CA1256134A - Table ball game - Google Patents
Table ball gameInfo
- Publication number
- CA1256134A CA1256134A CA000487181A CA487181A CA1256134A CA 1256134 A CA1256134 A CA 1256134A CA 000487181 A CA000487181 A CA 000487181A CA 487181 A CA487181 A CA 487181A CA 1256134 A CA1256134 A CA 1256134A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ball
- balls
- marked
- game
- correspond
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pool game uses balls marked to correspond to standard playing cards. Each player or team attempts to form a "poker hand" by sinking appropriate balls, to defeat the opponent's hand. Typically, an electronic scoring apparatus detects each ball as it is potted, and displays the state of each player's "hand".
A pool game uses balls marked to correspond to standard playing cards. Each player or team attempts to form a "poker hand" by sinking appropriate balls, to defeat the opponent's hand. Typically, an electronic scoring apparatus detects each ball as it is potted, and displays the state of each player's "hand".
Description
This invention relates to an electronically operated table game, and to its method of operation.
In the standard game of Pool, known also as Kelly Pool, there are sixteen balls, including the cue ball. The fifteen non-cue balls are numbered consecutively, and fall into two groups known as "unders" (under 8) and "overs"
(over 8). Each player, or team, attempts to pot all of his/her/its balls, and then the "wild" ball (the 8) ahead of the other player or team.
In an electronic scoring version of the game (as described for example in Canadian Patent No. 1,206,174), each of these balls must be individually identified electronical-ly, as well as being visually distinguishable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative game to the electronic version of Kelly Pool.
Accordingly, in the first aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a table ball game comprising a playing surface and ball traps, a plurality of visually distinguishable balls marked to correspond to at least some of the card values in a standard pack of playing cards, and electronic detection means capable of interacting with electronic identification means in the balls so as to identify a ball trapped in a said trap, said electronic detection means being coupled to display means arranged to provide a display corresponding to the card value with which the said ball is marked.
~ยข
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Preferably, the balls are marked to correspond to the five highest cards of each of the four card suits.
Preferably, the balls include one marked to correspond to a "joker".
Preferably, the game comprises the steps of pocketing balls in such a way as to form a "hand" corresponding to the card game of "Poker".
The above gives a broad description of the present invention, a preferred form of which will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of components of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a general arrangement of the playing sur-face and ball traps.
A table ball game has a ball playing surface, and a plurality of pockets for the reception of balls, each pocket having ducting associated therewith leading to a detector assembly 10, and a ball holding area beyond the detector.
The detector is controlled by a detector electronics unit 11, which can be coupled to a unit 12 for other table related functions and a game scoring and display electron-ics module 13 which is in turn connected to a display 14 and other game related functions unit 15. For example, ,.,a~ ~
,.~
lZSf~13 the table related function~ 12 could include a conventional coin mechanism and means for allowing access to balls to allow the game to be played. The other game related func-tions could include connection to a master score board controlling several tables, means for connection to addi-tional similar systems for championship play-off at remote locations, means for storing the highest score played, and displaying this on the display, and means for providing audio or visual messages during the course of play.
Each ball 16 has an identification capsule embedded within the ball at the time of manufacture. Preferably, the cap-sule contains a code with more than one element so that error checking is possible. In addition, the capsule provides impact protection for the code element.
The code elements consist of an inductance and capacitance connected together, with each code element tuned to a selected frequency. Multiple elements in each ball are each tuned to a different selected frequency and enough combinations of elements and frequencies are chosen to allow the required number of balls to be identified.
Balls pocketed during a game are ducted to pass through the detector assembly 10 which preferably consists of multiple coils arranged with multiple magnetic axes so that the ball orientation is unimportant.
The detector has multiple attempts to read each ball. The coils are tuned by a voltage controlled variable capaci-tance diode and the detector electronics control the vol-tage supplied to the diode in a manner that causes the detector coil to search for the frequency assigned to the code elements in the ball. The detector electronics also monitor the level of voltage in the detector coils, as the coil voltage will be at certain levels with no balls present and at different levels for selected frequencies 12S613~
when the code element of a selected frequency is inside the detector coil. Means are provided to sense the altered level to this to decide that a selected frequency i8 present.
The detector electronics looks at the selected frequencies found and recognizes them as an identification number which is distinctive for a particular ball. This informa-tion is then transmitted to the display electronics for games scoring and display purposes. Invalid combinations of frequencies are ignored.
Figure 2 shows the general arrangement of chutes 21 from the pockets 22. These chutes lie beneath the playing sur-face 23 and are inclined so as to allow balls 16 to travel towards the detector 10 and thence to a ball holding area 24 which may be coupled to a coin release mechanism enab-ling balls to be released at the commencement of a game.
The preferred game of the present invention is "Poker Pool", in which there are twenty-two balls 16. Twenty of these are marked to correspond to the five highest cards of each of the four suits of a standard set of playing cards. Another is marked to correspond to the "joker", and one ball is the "cue" ball, typically a plain white ball, although not necessarily.
