Ball Launch and Catch Game

Abstract

A one or two player ball game assembly comprising a motorized ball launcher that shoots balls upwards into the air in a random fountain like pattern. Each player catches or retrieves the launched balls and places them back into their designated reservoir. The reservoir gravity feeds the balls back into a striker mechanism. In one embodiment, the reservoirs are clear tubes so that each player may monitor the number of balls in each player's reservoir during play. The clear tubes also act as a fence, keeping each player on their respective sides thus minimizing possible collisions during play. In one embodiment, the game operates on an adjustable timer (e.g. 1-15 minutes) which automatically terminates powered to the motorized striker. The timer may also trigger an audible signal (e.g. bell) when the game is over. The winner is the player with the most balls in their reservoir at the end of play. In the single player game, a single reservoir is used and the player's score is the number of balls in the reservoir when the game ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball game assembly comprising:
 a plurality of balls,   two or more reservoirs proving a means of storing the said balls,   a drive shaft comprising two or more disks and one or more cam drivers urging a ball striker,   an electric motor providing a means of rotating the said drive shaft,   an aperture in each of the said disks providing a means of alternating the feeding of said balls from each of the said reservoirs to the said ball striker whereby the said ball striker launches the said balls in an upwards direction.   
     
     
         2 . The ball game assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the said reservoirs are transparent, or contain openings whereby the players may see the balls in the reservoirs during play. 
     
     
         3 . The ball game assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the said reservoirs are elongated placing the balls in a generally single file orientation providing a means of determining the number of balls in each reservoir during play. 
     
     
         4 . The ball game assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the said elongated reservoirs are angled from horizontal whereby gravity can be used to feed the said balls to the said ball striker. 
     
     
         5 . The ball game assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a striker cup and raised circular boss provide a means of placing the said ball in a random slightly off center orientation whereby the said striker launches the said balls in a random vertical fountain like pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The ball game assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the said reservoirs are easily detachable from the striker assembly without the use of fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The ball game assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the said striker is biased in the upward direction by one or more compression springs. 
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a ball game with two players comprising:
 designating a reservoir containing balls to each said player,   turning on the said ball game whereby power is supplied to a ball launcher,   catching or retrieving said balls as they are launched into the air by the said ball launcher,   placing the said balls back into each said player's said designated reservoir whereby they are fed back into the said ball launcher,   turning off the said ball game whereby power is removed from the said ball launcher,   whereby the game winner is the said player with the most said balls in their said designated reservoir.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a timer switch may be used whereby the said ball game play time may be adjusted and the said ball launcher automatically shuts off 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the said reservoirs are elongated and angled from horizontal whereby providing a means of separation between said players in order to keep each said player on their respective sides thereby preventing collisions during play. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the speed of the said ball launcher may be adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . A method of playing a ball game with one player comprising:
 a reservoir containing a plurality of balls,   turning on the said ball game whereby power is supplied to a ball launcher,   catching or retrieving said balls as they are launched into the air by the said ball launcher,   placing the said balls back into the said reservoir whereby they are fed back into the said ball launcher,   turning off the said ball game whereby power is removed from the said ball launcher,   whereby the said player's score is the number of said balls in the said reservoir.