[0001] This invention relates to a football table and particularly to a token-operated football
table.
[0002] Known football tables comprise two teams of plastics men, each plastics man being
fixed to one of a number of rods extending transversely to the table above a playing
surface. The rods are both slidably and rotatably movable.
[0003] This sliding movement of the rods has previously been achieved by moving the rods
through opposing apertures in the longitudinal walls of the table. These tables are
considered to be dangerous as the free end of the rod which does not form a handle
protrudes from the table and sudden sliding movement may cause the free end to strike
a spectator or player of the game. One solution to this problem has been to mount
the plastics men on the outer casing of a telescopic arrangement. However, the telescopic
components of this arrangement are not as strong as the known solid rod arrangement
and tend to have a more limited product life.
[0004] The goals of these known football tables comprise a rectangular hole in each of the
transverse walls of the table. Should a man shoot the ball towards but not into the
goal, the ball rebounds back from the wall, unlike the real game in which the opposing
football team will take a goal kick.
[0005] If one of the players scores a goal, the ball is returned to one player who then
re-enters the ball onto the playing surface via an aperture in one of the longitudinal
walls of the table. It is possible for that player to bias the direction of the ball
towards his own men.
[0006] The present invention has been made from a consideration of these problems.
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a football table comprising
a playing surface and a plurality of bodies, wherein at least one of the bodies is
pivotally mounted on a first member and said one body is also mounted for rotational
movement on a second member.
[0008] One or both members are preferably rods. The second member preferably passes through
and is movable within a slot. The slot may be arcuate. The maximum rotational movement
of said one body may be limited, for example to less than 180° and preferably to substantially
100°. The first member may be used as a tie rod.
[0009] The second member or said one body may be releasably maintained or biassed in a certain
position by way of suitable means such as attraction between a magnet and a metal.
[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a football
table comprising a playing surface, a plurality of bodies movably mounted above the
playing surface, wherein a passageway is provided extending from at least one of the
edges of the playing surface, said passageway being adapted to return a ball to the
playing surface.
[0011] The passageway may comprise a track, bore, channel or other means suitable for conveying
a ball.
[0012] The passageway may be adapted to return a ball from the goal to the playing surface.
[0013] The passageway may be adapted to return a ball from an aperture in one of said opposing
walls other than the goal.
[0014] The passageway may be adapted to slow the movement of the ball, for example a spiral
track may extend upwardly from the playing surface.
[0015] The passageway may deliver the ball to any part of the playing surface, for example
at either opposing end of the playing surface. The passageway may be adapted to deliver
the ball to the goalkeeper.
[0016] Alternatively, the passageway may be adapted to deliver the ball to the vicinity
of the central transverse region or half way line of the table.
[0017] The passageway may be adapted to deliver the ball to the team that has conceded the
goal as in the real game, or alternate balls may be delivered to the individual teams.
[0018] A plurality of passageways may be provided at either opposing end of the playing
surface.
[0019] The football table may be token operated.
[0020] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of one arrangement of bodies according
to the first aspect of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of two longitudinally spaced arrangements of bodies according
to the first aspect of the invention;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the mounting arrangement of bodies of Figure 2 which
have been adapted to be biassed in a certain position;
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the second aspect of the invention
in which the tracks return the ball to the goal mouth;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the tracks of Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of the second aspect of the
invention.
[0021] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, plastics men 10,12 of a coin-operated football table
are mounted on rods 14,16 extending perpendicular to longitudinal walls 18,20 of the
football table above a playing surface.
[0022] Metal plates 22,24 are fixed to either side of one longitudinal wall 18 via threaded
engagement between bolt 26 and nut 28. Similarily, rings 30,32 are located adjacent
either side of the other longitudinal wall 20.
[0023] The upper rod 14 has a flange 34 provided at one end 36 thereof and a thread 38 at
the other end 40. The threaded end 40 of the rod extends through apertures 42,44,46,48,50,52,54,56
in the plate 22, wall 18, plate 46, men 10,12, ring 32, wall 20 and ring 30 respectively.
A nut 58 engages the thread and bears against ring 30. By this arrangement, the upper
rod 14 is acting as a tie rod whilst effecting sliding and pivotal movement of the
men.
[0024] A handle 60 is attached to one end of the lower rod 16. The lower rod 16 extends
through arcuate slots of corresponding dimension 62,64,66 in plate 22, wall 18 and
plate 24 respectively and apertures 68,70 in men 10,12. The men 10,12 are relatively
fixed to the lower rod via screws 72,74.
