Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a type of table game apparatus
- adapted to simulate hockey.
- Many simulated hockey games have been suggested. In many such
table games the players, which are to impel the puck are mounted on rotatable
standards and the players are provided with a radially outwardly extending
projection so that on ratation of the standard, the projecting portion of
the player is swung to contact and impel the puck.
While in some games the player standard rotates about a fixed
axis, in many other games of the type with which the present invention is
particularly concerned, the player standard is slidable in longitudinal
guide slots in the playing surface so that the player can be manipulated
along or across the playing surface as well as swung to deliver or across
the playing surface as well as swung to deliver a sharp blow to the game
piece.
There are many patents directed toward such simulated hockey
games in which the players are moved both longitudinally and rotated
by means of slidable carriage, disposed below the game board, the carriage
having a bevel gear secured to a shaft controlling the dummy player, and
a bevel gear in mesh with that bevel gear and fixed to a central rod.
Among such patents are the following:
tl) Canadian Patent No. 477,717 issued Oct. 9, 1951 to ~. Kohler
and its corresponding U.S. Patent No. 2,507,258 issued May 9, 1950 to
P. Kohler, which disclosed a typical prior art game apparatus in which
twelve playing elements were mounted on a game board, each being rotatable
about an axis perpendicular to the game board, and being movable along
a linear path of motion by opposing players. Each playing element was
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actuated by a control rod mounted beneath the playing surface and connected
to the playing element by a gear box so as to permit the user to rotate
the playing element either while the gear box was stationary or was in
sliding moticn.
(2) U.S. Patent 3,105,687 patented Oct. 1~ 1963 by D.H. Munro et
al which provided a game apparatus having a playing surface and a rotata-
ble standard bearing a player havlng a puck impelling portion thereon
projecting through a slot in and disposed substantially perpendicular to
the playing surface. The standard was adapted to be shifted along the slot
while being maintained substantially perpendiclllar to the playing surface
by the stabilizing member. Means were disposed beneath the playing sur-
face for shifting and rotating the standard. A camming surface was pro-
vided on the game piece to contact the puck upon manipulation of the
standard.
(3) United States Patent 3,647,212 patented March 7, 1972 by
G.A. Barlow which provided table hockey-type game in which linkage
arrangements were provided for operating hockey players which
required reduced to and fro movement to accomplish full to and fro move-
ment of the players. Some controls operated more than one player. The
control linkage included an overcenter throw arrangement wherein only
limited to and fro movement of the linkage was necessary to impart ex-
tended to and fro movement of a player. Control of the move-
ment of the players was accomplished by movement of a control knob
across the top of a portion of the game board behind each goal, and ro-
tational movement was also imparted to the players by rotating a knob
about a vertical axis. The hockey game was provided with a timekeeping
device and associated audible signal means as well as audible signal
11~3137~L
means to indicate the score of a goal. Means were also provided for the
random deposit of a puck for center faceoffs or the like.
(4) United States Patent 3,912,269 patented Oct. 14, 1975 by
G.A. Barlow which provided a game representing a hockey game. A plurality
of players were ~ounted on a housing for reciprocating horizontal
movement toward and away from opposite goals and for swiveling movement
for propelling a puck-like object toward the goals over a playing surface.
An operating knob for each of the simulated players was exposed on top of
the housing adjacent the playing surface for rotation about a vertical
axis to swivel the simulated players. The knob was also mounted for
reciprocating movement parallel to the reciprocating movement of the
simulated players. A plurality of carriages were disposed beneath the
playing surface connected between the knobs and simulated players and
had gears carried thereby, to effect swiveling movement of the players.
The hockey game also included goal tenders which were mounted on the play-
ing surface in front of the entrance of the goals. Each goal tender was
associated with the two reciprocating players on the respective end of the
playing surface. The goal tenders were movable only in response to move-
ment of the reciprocating players and carriages toward one end of the
playing surface.
and (5) United States Patent No. 4,311,309 patented Jan. 19, 1982
by P.E. Bradley et al which provided a table top hockey game having twelve
players supported on a playing surface and manipulated through
control rods mounted beneath the playing surface. The control rods were
operated to rotate the players through a shaft that extends
through a slot in the playing surface. The playing surface included
twelve parallel slots, four of which were disposed between one of the
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goals and a side edge of the playing surface. A ball bearing, mounted on
the shaft, was engageable with the slot sides to reduce the effort in mov-
ing the playing elements, and to maintain the playing element in a verti-
cal position.
Generally speaking, the above described games offered the ad-
vantage of a very close simulation of the hockey game, in that the
players may be moved to and fro along the playing surface and also may be
rotated about a vertical axis to effectuate a stick swinging motion for
passing or shooting a simulated puck towards the goal.
