Patent Application
20140339766
The invention relates to a game device comprising a handle, a turning axle having an axis of rotation and connected to said handle, and an elongated figurine having a longitudinal axis, wherein said figurine is connected to the turning axle. Such devices are known for instance from NL 200912, which describes a figurine for a game of table football, wherein the figurine is mountable on a rod of a regular table football apparatus. In such a regular table football apparatus, the rod is fixedly connected to a handle, such that when the figurine is mounted on the rod and the handle is spun, the figurine spins as well.
Though such known game devices provide great entertainment value, they are bulky and inconvenient to carry, especially for children. It is an object of the present invention to provide a more compact and portable game device which still provides similar entertainment.
To this end, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a hand-held game device comprising a handle for holding the device, an elongated figurine having a longitudinal axis, wherein the figurine is rotatably connected to said handle around an axis of rotation which is at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A person may thus hold the handle of the game device in one hand, while a rotating motion is imparted on the figurine, for instance by the person pushing or pulling the figurine with the other hand. The rotating motion is preferably used to kick a playing piece, such as a ball or a disc, across a playing surface, such as a table. As the game device may be held and completely supported in one hand, the game device is substantially freely moveable over the entire playing surface, providing dynamic game play.
Preferably the handle of the hand-held game device is a first handle, and the game device further comprises a second handle which is arranged at a side of the elongated figurine facing away from the first handle. By using two handles, the hand-held game device is more stably held by a player which allows for a better aim when kicking a playing piece. In addition one of the first or second handle is preferably used for holding or supporting the game device, while the other handle is preferably used for imparting a rotating motion to the figurine.
In an embodiment the second handle is arranged substantially in line with the axis of rotation. In an embodiment the second handle is rotation-fixedly attached to the figurine. By turning the second handle relative to the first handle, a rotating motion is imparted on the figurine. The second handle preferably has a diameter which is substantially less than the length of the figurine, such that the circumferential speed of a surface of the handle is substantially less than the circumferential speed of the distal ends of the figurine when the figurine is rotating. A rotating motion of the figurine may thus be achieved by rotating the second handle relative to the first handle, such that there is no need for a player to directly touch the figurine, especially when the figurine is spinning.
In an embodiment the figurine is adapted for spinning rotation around the axis of rotation. In an embodiment the figurine is freely rotatable around the axis of rotation. The game device according to the invention may thus provide a game play similar to regular table football. Once a spinning motion has been imparted on the figurine, it will keep on spinning for some time due to inertia, during which time the hand-held game device may be moved to a different position over the playing surface to kick a playing piece.
In an embodiment the hand-held game device comprises a turning axle rotatably connecting said handle to said figurine, wherein said turning axle has a longitudinal axis coinciding with the axis of rotation. Preferably, the figurine is arranged for rotating substantially freely around the turning axle during a complete rotation, e.g. such that the distal ends of the figurine remain spaced apart from the rest of the game device during a complete rotation of the figurine around the axis of rotation. Friction between the figurine and parts connected to the handle is thus reduced.
In an embodiment the turning axle is substantially rotation-fixedly attached to said handle and substantially rotation-freely attached to the figurine or vice versa, allowing rotation of the figurine with respect to the handle around the axis of rotation.
In an embodiment the turning axle is detachably attached to the handle, the figurine or both. In the latter case the game device can be disassembled into at least two parts for easy transportation; i.e. the figurine and the handle together with the turning axle, or the figurine together with the turning axle and the handle, or the figurine, the handle and the turning axle all separate. Moreover, this embodiment allows easy replacement of handle, figurine and/or turning axle.
In an embodiment the hand-held game device further comprises drive means for driving rotation of the figurine around the axis of rotation. Preferably these drive means are manually powered. A rotating motion of the figurine may be thus achieved by operating the drive means, instead of by directly imparting motion on the figurine manually, such that there is no need for a player to directly touch the figurine, especially when the figurine is spinning.
In an embodiment the drive means comprises a rack and pinion drive, a torsion spring drive and/or an elastic spring drive. Preferably the drive means comprise a spring-loaded plunger connected to a rack, wherein a pinion adapted for cooperation with the rack is connected to the turning axle and/or to the figurine.
