The invention concerns table games of skill to simulate a football match There are many types of apparatus in use for playing varieties of billiards that attempt to reproduce the essential features of football, substantially consisting of a football field, a goal at each end and two teams of players each trying to shoot the ball into the opponent team's goal Though amusing enough these games do not entirely satisfy players as it is impossible for them to use the ball in any way really approaching that of a real football game

While adopting much that is new compared with a real game this inven¬ tion succeeds in creating no lesser emotion and enthusiasm as will be explained below Subject of the invention is a table football game comprising a playing field formed by oval coaxial tracks that match together, an inner convex one and an outer concave one.

Where these tracks meet is a channel housing a chain that continuously pulls along a means for thrusting the ball which moves about outside it At the top of the concave track, where a diametrical longitudinal line would halve the field lengthwise, are two opposing goals

Low down on this track are two means for lengthwise throws one opposite the other, able to act on the translating ball as would players in front of a goal.

Placed on a diametrical transversal plane are two more means for cross¬ wise throws on the translating ball to simulate action by players along the side of the field

In each goal is a flat bar articulated in the centre and in its lower front end, when out of use this bar lies horizontal to the goal and below its surface while when active it stands vertically to perform as a goalkeeper Means for operating the goalkeeper-bar are provided to move it right out of the goal or place it centrally, or else put it in other positions according to the direction taken by the ball when "kicked" towards the goal When placed on the playing surface, the slope of the tracks forces the ball to remain in the channel and therefore be drawn along it by the thrust means fixed to the continuous chain

By using a control connected to the goalkeeper-bar of a player 's goal, a player can parry the ball, by using a control connected to the means for lengthwise throw, a player can shoot the ball as it passes towards the opposite goal, by using a control connected to a means for crosswise throw, a player can shoot the ball to the opposite side of the channel so reversing its direction when the ball is moving away from that player's goal In the centre of the field, its axis aligned with the opposing means for crosswise throw, is a fixed longitudinal box-shaped barrier in whose centre is a round hole within which is a continuously rotating diametral bar The ball can be shot from one side of the track to the other through this hole using the means for crosswise throw If a player wants to send the ball to the opposite side of the channel, he must use the control for transversal thrust and judge the right moment to prevent the ball from hitting the rotating bar that blocks its passage In the centre of the playing field, above the longitudinal barrier, is a transversal ring, so that a ball moved by one of the means for lengthwise thrust must pass through this ring in order to reach the opposite goal

In the centre of the playing field, above the transversal ring, is a support for two racquets that can freely move, on axes transversal to the playing field, between a horizontal idle position and an active position substan-

tially parallel to said ring, these being moved by two mechanisms for kinematic motion operated by electromagnets in turn operated by a logic circuit when a player uses a means for longitudinal throw Movement of one racquet from the idle position towards the ring gives a hard blow to the ball, thrown by the means for longitudinal movement, so that it passes through the ring and rapidly on into the opponent's goal Said logic circuit is programmed to move the racquet so that, instead of increasing the ball's kinetic energy it will return it if the player has not worked the throwing means with sufficient skill, namely in the right way and at the πght time bearing in mind the characteristics of a manual or pedal kinematic device that controls the means for lengthwise throw Said logic ciπcuit is similarly programmed to block the opponent's racquet automatically when the first racquet is being used Button switches placed at the sides of the playing field close to the goals are used to work the goalkeeper-bar and the means for crosswise throw The means for crosswise throw are small pistons worked by an electro¬ magnet operated by a button switch

The means for longitudinal throw are worked, as desired, by pedals or by manual levers placed close to the goals Said means comprise a piston moved by the end of a thrust lever in turn moved by a spring.

Movement of said lever is prevented by a transversal locking rod fixed, by means of a spacer, to a parallel coupling that turns on a pin attached to the base of the device, this too being parallel to said locking rod A second coupling, fixed to said pin, matches axially with the revolving coupling on an inclined plane

The locking rod is fixed to a transversal rocker arm connected at one end to a wire and at the other end to a reaction spring Therefore, on exerting a pull on the wire by means of a pedal or manual lever, the transversal rocker arm rotates overcoming resistance from the reaction spring and, consequently, translation of the locking rod round a fixed pin on the device and, at the same time, axial translation of said rod on the opposite side of the thrust lever due to the effect caused by related action of the two opposing inclined surfaces

As a result of these movements said thrust lever, pressed by its reaction spring, is released and presses the piston on the means for longitudinal ball movement thus pushing the ball if it is near said piston. Releasing the pedal or manual control lever causes rotation and transla- tion in the opposite direction of the locking rod whose working end, en¬ countering the thrust lever in its trajectory, is returned to the starting point and the device to its idle position.

The thrust means, fixed to the continuous chain, for translation of the ball, consists of a transversal spring that moves along one edge of the channel in which the chain slides, at a ievel substantially corresponding to the radius of the ball, there being placed on said thrust means a transversal pin with a guide roller whose movement will take it along one edge of said channel. The playing field is rectangular, the goals being at each end of the greater length.

