Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
MAGNETICALLY OPERATED TABLE GAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to table games, and more particularly to
magnetically operated
table games that enable a player to directly manipulate gaming pieces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Table games such as, for example, table hockey games, have been known for some
time. Table
games generally comprise a gaming board which is shaped to resemble a playing
field such as,
for example, a hockey arena, and several gaming pieces which are movable with
respect to the
gaming board. The gaming pieces are, for example, movable mounted to the
gaming board and
controlled via long lever arms which are coupled to the gaming pieces via a
gear mechanism
placed beneath the gaming board. A player may move the gaming pieces by
pulling or pushing
the respective lever arm as well as rotate the gaming piece by twisting the
lever arm. Rotating
the gaming piece is an important aspect in a number of games since it permits
the player to
manipulate the gaming piece for shooting a ball, puck or similar object.
However, movement of
the gaming pieces is limited along respective slots disposed in the gaming
board, substantially
detracting from the realism of the game play.
Therefore, attempts have been made to provide gaming boards having
magnetically controlled
gaming pieces. Existing magnetic table games utilize magnetic control systems
comprising
magnetic gaming pieces which are manipulated by magnetic lever arms.
Unfortunately, the
movement of the magnetic gaming pieces of the existing magnetic table games is
difficult to
accurately control and rotating the magnetic gaming pieces is unreliable or
impossible.
Furthermore, the magnetic lever arms are still complex and inhibit realistic
game play.
A further drawback of existing table games is that they realize only a limited
number of games,
mainly hockey and soccer.
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It is desirable to provide a magnetically operated table game that is simple
and enables a
substantially realistic game play.
It is also desirable to provide a magnetically operated table game that
enables reliable rotating of
the gaming pieces.
It is also desirable to provide a magnetically operated table game that
enables movement of a
gaming piece along a given curved track.
It is also desirable to provide a magnetically operated table game that
enables movement of a
gaming piece along a given curved track that resembles a race track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a magnetically
operated table
game that is simple and enables a substantially realistic game play.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetically operated
table game that
enables reliable rotating of the gaming pieces.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetically operated
table game that
enables movement of a gaming piece along a given curved track.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetically operated
table game that
enables movement of a gaming piece along a given curved track that resembles a
race track.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
magnetically operated table
game. The magnetically operated table game comprises a support frame having a
gaming
membrane mounted thereto. At least a gaming piece is adapted for being placed
on a gaming
surface of the gaming membrane. A base of the at least a gaming piece
comprises means for
magnetic interaction. At least a controller comprises a body adapted for being
gripped by a
player's hand and means for magnetic interaction disposed in a top portion of
the body. The
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controller is adapted for being moved with respect to a controlling surface of
the gaming
membrane in touching contact therewith and for moving the at least a gaming
piece through the
magnetic interaction. The means for magnetic interaction comprise one of: the
base of the at
least a gaming piece comprising a magnet and the at least a controller
comprising a magnet; the
base of the at least a gaming piece comprising a non-magnetized metal and the
at least a
controller comprising a magnet; or, the base of the at least a gaming piece
comprising a magnet
and the at least a controller comprising a non-magnetized metal.
According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
magnetically operated table
game. The magnetically operated table game comprises a support frame having a
gaming
membrane mounted thereto. At least a gaming piece is adapted for being placed
on a gaming
surface of the gaming membrane. A base of the at least a gaming piece
comprises means for
magnetic interaction. At least a controller comprises a body adapted for being
gripped by a
player's hand and means for magnetic interaction disposed in a top portion of
the body. The
controller is adapted for being moved with respect to a controlling surface of
the gaming
membrane in touching contact therewith and for moving the at least a gaming
piece through the
magnetic interaction. The means for magnetic interaction comprise the base of
the at least a
gaming piece comprising a diametrically magnetized magnet and the at least a
controller
comprising a diametrically magnetized magnet.
