Table game
A game is provided including several player pieces mounted to a platform. Opposing players articulate player pieces to score goals by manipulating a ball through the opponent's goal. In some embodiments, a random timer triggers the release of a another ball that the opposing players try to catch using a magnetic portion of the player pieces. A launching mechanism may be included that, when triggered by one of the balls, ejects a corresponding player piece from the platform.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/473,908 entitled “Game With Ball-Catching Figurines,” filed Jun. 5, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDA variety of table-top games are known for common sports such as hockey, soccer, and foosball. These games typically require a user to manually control all of the player pieces. There is usually only one ball, or puck, moving across the base of the play area to be urged towards the opponent's goal. The thrill of these games can therefore be increased by the addition of features that increase the unpredictability of the game. Various mechanized figurines are also known which may be used to throw an object; however, these figurines lack structure to catch or pick up an object without manual intervention by a user. Examples of known mechanized games and figurines are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,551,050; 2,903,264; 3,834,701; 4,515,371; 4,548,408; 5,046,734; 5,275,401; 5,297,792; 5,433,443; 5,655,767; 5,876,036; 5,931,465; and 6,171,169, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety and for all purposes.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure relates generally to a game including several player pieces mounted on a platform. More specifically, it relates to a game in which opposing players articulate player pieces to score goals by causing a ball to enter the opponent's goal. In some embodiments, a random timer triggers the release of another ball that the opposing players try to catch using a magnetic portion of the player pieces. One of the balls may fall through a hole in the platform, causing an associated player piece to be launched from the platform.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Playing arena 12 generally includes a base 20, sides 22, a platform 24, and a goal region 26, as shown in
Goal regions 26 may be sized to allow passage of balls 14 and/or 16. In the depicted example, goal regions 26 are intended to allow passage of scoring balls 14, through at least one of a variety of sections 30. In the example shown in
Playing arena 12 typically includes other features, which may track players scores or move or hide elements, such as randomly releasing balls 16 from playing arena 12, to increase the unpredictability of the game. As shown in
Playing arena 12 may further include side paddles 38, as shown in
Bowl-shaped receptacles, or depressions, 42 may be provided in platform 24 to retain scoring balls 14 and launching balls 16 in close proximity of a corresponding player piece to assist players in contacting the balls with their player pieces 18 or maneuvering the balls to particular locations on platform 24. Platform 24 has several trap-forming holes 44 typically located within depressions 42 to receive launching balls 16. Platform 24 may also include elongated grooves 46, along which player pieces 18 may be moved, as will subsequently be described.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
As shown in
In the example shown in
For example, in the embodiment shown in
In some player pieces 18, such as spring-mounted players 52 shown in
Moving on to
In the illustrative embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, a lever arm 108 is rotatably mounted to the underside of platform 24 and magnetically attracted to ball 14 and/or 16. One end of lever arm 108 has a magnet 110 so that that portion of the lever arm is pulled toward platform 24 when launching ball 16 falls or rests in the corresponding hole 44. Rotation of the lever arm causes rotation of side arm 106, such as by pressing against ramp 112, which disengages protrusion 102 from the receiving portion and thereby uncouples the at least one player piece from the platform. When released, the corresponding player piece 18 is launched from its position on platform 24 into the air, as shown in
Each of the previously described player pieces 18 may incorporate any combination of the other player pieces' mechanisms and corresponding functions. The game typically includes five player pieces 18 per team as shown in
During use, users move their player pieces 18 to maneuver scoring balls 14 into his or her opponent's goal region 26, thereby earning points, such as ten points per goal. As previously described a timer mechanism may randomly release launching balls 16 onto platform 24. Users then try to pick up launching balls 16 to earn additional points, such as fifty points each, which may also end game 10. Launching balls 16 may each have a particular color to indicate other point values or stages of game 10. Launching balls 16 that fall through holes 44 in platform 24 activate launching mechanism 86 to eject the respective player piece 18 from platform 24. When a player is launched from the platform, that player may receive a penalty, such as a point reduction or loss of that player for a specified time period. Alternatively, the launching of a player piece may be for entertainment purposes only and the launched player piece may be returned to the platform without that player incurring a penalty. Users may also engage paddles 38 to re-direct movement of launching balls 16 to his or her opponent's end of platform 24 or use the paddles to prevent launching ball 16 from disrupting their own player pieces. The highest point score typically determines a winner of the game once one or all of launching balls 16 have been caught. Broom 82 may be provided to assist in hitting or deflecting scoring ball 14.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where any claim recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claim should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through presentation of new claims in a related application. Such new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A table game comprising:
- a plurality of player pieces; and
- a playing arena having a base and a platform suspended above the base, wherein the platform is transparent and maintains the player pieces spaced away from the base, to thereby simulate movement of the player pieces a distance above the base.
