Structure of a soccer game table

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

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a soccer
 game table and in particular to one which enables a player to deploy the
 playing figures in different formations.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 The conventional soccer game table generally includes a rectangular,
 box-like playing area supported on four angularly mounted and reinforced
 legs, a plurality of axially slidable actuating rods are mounted extending
 transversely of the playing area, and a plurality of playing figures
 mounted on the actuating rods. However, the playing figures arranged above
 the playing surface of the table in a fixed formation which cannot be
 changed as desired thereby making the game dull and monotonous.
 Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
 improvement in the structure of a soccer game table which can obviate and
 mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of a soccer
 game table.
 According a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved
 soccer game table includes a rectangular box-like member, a plurality of
 axially slidable actuating rods mounted extending transversely of the
 rectangular box-like member, and a plurality of playing figures mounted on
 said actuating rods, wherein the playing figures can be randomly arranged
 on the actuating rods as desired
 It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved
 soccer game table which enables a player to deploy the playing figures in
 different formations as desired.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved soccer
 game table of which the playing figures can be arranged on different
 positions on the actuating rods.
 It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved
 soccer game table which can be controlled to kick up the ball.
 It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved
 soccer game table of which the playing figures have replaceable feet.
 It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved
 soccer game table of which the playing figures can be arranged at a
 horizontal position
 It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved
 soccer game table which can simulate a real soccer game.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved
 soccer game table which will give a lot of fin to the player.
 The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief introduction to the
 present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the
 present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will
 become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed
 description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction
 with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings
 identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. Many
 other advantages and features of the present invention will become
 manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed
 description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred
 structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present
 invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the playing figures 3 of the
 soccer game table according to the present invention can be deployed in
 different formations as desired.
 As shown in FIG. 1, the playing figures 3 in left side of the soccer game
 table are arranged in 1-2-4-4 defense formation, while the playing figures
 3 in the right side of the soccer game table are deployed in 4-4-2-1
 attack formation.
 As shown in FIG. 2, the playing figures 3 in left side of the soccer game
 table are arranged in 2-4-3-2 formation, while the playing figures 3 in
 the right side of the soccer game table are deployed in 2-4-2-3 formation.
 As shown in FIG. 3, the playing figures 3 in both sides of the soccer game
 table are arranged in 3-3-2-3 formation. As shown in FIG. 4, the playing
 figures 3 in left side of the soccer game table are arranged in 2-4-3-2
 formation, while the playing figures 3 in the right side of the soccer
 game table are deployed in 3-4-2-3 formation. As shown in FIG. 5, the
 playing figures 3 in left side of the soccer game table are arranged in
 2-3-2-4 formation, while the playing figures 3 in the right side of the
 soccer game table are deployed in 4-4-2-1 formation. As shown in FIG. 6,
 the playing figures 3 in left side of the soccer game table are arranged
 in 3-4-2-2 formation, while the playing figures 3 in the right side of the
 soccer game table are deployed in 3-3-2-3 formation.
 The soccer game table according to the present invention generally
 comprises a rectangular box-like member (shown but not numbered), a
 plurality of axially slidable actuating rods 2 mounted extending
 transversely of the rectangular box-like member, and a plurality of
 playing figures 3 mounted on the actuating rods 2.
 Referring to FIG. 7, the playing FIG. 3 comprises a head 30, a body 34 and
 a foot 35. The head 30 is formed at the lower portion with a neck 301
 having an internal threaded hole 300 (see FIG. 10) which is open at the
 bottom. The body 34 has an upper threaded end 31 configured to engage with
 the internal threaded hole 300 of the head 30 and divided into two halves
 by a slot 33 adapted to receive an actuating rod 2. The foot 35 is
 provided with a projection 350 at the lower portion.
 In assembly, the actuating rod 2 is first fitted in the slot 33 of the body
 34 of the playing FIG. 3 and then the head 30 is engaged with the upper
 threaded end 32 of the body 34 to fasten the actuating rod 2 in the body
 34. Hence, the playing FIG. 3 can be arranged at any desired position on
 the actuating rod 2 by loosening the head 30 thereby enabling a player to
 deploy the formation of the playing figures as desired.
 FIG. 8 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
 As shown, the bottom of the actuating rod 2 is formed with a circular
 recess 20 configured to engage with a circular protuberance 330 on the
 bottom of the slot 33 of the playing FIG. 3. FIG. 9 illustrates a third
 preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the actuating rod 2
 has a flat bottom 21 adapted to engage with a flat the bottom 331 of the
 slot 33 of the playing FIG. 3.
 Turning to FIG. 10, the playing FIG. 3 is arranged to locate the projection
 350 of the foot 35 at the rear side so that when the ball 4 is kicked by
 the flat surface of the foot 35, it will go forward along the surface of
 the soccer game table. However, if the playing FIG. 3 is arranged to
 locate the projection 350 of the foot 35 at the front side so that when
 the ball 4 is kicked by the projection 350 of the foot 35, it will go
 upwardly along a projectile path as shown in FIG. 11.
 The head 30 of the playing FIG. 3 may be made of heavy material so that the
 playing FIG. 3 can be kept at a horizontal position thereby enabling it to
 simulate the tackling action and therefore increasing the fun.
 FIG. 12 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
 As shown, the body of the playing FIG. 3 may be composed a left body 341
 and a right body 342 pivotally to the left body 341 by a pin 340. The
 actuating rod 20 is clamped between the left and right bodies 341 and 342.
 The left and right bodies 341 and 342 are provided with threaded upper
 ends configured to engage with the head 30.
 FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a fifth preferred embodiment of the present
 invention. As shown, the foot 351 may be of angular surfaces (see FIG. 14)
 a circular surface (see FIG. 15), or the like. The foot 351 has a hole 352
 in which are fitted a spring 45 and a lower end of a circular rod 34
 extending downwardly from the body of the playing figure. The lower end of
 the circular rod 34 is formed with a threaded center hole 345 in which is
 threadedly engaged with a threaded upper end 41 of a bolt 40. The bolt 40
 has a rectangular cap 42 adapted to fit into a rectangular recess 353 at
 the bottom of the foot 351. When desired to dismount the foot 351 from the
 playing FIG. 3, it is only necessary to push the foot 351 upwardly to
 disengage the cap 42 of the bolt 40 from the foot 351 and then turn the
 bolt 40 to disengage the foot 351 from the circular rod 34. Accordingly,
 the foot 351 can be easily disengaged from the playing figure and replaced
 with another one with different configuration as desired.
 It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or
 more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods
 differing from the type described above.
 While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and
 described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to
 be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various
 omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and
 details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by
 those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of
 the present invention.