WO2003018151A1

WO2003018151A1 - Magnetically operated table board game

Info

Publication number: WO2003018151A1
Application number: PCT/IL2002/000705
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eyal Haik; Yuval Harosh
Original assignee: Nathaniel Corporation Nv
Priority date: 2001-08-26
Filing date: 2002-08-26
Publication date: 2003-03-06
Also published as: IL145115A0

Abstract

A table board game in which players on competing first and second teams seek to strike a ball. The players are represented by miniature figures (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) each mounted on a permanent-magnet base (12B, 13B, 14B, 15B). The figures are slidable along the playing surface of a dual-level board (10), the polarity of the base magnets in the first team being opposite to that of the base magnets in the second team. Manual control means (H, 22, 23) are provided which include magnets (CM) slidable within a first level (UL) below the playing surface which attract and are magnetically coupled to the base magnets (12B, 13B) of the first team to manipulate the players (12, 13) on this team to execute movements appropriate to the game being played. Also provided are similar manual control means (H, 24, 25) whose magnets (CM) are slidable within a second level (LL) below the first level and are magnetically coupled to the base magnets (14B, 15B) of the second team to manipulate the players (14, 15) on this team.

Description

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED TABLE BOARD GAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to table board games whose players are represented by miniature figures that are manipulated by operators, and more particularly to a game of this type in which each figure is mounted on a permanent magnet base and is slidable along a playing surface of the board below which are operator controlled magnets that are attracted to base magnets of opposite polarity, making it possible for the operator to cause the players to execute movements appropriate to the game being played.

STATUS OF PRIOR ART Table board games have long been known, the typical game being provided with miniature figures representing the players which are slidable along a playing surface on the board representing the playing field.

Thus, the 1977 U.S. Patent 4,007,932 to Le Brun discloses a miniature hockey game on whose playing surface are movable miniature play members. Each member has a steering wheel normally in contact with the playing surface to direct its movement, and it has a retractable friction disc normally out of contact with the playing surface. The friction disc is mounted on a shaft so that when it is applied against the surface, the playing member is stopped in its movement and starts to spin. Control elements are provided beneath the playing surface to apply the friction disc against the playing surface through magnetic attraction. Of greater prior art interest is the U.S. patent to Hamot 6,189, 885 (2001) which discloses a table board game of the soccer type having a playing surface and miniature figures imitating players. On opposite sides of the board are a series of control levers for controlling the movements of the players. Each player is coupled to a carriage having two drive motors. Each control lever is coupled to a transmitter unit in order to selectively control the power supply of the respective drive motors in one direction or the other.

Each player in Hamot patent is mounted on a permanent magnet base which is magnetically attracted to a permanent magnet mounted on the carriage below the playing surface. As a consequence of this magnetic coupling, the player is caused to move along the board in accordance with the controlled movement of the carriage.

One practical disadvantage of a table board game of the type shown in the

Hamot patent is its complexity and high cost of manufacture; quite apart from the fact that it must be electrically powered. However, its most serious drawback is that it does not truly simulate the actual game and the operator therefore does not have a satisfying play experience.

In a table board game as disclosed in the Hamot patent, it is the relationship between the human operator of the mechanical game board and the miniature figures on the board that determines the quality of the play experience. In the Hamot game, the table board is adapted to simulate a game of soccer which is played on a field between two teams each having eleven players, the object of the game being to propel a round soccer ball toward the opponent's goal by kicking or by hitting the ball with any part of the body except the hands and arms of the player.

Hence in the course of a game each player executes a pattern of movement or a trajectory as he runs in different directions on the playing field and at different speeds until he encounters and strikes the soccer ball. In order for an operator of a table soccer game to enjoy a satisfying play experience, he must execute movement with his hands similar to those in the trajectory of the players under his control, for only then can the operator properly assume the role of the player on the field.

In the Hamot game, it is the motorized carriage that executes the trajectory of the players. What the operator does with his hands is to activate switches and electronic controls for governing the movement of the motorized carriage. This is not a satisfying play experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the main object of the invention is to provide a table board game which includes miniature figures representing players that are slidable on the playing field surface of the board, the players being caused to move along the surface in changing directions and at speeds controlled by the hands of an operator which are magnetically-linked to the players.