At the commencement of a game, each player or team leader typically enters his name or code on a keyboard associated with display 14 to book a turn at the table. The entry is acknowledged electronically, and the position in the current queue is indicated.
Each time the table is vacated, the board audi~ly calls the next players, displaying their names or codes on a display 14. If the players called do not respond (typi-cally by inserting coins in unit 12) within a predetermined lZ5613~
time, the next group of players is called.
The coins are monitored and, when the correct amount has been inserted, the balls are dropped into a tray for placing on the table.
Typically, the balls are designated as follows:
Visual Marking Electronic Identification Hearts 10 Diamonds 10 6 Clubs 10 11 Spades 10 16 Joker 21 Cue Ball None Each team takes turns to pocket balls selectively in such a way as to gain a "poker hand", or to prevent their opponent(s) from doing so. The Joker is a "wild" ball, and is to be pocketed at the completion of the "hand".
1~5~
The cue ball is returned whenever pocketed, and has n~
effect on the score.
Whenever a ball is pocketed, a corresponding indicator panel on the wall display unit 14 is lit, typically in a group of indicators associated with the respective player or team. Each group of indicators is laid out in a for-mation in which suits are grouped together, with graphical display of the corresponding card alongside, e.g.:
Spade 10 J Q K A
Club 10 J Q K A
Diamond 10 J Q K A
Heart 10 J Q K A
JOKER
This display could be in the form of an illuminated board ~r panel.
An alternative indicator panel involves the use of electronically controlled flip cards, each card being pro-vided with an appropriate pattern or graphics to represent a designated playing card corresponding to a respective one of the balls, so that when that particular ball is pocketed, the ball will be recognized by the detector electronics, which will then cause the appropriate flip card to flip over, presenting the appropriate picture in-dicating that that ball has been scored.
To ensure that the correct group of indicators is actuated (i.e., the group relating to the current player or team), one or other of two "TEA~I SELECT" buttons is pushed at the commencemen~ of each player's or team's turn.
In serious games, however, a referee will be appointed to attend to this function, together with rule interpreta-tion, but forcasual games players will normally monitor ~Z~6134 this for themselves.
Various modifications to the above may be made without departing from the scop~ of the present invention as claimed.
In the standard game of Pool, known also as Kelly Pool, there are sixteen balls, including the cue ball. The fifteen non-cue balls are numbered consecutively, and fall into two groups known as "unders" (under 8) and "overs"
(over 8). Each player, or team, attempts to pot all of his/her/its balls, and then the "wild" ball (the 8) ahead of the other player or team.
In an electronic scoring version of the game (as described for example in Canadian Patent No. 1,206,174), each of these balls must be individually identified electronical-ly, as well as being visually distinguishable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative game to the electronic version of Kelly Pool.
Accordingly, in the first aspect, the present invention broadly consists in a table ball game comprising a playing surface and ball traps, a plurality of visually distinguishable balls marked to correspond to at least some of the card values in a standard pack of playing cards, and electronic detection means capable of interacting with electronic identification means in the balls so as to identify a ball trapped in a said trap, said electronic detection means being coupled to display means arranged to provide a display corresponding to the card value with which the said ball is marked.
~ยข
.~
Preferably, the balls are marked to correspond to the five highest cards of each of the four card suits.
Preferably, the balls include one marked to correspond to a "joker".
Preferably, the game comprises the steps of pocketing balls in such a way as to form a "hand" corresponding to the card game of "Poker".
The above gives a broad description of the present invention, a preferred form of which will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of components of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a general arrangement of the playing sur-face and ball traps.
A table ball game has a ball playing surface, and a plurality of pockets for the reception of balls, each pocket having ducting associated therewith leading to a detector assembly 10, and a ball holding area beyond the detector.
The detector is controlled by a detector electronics unit 11, which can be coupled to a unit 12 for other table related functions and a game scoring and display electron-ics module 13 which is in turn connected to a display 14 and other game related functions unit 15. For example, ,.,a~ ~
,.~
lZSf~13 the table related function~ 12 could include a conventional coin mechanism and means for allowing access to balls to allow the game to be played. The other game related func-tions could include connection to a master score board controlling several tables, means for connection to addi-tional similar systems for championship play-off at remote locations, means for storing the highest score played, and displaying this on the display, and means for providing audio or visual messages during the course of play.
Each ball 16 has an identification capsule embedded within the ball at the time of manufacture. Preferably, the cap-sule contains a code with more than one element so that error checking is possible. In addition, the capsule provides impact protection for the code element.
The code elements consist of an inductance and capacitance connected together, with each code element tuned to a selected frequency. Multiple elements in each ball are each tuned to a different selected frequency and enough combinations of elements and frequencies are chosen to allow the required number of balls to be identified.
Balls pocketed during a game are ducted to pass through the detector assembly 10 which preferably consists of multiple coils arranged with multiple magnetic axes so that the ball orientation is unimportant.
