Abstract:
The present invention is generally directed to a figurine for use in a game apparatus, wherein the figurine is capable of being customized to a particular arrangement. In one aspect, a foosball figurine for use with a foosball game is provided. The foosball figurine includes a body portion and a head portion connected to the body portion. The foosball figurine further includes a foot portion connected to the body portion by a releasable member, wherein the foot portion has a profile shape. In another aspect, a figurine for use with a game apparatus is provided. In yet another aspect, a method of using a foosball figurine in a foosball game is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a game device. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention pertain to a playing figurine for use with a foosball game apparatus.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     There are many types of game devices that are used as miniaturized versions of various athletic games. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,432 which issued on Dec. 16, 1975, to R. Furr discloses a miniature table game of soccer (foosball game). The table soccer game has a miniature soccer playing field where a plurality of foosball figurines (soccer player figurines) are moved into playing positions in respective zones. The figurines are mounted on a plurality of rods that are axially slidable and rotatable. Each foosball figurine includes a foot configured to move a ball on the miniature soccer playing field. Other soccer related examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,046,378; 4,025,073; 4,382,598; 5,058,892; 5,071,137; 5,072,880; 5,333,864; 5,419,555; 5,496,031; and 5,641,163.  
         [0005]     Generally, the ball is moved up and down the soccer playing field by controlling the plurality of foosball figurines. For instance, one foosball figurine may pass the ball to another foosball figurine to place the ball in line with the opponent&#39;s goal. This is typically accomplished by one foosball figurine&#39;s foot hitting the ball and then another foosball figurine&#39;s foot catching the ball in order to control the movement of the ball on the foosball playing field. Thereafter, the ball may be moved further on the foosball playing field by manipulating the plurality of foosball figurines.  
         [0006]     There are a number of companies that manufacture foosball games (table soccer). Each company has their own design for their particular foosball game. For instance, one company may use a foosball figurine with a round foot, while another company may use a foosball figurine with a square foot. In other words, there is no standard foosball table game design that each company must follow.  
         [0007]     Due to the lack of a standard foosball table design, a foosball player may be skilled in manipulating a foosball game manufactured by a first company while unable to transfer the same skill set to manipulate a foosball game manufactured by a second company. For instance, the foosball player may become skilled in manipulating the foosball game manufactured by the first company because the foosball player has become accustomed to a foosball figurine having a foot configured in a particular way while the same foosball player would have to develop a new skill set when the foosball player uses a foosball game manufactured by the second company that has a foosball figurine with a different configuration. This situation is particularly problematic in a foosball competition where a foosball player may be skilled in manipulating one company&#39;s foosball game yet required to compete on another company&#39;s foosball game that has a different configuration. This arrangement may provide an unfair advantage to one foosball player over another foosball player.  
         [0008]     Therefore, there is a need for a foosball figurine that is capable of being customized with specific playing characteristics regardless of the company that manufactures the foosball game.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention is generally directed to a figurine for use in a game apparatus, wherein the figurine is capable of being customized to a particular arrangement. In one aspect, a foosball figurine for use with a foosball game is provided. The foosball figurine includes a body portion and a head portion connected to the body portion. The foosball figurine further includes a foot portion connected to the body portion by a releasable member, wherein the foot portion has a profile shape.  
         [0010]     In another aspect, a figurine for use with a game apparatus is provided. The figurine includes a first member and a second member connected to an end of the first member by a releasable member. The figurine further includes a third member connected to another end of the first member by a second releasable member, wherein the second member and the third member are configured to provide at least one definable characteristic of the figurine.  
         [0011]     In yet another aspect, a method of using a foosball figurine in a foosball game is provided. The method includes providing the foosball figurine, wherein the foosball figurine includes a body portion, a head portion and a releasable foot portion. The method also includes utilizing the foosball figurine in the foosball game. The method further includes releasing the foot portion from the body portion and attaching a second foot portion to the body portion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a foosball figurine in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the foosball figurine with a releasable foot disconnected from a body of the foosball figurine.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a foosball figurine with a releasable foot and a releasable head disconnected from the body of the foosball figurine.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a releasable foot for use with a foosball figurine.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a releasable foot for use with a foosball figurine. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     The present invention is generally directed to a figurine for use in a game apparatus, wherein the figurine is capable of being customized to a particular arrangement. Various terms as used herein are defined below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term, as reflected in printed publications and issued patents. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawings may be, but are not necessarily, to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features described below. One of normal skill in the art of game devices will appreciate that the various embodiments of the invention can and may be used in all types of foosball (table soccer) games.  
         [0019]     For ease of explanation, the invention will be described generally in relation to a foosball game. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may be employed in any number of table games without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a foosball figurine  100  in accordance with the present invention. The figurine  100  generally includes three main portions: a head  110 , a body  105 , and a foot  125 . In various embodiments described herein, the foot  125  and/or the head  110  are configured to be releasable from the body  105  to customize the playing characteristics of the foosball figurine  100  on a foosball game playing field (not shown). Typically, the body  105  is secured to a rod (not shown) by a connection member  115 .  
