Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a game device. In one aspect, a foosball game apparatus is provided. The foosball game apparatus includes a game body having a playing field, an endwall adjacent each end of the playing field, and a sidewall adjacent each side of the playing field. The foosball apparatus further includes an electronic digital display formed in each end wall for indicating a time period and a score. In another aspect, a method of playing a timed 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 foosball game apparatus having a timing device.  
         [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. 3,881,726 issued on May 6, 1975, to G. Serafini discloses a miniature game of table soccer. The table top has a miniature soccer playing field thereon on which a plurality of figurine soccer players are moved into playing positions in respective zones. The figurines are mounted on end portions of respective metal tapes that can be individually advanced longitudinally and retracted and are individually transported transversely of the playing field. Manually actuated actuators advance and retract the tapes and move them transversely of the playing field zones for transporting the figurine soccer players individually into respective playing positions for kicking or throwing a playing ball. Goals and goalkeeper soccer players are actuated individually likewise by respective tapes.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,243, issued on Nov. 18, 1975 to A. Santos, Sr., teaches a soccer game which employs a substantially planer playing surface within which are formed a plurality of spaced apart recesses. A goal section is located at each longitudinal end of the playing surface and each goal section is protected by a playing member which is moveable there across. A spherical playing object is adapted to be locatable upon the playing surface. Each recess is constructed so that the playing object is caused to be positioned at the lowest part of each recess. The lowest part of each recess is located just forward of a playing member which is locatable within each said recess. The playing member is movable between a retracted position and an extended position to cause propelling of the playing object. The playing members are selectively actuatable by means of an actuating means connected at each end of the playing surface. 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.  
         [0006]     Even though table soccer game apparatuses discussed above are similar to a miniaturized version of an actual athletic game, they lack a vital component of an actual athletic game that relates to time and set time periods. Therefore, there is a need for a table soccer game (foosball game) that is electronically capable of maintaining a time period and a score.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention generally relates to a game device. In one aspect, a foosball game apparatus is provided. The foosball game apparatus includes a game body having a playing field, an endwall adjacent each end of the playing field, and a sidewall adjacent each side of the playing field. The foosball apparatus further includes an electronic digital display formed in each end wall for indicating a time period and a score.  
         [0008]     In another aspect, a method of playing a timed foosball game is provided. The method includes dispensing a ball onto a playing field of a game body and starting a digital timer for measuring a predetermined amount of time. The method further includes generating an audio signal due to a triggering event.  
         [0009]     In yet another aspect, a foosball apparatus is provided. The foosball apparatus includes a game body having a playing field, an endwall adjacent each end of the playing field, and a sidewall adjacent each side of the playing field, wherein the endwall is raised relative to the sidewall. The foosball apparatus further includes an electronic digital display electronically connected to a computer apparatus disposed in the game body, wherein the electronic digital display indicates a time period and a score. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     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 cappended 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.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a game apparatus in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the game apparatus in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the game apparatus in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an alternative embodiment of a game apparatus.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an alternative embodiment of a game apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The present invention is generally directed to a game apparatus having a timing device. 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.  
         [0017]     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.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a game apparatus  100  in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the game apparatus  100  includes a game body  190  and a plurality of legs  105  for supporting the game body  190  on the floor. It should be understood, however, that the game body  190  may be supported by any means without departing from principles of the present invention.  
         [0019]     The game body  190  includes a pair of sidewalls  110  and a pair of raised endwalls  115 . The game body  190  further includes a playing field  120  operatively attached to each raised endwall  115  and each sidewall  110 . Each raised endwall  115  is constructed and arranged to house an electronic digital display such as a score display  125  and a clock display  150 . Further, each endwall  115  is raised to a predetermined height relative to the sidewall  110  to allow a ball  140  to remain “in play” during the game rather than being displaced from the game body  190 . Additionally, at the interface between each sidewall  110  and each endwall  115 , a raised sidewall portion  165  is formed. The raised sidewall portion  165  also helps to maintain the ball  140  “in play” during the game rather than being displaced from the game body  190 .  
         [0020]     The game body  190  also includes eight rods  130  that extend across game body  190  and through each sidewall  110 . Each of the rods  130 , include handles  145  that extend outwardly from the sidewalls  110 . The rods  130  carry a plurality of paddles. Respective rods are mounted for a push-pull movement and also for rotatary movement in relation to the sidewall  110 .  
         [0021]     The game body  190  further includes a goal  135  formed in each raised endwall  115 . The goal  135  contains an internal sensor (not shown) that is electronically connected to the electronic digital display such as the score display  125  and the clock display  150  through an internal computer apparatus (not shown). Generally, as the ball  140  is propelled down the playing field  120  into the goal  135 , the computer apparatus records the point and re-displays the score on the score display  125  after the ball enters the goal  135 . The interrelationship between the goal  135 , the score display  125 , and the clock  150  will be described in greater detail in subsequent paragraphs along with a timeout button  155  and a speaker  180 .  