A significant advantage of the invention is that the ergonomic relationship between the hands of the operator and the miniature figures on the board are such as to afford a more satisfying play experience, for the operator gains the feeling of actually playing the game.

It is to be understood that the invention is applicable to any game such as hockey, lacrosse, football and the like in which players on competing teams seek to strike or throw a ball, puck or any other object. It is also applicable to games such as a wrestling match having competing players who make contact with each other.

More particularly an object of this invention is to provide a table board game in which each miniature figure representing a player is mounted on a permanent magnet base slidable on the playing surface of the board, the figure being caused to move along this surface by an operator-controlled magnet sliding below the board which is attracted and magnetically coupled to the base magnet of the figure on the board surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a table board game in which each player is manipulated by a handled blade magnetically coupled to the player, the handle of the blade being spring-biased so that when the player is brought to a position adjacent a ball, the biased handle can then be retracted and released to produce a thrust force causing the player to kick the ball.

In accordance with one particular embodiment, the table board game is a basketball game wherein each miniature figure comprises a pivotal arm fitted at its free end with a ball catching portion, typically a magnet, said arm being displaceable between a position for catching a ball, a position for being displaced on the surface of the board and a ball throwing position, activated by the hand-held blade cooperating with a magnet of the miniature figure.

An object of the invention is to also provide a game of the above type which includes a dual-level board having a playing surface on which players are movable, below which is a first level to accommodate operator-controlled magnets which are magnetically coupled to players of a first team having base magnets of the opposite polarity, and a second level below the first level to accommodate magnets whose polarity is opposite that of the magnets in the first level and are magnetically coupled to players on a second team having base magnets of opposite polarity.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a table board game of simple design which operates efficiently and requires no maintenance, and which can be mass-produced at low cost.

Briefly stated, the objects of this invention are attained in a table board game assembly in which players on competing first and second teams seek to strike or catch and throw a ball. The players are represented by miniature figures, each mounted on a permanent-magnet base. The figures are slidable along the playing surface of a dual-level board, the polarity of the base magnets of the first team being opposite to that of the base magnets in the second team. Manual control means are provided which include magnets slidable within a first level below the playing surface which attract and are magnetically coupled to the base magnets of the first team to manipulate the players on this team to execute movements appropriate to the game being played. Also provided are similar manual control means whose magnets are slidable within a second level below the first level and are magnetically coupled to the base magnets of the second team to manipulate the players on this team.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding the invention as well as other objects and features thereof, reference is made to the annexed drawings wherein;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a table board game assembly in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the assembly;

Fig. 3 illustrates one of the handled blades included in the assembly; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken through the dual level board included in the assembly;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the assembly; Fig. 6 illustrates a modified handled blade functioning as a kicker mechanism; and Figs. 7A to 7D illustrate a basketball player in four consecutive positions, wherein:

Fig. 7A is a sectioned view illustrating the player in a ball catching position; Fig. 7B illustrates the player in motion while holding a ball; Fig. 7C illustrates the player preparing to throw the ball; and Fig. 7D illustrates the player in a position right after throwing the ball towards the basket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First Embodiment: Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, shown therein is a table board game assembly in accordance with the invention adapted to simulate an actual soccer game. An actual game of soccer has two competing teams, each composed of eleven players. The players on each team cooperate to hit and kick a soccer ball toward the goal of the opposing team. In the game assembly shown in Fig. 1, each team has only two players which are manipulated by an operator acting as captain of the team to kick a toy soccer ball B into the goal of the opponent's team. The reason there are only two players on each team is that the captain of the team who manipulates the two 5 players does so with his two hands, each hand being responsible for the movement of one of the two players.

The assembly includes a dual-level board 10 mounted within a rectangular tray 11, the play surface of the board having printed thereon boundary lines defining the playing field for a soccer game. Slidable on this surface are miniature 10 molded plastic player figures 12 and 13 representing the two players on the first team, and miniature player figures 14 and 15 representing those on the second team.

The two team figures are in different distinctive colors so that the team captains who manipulate the figures on the soccer playing field can discern the 15 respective positions of the players, each of which is movable throughout the entire area of the field.

