WO1990006792A1

WO1990006792A1 - Action game apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1990006792A1
Application number: PCT/AU1989/000531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Abrahamian; Alexander Abrahamian
Original assignee: Joseph Abrahamian; Alexander Abrahamian
Priority date: 1988-12-13
Filing date: 1989-12-13
Publication date: 1990-06-28

Abstract

The action game apparatus disclosed enables two, three or four persons to play a competitive game on a horizontal rectangular playing surface. The action game apparatus comprises a long rectangular flat playing surface (106) with the length approximately four to five times the width. A goal area is located at either ends of the playing surface (106). Retaining walls (104) and (107) surround each side of the playing surface (106). One form of this invention is to have at the ends of the playing surface (106) near the goal area a striker member (9) with the length slightly shorter than the width of the playing surface (106) and pivotally connected to supporting member (111) such that the striker member (9) rotates freely about ist central vertical axis (74). The striker members (9) are manually rotated in either direction by handle bar (77) and cushion (78) to strike the playing piece (13) so as to protect his or her own goal while attempting to propel the playing piece (13) into his or her opponents goal. The game surface arrangement (A) and striker arrangement (B) is supported by leg member (116) which can be folded in horizontal position under the playing surface (106) or opened in vertical position as shown in figure 14. The playing piece (13) can be a solid plastic or steel ball with a diameter varying from approximately ten to twenty millimeters. The playing piece can also be a sliding disc of varying diameter.

Description

ACTION GAME APPARATUS

The present invention relates to an action game apparatus enabling two, three or four persons to play a competitive game on a horizontal rectangular playing surface.

The game apparatus comprises of a long rectangular flat playing surface with the length being approximately four to five times the width. A goal area is located at either ends of the playing surface. A retaining wall surrounds each side of the playing surface perimeter.

One form of this invention is to have at the ends of the playing surface near the goal area a striker member arrangement B with the length slightly shorter than the width of the playing surface and pivotally connected at a fixed piont on the playing surface such that the striker member arrangement B rotates freely about its central vertical axis. The striker member arrangement B are manually rotated either direction to strike the playing piece so as to protect his or her own goal while attempting to propel the playing piece into his or her opponents goal.

Another form of the striker member arrangement is to have the striker member shift back and forward or be arrested at different positions on the playing surface.

Also another form of the striker member arrangement is to have two striker members at each end, with each striker member being slightly shorter in length to half the width of the game surface. These striker members can also be arrested in position or slide back and forward on the game surface.

The playing piece can be a solid plastic or steel ball with a diameter varying from approximately ten to twenty mlllimtres. The playing piece can also be a sliding disc of diameter varying from approximately ten to thirty millimetres.

The supporting legs for the game surface arrangement A can be of different forms and other shapes and sizes for the game surface A are possible for the game apparatus, these will be disclosed in the following drawings and descriptions.

Varying forms and designs of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the action game apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is top elevation of the action game apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation or the action game

apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment and design of the action game apparatus

according to the invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment and design of the action game apparatus

according to the invention;

Figs. 6 to 9 show top view of alternative game surface designs and striker member arrangement; Figs. 10 and 11 are top views of alternative striker member arrangement, enabling two, three or four persons to play the game. Also additional objects are connected to the game surface to slow down and alter the direction of the ball or disc playing piece;

Figs. 12 to 14 are perspective views of alternative embodiment and design for the action game apparatus according to the invention;

Figs. 15 to 22 are perspective views of alternative striker member arrangement B, showing different handle designs; and

Figs. 23 to 30 are front views of alternative striker member arrangement B, showing different handle designs.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The action game apparatus comprises of rectangular game surface A consisting of two square tubular members 1 which at either ends are connected together by flat sections 3 by preferably rivot joints 4. A flat sheet of plastic or steel 2 is bent on either ends in a U-shape to serve as pockets or goals and is connected to the rectangular frame produced by members 1 and 3 by preferably rivets 5.

On either sides of the pockets are rubber sheets 6 glued in place. U- shaped members 7 are connected across the tubular members 1 to serve as legs and have rubber

studs 8.

Striker member arrangement B is pivotally connected

. at either ends of game surface 2 and comprises of plastic or steel or aluminum alloy solid rectangular bar 9 having rubber cushion 10 and circular solid rod 12 passes through central axis of bar 9, surface sheet 2 and leg support member 7 which has a bushing welded (not shown) or a plastic bushing connected for the axle 12 to rotate.

