WITH UNDER-FIELD CONTROL RODS

The subject of the invention is a mechanical tabletop soccer game where the rods controlling the movement of the figures are under the field plate so that they do not block the free (rolling or flying) movement of the ball over the field.

Other existing soccer games

Button soccer: perhaps the oldest and simplest soccer game. The accessories are easy to produce. The game is played on a smooth soccer field shape and painted tabletop with flat buttons. The ball is flat or concave shape. By flipping the players in side direction, pushing or snapping them with finger they can bring the ball into play.

Perhaps this kind of football simulates the least the real football. The shape and movement of the players, the dynamics of the game are very far from the realistic replication of the real sport (the game is paused after a pass or a kick and the next movement can be pre-planned similarly to the chess game).

This type of game is described by CUTRI JUAN in its invention no. 4 257 599 (publ.info: US4257599 (A), Priority date: 05.10.1979)

Spring football: this game has also been known for several decades and its main point is that the playing figures are vertically fixed into the holes of a rectangular shape, bordered playing field. The figures have ball-shaped bottom connected through a strong spring to the threaded hole in the ..ground" of the pitch. When the figure's head is pulled back in any direction, it can roll the ball into the given direction with the help of the spring.

This game is a great leap forward compared to button soccer since the figures have the shape of a football player and are standing upright and are kicking the ball with their lower part. Furthermore, the ball is indeed round and is rolling.

Nevertheless, this game also offers limited„soccer fun" since the figures are fixed and the artificial humps on the pitch between two figures ensure that the ball does not get into dead space. The ball can only be played flatly and similarly to button soccer the dynamics of the game is very low.

An older version of this game is described by MOORE SAM FENTON in invention no. GB190904867 (A) (Priority date:27-02-1909), while a newer version is described by l SWOBODA MARKUS [DE] and SEIDEL WITOLD [DE] in invention no.

DE102004016058 (A1) (Priority date: 01-04-2004).

Hockey game: hockey game represents a development in sports games and is also played on a bordered rectangular rink surface. Rails are in lengthwise direction across the rink and the figures can be moved by the control rods at the end of the rink. The playing figures are moved by pushing or pulling the control rods under the rink, so that they can move forward and backward along the rink on the rails. By turning the control rod the rotating movement is transferred by a transfer tool or structure to the vertical extension of the figures under the rink (the transfer tool can be a spring or some kind of Bowden cable or steel band construction or gear assembly). In the meantime a supporting structure keeps the figures over the rink or in the rail.

The hockey game is rightly popular but using it as a soccer game has many disadvantages. For one thing, the figures can only be controlled individually which is not a problem in case of a 5-member hockey team, but in case of an 11 member football team it would require the coordinated movement of 11 control rods, which is a very difficult task.

Where for the elimination of the problem some kind of connecting strap, rope or rubber ring are applied for the movement of the figures, the figures have no rails and can only turn around a fix point in one place on the rink.

Another problem is that the figures have rotary motion parallel with the field's plane, which is much more hockey-like, and the players use their legs like a hurley. The players kick the ball not front-wise, thus the kick, the pass or the lifting of the ball are much more complicated. Where for the elimination of the problem a movement is applied that makes possible forward kicking - in general by using Bowden + spring - the disadvantage is that one foot always stays on the ground and if the ball stops next to this ..resting leg" it cannot be brought into play by kicking unless the ball stops on the kicking foot side.

The strength of the kick, the design of the hurley (or foot) are not suitable for a good play in the air. This double function makes the handling of the control rods much more difficult.

The original hockey game is described by patent ofKLAS AUGUST WIDEGREN No. 525790 (publ.info:GB525790 (A), priority date: 29-10-1938)

The modified version of the game is described by the patent of YAKOBU DOITSUCHI (Publ.info: JPS5327839 (A), priority date: 24-08-1976).

Pneumatic soccer games: in these games the pump cylinders are generally placed either centrally or in the four corners of the pitch and are creating air impulses and these air streams are directed to the figures through thin tubes either on the top surface of the pitch or under the pitch in this way forcing the figures for horizontal (that is for hockey play like) rotation. In other solutions, the airflows are moving the ball directly from under the figures. The disadvantage of these games is the stationary design of the figures, the relatively weak moving force and the related difficulty to lift the ball. What's more, these are often very complex game structures. A typical game is described by TOMA OVIDIU [CA] in patent no. WO2011000119 (Priority date: 01-06-2010)

Magnetic table games: these games are generally very simple, in some of them iron balls are moved under or above the table with the control rods having magnetic ends, or may move figures in similar way to a limited extent. As to the movement, dynamics or lifting of the ball they also do not provide real experience.

The real football modelling versions of this game do not belong to the mechanical game category, they are using electric motors and electro-magnets and practically play the game with 22 remote-controlled robot figures.

This type of game is described by HAMOT THIERRY in patent no. US 6, 189,885 B1 (Priority date: 19-03-1998).

Bowden (rope or wire) based solutions:

The games belonging to this category are either working solely based on this principle, or are additional structural elements of games working in a different way (see moving of kicking leg). One of the most complex games of this type is described by GEORGE SAMUEL WEBSTER in his patent no. 880635 (Publ.info: GB880635 (A) 25-10-1961 , priority date: 22-05-1959) The game makes possible the cross-wise movement of the figures, their rotation parallel with the table surface and their displacement perpendicular to the surface.

The great disadvantage of the structure is that it does not have a shaft easily rotatable in both directions, but only a lever that can be pushed downwards. Besides this the very complicated lever mechanisms reduce the rotation forces (thus preventing the lifting of the ball into the air). Furthermore, the complexity of the construction makes the production of the structure very difficult.

Table football (or rod football, or foosball): Perhaps this is the most popular game in the world today. The currently known version is described by patent no. 205991 of HAROLD SEARLES THORNTON (publ.info: GB19220027926 19221014, Priority date: 14-10-1922) Today there are different sizes of tables; the number and arrangement of the figures can also be different. In the most typical arrangement 8 rows of figures can be found on the playfield (totally 22 pes of figures), each team has four rows of figures.

A team can be directed by one or two players.

The playfield is bordered by sidewalls one of the function of which is to prevent the ball from rolling out of the field during the game. There is one-one goal at each end of the playfield.

The figures can be moved by control rods. The control rods are placed in the openings of the longitudinal sidewalls of the table (this is the other function of the side walls). The figures are rowed or fixed to these control rods perpendicular or transversal to the field plate. By turning the ends of the control rods extending over the playfield one or more figures are rotating in parallel or vertical direction compared to the longitudinal axis of the field plate and hit (quasi kick) the missile representing the ball, when they get close to it. The - in general - four control rods belonging to one of the teams are handled on one side of the game, the other four are controlled on the other side. By moving (pulling or pushing) the control rods transversal to the field plate the figures can also make lateral movements.

The control rods are typically produced by two different methods. One of them is the ..transition type" solution where each axle is represented by a rod or a tube, which are led through both longitudinal sidewalls of the playfield. One of the rod ends are equipped with a grip for being suitable for control, while the other end moves freely in the hole of the opposite side wall and is more or less extending over to the side where the control rods of the other team are handled.

The other solution is the ..telescopic" design where the control rods do not extend over the field's border, but they consist of a rod and the tubes rotating around it.

The significant advantages of this game compared to the former ones are

- continuous and dynamic play

- the players can make significant traversing movements with the help of the control rods

- the players can also make significant rotary movements with the help of the control rods

- several players can be moved by the same control rod (thus the more experienced players are able to keep the whole team continuously in play)

- the figures kick the ball from the front, thus the directing of the kick is similar to the real football and the power of the kick is also great

- there is no ..support leg", from whatever direction the ball comes the figures can pass it both to the left and to the right - the construction is stable and durable

- the construction is simple and easy to produce.

The game is a fun, it improves dexterity and reflexes and offers good social experience.

Thus, it is not by chance that this game has spread all over the world and the majority of football game patents are aiming at the development of this game.

The invention described here is also a further development of this game since it still has a serious limitation in the simulation of real football.

While in real football the play with the ball in the air composes an organic part and component of the game and enriches the play with a number of colourful and enjoyable variations (curved passes, play with the ball, headings, goals in the upper part of the goal, etc.) the existing table football game can only operate with flatly rolling ball (missile).

CAI HANFAN, Chinese inventor attempted to reduce this limitation in his patent no. 2005 1000 5014.3 (publ.info: CN1814337 (A), priority date: 31-01-2005), where the shorter back parts of the field are designed in concave shape. Thus when the ball hits this curved wall it rises up in the air and starts flying backwards. The inventor also designed a stadium like topping over the back parts of the playfield.

This however is not a real solution, but only a colouring element in the basically unchanged construction.

The thing that really hinders playing in the high instead of playing in the low in table football is the placing of the control rods over the playfield, since they present a permanent block for the high flying balls. The reason why the game balls are made of heavy, compact material is to prevent the players from lifting the ball during the play.

The aim of my invention is to enable the table football game to implement playing in the air game elements.

The invention's task was to remove the control rods of the table foosball figures from the top of the playfield so that they cannot get into the way of the ball even in cases when the figures are able to lift the ball.

In the framework of this it had to be solved that:

- the figure controlling rods be led not in the side holes of the field plate

- the figures be fixed not directly to the control rods, but through motion transmission - the motion transmission device provides the transfer of movement through the least possible transmissions and transfer levels

- the new design of the field plate make possible the connection of the control rods under the plate and the figures above the field.

I have solved the task in the following way:

I designed supporting element under the playfield (field plate + sidewalls + plank heightening) and I led the control rods of the playing figures in the supporting element parts longitudinally compared to the field plate.

- The control rods and the figures were connected with a motion transmission device where the figure was moved by rotating the figure's rod parallel with the control rod.

- In the field plate I made openings for the control rods in a width what offered enough space for the placing and operating of the motion transmission structures of all the control rods and of the figures belonging to them.

Herebelow I describe in detail the structure of the invented game through a preferred design sample with reference to the enclosed drawings where

Figure 1 shows the top-view of the game

Figure 2 shows the front view of the figure and the gear rack

Figure 3 shows the side view of the figure and the gear rack

Figure 1 shows that the field plate 1 which has football pitch shape and is painted accordingly and is equipped with goals 7 on the shorter sides was bordered by side walls 5, then I attached to it plank heightening obliquely inclining outwards 6 so that the ball rising in the air could not leave the playfield. This was practically made of transparent material in order to ensure visibility. Crosswise there are openings 2 in the field plate 1 for receiving the gear rack to be described later and ensuring motion transmission. The different groups of figures 3 compose rows of figures in crosswise direction in a given arrangement, one opening 2 belongs to each row of figures. The grip 4 which can also be seen on the drawing is placed under the field plate 1 and is fixed to the end of control rods 10 which are shown on Figure 2 to make the handling of the rods 10 easier for the players.

Figure 2 shows that supporting elements 16 were placed under the field plate 1.

Holes were made into the longitudinal supporting element parts 16 for the control rods 10 and the control rods 10 are led through them.

Motion transmission between the figures 3 and the control rods 10 was provided by a gear rack structure. The main elements are the following:

- control rod 10

- bottom gear 13

- figure axle 9

- top gear 14

- gear rack 8

- gear housing 12

The figures 3 are designed in a way that in the middle openings were made on the players in vertical direction from their foot towards their head until a certain height thus creating space for the motion transmission structure.

The bottom gears 13 were attached to the control rods 0 and I fixed them there. The figure axles 9 were led and fixed in crosswise holes of the figures 3 (parallel to the control rods 10). The middle section of the figure shaft 9 was left free in the vertical opening of the figures 3. The top gear 4 was fixed to this free part of the figure axle 9. Looking from the back sides of the field plate 1 and the goal 7 the figures 3, the top gear 4 and the bottom gear 13 are all located front wise.

Gear housing 12 serves for connecting the control rod 10 and the movement of the figure axle 9 in the bottom, cross-wise hole of which the control rod 10 is inserted while in the top traversing hole the figure axle 9 can be found. The top gear 14 on the figure axle 9 and bottom gear 13 on the control rod 10 are integrated into the gear housing 12 by being fixed on figure axle 9 and on control rod 10. The movement of bottom gear 13 and top gear 14 is connected by gear rack 8. The non-geared side of gear rack 8 is sliding up and down on the back inner wall of gear housing 12, while the geared side is engaged into the bottom 13 and top 14 gears. The gear housing 12 is dimensioned so that the distance between the back wall and the gears make possible the proper fitting and engagement of gear rack 8, bottom gear 13 and top gear 14.

The gear housing 12 and gear rack 8 elements of the gear rack construction 2 are inserted into the playfield openings.

The playfield openings 2

- should be wide enough for housing the above-mentioned elements, so that the gear racks 8 could move freely (ascent, descent) in the openings,

should be narrow enough o to keep the gear housings 12 vertically (not let them tilt) with the figures 3 on their ends, since their only fix connection ties them to the control rod 10 and this does not prevent their tilting forward or backward.

o the field openings 2 should not disturb or influence the ball's motion during rolling.

In order to meet the former requirements of the field openings 2 I designed a gear rack 8 where gearing was only made in the bottom and top parts of the gear rack 8 that is only where the motion of the bottom gear 13 and of the top gear 14 should be connected. This solution ensured that only the thin, handle-like part of the gear rack moves in the field openings 2.

The length of the gear housing 12, the length of the figure's openings 3 and the placing of the holes of the control rods 10 on the surface of the longitudinal supporting elements 16 had to be adjusted to this requirement (if the control rod 10 had had been too close to the field plate 1 the geared part of the gear rack 8 should have hit against the field plate 1 ).

The invention is implemented with a ..telescopic" control rod 10 where one end of the control rod 10 is led in the longitudinal supporting element 16 which is closer to the player who is handling the control rod 10. The other end is supported horizontally by the axle rods 11 in the control rods 10 which are fixed in the longitudinal supporting elements 16 being farther from the player. Thus one end of the axle rods 11 is fixed in the tube of the control rods 10, while the other is engaged in the opposite supporting structure 16. In this way none of the control rods 10 reach over to the opposite supporting elements 16.

Figures 2 and 3 help to understand the operation of the invention.

The figures 3 can make two types of movements in the field, rotary motion and traversing motion. During the game the players handle the control rods 10.

If the player pulls the control rod 10 handled by him towards himself in crosswise direction compared to the field plate 1 or pushes it into opposite direction the bottom gear 13 is pressed against the bottom-inner side of the hardly wider gear housing 12. Thus the whole gear housing 12 follows the motion of the control rod 10. Since the top part of the gear housing 12 similarly tightly houses the top gears 14 over the field plate 1 , which is fixed to the figure axle 9, thus figure axle 9 and the figure 3 fixed to it also follows the crosswise movement of the control rod 10.

The rotary motion of the figures 3 is generated by turning the control rod 10 in any direction where the gear rack 8 engages in the gears of the bottom 13 and top gears 14 and thus transmits the rotary motion of the control rod 10 onto the figure axle 9. Since the figures 3 are fixed to the figure axle 9, the figure 3 rotates over the field plate 1 in the same direction as the control rod 10. Thus the ball in front of the figure 3 is hit (kicked) (Figure 3). In the described preferred design solution the figure 3 has a type of foot which in forward direction outreaches the figure's 3 leg part. Thus it can even better lift the ball in front of it increasing by this the extent of ball lifting.

Regarding that the opening is in the middle part of the figures 3 and the inserted gear housing 12 is functioning as a stable pillar for the figure 3, the rotary motion of the figure 3 is limited, since at a given point its body would hit its own column. Thus, we can avoid the non-desirable overturn of the figure 3 (need for imitation reality). Otherwise, the design of the two ends of the gear rack 8 does not allow for the bending down from the gear rack 8 in any direction of the bottom gear 13 and of top gear 14. This is the first thing that prevents the turnover of the figure 3 directly before the figure 3 would otherwise hit the gear rack 12 with its body.

The main advantages of this preferred design solution is that the transmission of both the lateral and the rotary motion from the control rod 10 to the figure axle 9 can be implemented through the extremely thin field openings without disturbing the game and that the interlocking of the teeth of gear rack, of bottom gear 13 and of top gear 14 provides stable and slip-free transmission link.

Taking into account the aim, namely that the game should not be too difficult and also the fact that the game is exposed to relatively great forces it is worth to make the field plate 1 , the side walls 5 and the supporting elements 16 of wood and the plank heightening 6 of transparent plastic material (e.g. plexiglass) in order not to disturb the sight of the players on the playfield.

The figures 3 should be prepared of plastic material similarly to the figure axles 9, as well as the bottom gears 13 and the top gears 14 so that they be light and stable. The requirements of the control rods 10 (stability, straightness, etc.) demand their preparation of steel material if possible in stainless steel version.

Thin walled, low weight, hollow (not compact) ball made of plastic material should be used to the game.

Besides the above-described preferred solution there are other possible options: Using other supporting elements

The under-field supporting element can be quadrangular (continuous front and back wall, two sidewalls parallel with the longitudinal axis of the field plate). From the point of view of the solution of the problem the elimination of back and front walls or even the sidewalls does not present a problem, only construction supporting legs are needed in such number and dimension, which are able to receive the holes needed to the leading of the control rods.

Using other motion transmission device

Such transmission devices can be the endless rubber ring or belt-gear which connect the control rod and the figure axle in the gear housing. In the case of using rubber ring or belt-gear the motion transmission can be implemented by tightly fixing them on the two axles. In case of steel band and Bowden cable solutions they could be fixed at one point on the control rods and figure axles. When turning the control rod the steel band or Bowden cable (wire) pulls its end fixed to the figure axle, rotating by this the figure axle, too. Motion in the opposite direction can be ensured by a ..reversed direction" steel band, or Bowden cable, or spring.

When making a decision about the construction the space requirement of each solution should widely be taken into account, since they have to work in the opening of the field plate. In addition, the primary requirement towards the field plate's opening is that it should be as narrow as possible in order not to influence the ball's movement.

Placing of the motion transmission device differently compared to the figure

In the preferred design solution described in detail, I have presented a construction where the top gear, which is mounted and fixed on the figure axle in the gear housing, is placed in the figure's opening so that the gearwheel is rotating in it parallel with the longitudinal axis of the field plate.

The characteristic feature of this solution is that it limits the movement of the figures and prevents them from turning around the figure axle in 360 degree. Since after a certain degree of turn the front or back parts of the figures bump into the gear housing.

In another solution, the figures can also be moved so that the figure axle extends over the figures and the earlier described different parts (gear rack, endless rubber ring or belt gear, steel band, Bowden cable) connect one of the overreaching part of the figure axle and the control rod in the gear housing. Using the endless rubber ring or belt gear solution the rotation of the figures is not at all limited, thus they can be rotated either way around the figure axles. Compared to the described preferred solution the disadvantage of this solution is that the ball is approaching the figure from the direction of the gear housing, and the ball cannot be played by rotating movement (kicking), since the whole figure is on the other side of the gear housing. Furthermore, the rubber ring or belt gear links are less stable than the geared structure, the figures arranged in one row and manipulated by the control rod can move relative to one another. The overturning of the figures around the axle and the possibility of making any number of turnovers reduces the similarity of the game to real football and thus it also mitigates the entertainment experience.

A further design solution can be if the over the field plate part of the gear housing of the motion transmission device connecting the control rod and the figure axle is designed as one leg of the figure. This leg, which includes the device for rotation remains, fixed, while the remaining parts of the figure (other leg, body and head) are turning around the crosswise figure axle. A similar version is, if the part of the gear housing above the field plate of the motion transmission device connecting the control rod and the figure axle composes part of the figure (one leg + body + head). This part of the figure including the device for rotation remains fixed while the other leg of the figure is turning around the crosswise direction figure axle.

Different arrangement of the motion transmission solutions compared to the gear housing

The design solutions described until now contained constructions where the different rotation transmission solutions were integrated into the gear housing. Nevertheless, the game can be designed so that the gear housing contains only the control rod and the figure axle, but the link between the endless rubber ring, or belt gear, steel band and Bowden axles is established outside the gear housing. Thus the gear housing can be e.g. in the opening of the figure, while the mentioned links are next to the figure or the other way round. This is also possible if the gear housing terminates in one leg of the figure or in its other part (other leg + body + head). In this case, it connects the rods and provides the hole for rotation, but the rubber ring, or belt gear, steel band and Bowden link providing motion transmission is placed next to or in the opening of the figure. In extreme case, the gear housing and the mentioned motion transmission solutions can be located on the two different sides of the figure. The disadvantage of these solutions can be that the position and movement of the figure becomes much more uncertain with the moving away from each other of the axle supporting parts and the parts making possible motion transmission.

With other control rod solution

The control rod can be of ..passing type" control shaft solution - see the Table football (or rod football, or foosball)" section. The invention aims at the further development of a mechanically operated game, which intends to give an experience to the users, adults and children based on the imitation and modelling of football.

The invention intends to improve the original game exactly in line with this basic aim so that it enriches the game's functionality with the options of simulating other, very important elements of real football.

As a result of this development it becomes possible to pass in a curve, to receive a curved ball („on the ground" and„in the air"), to fly-kick (from the air after the springing of the ball or without it), to head, to start a goal shooting above the ground aiming at one or the other sides, or corners of the goal.

This new functionality significantly widens the range of possible variations for striking a goal by the players who are moving the figures, or for making spectacular movements and actions.

Naturally, the new functions are only possibilities and their utilization is depending on the patience and exaction of the players.

The same is the case however with the traditional table football game which is the basis of this development, where the players' knowledge extend from the Jet's spin the figures as fast as possible" routine of the beginners until the diversified and ambitious play style of the champions of competitions organized by the international federations, who rather skip spinning.