_0 There are also many such simulated hockey games in which the
player was rotatably mounted on a shaft which was rotationally
manipulated by means of a control rod to which it was connected by a
flexible connection, e.g. a helical spring. For example, among such
patents are the following:
(1) Canadian Patent 543,795 issued July 23, 1957 to B. Stein
provided a table game apparatus which simulated ice hockey in minature and
which included a rectangular game board which had a playing surface sur-
rounded by game piece deflec',ing walls so as to define a playing area
having at each end an opening constituting a goal area through which a
game piece could pass. A plurality of standards were mounted for rotation
in the game board playing surface in regularly spaced apart fixed relation-
ship. Non-rotatable standards were mounted for sliding movement in an
arcuate slot provided in the playing surface at each end of the board so
as to extend across the respective goal area openings.
A player was mounted on each of the rotatable and
slidable standards. Manipulating handles were provided at each
end of the board and were flexibly connected to the standards so that
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movement of any of the handles caused a corresponding movement of the
respective game piece impelling member to which it was connected.
(2) Canadian Patent No.^9.0,366 issued Sept. 19, 1972-to S.G.
Hjelmquist and its corresponding U.S. Patent No. 3,586,327 patented June
22, 1971 which provided a table game which simulated hockey, and comprised
a playing surface consisting of a board on which a puck was moved during
the play by means of a number Of players. These players
were displaced by the participants of the game along slots pro-
vided in the board and rotated by means of control rods displaceably and
rotatab]y mounted beneath the board. Each control rod was connected via
an angular shaft joint to an upright which was mounted in a holder and was
at right angles to the board. The upright extended through a correspond-
ing slot in the board, on the upper side of which it constituted an
attachment for a player. Each holder had a crosspiece rotatably
connected to the holder to permit the crosspiece to be passed through the
slot in the baord. The crosspiece was fixable to the holder in the
position in which it extended in the transverse direction of the slot so
that it would cooperate with the upper side of the board in order to
support the holder
(3) Canadian Patent 710,211 issued May 25, 1965 to S.O.G.
Johnson whi~h provided such an apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed
game board having at least one slot therein with at least one curve.
Guide tube means were mounted beneath the board to follow the contour of
the slot in the board, the tube having a slot formed in its top in gen-
eral vertical alignment with the slot in the board. An operating rod
entered one end of the tube from an operating point. A player
was disposed adjacent the upper surface of the board above the slots, in
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11~38~7~
the board and in the tube. Angular connecting means were rigidly
attached at one end to the figure, passing vertically downward through
the slots and terminating in a horizontal portion disposed within the '
guide tube at a point near the opposite end on the guide tube. An
elongated, flexible connecting means, having cross-sectional dimensions
substantially less than the internal dimensions of the guide tube was
provided, as well as a plurality of guide elements mounted on the
connecting means at spaced poin-ts therealong and adapted to maintain the
connecting means substantially centered in the guide tube and to permit
sliding and rotational movement of the connecting means in the guide
tube.
(4) Canadian Patent 680,723 issued Feb. 25, 1964 to B. Stein
provided an improved player-stick combination wherein a miniature stick
which was truly three-dimensional was removably mounted on each player.
The blade of that stick was shaped so as to have a relatively
broad base portion tapering upwardly at each side so that each "puck"
engaging face would be at an ang],e relative to the playing surface. A
special puck was also provided which was greater in diameter at its center
portion than at the top and bottom surfaces so that it tapered outwardly
from each outer surface to a central hi,gh point. The angle of taper on
the puck substantially corresponded with that on the stick.
(5) U.S. Patent 2,229,232 patented Jan. 21, 1941 by K.A. Widegren
et al proviqed such a game apparatus which was characterized by the fact
that each player was carried by a standard projecting through the
respective slot. The standard was positively connected below the board
by means of an angularly bent flexible connection to one end of the rod
extending substantially parallel to the surface of the board. The
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other end of the rod projected beyond the peripheral edge of the board
and was there accessible for operation, so that the rod could be both
displaced along the corresponding slot in the board and be rotated
unlimitedly about its axis independently of the rods for the other
standards The standard and its rod were maintained in a certain posi-
tion in relation to each other by means of a carrier in which both of
them were mounted.
and (6) U.S. Patent 2,698,179 patend Dec. 28, 1954 by K.A, Widegren
et al which provided another such game apparatus, having suitable rec-
iO tangular playing field. A puck could be propelled around by means of aplurality of players and goalkeepers of opposing two teams. The
players on the playing field could be moved and rotated in slots
in the plate by the operators by means of cooperating rods located
under the plate. The rods of respective teams were movably
.
and rotatably journalled in the opposite sides of a frame surrounding the
playing field and accessible for the operators outside the frame. The
rods and corresponding standards were held rota'ably at a certain angle
to each other by a holder or carrier carried by the playing field plate
or by a plate below the holders and movable at its upper portion in a
slot in the playing field plate.
