GB2204244A - Games apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus which allows a rugby game to be simulated comprises a planar surface 14, 16 on or over which is located a goal 24, and a ball 32 which can be projected from a plurality of launching points 30 situated on two sides of the goal 24. A die 40 and a plurality of cards 42 are also provided. Preferably, the surface is defined by a pair of plastics mouldings 10, 12 which are clipped together and are marked to resemble a rugby field. The launching points 30 may be located along opposed edges 26, 28 of the mouldings 10, 12. The score may be kept using flag - shaped markers 36. <IMAGE>

Description

"APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A GAME" This invention relates to apparatus for playing a game. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for simulating a ball game, such as rugby.

Various games are available in which one sport or another is simulated. Generally, the games which generate the most excitement in the players are those which allow for active participation by the players, as opposed to, for example, board games which are relatively passive. However, games of the first variety often include relatively complex mechanisms to generate movement of one or more playing pieces, and are therefore expensive and possibly fragile.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for playing a game which comprises a structure defining a generally planar surface and a c!oal locatable on or over the surface, the structure further defining one or more launching points for a projectile on each side of the goal; the apparatus including at least one projectile adapted to be placed on any of the launching points and launched towards the goal by a player of the game, a die for use during playing of the game, and a plurality of cards, each bearing instructions to a player, which may be selected by the player on the occurrence of a specified event during playing of the game.

Preferably the planar surface is adapted to resemble a rugby field and the goal is adapted to resemble rugby goalposts.

In a preferred embodiment, the structure comprises two plastics mouldings, each of which defines a portion of the planar surface, the two mouldings being adapted to be held together in use by a clip.

The clip is preferably attached to the base of the goal, the goal being located approximately centrally on the planar surface in use.

Each of the two parts may be in the form of a rectangular tray with upright side walls surrounding the planar surface part, one of the walls being engageable by the clip.

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example, with reference to the perspective view of the assembled apparatus shown in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a structure which is formed from two generally rectangular plastics mouldings 10 and 12. Each of the mouldings 10 and 12 defines a respective flat surface 14 and 16. With the mouldings 10 and 12 assembled as shown, the flat surfaces 14 and 16 form a generally planar surface, which is marked to resemble a rugby field. The surface is finished with a green fabric covering, marked with white lines.

The adjoining edges 18 and 20 of the mouldings 10 and 12 are held together in use by a clip which comprises a channel section 22, which is a tight fit over the edges 18 and 20 and urges them together. Mounted on the channel section 22 is a goal 24 in the form of a pair of rugby goalposts.

The edges 26 and 28 of the mouldings 10 and 12 which are remote from the goal 24 are raised and have a series of depressions 30 formed in their upper surfaces. There are five equi-spaced depressions 30 along each edge 26 and 28. Each depression is numbered, as indicated in the drawing. A toy rugby ball 32 is provided, and the depressions 30 and the ball 32 are so dimensioned that the ball 32 can be placed end-first into any of the depressions 30, to be retained upright therein.

The moulding 12 includes a scoring zone 34 which comprises two parallel rows of forty spaced apart holes each. A pair of flag-shaped markers 36 are provided, which have an elongate foot portion 38 which is shaped to fit snugly into any of the holes.

The holes are numbered, and the flags are pushed into an appropriate hole to keep score while the game is played.

Finally, the apparatus includes a die 40 of a conventional nature, and a set of forty cards 42, each of which bears instructions to be followed by a player selecting the card.

To play the game, two or more players divide themselves into two teams. The die 40 is thrown, and according to the number thrown, the ball 32 is placed in the correspondingly numbered depression 30 on the side of the structure of the team whose turn it is to play. A member of the team then attempts to launch the ball 32 through the uprights of the goal 24.

This can be done, for example, by flicking the ball 32 with a finger. If the ball passes between the uprights of the goal, points are awarded, according to the rules of the game, and recorded on the scoring zone 34. If a six is thrown, or if points are scored through a successful "kick" of the ball, a card is selected from the set of cards 42. The card may bear, for example, instructions to attempt a "drop goal", or another appropriate instruction. The game is won by the first team to obtain 40 points.

The mouldings 10 and 12 can be formed by vacuum moulding ABS plastics, to provide a light, strong and flexible structure. Ideally, the mouldings are formed so that they can be fitted one against the other for storage, making the game compact when not in use. The size of the apparatus is not critical, but a prototype of the apparatus was approximately lm in length when assembled.

The described apparatus is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, but allows players to participate actively in simulating the kicking of a ball through a set of goalposts, which makes the game exciting to play. However, the game is simple and robust in comparison with many other known "animated" games using complicated apparatus.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for playing a game which comprises a structure defining a generally planar surface and a goal locatable on the surface, the structure further defining one or more launching points for a projectile on each side of the goal; the apparatus including at least one projectile adapted to be placed on any of the launching points and launched towards the goal by a player of the game, a die for use during playing of the game, and a plurality of cards, each bearing instructions to a player, which may be selected by a player on the occurrence of a specified event during playing of the game.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the planar surface is adapted to resemble a rugby field and the goal is adapted to resemble rugby goalposts.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the structure comprises two plastics mouldings, each of which defines a portion of the planar surface, the two mouldings being adapted to be held together in use by a clip.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the clip is attached to the base of the goal, the goal being located approximately centrally on the planar surface in use.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the two plastics mouldings are shaped complementally to allow them to be stored compactly one against the other.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the structure defines raised edges at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of launching points being located in a spaced relationship along the upper surface of each raised edge.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the projectile is shaped to resemble a rugby ball and each launching point comprises a depression in the structure which is sized to receive an end of the ball, to allow the ball to rest upright in the depression.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the structure defines a scoring zone which comprises two parallel rows of spaced apart holes, each hole in a respective row corresponding to a different score, and a pair of flag-shaped markers being provided which can be inserted into the holes to indicate the current score during playing of the game.

9. Apparatus for playing a game substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.