Structure of a soccer game table

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6231046
  • Patent Number
    6,231,046
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, September 29, 1999
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 15, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Passaniti; Sebastiano
    Agents
    • A & J
Abstract
An improved soccer game table includes a rectangular box-like member, a plurality of axially slidable actuating rods mounted extending transversely of the rectangular box-like member, and a plurality of playing figures mounted on said actuating rods, wherein the playing figures can be randomly arranged on the actuating rods as desired.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a soccer game table and in particular to one which enables a player to deploy the playing figures in different formations.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The conventional soccer game table generally includes a rectangular, box-like playing area supported on four angularly mounted and reinforced legs, a plurality of axially slidable actuating rods are mounted extending transversely of the playing area, and a plurality of playing figures mounted on the actuating rods. However, the playing figures arranged above the playing surface of the table in a fixed formation which cannot be changed as desired thereby making the game dull and monotonous.




Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the structure of a soccer game table which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a soccer game table.




According a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved soccer game table includes a rectangular box-like member, a plurality of axially slidable actuating rods mounted extending transversely of the rectangular box-like member, and a plurality of playing figures mounted on said actuating rods, wherein the playing figures can be randomly arranged on the actuating rods as desired




It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer game table which enables a player to deploy the playing figures in different formations as desired.




It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer game table of which the playing figures can be arranged on different positions on the actuating rods.




It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer game table which can be controlled to kick up the ball.




It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer game table of which the playing figures have replaceable feet.




It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer game table of which the playing figures can be arranged at a horizontal position




It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer game table which can simulate a real soccer game.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer game table which will give a lot of fin to the player.




The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIGS. 1

,


2


,


3


,


4


,


5


and


6


illustrate the playing figures deployed in different formations;





FIG. 7

is an exploded view showing the relationship between the actuating rod and the playing figure;





FIG. 8

illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9

illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 10 and 11

illustrate different kicks of the present invention;





FIG. 12

illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 14

is an exploded view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 15

is a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring first to

FIGS. 1

,


2


,


3


,


4


,


5


and


6


, the playing figures


3


of the soccer game table according to the present invention can be deployed in different formations as desired.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the playing figures


3


in left side of the soccer game table are arranged in 1-2-4-4 defense formation, while the playing figures


3


in the right side of the soccer game table are deployed in 4-4-2-1 attack formation.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the playing figures


3


in left side of the soccer game table are arranged in 2-4-3-2 formation, while the playing figures


3


in the right side of the soccer game table are deployed in 2-4-2-3 formation.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, the playing figures


3


in both sides of the soccer game table are arranged in 3-3-2-3 formation. As shown in

FIG. 4

, the playing figures


3


in left side of the soccer game table are arranged in 2-4-3-2 formation, while the playing figures


3


in the right side of the soccer game table are deployed in 3-4-2-3 formation. As shown in

FIG. 5

, the playing figures


3


in left side of the soccer game table are arranged in 2-3-2-4 formation, while the playing figures


3


in the right side of the soccer game table are deployed in 4-4-2-1 formation. As shown in

FIG. 6

, the playing figures


3


in left side of the soccer game table are arranged in 3-4-2-2 formation, while the playing figures


3


in the right side of the soccer game table are deployed in 3-3-2-3 formation.




The soccer game table according to the present invention generally comprises a rectangular box-like member (shown but not numbered), a plurality of axially slidable actuating rods


2


mounted extending transversely of the rectangular box-like member, and a plurality of playing figures


3


mounted on the actuating rods


2


.




Referring to

FIG. 7

, the playing

FIG. 3

comprises a head


30


, a body


34


and a foot


35


. The head


30


is formed at the lower portion with a neck


301


having an internal threaded hole


300


(see

FIG. 10

) which is open at the bottom. The body


34


has an upper threaded end


31


configured to engage with the internal threaded hole


300


of the head


30


and divided into two halves by a slot


33


adapted to receive an actuating rod


2


. The foot


35


is provided with a projection


350


at the lower portion.




