LIGHTED HOCKEY PUCK

• US 20170232307A1
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Inventors: WEILONG, HUANG
• Granted Patent: US 10,486,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2007/4068 Sliding play elements, e.g. discs or bodies with a low coefficient of friction
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2451 using illumination, e.g. with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2454 with LED
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/602 with adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0632 Hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/066 the playing bodies being projected by means of compressed air
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/0664 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 7/40 Balls or other moving playing bodies, e.g. pinballs or discs used instead of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide game pieces used with simulated hockey game tables, such as air hockey tables. The game pieces incorporate one or more lamps, such as LED lamps, to illuminate the game playing piece. In some embodiments, the body and periphery of the game playing piece are indirectly lit.

Claims

1. A game piece for a table hockey game, comprising

a body having a planar central body portion and a peripheral lip which protrudes upward and downward from the central planar portion wherein said body portion is configured to slide over a simulated hockey game surface;

wherein the height difference between the lip portion and the central planar portion forms a volume defining a cavity on each side of said body;

wherein said body is made of a light transmissive plastic;

a center portion of said body defining an internal cavity having a bottom, a surrounding peripheral wall and an open top;

a circuit board arranged in the cavity;

at least one lamp arranged in the cavity and operably connected to said circuit board;

a battery arranged in the cavity and operably connected to said circuit board;

a cover configured to be selectively fastened to said body to enclose said circuit board, said at least one lamp and said battery within the internal cavity;

a switch operably connected with the circuit board, said switch including a control tab accessible externally to the cavity.

2. The game piece of claim 1 comprising a plurality of lamps arranged in the cavity and operably connected to said circuit board.

3. The game piece of claim 2, wherein said lamps are LED lamps.

4. The game piece of claim 1, wherein said cavity peripheral wall is transparent and co-planar with said central planar portion and enables said lamp to radially transmit light to said central planar portion and said lip portion.

5. The game piece of claim 4, wherein said cavity bottom and cover are opaque and substantially block light from said lamp from being transmitted through the bottom and cover.

6. The game piece of claim 4, comprising an opaque sticker applied over said cavity bottom.

7. The game piece of claim 6, where said opaque sticker is externally applied to said cavity bottom.

8. The game piece of claim 1, wherein said center portion protrudes in height on the upper and lower sides from the central planar portion a height less than the perimeter lip portion.

9. The game piece of claim 8, wherein the volume between said center portion and said lip portion defines a shaped air well around the center portion above and below said planar central body portion.

10. The game piece of claim 9, wherein said game playing piece is disc shaped and wherein said shaped air well is ring shaped.

11. A game piece for a table hockey game, comprising

a body having a planar central body portion and a peripheral lip which protrudes upward and downward from the central planar portion wherein said body portion is configured to slide over a simulated hockey game surface;

wherein the height difference between the lip portion and the central planar portion forms a volume defining a cavity on each side of said body;

wherein said body is made of a light transmissive material;

a center portion of said body defining an internal cavity having a bottom, a surrounding peripheral wall and an open top;

a circuit board arranged in the cavity;

at plurality of LED lamps arranged in the cavity and operably connected to said circuit board;

wherein said peripheral wall is transparent and coplanar with said central body portion to enable said lamps to radially transmit light to said central planar portion and said lip portion;

a battery arranged in the cavity and operably connected to said circuit board;

a cover configured to be selectively fastened to said body to enclose said circuit board, said lamps and said battery within the internal cavity;

a switch operably connected with the circuit board, said switch including a control tab accessible externally to the cavity.

12. The game piece of claim 11, wherein said cavity bottom and said cover are opaque and substantially block light from said lamps from being transmitted through the bottom and cover.

13. The game piece of claim 12, comprising an opaque sticker applied over said cavity bottom.

14. The game piece of claim 13, where said opaque sticker is applied to the exterior surface of said cavity bottom.

15. The game piece of claim 14, wherein said switch control tab has a height flush with the exterior surface of said cavity bottom.

16. The game piece of claim 12, wherein said game piece has an outer diameter between approximately 2.5 and 3.5 inches and a height between approximately ¼

″ and

3/16″

.

17. A game piece and table hockey game, comprising

a hockey game table with a playing surface defining a playing area surrounded by a rail, wherein said playing surface is elevated by a table support structure;

wherein said playing surface includes a pattern of perforations;

an air pump configured to distribute air through internal channels to be delivered upward through the perforations;

a game piece body having a planar central body portion and a peripheral lip which protrudes upward and downward from the central planar portion wherein said body portion is configured to slide on an air cushion created by the air delivered through the perforations;

wherein the height difference between the lip portion and the central planar portion forms a volume defining a cavity on each side of said body;

wherein said body is made of a light transmissive material;

a center portion of said body defining an internal cavity having a bottom, a surrounding peripheral wall and an open top;

a circuit board arranged in the cavity;

at plurality of LED lamps arranged in the cavity and operably connected to said circuit board;

wherein said peripheral wall is transparent and coplanar with said central body portion to enable said lamps to radially transmit light to said central planar portion and said lip portion;

a battery arranged in the cavity and operably connected to said circuit board;

a cover configured to be selectively fastened to said body to enclose said circuit board, said at least one lamp and said battery within the internal cavity;

a switch operably connected with the circuit board, said switch including a control tab accessible externally to the cavity.

18. The game piece of claim 17, wherein said cavity bottom and said cover are opaque and substantially block light from said lamps from being transmitted through the bottom and cover.

19. The game piece of claim 17, wherein said game piece has an outer diameter between approximately 2.5 and 3.5 inches and a height between approximately ¼

″ and

3/16″

.

20. The game piece of claim 17, wherein said game piece body is made of a clear plastic.