The axle 12 with rubber cushion 11 is connected to striker member 9 and can be removed from bushing or restricted to be removed from bushing by a nob at the end.

A solid plastic or steel ball 13 being approximately ten to twenty millimetres in diameter is used as the striking piece.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment and design of the action game apparatus having channels 14 as the side rebounders and square tubings 18 as the ends of the frame. The goal pockets 19 on either ends of game surface 15 is of net form. The leg supports are rectangular

U-shaped tubings 23 with rubber caps 24 which are connected to side tubings 14 and which striker arrangement B is pivotally connected onto. To serve the ball 13 a shooter is provided with spring loaded pin 20 having guid wall 16 and trap door 17. The striker arrangement B has a V-shaped handle bar 21 with rubber cushion 22 and the same striker member 9.

Referring to Fig. 5 the rectangular playing surface A can be moulded in shape for a different appearance and increase production rate. The sides 25 are conical in shape as shown and the playing surface 34 and goals are same shape as described for Fig. 1.

The striker arrangement B has additional connection arms 30 pivotally connected to striker member 26 by brackets

28 by pin joins 29. The extention arms 30 passes through horizontal slots 31 which guide the extent of movement.

At the ends of the rods 30 are handle bars 32 perpendicularly connected and are able to rotate about their central axis.

The striker member 26 can also be moulded to shape having a hump at the central axis and a central extending rod 27 being also moulded as one piece. The striker member 26 is pivotally connected from the central axis to the end of the flat section 33 which passes through slot gap 37. This flat section 33 head member 36 has plurality of holes 38 which removeable pin 39 can engage and arrest the striker member

26. When the pin 38 is removed the striker member 26 slides back and forward on the playing surface 34. The connection arms 30 can be removed if desired and played by the original method with hands on the striker member 26.

Instead of the playing piece being spherical a flat disc 35 can be used with diameter being approximately ten to thirty millimetres.

Fig. 6 shows the playing surface A being a elliptical or oval shape 43 and the surrounding boundary wall 42 being in one piece. The striker member B has a concave shape 40 and pivots about a vertical rod 41.

Fig. 7 shows the playing surface 48 being a convex shape with rebounding wall 47 being convex in shape and end wall 46 being straight. The striker arrangement B has double faced concave surface 44 and pivots about rod 45. Fig. 8 shows the playing surface 53 being concave in shape with rebounding side walls being tubings 52 and

straight end walls 49. The striker arrangement B are double faced convex shape 50 which rotate about the rod 51.

Fig. 9 shows the playing surface 55 having concave side walls and circular ends 54. The striker arrangement B are flat either sides 26 and rotate about rod 27 in the centre of the circular ends.

Fig, 10 shows the original rectangular playing surface A but have two striker members C on either sides. The striker members 62 are placed side by side and rotate about the vertical rods 63 and have length slightly shorter than half the width of the playing surface 2.

To slow down and or alter the path of the propelled ball or disc different obsticals can be placed in its path fixed on the playing surface 2 for example:

S-shaped member 57 which rotates about fixed piont 61 will rotate when the ball or disc strikes it hence varying the path and speed of the ball or disc. A circular disc member 60 fixed at from the central axis 56 onto the playing surface 2 will obstruct the path of propelled ball or disc. Also a straight section member 58 rotateable about fixed point 59 on the playing surface 2 will vary the path and slow down the propelled ball or disc.

Fig. 11 shows the original rectangular playing

surface A with rubber surface 68 on side walls 1 to produce better rebouncing of the ball or disc and lower the noise level. The striker member arrangement C have striker members 62 pivotally connected to the ends of the guide arms 66. The guide arms 66 pass through slots in end wall member 65. The guide arms 66 allows the striker members 62 to slide back and forward independently. If the slots which the guide arms 66 are made wide than the width of the guide arms 66 then the striker members 62 will also be able to moved side ways across the width of the game surface 2.

Fig. 12 is an alternative embodiment and design for the action game apparatus comprising of U-shaped sections 70 being wider than shown in Fig. 1 thus closing the sides of the pockets. The U-shaped sections 70 are connected to side tubings 1 by rivets 71 and to the ends of the U-shaped pockets by rivets 72. The striker arrangement B consists of a upside down U-shaped handle bar 77 with rubber cushion 78 and is connected at the ends of the striker member 9 by rivets 76. The striker member 9 has an axle 74 located at the centre and is connected to striker bar 9 by rivet 73 and has a washer 75 which is located between striker bar 9 and playing surface 2. The axle 75 rotates in a plastic or metal bushing (not shown) which is connected to the

U-shaped leg member 7.

