US20110291355A1

US20110291355A1 - Pneumatic soccer game

Info

Publication number: US20110291355A1
Application number: US12/807,945
Authority: US
Inventors: Ovidiu Toma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-01
Filing date: 2010-09-20
Publication date: 2011-12-01
Also published as: WO2011000119A2; CA2712532C; CA2712532A1; WO2011000119A3

Abstract

A pneumatic game apparatus. The apparatus comprises a table. The table comprises a horizontal top surface and peripheral side walls. Side walls extend above the top surface of the table. The table is provided with four apertures located at four opposite corners of the table. The apertures are located within the peripheral side walls at the corners. A plurality of manual pump means project air in a substantially horizontal manner from each aperture, across the top surface of the table. The plurality of pump means are positioned at a respective corner of the table and have outlets. Mounting means to mount each on the plurality of pump means are provided for rotation of the outlets about a vertical axis. One play object is positionable on the top surface of the table. The projected air streams move the play objects on the top surface of the table under a control of opposing players manipulating each of the plurality of manual pump means and manipulating the direction of the air streams, through rotation of the outlets.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to games. More particularly, the invention relates to a game with pump means to move a play object across a play surface by directed air impulses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several different games including foosball, table hockey and billiards are played on a miniaturized surface typically supported on a table. Different systems and methods have been developed to move play objects in such games.
US 2010/0133747 discloses a game that uses a source of compressed gas to move play objects across play surface. A triggering device is used by players to select one or several jets and selectively trigger gas flows from the selected jets in order to control movement of the play object.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,481 discloses a pneumatic board game apparatus including a playing board having two groups of holes in its top face with a partition preventing each player from seeing the opponent's group of holes. Air channels interconnect the holes of one group with the holes of the other group. Pump means cause an impulse of air to travel through the channels and ejecting playing pieces on the other side of the board.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,543 discloses an air action game where playing pieces are propelled by air streams discharged from opposed nozzles at each end of a game table top. The nozzles are swivelled in order to redirect the air stream across the entire top surface of the table to displace the playing pieces across the surface.
However, there is still presently a need for a pneumatic soccer game that can improve the hand-eye coordination of the players displacing playing pieces on a game table surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic soccer game apparatus that satisfies the above-mentioned need.
According to the present invention, there is provided a pneumatic game apparatus comprising:

- a table, said table comprising a horizontal top surface and peripheral side walls, said side walls extending above the top surface of the table, said table provided with four apertures located at four opposite corners of the table, said apertures being located within said peripheral side walls at said corners;
- a plurality of manual pump means to project air in a substantially horizontal manner from each aperture, across the top surface of the table, each of said plurality of pump means being positioned at a respective corner of the table and having an outlet;
- mounting means to mount each of said plurality of pump means for rotation of each of the outlets about a vertical axis; and
- at least one play object positionable on the top surface of the table,
  whereby the projected air streams move said play object on said top surface of said table under a control of opposing players manipulating each of said plurality of manual pump means and manipulating a direction of the air streams, through rotation of the outlets.

Preferably, each of said plurality of pump means is selected from a group comprising bellows and manual pistons.
Preferably, the corners of the table top, where the apertures receiving outlets of the pump means are located, are curved inwardly.
Preferably, the rotation of the pump means outlets is restricted to a range of approximately 90 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic soccer game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pneumatic soccer game shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one of the manual pump means used in the pneumatic soccer game shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, there is provided a pneumatic game apparatus 10. The game apparatus comprises a table 12. The table 12 comprises a horizontal top surface 14 and peripheral side walls 16. The side walls 16 extend above the top surface 14 of the table 12. The table 12 is provided with four apertures 18 located at four opposite corners 19 of the table 12. The apertures 18 are located within the peripheral side walls 16 at the corners. The table 12 also includes a plurality of manual pump means 20 to project air in a substantially horizontal manner from each aperture 18, across the top surface 14 of the table 12. Each of the plurality of pump means 20 is positioned at a respective corner of the table 12 and has an outlet. The table also has mounting means 22 to mount each of the plurality of pump means 20 for rotation of each of the outlets 23 about a vertical axis 24. The game apparatus also includes at least one play object positionable on the top surface 14 of the table 12. The projected air streams move the play object on the top surface 14 of the table under a control of opposing players manipulating each of the plurality of manual pump means 20 and manipulating the direction of the air streams, through rotation of the outlets 23.
Preferably, each of said plurality of pump means 20 is selected from a group comprising bellows and manual pistons.
Preferably, the corners 19 of the table 12 where the apertures 18 receiving outlets 23 of the pump means are located, are curved inwardly.
Preferably, the rotation of the pump means outlets 23 is restricted to a range of approximately 90 degrees.
The game is made up of the following components:

- game table;
- frame;
- soccer players;
- soccer gates;
- polystyren ball;
- flexible PVC bellows;
- pipes; and
- pivot axle.

This game can be played by 2, 3 or 4 players.
The table frame has in each corner small opening windows. These small windows allow passage of compressed-air jets to the ball.
The motion of the ball is caused by the compressed-air jet coming from the air pumps, that are situated in each corner, and directing air streams at the ball.
The air that is compressed by pressing vertically the air pump by hand, is pushed through the pipe which makes a well-directed compressed-air jet. If one releases the air pump, it comes back to its initial position, as the pump is flexible as a spring.
Directing the compressed-air jet to any position of the ball on the field is done manually by orientating the air pump, that is connected to the tube through the motion of a 90 degrees circular curve made by the pivot axle.
The players will first orientate the air pumps by pivoting them at the approximate degree they want so that the compressed-air jet hits the ball, and then, they will press vertically the upper parts of the air pump to actually create the compressed-air jet, that will hit the ball trying to push it into the opponent's goal.
The players on the field are fixed and their role is to create obstacles for the ball by changing its direction as in a billiards game.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pneumatic game apparatus comprising:

a table, said table comprising a horizontal top surface and peripheral side walls, said side walls extending above the top surface of the table, said table provided with four apertures located at four opposite corners of the table, said apertures being located within said peripheral side walls at said corners;

a plurality of manual pump means to project air in a substantially horizontal manner from each aperture, across the top surface of the table, each of said plurality of pump means being positioned at a respective corner of the table and having an outlet;

mounting means to mount each of said plurality of pump means for rotation of each of the outlets about a vertical axis; and

at least one play object positionable on the top surface of the table,

whereby the projected air streams move said play object on said top surface of said table under a control of opposing players manipulating each of said plurality of manual pump means and manipulating a direction of the air streams, through rotation of the outlets.

2. The pneumatic game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of pump means is selected from a group comprising bellows and manual pistons.

3. The pneumatic game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the corners of the table top, where the apertures receiving outlets of the pump means are located, are curved inwardly.

4. The pneumatic game apparatus according to claim, wherein the rotation of the pump means outlets is restricted to a range of approximately 90 degrees.