EP2384795B1 - Individualization of table football player figures - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to customizable table soccer game pieces so that they become identifiable with real existing footballers. There are thousands of table football boxes, all of which are equipped with uniform playing pieces, eleven players for each team, including one goalkeeper. The two teams are executed only in different colors. For decades, the players were satisfied with such equipment on such table football boxes and there was virtually no innovation and the playing possibilities remained the same for many years. Everyone knows but these table football boxes. In Switzerland, they are called Töggelikasten, the individual characters as Töggeli, in Germany they called Kickerkasten or table football box, the characters are called Kicker, and in Austria one speaks of the Wuzeltisch, and the characters are Wuzler. The players at such boxes could identify so far only imaginarily with a certain team or even specific players, which however in practice mostly does not occur at all. A game with recognizable real existing teams and their individual game stars would give a table football game a completely different experience dimension.

Out US 2008/164653 A1 Player figures are known which have interchangeable, attachable parts for customizing the player characters. In order to Players can be provided with different numbers, headgear, different faces etc. The parts are each attached to the base body. EP 2 047 893 A1 shows player characters, which are made up of several interchangeable parts. In particular, various natural designed headboard can be plugged. The vast majority of conventionally in use table football devices are already equipped with game pieces that are not individualized, but consistently have the same shape, the players of the two teams differ only by a different color.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to enable a clear individualization of table football game pieces in conventionally in use table football devices, with the simplest possible means.

This object is achieved by a table football figure according to claim 1.

In the case of the formation of a surface on this three-dimensional structure, this should have at least one flat or curved in a single direction surface. Advantageously, this is at least 35mm high and at least 30mm wide, and on which a flexible passport photo is crease-resistant. Smaller surfaces are also possible, but then the sticky images soon become so small that the faces are no longer easily recognizable.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a mounting part for a table football figure of a football table, consisting of a slip-on, which has a surface which is at least 35mm high and at least 30mm wide, and on which a passport photo is crease-resistant aufklebbar the slip-on sleeve on its inside is equipped with restraints for a tight fit.

And finally, the object is achieved by the use of a slip-on sleeve for a table football figure of a table football box, which Aufsteckhülse has at least one flat or curved in a single direction surface on which a passport photo is wrinkle-free aufklebbar, and which slip-on by means of retention for safe Holding the structure on the character's head of the player character has.

All these solutions realize one and the same technical idea, namely to individualize a character and make it identifiable as a real player.

The invention will be described and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figur 1 :

Eine einzelne Spielfigur mit zylindrischem Kopfteil;

Figur 2 :

Eine einzelne Spielfigur mit zylindrischem Kopfteil und darauf aufgeklebtem Konterfei eines Fussballspielers;

Figur 3 :

Eine einzelne Spielfigur mit herkömmlichem Kopf, dessen zylindrischer Kopfteil als wegnehmbare Aufsetzhülse gestaltet ist;

Figur 4 :

Eine einzelne Spielerfigur von der Seite her gesehen, mit Aufsetzhülse über dem herkömmlichen Kopf;

Figur 5 :

Diese einzelne Spielerfigur nach Figur 4 von vorne gesehen, mit Aufsetzhülse über dem herkömmlichen Kopf;

Figur 6 :

Eine einzelne Spielerfigur eines anderen Fabrikates von der Seite her gesehen, mit Aufsetzhülse über dem herkömmlichen Kopf;

Figur 7 :

Diese einzelne Spielerfigur nach Figur 6 von vorne gesehen, mit Aufsetzhülse über dem herkömmlichen Kopf;

Figur 8 :

Eine einzelne Spielfigur mit prismaförmigem Kopfteil;

Figur 9 :

Eine einzelne Spielfigur mit quaderförmigem Kopfteil;

Figur 10 :

Eine einzelne Spielfigur mit einem Kopf oder einer Aufsetzhülse mit im Querschnitt kopfförmigem Seitenprofil;

Figur 11 :

Eine einzelne Spielfigur mit einem Aufsetzkopf. Die Ausführungsform der Figur 11 ist nicht ein Ausführüngsform der Erfindung.

