Patent · US Expired

Board game with air-cushioned floating pucks

US5342050A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
16References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 17, 1992
Grant dateAug 30, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 17, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63F7/0632
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Disclosed is a board game for two players that includes a flat, smooth playing surface (10), a round puck (16), two round bats (15 and 15') and two goals (17 and 17'). A rail (12) borders the playing surface to keep the puck on the playing surface. The aim of each player is to strike the puck with a bat into the opponent's goal, while blocking the puck from entering his/her own goal. The extremely light weight puck, which has a diameter of 64 mm and a thickness of 1 mm, has the shape of an extremely shallow, inverted cone with the side (18) having an angle of 0.3 degree. When the puck is struck by a bat, air rushing against the underside of the cone-shaped puck lifts the puck completely off the playing surface, such that the puck glides on a thin cushion of air. Because the puck travels across the playing surface without friction against the surface, the puck can maintain very high speeds to greatly challenge the dexterity and reaction of the players as they try to strike or block the fast moving puck.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.