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1~7387~
Magnetic interaction has also previously been employed in such
simulated hockey games to effect and control the movement of the puck on
the game board surface. Abrupt movement of the playing pieces and
effective sharp or abrupt pivoting thereof by appropriate manipulation of
a magnetic control member beneath the playing area has been a problem in
most, if not all, such prior games due to limitations in the magnetic
attraction. As will be appreciated, the ability sharply to pivot the
playing pieces is especially desirable in a toy hockey game to simulate
striking the puck.
Examples of such patents include the following:
(1) Canadian Patent No. 455,958 issued April 12, 1949 to J.D.
Hanson which provided a magnetically controlled game which had provision
for both controlled rotation and free horizontal displacement. The game
consisted of a table with a plane non-magnetic top, and units having
magnets in their bases adapted to slide freely over the table top surface.
Tools were provided for moving those units from a point beneath the table
top, the tools having mounted thereon a magnet which is rotatable by digi~
tal force against the tension of a spring.
(2) U.S. Patent 3,785,648 patented Jan. 15, 1974 by T. Kabayoshi
20 which provided a game apparatus which utilized player pieces and control
members which had disposed therein multipolar magnets of circular cross-
section having at least four alternately arranged regions of opposite
polarity circumferentially positioned thereabout, and which were slidably
operable upon a nonferrous playing board with their axes extending per-
pendicular to the playing surface of the board. Interaction between the
magnets of a player piece and of a control member through the playing board
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enabled sliding and sharp pivoting movement of the player piece upon the
game board upon manipulation of the control mernber therebelow.
(3) United States Patent No. 3,827,692 patented Aug. 6, 1974
by H.J. Morrison et al which provided a magnetic type game simulating
hockey. A generally horizontal elevated playing surface was provided with
a generally horizontal transparent cover disposed in spaced relationship
above the playing surface. A plurality of players were disposed for
movement transversely over the playing surface beneath the cover, some
of the players having magnetic portions on the tops thereof representing
a first team of players and another set of playing pieces having magnetic
portions on the bottoms thereof representing a second team of players.
Manipulatable members were provided for each user of the game for position-
ing either beneath the playing surface of above the cover, depending on
which tean of simulated players he is to manipulate. Each manipulatable
member had a magnetic portion which attracted the magnetic portions of the
players to move a chosen one of the players over the playing surface in
response to movement of the user'.s manipulatable member
and l4) Vnited States Patent No. 3,940,135 patented Feb. 24, 1976 by
S.W. Cohen provided a hockey game having a game board with a pair of
spaced apart transparent plates and at least one magnetic actuator moving
on the outer surface of a plate. Team mernbers, which could be attracted
by the magnetic actuator, were disposed in the space between the plates
to slide on the upper surface of the bottom plate as an actuator was moved
to hit and propel a puck. 'me team members were of three-dimensional
construction to have an impact surface to the puck at any orientation. An
area of the top plate was recessed and certain of the team members were of
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increased height confining their movement by an actuator in the area of
the board which was not recessed.
Other patents showing controllable hockey players
include the following:
(1) Canadian Patent No. 510,462 issued March 1, 1955 to F.A.
Yarwood which provided a simulated hockey game comprising a board having
a playing surface over which a puck could be moved. A plurality of
simulated hockey players were provided for moving the puck over the play-
ing surface, each player being mounted on a support, the support extending
from the impeller to one side of the playing surface. The player had a
manual control located at the side of the playing surface. The support
was movable generally parallel to the side by the control, the contro]
moving along the side to move the player generally parallel to the side
over the piaying surface.
(2) Canadian Patent No. 548,574 issued Nov. 12, 1959 to W.M.
Munro et al which provided a simulated hockey game ha*ing a playing sur-
face sloping downwardly from opposite playing ends to a medial trans-
verse line. A player was on the playing surface and it
had a rotatable projecting upwardly through a hole in the playing surface
at a point along the length of the medial transverse line. It also had a
flicker mounted on the standard which projected outwardly therefrom above
the playing surface for propelling a game piece along the playing surface.
Means were provided for rotating the standard, and means were provided to
move a curved guide surface upstanding from the playing surface and curved
away from the standard. The guide surface was curved on a radius struck
on a center disposed at a point along the medial transverse line.
. . .
~17387:1
and (3) U.S. Patent 2,981,542 patented Arpil 25, 1~61 by M. Weiss
which provided a board simulating a hockey rink, a puck, and miniature
hockey sticks operated by the players. Receptacles simulating hockey
cages were provided in the board clase to the ends thereof and in the
centers of the ends, and having openings facing the center of the board.
Guards capable of protecting only a minor portion of the openings were
provided and were mounted for motion in front of the cages and operable
by the players to prevent the puck from being driven into their respec-
tive cages by the opponent. The guard motion was limited so that on either
side of the motion there was just room for the puck to enter the cage be-
tween the outer edge of the guard and the end of the opening in the front
of the cage. The corners of the board were provided with carom boards to
permit rapid shifting or play from one side of the board to the other.