It shows:

FIG. 1:

A single character with a cylindrical headboard;

FIG. 2:

A single character with a cylindrical headboard and a picture of a football player glued to it;

FIG. 3:

A single game piece with a conventional head, the cylindrical head part is designed as a removable Aufsetzhülse;

FIG. 4:

A single player figure seen from the side, with Aufsetzhülse over the conventional head;

FIG. 5:

This single player character after FIG. 4 seen from the front, with Aufsetzhülse over the conventional head;

FIG. 6:

A single player figure of another make seen from the side, with Aufsetzhülse over the conventional head;

FIG. 7:

This single player character after FIG. 6 seen from the front, with Aufsetzhülse over the conventional head;

FIG. 8:

A single character with prismatic headboard;

FIG. 9:

A single character with cuboid headboard;

FIG. 10:

A single game character with a head or a Aufsetzhülse with cross-sectional head-shaped side profile;

FIG. 11:

A single character with an attachment head. The embodiment of the FIG. 11 is not an embodiment of the invention.

The FIG. 1 shows a simplest embodiment of such a customizable table football FIG. 1 , This is held as usual on a continuous rotatable cross bar 2 in the shoulder region 3 and downwardly extends an indicated body 4 and the legs 5, and for representing the feet is a cuboid blocks 6. As a special feature, the figure has a head part 7 on , which has an area of at least 35mm in height and 30mm in width. This surface may be flat, or alternatively curved in a single direction, as is the case with the cylindrical head part 8 shown here. On the surface of this cylindrical head part 8 can namely a passport photograph, decal or Glue the exchange picture of a footballer wrinkle free. Such exchanges of footballers are internationally known as panini images, named after the founding company Panini in 1-Modena, which launched these images in 1961 and thus has a great success. While 15 million pictures were sold in Switzerland on the occasion of the Football World Cup 2002 in South Korea, there were already 20 million on the occasion of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and about 50 to 60 million pictures for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa sold only in Switzerland. In the football community, these images are therefore very well known and trigger many a real collector's fever. There is a very large fan base, which buys these pictures in the form of 5-packs. The individual collector then complements his collection by swapping with other buyers and then fills entire albums with the full football teams.

The object of the present invention is to use these or similar pictures of other makes for table football games, for which purpose the game pieces must have a correspondingly specially shaped head area 7. For this purpose, the pictures are initially cut rectangular, preferably from a panini picture, so that only the face of the player can be seen, and afterwards these faces are glued onto the head areas 7 of the player figures 1.

The FIG. 2 shows such a single game character 1 with cylindrical head part 7 and pasted on it a picture of a football player 9. A specific football player can be recognized immediately from the front as well as at an angle of approx. 60 ° horizontally.

Instead of a cylindrical head part 7 and a cylindrical sleeve 10 can be placed on the conventional head 11 of a player figure 1 as in FIG. 3 is shown. The head part is thus designed as a removable Aufsetzhülse 10. This sleeve is preferably made of aluminum or plastic and equipped on its inside with retaining means 12 so that it is securely held on the head 11 of the player figure 1. In the example shown this retaining means from the radial direction inwardly directed fingers, lips or knobs made of rubber-elastic material. These can be molded onto an insert sleeve made of rubber-elastic material, which is glued into the interior of the attachment sleeve. But it may also be a coating of soft rubber-elastic material, or to a glued foam rubber insert with central hole or Phillips, with which the sleeve is slipped over the head 11 of the player character and then held against rotation at these retaining means 12 ,

In FIG. 4 is such a player figure 1 seen from the side, with a section through the head 11 and the attachment sleeve 10. The attachment sleeve 10 has on its inside retaining means 12, here in the form of radially inwardly projecting rubber-elastic fingers or lips, which at Slipping over the attachment sleeve 10 give over the head 11 of the player character and cling to the same and develop a retaining force due to their rubber-elastic consistency and also prevent the automatic rotation of the attachment sleeve 12 on the head 11. The FIG. 5 In addition, this player figure 1 shows from the front, with a section through the head 11 and the attachment sleeve 10. The usual pivot rods 2 measure about 20 to 23mm in diameter. A typical player figure 1 is about 100mm to 120mm high and accordingly measures the attachment sleeve 10 in the outer diameter preferably about 23mm and in height about 38mm.

In FIG. 6 is the same as in FIG. 4 shown, however, with another make of a player character in FIG. 7 shown from the front. It can be seen that this player figure has a narrower head, so that the rubber-elastic fingers act on the head only on its front and back, which is, however, sufficient for a secure fit.

As a variant shows FIG. 8 a single character with a prismatic headboard. The effective head of the player character under this prism-shaped headboard is indicated by dashed lines. This one offers both front and back a flat, inclined surface, which also the pictures can be glued on. Even if the face is pasted on the back, the player is also identifiable from behind and gives the impression of turning his head and looking backwards.

