Football Patents (Class 273/317.5)
  • Patent number: 9358449
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for playing football (1), comprising a ball (16), a base (7) on which at least one ball holder is provided, an accelerating element (2, 2?), and a drive arrangement for the accelerating element (2, 2?). The drive arrangement carries the accelerating element (2, 2?) and is designed to drive the accelerating element from a starting position (SP) towards the ball holder, such that the accelerating element (2, 2?) impacts on the ball (16) under propulsion. The accelerating element (2, 2?) is fastened to the drive arrangement in a position-adjustable manner by means of a fastening arrangement, such that the impact position (AP) of the accelerating element (2, 2?) on the ball (16) located on the ball holder is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LIMMAT PRODUKT GMBH
    Inventors: Urs Robustelli, Gregor Altenburger
  • Patent number: 8944435
    Abstract: A football game and football game apparatus that consists of sliding football shaped playing pieces down a rectangular planar playing surface towards scoring targets. The scoring targets represent certain yardages that can be gained or lost, or other events that may occur in an American football game, and by which a player can advance or move back their game piece on a simulated football field. The football field is secured perpendicularly across and above the planar playing surface and includes yardage markers, down markers, score trackers, and a line of scrimmage indicator in order to track the game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Justin Kolb
  • Patent number: 8925924
    Abstract: A football simulation table game device is used for contests simulating American football. The device includes a slotted wall extending along a defensive end of a table. A defensive handle extends through the wall having a first end extending over a perimeter edge of the table. A defensive player form coupled to the defensive handle is selectively positionable between lateral sides of the table by manipulation of the defensive handle. Each of a plurality of rollers is coupled to a slope wherein the slope is moveable across the top surface of the table. An offensive handle is coupled to the slope to selectively adjust a position of the slope on the table. A sled is selectively couplable to the slope and slidable from a top end of the slope towards the defensive end of the table. An offensive player form is coupled to the sled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Craig T. Urban
  • Patent number: 8656616
    Abstract: A business card having an original state that is convertible into a game in a playable state is described. The business card includes a main body having a first side and a second side. The first side has marketing information marked thereon. The main body comprises a goal structure for playing the game in a playable state. One or more detachable components are attached to the main body in the original state. The one or more detachable components are detached from the main body for interacting with the main body in the playable state. The business card is produced in the original state and the game is not playable in the original state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Bashpole Inventions, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Ashpole, Jay Alan Olman
  • Patent number: 8339371
    Abstract: A user interface device for controlling an audio visual system. In one embodiment, a device for interfacing with an audio/visual system includes a sensor mat including a surface and operable to be disposed on a substantially flat floor. The sensor mat is further operable for generating electrical signals responsive to physical interactions of a user with the surface. The interface device also includes an electronic control unit including circuitry for coupling to the mat, the electronic control unit for detecting the physical interactions of the mat and the electronic control unit operable to be placed on the substantially flat floor. The interface device further includes an elongated shaft having a first end and a second end and physically coupled to the electronic control unit via the first end and extending laterally therefrom. The second end of the elongated shaft is operable to be displaced in various directions by interactions with both hands of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Soto, Paul Rymarz, Rachel Bautista, Joe MacCarthy
  • Patent number: 8322724
    Abstract: A portable tabletop sporting game apparatus includes a game board having at least one opening formed therein. A pair of legs are attached to the game board in order to elevate the game board generally off of the ground. A lever is operatively attached to an underside of the game board and in communication with a man game piece. The man game piece is disposed through the game board opening, such that when the lever is depressed, the man game piece is forced upwardly through the game board opening in order to block or lift a ball, which is being pushed, moved or nudged across the game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Lamoine Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8147331
    Abstract: A video game player can control the movement of a moving object in a video game during a moving object dispatch operation by a character, thereby allowing the video game player to experience nervousness and a sense of realism when causing the character to dispatch the moving object. This video game program includes a first request receiving function, a operation display function, a second request receiving function, a moving object control function, and a moving object display function. In the video game implemented with this program, a dispatch request for dispatching the moving object is received from the controller in the second request receiving function when the dispatch operation of the character is displayed on the monitor. According to the timing at which the second request receiving function received the dispatch request, the movement of the moving object is controlled in the moving object control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 8052521
