U.S. patent application number 11/250314 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-20 for arcuate rebound play field.
Invention is credited to Samuel Chen.
Application Number | 20060082055 11/250314 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36179926 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060082055 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Samuel |
April 20, 2006 |
Arcuate rebound play field
Abstract
An air hockey table surface has an oval horizontal playing area
with an edge boundary formed as a wall for retaining the air hockey
puck. The oval horizontal playing area forms a pair of arcuate
rebound sides on the left and right side of the table.
Inventors: |
Chen; Samuel; (Hong Kong,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF CLEMENT CHENG
17220 NEWHOPE STREET #127
FOUNTAIN VALLEY
CA
92708
US
|
Family ID: |
36179926 |
Appl. No.: |
11/250314 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60619447 |
Oct 15, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/126R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2007/3633 20130101;
A63F 7/3603 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/126.00R |
International
Class: |
A63F 7/00 20060101
A63F007/00 |
Claims
1. An air hockey table surface comprising: an oval playing area,
the playing area having an edge boundary formed as a wall for
retaining the air hockey puck; the oval horizontal playing area
forming a pair of arcuate rebound sides on the left, right and rear
edges of the table.
2. The air hockey table surface of claim 1 further comprising: a
pair of opposing goal boxes placed inside the oval playing
area.
3. An air hockey table surface comprising: an oval playing area,
the playing area having an edge boundary formed as a wall for
retaining the air hockey puck; the oval horizontal playing area
forming a pair of arcuate rebound sides on the left, right and rear
edges of the table, wherein the oval is a Cassini oval.
4. The air hockey table surface of claim 3 further comprising: a
pair of opposing goal boxes placed inside the oval playing
area.
5. An air hockey table surface comprising: an oval playing area,
the playing area having an edge boundary formed as a wall for
retaining the air hockey puck; the oval horizontal playing area
forming a pair of arcuate rebound sides on the left, right and rear
edges of the table, wherein the oval is an ellipse.
6. The air hockey table surface of claim 5 further comprising: a
pair of opposing goal boxes placed inside the oval playing area.
Description
[0001] This specification claims priority from provisional
application 60/619,447 filed Oct. 15, 2004.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
[0002] Air hockey has been a popular game. Generally, the table
surface has a pressurized air chamber releasing pressurized air
through a plurality of apertures formed at regular interval on the
playing surface. Air gives a lift or buoyancy to the game puck so
that it glides along the playing surface due to the reduced
friction between the puck and the playing surface. Because of the
reduced friction, the puck can move at fast speed and provide an
entertaining game.
[0003] The users stand facing each other and each user has a mallet
used to capture on defense and then strike on offense the puck into
the opposing player's goal. The goal is commonly a slot receiving
the puck when the puck is scored into the goal.
[0004] Since the invention of the game, the game has been modified
to be more fun. For example, the ricochet of shots has been
modified. One example of this modification is in U.S. Pat. No.
6,345,820, the inventor Zucchi describes scoring hood for air
hockey allowing improved play. The scoring hoods appear on each
side of the goal. According to the Zucchi patent, the improved
scoring hood configuration allows the defender a better chance of
retaining missed shots on goal.
[0005] The description and example of the traditional game is seen
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,325 to Crossman incorporated herein by
reference and U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,267 to Freeman. The game still
has much room for improvement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] Figure one is a top view of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0007] An oval shaped playing field forms a variety of strategic
arcuate rebound regions.
[0008] The present invention is an air hockey table surface that
has and oval horizontal playing area 50. As with most air hockey
tables, the table is symmetrical about the midline 40. The air
holes 5 are drawn larger in FIG. 1 for clarity. The edge of the
hockey table surface 20 is the wall that retains the air hockey
puck within the playing area. A pair of opposing goals 30 is
located within the oval playing field 50. This forms a pair of left
and right arc shaped rebound surfaces 20. The rebound surfaces on
the left and right side of the table provide better offensive
rebound capability. Also, toward the rear of the table the rear
arcuate rebound regions remove dead playing field that is easier to
defend, while encouraging rebounds toward the middle of the field.
The players and their goals stand opposed across the length of the
table, which is longer than it is wide.
[0009] The arcuate rebounds 20 divert some straight shots toward
the goal opening 12. Also, without corners in a rectangular field
puck recovery is faster on defense allowing a faster paced game.
Also, toward the rear of the table the rear arcuate rebound regions
remove dead playing field that is easier to defend, while
encouraging rebounds toward the middle of the field. The goal boxes
30 on the table are placed within the oval. The goals 30 being
within the oval form a pair of defensive bays 25 for each player
where missed shots can be recovered more easily by the defender.
The pair of defensive bays 25 are formed between each goal box 30
and the pair of arcuate rebound sides 20. If the goal boxes 30 are
removed, the actual goals are then formed as slots at the rear edge
of the oval table. A variety of ovals can be used such as a Cassini
oval described as
[(x-a).sup.2+y.sup.2][(x+a).sup.2+y.sup.2]=b.sup.4 or an ellipse
described as (x.sup.2/a.sup.2)+(x.sup.2/b.sup.2)=1. The goal boxes
can further comprise a scoring hood as seen in U.S. Pat. No.
6,345,820, to Zucchi.
CALL OUT LIST OF ELEMENTS
[0010] 10 Goal [0011] 12 Goal Opening [0012] 20 Arcuate Rebound
Side [0013] 30 Defensive Bays [0014] 40 Midline [0015] 50 Playing
Area
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