The detector has multiple attempts to read each ball. The coils are tuned by a voltage controlled variable capaci-tance diode and the detector electronics control the vol-tage supplied to the diode in a manner that causes the detector coil to search for the frequency assigned to the code elements in the ball. The detector electronics also monitor the level of voltage in the detector coils, as the coil voltage will be at certain levels with no balls present and at different levels for selected frequencies 12S613~
when the code element of a selected frequency is inside the detector coil. Means are provided to sense the altered level to this to decide that a selected frequency i8 present.
The detector electronics looks at the selected frequencies found and recognizes them as an identification number which is distinctive for a particular ball. This informa-tion is then transmitted to the display electronics for games scoring and display purposes. Invalid combinations of frequencies are ignored.
Figure 2 shows the general arrangement of chutes 21 from the pockets 22. These chutes lie beneath the playing sur-face 23 and are inclined so as to allow balls 16 to travel towards the detector 10 and thence to a ball holding area 24 which may be coupled to a coin release mechanism enab-ling balls to be released at the commencement of a game.
The preferred game of the present invention is "Poker Pool", in which there are twenty-two balls 16. Twenty of these are marked to correspond to the five highest cards of each of the four suits of a standard set of playing cards. Another is marked to correspond to the "joker", and one ball is the "cue" ball, typically a plain white ball, although not necessarily.
At the commencement of a game, each player or team leader typically enters his name or code on a keyboard associated with display 14 to book a turn at the table. The entry is acknowledged electronically, and the position in the current queue is indicated.
Each time the table is vacated, the board audi~ly calls the next players, displaying their names or codes on a display 14. If the players called do not respond (typi-cally by inserting coins in unit 12) within a predetermined lZ5613~
time, the next group of players is called.
The coins are monitored and, when the correct amount has been inserted, the balls are dropped into a tray for placing on the table.
Typically, the balls are designated as follows:
Visual Marking Electronic Identification Hearts 10 Diamonds 10 6 Clubs 10 11 Spades 10 16 Joker 21 Cue Ball None Each team takes turns to pocket balls selectively in such a way as to gain a "poker hand", or to prevent their opponent(s) from doing so. The Joker is a "wild" ball, and is to be pocketed at the completion of the "hand".
1~5~
The cue ball is returned whenever pocketed, and has n~
effect on the score.
Whenever a ball is pocketed, a corresponding indicator panel on the wall display unit 14 is lit, typically in a group of indicators associated with the respective player or team. Each group of indicators is laid out in a for-mation in which suits are grouped together, with graphical display of the corresponding card alongside, e.g.:
Spade 10 J Q K A
Club 10 J Q K A
Diamond 10 J Q K A
Heart 10 J Q K A
JOKER
This display could be in the form of an illuminated board ~r panel.
An alternative indicator panel involves the use of electronically controlled flip cards, each card being pro-vided with an appropriate pattern or graphics to represent a designated playing card corresponding to a respective one of the balls, so that when that particular ball is pocketed, the ball will be recognized by the detector electronics, which will then cause the appropriate flip card to flip over, presenting the appropriate picture in-dicating that that ball has been scored.
To ensure that the correct group of indicators is actuated (i.e., the group relating to the current player or team), one or other of two "TEA~I SELECT" buttons is pushed at the commencemen~ of each player's or team's turn.
In serious games, however, a referee will be appointed to attend to this function, together with rule interpreta-tion, but forcasual games players will normally monitor ~Z~6134 this for themselves.
Various modifications to the above may be made without departing from the scop~ of the present invention as claimed.
Claims (4)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A table ball game comprising a playing surface and ball traps, a plurality of visually distinguishable balls marked to correspond to at least some of the card values in a standard pack of playing cards, and electronic detec-tion means capable of interacting with electronic identi-fication means in the balls so as to identify a ball trapped in a said trap, said electronic detection means being coupled to display means arranged to provide a dis-play corresponding to the card value with which the said ball is marked.
2. A table ball game as claimed in claim 1, in which the display means provides a display of the balls pocketed by each of a plurality of players or teams.
3. A table ball game as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the balls are marked to correspond to the highest cards of each of the four suits of a said pack of cards.
4. A table ball game as claimed in claim 1 or 2, includ-ing a ball marked to correspond to a joker.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000487181A CA1256134A (en) | 1981-12-23 | 1985-07-19 | Table ball game |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US452,729 | 1981-12-23 | ||
| US06/452,729 US4516770A (en) | 1982-12-23 | 1982-12-23 | Ball identification for a table ball game |
| CA000443554A CA1206174A (en) | 1982-12-23 | 1983-12-16 | Table ball games |
| CA000487181A CA1256134A (en) | 1981-12-23 | 1985-07-19 | Table ball game |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1256134A true CA1256134A (en) | 1989-06-20 |
Family
ID=25670241
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000487181A Expired CA1256134A (en) | 1981-12-23 | 1985-07-19 | Table ball game |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1256134A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-07-19 CA CA000487181A patent/CA1256134A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |