Patent Application
20070035086
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a game device. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention pertain to a playing figurine for use with a foosball game apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many types of game devices that are used as miniaturized versions of various athletic games. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,432 which issued on Dec. 16, 1975, to R. Furr discloses a miniature table game of soccer (foosball game). The table soccer game has a miniature soccer playing field where a plurality of foosball figurines (soccer player figurines) are moved into playing positions in respective zones. The figurines are mounted on a plurality of rods that are axially slidable and rotatable. Each foosball figurine includes a foot configured to move a ball on the miniature soccer playing field. Other soccer related examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,046,378; 4,025,073; 4,382,598; 5,058,892; 5,071,137; 5,072,880; 5,333,864; 5,419,555; 5,496,031; and 5,641,163.
Generally, the ball is moved up and down the soccer playing field by controlling the plurality of foosball figurines. For instance, one foosball figurine may pass the ball to another foosball figurine to place the ball in line with the opponent's goal. This is typically accomplished by one foosball figurine's foot hitting the ball and then another foosball figurine's foot catching the ball in order to control the movement of the ball on the foosball playing field. Thereafter, the ball may be moved further on the foosball playing field by manipulating the plurality of foosball figurines.
There are a number of companies that manufacture foosball games (table soccer). Each company has their own design for their particular foosball game. For instance, one company may use a foosball figurine with a round foot, while another company may use a foosball figurine with a square foot. In other words, there is no standard foosball table game design that each company must follow.
Due to the lack of a standard foosball table design, a foosball player may be skilled in manipulating a foosball game manufactured by a first company while unable to transfer the same skill set to manipulate a foosball game manufactured by a second company. For instance, the foosball player may become skilled in manipulating the foosball game manufactured by the first company because the foosball player has become accustomed to a foosball figurine having a foot configured in a particular way while the same foosball player would have to develop a new skill set when the foosball player uses a foosball game manufactured by the second company that has a foosball figurine with a different configuration. This situation is particularly problematic in a foosball competition where a foosball player may be skilled in manipulating one company's foosball game yet required to compete on another company's foosball game that has a different configuration. This arrangement may provide an unfair advantage to one foosball player over another foosball player.
Therefore, there is a need for a foosball figurine that is capable of being customized with specific playing characteristics regardless of the company that manufactures the foosball game.
The present invention is generally directed to a figurine for use in a game apparatus, wherein the figurine is capable of being customized to a particular arrangement. In one aspect, a foosball figurine for use with a foosball game is provided. The foosball figurine includes a body portion and a head portion connected to the body portion. The foosball figurine further includes a foot portion connected to the body portion by a releasable member, wherein the foot portion has a profile shape.
In another aspect, a figurine for use with a game apparatus is provided. The figurine includes a first member and a second member connected to an end of the first member by a releasable member. The figurine further includes a third member connected to another end of the first member by a second releasable member, wherein the second member and the third member are configured to provide at least one definable characteristic of the figurine.
In yet another aspect, a method of using a foosball figurine in a foosball game is provided. The method includes providing the foosball figurine, wherein the foosball figurine includes a body portion, a head portion and a releasable foot portion. The method also includes utilizing the foosball figurine in the foosball game. The method further includes releasing the foot portion from the body portion and attaching a second foot portion to the body portion.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The present invention is generally directed to a figurine for use in a game apparatus, wherein the figurine is capable of being customized to a particular arrangement. Various terms as used herein are defined below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term, as reflected in printed publications and issued patents. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawings may be, but are not necessarily, to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features described below. One of normal skill in the art of game devices will appreciate that the various embodiments of the invention can and may be used in all types of foosball (table soccer) games.
For ease of explanation, the invention will be described generally in relation to a foosball game. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be employed in any number of table games without departing from principles of the present invention.
The foot 125 is an important part of the foosball figurine 100 because it is used to position and move a ball (not shown) on the foosball playing field. Typically, the foot 125 has a rounded and/or flat surface to facilitate the movement of the ball on the playing field. The foot 125 may also be configured to pass the ball from one foosball figurine to another foosball figurine as the ball is moved on the playing field. In some instances, the foot 125 may have a sloped angle profile or a rounded profile in order to manipulate or control the movement of the ball in a specific manner.
Referring back to
The foot 125 also optionally includes a plurality of guides 120 which are used to center the foot 125 on the body 105. Each guide 120 mates with a corresponding profile 130 formed in the body 105. The foot 125 further includes a connection member 135 for use in securing the foot to the body 105. The connection member 135 is typically a releasable member capable of facilitating a quick connection and a subsequent removal of the foot 125 from the body 105, such as a screw, a quick disconnect, a clasp, or any type of releasable connection member known in the art.
In another embodiment, the foot may be rotated to change the profile of the foot on the body, thereby changing the playing characteristics of the figurine. For example, a foot having a flat surface on the front side and a rounded surface on the back side may be rotated such that the rounded surface is on the front side and the flat surface is on the back side, thus changing the playing characteristic of the figurine. In this embodiment, the foot does not necessarily have to be a releasable foot as described above. Rather, the foot could be fixed to the body with the capability of rotating relative to the body.
The capability of releasing and replacing the foot 225 and the head 210 allows the figurine 200 to have defined characteristics that can be replicated for any foosball table design. In other words, the figurine 200 may be customized with specific playing characteristics that may be used with any foosball table. For instance, the foot 225 on the figurine 200 may have a profile as shown in
As shown in
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
