Abstract:
The invention is a double handled angling paddle for use with a soccer table-top game apparatus, which includes a planar rectangular base area to serve as a playing surface with upstanding sides defining the boundaries of said playing surface, two pair of goal pockets positioned at opposite ends of the playing surface, and a movable object. Two, double-handled angling paddles are used to propel the movable object about on the playing surface.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to paddles for use with tabletop games and, in particular, to an angleable paddle for use with a soccer game played on a planar surface. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Tabletop soccer games have a tradition of popularity because of the “action” of a fast moving ball, the challenge to the individual player&#39;s quickness of response, and the benefit from physical effort to manipulate the various mechanisms used to move the ball. 
   However, in the prior art, the mechanisms used to propel the ball do not produce sufficient ball speed for a truly fast action game. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,372,364, 5,092,595 and 4,300,766 use cue sticks, rotating rods and bats, respectively. These apparatus move the ball about, but not at the velocities that would make the game “action packed”. 
   Often, these games have numerous fixed and moveable obstacles that a player&#39;s ball must circumvent in order to score a goal. Circumventing obstacles requires skill, as opposed to games that are based more on fast action. 
   While skill games are fun for many people, they are a different type of game in that skill replaces luck. For people who prefer action and luck to skill, the higher ‘skill to luck’ ratio of the obstacle type games, diminishes the fun for these players. 
   Moreover, a player&#39;s physical movement is an inherent aspect of the excitement of fast action soccer table type games. However, the prior art is typically limited only to hand movements. These hand movements lack sufficient player&#39;s whole body physical workout. Experiencing a substantial physical workout is preferable in any recreational activity. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The instant invention overcomes these difficulties. It is a tabletop soccer game played by two people. The soccer game apparatus includes a flat rectangular playing surface surrounded by upright walls. Goal pockets are placed near the four corners. A movable object, such as a ball or puck, is moved by a pair of double handled, angling paddles used by the players to move or strike the movable object upon the playing surface. The goal pockets are large enough to allow the movable object to pass through, thereby making a goal and scoring a point. 
   A line inscribed on the playing surface, midway between the long ends of the playing surface, defines two secure zones, in which the opposing player cannot use their soccer paddle to seize the movable object. 
   The double handled, angling soccer paddle has two rods that serve as handles, hinged to a soccer paddle plate. A player holds the one of the rods in each hand. The player then applies force against the rods to angle the paddle, left or right, to propel the movable object across the playing surface. This is accomplished by pushing on one rod and pulling on the other, which causes the face of the paddle to slant at an angle with respect to the movable object. By moving the handles, quickly, the paddle plate is snapped against the ball at a high rate of speed. This snapping action produces a significant force on the ball, which propels it across the playing surface at a high speed. 
   This striking force against a wood or plastic ball results in ball acceleration to very high velocities across the playing surface, enabling the ball to ricochet against the walls repeatedly about the playing surface. 
   In use, a player also uses the doubled handled angling soccer paddle to defend the player&#39;s goal pockets by blocking either of the two goal pockets located on their end of the playing surface. Either player can capture and manipulate the ball under their control anywhere within their respective secure zone, positioning the ball for a soccer shot towards the opposing player&#39;s goal pockets located at the opposing end of the playing surface. A player also may choose to hit the ball while it is in high-speed motion approaching their end of the playing surface. 
   Defending two goal pockets from a high-speed ball, traveling unimpeded across the playing surface, produces an impulse response from the player. Hence, much of this present invention is played on impulse; therein, resulting in a ‘high luck to skill’ ratio, yielding much childlike fun trying to keep up with the ball. 
   Further, if a player engages the full force of both arms, shoulders and upper torso in the application of striking the ball with the double handled angling paddle, they can impact the ball to produce ultra high velocities that rocket the ball across the playing surface. 
   The objective of each player is to score a goal by causing the ball to enter one of the goal pockets located at the opposite end of the paying surface guarded by the opposing player. The first player to score a set number of goals (e.g., ten goals) is considered the winner. 
   Half the fun of this game is to keep impacting the ball as hard as possible to keep it moving faster than the opposing player can defend both goal pockets, until the ball either finds a targeted goal pocket, or is captured by the opposing player. This creates a ‘frenzy of action’ that provides more fun for many players than the games described in the prior art. 
   With an unobstructed playing surface and a high speed ricocheting ball propelling about the playing surface from the powerful snapping action of the double handled angling soccer paddle, the action of play is fast, challenging, fun and a physically beneficial activity. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tabletop playing surface of one embodiment of the instant invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the double handled angling soccer paddle. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the double handled angling soccer paddle in a first position. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the double handled angling soccer paddle in a second position. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the double handled angling soccer paddle in a third position. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a tabletop playing surface of a second embodiment of the instant invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the tabletop playing surface showing the goal pockets and support legs. 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the tabletop playing surface showing the goal pockets and support legs for use on a tabletop. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of the soccer game apparatus  1  of the present invention is shown. It has a flat, generally rectangular playing surface  10  having oppositely disposed peripheral sidewalls  11  and shorter end walls  12  forming a generally rectangular frame around the playing area. In this embodiment, the playing surface  10  has circular apertures  14  that form the goal pockets for receiving the soccer ball  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the four goal pockets  14  are positioned around the corners of the playing surface, but spaced apart from the corners as shown. 