The FIG. 9 shows a single character with cuboid headboard and dashed lines below indicated effective head. Such a headboard can be stuck on four sides with an image, so then from all sides of the player's head is identifiable. It could be glued on the side surfaces as shown also pictures of the respective head side of a player, where available. Of course, a standing prism with three flat surfaces executable.

The FIG. 10 finally shows a toy figure with a slip-on, which has seen in the section along the vertical axis of the side has an approximately head-shaped profile. The effective head of the player character is again indicated by dashed lines. This slip-on sleeve is preferably made of sheet metal or plastic and offers the advantage that it looks closer to a natural head shape seen from the side and still front and rear offers a curved only in one direction surface on which a picture is wrinkle-free aufklebbar. The side surfaces remain flat and can be covered with a picture if necessary.

As another highly attractive, but somewhat more elaborate variant can be as in FIG. 11 a Aufsetzkopf 13 can be realized, which represents a three-dimensional, true to scale and realistic replicated head of a real player instead of the conventional head-like head to be cut off. In this case, the existing figure head of the table football figure is cut away or sawed away. Afterwards, a bore 15 is introduced into the shoulder region. The attachment head 13 is equipped at the bottom of his neck with a pin 14 so that it then fits into this hole by clamping. As a result, the Aufsetzkopf 13 even something to pivot about the vertical axis and in different pivotal positions it is held securely. Instead of a spigot and a set of two magnets can be used. The one magnet is then attached to the truncated stump after cutting away the figure's head, for example glued or screwed on, and the other magnet is already mounted at the bottom of the neck area of the placement head 13 at the factory. Thus, the attachment head 13 can sit down quickly, even in different pivoting positions, and always he is securely held on the figure, but at any time from the same wegnehmbar.

If the player figures of a table soccer box are individualized in this way, identification with these players results and the game experience becomes much more lively, dynamic and fictively realistic. The solution with Aufsetzhülsen makes it possible to stage a particular team attack and also replace quickly. It can thus any real-life games are imitated in advance or in a timely manner or be replayed, and it can be played on real existing clubs related tournaments. Furthermore, bets can be made and settled in relation to games still to be played by the real team, or, conversely, a bet on the outcome of the match in the table football box can be played in a replayed game. Overall, the demonstrated individualization of the player characters opens up many opportunities to make the table football game much more attractive and exciting.

Claims (9)

1. Tabletop soccer figure for a tabletop case characterized in that the head piece (7) is formed by a sleeve (10) which has a surface that is at least 35mm high and which is at least 30mm wide and on which a passport photograph is crease-resistantly stickable when it is used, whereas the sleeve (10) is equipped with resistant means (12) inside for a firm fit seating of the sleeve on the figure.
2. Tabletop soccer figure for a tabletop case according to claim, characterized in that the sleeve (10) is a cylindrical sleeve made of injection moulded plastic material or aluminium and in that resistant means (12) are formed on it's inner side.
3. Tabletop soccer figure for a tabletop case according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (10) is a head-shaped sleeved within the side profile made of injected moulded plastic or aluminium and in that on its inner side resistant means (12) are formed on.
4. Tabletop soccer figure for a tabletop case according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (10) has a prism shape for the creation of two flat surfaces sloped against each other for sticking images and in that on its inner side resistant means are formed on.
5. Tabletop soccer figure for a tabletop case according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (10) shows a cubic form for creating four different flat surfaces that stick outside for sticking images and in that on the inner side resistant means (12) are formed on.
6. Tabletop soccer figure for a tabletop case according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the sleeve (10) is equipped with resistant means (12) on the inside in form of rubbery-elastic fingers or lips that point inside for a firm fit seating on the conventional head (11) of a playing piece (1).
7. Tabletop soccer figure for a tabletop case according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sleeve (10) is equipped on its inner side with resistant means (12) in form of a foam rubber with a central hole or central cross recess for a firm fit seat of the conventional head (11) of a playing piece (1).
8. Sleeve for a tabletop soccer figure of a tabletop case according to claim 1, consisting of a sleeve (10) which shows a surface of at least 35mm height and at least 30mm width and on which a pass picture is crease-resistantly stickable, whereas the sleeve (10) is equipped with resistant means (12) on the inside for a firm fit seat.
9. Application of a sleeve according to claim 8.

Images