An acquisition game is played on a concave playing field defining a nadir with a plurality of movable game pieces removably disposed on the field for movement thereabout. Each player has an acquisition tool for removing at least one of the game pieces at a time from the field, the acquisition tool also being for moving the game pieces and an interposing member about the field. An interposing member (preferably in the form of an animal such as a crab) is removably disposed on the field for movement thereabout when the interposing member vibrates. The interposing member is substantially greater in size than any of the game pieces and defines passages therethrough configured and dimensioned to enable movement of the game pieces through the passages so that the interposing member impedes access of the acquisition tool to at least those of the game pieces in the passages. A motor is provided for vibrating the interposing member.
A game for teaching manual dexterity provides a common tray or arena in which a plurality of individual playing pieces are placed face down. Separate sets of individual playing pieces (which may be differentiated by color), separate playing piece storage trays, and separate pairs of tongs for handling the individual playing pieces, are provided for each player. A timer is also provided to determine the duration of each player's turn. The common tray or arena, the individual playing pieces, the individual storage trays for each player, the tongs for each player, and the timer, are each formed with crenelated edges to resemble the configuration of a bottle cap with its crimped edges. The individual playing pieces are placed inverted, i. e., face down with the crenelated edges facing upward, in the common playing arena. Players all play simultaneously, with the object of the game being to turn each playing piece face up for that respective player, and then to remove each playing piece to the storage tray for that respective player. The player who removes the greatest number of his/her pieces from the arena before time expires, or who is first to do so before time expires, wins the round.
A collection game apparatus includes a random selection assembly which includes a base portion, a distributor pipe assembly supported by the base portion, and a funnel-shaped perimeter wall supported by a top portion of the distributor pipe assembly. A plurality of objects are provided to be collected, and the objects are grouped into color coded sets. The objects to be collected are randomly distributed by the distributor pipe assembly of the random selection assembly. A plurality of containers are provided for storing and carrying objects that are collected. Preferably, the random selection assembly and the objects to be collected, which are balls, float in water. The base portion of the random selection assembly is inflatable. The distributor pipe assembly includes a pipe-support body supported by the base portion. The pipe-support body includes a riser portion supported by the base portion and a baffle plate supported by a top part of the riser portion. The baffle plate includes a plurality of pipe-receiving apertures. A plurality of pipes are supported by the pipe-support body, and each of the pipes includes a pipe inlet portion elevated above a pipe outlet portion. A ball placed at a pipe inlet portion will roll through a pipe and out the pipe outlet portion under the influence of gravity. Each pipe outlet portion is positioned with respect to the riser portion for discharge of an object from the pipe outlet portion transverse to the riser portion.
A compact ball launching activity device has an upper and lower member. The upper member having multiple funnel shaped openings that are positioned on the sides of the upper member. The upper member also has one funnel shaped opening positioned at the top of the upper member. The device includes a launch system having an angled feeder tray and flywheel. The balls enter the side funnels of the upper member and are collected on the angled feeder tray. The balls fall through a hole in the feeder tray to a launch channel. The flywheel propels the balls through the launch channel, up and out of the funnel positioned at the top of the ball launching activity device.
A two-way ratchet mechanism operated by a plunger that moves a pawl housing in one of two directions. The ratchet mechanisms are preferably used in a children's game to simultaneously gather game pieces in receptacles.