   Note that this figure also shows two paddles  20 , one of which is being applied to the ball  22 , as would be typical during game play. 
   A suitable receptacle  28  is positioned beneath the playing surface for retaining the soccer ball after it passes through the respective goal pocket  14 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 7 . 
   A dashed line  13  is inscribed and bisects the playing surface between the end walls  12  to define players&#39; respective secure zone. 
   The playing surface  10  and walls  11  and  12  may be constructed of wood, plastic or metal. The spherical soccer ball  22  may be made of solid wood, solid plastic, or hollow plastic or a rubber coated material. Although the ball  22  is preferred, it is possible to use other objects on the playing surface as well. 
     FIG. 2  shows a rear view of one of the doubled handled angling soccer paddles. Each paddle has a pair of rods  16  and  17 . The rods  16  and  17  are pivotally connected to the paddle plate  20  by hinges  18  and  19  that act as pivot points. The rods  16  and  17  have grips  21  for the convenience of player gripping. The hinges  18  and  19  can be hinging brackets, as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown, two curved metal brackets are provided. The rods  16  and  17  have bent ends  26  that are placed within the curved metal brackets, which are in turn, attached to the back of the paddle plate  20  as shown. 
   The brackets may be held to the paddle with screws or other fasteners known in the art. These hinges provide a good hinging action, good mechanical integrity, and ease of manufacture. However, other hinges or pivot point type structures can be used. These types of hinges are well known in the art. Note that the hinges are placed close together, as shown, in the preferred embodiment. In this way, the rods can impart the greatest amount of “snapping” action that propels the ball at a high rate of speed. 
   The paddle plate  20 , the rods  16  and  17  and the hinges  18  and  19 , should be made of strong material, e.g., wood, metal, plastic or a combination thereof. 
   The shape of the paddle plate  20  is generally broad enough and high enough to strike a ball from either side of its outer faces, narrow enough to be light in weight, and strong and durable enough to sustain the shock from impacting a solid wood or solid plastic ball. Within the previously mentioned guidelines, the specific shape or curvature of the paddle plate  20  is relatively unimportant. 
     FIG. 3  shows the paddle in a neutral position. In this position, the paddle  20  is parallel with the centerline  13  of the table. This is a position in which a player attempts to defend a goal pocket from a fast approaching soccer ball. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  show the extreme angled positions of the paddle  20 . These positions result from a swift push/pull motion of rods  16  and  17 . For example, in  FIG. 4 , rod  16  is quickly pushed forward and rod  17  is simultaneously pulled back quickly. In  FIG. 5 , the motion is opposite to that of  FIG. 4 . As noted above, this action produces a snapping of the paddle plate  20 . 
   The snapping movement of the rods produces a forceful impact against a ball that is positioned on the outer surface of the paddle plate  20 . This force then propels the ball in whatever direction is established by the particular angle of the rods. Note that  FIGS. 4 and 5  show the extreme angles. During play, at any given time, the angles may be reduced to produce a different trajectory. Moreover, under actual playing conditions, the ball is moving very quickly. This causes an impulse reaction on the part of the player that, in turn, produces somewhat unpredictable ball movement. With practice, a player can learn to angle the ball, thereby setting up more chances to score points. 
   Although the paddles are best used on a tabletop game as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the goal pockets not in the corners, it is possible to use the paddles on other game surfaces. For example,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the tabletop-playing surface. In this embodiment, the table surface and  10  sidewalls  11  and  12  are identical to that of the first embodiment. Here, however, the goal pockets  14  are formed in the end walls  12 , instead of being in the playing surface as before. This figure also shows diagonal braces  30  that provide additional strength as well as providing additional deflecting surfaces for the ball. 
     FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the tabletop playing surface showing the goal pockets  28  and support legs  35 . As mentioned above, the goal pockets  14  have receptacles  28  that attach to the bottom of the playing surface  10 . Of course, the placement of the receptacles would vary, depending on the exact placement of the goal pockets shown in the different embodiments. Such changes are well within the art. This figure also shows a ball  22  in one of the receptacles  28 . Finally, legs  35  are shown positioned on the corners of the tabletop. The legs permit the game to be freestanding and are designed to hold the tabletop at a convenient playing height. 
     FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the tabletop playing surface showing the goal pockets  28  and support legs  29  for use on a tabletop. Here, the legs  29  are short and are designed to hold the game table up off a surface, such as a large table. This provides space for the receptacles  28  to fit under the table surface as shown. 
   The present disclosure should not be construed in any limited sense other than that limited by the scope of the claims having regard to the teachings herein and the prior art being apparent with the preferred form of the invention disclosed herein and which reveals details of structure of a preferred form necessary for a better understanding of the invention and may be subject to change by skilled persons within the scope of the invention without departing from the concept thereof.