Some such hockey type games also use a table having a boundry
layer of pressurized air to create a friction free playing surface. This
boundry layer form of suspension was used in games to support the puck.
, . _
For example, one such game places a puck on an enc1osed and
perforated playing surface or area having a pressurized plenum of com~
pressed air positioned immediately below the perforated surface. As the
pressurized air escapes through the perforations, the puck is at least
partially supported on an almost friction-free layer of air. Therefore,
when struck, the puck slides at extremely high speed; One example of such
patented hockey game is United States Patent 4,076,242 patented Feb. 28,
1978 by M. Joseph which provided a hockey type game having a horizontal
playing surface. A puck was provided for sliding over the surface.
Simulated hockey players were provided for sliding the puck. A source of
air pressure was provided for Eorming a boundry layer of perssurized air
11
~L1731371
above at least part of the playing surface, the puck thus sliding over
the boundary layer.
All of the games referred to above, to some dêgree, provided for
the manoeuvers and plays of a real hockey game and some of them simulated
quite closely a real hockey game including means for mounting and manipu-
lating which permits the usual passing, rushing and defensive plays seen
in actual hockey games. However, a great deal of the play depended on
chance. That is, the playing piece could be impelled in the general direc-
tion of the goal but there was generally no provision for an accurate shot
which, if not deflected, will land up in the goal area.
The desired effect of maximum possible realism is becoming more
important as these games improve year by year has been to provide a fur-
ther improvement whereby the actual playing and shooting of the puck
closely simulates the real thing~
It is therefore desirable that a table hockey game be provided
which makes itipossible to simulate almost all of the playing action of a
real hockey game. Objects, therefore, of aspects of this invention in-
clude the provision of the following;
(a) novel orientation of the simulated hockey players to keep
the puck in play with very few "dead" zones until a goal is scored by one
of the players;
(b) a playing surface which is exceptionally smooth and on which
there is a substantial minimization of frictional forces on the simulated
hoc]cey players;
(c~ a highly interesting game which is inexpensive to manufac-
ture;
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(d~ an extremely simple, inexpensive simulated hockey player
associated with the game player to enable the simulated hockey players
very readily to strike the simulated hockey puck,
(e) a simulated hockey player which is secured firmly to a
standard which, in addition to be rotatable, is also slidable along or
across the playing surface;
(f) a hockey game in which the simulated hockey players may be
moved both longitudinally abruptly and also pivoted sharply upon the
playing area by appropriate manual manipulation of a control member there-
beneath;
(g) a hockey game wherein the puck is so designed as to have
minimal frictional forces against the playing surface;
(h~ a hockey game in which the puck may be dropped by means which
simulate an actual "face-off";
and (i~ a hockey game in which the goalie player is not completely
confined but which can be moved not only along an arcuate path but also
slightly longitudinally in a restricted zone in the goal vicinity so a5
also to add realism to the game. :
By a broad aspect of this invention, a hockey game comprising:
(1~ a base (2) a game board superposed on the base, the game board having
means simulating a realistic hockey playing surface, including a goal area
at each end thereof, each goal area including a mouth therein leading
to a restricted access, depressed, puck-accepting area, the playing area
including rounded corners, and two sets of five longitudinally-extending
slots extending through the playing surface, one set being at either side
of the center ice line of the game board, two sets of two lateral slots .
being straight and representing the game playing area of the simulated
- 13 -
~l173871
hockey players representing the wingers, two sets of two slightly curved
slots adjacent the lateral slots, the slots being long and representing
the simulated hockey players representing the defencemen, and two sets of
one ess-shaped central slot, the central slot being short and represent-
ing the simulated hockey player representing the centre; (3) a puck drop
simulating a realistic "face-off`', the puck drop comprising a transverse
bridge spanning the central transverse area of the game board and having
a puck drop maze leading to an area immediately above the game board at a
simulated centre ice position; (4) two sets of five simulated hockey
players, each of the simulated hockey players being non-rotatably mounted
on a rotatable pedestal shaft extending through an associated slot in the
playing surface, the shaft being rotationally operable via a differential
gear mechanism disposed below the playing surface, the differential gear
mechanism being manually, and longitudinally, movable below the playing
hockey surface in alignment with respective slots, the differential gear
mechanism including a main control rod manually operable both to rotate
the simulated hockey players and to move the simulated hockey players
longitudinally with respect to its associated slot; and (5) a goaltender
mounted on a longitudinally-extending member and manually operable to
enable the goaltender to move arcuately across the goal mouth and to be
moved slightly longitudinally along the playing surface.
By one variant thereof, the base inc~udes an upper playing sur-
face console and a lower base.
