Game device

Abstract

The invention relates to a game device (1) comprising a chassis (2) suitable for being placed on a frame (3) and having a base constituting a game board (4) bordered by one or more vertical walls (5) and comprising two opposing excavations (8), at least four game bars (11), each game bar (11) comprising a rod (12) and a slide (13) suitable for translating and pivoting on the rod (12) thus forming a pivoting telescopic game bar (11) extending beyond the vertical walls (5) and at least one player body (15) being fixed on the slide (13). According to the invention, the game board (4) comprises a regular polygonal or circular shape, the chassis (2) comprising a base (16) located in the center of the game board (4) and raised so that the players' bodies (15) do not touch the game board (4), and means for attaching each game bar (11) to the base (16). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Gaming device

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of gaming devices and in particular to foosball tables.

[0002] In the above field, classic game devices are known comprising a rectangular game board bordered by four vertical walls with two opposing goals and through game bars intended to be used by two players facing each other, each player being able to maneuver four game bars carrying one to five player bodies.

[0003] Such foosball tables require a large space, both to place the massive game device and for the movement of players around it.

[0004] The present invention aims to provide an innovative, compact and easily transportable foosball-type game device.

[0005] The invention relates to a game device comprising a chassis suitable for being placed on a frame and having a base constituting a game board bordered by vertical walls and comprising two opposing excavations, at least four game bars, each game bar comprising a rod and a slide suitable for translating and pivoting on the rod thus forming a pivoting telescopic game bar extending beyond the vertical walls and at least one player body being fixed on the slide.

[0006] According to the invention, the game board comprises a regular polygonal or circular shape, the chassis including a base located at the center of the game board and raised so that the players' bodies do not touch the game board, and means for attaching each game bar to the base. Implementing such a disc-like shape for the game board makes it possible to considerably reduce the overall size of the game device. Positioning the game bars from the center of the game board allows for ingenious coverage of a radius of the game board, with the pivoting telescopic game bars enabling the players' bodies to move along the entire length of the radius of the game board.

[0007] According to one feature of the invention, the means for attaching a game bar to the base comprise a pivot joint. The pivot joint allows the game bars to move around their own pivot axis, thus increasing the surface area available for the players' bodies.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for attaching a game bar to the base comprise a bracket pivotally mounted on the base and comprising a vertical portion having a hole for the passage of the rod of a game bar, the rod being secured to the bracket by means of a nut. Having a pivoting bracket that engages with one end of the game bar is an easy solution to implement. work based on the game board.

[0009] According to another feature of the invention, each bracket is fixed to the base along the direction of a ray emanating from the center of the base, the center of the base coinciding vertically with the center of the game board. This configuration makes it possible to anticipate the axis of rotation of each of the game rods in order to cover an optimal surface area of ​​the game board while maintaining fair movement of the different players' bodies for each player intended to maneuver the game rods.

[0010] According to yet another feature of the invention, each game bar passes through an oblong opening located in the vertical wall(s). The use of oblong openings makes it possible to define stops for the game bars, which are thus locked in the oblong openings of the vertical walls.

[0011] According to one feature of the invention, the base comprises a disc-shaped platform resting on at least one support bar fixed to the game board, the game bars being fixed to the disc-shaped platform, and an upper platform resting on at least one support bar fixed to the disc-shaped platform. The disc-shaped platform is thus positioned at a distance from the game board to allow free movement of the players' bodies without touching the game board, the distance being adjustable to the size of the players' bodies. The upper platform can also be used, firstly, to block the movement of the game bars along the vertical axis, and secondly, as a support for a scoring system.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the game board comprises a convex shape in its center. The convex or domed shape limits the possibility of the ball getting stuck in the center of the game board where players' bodies cannot reach.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the excavations are through the playing surface and two containers are placed under each of the excavations and include a portion extending from the playing surface. The goal formation in the form of a hole allows a container to be placed to easily retrieve the ball from one side or the other of the playing surface.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the game device further comprises two opposing ball return blocks located against a vertical wall at a distance from the recesses. Placing diametrically opposed wooden blocks prevents the ball from getting stuck in a corner of the playing surface or in a place inaccessible to a player's body. According to another embodiment, the playing surface may include raised sections that allow the ball to move.

[0015] According to a feature of the invention, each slide has at one end a handle suitable for gripping.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the game device includes means for gripping the game device. Implementing a handle or an ac- The accessory to be taken in bread allows the game device to be moved easily.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the game device includes a lid suitable for being placed on the vertical wall(s). Such a lid can be used to form a flat surface for transforming the game device into a table that can serve, for example, as a standing table, but also as a support for another game board; for example, the lid may include an Indian billiards board, a mahjong board, a checkers board, a chess board, or another game.