According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
magnetically operated table
game. The magnetically operated table game comprises a support frame having a
gaming
membrane mounted thereto. At least a gaming piece is adapted for being placed
on a gaming
surface of the gaming membrane. A base of the at least a gaming piece
comprises means for
magnetic interaction. At least a controller comprises a body adapted for being
gripped by a
player's hand and means for magnetic interaction disposed in a top portion of
the body. The
controller is adapted for being moved with respect to a controlling surface of
the gaming
membrane in touching contact therewith and for moving the at least a gaming
piece through the
magnetic interaction. The means for magnetic interaction comprise the base of
the at least a
gaming piece comprising a diametrically magnetized magnet and the at least a
controller
comprising a diametrically magnetized magnet. The at least a gaming piece
comprises an arm
adapted for propelling an object when the gaming piece is rotated.
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According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
magnetically operated table
game. The magnetically operated table game comprises a support frame having a
gaming
membrane mounted thereto. At least a gaming piece is adapted for being placed
on a gaming
surface of the gaming membrane. A base of the at least a gaming piece
comprises means for
magnetic interaction. At least a controller comprises a body adapted for being
gripped by a
player's hand and means for magnetic interaction disposed in a top portion of
the body. The
controller is adapted for being moved with respect to a controlling surface of
the gaming
membrane in touching contact therewith and for moving the at least a gaming
piece through the
magnetic interaction. The means for magnetic interaction comprise the base of
the at least a
gaming piece comprising a magnet and the at least a controller comprising a
magnet. The
gaming membrane comprises a curved track adapted for moving the gaming piece
therealong.
According to the aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
magnetically operated table
game. The magnetically operated table game comprises a support frame having a
gaming
membrane mounted thereto. At least a gaming piece is adapted for being placed
on a gaming
surface of the gaming membrane. A base of the at least a gaming piece
comprises means for
magnetic interaction. At least a controller comprises a body adapted for being
gripped by a
player's hand and means for magnetic interaction disposed in a top portion of
the body. The
controller is adapted for being moved with respect to a controlling surface of
the gaming
membrane in touching contact therewith and for moving the at least a gaming
piece through the
magnetic interaction. The means for magnetic interaction comprise the base of
the at least a
gaming piece comprising a magnet and the at least a controller comprising a
magnet. The
gaming membrane comprises a curved track adapted for moving the gaming piece
therealong.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides a magnetically
operated table game that
is simple and enables a substantially realistic game play.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
magnetically operated table
game that enables reliable rotating of the gaming pieces.
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A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
magnetically operated table
game that enables movement of a gaming piece along a given curved track.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
magnetically operated table
game that enables movement of a gaming piece along a given curved track that
resembles a race
track.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating in a top perspective view
a
magnetically operated table game according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention;
Figures 2 to 4 are simplified block diagrams illustrating in detailed views a
gaming piece
and a controller of the magnetically operated table game according to the
preferred
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 5 is a simplified block diagram illustrating in a top perspective view
a
magnetically operated table game according to another preferred embodiment of
the
invention;
Figures 6 to 8 are simplified block diagrams illustrating in top perspective
views details
of the magnetically operated table game according to the other preferred
embodiment of
the invention;
Figure 9 is a simplified block diagram illustrating in a bottom perspective
view a gaming
piece of the magnetically operated table game according to the other preferred
embodiment of the invention;
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Figure 10 is a simplified block diagram illustrating in a top perspective view
a
magnetically operated table game according to yet another preferred embodiment
of the
invention; and,
Figure 11 is s simplified block diagram illustrating in a side view a tilted
orientation of
the gaming membrane of a magnetically operated table game according to yet
another
preferred embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same meaning
as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the
invention belongs.
Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described
herein can be used
in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and
materials are now
described.