By another variant thereof, the upper playing surface console
is hingedly connected to the lower base along a longitudinal edge thereof.
By still another variant thereof, the upper playing surface
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~7387i
console is provided with end walls through which the main control rods
extend, the main control rods extending through a guide bushing in the
associated end wall, the guide bushing having an inside core which is of
greater diameter at the interior of the end wall than at the exterior of
the end wall.
By yet another variant thereof, the longitudinally movable
differential gear mechanism is provided with stop members to limit inward
and outward longitudinal vement thereof before the pedestal shaft
reaches its limit of travel within its associated slot.
By a variation thereof, such stop mechanism comprises a rubber
bumper secured to the main control shaft exteriorly of the end wall, to
limit inward longitudinal movement thereof, and a rubber bumper secured
to the main control shaft interiorly of the end wall, to limit outward
longitudinal vement thereof.
By yet another variation thereof, the stop mechanism comprises
hanger means preferably having a rubbery coating thereon, suspended
from the bottom surface of the playing surface and disposed to abut an
end face of the differential gear mehcanism.
By another variant thereof, the playing surface is bounded
peripherally by upstanding transparent walls.
By a variation thereof, the upstanding transparent walls com-
prise two identical complementary halves.
By yet another variant thereof, the playing surface includes a
smooth surface peripheral wall also surrounding the playing surface to
minimize frictional drag on the puck~
By yet another variant thereofr the differential gear mechanism
.
~ 15 ~
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contains a cage capturing two meshing bevel gears, one bevel gear being
associated with the pedestal drive shaft, the other bevel gear being
- associated with a drive shaft.
By yet another variant thereof, the differential gear mechanism
contains a cage capturing two meshing bevel gears, one bevel gear being
associated with the pedestal drive shaft, the other bevel gear being
associated with a drive shaft, the drive shaft being secured to the main
control shaft by means of a crimped~on hollow cylinder.
By a further variant thereof, the game includes a ramp disposed
below the puck~accepting area for guiding a puck to a temporary storage
area.
By a variation thereof, the ramp is complexly shaped and slopes
from each end thereof to the central portion, and from one lateral side
edge to the central portion at a selected other side edge.
By another variation thereof, the central portion leads to a
throat, terminating in an open bin.
By yet a further variation thereof, the throat is gated by a
rotatable gate which is rotatable between an open condition and a closed
position.
By yet another variation thereof, the open position allows
access to the throat while simultaneously preventing access to an inter-
mediate area leading eventually to an access area.
By a further variant thereof, the game includes a longitudin-
ally slidable member actuatable to rotate the rotatable gate.
By a variation thereof, the slidable member is only movable
upon being released by actuation through means of a coin actuated mechan-
ism.
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By a furtller variant thereof, the main control rod is formed of
resin-reinforced glass fibres;
By a further variant thereof, the gears are formed of glass
fibre reinforced plastic.
by a further variant thereof, the simulated hockey players are
molded from a plastic material.
In the accompanyi.ng drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the simu-
lated game of an aspect of this invention in which only two simulated
hockey players are shown for clarity;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side view thereof;
Figure 4 is an end view thereof;
Figure 5 is a bottom view of the upper playing surface console
showing the control rods and the differential mechanisms;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing
the means of controlling the extent of longitudinal movement of the con-
trol rods;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing
the means of controlling the movement of the "goalie";
Figure 8 is a central longitudinal. view partly in section through
the differential mechanism and partly in elevation;
Figure 9 is an end view of a mounted simulated hockey player;
Figure 10 is a top plan view of a.mounted simulated hockey
player;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the upper table platform
showing the details of construction of the puck return ramp and coin chute;
Figure 12 is a cross-section along the line XII-XII showing
the puck dispenser in its "puck-capture" orientation.
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Figure 13 is a cross-section along the line XII-XII showing the
puck dispenser in an intermediate "jamrned" orientation; and
- Figure 14 is a cross-section along the line XII-XII showing the
puck dispenser in its "discharge'~' orientation.
As seen in Figures 1 and 2 the toy hockey game includes a rec-
tangular box 10 which is composed of an upper playing surface console 11
and longitudinally hingedly secured thereto at one edge, a lower base 12,
which box 10 is adapted to be associated with an upper platform 130, which
may be mounted on table legs (unnumbered, but shown in broken lines). The
upper platform 13 is provided with a conventional coin operating mechanism
140 which allows the simulated puck to be discharged from a captured lo-
cation upon a goal being scored to an access location 110 (to be described
hereinafter) so that a game may be commenced. Alternatively, if the toy
hockey game is to be operated without a coin operating mechanism, the puck
may either be discharged directly to the access location 110 upon a goal
being scored, or the mechanism providing for the discharge from the cap-
tured location to the access location 110 may be operated by a handle.
