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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/713,020, Filed Aug. 31, 2005.
1.) Field of Invention
The present invention relates to game boards incorporating a striking mechanism to hit, move or block a playing piece for game movement.
2.) Description of Related Art
Typical game boards employing strikers have them mounted on stationary pivot hinges or stationary one directional back and forth slide mechanisms such as in foose ball. In these cases, several strikers must be employed to cover the game area. Other game boards use strikers that are held by one hand to hit or block the puck as in air hockey. This means that aiming and striking the puck is not well controlled. Achieving accurate positioning of the puck after strike is not easily achieved.
Overcoming these difficulties, the present invention offers a new game board, striker and playing piece with improved striker movement, control and striking accuracy. The present invention is comprised of a game board having an elevated rail around the game board sides. A striker with extended striking tabs is provided. The striker sits and moves on the game board's rails. A suitable striker length permits the striker to move up and down the game board length sliding on the board rails. The striker can also freely move back and forth across the width of the board as defined by the length of the striker and the extended striking tab spacing. The striker can be held by two hands with the tabs positioned to contact a round, half round or flat playing piece such as a coin. The playing piece sits the game board surface and is directed by contact from the striker tabs. The playing piece is not hindered by and can move under the striker body being obstructed and contacted only by the striker tabs. To allow for the best accuracy, the striker can be in contact with opposite board rails when striking the playing piece. The two rail-striking configuration will also allow one hand operation, if needed.
The principle object of the invention is to provide a game board and striker, which allow improved striker movement and control with improved playing piece shot accuracy.
A further object of the invention is to provide the game board a half round or flat playing piece such a coin, for controlled movement on game board surface after it is struck.
Other objects and advantages will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.
In the drawing, where in like numerals refer to like parts throughout:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the game board of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. 1, a game board including two strikers and a coin playing piece. The game board is comprised of a playing board (10) and elevated rail (12) going around the playing board and enclosing the board sides. The playing board (10) is rectangular as shown in the drawing but may be square or virtually any shape desired. The playing board (10) and rail (12) may be any dimension or size and made of wood, plastic or any other suitable material. The playing board (10) includes two goal apertures (14) in this embodiment extending ¾″ into the game board. The apertures (14) in this embodiment adapted to receive the movable coin-playing piece. The apertures (14) in the playing board (10) may be of any number or cross-sectional shape, depth and arrangement desired. The rail (12) may also be provided with apertures allowing a playing piece to move from the game board if struck through the rail aperture. Apertures as envisioned in other embodiments need not be provided.
The game board of the present invention incorporates strikers (16) with elongated tabs (18) extending from the body of the striker (16). The striker body (16) and striker tabs (18) as shown in the drawing are square but may be rectangular, round or virtually any. The striker in this embodiment (16) is positioned on two opposite game board rails (12) which allows the striker to slide up and down the length of the game board (10). The striker body (16) can also move freely back and forth across the width of the game board (10) as defined by the length of the striker (16) and the spacing of the striker tabs (18). The length of the striker (16) and spacing of the striker tabs (18) is not limited.
In game-play and as shown in FIG. 1, the striker (16) can be held by two hands with the striker tabs (18) positioned to contact a playing piece (20). In this embodiment the playing piece is a flat coin but can be half round, round, or any other shape desired and made from any suitable material. The playing piece (20) sitting on the game board (10) is struck by the striker tab (18) to move the playing piece into a goal aperture or other position as desired or directed by game rules. The playing piece (20) is not hindered by the striker body (16) and can freely move under the striker body (16) except in striker tab locations (18). To allow for the best accuracy of a struck playing piece (20), the striker (16) can be in contact with both opposite board rails (12) when the playing piece (20) is struck by striker tab (18). The opposite two rail striking configuration will also allow one hand operation if necessary or desired. However, the striker can be positioned on one rail to strike the playing piece or on none of the rails. The configurations are unlimited.
It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as illustrative only and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the elements may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.