Interactive funnel amusement device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides an interactive funnel amusement device.
The invention allows a user to interact with the interactive funnel amusement device to a greater extent than prior art funnel devices.
In one embodiment, the interactive funnel amusement device includes a funnel and a target.
The funnel is substantially circular and includes an interior surface and a first and a second openings, where the first opening is larger than the second opening and the first opening is oriented vertically above the second opening.
The funnel slopes from the first opening to the second opening such that an object moves around the interior surface in a substantially spiral manner from the first opening toward the second opening.
The target is located on the interior surface of the funnel such that when the object moves around the interior surface of the funnel, the object is capable of interacting with the target.
The interactive funnel amusement device can also include an adjustable guide.
The adjustable guide is capable of aiming the object along one of a number of trajectories along the funnel such that the object moves around the interior surface of the funnel in a substantially spiral manner.
The adjustable guide can also be used to aim the object along a trajectory that causes the object to interact with the target located on the interior surface of the funnel.
In one embodiment, the adjustable guide includes a guide member and an extended guide member.
The object is inserted in the guide member and passed along to the extended guide member, where the extended guide member reorients the motion of the object.
In alternate embodiments, the reorientation of the motion of the object may be in the horizontal plane, the vertical plane or the angular orientation of the object.
In one embodiment, the guide is an improved coin guide that includes a coin rejecter and a coin deflector.
The coin rejecter rejects inappropriately-sized coins inserted into the coin guide.
A rejected coin is bounced off the coin deflector such that the rejected coin is prevented from interacting with the interactive funnel amusement device