[0025] A coil spring 76 is provided intermediate handle 60 and plate 22 and a second coil
spring 78 is provided intermediate plate 24 and the adjacent man 10.
[0026] It will be appreciated that the free end 80 of the lower rod 16 always remains between
the longitudinal walls 18,20 and does not therefore constitute a hazard to persons
standing adjacent the table. Also, by using two solid bodies rather than a telescopic
arrangement, the present invention provides a sufficiently strong mounting arrangement
for the men.
[0027] In use, the men 10,12 may be rotated by moving the lower rod 16 through arcuate slots
62,64,66. The angular movement of the men 10,12 is limited by the length of the slots
62,64,66. In this embodiment the men are rotatable through substantially 100°. This
enables adjacent sets of rods 14,16 to be successfully pitched closer together than
known football tables and therefore there is less chance that the ball will rest in
a position between adjacent longitudinally spaced men in which neither sets of men
can reach the ball.
[0028] Referring to Figure 3, there is shown an embodiment of the invention similar to that
previously described except that a magnet 82 is located adjacent one end 84 of slot
62. This magnet attracts the metallic lower rod 86 to the position shown in Figure
3. This arrangement has the advantage of arranging the men in a raised position unless
repositioned by the player of the game. Therefore, should a man shoot the ball towards
the opponents goal mouth, all of his men located in between the shooting man and the
goal mouth which are not in operation will substantially not interfere with the movement
of the ball.
[0029] Alternatively, the magnet may be an electromagnet and the players not in operation
may be raised from the playing surface by operating the electromagnet via a switch.
[0030] Referring to Figures 4 to 6, alternative embodiments of the invention are illustrated
in which the men and mounting arrangements of the men are omitted for clarity.
[0031] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a football table 90 has longitudinal side walls 92,94
and goals 96,98. Entry portions 100,102,104,106 to spiral tracks 108,110,112,114 extend
between the goals 96,98 and side walls 92,94. The spiral tracks extend upwardly from
the playing surface as illustrated in Figure 5. If the ball is shot towards a goal
96,98 but misses the goal, then the ball will travel up a spiral track 108,110,112,114,
and gradually lose velocity as it travels up the track 108,110,112,114.
[0032] The ball eventually returns down the track 108,110,112,114 and is deflected towards
the plastics goalkeeper by a projection 116,118,120,122 adjacent entry portions 100,102,104,106.
[0033] Referring now to Figure 6 a coin-operated football table 130 comprises tracks 132,134
or other suitable passageways for a ball extending from the goal mouth 136,138 to
apertures 140,142 in the longitudinal side walls 144,146 of the football table 130.
The apertures 140,142 are located substantially adjacent the half way line 148 on
the playing surface 150.
[0034] The tracks 132,134 illustrated are adapted to return the ball to the team that has
conceded the goal.
[0035] Alternatively, the tracks may be adapted to turn alternate balls to the individual
teams.
[0036] It is to be understood that the above described embodiments of the invention are
by way of illustration only. Many modifications and variations are possible.
1. A football table comprising a playing surface and a plurality of bodies (10,12), wherein
at least one of the bodies (10,12) is pivotally mounted on a first member (14) and
said one body (10) is also mounted for rotational movement on a second member (16).
2. A football table as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member (14) is fixed in
position.
3. A football table as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second member (16)
is movable.
4. A football table as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the maximum rotational
movement through which said one body can go is limited to less than 180°.
5. A football table as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein means (82) are provided
for releasably maintaining or biassing at least one of the second member (16) or said
one body (10,12) in a certain position.
6. A football table as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a passageway (108,110,112,114,132,134)
extending from at least one of the edges of the playing surface, said passageway (108,110,112,114,132,134)
being adapted to return a ball to the playing surface.
7. A football table comprising a playing surface,a plurality of bodies (10,12) movably
mounted above the playing surface, wherein a passageway (108,110,112,114,132,134)
is provided extending from at least one of the edges of the playing surface, said
passageway being adapted to return a ball to the playing surface.
8. A football table as claimed in claim 7, wherein the football table comprises at least
one goal and the passageway (132,134) is adapted to return a ball from at least one
goal to the playing surface.
9. A football table as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the passageway (108,110,112,114)
is adapted to return a ball from a part of the edge of the playing surface other than
the goal to the playing surface.
10. A football table as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the passageway (108,110,112,114,132,134)
is adapted to slow the movement of the ball.