    Abstract: Techniques are provide for linking actions in an online fantasy sports game to a currency balance associated with a user of the game. The techniques adjust the balance by a first quantity in response to a sports player action, where the first quantity is based upon the player action, and adjust the balance by a second quantity in response to transfer of a sports player to or from a fantasy sports team associated with the user, where the second quantity is based upon a value of the sports player; and, prevent transfer of the sports player to the fantasy sports team in response to the second quantity being greater than the balance. The currency balance may be increased by the first quantity in response to the sports player action. The sports player action may include scoring a number of game points, and the first quantity may be based upon the number of game points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Webb, Miles A. Libbey, IV
  • Publication number: 20110049808
    Abstract: This is a game combining darts, a game board, a non-standard dartboard, and non-standard cards to simulate a football game. The dartboard includes a center scoring region at the center of the dartboard, concentric rings of varying radii surrounding the center scoring region, and multiple scoring regions within each ring labeled with either a yardage target label or an alphabetic label describing a state of play. The cards include starting yard line cards, yard line cards, red zone cards, interception or fumble cards, and penalty cards. The yard line cards indicate on one side of each card a yard range on a simulated football field corresponding to a player's position on this field and on an opposite side of each card a plurality of yardage targets to be achieved by the player by means of darts thrown at the dart board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph CURCIJA
  • Patent number: 7815485
    Abstract: Pose and play dolls that will stand on a platform by magnetic attraction and dance with lifelike animation, but which may be removed from the stand for ordinary play. The dolls include animation powered from the platform through the legs of the doll. A motor in the doll animates the doll body, arms and head, with proportional feedback allowing control by a controller in coordination with music being played. The doll head may rotate or gyrate, and the arms swing as a unit or with the lower arms bending as the arms swing. In one form of platform simply rotates through controlled angles, again in coordination with the music being played. In another form of doll, the hips are configured to swing back and forth, and another form of platform controls the hip movement, again in coordination with the music being played. Various other features and capabilities are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Shoot the Moon Products II, LLC
    Inventors: Sunil William Moothedath, Russell G. Rasmussen, Paul S. Rago, David B. Small
  • Patent number: 7775525
    Abstract: A manual game is provided which simulates American football. The game has a playing surface with multiple openings having indicia associated with football activities, and players toss game pieces at the surface in order to achieve football action determined by the indicia of the opening into which a game piece drops. The game includes a goal the structure with a pair of uprights, and players attempt to score field goals and points after touchdown by tossing a game piece between the uprights. A plurality of template plates are provided to effect different games, and each template plate has a subset of the openings and covers at least one of them. As a result, different games are available with different patterns of openings. A blank, planar form is provided which can be folded and assembled into a game chassis which includes the playing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: CS Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Staver, Lance White
  • Patent number: 7722049
    Abstract: A multipurpose bowl assembly including a bowl, a target having a coupler configured to attach the target to the bowl and a launching device coupled to the bowl and configured to propel at least one item in a direction generally toward the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Wabash Valley Farms
    Inventors: Michael Williams, Rachel DeSmidt, William Lindeman, Cathy Lindeman, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7717431
    Abstract: A table-top football kicking game includes a substantially planar and rectangular playing surface having at least two lines extending laterally, and at least one set of goal post uprights attached substantially perpendicular to and proximal ends of the rectangular playing surface. Also included are a toy oblong football of proportional length and a kicking device movably placed on the rectangular playing surface for propelling the toy oblong football off of said playing surface toward and preferably through the goal post uprights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Clinton Pettis
  • Patent number: 7641553
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a computer-implemented method of providing an event related game. The method includes receiving event data associated with a media broadcast at a computer, generating a printable game set, and providing the printable game set in an electronic format configured for printing by a user. The printable game set includes at least one game card and a set of trade tickets. The at least one game card includes a list of game events associated with the media broadcast. Each trade ticket of the set of trade tickets identifies a game event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventor: Dale Roush
  • Publication number: 20090174145
    Abstract: A manual game is provided which simulates American football. The game has a playing surface with multiple openings having indicia associated with football activities, and players toss game pieces at the surface in order to achieve football action determined by the indicia of the opening into which a game piece drops. The game includes a goal the structure with a pair of uprights, and players attempt to score field goals and points after touchdown by tossing a game piece between the uprights. A plurality of template plates are provided to effect different games, and each template plate has a subset of the openings and covers at least one of them. As a result, different games are available with different patterns of openings. A blank, planar form is provided which can be folded and assembled into a game chassis which includes the playing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: Genuine Bean Bag Co., LLC
