Gaming table systems and methods for use
AssigneeFlipOut!
InventorsDaniel Pucci, Anthony Pucci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gaming table includes a playing surface and a rail surrounding the playing surface. The playing surface includes a plateau in the center which may release one or more balls. The balls may roll off the plateau toward one or more input apertures in an inside wall of the rail. Flippers near each goal may be pivoted or actuated to deflect balls from rolling into the respective goal. Balls which pass through one of the goals may be retained in a collection chamber and retrieved by a user through a retrieval aperture in an outside wall of the rail. The playing surface may include ridges to direct released balls toward each of the goals and obstacles to prevent balls from rolling directly into the goals.
Claims19
A gaming table comprising:
- a top surface including a plateau disposed in a center of the top surface and a plurality of table sections disposed around the plateau;
- a rail disposed around the top surface and including an inside wall, a top wall, and an outside wall, the inside wall including an input aperture disposed adjacent to a center of an outside edge of each table section;
- flippers disposed on opposite sides of the input apertures;
- and
- a flipper actuation button corresponding to each flipper;
- wherein the plateau is moveable between a first position lower than a remainder of the top surface and a second position higher than the remainder of the top surface;
- and
- wherein activation of each flipper actuation button moves the flipper between a first orientation and a second orientation.
A gaming table system comprising:
- a plurality of balls;
- an energy source;
- and
- a gaming table comprising:
- a top surface with a plateau in a center of the top surface and a plurality of table sections disposed around the plateau;
- a rail disposed around the top surface and including an inside wall, a top wall, and an outside wall, the inside wall including an input aperture disposed adjacent to a center of an outside edge of each table section;
- flippers disposed on opposite sides of the input apertures and moveable between a first orientation and a second orientation;
- wherein the plateau is moveable between a first position lower than a remainder of the top surface and a second position higher than the remainder of the top surface;
- and
- wherein the energy source is configured to supply energy to move the plateau from the first position to the second position and to move the flippers from the first orientation to the second orientation.
A method for using a gaming table, the method comprising the steps:
- placing a plurality of balls on a plateau of a top surface of the gaming table;
- releasing the plurality of balls from the plateau;
- allowing the balls to roll from the plateau onto at least two table sections of the gaming table;
- actuating a flipper between a first orientation and a second orientation;
- allowing the balls to pass through input apertures corresponding to each table section;
- and
- scoring a result;
- wherein the step of releasing the plurality of balls from the plateau includes moving the plateau from a first position disposed lower than a remainder of the top surface to a second position disposed higher than the remainder of the top surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.