[0018] Of course, the different features, variants and embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other in various ways insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0019] In addition, various other features of the invention become apparent from the attached description made with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention and where:

[0020] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a game device according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of another example of an embodiment of a device game according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.3] is a top view of a detail of [Fig.1], and

[0023] [Fig.4] is a top view of a detail of [Fig.3].

[0024] It should be noted that in these figures the structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

[0025] The invention aims to provide a foosball-type game device with a reduced footprint, easily adjustable and transportable.

[0026] For these purposes, a game device designated by reference 1 as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 comprises a chassis 2 suitable for being placed on a frame 3, the chassis 2 having a regular polygonal or circular shape.

[0027] Figures 1 and 2 show two compatible frames 3, namely a frame 3 comprising two legs for [Fig. 1] and a frame comprising a single leg for [Fig. 2]. Advantageously, a chassis 2 according to the invention is adapted to be placed on existing frames, the frame 3 being, for example, a side table. A frame 3 capable of positioning the chassis 2 at a suitable height for optimal use according to the size of the players is compatible with the invention. It may, in fact, be a single piece or a frame 3 designed specifically for this use; for example, a frame 3 compatible with the invention has adjustable legs to allow the game device 1 to be placed at different desired heights.

[0028] A chassis 2 according to the invention comprises a base constituting a game board 4 bordered by one or more vertical walls 5. According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], the game board 4 comprises a regular polygonal shape with sixteen sides, thus bordered by sixteen vertical walls 5. Other polygonal shapes inscribed in a circle are compatible within the scope of the invention.

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates a circular game board 4 bordered by a wall vertical 5.

[0030] According to the two illustrated embodiments, the vertical wall(s) 5 comprise oblong openings 6 at a distance from the game board 4. In [Fig. 1], these oblong openings 6 are formed by slots worked into the vertical walls 5 and closed by a circular tube 7 fixed to the top of the vertical walls 5 at a distance from the slots. Advantageously, this circular tube 7 constitutes a means of gripping the game device 1. Handles (not shown) may also be provided on the frame 2 of the game device 1.

[0031] According to an embodiment not shown, the game device 1 includes a lid suitable for placement on the vertical wall(s) 5. According to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 1], means for attaching the lid to the vertical wall(s) 5 include, for example, clips that engage with the upper part of the vertical wall(s) 5 or the tube 7. The lid can be of various shapes, such as circular, polygonal, or freeform. In one embodiment, the lid extends sufficiently from the game board 4 to cover the game bars 11, thus forming a table that can be used for various purposes (support, standing table, or game table).

[0032] The game board 4 comprises two diametrically opposed excavations 8. According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], these excavations 8 pass through the game board 4 and a container 9 is provided under each of these excavations 8 with a portion extending from the game board 4 so as to allow easy retrieval of a ball.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the game board 4 also has a convex part in its centre so that the ball is not blocked in the middle.

[0034] According to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.1], two opposing ball return cleats 10 are located against a vertical wall 5 at a distance from the excavations 8.

[0035] The game device 1 also includes at least four game bars 11, with two players each intended to use at least two game bars 11. Each game bar 11 includes a rod 12 and a slide 13 capable of translating and pivoting on the rod 12, thus forming a pivoting telescopic game bar 11. One end of the game bars 11 is fixed to a base of the chassis 2, and the other end extends beyond the vertical walls 5 through a proper oblong opening 6 and includes a handle 14 suitable for gripping.

[0036] According to the illustrated embodiment, each game bar 11 comprises a player body 15 fixed to the slide 13 and intended for use above the game board 4, as in a classic foosball table. Two player bodies 15 may be distinguished two by two so as to form two separate teams, each excavation 8 being located between two game bars 11 bearing player bodies 15 of the same team.

[0037] Other embodiments not illustrated are compatible with the invention, namely more than two game rods 11 per player and more player bodies 15 per game rod 11. The dimensions of the game board 4 are thus adaptable to different configurations. Similarly, different sizes of game rods 11 and player bodies 15 can be used within the scope of the invention. The two illustrated embodiments include a conventional game rod 11 with known dimensions of player body 15 and game rod size 11.

[0038] In order to be able to fix the game bars 11 at an adequate height above the game board 4 in order to properly maneuver the player bodies 15 without them touching the game board 4, the chassis 2 includes a base 16 located in the center of the game board 4 and raised.