The box includes a pair of longitudinal side walls 12, and a
pair of end walls 13, with the intersection between adjacent such walls
being provided by a corner wall 14. A depressed playing surface 15 is
provided within the upper surface defining a perimetral ledge 16 between
the playing surface 15 and the walls 12, 13 and 14. The playing surface
is bounded by a pair of longitudinal side walls 17, a pair of end walls
18 and rounded corners 19 joining adjacent such wall. The walls are pre-
ferably faced with smooth surfaces provided by a smooth, glossy-finish
laminated plastic building material, e.g. that known by the trade mark of
ARBORITE. The walls are also providèd with an upper extension thereof
in the form of a transparent perimeter wall 20. The transparent perimeter
wall 20 is preferably formed as two identical sections 20a and 20b formed
of an acrylate plastic material, preferably from that known by the trade
- 18 -
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mark of Pl.EXlGLAS, each having its upper edges flame polished to be com-
pletely transparent. The middle half sections 21 of the side walls 22
of the perimeter wall 20 at each longitudinal side wall 12 are lower in
height than the end quater sections 23 of the side walls 22 and the end
walls 24.
The playing surface 15 is preferably formed of a smooth, glossy
finish ARBORITE, with a silk-screened playing surface laid out thereon in
the style of a hockey playing surface. Thus, it is provided with a centre
red line 25, upon which a centre face-off circle 26 strides, a pair of
blue lines 27, a pair of goal red lines 28, two face-off circles 29 at
each end of the playing surface 15 between the goal lines 28 and the blue
lines 27, and a pair of goal areas 29a, including a goalies zone 30 and
depressed goal area 29b and goalie net 31 of conventional shape and net
appearance. A plurality, i.e. 10 slots are provided in the playing sur-
face 15 namely: four straight, lateral "winger" slots 32; four mid,
curved "defensemen" slots 33; and two central "ess" curve "centre" slots
34. The simulated hockey players 40 are associated with the respective
slots in a manner to be described hereinafter.
The playing surface 15 is spanned by a bridge 35 whose purpose
is two fold. Firstly, it provides a convenient face-off means by providing
a maze-like chute 36 therewithin (see Fig. 4) for the dropping of a puck
between the two simulated centre hockey players. Secondly, it provides a
means of keeping score by providing a pair of spaced apart transverse
slots 37 therein, each carrying a transverse rod 38 upon which scoring
beads 39 are threaded. The maze-like chute 36 is preferably provided by
a removable face plate 36a to enable the chute to be cleaned of debris
if necessary. The transverse rod 38 is also mounted with a removable
_ 19 -
~17;~37~
face plate 38a to enable the rod to be removed for the placement thereon
of any desired number of scoring beads 39.
As seen in Figures 8-10, the simulated hockey players 40 i.e.
centres, wingers, and defencement, [and goalie 40a seen in Figures 3 and
7] are each formed of molded plastic, e.g. of polyethylene. The simulated
hockey player 40 is molded to include his integral, puck-propelling stick
41, an integral, tear-drop shaped base 42, supporting an integral hollow
bushing 43 reinforced by triangular ribs 44. The hollow bushing 43 is
press-fitted onto a knurled protrusion 45a on a rotatable and longitudinally
movable pedestal shaft 45 of a differential gear mechanism 46, to be des-
cribed hereinafter.
The differential gear mechanism 46 comprises a driven belevel
gear 47, having an integral hub 48 to which is secured steel driven pede-
stal shaft 45, and a drive bevel gear 49, having an integral hub 50 to
which is secured steel drive shaft 51. The gears 47, 49 and shafts 45, 51
are secured within suitably shaped openings 52 in a longitudinally spit
cage 53, the cage 53 having cooperating semicircular openings 54, 55 there-
in to provide bushings for steel shafts 45, 51. Once the gears and shafts
are placed in openings 52, 54 and 55, the split cage is assembled, and
is held together, e.g. by rivets 57. The cage 53 is of irregular hex-
agonal shape, having an upper top wall 58 (adapted to be in sliding con-
tact with the lower surface 67 of the playing surface 15) through which
shaft 45 projects tand which is adapted to be guided within the slots in
the playing surface); a front wall 59 (through which shaft 51 projects to
be connected to an operating rod 56 in a manner to be described herein-
after); a sloping rear wall 60; and short interconnecting walls 61, 62,
63. The differential gear mechanism 46 and the bevel gears 47,49 are
preferably formed of a strong, synthetic plastics material, e.g. the 15%
glass-fibre, reinforced polystyrene known by the Trade Mark of VALOX 325.
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117~71
The differetltial gear mechanisnl 46 is manually, longitudinally
movable by means of control rods 56. The control rods 56 are secured to
the drive shaft 51 by a cylindrical collar 65 permanently secured to shaft
51. e.g. by heat shrinking thereon, the cylindrical collar 65, in turn
being secured to an end of the control rod 56 by being evenly crimped
around the rod 56 by uniform external pressure in a well-known manner.