    Inventors: Michael Staver, Lance White
  • Patent number: 7523942
    Abstract: A convertible game assembly comprises a convertible frame having at least one adjustable joint separating a back frame portion and a front frame portion. The front frame portion is configured to pivot upward and backward about the adjustable joint to convert the frame from an open to a closed configuration. The assembly further includes an elevated back target piece coupled to the back frame portion and a front target piece coupled to the front frame portion. The frame is positionable in an open configuration to allow a game player to throw projectiles toward the back target piece, with the open configuration defining a first player position. Additionally, the frame is positionable in a closed configuration to allow a game player to kick projectiles toward the front target piece, with the closed configuration defining a second player position closer to the back frame portion than the first player position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: SOP Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Safari Chung
  • Publication number: 20090096170
    Abstract: A table-top football kicking game includes a substantially planar and rectangular playing surface having at least two lines extending laterally, and at least one set of goal post uprights attached substantially perpendicular to and proximal ends of the rectangular playing surface. Also included are a toy oblong football of proportional length and a kicking device movably placed on the rectangular playing surface for propelling the toy oblong football off of said playing surface toward and preferably through the goal post uprights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Clinton Pettis
  • Patent number: 7455587
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display, a game player input means and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller controls play of a game in which a winning game result causes a prize to be awarded to a game player. The game comprises an interactive sequence related to a tournament in which a representation of a first video-player of one team is displayed. An action of the first video-player to be executed is selected by the game player via the game player input means and the game controller selects an action to be performed by another video-player. Depending on an outcome resulting from the selected actions, an award is made to the game player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Christopher Olive, Naomi Glasson, Brett Mezen
  • Publication number: 20080116643
    Abstract: A game piece includes a substantially triangularly-shaped housing, an impact detection apparatus which generates a signal in response to an impacting blow to the housing, and a signaling apparatus which produces an audio or visual signal in response to the signal produced by the impact detection apparatus. A kit includes a first triangular game piece, a set of stickers sized to fit within the bounds of the triangular game piece, and an instruction set for playing a game with the first triangular game piece. Some kits include a second game piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Gregory A. Miranda, Kurt Randall Knappen, Donald John Wanek, William W. Brooks
  • Patent number: 7192152
    Abstract: An outer garment or vestment comprising a front panel and rear panel that includes an electrical circuit of neon wire, a battery operated power pack and toggle switch so as to be illuminated to allow play, such as touch football, tag and the like, in the darkness where the neon wire is mounted in a lens on the rear panel with a configuration defining a focal point such as a spiral shape and is operatively connected to the toggle switch so that depressing the lens causes the illuminated neon wire to be turned off and a portion of the neon wire mounted on the front panel and configured to designate each of the sides of the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Martin K. Hesse
  • Patent number: 7144014
    Abstract: The portable kicking game includes a relatively small, portable playing sheet or mat having a representation of a playing field thereon. The playing sheet is preferably sufficiently small to provide for placement in a medium size room, a single parking space in a stadium parking lot, etc. A small, portable goal post assembly and a kicking object are also provided. The kicking object may be in the form of a ball, polyhedron, or other shape as desired. Both the kicking object and goal post assembly may be formed of lightweight plastic, foam plastic material, or as inflatable devices, as desired. The game is played by alternately kicking the kicking object toward the opposite goal or through the goal post assembly with points awarded for successful kicks, in accordance with the rules of U.S. football or international soccer, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventor: Wayne W. Schaub, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6851199
    Abstract: A football measuring device has a handle, a chain segment extending from the handle, and a bar mounted perpendicular to the handle. A removable clip is placed on the chain segment to mark the displacement of the football relative to the first down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Inventor: Israel Zeitz
  • Patent number: 6503159
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for playing football, wherein points attributed to made field goals are determined by the distance from which the ball was kicked. As the distance is increased, the point value for a successful kick correspondingly increases, with the team kicking having the option of moving the ball farther away from the goal so as to increase the point value of a successful kick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Harold T. Pehr
  • Patent number: 6482090