In an embodiment the handle and/or the turning axle comprise said drive means. When the drive means are comprised in the handle, rotation of the figurine may be effected by the same hand holding the game device. A player may thus hold and operate a hand-held game device according to the invention in each hand.
In an embodiment the hand-held game device further comprises a battery, wherein said drive means comprise an electromotor powered by said battery.
In an embodiment, the figurine is adapted to be rotatable around the axis of rotation over a range less than 360 degrees, preferably over a range of 180 degrees or less. In this embodiment simple drive means may be used. Moreover, according to this embodiment, a hinge having a limited rotation range may be used instead of a turning axle, for rotatably connecting the figurine to the handle.
In an embodiment the hand-held game device further comprises a ratchet adapted for allowing rotation of said figurine around said axis or rotation in a first direction of rotation and for blocking rotation of said figurine around said axis of rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction of rotation. The chance of a player accidentally kicking a playing piece in the second direction is thus reduced, which is particularly advantageous when drive means are used that work by converting a reciprocating motion into a rotation of the figurine around the axis of rotation.
In an embodiment the figurine comprises a head-part at a distal end of the figurine, wherein an orientation of the head-part around the longitudinal axis of the figurine is adjustable. The head-part preferably comprises a face section which, at least during a game and when the figurine is in the upright position, faces away from the player holding the game device. The face section preferably comprises features which discern it from other sections of the head-part, such as eyes, a nose, mouth, and the like. As the orientation of the head-part is adjustable, the head-part can be arranged for either right handed or left handed use of the hand-held game device. Preferably, the head-part is connected to a main body of the figurine via a detachable connection, wherein the head-part may be attached to the main body in at least a first orientation and a second orientation rotated 180 degrees around the longitudinal axis of the figurine relative to the first orientation. Additionally or alternatively, the head-part may be rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the figurine when connected to the main body of the figurine.
In an embodiment the turning axle extends substantially through the figurine. Preferably the figurine comprises one or two accommodation spaces for accommodating the turning axle. When the turning axle extends entirely through the figurine, protruding from the figurine on two sides, only one accommodation space for the turning axle which forms a through-passage through the figurine along the axis of rotation is needed for allowing the turning axle to be attached to the figurine for either right or left handed use of the game device. Alternatively, the figurine may comprise two accommodation spaces for accommodating the turning axle, one on either side of the figurine along the axis of rotation, such that the turning axle may be inserted into either one of these accommodation spaces for right or left handed use respectively. The possibility to choose between right- and left handed use of the game device is especially advantageous when the figurine has a preferred front facing side, such as a front facing side adapted for kicking a playing piece.
In an embodiment the turning axle has a first distal end and a second, opposite distal end, wherein the second distal end of the turning axle comprises an accommodation space for fittingly accommodating a first distal end of a second such turning axle. In this embodiment further turning axles and figurines may be connected in serial to the handle. The turning axle preferably extends completely through the figurine.
In an embodiment the figurine comprises a foot-part at a distal end of the figurine, which foot-part is adapted for kicking a playing piece. When the figurine also comprises a head-part, the foot-part is at the opposite end of the head-part of the figurine. When the hand-held game device is a hand-held table football device the playing piece may for instance comprise a ball. Alternatively the playing piece may comprise a puck or any other playing piece suitable for movement across a playing surface. Preferably, when projected onto the axis of rotation, the foot part and the first and/or second handle are spaced apart.
In an embodiment an orientation of the foot-part of the figurine is adjustable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the figurine. This allows the direction in which a playing piece is kicked when hit by the by the foot-part to be substantially set in advance.
In an embodiment said figurine is shaped as one of the following: an ice-hockey player, an ice-hockey goalie, a hockey player, a hockey goalie, a soccer player, a soccer goalie.
In an embodiment the foot part of the figurine comprises a widened portion extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein said widened portion preferably extends from said foot part in a direction away from the first handle. Most preferably, when projected onto the axis of rotation, the widened portion and the (first) handle are spaced apart. The widened portion provides an enlarged surface for blocking and/or kicking a playing piece. When the widened portion extends away from the first handle and, when projected onto the axis of rotation is spaced apart from the first handle, then the first handle can be held in one hand, without the widened portion coming into contact with said hand when the figurine is spun around the axis of rotation using the second handle.