Control rods 56 are preferably formed of extruded resin-reinforced glass
fibres (e.g. by "procedure known as "pultrusion"). Such glass fibre
rods are generally rigid, but are of sufficient flexibility to allow
bending thereof to follow the curvature of the slots in the playing sur-
face 15, but yet are of sufficient elastic memory to provide for a return
to their orginal shape. The end of each control rod 56 where it emerges
from the end walls 13 passes through a bushing 65, having a hollow, outer
cylindrical wall 66 and circular base 67, to allow securement to the in-
side of end walls 13. The aperture 68 of bushing 65 within circular wall
66 is of greater diameter at the end adjacent to the circular base 67
than at the outer end, e.g. by being of hollow frusto-conical configuration.
This configuration is necessary to enable the control rod 56 to flex to
be able to move, unhindered, along the curved slots 33, 34 and in the un-
flexed orientation to move unhindered even along the straight slots 32.
The protruding end of each control rod 56 is capped by a control
knob 69 which is preferably formed of molded polystyrene, e.g. that known
by the Trade Mark of VALOX. The knob 69 is heat pressed on the control
rod 56 and then is covered with a rubbery vinyl plastic coating, e.g. by
a dip molding procedure.
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Fore-and-aft movement of the simulated hockey players 40 is
controlled by longitudinal fore-and-aft movement of respective main con-
trol shafts 51 by means of analogous longitudinal fore-and-aft movement
of the respective control rods 56. As seen in Figures 5 and 6, the limit
of such fore-and-aft movement is provided by stop members. Preferably,
the stop members for the wingers and the defencemen are hollow frusto-
conical rubber bumpers 70 slidably placed on the respective control rod
56, one [70a] being interiorly of the end wall 13 and another [70b] being
exteriorly of the end wall 13. At the desired limit of inward longitudinal
travel, the exterior bumper 70b abuts the exterior of wall 13 and limits
the movement of the control rod 56 by abutting knob 69 the control rod 56.
At the desired limit of outward travel, the interior bumper 70a is secured
to the control rod 56 to abut the interior of wall 13 by a collar 71, held
to the control rod 56 by a set screw 72. The limit of travel occurs before
the pedestal shaft 45 abuts the limit of travel at each end of the res-
pective slot.
As seen more clearly in Figure 5, the limit of travel of the
centre men is by means of U-shaped straps 75 secured to the bottom surface
15a of the playing surface 15 at the limits of the respective slots 34 to
prevent the shaft 45 from abutting the ends of the slots. The abutment
is between the forward wall 59 of the differential gear mechanism 46 and
the facing portion 75a of strap 75 (to provide limit of outward travel).
The limit of inward travel is assured in the same manner as described
above by the length of the control rod 56 and the bumper 70b and knobs 69.
The U-shaped brackets 75 are preferably formed of 15% glass-fibre-rein-
forced polystyrene known by the Trade Mark of VALOX 325, provided with a
rubbery vinyl coating applied by vinyl dip molding. The limit of travel
before the pedestal shaft abuts the limit of travel at each end of the
respective slot.
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Rotation of the simulated hockey players 40 is provided by
rotation of the main control shaft 56 by rotating the control knobs 65,
through the differentiaal gear mechanism 46 previously described.
The goalies 40a are disposed across the goal mouth area 70 and
are secured to a steel bar 76. As seen in Figures 5 and 7, steel bar 76
is in the form of a main control bar 77, an upward extension 78 approxi-
mately at right angles thereto, a forward extension 79 parallel to playing
surface 15, and a securement upright member 80, at right angles to extension
79, securement upright being provided with securement apertures 81. The
goalie 40a is secured by rivets 81a within apertures 81. Main control bar
77 is provided with a longitudinal slot 82, by means of which steel bar
76 is secured to the lower surface 15a of the playing surface 15 both in
a longitudinal sliding and in a rotatable manner. This is achieved by
means of a cylindrical spacer 83 having a pin 84 projecting into slot 82
and held to the lower surface 15a by means of a U-shaped strap 85. In-
ward and outward travel is limited by abutment of the pin 84 with the res-
pective ends of slot 82. Arcuate rotation is limited by abutment of the
respective side edges of bar 76 with the respective side edges of a trans-
verse slot 86 in a goalie guide 87 secured within a slot (unnumbered) in
end wall 13. The end of steel bar 76 which project through slot 86 is
covered by a flat knob 88, preferably made of molded polystyrene known
by the Trade Mark VALOX, preferably by being heat pressed thereon and then
covered by a rubbery vinyl plastic e.g. by vinyl dip molding.
The upper playing surface console 11 cooperates with the upper
platform 130 to provide for the removal of the puck when a goal is scored.