[0039] The base 16 thus comprises a disc platform 17 resting on at least one support bar 18 fixed to the game platform 4, the center of the base 16 coinciding vertically with the center of the game platform 4. Visible in [Fig.1], an upper platform 19 rests on at least one support bar (not visible) fixed to the disc platform 17.

[0040] In order to allow the play bars 11 to be maneuvered, the latter comprise an end fixed to the disc platter 17 by means of a pivot joint. Different ways of designing this pivot joint are compatible within the scope of the invention. A particular embodiment is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

[0041] According to the embodiment illustrated in particular in [Fig.3], each attachment point of a game bar 11 to the base 16 is arranged along a circle centered on the base 16 (represented in dotted line), this center coinciding vertically with the center of the game board 4.

[0042] For each game bar 11, a bracket 20 is, on the one hand, pivotally mounted on the disc plate 17, for example by means of a screw, and on the other hand, includes on the vertical part of the bracket 20 a hole suitable for the passage of the rod 12 of a game bar 11. The rod 12 of the game bar 11 passes through the hole in the bracket 20 and a rod nut 21 locks the rod 12 in the bracket 20. A spring 22 is arranged on the rod 12 on the side of the slide 13 to dampen the slide 13 when it reaches its stop.

[0043] Figure 1 also illustrates a scoring system located on the upper platform 19 of the base 16. This scoring system includes two arrows 23 and two bows 24, each with a scoring scale representing a number of goals to be scored. Other embodiments of the scoring system are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0044] To use a game device 1 according to the invention, at least two players face each other, each with the possibility of maneuvering two game rods 11. Depending on the configuration- Desired figures allow more players to participate.

[0045] Each handle 14 is then taken in hand, and the game bars 11 can be maneuvered around their own pivot axis. The oblong openings 6 define two movement stops for each of the game bars 11. The oblong openings 6 can also have a movement-limiting function in other directions, depending on the means of attachment used for the game bars 11 to the base 16.

[0046] A foosball-type ball is implemented on the game board 4 and the player bodies 15 can hit the ball as in a classic foosball game, both protecting each excavation 8 forming a goal and attacking the opponent's goal.

[0047] Points are tallied on the scoring system provided on the upper board 19 of the base 16, according to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1]. The player scoring the most goals wins the game. Other game rules can be used with the game device according to the invention.

[0048] Of course, various other modifications can be made to the invention within the scope of the annexed claims.

Claims

Demands

1. A game device (1) comprising a chassis (2) adaptable to be placed on a frame (3) and having a base constituting a game board (4) bordered by one or more vertical walls (5) and comprising two opposing recesses (8), at least four game bars (11), each game bar (11) comprising a rod (12) and a slide (13) adaptable to translate and pivot on the rod (12) thus forming a pivoting telescopic game bar (11) extending beyond the vertical walls (5), and at least one player body (15) being fixed on the slide (13), characterized in that the game board (4) comprises a regular polygonal or circular shape, the chassis (2) comprising a base (16) located in the center of the game board (4) and raised so that the player bodies (15) do not touch the game board (4), and means for attaching each game bar (11) to the base (16).

2. Game device (1) according to the preceding claim in which the means for fixing a game bar (11) to the base (16) comprise a pivot joint.

3. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means for fixing a game bar (11) to the base (16) comprise a bracket (20) pivotally mounted on the base (16) and comprising a vertical part having a hole suitable for the passage of the rod (12) of a game bar (11), the rod (12) being locked on the bracket (20) by means of a nut (21).

4. Game device (1) according to the preceding claim in which each bracket (20) is fixed to the base (16) along the direction of a ray from the center of the base (16), the center of the base (16) coinciding vertically with the center of the game board (4).

5. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which each game bar (11) passes through an oblong opening (6) located in the vertical wall(s) (5).

6. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base (16) comprises a disc tray (17) resting on at least one support bar (18) fixed to the game tray (4), the game bars (11) being fixed to the disc tray (17) and an upper tray (19) resting on at least one support bar (18) fixed to the disc tray (17).

7. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in in which the game board (4) includes a convex shape in its center.

8. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the excavations (8) are through the game board (4) and two containers (9) are placed under each of the excavations (8) and include a portion extending from the game board (4).

9. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising two opposing ball return cleats (10) located against a vertical wall (5) at a distance from the excavations (8).

10. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims each slide (13) has at one end a handle (14) suitable for gripping.

11. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising means for grasping the game device (1).

12. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base (16) comprises an upper board (19) which carries a scoring system.

13. Game device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a cover suitable for being disposed on the vertical wall(s) (5).

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