In practice, the playing surface of the board may be coated with a film having very low coefficient of friction such as Teflon (PTFE) to facilitate sliding movement of the figures on the surface. 20 Also slidable along the board but within a restricted zone thereon, are a figure 16 representing the goal keeper of the first team and a figure 17 representing the goal keeper of the second team. Mounted in slots on opposing end walls of tray 11 are goal modules 18 and 19.

As shown in Fig. 4, the player figures 12 to 15 are each mounted on bases 25 12B, 13B, 14B and 15B, respectively. Embedded in each base is a wafer-shaped permanent magnet M having a high degree of coercivity, such as an ALNICO metal alloy magnet, or a ceramic magnet formed of a "hard" ferromagnetic ferrite.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, supported below board 10 and parallel thereto is a generally rectangular membrane 20 formed of a stretchable plastic material, such 30 as latex. Membrane 20 is disposed above and parallel to a base plate 21 of tray 11. The free space between board 10 and membrane 20 defines an upper level UL below the board, while the free space between membrane 20 and base plate 21 defines a lower level LL below the upper level. Inserted into upper level UL through respective slots S in the left end of the tray 11 (Fig. 1) are handled blades 22 and 23 (Fig. 2), each having a handle H which is outside the tray 11. Attached to the tip of each blade 22 and 23 is control magnet CM which is wafer shaped. These blades 22 and 23 are grasped by an operator who captains the first team and act in a manner to be later explained, to move the player figures 12 and 13 of the first team along the playing surface. The blades 22 and 23 may be formed of high-strength polycarbonate or other non-magnetic material.

Blades 24 and 25 for the second team are inserted into the lower level LL below membrane 20 through slots S in the right end of tray 11, and are provided with control magnets CM attached to the tips of the blades 24 and 25.

In Fig. 4, the player figures 12 and 13 on the left side of board 10 are those on the second team and the player figures 14 and 15 on the right side are those of the second team.

The control magnets CM on the upper level UL which are magnetically controlled in alignment with the base magnets M on the first team's player figures 12 and 13 are attached to blades 22 and 23 manipulated by the captain of this team. Base magnets M of the first team have a given polarity such as North, facing the playing surface of board 10, whereas the control magnets CM for the second team have an opposite polarity which in this example would be South.

Hence the control magnets CM in the upper level UL are attracted to and magnetically coupled to base magnets M of the first team. As the captain of the first team grasps the handles H of blades 22 and 23, he is then able to separately move his player figures 12 and 13 in any direction on the board 10 and at any speed to make contact with toy soccer ball B on the board.

The base magnets M of the second team's player figures 14 and 15 have a common polarity, but this polarity is the reverse of the polarity of magnets M of the first team players. Hence if the polarity of the first team 's players figures is North, that of the second team's players is South.

The control magnets CM in the lower level LL, which are on the tips of the blades 24 and 25 operated by the captain of the second team, have a polarity that is the reverse of the polarity of the base magnets M of the first team players; hence these control magnets CM are magnetically coupled to the second team players so that they can be manipulated by the captain of the second team.

Because of the magnetic relationship existing between the magnets of the teams and the control magnets, there can be no interference therebetween and each captain can only manipulate the players on his own team. Thus, if a control magnet CM of the second team is polarized North, the base magnet M of the first team players is also polarized North, it will be repelled by a second team control magnet CM.

Thus, in the course of play as in a regular soccer game, the players on the teams change directions in order to take the ball away from an opposing player.

The CM magnets in lower level LL are more distant from the base magnets M on the figures than those on the upper level UL. However, because membrane 20 is stretchable, when a control magnetic CM on the lower level LL is attracted to a base magnet M on a board figure, the membrane is then stretched to bring the control magnet closer to the base magnet and thereby strengthen the magnetic coupling.

The goal keepers 16 and 17 only function in a zone on the board 10 adjacent the respective goal modules 18 and 19 to intercept the ball B when it is being propelled toward this goal, hence only limited goalie movement is required. To this end, goal keeper 16 is manually operated by a hand crank 26 which goes through a center slot CS in the left end wall (not visible) of tray 11, while goal keeper 17 is operated by a hand crank 27 which goes through a center slot CS in the right end wall.

Thus, the captain of each team can in the course of play move the players of his team so as to engage the soccer ball before it is intercepted by a player of the other team, as in a regular soccer game. And the captain can have his player effectively kick the ball by means of a thrusting movement of the blade magnetically coupled to the player when he makes contact with the ball.