    Abstract: After a batter hits a ball, the height of the ball moving on a trajectory passing through present movement positions is judged. For example, future movement positions positioned on a time axis ahead of the present movement positions are indicated on the ground by elliptical marks. The peak of the height becomes a boundary, and in the rising process of the ball, the mark is displayed in, for example, a star shape and blue, and in the falling process of the ball, the mark is displayed in, for example, an elliptical shape and red. Therefore, enjoyment of operations by the combination of the operation support of a computer and the operation skill of the user himself can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiyu Rimoto, Toshiaki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6478678
    Abstract: After a batter hits a ball, the height of the ball moving on a trajectory passing through present movement positions is judged. For example, future movement positions positioned on a time axis ahead of the present movement positions are indicated on the ground by elliptical marks. The peak of the height becomes a boundary, and in a rising process of the ball, the mark is displayed in a first color, and in a falling process of the ball, the mark is displayed in a second color. Therefore, the enjoyment of operations by the combination of the operation support of a computer and the operation skill of the user himself can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Square Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Shiyu Rimoto, Toshiaki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6471585
    Abstract: Input of a manipulation by a user is accepted before a player receives the ball. Upon occurrence of input of a manipulation, motion of the player including catching and throwing of the ball is determined in response to the input of the manipulation. By using the motion, transitions of display is made from a state before a catch of the ball by the player to a throw of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiyu Rimoto, Tomoaki Yoshinobu
  • Patent number: 6461237
    Abstract: A computer readable program product stores a program for a ball-playing type game enabling continuous action at the time a player catches a ball in a ball-playing game to be expressed smoothly. When a fielder starts a catching action, a difference between a position of a glove at the time the fielder catches the ball by a group of motion and an arrival position of the ball is calculated. The position of the glove at one motion based on a group of motion for catching in the catching motion of the fielder is corrected in accordance with the difference between the position of the glove and the arrival position. Other motion with the position of the glove corrected is displayed, and the position of the glove of the fielder is matched to the arrival position of the ball when the fielder catches the ball in the motion after correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Square Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Yoshinobu, Kazuhiko Iino
  • Patent number: 6439575
    Abstract: A game apparatus and method of play by a pair of opponents, uses a game board on a level surface or field. A game board indicia resembles an American-Football field with two spaced apart and opposing end zone front lines. A triangularly shaped and flatly formed game piece provides numerical values to its three corners. The game piece is suitable for sliding on the game board, and is thrust back and forth on the board by the contestants or opponents, with game piece generally in contact with the game board, until the game piece is positioned on one of the end zone front lines. Values or scores are assigned to the opponents corresponding to how the game piece is situated on the end zone front lines. Additional points may be acquired through aerial thrusts of the game piece through an upright goal situated at or in the end zones of the game board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Ruben Castellanos
  • Patent number: 6431982
    Abstract: Using a game system, an operator performs a virtual play in which soccer player characters on a virtual field are divided into two teams that compete to handle a ball and to carry the ball into a rival-team goal. The system includes game progress control unit for repeatedly obtaining instructions inputted by the operator and for sequentially changing a game playing situation of the player characters by repeating calculation necessary for specifying the game playing situation based on the instructions; and display control unit for displaying, based on a calculated result by the game progress control unit, a play picture representing the game playing situation within a restricted area centered on a position of the ball in the field and a radar picture representing positions of the player characters in a range of the field wider than a range represented by the play picture in a manner reduced by a scale-down rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6402154
    Abstract: A dartboard adapted for playing the game of american football includes a quadrilateral simulated football field section; a quadrilateral downs section; a quadrilateral punts section; and a quadrilateral kicks section; whereby opposing players or teams accumulate scores by projecting darts in sequence in order to achieve a total winning score within a previously agreed time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Hess, Daniel C. Warner
  • Patent number: 6209876
    Abstract: A football target game for one or more players. The game includes a surrounding target having a goal post extending from a base, a crossbar perpendicular to the goal post, and a pair of uprights extending upward from the crossbar. A center target within the surrounding target includes a top rail extending between the pair of uprights and a U-frame member extending from the top rail. The targets are supported by either a base or a door hanger suspended from a door. The surrounding target has a net connected to the crossbar, the uprights and top rail while the center target has a net connected to the top rail and the U-frame members, the nets being of different colors. A plurality of footballs are provided, each football to be flicked toward the targets by a player's finger, each football to be initially held on a tee. A handheld tee may be used to support the tee on a player's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Kevin Franklin
  • Patent number: D609280
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Tyfun Trading Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Benjamin Lessard