claim 3, in which said hub has a noncircular plan-form.

6. A game according to claim 1, in which said catching member has a width substantially less than said width of the respective gap so that said game piece can pass through the gap between said catching member and said projections which are at the adjacent ends of said arrays.

7. A game according to claim 1 in which said catching member has an overall width approximately equal to the width of the respective gap, and said catching member. has a central aperture through which said game piece may pass when said catching member is positioned to locate said aperture in the path of said game piece.

8. A game according to claim 1, in which said base has an arcuate slot extending along said one gap, and said catching member has an arcuate depending flange slidable in the slot adjacent the respective gap for movably mounting the catching member on said base.

9. A game according to claim 1, in which there are two of said arrays of projections with two of said gaps being diametrically located relative to the center of said turntable, and in which a catching member, as aforesaid, is provided for each of said two gaps.

10. A game according to claim 1, in which a second turntable is rotatably mounted on said base with its top surface in the same plane as said top surface of said one turntable and with the periphery of said second turntable adjacent the periphery of said one turntable, said major portions of the periphery of each of said one and second turntables along which the arcuate arrays of projections extend are disposed at opposite sides of the median of said base extending through the centers of rotation of said turntables and are substantially spaced apart to leave two diametrically opposed gaps between said arrays of projections associated with each of said turntables, one of said gaps between said arrays of projections associated with said second turntable is coextensive with the gap between said arrays of projections associated with said one turntable which is diametrically opposed to said one gap along which said catching member is movable, and a second catching member is mounted on said base and movable along the other of said gaps between said arrays of projections associated with said second turntable, said second catching member extending above said top surface of said second turntable so as to be selectively positionable for interrupting said game piece when the latter is propelled toward the respective gap.

11. A game comprising a base, at least one turntable rotatably mounted on said base and having a circular periphery, means by which each said turntable may be rotated, means defining fences extending upwardly from said base above the top surface of said turntable along major portions of said periphery of each said turntable, said major portions of the periphery along which said fences extend being substantially spaced apart to leave gaps therebetween, a game piece slidable on said top surface and having a maximum lateral dimension smaller than the width of each of said gaps so that said game piece can pass through each of said gaps, said fences being operative to retain said game piece on said top surface at the respective major portions of said periphery of each turntable, and a catching member mounted on said base and movable along at least one of said gaps defined between the fences associated with each said turntable, said catching member extending above said top surface of the adjacent turntable so as to be selectively positionable in the respective gap for intercepting said game piece when the latter is propelled toward said gap in response to rotation of said turntable.

12. A game according to claim 11, in which each said turntable has a central hub extending above said top surface so as to be engageable by said game piece when the latter rebounds from said fence means.

13. A game according to claim 12, in which said hub is manually engageable and constitutes said means by which the turntable may be rotated.

14. A game according to claim 12, in which said hub has a noncircular plan form.

15. A game according to claim 11, in which a second turntable is rotatably mounted on said base with its top surface in the same plane as said top surface of said one turntable and with the periphery of said second turntable adjacent said periphery of said one turntable, said major portions of the periphery of each of said one and second turntables along which said fences extend are disposed at opposite sides of the median of said base extending through the centers of said turntables so that there are two of said gaps between the fences associated with each of said turntab es, one said catchmg member 15 movable along the one gap between the fences associated with each of said turntables, which one gap is remote from the other of said turntables, and the other gaps are coextensive with each other to permit said game piece to pass therethrough between said turntables.

Claims

1. A game comprising a base, at least one turntable rotatably mounted on said base and having a circular periphery, means by which each said turntable may be rotated, arcuate arrays of spaced apart projections extending upwardly from said base above the top surface of said turntable along at least major portions of said periphery of each said turntable, a game piece slidable on said top surface and having a minimum lateral dimension larger than the spacing between said projections so that, upon rotation of said turntable, said game piece is propelled centrifugally against said projections and rebounds therefrom in random paths, said major portions of the periphery along which the arcuate arrays of projections extend being substantially spaced apart to leave gaps between said arrays, each of said gaps having a width substantially greater than the maximum lateral dimension of said game piece so that the latter can pass outwardly through each gap from said top surface of the turntable, and a catching member mounted on said base and movable along at least one of said gaps, said catching member extending above said top surface of the turntable so as to be selectively positionable in the respective gap for intercepting said game piece when the latter is propelled toward such gap.

5. A game according to claim 3, in which said hub has a noncircular plan-form.

7. A game according to claim 1 in which said catching member has an overall width approximately equal to the width of the respective gap, and said catching member has a central aperture through which said game piece may pass when said catching member is positioned to locate said aperture in the path of said game piece.

15. A game according to claim 11, in which a second turntable is rotatably mounted on said base with its top surface in the same plane as said top surface of said one turntable and with the periphery of said second turntable adjacent said periphery of said one turntable, said major portions of the periphery of each of said one and second turntables along which said fences extend are disposed at opposite sides of the median of said base extending through the centers of said turntables so that there are two of said gaps between the fences associated with each of said turntables, one said catching member is movable along the one gap between the fences associated with each of said turntables, which one gap is remote from the other of said turntables, and the other gaps are coextensive with each other to permit said game piece to pass therethrough between said turntables.