         [0021]     The foot  125  is an important part of the foosball figurine  100  because it is used to position and move a ball (not shown) on the foosball playing field. Typically, the foot  125  has a rounded and/or flat surface to facilitate the movement of the ball on the playing field. The foot  125  may also be configured to pass the ball from one foosball figurine to another foosball figurine as the ball is moved on the playing field. In some instances, the foot  125  may have a sloped angle profile or a rounded profile in order to manipulate or control the movement of the ball in a specific manner.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the foosball figurine  100  with a releasable foot  125  disconnected from the body  105 . The capability of releasing and replacing the foot  125  on the figurine  100  allows a single figurine to be reconfigured in any number of configurations. For instance, the figurine  100  may have a foot with the profile shown in  FIG. 2  or a profile shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5  in order to control the ball in a certain manner. In addition to the profile, the weight of the foot  125  may be controlled in order to manipulate the ball in a certain manner. Each different foot  125  configuration changes the characteristics of the figurine  100 .  
         [0023]     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the foot  125  includes a stem  145  for use in connecting the foot  125  to the body  105 . The stem  145  is generally a profiled elongated member that mates with a recess  155  formed in the body  105 . Although the foot  125  in  FIG. 2  shows one stem  145  attached thereto, any number of stems may be employed without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0024]     The foot  125  also optionally includes a plurality of guides  120  which are used to center the foot  125  on the body  105 . Each guide  120  mates with a corresponding profile  130  formed in the body  105 . The foot  125  further includes a connection member  135  for use in securing the foot to the body  105 . The connection member  135  is typically a releasable member capable of facilitating a quick connection and a subsequent removal of the foot  125  from the body  105 , such as a screw, a quick disconnect, a clasp, or any type of releasable connection member known in the art.  
         [0025]     In another embodiment, the foot may be rotated to change the profile of the foot on the body, thereby changing the playing characteristics of the figurine. For example, a foot having a flat surface on the front side and a rounded surface on the back side may be rotated such that the rounded surface is on the front side and the flat surface is on the back side, thus changing the playing characteristic of the figurine. In this embodiment, the foot does not necessarily have to be a releasable foot as described above. Rather, the foot could be fixed to the body with the capability of rotating relative to the body.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a foosball figurine  200  with a releasable foot  225  and a releasable head  210  disconnected from the body  105 . For convenience, the components in the figurine  200  that are similar to the components in the figurine  100  will be labeled with the same number indicator.  
         [0027]     The capability of releasing and replacing the foot  225  and the head  210  allows the figurine  200  to have defined characteristics that can be replicated for any foosball table design. In other words, the figurine  200  may be customized with specific playing characteristics that may be used with any foosball table. For instance, the foot  225  on the figurine  200  may have a profile as shown in  FIG. 3  in order to control the ball in a certain manner and the head  210  may have a predetermined weight, thereby defining specific playing characteristics of the figurine  200 . In one embodiment, the weight of the head  210  may be used to counterbalance the weight of the foot  225 , thereby creating a weight balanced figurine  200 . In another embodiment, the weight of the head  210  may be less then the weight of the foot, thereby creating a foot-heavy (out of balance) figurine  200 . In a similar manner as previously discussed, either the weight of the head  210  and/or the profile of the foot  225  may be changed to customize the playing characteristics of the figurine  200 . Therefore, the capability of having a releasable and a replaceable foot and head allows the figurine  200  to be configured with specific characteristics that may be used on any foosball table.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the head  210  includes a stem  220  for use in connecting the head  210  to the body  105 . The stem  220  is generally a profiled elongated member that mates with a recess  215  formed in the body  105 . Although the head in  FIG. 3  shows one stem  220  attached thereto, any number of stems may be employed without departing from principles of the present invention. The head  210  further includes a connection member  205  for use in securing the head  210  to the body  105 . The connection member  205  is typically a releasable member capable of facilitating a quick connection and a subsequent removal of the head  210  from the body  105 , such as a screw, a quick disconnect, a clasp, or any type of releasable connection member known in the art.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a releasable foot  250  for use with a foosball figurine. As shown, the releasable foot  250  includes a first surface  255  that is angled relative to the vertical, a second surface  260  that is parallel to the vertical, and a pointed surface  265 . Each surface  255 ,  260 , and  265  allows the foot  250  to manipulate the ball in a particular manner.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a releasable foot  275  for use with a foosball figurine. As shown, the releasable foot  275  includes a first surface  280  that is angled relative to the vertical, a second surface  290  that is parallel to the vertical, and a rounded surface  285 . Each surface  280 ,  285 , and  290  allows the foot  275  to manipulate the ball in a particular manner.  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate different configurations of a releasable foot  250 ,  275 . It should be understood, however, that the releasable foot may be configured in any manner, without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0031]     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.