US 12,714,934 B1Granted

System and method for altering the motion of a foosball

AssigneeTOCA Football, Inc.

InventorsStephen Plumer, Nicholas Runeckles, Wayne Rapp

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A foosball table is disclosed that includes a playing surface, one or more walls extending upward relative to the playing surface, wherein a plurality of rods extend through at least a first wall of the one or more walls, a first goal formed on the first wall, a first set of user input controls, a processor, and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and having logic stored thereon. The logic, when executed by the processor, causes performance of operations including receiving user input from the first set of user input controls, and in response to receipt of the user input, automatically altering an ability of a foosball in motion to enter the first goal. In some instances, automatically altering the ability of the foosball in motion includes at least partially closing a blockade across a goal mouth of the first goal.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A foosball table system comprising:

a playing surface;
one or more walls extending upward relative to the playing surface, wherein a plurality of rods extend through at least a first wall of the one or more walls;
a first goal formed on a first end wall of the one or more walls;
a first set of user input controls disposed on an upper surface of the foosball table system or on an upper portion of foosball table system;
one or more legs;
a processor;
and
a non-transitory, computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and having logic stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, causes performance of operations including:
receiving user input from the first set of user input controls,
determining whether a user that provided the user input has been allotted an instance of activating the one or more legs, and
in response to receipt of the user input and determining the user has been allotted the instance of activating the one or more legs, automatically altering an ability of a foosball in motion to enter the first goal, wherein automatically altering the ability of the foosball in motion to enter the first goal includes automatically altering a length of at least a first leg of the one or more legs thereby altering a slope of the playing surface.

8 more elements

A computerized method comprising:

receiving user input from a first set of user input controls disposed on a foosball table system, wherein the foosball table system includes a playing surface, one or more walls extending upward relative to the playing surface, a first goal formed on a first end wall of the one or more walls, one or more legs, a processor, and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and having logic stored, wherein a plurality of rods extend through at least a first wall of the one or more walls, wherein the first set of user input controls are disposed on an upper surface of the foosball table system or on an upper portion of foosball table system;
determining whether a user that provided the user input has been allotted an instance of activating the one or more legs;
and
in response to receipt of the user input and determining the user has been allotted the instance of activating the one or more legs, automatically altering an ability of a foosball in motion to enter the first goal, wherein automatically altering the ability of the foosball in motion to enter the first goal includes automatically altering a length of at least a first leg of the one or more legs thereby altering a slope of the playing surface.

1 more element

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

receiving user input from a first set of user input controls disposed on a foosball table system, wherein the foosball table system includes a playing surface, one or more walls extending upward relative to the playing surface, a first goal formed on a first end wall of the one or more walls, one or more legs, a processor, and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and having logic stored, wherein a plurality of rods extend through at least a first wall of the one or more walls, wherein the first set of user input controls are disposed on an upper surface of the foosball table system or on an upper portion of foosball table system;
determining whether a user that provided the user input has been allotted an instance of activating the one or more legs;
and
in response to receipt of the user input and determining the user has been allotted the instance of activating the one or more legs, automatically altering an ability of a foosball in motion to enter the first goal, wherein automatically altering the ability of the foosball in motion to enter the first goal includes automatically altering a length of at least a first leg of the one or more legs thereby altering a slope of the playing surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/180,109Filed 7 Mar 2023 · continuation
Priority: 4 Mar 2021
Granted: 25 Aug 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

A63F 7/3603
Constructional details not covered by groups A63F7/24 - A63F7/34, e.g. frames, game boards, guide tracks: rolling boards with special surface,…
A63F 7/38
Constructional details not covered by groups A63F7/24 - A63F7/34, e.g. frames, game boards, guide tracks: playing surfaces movable during play
A63F 7/0017
Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks: played on a table by two players from opposite sides of the table
A63F 7/0616
Type of ball game: football or soccer