The channel in which the ball slides is oval.

The playing field is supported on a rectangular four-legged structure over which is a transparent cover in the form of a truncated pyramid.

The game can be played in the following way. - the continuous chain and diametrical bar rotating in the hole in the longitudinal barrier, is kept continually moving.

- the players, at least two, stand behind the two opposing goals.

- when the ball, moved by the thrust means fixed to the chain, passes by the means for crosswise throw, on pressing the button switch con- cerned, one player can try to project the ball onto the opposite side of the channel by making it pass through the hole in the longitudinal barrier trying, in doing so, to avoid the rotating bar inside the hole.

- when a play finds the ball at the longitudinal throwing means under his own goal, by pressing the pedal or manual control lever he can work said throwing means attempting to launch the ball against his opponent's goal, after passing through the transversal ring, thrust being increased, by automatic electronic devices, by using the racquet on that player's side if the player has operated said controls in phase with the automatic

electronic means; if not, the racquet may hit the ball negatively and thrust it into that player's goal instead

- when the ball has been projected towards one player's goal, by pressing the push button concerned, this player can try to stop the ball from entering the goal by operating the goal-keeper bar after each throw the ball returns to the channel and is once again thrust along its course The invention offers evident advantages It being the continuous chain that mechanically pushes the ball, instead of it being done by a player, and replacing mobile players by fixed ones who can, however, actually "kick" the ball, the lively feelings connected with a real football game can be recreated by this table game Aiming the ball towards the opponent's goal and preventing it from enter¬ ing the defender's goal in fact depends on the skill and timely action of the participants.

The central longitudinal barrier with its mobile bar and action of the racquets that can strengthen the throw or, on the contrary, cause the ball to enter that of the defender, greatly increases the interest of the game Briefly, therefore, the sensations and passions aroused by real football games can be experienced at home or anywhere these table games are usually played

Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures. Fιg.1 Perspective view of the game with the ball close to one goal and to a means for longitudinal throw against the opponent's goal. Fιg.2 Perspective view of the game with the ball close to a means for crosswise throw. Fig.3 Perspective view of the game with the ball launched by means of a pedal or manual lever through a fixed upper ring of longitudinal axis

Fig 4 Perspective view of the game with the ball already launched and hit by the racquet to increase its speed.

Fig.5 Detail in perspective of the pedal for controlling the means for longitudinal throw.

Fig.6 Detail in perspective of the manual control of the means for longitudinal throw. Fig.7 Detail of the device for longitudinal throw that can be made by pedal or by the manual lever, in its idle position. Fig.8 The same as Fig. 7 when operating.

Fig.9 Detail in perspective of the means for crosswise throw with push button control. Fig.10 Detail of the device for moving the goalkeeper bar, with push button control.

Fig.1 1 Detail in perspective of the electronic card for racquet control. Fig.12 Detail in perspective of the racquet control unit. Fig.13 Detail in perspective of the kinematic means for moving the ball with the continuous chain.

Fig.14 Detail in perspective of the device for pushing the ball.

Fig.15 Detail in perspective of the device for working the revolving bar in the hole inside the central longitudinal barrier.

The game 10 comprises a lower structure 1 1 , an upper frame 12, a ball 25.

The lower structure 1 1 , exhibits the parallelepiped casing 13, bounded uppermost by two inclined tracks, 14 the outer one and 15 internal, meet¬ ing at the intermediate channel-shaped oval 16 within which the continuous chain 20 slides, together forming the playing field 9. The outer track 14 is concave and is inclined inwards, while the convex track 15 rises centrally, there being at its summit a longitudinal barrier 19 with a diametrical bar 21 revolving inside a passage hole 18. The transversal ring 22 is fixed above said barrier. At the two longitudinal ends of the field 9 are the opposing goals 23 with goalkeepers 24 in the form of bars whose task is to keep the ball 25 out. The goalkeeper 24 is electrically operated by push buttons 26 and 27. On the external track 14 are four means for throwing the ball, two longi¬ tudinal 30 with opposing pisitons on a longitudinal diameter of the field 9

mechanically controlled by the pedal device 31 or by the manual device

75 or 32 with lever 61 , and two transversal 33 with pistons electrically operated by push buttons 34 in the upper central part of the structure 1 1 .

Four bars 35 sloping upward to form a truncated pyramid sustain the racquets 40 and 41 in the upper part and, laterally, the protective netting

42 and 43 (Figures 1 -4).

Figure 5 illustrates the device 31 that controls the piston 30.

The square 44 is fixed to the legs of the structure 1 1 by means of holes

45 and screws 46 and, near its end, exhibits a pin 50 on which a lever 51 balances inside a fork 52 closed uppermost by another pin 53.