Referring to Figures 1 to 11 a magnetically operated table game 100 according
to a preferred
embodiment of the invention is provided. The magnetically operated table game
100 comprises
support frame 102 having gaming membrane 104 mounted thereto. Gaming pieces
106
resembling, for example, players of two opposing hockey teams, are placed on
gaming surface
104A of the gaming membrane 104, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Each
gaming piece 106
comprises means for magnetic interaction disposed in base 106A thereof. For
example, the
hockey game illustrated in Figure 1 is played by two players manipulating the
gaming pieces 106
of two opposing teams. Each player is provided with two controllers 112
enabling the player to
manipulate two gaming pieces 106 at a time. Each controller 112 comprises body
112A which is,
preferably, shaped to facilitate proper gripping by the players hands. Means
for providing
magnetic interaction are disposed in a top portion of the body 112A. The body
112A comprises a
substantially flat top surface enabling the player to move the controller 112
parallel to
controlling surface 104B of the gaming membrane 104 while pressing the same
against it such
that the top surface of the body 112A is touching contact with the controlling
surface 104B of
the gaming membrane 104. Through the magnetic interaction the respective
gaming piece 106
follows the movement of the controller 112.
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The means for magnetic interaction may be provided in different
implementations. For example,
the base 106A of each gaming piece 106 comprises magnet 110 and each
controller 112
comprises a respective magnet 114 with the magnets 110 and 114 being polarized
such that there
is magnetic attraction between the magnets 110 and 114, as illustrated in
Figure 2. The magnets
110 and 114 may be axially magnetized magnets, radially magnetized magnets, or
diametrically
magnetized magnets having axial, radial, or diametrical magnetic field
directions, respectively.
Alternatively, the base 106A of each gaming piece 106 comprises a non-
magnetized metal and
each controller 112 comprising a magnet, or, the base 106A of each gaming
piece comprises a
magnet and each controller comprises a non-magnetized metal.
Preferably, respective diametrically magnetized Neodymium magnets 110 and 114
are
employed, enabling reliable lateral movement of the gaming piece 106 following
the respective
controller 112, as indicated by the block arrows in Figure 3, as well as,
reliable rotational
movement of the gaming piece 106 following rotation of the respective
controller 112 about axis
116, as indicated by the block arrows in Figure 4.
Further preferably, each gaming piece 106 comprises figurine 106B, resembling,
for example, a
hockey player, extending from the base 106A, as well as arm 106C, resembling,
for example, a
hockey stick, enabling propelling an object such as, for example, a hockey
puck, when the
gaming piece 106 is rotated.
In an example implementation of the magnetically operated table game 100, the
gaming
membrane 104 is made of commercially available foamboard having a length of 90
cm, a width
of 40 cm, and a thickness of 0.5 cm. The controller magnet 114 is a D48DIA
cylindrical magnet
having a diameter of 0.64 cm and a length of 1.27 cm. The gaming piece magnet
110 is a
D42DIA-N52 disc magnet having a diameter of 0.64 cm and a thickness of 0.32
cm. The
membrane 104 material has been chosen to have uniform thickness and
sufficiently low
permeance, while the magnets 110 and 114 have sufficient strength to enable
reliable movement
but are not too strong to enable fast movement of the gaming pieces 106. The
base 106A, the
figurine 106B, the arm 106C, and the controller body 112A are made of, for
example, a
conventional plastic material using conventional plastic moulding techniques.
The magnets 110
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and 114 are disposed in respective cavities of the gaming piece body 106A and
the controller
body 112A and secured using, for example, a snug fit or an adhesive. The
magnetically operated
table game 100 further comprises border 108 surrounding the playing area and
goals 107 made
of, for example, a conventional plastic material. The puck is a plastic disc
having 0.5 cm
diameter and 0.25 cm thickness. Preferably, the border 108, the gaming surface
104A, the
gaming pieces 106, and the goals 107 are provided such that they resemble a
hockey arena in a
substantially realistic fashion. The support frame 102 is made of, for
example, commercially
available wood profiles having a 2.5 cm X 2.5 cm square cross section and
assembled using
conventional fasteners such as screw fasteners and/or adhesive.
As is evident to one skilled in the art, the implementation of the
magnetically operated table
game 100 is not limited to the materials and dimensions described hereinabove,
but may be
adapted to various other dimensions and choices of materials such as, for
example, plexiglass
sheet material for manufacturing the gaming membrane 104, magnets 110 and 114
having
different sizes and strengths, depending on design preferences.
The employment of the handheld controllers 112 in combination with
diametrically magnetized
magnets 110 and 114 enable provision of a simple, light weight magnetically
operated table
game, while also enabling a substantially realistic game play.