In assembly, the actuating rod


2


is first fitted in the slot


33


of the body


34


of the playing FIG.


3


and then the head


30


is engaged with the upper threaded end


32


of the body


34


to fasten the actuating rod


2


in the body


34


. Hence, the playing

FIG. 3

can be arranged at any desired position on the actuating rod


2


by loosening the head


30


thereby enabling a player to deploy the formation of the playing figures as desired.





FIG. 8

illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the bottom of the actuating rod


2


is formed with a circular recess


20


configured to engage with a circular protuberance


330


on the bottom of the slot


33


of the playing FIG.


3


.

FIG. 9

illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the actuating rod


2


has a flat bottom


21


adapted to engage with a flat the bottom


331


of the slot


33


of the playing FIG.


3


.




Turning to

FIG. 10

, the playing

FIG. 3

is arranged to locate the projection


350


of the foot


35


at the rear side so that when the ball


4


is kicked by the flat surface of the foot


35


, it will go forward along the surface of the soccer game table. However, if the playing

FIG. 3

is arranged to locate the projection


350


of the foot


35


at the front side so that when the ball


4


is kicked by the projection


350


of the foot


35


, it will go upwardly along a projectile path as shown in FIG.


11


.




The head


30


of the playing

FIG. 3

may be made of heavy material so that the playing

FIG. 3

can be kept at a horizontal position thereby enabling it to simulate the tackling action and therefore increasing the fun.





FIG. 12

illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the body of the playing

FIG. 3

may be composed a left body


341


and a right body


342


pivotally to the left body


341


by a pin


340


. The actuating rod


20


is clamped between the left and right bodies


341


and


342


. The left and right bodies


341


and


342


are provided with threaded upper ends configured to engage with the head


30


.





FIGS. 13 and 14

illustrate a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the foot


351


may be of angular surfaces (see

FIG. 14

) a circular surface (see FIG.


15


), or the like. The foot


351


has a hole


352


in which are fitted a spring


45


and a lower end of a circular rod


34


extending downwardly from the body of the playing figure. The lower end of the circular rod


34


is formed with a threaded center hole


345


in which is threadedly engaged with a threaded upper end


41


of a bolt


40


. The bolt


40


has a rectangular cap


42


adapted to fit into a rectangular recess


353


at the bottom of the foot


351


. When desired to dismount the foot


351


from the playing

FIG. 3

, it is only necessary to push the foot


351


upwardly to disengage the cap


42


of the bolt


40


from the foot


351


and then turn the bolt


40


to disengage the foot


351


from the circular rod


34


. Accordingly, the foot


351


can be easily disengaged from the playing figure and replaced with another one with different configuration as desired.




It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.




While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. In a soccer game table comprising a rectangular box member, a plurality of axially slidable actuating rods mounted extending transversely of the rectangular box member, and a plurality of playing figures mounted on said actuating rods, wherein said playing figures comprise a head having a lower portion provided with an internally threaded neck, and a body having a foot and an upper externally threaded end engageable with said internally threaded neck and having a slot for receiving one of said actuating rods, said body comprises a head and two halves pivotally joined together by a pin, between which is fitted one of said actuating rod, said halves being provided with threaded upper ends configured to engage with said head, whereby said playing figures can be randomly arranged on said actuating rods as desired.
  • 2. The playing figures as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot has a bottom formed with a circular protuberance or a flat surface and said actuating rods have a bottom configured to engage with said circular protuberance or said flat surface.
  • 3. The playing figures as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot has a lower end provided with a projection.
  • 4. The playing figures as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot is fastened to a bottom of said body by a bolt.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
2215687 Carter Sep 1940
3920244 Kaiser Nov 1975
4127269 Rest Nov 1978
4138110 Hendrickson Feb 1979
5137276 Monneret Aug 1992
5333864 McCloud Aug 1994
5377981 Monneret Jan 1995
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
3046466 Jul 1982 DE