Descending ball game apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
In a descending ball game apparatus of a type which includes a ball and a plurality of downwardly sloped channel members which are interconnected by a plurality of substantially vertical columns, wherein the channel members and the columns cooperate to define at least one downwardly extending continuous path for guiding the ball in its downward travel, the improvement comprising: at least one of said channel members comprising a channel portion having a bottom wall and opposing sidewalls, and further including at least two gates, each of which comprises a substantially vertical, fixed wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, sequential gates being positioned adjacent opposite sidewalls of said channel portion, said gates being operative for alternately deflecting said ball back and forth from one sidewall of said channel portion to the opposing sidewall of said channel portion; and at least one of said channel members comprising a continuous channel portion having an upper level channel segment which is joined with a lower level channel segment, and a pivoting ramp positioned therebetween said ramp being operative for receiving a ball descending along said upper level channel segment and pivoting downwardly as said ball descends along said ramp to deliver said ball into said lower level channel segment.
2.
In the descending ball game apparatus of claim 1, said gate deflect channel member comprising first and second gates respectively positioned adjacent spaced entrance and exit portions of said gate deflect channel member, respectively.
3.
In the descending ball game apparatus of claim 1, said walls each comprising a first deflector portion angled to deflect a downwardly descending ball from one sidewall of said channel portion toward the opposite sidewall of said channel portion, and a second deflector portion oriented in substantially perpendicular relation to the longitudinal extent of said channel portion to further guide said downwardly descending ball toward said opposite sidewall of said channel portion