Abstract:
A magnetic table game includes a table having a smooth top playing surface, a goal at each end of the table, a projectile defined by a plastic ring carrying a freely rotatable steel ball bearing, and a pair of plastic sticks containing a magnet in their blade ends for insertion beneath the table to move the projectile along the playing surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a table game, and in particular to a magnetic table game. 
     The invention was intended as a table hockey game, but the same combination of elements can be used in a simulated soccer or other game including a projectile and goal. For the most part, the following description is directed to a table hockey game. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Table hockey games in which a plurality of miniature players are manipulated on a playing surface are well known. In such games, a marble or other simulated puck is propelled around the playing surface by moving the players so that the players or sticks integral with the players strike the puck. The players either remain in one position and rotate or can be moved a limited distance along the playing surface. 
     Magnetically operated table games are also described in the patent literature. Examples of such games are disclosed by Canadian Patent No. 832,328, issued to J. J. Beelien on Jan. 20, 1970, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,263,115, issued to L. A. Winter on Nov. 18, 1941; U.S. Pat. No. 2,716,028, issued to B. W. Yaeger on Aug. 28, 1955; U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,459, issued to G. E. Lindman on May 28, 1963, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,040, issued to G. Fernandez on Mar. 15, 1977. In general terms, the games include a table, the top surface of which defines a playing surface, and a plurality of player pieces which are magnetically manipulated on the playing surface by magnets in the players and/or activating sticks or handles beneath the table. In the case of table hockey games described in the patents, a simulated puck is propelled by forcibly moving a player against the puck. 
     GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a relatively amusing and challenging table game in which a projectile is directly manipulated by persons playing the game, rather than indirectly by simulated players on a playing surface. 
     Accordingly, the invention relates to a table game comprising a frame; legs for supporting said frame in an elevated position; a panel in said frame having a top surface defining a playing surface; a ferromagnetic projectile for sliding along said playing surface; at least one goal on said playing surface for receiving the projectile; and an elongated stick for moving the projectile on the playing surface, said stick including a handle end for manual manipulation of the stick and a magnetic end for movement beneath the panel to effect corresponding movement of the projectile on the playing surface. 
     More specifically, the invention relates to a table hockey game comprising a frame; legs for supporting said frame in an elevated position; a panel in said frame having a top surface defining a playing surface; a ferromagnetic puck for sliding along said playing surface; at least one goal on said playing surface for receiving the puck; and an elongated stick for moving the puck on the playing surface, said stick including a handle end for manual manipulation of the stick and a magnetic end for movement beneath the panel to effect corresponding movement of the puck on the playing surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table hockey game in accordance with the present invention as seen from above; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the game of FIG. 1 as seen from below; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a goal used in the game of FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternate goal used in the game of FIGS. 1 and 2 and 
     FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned side view of one end of a stick and a puck used in the game of FIGS.  1  and  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a table hockey game in accordance with the invention includes a table indicated generally at  1 . The table  1  is defined by a generally rectangular frame  2  supported in an elevated position by four legs  3  at the corners thereof, and a panel  4  in the frame  2 . The frame  2  includes a pair of sides  5  and ends  6  connected to the sides by rivets  7 . Ledges  8  (FIG. 2) on the sides  5  and the ends  6  support the panel  4 . The panel is formed of Masonite (trade-mark) or plastic, and has a smooth top side defining a playing surface  9 . The sides  5  and ends  6  of the frame  2  defined boards around the playing surface  9 . Lines, circles and dots are painted on the playing surface  9  to represent, center ice  10 , a center red line  11 , blue lines  12 , goal lines  13 , and face-off circles  14 . 
     A pair of goals, indicated generally at  15  are provided at the ends of the playing surface  9 . As best shown in FIG. 3, each goal  15  is defined by a plastic container  16  having the general shape of a hockey goalkeeper. A picture  17  of a goalkeeper is painted on the front wall  18  of the container  16 . An opening  19  is provided at the bottom of the front wall  18  between the goalkeeper&#39;s legs, and a second opening  20  is provided in the goalkeeper&#39;s head. The openings  19  and  20  define targets for a puck  21  described in greater detail below. The bottom end  22  of the container  16  is open, and the goalkeeper is placed over an opening  23  (FIG. 3) in the panel  4 , so that the puck  21  entering the container can drop through the opening into a cup  24  (FIG.  2 ). The cup  24  has an open rear end  25  permitting retrieval of the puck  21  from the cup each time a goal is scored. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, access to one or both of the goals  15  can be restricted by fences removably mounted on the playing surface  9 . Each fence includes a rubber band  26  mounted on pins  27  which are inserted into holes or recesses  28  in the top of the panel  4 . A plurality of spaced apart recesses  28  are provided in a row, so that the positions of the fences can be changed to alter the length of the gap between the fences and consequently to limit access to the goal  15 . 
     With reference to FIG. 4, an alternative goal is defined by a target indicated generally at  29 , which can be placed in front of and spaced apart from one of the goalkeepers  15  for shooting practice by one or more players. The target  29  includes a generally rectangular panel  30  with a picture of a hockey net painted thereon, and thereon, and five bull&#39;s-eyes (four shown) on discs  31  which are releasably mounted in openings  32  in the panel  30 . When a puck  21  strikes one of the discs  31 , the disc is knocked out of the panel, but can be replaced for additional practice. 
     A pair of wedge-shaped ramps  33  (FIG. 1) are provided on the playing surface  9  for giving the puck  21  loft, i.e. for raising the puck. The ramps  33  are made of injection molded plastic. One ramp  33  is inclined upwardly towards one goal  15 , and the other ramp is inclined towards the other goal  15 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the puck  21  is defined by a plastic sleeve  34  with radially inwardly extending flanges  35  on the ends thereof retaining a steel (ferromagnetic) ball  36  therein. As a practical matter, a steel ball bearing is used for the ball  36 . The flanges  35  permit free rotation and limited vertical movement of the ball  36  in the sleeve  34 , so that the puck  21  slides smoothly along the playing surface  9 . From FIG. 5, it will be noted that the top flange  35  is the only portion of the sleeve  34  contacted by the ball  36  when the puck is in use. 
     The puck  21  is propelled along the playing surface  9  by a stick generally indicated at  33  (FIGS.  1  and  5 ). The stick  38  includes an elongated, square cross section, plastic body  39  with a shape resembling that of a regular hockey stick. One end  40  (FIG. 1) of the body  39  defines a handle for manual manipulation of the stick  38  beneath the table  1 . A disc-shaped permanent magnet  42  is mounted in a well  43  in the other end  44  of the body  39 . The magnet is preferably an Nd—Fe—B magnet. The magnet  42  is glued in the well  43 . However, resilient flanges or tabs (not shown) could be provided at the top end of the well for retaining the magnet therein. 
     Normally, the hockey game is played by two players (not shown) who position themselves on opposite sides of the table  1 . The puck  21  is placed on center ice  10  and the players move their sticks  38  in an attempt to gain control of and move the puck  21 . The puck  21  is moved by drawing the magnet  42  along the bottom surface of the panel  4  with the puck in vertical alignment with the magnet. When the stick  38  is moved abruptly downwardly, the puck  21  continues to move horizontally in the direction the stick was moving. When the puck  21  is moved rapidly up a ramp  33 , the ball  36  is released by the magnet, and the puck becomes airborne. 
     It will be appreciated that when the game is in the form of a soccer game, the markings on the playing surface and the goals will resemble those found on an actual soccer field.