Abstract:
A tabletop game for head-to-head competition including a platform having a curved path. The game includes a plurality of knock-down objects configured to be knocked down by a ball. The ball includes a weighting that is off center from a geometric center of the ball causing the ball to roll in a non-linear path.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a tabletop object knock-down game, and more particularly a tabletop game for head-to-head competition in object knock-down.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Children often enjoy competing in head-to-head competition. Games that provide action oriented head-to-head competition are popular among children of all ages. Games that involve action oriented head-to-head competition are often large in size and expensive. For example, Fooze® ball is a popular game that simulates soccer, and Air Hockey is a popular game that simulates ice hockey. One problem with these games is that they require expensive furniture-size equipment that take up considerable space and are not easily moved or packed up.  
         [0003]     Games can be more fun when an element of skill is required to succeed at the game. Well known games, such as shooting marbles, require participants to develop a level of skill at shooting marbles. Various techniques may be used to increase one&#39;s skill and prowess at effectively hitting the target when playing marbles.  
         [0004]     It would be desirable to provide a tabletop game that is action oriented and provides head-to-head competition, where, with practice, players can develop and improve their skill at playing the game. Such a game would be popular with children and provide a mobile head-to-head format for children to compete. A skill element added to the play of the game enhances its play value.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     A tabletop game for head-to-head competition includes a platform having a curved path. The game includes a plurality of knock-down objects configured to be positioned in an un-knocked down orientation on the platform and to be knocked down by a ball. The ball includes a center of gravity offset from a geometric center of the ball to permit the ball to roll in a non-linear path. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an object knock-down game according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the object knock-down game of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic view of a travel path for a weighted ball for use with the game of  FIG. 1 , showing an orientation for creating a curved travel path.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic view of a travel path for a weighted ball for use with the game of  FIG. 1 , showing an orientation for creating a random travel path.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3C  is a schematic view of a travel path for a weighted ball for use with the game of  FIG. 1 , showing another orientation for creating a random travel path.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3D  is a schematic view of a travel path for a weighted ball for use with the game of  FIG. 1 , showing another orientation for creating a curved travel path.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial schematic perspective view of a reset mechanism for use with the game of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 5A  is a bottom plan view of the game of  FIG. 1 , showing the reset mechanism.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5B  is a top plan view of the game of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the function of the reset mechanism as set in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of another embodiment of an object knock-down game according to the present invention, illustrating a U-shaped platform configuration.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of another embodiment of an object knock-down game according to the present invention, illustrating an S-shaped platform configuration.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of another embodiment of an object knock-down game according to the present invention, illustrating a plus-shaped configuration. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     An object knock-down game according to the present invention is generally indicated at  10 , in  FIG. 1 . Game  10  is played on a game platform  12 . A set of knock-down objects  14  are positioned on game platform  12 . Knock-down objects  14  may be positioned initially in an upright, or not knocked down/un-knocked down position. A game ball  16  may be rolled along game platform  12  to knock down the knock-down objects. Gutters or traps  18  may be positioned along portions of platform  12  to catch the game ball as it travels toward knock-down objects  14 .  
         [0019]     Game platform  12  may include a reset lever  20  configured to return knock-down objects  14  to an upright position. Game platform  12  may include a banner divider  22  to separate two halves of the game platform.  
         [0020]     The two halves of game platform  12  are more clearly illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A different player uses each half of game platform  12  and rolls their game ball  16  toward their set of knock-down objects. Players roll game ball  16  in an attempt to send the ball along a curved path  24  that intersects the knock-down objects.  
         [0021]     A first player rolls their game ball from first player end  26  along game platform  12  in an attempt to knock down the first player&#39;s set of knock-down objects  14 . Similarly, A second player rolls their game ball  16  along game platform  12  in an attempt to knock-down the second player&#39;s set of knock-down objects  14 . Score is determined by the number of knock-down objects  14  knocked down during a players attempt. No score results if the player&#39;s game ball  16  fails to knock down any of objects  14 , or lands in trap  18 .  
         [0022]     Each player&#39;s knock-down objects  14  are positioned in a target zone  30  on platform  12 . Banner divider  22  may divide the target zone into two sections, one for each player. As noted above, players roll their game balls  16  toward their portions of target zone  30  in an attempt to knock down objects  14 . Game balls  16  employ a weighting bias that places the center of gravity of the ball offset from the geometric center of the game ball.  
         [0023]     Game ball  16  employs a weighting bias to achieve rolling travel paths that are non-linear. It will be understood that any number of weighting methods may be used to offset the center of gravity of game ball  16  from the geometric center of game ball  16 . For example, a high-density weight may be embedded inside ball  16  in a position that moves the ball&#39;s center of gravity. One method of creating ball  16  includes using a first hemisphere  32  of a first material having a relatively high density and a second hemisphere  34  of a second material having a relatively low density; the densities of the first and second hemisphere being relatively related to one another.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate the effects of offsetting the center of gravity of game ball  16  from the geometric center of game ball  16 .  FIGS. 3A and 3D  illustrate curved travel paths for game ball  16 , and  FIGS. 3B and 3C  illustrate random travel paths for game ball  16 .  
