Virtual Goal for a Game Table

A game table for playing a game with a gamepiece, the game table comprising:

• a playing surface, the gamepiece being movable along the playing surface through the application of gaming forces;
• a first endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface, the first endwall having a first wall length and a first goal;
• a second endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface and being located at an opposite side of the playing surface from the first endwall, the second endwall including a second goal;
• at least one sidewall located between a first end of the first endwall and a first end of the second endwall;
• a sound generator;
• a control circuit;
• and
• at least one side sensor mounted proximate to the sidewall and being in communication with the control circuit, the at least one side sensor transmitting a signal to the control circuit and the control circuit transmitting a signal to the sound generator when the gamepiece is in close proximity to the at least one sidewall.

A method of playing a table game on a game table having a gamepiece, the game table including a first endwall, a second endwall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a playing surface, a first plurality of sensors mounted proximate to the first endwall and a second plurality of sensors mounted proximate to the second endwall, the first and second plurality of sensors each being actuable between an on condition and an off condition, a control circuit being in communication with the first and second plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) activating at least one of the first plurality of sensors to the on condition defining a first goal having a first continuous goal length comprised of a width of a sensing area of the at least one of the first plurality of sensors in the on condition;
• a1) activating at least two of the second plurality of sensors to the on condition defining a second goal having a second continuous goal length comprised of a width of a sensing area of the at least two of the second plurality of sensors in the on condition, wherein the second continuous goal length is greater than the first continuous goal length;
• b) actuating a remainder of the first plurality of sensors to the off condition;
• c) applying a force to the gamepiece propelling the gamepiece toward the first endwall;
• and
• d) transmitting a signal to the control circuit when the gamepiece enters a sensing area of the first goal.

A table hockey game table with an adjustable goal for modifying the difficulty of the game or handicapping the game, the game table comprising:

• a playing surface;
• a first endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface, at least one first proximity sensor mounted proximate to the first endwall;
• a second endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface, the second endwall positioned opposite the first endwall, at least one second proximity sensor mounted proximate to the second endwall;
• and
• first and second sidewalls extending between and separating the first and second endwalls, a first player positioned off of the playing surface proximate one of the first endwall and the first sidewall and a second player positioned off of the playing surface proximate one of the second endwall and the second sidewall.

A game table for playing a game with a gamepiece, the game table comprising:

• a playing surface, the gamepiece being movable along the playing surface through the application of gaming forces;
• a first endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface, the first endwall having a first wall length, a first player positioned off of the playing surface proximate the first endwall;
• a second endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface and being located at an opposite side of the playing surface from the first endwall, a second player positioned off of the playing surface proximate the second endwall;
• and
• a first goal located along the first endwall comprised of at least one proximity sensor, the first goal having a first, constantly continuous goal length, the first goal length being adjustable and being comprised of a width of a sensing area of the at least one proximity sensor.

A method of playing a table game on a game table having a gamepiece, the game table including a first endwall, a second endwall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a playing surface, a first plurality of sensors mounted proximate to the first endwall and a second plurality of sensors mounted proximate to the second endwall, the first and second plurality of sensors each being actuable between an on condition and an off condition, a control circuit being in communication with the first and second plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) activating at least one of the first plurality of sensors to define a first goal having a first continuous goal length and at least one of the second plurality of sensors to the on condition to define a second goal having a second continuous goal length;
• b) actuating a remainder of the first and second plurality of sensors to the off condition;
• c) applying a force to the gamepiece propelling the gamepiece toward the first endwall;
• and
• d) transmitting a signal to the control circuit when the gamepiece enters a sensing area of one of the at least one of the first and second plurality of sensors that is in the on condition;
• and
• e) adjusting one of the first and second goal lengths based upon the signals received by the control circuit from the sensors.

A foosball game table comprising:

• a playing surface, a gamepiece being movable along the playing surface through the application of gaming forces;
• a first endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface, the first endwall having a first wall length;
• a second endwall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface and being located at an opposite side of the playing surface from the first endwall;
• a first sidewall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface between the first and second endwalls;
• a second sidewall extending generally perpendicularly from the playing surface between the first and second endwalls on an opposite side of the playing surface from the first sidewall, first and second players positioned off of the playing surface proximate the first and second sidewalls, respectively;
• a first goal located along the first endwall comprised of at least one proximity sensor, the first goal having a first goal length, the first goal length being adjustable;
• and
• a second goal located along the second endwall comprised of at least one proximity sensor.