It is noted that the magnetically operated table game 100, while described
hereinabove for
implementing a hockey game, is easily adapted for implementing other team
games such as, for
example, football or soccer.
In another preferred embodiment of the magnetically operated table game 100, a
curved track
122 is adapted for moving the gaming piece 106 therealong, as illustrated in
Figure 5. For
example, the track 122 is adapted to resemble a racetrack having banked curves
122A and
bridges 122B. The track 122 is disposed onto gaming membrane 104 and adhered
thereto with
supports 124 and 126 for forming the banked curves 122A and bridges 122B,
respectively, as
illustrated in Figures 6 to 8. Again, the gaming piece 106, here resembling,
for example, a race
car, is moved along the track 122, as indicated by the block arrows in Figures
7 and 8, using a
controller 112 as described hereinabove.
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In an example implementation of the other preferred embodiment of the
magnetically operated
table game 100, the gaming membrane 104 is made of commercially available
foamboard having
a length of 90 cm, a width of 40 cm, and a thickness of 0.5 cm. The track 122
is made of strips of
black foam having a thickness of 0.05 cm and a width of 2 cm. The supports 124
and 126 are
made of foamboard 0.5 cm to 1.0 cm high. The membrane 104 material and the
track 122
material have been chosen to have sufficiently low permeance, while the
magnets 110 and 114
have sufficient strength to enable reliable movement but not being too strong
to enable fast
movement of the gaming piece 106. The gaming piece 106 comprises base 106A,
figurine 106B,
wheels 106D, as illustrated in Figure 9. The base 106A, the figurine 106B, the
wheels 106D are
made of, for example, a conventional plastic material using conventional
plastic moulding
techniques. The magnet 110 is disposed in a respective cavity of the gaming
piece body 106A
and secured using, for example, a snug fit or an adhesive.
As is evident to one skilled in the art, the implementation of the other
preferred embodiment of
the magnetically operated table game 100 is not limited to the materials and
dimensions
described hereinabove, but may be adapted to various other dimensions and
choices of materials
such as, for example, plexiglass sheet material for manufacturing the gaming
membrane 104, a
single unit made of conventional plastic material moulded in a conventional
manner for
providing the track 122 which is then placed upon the gaming membrane 104 and
adhered
thereto.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the magnetically operated table game
100, a curved track
128 is adapted for moving the gaming piece 106 therealong between a starting
point 128A and
an finish point 128B, as illustrated in Figure 10. Here, the track 128 is
provided as a cut-out
disposed in board 130, made of, for example, foam board, and placed onto the
gaming surface
104A, thus forming walls 130A extending from the gaming surface 104A and
enclosing the track
128. The track 128 comprises, for example, straight sections, curves, and
sharp turns. Using a
controller 112, as described hereinabove, a gaming piece 106 is moved from the
start point 128A
to the finish point 128B following the track 128. The gaming membrane 104 is
made of, for
example, plexiglass having a thickness of 0.05 cm. The gaming piece 106 is
provided having the
shape of a disc. Therefore, the gaming piece 106 does not need to change its
orientation to
navigate the track 128 enabling use of axially magnetized magnets 110 and 114.
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The track 128 is easily adapted to provide various levels of complexity to
navigate the same
from the start point 128A to the finish point 128B and may be employed for
rehabilitation and/or
therapy of arm and shoulder muscles.
Optionally, the gaming membrane 104 is removable mounted to the support frame
102 via, for
example, ends 118 of the support frame 102 accommodated in respective openings
120 disposed
in the gaming membrane 104, as illustrated in Figure 5, thus enabling simple
exchange of
gaming membranes 104, for example, for playing different games or a same game
at different
levels of complexity.
Further optionally, the support structure 102 may be adapted in a conventional
manner for
providing the magnetically operated table game 100 as a free standing table
game, a tabletop
game, or for being placed on a user's lap.
Further optionally, the support structure 102 is adapted such that the gaming
membrane 104 is
oriented at a predetermined angle - to a horizontal, as illustrated in Figure
11.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of
variations and
modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
described
herein.
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