The invention relates to game playing apparatus comprising a playing surface, at least one puck or like object and player- controlled means for impelling the puck from one region of the playing surface to another region of the playing surface.

One such apparatus is designed for playing a^ hockey and comprises a horizontal playing surface (normally of nylon or stainless steel) which is provided with a multiplicity of minute holes out of which a is forced by a compressed air supply. Pucks are freely supported on air cushions formed by the ejected compressed air and in use each player hits his or her puck with a hand -held bat and attempts to hit the puck into a goal at the far end of the playing surface.

Such apparatus is usually coin operated and located in amusement arcades.

An object of the present invention is to provide game-playing apparatus for a more competitive version of air hockey.

Accordingly the invention provides game-playing apparatus for two or more players, the apparatus comprising a playing surface, at least one puck means and player- controlled means for impelling said puck means from one region of the playing surface to another region of the playing surface via one or more

apertures in a barrier means located on the playing surface between said regions, the apparatus including sensing means arranged to detect the

direction of movement of a puck means through a said aperture and scoring means responsive to an output signal from said sensing means.

A conventional air-hockey arrangement can be modified by retrofitting the

above barrier and scoring means.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of a scoring display for use in another embodiment, and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1 , the apparatus is in the form of a table having a playing surface 12 with a multiplicity of minute holes 1 1 , which are connected via tubes to the output of an electrically-operated air compressor 6. One or more

pucks 3 are supported on air cushions generated by the air escaping from the

holes 11 and can be hit with hand-held bats 8 by the players (not shown) at the opposite ends of the table.

In accordance with the invention a barrier 1 is located at the mid-point of the playing surface and is provided with an illuminated panel P, P' on each side and apertures 2 of different sizes (e.g. apertures 2A, 2B) which allow the or each puck to travel from one side of the barrier to the other. Panels P and P' are identical.

Each panel P, P' is divided into sections in the form of "blocks or bricks" B which are lit or extinguished independently in response to the passage of the puck(s) through the apertures 2, as will subsequently be explained in more detail. To this end, two-way direction- sensitive sensors 9 are located in the apertures 2 and are arranged to detect the passage and direction of movement of pucks through the respective apertures. Signals from these sensors control the illumination of the "bricks* B and also are fed to a scoring counter (17) which generates a score for each player.

The apparatus includes a controller 20 having inputs from the respective sensors (only one such input being shown, for the sake of clarity) and the coin slot mechanism 4 and outputs to individual "bricks* B of panels P and P' as well as to display 17, compressor 6 and beacons 5. A timer 21 gates the signals from the sensors 9 or updating of the display after a predetermined period set for the game play has expired.

In use, each player first inserts a coin in the slot mechanism 4 and a beacon 5 lights up to indicate payment. The compressor 6 starts for a pre-set time period and one or more pucks 3 are dispensed via an aperture 7. Play begins. Each player aims to send the puck through one of the apertures 2 by hitting it with his bat and, if he is successful, is awarded a predetermined number of points (the smaller the aperture, the higher the number of points) by the scoring counter 17 in response to a signal from the relevant sensor 9. In addition, one or more "bricks" B on that player's panel P, P' are illuminated and one or more illuminated bricks (if any) on the other player's panel are extinguished; again the number of bricks being illuminated and /or the number of bricks being extinguished preferably being inversely related to the size of the aperture through which the puck passes.

For example, if large apertures 9 are valued at one brick, and small gates are valued at three bricks, players are rewarded more for trying to aim at the smaller apertures. If by skill or chance a player sends his puck into his opponent's goal an additional amount of jonus' bricks are lit, and an equal amount of bricks are extinguished on the opponent's panel. The player who completely lights up his panel P first, before the compressor 6 stops, wins (where legislation allows, if neither player completes this, before the game ends, prize money or tickets 14 are carried over and added to next game's winnings). If neither player completes illumination of his panel, the player with most bricks lit when the compressor stops wins.

The sensors 9 may for example include detection coils which detect passage of magnets located in the pucks.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a conventional air hockey game playing apparatus comprising a table T having goals G at each end can be modified in accordance with the invention by adding a barrier 1' provided with apertures 2' and sensors (not shown) similar to those of the Figure 1 embodiment.

The barrier 1' suitably comprises a large, clear perspex ® panel for the display of any symbols used in the game and is provided with a bell (not shown) and coloured lights (not shown) on top of the assembly to show when certain situations such as the highest score, have been reached in the game. The score is suitably displayed on a digital display 17. A similar display on the rear face of barrier 1 ' shows the other player's score. Advertisements (not shown) can also be displayed behind the clear perspex ® panel.

In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, a scoring display comprising a rectangular 4 x 5 array of illuminated indicators is provided within the barrier 1'. Each indicator comprises a central disc 16 of one colour which represents the score of one player and an outer ring 15 of another colour which represents the score of the other player.

The discs 16 and rings 15 are independently illuminated in response to signals from the sensors (not shown) in the apertures 2' indicating passage of a puck from left to right or from right to left (as shown in Figure 3) respectively. If a ring 15 at the bottom of a column is lit up in response to the right-hand player knocking a puck through an aperture 2', then a subsequent passage of the puck in the same direction through the same aperture wϋl additionally light up the vertically adjacent ring 15 in that column. The third and then the fourth rings 15 can be lit up by further "hits" of a puck through the same aperture in the same direction. This function can be achieved by feeding the sensor signals to a simple counter circuit, as will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Accordingly the control circuitry (which will otherwise be similar to that employed in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2) is omitted from Figure 3.

The discs 16 of each column can similarly be successively illuminated by the other player hitting a puck through an aperture in the reverse direction.

The above arrangement is suitable for playing the game "connect four" wherein the game is won by illuminating a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row, as exemplified by diagonal row 18. Completion of a row is prevented, in accordance with the rules of "connect four' by the other player causing one of his indicators (in this case, a ring 15) to light up in that row.

The above arrangement can be built in or can be retrofitted to an existing air hockey machine. In the latter case, assuming that the goals G are retained, the

"connect four" game can be modified as follows:

If a player scores a "GOAL" then the opposing player's lights will all go out, and the scorer's lights will fall to the lowest positions in the columns. If this results in four lit- up discs 16 (or rings 15) in a row, then that player will be awarded the score and the game restarted. If "four in a row" does not exist, then the lights will remain, but the player whose lamps remain lit will have a large advantage.

The larray of discs 16 and rings 15 can be duplicated on the other side of the panel 1 ', with a central array of lamps (not show) common to both arrays.

The invention is not hmited to games utilising air-supported pucks but can also be used with games using one or more miniature balls instead of pucks.