2. The game of claim 1, wherein the playing arena further includes sides extending between the base and the platform, the sides of the playing arena forming scenery adapted to represent a difference in height between the platform and ground level.
3. The game of claim 1, wherein the game further includes at least one ball adapted to be manipulated by the player pieces.
4. The game of claim 3, wherein the game further includes a timer mechanism adapted to control release of the at least one ball onto the platform.
5. The game of claim 3, wherein the playing arena further includes paddles adapted to extend across the platform and retain the at least one ball.
6. The game of claim 3, wherein the platform has a depression adjacent at least one of the player pieces that is adapted to retain the at least one ball in close proximity to such player piece.
7. The game of claim 6, wherein at least one of the player pieces is removably coupled to the platform.
8. The game of claim 7, wherein release of the at least one player piece from the platform is triggered by positioning of the at least one ball relative to the platform.
9. The game of claim 3, wherein the playing arena further includes a goal region.
10. The game of claim 9, wherein the goal region has at least two sections.
11. A table game comprising:
- a playing arena having a platform;
- at least one player piece; and
- a launching mechanism adapted to detachably couple the at least one player piece to the platform and selectively operable to release the at least one player piece from the platform.
12. The table game of claim 11, wherein the launching mechanism is adapted to forcibly launch the at least one player piece from the platform.
13. The table game of claim 12, wherein the launching mechanism is spring loaded.
14. The table game of claim 11, wherein the launching mechanism includes a receiving portion adapted to receive the at least one player piece.
15. The table game of claim 14, wherein the launching mechanism further includes a release portion operatively coupled to the receiving portion and adapted to trigger release of the at least one player piece from the receiving portion.
16. The table game of claim 15, wherein the receiving portion includes a position plate adapted to support the at least one player piece and move between a neutral position and a launched position.
17. The table game of claim 16, wherein in the neutral position the position plate is depressed within the receiving portion and secured in place by a protrusion in the release portion.
18. The table game of claim 11, further including at least one ball, wherein the launching mechanism is triggered by proximity of the at least one ball.
19. The table game of claim 18, wherein a portion of the launching mechanism is magnetically attracted to the at least one ball.
20. The table game of claim 15, wherein the launching mechanism includes a protrusion adapted to engage with the receiving portion and thereby couple the at least one player piece to the platform when the at least one player piece is in a neutral position.
21. The table game of claim 20, wherein the launching mechanism includes a lever arm adapted to rotate towards the at least one ball.
22. The table game of claim 21, wherein rotation of the lever arm disengages the protrusion from the receiving portion and thereby uncouples the at least one player piece from the platform.
23. A table game having multiple player pieces, at least one of the player pieces comprising:
- a first body portion;
- a second body portion; and
- a coupling mechanism disposed therebetween and adapted to urge movement of the first body portion relative to the second body portion when a force is applied to the first body portion.
24. The table game of claim 23, wherein the coupling mechanism is adapted to urge rotation of the first body portion about an axis through the second body portion when the first body portion translates relative to the second body portion.
25. The player piece of claim 23, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a spring adapted to compress and thereby permit the first body portion to move closer to the second body portion.
26. The player piece of claim 25, wherein the spring is housed in a shaft that extends from the first body portion and passes through the second body portion.
27. The player piece of claim 26, wherein the second body portion is mounted on a post that is adapted to slide within the shaft, and further wherein the spring is disposed between the first body portion and the post.
28. The player piece of claim 26, wherein the shaft includes at least one aperture angled relative to the axis.
29. The player piece of claim 28, wherein a pin passes through the post and the at least one aperture and is adapted to slide along the at least one aperture, thereby producing rotation of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.
30. The player piece of claim 23, further including a ball manipulation mechanism coupled to one of the first and second body portions.
31. The player piece of claim 30, wherein the ball manipulation mechanism includes a magnetic portion.
32. A table game comprising multiple player pieces, at least one of the player pieces comprising:
- a ball manipulation mechanism coupled to the at least one player piece and adapted to maneuver a ball, wherein the ball manipulation mechanism includes a magnetic portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 4, 2004
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2005
Inventors: Jonathan Bedford (Hawthorne, CA), Jim Keifer (Manhattan Beach, CA), Jeannie Hardie (Gardena, CA)
Application Number: 10/861,778