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The puck 90, itself, is preferably formed of a strong molded polystyrene,
e.g. VALOX with a cage 91 therein, within which a captive ball bearing
92 is held, in order to provide for optimum sliding movement of the puck
90 with respect to the playing surface 15.
The upper platform 130 includes the same perimeter as the upper
playing surface console 11, i.e. side walls 12a, end walls 13a, and angled
connecting walls 14a. In its internal structure, it includes a return
slide chute 101, bounded by para]lel longitudinal walls 102, sloping both
from end walls 13a toward the central area 103, and from one side wall 12a
to a selected side wall 104, which is provided with a puck access location
105, in the form of an open bin 110. The return slide chute 101 commun-
icates with the open bin 110 by means of a throat 111. Throat 111 is
gated by rotatably oscillatable dispenser 112, in the form o a front wall
113, provided with a pair of spaced-apart longitudinally-extending, ribs
114, 115, rotatably mountèd at pin 116 and spring-loaded in its "capture"
orientation by spring 117. As seen in Figure 12, when the dispenser 112
is in its "puck capture" orientation, the pucks 90 are led through door
118 in forward wall 102 and are retained on rib 114. As seen in Figure
14, when the dispenser 112 is in its "release" position, the pucks 90 cap-
tured by ribs 114 are discharged through throat 111 to puck access location
105 at open bin 110. When the dispenser 112 is in an intermediate, or
"jammed" orientation, as seen in Figure 13, while pucks 90 can drop into
throat 111, any further pucks from chute 101 are captured on rib 115.
Consequently, if the operating mechanism, e.g. the coin chute, is "jammed"
into an apparent dispensing position, the dispenser 112 is held in an in-
operative position, and no pucks 90 can enter throat 111.
When a goal is scored, the puck 90 drops onto Ihe return slide
chute-101. It is prevented from "bouncing" to a location other than into
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the return slide chute 101 by means of a depending, open bottom, rectan-
gular box 119 secured to undersurface l5a below goal access area 29b so
that there is a rectangular, parallelepiped dispensing chute 120 directly
-from goal area 19b to return slide chute 101. Access of debris into chute
101 is minimized by a longitudinal plate 121 resting atop walls 102, ac-
cess of debri.s to the throat 111 is minimized by a longitudinal plate 122
covering dispenser 112.
If the toy hockey game 10 is to be a coin operated game, then
the coin operating mechanism 140 is mounted in such a manner that when no
coins are fed thereto, the inside end 123 of the transversely slidable
operating mechanism 141 does not engage wall 113 of dispenser 112. How-
ever, when a coin is inserted, the end 123 of the sliding operating mecha-
nism 141 slides further inwardly to engage dispenser 112 and thus to dis-
charge pucks 90 to the open bin 110 as shown in Figure 14. If the game
is not a coin operated one, the coin chute operating mechanism 140 is
replaced by a spring-loaded, longitudinally-slidable, member (similar to
end 123) which is normally out of engagen.ent with dispenser 112, but, when
slid against the action of a spring, (not shown) engages dispenser 112
and thus allows the discharge of pucks 90 to the open bin 110.
After the coins leave the coin operating mechanism 140, they are
fed to a sealed, locked, steel, strong box 124 first, however, activating
a counter 125 to indicate the number of Coil-s in the strong box. To pre-
vent unauthorized diverting of coins fron, the coin operating n,echanism 140
without entering the strong box 124, the entire area within upper plat-
form 130 from the coin chute operating nechanism 140 to the strong box
118 may be enclosed by a metal sheath (not shown).
The hockey game of aspects of this invention provides unique
advantages in the cor.trol of the simulated hockey players through the
described differential gear mechanism control arrangement. The assembly
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makes for quicker action in the game and, permits the participants to
station themselves suitably adjacent to the playing surface. The longi-
tudinal and arcuate rnovement of the goalie makes for more realism in the
hockey game and allows more movement of the goalie in making saves.
Finally, the construction of the base and its assosiation with the
separately received playing surface console, which is hinged at its
side edge to the lower base which controls access to the puck, provides
a structure which is capable of inexpensive manufacture, simple assembly
and extended durability.
10 ~ In one err,bodiment of this invention, the game is approximately
80 centimeters in height, and is an oak table with a playing surface of
85cm x 170 cm. The playing surface is a glossy ARBORITE which provides
minimum frictional resistance to the movement of the simulated hockey
players The playing surface is also bounded by side and end walls of
the same material, and has upper walls of PLEXIGLAS for realism. The
simulated hockey players are 12 in number t6 to a side) with a goalie
for each goal at either end. There are 2 wingers, 1 centre and 2 de-
fencemen on each team that rotate in either direction. To shoot a puck,
these simulated hockey players also slide forward and backward. All
men are moved by means of a control rod that controls the longitudinal
movements of the simulated hockey players as well as the rotation
thereof, which is done by spinning the rods. All mechanical parts are : -
made of molded plastics.
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