Spinning Ball Game Apparatus and Game Play

Abstract

A spinning ball game and game apparatus includes a hollow sphere within which a plurality of smaller spheres, such as metal balls, are captivated. The agitation and movement of the sphere causes orbital and randomized motion of the smaller balls within the sphere's interior. Various game play patterns are provided which utilize the manipulation skills of the game player in maintain a predetermined distribution of the small balls orbiting and moving within the sphere interior. The sphere includes a designated zone on the sphere interior surface. Typically, the sphere is held by a player, during game play, such that the zone occupies the lower portion of the sphere.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spinning ball game apparatus comprising:
 a generally spherical housing formed of a transparent material and defining a generally spherical interior surface;   a zone formed on a portion of said interior surface; and   a plurality of spherical balls substantially smaller than said housing contained within said housing and freely rolling upon said interior surface,   said balls moving against said interior surface when said housing is rapidly moved.   
     
     
         2 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 1  wherein said zone is tinted to be visually distinguishable from the remainder of said generally spherical housing. 
     
     
         3 . The spinning ball game apparatus set forth in  claim 2  wherein said generally spherical housing may be oriented and held by a player such that said zone occupies the lower portion of said generally spherical housing and said plurality of balls rest in said zone. 
     
     
         4 . The spinning ball game apparatus set forth in  claim 3  further including a plurality of game control cards and a timer. 
     
     
         5 . The spinning ball game apparatus set forth in  claim 4  wherein said plurality of game control cards each include a face having a task, a time and a point value printed thereon. 
     
     
         6 . A spinning ball game apparatus comprising:
 a spherical housing formed of a transparent material and defining spherical interior and exterior surfaces and an interior volume; and   a plurality of spherical balls substantially smaller than said spherical housing within said interior volume and freely rolling upon said interior surface,   said spherical balls rolling upon said interior surface when said spherical housing is moved by a player.   
     
     
         7 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 6  wherein said spherical housing is formed of a clear material. 
     
     
         8 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 7  wherein said spherical housing defines a first diameter between two inches and eight inches and wherein said spherical balls define second diameters between one-fourth inch and one inch. 
     
     
         9 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 8  wherein said first diameter is approximately five inches and said second diameters are each approximately seven sixteenths of an inch. 
     
     
         10 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 9  wherein said spherical housing is formed of a pair of hemispherical portions joined to form a completed sphere. 
     
     
         11 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 10  wherein said plurality of spherical balls is selected to be greater than three and less than seven. 
     
     
         12 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 7  wherein said spherical housing further includes a designated zone formed of a visually distinct portion of said interior surface. 
     
     
         13 . The spinning ball game set forth in  claim 12  wherein said designated zone is tinted.