Title:
MINIATURE SOCCER-FOOTBALL GAME TOY
United States Patent 3806119
Abstract:
A miniature soccer-football game having a plurality of gameboard players each mounted for movement along a respective guide slot in the gameboard; each player being mounted on a rod extending through the slot and connected to an iron core adapted to be moved through at least one electro-magnetic coil energizable through actuation of a switch responsive to a key being depressed on a control keyboard, so as to impart corresponding movement to the player.
US Patent References:
Game apparatus
MacDougall - March 1936 - 2035271
Control system for bowling balls and the like
Stegman et al. - July 1963 - 3099446
Game apparatus
MacDougall - March 1936 - 2035271
Control system for bowling balls and the like
Stegman et al. - July 1963 - 3099446
Application Number:
05/288165
Publication Date:
04/23/1974
Filing Date:
09/11/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
273/129R
International Classes:
A63F7/26; A63F7/06
Field of Search:
273/85R,85E,85F,94E,94F,129,119A 46/234,235 124/1,3
Primary Examiner:
Oechsle, Anton O.
Assistant Examiner:
Strappello, Harry G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Walters, Eric H.
Claims:
What I claim is
1. An apparatus for playing toy miniature soccer-football on a gameboard field having a plurality of guide slots formed therein and distributed about said field in predetermined relationship; rod means extending through each of said guide slots; figure means representative of player being mounted on each of said rod means and extending above said field; and means for imparting movement to each of said rod means along an associated guide slot, said last-mentioned means including a pair of keyboards; finger pressure-actuatable keys being mounted on said keyboards; and an electrical circuit interconnecting each said rod means and respectively one of said keys, said electrical circuit including at least one coil forming an electro-magnet and actuating switch means responsive to pressure on said key; an iron core positioned below each said guide slot and extending through said coil, each said iron core being fastened to a respectively one of said player-supporting rod means, said iron core being movable along said coil in response to actuation of said switch means closing said electrical circuit; a pair of said coils, said iron core being adapted for movement through said coils in response to actuation of said switch means.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said iron core being normally biased toward one of said coils so as to position said rod means at one end of said guide slot, actuation of said switch means in response to finger pressure on said key imparting movement to said rod means toward the other end of said guide slot, and release of said finger pressure from said key deactivating said switch means for effecting return of said rod means to the first-mentioned end of said guide slot.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising resilient spring means connected to said iron core, said spring means normally biasing said rod means toward a first end of said guide slot.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said iron core being movable in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means in response to actuation of said switch means upon finger pressure being applied to said key so as to move said rod means toward the other end of said guide slot.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said electrical circuit being a low voltage circuit adapted to be connected to an electrical power supply through a step-down transformer.
1. An apparatus for playing toy miniature soccer-football on a gameboard field having a plurality of guide slots formed therein and distributed about said field in predetermined relationship; rod means extending through each of said guide slots; figure means representative of player being mounted on each of said rod means and extending above said field; and means for imparting movement to each of said rod means along an associated guide slot, said last-mentioned means including a pair of keyboards; finger pressure-actuatable keys being mounted on said keyboards; and an electrical circuit interconnecting each said rod means and respectively one of said keys, said electrical circuit including at least one coil forming an electro-magnet and actuating switch means responsive to pressure on said key; an iron core positioned below each said guide slot and extending through said coil, each said iron core being fastened to a respectively one of said player-supporting rod means, said iron core being movable along said coil in response to actuation of said switch means closing said electrical circuit; a pair of said coils, said iron core being adapted for movement through said coils in response to actuation of said switch means.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said iron core being normally biased toward one of said coils so as to position said rod means at one end of said guide slot, actuation of said switch means in response to finger pressure on said key imparting movement to said rod means toward the other end of said guide slot, and release of said finger pressure from said key deactivating said switch means for effecting return of said rod means to the first-mentioned end of said guide slot.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising resilient spring means connected to said iron core, said spring means normally biasing said rod means toward a first end of said guide slot.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said iron core being movable in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means in response to actuation of said switch means upon finger pressure being applied to said key so as to move said rod means toward the other end of said guide slot.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said electrical circuit being a low voltage circuit adapted to be connected to an electrical power supply through a step-down transformer.
Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to toys and, more particularly, to a novel toy for playing miniature soccer-football.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
At present, there are known in the art toys for playing miniature soccer-football. One such toy consists of a gameboard positioned on a table of relatively small size on which a simulated football field is provided and on which players operate, with the players being formed of figures fixed onto pivotable bars which extend through the surface of the field. A ball, consisting of a sphere of semi-rigid material such as fiber or the like, is impelled upon contact by the pivotal motion and longitudinal displacement of the bars. The bars are manipulated by the persons or operators playing; one person being positioned at each side of the miniature soccer field, so as to operate their respective teams, by manipulating the bars which are provided in a number commensurate to define complete teams consisting of a front row of forwards, a middle row of half-backs, a rear row of full-backs, and of a goal-keeper.
The prior art method of operating the game is physically exhausting, since not only mental ability is required for manipulating the players in accordance with the movement of the ball, but also extensive physical capacity is needed for rapidly manipulating the bars, which in turn are adapted to drive one or more of the players fastened thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to simplify the operation of the toy by requiring the operation of simple elements only for moving the players on the gameboard field, therefore employing primarily the mental abilities of the operators since the movement of the players is effected by merely applying finger pressure to a specially equipped keyboard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference may now be had to the detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a gameboard illustrating the miniature soccer-football toy according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit for one of the keyboard elements for operating the toy;
FIG. 3 is a partly schematic view of the mechanical components adapted to be actuated by the electrical circuit of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partially schematic illustration of a complete electrical and mechanical system for operating one of the players of the toy; and
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are a second embodiment of a mechanical and electrical system for operating one of the players of the toy.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates in plan view slots II, II' in the gameboard, which serve as guides for allowing movement of pivots III, III' extending therethrough, which form the movable bases onto which are fastened the figures each representing players J on the game soccer-football field.
Although the disposition of the set of slots is shown to be at random, care must be exercised that the distribution over the board surface ensures the propelling of the ball so that at times the movement of one player of one team contacting the ball is opposed by the movement of a player of the other team. At other times the actuation of a player positioned so as to apparently separated from the rest may provide a defensive action, as is the case of player J'.
As shown, a keyboard utilized to command the pivots and consequently the respectively associated players includes, for each team, two central keys A and B, and A' and B' which correspond to the goal-keeper for each team and are adapted to provide control for moving him to the left or to the right, and with the ten remaining keys being adapted to provide control which corresponds to the remaining players on the front row, middle row and defense row. Each team has a keyboard 6 and 6', which may be located behind each of the goals or at the sides of the gameboard as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1.
During the game, the key corresponding to player J is pressed by any finger of an operator, thus effecting the movement of pivot III along guide slot II of player J.
The actuation of each of the players, directed from the keyboard, is effected by means of an electric circuit as illustrated in FIG. 2. The circuit includes two electro-magnetic coils 1 and 2, each having three terminals l, m and n, the intermediate terminal m being provided with a switch S 2 for coil 1, and a switch S 3 for coil 2. Each movable element of the switches is connected to the fixed elements of a further switch S 1 which forms the key adapted to receive the operator's finger pressure for actuation of the gameboard player associated with that particular circuit.
The electric circuit shows the procedure with which the switch S 1 , coil 1 or coil 2 may be activated. As shown in FIG. 3, if a movable common iron core 3 is adapted for movement along coil 1 or along coil 2, depending upon which of the coils is energized, and guided by a plastic tube 5. When, attached to this movable iron core, there is provided one of the pivots III, onto which is fastened one of the players, then the movement of that particular player is effected along correspondingly associated guide II, the length of which may, for example, be approximately 4 cms. (1 inch 9/16) or any other dimension in proportion to the size of the field being employed. The force with which the player will move is dependent upon the value of the current supplied to each coil and this in turn depends upon the small voltage applied to terminals T and T', the voltage being obtained by means of a transformer (not shown), the primary winding of which may be connected into any suitable industrial or residential power supply.
As shown in FIG. 4, this illustrates in schematic the mechanical design and the connections of the electrical circuit of FIGS. 2 and 3, and in elevation the disposition of coils 1 and 2 with the common iron core 3 and respective pivot III. This assembly is positioned immediately below the board shown in FIG. 1. Similar assemblies are used for the other players of the gameboard.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, quite similar to that of FIGS. 2 to 4, however, in which the actuation of pivot III, and therefore of the player fastened thereto, is effected by the combined action of a single coil 1, connected in the same way as in the circuit described in FIG. 2, but having a switch S 2 with a single contact, and a spring 7 for biasing the iron core 3 in the opposite direction. The operation as well as the description thereof, is otherwise quite similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4.
While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the inventiion, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification.
