Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Playing surface or projectile struck from below to project...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-24
2001-04-17
Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Playing surface or projectile struck from below to project...
C273S357000, C273S11800R, C273S12600A, C273S108550, C463S051000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217025
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a game apparatus, particularly to a game apparatus that moves a movable game piece to a goal on a playing field.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There is known a game apparatus in which a target is to be moved into a given area (e.g., a goal or the like) on a playing field.
Such game apparatuses include a soccer game, for example.
In a soccer game, a plurality of dimples are formed on the playing field, for example, and a ball as a target is brought into any one of these dimples.
The bottom of each of the dimples is provided with two thrusting rods adapted to push the ball toward the competitor's goal.
As the ball enters a dimple, two players depress their respective buttons to manipulate the trusting rods and the ball is moved toward the opponent's goal.
In such a soccer game of the prior art, however, players can not move the ball until the ball reaches the bottom of the dimple.
Thus, players have to wait for some time, resulting in lack of speedy feeling.
In the prior art soccer game, furthermore, only experienced players can appropriately manipulate their respective thrusting rods at a timing just when the ball reaches the bottom of dimple. Since it is difficult for beginners to catch such a timing, they are liable to lose the game and cannot have fun.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a game apparatus in which a movable game piece can be moved at any time independent of the position of the game piece in a playing field, thereby reducing the waiting time to provide an increased feel of speed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus in which a movable game piece can be moved immediately before it falls on a playing field and which can be played by players without very minding the timing, thereby allowing beginners to fully enjoy the game.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game apparatus in which a movable game piece is moved to a goal in a playing field,
comprising a plurality of tossing devices disposed in the playing field for tossing and moving the movable game piece, each of the tossing devices including:
an impacting member disposed in the playing field and driven up and down for impacting and tossing the movable game piece; and
driving means for driving the impacting member;
wherein adjacent impacting members of the tossing devices toss up the movable game piece in different directions; and
wherein there are at least two of the impacting members under the movable game piece when the movable game piece is on the playing field.
The movable game piece is always on the impacting members when it is on the playing field. Thus, the movable game piece can be tossed and moved at any desired time, and players can play a speedy game with a superior response.
Since there are always at least two adjacent impacting members under the movable game piece, the direction of movement of the game piece will not be restricted in contrast to a prior game. By selecting either of the impacting members under the movable game piece, players can choose the direction of movement of the movable game piece.
Each of the tossing devices may be formed as a separate unit, and arranged on the playing field in a matrix form.
In such a case, various separate units previously formed can be located on the playing field to structure any desired game apparatus easily. In such a matrix-like arrangement, further, the units can be disposed on the playing field without gap therebetween.
The impacting members may have a plurality of radially disposed blades. The adjacent impacting members may be disposed such that the blades of different impacting members are alternately arranged. Each of the blades may have an impacting surface that is inclined and tapered outwardly and downwardly.
It is thus ensured that such a tapered impacting surface can toss and move the movable game piece to a plurality of spaced locations in a plurality of directions.
Each of the impacting members may include six of the blades that are symmetrically positioned and the impacting members may be lined up in at least two lines on the playing field.
When each of the impacting members has six symmetrically positioned blades, the impacting members can easily and surely be arranged on the entire playing field in at least two lines without gaps.
At least two goals may be provided at different positions on the playing field. The adjacent blades of different impacting members may impact and toss up the movable game piece in different directions to move the movable game piece toward different goals.
When there are at least two impacting members under the movable game piece, adjacent blades of different impacting members are directed toward different goals. Such a configuration is preferable for a competition game because players can select one of the impacting members that moves in a desired direction.
It is further preferred that at least two goals are opposed to each other in the playing field.
The impacting surface of each of the blades of the impacting member may be movable upwardly to the height higher than the impacting surface of adjacent inactive impacting member.
Since the lowest portion of the impacting surface of the impacting member can be moved to the height higher than the impacting surface of adjacent inactive impacting member, the movable game piece can be surely tossed up when it is not at the lowest level of the playing field. Therefore, the players can play the game without very minding the timing at which the movable game piece is to be moved. The game beginner can fully enjoy the game.
The impacting member and driving means may be located to be separated each other, and the driving means may give an upward impact to the corresponding impacting member to move it upwardly.
Since the driving means and the impacting member are separated, the driving means can toss up the impacting member with a relatively small force. This can increase the fun of the game.
The game apparatus may further comprise a sensor that is provided at the impacting member and used to detect a beam from a ray gun. The driving means may selectively give an upward impact to the corresponding impacting member on the basis of a detection signal from the sensor.
When a player shoots at the sensor by a ray gun, the movable game piece is tossed up as if the player shot the movable game piece itself. This can increase the fun of the game.
The driving means may be selectively actuated by an operating button to selectively toss the impacting member.
In this configuration, the player can enjoy the game by operating the button.
The movable game piece may be a target that is tossed and moved toward a goal by the impacting member.
The use of such a target provides an enjoyable game which is designed to acquire points.
In such a case, the game apparatus may further comprise an anti-goal barrier located immediately before the goal, and the target may be tossed and thrown into the goal beyond the barrier.
The barrier is used to prevent the target form rolling into the goal. By using such a barrier, the fun of the game can further be improved.
The movable game piece may be a prize that is tossed and moved toward the goal by using the impacting member.
Players can try to get a prize and enjoy the game.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game apparatus having a goal corresponding to the number of a player who moves a target in a playing field into the goal, the game apparatus comprising:
a plurality of tossing devices disposed in the playing field for tossing and moving the target, each of the tossing devices including:
an impacting member disposed in the playing field and driven up and down for impacting and tossing the target;
driving means for driving the impacting member; and
a sensor that is provided at the impacting member and used to detect a beam form a ray gun to actuate the driving means;
wherein adjacent impacting membe
Takahashi Takeshi
Yamazaki Takehiro
Namco Ltd.
Oliff & Berridge PLC.
Passaniti Sebastiano
LandOfFree
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