         [0022]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the running clock  150  is integral in each raised endwall  115 . The location of the clock  150  in each raised endwall  115  permits each player to focus on the game at hand without having to appreciably raise his eyes or head. Thus, each player remains visibly aware of the time remaining on the clock  150 . Typically, the clock  150  operates until reaching a preset amount of time. The clock  150  is initiated into running by the insertion of monies, coins, tokens, or other acceptable items into the coin mechanism  175 . The time allotted “counts-down” from the preset amount of time allotted for the duration of the game. Each player has an option to stop the time countdown by pressing the timeout button  155 .  
         [0023]     In one embodiment, the clock  150  includes a time period indicator (not shown). The time period indicator is electronically connected with the counter in the computer apparatus. The time period indicator is used to visually indicate a game time period and thereby permit players a visual reminder of the period.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the game body  190  also includes the score display  125  disposed in each raised endwall  115 . The score display  125  is electronically connected to the goal  135  through the computer apparatus. As a player propels the ball  140  into the goal  135 , the ball  140  activates a sensor and the computer apparatus sends a signal to the appropriate score display  125  to indicate a point was scored. The location of the score display  125  like the clock  150  permits the player to focus on the game without having to raise his eyes or head.  
         [0025]     The game body  190  further includes a sound memory assembly (not shown). The sound memory assembly typically comprises a sound memory, a sound generator, an amplifier, and the speaker  180 . The sound generator is made of a type well known by those of ordinary skill in the art and functions by receiving digital signals from the computer apparatus and then converting the signal into audio signals which are then amplified and sounded through the speaker  180 . The game controller obtains digital signals representative of noises, sounds, or speech typically associated with a sporting event. For example, a sound cor some other triggering event such as scoring or applause representative to the play of the game is broadcasted through the speaker  180 .  
         [0026]     Triggering events could include the scoring of the ball  140  into the goal  135 , the completion of a period of a game, achievement of a particular goal in a given round, notice or announcement of a minimal time left to play the entire game, minimal time left for a timeout period after initiating the timeout button  155 , or a sound after the coins/tokens are inserted for starting the game that alerts the players a game is about to start. The sound assembly could also be used if a player does something reflecting a favorable quality of activity associated with the game such as moving the ball  140  down the playing field  120  in an efficient manner. Typically, the computer apparatus queries the sound or speech memory for a sound or speech indicative of a positive or a laudatory response for the player. The appropriate digital signal is received by the computer apparatus from the sound memory and then sent to the sound generator where the digital signals are converted into corresponding audio signals and then amplified and sounded by the speaker  180  for the player to hear.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the game body  190  includes the timeout button  155  in each sidewall on the outside face. The timeout button  155  is associated with a time clock  150 . During that time period in progress, a player may push the timeout button  155  to obtain a predetermined timeout period. The timeout period automatically stops the clock  150 .  
         [0028]     The game body  190  further includes a management button  160  disposed in the sidewall  110 . The management button  160  allows a game official to change a time period allotted to the game or reset the time clock  150  at an appropriate time. Further, the management button  160  may include a means which enables the time period to be selected from a 1 minute game period to a 99 minute game period.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the game apparatus  100 . As shown, the playing field  120  includes a plurality of corner displays  170  at the interface between each sidewall  110  and endwall  115 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the game apparatus  100 . The game apparatus  100  includes a coin mechanism assembly  175  mounted into the drawer assembly  195 . The coin mechanism assembly  175  includes circuitry and mechanical components to receive coins/tokens to start the game apparatus  100 . Also clearly shown in  FIG. 3  is the location of the timeout button  155 , the management button  160  and the speaker  180 . Additionally, the curvature of the raised sidewall  165 , used to keep the ball  140  in constant play without leaving the play field  120  is clearly shown.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an alternative embodiment of a game apparatus  200 . For convenience, the components in the game apparatus  200  that are similar to the components in the game apparatus  100  will be labeled with the same number indicator.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the game apparatus  200  includes a light fixture  205  operatively attached to the game body  190  by a plurality of supports  210 . The light fixture  205  includes a light source  215  for providing light. The light fixture  205  further includes an electronic digital display such as a score display  225  and clock display  250 . In a similar manner as discussed above, the goal  135  contains an internal sensor (not shown) that is electronically connected to the score display  225  and the clock display  250  through an internal computer apparatus (not shown). The apparatus  200  may also include a score display  125  and time display  150  formed in the raised endwall  115  as discussed above. It should be understood, however, that the score display and the time display may be located in both the light fixture  205  and the raised endwall  115  or in either the light fixture  205  or the raised endwall  115 , without departing from principles of the present invention. Additionally, the light fixture  205  may include a speaker  230  for broadcasting a sound due to a triggering event such as scoring or applause representative to the play of the game as discussed above.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is an alternative embodiment of a game apparatus  300 . For convenience, the components in the game apparatus  300  that are similar to the components in the game apparatus  100  will be labeled with the same number indicator.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the game apparatus  300  includes an electronic digital display such as score display  325  and clock display  350  formed in a top wall  305  of the game body  190 . In a similar manner as discussed above, the goal (not shown) contains an internal sensor (not shown) that is electronically connected to the score display  325  and the clock display  350  through an internal computer apparatus (not shown).  
         [0035]     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.