         [0025]     Aligning an equator line  37  of ball  16  vertically and positioning first hemisphere  32 , the higher density hemisphere, on the left side of vertically aligned equator line  37 , may achieve a leftward curved travel path  36 . Rolling game ball  16  forwardly along equator line  37  causes ball  16  to roll along a leftward curved travel path  36 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . Similarly, aligning equator line  37  of ball  16  and positioning first hemisphere  32 , the higher density hemisphere, on the right side of vertically aligned equator line  37 , may achieve a rightward curved travel path  42 . Rolling game ball  16  forwardly along equator line  37  causes ball  16  to roll along a leftward curved travel path  36 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3D .  
         [0026]     Not aligning equator line  37  either vertically, or with the direction of rolling, causes ball  16  to travel along a random travel path  40 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3B and 3C . The unpredictable random travel path is caused by shifting of the center of gravity of ball  16  about the center of geometry of ball  16 .  
         [0027]     A player tries to control game ball  16  when rolling it towards obstacles  14  to achieve a desired curve, in hopes of hitting the obstacles in target zone  30 . The radius of the leftward curved travel path  36  and rightward curved travel path  42  is governed by the velocity that game ball  16  is rolled. Higher velocities lengthen the radius of curvature for each curved travel path. If a player is successful at knocking down obstacles  14  with their role, a means of easily returning the obstacles to an upright position may be needed.  
         [0028]     A reset lever  20  may be used to reset obstacles  14  after they have been knocked down.  FIG. 4  illustrates how reset lever  20  connects with knock-down objects  14 . A tether  44  securely attaches to knock-down object  14 . Attachment of tether  44  may be any suitable method that enables the knock-down object to be positioned upright when the tether is tensioned. Tether  44  passes through a tether hole  45  in game platform  12 . Tether holes  45  may be positioned in preselected locations in target zone  30 . A loop  46 , in the end of tether  44  that is distal from the end attached to knock-down object  14 , may be attached to a loop pin  48  located on a pull arm  56  of reset lever  20 .  
         [0029]     Each object  14  attaches to a tether  44  that is connected via loop  46  to loop pin  48 . A washer  50  and screw  52  tighten and secure loops  46  to loop pin  48 . A rotation point  54 , or pivot point, connects reset lever  20  to platform  12 . Lateral, or horizontal, movement of reset lever  20  causes tethers  44  to be tensioned or un-tensioned. The tensioning causes any slack in the tether to be taken up and the knock-down objects to be pulled upright by the tether connected to the bottom of the object.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate both the top side and bottom side of platform  12  to show how reset lever  20  resets objects  14  to an upright position.  FIG. 5A  shows one half of platform  12 ′ with rest lever  20 ′ in an un-tensioned position. In the un-tensioned position, tethers  44 ′ have slack that permits objects  14 ′ (shown in  FIG. 5B ) to be knocked over when impacted by game ball  16 .  FIG. 5A  shows the second half of platform  12 ″ with rest lever  20 ″ in a tensioned position. In the tensioned position, tethers  44 ″ have no slack and objects  14 ″ are pulled into an upright position.  
         [0031]     Other embodiments of a: game according to the present invention are contemplated. Examples of other embodiments include the U-shaped game configuration of  FIG. 6 , the S-shaped game configuration of  FIG. 7 , and the Plus-shaped game configuration of  FIG. 8 . It will be understood that other game configurations may be used and the illustrated examples are not to be considered limiting of the possible configurations that such a game may employ.  
         [0032]     A U-Shaped game configuration is shown in  FIG. 6 , indicated generally at  110 . Game configuration  110  includes a U-shaped game platform  112 . A set of knock-down objects  114  are positioned at a target zone  130 . Game balls  116 , having the same offset center of gravity and geometric center as described with reference to game balls  16 , are included one for each competing player. Gutters  118  bound the playing surface of platform  112  to add challenge to game  110 . Proper rolling of game balls  116  causes them to travel along curved path  124  to knock-down objects  114 .  
         [0033]     An S-shaped game configuration is shown in  FIG. 7 , indicated generally at  210 . Game configuration  210  includes an S-shaped game platform  212 . A set of knock-down objects  214  are positioned at a target zone  230 . Game balls  216 , having the same offset center of gravity and geometric center as described with reference to game balls  16  and  116 , are included one for each competing player. Gutters  218  bound the playing surface of platform  212  to add challenge to game  210 . Proper rolling of game balls  216  causes them to travel along curved path  224  to knock-down objects  214 .  
         [0034]     A plus-shaped game configuration is shown in  FIG. 8 , generally indicated at  310 . Game configuration  310  includes a plus-shaped game platform  312 . A set of knock-down objects  314  are positioned at a target zone  330 . Game balls  316 , having the same offset center of gravity and geometric center as described with reference to game balls  16 ,  116 , and  216  are included one for each competing player. Gutters  318  bound the playing surface of platform  312  to add challenge to game  310 . Proper rolling of game balls  316  causes them to travel along curved path  324  to knock-down objects  314 .  
         [0035]     It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof, as disclosed and illustrated herein, are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Where claims recite “a” or “a first” element or equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring, nor excluding two or more such elements.  
         [0036]     It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations that are directed to one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the present disclosure.