The present invention generally relates to toys and, more particularly, to a novel toy for playing miniature soccer-football.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
At present, there are known in the art toys for playing miniature soccer-football. One such toy consists of a gameboard positioned on a table of relatively small size on which a simulated football field is provided and on which players operate, with the players being formed of figures fixed onto pivotable bars which extend through the surface of the field. A ball, consisting of a sphere of semi-rigid material such as fiber or the like, is impelled upon contact by the pivotal motion and longitudinal displacement of the bars. The bars are manipulated by the persons or operators playing; one person being positioned at each side of the miniature soccer field, so as to operate their respective teams, by manipulating the bars which are provided in a number commensurate to define complete teams consisting of a front row of forwards, a middle row of half-backs, a rear row of full-backs, and of a goal-keeper.
The prior art method of operating the game is physically exhausting, since not only mental ability is required for manipulating the players in accordance with the movement of the ball, but also extensive physical capacity is needed for rapidly manipulating the bars, which in turn are adapted to drive one or more of the players fastened thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to simplify the operation of the toy by requiring the operation of simple elements only for moving the players on the gameboard field, therefore employing primarily the mental abilities of the operators since the movement of the players is effected by merely applying finger pressure to a specially equipped keyboard.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference may now be had to the detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a gameboard illustrating the miniature soccer-football toy according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit for one of the keyboard elements for operating the toy;
FIG. 3 is a partly schematic view of the mechanical components adapted to be actuated by the electrical circuit of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partially schematic illustration of a complete electrical and mechanical system for operating one of the players of the toy; and
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are a second embodiment of a mechanical and electrical system for operating one of the players of the toy.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates in plan view slots II, II' in the gameboard, which serve as guides for allowing movement of pivots III, III' extending therethrough, which form the movable bases onto which are fastened the figures each representing players J on the game soccer-football field.
Although the disposition of the set of slots is shown to be at random, care must be exercised that the distribution over the board surface ensures the propelling of the ball so that at times the movement of one player of one team contacting the ball is opposed by the movement of a player of the other team. At other times the actuation of a player positioned so as to apparently separated from the rest may provide a defensive action, as is the case of player J'.
As shown, a keyboard utilized to command the pivots and consequently the respectively associated players includes, for each team, two central keys A and B, and A' and B' which correspond to the goal-keeper for each team and are adapted to provide control for moving him to the left or to the right, and with the ten remaining keys being adapted to provide control which corresponds to the remaining players on the front row, middle row and defense row. Each team has a keyboard 6 and 6', which may be located behind each of the goals or at the sides of the gameboard as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1.
During the game, the key corresponding to player J is pressed by any finger of an operator, thus effecting the movement of pivot III along guide slot II of player J.
The actuation of each of the players, directed from the keyboard, is effected by means of an electric circuit as illustrated in FIG. 2. The circuit includes two electro-magnetic coils 1 and 2, each having three terminals l, m and n, the intermediate terminal m being provided with a switch S 2 for coil 1, and a switch S 3 for coil 2. Each movable element of the switches is connected to the fixed elements of a further switch S 1 which forms the key adapted to receive the operator's finger pressure for actuation of the gameboard player associated with that particular circuit.
The electric circuit shows the procedure with which the switch S 1 , coil 1 or coil 2 may be activated. As shown in FIG. 3, if a movable common iron core 3 is adapted for movement along coil 1 or along coil 2, depending upon which of the coils is energized, and guided by a plastic tube 5. When, attached to this movable iron core, there is provided one of the pivots III, onto which is fastened one of the players, then the movement of that particular player is effected along correspondingly associated guide II, the length of which may, for example, be approximately 4 cms. (1 inch 9/16) or any other dimension in proportion to the size of the field being employed. The force with which the player will move is dependent upon the value of the current supplied to each coil and this in turn depends upon the small voltage applied to terminals T and T', the voltage being obtained by means of a transformer (not shown), the primary winding of which may be connected into any suitable industrial or residential power supply.
As shown in FIG. 4, this illustrates in schematic the mechanical design and the connections of the electrical circuit of FIGS. 2 and 3, and in elevation the disposition of coils 1 and 2 with the common iron core 3 and respective pivot III. This assembly is positioned immediately below the board shown in FIG. 1. Similar assemblies are used for the other players of the gameboard.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, quite similar to that of FIGS. 2 to 4, however, in which the actuation of pivot III, and therefore of the player fastened thereto, is effected by the combined action of a single coil 1, connected in the same way as in the circuit described in FIG. 2, but having a switch S 2 with a single contact, and a spring 7 for biasing the iron core 3 in the opposite direction. The operation as well as the description thereof, is otherwise quite similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4.
While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the inventiion, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification.