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Field of the invention

The present invention relates in general to table games, and more in particular regards a magnetic table game that simulates a sports match, typically but not exclusively soccer, hockey, and the like, with two opposing teams managed by respective players.

State of the prior art

Known from the document No. WO-2005/105234 is a table game of the type defined above, comprising a nonmagnetic playing surface, a pair of goals arranged at the opposite ends of the playing surface, a plurality of first pieces, and a plurality of second pieces simulating two opposing teams that can be displaced manually on the playing surface by the two players, each defending a respective goal, and a body simulating a ball or the like. Each piece and the body simulating the ball include respective permanent magnets, the poles of which are in use aligned substantially perpendicular to the playing surface and are arranged on the same side, in such a way that when the body simulating the ball is approached by or approaches one or other of the aforesaid pieces, it is subjected to a motion of magnetic repulsion along the playing surface.

Summary of the invention

The present invention proposes to improve the table game according to the aforesaid document No. WO- 2005/105234, and more in particular to implement it with new and useful functions.

According to the invention, this object is achieved thanks to the fact that the game is equipped with a table score-board provided with optical displays and incorporating a receiver operatively connected to said optical displays, and to the fact that each goal includes a photocell designed to detect entry of said body simulating the ball or the like inside it, and a transmitter operatively connected to said photocell and designed to send a signal to the receiver of the scoreboard when the entry into a goal of the body simulating the ball or the like is detected by the corresponding photocell and hence signalled by the aforesaid optical displays .

According to the invention, there may moreover be conveniently provided means for preventing detection by the photocell of the possible entry into the goal of said pieces, and a sound emitter associated to the score-board and activated in synchronism with the aforesaid optical displays.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective overall view of the magnetic table game according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view that shows in greater scale one of the goals of the game; and

Figure 3 is a view in still larger scale of the body simulating a ball or the like of the game.

Detailed description of the invention

With initial reference to Figure 1, the magnetic table game according to the invention basically comprises a playing surface 1 made of non-magnetic material with a low coefficient of friction, for example a flexible plate made of plastic material simulating a soccer pitch (or else a pitch for hockey, rugby, American football, etc.), with two goals 2 set at its opposite ends.

In the case of the example illustrated, the game includes two teams each formed by a plurality of pieces 4, 5 in the form of dolls, resting on the playing surface 1 and positionable, i.e., displaceable manually thereon, by two opposing players.

The game moreover includes a body 6 simulating a ball or disk, which is also displaceable on the playing surface 1 as a result of the interaction with the pieces 4 and 5, in the way clarified in what follows.

Each piece 4, 5 includes a base 7, for example in the form of a circular disk, incorporated in which is a permanent magnet, not visible in the drawings, the North/South poles of which are aligned with one another along the axis of the base 7 and hence, when the corresponding piece 4, 5 is resting on the playing surface 1, perpendicular to this. The North/South poles of the magnets of all the pieces 4, 5 are arranged on the same side, i.e., for example with the North pole facing upwards and the South pole facing downwards.

Likewise, the body simulating the ball 6 incorporates a respective permanent magnet, which is also set and oriented as the magnets of the pieces 4,

5, i.e., with the respective North/South poles arranged on the same side. For reasons that will be clarified in what follows, the body 6 is in the form of a disk having a small axial dimension.

According to one of the peculiar characteristics of the invention, the game is moreover equipped with a table score-board 8, designed to be positioned, for example, alongside the half-way line of the playing surface 1. The table score-board 8 incorporates, in a way not illustrated in detail but generally within the reach of a person skilled in the branch, a radio receiver and an electronic device, which are operatively connected to optical displays arranged on the front face of the score-board 8 and include light emitters 9 and indicators of the score 10. The electronic device associated to the radio receiver can moreover be operatively connected to a sound emitter 11, and there may also be provided a programmable timer 12 to fix the duration of the match.

The radio receiver incorporated in the table score-board 8 is prearranged for receiving radio signals from a pair of radio transmitters, each of which is incorporated in the base 13 of a respective goal 2.

As is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 2, each goal 2 is provided with a photocell 14 preset for detecting entry inside it of the body simulating the ball 6 and for then signalling said event, via the corresponding radio transmitter, to the radio receiver of the score-board 8, the electronic device of which will cause activation of a corresponding luminous display 9 and of a corresponding score-counter 10, as well as generation of a sound or music via the possible sound emitter 11.

Each goal 2 is moreover provided with an arrangement for preventing detection by the corresponding photocell 14 of the possible accidental entry inside it of one of the pieces 4, 5. In the case of the example illustrated, said arrangement consists of a transverse barrier 15, for example constituted by a transparent tape or thread, set in front of the photocell 14 at a height from the playing surface 1 only slightly larger than the thickness of the disk simulating the ball 6, but smaller than the height of the pieces 4, 5.

With the arrangement described above, the interaction between the pieces 4, 5 and the disk simulating the ball 6 is such that, when this is approached by or approaches one or other piece 4, 5, it is subjected to a motion of magnetic repulsion along the playing surface. In this way, it will be possible to simulate a football match (or a hockey match, rugby match, etc.) by appropriately displacing the pieces 4, 5 with the aim of pushing the disk 6 in the opponent's goal 2. In said eventuality, the corresponding radio transmitter activated via the photocell will activate the score-board 8, with the modalities clarified previously, through the corresponding radio receiver.

Of course, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the ensuing claims .