Table game

Abstract

A game is provided including several player pieces mounted to a platform. Opposing players articulate player pieces to score goals by manipulating a ball through the opponent's goal. In some embodiments, a random timer triggers the release of a another ball that the opposing players try to catch using a magnetic portion of the player pieces. A launching mechanism may be included that, when triggered by one of the balls, ejects a corresponding player piece from the platform.

1 . A table game comprising: 
 a plurality of player pieces; and    a playing arena having a base and a platform suspended above the base, wherein the platform is transparent and maintains the player pieces spaced away from the base, to thereby simulate movement of the player pieces a distance above the base.    
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the playing arena further includes sides extending between the base and the platform, the sides of the playing arena forming scenery adapted to represent a difference in height between the platform and ground level.  
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein the game further includes at least one ball adapted to be manipulated by the player pieces.  
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein the game further includes a timer mechanism adapted to control release of the at least one ball onto the platform.  
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein the playing arena further includes paddles adapted to extend across the platform and retain the at least one ball.  
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein the platform has a depression adjacent at least one of the player pieces that is adapted to retain the at least one ball in close proximity to such player piece.  
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the player pieces is removably coupled to the platform.  
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 7 , wherein release of the at least one player piece from the platform is triggered by positioning of the at least one ball relative to the platform.  
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein the playing arena further includes a goal region.  
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 9 , wherein the goal region has at least two sections.  
   
   
       11 . A table game comprising: 
 a playing arena having a platform;    at least one player piece; and    a launching mechanism adapted to detachably couple the at least one player piece to the platform and selectively operable to release the at least one player piece from the platform.    
   
   
       12 . The table game of  claim 11 , wherein the launching mechanism is adapted to forcibly launch the at least one player piece from the platform.  
   
   
       13 . The table game of  claim 12 , wherein the launching mechanism is spring loaded.  
   
   
       14 . The table game of  claim 11 , wherein the launching mechanism includes a receiving portion adapted to receive the at least one player piece.  
   
   
       15 . The table game of  claim 14 , wherein the launching mechanism further includes a release portion operatively coupled to the receiving portion and adapted to trigger release of the at least one player piece from the receiving portion.  
   
   
       16 . The table game of  claim 15 , wherein the receiving portion includes a position plate adapted to support the at least one player piece and move between a neutral position and a launched position.  
   
   
       17 . The table game of  claim 16 , wherein in the neutral position the position plate is depressed within the receiving portion and secured in place by a protrusion in the release portion.  
   
   
       18 . The table game of  claim 11 , further including at least one ball, wherein the launching mechanism is triggered by proximity of the at least one ball.  
   
   
       19 . The table game of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the launching mechanism is magnetically attracted to the at least one ball.  
   
   
       20 . The table game of  claim 15 , wherein the launching mechanism includes a protrusion adapted to engage with the receiving portion and thereby couple the at least one player piece to the platform when the at least one player piece is in a neutral position.  
   
   
       21 . The table game of  claim 20 , wherein the launching mechanism includes a lever arm adapted to rotate towards the at least one ball.  
   
   
       22 . The table game of  claim 21 , wherein rotation of the lever arm disengages the protrusion from the receiving portion and thereby uncouples the at least one player piece from the platform.  
   
   
       23 . A table game having multiple player pieces, at least one of the player pieces comprising: 
 a first body portion;    a second body portion; and    a coupling mechanism disposed therebetween and adapted to urge movement of the first body portion relative to the second body portion when a force is applied to the first body portion.    
   
   
       24 . The table game of  claim 23 , wherein the coupling mechanism is adapted to urge rotation of the first body portion about an axis through the second body portion when the first body portion translates relative to the second body portion.  
   
   
       25 . The player piece of  claim 23 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a spring adapted to compress and thereby permit the first body portion to move closer to the second body portion.  
   
   
       26 . The player piece of  claim 25 , wherein the spring is housed in a shaft that extends from the first body portion and passes through the second body portion.  
   
   
       27 . The player piece of  claim 26 , wherein the second body portion is mounted on a post that is adapted to slide within the shaft, and further wherein the spring is disposed between the first body portion and the post.  
   
   
       28 . The player piece of  claim 26 , wherein the shaft includes at least one aperture angled relative to the axis.  
   
   
       29 . The player piece of  claim 28 , wherein a pin passes through the post and the at least one aperture and is adapted to slide along the at least one aperture, thereby producing rotation of the second body portion relative to the first body portion.  
   
   
       30 . The player piece of  claim 23 , further including a ball manipulation mechanism coupled to one of the first and second body portions.  
   
   
       31 . The player piece of  claim 30 , wherein the ball manipulation mechanism includes a magnetic portion.  
   
   
       32 . A table game comprising multiple player pieces, at least one of the player pieces comprising: 
 a ball manipulation mechanism coupled to the at least one player piece and adapted to maneuver a ball, wherein the ball manipulation mechanism includes a magnetic portion.