Fig. 13 shows another alternative embodiment and design for the action game apparatus. This design is larger in size with long legs so that the players can stand up or sit on a chair and play the game. The pocket or goal design is similar to pocket design illustrated in Fig. 12 having end U-shaped sections 88 wider than side tubes 80 and are connected to side tubes 80 by rivets 90. The game surface arrangement A is in two sections so that the playing surface 82 can be folded and put away. The playing surface 82 has a base board

81 to support the playing surface sheet 82. Hingers 85 are preferably rivetted to the side wall tubes 80 by rivets 86.

The playing surface 82 is held straight by tube sections 83 which bolts 87 passes through side tubes 80, surface sheet

82, base board 81 and tube section 83 and hand tightening butterfly nuts 84 allows the tube section 83 to be easily moved from its position by removing one bolt 87 and swinging the tube tube section 83 about the other bolt.

The striker arrangement B consists of striker bar 100 with same axle and bushing arrangement described for Fig. 12 with rivet 97 connecting striker bar 100 to axle rod

(not shown). The handle of the striker arrangement B consists of a Z-shaped circular bar 101 which one end fits in central axis of striker bar 100 and is held tightly in position by bolt 99 and butterfly nut 98 which when bolt removed allows the bar 101 to be easily removed when folding the playing surface 82. Dumb-bell shaped handle bar 102 is rotateably connected on the ends of the Z-shaped rod 101.

U-shaped steel section 91 is connected across the base board 81 by rivet or nut and bolt method and U-shaped tubing 93 which serve as the legs are pivotally connected at 92 by rivet or bolt and nut method. Flat sections 94 are connected across leg tubing 93 and side wall tubing 80 by fixed pivotable join at 95 on leg tubing 93 and detachable join at 96 on side wall tubing 80. The leg tubing 93 has rubber studs 103.

Fig. 14 is the perspective view of an alternative embodiment and design for the action game apparatus. The game surface 106 is rectangular in shape with the length being approximately four to six times the width. The game surface 106 has U-shaped pockets or goals at either ends for the ball or disc to fall in. The game surface 106 has side tubings 104 and L-shaped angle coloured in different colour to the side tubings 104 fitted together to form the side rebounding wall. U-shaped member 107 is connected to side tubes 104 by rivets 108.

The striker arrangement B is similar to the striker arrangement illustrated in Fig. 12.

The game surface 106 has thicker lines 110 compared to the lines illustrated in Fig. 12.

U-shaped steel member 111 is connected on the bottom of the game surface 106. The U-shaped steel member 111 is preferably rivetted (not illustrated) on the game surface 106, side tubings 104 and side boundary angle 105. The

U-shaped steel member 111 serves as support for the

striker arrangement B. U-shaped tubing 116 is pivotally connected at the ends to the U-shaped steel member 111 by bolt and nut or rivet method at joins 112. The U-shaped tubing 116 serves as the legs for the action game apparatus and can be fixed in vertical position as illustrated in

Fig. 14 and can be folded to be parallel to the game

surface 106. Flat sections 113 are pivotally connected to side tubing 104 at 115 by preferably rivet method. On the other end of the flat section 113 is a fixed or spring loaded nob 114 which is inserted in the holes in the

U-shaped tubing 116, this holds the leg tubing 116 in a stable vertical position as shown in Fig. 14 and rubber studs 122 are connected to leg tubing 116. When the nob is removed from the hole in tubing 116 the leg tubing 116 is pivotted about joints 112 until the rubber studs 119 meet the bottom of game surface 106 and the flat section is pivotted about join 115 to insert nob at 114 in hole 118 and this will hold the leg tubings in horizontal position. When the U-shaped tubing 116 is at folded position the rubber studs 117 and 121 are in contact with the ground or any supporting surface.

Fig. 15 is an alternative striker arrangement B with a L-shaped circular bar 123 passes through striker member 100 with bushing 125. The dumb-bell shaped handle bar 102 being rotateable about the end of the L-shaped bar 123 can be moved back and forward relative to striker member 100 by loosening and tightening butterfly bolt head 126 to engage plurality of holes 124. When the butterfly bolt head is loosend the handle bar 102 can be turned down on the game surface 82, this design would preferably be used on folding game surface arrangement.