In the United States, currently the most popular game in which young 5 children participate is not the so-called national game baseball, but soccer. Indeed mothers who bring their children to a soccer playing-field to play soccer with other children are commonly referred to as "soccer moms". A significant advantage of an assembly in accordance with the invention is that it can function as a home trainer to teach a child the fundamentals of the game of soccer and thereby prepare the l o child to become an effective team player.

Second Embodiment: The table board game assembly illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to the assembly shown in Fig. 1 except for the goal keepers and how they behave.

Instead of a single goalie, the game in Fig. 5 has a trio of goal keepers 15 adjacent each goal. Thus on the left end of the field is a trio of goal keepers 16A, 16B and 16C, each mounted on a permanent magnet base and at the right end of the field is a trio of goal keepers 17A, 17B and 17C.

Manipulation of the goal keepers 16A, 16B and 16C on the left side of the board 10 is effected by a trio of permanent magnets, CM1, CM2 and CM3, ₀ anchored at the vertices of a triangular plate T. The peak of this plate T is attached to the tip of a handled blade 28 on the left side of the assembly which is manipulated by the captain of the first team. The peak of plate T for the goal keepers 17A, 17B and 17C is attached to the tip of a handled blade 29 on the right side of the assembly to be manipulated by the captain of the second team. ₅ The advantage of a trio of goalies rather than a single goalie is that the trio can more effectively protect the goal in that the trio can be manipulated so that a goalie closest in line with an oncoming ball can be positioned to intercept the ball.

Kicker Mechanism: In the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 5, a controlled player is made to kick or strike an oncoming ball simply by positioning the player so that he lies in the path of the ball which when it strikes the player bounces off.

The kicker mechanism shown in Fig. 6 makes it possible such that when a ball makes contact with a player, the player may vigorously, in effect, kick the ball so that the ball is propelled at high speed.

To this end, a handle HK controlling a blade 30 (shown in Fig. 6) for manipulating a player, is formed by a hollow cylinder or barrel within which is slidable a piston 31 attached to the end of the blade. Interposed between piston 31 and the head of handle HK is a helical compression spring 32 which is normally expanded. Attached to blade 30 at right angles thereto and projecting through a longitudinal slot 33 in the handle HK is a headed pin 34.

To produce a kicking action to kick an oncoming ball, a thrust force is produced which causes the player magnetically coupled to blade 30 to jump forward and in doing so to kick the ball. This thrust force is developed by the operator who with one hand grasps the handle HK and with his other hand pulls pin 34 in to compress spring 32 within the handle. The pin 34 is then released to cause the spring 32 to expand to its initial state and in doing so to drive piston 31 to produce the desired thrust action.

It is again noted that the table board game shown herein to simulate a soccer game is only an example of an assembly in accordance with the invention. Similar assemblies can be adapted to play other types of competitive games in which players on one team strike, hit or make contact with a ball, puck or players of an opposing team. A soccer game assembly in accordance with the invention is by no means of interest only to children, for an adult operator who wishes to beat a competitor must acquire the skills necessary for his players to take the ball away from the opposing players. Also he must acquire the skill to manipulate his goalie so as to be able to block the entry of the soccer ball into the goal.

Turning now to Figs. 7 A to 7D there is illustrated a different embodiment of the invention wherein the table board game is basketball (the board not being illustrated). Accordingly, each figure player 50 comprises at its base a permanent magnet M and an arm 52 pivotably secured to the base of the player, with a friction roller 56 slidably engagable over the surface 60 of the board.

The arm 52 pivots about an axis coaxial with an axis of rotation of the friction roller 56. The roller 56 may be coated with a material such as rubber to ensure proper engagement between the roller and the board surface 60.