According to a second aspect the present invention provides a hand-held game assembly comprising a hand-held game device as described herein. Besides a figurine as described, the assembly preferably also comprises one or more playing pieces, such as a ball or a puck, to be kicked by the figurine. Preferably, when multiple playing pieces are provided, at least some of these have substantially different characteristics, such as size, weight, elasticity, shape etc, for providing different game play.
In an embodiment said assembly further comprises one or more detachable foot-liners adapted for detachable attachment to said foot-part.
In an embodiment at least one of said one or more detachable foot-liners has a first face and a second face, both faces facing outwards, with the first face facing away from the second face, wherein the foot-liner is attachable to the foot-part with its first face arranged for kicking the playing piece, and attachable to the foot-part with its second face arranged for kicking the playing piece, wherein the first and second faces have different kicking characteristics. The first face may for instance have a friction coefficient, elasticity, and/or shape which differs from the second face.
In an embodiment a first of said one or more detachable foot-liners has a different kicking characteristic than a second of said one or more detachable foot-liners. The first foot-liner may for instance have a weight, elasticity, and/or shape which differs from the second foot-liner.
In an embodiment the assembly further comprises a playing piece, and the foot-part comprises an accommodation space for at least partially accommodating said playing piece, preferably in a loosely fitting manner. A playing piece that is loosely accommodated in the accommodation space may be ejected in a substantially predetermined direction when the figurine is rotated, allowing for instance simulation of penalties.
In an embodiment, the assembly comprises different kinds of hand-held game devices as described herein, e.g. hand-held game-devices with and without a widened portion, for instance to form teams having goalies and regular players.
The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications.
The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:
The turning axle 10 is substantially rotation fixedly attached to the handle 2, and rotation-freely attached to the figurine 20, allowing rotation of the figurine 20 relative to the handle 2 around axis of rotation R.
At a first distal end the figurine 20 comprises a head-part 23. The head-part has markings which indicate a front facing side of the head-part, e.g. eyes, nose and mouth are arranged on the front facing side of the head-part. An orientation of the head-part around the longitudinal axis of the figurine is adjustable such that the front facing side of the head-part may be arranged to face in both directions normal to a plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and the axis of rotation of the figurine, for instance depending on whether the handle 2 is held in the right or left hand of a player. Though in the embodiment shown the head-part is connected to the main body in a rotatable manner relative thereto, it is also conceivable that in an embodiment the head-part may be detachable such that the head-part may be detached from the main body of the figurine, rotated 180 degrees around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis, and re-attached to the main body of the figurine.
At a second distal end opposite to the first distal end of the figurine, the figurine 20 comprises a wedge shaped foot-part 24 which is adapted for kicking playing piece such a miniature ball or a marble or the like. The foot-part 24 is connected to the main body 21 of the figurine 20 through connecting piece 25.
The hand-held table football device may freely be moved over a playing surface S, such as the surface of a table, by moving the hand holding the device 1 over the table. The figurine 20 is thus adapted to be moved over the entire playing surface S, and has substantially six degrees of freedom of movement relative to said playing surface S.
Alternatively and preferably the turning axle 110 is rotation fixedly connected to the figurine 120 and is rotatable connected to the handle 102. In this example, the turning axle 110 can act as a second handle which is rotation-fixedly attached to the figurine, and which can be used to set the figurine 120 in motion while holding the hand held game device 100 using the handle 102.
The figurine 120 comprises a connection piece 125 comprising a deformable joint allowing adjustment of the orientation of the foot-part 124 with respect to the longitudinal axis L, though other adjustable connection pieces for instance comprising a ball-joint or screw-connection or hinges may be used instead. An orientation of a foot-part 124 of figurine 120 is thus adjustable with respect to the main body 121 of the figurine 120.
In
In
Whereas the first end section 931 is attached rotationally fixed to the first handle 930, the second end section 941 is substantially rotation freely attached to the second handle 940, for instance by means of a turning axle between the end section 941 and the second handle 940, or other means known per se. The first handle 930 thus is rotation fixedly connected to the figurine 920, whereas the second handle 940 is rotatable connected to the figurine 920. The first handle 930 may thus be used to impart a rotating motion to the figurine 920 relative to the second handle, whereas the second handle supports the figurine while it rotates around its axis of rotation R.
It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the spirit and scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007641 | Oct 2011 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2012/050733 | 10/22/2012 | WO | 00 | 4/21/2014 |