Fig. 16 is another striker arrangement B consisting of two handle positions. The upside down U-shaped circular bar 130 with rubber cushion 131 can be removed from position by loosening butterfly head bolt 132 which screws in striker member 100 and engages in holes at the end of the U-shaped bar 130. L-shaped circular bar 127 passes through bar 130 and is fixed in different positions by loosening and tightening butterfly bolt head 129 to engage plurality of holes 128. The dumb-bell shape handle bar 102 is rotateable about the end of the L-shaped bar 127. When the butterfly head bolt 129 is removed the L-shaped bar c an be removed to allow the user to place his or her hand on the bar 130.

Fig. 17 shows an alternative striker arr angement B wi th the handle bar 136 having a M-shape wi th cushion 137. The striker member 133 being s tr aight rectangular bar with cushion 134.

Fig. 18 shows an alternative striker arrangement B with the handle bar 138 bent in a L-shape and has cushion 139, and the striker member similar to Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 shows an alternative striker arrangement B with the handle bar 140 having a oval handle grip with cushion 141, and the striker member similar to Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 shows an alternative striker arrangement B with the handle bar 143 being more circular with cushion 144, and the striker member being similar to Fig. 17 but the cushion

142 being more thinner.

Fig. 21 shows an alternative striker arrangement B with the handle bar 145 shaped as illustrated with cushion 146, and the striker member 133 similar to Fig. 17.

Fig. 22 shows an alternative striker arrangement B with the handle bar 149 shaped as illustrated with cushion 150, and the striker member 147 being straight rectangular bar with the cushion 148 being the same length as the striker member 147.

Figs. 23 to 28 illustrate alternative striker

arrangement B with the handle bars 152 to 157 being all of different design while the striker member 9 being

similar.

Figs. 29 and 30 illustr ate alternative striker arrangement B which would preferably be moulded in shape as one piece 158 and 159 respectively.

The action game apparatus described in Figs. 1 to 12 and 14 can be made to be folded as illustrated and described for Fig. 13, which will save space and make it easily

transportable

The foregoing describes only some of the embodiments possible for the action game apparatus, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the playing surface 2 and 82 can be inclined slightly upwards from each of the goals to the central axis of the length of the playing surface, this will make the ball or disc to always roll down to one of the striker members B.

Another addition to the action game apparatus can be a removeable rebounding wall placed across the width of the game surface 2 and 82 to enable one person to play the game on his or her own.

Also the game surface 2 and 82 can be of different shapes for example, a triangular shape with striker member arrangement B located at each corner with pocket or goal area behind each striker arrangement B, or the game surface 2 and 82 can have a square or pentagon or hexagon shape with striker arrangement B located at each corner with pockect or goal area behind each striker arrangement B.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A rectangular flat playing surface having the length approximately twice to ten times longer than the width with goal or pocket area across the width of the said playing surface and located at the terminating ends of the length of the said playing surface and a raised retaining wall surrounds each side of the said playing surf ace perimeter.

2. At opposite ends near the goal or pocket area of the playing surface as claimed in claim 1 there is one striker member arrangement being approximately the same length of the width of the said playing surface as claimed in

claim 1 and is slideable or slideably arrestable to move back and forward or is fixed in position and can rotate about any of its possible vertical axis across the width of the said striker member.

3. At opposite ends near the goal or pocket area of the playing surface as claimed in claim 1 there are two

striker member arrangement being approximately half the length of the width of the playing surface as claimed in claimed 1 and are slideable or slideably arrestable to to move back and forward independently or is fixed in position and can rotate about any of its possible vertical axis across the width of the said striker member.

4o The playing surface as claimed in claim 1 has

leg supports which are fixed or foldable or removeable.

5. The playing surface as claimed in claim 1 has

leg supports which are foldable and removeable.

6. The leg supports as claimed in claims 4 and 5

can be of different lengths or be able to be variable The claims defining the invention are as follows :

in length.

7. The playing surface as claimed in claim 1 can befolded on to each other such that the length of the playing surface claimed in claim 1 is halfed.

8. The striking piece can be either a solid ball or disc made of plastic or steel or any other

appropriate material.

9. The playing surface as claimed in claim 1 can have different shapes for example a triangular , square pentagonal or hexagonal with the striker arrangament at each or s elected corners and the goal or pocket area behind each of the striker arrangam emt as claimed in claims 2 and 3.

10. The playing surface as claimed in claim 1 can have oval or elliptical shapes or have concave or convex side walls as illustrated in the drawings.

11. The striker member arrangement as clai med in claims 2 and 3 can have different designs as

illuatrated in the drawings.

12. The action game apparatus substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the acoompanying drawings.