Fitted at the free end of arm 52 there is a ball engaging member 64, e.g., a permanent magnet, Nelcro™ etc. and accordingly, a basketball BB provided may be a rubber coated metal ball or a ball coated with pile for engagement with mating hook engaging portion at 64, etc. Typically in a basketball game, the ball BB will not be kicked but will rather have to be picked up by a player 50, displaced over the field of the board and then thrown toward a basket. Displacing the player 50 along the board is carried out by means of blade 66, which is fitted at its end with a control magnet CM, similar to the embodiments disclosed hereinbefore. For the arm 52 to engage the basketball BB, it is necessary to approach the ball whereby owing to friction engagement of roller 56 over board surface 60, arm 52 inclines toward the ball and engages therewith (Fig. 7A). The player 50 may then move along the board towards the opponent's basket (not shown) with the ball BB in an elevated position (Fig. 7B). As the player 50 reaches a proper throwing position, blade 66 is moved backwardly in the direction of arrow 70, to a position in which the basketball BB is behind the player's head (Fig. 7C) and then, upon sudden forward strike of blade 66, in the direction of arrow 72 (Fig. 7D) the basketball detaches from the engaging member 64 of the arm 52 and is thrown towards the basket.

While there have been shown preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A table board game assembly comprising:

A. a board having a playing surface simulating a competitive game playing field for a first team and a second team of players; B. miniature figures representing the first team of players slidable on the playing surface, each figure mounted on a permanent magnet base;

C. miniature figures representing the second team of players slidable on the playing surface, each figure mounted on a permanent magnet base whose polarity is opposite to the polarity of the base magnets of the first team;

D. first operator-controlled means at one level below the board provided with control magnets that magnetically attract the base magnets of the figures on the first team adapted to manipulate the position of these figures on the playing surface; and E. second operator-controlled means at a lower level below the board provided with control magnets that magnetically attract the base magnets of the figures of the second team adapted to manipulate the position of these figures on the playing surface.

2. A table board game assembly as in Claim 1, in which each team has at least two players and a goal keeper adjacent a goal to simulate a soccer game.

3. An assembly as in Claim 2, in which adjacent the goal is a trio of figures.

4. A game assembly as in Claim 1, in which the first control means to manipulate each player on the first team includes a handled blade on whose tip a control permanent magnet is attached having a polarity opposite to that of the base magnet of the player on the first team.

5. A game assembly as in Claim 4, in which the second control means to manipulate each player on the second team includes a handled blade on whose tip is attached a control permanent magnet whose polarity is opposite to that of the base magnet of the players on the second team.

6. An assembly as in Claim 5, in which the blade carrying the control magnet for the first team player is inserted in a space at a first level below the board.

7. An assembly as in Claim 6, in which the blade carrying the control magnet for a second team player is inserted in a space at a second level below the first level.

8. An assembly as in Claim 7, in which the first level is separated from the second level by a membrane.

9. An assembly as in Claim 8, in which the membrane is of stretchable material whereby when a control magnet at the second level is attracted to a base magnet of a figure on the play surface, the membrane is then stretched to permit the control magnet to come closer to the base magnet.

10. A table board game assembly in which slidable on a playing surface of a board are play figures, each of which is mounted on a base having a permanent magnet embedded therein, operator-controlled means for moving the figures along said surface, said means comprising a blade disposed below the board having a handle to be grasped by an operator and a tip to which is attached a control permanent magnet which is magnetically attracted to the base magnet whereby the operator by manipulating the blade can move the figure along the play surface.

11. An assembly as in Claim 10, in which incorporated in the handle is a kicker mechanism which when actuated by the operator produces a thrust force which is applied to the figure.

12. An assembly according to Claim 10, wherein the play figures comprise an arm pivotable about a friction roller displaceable on the surface and where a free end of the arm comprises a ball-engaging means, said arm being pivotally displaceable between a lower position for engaging the ball and elevated positions, and wherein the ball detaches from the ball-engaging means by imparting the figure acceleration in a forward direction by the operator-controlled means moving the figure along the surface.

13. An assembly according to Claim 12, wherein the ball-engaging means is a permanent magnet and wherein the ball comprises at least a magnetic portion.

14. An assembly according to Claim 13, wherein the ball comprises a metallic core embedded within a rubber coating. _j

15. An assembly according to Claim 12, wherein the ball-engaging member is a hook-and-pile pair wherein one of the ball and the free end of the arm is fitted with pile and the other of the ball and free end of the arm is fitted with hooks.

16. As assembly according to Claim 12, wherein said roller is coated with rubber.

17. An assembly according to Claim 12, when the arm is pivotable about an axis coaxial with an axis of rotation of the friction roller.