A wire 54 is fixed at the end of the lever 51 and said wire, with a series of small pulleys 55, 56, permits movement of the control device 59 (Fig.7).

The same system is used for device 32 (Fig. 6).

The lever 61 pivots on a square 62 by means of the pin 63. About half- way along the lever 61 , hinged to the stem 64 are plates 65 with upper and lower pins 66, 70 that slide in the slot 71 cut in the lever 72 pivoted in the centre of the square 73 towards the end of the lever 72, to which is fixed the fork 74 with pulley 56.

The device 59 for operating the longitudinal throwing means comprises a rocker arm 60 fixed to a control rod 81 in turn fixed, by the spacer 83, to the coupling 84 that revolves and can translate on the pin 86 supported by columns 87 fixed to the base 93 of the device.

At one end of the lever 60 a wire 54 is hooked on while the traction spring

80 acts at the other end. On pin 86 the compression spring 90 translates the coupling 84 and rod

81 towards a thrust lever 94 articulated on the pin 87 fixed to the base 93.

This translation by the rod 81 moves the lever 94 to a locked position, seen in Fig.7, causing a reaction against the pull from spring 95, and at the same time determines matching between the inclined surface 85, fixed to the rod 81 , against the inclined surface 92 of a coupling 91 fixed onto the pin 86.

On pressing pedal 75, hinged onto the pin 76 by squares 77, with a foot, or on moving lever 61 by hand, the wire 54 causes rotation of the rocker arm 60.

Due to pressure of the mobile inclined surface 85 against the fixed inclined surface 92, said rotation determines translation of the rod 81 , moving it away from the lever 94, so freeing it, said lever pressed by the spring 95 is then released and its head 96 hits against the head 103 of the piston 30, free to slide longitudinally in the chamber 100 made in the outer concave track 14, said piston overcoming resistance from the compres-sion spring 101 that rests on the bottom 102 of said chamber 100.

The rod 81 then returns to its starting position, namely that of blocking the thrusts lever 94 thus made ready for further action. In Fig. 9 it will be seen that the piston 33 is substantially the same as piston 30 and is worked electrically by the push button 34 that operates the magnet 1 1 1 fixed to the base frame 1 12. The piston 33 is attached to shaft 113 of the electromagnet 1 1 1. Fig. 10 shows the device 120 for working the goalkeeper-bar 24. Magnet 121 , attached to the base 122, is operated by push button 26. Fixed to the shaft 124 of said magnet 121 is a fork 125 that hinges lever 130 by means of pins 131 fixed to the arm 132 at whose end a pin 133 is connected to the crank 134 and this, through shaft 135, rotates freely in the pivot 140 permitting the goalkeeper-bar 24 to rotate as needed. Fig.1 1 illustrates the box 141 , attached to the base 142, and containing a card 143 that gives a pulse to the electromagnet 144 (Fig 12), that, by means of the fork 145, controls the lever 150 hinged on pin 151 fixed to the base frame 152 by a bushing 153 mounted on said lever 150. The end part of said lever rests on the peripheral rim 154 of the disk 155 attached to block 160 to which the racquet 40 is fixed. Block 160 rotates in pivot 162 on the pin 163.

In the racquet 40 is a pin 164 with a traction spring 165 attached to the pin 166 fixed to the base 152 that prevents the racquet from rotating.

When the magnet 144 is operated the lever 150 moves over an arc and, resting as it does on the disk 155, causes the racquet 40 to make a fast downward rotation.

When the electromagnet is idle, the spring 165 brings the racquet back. A similar device, not indicated for simplicity in the figure, works the second racquet.

When the electronic card 143 sends a pulse to the electromagnet that controls rotation of the racquet, the other magnet acts in the opposite way so preventing the opponent from taking action. Figure 13 shows a detail of the system that determines clockwise movement of the ball 25.

Disks 170 and 171 are mounted on a thrust bearing 172 mounted on the flange 173 fixed to the frame 174.

The pinion gear 175 meshes with the chain 20 and the motor 180, mounted on the base 181 , guides movement of disks 170 and 171 .

Fig.14 shows in detail the device that pushes the ball into the channel 16 formed for passage of the chain 20.

A square 82 is fixed by a screw 183 to the links of the chain 20.

Uppermost on the square a shaft 184 is mounted having at its end a wheel 185 that slides on the convex track 15 permitting reaction to the thrust received by the ball 25.

A plate 190 is mounted on the shaft 184, and to this plate a pin 191 is fixed where the spring 192 is attached by its screw 193.

In Fig. 15 the control can be seen for rotating the revolving bar 21 in the hole 18 inside the longitudinal barrier 19,

The ring 194 is guided by the shoulders 195 and 196 of non-friction material, and by the lower central part 200 that permits the belt 201 , drawn by the pulley 202 with the motor 203 mounted on the frame 204, to turn the ring 194 with the bar 21 fixed inside it.