Patent ID: 8215639

Claim:
Apparatus for playing a game comprising: a playing surface having a first area and a second area; a ball; at least two propulsion devices, one propulsion device located at a first end of the playing surface adjacent the first area of the playing surface and a second propulsion device located at a second end of the playing surface adjacent the second area of the playing surface, each propulsion device being operable to propel the ball across the playing surface towards the other propulsion device; first and second sets of playing pieces; and a substrate overlaying and spaced above the playing surface and extending across both the first and second areas of the playing surface, the substrate having apertures there through; when the playing pieces are located on the substrate, lower portions of the playing pieces extend below the substrate and upper portions of the playing pieces are located above the substrate; wherein in a game, the playing pieces of the first set are located on the substrate above the first area of the playing surface and the playing pieces of the second set are located on the substrate above the second area of the playing surface; and each propulsion device is capable of propelling the ball at a speed sufficient to make an impact which dislodges a playing piece.