Amusement devices: games – Surface projectile game; game element – Projectors
Patent
1996-01-05
1998-01-27
Chiu, Raleigh W.
Amusement devices: games
Surface projectile game; game element
Projectors
273129R, 273118R, 2731081, A63F 724
Patent
active
057115222
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a projectile launching mechanism and more particularly but not exclusively to a mechanism which can be used in the playing pieces of a table top game to be played by two or more players.
2. Description of Related Art
Table top player games generally simulate a team game in which a ball is passed between the playing pieces with the ultimate aim of putting it into a scoring area or goal located at opposite ends of the playing area. Games of this type would be soccer, baseball, hockey, basketball etc.
Table top games simulating soccer which can be played by two people are known. In these games, a ball is passed between a number of table top playing figures in an attempt to get the ball into a goal positioned at opposite ends of the playing area.
Soccer games are also known in which the playing pieces have a movable limb which kicks the ball to create greater realism. However, the problem with playing pieces of this type is that they have to be manufactured extremely cheaply so the moving parts can only be loosely fitted together. As a result, the kicking part of the mechanism tends to be very sloppy so directional control of a ball launched by it is still not very good.
Another problem with known launching mechanisms is that they do not include means whereby a ball can attach itself readily thereto at any point around the circumference thereof or be launched therefrom in any radial direction. This can be a particular problem if the launching mechanism is used in a team game such as soccer as the ball cannot be passed between the playing pieces and picked up by them.
It is therefore an object Of the present invention to provide a launching mechanism which enables a projectile to be launched in any radial direction therefrom with improved directional and speed control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a projectile launching mechanism comprising a central core, an impeller mounted on said core for coaxial movement relative thereto, a striker on said impeller and projectile attachment means operable to releasably attach a projectile to the launching mechanism, the arrangement being such that when an axial force is applied to the impeller, and a projectile is attached to the launching mechanism, the striker hits the projectile from above at a location offset from its vertical centre line whereby the projectile is launched radially outwardly from the core.
Preferably the impeller is movable axially relative to the core against a bias. Conveniently the bias comprises resilient means such as a coil spring but any other form of spring means could be mounted in the central core.
Preferably the striker comprises a flange which extends radially outwardly from the core and is shaped to engage the projectile with a shearing action. In a preferred embodiment, the flange is an annular ring which means that the projectile can be launched from the central core in a radial direction from any point of attachment thereto. If however it is desired that only a limited number of angular launching trajectories is required, then the striker ring could be multi-faceted. For instance, it could be hexagonal to give six launching directions or square if four directions are required or even triangular if only three launching directions are required.
In a preferred embodiment, the central core has a base from which support means extending radially outwardly to support the core on a flat playing surface. Conveniently the core support means comprises an outwardly extending annular flange.
All the components of the launching mechanism are preferably moulded from a plastics material so that it is extremely light and easy to manufacture. To increase mobility of the launching mechanism across a playing surface, a ball can be located inside the central core.
The ball is preferably made of a heavy material such as metal. However, it can be made of a material other than metal. For instance, it could be a shell made of a plastics m
REFERENCES:
patent: 3976296 (1976-08-01), Smith
patent: 4065129 (1977-12-01), Bartok
patent: 5044635 (1991-09-01), Oermann
Taylor Christopher Joseph Crabtree
Wiggs Christopher C.
Chiu Raleigh W.
Origin Products Limited
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